romance – Page 4 – The Spine View

The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves

It has been a while since I last read a book by Ms. Graves (that being On the Island) and I admire her ability to draw the reader into the world she creates and for her relatable characters. Her latest book The Girl He Used to Know is no exception to her extraordinary writing talents.

The story is told from two POVs and Annika, pronounced like Monica without the M, is where we begin. She has a chance meeting in a grocery store in Chicago with Jonathon her boyfriend from college. Ten years has passed since they last saw each other and a lot has changed. Jonathon has risen the corporate ladder in an investment banking firm and married then divorced in that time span. While Annika is working her dream job as a librarian.

They start seeing each other again and each character reflects on their shared past. Jonathon tells how he is drawn to this shy, beautiful, intelligent and enigmatic young woman he meets at the University chess club. He relates how he wins her trust and eventual falls in love with her. Annika relates how she has always struggled to fit in and how Jonathon accepts her despite all her quirks. He has been patient and understanding with her need to go slowly and she in turn falls for him.

Annika would love nothing more than to pick up where they left off. Yet, there is a lot of water under the bridge and they will have a lot work ahead of them to be able to move forward. Then just when everything is starting to look up tragedy strikes.

I love character driven stories and this one is just that. The author has given us two great charters and she has slowly unraveled them for us as the story progressed so that we understand them fully. This is truly the best thing about her stories. I can always depend on getting characters to love and route for. I especially liked how the author handled Annika’s character, that was excellent. I don’t want to say too much here because I would give away an essential element of the plot. I just hope you enjoy and appreciate the specialness of the character.

The plot was very well done. I liked that the story was not told in chronical order. It worked better switching from present to past and back again. It created suspense because we know that something happened that drove Jonathon and Annika apart and that dangling carrot kept me intrigued and I needed to know just what happened. Then the wrench in the works in the later quarter of the story heightened the drama. Fabulous!

I recommend this book to readers who love character driven stories especially those that fall into the women’s fiction and romance genre. In addition, this book would make an excellent pick for a book club because of the many social issues presented in the book, i.e. bullying.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

Innocent Bystander by C. A. Asbrey

Innocent Bystander by C. A. Asbrey is the third book in The Innocent Mystery Series. It did not matter that I have not read the previous books, this book can be read as a standalone. The story is a bit mystery, a bit romance mixed together with a little dose of trouble and it all made for an enjoyable read.

Abigail (Abi) MacKay’s youngest sister Madeleine is basically a spoiled brat and seems to relish getting in trouble. Madeleine’s latest adventure is to run away and marry David Bartholemew a man a number of years her senior. What Madeleine does not know is that her husband’s previous wives have died under questionable circumstances.

Fortunately for Madeleine, Abigail is a Pinkerton agent and she is determined to find her before she is the next victim. She enlists the help of Nat Quinn and Jake Conway from the Innocents gang. A band of outlaws that make their home in Ghost Canyon. She has had dealings with them before and despite being criminals she knows they will help her and they have a plan. Yet, as we all know, even the best laid plan can go awry.

What ensues next is a couple of plot twists and unforeseen incidents that keep the reader engaged. In this, the author has done a good job of hooking the reader early and maintaining their interest throughout without the plot being forced or rushed. Just the right amount of tension has gone a long way here to make a story that feels like it unfolds naturally.

Another thing I enjoyed about this book are the details of life during the second half of the 19^th century. Especially how the new scientific discovers of the time were being used not only is everyday life but also by law enforcement. One of the major reasons I enjoy books with a historical setting is to learn about the times and the author surprised me with the amount of information in the story.

The only thing I would have liked more of is character development. In all honestly, I can’t complain too much since I have not read the first two books. I suspect had I read them, I would not be mentioning it. Therefore, feel free to take this comment with a grain of salt.

In a nutshell, this is a well written and researched historical book. I recommend this book for people who like mysteries with a historical setting.

I received a free copy from the author in exchange for my honest review.

The Glass Ocean by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White

The Glass Ocean is a wonderfully entertaining story of intrigue and romance set in the days leading up to the entrance of the United States into WWI and grounded in the present by one woman who is linked irrevocably to the past.

Sarah Blake is an author with one best seller already under her belt. Despite her successfully debut, she is struggling with her finances and to come up with an idea for her next best seller. Her mother’s Alzheimer’s seems to be taking a toll on her creativity as well as her pocketbook. Desperate for an idea, Sarah decides to open a trunk, even after promising she would not, that has been passed down in her family from her great-grandfather.

Inside the truck she finds an intriguing note written during the final voyage of the Lusitania which was sunk by a German U-boat. Knowing in her gut this is the big idea that has been escaping her for so long, she heads off to the UK to do research. Once there she tracks down John Langford, who has troubles of his own, to enlist his help researching his family’s ties to the sinking of the Lusitania.

What they uncover will shock both of them to the core in more ways than one. It may even shed new light on the sinking of the Lusitania. The question is, are they prepared to tell the world of their discovery?

The Glass Ocean despite being written as a collaboration of three authors readers seamlessly. I liked all the characters and the development was good. I do wish I had understood Tessa’s sister a little better. The plot is totally fictional but seemed plausible. The pace was very nice and the intrigue kept me reading on several occasions when I should have been doing other things. I especially enjoyed the descriptions of the Lusitania and what life was like as a first-class passenger.

The one thing I was not happy with is the ending. Without giving anything away, I’ll just say that the fate of some characters did not work for me.

All-in-all, this is an entertaining historical fiction/romance and will appeal to a variety of readers. I recommend it to anyone who likes Historical Fiction set in the first quarter of the 20^th century. I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Ensnare (Burlin Butterfly #1) by Leah Moyes

Ensnare, book one of the Berlin Butterfly series by Leah Moyes, tells the heart wrenching story of a young, former orphan girl, Ella, trapped on the wrong side of Berlin when the wall is erected in August of 1961.

Ella’s father is gravely ill as soldiers start unrolling spools of barbed wire, which will form the first Berlin Wall, to keep the citizens of East Berlin from fleeing to the west. She is torn between escaping while she still can, with her young brother and best friend Anton, and staying behind to care for her sick father. Ella makes the only decision she feels she can and stays behind while entrusting her brother to Anton’s care.

In a very short time, Ella’s father passes away and she is stuck alone in East Berlin. She has no money for food or to bury her father. Therefore, she strikes a deal with the Frankes, a wealthy and influential family in East Berlin, whom runs a mortuary. She will work as domestic help for 2 years to pay off the debt she owes them for the casket and burial. Once Ella begins working for the Frankes she makes friends and seeks ways to escape East Berlin. Yet what awaits Ella in the next two years will be much more than she expected and will put her life in danger and the lives of those she comes to trust and even love.

I was captivated with the character of Ella from the first. Her story has a realness to it and kept me engaged throughout. Just thinking about a 15 year old girl having to make such a life changing decision gives me goose bumps. Yet, she is strong and resilient. I felt the author did justice to the character by making her that way. Times were different then and hard ship was common; therefore, children had to grow up much faster.

I also loved the historical aspect of the book and felt the setting was the perfect backdrop for Ella’s story. The descriptions of the East versus West side of Berlin rang true to the times. It is obvious that the author did her research.

In addition, the plot moves smoothly along and at a nice pace. I was never bored and never felt the story was rushed. The story just seemed to unfold effortlessly with just enough twists to keep your attention but not so much that it felt over worked. Really well done!

Ensnare is one of those books that has a lot going for it and should appeal to a broad audience. I highly recommend this book to lovers of Historical Fiction, Romance and Women’s Fiction.

I received a free copy from the author in exchange for my honest review.

The Dictionary of Animal Languages by Heidi Sopinka

Pub. Date: 20-Feb-2018
My Rating: 4 Stars

The Dictionary of Animal Languages by Heidi Soponka is a captivating literary fiction novel that is also historical fiction. The prose is lovely and lyrical and connected me to the main character in an unexpected way.

The story tells the tragic tale of the life of famous artist Ivory Frame. At the beginning we meet Ivory at the end of her life as she is trying to finish her life’s work of studying animal languages that will be a dictionary of sorts. As she is working on completing the dictionary, she receives a message that she has a granddaughter; yet, she never had children. This message is the catalyst to a flood of memories. We see Ivory as a young girl who never fit into various schools she is sent to and later expelled from. Finally as a young woman, disowned by family, she arrives in Paris where she studies painting.

For Ivory this is where her life truly starts and in some ways ends. It is the time between the Great Wars and Paris is alive with creative people. Not only does she discover her place in the world among the artists and other creative people living in Paris at the time, she finds the love of her life in Lev. Lev is a Russian artist, and an enigma, and Ivory loves him passionately even though he is married. Then in a dreadful and tragic turn of events Ivory loses everything.

This is truly a heart breaking story told with such thoughtfulness and the beautiful prose just took me away. I did think the plot was rather slow; however, it fit the prose and the mood to perfection. If the story had been written any other way it would not have had the same effect on me.

The only negative thing I can say it that I felt the granddaughter connection did not fit as well into the story as it could have. To ultimately be so important, the revelation did not get the attention it should have.

This is a tricky book to recommend because not everyone is going to like the slow pace or appreciate the prose. Though I enjoyed reading it, I recognize that it is not what I would call a “commercial novel”. Yet, for those readers that can truly appreciate it as the art form it is, I think you will love it.

I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Blue by Nancy Bilyeau

Title: The Blue
Author: Nancy Bilyeau
Pub. Date: 3-Dec-2018
Rating: 5 Stars

I always like to point out to readers those books that hit all the right notes for me. Especially when it is an indie-author or from a small/independent publisher which is the case with The Blue by Nancy Bilyeau. The alluring thing for me about this lovely historical fiction is all the factual tidbits of 18^th century life and the production of porcelain in that era. This is the perfect example of why Historical Fiction is among my favorite genres.

Genevieve Planche is a young British women who lives with her grandfather, a well-known artist, in London. Her family are Huguenots and refugees, having fled France for England in the wake of religious persecution. Since she was born in England she has no particular loyalty to the French crown and Louis XV. A good thing, since England is now at war with France.

Despite being at war, the English still crave some French goods, such as the famous porcelain pieces produced by Sevres the French manufacturer preferred by Madame de Pompadour chief mistress to Louis XV. Genevieve finds herself drawn into the world of porcelain when her family arranges for her to become a painter at the English porcelain factory of Derby. What she really craves is to study painting under one of the great masters of her time. This is not an option for her because painting is not considered proper for a young lady.

Genevieve chafes at the constraints that society has placed upon her. She even goes so far as to attend a party giving by an English artist, who her grandfather knows, in hopes of persuading him to become her teacher. Of course, she utterly fails. Though she does meet Sir Gabriel Courtenay who later calls on her as her grandfather’s home. He manages to enlist her help as a spy. He desperately needs the formula for the new blue color that Derby is reported to have developed. In exchange, he has promised her what she wants the most, to study under a painter. She agrees to spy and only has a few short weeks to find the formula. Yet, spying is a dangerous business and spies are hanged.

As I already stated, I love Historical Fiction because I always learn some little tidbits. In this instance, I learned a lot of tidbits. The author has out done herself with researching the period and the subject of porcelain. She actually peaked my interest and I had to do some further reading about porcelain, particularly Derby and Sevres.

I also loved the complexity of the main character Genevieve. She is intelligent, a gifted artist and somewhat self-centered person who struggles with her sense of duty to family and friends. Most importantly she is a strong young woman. Imagine going off to live and work were you do not know anyone and you are 4 days away, by carriage, from any family. She also has her flaws, she can be reckless and fails to see the consequences of her actions until it is far too late.

I thought the pace of the plot was good and there were some interesting things that happened that encouraged me to keep reading. The author did an excellent job of marrying fact and fiction. It gave the story a boost and complemented the prose.

In short, this was an excellently crafted story that any Historical Fiction fan will be sure to enjoy. Be sure to mark it as “Read Soon” on your TBR list.

I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

November Road by Lou Berney

Title: November Road
Author: Lou Berney
Pub Date: 9-Oct-2018
Rating: 4 Stars

November Road by Lou Berney is a crime thriller centered around the assassination of JFK. Americans have long been fascinated by this mystery, myself included, and there seems to be more theories that you can shake a stick at.

In this fictional version of the assassination, a crime boss in New Orleans, Carlos Marcello, is the master mind behind the fatal shooting. He has personal reasons for wanting Kennedy dead. It is the crime of the century and it has been meticulously planned even down to getting rid of EVERYONE who has ties to the crime no matter how trivial.

Frank Guirdy has been a loyal employee to Carlos for most of his life. He has worked his way up in the crime organization and is now one of the top lieutenants. He is very valuable to Carlos…. until he is not. A little errand in Dallas to drop off a car for the boss two weeks prior to the assassination has made him expendable. Very expendable!

It does not take Carlos long to put two and two together. Since everyone, regardless of rank, who has a connection to the crime is being eliminated. He fears he is next and he runs. However, he finds that he is too memorable as a traveler alone and Carlos has a long arm. Therefore, it is fortuitous that he happens to run into Charlotte, a young mother with two young daughters, who is escaping her unpleasant life in Oklahoma. They become the perfect cover. Carlos’s agent will not be looking for a couple with two kids. But Paul Barone is not just any agent and he is very good at what he does. Now not only is Frank’s life in danger but also the lives of the innocents he has attached himself to.

What a great story. I loved the author’s take on the murder of JFK. The plot worked so well and it was paced to keep the reader interested without feeling rushed. And the ending, not what I expected but it was a perfect fit.

Still my favorite part was the main character Frank. I did not like him much at first, but as I got deeper into the story I started to connect with him. I can even say I felt sorry for him. This left me conflicted because you are not supposed to like a person like Frank. He has done horrible things and he is using Charlotte for his own personal gain. Yet, you want him to win because the only other option is Carlos to win and you do not want that either. Wisely, the author has Frank grow as a person; therefore, making him more likable.

The only thing I was not crazy about is when Frank’s meets up with his contact in Las Vegas. All the stuff that went on between them just did not seem to fit at well with the rest of the story. I know that it was a means to reach a desired conclusion but it felt clunky. In the end, it is such a minor thing I felt it did not impact my overall feelings about the book.

In short this was a well-executed, entertaining historical fiction. I recommend it to not only readers who love that genre but also to those that like thrillers and crime fiction.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Paris Wedding by Charlotte Nash

Title: The Paris Wedding
Author: Charlotte Nash
Pub. Date: 12/Jun-2018
Rating: 4 Stars

After reading the blurb, I thought The Paris Wedding by Charlotte Nash would be about the main character, Rachael, putting her past behind her and finding love in Paris. In other words, a beach read that is heavy on the romance. Boy was I wrong. It is really about a young woman finding her place in the world.

Rachael West has been caring for her mother for the past ten years, ever since she was diagnosed with a rare form of MS. Rachael has sacrificed going to college, a career and her first love, all to care for and watch as her mother slowly succumbs to the disease. Just after her Mother has passed away, she receives a wedding invitation to Matthew’s, her high school sweetheart, wedding. He is marrying Bonnie Quinn, the daughter of a billionaire and the wedding is in Paris with all expenses paid. Continue reading “The Paris Wedding by Charlotte Nash”

Brightly Burning by Alexa Donne

Title: Brightly Burning
Author: Alexa Donne
Pub. Date: 1-May-2018
Rating: 4 Stars

Brightly Burning by Alexa Donne is a futuristic remake of Jane Eyre. At first it was kind of hard to wrap my head around the idea of Jane Eyre in space, but it worked. I am sure it helped that I am a fan of Science Fiction. Though the focus is on the story and not the science.

The setting is in the future when the Earth is covered in ice. This new ice age is a result of an eruption of a super volcano. All people that were able to evacuate did so, and now live in colony ships in Earth’s orbit. Stella is an engineer on one of these ships and stuck in a job she hates, on a ship that is on its last legs, and she wants off. She does have marketable skills and applies to various jobs in the fleet. Continue reading “Brightly Burning by Alexa Donne”

Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young

Title: Sky in the Deep
Author: Adrienne Young
Pub. Date: 24-Apr-2018
Rating: 5 Stars

The gorgeous cover is what drew me to Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young. After reading the blurb, I was like; I have to read this one. The story is a Vikingish YA fantasy with a heroine you will fall for within the first few pages. It is a beautifully crafted tale and I dare you not to get hooked by the end of the first chapter.

Eelyn is a warrior for the Aska clan and has been training since a young girl to fight their sworn enemy the Riki. She fights alongside her friend Myra and together they are fierce on the battle field. Until one day Eelyn almost gets killed by a young Riki warrior. Her brother, Iri, saves her. Yet, this cannot be possible, Iri died five years ago in another battle against the Riki. Continue reading “Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young”