REVIEW: How to Mend a Broken Heart by Anna Mansell

Title: How to Mend a Broken Heart
Author: Anna Mansell
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: March 2017
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: When Rhys is called to the hospital to meet Susan, a woman he barely knows, he is compelled to help her. Still grieving the loss of his brother months earlier, Rhys knows all too well the feeling of loneliness.

There are years between them, but Rhys is the only person Susan will respond to, and when she asks him to bring her most treasured possession, a book of fairytales, he is intrigued.

Hidden in the book is a clue to Susan’s past, and the painful regrets she carries with her. And as Rhys starts to unearth Susan’s secrets, he finds that his own grief begins to heal too...

Together, Susan and Rhys must learn to live again. Can they help each other to find happiness and finally mend their broken hearts?

How to Mend a Broken Heart is a heart-wrenching and absorbing story about second chances, forgiveness, and making every second count.

My Thoughts: This book may trigger some readers as the topics of suicide, depression, adoption and loss are a part of the story. This story made me feel all the feels learning about Rhys and his grief over losing his brother, meeting Susan and the life she lived and the loneliness she has felt throughout her life and Kat, struggling with the loss of her long term relationship and insecurity in her skills as a newly promoted ward nurse at the hospital where Susan is brought after her accident. I felt immense empathy for these characters and how this story would play out.

Rhys’s connection to Susan was confusing in the beginning as it appears she is a former customer of his plumbing business. She has no other family member or friend listed in her address book other than Rhys. His confusion about being called felt realistic and his reaction and sense of wanting to help was heartwarming to see.

Through the majority of this story, Susan is nonverbal and the only person she demonstrates a reaction to is Rhys. I felt a lot of confusion about this character and wondered what happened to her in her life that has made her isolate herself. As the story continues and more was revealed, it broke my heart and I cried numerous times.

I admired Kat, the nurse overseeing Susan’s care at the hospital. I felt an immediate connection to her. She is healing from a breakup of her five year relationship and feels immense uncertainty in her ability to perform at the new expected level that comes with her pending promotion. She also demonstrates an immense compassion for all of her patients. Her concern for Susan exceeds what would normally be considered as just doing her job.

I loved these characters and felt like I was walking alongside them rooting for them and crying at the pain and loss they have been given. This story flowed at a wonderful pace and I love this author’s voice. This was my first experience with this author and I am looking forward to reading more from her.

My Final Verdict: A book that tells a moving story with characters that a reader can connect with and empathize with cannot be recommended highly enough. In addition to readers who enjoy women’s fiction, this story will appeal to fans of general fiction and contemporary romance as well.

Thank you to the publisher, Bookouture, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: Brunch and Other Obligations by Suzanne Nugent

Title: Brunch and Other Obligations
Author: Suzanne Nugent
Narrator: Janina Edwards
Publisher: She Writes Press
Publication Date: May 2020
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: The only thing reclusive bookworm Nora, high-powered attorney Christina, and supermom-in-training Leanne ever had in common was their best friend, Molly. When Molly dies, she leaves mysterious gifts and cryptic notes for each of her grieving best friends, along with one final request: that these three mismatched frenemies have brunch together every month for a year.

Filled with heart wrenching scenes and witty prose, Brunch and Other Obligations explores the intricate dynamics of girlhood acquaintances who are forced to reconnect as women. This upbeat novel reminds readers that there’s hope for getting through the hard times in life―with a lot of patience, humor, and a standing brunch date.

My Thoughts: If you go by the description of this book, like I did, you would expect this book to have mandatory tissues at the ready. Though this book gave me a few moments of the feels, I was quite surprised at how witty this story actually was and easy to relate to. We all have that friend in our lives that we consider our best friend even though she may be friends with other women who also consider her their best friend. The tricky part is you know these other friends, but having a mutual best friend does not make you friends with them. In fact, you barely tolerate each other.

The story begins on the heels of the death of Molly, best friend of three other women, Nora, Leanne and Christina. These women have all known each other forever but Molly’s friendship is the only thing they have in common. After Molly’s funeral, they gather at the home of Molly’s parents where they are each given an item that Molly treasured to take and keep. They are also instructed that they are to meet every month for brunch for a year and this is where I really thought the story got interesting. These women have nothing in common so the expected awkwardness and drawn-out silences run rampant and they can only talk about Molly so much before that subject runs its course too.

The chapters are broken up between the three women and their individual points of view where the reader gets the opportunity to know each of them better. Nora is reclusive and avoids contact with others as much as possible. Christina is struggling with her mother’s Alzheimer’s and Leanne is desperate to start a family. Their brunch dates also gave me a lot of understanding into Molly’s personality.

The author does a great job of drawing characters all struggling with the loss of their best friend while being thrust into uncomfortable situations and managing their own lives and struggles. This was my first time reading this author and I will be looking for more of her work. I paired the reading of this book with the audio format and Janina Edwards’s narration was excellently performed. Her performance gave me a lot of insight into the lives of these women which helped me to get to know them better.

My Final Verdict: Overall, I found this book very enjoyable and was probably just as surprised as they were when they started to become friends. I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy women’s fiction and relationship driven stories.

Thank you to the publisher, She Writes Press, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: The Grace Kelly Dress by Brenda Janowitz

Title: The Grace Kelly Dress
Author: Brenda Janowitz
Narrator: Cassandra Campbell
Publisher: Harlequin – Graydon House Books
Publication Date: March 2020
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Two years after Grace Kelly’s royal wedding, her iconic dress is still all the rage in Paris—and one replica, and the secrets it carries, will inspire three generations of women to forge their own paths in life and in love in this beguiling new novel from Brenda Janowitz.

Paris, 1958: Rose, a seamstress at a fashionable atelier, has been entrusted with sewing a Grace Kelly-lookalike gown for a wealthy bride-to-be. But when, against better judgment, she finds herself falling in love with the bride's handsome brother, Rose must make an impossible choice—one that could put all she's worked for at risk: love, security, and of course, the dress.

Sixty years later, tech CEO Rachel, who goes by the childhood nickname "Rocky," has inherited the dress for her upcoming wedding in New York City. But there's just one problem: Rocky doesn't want to wear it. A family heirloom dating back to the 1950s, the dress just isn't her. Rocky knows this admission will break her mother Joan's heart. But what she doesn't know is why Joan insists on the dress—or the heartbreaking secret that changed her mother's life decades before, as she herself prepared to wear it.

As the lives of these three women come together in surprising ways, the revelation of the dress's history collides with long-buried family heartaches. And in the lead-up to Rocky's wedding, they'll have to confront the past before they can embrace the beautiful possibilities of the future.

My Thoughts: This was a beautifully crafted story. A wedding dress inspired by Grace Kelly’s wedding dress is the central character that touches the lives of three women who will wear it. The chapters rotate between Paris in 1958, to Long Island in 1982 and Brooklyn in 2020. Each time period focuses on the seamstress who made the dress in Paris in 1958, the bride in 1982 and her daughter also a bride in 2020. The author does a brilliant job creating characters I immediately felt a connection to and liked. I also really enjoyed that the author adds a bit of mystery as to who the bride in 1958 is as well as who the bride marries in 1982. I do wish, though, that the reader was given more detail about the grooms and what happens to them.

I love this author’s voice and attention to detail that enhances the story instead of confusing the reader. I also loved all three time periods. This story is full of wonderful supporting characters from each time period so picking a favorite character and setting was impossible. This book also got me in the feels many times and I was rooting for all three women to achieve their dreams and goals.

I paired the reading of this book with the audiobook format and loved the narration performance by Cassandra Campbell. Her French accents for Rose and the characters in Paris was flawless and beautiful to hear. The characters and the story came to life so flawlessly, I was easily transported into the story.

My Final Verdict: If you are new to this author’s work, then The Grace Kelly Dress is a great place to start. I’ve been a fan of this author for nearly twenty years and I know I’m in good hands when I pick up one of her books. I highly recommend this book to fans of contemporary romance and women’s fiction.

Thank you to the publisher, Harlequin – Graydon House Books, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: Murder, Magic and What We Wore by Kelly Jones

Title: Murder, Magic and What We Wore
Author: Kelly Jones
Publisher: Random House Children’s
Publication Date: September 2017
Genre: Cozy Mystery / Young Adult
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN

Description: The year is 1818, the city is London, and our heroine, 16-year-old Annis Whitworth, has just learned that her father is dead and all his money is missing. And so, of course, she decides to become a spy.

Annis always suspected that her father was a spy, so following in his footsteps to unmask his killer makes perfect sense. Alas, it does not make sense to England’s current spymasters—not even when Annis reveals that she has the rare magical ability to sew glamours: garments that can disguise the wearer completely.

Well, if the spies are too pigheaded to take on a young woman of quality, then Annis will take them on.

She’ll follow the clues her father left behind and discover what befell him.

She’ll prove she can sew an impenetrable disguise.

She’ll earn a living without stooping to become a—shudder—governess.

It can’t be any harder than navigating the London social season, can it?

My Thoughts: Although this book is marketed for the young adult or teen audience, it never crossed my mind that the protagonist is only sixteen years old. I suppose in Regency England, being sixteen years old is practically an adult but it never occurred to me until I finished this book who its target audience is.

Don’t let that stop you from reading this utterly charming tale of a young woman who finds out that not only her father was murdered but he was also a spy. She also discovers that her father was very close to exposing a plot so heinous and foul that those who are actively working to bring Napolean Bonaparte back from exile have no issue getting rid of anyone who gets in their way, even a young girl. To make matters worse, Annis and her aunt learn they are destitute as her father’s money has also disappeared. To solve their financial dilemma, Annis decides she will become a spy too, only the War Office doesn’t take her seriously even though she has the rare talent of sewing glamours into garments, which can be useful for a spy, as it will disguise them completely.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and, like Annis, was quite surprised at the turn of events in this story. Keeping up with who could be trusted, whether they be a spy or a typical cad, could turn into a full time job and some much needed lessons in knife wielding and throwing comes at an opportune time. I admired Annis and her aunt, Cassia, for their ability to think quickly on their feet to try to solve their financial crisis while trying to keep their situation on the down low.

The big villain reveal wasn’t as much of a surprise as other events in the story and that is why I hope this author will write more as this story ends with many loose threads and hints of further adventures awaiting Annis, her aunt and their housemaid, Millie.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this story was very enjoyable and I highly recommend it to fans of cozy mysteries, historical settings and madcap adventures.

Thank you to the publisher, Random House Children’s, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: A Familiar Stranger by A.R. Torre

Title: A Familiar Stranger
Author: A.R. Torre
Narrator: Christina Traister, Chris Ciulla, Patrick Lawlor, Leon Nixon
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Publication Date: September 2022
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Such a quiet and ordinary wife and mother. Who will even notice what she’s done?

Lillian Smith leads an unexceptional life, writing obituaries and killing time with her inattentive husband and disconnected son. Then she meets David, a handsome stranger, in a coffee shop. Lured into an affair, she invents a new persona, one without strings, deadlines, or brooding husbands.

Lillian has never felt so reckless, unpredictable, or wanted. But as her affair with David intensifies, she withdraws from everything that’s real, even her closest friend. When evidence of her life as a secret lover finds its way onto her son’s social media, she risks ruining much more than her marriage or reputation.

As lies beget lies, Lillian’s two worlds spiral dangerously out of control. And betrayals run deeper than she imagines. Because Lillian isn’t the only one leading a double life.

My Thoughts: I have to start this review by saying that I thought this was book was going to be another run of the mill adulterous spouse story and that somebody dies. My least favorite plot device is adultery so I wasn’t holding out a lot of hope that this book would be any different or that it would make me feel anything other than contempt for the cheating cheaters.

A Familiar Stranger is the first book I have read by this author and the story blew all of my preconceived notions out of the water. Yes, there is adultery and both Lillian and her husband, Mike, are equally guilty, but this story goes way beyond a small matter of adultery. This story opens up a whole other avenue of sinister dealings below the surface that the reader is completely unprepared for. Let me just say that lies and secrets can destroy a marriage and lives much worse than adultery can.

The author creates some very unique and interesting characters in this book. I wasn’t able to relate or empathize with most of them, but they were multi-layered and surprised me numerous times. I absolutely did not agree with either Lillian or Mike and thought they were both despicable characters. Lillian is unstable, needy and manipulative. Mike is sinister and untrustworthy. How they managed to stay married for nearly twenty years shocked and surprised me. Lillian’s best friend Sam was an interesting character and he surprised me as well. If I had to pick a character that I had any empathy for it would be Lillian’s teenage son, Jacob. He is the one most traumatized by his parents and their deceit so I felt bad for him. Several additional supporting characters added much more to the story.

I chose the audiobook format for this story and the narration performed by Christina Traister, Chris Ciulla, Patrick Lawlor and Leon Nixon was exceptional. These characters were brought to life for me with the performances and they felt genuine and sincere. The narration was performed so seamlessly, I had a difficult time putting the book down and it was so easy to picture it in my mind as though I were standing in the room watching the events unfold.

Knowing almost immediately that there is a death had me on pins and needles and when it is revealed not only who died, but how and why added to the suspense of this story. Stories like this are why I love to read. It’s not often that an author can draft a story that will shock the reader to the core but will also have the reader’s attention so riveted to the events transpiring in the story, it comes as a little bit of a surprise to the reader when the story ends. This author is such an author and I hope that this is the level of reading entertainment I can expect when I read the rest of her work.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this story was simply amazing and I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy mysteries and thrillers as well as stories that shock and surprise the reader while leaving them wanting more.

REVIEW: No More Bad Dates by Kate O'Keeffe

Title: No More Bad Dates (High Tea #1)
Author: Kate O’Keeffe
Narrator: Tialhi Martin
Publisher: Kate O’Keeffe
Publication Date: September 2019
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction
Buy the Book: Amazon | Audible

Description: Twenty-five-year-old Sophie McCarthy’s career is virtually nonexistent, her family expects her to “do something important” with her life, and she’s totally sick of dating the wrong guys: the self-absorbed, the arrogant, the borderline criminally insane.

After she’s unceremoniously dumped during the vows at her boss’s wedding, she and her two equally disappointed-in-love best friends agree to help each other find decent guys to date. Together, they form the No More Bad Dates Pact: stop dating the wrong guys and start dating the right ones—weirdos and jerks need not apply.

When Sophie’s roommate Jason Christie—a.k.a. doctor-in-training and serial nurse-dater—joins the pact, he vows to weed out the bad ones for her. But with his rejection of every guy Sophie meets, she begins to wonder if he’s got an ulterior motive. And anyway, why does she always have so much more fun with Jason than with the guys she’s actually trying to date?

While desperately seeking her “happy for now,” could Sophie stumble into her “happily ever after?”

The High Tea series is a spin-off of Kate O'Keeffe's bestselling Cozy Cottage Café series. Escape to New Zealand in this fun, feel-good chick lit series!

My Thoughts: First time reading this author and I found this story to be completely charming with relatable characters. This story is a spin-off of the author’s Cozy Cottage Café series so characters from that series are present but I didn’t feel lost or that I needed to read that series first.

I really liked Sophie and her friends and empathized with her frustration with bad dates. I am probably in the minority here, but I didn’t see how a pact and the vetting process would ensure that Sophie dates only good guys. Even after passing the approval process, Sophie found that the guys weren’t that great, at least not for her. To each his own, I guess, but I have to side with Sophie that living the mermaid lifestyle or being hand-fed like a baby is just too twisted and bizarre.

In the end, Sophie finds herself having feelings for her roommate, Jason, so no vetting or approval really needed to be done, obviously. I can only wonder if either of them had the courage to confess their feelings sooner if it would have worked out as well as it did. Though I was totally rooting for Jason, I was intrigued about the Clark Kent lookalike.

I paired my reading of this book with the audio format narrated by Tialhi Martin. Her performance brought the characters personalities to life without making them sound or feel like cardboard. I enjoyed meeting all of the secondary characters, Sophie’s family and prospective dates and though I liked some more than others, I could see myself enjoying spending time with them. I also shared Sophie’s frustration and irritation with her siblings getting on her case about her career choices.

My Final Verdict: Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would like to read the rest of the series to see how Darcy and Erin do with the no more bad dates pact. I highly recommend this book to readers of contemporary romance, chick-lit and women’s fiction.

Thank you to the author, Kate O’Keeffe who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: The Accidental Beauty Queen by Teri Wilson

Title: The Accidental Beauty Queen
Author: Teri Wilson
Narrator: Joy Osmanski
Publisher: Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books
Publication Date: December 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Charlotte Gorman loves her job as an elementary school librarian and is content to experience life through the pages of her books. Which couldn’t be more opposite from her identical twin sister. Ginny, an Instagram-famous beauty queen, has been chasing a crown since she was old enough to say "world peace" and she’s not giving up until she wins Miss American Treasure. But when Ginny has a face-altering allergic reaction the night before competition, Charlotte suddenly finds herself in a switcheroo the twins haven’t successfully pulled off in decades.

Woefully unprepared for the glittery world of hair extensions, false eyelashes, and push-up bras, Charlotte realizes, after walking a mile in her twin's sky-high stilettos, there might be more to the pageant circuit than just a sparkly crown . . .

My Thoughts: I absolutely adored this story. I love a story that not only entertains me with a unique plot but is full of characters that are easy to relate to and love as well. There wasn’t one unlikable character in this story and I was expecting at least one snarky, rude character, especially given that this story takes place at a beauty pageant. No villains lurking in the shadows waiting to sabotage the main characters, no slimy ex relationships showing up to ruin everything.

This story is also full of Harry Potter references which I didn’t know when I selected this book for this year’s reading. The fact that the main heartthrob, Gray, calls Charlotte Hermione made my muggle heart all aflutter. There’s also a dog. A French Bulldog named Buttercup and she is quite the scene stealer.

The only area someone could find an issue in this story is the deception Charlotte and Ginny perpetrate by having Charlotte pose as Ginny and compete in the pageant. A severe allergic reaction is a good reason, but it’s still unethical and, to be honest, I wouldn’t give this story a perfect rating if it were for any other reason. Everything plays out so well, especially between Gray and Charlotte, that I really wasn’t focused on the fact that Charlotte was posing as Ginny and competing in the pageant. Charlotte was so awkward, not being a beauty queen type that I was surprised that she wasn’t outed or eliminated in the beginning.

I paired the reading of this book with the audio format narrated by Joy Osmanski. Her performance was amazing. She kept me engaged in the story and made the characters sound and feel realistic. Teri Wilson crafts a story that checks off all the boxes for me with storyline, likable characters and scenes that gave me all the feels. I will be looking for more books by this author.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this fantastic story to readers who love stories that make them laugh and cry. Readers who love dogs and Harry Potter will appreciate stories featuring characters that do too.

Thank you to the publisher, Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: The Brazilian by Rosie Millard

Title: The Brazilian (The Square #2)
Author: Rosie Millard
Publisher: Trafalgar Square Publishing
Publication Date: June 2017
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy the Book: Amazon

Description: Following a sensational scandal at one of London's most desired postcodes, Jane and Patrick decide to escape the gossip with a family holiday to Ibiza, their eight-year-old son George in tow.

Also on the island that week is a TV reality show involving an eccentric artist, a horny It Girl, a Brazilian footballer and a famous magician.

As hapless celebrities are picked off one by one, Jane is desperate to be on the program, leaving childcare in the not so capable hands of a teenager.

One lesbian escapade and an explosive row over hair removal later, the contestants of Ibiza or Bust leave the island with more than sand in places they never knew existed...

My Thoughts: I’m giving this book 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

I think if I had read the first book in this series, The Square, first, I would have enjoyed this story more and had a better understanding of the characters and their perspective. As best as I can gather, this story picks up not long after the first book ends and the events in the first book play heavily in this story.

I absolutely loathed Jane. I found her to be the most shallow and selfish person I have crossed paths with in a very long time. She is one of those people who would likely die or kill for image and she absolutely values her own advancement and her image over everything else. Her marriage and her child take a backseat in Jane’s life. Hiring a teenage neighbor to accompany them on a family vacation to Ibiza for babysitting illustrates for me a woman who only cares about herself. When she finds out two of her neighbors are going to be filming a reality show on the island, she is positively livid that it isn’t her and she goes out of her way to insinuate herself into the show every chance she gets.

The supporting characters of Jane’s husband, Patrick, and her son, George and their babysitter, Belle, were likable and the contestants and crew on the reality show brought an interesting aspect to the story.

This book moves at a fairly quick pace and is easy to follow and in spite of my aversion to Jane, I laughed out loud many times. I enjoyed the detail the author gives to the island of Ibiza which gave me a real sense of being there.

My Final Verdict: Overall, I found this book to be OK. If you choose to read this, I recommend that you read The Square first. Readers who like their books full of wacky characters and over the top behavior will enjoy this story.

Thank you to the publisher, Trafalgar Square Publishing, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: Sheer Mischief by Jill Mansell

Title: Sheer Mischief
Author: Jill Mansell
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publication Date: July 2018
Genre: Chick Lit / Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: It's not that Janey Sinclair isn't happy to see her sister—she just wishes that she could have arrived in a less dramatic fashion. Waking up at seven a.m. to Maxine waiting at the door wearing a borrowed wedding dress and with a police escort wasn't how Janey planned to start her Sunday.

Still, life's never dull when Maxine's around, and Janey, who's rebuilding her life, is delighted that her sister's back in town. So when Maxine sets her sights on glamorous fashion photographer Guy Cassidy, Janey knows there's no limit to the mischief her sister will make in order to dispatch the competition. Little do they know that the competition is a lot closer to home than they think...

My Thoughts: This was such a delightful story that led me through several storylines with minor characters. In addition to the aww factor and humor I have come to expect from this brilliant author, I also got a little teary eyed and choked up. An author who can successfully draw out multiple emotions from the reader is an author that should be on everyone’s to be read list.

Janey and Maxine are sisters but are so different in personality, morals and ethics that I would never suspect they were related had I not known this going in. Where Janey is down to earth and grounded in her life, Maxine is very flighty and, at times, very selfish. I was surprised at how much I actually liked Maxine, however, but underneath her vain exterior she deeply cares about her sister and wants the best for her.

I thought Guy Cassidy was an intriguing character and his children were wonderful characters. I remained in the dark for most of the book with the direction the author was taking this character and have to applaud how it turned out because it was so apparent that Maxine had her sights on him, I could not picture Maxine as stepmother material.

In addition, the author created very vibrant and interesting characters with Bruno, the flirtatious restaurant owner, who is trying to seduce Janey even though he is in a relationship. Sculptress Thea, Janey and Maxine’s mother, who meets Oliver, Guy’s estranged father, and begins a whirlwind affair. Janey’s husband, Alan, who vanished without a trace two years ago and has left Janey wondering what life has in store for her next.

This story moves at a fairly moderate pace and I found the character’s behaviors appropriate for the situations they were in. I also thoroughly enjoyed the backstory about Guy and Oliver’s relationship as well as Thea’s with Janey and Maxine’s father. This story had so many details to take in but Mansell’s writing made it easy for the reader to understand all of the characters.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy happy endings even if the road getting there is long and twisty. Readers who enjoy contemporary romance and women’s fiction will enjoy the relationship driven plot of this story. Having read many of this author's books now, I am always excited to see her name come up in my new release notifications.

Thank you to the publisher, Sourcebooks Landmark, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: The Strange Case of Jane O. by Karen Thompson Walker

Title: The Strange Case of Jane O.
Author: Karen Thompson Walker
Publisher: Random House
Publication Date: February 2025
Genre: Mystery / Women’s Fiction
Buy the Book: Audible | BN | Audible

Description: A year after her child is born, Jane suffers a series of strange episodes: amnesia, premonitions, hallucinations, and an inexplicable sense of dread. Three days after her first visit to a psychiatrist, Jane suddenly goes missing. A day later she is found unconscious in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, in the midst of what seems to be an episode of dissociative fugue; when she comes to, she has no memory of what has happened to her.

Are Jane’s strange experiences the result of being overwhelmed by motherhood, or are they manifestations of a long-buried trauma from her past? Why is she having visions of a young man who died twenty years ago and who warns her of a disaster ahead? Jane’s symptoms lead her psychiatrist ever deeper into the farthest reaches of her mind and cause him to question everything he thinks he knows about so-called reality—including events in his own life.

My Thoughts: In a nutshell, I enjoyed this book but I’m not really sure what to make of it or how to feel upon finishing. Was Jane having a post-partum psychotic break? Was she faking it for attention? Was the dissociative fugue legitimate or is she suffering from some other mental illness? Could it be possible that Jane is living her life while experiencing events in an alternate reality or multiverse? Anything is possible, I suppose, but wrapping one’s mind around the last option seems too bizarre to entertain. Honestly, I can’t think of another logical explanation nor can anyone else in the story either.

I found the premise of the story intriguing, though it lacks anything concrete to establish the reasons for the events and the ending left me with more questions than answers. I also liked both Jane and Dr. Byrd and found their separate perspectives interesting. I truly believed Dr. Byrd wanted to help Jane but I don’t think he could, especially without understanding the cause of Jane’s fugue. What really surprised me about this book is how easily I found myself being pulled into Jane’s perspective as factual without considering that her perception is likely skewed by her condition. The bigger question, however, is could both Jane’s and Dr. Byrd’s perceptions be true?

My Final Verdict: Readers who enjoy stories that do not offer any solid solutions and instead provide murky conclusions may find this book enjoyable.

REVIEW: The Dream Keeper's Daughter by Emily Colin

Title: The Dream Keeper’s Daughter
Author: Emily Colin
Narrator: Roger Wayne, Emily Woo Zeller
Publisher: Random House Publishing – Ballantine Books
Publication Date: July 2017
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: An archaeologist discovers her presumed-missing boyfriend is trapped more than a hundred years in the past—a love story that transcends time and place, from the author of the New York Times bestseller The Memory Thief.

Eight years after the unsolved disappearance of her boyfriend Max Adair, archaeologist Isabel Griffin has managed to move on and rebuild her life with her young daughter, Finn, her last tie to Max. But after a series of strange incidents, Isabel begins to wonder if Max might still be alive somewhere, trying to communicate with her. She has no idea that the where isn’t the problem—it’s the when. Max has slipped through time and place, landing on his ancestral family plantation in 1816 Barbados, on the eve of a historic slave uprising. As Isabel searches for answers, Max must figure out not only how to survive the violence to come, but how to get back to his own century, the woman he loves, and the daughter he has only ever met in his dreams.

My Thoughts: Shortly after learning his girlfriend is pregnant, Max disappears from Isabel’s life without any warning or explanation. Is he dead? Did he get scared about impending fatherhood and take off? Isabel is used to being abandoned because her mother did the same thing six years prior.

Now, eight years later, having raised a daughter practically on her own, working on her relationship with her father and the prospect of a new romance on the horizon, Isabel is on an archaeological dig in Barbados when she gets a phone call…from Max. At least the caller ID says it’s Max, but when she tries to call him back, as she has done many times over the years, the phone number has been disconnected and is no longer in service. Strangely enough, Isabel’s daughter, Finn, is claiming to have seen her father and has talked to him.

After following what appears to be the ghost of his ancestor into the woods behind his home, Max finds himself in Barbados in the year 1816 mere days before a slave rebellion breaks out. Max is appalled at the treatment he witnesses the slaves receiving and has enough knowledge of this crucial event to want to try to stop it, but he risks drawing the wrong kind of attention from both the slaves and the plantation owners.

I really enjoyed the historical background of the Bussa Rebellion as a backdrop for this story and felt a lot of anxiety for Max and the characters on both sides of the rebellion. I was also in high anticipation of whether Max would make it home and if so, what kind of reception he would receive.

I paired the reading of this book with the audiobook format narrated by Roger Wayne and Emily Woo Zeller. I found their performances to be realistic, portraying the character’s personalities accurately. The characters were believable and their actions were appropriate for the situations they were in. I liked all of the characters, but especially Max’s daughter, Finn. I also liked how the author illustrates the time paradigm in this story. When Max first left, Isabel was pregnant and now Finn is eight, but for Max, he has only been gone several weeks.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this was a very good story with a moderate pace that is told in both Isabel and Max’s points of view. There were some unexpected twists in the story that I didn’t anticipate that left me unsettled and though it didn’t alter my enjoyment of the story, I would very much enjoy seeing a sequel to see how Max, Isabel and Finn move forward.

I recommend this book to readers who like time travel, real historical events woven into the story and romance.

Thank you to the publisher, Random House Publishing – Ballantine Books, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: The Difference Between You & Me by Celia Hayes

Title: The Difference Between You & Me
Author: Celia Hayes
Publisher: Aria
Publication Date: March 2017
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy the Book: Amazon | Audible

Description: Can stepping out of your comfort zone lead you to ultimate happiness?

Trudy Watts has everything she's ever dreamed of: a job that she loves, a successful boyfriend and an ultra-modern apartment in one of the most fashionable parts of London. With a long-awaited promotion due to come her way and her wedding just around the corner, Trudy's life is just perfect...

That is until catastrophe strikes and her life is turned upside down. She's transferred to Turriff, a remote Scottish town to manage a small, struggling bank branch.

Her arrival is traumatic and she wishes she was anywhere but here... Until she sees him – Ethan, the charming pub landlord, who seems to enjoy nothing more than to tease her. And it's right there, in that pub, that her life will suddenly change...

My Thoughts: Upon meeting Trudy initially, she comes across as someone who is hard to get to know; she has her guard up and appears to be standoffish. After getting to know her, I learned that she is someone who is very career driven and has to work very hard to get to where she is at.

After her wedding plans go up in smoke and a night of drowning her sorrows in a bottle, she learns that she drunkenly applied for a temporary position in the bank at a branch in a very remote village in Scotland. The kind of village where shopping malls, movie theaters and a decent Wi-Fi signal are hard to find. Coming from London, it is a huge culture shock of sorts for Trudy. Along with this, her temporary position requires her to determine if this branch has any viability and is worth keeping or if it should be sold, which would mean a loss of employment for those working there. It would be a massive understatement to say that her arrival is not met with enthusiasm.

On the flip side, Ethan was very likable and easy to relate to immediately. Though he and Trudy butt heads and clash at every turn, he seems to enjoy it and often seeks her out, much to Trudy’s irritation. Trudy’s assignment is for six months and she seems to spend most of her time anxious for her return to London but I really loved how the more resistant she is, the more the town and the people in it grew on her.

I really enjoyed this story, especially when Trudy starts making a real effort to not only get to know the people she works with and other villagers but also coming up with ways to save the bank branch. The atmosphere of the village was quaint and though Trudy feels like a fish out of water, the charm is hard to ignore.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this was a very enjoyable story that I highly recommend to readers who enjoy contemporary romances and women’s fiction. I also recommend this story to readers who enjoy remote locations and the slower pace of small communities.

Thank you to the publisher, Aria, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: The One by John Marrs

Title: The One
Author: John Marrs
Narrator: Clare Corbett, Vicki Hall, Simon Bubb, Jot Davies, Sophie Aldred
Publisher: Penguin Random House UK
Publication Date: May 2017
Genre: Thriller
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: How far would you go to find The One?

A simple DNA test is all it takes. Just a quick mouth swab and soon you’ll be matched with your perfect partner the one you are genetically made for.

That’s the promise made by Match Your DNA. A decade ago, the company announced that they had found the gene that pairs each of us with our soul mate. Since then, millions of people around the world have been matched. But the discovery has its downsides: test results have led to the breakup of countless relationships and upended the traditional ideas of dating, romance and love.

Now five very different people have received the notification that they’ve been “Matched.” They’re each about to meet their one true love. But “happily ever after” isn’t guaranteed for everyone. Because even soul mates have secrets. And some are more shocking than others…

A word-of-mouth hit in the United Kingdom, The One is a fascinating novel that shows how even the simplest discoveries can have complicated consequences.

My Thoughts: Prior to starting this novel, I had heard a lot of praise for this book and for the author so I had very high expectations going in. This book and the author lived up to everything I had heard. I loved the concept that there is someone for everyone out there; someone who is your genetic match, your other half. I loved that upon meeting this individual, most people will feel an immediate connection even if the identity of their match comes as a shock or a surprise.

This story follows the lives of five individuals and how their lives are impacted upon taking the test. Ellie, Nick, Mandy, Jade and Christopher are all about to find out what happens when they get the very best or the very worst news of their lives. Tagging along with each character as they explore this alternate avenue of finding the one kept me on pins and needles.

Normally, a story with this many central characters would be an undertaking to keep straight but the author’s writing style flows seamlessly between the characters. The chapters are very short and alternate and rotate through each character’s point of view. This made the story easy to follow and easy to keep track of who is who.

I paired the reading of this book with the audio format. The narration was performed by five narrators, Clare Corbett, Vicki Hall, Simon Bubb, Jot Davies and Sophie Aldred, which I thought was brilliant. Each narrator performed one of the central characters so hearing their point of view in a different voice was quite enjoyable. Each narrator brought a different emotion and personality to their performance so the characters felt solid without feeling like cardboard. Additionally, each character’s personal experience and situation were vastly different so I didn’t feel like I had to pick a favorite. This helped me connect with all five characters, keeping me engaged in their lives and very curious and in high anticipation how it would all play out.

This story was simply amazing. There are so many twisty bits and jaw dropping moments with all of the characters. Just when I got my bearings settled after one bomb, the next chapter and character throws another in my lap. This story left me feeling breathless, shocked, surprised, scared, amused and sad. This story also teaches that relationships are never easy and there is no guarantee of a happy ever after in life, DNA match or not.

My Final Verdict: After reading this book, all I want to do is pick up another one by this author. I wonder if this is how drug addicts feel after the best high of their lives and needing another fix. I want to read everything this author has written, including his shopping list. Fortunately, he has an extensive backlist for me to dive into.

I highly recommend this book to readers who love stories that twist them around like they are on a roller coaster and unable to catch their breath. I highly recommend this book to readers who love stories that have characters who are easy to connect with but will surprise you. Lastly, I highly recommend this book to readers who love stories that will shock them, surprise them, and leave them wanting more.

Thank you to the publisher, Penguin Random House UK, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: A Wedding in Italy by Tilly Tennant

Title: A Wedding in Italy (From Italy With Love #2)
Author: Tilly Tennant
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: April 2017
Genre: Chick-Lit / Contemporary Romance
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Sun, spaghetti and sparkling prosecco. When it comes to finding love, there’s no place like Rome...

Kate is living the dream with her gorgeous boyfriend Alessandro in his native city, but the reality is sometimes a little less romantic than she’d hoped. Every day in her new home is a fight against leaking pipes, her cantankerous landlord and her less-than-perfect grasp of the Italian lingo.

All around her there is talk of weddings, but when a secret from her past is thrust out into the open, Kate must fight to prove to Alessandro’s Mamma – and the rest of his formidable family – that she truly is Italian marriage material.

With the women in Alessandro’s life on a mission to break them apart, the cracks begin to show and Kate starts to question if Alessandro really is the man of her dreams. Can love and the city of romance conquer all, or is that just a fairy-tale?

Let Rome steal your heart this summer in this gorgeously romantic escapist read. Perfect for fans of Jo Thomas and Abby Clements.

My Thoughts: This book picks up practically on the heels of the first book in the series so I recommend reading Rome Is Where the Heart Is first. Kate has officially made Rome her home but it isn’t all it is cracked up to be. Navigating the language barrier is not easy and it surprised me that Kate wasn’t doing something more proactive to learn Italian, like taking classes. Fortunately, many Italians speak English with varying degrees of proficiency so Kate is able to manage although it is clunky. I really liked the author peppering Italian phrases throughout the book so that while reading on my Kindle, I could look up the translations of phrases.

The author illustrates very well the struggle Kate is experiencing trying to find her place in Rome, needing to find a job to make ends meet but still having a dream of starting her own dress making business. Her landlord’s wife is her first customer but Kate is a little bit of a pushover in that she doesn’t charge the market rate for the dresses. Her landlord expects a discount but doesn’t discount her rent. Allesandro and his family are quite vocal to Kate about this and often want to speak out on Kate’s behalf but she doesn’t want them to. This theme is present throughout most of the book and it did seem to get quite repetitive. Kate is persistent about making it on her own without having to rely on anyone but sometimes help from the right source can be a blessing and it takes quite a while before Kate realizes this. I had a lot of empathy for Kate and was able to relate to her situation of trying to find her place in a new country, fitting in and making it her home.

Getting to know Alessandro’s family better in this book was enjoyable and Kate’s insecurity around them was understandable. The author’s creation of the minor characters in the story added more depth to the story as they really impact Kate in many ways, especially as some of them take more time warming up to Kate’s presence and whether they accepted her as a good match for Alessandro. The author has quite a few surprises up her sleeve that I didn’t expect but really enjoyed. The story moves at a smooth pace I really enjoyed tagging along with Kate through the streets of Rome.

My Final Verdict: Overall, I found this story delightful and it has only inspired me even more to add Rome to my bucket list of travel destinations. I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy stories where the girl gets her happily ever after in exotic locations.

Thank you to the publisher, Bookouture, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: New York, Actually by Sarah Morgan

Title: New York, Actually (From Manhattan with Love #4)
Author: Sarah Morgan
Narrator: Jennifer Woodward
Publisher: Harlequin | HQN
Publication Date: May 2017
Genre: Chick Lit / Contemporary Romance
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: One man. One woman. Two dogs.

Meet Molly—New York’s most famous advice columnist, she considers herself an expert at relationships…as long as they’re other people’s. Still bruised from her last breakup, Molly is in no rush to find happily-ever-after—the only love of her life is her dalmatian, Valentine.

Meet Daniel—A cynical divorce lawyer, he’s hardwired to think relationships are a bad idea. If you don’t get involved, no one can get hurt. Until he finds himself borrowing a dog to meet the gorgeous woman he sees running in Central Park every morning…

Molly and Daniel both think they know everything about relationships. But as they try—and fail—to resist their undeniable chemistry, they’ll soon discover they just might have a lot left to learn…

My Thoughts: Initially, I had some reservations about reading this book because it’s the fourth book in a series and I am usually a stickler for reading a series in order. This book is definitely the exception as the author does a brilliant job making this story a stand-alone. Characters from earlier in the series do make an appearance in this story but it did not detract or in any way take my focus off of Molly and Daniel. Honestly, I don’t think even a meteorite crashing into my living room would have distracted me.

I loved this story. It checks off so many of the things I look for in the romance genre without getting too sappy or bordering on too explicit. First of all, dogs. Especially dogs that feature prominently in the story are going to interest me. The dogs in this story are Molly’s dalmatian, Valentine, who is named for his heart shaped nose and Brutus, the German Shepherd that Daniel wrangles as a prop to grab Molly’s interest. I loved that these two dogs are actively part of the story, and not in the background.

I also loved that Daniel and Molly really appear to be so broken that love and relationships just don’t work out for them the way they do for others. And with good reason, given their respective backgrounds. The underlying message that love finds you most often when you aren’t looking for it was wonderful and it was awesome to watch it happening with these two.

I thought the story was realistic and the premise was cute, though it could appear a little creepy that a man would “borrow” a dog so he could meet a girl he sees jogging in the park. I did not feel an “ick” factor. Instead, I felt Daniel deserved points for his ingenuity in arranging this meet cute. I’m also super grateful that the author did not drag out the whole “keeping secrets and being dishonest” trope because that would have annoyed me as both Molly and Daniel played their cards very close to their chests. The great thing is that when dishonesty was discovered on both their parts, discussions were had like adults and the reader was saved from too much of the giant misunderstanding and drama chaos.

This book is my first experience reading Sarah Morgan’s work and I am excited to find more of her work. She creates characters that are very easy to like and relate to and that give the reader a sense of camaraderie with. This entire series is set in and around Manhattan which gives me more of an interest in visiting. The descriptive detail of Molly and Daniel’s world feels very picturesque and vibrant. I now want a Dalmatian that I can walk in Central Park.

I paired my reading of this book with the audiobook format which was quite enjoyable. The narrator, Jennifer Woodward does a wonderful job of bringing these characters to life and flawlessly switches between Molly’s English accent and everyone else’s American accent. The emotion she put into her narrative performance brought tears to my eyes and had me laughing out loud several times.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this book because…did I mention dogs? Fans of dogs must absolutely stop what they are doing right now and read this book. I also highly recommend fans of the romance genre, be it romantic comedy, contemporary romance or chick-lit read this book because a happily ever after is always a good thing.

Thank you to the publisher, Harlequin | HQN, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: Baby Teeth by Celia Silvani

Title: Baby Teeth
Author: Celia Silvani
Publisher: Orion
Publication Date: November 2024
Genre: Thriller / Suspense / Women’s Fiction
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: They said a mother knows best and I believed them. Was I wrong?

It is supposed to be a dream. James and I have been trying for years. But now it is starting to feel like a nightmare.

Doctors don't ask questions, or care about how you're feeling. They just tell you what to do. They never listen.

Mam and James don't understand either. James thinks I'm being anxious and Mam says it'll pass. It always does. That's what she did when Dad died.

I've never felt more alone. Or scared.

Then I joined an online group for mothers. A sisterhood, really. They might be on a screen, but sometimes it feels like they know me better than James. They listen, they care. It's all I could have asked for.

Until the worst happens and I see them for who they are. But if I leave, what if they come for me next?

My Thoughts: I enjoyed this book and thought the subject matter was thought provoking but I didn’t love it. Additionally, there are triggers in this story involving infertility and pregnancy loss. I felt increasingly frustrated at the lengths Claire went trusting complete strangers that she only knows online instead of midwives and doctors. I agreed with the general consensus that doctors and the medical profession make you feel like a number, but to trust advice from people who have zero medical background puts not only the mother but the fetus at risk. When tragedy strikes one of one women in the group who loses her nearly full-term baby, I was deeply disturbed at how this group of faceless women treated her simply because they did not approve of her seeking medical attention.

I understood how Claire felt torn wanting to do the right thing and her fear of hospitals and mistrust of doctors stemming from losing her father but I wanted to yell at her through most of the book that she should be seeking advice from people she knows in real life as well as experts in the field. I had such a huge problem that she told strangers she was pregnant before she told her own husband. In large part due to her behavior, I had a difficult time relating to or empathizing with her.

The plot moved me into thinking something horrifying was going to happen to Claire at the hands of the online group and my imagination was running wild thinking that someone was going to try to murder her and steal her baby. I must be reading too many thrillers because I am looking for psychopaths around every corner.

This is my first time reading the work of Celia Silvani and thought she illustrates well the fears and anxieties of not just a woman having her first child but the vulnerability of those who have struggled to conceive as well as the devastating grief of a pregnancy test not bringing the most desperately hoped for result.

My Final Verdict: Overall, the story ended with a lot of unanswered questions for me and a bit of a letdown in the thriller and suspenseful side of things. I think fans of both thrillers and women’s fiction will enjoy the story if they can overlook their personal biases regarding the best approach to childbirth.

REVIEW: Mystery at Maplemead Castle by Kitty French

Title: Mystery at Maplemead Castle (Chapelwick Mysteries #2)
Author: Kitty French
Narrator: Cat Gould
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: March 2017
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Welcome to Chapelwick, a leafy English town in the hills of Shropshire, where chocolate pecan cookies come with a helping of sabotage.

Maplemead Castle is crawling with ghosts, and the new owners need them gone. When Melody Bittersweet and the Girls' Ghostbusting Agency arrive on scene, they quickly identify the troublemakers swinging from the chandeliers...literally.

A century ago, stunning trapeze artist Britannia Lovell plunged to her death, and has done every night since. But did she really just fall, or was there something more to her demise?

Forced to work with Leo Dark, her scoundrel ex, and infuriating, irresistible reporter Fletcher Gunn, Melody's investigative powers are under strain (i.e., lost in a pink mist of lust and confusion). She needs her team on top form, but best friend Marina's cake pipeline goes AWOL, assistant Artie's distracted by a giant sausage roll, and the pug is scared witless by a lion.

Somewhere, hidden in the castle, is a heartbreaking secret, but what will it take to find it? And is there a chance it could set Britannia free, or is she doomed to repeat her last fateful act forever?

My Thoughts: Melody Bittersweet is back with her friends and one-eared Pug, Lestat to clear Maplemead Castle from a circus troupe of ghosts and their lion. Yes, there’s a ghost lion named Goliath who Lestat makes his displeasure about known. Melody’s ex, Leo Dark, and reporter Fletcher Gunn are also back which I thought added more interesting aspects to the story.

I enjoyed this book very much and couldn’t wait to find out the backstory of the ghostly circus performers and the author didn’t disappoint. This story had me laughing out loud, especially when Lestat squares off to a ghost lion and made my eyes tear up when I learned the tragic story of Britannia as well as learning more about Fletcher’s back story. He really grew on me in this installment and I am eager to see if he and Melody continue to connect. Surprisingly, I also felt less irritation and annoyance towards Leo this time around.

I liked Melody and found her easy to relate to and appreciate the care and concern she demonstrates for both the living and the deceased. I keep hoping that Marina and Artie will get together too but so far, they remain steadfast colleagues.

This story offers the perfect blend of fun, charm, mystery, intrigue and romance fans of cozy mysteries will expect. The characters are easy to connect with and relate to and the plot flows smoothly. If you prefer audiobook formats, the narration of this book was expertly performed by Cat Gould.

This book ends on the assumption that Melody and her crew will be starting another case but so far I have been unable to confirm there will be a third book in this series. I hope there will be because it would be a great disappointment to see this series stall with so many unanswered questions.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this story was fantastic and I highly recommend it to fans of cozy mysteries, romances, stories featuring dogs with or without both of their ears and ghosts.

Thank you to the publisher, Bookouture, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.