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Lakshmi ran away from her village life with an abusive husband to find a way to make it on her own. This is a difficult task in 1950s India. As she makes her way up through the society, making sure to always follow the rules and know her place, pleasing her “ladies” with every visit, and making her henna designs seem like magical cures. All the time, saving money to build her own house.
But when Lakshmi’s sister, the one she didn’t know existed, shows up with the husband Lakshmi ran away from 13 years ago, things slowly begin to fall apart. As she tries to navigate the tricky social structures without missing a step, the worst happens, and she finds herself having to decide what family really means and how to best help them.
Lakshmi’s relationship with her sister, as well as the errand boy that turns out to be far more important than you think at first, was well written. They were incredibly different people, and yet they were very similar as well. As with many families, their relationship isn’t all roses, but you could see how Lakshmi was trying so hard to do what was right and give her sister all the opportunities that could possibly have.
One of the ways Lakshmi makes extra money is with herbal remedies, one which is used to make sure women who don’t want to be mothers (or can’t afford to be mothers) don’t have to be. Many people around her frown on this practice and often shunned her other natural remedies in favor of modern techniques and medicines. This cultural difference between the city and the villages really played a role as Lakshmi’s character developed and she navigated the world around her.
The Henna Artist was a beautifully written story that immersed me in an unfamiliar culture, and I loved every second of it. The story unfolds in a way that isn’t all excitement and suspense but peppered with moments that stood out in my mind as I read through it. I highly recommend this book.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
But when Lakshmi’s sister, the one she didn’t know existed, shows up with the husband Lakshmi ran away from 13 years ago, things slowly begin to fall apart. As she tries to navigate the tricky social structures without missing a step, the worst happens, and she finds herself having to decide what family really means and how to best help them.
Lakshmi’s relationship with her sister, as well as the errand boy that turns out to be far more important than you think at first, was well written. They were incredibly different people, and yet they were very similar as well. As with many families, their relationship isn’t all roses, but you could see how Lakshmi was trying so hard to do what was right and give her sister all the opportunities that could possibly have.
One of the ways Lakshmi makes extra money is with herbal remedies, one which is used to make sure women who don’t want to be mothers (or can’t afford to be mothers) don’t have to be. Many people around her frown on this practice and often shunned her other natural remedies in favor of modern techniques and medicines. This cultural difference between the city and the villages really played a role as Lakshmi’s character developed and she navigated the world around her.
The Henna Artist was a beautifully written story that immersed me in an unfamiliar culture, and I loved every second of it. The story unfolds in a way that isn’t all excitement and suspense but peppered with moments that stood out in my mind as I read through it. I highly recommend this book.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Sage, an online influencer, has just ruined her so-called career. And while she'll miss the money, she doesn't really seem to care much. Well, the death threats and horrible comments on her social media are welcome to stop at any time.
But there's a bright side to the debacle in a message from an American that says he may be connected to her past - and he has proof. So Sage takes off to discover her history, and along the way may just find out what she needs to know about herself as well.
Told in a dual POV between Sage (present-day) and Florence (WWII before and during the occupation of Paris), present an interesting story woven together by great love and great tragedy. The story of Frances and Otto is full of excitement, love, loss, and finding out what you are really capable of.
Frances' and Otto's story really seemed to take over the book. I think it would have been nice to see a little more from Sage in the present day. But we mostly just stop by to see how she is doing once in a while. The tragic romance of Florence and Otto is more than enough to make the book shine though. At times it just seemed like Sage was there because the author wanted this to be dual POV, and she didn't really know what to do with her.
Florence led an extremely interesting and eventful life in Paris. Starting as a dance and ending up as an agent of the Britsh in France. Her journey from a fun-loving gal to a highly-skilled operative was all in the search for Otto their love. It was really amazing to see how strong their feelings were. And their dedication to each other was beautiful.
I don't think I'll ever look at a tree outside a window without crying and thinking of this couple. And if you read An American in Paris by Siobhan Curham, I don't think you will be able to either.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
But there's a bright side to the debacle in a message from an American that says he may be connected to her past - and he has proof. So Sage takes off to discover her history, and along the way may just find out what she needs to know about herself as well.
Told in a dual POV between Sage (present-day) and Florence (WWII before and during the occupation of Paris), present an interesting story woven together by great love and great tragedy. The story of Frances and Otto is full of excitement, love, loss, and finding out what you are really capable of.
Frances' and Otto's story really seemed to take over the book. I think it would have been nice to see a little more from Sage in the present day. But we mostly just stop by to see how she is doing once in a while. The tragic romance of Florence and Otto is more than enough to make the book shine though. At times it just seemed like Sage was there because the author wanted this to be dual POV, and she didn't really know what to do with her.
Florence led an extremely interesting and eventful life in Paris. Starting as a dance and ending up as an agent of the Britsh in France. Her journey from a fun-loving gal to a highly-skilled operative was all in the search for Otto their love. It was really amazing to see how strong their feelings were. And their dedication to each other was beautiful.
I don't think I'll ever look at a tree outside a window without crying and thinking of this couple. And if you read An American in Paris by Siobhan Curham, I don't think you will be able to either.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Rescuing Harmony Ranch by Jennie Marts was a really sweet and fun second-chance romance. Joss and Mack were high school sweethearts, in love and perfect for each other, before Joss’ mom moved them both to the city – far away. When Joss returns to help her grandmother at the ranch, she finds Mack, a lot taller and lot more bearded, working on the ranch, and history floods back.
Their second romance was a slow build up. They both had some harsh feelings about the past to overcome, but their love for each other wouldn’t let that stand in the way. Along the way, they get to know each other again, and they remember what brought them together in the first place.
Harmony Ranch could be a character on its own. As a historical reenactment location, it lives in the past – before electricity and running water. Jennie Marts has a great way with setting a scene, I wish I could go to the pond, or have a picnic in the yard there. The characters surrounding her were larger than life and had some personalities that jumped off the page, but while they were incredible and memorable, they never outshone our couple. They do make me want to go back to visit and see what the town is up to though.
I hope Hallmark revisits this area. It was full of love, life, and charm.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Their second romance was a slow build up. They both had some harsh feelings about the past to overcome, but their love for each other wouldn’t let that stand in the way. Along the way, they get to know each other again, and they remember what brought them together in the first place.
Harmony Ranch could be a character on its own. As a historical reenactment location, it lives in the past – before electricity and running water. Jennie Marts has a great way with setting a scene, I wish I could go to the pond, or have a picnic in the yard there. The characters surrounding her were larger than life and had some personalities that jumped off the page, but while they were incredible and memorable, they never outshone our couple. They do make me want to go back to visit and see what the town is up to though.
I hope Hallmark revisits this area. It was full of love, life, and charm.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
When Grant Wilson returns to Rattlesnake Ridge after an urgent and unexpected request from his uncle, he's shocked to find that his uncle has died and left him quite an estate - including several local properties and the town's only bank. He's also shocked to find out that his uncle did not run a very ethical business. But what is Grant going to do about it? He turns to trusted counsel to figure things out, and along the way meets Astrid
Astrid was one heck of a good character. She was a strong young woman that had already decided the path of her life was to be a rough one. Taking care of her father and sisters, trying to keep the ranch afloat, and then along comes Grant Wilson. She thinks of him as a hero that does the right thing and helps, but I really felt like she was the hero of the story here. She accomplished things I couldn't have imagined and has nerves of steel when her family is on the line.
The book has a lot of women's rights woven into the pages. At times a little heavy-handed, although I don't doubt that it was hard for a woman to do certain things in those times, it seemed to be overly emphasized at times. The town was a gem. I loved all the residents, and they seemed mostly to be honest hard-working people that you grow to love.
The villains were a bit obvious. I think they were supposed to be, but it made the big confrontation a little less dramatic. Although the way it was resolved was quite exciting.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Astrid was one heck of a good character. She was a strong young woman that had already decided the path of her life was to be a rough one. Taking care of her father and sisters, trying to keep the ranch afloat, and then along comes Grant Wilson. She thinks of him as a hero that does the right thing and helps, but I really felt like she was the hero of the story here. She accomplished things I couldn't have imagined and has nerves of steel when her family is on the line.
The book has a lot of women's rights woven into the pages. At times a little heavy-handed, although I don't doubt that it was hard for a woman to do certain things in those times, it seemed to be overly emphasized at times. The town was a gem. I loved all the residents, and they seemed mostly to be honest hard-working people that you grow to love.
The villains were a bit obvious. I think they were supposed to be, but it made the big confrontation a little less dramatic. Although the way it was resolved was quite exciting.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
In Love & Joy by Elsie Davis, Zoe and Blake don't seem to be a very likely couple. Pitted against each other to redesign an ice cream shop, their ideas couldn't be more different. There is lot of push and pull between them, and even though the chemistry is strong, they both have serious, and legitimate, reservations.
Zoe has a son who is still hurting from when his father left, and she won't get involved with a man known for his love-em and leave-em attitude. While Blake loves his fast city life and isn't interested in settling down with a country girl. But there are a few people in town who know better.
I felt like a lot of the story centered around Zoe's son and Blake's dog. And while they were incredibly important in the push and pull of the story, at times they took over and pushed our couple into the background. I didn't mind too much because they were adorable.
There's the big misunderstanding moment that I'm not a huge fan of. I wish people (real and in books) would just ask each other what's going on instead of making huge assumptions all the time. Overall, this was a cute read, and I'd definitely come back to Hallbrook for another romance.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Zoe has a son who is still hurting from when his father left, and she won't get involved with a man known for his love-em and leave-em attitude. While Blake loves his fast city life and isn't interested in settling down with a country girl. But there are a few people in town who know better.
I felt like a lot of the story centered around Zoe's son and Blake's dog. And while they were incredibly important in the push and pull of the story, at times they took over and pushed our couple into the background. I didn't mind too much because they were adorable.
There's the big misunderstanding moment that I'm not a huge fan of. I wish people (real and in books) would just ask each other what's going on instead of making huge assumptions all the time. Overall, this was a cute read, and I'd definitely come back to Hallbrook for another romance.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Rescuing the Mountain Man by Sadie Anne and Alana Terry is quick look into Alaska (which is a setting I love) and a little of the past. I think it might have been a little too quick. It starts off fantastic, with Sarah and Thor meeting and finding that instant connection. I'm OK with instant connection, as long as it isn't insta-love. And this is just what they have. They feel comfortable around each other, and want to get to know each other better.
But as they get to know each other better, the past comes back to haunt them. But I'm not really sure why. The character does a great job of explaining their emotions in the book, but it just didn't ring full and true to me. And, this may just be me - others may understand better than me.
There is a little excitement and a coming together (this is a romance), but then it all just wrapped up super fast. I felt like I never really got to know Sarah and Thor individually or see how they grew into a couple. I would have loved to see a little more of them growing together and falling in love. It seemed to skip over the best part.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
But as they get to know each other better, the past comes back to haunt them. But I'm not really sure why. The character does a great job of explaining their emotions in the book, but it just didn't ring full and true to me. And, this may just be me - others may understand better than me.
There is a little excitement and a coming together (this is a romance), but then it all just wrapped up super fast. I felt like I never really got to know Sarah and Thor individually or see how they grew into a couple. I would have loved to see a little more of them growing together and falling in love. It seemed to skip over the best part.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Murder by Page One by Olivia Matthews pits the librarian and bookseller of a small town against a murder. Marvey the librarian is determined to clear her book-seller friend’s name when a local author turns up dead in her store room during a book signing. The police want to wrap the case up quickly and think she’s the obvious suspect, but they can’t give a motive for why she would have done it.
Marvey digs in and enlists the help of her friends and fellow librarians to help. Throughout her investigation, she finds out that not everyone is what they seem at first, that small town gossip mills are often wrong, and to never rule anyone out at the beginning. I was a little disappointed that the library and research didn’t play into the story too much. They really relied on talking to townspeople at the beginning, and it was a mess of conflicting information for everyone. In the end, a vital piece of research turns the tide though.
The friendships and community (especially the library employees) really stood out in this book. The way everyone banded together to help really showcased how close they had become since Marvey moved into town. It was also a good introduction to the town and its residents. I think there is a lot of potential here for some great mysteries going forward.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Marvey digs in and enlists the help of her friends and fellow librarians to help. Throughout her investigation, she finds out that not everyone is what they seem at first, that small town gossip mills are often wrong, and to never rule anyone out at the beginning. I was a little disappointed that the library and research didn’t play into the story too much. They really relied on talking to townspeople at the beginning, and it was a mess of conflicting information for everyone. In the end, a vital piece of research turns the tide though.
The friendships and community (especially the library employees) really stood out in this book. The way everyone banded together to help really showcased how close they had become since Marvey moved into town. It was also a good introduction to the town and its residents. I think there is a lot of potential here for some great mysteries going forward.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Vampire romances naturally trend toward the darker side – you inevitably have blood and carnage before the couple walks happily off into the starlight. But Bound by Flames really takes it to another level. There’s torture and what comes close to sexual assault – so that’s your warning if you don’t want to read that.
Leila and Vlad’s relationship really grew in Bound by Flames, but I feel like a lot of the story was a little too damsel in distress. Leila being kidnapped and needing to be rescued – it seems a little overdone. Now, Jeaniene Frost did add some nice twists and turns to make it feel a little more unique, but I really wanted to see the tables reversed for a change.
There is A LOT of emotion in this one. Be prepared to go on a roller coaster ride of ups and downs. And it isn’t all between Leila and Vlad. The crew I’ve come to love has some incredible moments that let you see just how much Vlad really does care (even though he would never admit it).
I really hope that Vlad and Leila can find a sort of peaceful ending – where they’re able to settle down and relax some. They definitely deserve it after this book.
Leila and Vlad’s relationship really grew in Bound by Flames, but I feel like a lot of the story was a little too damsel in distress. Leila being kidnapped and needing to be rescued – it seems a little overdone. Now, Jeaniene Frost did add some nice twists and turns to make it feel a little more unique, but I really wanted to see the tables reversed for a change.
There is A LOT of emotion in this one. Be prepared to go on a roller coaster ride of ups and downs. And it isn’t all between Leila and Vlad. The crew I’ve come to love has some incredible moments that let you see just how much Vlad really does care (even though he would never admit it).
I really hope that Vlad and Leila can find a sort of peaceful ending – where they’re able to settle down and relax some. They definitely deserve it after this book.
I read this while interning at Leap Books where I am now a JP.
This is the continuation and conclusion to Jesse and Brooke's romance. Although I really wish I could have a book three because I can see where there could be so much more to tell.
Book two leads us up to the big race and the competition building between Jesse and Brook and the strain in puts on their relationship. There are also some pretty heavy family issues brought to light that were handled brilliantly by the author. You really felt for the people involved and started rooting for things to turn out for them.
The race itself was soooooo intense (I'd add so more o's there, but it might look bad). A perfect climax for the story and, again, Laura Lascarso wrote the racing bits in a way that I was able to really understand and fall into completely. The ending was amazingly beautiful. The kind I go back and read over and over.
This is the continuation and conclusion to Jesse and Brooke's romance. Although I really wish I could have a book three because I can see where there could be so much more to tell.
Book two leads us up to the big race and the competition building between Jesse and Brook and the strain in puts on their relationship. There are also some pretty heavy family issues brought to light that were handled brilliantly by the author. You really felt for the people involved and started rooting for things to turn out for them.
The race itself was soooooo intense (I'd add so more o's there, but it might look bad). A perfect climax for the story and, again, Laura Lascarso wrote the racing bits in a way that I was able to really understand and fall into completely. The ending was amazingly beautiful. The kind I go back and read over and over.
The main story in Beyond This Broken Sky takes place in London during the WWII air raids. Ruby seems to be a carefree, nothing can go wrong, sort of gal. But when she is teamed up on an ambulance team with the Joseph, a conscienscious objector and the man who lives in the upstairs apartment, we see a much different side to her.
Joseph is not the standard hero of a story. Instead of the brave soldier, we have a pacifist. As a conscienscious objector, he is subjected to a lot of derision from the peopl of London. They don’t understand why he can’t join the fight alongside their husbands, brothers, sons, fathers. But Joseph is a hero in another way. His is kind and compassionate, thoughtful, and pretty selfless. And I loved when Ruby decides that he’s an ok guy and starts to stand up for him a little.
But there’s a lot more to this story than Ruby and Joseph – although they do the place as our mains. Kitty is the sweetest, most vulnerable person I’ve seen on a page in a long time. And if there’s a heartbreaking romance in this book, it’s going to be her. But romance isn’t the main theme. The main theme is overcoming, moving forward, and living life to your fullest with no regrets.
And this theme carries over into the present dya side of the story. I felt like this didn’t fit quite as well as some of the dual timelines I’ve read recently. It almost felt unnecessary and unconnected. I enjoyed Edi, and Pearl was a hoot, but most of their story just left me confused. In the end, it all comes together in an interesting way – but I’m not sure if it was really needed.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Joseph is not the standard hero of a story. Instead of the brave soldier, we have a pacifist. As a conscienscious objector, he is subjected to a lot of derision from the peopl of London. They don’t understand why he can’t join the fight alongside their husbands, brothers, sons, fathers. But Joseph is a hero in another way. His is kind and compassionate, thoughtful, and pretty selfless. And I loved when Ruby decides that he’s an ok guy and starts to stand up for him a little.
But there’s a lot more to this story than Ruby and Joseph – although they do the place as our mains. Kitty is the sweetest, most vulnerable person I’ve seen on a page in a long time. And if there’s a heartbreaking romance in this book, it’s going to be her. But romance isn’t the main theme. The main theme is overcoming, moving forward, and living life to your fullest with no regrets.
And this theme carries over into the present dya side of the story. I felt like this didn’t fit quite as well as some of the dual timelines I’ve read recently. It almost felt unnecessary and unconnected. I enjoyed Edi, and Pearl was a hoot, but most of their story just left me confused. In the end, it all comes together in an interesting way – but I’m not sure if it was really needed.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**