Sacha T. Y. Fortuné

A zany, witty telenovela of a women’s fiction, about the lies we tell each other and ourselves

I chose this book from the Reedsy Discovery program. This program allows authors to post their books for a fee, for the chance of one comprehensive review from an approved reviewer that the team vets, and they also coach and guide how to write a review. I chose this book because I was looking for a women’s fiction, and the preview drew me in. This review also appears on Reedsy.

If you’re interested in becoming a Reedsy reviewer (and have the chance to get paid “tips” to review books!) check it out here.

The Premise

54-year-old Kassie is on the cusp of finally taking the plunge to divorce her emotionally abusive husband Mike. A meticulous, anal-retentive planner, she has her steps laid out: file for divorce, and then move in with Chris, her 40-year-old boyfriend of five years. Just as she is about to flip the “divorce” switch, she learns that Mike has chronic kidney disease — which he has hidden from her for years.

His health issues are only the tip of the iceberg, though. As she now has occasion to venture into his private areas of their home and his office to assist him while he is at the hospital, she has the opportunity to snoop, and discovers far more than she bargained for — appalling secrets she can’t easily forgive. Now, she has to make a difficult choice — should she sacrifice her own happiness, to save his life?

The Pros

This book was certainly unique. Usually in books about divorce, there is a lot of emotional introspection and guilt — this isn’t that kind of story. This is about a marriage where the novelty has long since worn off, and infidelity and deception have become intricately interwoven into their daily lives.

I loved the characters — (Bad) Kassie, who is rapidly losing her cool as her plans implode; douchebag Mike, who is charmingly typical and benign despite his masculine manipulations; and her lover Chris, who feels like he’s gotten in over his head with a fickle older woman. I also loved that this book featured older characters with healthy sex drives.

The genre here was a mishmash of so many things. There were gems of women’s fiction spilling out even in Mike’s moments — some hilarious: his casual over-dependence on his wife for very basic things, and his wide-eyed amazement at where things in the house were located (after 30 years); but there were also some passionate romantic moments and some dramatic shockers, as well as an overall comedic wit stringing it all together.

Despite the plethora of deceit, resentment, anger, and other negative emotions, there was still a deep love — or at least a lingering fondness — and this made the characters relatable and lovable. Their contradictory behaviour is realistic — as Kassie said, to assuage Mike’s worries: “I’m divorcing you, not deserting you.” Overall, this was a wickedly fun read, and entirely engaging in its soap-opera-esque style of storytelling.

The Cons

Admittedly, there were some clunky bits of narrative where too much exposition hindered the storytelling. Also a little unsettling was the frequent jumping between viewpoints, not all of them necessary — Chris’ and Kassie’s mother’s were lacklustre by comparison to the others. At one point, I half-expected to jump into the mind of Topher the cat, because he was all over the place in just about every scene (NOT a con, by the way — he was wonderful)… but that’s how crazy the narrative was going, at times! Nevertheless, these hiccups did not spoil the overall ride.

Conclusion

This was a zany, witty telenovela of a women’s fiction, about the lies we tell each other and ourselves. The novel was engrossing, even as it veered into the territory of ridiculously coincidental. The characters were all fabulously flawed, but these flaws made them come alive, and connect with the reader.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone, but especially middle-aged, married, female readers — because of the kernels of truth we can all see in ourselves as we read these unapologetically deplorable characters. I look forward to reading more by this author.

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I chose this book out of hundreds in a book club’s library, because I hadn’t read a YA book in quite awhile, and I was feeling for something sweet and suitable for younger readers.

The Premise

14-year-old Chloe’s budding romance with long-term friend and crush Noah comes to a crashing halt when her father gets a promotion and moves their family all the way from Kansas, USA to Japan — 6393 miles away. Upset at her parents’ disregard for her social life, she is determined to dislike Japan, but the country soon works its charm on her — in particular, via her classmate Jayden, a fellow American who also ended up Japan at his parents’ will. When she has a chance to reconnect with Noah, she realises her feelings for him may no longer be the same. As Chloe makes deeper emotional connections to both Jayden and also the fellow girls in her international school of just around 20 students, she begins to learn that distance is a fact of life, and wallowing in resentment at her current location will only be to her own detriment — instead, she should appreciate the opportunity, the adventure and all the possibilities it brings.

The Pros

I really enjoyed this coming-of-age story. The character’s voice felt genuine, especially in its awkward moments of teenage angst. While the drama wasn’t huge, the author did a great job of conveying just how big every emotion felt to the mind of a 14-year-old girl — who, understandably, had a flair to be dramatic! I appreciated that while it was about a romance of sorts, this wasn’t the only theme here. There was much, much more — her relationships with her parents, her girl friends, her teachers, and the country itself. The scene-setting made everything feel tangible, and I could imagine the beauty of both the country and the woven tapestry of all the relationships tied to Chloe. The ending was a reality check for both Chloe, who hadn’t expected such a sudden change; and also for me as a reader: it suddenly grounded the book in its time and place — prior to that, this could have taken place just about anywhere at any time, as this story is so evocative of the teenage experience of young love.

The Cons

There were a few pedantic descriptions at the beginning before the book hit its stride, but these were easily forgettable because the narrative soon steals your heart. My only thought, as I was reading through, was that I hoped for more of the Japanese experience — but instead, an American girl went to an American school (in Japan) and made friends with mostly Americans, and her new love interest was an American! There was an element of diversity — Jayden was black; but beyond that, apart from the insertions of Japanese outings (mostly tourist adventures that weren’t off the beaten track), this story could easily have taken place on mainland U.S.A. I loved that Chloe grew and developed as a human being, but I didn’t feel like Japan itself had any great impact on her. While this can be attributed to the typical outlook of a self-centred teen, I kept hoping for something deep and distinctly Japanese to influence her decisions or approach to life… but she spent a year in Japan and didn’t integrate fully with the culture, as she was focused on a boy. This was my only quibble though; this lack was a mere blip amidst an excellent story.

Conclusion

This was a touching, fast-paced read that I enjoyed even as an adult, and I would highly recommend it for teenage readers as well as anyone who enjoys clean, young adult stories. Chloe is a protagonist that is easy to love — a down-to-earth, somewhat insecure, clumsy, cute confection of childhood that is on her way to maturing into a young adult. Her story resonates with many, and the writer’s voice and talent kept the book flowing nicely from beginning to end. The story and its overall message were just beautiful, and I enjoyed the emotional journey the book took me on.

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This book found its way to me via an ARC program, and I chose it because I needed a romantic comedy, after some heavy reads! This surely fit the bill.

The Premise

Romance author and average-looking 30-something Sydney falls hard and fast for the gorgeous cover model Travis at a book signing. She thinks he’s way out of his league, as he’s a bit younger and drop dead gorgeous. While she can pull herself together into a basic “pretty” if needed, she’s nothing like what she believes his typical type would be. As a model and a personal trainer, Travis’ hot body is a given… cue Sydney’s frequent lust sessions and cyber-stalking. She finally decides to purchase one of his photos to put on her book cover, which then leads to them embarking on a weekend getaway to promote her book. The event leads to a hilarious scenario with too-close-for-comfort proximity, and then she falls into bed with her hot-model crush. On the other hand, Travis is genuinely attracted to Sydney. His ex was a nightmare of pretty-on-the-outside but ugly-on-the-inside. Her possessive, jealous, overbearing nature left him wary of women. He’s still reeling from recovering from this toxic relationship, and Sydney’s down-to-earth demeanour is a breath of fresh air. Just as they’re going full steam ahead, Sydney ruins her own happily-ever-after by falling into the trap of insecurity, and Travis’ past damage crops up to impede his capacity for forgiveness.

The Pros

This was a fast-paced read that I sped through in just two days, and the humour interlaced throughout kept me reading and laughing out loud as the story developed. I absolutely loved the budding relationship between the two main characters, and the sexy moments were SO well done — and filled with humour — that I was swooning on almost every page. I thoroughly enjoyed the dialogue, even with the side characters like her best friend Harper. Sydney’s character was full of life, and I felt every emotion from awkward to supernova sexy. While there was a lot of repetition of Sydney’s “averageness” (to the point where I figured she must look like a troll!), the overall writing for this character was absolutely excellent and took me right through the novel from start to finish.

The Cons

My only real hiccup was that while “Sydney” was well developed, the “Travis” viewpoints left me wanting. For one thing, they were fewer and further between, and it’s always unsettling when we’re in one character’s head more than the other. Even when we were in Travis’ head, he didn’t seem to have a lot going on in there. Sydney’s entire life, friendships, family and livelihood bubbled through, and Travis’ were just a blip on the radar by comparison. Many times he regurgitated what had just happened, rather than moving the plot forward, and even at the culminating point, his life-altering decision was just a few lines of a “recap” rather than allowing the reader to feel all the emotion in that pivotal moment. It seemed like the authors had just painted an outline of “dream guy” — the hot guy that likes the average girl — without really committing fully. Thankfully, the awesomeness of the book permeated through Sydney, but the “Travis” hole was definitely felt… and such a shame!

Conclusion

This novel was a bit “on the nose” with the intertextuality — romance authors, writing about romance authors! They do say “write what you know” but this was quite precise. I’m pretty sure the inspiration for the book came after the writer duo were at a book signing, ogling some hot cover models! That aside, this book was thoroughly enjoyable and absolutely hilarious. The protagonist’s voice is clear and loud, especially in her insecure moments, and I loved it. I do wish we got more into the male character, but as this book does have a heavy hand with the “wish-fulfillment” in terms of inspiration, I’m guessing it was much easier to write for Sydney than for Travis. I would recommend this book to absolutely anybody above the age of 18, if they want a raunchy romp of a romantic comedy, and I can’t wait to scour the universe for more books by this writer duo!

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This book found its way to me via a book club. I was looking for a good story, and I liked the synopsis.

The Premise

Seryna has lived a safe existence throughout her teenage life, sticking to her close-knit clique of friends and enjoying her niche as an athletic girl who isn’t caught up with boys. As her senior year winds to an end, she decides to “let loose” and finds herself drunk at a party with an over-enthusiastic male friend trying to rape her — until he is yanked away by a mysterious stranger. After a few other encounters, she learns his name: Kieran. Kieran is an FBI agent investigating her family for their suspected dealings with a drug-laced type of alcohol that has been causing teenagers to behave dangerously. Kieran is rich and powerful, and despite their age difference and their different stages in life, they believe they are soulmates. She helps him with his investigation, while their romance blooms into an erotic thrill. Suddenly the “perfect” life she’d planned seems entirely different, and her loyalty to her family is soon tested, along with her plans for the future.

The Pros

This coming-of-age story was filled with tension and suspense. I enjoyed the fleshed-out characters, the FBI undercurrent tale, and the high drama of the chase. The description was so well-written that I could easily imagine the situations and every scene — from the lush hotels and cabin Kieran took her, to the waterfall that inspired the novel’s cover. The emotion was visceral, and this element of the book was amazing. I also liked that we were in Seryna’s head and experiencing things from her point of view, feeling her insecurities and doubt in her frequent self-reflective moments. Her friends also added a nice levity to the heavy drama of the story, and I liked that breath of fresh air in the snarky girl-power moments.

The Cons

However, the mounting tension eventually fell flat for me — the steady pace wound up to a fizzle of action in the last couple of chapters, and I felt like the payoff should’ve been greater. I also think the story would have been better served if it left out the “erotica” element entirely. It seemed to be a knock-off of “Fifty Shades of Grey” — being swept off her feet by a rich, handsome man who took her virginity… yeah. It just really wasn’t necessary, when the story (with maybe 10% of the steaminess) was so great on its own. It spoiled it for me, and made me dislike the protagonist. For someone who was supposed to be “strong and independent” as she kept saying she was, I did not get that at all, and I found her self-centredness off-putting. One minute she’s torn up about possibly losing a friend, and the next she’s naked with nipple clamps. It was just… too much. I felt myself actively wishing something bad would happen to her, and being disappointed when things turned out okay! Her distraction with the sex also made her less of a dependable narrator, because she was often chiding herself for not noticing things, and she also had dreams that seemed to bleed into reality. It left me feeling confused as a reader, and affected my overall enjoyment of the book.

Conclusion

I wanted to like this book so much more, because there is a lot to like here. The writing talent is excellent, but I just wish it were better directed to shape the story into something that wasn’t so derivative. If the focus was on more of the suspense and the FBI story, rather than the sex (which was already questionable, as he is older than her and investigating her family), it would have made an absolutely amazing book. I struggled with a lot here, but I do think the book is worth the read. My peeve (too much sex!) would, of course, be someone else’s enjoyment, so I’m just saying that for ME, this didn’t work. Despite my issues with the plot, the writing style and flow were captivating and kept me reading to the end. This book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, and I am definitely going to read the sequel to see what happens next.

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I haven’t really been a huge fan of the mystery genre since my childhood days with “Nancy Drew” and “Hardy Boys”, and I only recently learned what a “cozy mystery” is. However, when I first saw this posted on a fellow author’s Instagram feed, the cover and title sparked my interest. I’m glad to report that my first foray into the “cozy mystery” genre was a hit!

The Premise

Bexley Squires, whose recent claim to journalistic fame (after exposing a sex-trafficking ring) is soon drying up financially, gets contacted by a famous actor Dean Halliwell. After a press leak, it is suspected that he is involved with the murder of a dead girl, and he wants to clear his name so as to not tarnish his career in Hollywood. He offers loads of money, and Bexley is in need of some funds to help her search for her missing sister, so the timing is perfect. Soon after she gets back to town, she gets help from her teenage crush, now Detective Grayson Rivers, who has been told to drop the case since the missing person’s identity is unknown. However, the pair of stilettos left a telltale trail, and Bexley is hot on it! Soon the Jane Doe’s identity is revealed — along with another connection Bexley didn’t expect. As she tries to uncover the truth, she is torn between who to trust, and is soon embroiled in a conspiracy of rich-and-famous male depravity.

The Pros

I loved loved loved the no-nonsense main character. She was amazing, kicking ass from left to right, plucky, tough, and not easy to faze. Her personality brimmed through the writing, and kept the story flowing nicely. Thankfully, for a female character she wasn’t *too* in her head, and was driven to uncover the facts rather than get caught up in a possible romance with either of the two male characters. There were also flashes of dark humour that had me laughing out loud — Snickers, implants! The dialogue was fresh and on point, taking the action through a nice, steady pace that unfolded as the story developed. I also appreciated that the romance didn’t overpower the story, but was still humming along nicely there in the background all the while — a perfect balance.

The Cons

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end, but I have to admit it was quite predictable. I always love when a mystery completely shocks you when it is unveiled, and this one kind of spelled everything out along the way. By the time Bexley had figured it out, I already knew. I also wish the final bit — when everything is revealed — had a bit more action before it ended; it felt like the big lead-up fell a wee bit flat coming down to the end. Mid-action, it seemed to dive into the resolution chapter and then did a recap. I wanted more biting, snarky dialogue, some more fighting/struggling, something… well, more.

Conclusion

Despite the points I mentioned that were a bit of a let-down for me personally, this book was a great romp of a mystery read. I loved the writing talent, the humour interlaced throughout the novel, and the eventual satisfactory conclusion (though predictable). I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys strong female characters, a bit of suspense, and the tiniest drop of romance to tie it all together. I couldn’t get enough of Bexley, and I would love to read more in the series.

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I chose this book from an ARC program because I was feeling to read a romance that had a deeper story than the typical boy-meets-girl and happily-ever-after, and this certainly fit the bill.

The Premise

Belle has been acting as a mother for most of her life to her teenage brother TJ, who is on the cusp of a promising future — young, bright, smart and talented; everything she’s worked so hard to build him into. Still, as a black man, he attracts unwelcome attention one evening while walking home from school, and when a white cop gives him a ride home, Belle immediately assumes the worst. Sheriff Bently, “one of the good ones” on the police force, is instantly attracted to Belle. However, he has a reputation as a playboy, and his past trauma compromises his ability to be with anyone for the long haul. Despite their racial and cultural differences, Bentley soon charms both Belle and her brother TJ, and becomes intricately woven into their lives. But just as they begin to feel like love can conquer all, tragedy strikes — showing them both that the seemingly “colourblind” society of Shattered Cove is just a mirage; its seedy underbelly shows a much more insidious reality.

The Pros

I appreciated this story for its strong and detailed character development, as well as its cultural relevance which touched on a lot of issues that are often not focused on in romances, even interracial romances. The theme of abuse is powerfully executed here; both the hero and heroine have been through a lot in the past, and Belle’s triumph of survival is a road map for Bently to also find peace with his demons. There is a good balance of romance and suspense to keep the reader’s interest throughout, and enough heart-wrenching moments to completely gut you emotionally. The story is beautiful, poignant, and relevant in today’s society; a much-needed novel for our times.

The Cons

However, I felt like I would have liked to experience more of some scenes — particularly the culminating tragic event. It was a missed opportunity that we only got Belle’s view, rather than the in-the-moment view of Bentley’s side as well; and while this may fall into many readers’ “Pros” list, for me “less is more” with regard to the sexy scenes. A good bit of the book’s (fairly long) real estate was dedicated to panty-melting, dick-throbbing moments — and the story itself was much, much more interesting than that. Also, there were some moments of political relevance (hair touching, Juneteenth, not “seeing” colour) that I wish were more nuanced; instead they were dropped in almost like an “after-school special” (note: I am a reader of colour, and this may have influenced my preferences to want these to be done exceptionally, exceptionally well!)

Conclusion

Despite my personal preferences, I think this story on the whole is excellent. It takes the reader on an entire emotional journey from beginning to end, and it is easy to get lost in these characters. It makes you think and feel things, long after the last page. Though the eventual conclusion seemed entirely unlikely, it poses a what-if question to the reader — what if, just once, after a tragic error, the law gets it right? I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a story for today’s world, especially if you like interracial romances and damaged characters who triumph over adversity.

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I grabbed a copy of this book via an ARC program. Usually a mob plot is a hard “no” for me — I prefer to watch that kind of content on TV. But the prologue blew me away, and I took a leap of faith. I’m so glad I did.

The Premise

Still reeling from a break-up that involved her taking a broom to her ex’s naked cheating ass, Katie is clearly a force to be reckoned with in her own right. As she pauses at a stoplight with her character of a vehicle (literally, it has a name: Kato), injured FBI agent Luc hops in to escape from the bad guys — and in an instant, Katie’s life changes. Guns, bullets, mobsters and a high-speed car chase — the whole nine yards — quickly ensue, and it screeches to a halt as she knocks the mobster’s vehicle into a quarry pit. The psycho mobster, embarrassed to be shown up like that in front of his mob family and also the police, launches a vendetta against her. Luc takes her into hiding at his castle (that’s right — he lives in a castle) which is guarded by his ginormous dog Spot. However, as they get to know each other, Luc soon realises she isn’t a stranger but she is linked to someone he’s known all his life, and they already have a shared past. Things soon heat up between them, and the danger seems to be momentarily forgotten — but meanwhile, the mobsters are on their trail, and feisty Katie and damaged Luc soon find themselves in way over their heads.

The Pros

This book was insane — in a good way. There was hilarious comedy, fast-paced action, on-the-edge-of-your-seat suspense, fresh dialogue, and characters that kept me turning the pages frantically to see how it would end up. There was so much here that my head was spinning. One minute there are steamy sexy moments, followed by slapstick comedy, and then in come the blazing guns. I felt like I had whiplash, as it went from one thing to the other. There was never a dull moment. I also appreciated that there were some serious issues here, with the foster care background of abuse and long-term marriage relationship issues, but these did not impinge on the overall levity. The characterisation was well done, as I could easily envision the two leads, and there were also a few side characters that stole the show. Even Spot was right there in the middle of everything, a character in her own right — a nice touch!

The Cons

I loved this book, but a mobster book it is not. Mind you, I’m not a fan of mobster books, so this was fine by me. And while it held my interest, the plot seemed at times like it was all over the place. It felt like the author was trying to shove it all in, and honestly — it wasn’t necessary. There was more than enough here to make an amazing book, and all the add-ons just took away from the overall effect. I could have easily chopped off about 10-20% and given this book 5 stars. The mother’s relationship issues I didn’t really care for, the sister’s unrequited love arc didn’t seem necessary, and the hero’s waffling back and forth at the end just didn’t make sense at that point. They’d already been through so much, and suddenly he’s back to square one wallowing in self-doubt. There were also some moments that were funny but seemed entirely unlikely — goading a mobster generally isn’t wise; and some plot choices that I just wish had been left out.

Conclusion

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read, despite my issues I had with the overall plot. I want more of it, so much more. I want more of this author. I want to be inside that head of hers. She is crazy talented, to create a story with so many elements and somehow tie them all in together. I would recommend this book to anyone who needs a burst-your-sides laugh of a rollicking read, with a little sprinkling of psycho mobsters. Yeah, who needs mobsters when you have all the other amazing things happening here?! Despite my hefty “Cons” column, this book was STILL amazing. So trust me, it’s worth the read!

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This book came to me via an ARC program, and I chose it because I was in the mood for a romantic comedy. However it turned out to be less comedy than I had anticipated.

The Premise

Fred (short for Fredericka) returns to Blue Falls, en route to New York but in need of a respite to have a base while she looks for work — not to mention, to gather her wits after the end of a bad romance. Six months later, she winds up drunk at a party, with a slobbering mess of a kisser, and she is rescued by “Beast”, a seven-foot tall mute gentle giant who is the foster brother of Grace, who lives with Fred and her “Granny” with whom she’s been staying. Beast asks her to help him build his communication skills with dating, but this soon evolves into much more. Knowing she plans to leave, Fred is tugged between this budding romance and the call of the outside world. Beast can’t come with her because his damaged past ties him to Grace and their other foster brother Jude — but nerdelicious Fred still isn’t giving up hope.

The Pros

I really appreciated that this story had an unlikely hero and heroine. Beast’s lacking vocal communication skills are a result of past trauma, and Fred is the polar opposite: she can’t shut up. The nerdy fandom is running at a constant pace in her mind. Somehow, these two manage to find a middle ground where they communicate through technology and sign language. Apart from the romance, I also liked the side story of the foster children who stick by each other — this was endearing and very touching. As the story wound to its eventual end, I loved that Beast worked towards transforming himself and overcoming his past issues, so he could communicate better with Fred.

The Cons

While I liked the overall story, I was expecting more comedy. It started off hilarious, and then from that point, it was back-and-forth with a blossoming romance that was sweet, and sad, and sexy — but not really funny. Beyond that letdown, I was also hoping for more conflict between the two main characters, but Beast just seemed like the perfect boyfriend, and Fred the perfect quirky chick — their only challenge was distance, which was easily solved. Another issue for me was that the POV shifted coming down to the end — without warning. Suddenly we were in Beast’s head — WTF? Why? When this happened, I actually wished that the entire novel had been split half and half, rather than just this one solo chapter dangling there by its lonesome. This felt like a missed opportunity, as it could have made an even better story.

Conclusion

This was a good read, but I wanted a bit more. I liked the stream-of-consciousness narrative with dollops of references here and there (some of them over my head!) to align with the book’s title “Nerdelicious”, and I can see many readers thoroughly enjoying this book because they can connect with these types of characters. For me it was a bit lacklustre as I expected something different, but I would still highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a light read with refreshing characters.

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This book came to me via an ARC program, and I chose it because I was in the mood for a clean, wholesome romance.

The Premise

Lucy returns to her small-town home of Angel Lake, jilted by a bad work experience and in need of a change. She’s been a “hot-foot” girl for over a decade, bitten by the wanderlust bug that has taken her around the world and back as a renowned photographer. Once home, she quickly gets swept up into a romance with boy-next-door Alex, who is now the town sheriff. Meanwhile, her family doesn’t expect her to stick around, and Alex claims he doesn’t need her to — but he’s clearly lying to himself, because he’s been in love with her since they were twelve. As Lucy tries to “fix” everyone in her family around her, she soon realises that who she really needs to fix is herself — she needs to deal with her past demons, if she wants a chance to fit into her family and to be with the man she loves.

The Pros

This was a sweet, wholesome romance that is easy to love, with a hero and heroine that you immediately hope will get their act together because they’re clearly perfect for each other despite the naysayers on both ends among their respective families. I appreciated that the story included a lot of challenges that the family on the whole faces — marriage difficulties, behavioural disorders, mental health issues, parent abandonment, and much more. There was enough here to keep the reader’s interest beyond just the main relationship, and the interactions with their families also gave a better idea of who each main character was. There was also an ongoing mystery to be uncovered concerning the town vandal, so this added an extra element of suspense.

The Cons

While I enjoyed the story and it is well written, I really kept hoping for more conflict between the two main characters. They get together quickly, neither of them seem to have any real character flaws, and the “big event” that breaks them up was a misunderstanding that was easily resolved. I felt as though the tension and drama were humming along merrily, but I kept expecting more of an explosion of emotion at some point, which in the end I didn’t feel. The story was all-around a good one, but it was missing some oomph in the romance area for me.

Conclusion

While it didn’t rock my world personally as I was expecting something shocking, I still really appreciated this sweet, small-town romance, and would recommend it to anyone who’s looking to fall in love with an entire family with their own respective dramas. I can see this kind of story easily translated to a TV series, as it has so many elements from all the family members — but as a book, it just had so much other things going on that it impinged on the main romance. At its heart, it is an emotional journey of healing from the past damage families do to each other. There is a lot to love here, and despite the variety of heavy topics, it is a light read that will leave you with a warm, fuzzy feeling. I would love to read more by this talented author, and I just hope that the next one wows me a bit more.

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I’ve had varied reads recently, but I’m getting back to my goal of understanding tropes to help develop and/or market my own writing, which is trope-free: unpredictable, real-life romance with dubious “heroes/heroines”. I liked the premise of this one because I hadn’t read a “twin” trope to date, so it drew my interest.

The Premise

Nicole abandons her wedding with quite possibly the largest douchebag known to man — Marcus hasn’t just slept with a friend or family member, but he’s actually gotten her identical twin sister pregnant. A string of events leads Nicole to have her sister Veronica’s purse with her passport and ticket to a new place, and it seems like the best idea to get away for awhile. Her heart splintering among a truckload of alcohol, she has a wild night with a sexy stranger, Ethan — whose name she doesn’t discover until the next day, when she’s on his doorstep about to become his daughter’s new nanny. By that time it’s already far too late to back out, because she’s promised his sick mother that she’ll take her sister’s place and identity along with the new job. Ethan has no room in his heart for a woman, after his wife destroyed his faith in love even before her death. But Nicole’s sweet allure still drags him in, and she also can’t resist him — but her secrets threaten to destroy everything.

The Pros

I liked that this trope-filled romance featured several heavy topics and still managed to balance them with grace and care. Mental health, depression, sibling rivalry, addiction, infidelity, crumbling relationships, and many more issues all crossed the pages without weighing down the entire premise of the romance. The story was well fleshed out around these issues, without making them the core focus — and at the same time, prominently displayed enough to give the story substance. I also appreciated that the sexy moments were scintillating, without being overdone. The side characters brought enough additional flavour — the other Jackson siblings, the cute daughter Lilly, the stalwart matriarch, and the women including her friend Teagan and sister Veronica. The small town gossip and the weather also rounded out this story to position the reader in the heart of things, and it was well written.

The Cons

Despite the writing talent, some things bothered me. It seemed entirely out of character that a doctor — and in this case an ob/gyn! — would do anything with someone who was so clearly drunk that he had to rescue her from another guy moments earlier. Impaired judgement coupled with insta-love (when the characters don’t even know each other’s names) just isn’t a scenario that should be overlooked in a romance book, and while I’m not usually ruffled by these things, it stood out here. Combining medication with alcohol was another questionable judgement call in our heroine — not to mention dubious clarification of birth control coverage stood out with the hero (again, he’s an ob/gyn!)

In general, as a trope-filled romance, I expected to like the two main characters more. But it didn’t seem like Nicole had experienced any growth or change by the novel’s end. She was far too forgiving and had no backbone with her sister, and very little even with Ethan. Meanwhile, Ethan slut-shamed her and was overly possessive. I don’t mind flawed characters — hell, I write them! — but these aren’t the kind of flaws I can forgive in a typical romance. If it were any other type of novel, I would’ve been thrilled at the complexity… but these deviations were bothersome because it was supposed to be considerably light and fluffy. Indeed, like the title — I felt like it was “the wrong kind” of love, in more ways than one!

Conclusion

Despite these significant cons of the story, I still gave this a fairly good rating because I did enjoy it and it kept my interest. I was just disappointed because I really wanted to rate this so, so, much higher. There was potential here for something amazing, because the technical aspect of writing — the highs, the lows, the conflict, the tension, the dialogue… those all came together perfectly. But the actual plot fell short of rocking my world. My heart just wasn’t bursting at the seams for this couple to get together. Nevertheless these may be my own personal issues, and I would still highly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates a good, well-written story. I’m also looking forward to other books in this series, as I enjoyed the introductions to other characters.

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This came to me via a book club, and I chose it because I was in the mood for a secret-baby romance with a twist, and this seemed to fit the bill. I noticed the blurb doesn’t mention a big factor, which makes it hard to write a review without giving away a spoiler, but I’ll try.

The Premise

Upon receipt of long-lost letters from decades ago, Sara realises that the entire life she built for herself and her daughter Paula was based on lies. When her mother admits to deceiving her by intercepting their communication in order to protect her underage teenage daughter from getting involved with an older man, Sara struggles to forgive her in the present, but more importantly — she now learns that her first love did not betray her when he left for the military and lost contact with her prior to his death. Their child is now an adult, but Sara realises it may be time to seek out her past lover Paul’s family and let them know about Paula. But when she goes there, she finds much more than she had ever bargained for — and her own lies catch up to her as she tries to open her heart to a second-chance romance.

The Pros

Generally the story was good, and I enjoyed each of the main characters and understood their motivations for behaving the way they did. The author took time to develop each character, even the side characters. There were very realistic moments that you usually won’t find in a typical romance, and I appreciated the inclusion of these. All of the relationships were heavily fraught with emotional angst: Paula on the cusp of making a big leap in her love life, Sara and Matthew in an older/younger friendship/relationship that isn’t clearly defined, Sara and her mother trying to heal after decades of lies crumble on them both. The tension was well developed, and there were a few scenes in particular that had me hanging off the edge of my seat — well done!

The Cons

However, there were a few choppy parts in terms of pacing — one moment we’re experiencing every single nuance of emotion with the characters, and the next I’m wishing I knew more about what had happened in the past few weeks. Also, the narrative was written in third person and though there were so many characters here that first-person wouldn’t have been feasible, still I wished it particularly during the sexy or highly dramatic moments, because it’s hard to convey all this emotion in the third person — it resulted in characters actually speaking aloud their feelings, instead of just feeling them and keeping them privy to the reader.

Conclusion

I enjoyed this second-chance, secret-baby, military romance a lot, and appreciated that despite ticking the boxes in terms of tropes, there was a lot of originality here that breathed through the novel and kept me interested. It was an easy read, and well fleshed out to be much, much more than just a romance. There are heavy elements of women’s fiction here, with all the female relationships — Sara and her mother, Paula and Sara, and even the developing relationship between Sara and her business partner. There was also a focus on the male relationships, which I liked as well. I would recommend this book to anyone who appreciates a good story with an emotional overload.

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I have to admit — this was a bit of a strange read for me. The author was looking for her reader tribe, and while that may not be me personally, I was happy to read and review. She classes it “sad, scary stories for children” and since I enjoyed R. L. Stine and other typical children’s fiction in that genre as a child, I figured I would give it a try.

The Premise

Mother leaves her two children, Marcus and Gabe, home alone, making them swear not to open the door for anyone — no matter whom. Marcus is fiercely protective of his little brother, and spends the evening battling with his wits against a strange bony girl creature he sees through the peephole. As time wears on, various characters show up trying to convince him to open the door. Meanwhile, there is a spidery voice in his head that frightens him to the core, telling him there is already someone inside the apartment. There are traces of this unknown person: large men’s shoes, footprints, and a man singing while he shaves. And amidst all of this, his little brother may be hurtling into danger if Marcus doesn’t make the right decision whether or not to open the door.

The Pros

The story kept my interest and I read it through quickly (it’s pretty short), eager to get to the end. I enjoyed the tension building: the reader feels Marcus’ frustration at feeling like he is being tricked by the bony girl, and also his devotion to his little brother. I also looked forward to the payoff of the horror, and the language kept this flow going with sentences like: “This is how terrible things usually start: with one disobeying little child” and “This room seems so closed that Mother’s scent is a prisoner in it, not a happy resident“. The way it is written seems like a child’s voice as the author, and that was refreshing to have a story written in this way. The language weaves in and out with a nice fluidity that seemed like this story would serve well as a “ghost story” read out around a campfire for teenagers, perhaps. The story’s twist was truly unexpected. At one point I actually imagined it the other way around (you have to read it to understand).

The Cons

I liked the premise, but there was a bit lacking for me to give this perhaps an extra star. There is a prologue that warns that all will never be explained: “Secret by secret, a story can grow a shadow as important as the story itself.” I loved this in theory and was eager to dive in despite that disclaimer, but the actual execution left me with far too much to ponder. I’m also still trying to figure out who the ideal reader may be. An adult may be wary of reading a story to a child where there seems to be abuse or neglect (these children seem very young to be left alone), and a child may not fully appreciate the artistry behind the way it is told and the eventual “big reveal”.

Conclusion

Overall this was an interesting story about the power of imagination, curiosity, and fear — and the cocktail of emotion this combination brings. The author was right in classifying her story as a “sad, scary story” for children. There are elements here that would truly frighten children, and it can lead to nightmares. But there are also lessons to be learnt, and these lessons are positive — just not all fully revealed, so it was unsettling. There is a lot to like here, if you are the ideal reader. I would recommend to a preteen or teenager who likes scary stories.

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This book came to me via an ARC program, and I chose it because I was looking for a touching women’s fiction novel to read. This was an easy read that I devoured in two days and it certainly did not disappoint.

The Premise

“When Robins Appear” is the heartbreakingly beautiful tale of a mother and a daughter, at two ends of the spectrum in terms of their loves and their lives. It is told in the first-person point of view from both mother and daughter: Deborah, who is on the cusp of becoming an “empty nester”; and Amanda, who has had the benefit of a lovely family home as the only child of two successful, hardworking people with a longstanding, loving marriage. When Amanda meets Graham — the laidback, carefree guy and polar opposite of her jock ex-boyfriend Jack, her mother Deb is alarmed. Her own demons from her past lead her to believe that Graham will be her daughter’s demise, and she wants to protect her. But the tragedy awaiting the family is far different than Deb could ever imagine.

The Pros

I really enjoyed the development of each character in this novel. The author does this effortlessly: we immediately understand that Richard’s role in the family is on the peripheries; the real story here is the mother-daughter relationship, which seesaws from love and affection to frustration and anger. The reader is able to empathise fully with both main characters — the mother’s painful past that impedes her present willingness to trust her daughter, and her daughter’s rebellion to be with the man she loves. The language is exquisite and suits the tale perfectly, and the eventual turn of events is symbolic and beautiful. I also appreciated the side characters’ development: from Amanda’s friend with religious-zealot abusive parents, to Graham’s friend in a unstable home, to Amanda’s motherly-type sister Merritt, to Graham’s hippie parents, and even Deb’s past love —  each character is allowed to fully bloom to fill his/her space. For even the shortest of scenes — a heartbreaking event of loss in her past — the reader can visualise the sibling relationship and Deb’s oblivious innocence and regret. The writing talent is palpable, and breathes throughout the entire novel, in turn leaving the reader breathless by the story’s eventual end.

The Cons

The journey of the novel from beginning to end was well executed, but the storyline itself has been told many times before, and did not deviate much from what I was expecting. I would also have liked the ending to a bit more fleshed out. The cadence shifts so drastically that it left many questions unanswered, and while I appreciate that this reflects real life, I wanted maybe a chapter or two more rather than the succinct wrap-up.

Conclusion

The author presents a powerful narrative that will stay with me for quite some time. There are nuances and intricacies of writing here that were expertly placed to lead the reader through the plot. The way the story is told makes all the difference, because a tried-and-true tale can gain much levity and poignance once done right. And this author does it very, very right. I would recommend this book to anyone who needs a good story — but keep your tissues handy.

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We don’t think twice about creating an entire genre for a broad-spectrum term “Women’s Fiction” but when it comes to fiction for men it’s assumed that there is no such specific thing. But though I labelled it “Family Life Fiction” which would be more understandable at a glance, this really needs to be in its own category.

*Disclaimer: This book came to me via a book club, and I’m thrilled it did because if I hadn’t already picked it up with the intention of reviewing it, I honestly doubt I would have made it to the end. And I’m so, so glad I did!*

The Premise:

Single father Ben is raising his daughter Sophia with a will and a hope and a prayer he doesn’t literally go mad before he gets her to adulthood. With a truckload of abandonment issues and insanity-laced baggage in his past, he’s dedicated himself to “getting her on that lifeboat” and holding himself together until he does. In the meanwhile, he’s avoiding substances so he can stay lucid, and he’s seeing a shrink to keep his head straight as best as he can. Happening simultaneously as she ages from doe-eyed innocence into a teenager and then a young woman, Ben struggles with a relationship he never got over — “the one that got away” Anna.

…Except the “one that got away” — who is now married to his supposed “best friend” — hasn’t gone anywhere. As they reconnect after a long period and then stay in touch throughout the years, the anguish builds as they ruminate over the mistakes made, the regrets that never die, and the past lives not lived.

The Pros:

The prose is just… in a word: excellent. The reader is right there with every moment, feeling the seesaw of Ben’s emotions — his driven nature to be all he can be for his daughter, his goofy dad moments, his anguish over the foolish errors of youth, and the ceaseless tug of war with himself as he fights the undying umbilical pull to the love of his life. There were moments that just stop you in your tracks:

The incessant anxiety:

“It feels like the shelf life of my sanity is expiring”

“I don’t think I’d ever intentionally try to kill myself” […with sleeping pills etc. but while crossing the road or driving…] “I fall into a kind of passive disregard for my safety.”

Spending time in the present, with his past lover:

“I miss her. I even miss the excruciating awkwardness of trying to just be friends”

“Damn this perfect moment. Like, how dare this taste so real.”

Losing touch with his daughter:

“I know it’s the push and pull of adolescence, but I can’t tell anymore when she wants me to leave her alone, or when she needs me”

“No one prepares you for when your kid start to forget all those things you shared. Memories you hold onto like a man overboard clutching a lifesaver. But for your kid, it just vanishes like it was never there. It’s like you get dementia at both ends of your life”

And even about the process of writing itself:

“I think to myself I’ve got to remember what this feels like so I can write about it later.”

“No one understands why writers write, and they always want to know if you’re making a living off it. Like that’s relevant. I don’t write for money, and I don’t need someone to tell me it’s good.”

There is a particular craft of a writer to throw those moments out there that are instantly awe-inspiring, and I enjoyed all of that thoroughly. I also appreciated how no character in this sordid tale was necessarily evil. They were all just living their own versions of the same reality, much of which was occluded from Ben until the very end. There are no heroes or heroines here — which I always, always echo in my own role as a writer of “real-life romance” as I always love a book with that overriding message. We are all just fighting our own demons.

The Cons:

While I loved the general cadence of this book, the pacing took some getting used to. It travels the span of quite a long period of time, and it reads like a memoir of sorts as it felt like the writer put a LOT of himself into it. For instance, while all the musical references seamlessly interwoven enriched the story greatly (showcasing the writer’s own background as a musician), a lot of the references would go completely over any average reader’s head. I can see this translating exceptionally well for a film, but I personally didn’t need so much of it in a book. This was an extremely tiny hiccup, though. Overall the book was a joy to journey through, and the ending was just perfect.

Conclusion:

This was an exceptional read and I can see this story staying with me for quite awhile. The author’s voice is prominent, clear, and painfully poignant. It’s also incredibly, incredibly male — and I think men (especially fathers) could benefit so much from reading this. Despite some lags in the flow from time to time, the journey was worth taking. You need to be in the mood for this type of read, because it packs a seriously emotional punch. Nevertheless you do get that payoff in the end, so hang in there. I’ll leave you with one more from the author’s literary playbook:

“If love is meant to be, it’ll be. I don’t need it to survive anymore.”

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