Category Archives: Rated B

September 14, 2021 · 12:02 am

Review: Her New Story by Laura Bradford

Title: Her New Story by Laura Bradford
Publisher: Kensington Books
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Length: 304 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

From USA Today bestselling author Laura Bradford comes a poignant, uplifting novel about an investigative reporter who will do anything to nail a story—until her world comes crashing down—landing her on assignment in Pennsylvania’s Amish country, where she’s forced to re-think her priorities, and her life.

Tess Baker thought she had the perfect everything—until her best friend, and (now ex) husband, betrayed her, leaving her with nothing, except her career as an investigative reporter. In her work for a leading magazine, Tess can lose herself in whatever story she’s chasing. So she’s devastated when her next assignment is far from the exciting location or action-packed quest she anticipated.

Thanks to a recent misstep, Tess is handed a bus ticket to Pennsylvania—to Amish country. The story? Write about living in the past in a modern-day world. Determined to prove herself by coming up with something juicier than a run-of-the-mill human-interest piece, Tess makes her way through this strange place, digging for dirt . . .

Yet no matter where she turns, scandal eludes her. Instead, Tess encounters kindness and grace, even striking up unexpected friendships with women who bear a wisdom and capacity for forgiveness she can’t imagine. It’s only when she meets eighty-something Miss Lottie, beloved by the community even after decades away, that Tess realizes she may have hit upon the story she was looking for. But can she betray the people who have opened their arms—and their hearts—for the sake of a scoop?  

Review:

Her New Story by Laura Bradford is an engaging novel of healing, friendship and love.

After going through a terrible betrayal by people she trusted most, Tess Baker is broken-hearted and understandably bitter. She is an investigative reporter for In Depth magazine and she is looking forward to the yearly assignment meeting. Unfortunately, Tess’s personal drama has spilled over into her career and instead of a plum assignment, she is going to Amish country in Pennsylvania. Tess is upset but if she wants to keep her job, she will have to spend one month working with her host family, Naomi and Isaiah King. Adjusting to Plain life is not easy but she does enjoy spending time with Naomi and her friend and mentor Max “Murph” Murphy is just a text or phone call away. Cynical about love and unable to trust anyone, will Tess find a story that will salvage her career?

Tess is very resentful about her assignment but she is polite to everyone she meets. She is quite cynical and she always looks for hidden meaning within the Amish community. Tess is very stubborn as she searches for an explosive, juicy secret that will be the focus of her article. Murph is her sounding board but he is not always in favor of the angle she is going for.

Tess eventually sets her sights on Miss Lottie, who is an elderly lady that everyone raves about. She dispenses helpful advice whenever someone needs a new perspective on the whatever is troubling them. Of course, Tess does not believe that Miss Lottie is as altruistic as the women she meets believes. Convinced she knows what Miss Lottie is hiding, Tess begins looking for her “smoking gun”.  With the help of local Jack Cloverton, Tess discovers more than she expects as unearths the truth about Miss Lottie. She also learns valuable life lessons that might just alter her need to protect herself against further heartache.

Her New Story is a thought-provoking journey of self-discovery. Tess is so determined to guard her heart that she is a little difficult to like. She has strong opinions and she is not easily moved from these beliefs. The Amish community and the women she meets are absolutely delightful (especially Rueben!). The setting is quite tranquil with a slower pace of life than Tess is used to. But she quickly adapts and slowly comes to enjoy the peace and quiet. Tess undergoes quite the transformation during her assignment but will she take the lessons she learns when she returns home? With unexpected revelations, Laura Bradford brings this poignant, captivating novel to an uplifting conclusion.

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Filed under Contemporary, Her New Story, Kensington Books, Laura Bradford, Rated B, Review, Women's Fiction

September 5, 2021 · 12:01 am

Review: Such a Good Wife by Seraphina Nova Glass

Title: Such a Good Wife by Seraphina Nova Glass
Publisher: Graydon House
Genre: Contemporary, Domestic Mystery
Length: 336 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Betrayal was just the beginning…

Melanie Hale is a devoted mother to her two children, a diligent caregiver to her ailing mother-in-law and a trusted neighbor in their wealthy Louisiana community. Above all, she’s a loving partner to her wonderful husband, Collin.

Then there are the parts of herself that Mel keeps hidden. She’s exhausted, worried and unfulfilled. So much so that one night, after a writers’ group meeting, Mel begins an affair with a successful local author named Luke. Suddenly she’s transformed into a role she doesn’t recognize—a woman who deceives with unseemly ease. A woman who might be capable of just about anything.

When Mel finds Luke’s dead body in his lavish rented house, she realizes just how high the stakes have become. Not only does she have to keep her affair a secret in order to preserve her marriage, but she desperately needs to avoid being implicated in Luke’s death. But who would want to kill him? Who else in her life is keeping secrets? And most terrifying of all, how far will they—and she—go to keep those secrets hidden?

Review:

Such a Good Wife by Seraphina Nova Glass is a clever domestic mystery.

Melanie “Mel” Hale is a wife, a mother and her mother-in-law’s caregiver. She loves her family but she feels as if she has lost herself over the years. Her husband Collin is a workaholic so the brunt of the work at home falls on her shoulders. Their daughter Rachel is thirteen years old and just beginning the angsty teen years. Their son Bennett is very intelligent but he is also neurodiverse so he can be quite a handful when frustrated. Mel loves her mother-in-law and she mourns the vibrant woman she was before the cancer and dementia diagnoses.

At Collin’s urging, Mel joins the neighborhood book club only to be disappointed to discover no one is interested in reading the books.  Her husband very thoughtfully finds a local writer’s group that might just be what Mel needs to spark her creativity. They meet at a local bookstore where popular romance author Luke Ellison is promoting his latest release. He and Mel enjoy chatting with each other, but their mutual attraction is undeniable and impossible to resist. When she finally decides to end their affair, Mel discovers Luke’s lifeless body and she is left hoping the police do not uncover their illicit relationship.

Mel is completely overwhelmed by the weight of her responsibilities. She sometimes yearns for the life she planned to have before becoming a stay-at-home mom. She is friendly with their neighbors but Mel is not close to any of them. Once she embarks on her affair with Luke, she experiences guilt at betraying her loved ones, but she cannot find the strength to give up the relationship. Mel also tries very hard to act normal but she is distracted by her memories of her stolen hours with Luke.

After Luke’s death, Mel dreads the local police finding out about her affair with Luke. However, it does not take long for them to learn she knows him. But instead of being honest, Mel lies to the detectives in order to protect her secret. Mel is shocked when it becomes obvious someone does know about her and Luke’s relationship. She is under considerable stress as she tries to uncover the identity of the person threatening to destroy her life.

Such a Good Wife is a deliciously engrossing domestic mystery with an intriguing storyline. Mel really is a good wife and it is easy to relate with stressed she is. Collin is a sweet man but even when he is home, he is preoccupied with work. Luke is a charming man but how well does Mel know him? The plot is engaging and full of tension. With stunning plot-twists, Seraphina Nova Glass brings this domestic mystery to an unpredictable conclusion.

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Filed under Contemporary, Domestic Mystery, Graydon House, Mystery, Rated B, Review, Seraphina Nova Glass, Such a Good Wife

August 23, 2021 · 12:01 am

Review: The Family Plot by Megan Collins

Title: The Family Plot by Megan Collins
Publisher: Atria Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 320 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

From the author of The Winter Sister and Behind the Red Door, this “masterpiece of gothic suspense and horror, filled with dark family secrets and stunning twists” (Michele Campbell, author of It’s Always the Husband) follows a family obsessed with true crime as they gather to bury their patriarch—only to find another body already in his grave.

At twenty-six, Dahlia Lighthouse is haunted by her upbringing. Raised in a secluded island mansion deep in the woods and kept isolated by her true crime-obsessed parents, she is unable to move beyond the disappearance of her twin brother, Andy, when they were sixteen.

After several years away and following her father’s death, Dahlia returns to the house, where the family makes a gruesome discovery: buried in their father’s plot is another body—Andy’s, his skull split open with an ax.

Dahlia is quick to blame Andy’s murder on the serial killer who terrorized the island for decades, while the rest of her family reacts to the revelation in unsettling ways. Her brother, Charlie, pours his energy into creating a family memorial museum, highlighting their research into the lives of famous murder victims; her sister, Tate, forges ahead with her popular dioramas portraying crime scenes; and their mother affects a cheerfully domestic facade, becoming unrecognizable as the woman who performed murder reenactments for her children. As Dahlia grapples with her own grief and horror, she realizes that her eccentric family, and the mansion itself, may hold the answers to what happened to her twin.

Review:

The Family Plot by Megan Collins is a chilling mystery that is very atmospheric.

For the first time since leaving home, twenty-six-year-old Dahlia Lighthouse returns following her father Daniel’s death. She also comes face to face with her much older siblings Charlie and  Tate. Dahlia also hopes her twin brother Andy will also join them. He left ten years earlier and with the excerption of his goodbye note, no one has heard from him since. With funeral preparations underway, they are absolutely shocked when a body is discovered in their father’s burial plot. Despite her fervent hopes to the contrary, the remains are Andy’s and even worse, he was murdered. Who killed Andy? And does his murder have anything to do with the end of the notorious Blackburn Killer’s murderous killing spree?

Dahlia wants to find out who killed Andy but she reels from every new detail she learns about him. Her brother could not wait to leave Blackburn Island and escape their mother’s preoccupation with murder. Before his disappearance, Dahlia could not understand why Andy wanted to leave. But having lost the one person she always felt a deep connection to, she now lives in town on the mainland.

After Andy’s body is recovered, their mother frantically bakes cookies and ignores reality. Charlie spends his days drinking as he prepares to showcase their murder memorabilia during a one-day open house. Tate immediately goes to work on a diorama of Andy’s murder scene. She has a popular Instagram account where she displays her dioramas of the various murders they learned about growing up. Dahlia veers between trying to uncover Andy’s murderer and ignoring information that does not fit her perspective of her brother.

In the meantime, Detective Elijah Kraft keeps popping in and questioning the Lighthouse family. He is convinced they know more about Andy’s murder and the Blackburn Killer than they are revealing. The infamous Blackburn Killer murdered several women then abruptly stopped killing several years ago. Dahlia resents Elijah’s intrusion yet she cannot let help but wonder if there might be truth to some of his theories.

The Family Plot is a spellbinding mystery with a very unusual premise. The cast of characters is eclectic and their life on Blackburn Island is quite insular. None of the Lighthouse kids escaped from their dysfunctional and downright creepy childhoods unscathed.  As the truth about what happened to Andy slowly begins to emerge, the family’s shocking secrets are also unearthed. With absolutely head spinning revelations, Megan Collins brings this diabolically clever mystery to a satisfying conclusion.

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Filed under Atria Books, Contemporary, Megan Collins, Mystery, Rated B, Review, Suspense, The Family Plot

August 13, 2021 · 12:01 am

Review: The Husbands by Chandler Baker

Title: The Husbands by Chandler Baker
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Genre: Contemporary, Domestic Mystery
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

To what lengths will a woman go for a little more help from her husband?
Nora Spangler is a successful attorney but when it comes to domestic life, she packs the lunches, schedules the doctor appointments, knows where the extra paper towel rolls are, and designs and orders the holiday cards. Her husband works hard, too… but why does it seem like she is always working so much harder?

When the Spanglers go house hunting in Dynasty Ranch, an exclusive suburban neighborhood, Nora meets a group of high-powered women—a tech CEO, a neurosurgeon, an award-winning therapist, a bestselling author—with enviably supportive husbands. When she agrees to help with a resident’s wrongful death case, she is pulled into the lives of the women there. She finds the air is different in Dynasty Ranch. The women aren’t hanging on by a thread.

But as the case unravels, Nora uncovers a plot that may explain the secret to having-it-all. One that’s worth killing for. Calling to mind a Stepford Wives gender-swap, New York Times bestselling author of Whisper Network Chandler Baker’s The Husbands imagines a world where the burden of the “second shift” is equally shared—and what it may take to get there.

Review:

The Husbands by Chandler Baker is a clever mystery with a topical storyline.

Nora Spangler is a personal injury lawyer who is up for partner at the law firm where she works. She is also married with a young daughter. Nora’s frustrations with husband Hayden’s lack of help at home is reaching the breaking point. With their family expanding, they are considering moving into a larger home. Attending an open house in the exclusive Dynasty Ranch neighborhood, Nora falls in with the home’s amenities.  As she meets more of her perspective neighbors, she begins to notice how involved the husbands are with shouldering their share (and more) of the domestic duties. Nora is soon asked to represent Penny March in the wrongful death case of her husband, Peter.  With her investigation into Peter’s horrific death beginning to take shape, Nora starts noticing troubling similarities in the Dynasty Ranch husbands. What, if anything is happening in this close-knit community? And what will happen when Nora accidentally stumbles onto the truth in the wrongful death case?

Nora loves Hayden but her building resentment is affecting their marriage. She is expected to work extra hours at the law firm if she expects to make partner. Her boss is also demanding and somewhat inept when it comes to ordinary tasks at the office. As Nora juggles all of these different areas of her life, she is bound to drop a ball or two. The question is, which part of her life might suffer the worst consequences?

Dynasty Ranch is home to uber successful women who are extremely intelligent and ambitious. Nora is happy to be included in their ranks but she continues to harbor reservations about Peter’s wrongful death case. She greatly admires Penny but is the widow revealing everything she knows about the fire that killed her husband? And are the residents being entirely truthful with Nora as she continues gathering evidence for the case.

Chandler Baker’s The Husbands is an engrossing mystery that highlights the “second shift” many mothers end up working after their paying job.  Nora is a realistic blend of loving and irritated with her husband. Hayden is a great dad and loving husband, yet he is totally clueless about how much he dumps on his wife’s shoulders. The women of Dynasty Ranch have achieved marriages that are true partnerships. Will Nora and Hayden make the move to the tranquil enclave where equal marriages abound? Will Nora stop trying to understand what was going on in Peter’s life that contributed to his death? And was his death a tragic accident? Or something far more sinister?

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Filed under Contemporary, Domestic Mystery, Flatiron Books, Mystery, Rated B, Review, The Husbands

August 5, 2021 · 12:01 am

Review: When a Duke Loves a Governess by Olivia Drake

Title: When a Duke Loves a Governess by Olivia Drake
Unlikely Duchesses Series Book Three
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks
Genre: Historical, Romance
Length: 320 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

A stunning new Regency from beloved author Olivia Drake, When a Duke Loves a Governess…!

Tessa James has worked and planned tirelessly to open her own millinery shop. All she needs now is a loan from the lord who sired and abandoned her. The only problem is, she doesn’t even know his name. What’s a woman to do to find him but enter the aristocratic world by becoming a governess?

Guy Whitby, the new Duke of Carlin, has returned to London after years abroad to discover that his young daughter Sophy has become a wild-child known for scaring away every governess who’s crossed his doorstep. When Tessa James applies for the job, he hires her in desperation despite his misgivings that she’s too bold and beautiful–and that she might be fibbing about her qualifications.

Their blooming attraction leads them on a completely unexpected path to love that neither wants to deny. But when an old enemy threatens Guy’s family, their forbidden romance goes up in flames. Can they still learn to love and trust each other as forces try to tear them apart?

Review:

When a Duke Loves a Governess by Olivia Drake is a sweet yet slightly steamy historical romance. While this newest release is the third installment in the Unlikely Duchesses series, it can be read as a standalone.

Tessa James has made her own way in life following the death of her mother and part of her childhouse in a workhouse. She currently works for a milliner who does not appreciate her flair for hat making. Fed up with her boss, Tessa makes the impetuous decision to quit her job and apply for a governess position.  If she secures the position, she will be able to make more money. But more importantly, Tessa hopes she will be able to search for her nobleman father. With no formal governess experience or references, can Tessa bluff her way into position?

Guy Whitby never expected to become the Duke of Carlin but he takes his new position seriously. He is also caring for his four-year-old daughter Sophy for the first time since her birth. He wrongly assumed his deceased wife’s parents were better able to care for her. Instead, Guy discovers Sophy is extremely spoiled and willful so he is dismayed to keep losing her governesses. Although he has a few reservations about Tessa, he agrees to give her a week to show she is capable of the job. Luckily for Guy, Tessa proves more than able to care for his daughter without breaking her spirited nature.

Tessa and Guy are instantly attracted to each other. But both of them are well-aware of the pitfalls of an affair between them. Tessa wants nothing to ruin her chances of finding her father and opening her own business. Guy’s disastrous marriage is the perfect reason for him to keep his distance from his beautiful employee. But with their attraction becoming too difficult to ignore, will Guy convince her to become his duchess?

When a Duke Loves a Governess is a charming love story with an intriguing storyline. Tessa is smart, talented woman who has no desire to give up her independence. Guy is a decidedly unstuffy  with an interesting backstory. Young Sophy is a handful but she benefits greatly from unconditional love and attention. With a slight element of mystery, Olivia Drake brings this heartfelt historical romance to a joyful conclusion.  Readers are sure to enjoy this latest installment of the  Unlikely Duchesses.

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Filed under Contemporary, Historical, Olivia Drake, Rated B, Review, Romance, St Martin's Paperbacks, Unlikely Duchesses Series, When a Duke Loves a Governess

August 2, 2021 · 12:02 am

Review: An Unexpected Amish Courtship by Rachel J. Good

Title: An Unexpected Amish Courtship by Rachel J. Good
Surprised by Love Series Book Two
Publisher: Zebra Books
Genre: Contemporary, Amish, Romance
Length: 368 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

The luscious scent of fresh-picked peaches and summer apples . . . the warming promise of grilled corn, sweet and savory baked goods . . . and love. In Rachel J. Good’s uplifting Amish romance series, blessed hearts come together in a bustling Pennsylvania community and farmer’s market . . .

Jilted by her first love, Sovilla Mast fled her hometown to live in Pennsylvania with an aunt she’s never met. Only after she arrives does she realize that the cantankerous woman has left the faith and alienated everyone around her. To take her mind off her sadness, Sovilla turns to baking homemade pet food and treats to sell at the Valley Green Farmer’s Market. It’s there she meets dog breeder Isaac Lantz . . .

Shy and kind-hearted, Isaac breeds Labrador retrievers and works as a puppy raiser for assistance dogs. When he and Sovilla bond at the market, he is immediately drawn to her. And when he tells her he needs a new puppy raiser, Sovilla jumps at the chance. But as their friendship deepens, Isaac can’t help but notice that Sovilla keeps herself at a safe distance. Gaining a puppy’s trust and affection has been easy for Isaac, yet he has no idea how to win the heart of the woman he’s fallen in love with—until Sovilla needs advice in dealing with her aunt. Soon, Isaac is putting his lessons from man’s best friend, and his faith, to work for the good of all involved . . .

Review:

An Unexpected Amish Courtship by Rachel J. Good is a charming Amish romance. Although this newest release is the second book in the Surprised by Love series, it can be read as a standalone.

After nineteen-year-old Sovilla Mast’s controlling uncle sells the house she lives with her Mamm and sisters, her mother sends her to live with her Aunt Wilma. Dismayed to leave her family behind, Sovilla tries to make the best of her new situation. Unfortunately, Wilma has been deeply hurt in the past and she is extremely unpleasant to everyone around her. Sovilla’s deep faith serves her well as he exercises patience and forgiveness with her crotchety aunt.

One of the few truly bright spots in her day comes when she spends time with Isaac Lantz. Wilma is very strict so Isaac and Sovila must make the most of their moments together. Sovilla also guilt over how drawn she is to Isaac since left behind a boyfriend when she moved. When she discovers why she has not heard from him, will Sovilla and Isaac have any chance for a future together?

Sovilla is a sweet young woman with a kind heart. Although Wilma is verbally abusive, Sovilla remains pleasant and understanding of her aunt’s obvious deep-seated pain. She enjoys spending time in Isaac’s calming presence. Sovilla is also welcomed by his family and she is thrilled when they invite her to their home.

Isaac has difficulty speaking and fortunately for him, Liesl Vandenberg, the owner of the Green Valley Farmer’s Market offers advice that helps him with his speech. He is a quiet man with who lacks confidence especially when he is around Sovilla. Isaac is very thoughtful and he would never to anything to hurt Sovilla.

Wilma has never gotten over a traumatic event that occurred during her teenage years. She has made her own way and she supports herself with her pickle sales at the farmer’s market. Facing an upcoming hip replacement, Wilma gets her affairs in order. Very fearful about her surgery, she tells Sovilla enough about her past that explains her deep unhappiness. What will Sovilla do with this shocking information?

An Unexpected Amish Courtship is a sweet Amish romance that is well-written and engaging. Sovilla and Isaac are wonderful characters whose deep faith guides them through life’s difficulties. Wilma is a thoroughly disagreeable woman whose emotional barriers are no match for Soviall’s kind-hearted presence. With unexpected twists and turns, Rachel J. Good brings this delightful romance to a wonderful conclusion. Old and new fans of the Surprised by Love series are sure to enjoy this latest installment.

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Filed under Amish, An Unexpected Amish Romance, Contemporary, Rachel J Good, Rated B, Review, Romance, Surprised by Love Series, Zebra Books