Blog Tour: The Love Study

Oh, my heart. Kris Ripper's The Love Study made it feel all full and fuzzy. This novel is probably the cutest romance I've read all year (and you all know I read A LOT of romances). 

Here's the synopsis:

What happens when the search for the perfect date goes perfectly wrong? Don’t miss this charming romantic comedy from critically acclaimed author Kris Ripper.

Declan has commitment issues. He’s been an office temp for literally years now, and his friends delight in telling people that he left his last boyfriend at the altar.

And that’s all true. But he’s starting to think it’s time to start working on his issues. Maybe.

When Declan meets Sidney—a popular nonbinary YouTuber with an advice show—an opportunity presents itself: as part of The Love Study, Declan will go on a series of dates arranged by Sidney and report back on how the date went in the next episode 

The dates are…sort of blah. It’s not Sidney’s fault; the folks participating are (mostly) great people, but there’s no chemistry there. Maybe Declan’s just broken.

Or maybe the problem is that the only person he’s feeling chemistry with is Sidney.

I had all of the feels with this book. Usually that's only happening with Karina Halle's lighter romances that are also full of angst. But Ripper's novel is dealing with characters who are facing their issues with romance and dating head on and, well, it's not pretty. There's anxiety, panic attacks, crying, and friends who tell their friend that he's being an idiot. BUT there's also dating hijinks, buddy watching documentaries (SO CUTE), and an amazing friend group (seriously, everyone needs a groups of friends like Declan has). So while I was swooning over how adorably awkward Dec and Sidney were and loving the lead up to them dating, I was also almost in tears with how hard it was for Declan to really let go and feel like he deserved love, or at least to date such a lovely human like Sidney. (Maybe I was also just super stressed and emotional this week and the book was really hitting me hard?)

I liked the pace of this novel, particularly that the relationship part of things started early on. There was enough teasing and flirting and enough time to get SUPER invested in their dating. Then, as you would expect, it all went to hell and then they needed to work together to get to the Happily Ever After I was desperate for. I liked that it explored all kinds of relationships and issues people may have with dating and the norms and rules we're supposed to follow. 

And have I mentioned the friends enough? The group - Mason (who Declan left at the altar), Oscar, Ronnie, and Mia (the latter two are a couple about to be married) - call themselves the Marginalized Motherfuckers. They found each other in college and sort of clung together because they were all, well, marginalized in different ways. They tease but they are so caring, too. Whether that's talking Declan into patching things up with Sidney or the guys preparing a "staycation" for Ronnie and Mia's honeymoon (complete with erotic fruit, of course). Come for the romantic relationship, stay for the friendship.

This book hasn't been written to teach straight people like me anything but it did. There were a couple of new to me gender terms that I had to look up and I'm really glad about that. I like to think this romance is an example of why so many of us read: to gain a deeper understanding through fiction of what others' lives might be like.  

Finally, I'm really happy this is the first book in a series. Next up will be The Hate Study which will feature Oscar, one of Declan's friends (and part of the Marginalized Motherfuckers) and I think Declan's "underling" from his temp job. 

I don't know if it's come across enough in this review but I'll say it like this: I cannot recommend The Love Study enough. It's a ridiculously cute, smart, heartfelt rom com (heavy on the rom) that I'm going to remember for a long time to come. Kris Ripper has written such a fun and important sex positive, entertaining queer romance that I am so here for. 

Buy The Love Study
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About the Author
Kris Ripper lives in the great state of California and zir pronouns are ze/zir. Kris shares a converted garage with a kid, can do two pull-ups in a row, and can write backwards. (No, really.) Ze has been writing fiction since ze learned how to write, and boring zir stuffed animals with stories long before that.

Connect with the Author
Website * Twitter * Facebook Group * Instagram * Goodreads

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Harlequin, in exchange for a review for the purposes of a blog tour. All opinions are honest and my own*

Review: Here and Now

Here and Now was my first Santa Montefiore novel. Which, for a reader like myself who reads pretty much anything that stays still long enough, and for an author like Montefiore, who has 21 books (according to her website), is pretty strange. I had been wanting to check out her novels for awhile so when Simon & Schuster offered a copy of Here and Now, I said, yes, please!

Here's the synopsis:

Meet Marigold and Dennis, two happily married empty-nesters in their late sixties. They should be enjoying their golden years in the idyllic English village where they live. But when their two grown daughters, Daisy and Suze, move back into the family home, both mother and father must learn how to deal with the upheaval.
Meanwhile, as Daisy and Suze soak in the familiar comforts of home, they soon discover that their mother isn’t quite the same woman she was a few years ago. Sure, she is still kind-hearted and always willing to help, but something about their mom is different, and it’s becoming harder and harder for the family to ignore. For the first time in their lives, Dennis and his daughters find themselves caring for Marigold rather than the other way around.
Here and Now is a gorgeously evocative novel brimming with characters who are so recognizable they’ll walk right off the page and into your heart. This is a novel about what it means to grow up and to grow wise, and how the new generation learns to carry family memories and hope into the future.

Montefiore's novel falls into that weird genre hole where I can't think of an easy way to describe it. I suppose I could say it's a contemporary family drama. Each family member jumps off the page and you really get a sense of how each of them is coping while they help Marigold come to terms with her memory loss. 

The novel is told in third person but follows both Marigold and Daisy closely. I liked this because it gives the reader a taste of a little bit of everything - a mother's love, a daughter's realization that roles are being reversed, a long marriage, and a new relationship. Plus, while mother and daughter were quite different, you could also begin to see how they were similar. Most importantly in how fiercely they cared for their family, especially in tough times. They just loved a little differently. I definitely enjoyed having the story told from both their perspectives.

I think part of what really endeared me to this novel was the location. Isn't it funny how you sometimes pick up a book that is just exactly what you need even though you didn't know it? It turns out I needed to read about a tiny English village and the interfering (but well-meaning) villagers. I loved that we got a glimpse of the large estate in town where Daisy went to paint as well as the corner shop that Marigold ran. Plus, as a Canadian, I very much enjoyed the connection to Canada and the brief visit to Toronto.

This is a heartbreaking novel with many serious topics addressed. I'd definitely suggest having a mood boosting book or movie lined up for when you're done. It's worth the heartache though because the story really grabs hold of you. And you may find yourself wishing you could hug all of your family members tight (which is especially hard right now, I know). 

While I won't exactly be raving about Here and Now, I did very much enjoy my time spent reading Santa Montefiore's latest novel (and staring at the cover which I find immensely pleasing). I now very much want to read some of her other novels - though she has so many, I'm not sure where to start!

*An ARC of this novel was provided by the publisher, Simon & Schuster Canada, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: To Tell You the Truth

To Tell You the Truth, just published yesterday, is the third Gilly Macmillan novel I've read. I really enjoyed the other two so was very much looking forward to the latest one. I don't know if it was high expectations or not the kind of book I was in the mood for but I wasn't thrilled with this one. I mean, I was surprised by the twists and turns but I don't think I particularly liked it. It seems that I'm in the minority, so far, so maybe it was just a personal thing. Read on as I try to explain why it is I wasn't a fan of this book.

Here's the synopsis:

Bestselling mystery writer Lucy Harper’s talent for invention has given her fame, fortune, and an army of adoring readers. It has also saddled her with dependents, namely her fawning husband Dan.

When Dan suddenly goes missing, his disappearance evokes dark memories that take Lucy back more than thirty years—to the day her brother vanished without a trace. That’s when Lucy began conjuring stories. The police investigation revealed few confirmed details, so she created tales to fill in the gaps, to explain what happened that day her brother disappeared—and young Lucy was the only witness.

Now decades later, with the whole world watching, Lucy’s past and present are colliding, and this bestselling author skilled in telling stories is losing control of her own narrative. 

Where is Dan? What happened to Lucy's brother? And is the brilliant mystery writer—an expert in devising red herrings and hidden clues—revealing all she knows about both disappearances?

As you may know, I have a tendency to read the book's description when I request it from the publisher and then I won't again until I write up my review. This time I had to check with the synopsis after I started reading it because I needed to remind myself what, exactly, the mystery was going to be. Part of that was because it is a slow start. It takes about a quarter of the book for Dan to go missing and, by that point, I was honestly glad.

You see, Dan is terrible. He's totally gaslighting Lucy (so keep that in mind if this is a trigger for you) and I was incredibly frustrated and angry with him right at the start. And then once Lucy starts mentioning other things he had done throughout the years? I so badly wanted to protect her from him. 

I've seen other reviewers on Goodreads say they didn't like the book because they didn't like Lucy. That wasn't my issue. I actually quite appreciated that Lucy was a difficult character because we need to see more of those in books. I don't know why people seem to need likeable characters all the time (and this is from someone who loves romances and any stories that have a hint of a Happily Ever After). So, I applaud all authors, especially females, who write so-called unlikeable characters, especially females. 

Now, that said, I think this novel took the unreliable narrator trope a little too far. I think there were some serious mental issues with Lucy and something about that, that she was unreliable because of her mental state, made me really uncomfortable. I don't think that was Macmillan's intention but I just didn't really like that there were so many doubts and it was because there was actually something wrong with Lucy. 

I did really like that Lucy was an author. It's always fun, for me, to read about a writer and what their life is like. All authors are different, I know, so to see the life Macmillan dreamed up for Lucy was enjoyable. 

The setting was also a win for me. I've been enjoying a few more British detective stories and shows during lockdown so I liked that this novel took place in Brighton in a small neighbourhood where it seemed like everyone knew everyone else's business.

All in all, To Tell You the Truth was not a win for me. Gilly Macmillan is a great writer and told the story well but the story just didn't resonate with me. It seems to with other readers so you still might want to check it out if Macmillan is an author you love or you're a fan of suspenseful stories.

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, HarperCollins Canada, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: Dirty Empire

I'm back again with another Nina West review! The third in her now four book series, Dirty Empire, released last week and, just like all the others, I had it read in a day. These books are crazy addictive. They're also a true series and you have to read them in order. I'll also suggest not even reading this review if you haven't yet read Sweet Mercy or Gabriel Fallen. Spoilers are no fun! Already read the books or are one of those people who actually enjoy spoilers (I don't get it)? Read on!

Here's the synopsis:

Mercy Wheeler and Gabriel Easton’s sordid tale continues in Dirty Empire as Mercy finds her loyalties tested and Gabriel’s attempt to break free of his family’s legacy comes with unexpected consequences.

Yes, that's it. Honestly, it makes sense. You can't really talk about what happens in this book without giving away things that happened in the previous two. So, again, read this review with caution if you haven't yet read the first two books.

If you recall from my review of Gabriel Fallen, the second book (review here), I was anxious to get this one because of the cliffhanger West left us with. The good news is, not as many characters were affected as I feared. (No, I'm not giving away exactly what the cliffhanger was.) The bad news is...she wrote another cliffhanger! Ahhhhh. And the fourth book, Fallen Empire, won't be out until 2021. Which, thankfully, is only a few months away. (I don't know the release date and neither does she but I'm really hoping for some sort of relief when we turn the calendar to next year. Which may be wishful thinking.)

This book is way more about the dark storyline of Gabriel's father and drug business (that Gabriel and his brother, Caleb, desperately want out of) than it is the sexy times between Gabe and Mercy. It reminded me of a darker version of Tucker's Burying Water series (don't forget that Nina West is K.A. Tucker!). It's so great to see Tucker writing the kind of stories she obviously really wanted to and she's just as talented at writing the suspenseful and seedy storylines as she is the sexy, romantic ones. 

Since this installment is so focused on the business side of things, it's a lot more intense. No one knows who to trust and even Gabe and Mercy find themselves doubting the other. Tensions are super high and they're elevated even more by the fact that they're not on home turf. They're in Las Vegas and you just know what happens in Vegas will not be staying in Vegas. 

I've been struggling with Gabriel throughout the entire series and wonder how on earth Mercy could fall for a guy who is such an arrogant ass who thinks everything should be handed to him because he's so good looking and his dad is a drug lord, albeit a drug lord who is currently in prison. Now, Gabriel does treat Mercy with respect - when he's not essentially forcing her to stay with him so her dad will be looked after in prison - and he does seem to care about her. But it's really, really hard for me to wrap my head around how she thinks it's a good idea to fall for him. I've been going along with it because I am enjoying the story but the relationship is bordering on, if not outright, toxic and I feel it needs to be mentioned each time.

I'm enjoying the time I'm spending reading Nina West's Dirty Empire series and I'm really looking forward to seeing how she wraps everything up in the final book. Dirty Empire gave a hint at the storm that's about to hit and it's going to be intense but so worth it in the end.

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the author, via Valentine PR, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Release Day Blitz: Dirty Empire

Dirty Empire by Nina West is now live!

From internationally bestselling author K.A. Tucker, writing as Nina West, comes the dark and sexy Dirty Empire series

Mercy Wheeler and Gabriel Easton’s sordid tale continues in Dirty Empire as Mercy finds her loyalties tested and Gabriel’s attempt to break free of his family’s legacy comes with unexpected consequences.

I've already read Sweet Mercy (review here) and Gabriel Fallen (review here) and am looking forward to sharing my thoughts on Dirty Empire with you very soon! (PS don't forget you need to read these books in order otherwise you'll spoil the entire series for yourself and where's the fun in that?)

Download Dirty Empire today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Amazon * Amazon Worldwide

Add Dirty Empire to Goodreads

Sweet Mercy (the first book in the Dirty Empire series) is also FREE!
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And in case you want a little teaser to hold you over until you can read it too...

Meet Nina
Nina West is the author of the sinfully sexy and highly addictive The Wolf Hotel series and Dirty Empire series. She lives in the city but spends her summers in the wilderness.

Connect with Nina
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Review: Yours to Keep

I love when a romance is super fun and kind of an escapist fantasy while also being realistic. That happened with Lauren Layne's novel Yours to Keep. I had a delightful time reading it and it was just what I needed during a really exhausting week.

Here's the synopsis:

An irresistible baseball star and a resistant hometown girl stumble into love in a flirty romance by New York Times bestselling author Lauren Layne.

Pro baseball shortstop Carter Ramsey is about to be Citizen magazine’s Man of the Year, but the only title that matters to him is out of reach: World Series MVP. Benched by a recent injury, Carter retreats to his hometown to recover. His ten-year class reunion and a potential reconciliation with the sweetheart he left behind could be perfect distractions. Until another old acquaintance throws Carter a curveball.

Olive Dunn admits that her former high school science partner is still a handsome charmer. But she wasn’t swayed then, and she won’t be swayed now. Because Olive remembers Carter’s little shortcoming: he tends to bail the moment it suits him, without a backward glance. Best to keep her feelings strictly platonic while he’s in town.

Except the entitled boy she knew is a changed man: solid, reflective, and generous. As they ease back in to their familiar friendship, things take a surprising turn, and Carter and Olive must decide if what they have is a passing flirtation or a real shot at love.

This is the second book in the Man of the Year series but I jumped in without reading the first or any of Layne's other novels. I don't think it matters that I hadn't met any of the other couples from other stories or the first book that features Man of the Year. It did get a bit small town romance-y with couples popping up everywhere who I was expected to know but I didn't let that bother me. I do want to read some of Layne's backlist now because this one was so much fun.

I'm a baseball fan and I love when novels feature a ball player. Typically I find them to be pretty basic with just general sportsing terms thrown around but Layne seemed to know her stuff and it felt authentic. Even if she did make Carter a shortstop of the New York MLB team...I kind of rolled my eyes at the parallel between the romance hero and a recently famous Yankees shortstop (full disclosure: I'm a Toronto Blue Jays fan and decidedly not a Yankees fan so this is all personal and all in good fun). Anyway! Don't worry if you don't like sports (Olive most definitely doesn't). The games and terms are kept to a minimum but it's a bonus for baseball fans like me.

I'm sure I've mentioned before but I tend not to reread the synopsis of a book before diving in so I can try to be surprised by the plot, if possible. Because of this, I forgot which girl was which so when Carter's sister lures him back into town because of an old girlfriend, I thought, "Goody! Second chance in a small town - my favourite!" Forgetting that that old flame has some competition in the unexpected girl next door. Which, it turns out, is another favourite of mine. And this girl next door? I LOVED her. 

Olive was the kind of quirky I aspire to be. She is confident in her choices in life and doesn't much care who judges her for it. (If they even decide to judge her...most people wouldn't because she's such a gem of a human.) She likes what she likes and isn't going to change for just anyone so I think how she was feeling for Carter threw her off a little bit. All of a sudden it seems like he's not "just anyone" and there could be major changes ahead. Changes that are for the best because they'd be together. If they could figure their shit out, of course. Also, I personally loved that Olive was 5'10". I'm 6' so a tall heroine is always appreciated. I had to giggle at the start when her height was first mentioned and she notes (via third person POV) that she's not the tall, waif-like model tall. No, she's the strong and comes from Viking stock kind of tall. The imagery that evoked was so amusing to me because, as a tall woman, I totally get it. 

I may not have told you much about the details of Lauren Layne's novel but I hope you get the sense that I had a damn good time reading Yours to Keep. Sometimes books don't need to be picked apart (yes, I realize how ridiculous that sounds for someone whose hobby is reviewing books). You just need to enjoy the story and the Happily Ever After. If you're in need of a pick me up, I'd definitely suggest this book!

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the Canadian distributor, Thomas Allen & Son, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: Gabriel Fallen

Last week I shared my thoughts on Sweet Mercy, the first book in Nina West's Dirty Empire series (read the review here if you missed it). Gabriel Fallen is book two and is, if you can believe it, more intense than the first. It's just as angsty and sexy but now that the Mercy and Gabriel are getting to know each other better, stakes are higher and hearts are at risk. If you haven't read the first book, I'd suggest doing that and then coming back here for my thoughts on the second book - I don't want anything accidentally being spoiled for you!

Here's the synopsis:

Mercy Wheeler and Gabriel Easton’s sordid tale continues in Gabriel Fallen as Mercy finds herself heading down a dangerous path.

Gabriel has made an art of dangling what I’m most desperate for in front of me, what he knows I can’t refuse, no matter the cost. In this case, that cost continues to be me.

He is still a scoundrel, but I’m starting to see something more.

And while our bargain is proving advantageous in ways I never anticipated, the risks that come with being associated with a man like him are becoming painfully clear.

But how much longer before this arrangement with Gabriel costs me everything I am?

I mentioned in my review of Sweet Mercy that I wasn't a fan of Gabriel. He was far too controlling and, even though he treated Mercy with respect, he seemed to think everything should be handed to him, including Mercy. She has spunk and a spine, even in the face of the son of a very dangerous man, so she doesn't really allow him to walk all over her. That said, she has no real choice but to go along with his demands because he can help her father, who's in jail for murder even though he never meant to kill anyone. (You following?) You can tell, though, that he's starting to fall for Mercy and that is solidifying his feelings that he and his brother have got to get out of the family business. It's sort of like when the Grinch's heart grew three sizes if, you know, the Grinch was a very sexy young man whose father is an imprisoned mob boss.

Speaking of wanting to get out of the family business - I actually quite enjoyed that part of the story. It added an interesting layer to the drama as the reader (along with Gabriel and his brother, Caleb) doesn't really know who to trust. And making a mistake about who to trust? That kind of mistake can have permanent and fatal consequences. 

I have to say I'm so glad that I read these books so close to the publication date of book three (Dirty Empire releases on September 15) because OH MY GOD THE CLIFFHANGER. West's novels can be read as one big novel as each picks up directly where the other left off (at least, that's the experience thus far) and thank goodness because I am freaking the fuck out about what happened at the end. Just. WHAT??? Also - I was relying on the next book to wrap everything up (no idea if it'll be in a nice bow or if things will go completely off the rails) BUT this trilogy is now going to be a quartet. I don't know if my nerves can handle it.

Gabriel Fallen was just as addictive and steamy (oh so steamy) as Sweet Mercy and even though I'm still struggling with my thoughts on Gabriel, I'm completely into the story Nina West is telling and I cannot wait to read what's next in Dirty Empire. 

*A copy of this novel was provided by the author via Valentine PR in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: The Night Portrait

I was really, really looking forward to The Night Portrait. Laura Morelli is a new to me author and her latest novel was just published today. I wanted to love it. But...I didn't. I think the idea Morelli came up with is a very interesting one but at the end of the day, I was pretty bored.

Here's the synopsis:

Milan, 1492: When a 16-year old beauty becomes the mistress of the Duke of Milan, she must fight for her place in the palace—and against those who want her out. Soon, she finds herself sitting before Leonardo da Vinci, who wants to ensure his own place in the ducal palace by painting his most ambitious portrait to date.

Munich, World War II: After a modest conservator unwittingly places a priceless Italian Renaissance portrait into the hands of a high-ranking Nazi leader, she risks her life to recover it, working with an American soldier, part of the famed Monuments Men team, to get it back. 

Two women, separated by 500 years, are swept up in the tide of history as one painting stands at the center of their quests for their own destinies.

The main thing I didn't like about this book was how much was going on. The synopsis makes it seem like it's just focused on two women: Cecilia, who is the mistress of the Duke of Milan in the 15th century, and Edith, a woman trapped by duty who, starting in 1939, is watching priceless art land in the hands of Nazis. But. It's not. The chapters alternate between the women as well as Leonardo da Vinci (whose chapters, weirdly, were the only ones told in first person and I can't understand why) whose timeline closely follows Cecilia's (but not exactly) and Dominic, an American soldier who we first meet as he's about to storm the beaches of Normandy in 1944.

That's a lot of main characters to keep track of.

Timelines eventually converge but it took a long time to figure out how on earth Edith and Dominic's points of view would come together. I can understand that Dominic was needed to show how the soldiers were trying to protect the artwork the Monuments Men were recovering. That was, honestly, why I wanted to read the book. I find that part of history both intriguing and heartbreaking. How could so many pieces of art be whisked across Europe? Hidden and stowed away? Stolen from their rightful owners? How many pieces still haven't made their way back to their home country? I don't know if I was just done with the story by the time the recovery was really taking place or I wanted to Edith to have more agency in the resistance efforts, but I couldn't quite find the emotions I think Morelli wants the readers to have. 

What I did appreciate was the depiction of everyday Germans and how it would have been so difficult to stand up to the war and what Hitler was doing. It's also a kind of sobering reflection of what's happening in the world today. Sometimes you have to wonder if generations from now will look back, like we do regarding the Holocaust, and wonder...why didn't anyone stop it? I think we forget sometimes that there were a lot of people who didn't believe in the war but were powerless to do anything about it.

It seems like, so far, I'm in the minority when it comes to The Night Portrait. Laura Morelli's latest novel is getting high praise from many folks. It's not a winner for me but I'm glad others found it interesting.

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, HarperCollins Canada, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: Sweet Mercy

A few months ago, K.A. Tucker, one of my favourite authors, bestowed a gift upon us during the pandemic. It turns out she's been secretly writing erotic novels under the name Nina West for a few years. WHAT!?! I immediately bought the four book set of the Wolf Hotel series and absolutely devoured all four in July. They're short, they're super steamy, and they were completely addictive. She's also working on the Dirty Empire series and, so far, I've read the first two, in anticipation of the next novel (Dirty Empire) coming out later this month. It was supposed to be the final one in the series but it's looking like a fourth book will be coming too! But this review is about the first book, Sweet Mercy. Buckle in, friends. It's going to be a sexy ride.

Here's the synopsis:

One visit to my father in prison—convicted for a murder he didn’t commit—and I’ve attracted the attention of the last man I’d ever want knowing that I exist.

Gabriel Easton.

Son of an infamous crime boss. Deplorable womanizer. Scoundrel to the core.

Worse, he has figured out how desperate I am to protect my father from brutality behind bars. He has the power to grant that protection, and he has offered it … for a price.

Me.

I am to become a “guest” in his mansion, to live with him until he tires of having me around.

I'll do anything for my father, including agree to Gabriel's cruel game. But I won't comply with his every whim and wish.

Not when he taunts me with that ruthless spark in his cold blue eyes.

Not when he requires that I share his bedroom at night.

Unfortunately for me, I think my loathing for him is what he’s enjoying most.

That's fine. By the time I’m through with him, he’ll be crying my name.

Mercy. 

This book does not fuck around. It is dark and it is erotic...aaaand it has a hero who I really struggled with. Gabriel was the kind of guy who thinks he's God's gift to women and he also has the added "bonus" (in his eyes) of being super rich but with dirty money that also ensures a whole lot of people are afraid of him. He just exuded this sense of entitlement, power, and disregard for any rules, even while West was trying to write that he and his brother did want to try to go legitimate with their nightclub. I struggle with super alpha males in any romance but especially when there's such a power imbalance between the hero and heroine. I tried to set it aside and just enjoy the story and that mostly worked but I knew I couldn't review the book without noting the toxicity in Gabriel and Mercy's "relationship."

Because this is a series, and I had already read West's other series, I had an idea that the first book would be mostly foreplay. There was a lot to set up as Gabriel and Mercy got to know each other plus Gabriel had to convince Mercy that he was her only hope to get her father out of prison. A lot had to happen before they could give into their lust for each other. But once they did? Holy fireworks, Batman. It's intense and even though Gabriel is a scoundrel, he is respectful in the bedroom and that, honestly, helped it be a lot sexier because I was still trying to accept him as a love interest. 

I think at one point I described the series as what Fifty Shades of Grey could have been. The bare bones premise of it is really similar and follows what Twilight set up. There's a controlling guy with a secret, who isn't innocent but does want to be at least a little bit better but also doesn't think he should be allowed to be better. Then there's a fairly naive female who has no real choice but to rely on the hero even though she does have her own mind. And then there's a bunch of sexy times - that are much, much better written (and just plain better) than anything James wrote. It's not the same story but the tropes are there.

I really liked Mercy and my heart broke for her as she was trying to deal with such terrible circumstances. I liked getting to know her and realizing how strong she was even in the midst of all the terribleness. She's the kind of character I would love to hang out with, have a drink with, and get to know better. That made up for being so hesitant about Gabriel.

Fans of erotic romance should probably check out Sweet Mercy by Nina West. Though, I'll probably recommend waiting until at least the third book is out because you're going to want to binge the hell out of these books. They get under your skin, let me tell you! Stay tuned for the review of book two, Gabriel Fallen, coming at you soon!

*A copy of this novel was provided by the author via Valentine PR in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: The Whispers of War

 

You know that feeling when you read a new to you author and absolutely adore the book and are so excited because you know they have at least one other book in their backlist you can also enjoy? That happened to me way back in March (remember March?) when I read The Whispers of War by Julia Kelly. I had heard of her Light Over London (I love historical fiction so of course it had been on my radar) but hadn't read it so I jumped at the chance to review her new one, which came out in January of this year (I really don't remember January). And friends? It was so great.

Here's the synopsis:

In August of 1939, as Britain watches the headlines in fear of another devastating war with Germany, three childhood friends must choose between friendship or country. Erstwhile socialite Nora is determined to find her place in the Home Office’s Air Raid Precautions Department, matchmaker Hazel tries to mask two closely guarded secrets with irrepressible optimism, and German expat Marie worries that she and her family might face imprisonment in an internment camp if war is declared. When Germany invades Poland and tensions on the home front rise, Marie is labeled an enemy alien, and the three friends find themselves fighting together to keep her free at any cost.

Featuring Julia Kelly’s signature “intricate, tender, and convincing” (Publishers Weekly) prose, The Whispers of War is a moving and unforgettable tale of the power of friendship and womanhood in the midst of conflict.

I know what you might be thinking, though. Do we really need yet another WWII novel? Haven't we read all the things we could read about that period of time? No, as it turns out. At least, not for me (and remember, every reader is different). 

As is the in thing these days, this book has a dual timeline. Marie's granddaughter, Samantha, tells the story in present day while Marie, Nora, and Hazel each tell a portion of the past. In a way I'm kind of tired of all of the authors choosing to write stories in two time periods but what I really like about it is how it helps me relate to the story a teeny bit more. I don't know what it's like to live through WWII but I'm learning details about it right along with the character in present day. 

What set this book apart from some of the other WWII era books I've read was how much it centred on three female friends. Particularly three women who weren't in active duty. The friendship between Nora, Marie, and Hazel was so delightful to read - how they met and stuck together through some of the hardest years and experiences imaginable. The three of them were found family and they cared for each other deeply and fiercely. One can only hope one finds friends like that in their own lifetime (and I like to think that I have...you know who you are!).

The novel's story was especially interesting to me because it showed what the average woman was doing at the start of the war and how they managed their lives as the war began. Just as I love reading what it was like at home in Canada during the wars, I also appreciate learning what it could have been like for women in England. Not only were the men of London going off to fight but their city would, eventually, be targeted by bombings. They were physically closer to the action and may have felt like they could do more for the war effort than the women in North America.

Finally, I have to note that I was reading this book as the North America was falling apart because of COVID-19. I had been on a last minute vacation to Scotland and was supposed to start a new job on March 17 but couldn't because of said vacation (I started a week later, thank goodness). So, instead of working, I read and The Whispers of War was one of the books I picked up while I had to self-isolate (which was only recommended the week after I returned home and had already been out...it was a weird time). I knew it would be a comforting read but I didn't know how comforted I would be by it. I'm so pleased that I have such a fond memory of this book when everything was such an absolute shitshow.

The Whispers of War will be a historical fiction title I recommend for a long time to come. Though perhaps it might just be until Julia Kelly's next novel, The Last Garden in England, is released next year. I'm already so excited to read it.

*A copy of this novel was provided by the publisher, Simon & Schuster Canada, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*