Category: Book Reviews

Posted on

The Burning Girls (Herron)-BoT-Crime Thriller-Available Now

Detective Ellie Reeves is back, and she is carrying a lot of baggage with her.

First point to make, if you haven’t read the first two books in this series, I would suggest doing so before reading this one.

While the case at hand does not require any prior knowledge and be read as a stand-alone, Ellie’s personal life takes a more prominent place in the story.

While the author does a good job of explaining things, I sometimes felt like it was “just enough” to get by. You will most certainly have a deeper understanding of Ellie’s frame of mind if you have her full backstory from the first books in the series.

Now, with all of that being said, the case itself is a good one. Just like Wildflower Graves, the author jumps right into the action.

(Side note: This is one of the few authors I have found who does this. Others may have a few months in between the action in books, and that’s fine. But these take place within a few weeks of each other.)

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3ahRsjI
Apple: http://apple.co/2WkgoiB
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2Wkgqad
Google: http://bit.ly/2LE7WIF

This immediate continuity allows for the author to build on experiences without having to go through a lot of exposition explaining what had previously occurred. It gives the story a bit of urgency and allows the reader to truly submerse in the story.

Submersion is good, because there is never a lot of time to breathe in these plots. Ellie pretty much stumbles across crimes in the Appalachian Mountains every time she tries to go hiking to clear her head.

It’s actually sort of ironic, really.

Anyway, you can read other book report reviews that recount the plot. I’m here to tell you that Ellie remains sharp-witted and a bit stubborn in her investigation process. There were a few times that I felt her personal life infringed on the investigation a bit too much.

But I also liked her growth as she comes to terms with the bombshell news. Ellie is not a static character; she definitely learns and adjusts as information continues to be revealed.

I will say that this story is told from multiple points of view and gets pretty twisty. If you’re not concentrating, you could get lost pretty quickly.

I would highly recommend setting time aside to really concentrate on this one, because it’s a good plot with a winning heroine, and you should give it the time it deserves.

Facebook: authorritaherron/
Twitter: @ritaherron

Author Bio:

USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author Rita Herron fell in love with books at the ripe age of eight when she read her first Trixie Belden mystery. But she didn’t think real people grew up to be writers, so she became a teacher instead. Now she writes so she doesn’t have to get a real job.

With over ninety books to her credit, she’s penned romantic suspense, romantic comedy, and YA novels, but she especially likes writing dark romantic suspense and crime fiction set in small southern towns.

Posted on

The Edelweiss Sisters (Hewitt)-BoT-Historical Fiction-Available Now

I’ve made no secret of my love for historical fiction, and I’m always excited to find a new author. However, there are a few who I am predisposed to love, and Kate Hewitt is one of them.

Don’t believe me? Look at this review for Into the Darkest Day.

Her characters are always fully formed, and their actions are natural and organic. I feel like I have been set down in the middle of their lives, rather than watching from afar (if that makes sense). This story continues that tradition.

After a brief prologue set in 1945, the rest of the story is set in Austria, late 1930s, and told in alternating points of view of three sisters, Johanna, Birgit, and Lotte. In the face of political and national events, each of the sisters chooses a different path.

I liked how the author made each sister unique, with her own set of worries and concerns. The chapters follow pretty much the same order of the sisters, but the time periods do jump forward by a few months most of the time.

If you know anything about history, you can see the storm brewing from the beginning. What makes this book much more interesting is that the reader knows what is coming, but the characters don’t.

The author does a great job of keeping them within the confines of their personal knowledge at the time. This lends authenticity to the story while also giving the reader insight into how everything was able to go so wrong so quickly.

I’m not going to go into details about the sisters or the family, because that makes up the brunt of the story, and I would hate to ruin anyone’s experience.

However, I will tell you a few things that I noticed about this novel.

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3yUGFWM
Apple: https://apple.co/2OSaq8y
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3vMJw2x
Google: https://bit.ly/3lDNQwg

I’m a huge fan of musicals. I grew up with the classics, and I have many a cast album memorized. Two of my favorites are “Fiddler on the Roof” and “The Sound of Music.”

I couldn’t help but think of the latter one, due to the setting and time period. I even predicted a moment in the early pages. So, kudos to the author for that dose of realism. What I enjoyed however is that the author kept that realism throughout.

No spoilers. Let’s just say that if you’re familiar with “The Sound of Music,” you’ll recognize quite a bit. Some of it is mentioned clearly, but other parts are more subtle.

(Side note: when I was around 11, my parents and I visited Germany and Austria. We took a “Sound of Music” tour that highlighted real and fictional places related to the Von Trapp story. Those came to mind as I read this book).

Also, I was reminded of “Fiddler on the Roof,” in that each of the daughters blazes her own path while their parents don’t always agree with their choices. It certainly was reminiscent of the three oldest daughters in Fiddler, and how each of them grows up with a different perspective and desire.

I would have liked this book anyway because it is well-written with memorable characters and a thoroughly researched and meticulously outlined story. But continuously finding bits that I could relate to the musicals gave me an added bonus. This is an excellent book and shouldn’t be missed.

Twitter: author_kate
Facebook: KateHewittAuthor

Author Bio:
Kate Hewitt is the author of many romance and women’s fiction novels. A former New Yorker and now an American ex-pat, she lives in a small town on the Welsh border with her husband, five children, and their overly affectionate Golden Retriever. Whatever the genre, she enjoys telling stories that tackle real issues and touch people’s lives.

Posted on

The Forever Home (Watson)-Books on Tour-Psych Thriller-Available now

This psych thriller was good in many ways, but ultimately didn’t entirely deliver on the build-up. It was still a book that had me turning pages – I read it in one sitting, which is no easy feat these days – and I would definitely recommend it.  

I could tell from the beginning (well, and the title) that the house was going to be its own character in the book. It’s a focal point for many reasons.

Carly and Mark have built quite the empire, with their home being a platform for a television show…aptly titled The Forever Home. They renovated the house Carly inherited from her mom and turned it into a business.

Mark is the face of the television show and now travels all over the country to renovate old houses. Well, that’s the cover story anyway.

As Carly finds out at her 25th wedding anniversary party, not everything is as it seems. She’s known for several years what kind of man her husband actually is, but she is fairly blindsided by revelations at the party.

What follows is a harrowing account of what really occurred behind the scenes over the previous 25 years.

The story fully belongs to Carly. It’s from her perspective, with her opinions coloring the entire narrative. This was both impactful and telling. The reader was able to really get into her mind as she justifies both her actions and those of Mark.

And boy, does she spin the justifications.

Ostensibly, it’s because Mark has some big secret on her (that’s not a spoiler – it’s to be assumed that there are good reasons for her to put up with everything). I personally didn’t find that revelation to be as big of a deal as it maybe should have been. I actually expected it to be way worse.

Mark was…interesting. From the descriptions, I kept picturing Paul Hollywood (he’s pretty much the only British Silver Fox I could think of), but I hope my Paul wouldn’t act the way Mark did. He was truly despicable.

Amazon: https://bit.ly/2Sx7grW
Apple: https://apple.co/2Ogai2b
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3v7BtNk
Google: https://bit.ly/3qyYfdl

There are lies galore, hidden motivations, questionable characters, eerie occurrences, and red herrings…everything that makes a psych thriller great.

I think there is one area where the narrative bogs down and that is in Carly’s justifications and mental narratives. There are long, often repeated sections of Carly explaining why she stayed, why she forgave, why she continued on, why she did just about everything.

It became redundant at times, and I found myself wishing that it was written that way to build to some mind twist. Not so much.

As mentioned, there were a few red herrings, including one character who I was sure was guilty. But then I second guessed myself because it was so obvious.

The big climax isn’t as big as it could have been and was frankly a long time coming. It seemed like there were a lot of hints around it and the groundwork was laid early but then it all happened quickly. But characters do get their just desserts. So, that was good.

Probably the thing I liked most though was Carly’s consistency. Her mantra from beginning to end was that she did everything for her kids. And that certainly is the case. I appreciate that level of consistent messaging even in the face of everything else.

I would recommend the book, especially if you are a fan of descriptive internal monologues (and an evil Paul Hollywood 😊 ).

For other reviews of this author’s books: The Empty Nest, The Sister-In-Law, and First Date,

Facebook: sue.watson.39501
Twitter: @suewatsonwriter

Author Bio:

Sue Watson was a journalist on national magazines and newspapers before becoming a TV producer with the BBC. 

Now a USA Today bestselling author, Sue explores the darker side of life, writing psychological thrillers with big twists.

Originally from Manchester, she now lives with her family in leafy Worcestershire where much of her day is spent writing – and procrastinating. Her hobby is eating cake while watching diet and exercise programmes from the sofa, a skill she’s perfected after many years of practice.

http://www.suewatsonbooks.com/

Posted on

Widow’s Island (Larkin)-BoT-Crime Thriller-Available Now

A chilling prologue is only a brief introduction to the tense action that follows in this crime thriller.

I’ll start by saying I don’t know if I agree with the “crime” part of the identification. While crimes were committed (and some pretty heinous ones) I would say that is more thriller.

Anyway, Stephanie Miller has moved her daughter to a secluded island in Washington to try to get a fresh start. Right from the beginning, it is obvious that there is going to be conflict surrounding her job.

She’s a climate scientist. And we all know what a touchy subject that can be. Shortly, horrible things about her appear on the internet, her daughter is taunted at school, and her life is pretty much destroyed.

Does it actually have to do with her job? A government contract? Is it politics in general? And what (if anything) does it have to do with the prologue?

Let’s just say there is a lot going on.

Amazon: https://geni.us/B08Z3WJGWPsocial
Apple: http://ow.ly/7YhP50E0DhN 
Kobo: http://ow.ly/FF9u50E0Tmm
Google: http://ow.ly/YrRi50E0Tns

I found the sections involving the internet/cyber aspects to be especially interesting. It’s pretty well-known how prevalent troll farms are, but there was good detail here that illustrated how morally bankrupt some people can be.

I did find the climate aspect to be a bit off-putting as there were a few times where it felt preachy. And of course, the evil right is once again painted as “science deniers” which was annoying, because it’s such a lopsided perspective.

But I guess you have to have bad guys somewhere.

It takes a while for the author to get around to the connection between the prologue and the rest of the story, and at times it seemed to wander a bit far afield. I wish some passages had been a bit tighter.

There were also some good red herrings and a couple of twists that I didn’t see coming so those were a nice surprise.

I think it was a good read – I just wish it had been more focused and less preachy in places. But it was still a page-turner and the things I didn’t enjoy might not bother other readers.

Facebook:  LALarkinAuthor
Twitter:     lalarkinauthor
Website:     https://lalarkin.com/

Author Bio:

L.A. Larkin is a crime-thriller author, published by Bookouture. Her latest novel, Widow’s Island, is now available for pre-order and is described as “an absolutely nail-biting crime thriller with a heart-pounding twist.”
She is also the author of Prey, Devour, Thirst, and The Genesis Flaw and she writes a funny dog detective mysteries under the pseudonym of Louisa Bennet.

Posted on

The Moon over Kilmore Quay (Harrington)-BoT-Fiction-Available Now

Make sure you have time set aside to read this one. It is not a difficult read, but it does take its time in rolling out the story, and you’ll miss important details if you try to skim.

As you can tell from reading the blurb and other reviews, this is mostly Bea’s story. She’s at loose ends due to a recent breakup. But when she receives a letter in the mail, she is reminded of the person she had hoped to be.

The letter was written by her younger self, a school assignment from 17 years prior – a time capsule of sorts.

I do want to interject here and say that this premise is genius, and I think it would be an excellent idea for teachers to implement this type of task. Especially in light of how much the world has changed over the past 18 months.

How fascinating would it be to have a reminder? Although, I suppose some people would prefer to forget. But I digress.

Anyway, as Bea reads and rereads the letter, she starts to realize that she can take back control of her life. And it starts with revisiting her desire to go to Ireland and find her roots.

There are chapters interspersed that follow Lucy in the early 90s. How Lucy and Bea are connected make up the heart of the story. And the trip to get there takes most of the book.

I thought that the author did a decent job of telling the story from both characters’ points of view, but I will admit that it took me a long time to understand what the author was doing.

AMZ: https://buff.ly/3dLmFvX
Apple: https://buff.ly/3wFEWmY
Kobo: https://buff.ly/3t2Zsfe
Google: https://buff.ly/3dM0MN7

The dual settings of Ireland and NYC were interesting. Although, having lived in NYC I found myself picking apart whether or not the author was accurate about locations.

I think this is because in one of the earliest chapters, Lucy and her friends talk about a lottery for visas to NYC, and then discuss “Cheers Bar.” It was apparent that the author was trying to be relevant in some way. As one character points out, it only existed in television.

But the name of the bar was just Cheers.

And it was in Boston.

Now, I understand that three girls in Ireland might not have made that distinction and that all American big cities are the same. But unless I missed it, that was never addressed. And it made me look more carefully at the other places mentioned.

The “twist” was also a bit questionable. It didn’t bother me at all, but other readers might find it odd or even distasteful. I think that will totally be a matter of personal choice.

Oh, and I liked the reference to Innisfree. It’s the location of one of my favorite movies!

There were quite a few good things about the book. But it wandered a bit much, and I found myself wishing the author would just get on with it. If you’re looking for a novel to kill some time with, that has a bit of heart and a message of taking control of your own life, this is it.

Twitter: @HappyMrsH
Facebook: happymrsh
Instagram: happymrsh

About Carmel:

Carmel Harrington is from Co. Wexford, where she lives with her husband Roger, children Amelia and Nate and their beloved rescue dog, George Bailey. An international bestseller and regular panellist on Irish radio and TV, her warm and emotional storytelling has captured the hearts of readers worldwide, translated into nine languages. Carmel’s trademark is to write warm, uplifting stories with humour, heart and hope. She loves to write about family, friendships, love and life within complex, twisting plots. Carmel’s novels have been shortlisted for an Irish Book Award in 2016 & 2017 and her debut won Kindle Book of the Year and Romantic eBook of the Year in 2013.

Posted on

The Warsaw Orphan (Rimmer)-Blog Tour-Historical Fiction-Available Now

As I have mentioned in prior reviews, this genre is not always for the faint of heart. Most of the novels I have read focus on WWII in some aspect. That’s obviously because it is a gold mine of stories, experiences, and there is no end to the characters that can be fashioned from real life people.

Of those novels, many are also set in the concentration camps, or capture the Nazi regime in some other fashion. Although the brutality and depravity of the party is well-known, it is still often difficult to fathom the depths of hatred and callousness exhibited by human beings.

That is what makes books like this hard to read at times. It’s not because the story or writing is bad, but more that the relentless reminder of the horrors perpetrated on innocent people is often stomach churning.

That is what I found to be the case with this book.

Buy Links can be found beneath Author Info

Set in the Polish ghettos, the story largely belongs to Emilia and Roman, two people on either side of the walls erected by the Nazis, but with the common goal of saving children from being shipped to the “work camps” (yes, we know what those really are).

There are a lot of people to keep track of in the story, which made for slow reading at times. I don’t know if I wasn’t concentrating enough, but I found myself forgetting who people were and needing to go back in the story to clarify.

The author obviously felt a passion for the subject matter, because it was incredibly detailed and seemingly impeccably researched. I think it was that level of detail that gave it the authenticity that made it difficult at times (if that makes sense).

Another thing that many of these books often have in common, though, are the dual messages of hope in the face of terror and how the bravery of an ordinary person can make an enormous impact on people.

Both of those are on full display in this story.

I know I have been general in this review, but it would be impossible to recount the plot points and good and bad details of everything. I will just repeat that it is very-well written, with lots of gut-wrenching detail, and more than a glimpse at the extraordinary people who fought a tide of hatred.

Not light beach reading, to be sure. But it shouldn’t be missed.  

Facebook: @Kellymrimmer
Twitter: @KelRimmerWrites
Instagram: @kelrimmerwrites

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kelly Rimmer is the worldwide, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Before I Let You Go, The Things We Cannot Say, and Truths I Never Told You. She lives in rural Australia with her husband, two children and fantastically naughty dogs, Sully and Basil. Her novels have been translated into more than twenty languages. Please visit her at https://www.kellyrimmer.com/

BUY LINKS:

Posted on

The Stepsisters (Mallery)-Blog Tour-Women’s Fiction-Available Now

This is 100% family drama from beginning to end, and I couldn’t put it down.

Right from the beginning, I knew that the story would have many tense situations. I’m not exactly sure how I knew that based on a child throwing up (opening scene). But it certainly seemed to set the tone.

The author did a good job of making each of the stepsisters (Daisy, Sage, and Cassidy) individuals with their own sets of issues. None of them were a stereotype, and all three seemed like real people with real problems.

They each had very different lives from each other and from anything that I’ve known. I also couldn’t relate to them personality-wise too much. But I still liked them.

Sometimes a character is so different from what a reader personally knows or is familiar with it makes it hard to understand their motivations. That wasn’t the case here. The author succeeded in making the sisters understandable, if not exactly relatable.

That sounds weird, I know. I think it was more that I could read from a detached point of view instead of being swayed by one sister’s story over another’s.

Buy Links can be found underneath “About the Author”

It goes without saying that all three ladies experience tremendous personal growth over the course of the story. What I found interesting was that not only did they share a dad, but they could all pretty much trace their problems with each other to Joanne (Cassidy and Sage’s mother).

She was a real piece of work. And it was also interesting that she continued to be a thorn in Daisy’s side even late in the book, as I see her as directly responsible for knowing how to manipulate Sage.

(No spoilers, you’ll have to read it to understand what I mean).

I found myself wondering whether Joanne was bitter toward Daisy for perceived wrongs in the past and was actively still trying to hurt her emotionally. I think maybe that’s accurate.

Sage was an interesting character as well. She obviously had the brunt of Joanne’s dysfunction and carried it into her adult life. I had an aunt like that (not the same dysfunction as the book but being exposed to a situation for longer and carrying it into adulthood).

I also liked Esmerelda. She was no-nonsense and loyal to Daisy. It seemed as if she served as Daisy’s conscience at times, or maybe her alter ego, being tough when Daisy couldn’t be.

As far as the plot, there’s too much to recount. But the stepsisters journey together to a place of new understanding as each of them recognizes their perspectives and how they were shaped by events they didn’t have full understanding of in the past.

I know that was convoluted. But as I said, it’s a family drama, and those are never straightforward. If you’re looking for a more dramatic beach read, I would definitely recommend this book.

Website: https://susanmallery.com/ 
Facebook: SusanMallery 
Twitter: susanmallery 
Instagram: susanmallery 
Pinterest: susanmallery/ 
Goodreads: susanmallery 
Bookbub: susan-mallery 

About the Author:

#1 NYT bestselling author Susan Mallery writes heartwarming, humorous novels about the relationships that define our lives―family, friendship, romance. She’s known for putting nuanced characters in emotional situations that surprise readers to laughter. Beloved by millions, her books have been translated into 28 languages. Susan lives in Washington with her husband, two cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Visit her at SusanMallery.com.

Posted on

The Vacation (Chouinard)-BoT-Suspense Thriller-Available Now

The author had me from “Jamaican holiday” but kept me for a thrilling story that kept me guessing right up to the very end.

I love this author’s writing style. It’s easy to read with just enough detail to make things interesting without lots of exposition.

In other words, her books are full of “doing” and not just “telling.”

There are also great layers to the stories, with overlapping motivations, ulterior goals, and a lot going on – but it’s never confusing. This is just a great story with interesting characters told in a forthright manner.

The plot is carried from the points of view of three women, Rose, Bree, and Anabelle, as they plan and embark on a tropical vacation with their families. There are also chapters entitled “now” interspersed throughout.

Without giving the plot away, everything hinges on one event, with the ladies’ perspective occurring prior and the “now” chapters occurring in the “present” time. Everything moves seamlessly between the chapters, and nothing is ever jarring as it switches. In the latter part, some backstory is filled in via “news articles.” That was effective.

Amazon: https://geni.us/B08YKBFDKDCover
Apple: http://apple.co/3bzoJY4
Kobo:  http://bit.ly/3vhrdBY
Google: http://bit.ly/30F7BcV

I almost instantly empathized with Rose. It seems that sometimes “overprotective moms” get a bad rap, but mom instincts cannot be denied. I liked her even more as her backstory came out (more on that in a second).

Annabelle was less clear to me. I thought out of all of the women, she was the least fleshed out. Bree was more so, but still not as clear as Rose. It also took me a few chapters to fully grasp how all three couples were connected.

Once the connections were made, however, it was interesting to watch the dynamics. The author did a great job of dropping hints throughout. Some of them were such that they only became clear when later revelations occurred.

As I mentioned earlier, the plot kept me guessing. There were a few red herrings thrown in that were natural – not just there to distract but made perfect sense in the context of the story. And the climax was not what I thought at all. I didn’t guess that part accurately.

I also liked how just when you thought the book was over, there was one more chapter…and then one more…and then one more. It was a great way to wrap up the book even after the main thrust of the story was complete.

And a word about Rose’s background. Being a Bay Area girl myself. I have many fond memories of days spent at Children’s Fairyland and Lake Merritt. So, that part of Rose’s history made me able to relate to her – not through her actions, but as I could see the location in my mind.

There’s also a mention of the Polly Klaas foundation. I was in college by then, but both Michaela Garecht and Polly Klaas were high profile missing children cases when I was a teenager. Even though it wasn’t a pivotal part of the story (for the most part) it still made it feel personal to me because I remember the times.

Even if you don’t have that frame of reference, this is an excellent book that will lull you in with an idyllic tropical vacation before pulling the rug out from underneath you. Great beach read.  

Facebook: mmchouinardauthor/
Twitter: m_m_chouinard

Author Bio:

M.M. Chouinard writes crime fiction (including suspense, procedurals, and cozies), and women’s fiction. M.M. Chouinard’s first fiction story was published in her local paper when she was eight, and she fell in love with Agatha Christie novels not long after. While pursuing a Ph.D in psychology and helping to found the first U.S. research university of the new millenium, the stories kept rattling around inside her skull, demanding to come out. For sanity’s sake, she released them.

Posted on

The Marriage Lie (Mercer)-BoT-Women’s Fiction-Available now

I’m left with mixed feelings about this book.

On the one hand it was a decent family drama that explored the secrets families keep from each other. It was also a good look at the many faces we wear: the front we put up for other people, what we share of ourselves with family members, and how each of those may differ from our true self.

It’s also a searing look at how lies can easily be compounded into untenable situations.

On the other hand, I found the characters to be weak and frankly unlikeable. Not weakly written, but their nature was weak.

Take Stella for example. The opening chapter hits hard. She’s celebrating her 40th birthday with her husband, and then…wham! Her life changes on a dime. And then she kind of continues to take it, at least up to a point. I didn’t quite understand that.

I hated Rob from the beginning. He was arrogant, obnoxious, supercilious, and just an all-around jerk. I mean, beyond any other bad characters, this guy really took the cake. It made all of the scenes he was in unenjoyable because he was just…icky.

Amazon:  https://geni.us/B08Y8JLVPQCover
Apple: http://ow.ly/brCe50DTSfl
Kobo: http://ow.ly/Qzkf50DTSdG
Google: http://ow.ly/iUQu50DTZao

There were quite a few twists in the story, and I guessed them early on. That’s not to say that it is a boring story or a suspense type of plot. It was evenly paced, and the story rolled out naturally.

In fact, maybe that’s why I have mixed feelings. It’s a beautifully crafted, well-written story with characters who are just not appealing, relatable, or even likeable. Interesting.

Anyway, my favorite character, and the one I thought was the most developed, was Georgie. Not only was she a teenager with gravitas, but she handled the crazy adults who surrounded her with class.

I thought the second half of the book was smoother than the first. I guess in a way, that mirrors Stella’s experience. As I said before, well-written book with an interesting plot but characters, who, for the most part, did nothing for me.

I would still recommend it, because other readers may find themselves in Stella or Molly (or even Georgie), and the writing is top-notch.

Twitter: @AlisonLMercer
Instagram: @alimercerwriter
Facebook: AliMercerwriter

Author Bio:

Ali decided she wanted to be a writer early on and wrote her first novel when she was at primary school. She did an English degree and spent her early twenties working in various jobs in journalism, including as a reporter for the showbusiness newspaper The Stage. She started writing fiction in earnest after getting married, moving out of London to the Oxfordshire market town of Abingdon and starting a family. She has two children, a daughter and a son who is autistic and was diagnosed when he was four years old.
Ali is fascinated by families, their myths and secrets, and the forces that hold them together, split them up and (sometimes) bring them back together again. She always travels with tissues and a book and has been known to cry over a good story, but is also a big fan of the hopeful ending.

Posted on

Talk Bookish to me (Bromley)-Blog Tour-Rom Com-Available Now

I’ll be clear right off the top.

If you’re a book blogger, you’ll love this book.

If you’re a bookstagrammer, you’ll love this book.

If you’re a casual reviewer, you’ll love this book.

In short, if you like books at all, in any way, you’ll love this book.

Not only is there a lot of discussion about books, genres, tropes, character motivation, etc., but it’s all relayed in witty dialogue with charming characters and a great plot.

It’s a romance, so you know that it’s probably inevitable that the main couple will end up together. But I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun reading a couple’s trajectory.

The main characters (Ryan and Kara) re-meet cute. The tension is great, the chemistry is off the charts almost immediately. You can’t help but root for them.

I thought the subplot of Kara needing to finish her book and could only do so with Ryan’s influence was clever. It may seem far-fetched to some, but I thought it worked well.

Buy Links: BookShop.org Harlequin  Barnes & Noble
Amazon Books-A-Million Powell’s

I totally identified with Kara. Not because of her situation in the present, but because the description of her in college felt familiar. I could have been her. I probably was her.

In some ways, even the relationship she and Ryan had was similar to one I had. Mine didn’t have the arc theirs did though. Thankfully.

Anyway, back to the book.

The real charmer in all of this is Duke. He added so much humor and he couldn’t even talk. But anyone who knows a character like Duke will be able to relate to how much truth there was in his scenes.

Of course, the path to true love never did run smooth (or however that saying goes). Sometimes in Rom Coms, the thing that keeps the couple apart seems contrived. In this case, it totally fit with the plot and the characters.

I also enjoyed the descriptions of Italy because I’ve been there a few times so that brought up nice memories.

Honestly, I just loved everything about this book. It is definitely the perfect beach read, and it should go to the top of your TBR list for the summer immediately.  

It’s a great debut novel, and I hope to read many more from this author.

Social Links:
Author Website
Twitter: @kbromleywrites
Instagram: @katebromleywrites
Facebook: @katebromleywrites
Goodreads

KATE BROMLEY lives in New York City with her husband, son, and her somewhat excessive collection of romance novels (It’s not hoarding if it’s books, right?). She was a preschool teacher for seven years and is now focusing full-time on combining her two great passions – writing swoon-worthy love stories and making people laugh. Talk Bookish to Me is her first novel.

close

Enjoy this blog? Please spread the word :)