Category Archives: Erin Kelly

Review: Back in the Game by Erin Kern

Title: Back in the Game by Erin Kern
Champion Valley Series Book Two
Publisher: Forever
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: C+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

WHEN YOU PLAY FOR LOVE, YOU PLAY FOR KEEPS

Stella Davenport wasn’t made for small-town life. Sure, teaching ballet in Blanco Valley, Colorado, is great, but she longs for the chance to perform in a big city. Stella swore she’d never let anything get in the way of her dream-until sexy, broad-shouldered Brandon West walks back into her life. Stella is determined to resist him, even if arguing with Brandon is sexier than any foreplay.

For Brandon, it’s always been just him and his son, Matt. Knowing that love only leads to heartbreak, he isn’t looking to expand his family any time soon. Stella, with her long, gorgeous legs and infectious laugh, is a breath of fresh air he didn’t even know he’d been missing. But when she’s offered her dream job in Chicago, will he be willing to put his heart on the line?

Review:

Back in the Game by Erin Kern is a somewhat angsty romance between two protagonists who are both carrying A LOT of baggage. This second installment in the Champion Valley series can be read as a standalone but the failed date between the couple in this outing occurred in the first book in the series.

Respective events from both Stella Davenport and Brandon West’s pasts continue to affect them well into adulthood. Stella’s childhood with her flighty and inattentive mother and a traumatic event that occurred when she was a teenager have left her with claustrophobia and anxiety. Following a career ending injury and a shocking break up, she moved to Colorado where she  has built a thriving business as a ballet instructor. Although it has been a year since Stella’s disastrous date with Brandon, her attraction to him burns hotter than ever.

Single dad Brandon is struggling with his son Matt’s plans to leave Colorado after graduation to attend college and play football in Texas. He is desperately hoping Matt avoids some of the missteps he made at the same age so Brandon is a little overprotective of his son.  With little time, energy or desire to date since his long ago divorce, he finds it impossible to stay away from Stella but will his unresolved issues from his relationship with his ex-wife prevent him from giving a relationship with Stella chance?

Stella and Brandon are interesting characters but readers will have to suspend disbelief to enjoy their romance. They have not spent much time in each other’s company yet, with just one glance, Brandon seems to magically “know” about Stella’s struggles with anxiety and panic attacks. While their banter is initially amusing, it becomes extremely frustrating since they both use humor and sarcasm to avoid discussing their respective issues which gives their scenes together a superficial feel. Their inner monologues also lack much depth since they mainly focus on their sizzling hot desire for each other.  They do not date in the traditional sense because their interactions mainly consist of accidental meetings around town. Overall, Stella and Brandon’s romance feels superficial and somewhat rushed due to the reliance on contrived encounters instead of actually dating. It also does not help that the novel takes place over a rather short amount of time.

Although the romance element in Back in the Game is underwhelming, both Stella and Brandon undergo tremendous character growth. Brandon’s son Matt is brilliantly developed and he manages to steal every scene he appears in.  Erin Kern brings the novel to a heartwarming conclusion that will satisfy old and new fans of the Champion Valley series.

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Filed under Champion Valley Series, Contemporary, Erin Kelly, Forever, Rated C+, Review, Romance

Review: He Said/She Said by Erin Kelly

Title: He Said/She Said by Erin Kelly
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense
Length: 401 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

In the summer of 1999, Kit and Laura travel to a festival in Cornwall to see a total eclipse of the sun. Kit is an eclipse chaser; Laura has never seen one before. Young and in love, they are certain this will be the first of many they’ll share.

But in the hushed moments after the shadow passes, Laura interrupts a man and a woman. She knows that she saw something terrible. The man denies it. It is her word against his.

The victim seems grateful. Months later, she turns up on their doorstep like a lonely stray. But as her gratitude takes a twisted turn, Laura begins to wonder—did she trust the wrong person?

15 years later, Kit and Laura married are living under new names and completely off the digital grid: no Facebook, only rudimentary cell phones, not in any directories. But as the truth catches up to them, they realize they can no longer keep the past in the past.

From Erin Kelly, queen of the killer twist, He Said/She Said is a gripping tale of the lies we tell to save ourselves, the truths we cannot admit, and how far we will go to make others believe our side of the story.

Review:

He Said/She Said by Erin Kelly is a brilliant, twist-filled mystery that unfolds at leisurely pace.

In 1999, Laura Langrishe and Kit McCall have been dating about six months when they attend a festival in Cornwall to watch a solar eclipse.  Immediately after the eclipse is over, Laura stumbles onto the scene of an apparent sexual assault.  After the trial is over, victim Beth Taylor befriends Laura but their friendship slowly takes an unexpectedly dark turn. Fast forward fifteen years, Laura and Kit are now married and have taken extreme measures to remain out of the public eye. However, they still venture out of hiding to view eclipses but they still try to keep as far under the radar as possible. In 2015, Laura is pregnant with twins so Kit travels with a friend to view the latest eclipse and Laura’s anxiety slowly ratchets to a fever pitch amid fears that Beth will locate them again.

Weaving back and forth in time and alternating between Kit and Laura’s perspective, the events in the past and present slowly unfold.  In her early twenties, Laura is a bit self righteous as she takes charge the situation with Beth and she is determined to do everything she can to assure the rapist’s conviction. Although Kit is not a witness to the attack, he is quickly swept up in the series of events that follow.  Relieved when the trial is over, he is less than pleased when Beth insinuates herself into their lives.  Despite his best efforts to convince Laura to distance herself from Beth, Laura cannot bring herself to abandon her friend.

In the present, Laura still suffers from extreme anxiety and paranoia that worsens as they prepare to view eclipses. Laura’s fears are valid but she refuses to let them  interfere with something that holds such meaning for both her and Kit. She tries to hold her dread in check while Kit is on his trip and she is greatly relieved as his return draws near.  Relieved when her worries fail to come to fruition, Laura drops her guard as she concentrates on his impending homecoming but has she relaxed her guard a little too soon?

He Said/She Said by Erin Kelly is an absolutely riveting mystery that fans of the genre will enjoy.  The pacing is a little slow but at the same time, the tension gradually builds as Laura’s doubts begin to creep in. Just when the reader thinks the whole story has been revealed, the first shocking plot twist is revealed.  The unexpected twists and turns then occur at breakneck speed as the novel hurtles to an adrenaline-laced, jaw-dropping conclusion. An absolutely outstanding, twisty-turny mystery that I absolutely loved and HIGHLY recommend.

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Filed under Contemporary, Erin Kelly, He Said She Said, Minotaur Books, Mystery, Rated B+, Review, Suspense