Category Archives: Emilie Richards

Review: Somewhere Between Luck and Trust by Emilie Richards

Title: Somewhere Between Luck and Trust by Emilie Richards
Goddesses Anonymous Series Book Two
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: Harlequin MIRA
Genre: Contemporary, Fiction, Romance
Length: 496 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Where Luck Meets Trust, Miracles Can Happen

Christy Haviland served eight months in prison, giving birth behind bars to the child of the man who put her there and might yet destroy her. Now she’s free again, but what does that mean? As smart as she is, a learning disability has kept her from learning to read. And that’s the least of her hurdles.

Georgia Ferguson, talented educator, receives a mysterious charm bracelet that may help her find the mother who abandoned her at birth. Does she want to follow the clues, and if she does, can reticent
Georgia reach out for help along the way?

Both women are standing at a crossroads, a place where unlikely unions can be formed. A place where two very different women might bridge the gap between generations and education, and together make tough choices.

Somewhere between the townships called Luck and Trust, at a mountain cabin known as the Goddess House, two very different women may even, if they dare, find common ground and friendship.

The Review:

Somewhere Between Luck and Trust is a beautifully written novel about new beginnings, family, and love. This second installment in Emilie Richards’ Goddesses Anonymous series is an endearing story about a group of friends who provide Christy Haviland a safe haven while she makes momentous decisions about her future following her release from jail.

None of the women in Somewhere Between Luck and Trust have had an easy life. Many of them have faced and overcome tremendous obstacles but they do not let their experiences define who they are. Their empathy for others along with the realization their lives could have taken a far worse turn makes it easy for them to lend a helping hand to those in need.

The first recipient of their aid is Christy Haviland. Abandoned by her family, Christy fell in love with the wrong man and when she became a liability, he framed her for a crime she did not commit. Having served her sentence, Christy is at a crossroads as she grapples with some serious decisions about her future. Her feelings about her son are complicated by her past with his father and the realization that between her prison record and her learning disability, her job opportunities are limited. With the help of Georgia Ferguson, her daughter Sam and the other women of Goddesses Anonymous, Christy soon believes a second chance at a new life is possible, but before she can embrace the future, she will have to find a way to resolve the events of her past.

There is also a romantic component to the storyline as well. The romances are understated but perfectly compliment the overall plot. Underlying Georgia’s easy friendship with Lucas Ramsey is a strong attraction and they easily transition from friends to lovers. Christy’s relationship is barely beginning as the novel ends but the slow moving romance is appropriate considering everything Christy is dealing with.

In addition to the various storylines with Christy and Georgia, there are also a couple of intriguing mysteries. The discovery of a charm bracelet provides Georgia the opportunity to find the woman who abandoned her at birth, and Lucas, Christy and Georgia use the charms to uncover valuable clues to find Georgia’s birth mother. The other mystery surrounds the terrifying reason Christy’s ex-boyfriend framed her and how far he is willing to go to keep his secrets from being revealed.

Somewhere Between Luck and Trust is an engaging and captivating novel that brings attention to relevant social and educational issues in a way that readers can relate to. The characters are kind-hearted and compassionate with a genuine desire to help those in need. Emilie Richards gives this multi-layered novel a realistic ending that is unexpected but satisfying.

Read my review of One Mountain Away, the first installment of the Goddesses Anonymous series HERE.

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Filed under Contemporary, Emilie Richards, Fiction, Goddesses Anonymous Series, Harlequin, HarlequinMira, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Somewhere Between Luck and Trust

One Mountain Away by Emilie Richards

Title: One Mountain Away by Emilie Richards
Goddesses Anonymous Series Book One
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: HarlequinMIRA
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 480 pages
Book Rating: A

Review Copy Obtained from Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

With nothing but brains, ambition and sheer nerve, Charlotte Hale built a career as a tough, do-anything-to-succeed real-estate developer. She’s at the top of that mountain…but her life is empty. Her friends are as grasping and insincere as she has become. Far worse, she’s alienated her family so completely that she’s totally lost touch with her only daughter.

One terrifying day, facing her own mortality, she realizes that her ambition has almost destroyed her chance at happiness.

So Charlotte vows to make amends, not simply with her considerable wealth, but by offering a hand instead of a handout. Putting in hours and energy instead of putting in an appearance. Opening her home and heart instead of her wallet.

With each wrenching, exhilarating decision, Charlotte finds that climbing a new mountain–one built on friendship, love and forgiveness–will teach her what it truly means to build a legacy.

The Review:

One Mountain Away by Emilie Richards is a heart-felt and thought-provoking novel that beautifully illustrates it is never too late to make amends for past mistakes. Re-evaluating her life and her priorities, Charlotte Hale regrets many things in her past. At the top of that list is her estrangement from her daughter Taylor, granddaughter Maddie and ex-husband Ethan. Realizing it is never too late to undo past mistakes, she attempts to heal old wounds and in doing so, she seizes various opportunities to make a lasting and meaningful difference in other people’s lives.

Charlotte Hale is a successful woman who sacrificed her family in her effort to distance herself from her poor and humble beginnings. She is an astute businesswoman who is brassy and bold with a no holds barred approach to both her professional and personal lives. With her “my way or the highway” attitude, she amassed a fortune and a flourishing business. Now looking back, she clearly sees her past mistakes and now attempts to take responsibility for her actions.

Charlotte’s deepest regret is the loss of her relationship with her daughter Taylor. A single mother, Taylor relies heavily on her father Ethan for guidance and support. Charlotte’s attempts to reconcile with her have a surprising and life altering effect on Taylor.

Ethan Martin walked away from his marriage to Charlotte following the birth of their granddaughter. He is suspicious of her motives for re-entering their lives and he is quick to confront her. He believes she has changed, but he refuses to be the middleman between Charlotte and Taylor. He too is forced to rethink past events and accept responsibility for his role in the destruction of their marriage.

Harmony Stoddard is a young waitress in need of a helping hand when her path crosses Charlotte. With her new found awareness of her past mistakes, Charlotte invites Harmony into her home. Charlotte’s friendship with Harmony provides her the opportunity to make a real difference in someone’s life, and she offers Harmony a safe haven where Harmony makes some important decisions about her future.

Reverend Analiese Wagner might be a bit of an unconventional spiritual leader, but she has a strong faith that always comes shining through. She and Charlotte have butted heads over the years, but their mutual respect for one another leads to a surprising and close friendship when Charlotte begins to change her life.

Interspersed with her present day activities are her journal entries where Charlotte recounts the painful events of her past. She expresses her regrets and deepest sorrows for past mistakes and she reveals her hopes for the future. She realizes her culpability in her failed relationships and while she makes every effort to atone for her misdeeds, she accepts that forgiveness may not be granted.

One Mountain Away is an emotional novel that is a heartbreaking yet uplifting journey of love, forgiveness and redemption. It is a wonderful story about the bonds of friendship and the strength of faith. In the first installment of her new Goddesses Anonymous series Emilie Richards captures her readers hearts in this inspiring and deeply moving tale of deep and abiding love.

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Filed under Contemporary, Emilie Richards, Goddesses Anonymous Series, Harlequin, HarlequinMira, One Mountain Away, Rated A, Romance