Category Archives: Kensington

January 27, 2016 · 11:58 pm

Review: Any Other Girl by Rebecca Phillips

any other girlTitle: Any Other Girl by Rebecca Phillips
Publisher: Kensington
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult, Romance
Length: 272 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

After a disastrous, reputation-destroying party at the end of junior year, Kat Henley has a new plan. When it comes to boys—especially other people’s boys:

Don’t touch.
Don’t smile.
Don’t charm.

In the past, drawing attention to herself helped distract people from what really makes Kat different—having two gay parents. But it’s also cost her friendships. Kat can’t afford to lose any more of those, especially not her cousin, Harper. They’re spending one last summer together at the lake, where they run into an intriguing newcomer named Emmett Reese. After years of trying to prove she’s just like everybody else, Kat has found someone who wants her because she’s not. A boy who could be everything she wants too—if Harper hadn’t liked him first…

Review:

Fast-paced with appealing characters, Any Other Girl by Rebecca Phillips is a gripping young adult novel that touches on quite a few relevant social issues.

Kat Henley’s friendliness is often perceived as flirting and as the story opens, a conversation at a party with her best friend Shay’s boyfriend ends their two year friendship when Shay accuses Kat of flirting with him. The last weeks of school are uncomfortable since all of Kat’s friends are also Shay’s friends and they turn their backs on Kat in support of Shay. With her apologies falling on deaf ears, Kat is more grateful than usual to be spending the summer at her family’s summer cottage. Eagerly anticipating their last summer together before her cousin Harper leaves for college in the fall, the two girls are delighted to discover a new family is staying at the lake. They quickly invite Emmett Reese to hang out with them and as soon as Kat realizes Harper has a crush on Emmett, she vows to keep her distance from him but will her match making efforts pay off?

Growing up with two dads, Kat learned the best way to deflect negative attention from them was to draw attention to herself. She is naturally exuberant but this attention becomes a way to validate her self-worth and this is where she runs into trouble. She carefully cultivated a girly girl persona to prove to outsiders that she does not need a feminine influence but in doing so, Kat also gives up anything that could be perceived as tomboyish.

Harper is the complete opposite of Kat. Quiet and unassuming, she lacks confidence and her self-esteem took a beating after her parents’ divorce. She has never had a boyfriend or made a big deal about liking a boy, so Kat realizes very quickly just how much Emmett means to her. Harper and Emmett have a love of sports in common but their interactions are often awkward and uncomfortable. Tension mount between the cousins once Kat begins to realize that she has feelings for Emmett and that he feels the same way.

Emmett is a nice, polite young man who quietly observes what is going on around him. He is dealing with family issues the best way he knows how and he is just biding his time until he can leave for college. Trying to avoid his parents as much as possible, Emmett uses running as an escape and he has created a safe place to spend time when things between his parents get too bad.

Despite both Harper and Kat liking the same young man, this is not a typical love triangle storyline. Kat’s main focus is fixing her cousin up with Emmett and she respects Harper’s feelings for him. For his part, Emmett never makes any type of commitment to Harper but once he realizes Kat does not plan to act on her feelings for him, he does make an attempt to see if there is any spark between him and Harper. Only when that fails does Kat even consider a relationship with him, but she remains torn between her loyalty to her cousin and her deepening emotions for Emmett. Kat continues trying to avoid hurting Harper but when the truth finally emerges, the ensuing rift between them seems impossible to repair.

By summer’s end, Kat is more self-aware and she has a much better understanding of the impact her behavior has on others. She also realizes that she can maintain her femininity while at the same time participating in the sports she loves. Kat also manages to face Shay and apologize for her actions with her boyfriend without expecting anything from Shay in return. Kat grows and matures throughout the novel and while she makes a few necessary changes, she still retains the traits that set her apart from others and make her unique.

Any Other Girl is a sweet young adult romance that manages to avoid unnecessary angst or drama. The characters are multi-faceted with easy to relate to flaws and imperfections. The storyline is well-developed and Rebecca Phillips adds depth to the plot with sensitive portrayals of realistic situations such as homophobia and Emmett’s troubled home life. All in all, it is a heartfelt novel that I greatly enjoyed and recommend to readers of all ages.

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Filed under Any Other Girl, Contemporary, Kensington, Rated B+, Rebecca Phillips, Review, Romance, Young Adult

January 20, 2016 · 11:56 pm

Review: Hearth Song by Lois Greiman

hearth songTitle: Hearth Song by Lois Greiman
Home in the Hills Series Book Two
Publisher: Kensington
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Length: 304 pages
Book Rating: C+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Bravura Lambert has a daughter to raise, a tumbledown house to restore, and a struggling business to run. She doesn’t have time to cry over a husband who only shows up when he needs money. She also doesn’t need Tonk Redhawk, a Native American artist and wild horse jockey, interfering in her life. So what if he’s charming and helpful and makes her autistic five-year-old giggle until she can’t stand up? Bravura’s husband, Dane, was once all those things too.

When Dane returns to find Tonk’s horses in Bravura’s pasture and his tools in her shed, he insists on moving back home. Despite his faults, Bravura longs to make her marriage work—after all, she took a vow. But then Dane does the unthinkable, forcing Bravura to finally face the truth about her choices—and about how deeply Tonk cares for her. Once she opens her eyes, she just may be able to open her heart…

Review:

In Hearth Song, the second installment in Lois Greiman’s heartwarming Home in the Hills series, hardworking Bravura “Vura” Lambert is torn between her loyalty to her manipulative husband Dane and her surprising attraction to stoic Tonk Redhawk.

Vura has not seen her husband Dane is the year since he took a job in the mining fields of North Dakota, so she is pretty stunned by his unexpected return. She is not exactly happy to see him but since he is her husband and the father of her five year old daughter, Lily, she tries to make the best of the situation. Quickly growing impatient with his irresponsible behavior, she cannot shake the feeling Dane is being less than forthcoming about his departure from his job and his current job search. Dane somehow manages to charm Vura out of her doubts but her uncertainties about him continue to grow.

Vura is a likable, but extremely maddening, character. She is very close to her father and grandfather and in Dane’s absence, their help with Lily has been invaluable. Vura is a strong and capable woman, but her husband has slowly chipped away at her self-esteem over the years. She is more comfortable in blue jeans and a hard hat than a dress and heels but she has tried to be more feminine to make Dane happy. Vura has slowly given up so much of her identity to please him that she barely recognizes herself. She is a fantastic mom and a successful businesswoman but as soon as Dane strolls back into her life, she loses all confidence which leaves her vulnerable and incredibly susceptible to his manipulations. He so thoroughly twists things around that Vura is unable to see just how destructive and conniving he is.

Dane is thoroughly despicable and it is impossible to understand how Vura continues to allow him to guilt her into agreeing to his demands. She has strong doubts about his return and while it is reasonable to try to save her marriage, it is exasperating watching her make excuses for his appalling behavior. Despite proving to be completely untrustworthy, Vura easily sets aside her misgivings and she gives him the benefit of the doubt even in the face of damning evidence that he is lying her.

Tonk has a bit of a troubled past but he has worked hard to overcome his demons. He is the epitome of the strong silent type and he is quite observant. He has strong ties to his heritage and despite a few missteps in the past, Tonk treats people with respect and reverence. Tonk is such an admirable and likable character that it is very exasperating that he remains on the periphery for much of the novel.

Since it takes almost the entire novel for Vura to finally see what her family recognized about Dane years earlier, Hearth Song is an enjoyable albeit frustrating addition to the Home in the Hills series. While it is understandable that Vura needs to come to terms with her relationship with Dane, the overall story gets bogged down in his misdeeds and his inexplicable ability to bamboozle her time after time. Once their relationship is finally resolved, Dane’s desperation leads to a dramatic decision and Lois Greiman brings the novel to a suspenseful and action filled conclusion.

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Filed under Contemporary, Heart Song, Home in the Hills Series, Kensington, Lois Greiman, Rated C+, Review, Women's Fiction

December 20, 2015 · 11:57 pm

Review: Thicker Than Water by Brigid Kemmerer

thicker than waterTitle: Thicker Than Water by Brigid Kemmerer
Publisher:Kensington
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult, Mystery, Romance, Supernatural
Length: 336 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

On his own

Thomas Bellweather hasn’t been in town long. Just long enough for his newlywed mother to be murdered, and for his new stepdad’s cop colleagues to decide Thomas is the primary suspect.

Not that there’s any evidence. But before Thomas got to Garretts Mill there had just been one other murder in twenty years.

The only person who believes him is Charlotte Rooker, little sister to three cops and, with her soft hands and sweet curves, straight-up dangerous to Thomas. Her friend was the other murder vic. And she’d like a couple answers….

Answers that could get them both killed, and reveal a truth Thomas would die to keep hidden.

Review:

Thicker Than Water by Brigid Kemmerer is an outstanding young adult mystery. With a slight supernatural element and a hint of romance, this perplexing whodunit is sure to be a hit with both young adult and adult readers.

Thomas Bellweather is the chief (and only) suspect in his mother’s murder. The small town police force is convinced he is guilty, but with no evidence tying him to the crime, they cannot arrest him. Things go from bad to worse for him once he strikes up a tentative friendship with Charlotte Rooker, the only person besides his stepfather to believe in his innocence. Ignoring her cop family’s strenuous objections, Charlotte continues to secretly meet Thomas but trouble seems to follow them every step of the way.

Grieving his mother’s loss and angry over the police’s rush to judgment, Thomas is trapped in an untenable situation. He is lonely and isolated at his stepfather’s house and his attempts to go about daily life are met with suspicion from the local residents. His new friendship with Charlotte is the only bright spot in his life, but their encounters usually end in disaster. Thomas tries to take his stepfather’s advice to maintain a low profile, but his resentment continues to grow as the police fail to uncover any leads in their investigation.

Although not 100% convinced of his innocence, Charlotte is willing to give Thomas the benefit of the doubt. She is angered by her family’s continued insistence that he is guilty and she grows frustrated by her brothers’ overprotective behavior. While Charlotte is a little naive and innocent, she refuses to let her family keep her from helping Thomas prove his innocence.

The mystery element of the storyline is well written and suspenseful while the romance aspect of the plot is understated and simmers in the background for much of the story. As Thomas and Charlotte dig into his mother’s past, they discover shocking and somewhat puzzling family secrets. However, as they investigate their findings, the story takes an unexpected shift into the supernatural. This stunning plot twist is crucial to identifying his mother’s killer but Thomas and Charlotte are ill-prepared for the shocking revelations they are about to uncover.

Well written with plenty of twists and turns, Thicker Than Water is a fast-paced and compelling novel with a unique storyline.  Thomas and Charlotte are likable and sympathetic characters that are well-developed and easy to relate to. Brigid Kemmerer brilliantly weaves the various elements into an engrossing mystery that I highly recommend to readers of all ages.

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Filed under Brigid Kemmerer, Contemporary, Kensington, Mystery, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Thicker Than Blood, Young Adult

November 18, 2015 · 11:58 pm

Review: The Edge of Lost by Kristina McMorris

edge of lostTitle: The Edge of Lost by Kristina McMorris
Publisher: Kensington
Genre: Historical, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

From New York Times bestselling author Kristina McMorris comes an ambitious and heartrending story of immigrants, deception, and second chances.

On a cold night in October 1937, searchlights cut through the darkness around Alcatraz. A prison guard’s only daughter–one of the youngest civilians who lives on the island–has gone missing. Tending the warden’s greenhouse, convicted bank robber Tommy Capello waits anxiously. Only he knows the truth about the little girl’s whereabouts, and that both of their lives depend on the search’s outcome.

Almost two decades earlier and thousands of miles away, a young boy named Shanley Keagan ekes out a living as an aspiring vaudevillian in Dublin pubs. Talented and shrewd, Shan dreams of shedding his dingy existence and finding his real father in America. The chance finally comes to cross the Atlantic, but when tragedy strikes, Shan must summon all his ingenuity to forge a new life in a volatile and foreign world.

Skillfully weaving these two stories, Kristina McMorris delivers a compelling novel that moves from Ireland to New York to San Francisco Bay. As her finely crafted characters discover the true nature of loyalty, sacrifice, and betrayal, they are forced to confront the lies we tell–and believe–in order to survive.

Review:

Spanning nearly twenty years, The Edge of Lost by Kristina McMorris is a captivating story of friendship, second chances and redemption. This well researched and intriguing novel follows Shanley “Shan” Keagan as he immigrates from Ireland to New York where he is unofficially adopted by an Italian-American family.

Orphaned at a young age, Shan is a gifted entertainer who travels to New York with hopes of finding his biological father. Calling in a favor with Nick, the young man he helped rescue from a tricky situation during the voyage, Shan is grateful to his adopted family for helping give him a fresh start in America. Shan remains loyal to his new family and while he manages to stay out of trouble, Nick is rebellious and begins working for gangster Max Trevino. Following a terrible misunderstanding with Nick, Shan strikes out on his own where he eventually achieves a modicum of success with his vaudeville act. Years later, Shan unwittingly gets involved in a crime while trying to save Nick and eventually winds up incarcerated at the infamous Alcatraz Prison in San Francisco.

Shan is a wonderful protagonist who makes the best of the opportunities afforded to him. He is hardworking, smart and loyal but he still manages to find himself in situations not of his own making. Not wanting to disappoint his adopted parents or end like up his dissolute and abusive uncle, Shan is determined to make an honest living and he keeps his distance from Nick’s illegal activities. When he feels he must leave his adopted family behind, he uses his skills as an entertainer to make a living traveling with other vaudeville and burlesque performers. Despite going out of his way to keep out of trouble, his well-intentioned effort to save Nick backfires and he is convicted of armed robbery.  Following altercations with another inmate, Shan transferred to Alcatraz where he stays out of trouble with hopes that his good behavior will help get him released from prison early.

The Edge of Lost is an engaging novel that paints a vivid portrait of life as an immigrant during the Roaring Twenties. Kristina McMorris touches on the rise of illegal activity in the wake of Prohibition and the difficulties of trying to run an honest business in the midst of strong arm tactics by gangsters. The meticulous attention to detail brings the time period, characters and various settings vibrantly to life. Unexpected twists and turns bring the novel to a dramatic and highly satisfying conclusion.

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Filed under Historical (20s), Historical (30s), Kensington, Kristina McMorris, Mystery, Rated B+, Review, Suspense, The Edge of Lost

October 25, 2015 · 11:56 pm

Review: Bittersweet Creek by Sally Kirkpatrick

bittersweet creekTitle: Bittersweet Creek by Sally Kirkpatrick
Publisher: Kensington
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 320 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

From the author of The Happy Hour Choir comes a Romeo and Juliet story with Southern flair–witty, warm, and as complex and heart-wrenching as only love and family can be.

For a century and a half, the Satterfield and McElroy farms have been separated by a narrow creek and a whole lot of bad blood. Both sides have done their share of damage. But the very worst crime either family can commit is to fall in love with the enemy. As teenagers, Romy Satterfield and Julian McElroy did exactly that. Then, on the night they were secretly married by a justice of the peace, Julian stood Romy up.

Ten years later, Romy is poised to marry the scion of one of Nashville’s most powerful families. First she has to return home to Ellery to help her injured father–and to finalize her divorce. For Julian, seeing Romy again brings into relief the secrets he’s kept and the poison that ran through his childhood. Romy has missed the farm and the unpretentious, downright nosy townsfolk. In spite of her efforts, she’s also missed Julian. But though she suspects there’s more to that long-ago night than Julian ever revealed, the truth will either drive her away for good, or reveal what is truly worth fighting for. . .

Review:

Bittersweet Creek by Sally Kirkpatrick is a funny and poignant second chance at love romance. A well rounded cast of characters bring this story vibrantly to life but it is the true to life storyline that will resonate with readers.

Romy Satterfield has come a long way in the ten years since leaving home. After completing college, she took a job as an English teacher in an inner city high school. She is in a comfortable relationship with a wealthy Nashville attorney. As far as she is concerned, her small town roots are firmly behind her, but when her dad needs help after breaking his leg, Romy discovers that her past is nowhere near as resolved as she thinks. This realization is brought home when she comes face to face with her high school sweetheart (and secret husband) Julian McElroy.

Julian did what he thought was best to protect Romy all those years ago, but his decision definitely took a toll on him. He made a lot of stupid choices and took a lot of unnecessary risks, but he finally decided to get his act together. He is living and working on the family farm and to help make ends meet, he also works as a mechanic in one of the local car dealerships. Julian never quite forgot his first love and although they have previously managed to avoid each other on Romy’s rare visits home, they are not so lucky this time around.

Although Romy returns to help her dad, she is also determined to put an end to her ill-fated marriage. She never understood why Julian abandoned her and although ten years have passed, Julian still remains unwilling to discuss his decision. He agrees to sign the divorce papers, but complications arise after her boyfriend discovers she kept her marriage a secret. After learning about her father’s possible plans for the family farm, Romy makes an impetuous decision that jeopardizes the future of her relationship with her boyfriend.

While Romy is trying to figure out what comes next for her, Julian continues to try to keep his father from destroying his legacy. The situation between them is quite volatile and Julian is quite suspicious of his dad’s sudden capitulation regarding their land. In the midst of his family’s ongoing drama, Julian and Romy are thrown together when she needs his assistance with some of the day to day operations on her farm. They are both surprised to discover they still harbor feelings for one another but will Julian’s secrets and fears ruin their chance at happiness?

A wonderful balance of serious, real life issues and plenty of laugh out loud humor, Bittersweet Creek by Sally Kirkpatrick is a captivating small town romance with a refreshingly realistic storyline. The characters are down to earth and likable with relatable flaws and issues to overcome. The plot is quite engaging and moves at brisk pace. An all around feel good read that I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys small town contemporary romances.

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Filed under Bittersweet Creek, Contemporary, Kensington, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Sally Kirkpatrick

June 21, 2015 · 11:57 pm

Review: Faking Perfect by Rebecca Phillips

faking perfectTitle: Faking Perfect by Rebecca Phillips
Publisher: Kensington
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult, Romance
Length: 272 pagess
Book Rating: A

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

When Lexi Shaw seduced Oakfield High’s resident bad boy Tyler Flynn at the beginning of senior year, he seemed perfectly okay with her rules:

1. Avoid her at school.
2. Keep his mouth shut about what they do together.
3. Never tease her about her friend (and unrequited crush) Ben.

Because with his integrity and values and golden boy looks, Ben can never find out about what she’s been doing behind closed doors with Tyler. Or that her mom’s too busy drinking and chasing losers to pay the bills. Or that Lexi’s dad hasn’t been a part of her life for the last thirteen years. But with Tyler suddenly breaking the rules, Ben asking her out, and her dad back in the picture, how long will she be able to go on faking perfect?

Review:

Faking Perfect by Rebecca Phillips is an absolutely outstanding young adult romance. A marvelous cast of characters, a unique storyline and realistic situations make the novel easy to relate to and impossible to put down.

Lexi Shaw has carefully created a persona that helped her cultivate a circle of friends who are popular and well-liked. In an effort to appear as perfect as her friends, Lexi covers up the things she does not like about herself (i.e. her freckles) and her past (her drug addicted absentee father). But she refuses to give up the one friend who knows everything there is to know about her, Nolan Bruce. Nolan’s family provides her the stability and normal family life she does not get in her own home and despite her friends’ disdain for him, she will not let them come between her and her best friend. Although she has had a long term crush on perfect Ben Dorsey, she also has a penchant for bad boys and she scratches this particular itch with Tyler Flynn. Lexi and Tyler have been involved in a secret no strings fling for months but it is purely a physical relationship with a strict set of rules that Tyler must follow if he wants to keep seeing her.

Lexi has not had an easy life with her single mother and sometimes their roles are reversed since her mom is more interested in her latest loser boyfriend than paying bills or keeping food on the table. Lexi escapes as often as she can by hanging out at the Nolan house or going out with her friends. She does not always make the best or wisest decisions, but fortunately, she learns from her mistakes. Her experiences with Ben become a turning point as Lexi comes to the realization that no one is perfect. Once her secrets are exposed, Lexi finally begins to embrace herself, flaws and all.

Faking Perfect is a compelling novel with an appealing, angst free storyline. The cast of characters is vibrantly developed with relatable flaws and imperfections. Rebecca Phillips realistically depicts teen behavior and she handles some very difficult issues in a forthright and matter of fact manner. It is a heartfelt and thought-provoking young adult novel that I highly recommend to readers of all ages.

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Filed under Contemporary, Faking Perfect, Kensington, Rated A, Rebecca Phillips, Review, Romance, Young Adult