Book Review - The Kennedy Debutante by Kerri Maher

 

 

 

 

The Kennedy Debutante by Kerri Maher is about Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy’s time in London. In 1938, Kick and her family moved to London when her father was named ambassador. She enjoys spending time in high society social circles and attending balls and parties with highly influential people. Kick loves being on her own and free from her family’s expectations of her.

Kick’s mother, Rose, is strict and overbearing. She expects Kick to follow all of her rules and to always be mindful of her image. Her older brothers, Jack and Joe, are always up to something and are still their father’s confidantes. Kick has always felt left out that her older brothers could do whatever they wanted and yet still be in their father’s good graces. Her older sister, Rosemary, displayed erratic behavior that many people in polite society frowned upon. As her behaviors are considered strange, Rosemary tends to be excluded from events by her family to avoid people passing judgment on her.  As Kick begins exploring all that London has to offer, she finally feels free to pursue things that matter to her, including a certain future Duke.

Kick and Billy Hartington, the future Duke of Devonshire run in the same social circles and spend a lot of time together. The pair find themselves drawn to each other and they fall for each other. However, their love is prohibited as Kick’s family is Catholic and Billy’s family is Protestant. As they navigate their budding relationship, war breaks out and the entire world is thrown into chaos. The Kennedys are forced to return to the States, causing Kick to try and find her way back into Billy’s arms. When she finds work that allows her to return to London, she must decide if she will choose Billy or her family.

I thought the book was an okay read. I started losing interest though towards the halfway point. It felt very boring to me because the book only talked about parties that Kick or someone else from her social circle was attending. I was struggling to find a plot during portions of the book. 

The novel included a lot of famous people and characters that weren’t fleshed out much. A few of them I had to look up to learn their backstory but after a while that became tedious. It would have been nice to have a glossary that gave a snippet or footnote of each person’s background, or some story building by the author.  The ending was a bit abrupt and the author did include more details about Kick’s life that happened a few years after the book concluded. I felt like that part of Kick’s life was more exciting than the parts we got to read about in the novel.

 

Book Review - Unknown Threat by Lynn Blackburn

 

 

Unknown Threat by Lynn Blackburn is about two U.S. Secret Service agents who are racing against the clock to find out who is murdering their fellow agents.  US Secret Service Special Agent Luke Powell was on a run with a colleague when they were attacked. Luke barely made it out alive and his partner is in critical care.  Luke’s attack has been one in a series of attacks against his colleagues. In the past ten weeks, three of his fellow agents had died in unusual circumstances. 

Luke is shattered by the death and loss of his friends. He feels that it’s his personal mission to find the killer and find justice for his colleagues.  Luke feels helpless that he can’t protect the people he loves, especially since they are good people who have spent their lives protecting others.

FBI Special Agent Faith Malone is driven and ambitious. She is confident that she will solve every case that she is assigned. However, when she is put in charge of the investigation of the attacks on Secret Service agents, she is worried that as she and Luke get to know each other on professional and personal levels, it raises stakes higher than any of her previous cases.

Faith and Luke have worked together before but he doesn’t feel that Faith is the right person for the job. He feels that his department should be handling the investigation since the attacks seem to be targeting his team. Faith feels that Luke is hiding secrets that could jeopardize the investigation and cause more people to get hurt. As more people they love are targeted, will Faith and Luke be able to put their disagreements aside and work together?

The book was a quick read. It was interesting to try and guess who the killer was and their motives behind the attacks. There weren't many clues and the story did feel slow at times. However, the ending seemed a bit weird to me and I thought the motive was a bit far-fetched. The romance element between the two characters felt a bit flat. There wasn’t much chemistry or cute moments between the two characters. I might read a few more books by this author but I wouldn’t go out of my way to get them.

 

Book Review - Ashton Hall by Lauren Belfer

 

Ashton Hall by Lauren Belfer is about an American woman named Hannah Larson and her son, Nicky, finding buried secrets in an old English manor. Hannah and Nicky travel to Ashton Hall, a historic manor house outside Cambridge, England to stay with an ailing relative, who lives there. 

Hannah has given up her academic career to raise her son, who is neurodivergent and experiences the world differently. She is glad for the respite as she left her husband back in New York City. She is afraid what her next steps would be in her marriage after witnessing her husband commit a devastating act of adultery with someone else.

When the pair arrive at the manor, Hannah allows Nicky the freedom to explore the manor unsupervised. Nicky is good at noticing patterns and he was able to find a secret door hidden in the wallpaper. The door leads to a closed off wing and there Nicky finds the skeletal remains of a woman.

Hannah finds herself drawn to this mysterious woman’s story. She and another fellow researcher from the manor dig through personal papers and centuries old ledgers to piece together what happened to the corpse they discovered. As Hannah works to find out the truth, she finds her own life slowly unraveling.

I thought this was going to be a thriller or murder mystery novel as it was classified as a gothic mystery. Instead it was a boring and pointless book. The author goes into such mundane details about everything, that I found myself lulled to sleep while reading. The author would go into detail about what the person read or packed for lunch. However, even though we are given so many pointless details about everything else, we still don’t know what really happened to the dead woman. I think the book is more a research piece on how people lived back in that time period than anything else. 

I also didn’t care for any of the characters. Hannah spent so much time complaining about her husband’s affair and then dealing with his reaction to her confronting him.  Her son was also an unlikeable character. He gets violent to the point where Hannah fears for her safety and locks him in his room at night. She worries if she should tell others but never gives them any warning about his violent tendencies. If this book was billed as women’s contemporary fiction, I wouldn’t have been so disappointed.

Book Review - The Spanish Diplomat's Secret by Nev March

 

The Spanish Diplomat's Secret  by Nev March is about a couple who set sail to England on a cruise ship and they witness a murder. In the summer of 1894, Captain Jim Agnihotri and his wife, Lady Diana Framji were going to England for a family visit. Jim is excited to spend some time with his wife as he feels that she has been distant lately.  He hopes that Diana will open up to him and they can repair their bond.

The first evening on the ship, Jim is feeling seasick. As Jim clings to the hand railing of the deck, he crosses paths with another traveler, Don Juan Nepomuceno. The passenger is a Spaniard and a fellow soldier. Jim feels a connection with him and spends a few minutes chatting with Don Juan. Within twenty four hours, Don Juan sent a note to Jim asking to speak with him privately. Before Jim can visit, it is discovered that Don Juan was brutally murdered.

When the ship’s captain learns that Jim is an investigator, he asks Jim to help find the killer before they dock in Liverpool. Jim has six days to find the person behind the crime otherwise the murder can lead to international consequences. Jim’s investigative skills are put to the test as he has to figure out who committed the murder in a locked cabin room and there are over a thousand passengers on board. There were no witnesses to the crime. And to make matters worse, Jim is experiencing seasickness and is struggling to find his sea legs. He doesn’t  want to put Diana in danger but he knows he can’t navigate the high society world of the first class passengers without her help.

When I first saw the book I didn’t realize it was a part of a series. It wasn’t clear to me until I looked up the book online. The book can be read as a standalone but I think certain references to Jim and Diane’s past would have made more sense if I read the previous books.

I was excited to read the book but disappointed at how slow and drawn out the story was. Pages upon pages would go by and nothing new would happen. The mastermind and motive was very obvious but a so-called detective couldn’t see it until the very end. I also didn’t like that the book had so many political details.  I found that it  took away from the story. I did like the historic details about the ship and passengers, though. I felt that I might have enjoyed this book if it was shorter and I got to learn more about the characters, i.e. if I had more details of them from previous books.

Book Review - At Home on Marigold Lane by Debbie Mason

 

At Home on Marigold Lane by Debbie Mason is about a young woman returning home to recuperate after a serious injury and a failed marriage. To add insult to injury, she then runs into the man that broke her heart years ago. Brianna MacLeod is a Family and Marriage Therapist and she feels embarrassed that she has to return home to Highland Falls after her marriage had imploded.

Bri is ashamed that she missed the red flags in her abusive relationship and feels that she isn’t qualified to be a therapist anymore. However, she loves helping others and it is second nature to her. When Bri gives up being a therapist she feels that she lost her purpose in life and she is giving up something she loves. Bri decides to move out of the inn she shares with her sister and grandfather to live by herself. Unfortunately, her plan is dashed when she finds out that she has a roommate and it’s someone she would never expect to see again.

 

Bri and her roommate concoct a plan to keep Bri’s sister from worrying about her. In the process of creating the plan, Bri ends up counseling her roommate and her neighbors. She didn’t expect that it would lead to her reconnecting with her first love.

 

Caleb Scott feels that his failed marriage to Raine is tough on his stepdaughter, Izzy. He feels that Izzy needs someone to talk to and work through her emotions with. However, he wasn’t expecting that person to be Bri. Caleb thought his feelings for her were gone when she broke his heart years ago but he finds himself falling for her. Unlike his marriage to Raine, being with Bri feels like home and comfortable. The only problem Caleb has is trying to convince Bri that their relationship deserves a second chance.

 

The novel is the fifth book in the series and it can be read as a standalone. However, I felt that there were some character nuances and storylines that were referenced that went over my head because I didn’t read the previous books. I felt that the novel started out strong and then slowly fizzled out because they were parts of the story that were connected to the previous books. The book also had a lot of characters that were mentioned once or twice in the beginning and then they would make another appearance later in the book. It was hard keeping track of these minor characters and how they related to the story.

 

The book was filled with characters who were trying to find their own paths to happiness but they could be annoying. I enjoyed reading about most of the characters but I found Raine to be very annoying. There were points in the story when she garnered some unwarranted sympathy and seemed selfless such as with her drive to build a new trauma center. However, there were many points in the story that Raine would stop at nothing to get what she wants even if it means throwing other people into the fire. 

 

Then we have two characters who seem to have something going on between them but nothing is disclosed or goes further with their chemistry. I felt that this side story did not add to the main plot and detracted from the story. I didn’t care for Caleb’s best friend, Josh. Josh seems to support Caleb but Josh never seems to be able to keep his mouth shut or read the room. Josh knows Caleb is trying to keep a secret from the town but yet Josh manages to tell everyone the secret within a few minutes of meeting the person. He then always wants to know the story but then can never keep it to himself. I am not even sure why they keep telling Josh anything since he can’t keep a secret to save himself.

 

My other annoyance is with Caleb and Bri. They know they should be keeping their relationship a secret but yet they can never seem to keep their hands off each other in public. Instead of limiting their physical embraces in public, they go at each other like teenagers as if they want to be caught. And they kept getting caught on multiple occasions but they continued acting like lovers in public. I felt like this type of behavior was unrealistic and the continuous references to previous storylines prevented me from completely enjoying and immersing myself in the book.

Book Review - Always Be My Duchess (Taming of the Dukes, #1) by Amalie Howard

 

 

  

Always Be My Duchess by Amalie Howard is a tale of two opposite people who are brought together by a mutual interest in accomplishing their goals. Lord Lysander Blackstone is the Duke of Montcroix, and he only has one goal and interest on his mind. He singularly cares to increase his already considerable fortune in order to surpass his late father’s legacy, and has no interest in finding a “duchess”. After a series of betrayals and broken promises, he finds it easier to keep his emotions in check if he focuses on growing his empire. However, a piece of real estate that he needs for his budding railroad empire is blocked by the eccentric owner of the property. The owner is only willing to sell the property to someone who believes in love and who wants to build and raise a family on the land. Lysander is devastated and annoyed that his cold personality and lack of a love life could jeopardize his business plans. He starts to lose hope for being a candidate the owner will sell to until he crosses paths with the alluring Miss Geneviève Valery.

Geneviève “Nève” Valery once had a promising ballet dancer career and her entire life ahead of her. However, her dreams and career were destroyed when Nève refused to become the mistress of a wealthy patron. Nève is out of work and desperate to find a new job but her scorned lover makes it impossible for her to land any roles. 

Nève crosses paths with the Duke when she saves him from a group of unsavory men when he was in a vulnerable state. He makes her an offer that is hard to resist. Nève is skeptical if the Duke will act honorably given her last encounter with the ton, in which the Duke is a prominent member. After hitting a dead end in job prospects, Nève decides to take up the Duke on his offer to be his fake fiancée. The plan is to help convince the eccentric seller to sell Lysander the property he desires, and Nève would be well compensated if the deal goes through. Nève and Lysander are both only focused on getting their side of the deal, until they realize that they might get more than they bargained for!

Nève and Lysander are both strong characters who are determined to keep their feelings in check but find themselves instantly drawn to each other. It was interesting and fun seeing how the duo tried to ignore their budding feelings for each other but kept finding themselves in compromising situations. The novel was set in the Victorian era but it could have taken place in any era with minor edits to the story. The elements of the Victorian era (other than the class issues) did not really come into play. There were no facts of the era or the time period to build the world in the mind of the reader. It just seemed to be chosen by the author for the romantic aspect of this time period.

I enjoyed the first half of the novel as it showed the pair maneuvering their relationship from two parties with a business arrangement while being romantically attracted to each other. However, towards the middle it got repetitive. Lysander kept making the same mistake of doing something nice but not taking into consideration Nève’s feelings, even though she told him how she felt. This could have been due to ignorance because of his social standing and privilege.  Nève also ran hot and cold. She was not consistent – she was either a fiery firecracker or a damsel in distress. 

The book was mildly reminiscent of “Pretty Woman” but it's not a remake of the story. The novel is a predictable read with no unexpected twists. The ending does leave an opening for another character to get their “happy ending” in the next book in the series. The book had adult content and language, and isn’t for readers who prefer clean romances.

 **Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

Book Review - Perfect Little Children by Sophie Hannah

 

Beth was supposed to take her son to his soccer game, watch him play, and then they return home together. Except, Beth has other ideas and decides to drive past her ex-best friend's house because she lives near the field and Beth wants to get a peek at Flora.

It's been twelve years since Beth has seen Flora. And Beth isn't so sure she wants to see Flora again. However, Beth is too curious to let it go and decides to stop by for a visit. Beth parks outside the gates of Flora's house, and watches as Flora arrives with her two children, Thomas and Emily.

Except something looks wrong, Flora looks the same but, only older. Her children, Thomas and Emily look exactly the same as they did twelve years ago. Beth is confused because how could they have not grown or changed at all in the twelve years that have past?

I thought this was going to be a horror or thriller but, instead this book was an absolute bore. The same thing gets repeated over and over. I also couldn't stand Beth and found majority of the characters completely dense. Instead of telling each other the information ahead of time or when they figured something out, they drag it out for pages and pages. For example, if Beth notices something, she won't tell anyone right then and there. She will mentioned she noticed something and not say what. When she finally does tell the other person, she drags it out for pages on pages. I read over 100 pages and nothing was added to the story or changed. Then they have so many boring side stories that are not even relevant to the story. I feel like the entire book could have been half of the size. I felt like the author had a great idea but, perhaps had to have a specific word count and decided to stretch a few things instead of adding to the story.

Book Review - Sunburst (Sky King Ranch #2) by Susan May Warren

 

Ranger Kingston is a former Navy SEAL and a lifelong bachelor dedicated to his job. When he was called upon to rescue his brother, Colt, who has been kidnapped by terrorists in Nigeria, he never imagined he would come across the one woman who he could never forget.

Noemi Sutton was attempting to reunite a young girl with her family in Boko Haram territory. However, she finds herself and the girl taken hostage, along with several others.  Ranger is able to get the hostages away from their captors, but he will need Noemi's help if they want to leave Nigeria unharmed.

Noemi suggests that they pose as husband and wife. When her uncle finds out, he insist that the pair do a traditional Nigerian wedding, binding the two to each other. As Noemi and Ranger try to find a way to safety, they discover the real reason why she was kidnapped and no one around her might be safe.

This was the second book in the series but, it can be read as a standalone. I enjoyed the first book of the series but, I didn't really like this book as much. I felt like Noemi was supposed to be trained in the field but, she kept doing things and letting her feelings get the better of her causing them to be in trouble. I did like that she was witty and I liked their back to forth banter. I didn't like that this book had tons of switches from the future to the present as sometimes, it wasn't very clear. I did like learning about Nigerian customs and the cultural norms. The story does end in a cliffhanger and leads way to the next book in the series.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

Book Review - The Ghost Tree by Christina Henry

 

Smiths Hollow is a small quiet town. So, when two bodies of girls are found torn to shreds, Lauren is surprised. She feels that the police will never find the killer because her father's murder went unsolved. A year before, her beloved father was found dead with his heart missing. Everyone has been able to move on including, her mother. Lauren has a hard time coming to terms with her father's death and she struggles when her best friend, Miranda, is starting to move on too. Miranda and Lauren used to be two peas in a pod but, now Miranda wants to spend more time with boys than hanging out by the old ghost tree, like when they were kids.

One day, Lauren has a vision of a monster dragging the remains of the slain girls through the woods. She knows that she can't just sit there like everyone else and do nothing. She is determined to find the killer. As Lauren tries to find clues, she realizes someone is keeping a dark deadly secret. Will Lauren be able to solve the mystery behind the missing girls before it's too late?

I have read several books by the author and have enjoyed them. I thought the plot of this book was a unique and interesting. However, I don't think the book should have been so long. I felt like that there was unnecessarily long because the "plot" behind the murders was pretty straightforward. For example, when Lauren's grandmother told her story, the author spends pages where Lauren doesn't believe it. Even when, Lauren herself keeps mentioning evidence that her grandmother might be telling the truth. I felt like there could have been more action in the middle of the book because it was a bit slow action wise. Overall, it was a good book and I would read more books by the author.

Book Review - The Prisoner's Wife by Maggie Brookes

 

Izabella, a Czech farm girl,  and Bill, a British prisoner of war,  fell in love during the war and decide to get married and go on the run. In the middle of the night, they travel through the countryside to avoid being captured. Izzy is dressed as a man to avoid detection and the punishment for her act of treason. The duo were able to evade capture until they were cornered by Nazi soldiers and tracking dogs.

Izzy's disguise works and the Nazi assumes that the pair are escaped British soldiers. They are transported to a POW work camp. Together as newly weds, they face deplorable living conditions along with the constant fear that Izzy will be exposed. In the middle of darkness, comes a small beacon of hope as the couple befriends a small group of prisoners. The group of men become their new family as they are willing to sacrifice everything to save Izzy from being discovered.

The novel is inspired by a true story and I thought it would be an endearing read about hope during one of history's darkest moments. However, I was sadly disappointed how boring this novel was. I have read many historical fiction books before but, this book barely had any story to it. It was mostly describing the living conditions of the camps and the people Izzy and Bill have met. I felt like it quickly got repetitive to the point of boredom. I had a hard time connecting with Izzy as a person. As readers, we rarely got to see and feel her plight and the danger of her exposure or learn anything about her and Bill. I was more than 80% done before, I called it quits on this book.

Book Review - The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont

 

In 1925, Miss Nan O'Dea is apart of a world that she always felt was out of her grasp before. She has become friends with Agatha Christie and the mistress of Archie Christie. Nan devises a way to lure Archie from his devoted wife and she is desperate for Archie to marry her.

Nan has been working on her plans for years. It all started a few decades ago when she was just a young girl. She loved a man and felt they were destined to be together. After a brief tryst, the War torn them apart and their secrets kept them apart.

I was torn on this novel. It had an interesting plot and it was told from a different point of view but, I still couldn't really sympathize with Nan. I also thought the novel was a bit long and boring at times. I felt like the book included a lot of unnecessary detail that just dragged on. At times, a character would be mentioned and little tidbits and then they will tie in later but, by then I forgot about them. However, I did like that there was a murder mystery story line tied in. If you are interested in reading about the Archie Christie affair from the mistress point of view, then you might enjoy this book.

Book Review - The Perks of Loving a Wallflower by Erica Ridley

 

 

 

Thomasina Wynchester is a master of disguise. She can be a polite young lady or a grumpy old man. She can take on whatever disguise her family needs her to be on a whim's notice. However, when Tommy's new client turns out to be the highborn lady she's secretly in love with, Tommy must decide which will take precedent.

Miss Philippa York is a bluestocking that doesn't believe in love. Her heart didn't respond when she was engaged to a duke or when he decided to marry someone else. The only thing that makes Philippa excited is decoding a centuries old manuscript to prevent someone from claiming credit for work that wasn't his. She hates that she needs to rely on a man to help her but, she is delighted when she learns that the charming baron is in fact a woman. As Philippa and Tommy grow closer, the stake of their discovery becomes more likely along with their feelings for each other.

I thought the book was an interesting read. This was my first time reading a book in this genre. I can't say that I am in love with it but, I wouldn't mind reading another book in the genre. The book is mostly focused on Philippa's budding romance with Tommy and their plot to get Philippa married. I wish the book did focus a bit more on the "case".  This book was the second book in the series but, it can be read as a standalone. I did like reading about the other Wynchester family members and would be interested in reading more of their adventures. The novel contain themes of Sapphic relationships with some graphic scenes which might not be for everyone.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

Book Review - The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth

 

Stephen Aston is getting married again but, he still married to his first wife. His first wife, Pam, is in a care facility for dementia. Stephen can easily get over that roadblock by divorcing Pam, even if his adult children protest his decision.

Tully and Rachel Aston feel that Heather is just using their father. They feel like she is an interloper. Heather is the same age as Rachel, who is the youngest daughter. They believe that she is after their father's money. However, Heather has her own reasons why she is marrying Stephen.

Pam is unable to speak for herself and her memory is shot. Tully and Rachel are determined to get the truth behind their family's secret. Will they be able to get the truth?

I have a lot of books with a similar theme but, this book was quite disappointing. There was almost no twist and the ending was predictable. I didn't like the direction the book took because the ending was a bit open and all the character's story was called into question. All the characters complained about this one person about being abusive but, then called that person "the love of their lives". This book just showed a bunch of dysfunctional people and they all second-guessed themselves even though they had a gut feeling. I can't say that I really cared for any of the characters.

Book Review - Black Girls Must Be Magic by Jayne Allen

 

Tabitha Walker is thrown into a head-spin when she finds out she is pregnant after being told she might not be able to have biological children. She devotes herself to becoming a "single mother by choice". She is exhausted from going to doctor's appointments, her job, and preparing for the baby. And that's before her boss at the new station started receiving complaints from viewers about her natural hair.

After an unexpected turn of events, her on and off again ex-boyfriend, Marc, makes an entry back into her world with surprising demands. When the situation at work escalates and her livelihood and her identity is threaten, Tabitha needs to make some tough decisions for her and her baby’s future. Tabitha knows it takes a village to raise a child and turns to the women who have been there for her.  Will Tabitha be able to harness the energy from her village to help maintain order in her life?

This was the second book in the series but, it can be read as a standalone. I thought it was an entertaining read but, a few times there were some "eye-rolling" moments.I felt the ending was also a bit abrupt and felt rushed. I feel like the author left it open for a third novel but, I wasn't interested in the series to continue reading as some of the characters felt flat. Overall, it was a quick read with interesting topics but, not much story.

Book Review - Sunrise (Sky King Ranch, #1) by Susan May Warren

 

Pilot Dodge Kingston was meant to be the heir to Sky King Ranch but, after a terrible family fight he left home to become a pararescue jumper. He returns home a decade later after a troubling family accident. He knows that everything he left behind is waiting for him including, his childhood best friends and ex-girlfriend, Echo Yazzie.

Echo is a true Alaskan woman, she is a homesteader and a dogsledder while being an outdoor guide. Dodge  feels that her lifestyle could get her hurt or worse, killed. He is worried that one day she will get lost in the woods again, and he won't be there to help her.

While on a nature expedition, one of Echo's fellow researcher goes missing. Echo is desperate to find her even though there is an ongoing blizzard and a rogue grizzling terrorizing the woods. Will Echo be able to find her before the storm kicks in?

The novel had beautiful and lush descriptions of Alaska but, sometimes there was too many details. I also felt overwhelmed by the amount of people that was introduced in the beginning and many of them didn't really add to the story. It took awhile before I found myself getting interested into the story only to find out that the story ends with several cliffhangers. It was an okay read but, I thought that the author could have cut down the length of the book.

Book Review - A Duke Worth Fighting For by Christina Britton

 

The Duke of Carlisle, Daniel Hayle, returns from Waterloo a hero after the war. He is covered in scars and dreads going to London and facing society. He fears his lack of social skills and his scars will make it hard for him to find a wife. He decides that he needs all the help he can get with navigating and socializing with London's elite.

Margery Kitteridge lost her husband to the war and she is mourning his death. She receives a blackmail letter accusing him of desertion and Margery is desperate to protect his reputation. She unfortunately doesn't have the money to pay the blackmailer. However, when Daniel Hayle arrives, she senses an opportunity for them both to get what they want. She will help him find a bride and in exchange he will give her money to pay off the blackmailer.

The book was an easy read and had a few twists but, most were predictable. I would classify this as a steamy romance novel and that was a bit unexpected for me (although, I should have guessed by the cover).  The novel is the third book in the series but, I was able to read this book as standalone. It was charming story but, it had lagged during the middle parts. Readers who enjoy a steamy romance with a bit of heart and mystery will enjoy this book.

 **I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

Book Review - Under the Bayou Moon by Valerie Fraser Luesse

 

Ellie Fields wants more out of life than what her Alabama home is willing to offer. She decides to accept a teaching job in a tiny town of Bernadette, Louisiana deep in bayou country.  The inhabitants are suspicious of outsiders because their language and culture are being threatened. However, Ellie ends up teaching the people and help them feel appreciated. She struggles to deal with opposition from the school board and the politician with ulterior motives while keeping the trust of the bayou people.

As Ellie learns to live in the bayou country, she crosses path with a lonely Cajun fisherman, Raphe, who she finds intriguing. He introduces her into the rich tapestry of Cajun culture including, showing her the legendary white alligator. As Raphe and Ellie begin to trust each other, their is a huge bounty being offered for the elusive gator that will test their love for each other.

I enjoyed reading this book and found Ellie to be a delightful character. I thought the scenes with the trio (Ellie, Raphe, and Heywood) to be my favorite. I appreciated and loved the rich details that the author gave but, felt like some of the story line lacked depth. For example, a character goes missing and we are lead to believe that he might be doing something but, then we find out what happened to him in passing.  I wonder if its because the author had too many plot lines and she wasn't sure how to tie them all in together as some plot lines were solved "off screen" with a few sentence to wrap it up. Overall,  it was a great book and I look forward to reading more by the author.

Book Review - The Bloom Girls by A.J. Pine

 

Gabi Bloom only believes in photographic evidence and things she can view from her camera lens. She certain doesn't believe in signs. She went to Europe to kick off her photography career and see the sights. When she is in Ireland, all of that changes when she locks eyes with a blue eyed American bartender, Ethan. She wasn't prepared for how intense her attraction to him would be or that they would be going together engaged. 

Forty year old, Alissa has a lot on her plate and now she has to worry about her daughter's upcoming marriage. She raised her daughter by herself while Gabi's father, Matt, traveled the globe. As she is dealing with her little girl getting married, Alissa finds out that she is pregnant again. Her ex is the father and he wants to be a part of her life for good. However, Alissa decides to keep it a secret so she can help Gabi plan the perfect wedding.

The book started off interesting as we learn how Gabi meets Ethan but, around the halfway mark I lost interest in the book. I felt like we got snippets on Gabi's relationship but, then the story skips their time together and then starts off on them returning home together. I feel like that didn't give us any insight into their relationship.

I had a hard time bonding or liking any of the characters as we barely got to know their backstory. They felt like cardboard cut outs. The book had a few funny moments but, the story barely moved along. Instead there was pages and pages filled with fluff pieces and different random characters finding out Alissa's secret. I felt that too much time was given to the fluffy parts of the story rather than the interesting bits. I felt like that this book was focusing on too many things and should have just focused on one story line. There was so many teases and hints about character's stories that went nowhere. I like romcoms as much as the next person but, this book was a complete miss for me.

Book Review - Little Disasters by Sarah Vaughan

 

Jess is a stay-at-home mother of three. Many see her as the perfect mother and a role model. Liz admires the mother Jess has become after being friends for a decade. Then everything Liz knows is shattered when Jess's baby, Betsey, is admitted to the hospital with a head injury. Jess offers vague reasons behind Betsey's accident.

I thought the book was going in a different direction based on the cover of the book. I felt like the book was a bit slow. I didn't think that the book needed to be that long. I am not sure why this was considered a thriller as the only twist was at the very end.

Book Review - The Wife Who Knew Too Much by Michele Campbell

 

The first Mrs. Ford was a beautiful and accomplished socialite that was married to a younger man. She mysteriously died one day and left her wealth to her husband. The second Mrs. Ford is a waitress from a small town who is struggling to ends meet. They met during a summer fling ten years prior and now she is rich beyond her dreams. Connor Ford is a mysterious man who is beloved by two women. Is he a victim or the mastermind behind his first wife's death?

 The book was interesting a few pages in but, towards the middle it felt like it was dragging. The ending came as a one-two punch with a few twists but, those were seen miles away. I can't say that I cared for the main character of the book as she is one of the dumbest person I ever read. There was one scene someone alluded to a murderer being in the house and she got evidence for her case but, she leaves it barely hidden and goes to confront the person. I am not sure about you but, if there is someone wishing to do me harm I don't go directly to them to make myself and easy target. However, I would still be opened to reading other books by the author.