101. The Other Side of Now

101. The Other Side of Now. Paige Harbison. 2025. 320 pages. [Source: Library] [adult romance, 3 stars]

First sentence: I pull the trigger over and over and over as the increasingly feeble stream of water fails to propel my tiny horse as fast as I want it to go.

Premise/plot: Meg Bryan, our heroine, is given a unique opportunity to see what her life could have been like if she'd made another choice as a teenager. The choice to go or stay. To go to a small Irish village and attend college/university (Avalon) OR to stay in Florida. Whatever she chooses, she wants her best friend Aimee to choose as well. She chose to stay and ends up moving to LA where she's a soap star, or prime soap star, perhaps. Aimee, well, less said the better. Crazy unhappy, she books an impulsive trip to Ireland, to Avalon. That trip shows her the other side--what might have been. And EVERYTHING is different. But is different better?

My thoughts: The premise kept me reading. Honestly though, I found both versions of Meg [aka Lana Lord, her stage name] to be insufferable--though in different ways. Because the truth of the matter is we almost get three main characters. Lana Lord who is a soap star. Other-Meg who lives in Ireland and we just hear about her from everyone else. Lana-living-Meg's-life is who we spend the most time with. She is essentially "taking over" Other Meg's life, impersonating her, befriending her friends, falling in love with Other Meg's boyfriend. She is learning life lessons because she sees the mistakes of both Other Meg and Lana Lord.

I wanted to like this one. I liked it well enough--barely. I didn't really "like" the main character.

How adult was it? It had one fairly graphic sex scene. It could have been a LOT worse, I know for being adult romance. (Surely one of my least read genres for a reason. Except for clean romances.)



© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

113. Strangers in the Night

Strangers in the Night. Heather Webb. 2023. 432 pages. [Source: Library] [Adults]

First sentence: Every important moment of my life could be measured in notes and captured by a song. That was never truer than the first night I saw her across the room, belonging to someone else.

Premise/plot: Historical fiction starring Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner. Historical romance [of the graphic sort] starring Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner. It roughly begins circa 1946. (I say roughly because the prologue is undated.) It follows the "tragic" "star-crossed" lovers across several decades and around the globe. He was a global singing star AND a movie star. She was a movie star. Together they were one hot mess.

My thoughts: Is the book flattering to Frank? Not really--in my own personal opinion. Is the book flattering to Ava? Again, not really--in my own opinion. I do think the book was meant to be flattering to both. I get the impression that the author enjoyed [greatly appreciated] both personalities--flaws and all. I think the "tragic romance" element was supposed to hook readers into sympathizing with these lovers. Was I sympathetic to Frank and Ava as a couple? NO! I thought together they were obviously extremely toxic. Individually, I think there was some toxicity. I will say that I never got the impression that it was all his fault or all her fault. I think they as individuals made repeated bad decisions. There were things he did that I would find unforgivable. There were things she did that I would find unforgivable. 

I do wish that this one had been CLEARER about dates. Each "part" was given a range of years. The first part covers three or four years. That's not so bad, I suppose. But other sections cover DECADES. And there's no specific years mentioned at all. Like "1950 to 1966" or "1966 to 1990." And HOW is that even remotely helpful???? I think the book would have been greatly improved if there were more connections to specific times--dates, months, years, events.

There were some movies mentioned for each. There were a few songs and/or albums mentioned for him. If it had been more historical fiction and less graphic romance novel, perhaps it would have done a better job doing tribute to the life and times. I do think the potential is there to tell great stories in this time period.

© 2023 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

17. The Little Wartime Library

The Little Wartime Library. Kate Thompson. 2022. 496 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: An old woman walks up the westbound platform of Bethnal Green Underground Station, moving painfully slowly on account of her arthritis.

Premise/plot: A book about libraries and books set during the Second World War??? YES please. That was my initial first impression. 

The novel has a framework--for better or worse. The opening and closing chapters readers meet an elderly woman and her two daughters. The rest of the novel is set in London's East End during the Second World War. It alternates between two librarians (or one librarian and one librarian assistant). Clara Button is a widow who before the war was a children's librarian. During the war she is managing an underground--literally--library. Bethnal Green tube station is serving many functions these days--including a temporary library structure. She works closely with all classes, all ages. Ruby Monroe, her assistant, is a fiery/feisty vixen who loves living life big--living for today, throwing all caution [and morals] to the wind. She is carrying a burden, though she hates to let it show to just anyone. She encourages Clara, always, to take chances. 

Ruby meets an American soldier, Eddie, with whom she has a whirlwind romance. He is smitten. She's less so, but, wouldn't it be lovely to dream of flying away to America after the war and starting over. 

Clara meets an ambulance driver, Billy, who is hot and cold. She sometimes gets the strongest impressions that he loves her truly and deeply, that this relationship is going somewhere. Other times, he acts like a complete stranger who couldn't care less if he ever sees her again. 

These two meet plenty of people--all ages, all socioeconomic classes, different races. But Clara becomes especially fond of a handful of children. Sparrow, a young boy, whom she is teaching to read. Beatty and Maria, two Jewish refugees from Jersey. 

My thoughts: My first impression was YES PLEASE. It just sounds like it would be an amazing fit for me. Set during the Second World War. A Book about librarians making a difference. BOOKS changing lives. Books as a way to make connections. 

But....this one, sadly, wasn't for me after all. I didn't enjoy the framework, not really. I almost wish we'd had Beatty's perspective in the past too. It was an odd switch, for me, to spend 95% of the book with Clara and Ruby's perspective--all very adult and adult-oriented. And then throw in the bits at the beginning and the end that are from Beatty's perspective seventy plus years later. The past flashbacks contain things that Beatty could not have actually known.

I felt that the novel was TOO busy. There are a million story threads. A story thread might sit vacant for a hundred plus pages only to suddenly make a reappearance. There is so much telling and not showing. And there were literally pages--sometimes whole chapters--that were just info dumps. 

The characters. It makes sense that there would be personal tensions. But why did this story need SO many villains???? So many characters that are one-dimensional and "evil" "mean" "cruel" "vindictive" "callous" "despicable" for literally no reason whatsoever. Two people can disagree on something--even strongly--and not have to be downright EVIL. 

For example, the EVIL man who is out to get Clara Button fired. I can see two librarians--especially at the time--having differing opinions. She wants to serve EVERYONE in the community. She wants the library to be a safe place regardless of age, gender, race/ethnicity, social class, education, etc. He doesn't. Libraries are for refined folks of a certain class or distinction. She wants the library to have ALL the books, and offer information freely. He wants the librarian to be a gatekeeper of morals and virtues. She believes that knowledge is power and that the more you know, the better informed you'll be when it comes to making decisions--big or small. He believes in withholding knowledge/information to maintain the status quo. They have completely different philosophies on HOW a library should operate. His ideas alone would make him a despicable character with modern readers. [I'm not arguing that]. But why did he have to be portrayed as extra-super-exceedingly evil on top of that????

The undercurrent of this one is that Ruby and Clara are fighting against the system, a system that wants to hold women down and deny them. A system that protects rapists and wife-beaters and blames women for daring to speak up. A system that thinks women shouldn't be allowed to read, encouraged to read. 

So much of this one was just ugly. I may not have liked the super-villain-y-villains, but I didn't really like Clara and Ruby either. The writing style just felt hammer-like; let's hit readers over the head for the entire novel to make sure they understand that anyone who would limit access to books is evil.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

4. Twice in a Lifetime

Twice in a Lifetime. Melissa Baron. 2022. 325 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: The text came through at 8:33 PM.

Premise/plot: Personally I was reminded of The Lake House (a romantic comedy). Isla, our heroine, is out of sorts. She's grieving the loss of her mother (to cancer). She's in a tense non-relationship with her father. She's quit one job and is getting settled into another. She's moved from a big city to the country. Also, she suffers from general anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Every day is a battle, a struggle. The novel opens with Isla getting a text from the future. Yes, the future. Ewan Park--a man who has either lost grip with reality OR really is who he says he is, her future husband--is contacting her via text message. She's skeptical (has she not seen the Lake House???) but hesitant. She doesn't want to block this number. He makes her feel less lonely and miserable. He makes her feel good about herself. But yet can she truly believe his outrageous claims??? But at one point, his texts become warnings. And then they stop--abruptly. 

Will Ewan and Isla ever get their happily ever after?

My thoughts: Is it premise-driven???? Yes. At least mostly. This one is definitely all about the magic of being able to reach out and seeking to connect with your one-true-love. Love is not bound by time--if you have a magic cottage. Is it character-driven???? Again, yes, mostly. It is more feelings-and-emotions driven than traditional character-driven. Isla's headspace--her mental health, her extra-special-mental-health needs--takes up so much of this one. Ewan is mainly portrayed as her savior--literally and figuratively. [Cue a Celine Dion song, perhaps???] If readers do not enjoy Isla, Ewan, or Isla-and-Ewan together as a couple, then the premise alone may not be enough to "save" this one and make it worth your time. This one is DEFINITELY not plot-driven, not really. It's a romance first and foremost. 

Is it clean???? NO. I am probably in the small majority of readers who prefer their romance without graphic love songs. I realize I'm the minority. Plenty of readers will not have a problem with the content of this one. For those few who like me prefer clean-and-sweet romance [Christian or not] this one definitely needs a warning before you become too attached to the characters. 

This book might be triggering for some. Isla is struggling almost every waking moment of every day with severe mental problems. She is truly in trouble--this is no joke--her life depends on her getting help. The book has its dark-and-bleak moments. Isla's headspace turns to despair, and, since the author wants us right there alongside the main character feeling what she feels, well, it could be triggering for some readers.

Did it work for me? It wasn't a perfect read for me. I was definitely hooked and had to keep reading--I read this one over two or three days.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

79. Anne of Manhattan

Anne of Manhattan. Brina Starler. 2021. 327 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: If there was one thing Anne Shirley would stand firm against all arguments, it was that a person could never have too many books.

Premise/plot: Anne of Manhattan is a modern-day retelling of Anne of the Island with a handful of flashbacks to scenes from Anne of Green Gables. Anne is in her final year of graduate school, living with her roomates, Philippa and Diana, and partying at bars on the weekend. Gilbert Blythe, a man she despises, but also once almost almost hooked up with, has surprised her by transferring to her school--Redmond College. The two are paired together for their final project thesis by a professor. Forced to work together, they soon find themselves entangled--literally. But will their relationship withstand the stresses of grad school?

My thoughts: Super short and sweet version: JUST DON'T.

Long and rambling rant: I knew when I put this one on hold it would either be very good OR excruciatingly painful--a book so bad that I would want to UNREAD it, By the way, GoodReads should totally have a shelf called "want to UNread." So which was it? DEFINITELY excruciatingly bad.

Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe really only a share a name with their originals. This is only a slight exaggeration. The two have a long, long, long history of being competitive academically--true enough. And he did call her "Carrots" the day they met. But everything else is night and day different.

The book is 100% reliant on readers doing ALL the work imagining these characters to be, you know, characters that are in any way fleshed out, with depth and substance, human. The author just doesn't put in any work at all except giving them names, putting a drink in their hands, and giving them places to sleep at night. 

L.M. Montgomery can't be beat when it comes to characters. It doesn't matter if a character has two pages to develop or a couple of hundred. Montgomery is a creator breathing life and fleshing her characters out. I feel that Montgomery was very intentional with her characters. They were in a scene, in a book, there for a purpose. Building relationships is something she excelled at. The relationship between Anne and Marilla was different than the relationship between Anne and Matthew. And oh-so-different than her relationship with Mrs. Rachel Lynde!

It isn't just that this "retelling" isn't three-dimensional and as good as the original. It is that it is lacking in ALL dimensions. Call the characters any other name and it would still be a poorly written book.

There is no purpose for Diana Barry and Philippa Gordon to exist in this retelling. Yes, they are her roommates. Yes, they go with her to the bars to drink. But Anne doesn't seem to have a special, close bond with either of them. They don't chatter. They don't confide. They are not essential in Anne realizing anything about herself or the wider world. They might as well be robots. They very well could be replaced with robots and Anne wouldn't be able to tell the difference. I can understand that it would be hard for the writer to imagine Diana Barry attending college and living an adult life--but I don't know that she even tried. And why bring Philippa into it at all??? I don't believe she made it into the movie--that I can recall. But she was such a PRESENCE in the books!!! She was such a fun, lively character in the book. To just drop her name and then do absolutely nothing with her at all except make her smile and drink is a CRIME.

I almost wish Anne didn't go back to Avonlea to visit. On the one hand, Matthew is alive. On the other hand, Matthew is lifeless. Definitely the author fails to convey HOW SUPER-SUPER-SUPER close Anne and Matthew are. The author doesn't really make Anne's relationship with Marilla be that meaningful either. Matthew has no reason for being there in this retelling. Marilla's sole purpose in being in this retelling is so that RACHEL AND MARILLA CAN COME OUT AS LESBIANS. Anne, of course, always had an inkling that these two were hiding something. 

Going back to Diana for half a minute, Diana's sole "character trait" is that she is bisexual. Again, there's no real character development at all...

The book is smutty. For some that may be HOORAY, HOORAY at last I can read about them having sex. I think the difference between good romance and bad romance is if the sexy/steamy parts are the sole reason for a book to exist. How much work went into the book apart from writing the smutty scenes? How much work was just focused on leading up to the smutty scenes? Does the book fall apart after the smutty scenes because everything else is essentially pointless? Here we have a book that hardly has a reason to exist except that the author wanted Anne and Gilbert in a modern hook-up culture so she could play around with them. I do admit a bias--I prefer my smut content to be in the 0 to 3% range.

 

s

p

o

i

l

e

r

s

b

e

l

o

w

Anne meets with the professor a handful of times--sometimes with Gilbert, mainly without. For some reason--perhaps the author confusing character development with plot twists?--the professor is a villain. Once Anne exposes him as a villain, of course, her final year is in question? I couldn't quite understand (because I didn't want to take the time to unpack the situation fully) if he wasn't going to allow her to graduate? or if he just wasn't going to hire her? or a combination of the two?

But the "big, bad" conflict between Gilbert and Anne is that he is offered the job she applied for? And she LOSES it big time when she hears about it?

© 2021 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

154. Their Christmas Baby Contract

Their Christmas Baby Contract (Blackberry Bay #2) Shannon Stacey. 2020. 224 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: “Nice day for a hockey game.” Reyna Bishop would know that smooth, deep voice anywhere and, after tucking her debit card into her back pocket and accepting two steamed hot dogs from the vendor, she turned to face Brady Nash. 

Premise/plot: Reyna Bishop, our heroine, wants a BABY. Brady Nash, our hero, wants a baby. Can these two sometimes-friends agree to terms--a contract if you will--to have a baby together, no strings attached. She is not telling him that she wants them to be together-together, to get married, to live together--she's just wanting a BABY without having to go through all the relationship steps first. Brady agrees to whatever Reyna is offering. Hint he has been in love with her since first grade.

My thoughts: This was a cute enough holiday story. It was smutty, I won't lie. But it was almost self-contained smut. There was like one chapter where they are trying for the baby where all the smut happens, and anything outside of that is more off-screen and more suggestive than smutty-smut. It would definitely be more skippable if one prefers--like I do--a cleaner read. I liked the story being told from both his and her perspectives. I thought the characters were developed well enough considering this was a romance novel. 

© 2020 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

142. Kisses for Christmas

Kisses for Christmas. Dana Volney. 2020. COMPLETE GUESS 250? pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence of Holiday Hoopla: Halle Adams leaned against the counter and propped herself up on her elbows. She stared at the pink, bottlebrush Christmas tree on the jewelry case. The glittered star shimmered in the Christmas lights. So simple. So pretty. So… She sighed. 

Premise/plot: Halle Adams, our heroine, and Blake Ellison, our hero, agree to "date" one another for the holiday season. He needs someone to attend ALL the holiday functions and help him schmooze. She needs a loan from the bank to help save her business. Will this business arrangement be complicated by attraction and feels? 

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this mostly clean--if not entirely clean--holiday-themed romance novella. I enjoyed seeing these two fall for one another and while the attraction was instant the relationship was not. I don't like instant relationships--not in comparison to those that are actually crafted and developed over many pages.

First sentence of Christmas Clash: Luke Carrigan crumpled the unwanted letter in his hand and swung open the glass door to the flower shop with the other. Silver chimes cheerily flickered above him, and if he could’ve turned around and karate chopped them down, he would’ve. 

Premise/plot: Christmas Clash is set in the same small town of Casper, Wyoming. It actually stars--for its heroine--the sister of the hero in Holiday Hoopla. Candace Ellison, our heroine, owns a flower shop. Luke Carrigan, our hero, owns a bar. Both businesses are in danger from the City Council's upcoming plans to build a convention center. These two have a history of clashing--going back to elementary school--but it will take team work to save the day. Can these two overcome their obstacles?

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this one. I did. It was probably my favorite of the three. Maybe. It was just a treat to read. Again, it was mostly--if not entirely--clean. There is a LOT of attraction going on--thinking, daydreaming, etc. 

First sentence Candlelight Conspiracy: Sophie Graystone stepped out of the shower as steam burst past her, filling the tiny bathroom. Her achy muscles finally relaxed after a day spent working at Kiss From A Rose flower shop and playing a full set at the Bombay Club. 

Premise/plot: Sophie is a character introduced in Christmas Clash. She works part time at the flower shop Candace owns and part time as a musician in a band. She's a singer/songwriter too. She has a super-cute but super-unfriendly neighbor, Marc Sizzo. He's a chef. When the lights go out--and they often do--these two neighbors get together for some friendly chats--that go deep--and some meals. But what both of them really want is a physical relationship without complications....

My thoughts: Since the first two novellas were on the cleaner side of romance, I wasn't expecting all the smut to be piled into one little novella!!! It almost overwhelms the poor little story. If you are looking for adult content, then this may be for you. Especially if stories about strangers connecting during power outages is your thing. But if you are looking for clean, sweet romances without so much smut...well...this last story might be worth skipping?  The story wasn't poorly written--for the record.

© 2020 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

140. A Husband for Christmas

A Husband for Christmas. Nancy Pirri. 2020. 189 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Captain Jack Campbell, a schooled architect and accountant, and a medic during the war, honorably discharged from the United States Army, sat on the doctor’s examination table, wondering if his leg would ever heal completely. 

Premise/plot: Captain Jack Campbell newly returned to the States resumes his position at the bank as head accountant; Rose Delaney "loses" her job as head accountant when he returns. He feels bad when he realizes she's a widow--well, assumed so since her husband is missing in action--with a young daughter, Sarah. He invents a job for her at the bank, and begins courting her. She's reluctant to get involved with anyone though she finds him incredibly attractive. Is she ready to say yes to his proposal?  

My thoughts: This one is set in 1946/1947--possibly even into 1948. I love the time period. I love the premise. A widow and a veteran falling in love and creating a new family together looking forward to the future. It almost had a Miracle on 34th Street feel to it--at first, only at first. 

This romance novel started off strong. I liked both Rose and Jack--at first. But as the novel progresses, I began to HATE their relationship and HATE him in particular. 

At one point, he was all love-and-sweetness. He wanted to marry her and felt it only right to consummate the relationship after they were married. But. He changes his mind several months into the relationship and becomes forceful. I won't say out-and-out violently raping the heroine, but, at the very least not listening to her protests and proceeding with pressuring her to sleep with him. This was one of those, well, I ended up wanting him so I guess it's okay? moments. I guess this wouldn't be a huge deal breaker for me....if that was all.

What was the deal breaker for me was when he decided after talking with a buddy of his that SPANKING her when he was angry was a great way to maintain his authority and impress her with his manliness. His friend told him that if he would spank her when "she needed it" that their sex life would improve and she'd swoon all over him. And he takes his friends advice. HOW ROSE PUTS UP WITH HIM IS BEYOND ME. 

I felt there was some switch-a-roo-ing in this one. At first the hero we get is, well, a good guy, it's only as the story progresses that we learn that he has to CONTROL everything about "his woman" and "his house."

 

© 2020 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

139. A Regency Christmas Anthology

A Regency Christmas Anthology. Susan Payne. 2020. Wild Rose Press. 212 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence from A Regency Christmas Story: “Oh Christopher, how could you do such a thing? How am I to explain to the shopkeepers they must wait yet again?” Penny couldn’t understand how grown men expected gambling debts to be paid within days while hardworking vendors and tradesmen were expected to wait sometimes months. 

Premise/plot: Penny loves, loves, loves her brother no matter how irresponsible he may be. She's both mother and sister to him since their parents died. Now that he has HUGE debts due soon because of a high stakes gambling game, she will do just about anything--even play nice with the gentleman he owes the most money to--but what are HIS intentions towards her and her brother?

My thoughts: I really ENJOYED this one. Lord Leighton and Penny make a cute couple, and their path to love isn't smooth sailing by any means. Payne's storytelling was great--as were her characters--and this one was NEARLY clean!!! I felt the potential was finally realized. 

First sentence from The Best Christmas Present: How had it come to this? A man his age viewing a room full of young ladies barely out of the schoolroom with their hair in ringlets and dressed up to lure and entice, looking like little girls in their mothers’ clothes. 

Premise/plot: Lady Trowbridge (Malinda) has come to London with her young daughter, Emily, for Emily's first season. While at an event she spots an old flame--they'd shared a kiss when she had her first season years before, he is drawn to her once more. Will this be their time? Is he any more honorable now than he was before?

My thoughts: This is my least favorite of the three stories. Not that it isn't without some charm. It is the only story within the collection that is definitely smutty.

First sentence from Sugar Plum Christmas: The young gentleman wearing morning clothes picked up one of the petit eclairs Michie had placed on the silver tray covered by flower petals. Popping it into his mouth, he licked his fingers, saying, “I bet you are as sweet as that little bite of confection.” 

Premise/plot: Micheline is a confectionist. She works in a bake shop making and decorating all sorts of sweet goodies. She's kept busying catering for the elite ton. But one gentleman has noticed her, Lord Hedley (aka Cyrus), and he's tempted by more than her baked goods. Will his interest in her be her downfall?

My thoughts: This was a SWEET story that I loved. I enjoyed their romance so much. I greatly appreciate that it was a CLEAN READ. You don't have to have graphic scenes to be romantic and have all the feels. I loved how sweet, honorable, and kind he was towards her and her mother. 

Overall thoughts: I would say that I loved two out of three of the story; the middle story I merely liked. But I definitely am enjoying the STORYTELLING and character development aspects of the novellas. Unlike her previous books, this one contains two stories that are nearly clean or almost completely clean. One story definitely is still very graphic. But I am glad I read this one!

© 2020 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

137. Three Sisters

Three Sisters. Susan Payne. 2020. 155 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Devlin walked into the casino as usual and as usual it was unremarkable, the patrons behaving in a civilized manner, taking their losses quietly and their wins with much more enthusiasm. His gaze moved around the room, searching for anyone who may be cheating the unsuspecting townspeople, someone used to dealing from the bottom of the deck.

Premise/plot: Three Sisters is set primarily in Texas in 1874. Bea and her two sisters are searching for their brother, Mick. Mick is a gambler that left them years and years ago. Now that both of their parents have died, the need to find him and reunite is stronger than ever. But it won't be easy. Along the way, the sisters will be tempted away from their 'mission' as each falls in love...

The three sisters are Bea, Andy, and Trudy...the three men they fall in love with are Devlin, Walker, and Preston. 

My thoughts: Three Sisters was an enjoyable read. I've read a handful of Payne's romance novels over the past week, and this by far is my favorite. I think it has been edited better and has fewer mistakes. (I only found two mistakes--both spelling, descent instead of decent; and irrupted instead of erupted.) 

I thought this one had good, solid storytelling and characterization. In the previous novels, they've started out strong--really strong--and then weakened as smutty content was introduced. The storytelling remained strong throughout this time. It was so great to see.

It does have smut. But it's much more balanced overall. We get a sneak peek into all three sisters' bedrooms. But while graphic, it's not so extraordinarily excessive that it is nothing but smut. 

I think my favorite part was seeing Devlin and Bea grow together AS a married couple expecting their first child.

© 2020 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

136. A Midwife for Sweetwater and A New Face in Town

A Midwife for Sweetwater and A New Face in Town. Susan Payne. 2020. 274 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence from A Midwife for Sweetwater: Rebecca had her nose practically pressed to the train's window as it pulled into the neat brick station with stylish green trim. 

First sentence from A New Face in Town: The grandfatherly conductor helped Victoria down from the high train car.

Premise/plot: A Midwife for Sweetwater and A New Face in Town are two novellas set in Sweetwater, Kansas, set in 1873. (Amazing how all FOUR books in the series so far are set in 1873--it's like time doesn't pass at all and yet there are babies being born!) 

In A Midwife for Sweetwater, Rebecca Johansen, a midwife, comes to town to be the midwife for the community. This slightly plump midwife is wooed by the town's minister, Daniel Walters, but it's not a smooth relationship. She feels he's too goody-goody and a bit hypocritical. She wants a man not a man of God. Meanwhile, Daniel is overwhelmed with lusty thoughts and tries his best to flee from temptation. But alas, the community is too small for them to avoid one another's notice. Will these two marry? 

A Midwife for Sweetwater features a secondary romance of the town's dressmaker, Abby, to Callie's "brother," Matthew. This romance was hinted at in the previous two books. 

In A New Face in Town, Victoria Watkins arrives in town with no real aspects or plans. She's pointed in the direction of Abby and Matthew's house. Perhaps Abby needs help in her shop?--the "grandfatherly conductor" supposes. Victoria is hired to be Grace's nanny. Though Abby feels that Victoria will be "snatched up" soon because she's single and young. Well, she is snatched up--quite literally. This historical romance stars some VILLAINY VILLAINS. And it is up to the sheriff,  Mason, to rescue her AND woo her. 

My thoughts: Much of what I said in yesterday's review of Harrison Ranch & MacGregor's Mail Order Bride holds true for this follow-up. The book could be improved by a proof reader. (Lots of Champaign drinking going on). Yes, it's a little thing. And would reading champagne make for a better experience overall? I can't guarantee it. But maybe. Little things add up. 

But what Payne does well is in the introductory sections of all the novellas. The first three or four chapters are usually really great at establishing the characters and setting up the stories AND setting up all sorts of relationships--not just romantic ones, but good, solid friendships. Because she pays attention to these relationships, the town feels inhabited. This is rare in a romance novel. Lots of people can and do write smut, but only a few have a mind to ground characters. 

Now let's talk smut content. I do believe that books three and four (the books I'm reviewing in this post) have less smut than books one and two. That's a good thing--relatively speaking. But they are still smutty. It's more balanced with storytelling in these two novellas. But it's still very graphic and detailed. I wouldn't recommend to readers who prefer clean or nearly clean fiction. If I was reading a print copy, I could probably easy just skip pages--plural--and get back to the story. In an e-book this is nearly impossible. 

All the men in the novellas seem to be oblivious and stupid, completely lacing in self-awareness and basic understanding of how thoughts, feelings, and emotions work in general, let alone in love. 

I also had some issues with the presentation of the minister in A Midwife for Sweetwater. If a book doesn't mention faith--church, Bible study, prayer, belief in God--I don't drag that into my review usually. But Daniel, a preacher, clearly doesn't understand any/many of the doctrines of the Christian faith. And that bugs me. When preachers act as if GOOD WORKS get you into heaven and that WORKS SALVATION is how God works, I just get upset. Clearly, Daniel doesn't understand how sins are forgiven, doesn't understand the basic concepts of grace and mercy. Daniel doesn't seem to grasp the imputation of Christ--how Christ has PAID IT ALL. All our sins have been placed on Christ--Christ bore our punishment, paid it all, satisfied God's wrath--and all of Christ's righteousness has been placed on believers. We are justified in Christ and Christ alone. You cannot add ANYTHING to what Christ has done. Daniel was all about penance and making up for his past mistakes by being GOOD, good, good and trying to please God and doing his duty. Sermon over.

 

© 2020 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

135. Harrison Ranch & Macgregor's Mail Order Bride

Harrison Ranch and Macgregor's Mail Order Bride. Susan Payne. 2019. 320 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence from Harrison Ranch: Dearest Mother Superior, I know you worried over my loss of position in St Louis but I assure you, I have found myself in a much better situation. I am cooking for the ranch hands at the Harrison ranch outside the small town of Sweetwater, Kansas.

Premise/plot: Harrison Ranch and MacGregor's Mail Order Bride by Susan Payne offers readers two novellas set in Sweetwater, Kansas, in 1873/1874.  

In Harrison Ranch, our heroine, Callie, an orphan raised by nuns, takes a job as a cook on Harrison Ranch. She loves, loves, loves, LOVES to cook. But will she also love to be loved? Perhaps. Seth Harrison, her boss, is super-handsome (and knows it) and begins taking liberties kissing the cook. But are his intentions honorable? Does he have marriage and family in mind? Or does he just want to claim her as his?

In Macgregor's Mail Order Bride, readers have two heroines. Mavis Miller has agreed to marry Joseph "Mac" Macgregor. But she finds herself irresistibly drawn to his younger brother, Jamie. Meanwhile, her best friend, Emily Johnston, finds herself drawn to her friend's fiance. The book ends in two marriages--but who will marry whom?!

My thoughts: I want to start with some positives. It is so easy to see a low star rating and assume that my intentions are mean or snarky. So what did I like about these two novellas? I liked a few things. I like the setting up. The characterization of the heroines in the first few chapters of each novel shows potential; I wouldn't go so far as to say fully realized potential. 

I loved Callie's arrival at the ranch. I loved Sully. I loved seeing Callie being friendly with the ranch hands and the sense of finding family and belonging. Callie's tender care for one of them, a stammering orphan that is too young to be a ranch hand, felt right. I really got a sense that Sweetwater would be a series that I loved. (I ended up disappointed in the end, but, I'm sticking with the positives right now.)

I enjoyed Emily and Mavis' arrival and settling in. I was curious about both MacGregor brothers. I had a feeling that Emily would fall for Mac, and that Mavis would fall for Jamie. I have a bias for mail order stories. I am drawn to them--that and marriage for convenience stories--so I really wanted to love this one. 

There were a handful of relationships established in the first novella. This was a nice touch. Often romance writers ONLY focus on one relationship--the hero and heroine. And if there are side characters, well, they are barely fleshed out and overall insignificant. Perhaps slightly villain-ish if there needs to be a kidnapping or a rescue of some sort. It was nice to see the many relationships presented in the first novel. 

The second novella was weaker perhaps on this--probably because there were two romances. 

So what didn't I like? I'm going to distinguish between my personal preferences--which I'll mention in case your taste aligns with mine, but knowing all the while that the things I don't like may be what you like best--AND between weaknesses in the writing.

I'll start with weaknesses in the writing. She needed a proof reader. Not an automated spell checker, but a real life, flesh and blood proof checker. I didn't highlight everything I saw. But when you're in a "romantic" scene and instead of kissing her shoulder and neck, he's kissing her SHOULD, well, that's just awkward. At another point, Callie tells her hero that she can't "abandon all my principals and beliefs." Principles, dear. At least once the author uses an apostrophe to show plurality. "The mare's do not miss..." "Finely, after supper one night, Seth..." Finally. There was a point where the hero heeled off his boots. I'm not sure if heeling off your boots is a legit thing--or if she meant peeling off???--but it would be a lot easier for the scene if he just took off his boots. And then there's the drinking of EGG NOD. (Egg nog). In the second novel, there was an awkward scene where a train disgorged its passengers. This isn't wrong--it's one of the listed meanings of the word--but it felt like she was trying to use the thesaurus to make her story more sophisticated. 

The second novel perhaps because it has two heroines has some awkward narration. Like she couldn't decide between first person and third person. "Oh my, she has to warn Mavis before she sees Mac. Mavis will need to be more collected than Emily was when she first sees him." 

Complement when compliment would have been more appropriate. He complemented the meal.

"There was a bottle of Champaign on the table with two glasses and a note from Abby telling them to enjoy it." Champagne. 

Then there was that awkward unto the sheets...instead of onto the sheets. I'm not completely sure about the distinctions between onto and unto. So she could be right in using unto. But it stuck out when I read it.

This next is a possible-possible weakness. I felt she RUSHED into the physical in both novellas. It's like, hello my name is...and then BOOM let's make out against a wall for no reason. I felt this was a bit out of sorts for a historical novel set in the 1870s. It felt very modern-day hook-up-ish. I needed more than an instant physical attraction. Some readers might not want there to be a journey of attraction and romance--focused on spending time together talking or doing non-physical activities together--but for me it's a must. 

Also in the second novella, she has her two new heroines meeting some of the women who live in town--and though they've literally just met--they start talking about SEX. Granted I've never time-traveled to the 1870s, but, that too felt a little modern to me. Maybe that kind of talk between good friends would be believable and legit. But a total stranger that you just met???

The last is complete personal preference on my part. I felt the novel was out of balance with the amount of smut. Yes, I prefer completely clean, nearly clean, off-scene/off-stage/implied smut to actual actual what-goes-where smut. But the ratio of smut to actual story is off. This was disappointing because the opening chapters showed such potential for actual romance. But instead it's like, well, let's just write a LOT of physical descriptions and forget about the rest of what makes a romance a romance. 

© 2020 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

131. The Titanic Sisters

The Titanic Sisters. Patricia Falvey. 2021 (January) 368 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: The letter from America changed all our lives. The postman presented it to me with great ritual, as if it were a fine jewel. In his memory, he said, no one in my small village of Kilcross, in County Donegal, at the northwest tip of Ireland, had ever received such a thing, nor had he himself ever delivered anything so rare. After he pedaled away from our cottage whistling, I stood at the door holding the envelope, with its bright ribbon of stamps, in my hands like a colorful bird. 

My thoughts (part 1): I know it is out of character to begin a review with my thoughts, BUT, I think it's unavoidable in this case. 

The issues I had/have with The Titanic Sisters are not exclusive to The Titanic Sisters. This isn't the first nor will it be the last historical romance featuring some of my biggest pet peeves. 

Characters acting with little to no motivation--just one note characters that are conveniently one note to get the story from point A to point B. If you are going to go down the THIS STORY MUST HAVE VILLAIN(S) TO GET IN THE WAY OF TRUE LOVE'S PATH do readers a favor and at least make them complex enough to be believable humans. Give them a believable, understandable motivation rooted in human nature and not convenience to where you want your plot to go.

Historical romance writers would have us readers believe that 98% of all courtships include kidnapping or attempted kidnapping. Why? I don't know. (The other 2% would not include kidnapping but would include a fire.) Unless the villain doing the kidnapping has been well-developed and the whole story from start to finish has been building up to this one climax--and it is a natural, organic part of the story--then why throw in a situation of "danger" that everyone can spot from space essentially that it exists just to manipulate the couple into declaring their feelings for one another.

That is all.

Premise/plot: The Titanic Sisters star Delia and Nora Sweeney. These two sisters--who do NOT get along not even slightly--set sail on the Titanic in April 1912. These Irish passengers are third class, I believe, but both happen to snag seats on two different lifeboats. Delia sees Nora fall from the lifeboat into the sea, and she's unable to find her aboard the rescue ship, she fears that Nora's death is almost certainly a fact. Delia decides that since Nora won't be going to be a governess at the O'Hanlon house, she might as well go in her place and use her sister's name. Though this is more impulse than a well thought out scheme.

Nora, meanwhile, who did not die, has amnesia until she doesn't.... Happy endings seem unlikely for both sisters... it seems there's an evil force determined to keep throwing obstacle after obstacle after obstacle in their paths keeping the two from knowing fairy tale bliss. 

My thoughts (part 2): Readers expecting the novel to focus on the Titanic experience will likely be disappointed. I found it was a rush to get to the Titanic, a rush to get to the sinking, a rush to get to New York. (It was like when Simmers play The Sims on triple speed and are only interrupted by pop-up prompts.) I could easily forgive a story for not being all about the setting or giving me a feel or experience...if the characters felt truly human and complex. So my number one issue with the book has nothing to do with setting. (Though I do wonder about her descriptions of Texas as well.)

Nora was unlikeable. There I said it. Though I would--if I had to choose--pick the new Nora over the old. That bump on the head and time spent unconcious in the ocean did her character a favor? Or maybe it was the weeks not knowing who she was and what her own personality was that improved it? But since half the book was spent with Nora narrating--it wasn't a joy to read. 

Delia, our other narrator, I am much more neutral about. Though I didn't necessarily find her believable. At least we always understand Delia's motivations--if Delia acts readers know why. Even if readers don't think she's making the best decisions. This isn't the case with any other character in the book. This is understandable when Nora has amnesia and she truly doesn't know why she's making some decisions over others and is all out of sorts. (Though I'm not sure this excuses all of Nora's poor decisions. For the record I am NOT saying that it was her fault what happened to her at the ball. I am NOT saying that--would never, ever, ever say that. But when she saw HIM behave that way towards a CAT...let's just say that she should have had common sense to see he wasn't boyfriend material.)

The romance between Delia and Aidan O'Hanlan...I didn't find Aidan a well-developed character...but I could see why he was written in a way to make Delia go all weak in the knees and swoon. I thought Lily, his daughter, was much better developed. In fact, I'm going to go ahead and say it, Lily was the best character in the whole book. 

s

p

o

i

l

e

r

 

Spoilers ahead

 

I guess I am angriest at the inclusion of Mrs. Shaw. Mrs. Shaw exists solely to give Nora a safe place to recuperate and regain her memories. The author obviously didn't want Nora staying there and being safe and loved and isolated from the rest of the plot, so she killed off Mrs. Shaw. Why not have Mrs. Shaw tell Nora that she would always be welcome, but she should go seek out her sister and/or go back to her very worried parents? I just found it awfully convenient that Mrs. Shaw died ON HER WAY TO THE BANK when she was going to give Nora a large sum of money to live on IN CASE SHE DIED. Since her ONE-NOTE-EVIL nephew was due to inherit the property and would have control over what happened to her estate/property/money I almost expected her death to be foul play. But the author didn't go there--missed opportunity??? Maybe. (This was the one-note-evil man who attacked Nora at a ball and attempted to rape her. The same man with gambling problems.)

I was really enjoying the character of Mrs. Shaw she was a great influence on Nora. It seemed the more I as a reader liked a character...the more likely it was that the author would turn on the character to remove him/her from the center of the plot.

Dom was another character. He was also on board the Titanic, also third class or steerage, also miraculously survived and made it to New York. He exists solely to be a SYMPATHETIC, COMFORT and FRIEND to both Nora and Delia. But whenever the plot looks like it could veer towards Dom actually actually being more than a minor-minor-side character, the author intervenes to remind readers that nope, he's just an extra. There were moments when I was shipping Dom and Delia together....and moments when I was shipping Dom and Nora together. 

One character that irritated me a bit more than she probably should have is Mayflower. She is a friend to Delia in Texas. Her husband works closely with Aidan. She knows KNOWS that Aidan is dead-set against Lily and Delia going to Shotgun City because it is too dangerous and it isn't safe for women or children. The men are too wild and dangerous. Yet when she hears that Aidan is going to be out of town, she drives Lily and Delia to Shotgun City--as a surprise--and then SURPRISE, SUPRISE they get caught there and Lily has gone MISSING. Because both women decided it would be PERFECTLY SAFE for a young girl to GO WONDERING ON HER OWN. I think into a restaurant? Mayflower actually tries to talk Delia into letting the girl be independent???? Anyway, Delia ends up FIRED because of this episode. And Mayflower's intent supposedly was what exactly???? Here she has been trying to play matchmaker and manipulate them to be together????? And we're supposed to intelligently believe that May's intent was to bring these two together? By getting him angry enough to fire her???? It just defies logic why would Mayflower--or any person ever--ever think this was a good thing????

 Another character that infuriated me was James Sullivan. This angry-beyond-all-reason-obviously-one-note-villain is not developed enough to have a motivation for being BADDY BAD VILLIAN EXTRAORDINAIRE. So supposedly he's so angry that his daughter, Mary, died that he's determined to spend his whole life making his son-in-law's life hell on earth????? Explain to me how Texas is to blame for her catching a fever and dying? As if you couldn't catch a fever--or die of a fever, a disease, something--anywhere else on planet Earth? As if New York was the healthiest place and the only cause for death was old age???  And what BADDY BAD EXTRAORDINAIRE would be complete without telling readers his whole plot beforehand???

The book was predictable in places--but I never fault romances for being predictable.

© 2020 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

113. Like You Love Me

Like You Love Me. Adriana Locke. 2021. [February] 288 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: "You're late." The accusation is tossed my way before the door closes behind me.

Premise/plot: Sophie and Holden star in new romance novel by Adriana Locke. Holden spent summers with his grandpa, his Pap, which brought him in and out of Sophie's life quite a bit in their growing up years. But now both are fully grown up and experienced. Both have failed relationships behind them, but do they have a happily ever after before them?

Holden wants to get his dream job--in Florida--but his would-be-boss is looking for a family man with a loving, supportive wife. (And to be fair, at the time he first applied, he was technically engaged to be married). Sophie needs money to pay property taxes on her bed-and-breakfast. (It was her grandmother's bed and breakfast.) The two "need" something from the other that a marriage of convenience would provide. But is playing with happily ever after too much of a risk for their hearts? Can they learn to live without each other once more?

My thoughts: I never know whether to start with what I did like or what I didn't like. About the star rating (if you're reading this at GoodReads and can see my rating), I'd rate it two and a half stars if possible--for the completely and totally neutral rating.

What I Didn't Like:

• I didn't like the cussing/profanity. This is 100% subjective.
• I didn't like the graphic-ness of the smut. It was a little too what-goes-where for me. Again this is 100% subjective. Another person might find it steamy and marvelous. (Not me.)

What I Did Like:

• I liked the small town setting and getting to know a few of the town residents. (Her brother and sister. His grandfather. His receptionist. A few others? like the woman who is famous for her pies?)
• I liked them as a couple. I wanted them to make it work.
• I liked having both perspectives. The narrative is told in alternating chapters.
• I liked that once the initial encounter was graphically portrayed all future encounters were non-graphic and occurred off-page. (This isn't always the case.)

What I found humorous:

Granted this is a netgalley review title, but when she's talking about thread count on the sheets--she's sheet shopping--there's a typo: 

"And guests will pay premium dollar for the little touches like homecooked meals, nice soaps, and threat counts." 

I am guessing people won't pay more to stay at a place where their lives are threatened!!!

 

 

© 2020 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

109. Gentleman Jim

Gentleman Jim. Mimi Matthews. 2020. [November] 376 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Beaten and bloody, Nicholas Seaton sat on the straw-covered floor of the loose box, his legs drawn up against his chest and his forehead resting on his knees.

Premise/plot: Margaret Honeywell is head over heels in love with Nicholas Seaton. The problem? Well, he's an illegitimate child of notorious 'Gentleman Jim' and she's the daughter of a wealthy squire. Though they come from different classes, both feel the other is home. When a bully--and her father's pick for her future husband--frames Nicholas Seaton for a crime he didn't commit--theft--Margaret helps him escape in the night before he can be brought before the magistrate and punished. Will she ever see him again? Can she bring herself to marry another?

Flash forward ten years and Margaret Honeywell just has months left to find a husband before she loses everything to that same old bully--Frederick Burton-Smythe. The problem? Well, he has the final say in who she marries. And he has a mind to marry her himself. (Of course he does.) Of course, there's also the fact that she is still very much broken hearted over the man who never came back home--Nicholas.

When she hears that Frederick Burton-Smythe is going to be fighting a duel...against an opponent who has skills...she realizes her position. IF he dies what will happen to her? There's no reasoning with him--she's had most her life to try to talk sense to him--but what about this other fellow, Lord St. Clare???

Their meeting is enough to take her breath away...

My thoughts: Gentleman Jim is a Regency Romance. It opens in 1807, but most of the book occurs in 1817. It is a thoroughly satisfying romance. If you like regency romance or historical fiction in general, then this one might prove worth your time.

Is it a clean read? I'd say it was more PG-13. It's more steamy kisses fade to dark.

I think it would make an awesome movie!!!

© 2020 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

108. Marrying Matthew

Marrying Matthew. Kelly Long. 2020. [November] 352 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: WANTED: An Amish Mail-Order Groom. Age 20–35. Must be willing to live in remote Appalachia and build life in said community. Must love books, horses, and possess good teeth. Appearance must be tolerable at least, though bride would favor a gut mind over looks. Must understand a woman’s sensibilities and not be judgmental. Must realize that Gott is the Third in a marriage. Reply to . . .

Premise/plot: Tabitha Stolfus, our heroine, has placed an ad for a mail-order-groom. She hopes to be married before her father--a very successful businessman (wood carving is his business) returns home. He wants her married, no question. But she's not convinced that he would approve of her advertising for a husband. The man who responds to her ad and comes to Blackberry Falls is none other than Matthew King. King has his own reasons for responding to the ad--namely he wants to learn woodcarving from Tabitha's father. Will these two fall in love after their marriage?

My thoughts: I loved the premise of this one. Not so much the Amish aspect of it but the mail order aspect of it and use of the marriage of convenience trope. Reading the description made me think I'd enjoy this one. (Even though as I mentioned Amish fiction isn't my favorite or best sub-genre or sub-sub-genre.)

Can you feel a "but" coming???? BUT. What I wasn't expecting was a SMUTTY Amish romance. It is a bit of a puzzlement, in my opinion, granted I am not representative of every reader. Perhaps there's an audience of romance readers that would welcome the Amish/religious aspects of it (the God-talk) that are still looking for a liberal dose of smut. I would venture a guess that I'm in the minority of romance readers. That is by preferring CLEAN or clean-ish romance novels I am in the minority. The majority of romance being published is smutty and I would guess that's how the majority of romance readers want it. It sells. I didn't realize there was a market for smutty Amish fiction though!!! Maybe this isn't the only one? Maybe there really is a whole sub-sub-sub genre of smutty Amish/Mennonite romance novels out there??? But it still felt odd to me.

There's another but coming. But I will say that it was nice to have a SECOND love story added in. And the mystery element was also nice.



© 2020 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

100. The Book of Two Ways

The Book of Two Ways. Jodi Picoult. 2020. 448 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: MY CALENDAR IS full of dead people. When my phone alarm chimes, I fish it out from the pocket of my cargo pants. I’ve forgotten, with the time change, to turn off the reminder. I’m still groggy with sleep, but I open the date and read the names: Iris Vale. Eun Ae Kim. Alan Rosenfeldt. Marlon Jensen. I close my eyes, and do what I do every day at this moment: I remember them.

Premise/plot: Dawn McDowell (married name Edelstein) is on a flight when it makes a crash landing...as she considers that this could be her end...she flashes to her long lost love...Wyatt Armstrong...and NOT her husband of fifteen years, Brian Edelstein. If she survives the crash will she have a chance to reconsider her life's choices? And if she could would she choose differently?

The story unfolds in a non-traditional way. Chapters alternate with Dawn being at home with her husband and teenage daughter, Merit, and Dawn being in Egypt looking up her long lost love, Wyatt after fifteen years apart.

Readers eventually come to realize why Dawn was on the flight to begin with...

My thoughts: This was my first Picoult novel. So I didn't go into it with any expectations or preconceived ideas. Which may have been for the best.

I was drawn to this story because of the heroine's interest in all things Egypt. She was in graduate school studying Egyptology and working on a very specific dissertation topic--The Book of Two Ways--a "book" that supposedly helped the dead navigate their way through the afterlife? to the afterlife? My interest in Egypt was reignited with Stargate-SG-1. (I say reignited because I had earlier interests. When I was in sixth grade, there was an Egyptian exhibit coming to the local-ish museum.)

Dawn's husband is a physicist with interests in parallel universes and alternate universes. Again this drew me into the story. This won't be my first or last book that touches on this subject. It just won't. I've read complaints that these two interests--Eygpt and physics--were drags to the story and made the book "boring" or "impossible" or "insufferable." That's nonsense--from my perspective. I didn't feel they weighed the book down at all!!! And it's not like I'm an expert on either--all you'd need to read this one is a couple of PBS documentaries on either subject.

Dawn's current work is as a death doula. 

I enjoyed this one. I did. I loved the alternating chapters. It kept me thinking--speculating--along the way. Did she go to Egypt after the crash? Did she go back home to Boston after the crash? Is it possible that she's actually dead and that she herself is navigating her way to the afterlife? Are these dreams she's having in her last moments of life? Which story is the real one? Is she happier at home in Boston in her super-strained marriage? Is she happier in Egypt? Which man is her one true love?

I won't be including spoilers. I won't. There was one thing I guessed would come into play relatively early on--but I won't spoil even that here.

I was engaged with the characters--most of them at least.

Christian readers should be aware that this one has a couple of graphic scenes. But these scenes were never the main point of the novel--or an excuse for the book's being. 

© 2020 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

75. Who's That Earl

Who's That Earl (Love and Let Spy #1) Susanna Craig. 2020. 384 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: In spite of the eerie, not-quite quiet that settled over the island in the hours between dusk and dawn, Lieutenant Thomas Sutherland nearly missed the telltale rhythm of oars slicing through water. Damn and blast. If he weren’t careful, he’d find himself in enemy hands after all this time. Or at the mercy of his general, once he’d explained how he’d been distracted from his duties by the scent of flowers.

Premise/Plot: Thomas Sutherland has newly inherited a title and an estate in Scotland. He'll need to take time away from his service--he's a spy--to settle things. As things stand there is a tenant--a famous/infamous gothic writer, Robin Ratliff-- leasing Dunnock castle. He'll need to either renew the lease or take up residence himself...

Jane "Higginbotham" loves living at Dunnock castle. It's the perfect place for her secret to stay secret. She's not the "secretary" of a famous author, she is THE author. Her gothic romances are entirely inappropriate for proper women, decent women to read or to admit to reading. Ratliff has just as many enemies--those who hate his immoral books--as fans. When the novel opens, Jane has just received two pieces of mail. One warning that there is a new Magnus and he's on his way (that would be Thomas Sutherland, though it does NOT name names.) The other a death threat against the author Robin Ratliff. One could leave her temporarily homeless...the other leave her dead. If in fact the writer means what he threatens...

Jane and Thomas soon meet. But surprise, surprise, surprise Thomas and Jane are not entirely strangers to one another. Seven years previously they'd enjoyed a brief flirtation that if things had gone another way--if he hadn't been called away by the army, for example--and if they'd had more time. Thomas doesn't want Jane to know he is the new Magnus. Jane doesn't want him to know she's the author. Both have secrets from the other....

My thoughts: I loved the idea of this one. A woman author writing under a pen name finds great success writing over-the-top gothic novels...and perhaps will find her true love as well...as her own life undergoes some adventures and misadventures. I love the idea of the hero being a spy/former spy. I love the Scottish setting. I love the Regency time period. I love the plus-size heroine.

Did I actually love, love, love this one? Almost. Maybe. Perhaps. I like the idea of these two being reunited unexpectedly. Are the feelings still there? Can they clear up any misunderstandings? Are the obstacles standing in the way any closer to being removed? I like the tension between these two secret keepers. It reminds me of the Friends episodes where eventually everyone is connecting the dots about Monica and Chandler. They don't know that we know...they don't know that we know they know we know. I like how they come to trust each other.

But. It is not a clean read--which is what I personally, personally prefer. It definitely has on-screen "smut." Conveniently these scenes seem to be contained within two separate chapters. So technically if readers knew in advance which chapters contained the "naughty" "smutty" bits, they could skip over them...if they want a clean read. And, well, if you don't...you might not mind knowing exactly where these bits are either.

There is definitely a feel of instant about this one. The connection and spark between the two is there from the start. There is no falling in love. There is no gradual development of feelings and desires. It is BOOM. The fact that these two have a history together might explain some of the instant--but not necessarily. I mean I think that kind of thing happens more often than not in genre romances. This bears closer resemblance to a soap opera perhaps than Georgette Heyer or Jane Austen.

© 2020 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

67. Misleading the Duke

Misleading a Duke (The Wallflowers of West Lane #2) A.S. Fenichel. 2020. [September] 304 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: The home of Geb Arafa, a mile outside of London The last person Nicholas Ellsworth expected to find at his good friend Geb Arafa’s dinner party was Lady Faith Landon. Yet there she was, Nicholas’s fiancée, maddeningly pretty and equally aggravating. She fit perfectly with the lush décor and priceless artifacts in Geb’s parlor.

Premise/plot: Misleading a Duke is the second book in the series. The heroine of this one is Faith Landon; the hero is Nicholas Ellsworth, Duke of Breckenridge. The two are engaged before the novel opens, but not happily engaged. Apparently a good bit of their story is told in book one--though I don't think Faith is the main character of book one? Long story short, it's an arranged marriage and Faith doesn't want to marry a stranger. Since he is not as forthcoming as she would like him to be, she sets out to manipulate him into a situation where there really isn't much of an escape: a secluded country home with just two or three servants. But unfortunately for them all his past isn't just haunting him emotionally but quite physically leading to a dangerous, hostile situation where all their lives are endangered. Will this couple live long enough to wed?

My thoughts: Are plots necessary to smutty romance novels? Is characterization a must? Would I find the characterization completely lacking if I'd read book one? Would I find their romance more believable if I'd read it from start to finish instead of middle to finish? Perhaps. Though I will say this, whether I'd read book one or not...I would find the graphic what-goes-where-ness of this novel to be not to my taste or preference. That's me. I get that. I completely and totally get that every romance reader has their preference: completely clean, mostly clean at least until the 'I do's', a bit off-screen but obvious, a few scenes in graphic detail BUT plenty of characterization and story and wit and charm, graphic details and the plot and characters are of secondary importance, a LOT of graphic details and names don't matter as there isn't any bother at all about making heroes and heroines at all unique. It's not my job to judge other readers for their personal preference as far as smut level is concerned. This may be a five star read for other readers. But for me, it definitely is not. If anything it proves how stubborn this reader can be that I'll finish just about anything no matter how much it's not working for me. Is that a good thing? a bad thing? a thing thing?

I will definitely not be reading other books by this author now that I know her idea of romance. But check out other reviews (higher reviews) to see if her books might work for you. 

© 2020 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

66. The Highlander's English Bride

The Highlander's English Bride. (Clan Kendrick #3) Vanessa Kelly. 2020. 448 pages. [Source: Review copy] [adult* romance]

First sentence: Graeme Kendrick lurked beneath the giant elm, keeping his prey within sight. After losing the slippery Sassenach a few hours ago, he’d spotted the bastard climbing over the wall that separated Kensington Gardens from Hyde Park.

Premise/plot: Graeme Kendrick stars as the hero in Vanessa Kelly's newest romance novel--the third in the series. (I have not read the previous books in the series. All books star the Kendrick family, I believe. And their presence as a family is HUGE throughout this one. So perhaps fans of the other books will love this one more.)

He works as a spy for the King. Most of the time he tends to like things just the way they are--his love life uncomplicated. But. After "rescuing" a young woman from a thief, the lovely heroine, Sabrina, he finds it impossible for life to return to normal.

No matter his current mission, his current task, his focus is divided. She is always, always, always on his mind in an infuriating, captivating, charming way. And it is mutual. Sabrina may be protesting a bit too much about how frustrating Graeme is! She sure seeks out his company and all but chases him around.

My thoughts: I knew accepting this review copy that it might not be my cup of tea. On the one hand, I have a weakness for the Scottish accent/dialect. I also love Regency Romances. The setting being in Scotland itself and him being a spy--I thought it might lean a bit more towards mystery and action than bodice ripper. On the other hand, I am not a big fan of adult romances aka smut, aka bodice rippers, aka books where 90% of the plot focuses on the lusty desires of the characters and the obstacles that stand in their way. I wouldn't go so far as to say this one is 90% inclined that way--it's not quite that bad. But it didn't have enough history to be historical--none of the historical details actually felt historically right or appropriate. Sabrina might as well have been born in the year 2000. In fact, I would say most of the characters felt disconnected from the Regency time period. It had plenty of mystery intrigue--but in a clumsy sort of way where the focus was always not so subtly in how can this move the hero and heroine closer to each other. Can this dangerous moment bring them closer together in a physical way? So even though there was an attempt to keep throwing mystery and dangerous intrigues and fiendish plots at the hero in a juggling type fashion, it felt a bit off balance. It wasn't enough to shift focus off of the inevitably destined to be together forever couple.

As far as smutty romance goes, it's been a good while since I last read one cover to cover. (I rarely read this type of fiction on purpose.) I don't think it's worse than any other of its genre or sub-genre. Way, way, way, way back in the day I loved the Bridgerton romance series by Julia Quinn. I wouldn't say this one was as good as some of my favorites from that series. But as I said, it's probably been decades since I read this type of fiction for fun or review. 

© 2020 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews