ARC REVIEW Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal

Retelling of the classic Pride and Prejudice that takes place in modern day Pakistan. I really enjoyed this is a beautiful blend of Austin's story and a modern Pakistani family that fell from luxury and money to almost nothing. The lives of the Bennet and the Binat family run pretty much parallel with each other. I especially loved that Alys (Lizzy) loved Austin and would talk about her all the time. Alys and Jena (Jane) are English Lit. teachers at the local girls school, The British School of Dilipabad, and both looked down on because they haven't married yet. Mari, Qitty and Lady (Lydia) are pretty similar to their counterparts, Mari strict and overly religious, Qitty struggles with her weight and the constant reminder from everyone about how she would be prettier if she lost weight, and then there is Lady selfish, spoiled, crass, and wild. Mr and Mrs Binat aren't far off from the originals either.

Dealing with the social injustices the Binat's deal with aren't that different from the ones the Bennet's faced and Alys' feminist views and opinions are quite a bit more harsh than Lizzy's and I completely understand why Alys needed to be a bit more jaded than Lizzy. Kamal writes a more indepth family background for the Binat's but it also gives fuel to the fire when Wickaam feeds Alys his lies about Darsee. Mmmm Valentine Darsee, not only did he uphold the Darsy imagery as prideful, sexy, a good friend and brother he proved to be very intelligent and forward thinking. Alys and Darsee are able to talk about literature and a multitude of other topics even when Alys didn't like him she found he was easy to talk to.     

Overall, I really did love how this one played out and what Kamal did to the story to make it her own. It definitely shows that Jane Austen's works can be adapted to fit different cultures because of how relatable the characters and situations are. I enjoyed reading it because the similarities and the differences between the original and this one and I loved learning new things about a culture I knew nothing about before. It was easy to picture the beautiful Binat sisters in my mind and hear their voices in my head, which they all had British accents because apparently that's the default setting for accents in my brain. It was an excellent retelling of a classic story through the eyes of a different culture.   

ARC REVIEW My Fair Lover by Nicole Jordan

My Fair Lover is book five in Nicole Jordan's Legendary Lovers series. It's fine to read as a stand alone, I haven't read any of the others and I was able to follow just fine. It was quite amusing to find out the matchmaker in the other book is the main character in this book. Normally I love Pygmalion/ My Fair Lady type tropes but this one fell flat a little for me.  Brandon kept annoying me throughout the whole book, I kept wanting to scream at him that he does love her, what he's feeling is love; the big dolt. Kate was nice but there wasn't anything really to make her stand out other than being the matchmaker. the ending did have a bit of excitement that I did enjoy but the romance was just okay.

Brandon Deverill just inherited a title, a family friend suggested he talk to Lady Katherine Wilde and get some refinement and have her find him an appropriate wife. Brandon has already decided to marry Kate, if he can get her to forgive him for spurning her six years ago. Brandon doesn't believe in love but Kate won't marry without it. Brandon makes a deal with Kate that she helps him find a wife and he'll help her find the sunken boat off the coast of France that killed parents. But while she's trying to find him a match he's working to figure out a way to get her to agree to marry him.

Overall, aside from Brandon being kind of annoying to me the rest of the characters were entertaining. I just wish the romance and the chemistry between Brandon and Kate was more.  

ARC REVIEW Blackthorne's Bride by Joan Johnston

Blackthorne's Bride is book four in the Mail Order Bride series. It is part of the Bitter Creek universe the Wentworth family married into the the Creed family in the previous book of this series. The Wentworth's are orphaned, their parents died in a fire and the children went to an orphanage. The older siblings one by one ran away taking the younger kids with them. The girls had no choice but answer mail order bride ads to save themselves and their siblings. Josie was with her older twin sisters in a wagon train when it was attacked by the Sioux. Josie defended herself and for that she was captured and tortured. Marcus Wharton, the Duke of Blackthorne, was in the American west with the hope of hunting buffalo what he found was a young woman with a will stronger than anything he's ever seen. After buying her from the Sioux he nursed her and brought her back to England with him. He asked his best friend and soon to be brother-in-law to make sure she made it back to her family after she healed.

Marcus continued living his life he married but his wife died along with the child she was carrying. Marcus was devastated by their deaths and finding out just how much his father squandered away a left the family and estates in desperate need of funds. In his final act of desperation Marcus put an add in the paper looking for a willing heiress. Marcus often thought about that girl he saved and where she was now.
Josie Wentworth wasn't that far way, she never made it back to America she was taken to one of Marcus' forgotten estates in Scotland and became a maid-of-all-work she grew to hate him not just  for not sending her back home but also for the abandonment of his nephews, two rambunctious boys. But that all changed the day a Pinkerton man came to the estate and told Josie that not only was her family alive and well but the money they thought was gone after their father's death had been stolen by their Uncle and was now returned to the children. She was now an heiress.

Josie hated leaving the boys behind but her plan was to convince Blackthorne to give her custody of the nephews he cares so little for and she will give him the money he needs. Josie doesn't remember what Blackthorne looks like she was too fevered to remember and she's hoping he doesn't recognize her. The plan changes slightly after meeting Marcus she agrees to marry him that way he gets his money and she has every legal right to the boys. But Blackthorne isn't who she thought he would be and she finds herself falling in love with him. Marcus is intrigued with the beautiful American who showed up on his door in just enough time to save the day. Josie hiding who she is isn't the only problem they face the Dowager Blackthorne hates Josie, Marcus' twin sisters are beautiful young woman but trouble makers and Marcus' best friend is hiding something he should have told his friend long ago.

Overall, this was a typical Joan Johnston romance novel, that's not a bad thing, I love her books it just means that the main characters go through a lot before they finally get their HEA in a way that is very telling to Joan Johnston, I could probably pick out her books anywhere. I love the Bitter Creek series but this is my first of the Mail order Bride series, I did feel a little lost not knowing everything that had happened before but not so much that I didn't enjoy the book. I will add this series to my Joan Johnston library.    

ARC REVIEW The Silent Corner by Dean Koontz

I'm sad, not that this book was sad but I'm sad that I didn't like this one as much as I had hoped. The idea the concept it really intrigued me but the execution was not what I expected not after Ashley Bell, which I really loved. It was well written Koontz has an excellent active setting but does tend to get a little to wordy, and as much as I like backstory reading an almost repetitive internal monologue gets tedious. I could not empathize with Jane, I could not connect to her. You know she is FBI and had a loving husband and has an adorable boy that she entrusted his care to two friends, she just seemed to cold and methodical to me and really whiny at other times. Everything she is doing is out of love but she has let her obsession take over, she's paranoid and doesn't trust anyone but a limited few, but as they say you're not paranoid if "they" are actually out to get you.

The Silent Corner is the first book in a new series for Koontz it follows Jane Hawk whose husband unexpectedly committed suicide, afterwards she became convinced that he was all part of some massive conspiracy and his death was part of it. Jane has gone to the silent corner, a term used when you are not off grid but hidden on the grid. She is questioning people who have had loved ones commit suicide and has figured out just where this may have all come from and through some shady people and the use of blackmail she just might have figured out the exact person who is behind the whole thing. Jane must trust someone, that someone in a short time won her trust and friendship and can help her get to the bottom of it.

Overall, I was disappointed with it. Disappointed in the same way I was disappointed in Fear Nothing and Seize the Night, I stopped reading Koontz for a while after that. I don't think I'll read the next book because I frankly just don't care what happens.      

REPOST: ARC REVIEW Tailored for Trouble by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

I am such a Mimi Jean Fangirl. I tried to wait to read this one but yeah that wasn't happening. The prequel book of this series is called Happy Pants Cafe, I love that book. It is a delightful funny piece of fluff it makes me smile the book makes me happy when I read it. And so when Mimi announced she was writing more I squealed.

Tailored for Trouble is not quite the light happy go-lucky fluff piece that Happy Pants is, it has a little bit more emotional heartache, but still a beautiful, funny, and a quintessentially Mimi story.
Mr.Wade...swoon! A love/hate billionaire romance about redemption.

This was an emotional and very amusing journey between two people falling in love in the span of a week. Taylor Reed considers herself the underachiever of the family. The daughter of famous race car driver and an actress the youngest of four and the only girl and the only one who isn't settled and successful in her chosen career in fact she has no career. She knows what she wants to do she wants to change the world one stuck up CEO at a time. she created a program that helps bring the CEOs down to earth and have it easier relate to their employees and have less of a turn over rate. Unfortunately no one wants to hire her, except the man who got her fired from her last job. Is the lure of fifty thousand enough to get her to work for the pompous man who always seems to find the right nerve to step on. 

Bennett Wade is set in his ways and knows what he wants and will not rest until he gets it and if that means manipulating people than by all means he will. Taylor is a surprise Bennet needs her more than he wants to admit and more than he realizes. But can Taylor forgive Bennett for everything? Does he want her too? Does he even deserve her forgiveness? Can Mrs. Luci magic cookie help, even them?

Overall, this is yet another winner from Mimi Jean Pamfiloff. With every book I have a new favorite and really look forward to reading the next two in the series.

EARLY ARC REVIEW Tailored for Trouble by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

This is a very early review, Tailored for Trouble is due to come out in August. I am such a Mimi Jean Fangirl. I tried to wait to read this one but yeah that wasn't happening. The prequel book of this series is called Happy Pants Cafe, I love that book. It is a delightful funny piece of fluff it makes me smile the book makes me happy when I read it. And so when Mimi announced she was writing more I squealed.

Tailored for Trouble is not quite the light happy go-lucky fluff piece that Happy Pants is, it has a little bit more emotional heartache, but still a beautiful, funny, and a quintessentially Mimi story.
Mr.Wade...swoon!
This was an emotional and very amusing journey between to people falling in love in the span of a week. Taylor Reed considers herself the underachiever of the family. The daughter of famous race car driver and an actress the youngest of four and the only girl and the only one who isn't settled and successful in her chosen career in fact she has no career. She knows what she wants to do she wants to change the world one stuck up CEO at a time. she created a program that helps bring the CEOs down to earth and have the easily relate to their employees and have less of a turn over rate. Unfortunately no one wants to hire her, except the man who got her fired from her last job. Is the lure of fifty thousand enough to get her to work for the pompous man who always seems to find the right nerve to step on.
Bennett Wade is set in his was and knows what he wants and will not rest until he gets it and if that means manipulating people than by all means he will. Taylor is a surprise he needs her more than he wants to admit and more than he realizes. But can Taylor forgive Bennett for everything? Does he want her too? Does he even deserve her forgiveness? How can Mrs. Luci magic cookie help, even them?    

Overall, this is yet another winner from Mimi Jean Pamfiloff. With every book I have a new favorite and really look forward to reading the next two in the series.

ARC REVIEW The Girl from Summer Hill by Jude Deveraux

I have a new favorite Jude Deveraux book!

This is a retelling of Pride and Prejudice in the same manner that Kiss Me Kate is a retelling of Taming of the Shrew. If you haven't seen it or heard of it. It's a stage production of the original story but with a case of Life Imitating Art. A small town stage production of Pride and Prejudice, but the actors are put through situations and the events and their attitudes reflect that of the the original story. This is in Deveraux's Montgomery/Taggert universe but can be read apart from the other series and is the start of a new series Summer Hill. I love Jude Deveraux writing style, her writing is always humorous, sweet, romantic, and a bit of heartache. One little thing about the book I enjoyed was that instead of chapters it's Act and Scene, I thought that was neat. There is a lot going on in the book, if you know Pride and Prejudice this is very similar just updated and it's very well done.

Kit Montgomery has written a stage version of Pride and Prejudice. His idea is to get his newly discovered relative to Tate Landers to play Darcy, he just has to trick him into it. Tate's family home is in Summer Hill, his Mother had to sell the place before he was born and for his sister and his adorable niece he bought the place and fixed it up he never planned on staying there. But for his sister he will even if it means getting roped into playing Darcy. Casey Reddick was the head chef at a prestigious D.C. restaurant, but when her boyfriend left her she felt she needed to reevaluate her life, her mother suggested finally meeting her father and all eleven of her half siblings. (funny story that)

When Casey and Tate first meet it is hysterical. Casey, like Elizabeth, has an immediate dislike to the man. Tate is a famous actor and has been typecast as the brooding male role, he is use to woman falling at his feet and is intrigued with Casey who has nothing but disdain for him. Doesn't help matters that Tate's ex-brother-in-law has also been cast in the play as the part of Wickham, who in real like is the embodiment of Wickham and tries to sway Casey from Tate. You also have the side story of Jack and Gizzy aka Jane and Bingley and also that of Kit and Olivia and little Lydia.

Overall, I loved this book it was such a fun and sweet story with naked men and crazy peacocks.            

ARC REVIEW Try Not to Breathe by Holly Seddon

Try Not to Breathe is a debut psychological suspense by author Holly Seddon. This was a good mystery, I really enjoyed the how the events unfolded moving from past to present and an insightful look into the mind of a comatose girl. It was a little slow paced for me, but that is just personal preference. The characters are perfectly imperfect it makes them seem more real, their pain more palpable. I liked reading it, it kept me intrigued; I kinda figured it out early in the book but it was entertaining to find out how the characters reached the conclusion.

The main character Alex Dale has her own demons to fight and she thinks she has her alcoholism under control. Alex was a great journalist but the death of her mother and her alcoholism which played a part in the death of her unborn child and in part why her husband left her, and in turn her career tanked. She thought she hit rock bottom until her doctor told her unless she stops drinking entirely and seek treatment she will die in a year. Alex was working freelance doing fluff pieces trying to get her her place back at the paper. One of her pieces lead her to the coma ward at one of the hospitals Alex's life changed dramatically after that.

Amy Stevenson was a typical teenage girl until she went missing and found several days later almost dead. They never found who did it, and ever since Amy has been considered a vegetable. Her brain is active she just can't wake up. Alex feels a kinship with this woman it has been a whole decade since Amy has seen the world and Alex remembers when Amy went missing have grown up not far from where it happened. Alex feels like she owes it to Amy to find out what happened. Alex diligently works to uncover the truth about what really happened to Amy all those years ago. She recruits the help of her police officer ex-husband, Amy's Step-father and Amy's high school boyfriend. All the while Amy is reliving the events up to her disappearance over and over again until she finally remembers but still stuck in her uncooperative body.

The revelation of the whodunit was very exciting. Overall, I liked the book well enough. It was beautifully written and the characters were all very real.      

ARC REVIEW Black-Eyed Susan's by Julia Heaberlin

Black-Eyed Susans is a psychological thriller by a local author (for me) Julia Heaberlin. I have read her debut novel Playing Dead and loved it. Black-Eyed Susans screwed with my mind way more and that just the way I like 'em; the creepier the better. Julia Heaberlin has a wonderful, intelligent and informative writing style; she infuses just the right amount of history to her setting to give you as a reader a feeling that you know the place as well. You can tell a lot of research went in to the book and even the format of how the book is written feeds into the your feelings of the characters. The majority of the book flips flops between seventeen year old Tessie, and her grownup self, Tessa. I love how it does that you get to know her post-trauma and at the same time who she is as a person now,a mother of a teen-age daughter herself. I have been known to complain about flashback scenes, but these are not exactly flashbacks she's not remembering them. It's done right it with two separate POVs clearly marked. If she had written it chronologically with Tessie's story first then skipped ahead it wouldn't of had the same impact when you got to the "what a twist" moment. I really enjoyed all the characters, they all have their place in the story they are well written and very believable.

Tessa is the lone survivor of a serial killer. The last thing she remembers is buying a few thing at the gas station before going on her nightly run; the next hing she sees is a black bird trying to peck out her eyes. Years later Tessa still doesn't remember what happened in the missing time, she testified her story and never really knew if it was the right man or not, she just hoped Terrell Goodwin was. Now with the execution date getting closer Tessa has enough doubt that she joins forces with William "Bill" Hastings, the lawyer working pro bono for Terrell Goodwin; and DNA Forensic scientist Joanna Seger, to try and get an appeal for Terrell. Joanna works the scientific angle while Bill tries to help Tessa remember.

Tessie is happy and lucky to be alive, she was left in a ditch surrounded by black-eyed susans with dead bodies to keep her company. Tessie after getting rescued and in the hospital suffered a set back, she suddenly went blind; clinically called Conversion Disorder laymen terms hysterical blindness. Now she has to visit one last psychiatrist before testifying. She works reluctantly with him to get past her blindness and remember what happened. Her rock through it all her best friend Lydia plays a big part in keeping her normal and sane.

The story progresses on Tessa starts remember more as Joanna discovers things they didn't have the technology to find all those years ago. Tessa is haunted by the other Susans and tormented by out of season black-eyed susans being planted out side her window. Tessa and Joanna start up an unlikely friendship while Bill tries to start something more than friendship with Tessa. Tessa is just trying to get through he days without losing her mind or driving her daughter crazy or vise versa. The pieces start to fall in to place as the clock ticks closer to Terrell's execution.

Overall, it was a great book, I couldn't put it down.        

ARC REVIEW Ever After by Jude Deveraux

I love Jude Deveraux, this is my first Nantucket Bride book but the third in the series, I need to find the first two. It is a beautiful story about healing, falling in love and two ghost matchmaking. Jude Deveraux has an enchanting writing style, I always enjoy her work even when it's not as good as her other stuff I still enjoy reading her books. Ever After  I loved reading, I loved the characters, the story, and the setting I could not put it down.

Hallie is a Cinderella type character finding her escape from a cruel stepsister when a stranger leaves her a house in Nantucket. With some distant family connection to the house Hallie is excited to discover her connection to the historic home. She almost missed the opportunity when her stepsister, Shellie, forged papers pretending to be her. Hallie is a newly licensed physical therapist and she also agreed to treat Jaime Taggart, whom she thinks is a rich playboy who was injured while skiing. Jamie Taggart is more then he seems, he tries to play off the playboy image not wanting to see pity in Hallie's eyes, he has had enough of that from his family. The Montgomery/Taggart family has treated Jamie with kid gloves and he has had enough so when the opportunity to have his PT away from them to took it. He never expected his physical therapist to be as beautiful as Hallie. Hallie and Jamie quickly become friends they are comfortable around each other and they dance around their physical attraction trying to keep things professional.

The mystery of the house is that two sister ghosts haunt the house after their untimely demise. The sisters were the most beautiful ladies on the island and had a knack for matchmaking. Even now as ghosts they still work their magic. Hallie and Jamie slowly uncover, with the help of Jamie's family and the dreams that Hallie has been having, what happened all those years ago.

The relationship between Jamie and Hallie progresses to the physical, and when his family descends upon them old uncertainties resurface and truths are revealed. Both Jamie and Hallie have to face their demon before they can have their HEA. Overall this is a romantic and entertaining book with a touch of the supernatural.  

 

REVIEW Teardrop Lane by Emily March

Book #9 in Emily March's Eternity Springs Series, Teardrop Lane is a wonderful read. I came in late to this series but how Emily March writes each book can be read as a stand alone. Emily March and Eternity Springs is another exception to my no books that make me cry rule for the reason that it's a good kinda cry. The emotional turmoil the characters go through is believable and heart felt and really touches you... in a good way. I love the characters all of them! The introduction to Hunter Cicero in the last book was just a tease to the man he is in this book. Doctor Delicious aka Rosemary Anderson is a beautifully complex and loveable character.

Cicero moved from his beautiful island to Galveston, Texas in order to help his sister take care of her four children while she battles cancer. His nieces and nephews are little hell raisers, a rambunctious bunch and the boys constantly getting into trouble. But things change when unexpectedly his sister catches a virus and with her system being weak from her cancer treatment she dies. The four children all with different fathers were left in the care of the youngest aunt and uncle on her father's side. Cicero not being blood related was just asked for financial support and occasional babysitting. Cicero can finally move up to Eternity Springs to oversee the workshop and glass store he is opening with Gabi. Unbeknownst to Cicero, Gabi entered him in a fellowship for artist of different mediums with the chance to win over a quarter of a million dollars and since he was left to take care of his sisters doctor bills and the financial responsibility for four children he doesn't get to upset.

Dr. Rose Anderson is satisfied with her life she doesn't need a man in her life but when the newest resident of Eternity Springs shows interest and her own heart goes pitter patter and the sight of him she gives in and with each new day she sees so much more to him than anyone else he lets see. Rose tries to keep her past from him but past heartbreak and her secrets must be told. The relationship dynamic changes when suddenly the guardians of Cicero's nephews and nieces change their minds about keeping the kids and the only acceptable option is Cicero taking them. With some adjusting they thrive as a family. Rose is a cancer survivor and is scared of what she will put Cicero and the kids when she finds a lump in her breast. After an argument her and Cicero are stronger than ever. Once again the tears fall when the flaky guardians change their minds again and want the kids back Cicero and Rose would do anything to keep them.