Sacha T. Y. Fortuné

After my review of another book, What I Left Behind, the author reached out with this one as well as another that I’ve already reviewed, A Change of Seasons. I’m happy to say that I was pleased with a great read a third time around!

The Premise

After single-handedly raising her son Eliot after a painful heartbreak with his father, Maggie is thrilled that he is now an adult at twenty-one and on the cusp of entering medical school. Her plans change in a heartbeat when she realises that one of the patients at the hospital she works is Eliot’s ex-girlfriend Liza — who has just had Eliot’s baby, whom she wants to give up for adoption.

Breaking the law and risking the career, Maggie tells him about the child. Eliot feels that he cannot abandon his son, and decided to raise him without Liza. Eliot’s decision, based on his own experience growing up fatherless, raises the past secrets Maggie tried to bury when she decided to raise him alone. Is it time to finally tell him the truth, or will it ruin their relationship forever?

The Pros

This was a heartfelt story of the repercussions of big life decisions years later. The characters’ motivations were clear, even when I did not agree with them, and I felt like these characters were all fully fleshed out and real. Maggie’s overprotectiveness is frustrating even while we admire all she’s done to raise this young man; meanwhile Eliot’s oblivious youthfulness flies off the page, and we want to hit him on the head at the same time that we completely understand that he is simply overwhelmed with the sharp deviation his life suddenly took.

I loved how the past was interwoven with the present, and we get to see the creation of our female protagonist to morph into the woman she became today. Maggie’s family history was rich and multi-faceted with so many layers and histories of hurt, pain and triumph. This counterbalanced well with the humorous moments in her interactions with Eliot’s uncle. I absolutely loved the scene when they first met and he instantly won some points, and readers’ hearts everywhere! 🙂 I also enjoyed the inclusion of her friends and Eliot’s wider family, and they rounded out the cast nicely to bring both high and low points to the plot of amusement, sorrow and drama.

The Cons

While I enjoyed reading the parts with Maggie’s family background, sometimes I wish there was a bit less of them, because it felt like a separate story at times. I would have also loved to see more of the development of the romantic relationship, because that chemistry felt so amazing that I could see an entire book focusing on them alone! Nevertheless these are really small quibbles in a truly amazing novel.

Conclusion

As my third novel by this author, I knew what to expect and I am thrilled not to be disappointed! This was actually my favourite of them all so far. I love the way characters are developed, and given the kind of depth and flaws that make them come alive to the reader. In this case, we can all feel the mother’s senseless jealousy and debilitating sorrow that her son is making his own way in life after everything she sacrificed to build a life for him in her vision. It is an amazing story that shows more than it tells, of how it is never too late for love, and how regret has no place in our hearts if we really want to make changes for the better. I would highly recommend to anyone, but believe mature female readers will enjoy it most. I can’t wait for more by this author.

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The author reached out after I reviewed another book of hers, What Pretty Gets You, and I received this book as an ARC.

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The Premise

Both recently widowed, Dean and Juliet meet in the Cayman Islands, while staying at rental cottages with their children. Eight months prior, Dean lost his wife to cancer, while Juliet lost her husband to an accident six months ago. They fall into easy companionship, bonding over the comfort of partnership to look after their children. But neither is there on vacation — Dean came to the island after his teenage son Luc had a vehicular accident; and as the summer wears on, it becomes clear that Juliet is running from something.

Despite the settling calm of Dean’s love, Juliet is receiving cryptic correspondence from her brother in the United States, along with emailed quotes from a mysterious stranger. There is also a hazy, alcohol-induced night at the beginning of the summer that she can’t properly remember, but wishes she could forget. As a storm fast approaches the island and many people evacuate, Dean and Juliet have to make the difficult decision to stay there together, or go back to their individual lives — as only time will tell what remains standing after the storm.

The Pros

Told from two points of view — Dean in third person, and Juliet in second person, the novel traces the blossoming of a relationship that seems impossibly difficult, given that each has been married and widowed. As Juliet states:

“How do we get to know each other? How do we share our stories, when so much involves the one that came before? How do we honor the past for the sake of our children, without hurting each other?”

For Juliet, Dean is a “guardrail”: a solid, stand-up man whose love for his children is an allure — a stark contrast to her husband, Jack, who was oblivious to his children’s needs while focusing on building his real estate empire. For Dean, Juliet gives him far more than the “crumbs” of love he received from his wife Amélie.

Despite the difficulties in each of their marriages, they are both wracked with grief over the loved ones they lost. Now in each other, there is a possibility of real love: a happy “Brady Bunch” ending of uniting their families. As Juliet puts it:

“I want to bring back intention to my life. I want to do things from love, be present again.”

Even though we only see two viewpoints, every other character is fully fleshed out, their actions speaking louder than words — Luc’s broody comments, Tony’s irreverent guffaws, and the breezy beauty of innocence in the younger children’s easy camaraderie.

The tiny touches and nuances make the story come to life — the island vibe of laid-back life in the Cayman Islands, the quick-fire prejudices of the people around them, and the work ethic of those who live in “paradise” year-round. You can almost feel the brackish water of the sea spray, the sun blazing down, and the unrelenting mosquitoes singing their glory as they feast on open flesh.

The writing is emotional and profound, and I loved the way the reader gets the chance to piece together the puzzle of the past, revealing the darkest depths of Juliet’s personal anguish. It leaves you with a deep appreciation for the value of love for family, and for the impact a significant other has on your psyche.

Conclusion

Similar to my last book I read by this author, this was a stunning novel. I was glad to see a real, raw story of love later in life — post loss, post children, post the novelty of a typical romance. The undercurrent of suspense kept me reading feverishly to the end, and even though I suspected the surprise, it was still shocking when it finally got to that point. The genre is a curious blend of drama, romance, and thriller — but I eventually classed it as a women’s fiction because above all, Juliet’s story (the one we read as “YOU” that speaks directly to the reader) is the one voice that rises to the surface, taking its seat in our souls as we love and dislike her and pity her, feeling both her excruciating pain and uplifting joy as she eventually finds her way. I believe particularly adult female readers will appreciate and enjoy this novel, but I would also recommend to a general adult audience.

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I chose this book from an ARC program because the character had my name! I was amused when I first learned the Sasha/Alex connection, as my friend at uni (used to calling his Russian friend Alex “Sasha”) often called me “Alex”, which to me does not compute! Not a normal reason to choose a book, but there you go, I’m being honest 🙂

The Premise

Elliott (Lottie) is all set for her new life at boarding school, until she meets her new roommate Sasha (Alex). With the other dorm under construction, there’s little choice but for her to keep rooming with him in the interim. Despite her loner “swamp witch” ways, Alex’s charm soon works on her as he and his friends welcome her and adopt her into their group of friends. She becomes their female confidante, helping them in their love lives — all except Alex, who remains aloof while dating multiple girls. Will he — or Lottie, for that matter — ever accept that they both want more than just friendship?

The Pros

This was a lighthearted read with characters that leapt off the page. The banter is witty and enjoyable, and I loved how Lottie was resistant at first but soon sank into the familiarity of their brotherly friendship — despite them being a raucous group of guys. I also really liked how she became friends with all of his friends, and had separate friendships with them alongside Alex as the core connecting force, and tried to help them also find love. Alex was charming and over-the-top in his jock-like overconfidence, but still a sweetheart at the core of it. I enjoyed seeing their relationship flourish from friendship into more, and they kept me laughing all the way through.

The Cons

While I enjoyed this novel, I kept hoping for some more drama, but there was little in the way of that. Alex’s background seems somewhat mysterious at the beginning, but later down I thought there would be a big “wow” moment when we learn why he is so cryptic about his family… this didn’t seem to be the case, when it finally got around to that. His family seemed loving and normal. I also found that the story seemed to revolve *only* around Lottie and Alex’s living arrangement, and I wished for a bit more of her experience as a student, but she seemed to fit in quite easily with the work and environment at boarding school.

Conclusion

This was a slow burn friends-to-lovers that hits the right spot for its teenage audience. The dialogue is its biggest charm here, and there are funny moments as well as sweet. I would recommend to other readers who enjoy this kind of romance, as the characters are easy to love and root for to get their happily ever after. I look forward to reading more by the author.

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I chose this book from an ARC program because the synopsis was intriguing and I love a good YA.

The Premise

Jackie is all set for the adventure of a lifetime — a two-month road trip in a food truck, selling cookies at events. Her plans are soon thwarted when she discovers she’s got company — her estranged childhood friend Silas, whose path diverged from hers after a tragedy that occurred when they were ten years old, resulting in them both being orphaned. While Jackie got adoring adoptive parents, Silas went down a dark road with abusive relatives. Coupled with his grief, nightmares and poor decision-making, he’s now a hothead with a criminal record, a drinking habit, and nothing to lose.

Jackie organises an arrangement for Silas to stay with her under remote supervision via daily check-in calls with her adoptive father, and they are soon off to adventure on Trudy the food truck. Will Silas’ bad-boy behaviour get in the way of her perfectly-planned summer, or will they be able to rekindle their childhood friendship… and perhaps, even more?

The Pros

This was a great read with a wonderfully balanced blend of witty banter and amazing characters with a deeper underlying message in its themes about mental health and teenage addiction. Jackie’s maturity and determination to get through to Silas were admirable, and Silas’ broodiness that eventually cooled off was really lovely to experience as a reader. Both main characters had so much depth, and even the side characters like Richard (Jackie’s adoptive dad and Silas’ step-in case worker) were given enough of a personality to round out the story nicely.

The dialogue was just splendid, and worked well to build my images of the two characters. There was just enough age-appropriate sexiness for the novel’s target market, and the build-up of romance was well deserved by the time it got there. It was amazing to see the growth of both Jackie and Silas, and the pacing as this unfolds is done well. Jackie discovers her true passion, and Silas makes peace with his past and is able to focus on fixing his present so that he can have a future.

The Cons

I enjoyed this novel throughout, but I had a small issue with one of the factual elements. As someone who actually uses Fiverr as both a seller and buyer, this entire storyline had some flaws — there is no marketplace to upload pre-made covers and have someone purchase them right off. Fiverr is for putting up your “gigs” as a freelancer, then someone has to book the gig. You also don’t get to miss deadlines and then “decide” to reimburse someone; Fiverr acts as an intermediary so that you just wouldn’t get paid if you don’t deliver… the client has to accept the finished product and mark it as complete — LONG before you get a dime. Fiverr also sends you a bunch of reminders, so I found it strange Jackie missed deadlines (and apparently all the reminders as well). Sorry if I’m off on a tangent and this plot hole is really minor for others, but as an author I check out *so* much stuff when I’m writing to see if it would apply… and if I’m not 100% sure, I make up a fictional company that works exactly how I want it to. Here, there were so many *specific* details that I found myself actually stopping reading, putting down this amazing book, and searching through Fiverr to verify all of this… because at that point I genuinely wasn’t sure!

Conclusion

Despite my mini-rant above, this was an excellent read and I would highly recommend to anyone but particularly female readers in their teens and early adulthood. It’s a coming-of-age story with both boy and girl characters that are easy to love and root for, and the banter and dialogue are simply amazing. While it’s a YA read, I enjoyed it as an adult and appreciated that it’s not the usual fluffy YA read that skirts around serious issues. I loved this book and would also love to read others by the author.

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After my review of another book, What I Left Behind, the author reached out with this one, and I was happy to read and review as I had really enjoyed the previous book. As it is my second book by this author I had high expectations, and was happy that they were met.

The Premise

Cecelia (CiCi) moves her mother Belle out of the assisted living facility to her home, where she lives with her 17-year-old daughter Erin. Erin is at the cusp of finishing school, and struggles to gain some independence from her mother’s strict rules as she comes out of her shell and begins dating boys. Meanwhile, her grandmother, still mourning the loss of her late husband, is intrigued by a new friendship that soon develops into something more.

While her mother and daughter both seem to be having more of a love life than her, CiCi gets herself into legal trouble after introducing a racy romance novel to the senior citizen’s book club she hosts — much to the horror and dismay of the adult children of its members. And now CiCi’s lawyer, a few years younger than her, is stirring up feelings she had long put behind her after her unhappy marriage and divorce.

Told from three points of view — daughter, mother, grandmother, the novel unfolds a women’s fiction narrative of women at different stages of their lives.

The Pros

This was a humorous women’s fiction novel that hits all the warm spots. Though told from multiple points of view, it was expertly balanced and each voice gets its fair share — not once did I question who was narrating, even when they are not explicitly named. The grandmother’s pieces are told via letters to her late husband, which was a nice touch, the mother’s chapters begin with her day planner entries, and the daughter’s with text messages or emails. The voices also shift in language as it jumps from character to character, and I enjoyed this way of storytelling with nuances.

The pacing was steady, and we got to see each story unfold in parallel. I loved how the past is interwoven with the present as we see glimpses of all of their relationships that came before, as well as the present one they are experiencing. The characters are all easy to connect to, and there were some funny laugh-out-loud moments. The annoying neighbour Cici tolerates was a nice touch, and I also loved reading about Cici’s depressed dog Max (who also gets his turn at love as well)!

The Cons

I really liked this book, so there are very few cons. If I want to get really picky… I guess I was perhaps wishing for a bit more of the moments when CiCi finally got a chance at a relationship (because she deserves it! Grandma’s already had her big love, and Daughter’s got most of her life still ahead!) but alas, it came and went so soon. But I did begrudgingly remind myself that this wasn’t a story about the men, or even the relationships; those were just in the background to enable the ladies to shine as it’s really about their experiences.

Conclusion

This was a really great novel that I highly recommend to other readers, particularly adult female readers. There is a lot of love here that transcends age, and the message is heartfelt. At any age or stage of our lives, we all deserve love. Just like the last book I reviewed from this author, it has a “Lifetime” movie feeling of stories made-for-women. While tamer than a blockbuster, there is so much heart and humour here… you can see that this author knows her audience well. I already have another of her books lined up on my Kindle to read, and I am looking forward to it!

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This book came to me via an ARC program, and I selected it after reading its intriguing preview.

The Premise

After her husband Tyler unexpectedly leaves her for another woman, Emily suddenly has to cope with a new world of insecurity and instability for her and her young son Dante. Now under the weight of her family’s and friends’ scrutiny — particularly her judgemental mother, she struggles to cope financially, physically and emotionally. Her waitressing job is demanding and pulls her away from Dante, and her parents’ lives also take a dark turn when her father falls ill. Even her longstanding friendships are in jeopardy, as Tyler and his new wife move in some of the same social circles. Amidst all of this, she desperately tries to mend her broken heart, seeking a new relationship even while still mourning her old one and regretting her past choices. Is love still on the cards for Emily?

The Pros

This was a heartfelt and humorous journey of recovery from a broken heart. Emily’s family drama and tense relationship with her mother felt all too real — as women, depending on our mothers to help care for our own children can be fraught with guilt and worry. I was amused by Emily’s passive-aggressive actions to mess with Tyler’s head — another aspect that hit close to home! I loved the relationships with her friends, and how we saw throughout it all that she put Dante first and kept on showing up for him even when she could barely show up for herself.

The dating journey after having endured a heartbreak — and dating while having a young child — was also another great aspect to see included in this novel. I really appreciated how the author showed Emily modelling her actions after self-help guidance from books, and she was able to prioritise her son’s needs and keep him emotionally stable despite the changing world around him. It sends a great message to other women who may be in a similar position — for the child’s welfare, it is important to take the high road even after a crushing betrayal.

The Cons

While the story was about Emily and her journey, and I do love a good women’s fiction that *doesn’t* centre on romance, I found myself wishing at times that there was more of the guy whom she would end up with (as it was obvious to everyone but her, apparently!)… I know, I know… it’s not a romance, so I shouldn’t expect too much of a relationship, but it seemed to be barely even a blip of a friendship before it turned into something huge — I felt like: that escalated quickly! I guess that’s how it happens in real life sometimes too, but it did feel a bit sudden, which was jarring in terms of pacing with the remainder of the novel. I also was hoping for a bit more drama coming down to the end before its climax (maybe a decision she had to make that tugged her in two directions — another man coming back into the picture, or something), but I guess there was more than enough drama in the earlier parts of the book, so perhaps no need to throw that into the mix!

Conclusion

Overall, this was a great novel to read and enjoy a women’s honest and heart-baring journey as she overcame what seemed insurmountable — and what may seem insurmountable to many women, especially in the times we live today. The characters are marvellous and I would love to read even more about Emily and her friends. With witty dialogue, gritty realities, and a woman at the helm of turning her life around, I thoroughly enjoyed this and would highly recommend to other readers, especially young women. I can see this being turned into an amazing film, and there’s more than enough to keep on fleshing out into a series or a sequel.

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A unique vigilante women’s fiction thriller with a twist of dark comedy

This was my thirteenth book I chose via the Reedsy Discovery program, for which I am the single approved reviewer for this new book. I was intrigued by the preview and also in the mood for a short thrill of a read. This review also appears on Reedsy.

The Premise

After surviving traumatic abuse by her grandfather as a child, Chelle is now in her twenties and working in the Sheriff’s Department in the Crime Statistics Division — the perfect spot to monitor nearby pedophiles. With the help of her best friend Parker the mortician, she tracks, kills and disposes of predators that have eluded justice. She considers herself to be doing a public service, and it all goes well — until she comes across the wrong pedophile.

The Pros & Cons

This was a unique vigilante women’s fiction thriller with a twist of dark comedy.

As a survivor, Chelle knows that unfortunately, far too many of these sadistic criminals never get to see the full brunt of justice. Using her access at her job, she makes it her mission to follow up on those that slip through the cracks, and wipe them off the face of the earth — literally. Luckily, she has the wits and the means, thanks to her partner in crime Parker, who runs a mortuary and has a handy cremator she can use.

The novel’s writing style swings from a whimsically comedic image of Chelle belting out rock songs post-kill, to a low-swinging gut-punch of a reality check when she sees a pedophile’s shrine:

I grieve for each freckled and rosy-cheeked innocent face. These girls will never be the same. Their futures have been irrevocably changed, and their spirits often damaged beyond repair… I imagine the power of their nightmares and mourn for them.

The plot is filled with memorable characters that compel you to keep reading. I enjoyed Chelle’s interaction with her kidnapper, and her cunning methods to outsmart him. Despite the grave subject matter, there is a good balance of humour and entertainment, interlaced with a constant reminder that she is not a bloodlust killer, but imbued with purpose and mission:

I am not a crazed, homicidal maniac. I’m not some sicko looking to rack up a long list of kills. I don’t save trophies. I get no pleasure from what I do. I simply do what needs to be done. I’m a protector; a defender of the innocent.

My only qualm with the novel is that it has some non-linear moments and some cutaways that distracted me from the plot. For instance, we learn the kidnapper’s motives before Chelle actually does (though she is the narrator), which was a bit disappointing for me personally as I would’ve liked to see that moment unfold in real-time. The novel also felt a bit short, and I would have liked more, but I could see it being developed into a longer series.

Conclusion

Overall, there seemed to be a tenuous precariousness between “must entertain readers” and “must provide assistance” — and I think the author achieved a fair balance of the two. I appreciated that resources for reporting and coping with abuse were provided, and that therapy was included as a plot device. Even as we smile and breathe a sigh of relief at Chelle’s close calls, at no point do we forget that child abuse is a very real and pervasive issue in society.

Chelle was an engaging protagonist, and there was enough suspense interlaced with the humour and the drama to propel the novel forward to its satisfying climax. If you like TV shows like “Dexter” with a women’s fiction twist like the dark comedy of “Dead To Me”, this would be a good pick.

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I chose this from an ARC program because I was looking for a short romance read with all the feels and the synopsis looked promising.

The Premise

After running from an engagement when she was a teenager, chef Carrie has no intention of settling down into married life with children. Twenty-five years later, after raising her nephews, she still feels the same way: as though love and romance are far behind her. That is, until she meets Dr. Ben Murphy, the new head surgeon in town — who is practically royalty, as his family is well known and respected in their community. When he comes by to compliment her food, he soon becomes interested in far more than her cooking. As their relationship blossoms, Carrie wonders if it’s all moving too fast, and if she can give Ben what he needs, or if she will just run from love again.

The Pros

This was a quick read that I blew through in under an hour, and it held my interest for that short period. The characters are likeable, particularly the supporting characters that work with Carrie, and the relationship between the two main characters builds beautifully. I also appreciated that there was a slight age difference with a younger man and older woman, and that Ben did not want all the trappings of parenthood either. It’s a good message that shows love is for all ages, and that not everyone needs to follow the status quo of getting married and having children.

The Cons

While I enjoyed this story, I would not recommend it to others if you like an “all the feels” type of romance, as it’s just far too short for that. By the time I was getting into the characters, the story was already over! It felt like there wasn’t enough character development or depth, but honestly given the short length I don’t see how there could have been. It needed a bit more tension than its overall simplistic premise to really have the romance readers’ hearts pounding.

Conclusion

This was a short romance read, but it was missing the bang-for-your-buck that I prefer from my short stories. It was a nice intro to a story, but not enough meat for a full story itself. I can see it ticking the boxes for a quick story to knock off while perhaps waiting on an appointment or a flight, but not to curl up with on a cold night. Nevertheless, I would be interested in reading more by the author, as the writing was excellent and showed promising talent, and it was a good story that held my interest… but perhaps next time around, I’ll just pick a longer book!

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