REVIEW: Twenty by Debra Landwehr Engle

Title: Twenty
Author: Debra Landwehr Engle
Publisher: Kensington Books
Publication Date: January 2020
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: At age fifty-five, Meg’s life is too filled with loss for her to remember what magic feels like. All she has left is a yard brimming with plants that are wilting in the scorching Iowa summer—and a bone-deep feeling that she’s through with living.

Meg has something else too: a bottle of mysterious pills, given to her years ago by an empathetic doctor. He promised that they would offer her dying mother a quick, painless end in exactly twenty days. Though her mother never needed them, Meg does. But a strange thing happens after Meg swallows the little green pearls . . .

Now that she’s decided to leave this world, Meg is rediscovering the joy in it. She sheds everything she no longer needs—possessions, regrets, guilt—and reconnects with those she cares for. Finally confronting the depth of her grief, she’s learning that love runs deeper still. But is it too late to choose to stay?

My Thoughts: Twenty by new to me author Debra Landwehr Engle offers up a huge serving of Murphy’s Law and got me right in the feels. This story introduces the reader to Meg. At age fifty-five, she’s seen plenty of tragedy, loss and heartbreak in her life. Her father died when she was a child, her own child died at ten years old which also ended her marriage and five years ago, her beloved mother passed away. Her days run together between working at a flower shop and trying to keep the plants and flowers at her home alive during a horrific drought. She is fighting what feels like an uphill battle. Meg feels no joy and decides she is done with life.

Before her mother passed away, Meg went to her mother’s doctor for advice on making her mother’s suffering minimal. He gave her a bottle of pearl like pills that when taken would give her mother a pain free death in twenty days. Meg’s mother passed away before the pills were administered and they have been sitting in Meg’s freezer, almost forgotten, for the past five years.

Meg misses her parents and her daughter and wants to see them again. She doesn’t feel like she has anything good left to experience in this life and is done. She takes the pills and begins a journey of putting her house in order, literally and figuratively. Everything from cleaning out all the closets and the entire house and traveling to Seattle to see her sister and family one last time to seeing her ex-husband, Joe for clarity and closure. This story chronicles Meg’s days since taking the pills and the transformation that occurs in Meg’s life. Now that she has twenty days left, she begins to see the magic and beauty that can be found in life. She also wonders if the pills will really work.

I wondered the same thing or if the pills were just a placebo given to Meg by an empathetic doctor trying to give a woman peace of mind while caring for her dying mother. The pills have been sitting in a freezer all these years, so anything is possible.

I kept wondering what I would do if I knew I only had twenty days left. How would I spend that time? I admired Meg’s courage to confront her grief and deal with it once and for all, but I was also saddened that it took her decision to accelerate the time she has left to do it. I loved this story but it brought me no closure or easy answers, other than we all need to look outside of ourselves and chase after the magic and joy life has to offer before it’s too late.

The author does an amazing job of bringing Meg’s story to us. I felt so much empathy and compassion for this woman. I tried very hard not to judge her harshly, but I was so sad that she wanted to finish her life. I also loved the supporting characters of Meg’s ex-husband and her sister.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this is a very thought-provoking book that will make the reader feel all the feels as they walk this path with Meg. I highly recommend this story to readers of women’s fiction as well as readers that like stories that are multi-dimensional, where not everything is black or white, right or wrong.

Thank you to the publisher, Kensington Books, who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

REVIEW: My Great Ex-Scape by Portia MacIntosh

Title: My Great Ex-Scape
Author: Portia MacIntosh
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Publication Date: January 2020
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Romantic Comedy / Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: What if your future was somewhere in your past?

Rosie Jones has been dumped by every boyfriend she’s ever had - most recently by Dinosaur Dave, live on TV, during the ‘phone-a-friend’ segment of a quiz show.

After the footage goes viral Rosie receives a bunch of flowers with a message:

I love you, I should have never let you go, I want you back x

But who sent them?

At a loose end and with £50,000 prize money in her back pocket, Rosie decides to take a trip down memory lane, visiting each of her ex-boyfriends to see not just if they are the one who sent the flowers but if they are the one.

Her journey takes her back to the house she grew up in and on a transatlantic cruise to New York, but can Rosie figure out which ex-boyfriend is the love of her life, or should the past stay in the past?

My Thoughts: Considering the subject matter of broken hearts and broken relationships and the utter humiliation of being dumped on live television, this story was a lot of fun.

I really liked Rosie and loved tagging along with her on her journey to reconnect with her ex-boyfriends. Primarily, her quest is to discover who sent the flowers and the note, but by the end of the journey, it seemed like she was on a quest more for self-discovery, forgiveness and moving forward.

The sender of the flowers doesn’t come as a surprise to me as I suspected quite early on, but Rosie’s journey to getting there was thoroughly entertaining on its own. My favorite of the exes was Eli. They dated a long time ago and have known each other most of their lives. When Rosie catches up to him, she discovers he’s an image consultant (Rosie could definitely use his help) and is gay. They reconnect and become the best of friends which I absolutely loved. He encourages her to go on a cruise where one of her exes works which will take them to New York to meet up with the final ex.

Rosie finds herself going on a cruise from Liverpool to New York with Eli and her parents. I thought this was a bit strange at first; I mean who wants their parents tagging along on a quest to reconnect with exes to see if they are the one? It worked and it brought Rosie and her parents closer together. I also enjoyed the various reasons why Rosie and each ex didn’t work and loved that Rosie wasn’t bitter about it.

Portia MacIntosh does a fantastic job here creating characters the reader can fall in love with also and situations that will have the reader laughing to tears. I would love to see Eli get his own story, even though it’s assumed there’s a happily ever after in this story for him already. The cruise ship setting was also fun and makes me want to book a cruise myself.

My Final Verdict: Though not everyone would react the same way Rosie did upon receiving the mystery bouquet, the trip she takes down memory lane was a great success, in my opinion. It brought her closer to her parents, brought Eli back into her life as the best friend anyone could ask for, a wonderful vacation trip on a cruise to New York (I’m still undecided on their choice for the best pizza in New York City) and giving Rosie’s confidence and self-esteem a giant boost.

I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy contemporary romance, romantic comedies and women’s fiction as well as stories that feature fun locations and amazing characters.

Thank you to the publisher, Boldwood Books, who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

REVIEW: Solo by Jill Mansell

Title: Solo
Author: Jill Mansell
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publication Date: January 2017
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Good intentions go awry in this irresistible page-turner from international bestseller author Jill Mansell.

Outspoken Tessa Duvall lives in a tiny, cozy cottage near Bath, struggling as an artist and feeling she doesn't really fit in with her posh friends. One fateful evening, she lets her best friend drag her to an elegant party, with every intention of sneaking out early. Then she encounters Ross Monahan, the high-profile hotel owner who, quite literally, charms the pants off Tessa.

She knows Ross and his wicked reputation may be nothing but a distraction, but soon, Tessa realizes that even a temporary fling can have permanent consequences… Could Ross actually be the best thing that’s ever happened to her?

One fling follows another, and now the whole community is embroiled in a great big web of deceit, the untangling of which will charm you, amuse you, make you laugh and make you cry.

My Thoughts: Initially, I thought I would enjoy this book more as an audiobook but struggled to remain focused on the story. I switched to digital and loved it. Jill Mansell does a brilliant job of filling her stories with numerous characters and storylines all occurring simultaneously but they flow so well that the reader isn’t overwhelmed trying to keep everyone and their story straight.

I enjoyed meeting Tessa, Ross, Holly, Max, Grace, Adam and everyone else. OK, maybe not everyone because I wanted to chuck Antonia through a window after first meeting her and my opinion of her didn’t improve. But see, that’s the beauty of Jill Mansell’s writing. Even the odious characters leave an impression.

I was quite intrigued with how Tessa and Ross meet and didn’t think a one-night stand and an unplanned pregnancy would work out for anyone, but it does here. Even though I wanted to shake Tessa sometimes at her stubbornness and quick reactions to believing the worst of Ross, even if he sometimes deserved it. I was rooting so hard for these two to make it work.

I adored Holly and though she comes off as very self-centered and a little bit arrogant, she has a heart of gold. She is in love with Max but he doesn’t acknowledge her existence, much less reciprocate any feelings for her. Adam, on the other hand, is head over heels for her, though he is a bit obnoxious in demonstrating it. I was on pins and needles on how her story would turn out.

I loved Grace and just wanted to hug her. She is barely out of school, probably around eighteen and working at the hotel Ross owns. Her world is turned upside down when she finds out about her father who she has never met. I was worried she would end up on skid row or something. Life is hard in the best of times, but to be dealt such traumatizing news at a young age could cause someone to spiral into a pit so dark and deep they would never be able to climb out. I must say that I think Grace was probably my favorite character and after you read this book, I think you will agree with me.

My Final Verdict: This book made me laugh, made me cry, made me angry and frustrated me. I loved it and highly recommend it to readers of contemporary romance and women’s fiction.

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

REVIEW: Defending Jacob by William Landay

Title: Defending Jacob
Author: William Landay
Narrator: Grover Gardner
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
Publication Date: January 2012
Genre: Thriller / Suspense
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Award-winning author William Landay has written the consummate novel of an embattled family in crisis - a suspenseful, character-driven mystery that is also a spellbinding tale of guilt, betrayal, and the terrifying speed at which our lives can spin out of control.

Andy Barber has been an assistant district attorney in his suburban Massachusetts county for more than twenty years. He is respected in his community, tenacious in the courtroom, and happy at home with his wife, Laurie, and son, Jacob. But when a shocking crime shatters their New England town, Andy is blindsided by what happens next: His fourteen-year-old son is charged with the murder of a fellow student.

My Thoughts: I thought this book was going to be fairly predictable and there were many moments that I thought for sure what would happen next, only to be shocked with my jaw hitting the floor. This story is mainly about how far a parent will go to help their child, protect him when they stand accused of a heinous and violent crime. When Jacob Barber is accused of the murder of one of his classmates, his parents react like typical parents and want to defend him. Jacob’s father, Andy, also happens to be the assistant district attorney in their community, so there’s a major conflict of interest here.

Jacob’s guilt or innocence doesn’t seem to be the driving factor in this story either. There are so many legalistic detours that it didn’t seem to matter whether Jacob committed the crime or not. He will be judged by his community. He will be judged by his parents. His father insists he’s innocent, but Jacob’s mother, Laurie, feels doubt creeping in, especially when she learns that her husband is the offspring of two generations of murderers.

The book is full of complex characters, some more likable than others. For the most part, I had a lot of empathy for Andy and Laurie and, in their shoes, I’m not sure if I would have done anything differently. I didn’t always agree with their perceptions and behaviors, but they were understandable and logical for the situation.

This book has many twists that I didn’t see coming and the last 75% of the book really packs a punch, so be prepared! The audiobook format of this book was brilliantly performed by Grover Gardner. His narration breathes life into the characters and enhances the tension the reader feels while listening. My favorite audiobooks are usually in the mystery, thriller and suspense genres and this one didn’t disappoint. This was my first experience with a William Landay novel and it won’t be my last.

My Final Verdict: Overall, I highly recommend this story to fans of thrillers and suspense novels, but also stories that explore the good, the bad and the ugly of the family unit. This story ends leaving a lot of open possibilities, but not as a cliffhanger. I felt that, as a reader, I was being challenged to make my own conclusions about the outcome and what should happen next.

REVIEW: Would Like to Meet by Polly James

Title: Would Like to Meet
Author: Polly James
Publisher: HarperCollins UK, Avon
Publication Date: June 2016
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon

Description: A hilarious, heart-warming read perfect for fans of Shirley Valentine and You’ve Got Mail.

Could the worst thing that’s ever happened to Hannah Pinkman also turn out to be one of the best?

She and her husband Dan have reached the end of the line. Bored with the same gripes, the same old arguments – in fact, bored with everything – they split up after a trivial row turns into something much more serious.

Now Hannah has to make a new life for herself, but that’s not easy. She’s been so busy being a wife and mum that she’s let all her other interests slip away, along with her friends. And when Hannah is persuaded to join a dating site, her ‘best match’ is the very last person she expects it to be . . .

A clever, funny and poignant novel about life after a long relationship, the importance of friendship, and rediscovering your identity.

My Thoughts: A very enjoyable book about a couple who suddenly decide to split up during a random argument. After a couple decades of marriage, Hannah and Dan Pinkman barely tolerate each other and when they reach the breaking point, Dan moves out and Hannah is left to pick up the pieces and figure out what her next step will be. Her friends convince her to start an online dating profile using Pamela Anderson as her inspiration. To Hannah’s horror and surprise and also excitement, Dan and Pammy connect online and start corresponding.

I got a big kick out of this story and have to say that in all of the online dating trope stories I have read, I have yet to read one where an estranged couple find one another online and begin to like each other again. I wondered frequently throughout this story how Dan would react when he finds out who Pammy really is and how Hannah would be able to keep it from him or how she confesses.

Hannah truly believes her marriage is over so she tries to move on but her heart isn’t really in it. Adding to that is her grown son who lacks any ambition, her elderly aunt Pearl, who is getting more action at the retirement home she lives at, the job she hates and overcoming the fear that nobody will ever want to see her naked again.

This book hit all the marks on fun, charm, wittiness and personality. The characters were easy to relate to and get to know. This was my first Polly James book but it will not be my last. Her sense of humor, snark and sarcasm were brilliant and brought these characters to life. I loved how Hannah’s humanity, faults and all, were displayed so eloquently that I couldn’t help but empathize with her.

For me, Hannah is a character that anyone who has suffered a break-up can see bits of themselves in. Love is never just smooth sailing. It can be messy, chaotic and sometimes painful. When the people who are struggling fight for that love, it’s worth it.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this is an amazing book that I highly recommend to readers who love a happy ending for characters that lose their way but refuse to give up.

Thank you to the author, HarperCollins UK, Avon, who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

REVIEW: Playing with Matches by Hannah Orenstein

Title: Playing with Matches
Author: Hannah Orenstein
Publisher: Atria Books
Publication Date: June 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: In the tradition of Good in Bed and The Assistants comes a funny and smart comedy about a young matchmaker balancing her messy personal life and the demands of her eccentric clients.

Sasha Goldberg has a lot going for her: a recent journalism degree from NYU, an apartment with her best friend Caroline, and a relationship that would be amazing if her finance-bro boyfriend Jonathan would ever look up from his BlackBerry. But when her dream career falls through, she uses her family’s darkest secret to land a job as a matchmaker for New York City’s elite at the dating service Bliss.

Despite her inexperience, Sasha throws herself into her new career, trolling for catches on Tinder, coaching her clients through rejection, and dishing out dating advice to people twice her age. She sets up a TV exec who wanted kids five years ago, a forty-year-old baseball-loving virgin, and a consultant with a rigorous five-page checklist for her ideal match.

Sasha hopes to find her clients The One, like she did. But when Jonathan betrays her, she spirals out of control—and right into the arms of a writer with a charming Southern drawl, who she had previously set up with one of her clients. He’s strictly off-limits, but with her relationship on the rocks, all bets are off.

Fresh, sweet, and laugh-out-loud funny, Playing with Matches is the addictive story about dating in today’s swipe-heavy society, and a young woman trying to find her own place in the world.

My Thoughts: First of all, I have to start this review by advising that this book is not as funny or a romantic comedy as the book description would have you believe. I thought it would be more chick-lit fun, and though there were some humorous moments, I wouldn’t classify this as a comedy or a chick-lit story, but rather a contemporary romance or women’s fiction. This isn’t a bad thing, but if you are looking for a rom com, you may feel disappointed.

Secondly, I really enjoy matchmaking and online dating tropes. In this case, the main character, Sasha, isn’t looking for a date, she’s the matchmaker and newly employed at an up and coming online dating agency called Bliss. She utilizes Tinder to troll for prospective dates for her clients. Don’t spend a lot of time pondering any ethical or moral integrity violations Sasha may be committing by poaching another dating service’s clients, who her company refers to as recruits. Just suspend your disbelief on this issue.

In spite of that moral dilemma, I thought the initiative Sasha takes to find matches for her clients was inventive and interesting. Can you imagine someone swipes right on your profile and then proceeds to tell you that they are a matchmaker and have a client that they think would be a good fit and there’s no cost to you, so win-win!

The most interesting part of this story was that all of Bliss’s clients and recruits are off-limits to the matchmakers. I think the recruits being part of that policy is a bit extreme, especially if they are not actively dating one of Bliss’s clients, but I don’t make the rules and Sasha doesn’t seem to care about the rules after her boyfriend betrays her and one of the recruits she had been talking to gets a whole lot more interesting.

I really liked Sasha and admired her spirit and willingness to take on a job that really isn’t what she was intending to do with her journalism degree, but a girl’s got to eat, right? I also liked tagging along with Sasha on her matchmaking duties and enjoyed some of the lengths she went to secure dates for her clients. The supporting characters add a lot of interesting moments too.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this book is a story that is more about a woman’s willingness to rise above the struggles life hands us, keeping her eye on the goal and finding herself and her place in the world. I highly recommend this book to readers who like to root for the underdog to win, even if it’s not the win you thought they would get.

Thank you to the publisher, Atria Books, who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.