Review: Disarm

Happy release day to Disarm by Karina Halle! This is the second book in the Dumont series (the first was Discretion, which I reviewed here back in August). Halle is one of my favourite authors as she writes such great romances that are real, raw, and pretty addicting to read. I enjoyed Discretion and the story she set up but something about this particular novel that just didn't thrill me. And I'm so upset about that.

Here's the synopsis:

Seraphine Dumont seems to have it all: she’s gorgeous, brilliant, and part of one of France’s most illustrious dynasties. But underneath the facade, Seraphine struggles to hold it all together. Besides grieving her adoptive father’s suspicious and sudden death, she also shares a tenuous role in the family business with Blaise, her in-name-only cousin. As tumultuous as their history is, he may be the only member of the deceptive Dumont family she can trust.
Seraphine is a temptation Blaise can’t resist. The torch he’s carried for years still burns. It’s his secret—a quiet obsession just out of reach. Until his brother demands that he spy on the increasingly cagey Seraphine, whom their father considers a dispensable Dumont outlier. But the more Blaise watches her and the closer he gets, the more he sees Seraphine may have every right to be suspicious. And she could be the next one in danger—from his own family.
As blood runs hot and hearts give in, Seraphine and Blaise have only each other. But can their love survive the secrets they’re about to uncover?

I never like it when I don't like a book (does anyone?) and it's especially frustrating when I can't pinpoint why and it's by an author who I normally adore. This leads me to believe it's a weirdly personal reason that it didn't mesh with me which also makes it a really hard review to write. Most of the time I know why I don't like something or why a particular element throws me off and I've been at this long enough to not let it colour my review. This time? I don't want to keep you from reading the book but I also want to give my opinion. That's why I'm here in my little corner of the internet, after all.

I can say it wasn't the "forbidden" romance aspect of the novel that bothered me (as I anticipate it bothering other people but maybe I'm wrong). Seraphine and Blaise are cousins but not by blood and Seraphine didn't come into their family until she was nine or so (all the boys - Blaise, Olivier - who is featured in Discretion, and Pascal, Blaise's older brother and the focus of the third book - are all older than her). There was an attraction in Discretion that I picked up on and it continues into the second book. Some people might be put off by it but I rolled with it. So, no, that was not the issue.

It could have been the way it was written. The novel goes back and forth in time and also between points of view. We get Seraphine's and Blaise's perspectives in both past and present. It was a lot of back and forth and I found it a bit jarring. And while the jaunts into the past shed some light on a few things - like how Seraphine came to be adopted by the Dumonts' and one particular summer when they were in their late teens - I'm not sure they really added a whole lot.

Even though I wasn't totally head-over-heels in love with Disarm I still feel the need to finish the series because I want need to know what's going to happen with the family problems that have been the thread that ties the series together. I think I might be in the minority with my weird feelings on Karina Halle's latest so if you're intrigued by the storyline, check it out!

*A copy of this novel was provided by the Canadian distributors, Thomas Allen & Son, and an e-galley by Montlake Romance, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune

Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune was a delightful surprise for me. Roselle Lim's debut novel was a magical family story that has stuck with me - even though I read it months and months ago.

Here's the synopsis:

At the news of her mother's death, Natalie Tan returns home. The two women hadn't spoken since Natalie left in anger seven years ago, when her mother refused to support her chosen career as a chef. Natalie is shocked to discover the vibrant neighborhood of San Francisco's Chinatown that she remembers from her childhood is fading, with businesses failing and families moving out. She's even more surprised to learn she has inherited her grandmother's restaurant.
The neighborhood seer reads the restaurant's fortune in the leaves: Natalie must cook three recipes from her grandmother's cookbook to aid her struggling neighbors before the restaurant will succeed. Unfortunately, Natalie has no desire to help them try to turn things around--she resents the local shopkeepers for leaving her alone to take care of her agoraphobic mother when she was growing up. But with the support of a surprising new friend and a budding romance, Natalie starts to realize that maybe her neighbors really have been there for her all along.

I think some people may be put off by hearing this novel described as magic realism. Not everyone is into  fantasy but I think if you love contemporary stories, you need to read this. Don't let the magic put you off because it adds so, so much to this story. Don't worry - it's not magic like Harry Potter. The magic comes from Natalie's background and I think that is what really makes this novel sing. (Er, can books sing?)

Natalie's story made my heart break. She's grieving the death of her mother - her only parent - and she has a ton of guilt on top of it. She hadn't been home to visit in far too long and she's still harbouring some frustration towards the neighbours for not helping her when she was a child and struggling with her mother's severe agoraphobia. I can't imagine what it would have been like for Natalie - both as a child trying to help her mother and when she returned after her mother's death. Lim really captures the emotions of all her characters so very well.

I really liked reading as Natalie started learning more about herself and her family history. There were so many surprises for her to discover - and a few painful moments along the way - and it was lovely to read. And the way the community came together? Heartwarming. I also liked the little romance Lim wove into the overall story because seeing Natalie find someone who really understood her was wonderful.

The book world is slowly getting better at publishing Own Voices, which makes me happy. I'm a white, straight woman and I've been able to see versions of myself in books for as long as I've been reading. I'm lucky to have had literary role models throughout my life. But that's not the case for so many others. Personally, I am slowly getting better at reading Own Voices books - but I know I still have a lot of work to do. I want to read books that make me learn and expose me to stories and cultures that are different than my own and any I would have known growing up.

And oh my word. This cover. I LOVE IT. The font is shiny and gold in person and the pink pops in the most gorgeous of ways. And the spine is also hot pink with blue lettering. Ugh. Stunning. I can't get over it.

The overall feeling I was left with after finishing Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune was one of delight. Roselle Lim's novel is not perfect but it's one to read. And to stare at because it's so damn beautiful.

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

Review: The Bromance Book Club

When I first saw someone at Penguin Random House Canada reading The Bromance Book Club months ago, I was immediately intrigued. I mean, aren't you just based on that title and cover? Once I read what Lyssa Kay Adams' novel was about, I knew I needed to read it. I finally did a week or so ago and it was so much fun!

Here's the synopsis:

The first rule of this book club:
You don't talk about book club.
Nashville Legends second baseman Gavin Scott's marriage is in major league trouble. He’s recently discovered a humiliating secret: his wife Thea has always faked the Big O. When he loses his cool at the revelation, it’s the final straw on their already strained relationship. Thea asks for a divorce, and Gavin realizes he’s let his pride and fear get the better of him.
Welcome to the Bromance Book Club.
Distraught and desperate, Gavin finds help from an unlikely source: a secret romance book club made up of Nashville's top alpha men. With the help of their current read, a steamy Regency titled Courting the Countess, the guys coach Gavin on saving his marriage. But it'll take a lot more than flowery words and grand gestures for this hapless Romeo to find his inner hero and win back the trust of his wife.

This novel had everything I look for in a good romance - a heavy dose of comedy, a lot of feels, and moments that were witty and moments that were deep. We meet Gavin and Thea when the shit has hit the fan and their relationship seems so broken you have to wonder if there's any chance they could come back from it. The great thing for this story - because it makes it more interesting and much less cliched - is that neither of them are perfect and their relationship isn't going to be fixed by some quick solution. They're flawed and have allowed their relationship to become secondary to, well, everything (so maybe "second" isn't quite the right number). It was sweet and sometimes hard to read as they worked to get back to each other when so many forces seem to be trying to keep them apart.

Thinking back on the story, I can totally see this as a rom com on screen (big or small. Netflix, work your magic). I can't always see books as movies but there was something about this story that would work so well as a movie.

If you know me you'll know that I got an extra little thrill that Gavin was a baseball player. I find it's not a sport that gets featured often in novels (though I think that's starting to change which is awesome). It's kind of a sport that, in general, doesn't get a lot of love. Or maybe that's just because I'm in Canada where as soon as the NHL starts, MLB news gets shoved to the side - even during playoffs. Anyway. Gavin was a ball player and a second baseman at that, not even a pitcher (which is the norm). It doesn't factor into the story a whole lot, to be honest, because it takes place during the off-season but there are enough little things that, as a fan, I totally fell in love with.

The Bromance Book Club is a bit of a reaction to the #MeToo movement and all the BS that has led to it. As she says in this The Nerd Daily article I stumbled upon, Kay Adams' wondered what a story would look like when so-called manly men - sports loving or playing, powerful dudes - said enough was enough to themselves and were open about their feelings and their relationships. These men will stand up for and stand behind their wives/girlfriends/partners and see their partnerships as an equal one. It was so refreshing to read this kind of story - even if it did feel like I was getting hit over the head with how in tune with their emotions these guys were.

The whole premise behind The Bromance Book Club seems so outlandish and ridiculous but Lyssa Kay Adams makes it work. This is a novel you're going to fly through because you're enjoying the ride so much. And, if you loved it, good news. It's part of a series! Undercover Bromance is coming our way in March 2020. Have you read this one yet? If so, what did you think? I'd love to hear!

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

Review: Who Needs Mistletoe?

Surprise! Laura Chapman has a new book! And it's her second of the year! AND it's a Christmas story! In case you couldn't tell by all the exclamation points, I'm pretty excited about this. You should be too because Who Needs Mistletoe? is a perfect holiday treat.

Here's the synopsis:

Charlie London has finally made it. She’s the lead singer of a rising-the-charts band. She’s casually dating Hollywood’s golden boy. And she has a publicist who works very hard to make sure everyone knows all of this. But when her band is bumped from a televised holiday concert—and her boyfriend is photographed canoodling with a co-star—just days before Christmas, Charlie’s perfectly crafted world is crumbling apart. She impulsively hops a flight to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, so she can bring her boyfriend in line and get her career back on track. Her plan seems to be working until a winter storm leaves her stranded en route.
Guitarist Flint Randal has been crazy about Charlie from the moment she walked in to audition for their band three years ago. Knowing her strict policy against dating a bandmate, he’s kept his feelings in check. Until now. When grounded planes send them on a cross-country road trip—alone—Flint sees his chance to finally prove that her one-and-only has been there all along.
As detours and disasters plague their journey, Charlie and Flint grow closer. Will the magic of the holiday season—and the promise of true love—bring them together at last? Or will the siren call of fame get in the way? 

If you're a lover of romance novels, particularly Christmas ones, chances are you've read some iteration of "boy and girl are heading somewhere for Christmas. boy and girl get stranded at airport. boy and girl decide to drive to destination. boy and girl encounter many obstacles along the way. boy and girl fall in love and live happily ever after." I sure have. The joy of Chapman and her writing is that even though the trope is common, the story is totally fresh. I liked that Charlie and Flint knew each other well and just needed that time together to get to know each other more without touring and the band getting in the way.

And, oh, as they get to know each other even more. The feels! Their relationship is almost picture perfect. The small snag being Charlie is technically dating someone else and has no idea Flint is in love with her. Being a romance, you know they'll figure out those snags and get together by the end. The journey getting there though? Oh, so great. Both literally and figuratively. They had so much fun on their road trip - I loved their undercover busking - and you could see their feelings growing. Deeper on Flint's account, and closer to the surface for Charlie.

Chapman manages to insert just enough Christmas magic in this story without it going overboard - or leaving the reader wishing for more. She also focuses on what's most important about the holiday. It's not the gifts and the shopping and the parties. It's the time you spend with the ones you love, whether that's friends, family, or bandmates you're secretly head over heels for. Family in particular plays a large part in this Christmas story and it warmed my heart.

I highly recommend snuggling in with Who Needs Mistletoe? this holiday season. Laura Chapman has written a novella that will pair perfectly with your fluffy blankets, fuzzy socks, hot tea (or spiked hot chocolate), and, if you're lucky like me, a fireplace. Chapman has written yet another winner (which is not at all surprising to me because I love everything she writes) and I hope you love it just as much as I did.

*An e-copy of this novella was provided by the author in exchange for a review as part of a release blitz. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Blog Tour: Meant to Be Yours

I'm a big romance fan. I haven't read many traditional romances these days (I've been doing more rom coms and historical fiction) so I was really pleased to have the chance to read Susan Mallery's new book, Meant to Be Yours. Plus, a heroine who's a wedding planner and a hero who's a novelist? I'm totally in.

Here's the synopsis:

In Happily Inc, love means never having to say “I do”…Wedding coordinator Renee Grothen isn’t meant for marriage. Those who can, do. Those who can’t, plan. But she never could have planned on gorgeous, talented thriller writer Jasper Dembenski proposing—a fling, that is. Fun without a future. And the attraction between them is too strong for Renee to resist. Now she can have her no-wedding cake…and eat it, too.
After years in the military, Jasper is convinced he’s too damaged for relationships. So a flirtation—and more—with fiery, determined Renee is way too good to pass up…until his flame becomes his muse.
Renee is an expert at averting every crisis. But is she finally ready to leap into the one thing that can never be controlled: love?

I admit I don't think I realized this was part of a series. Or, if I did know that, I didn't think you really needed to read them in order and could just hop into town whenever you showed up. For the most part, you could. But Renee has so many friends that clearly have had their own stories that a new reader, like myself, was bombarded with characters and no backstory - but the expectation that I should know them and their history. I found myself wondering, was I already supposed to know that Renee knew who Jasper was? It sure felt like it. It was a bit frustrating and unfortunately set the tone for me early on.

I did quite like Jasper and Renee. Their relationship made all sorts of sense, even though they were determined to not actually have a relationship. Everyone in town could see it worked too. I loved reading as they got to know each other and fell for each other. It was hard to read as they went through issues, as they always do in romance novels, but that meant the HEA was an absolute delight.

That being said...Renee's motivations kind of left me baffled. The secret she was keeping from her friends was...odd. It came out of left field and I really found myself laughing and saying, "Seriously? That is her problem?" Maybe I'm inconsiderate or not so open-minded but it really was so out there. I can't say anything because, even though I didn't like it, I don't want to spoil it for anyone else.

One of my favourite things about the main characters was actually their jobs. Books and movies featuring wedding planners and authors are just so much fun for me. I'm not married - nor do we ever plan on getting married - but there's something about experiencing these high stress but romantic events in fiction I just love. I like the drama weddings bring and, as someone who has worked in the event industry, I also like the stress that comes from executing a perfect event. (Of course, there is no such thing as a perfect event. Something, somehow will go wrong.) And obviously I love to read so to see an author write an author is pretty interesting.

As part of the blog tour, I had access to a Q&A the publisher did with Mallery and I wanted to share a couple of the questions I found really interesting. I hope you do, too!

Who is an author you draw inspiration from?
Years ago, the fabulous Debbie Macomber suggested to me that I stop writing series about families, and start writing series about people who live in the same town. That advice was the inspiration for my Fool’s Gold series, which led to my Happily Inc series, as well. I’ll always be grateful to Debbie for that.

What do you hope readers will experience or gain when reading Meant to Be Yours?
I hope Meant to Be Yours will be a happy escape for them, an entertaining break from the stresses of their daily lives. This is a book for readers who like to feel the sharp pings of emotion—and the release of laughter with a guaranteed happy ending.

What drew you into writing romance?

I’ve been a romance reader since I was in middle school, and they’re still the books I enjoy the most. I love everything about them. I still get that intake-of-breath feeling when the characters first kiss. And when they finally overcome their obstacles and admit that they’re meant to be together—there’s just nothing happier or more life-affirming.

Meant to Be Yours wasn't a total winner for me but Susan Mallery's latest novel is still a pretty delightful one. It's perfect if you're looking for a sweet and fun romance where you know you're guaranteed a Happily Ever After. And who knows? Maybe you'll find yourself falling in love with Happily Inc. too.

Buy Links: 

Harlequin * Indiebound * Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Books-A-Million 
Target * Walmart * Google * iBooks * Kobo

Social Links:

Author Website

Twitter: @susanmallery

Facebook: @SusanMallery

Instagram: @susanmallery

Goodreads

Author Bio

SUSAN MALLERY is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of novels about the relationships that define women's lives—family, friendship, romance. Library Journal says, “Mallery is the master of blending emotionally believable characters in realistic situations," and readers seem to agree—40 million copies of her books have sold worldwide. Her warm, humorous stories make the world a happier place to live.
Susan grew up in California and now lives in Seattle with her husband. She's passionate about animal welfare, especially that of the two ragdoll cats and adorable poodle who think of her as mom.

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

Cover Reveal: The Forgotten Home Child

I was a little bit late to the Genevieve Graham party but once I read Promises to Keep two years ago I was completely hooked (my full review here). Graham does an amazing job of taking Canadian history and weaving it into a riveting novel. She honours our past and creates a story you won't want to put down at the same time. I don't know if teenage me would have thought I'd be this excited about stories about Canadian history but here we are.

Graham's latest novel is going to be The Forgotten Home Child and will be published by Simon & Schuster Canada in March 2020. (I can't believe we're talking about 2020 books already...where on earth did 2019 go?)

Here's what this novel is going to be about:

2018
At ninety-seven years old, Winnifred Ellis knows she doesn’t have much time left, and it is almost a relief to realize that once she is gone, the truth about her shameful past will die with her. But when her great-grandson Jamie, the spitting image of her dear late husband, asks about his family tree, Winnifred can’t lie any longer, even if it means breaking a promise she made so long ago...
1936
Fifteen-year-old Winny has never known a real home. After running away from an abusive stepfather, she falls in with Mary, Jack, and their ragtag group of friends roaming the streets of Liverpool. When the children are caught stealing food, Winny and Mary are left in Dr. Barnardo’s Barkingside Home for Girls, a local home for orphans and forgotten children found in the city’s slums. At Barkingside, Winny learns she will soon join other boys and girls in a faraway place called Canada, where families and better lives await them.
But Winny’s hopes are dashed when she is separated from her friends and sent to live with a family that has no use for another daughter. Instead, they have paid for an indentured servant to work on their farm. Faced with this harsh new reality, Winny clings to the belief that she will someday find her friends again.
Inspired by true events, The Forgotten Home Child is a moving and heartbreaking novel about place, belonging, and family—the one we make for ourselves and its enduring power to draw us home.

Like Joanna Goodman's Home for Unwanted Girls, Graham's novel features a part of Canadian history that's less than savoury. I think it's important for us to know where we come from and how we can do better. (Which is also why I think we should all be reading more Indigenous authors...that's going to be a huge 2020 goal for me.)

Speaking of where we come from, Graham has this to say about why she chose to write about this part of our history:

I first learned about the British Home Children a few years ago, when I stumbled upon an article about them online. The article said that starting in 1869-1948, 100,000-130,000 destitute British children between the ages of three and eighteen were taken from England’s streets, orphanages, and Homes, then shipped across the ocean to work in Canada, where it was thought they’d have a chance to lead better lives. The trouble was that once the children arrived here, there were few to no checks and balances in place. What could go wrong? Plenty. Some of the children did quite well. Those were informally adopted and their lives improved unquestionably. Unfortunately, most of the children did not. The majority became indentured servants, working as farm labourers and domestic servants. And approximately 75% of those children experienced neglect and abuse. Thanks to the recent fascination with genealogy, it has since been determined that 12% of Canada’s population is now descended from these children. That’s over four million Canadians! And most of them have no idea they might have a British Home Child in their family tree.

 I've prattled on long enough, haven't I? Are you ready for the cover now? Of course you are.

I can already feel my heartstrings tugging for these kids, especially Winny. I'm so interested to see what will happen in this novel and I hope you will be too.

Review: Valencia and Valentine

Inside the gorgeously wrapped Valencia and Valentine is a story unlike one I've ever read. And, I have to admit, I'm still not sure if that's totally a good thing. Suzy Krause's novel was very sweet and very real - even when it wasn't. Confused? Yeah, I was too but...that didn't make me dislike this book.

Here's the synopsis:

Valencia, a timid debt collector with crippling OCD, is afraid of many things, but the two that scare her most are flying and turning thirty-five. To confront those fears, Valencia’s therapist suggests that she fly somewhere—anywhere—before her upcoming birthday. And as Valencia begins a telephone romance with a man from New York, she suddenly has a destination in mind. There’s only one problem—he might not actually exist.
Mrs. Valentine is an eccentric old woman desperate for company, be it from neighbors, telemarketers, or even the funeral director (when you’re her age, you go to a lot of funerals). So she’s thrilled when the new cleaning girl provides a listening ear for her life’s story—a tale of storybook love and incredible adventures around the world with her husband before his mysterious and sudden disappearance.
The stories of Valencia and Mrs. Valentine may at first appear to have nothing in common…but then again, nothing in life is as straightforward as it seems.

This may end up being a short review because I don't know how to discuss this story without giving anything away. Because I both liked and was frustrated by the way things unraveled but I can't tell you about it because then you won't get the full reveal. Although, maybe you're smarter than I and already know how the story will end.

The story is told in alternating perspectives. One chapter follows Valencia and the next focuses on Mrs. Valentine. For the most part, I really enjoyed that. Until things got a little bit muddled and the timelines seemed to shift and I couldn't figure out what, exactly, was happening. What I knew was I just needed to get to the part where it all clicked together and then I felt I could go back in my mind and realize how the story had played out.

And that cover! Oh, how lovely it is. I'm a sucker for bold colours and illustrations so I fell in love with the cover of this book.

All things considered, Valencia and Valentine was a sweet book. It tackles some heavier topics (it really shines a light on OCD and what it's really like vs the Hollywood version of it) but the characters are fun and interesting, which makes things lighter. The ending is a bit bittersweet but it's fitting for the novel. Pick up Suzy Krause's novel if you're looking for something different to read.

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