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Wednesday, June 13, 2018
Cheap Ending Earns Dallas' Newest a Meh From Me
8:40 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Ellen's using scraps of heirloom fabric to create a wedding quilt for her granddaughter June when the bride-to-be shows up on her porch declaring the upcoming nuptials have been called off. With her fiancé shipping off soon for Korea, June's nervous and uncertain about their future. In an effort to soothe the young woman's worries, Ellen tells her a story about a lady who ran away from marriage three times ...
At the end of the 19th Century, a 22-year-old schoolteacher named Nell strikes out for the New Mexico Territory. She craves adventure and she longs for love. Nell finds both at the Rockin' A, a rustic cattle ranch where she becomes a biscuit shooter. When she falls for a charming cowboy, Nell's over the moon with happiness. Then Buddy breaks her heart. Devastated, Nell runs away, vowing never to be so foolish again. As her traitorous heart starts beating for another, she can't shake off her lingering anxiety. Can she trust any man's declarations of love? How will she know if a suitor's sincere and loyal enough to marry? More importantly, will she ever find true love, the kind that leads to the happy contentment for which she longs? Nell will have to learn some difficult lessons about life and love before she even comes close to her happily ever after.
Can Nell's hard-won wisdom help June make the most important decision of her life?
With a vivid Old West setting and a story line that's entertaining if not all that engrossing, The Patchwork Bride is the newest historical romance from genre staple Sandra Dallas. Although the novel's short on plot, it does have a certain charm. I didn't feel any real connection with its heroine, however, since Nell strikes me as selfish, easy, and fickle. While the story moves along in a predictable manner, the "surprise" ending feels cheap and sneaky. In fact, the finale soured the whole tale for me. The Patchwork Bride just didn't feel like a satisfying read after that! I wanted to love this one, but in the end, my only feeling is ... meh.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't really think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs) and violence
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of The Patchwork Bride from the generous folks at St. Martin's Press. Thank you!
Saturday, June 09, 2018
Moody Broody Mystery a Not Very Satisfying Read
8:07 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Blackmore isn't the kind of place that takes kindly to a stranger nosing around asking uncomfortable questions. The 2500 people still surviving in the gritty, down-on-its luck mining town are as rough and hopeless as their dying village. As a newcomer, Clare O'Day sticks out like the proverbial sore thumb. She doesn't look like a cop, but her inquiries into the recent disappearance of Shayna Fowles—a local junkie—make her suspect. What is Clare doing in Blackmore? Why is she asking about Shayna?
Clare has her own issues, although she's not about to unload them on anyone in Blackmore. Her job is to observe, ask questions, find Shayna, and leave. It soon becomes clear, however, that her task will not be as easy as it sounds. No one in Blackmore trusts Clare and vice versa, but to solve her own problems, Clare must find Shayna. What happened to the woman? Did someone harm her? If so, who? With a town chock-full of menacing suspects, Clare hardly knows where to start. One thing, however, is becoming painfully clear—Clare's in more danger every day she stays in Blackmore. Can she discover the truth behind Shayna's disappearance? Or will Clare become the next young woman to vanish from the sinister, dead-end town?
Still Mine, a debut novel by Canadian author Amy Stuart, is a moody, broody thriller that's unsettling and just ... weird. It's atmospheric, with an eerie vibe that sets the stage for a mystery that could go in any direction. The characters are a rugged, violent lot who are almost wholly unlikable. Plotwise, Still Mine is compelling, but its premise is unconvincing and its ending just made the whole novel feel pointless and depressing. While Stuart's prose is solid, I found almost everything else about this novel unappealing. I finished it, but overall, Still Mine just wasn't a very satisfying read for me. Bummer.
(Readalikes: Blackmore reminds me of Acker's Gap, West Virginia, the setting for the Bell Elkins series by Julia Keller)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), violence, depictions of illegal drug use, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of Still Mine with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Tuesday, June 05, 2018
Eden Delivers Another Warm, Witty Regency Romance
1:00 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Note: Loving Lieutenant Lancaster is a companion novel to Seeking Persephone; Courting Miss Lancaster; and Romancing Daphne. It also concerns members of the Jonquil Family from Kiss of a Stranger; Friends & Foes; Drops of Gold; As You Are; A Fine Gentleman; and For Love or Honor. While the books are not technically sequels, reading them out of sequence may result in plot spoilers. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.
An orphan raised by her unfeeling aunt and uncle, Arabella Hampton dreams of being part of a big, loving family. The Jonquils have always represented the ideal; long has she dreamed of being one of them. When Lady Lampton, the aging matriarch of the Jonquil Family, approaches Arabella's guardians about hiring their charge as a lady's companion, 23-year-old Arabella can't believe her luck. Finally, she'll get to live at Lampton Park, residing among the kind-hearted Jonquils. Arabella hasn't been in her new position long, though, before she realizes she's a charity hire, not really needed at all. As neither a servant nor a family member, she finds herself feeling useless and out of place. She finally sees her hopes of being a real Jonquil for what they are—foolish and naive.
Recently retired from the Royal Navy, 24-year-old Linus Lancaster is finding himself hopelessly bored with his new-found life of leisure. Lonely and craving a diversion of almost any kind, he agrees to attend an extended house party at the Jonquils' estate in Nottinghamshire. Cavorting with his siblings, their spouses, and their in-laws should make for an entertaining two weeks. While Linus expects fireworks (especially between the surly Duke of Kielder and foppish Lord Lampton), he's shocked when a mysterious woman hiding in the shadows unwittingly ignites his passions. Mesmerized by the lovely Miss Hampton, Linus vows to bring the reluctant young woman out of obscurity—and into his arms.
Although of differing stations and backgrounds, Arabella and Linus are nevertheless drawn to each other. Can they find the purpose and belonging they both long for in each other? Or will their haunted pasts drive them apart forever?
Sarah M. Eden has become known for her warm, witty romances. They're clean, they're fun, they're sweet, and they're enjoyable. Her newest, Loving Lieutenant Lancaster, is no exception. Featuring likable characters, a warm, upbeat tone, and capable prose, it's as entertaining as its fellows. Because this novel brings together the casts of two of Eden's Regency series, there are a lot of characters in Loving Lieutenant Lancaster. Those who have read the previous novels will no doubt delight in seeing what's become of their favorites; those who are not acquainted with all the Lancasters and Jonquils will likely be confused. I, for one, had trouble keeping them all straight. While their antics kept me reading, this novel definitely started to feel overly long. Admittedly, I'm not a big romance reader. When I do indulge, I prefer my love stories to be short and sweet, especially if there aren't any subplots to keep me interested. Despite those things, I still enjoyed this fun Regency romance.
(Readalikes: Other books in the Jonquil and Lancaster series [titles listed in Note above] by Sarah M. Eden)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for mild innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Loving Lieutenant Lancaster from Covenant in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
--
Would you like more opinions on Loving Lieutenant Lancaster? Follow along on the book's blog tour by clicking on the links below:
*June 4th: http://mybookaday.com/, https://www.wishfulendings.
*June 5th: http://www.blogginboutbooks.
*June 6th: http://www.kindleandme.com/, http://ldswritermom.blogspot.
*June 7th: https://www.
*June 8th: http://minreadsandreviews.
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Friday, June 01, 2018
Grief Novel Poignant and Engaging
2:04 PM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Maddy Starling may have left her family, but she can't quite leave them alone. Even as a ghost, she worries about her workaholic husband and their grief-stricken 16-year-old daughter, Eve. Without Maddy there to bridge the gap, to keep the household running and manage everyone's emotions, what will become of her fractured family? The least she can do is find a replacement for herself, someone who can be a companion to Brady and a loving mentor for Eve. She thinks she may have found the perfect woman in Rory Murray, an elementary school teacher who's tutoring Eve. Is Rory, who comes with her own baggage, really a suitable stand-in? Can Maddy somehow "push" her and Brady together?
In the meantime, Brady and Eve have to learn how to cope without the wife and mother who's always held them together. Neither one can quite grasp the fact that Maddy—the most put together woman either of them has ever known—committed suicide, purposely leaving them behind. It makes no sense. Reading Maddy's diary brings some answers, but also more questions. Why would someone like Maddy jump off a building, ending what seemed like a perfect life? In order to rebuild their shattered lives, Brady and Eve must come to terms with what happened on that rooftop and learn to forge a new future for themselves. Can they find their way, even as Maddy's influence grows more and more difficult to assert? Can Maddy, Brady, and Eve figure out how to move on, even when all they want is to go back to the way things were?
I'm known for writing honest reviews, but Jenny over at Alternate Readality takes the art to a whole new (and often hilarious) level, so when she raves about a book, I pay attention. She recently recommended I Liked My Life, a debut novel by Abby Fabiaschi, which I also ended up enjoying. While I didn't love the book quite as much as Jenny did, I agree that it features solid writing, intriguing characters, and a plot that kept me turning pages. The story feels raw and real, but it's also funny and hopeful. All of the main characters are complex, sympathetic, and interesting, which makes it easy to root for their happiness. Fabiaschi even throws in some plot twists to keep things interesting. All in all, then, I Liked My Life makes for an engaging, thought-provoking read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language, violence, mild sexual content, and depictions of underage drinking
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
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