Reviews

Ally Carter’s The Blonde Identity is pure fun: a fast-paced, humorous road trip rom-com about a woman with amnesia who discovers she’s the identical twin sister of a rogue spy… and must team up with a rugged, grumpy operative to stay alive.

The heroine wakes up in the streets of Paris with no idea who she is other than every bad guy and agency on the planet seems to be after her. They spend most of the book on the run from Russian mobsters and eventually go undercover as newlyweds on a river cruise.

This book had everything I love, mixing the action and twists of my favorite spy movies with the banter, heart, and humor of my favorite romances. If you want somewhat over-the-top action scenes that are pure entertainment, as well as funny, opposites attract romance, then The Blonde Identity is a great choice. 

Katherine Center continues to be my go-to author for meaningful Women’s Fiction. She knows how to craft a thoughtful story that has humor, love, and deeper meaning.

Hello Stranger, is a romance, and yes, the romantic plotlines are very good — but it goes deeper with Sadie’s unique situation and how it impacts every aspect of her life that made this book so compelling to read. Sadie is a portrait artist who is diagnosed with a malformed brain vessel that requires immediate surgery. When she wakes in the hospital post-surgery, she realizes she now has a condition called acquired prosopagnosia, otherwise known as “face blindness”. The surgery has left her with swelling near the brain center that processes faces, and there’s no telling whether this is a permanent or temporary condition.  Right before the surgery, Sadie learned that she was a finalist in a portrait competition that could finally give her the big break she is looking for — but if she can’t see faces, how can she paint them? Sadie’s life was already messy before the surgery — barely making ends meet through her Etsy shop, dealing with her estranged family, a truly evil stepsister, and a pesky, yet helpful, neighbor. Even though I could see what was about to happen, I still enjoyed the journey getting there.

I appreciated the author’s note and acknowledgements for it gave great insight into learning about the real disorder that Sadie has: Prosopagnosia.  I also really related to her insight into the romance genre and how all stories run on anticipation, but romance uses positive valanced anticipation. Don’t we all need a little more positivity in our lives? I would highly recommend adding Hello Stranger to your summer reading list.

Sally Hepworth does it again! The Soulmate is a fast-paced, psychological mystery surrounding couple Pippa and Gabe Gerrard.  They're living an idyllic life in a coastal town, with a beautiful home built on a cliff, overlooking the sea below. Over the last several months Gabe has gained a sort of fame in town for talking several people off the literal ledge. When a woman jumps, Gabe and Pippa face questions from the authorities and each other-especially after it emerges that Gabe knew the woman.  Soon, we see flashbacks that crack the perfect facade of Pippa and Gabe's marriage and many questions emerge and as the danger grows, the idea of soulmate is put to the ultimate test.

The Soulmate features the exploration of marriage, but it's also a keen insight into mental illness and how it's affects are ongoing across generations and family branches.  Sally Hepworth's novels usually have great twists and turns that keep me guessing. This story was no different with clever twists that took me by surprise. I thought the characters were well developed and the story flowed very well. I really liked the alternating points of view. Hepworth fans will really enjoy her latest novel!

The Sunshine Girls by Molly Fader is an incredibly moving and powerful historical fiction book about female friendship and women nurses in the Midwest U.S. during the Vietnam War. Told in dual timeline structure the story begins in 2019 with the funeral of BettyKay Beecher, the mother of Abbie and Clara, and a devoted nurse. A famous actress by the name of Kitty Devereaux unexpectedly shows up to the funeral, and tells BettyKay’s daughters the stories and secrets their mother kept from the two of them.

The story at its heart is about the bonds of sisterhood and found family. It was sweet, loving, heartbreaking, and endearing like the best female friendships. You were really rooting for all the characters who were well-developed, realistic, and dynamic. Despite their differences and flaws, there was something about each of the central characters that was endearing and engaging.

I loved the past and present juxtaposition, but it was the past and Betts voice that had me really riveted. It’s also a great historical fiction read for Vietnam-era/old Hollywood vibes. Highly recommend!

Love a good story about rich people behaving badly? The Social Climber by Amanda Pellegrino centers around the wealthy elite in a juicy revenge story. A domestic thriller about Eliza Bennett, an evangelical college graduate, who is set to marry Graham Walker, a wealthy Yale alum from a prestigious family. Eliza has many secrets from her past and as they start to unfold, we are left unsure of her true intentions. You get a sneak peek into Eliza’s college days in the dual timeline that reveal what shaped her into the woman she is today. The mystery behind Eliza’s secrets is slow to build yet keeps you in suspense.

The book reminded me a little of Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll. Both books have plot twists that have me recommending them as must reads for domestic thriller fans. So strap on your Louboutin’s and hang on for a jaw dropping finish.

It's officially that time of year again - time to binge watch Hallmark Christmas romance movies. It is the perfect way to evoke feelings of joy while destressing from the hectic holidays. I recently listened to B.K. Borison's holiday romance book Lovelight Farms and have to say it is gave me the same blissful feeling. This fake-dating, friends-to-lovers story takes place at a delightful small town Christmas tree farm that is struggling lately.  When the owner, Stella, enters a $100,000 contest run by a famed Instagram influencer, she mentions she owns the farm with her boyfriend. After becoming a finalist in the contest and finding out that the influencer is planning to come to the farm, Stella must quickly figure out where she is going to get a boyfriend.

Enter Luka, Stella’s best friend who has agreed to pretend to be her boyfriend. Both of them has harbored feelings for the other for years, but not wanting to ruin their friendship have never tried for more. The towns people and friends help them soon realize that the real thing is so much better than pretend.

I must mention that there is a little bit of steam to this romance, but it doesn't overshadow the story. Lovelight Farms is a cozy, sweet, heartwarming tale that will give you all the giddiness and happy feels this holiday season. I highly recommend listening to this first in a new series with a hot chocolate by the fire.

As Serena Williams closed out her professional tennis career at the US Open this month, I finished listening to Taylor Jenkin Reid’s newest novel, Carrie Soto is Back. I am not a huge tennis fan, but I can appreciate the immense time and heart that goes into being a professional athlete. Reid tells the story of Carrie Soto, a fierce competitor who is determined to win at any cost. She is not well liked, but by the time she retires, she is the greatest player the world has ever seen.  She sacrificed nearly everything to become the best, with her father as her coach. At 37 years old, Carrie makes the shocking decision to come out of retirement in an attempt to reclaim her record. Her comeback is grueling, as she fights her body’s limitations, her competitor’s youth, her critics, and most significantly her doubts.  This story is not just about tennis, but also about a father’s and daughter’s love for one another and various life lessons.

The audiobook was immersive and brought the characters to life. It gave me the sense that I was there with Carrie on her journey to greatness. Taylor Jenkins Reid continues to enlighten me with her characters in unique situations and has cemented herself as one of my all-time favorite authors.

Last Summer on State Street by Toya Wolfe was an eye-opening account of a young girl’s summer living in the Chicago projects as they were being torn down around her. Wolfe describes the atmosphere of living in the housing projects of Chicago in 1999 with raw emotion. It’s a realistic depiction of what occurs in the inner city, from the poverty, the gangs, the violence, and everything else many struggle with on a daily basis. The main character, Fe Fe, and her friends learn to navigate the system as best they can. Their friendships are fragile, and their fear is evident as they are thrown into many life altering choices. This 224-page book packs a punch with its realistic, yet violent, story. I love that Wolfe shares in the similarity of her main character, as a strong female who made it out of the Robert Taylor Homes.

Reading this book had me Googling photos and videos to find out more about the Chicago projects. This short, yet moving novel, will stick with you and would make for a hearty book discussion.

Christina Lauren’s newest book Something Wilder is a suspenseful adventure seeking story with a cute second chance romance. Lilly Wilder is struggling to make ends meet and trying to find a way back to Wilder Ranch where she grew up. She runs Wilder Adventures that offers guided fake treasure hunts in the vast mazed canyons of Utah. When an annual boy's trip brings her lost love, Leo, on one of her tours, he has the opportunity to make things right with her again. Lily and Leo try to reconnect after unforeseen circumstances separated them years ago, all while going on a treasure hunt filled with secret codes and riddles.

The story shifts part way through into something dangerous, suspenseful and exciting, a transition I never saw coming but certainly enjoyed. It forces Lily and Leo to confront their past, come to terms with it and decide on their futures all while trying to navigate the treachery in their midst.

The writing duo that is Christina Lauren is so skilled at crafting unique stories. They have written a lot of books over the years, and none of them are similar, which can be a hard task in the romance genre. Something Wilder combines romance with action and adventure and it works so well! I can’t wait to see what they come up with next!

The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen tells a dark and twisty story about people who aren't what they seem. In this instance, the "golden couple" is Marissa and Matthew Bishop, who seem to have it all, at least by social media standards. In real life, however, things aren't quite so shiny. Marissa admits to infidelity, and they seek outside help from a therapist who previously went rogue in her treatment and subsequently lost her license.

The therapist, Avery Chambers, is in desperate need of help herself. When these three collide, secrets from the past begin to surface, and we aren't quite sure whom to believe when stories don't quite add up.

The Golden Couple has great character development and spot-on creative deception. This author duo produces enthralling psychological thrillers that will keep you guessing until the last page. Perfect for fans of domestic noir!