Reviews

Expiration Dates had one of the most original and fun concepts I've read for a romance/women’s fiction. 

Daphne Bell believes the universe has a plan for her. Every time she meets a new man, she receives a slip of paper with his name and a number on it—the exact amount of time they will be together. The papers told her she’d spend three days with Martin in Paris; five weeks with Noah in San Francisco; and three months with Hugo, her ex-boyfriend turned best friend. Daphne has been receiving the numbered papers for over twenty years, always wondering when there might be one without an expiration. Finally, the night of a blind date at her favorite Los Angeles restaurant, there’s only a Jake. 
 
But as Jake and Daphne’s story unfolds, Daphne finds herself doubting the paper’s prediction, and wrestling with what it means to be both committed and truthful. Because Daphne knows things Jake doesn’t, information that—if he found out—would break his heart.  

As usual in a Rebecca Serle novel, I found myself loving the main character, despite her flaws, and cheering for her to the end. While there were a few predictable outcomes, I truly enjoyed this novel and found the magical realism an interesting element to the story. A perfect pick to kick your summer off!

Avery Cunningham’s debut novel The Mayor of Maxwell Street gives a fascinating look into Prohibition-era Chicago. Penelope “Nelly” Sawyer, the daughter of a wealthy horse breeder from Kentucky, is making her debut in Black society in the summer of 1921. An aspiring journalist, Nelly learns about the elusive Mayor of Maxwell Street, a powerful man who controls Chicago’s underground crime scene. Aided by Jay Shorey, a biracial man passing as white, Nelly becomes entangled in a flurry of criminal activity that threatens her life and the lives of her family and friends.

Against a backdrop of speakeasies, lavish parties, and a multi-cultural night market, the novel explores the effects of Jim Crow laws, class differences in Chicago, and women’s struggles in the 1920s. Along with the narrative are rich details of Art Deco, Chicago historic landmarks, Roaring Twenties fashion, and expensive cars.

While some of the plot points are unrealistic, the overall story was compelling, and I was invested in the ending. I recommend this glamorous story to anyone who enjoys a love story, a riveting historical drama, and a brilliant exploration of Black society and perseverance in a memorable time in history.

A Winter in New York by Josie Silver follows Iris as she embarks on her new life in New York, carrying the grief of losing her mom and the trauma of a bad relationship back in London. Iris brings with her the gelato recipe from her mom that has been a source of comfort throughout her life. When she stumbles upon a familiar door that she recognizes from her mom’s photo album she meets Gio Belloti, and they embark on a star-crossed journey of love, loss, secrets, and family togetherness.

The story follows two timelines - one of Iris in the present day, her struggles, love interest, finding out more about her mom who passed a few years ago, and a secret she feels she needs to keep from Gio. The other is of Iris’ mom life in New York… and how Iris came to be.

I loved that this book had more depth than a typical rom-com and dealt with some heavier themes. Although I found the main conflict not such a conflict at all in my mind, I chose to willingly accept it as such and just enjoy the story. This is a wholesome read, focused on family, love, loss, and finding yourself.

The audiobook version of this was delightful with the British accent. I recommend this one as a cozy winter read!

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.