I picked this from a book club because the synopsis sounded interesting, and I’m so thrilled I took the chance! Definitely one of the most intriguing books I have read in awhile.

The Premise

Patrick “Trick” is a firefighter with a lucky streak from everything to his zero-fatality streak to his lottery winnings — the latter of which has been a contentious issue between him and his wife Eve. When Eve files for divorce, Trick is shocked to learn of the reasons she is claiming — that he abused her and their two girls. Particularly amid the wave of “Me Too” revelations that have shown the disgraceful acts of supposedly well-respected men, his innocence seems to be impossible to prove. Even worse, the allegations mean that he has very limited access to his daughters.

Zamira is assigned Trick’s case as a court-ordered client to oversee his interaction with his daughters. Despite her initial hesitation as she is appalled at his heinous supposed crimes, she soon realises that they are not only false, but that in reality Trick is quite the opposite — a loving, caring father; a first responder and hero; and most importantly: a man worth loving. However, Zamira’s Muslim faith keeps her desire in check, and she fights the attraction that threatens everything she holds dear: her career, her family’s honour in their community, and her modesty as a Muslim woman.

Pros

This was such an intricately woven story with so much depth of character to explore. The unraveling of the plot was a joy to read, particularly the moments where we learn of Muslim culture by the way the author shows — rather than just tells — Zamira’s thoughts and actions as she interacts with the two conflicting facets of her life: a promised hand to a man she loathes that will lift her family out of disgrace, and an undeniable attraction to a man not of her culture who has a lot of baggage.

I liked the way Eve’s deplorable actions are shown in retrospect as well as in the present day, building up the character of a narcissistic femme fatale. I also liked the range of Trick’s interactions with his family and coworkers, and the sense of brotherhood and camaraderie among fellow firefighters. The author’s descriptions were precise and took me right there to feel the heat of every scene, and the judgemental eyes under which Trick constantly squirmed as he kept digging himself into a deeper hole.

In general there were a lot of small elements that made the novel seem very visceral, very real — and I lived for these. There were moments when I literally could not put the book down because I was hanging on by a thread at the indignation or shock I felt while reading. So, so, well done!

Cons

I really loved this novel, but my overall takeaway — and the only thing holding me back from the full 5 stars — was that I really wanted even more of Zamira. I could see this being told entirely or almost entirely from her perspective, as she uncovers the truth about Trick and then has to grapple with her feelings. Trick also seemed far too gullible and easy to manipulate, and played right into Eve’s games. The flashbacks to past moments in their marriage annoyed me rather than made me feel sorry for him. All of that to say — more of Zamira! Zamira! Zamira! I loved every moment of her, she was just perfectly written and gave this entire novel so much heart.

Conclusion

This is a great novel with many teaching moments that are beautifully unrolled for the reader without slapping you in the face. The “femme fatale” aspect was a respectful nod to Gillian Flynn’s “Gone Girl” and it gave the novel a delicious undercurrent of a thrill. But its shining grace was the character of Zamira, who I really could not get enough of. This is a novel that will stay with me for quite some time, and I look forward to re-reading it and going through the entire gamut of emotions all over again.

Purchase your copy

A coming-of-age thriller that emerges as a thought-provoking and emotional exploration of our changing world

This was my fifth book I chose via the Reedsy Discovery program, for which I am the single approved reviewer for this new book. Though it seemed to be a sci-fi at first (not my go-to genre), the preview and synopsis drew me in to take a chance, and I’m glad It did. 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

In the mid-80s, a group of explorers set off on a secret mission, which ultimately failed after a virus ravaged the crew, leaving only six survivors to return after two years. However on Earth, it’s been over 30 years. Teenager Celestine, who accompanied her (now deceased) parents on the mission, is now a high school student in 2022 — a brand new world bereft of things she once understood.

Alongside the typical teenage angst of complicated female friendships, rebellion against authority figures, and thrilling new romantic experiences; Celestine struggles with survivor’s guilt, worry over a government conspiracy, and an intense paranoia that she will fall ill — and worse, make others ill.

The Pros & Cons

This was a rare genre mishmash that somehow manages to pack many elements together, and still execute it successfully.

The sci-fi intro quickly pivots to the throes of first love, an introspective history lesson, and a women’s fiction drama — all wrapped up in a young adult coming-of-age thriller.

In a post-COVID world (*notably: the author rewrote to suit this*), a protesting public is suspicious of the returning space travellers, whom they fear to be contagious. Celestine is fortunate to find new friends at all, and clings desperately to her new clique like a lifeline.

But, having crash-landed into a new decade, she is awash with unfamiliarity.

I was some sort of caveman-spaceman. Honestly, who could’ve predicted someone would invent a world-wide system of linked computers so children could watch porn, adults could flirt with strangers, people could shop at two o’clock in the morning for stuff they didn’t need, and so that an entire subculture could be created that shared cute photos of their cats?

The author’s cheeky references shed light on the strangeness of the modern world as Celestine grapples with new technology and a distinctly different sociopolitical outlook on life:

We’re lucky to live here. We have all the food we need, shelter, it’s a relatively safe place. If you work hard, you can go far in life.

Her belief system is met with ridicule, as her peers explain that she is “sickeningly positive”; they all know that life is “rigged” to serve the rich, the world is a “cesspool”, and “the man” won’t let you win.

Along with these provocative political diatribes, there was also a wide range of emotions bubbling to the surface as we feel every nuance of Celestine’s uncertainty, fear, anger, and grief:

When your mom dies, it’s as if this pleasant hum that you’ve heard all your life goes silent, and the sudden quiet is staggering.

Therapy plays a critical role in Celestine’s journey to recovery and self-acceptance, and leaves a lasting message as the novel achieves its climax.

Conclusion

I enjoyed the unpredictable ride of this thought-provoking and emotional exploration of our changing world, though at times it left me feeling unsettled — but that was the point. With such a complex character like Celestine, and an interweaving story that you couldn’t really figure out where it was heading, it sometimes felt like the reality TV that bothered Celestine so much because she couldn’t understand why we keep watching when there is no cohesive plot.

While there is, most definitely, a core story humming beneath all of these elements to tie a profound plot together, it’s one of those novels where you’ll sit for some time afterwards, trying to come to terms with what you just read. I can see this sparking intense book club debates, and being adapted into a film. I highly recommend to any reader, but it will be particularly impactful among a young adult audience.

Purchase your copy

This came to me via a book club, and I chose it because I love the women’s fiction genre and was looking for something new.

The Premise

Leena is the long-suffering wife of prominent heart surgeon Steven, who shrank into the background as her husband’s career sky-rocketed. His self-absorption indulges and justifies affairs with many women to meet his sexual needs.

As Leena feels more and more distant from her husband, she engages in a penpal relationship with an inmate at a prison, Michael. When she learns of the nature of his crime — assisted suicide — and that he is also a heart surgeon like her husband, she notes the stark difference to the type of man she married. Their chaste relationship soon blossoms into an emotional affair, which intensifies as Michael’s release date approaches.

Meanwhile, Steven’s and Leena’s 19-year-old daughter Joy is emotionally fragile and teeter-tottering on the edge of the abyss, plunging into dangerous self-harm practices as her parents’ relationship disintegrates. Can Steven’s actions change in time to right their family’s relationship before it is too late, or is their marriage too far gone to be saved, along with Joy’s life?

The Pros

Pivoting to multiple points of view — Leena, Steven, Joy, Michael — this family life fiction interweaves a gripping tale as it explores a wide range of emotions. It introduces women’s issues surrounding marital consensual sex through the entitled words from the philandering Steven: “Is it too much to ask that she just open her legs and let me slide in?” — which are juxtaposed by the innocent love of an incarcerated man who falls for a penpal through only her words.

I liked the character and plot development throughout the novel, and the building romance was nicely executed without pushing the envelope unnecessarily. The breakdown of the marital relationship between Steven and Leena is one that will resonate with many women, and Joy’s insecurities will translate well to parents of similarly affected teens as well as the teens themselves.

The Cons

While I enjoyed the story and it was a great read, I did find myself wishing it was written a bit differently. For instance, I would have liked to see the origin of Michael’s and Leena’s relationship, rather than entering into it already being established (we are repeatedly “told” how it came to be, rather than “shown”). I also felt as though the flow was broken up by Joy’s introspection and I wished that her scenes were reduced or even omitted until perhaps the very end to close it all off — I felt as though this would have added some mystery/tension and made the plot even more impactful.

Conclusion

Despite my personal niggles, this was an enjoyable novel by a talented writer, and one I would definitely recommend to others. There was a nod to Jodi Picoult (one of my favourite authors), and I could see how the author tried to emulate her writing style with multiple POVs and monologues. It is a heart-touching novel that explores complicated issues delicately and shows a way forward for those who feel in despair. The book packs an emotional punch and leaves you with an important message. If that’s right up your alley, this would be a great pick for you.

Purchase your copy

A beautiful story of race, romance and its implications and representations in the world around us

This was my fourth book that found me via the Reedsy Discovery program, for which I am the single approved reviewer for this new book. I chose it because the cover was beautiful and the synopsis 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

Born out of wedlock as her mother’s shameful secret, Natalia has always wondered about her father — a married man who led an entirely separate life. As a young adult, when she learns he is dying from a terminal illness, she is compelled to take the opportunity to meet him. Unfortunately, she is too late — but their appearance and physical similarities alert his family of their relation.

Tainted by her own hang-ups of love and her mother’s past, Natalia finds it difficult to trust men. As she struggles with her decision to connect with her father’s family, she also faces a dilemma of two possible love interests: a past love looking to rekindle a flame; and a new love who may have his own past to overcome. As her romantic interests develop in parallel with her interaction with her estranged blood relations, Natalia must discover her own strength as a woman to love without fear.

The Pros

This was a beautiful story of race, romance and its implications and representations in the world around us. I loved how we were able to see both sides of the story — the illegitimate child, now a young adult desperately seeking a connection to her roots; and the late wife, roiling with anger at the past betrayal that only emerges after her husband’s death, and frustrated that she is unable to punish him. Instead, she focuses on who she can punish: Natalia, who had no control over the circumstances that led to her existence.

The author took time to craft each character, even the side characters, and all of the relationships were fraught with emotional angst. The tension was well developed, and there were a few scenes in particular that had me on the edge of my seat. Natalia’s and Pamela’s friendship also breathed some freshness and joviality amidst the heavy subject matter, and made me smile.

The Cons

While I enjoyed and appreciated the overall flow of this story, the genre straddled a divide that interweaves women’s fiction and romance… just like Natalia’s biracial background, it was half and half — which ultimately left a bit to be desired on either side.

The burning passion of a typical romance was more muted here as she vacillated between two possible love options; and the emotional overload of a typical women’s fiction was bubbling under the surface, but came up *just* short of fully exploding for me. With the high drama of the set-up, I somehow expected more suspense, more complicated/flawed female characters, or a gut-wrenching twist at the culmination point… but that’s just not the story here.

Conclusion

I really loved the underlying message of growth, change and acceptance — but it just needed a bit of an extra nudge for me to feel that ultimate triumph for both protagonists at the end. Still, there is a lot to love here. This was a well-rounded story with realistic characters, and it is definitely worth the read.

I also think it is an important story for our time, as racism presently pervades every aspect of our lives. While it’s a good read for anyone, I particularly would recommend it for Christian, female readers (especially women of colour) — despite a wee bit of explicit language, this is an excellent pick for that market. Representation matters, and this novel has it in spades; it would certainly hit that mark of leaving you inspired.

Purchase your copy

I chose this book from an ARC program because I was looking for a trope-filled romance read, and the blurb sounded interesting.

The Premise

Reeling with grief after his sister’s funeral, Navy SEAL Brock finds himself shacking up with his ex-girlfriend and recent one-night stand Monica. The circumstances are unusual: a caseworker brings over recently-orphaned baby Aaron, meant for his sister to look after; and Monica shows up at just the right moment to step in to help — right before a storm sets in.

With no other viable option, Brock and Monica settle in for a few days to care for the baby, waiting out the storm so that he can be safely transferred to his surviving relatives coming from abroad. But unknown to Brock, Monica had originally showed up to share her news: she’s pregnant, with his baby. As the storm rages on, she tries to find the right moment to tell him. Meanwhile, it seems like someone is out to harm baby Aaron — and Brock springs into action to defend them. Monica knows that Brock is ideal to hunker down with when danger’s around — but will he disappear from her life once the storm is over?

The Pros

This was a quick read with a simple though predictable storyline. I liked the dialogue and banter between the couple. I appreciated the flow of the story and the high points of suspense and action. I was also glad that the sex scenes were limited to include what was necessary rather than just being gratuitous overkill — it was a nice balance, and the romance between longtime-friends-and-lovers felt genuine and sweet. I also appreciated the small elements included to explain the characters’ motivations — her life in foster care and dedication to helping preemie babies, and his own stoic outlook based on his background.

The Cons

Though I enjoyed this story, I wished there was more character development. With such a great plot, I felt like it could have been written differently to get me more invested in their romance. The writing needed more fleshing out to bring the emotions to the forefront. There was a general sense of “information overload” in some moments rather than allowing the reader to be there in the moment. We are simply told a lot of facts and have to accept these — they had a one-night stand, they were each other’s soulmates in high school, he had a close relationship with his sister, etc. I wish there were flashbacks, or maybe better references to the past interspersed throughout… as it was, I felt like there was something lacking to really give this plot the expansive freedom to truly shine.

Conclusion

Despite some disappointment in the writing style and feeling like I wanted something “more”, I still enjoyed the story throughout and would not mind reading another book by the author. If you’re looking for a serious thriller, this is not it. I didn’t even want to call it “romantic suspense” because it’s not gripping in that way. I would class it as a nice, light read with enough mystery to keep you reading to the end to find out what happened, and believable characters that make you smile when they get their happily-ever-after.

Purchase your copy

A darkly funny diatribe and celebration of self-discovery in a foreign land

This was my third book I chose from the Reedsy Discovery program, for which I am the single reviewer for this new book. 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

Tina is a workaholic and mother of four-year-old Piper and seven-month-old Lila, who barely has time to spend with her children and husband. When her workload is on the cusp of increasing even more, she reaches her breaking point. Opportunity knocks — as promised by a psychic she encountered — when her husband Daniel gets an opportunity to work in China, and Tina gleefully readies herself for a change of pace: slowing down to be a wife and mother. But Shanghai is nothing like she expected, and a series of culture shocks and hilarious encounters with the locals result in a level of homesickness she feels deep in her non-maternal soul. But through her friendship with elderly tai chi instructor Mr. Han, and her interactions among the community of expats, Tina begins to learn that her current location is less relevant than the person she needs to become.

The Pros & Cons

This is a darkly funny tale of a fish out of water, trapped in a woman on the edge of a nervous breakdown.

Hysterical, high-strung and hilarious, Tina’s story rings true with many women who climbed up the ladder and couldn’t figure out how to get back down. She feels the pressure of the “grandiose, expensive” lifestyle that trapped her in her career, and can’t understand how others don’t feel it too:

Why don’t you feel the weight of the world? You don’t seem miserable. Why aren’t you miserable, Jennifer?

She yearns for the peaceful, creative path the psychic mentions, despite not believing in that “hogwash”:

If skepticism were a building, mine was a skyscraper. If cynicism were a horizon, mine was a skyline packed with doubt-riddled skyscrapers popping out of the ground like blades of grass after a spring rain, too many to count.

Tina is unwilling to bend, change or adjust; but the new culture into which she’s crash-landed also isn’t budging. In a stand-off against anything that China represents, Tina is on the losing end.

But as the months roll by, she finally finds her way once she accepts certain aspects of the expat lifestyle — getting an ayi (domestic helper), enrolling her children in school, and gathering with other expats to play mah-jongg. Most important, though, are her tai-chi lessons with her new friend, Mr. Han.

Mr. Han helps Tina to harness her energy — energy she didn’t know she had, far less how to use it. As she overcomes the challenges life throws her way, Mr. Han guides her how to do exactly what she told Daniel she wanted to do before they moved: to “be happy with exactly where we were at that very moment”.

Fair warning: this is by no means a faithful representation of China, so some scenes may unsettle or offend. Tina’s voice is unapologetically American — “ignorant of abundance” as Mr. Han says; still, her zany moments are delightful — though perhaps not to her poor exasperated husband. I would’ve loved to see even more of Daniel’s challenges with the culture interlaced throughout. Also, as a reader I shared that struggle to be “happy in the moment” because the ending left me with so many questions, but the thing is: that was the point.

Conclusion

This novel takes you on a journey and an adventure through the eyes of a female protagonist who will resonate with many. It is unique and humorously heartfelt, with vivid imagery of a family finding itself amidst the unexpected. I would recommend to anyone, but particularly to women who enjoy a light read with a much deeper meaning. At its core, it is a diatribe and a celebration of self-discovery, or as Tina’s friend Jennifer puts it:

Even this—questioning your life and your choices—this is incredibly brave.

Purchase your copy

I chose this book from an ARC program because I was looking for a quick romance read, and was hoping to find a full story despite the short length of a “prequel”.

The Premise

Smart, plucky Lori is working at a summer camp for children with learning disabilities, while surviving a disaster ex-boyfriend experience and focusing on new adventures before she goes off to college. One of the biggest new adventures she’s hoping for is to shed her virginity — and she soon spots a likely candidate in the form of hunky, outdoorsy Caleb, the brother of her friend Annika. Caleb has a lot on his plate with family drama, but he’s usually up for a summer fling, so he’s happy when Lori agrees to this. But things soon get more serious than either had planned for — and the end of summer is fast approaching. Can they find their way into each other’s future, or will the clock run out on their love?

The Pros

I was pleasantly surprised to find so much depth of imagery in a trope-filled romance. The descriptions were all very vivid, and I could easily imagine the entire life of Caleb’s family, growing up and working on the river. I could feel the spray of the water, the sun, the stars — it was all lovely to experience as a reader. I soon forgave the insta-love (sometimes this can be a con for me) when the relationship developed wonderfully, and I liked the dialogue and interaction with the couple. Both characters were fully fleshed out, and I appreciated that there was also a good development of their surrounding family members, friends and the wider community. All of this was easy to picture, and gave some body to the story as it developed. The heavy elements of grief and family obligation were well balanced with the steamy and funny moments, rounding out a nice and easy-to-read narrative.

The Cons

While I liked the story, I must admit it was predictable. I knew it was a prequel with a lead-up to something else, but the “something else” I spotted far too early in; there were no surprises. I was enjoying the story, but expected a “twist” of high drama before the reconciliation, and it didn’t deliver for me all the way. Also, not really a “con”, but I loved the setting of the camp, and I was disappointed that this was just a by-the-way; I kept waiting for something related to the kids or the camp itself to be some part of the narrative, but no such luck — it was just a “background” for the story.

Conclusion

The overall storyline was a bit too simple for me, but while it wasn’t pore-raising for me as a picky reader, it was excellently written. The beautiful descriptions take you right there to the camp, and the dual POVs were enjoyable with sufficient depth to warm your heart as you root for the couple to finally declare their love. I enjoyed this book and would recommend to anyone who wants a quick romance read with lots of steam and characters that are easy to fall in love with.

Purchase your copy

A raw, riveting, and masterful women’s fiction thriller about the beauty and ugliness lurking inside us all

This was my second book that found me via the Reedsy Discovery program, for which I am the single approved reviewer for this new book. I chose it 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

Maia’s life has been a litany of bad choices, and she’s about to make one more: following a complete stranger into a life he offhandedly sold her on, in a passing conversation. She’s doing what she does best: running. But Boulder, Colorado is far from the idyllic life Joel portrayed, and he’d conveniently omitted some facts: he’s married, with a daughter and another child on the way.

Carolyn’s senses kick into hyperdrive when her husband Joel shows up with a young, beautiful female friend in tow. With limited childcare options as she requires bedrest, she asks Maia to become a mother’s helper — thinking it’s best to keep her enemy nearby. But she hadn’t banked on the role Maia would soon play in her life — and similarly, Maia’s financial needs and past misdeeds lead her to accept the job, not knowing how much it would ultimately change her life.

The Pros

The husband-nanny affair is a tired trope, and usually the affair is the nucleus of everything. Here, that fact was necessary — but ultimately, not the point at all. There are so many layers and such profound substance here; an overabundance of themes all tightly packed into this riveting, nail-biting thriller of a women’s fiction masterpiece.

The prose is eloquent and visceral; a joy to uncover; a treasure revealed.

Maia’s youthful innocence and palpable beauty is tainted by her lack of self-worth, and the trail of casual abuse she encounters: the price for beauty, and her desperation to be more…

Please let me be a part of this. Please tell me I’m good at something that has nothing to do with my outsides.

Carolyn’s suspicion, regret, and guilt permeate her daily life, giving us a firsthand view of lived trauma. The apathetic disregard by others in her life (her well-meaning but manipulative family, her fair-weather friends, and most importantly: her husband) is an emotional gut-punch…

Here is the truth about infidelity: you imagine you want to know, but you don’t, because once you know, everything has to change, and by virtue of knowing, it becomes your job to change it.

Every character is expertly crafted, even the side characters, both good and bad. The effervescent innocence of four-year-old Sasha bursts through, melting your core with its irresistible sweetness; not to mention the sad eyes of the ancient dog, Vader.

There are no saints here — neither party is entirely innocent, nor absolutely guilty. Even the philandering Joel is not portrayed as evil. Like everyone else, he is simply flawed, and at a loss for what to do in this unusual situation, lest he reveal his own transgressions.

As the two women form an intricate bond, the irony is inescapable: each believes the other knows; still, their connection is unique and intangible. Though the reader knows the women’s friendship is doomed from the beginning, there is always that flutter of hope that somehow, someway, via some kernel of universal magic, it can survive that impending collision, the explosion of their lives as the truth inevitably pours out.

The story unfolds with a deep, thought-provoking insight into the bonds of marriage, female friendship, and so much more. It is also an atmospheric tale that transports you to the seedy underbelly of the idyllic life of Boulder, Colorado — past the expensive homes and manicured lives and judgy mommy groups, to an undercurrent of desperation to belong, and become something other than yourself.

Conclusion

This novel was raw, real, gripping, and masterful. Despite its serious themes — death, grief, abuse, infidelity — there remains a billowing sail of levity: a burst-your-sides-laughing moment of hilarity around the corner; a wonderful surprise. This book latches onto your soul and stays with you. I will gladly re-read, and savour every moment again even though I know it’s coming.

Purchase your copy

I chose this book from an ARC program because I had recently read a book by the same author duo, “My Cover Model” which I enjoyed, so I was hoping for something similar.

The Premise

Long-time besties Griffin and Madeline have grown up together and are comfortable enough around each other for them to talk about their sex lives openly, to be intimate around others without it seeming sexual, and to be in each other’s family and friends circles — not to mention: to change their clothes in front of each other. When she finally dumps her loser ex right before her birthday, she decides she wants an earth-shattering orgasm and asks Griffin to lend a helping hand. Their friends-with-benefits situation soon develops into something more — until it is swiftly cut short by an unexpected event. Being a friend is more needed than ever before — but is it too late for these friends-turned-lovers to get back what they lost… and maybe much more?

The Pros

This was a swift, easy read. The dual POVs were easy to follow without getting confused with the frequent shifting, and I enjoyed getting both perspectives. Thankfully — a noted improvement from my last book by the same author duo — this time the male perspective had just as much weight as the female viewpoint; here, it was more or less equal (that had been a con, my last time!). Griffin was dashingly handsome and sexy, and Madeline seemed to be a pretty girl up for a good time — but they still had their endearing side. As they’ve been friends forever, it was easy to see what each saw in the other. I enjoyed the dialogue, and there were some spicy bits that I loved which were well written, and overall this was a good read.

The Cons

However, the story itself seemed far too simple: friends to lovers with a dash of drama that was easily resolved. It hit the trope boxes with very little deviation, and I wanted more. While I enjoyed reading, and there were funny moments, it wasn’t nearly as hilarious as the last book I’d read in the series (so perhaps my expectations were set high). While I was happy for the couple to get together, there was very little “newness” — these two already know each other inside out, so it was a bit lacklustre for me. I expected more drama, more contention, more temptation… just… well, more.

Conclusion

Though this book didn’t rock my world totally, it was still a good, short read with lively characters that kept me turning the pages to see what would happen. There was also an overall message here that I appreciated, and the role of grief and community friendship was heartwarming. While it wasn’t swoon-worthy enough for my picky tastes, I still liked it a lot and I would recommend to others who like their romance sexy and swift!

Purchase your copy

This book found me via an ARC program, and I chose it because I was in need of something light and sweet — and this ticked those boxes for me!

The Premise

Andrea — “Andie” — sees her life slipping out from under her, after she loses a promotion she was counting on — one for which she’d sacrificed her relationship to a good man, Nick. In need of a fundamental change, she travels to Hawaii to help run a coffee shop owned by her friend Apikelia — “Api”. She soon meets Warren Yates, an attractive stranger who enters the shop looking for Api, and finds Andie instead. As she and Warren get closer, he dedicates himself to making sure she enjoys her time in Hawaii through creating “moments” as they tour the islands. Meanwhile, Andie soon realises her work is cut out for her with the coffee shop — there is barely any traffic and no marketing plan. It is the perfect opportunity to throw herself into, and she soon makes moves to turn the business around. As she pours her heart and soul into the project, she is unaware that Warren is not who he appears to be — and when she finds out just how he is tied to her efforts, she may never forgive him. Is there a chance for these two lovers to connect, and have their own “moment”?

The Pros

This was a very sweet, clean romance, and I loved the imagery that poured through every page. The blurb described it as an “atmospheric romance”, and it was indeed — it felt like you were in Hawaii, and it was clear that the authors had taken their time to build all of this descriptive beauty into the tale. There was a lot of history and culture as the story developed and the couple had their outings to different locations, and I enjoyed this aspect of the narrative. I also liked the budding female friendships as Andie got to know her coworkers, her longstanding friendship with Api, and the beaming pride you could feel in the workers at the coffee plantation — all of this was so beautifully done.

The Cons

While I enjoyed the overall feel of the novel, the romance was tepid for me, rather than scorching hot. Also, the POV jumped suddenly from Andie to Warren — after we’d been having Andie’s first person narrative for 80% of the book. I would have preferred the POVs be interlaced rather than that sudden shift, because by then Warren seemed to be an entirely different person than who he was through Andie’s eyes. It also felt like some of the action happened “offstage” — Warren’s chasing her to make amends, and the time shift after she left Hawaii. I wanted to feel more of that tension and emotion first-hand, rather than via a recap.

Conclusion

Though the novel didn’t have me hanging on the edge of my seat, I did enjoy it throughout. It was nicely developed, and would be a great book to read on a vacation or on the beach — or if you feel you need to go to one of those! The description whisks you away to another world entirely, and you fall in love with the islands along with Andie. Though lacking that extra “oomph” for me personally, it was beautifully written, and I would highly recommend to anyone who would enjoy a sweet, clean romance in an exotic location.

Purchase your copy

I chose this book from an ARC program because it sounded interesting, and I was looking for a “whodunnit” type of novel.

The Premise

After a long absence, Isobel returns home to the small coastal town Cape Cross where she grew up. Out for a run one day, she stumbles upon a dead body on the beach, and is startled to notice a passing resemblance to herself — not to mention the bizarre fact she soon learns: she shares a birthday with the dead woman, Veronica. Isobel soon finds herself embroiled in a murder investigation that seems to be targeting all the people in her life — many of whom intersect with Veronica’s life as well. Meanwhile Maya is grieving the loss of her close friend Veronica, and at the same time is reconnecting with her old friend Isobel. As Maya’s recollection of events unfolds, so too does Veronica’s present nightmare: why does she share so many similarities to a dead woman she never met, why was this woman also looking for her, and what secrets are everyone hiding from her?

The Pros

This was a fast-paced thriller with short, choppy chapters that kept me reading on to see what would happen next. I liked the way the story developed, the way characters were introduced, and the interweaving of the plot as possible suspects were interrogated. When the truth was eventually revealed at its climax, I realised there was foreshadowing to the murder early on in the novel and I really appreciated that the writer did that so well that I hadn’t noticed it at the time. Overall a nice thrill of a read.

The Cons

This was a good book and I enjoyed it, but I really wanted to like it more. For one thing, it wasn’t a “perfect” likeness at all, just a passing resemblance — and, along with the shared birthdate, this made it fairly easy to guess from the very beginning how this similarity happened. The story is told from the viewpoints of Maya and Isobel, and at times I wasn’t sure who was the narrator as their voices were not distinct, so I found myself flipping back to double-check. Also, with at least part of the plot so obvious, I felt frustrated that Isobel took so long to figure it out. I also wished for more of an emotional connection to Maya, who I felt for as she struggled in a loveless marriage, but I wanted more of this. I liked the mystery and the writing style was excellent at delivering this, but I wasn’t in love with either protagonist to feel the emotionally overwhelming tale that I had anticipated.

Conclusion

Though marketed in the blurb as a “psychological thriller”, I didn’t get this; I classified it as more of a mystery. “Psychological thrillers” usually blow your mind; here, I was interested to keep reading, but it left me wanting a bit more extra “oomph”. I know I am a picky reader and had really high expectations for this one given the synopsis, so that might have contributed to my overall feeling when I was finished with the book. Nevertheless this was a fast-paced read that held my interest, and I would recommend to anyone who enjoys mysteries. I would also be interested in reading another book by this author.

Purchase your copy

This book founds its way to me via an ARC program, and I was interested in it because of the rare “cross-breed” genre of being both a women’s fiction and a thriller. I am so glad I took a chance on this book.

​​

The Premise

Sophie is struggling with anxiety and survivor’s guilt years after the loss of her husband and son in a car accident, and finds solace in an affair with her boss Bastian. Madelyn-May is at the helm of a picture-perfect mommy-blogger empire, Love Mommy, despite the irony that her family thinks she is a horrible mother to her 12-year-old twins Harlow and Harry, and a terrible wife to her long-suffering husband Bastian.

When Bastian gives Sophie a manuscript to edit, it triggers memories of the past, her ailing mother and a decision she once made in a desperate moment. Now, armed with crippling grief and loss at the turn of the five-year anniversary of her family’s demise, her heart tugs her to make a decision that may change her life. Meanwhile, Madelyn-May is being targeted by a ghost of her past threatening to destroy everything she has built. The two women’s stories interlock, and as the story develops this is revealed to the reader with the past history interlaced with the present.

The Pros

This novel was expertly crafted and thrilling from beginning to end. As we enter Sophie and Madelyn-May’s lives, we feel the rawest emotions: grief, pain, love, sacrifice, regret, and so much more. The story unwinds with an interesting way of revealing itself, by giving us both the past and the present for each woman to explain how they each got to where they are in their personal lives.

I really loved the fact that these two main characters were flawed, but each had redeeming qualities that made you feel their pain and hope for their triumph, despite the terrible things they had done. Also, a “women’s fiction thriller” is a rare crossbreed of a genre, and yet this author manages it magnificently. There were the moments that evoked high drama and crushing emotion that we expect from a women’s fiction, and still there was the undercurrent of “the chase” with the antagonist on the peripheries waiting to pounce and pull Madelyn-May’s life to shreds. The imagery was so beautifully evocative when at the novel’s explosive finale, everything came full circle. The ending was a juicy thrill that left me wanting more, so much more.

The Cons

There are very few cons I can pull out with a 5-star read, but I admit I wanted to see a bit more of the earlier part of Bastian and Sophie’s relationship — how did she overcome her grief and fear of the world to open herself to someone (far less a married man), and what pivotal moment caused him to break his vows, for these two to end up entangled? I was also surprised that Madelyn-May had such a public and visible job, given her past; it seemed to make her an easy target for not just the actual antagonist but anyone from her past life. But though these things made me wonder, I soon let them go as the novel took its control over me.

Conclusion

This was an excellent novel, and I indulged in every emotion it brought out in me. I chuckled when the writer slipped in a reference to Jodi Picoult, one of my own favourite writers, because I could see the ways she strived to achieve Picoult’s style in her own novel — still, it was not derivative, but a nod of respect. Despite my burning questions about the plot that left me wanting, the story had a life of its own and sits in a rare niche genre that is often managed poorly — thankfully, here the writer wrangles it together with amazing literary skill to craft a story that will always stay with me. I recommend this book to anyone who can handle tough, raw, trigger issues — it is not for the faint of heart, but if you can manage to, it is worth every bit of the thrill ride.

Purchase your copy

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.

Purchase your copy

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.

Purchase your copy

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!

Purchase your copy

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.

Purchase your copy

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.

Purchase your copy

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.

Purchase your copy

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!

Purchase your copy

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.

Purchase your copy

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.

Purchase your copy

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.

Purchase your copy

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.

Purchase your copy

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.

Purchase your copy

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.

Purchase your copy

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.”

Purchase your copy

As a fellow author, it’s one thing to review what draws my fancy at my own leisure, but it’s quite another when I open a book I’ve already promised to review (with no small amount of trepidation, I might add). You see, I’ve been burnt before — saddled with a novel that I dread finishing, and flailing to find something salvageable to comment on!

I need not have worried, in this case. I came across the book’s description on a Facebook writers’ group, and was instantly drawn in. And I am so, so thankful I took the chance on this not-yet-published novel.

The Premise

Stunning from beginning to end, “Ellipsis” charts the trajectory of a young woman from the overconfident highs of her early adulthood and passionate affair with a foreigner, through the debilitating grief and profound loss of a loved one, and timid emergence and blossoming into a new sense of self and purpose. Eloquently written and aptly described, there is so much substance here — an overabundance of themes intricately woven into the lives of these characters: beauty, violence, levity, loss, friendship, peace.

The Pros

I really liked the fact that all of these characters felt incredibly real. The cast is diverse in so many ways, and each was fully sketched and crafted — fabulously flawed, but resplendently relatable. From the Armenian lover, to the reclusive but endearing art teacher, to the officer’s dutiful but lingering gaze, and even the broad range of reactions from the grieving families; there is a vivid thread of description here that many authors fail to do well. Here, it is effortless, and I can easily imagine every character — her son’s lackadaisical boyhood sweet mustiness, her supposedly functional family’s emotively stunted responses, and the scared child clinging desperately on the other end of the line.

The writing meanders along with grace, style, and those tiny nuances of women’s fiction moments that are pure gold: revelling in the motherhood moment of feeling like “I’ve won”, the prickly feeling of the awareness of a lover’s infidelity, the nasty undercurrent of nonchalance while observing others’ lives around you — those lives not lived: “sometimes you don’t ride off into the sunset entirely, and that was okay”.

There is so much story here — so many avenues to explore, that I was thrilled to relish every kernel of life slowly revealed as the tale developed. The pacing has distinct shifts but despite the various phases of its life cycle, it does not lag or rush but buds and blooms, sprouting tendrils of life just like the flower on the novel’s cover.

Normally I have a “Cons” section, but I can’t with any real sense of conviction pick this apart to call out a flaw worth mentioning. I read it through quickly and thoroughly enjoyed the ride, revelling in the journey the author took me on.

Conclusion

This is a book I can easily see translated to film, or read for a Literature class or book club. There is a lot to unpack, and so many lessons to be learnt here. There is so much heart in this tale that at times it was simply breathtaking. There is joy; a slight blip of hope humming under our heroine’s skin: hope to make a difference, hope to change a life, hope to find purpose despite her own tragedy. And there is love here; a profound love of self that must fight its way to the surface and overcome. This is a book I will gladly re-read, time and time again.

Purchase your copy

I won’t lie — this book started off a bit rocky with me, because it felt like I’d been dumped into the mind of a crazy person! But I’m glad I stuck it out, because I wound up enjoying it quite a lot.

*Disclaimer: as part of a book club, I chose this one out of hundreds of books because I was in the mood for something funny, for a change! And it did not disappoint.*

The Premise

Never-been-anywhere-or-done-anything-of-significance Lucy decides to do a complete 180-degree turn from her usual character and drop everything to hop on board the “backup” honeymoon in London because her sister forgot to cancel it. The hotel has strict rules that it must be for honeymooners only, so Lucy tells a “little white lie” that soon develops into a messy situation when an old friend from school, Cary, swoops in to play along as her husband in a marriage of convenience so he can escape the horrors of hostel life. But hotel concierge Oliver is on their trail, aware that something just doesn’t add up…

The Pros

This was light-hearted and genuinely funny, and had a distinct tinge of the kind of brain-dump silliness that I’ve always enjoyed with the Sophie Kinsella’s “Shopaholic” series. It’s an easy comparison, because Lucy is in her head and quirkily stumbling along with every move. I enjoyed the London and Paris scenes, especially as I’ve been to both places, and the humour kept me reading the book which I flipped through in a couple of hours. It’s a nice, jaunty read with no lulls, and the characters are lively. The side relationships and her budding friendships with both male leads felt genuine, and there were many moments of levity despite the seriousness at the peak of the action.

The Cons

While I enjoyed the story, the writing did seem all over the place at times! There were also some parts that seemed tossed in with side characters having their own thing going on, and it took away from some of the pacing. For example, all the messages from her family were distracting me from the plot, and I could have done with a lot less of that to keep me in the thick of things! But these are minor issues that did not negate the wonderful ride of the story overall.

Conclusion

All in all, this was a good, fun and easy read. Despite some hiccups, I did not stop reading it at all, and I relished the end where everything wrapped up nicely and it all fell into place. It was a little disorienting to be in the character’s head along with all the meandering thoughts, but it was a fun escape and nice travel story. I look forward to more from this author.

Purchase your copy

There’s something disturbing and beautiful about this novel, despite the seemingly lacklustre rating.

Bear in mind I’m a picky reader, and I know exactly what I loved and didn’t love about it, which I’m happy to share with you so that you can make up your own mind. I can see that this would be an excellent and empowering book for some women, but it fell short for me personally due to my own preferences.

*Disclaimer: as part of a book club, I chose this one out of hundreds of books because I loved the premise and I was looking for something with NO TROPES for a change! I also write women’s fiction/romance without tropes, so reading this kind of book was part of my journey to develop my own writing.*

The Premise:

Told through two characters in the third person “Olivia” and “She”, the novel traces a relationship from the onset of passion to the nosedive of marriage fraught with a seemingly schizophrenic man. One minute he’s hot and the other he’s abrasive and cold. It’s unclear what his motivations are, and he is frustrating the woman he is with. I felt just as confused as the female character(s). Despite strong friendships and heartwarming relationships with her kids, this man is ruling her emotions and has her doubting who she is and if she deserves love.

The Pros:

I really enjoyed reading a novel with NO TROPES for a change. There was no destination that screamed “HAPPILY EVER AFTER, right this way”. From the very title, you know it’s a CAUTIONARY TALE, so you don’t expect it to end in anything fluffy. The writer captured some of the nuances of conversation and actions in a relationship where a man leaves a woman in debilitating mistrust of her own memory. The stream-of-consciousness laced with insecurity is something that resonates with every woman. I also enjoyed the fact that there were a lot of loose ends never figured out. Despite not knowing, “She” went with her gut in the end. In real life, sometimes there aren’t any answers. So while it felt unsettling, that was the whole point.

The Cons:

While I liked the chapter separations of “She” and “Olivia”, and I liked the general idea of what was done stylistically, the execution left a bit to be desired. I had a sensation of a general malaise with the jumping to and fro. It felt like things were glossed over or rushed in an effort to get to the end of the story. The man’s issues in his past were blurted out, rather than “discovered” — as were many other key elements of the story, which combined to dilute the tension that I would have liked to feel building up. Some readers prefer this style, but it was not my own preference so it led to disappointment overall. I really wanted to FEEL the emotions, not just read about them.

Conclusion:

Nevertheless, the overall message is beautiful: “She” could be any of us. There are so many “She”s around us: women in situations that they know are not healthy for them, but they stay anyway because they are afraid of being alone. I can see how this book can land in the hands of a woman in the same situation, and it can be just what she needs to give herself a kick in the pants to get the hell away from a toxic relationship. I do think this book is worth giving a try, or passing it along to a female friend who you think may get something out of it.

Purchase your copy

It was refreshing for me — after a litany of heavy-handed bad boy tropes and expletives in my recent reads — to dive into this sweet story.

Disclaimer: I was looking for a sweet romance story, in an effort to improve my own writing. I write “real-life romance” which has some very sweet elements with family and marriage relationships, and I wanted to see a good example of the difference between the raunchier stories and the sweet/clean elements.

The Premise

Marina has escaped an abusive relationship with the only thing that matters: a child… albeit a mute, terrified child who has no blood relation to her. Four-year-old Kellyn is the only thing that links her to her past: a righteous dick of a powerfully-connected man who doesn’t deserve to walk the face of the earth. Still, she’s stayed close to him despite a flimsy restraining order she knows won’t be enforced, because of the child’s therapy and wellbeing needs.

From the outset this strange arrangement is endearing, if a little odd — she’s well aware that he can find her in a heartbeat, which of course he soon does, particularly when he hears about the new man in her life: her next-door neighbour and the town sheriff, Aiden.

The Pros

Aiden was a breath of fresh air, and I thoroughly enjoyed how the writer focused on him building a relationship with the little girl, not just her mother. He fell in love with them both: “his girls”. The town was also a breezy idyllic love-zone that welcomed and facilitated Marina’s career, which was cute if a little saccharine-sweet.

There are a lot of themes to unpack here, but the basic one that came to mind was female empowerment. Though Aiden is a cop, he is not the alpha hero here to save the day. Marina is the one who kicks ass from the beginning to the end of this tale — as she should be. She is “a victor, not a victim” as she reminds herself constantly. I liked that she didn’t need to be rescued. This story could have easily gone another way… particularly with his profession as a cop.

Aiden’s purpose in her life is not to rescue her, but to rebuild her faith in love. I loved the overall premise, and even though the writing veered into the land of the flowery from time to time — literally: they bond over gardening! — the meaty chunks of a love story were nice enough to bite into. There is also a heart-burstingly, beautiful moment where Kellyn finds her voice, which was beautifully done.

The Cons

So why didn’t I score it higher? Well, I’m a picky reader, and some things bothered me.

Firstly, some of the dialogue was a little lacklustre, and dreamboat Aiden and survivor Marina didn’t seem to have any character flaws. He was a good guy, she was an abused woman. I kept hoping for more character development, but the most character development was in poor little Kellyn, who emerges out of her shell and finds her voice when it is most needed. But clearly (and unfortunately) the kid was the star here, not the two leads.

Finally, there was more than enough story without having them jumping each other’s bones. Like, at all. I’m no prude and I enjoy a good hay-romp read from time to time, but it felt misplaced here somehow. Coming out from physical and sexual abuse, it was just… jarring. I wasn’t hungry for those scenes. I could have easily have done without any of the sex until the very, very end, if at all. After Marina found her strength. After she gets rid of the loser ex. After Kellyn found her voice. Just… after.

Conclusion

Despite those key issues which combined to knock off a whole star for me, I did really enjoy the book, and I flew through it in just two days. The writing style and flow were great, and it is indeed heartwarming and very, very sweet. Totally worth the read, and I look forward to more from the author. I just hope there’s a wee bit more depth the next time around, because there was so much potential here for something really amazing.

Purchase your copy

While I enjoyed this book for the most part, I must admit I’m a little disappointed because I really wanted to love it more.

Again, I should share the disclaimer that I was looking for tropes, to widen my own horizon as a writer of “real-life romance”.

The Premise

It begins promisingly enough with former SEAL guy Maddox knocking on Bridget’s door and wheedling his way in to stay although she isn’t technically open yet, with the magic words: “I’ve got tools.” They proceed to embark on a friendship where he helps her get her inn ready and she helps him with research for his new ice-cream business. It’s cute and sweet, but not really overly dramatic. Their lust with each other rapidly turns into love (mind you: all of this develops over a few days) when they connect through sharing their pasts.

The Pros & Cons

A slight miscommunication leads Bridget to believe he’s taken, when he’s not, and this is the entire premise of the tension of the book. This was my issue here — it was really drawn out for far too long. The blurb led me to believe he actually was taken, and he wasn’t. I felt cheated for being led to believe this, because I was hoping for more drama in this regard. So, about the drama… there just… well, wasn’t any.

The back story and mystery were all nicely done — his reasons for leaving the SEALS, her mystery about her family, etc etc. There is a lot of story here, and it is all very sweet. The story is technically very well-written, the descriptions were lovely and I could imagine the town and its military events… but the dialogue just didn’t take me all the way there. The sex scenes were okay, but again I wasn’t swept away. I was just relieved that the miscommunication was over so they could finally get to the sex part! Overall, the story was going quite good, I was enjoying the characters… but I just wasn’t gripping onto the edge of my seat.

The book does end on a cliffhanger, which I’m sure will annoy readers everywhere because the couple’s entire story is complete, except for that nugget of information not shared (you’re supposed to invest in further books in the series to find out about it). I don’t mind cliffhangers but I do have a slight issue with this. If you’re going to end on a cliffhanger (which I’ve done, in my own books) it has to be a WHOPPER of a cliffhanger where there is a romantic “Will they… won’t they???” and in this case, it just wasn’t that. The entire romance story was wound up into the Happily Ever After, and still there was something never explained. If you can tolerate that, then this book won’t frustrate you.

Conclusion

For me, this book still starred quite highly because the writing was good and the story kept me interested all the way through. I appreciated that the male lead wasn’t SUPER alpha, and that the female lead had a lot of endearing qualities as well. I enjoyed reading their story, and I’m glad I read the book. I may pick up another by the author as I appreciated the writing talent, but I’m just not totally sold on grabbing everything in this series right away.

Purchase your copy

This was my second book by this author and I enjoyed it even more than the last one I read by her (“Man Candy“).

I should provide a disclaimer: I was in the mood for tropes. I write unpredictable, real-life romance with dubious “heroes/heroines”, and as an effort to educate myself and grow as a writer, I was specifically looking for more typical romances with the usual reader journey. To that end, “Irresistible” does not disappoint at all. It had a fair handful of boxes ticked off from the jump, and it says right in the subtitle “(A Small Town Single Dad Romance)“.

The Premise

Former marine Mack is lusting after his sometimes nanny, who also happens to be the boss’ daughter and ten years his junior; meanwhile Frannie is the most capable super-domestic creature that’s haplessly in love with him as well. The endless cooking and effortless childminding were over the top, but cute and fluffy and of course necessary because poor Mack needs all of that saccharine-sweetness in his life. He’s been torturing his three little girls with unhealthy crap and a bad relationship with his ex-wife.

The Pros

The story was a rollicking romp from the first page right to the end, and I breezed through it in a couple of days. Having read another by the same author, I actually felt the familiarity in the writing, and looked forward to the journey. Overall I loved it, thoroughly enjoyed it, and couldn’t put it down. I loved foul-mouthed Mack and naive Frannie, and the kids are adorable scene-stealers. The dialogue is laugh-out-loud funny at times, and the naughty scenes are *ooh* scintillating. I really love how this author manages (yet again) to make the sex scenes sexy without absolute overkill. I also appreciate how she manages to interweave the stories of others, without flinging them at the reader. I genuinely wanted to learn more about all the side characters, from all the tiny kernels she dropped like breadcrumbs throughout the main characters’ scenes. I also enjoyed the growth of Frannie’s character, coming into her own and standing her ground with her family; girl power: woot!

The Cons

I don’t mind cursing, and my own characters curse a LOT, but I must admit that Mack dropping the F-bomb in front of his kids every other minute bothered me a bit. Sure, curse all you want otherwise… but in front of the kids I would have appreciated a bit more restraint. On the plus side, the charities must have been making a killing from that swear jar! I also think some of the trope elements weren’t really necessary — the age difference isn’t appalling, and the “boss’ daughter” element was another extra that didn’t seem to have any real impact here. Finally, the end was a little too swift for my liking; it sped ahead from one thing to another seemingly because it just had to fit that romance box! So I must admit I had some eye-rolling coming down to the very end. These were tiny hiccups though.

Conclusion

I will gladly grab another in this series, or any other series by this author. I was on the fence with the first book by her that I read, but I’m sold now, and became a fan! I signed up to her newsletter, and received the bonus scene to the book, which made me smile. Totally worth it.

Purchase your copy

Full disclosure: I was in the mood for tropes. As I recently discussed on my Writer Blog, my own writing is very different with an unpredictable reader journey, so picking up a book that’s EXACTLY what I was referring to (where the title gives it all away) was a “research” effort on my part to look at the market for my own readers.

The Pros & Cons

Fortunately this book exceeded my expectations on many fronts. The tropes, while there, were subverted to some extent — (1) They hadn’t been “best friends” in ages, and (2) Blanca had no idea she was dating her best friend’s ex, which went on for at least half of the story. Far longer than I thought it would, which had its pros and cons. On the plus side, there were a myriad of OTHER issues that came way before that, and were just as important as the trope.

Ethan had quite a lot of damage on his own, without even being “forbidden fruit” — and I would have gladly read an entire novel on the two of them without the bestie-ex factor. There was enough there to flesh out something beautiful. His family issues and office relationship aversion are big enough “hang-ups” on their own! So by the time the “big reveal” came, I was just glad that part was over so it could get to the other good stuff! I liked that the main characters both felt fully developed, and I could easily imagine both their family scenarios — the boisterous, raucous overbearing brotherhood on Blanca’s side, and the quiet strained relationship on Ethan’s side.

I actually had no qualms whatsoever about Sierra (the ex) being bitchy (for some readers, I’m sure this would be an issue) but I did wish there was a greater build-up to her back story to create more tension. However, when it came to the side characters, I wasn’t enjoying them as much as I should have. As the writers noted in an afterword, the “Friends” sitcom element was there, with the guys and girls living in apartments right next to each other and being intertwined inextricably. That shadow of “Friends” was a bit too heavy-handed for me, as it seemed like each side character was painted in the broadest of strokes. There were snippets of everyone but it seemed like caricatures of roles without enough depth or subtlety. I realised that the characters were being developed just enough for “future use” throughout the series, but it felt like they were being thrown at me precisely for that purpose, rather than me being naturally inclined to want to know their stories.

Conclusion

Still, overall, I enjoyed the book, and read through it quickly in a couple of days. The writing was light and airy, the dialogue and sexy scenes are just racy enough without being overkill, and there is enough sweetness to make you smile and stay up late at night reading. The story has enough twists and turns to hook you if you’re not as picky a reader as I am. I’m not immediately craving more from the series, but I’d be happy to read another and would also like to try another series from the same writers.

Purchase your copy