What You Wish For by Katherine Center

4*

All about letting go of fear that prevents us from loving and experiencing joy.

Sam, a private school librarian, has epilepsy and, as a result, had a very tough childhood. As an adult, it’s mostly under control, but the damage to her self-esteem is evident. She, by her own admission, purposely fights to find joy, but can’t let go of the ghosts of the past.

Duncan, who Sam has loved for years, comes back into her life a changed man...and not for the better. The charming, magnetic free spirit (“human mood-enhancer” per Sam) is gone, replaced by a buttoned-up, rigid man who, as new principal, wants to turn their beloved school into a prison, all in the name of keeping the children safe. Sam is determined to find out what’s happened to him and, when she does, she’s forced to look at her own life and acknowledge the comparisons between their stories that have had such a profoundly sad impact on their lives.

Despite the heavy topics discussed, the love story between them is redemptive and very touching. Center, author of Things You Save in a Fire, has gifted us with another heartwarming story that leaves us feeling optimistic at a time when we could all use some joy in our lives. The only thing that would have made it better would be a dual POV so we’d be privy to Duncan’s thoughts. Highly recommended!

 

 

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

 

Summer at Lake Haven by RaeAnne Thayne

 

4*

Ian Summerhill, future Earl of Amherst and biologist/Oxford professor, rents the house next door to Samantha Fremont, local clothing boutique owner and budding wedding gown designer. Ian and his children Amelia and Thomas are in Haven Point for his sister Gemma’s wedding and so he can research a local breed of salmon. As a family, they’re working through the children’s grief over their mother’s (his ex-wife’s) death. Sam is also grieving her mother’s recent death and her conflicted feelings about their difficult relationship which has left her with feelings of inadequacy and insecurity. Sam is designing Gemma’s wedding gown and has recently adopted a dog who surprisingly has puppies. When she asks the kids to watch the puppies while she’s at work, the bond between all of them begins to grow and strengthen. As loving feelings between Ian and Sam become too great to deny, will they be able to put aside their insecurities and roadblocks to build a joyful life together?

In this 11th book in her Haven Point series, Thayne continues to lure her readers into this beautiful, caring community along the shores of the fictional Lake Haven, Idaho. As we’ve seen in previous books, everyone has faced personal struggles or tragedies, but opening themselves to love allows them to be vulnerable and share life’s burdens. You can’t go wrong with this lovely series.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from HQN (Harlequin) through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

My Last Duchess by Eloisa James

 

4*

So sweet to finally have the love story between Hugo, Duke of Lindow and his 3rd and last duchess, Ophelia. When reading the previous books in the series, the love affairs of all the combined children, I didn’t get a true picture of the relationship between these two or realize how young the Duke still was when he married Ophelia. Their passion is palpable and the love is transcendent. The fact that they both cherish being parents and defy societal norms by making their children the focus in their lives is heartwarming. Now that I’ve finished the novella, I’m eager to revisit their children’s stories. (The Wildes of Lindow Castle #0.5) Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Avon Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Meant to Be Yours by Susan Mallery

4*

This 5th book in the Happily Inc. series is about the romance between wedding planner Renee and famous crime thriller novelist Jasper. They’re both damaged, Jasper w/ PTSD and Renee from a string of men who have betrayed and abandoned her. They agree to a friends with benefits relationship, but as so often happens, feelings start to get in the way. When Jasper goes behind her back to convince a young couple to allow him to observe their wedding planning, Renee is furious. However, a heartfelt apology is all it takes for her to cave, and being around each other so much leads to the inevitable. Will they both be able to let go of the past to have a future together?

A minor criticism is the implausible storyline of Renee’s mother being an animal psychic. If you can suspend disbelief, her interactions with the four-legged creatures provide some drama that moves the story along. Susan Mallery is always a great bet for heartwarming romances with a little steam and tension. It’s always fun to revisit with characters from earlier in the series and see them building families. This one wasn’t as good as the earlier books that feature the enigmatic, handsome, and artistic Mitchell brothers, but it was still a pleasant way to spend a day.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from HQN (Harlequin) through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Chance of a Lifetime by Jude Deveraux and Tara Sheets

 

3*

If this book hadn’t ended with a cliffhanger, I would have given it 4*. However, it wasn’t billed as such (a big disappointment), so I’m giving it 3* (2* for cliffhanger and 4* for being a thoroughly engaging story). The story begins with Liam meeting 2 angels at the pearly gates who have assigned him the task of righting a wrong he caused in 1844 Ireland. Liam and his family are suffering because of the potato famine, so he has turned to theft to help them survive. When he sneaks into the local Squire’s home to steal some jewels, he encounters 17 yo Cora, the squire’s daughter. Instead of being scared of this stranger who climbs through her bedroom window, she’s intrigued and gives him a tour of the house. She tells him she’s engaged to her father’s solicitor, Finley, but has no desire to marry him. As time goes on, they contrive a way to see each other and fall in love. 

It’s the actions of the star-crossed lovers that lead the angels to give a Liam on chance to avoid eternity in hell. He must get 21st century Cora to fall in love with Finn, her father’s attorney, and get destiny back on track. The problem is that Liam still loves her and struggles to put his own feelings aside to do what he must to avoid eternal damnation. Unfortunately, due to the abrupt ending, we don’t know if he’ll succeed. We’re also left with an unsolved murder mystery, wondering if the angels have ulterior motives, and whether Cora will eventually realize that the dreams she’s having about Liam are actually memories. 

Deveraux and Sheets have masterfully combined magical realism, romance and a murder mystery that kept me thoroughly engaged, but the abrupt ending with multiple unresolved issues is beyond frustrating. This needs to be billed as part of a series (Providence Falls #1), not a standalone, if they don’t want to frustrate readers. At the very least, give a hint to when the second installment will be published. Recommended.

 

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Harlequin Mira through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

 

Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall

 

2*

Oh, this was really disappointing.

Didn’t like the deep insecurities of the two main characters, even if it’s what drove the story.

Didn’t care for any of the parents except perhaps Luc’s mom, although she seemed very cavalier concerning his feelings.
Didn’t like how “smart” (precious) so much of the conversation was. Perhaps it’s because it’s British, or maybe it’s just pretentious. Either way, I needed a dictionary for so much of it.
I especially didn’t like all the gay-bashing. The only people who weren’t homophobic were his group of friends. I also found it problematic that Oliver had no gay friends.
I wish it were more steamy. After enduring the boredom of the slow-build romance, the least Hall could have done was reward readers with some sexy talk and action.
Finally, what was the deal with Luc’s co-workers’ cluelessness, especially Alex’s nitwittedness, which supports the argument that British nobility suffer from centuries of inbreeding?

Overall, this was a big fail for me. I only reason I didn’t give it 1* was because I finished it

Last Couple Standing by Matthew Norman

4*

The biggest lesson from this book is that divorce isn’t usually a solution and that people should work harder and be willing to forgive transgressions. Couples who love each other need to work hard to keep their marriages exciting, and looking for excitement outside of marriage isn’t the best course of action. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. The main flaw in their reasoning is that sex is what makes or breaks marriages. With the odds of divorce at 50%, Jessica and Mitch should have realized that their odds were greatly improved after 75% of their friends group split up. They had a loving marriage with humor, respect, friendship and beautiful kids. When they created the rules, they failed to consider that their feelings for each other who supersede any logic.

I appreciate that this male author was able to fairly capture women’s feelings. Although Jessica was the instigator and the only one to have sex, he didn’t make her the villain of the piece. And with the other couples, one man cheated, one couple each had emotional affairs, and the 3rd weren’t in love, so the blame fell along gender lines. The men stereotypically went after younger women, and the women experienced and discussed the double standard of dating in the new millennium: men go for younger women thereby forcing middle-aged women to date older men. Of course, there’s the occasional cougar relationship as well, but it’s no more fulfilling than the older man-younger woman scenario. Bottom line is that sexual attraction complicates things, and seeking out extramarital liaisons is opening Pandora’s box, even if both partners are seemingly in agreement.

I loved Mitch. He’s the perfect man as far as I’m concerned: funny, devoted, loving, loyal, and a devoted father. Yes, he was tempted by a pretty young thing, but his love for his family kept him from crossing the line. The whole ET subplot is all about how even the best parents can make mistakes, but that they do everything in their power to make up for them by being there for their kids.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Ballantine Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Say Yes to the Duke by Eloisa James

 

4*

Stepdaughter to the Duke of Lindow, Viola Astley has never felt like a true Wilde despite her stepfather claiming her as his own. She’s painfully shy and has low self-esteem when comparing herself to the handsome, vivacious Wilde offspring. So when she overheard the Duke of Wynter disparaging her (and echoing her own thoughts) to his matchmaking uncle, she has no hesitation in cutting him down to size. Not surprisingly, the arrogant Duke finds her forthrightness refreshing, and soon his feelings for this “mouse” do a 180. This 5th installment of The Wildes of Lindow Castle is the best yet, weaving laugh out loud humor and the strident pronouncements of a shrewish villainess with a heartwarming romance between a lion and a lamb. (The Wildes of Lindow Castle #5)

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Avon Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

500 Miles From You by Jenny Colgan

3*

Lissa, a London-based NHS nurse, witnesses a fatal, intentional hit-and-run whose 15 yo victim is someone she’s met. The experience leads to PTSD, and she’s shipped off to the Scottish Highlands to have time to heal, exchanging places with Cormac, a former Army medic whose time in Afghanistan has left him with his own ghosts. As both slowly become used to the vastly unfamiliar landscapes they’ve been dropped into, their professional texts discussing each other’s patients begin to evolve into friendship.

As with all of Colgan’s books, 500 Miles to You, 3rd in The Scottish Bookshop series, is a heartwarming, character-driven story with the locations featuring prominently. Unfortunately, this one is weak. Secondary characters like Lissa’s transgender friend Kim-Ange and Scottish ambulance driver Jake are well-drawn and provide subplots that move the story along. Issues including homelessness, teen delinquency, and organ transplants are handled delicately. Unfortunately, the unlikely romance between Lissa and Cormac doesn’t make a great deal of sense given the minimal correspondence we’re privy to, the fact that they’ve never met face to face, and that Lissa hasn’t even seen a photo of Cormac. We don’t even get the satisfaction of a first kiss. Overall, not one of Colgan’s best efforts. The pacing is slow, the plot rather shallow, the texted dialogue between the two is sparse, and the ending is rushed and unsatisfying. Fans of Beth O’Leary’s The Flatshare and her latest, The Switch, might enjoy the similarities between the books, though this one suffers in comparison.

 

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from William Morrow Paperbacks through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

What I Like About You by Marisa Kanter

4*

This debut author’s book definitely dialed-in to the current teen social media culture. On the plus side, I love the YA lit fandom angle being such a big fan of the genre. I also appreciate that it’s a YA novel in which friends are genuine and there’s no focus (other than some negative comments online) on bullying. The secondary characters are well-developed and I appreciate the focus on family and the way people process grief.

 

Unfortunately, I seriously disliked Halle. Yes, she suffers from crippling anxiety and low self-esteem, but it’s never clear where that comes from other than never staying in one place long enough to make friends and establish an identity. Her loving family supports her and her social media following should be proof that she’s successful at what she does. It shouldn’t take an acceptance to NYU and invitation to a BookCon panel to validate her. However, that doesn’t excuse her selfishness and dishonesty. Trust is essential in relationships and she betrayed everyone’s. It’s astounding that everyone forgave her, honestly. I recommend this title because teen book lovers will appreciate the YA lit focus and the DM format. 

 

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Simon & Schuster BYR through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.