Book Review: The Wedding Veil by Kristy Woodson Harvey

Pages: 416

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: March 30, 2022

Publisher: Gallery

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: Feels Like Falling,

Slightly South of Simple, The Secret to Southern Charm, 

The Southern Side of Paradise,  Christmas in Peachtree Bluff, 

and Under the Southern Sky

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars  

Goodreads says, "Four women. One family heirloom. A secret connection that will change their lives—and history as they know it.   Present Day: Julia Baxter’s wedding veil, bequeathed to her great-grandmother by a mysterious woman on a train in the 1930s, has passed through generations of her family as a symbol of a happy marriage. But on the morning of her wedding day, something tells her that even the veil’s good luck isn’t enough to make her marriage last forever. Overwhelmed and panicked, she escapes to the Virgin Islands to clear her head. Meanwhile, her grandmother Babs is also feeling shaken. Still grieving the death of her beloved husband, she decides to move out of the house they once shared and into a retirement community. Though she hopes it’s a new beginning, she does not expect to run into an old flame, dredging up the same complicated emotions she felt a lifetime ago.  1914: Socialite Edith Vanderbilt is struggling to manage the luxurious Biltmore Estate after the untimely death of her cherished husband. With 250 rooms to oversee and an entire village dependent on her family to stay afloat, Edith is determined to uphold the Vanderbilt legacy—and prepare her free-spirited daughter Cornelia to inherit it—in spite of her family’s deteriorating financial situation. But Cornelia has dreams of her own. Asheville, North Carolina has always been her safe haven away from the prying eyes of the press, but as she explores more of the rapidly changing world around her, she’s torn between upholding tradition and pursuing the exciting future that lies beyond Biltmore’s gilded gates.  In the vein of Therese Anne Fowler’s A Well-Behaved Woman and Jennifer Robson’s The Gown, The Wedding Veil brings to vivid life a group of remarkable women forging their own paths—and explores the mystery of a national heirloom lost to time."

 

Julia Baxter's family has an heirloom, a wedding veil, that has been passed down through her family for years.  It's not just a wedding veil though; it symbolizes a happy future and long lasting marriage.  Julia is planning her dream wedding at the Biltmore Estate, but things aren't going as planned.  Julia receives an anonymous text that shows a video of her fiance cheating on her. Cue the drama as the wedding was about to unfold.  Julia can't go through with it as this isn't the first time she has had fidelity issues with her fiance, so after the wedding is called off she travels on her honeymoon alone to figure things out.  Rewind many years to Edith and Cornelia Vanderbilt in 1914 at the Biltmore Estate.  They are struggling to keep it afloat after the sudden death of George Vanderbilt and the Great Crash of 1929.    The two families have a connection to the heirloom of the wedding veil, but share much more than that deep down. Both Cornelia and Julia want to break free from society's expectations and make their own way. Kristy Woodson Harvey's The Wedding Veil is a pleasant historical novel about the power of family, and having the courage to follow your heart.  

The Wedding Veil ties together four women, but Cornelia and Julia's stories stand out the most.  Julia's story in present day was the easiest to imagine and the unsuspecting text prior the wedding is enough to make any former bride anxious.  Readers can't help but feel bad for Julia at first, but then you start to learn more about her relationship and realize that she is definitely dodging a bullet. How did she get this far with her fiance though? Why did she stay with him this long? Because it was comfortable? So, I was happy to see Julia break free from her fiance, break free from those expectations, and forge a new path for herself. Once she travels to the Virgin Islands (her honeymoon) solo, she starts to not only figure out who she is without her fiance, but also what she wants out of life as she has lost sight of her goals.  Also, I really enjoyed Julia's relationship with her grandmother, Babs, and was entertained by the chapters from her point of view. She tugged on my heartstrings and made me think of my grandmother. 

Cornelia Vanderbilt is a difficult character to capture in The Wedding Veil, but Harvey did a good job considering this is her first foray into historical novel.  I enjoyed the passages describing the Biltmore Estate and although I have never been there, Harvey brought it to life well. She also captured the pressure and immense responsibility that weighed over the Edith Vanderbilt's head as she was in charge of this luxurious 250 room estate as well as the surrounding village. Cornelia has responsibilities to carry on things for the family, but she also has her own hopes for her future.  The wedding veil originally is in Cornelia's possession and without giving too much away, Harvey is able to tie these two unlikely families together very well.

The pacing of The Wedding Veil did drag at times in the middle, especially the historical sections, as I found myself really wanting to go back to present day to see what Julia was going to do next.  Other than some of the sluggish parts, I thought The Wedding Veil was a solid historical read, especially for fans of A Well-Behaved Woman. It has inspired me to plan my own trip to the Biltmore Estate.

Are you a fan of Kristy Woodson Harvey? Is The Wedding Veil on your TBR list? Have you been to the Biltmore Estate? Let me know in the comments below. 

Can't Wait Wednesday: On Gin Lane

Can't Wait Wednesday is hosted by Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!   

 

On Gin Lane by Brooke Lea Foster

Pub. Date: May 31, 2022

 

 

Goodreads says. "After her fiancé whisks her off to the glistening shores of Southampton in June of 1957, one young socialite begins to realize that her glamorous summer is giving her everything—except what she really wants—in this new novel from the author of Summer Darlings, “one terrific summer read” ​(Elin Hilderbrand, #1 New York Times bestselling author).  Everleigh “Lee” Farrows thinks she finally has life all figured out: a handsome fiancé named Roland, a trust in her name, and a house in Bronxville waiting for her to fill it with three adorable children. That is, until Roland brings her out to the Hamptons for a summer that will change everything.  Most women could only dream of the engagement present Roland unexpectedly bestows on Lee—a beachside hotel on the prized Gin Lane—but Lee’s delight is clouded by unpleasant memories of another hotel, the Plaza, where she grew up in the shadow of her mother’s mental illness. Shaking off flashbacks, Lee resolves to dive into an unforgettable summer with poolside Bellinis, daily tennis matches, luncheons with her Manhattan circle, and her beloved camera in tow. But when tragedy strikes on the hotel’s opening weekend, the cracks in Lee’s picture-perfect future slowly begin to reveal themselves, and Lee must look deep within herself to determine if the life she’s always wanted will ever truly be enough. From the regal inns to the farmland, the well-heeled New Yorkers to the Bohemian artists, the East End of Long Island is a hodge-podge of the changing American landscape in the late 1950s—and the perfect place for Lee to discover who she really is."

 

I really enjoyed Foster's Summer Darlings, so I am looking forward to checking this one out. What do you guys think? 

Book Review: One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle

Pages: 272

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: March 1, 2022

Publisher: Atria

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: In Five Years
My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "When Katy’s mother dies, she is left reeling. Carol wasn’t just Katy’s mom, but her best friend and first phone call. She had all the answers and now, when Katy needs her the most, she is gone. To make matters worse, their planned mother-daughter trip of a lifetime looms: two weeks in Positano, the magical town Carol spent the summer right before she met Katy’s father. Katy has been waiting years for Carol to take her, and now she is faced with embarking on the adventure alone. But as soon as she steps foot on the Amalfi Coast, Katy begins to feel her mother’s spirit. Buoyed by the stunning waters, beautiful cliffsides, delightful residents, and, of course, delectable food, Katy feels herself coming back to life. And then Carol appears—in the flesh, healthy, sun-tanned, and thirty years old. Katy doesn’t understand what is happening, or how—all she can focus on is that she has somehow, impossibly, gotten her mother back. Over the course of one Italian summer, Katy gets to know Carol, not as her mother, but as the young woman before her. She is not exactly who Katy imagined she might be, however, and soon Katy must reconcile the mother who knew everything with the young woman who does not yet have a clue."

 

Katy and her mom, Carol, have been planning a trip to Positano, Italy.  Positano holds a special place in Carol's heart as she spent a summer there in her younger years and she can't wait to take Katy there.  Everything is going as planned until Carol is diagnosed with cancer and unfortunately dies before they could take the trip.  Katy, who is very close to her mother, is absolutely devastated.  She's questioning everything at this point, including her marriage to her college sweetheart.  She realizes that she's unhappy with him and wants a break from their marriage. Meanwhile, she plans to take the trip to Positano alone even though it scares her to travel by herself.  Once there, Katy realizes why her mother was always so enamored with the Amalfi Coast. It's gorgeous! While at Hotel Poseidon, she tries to relax and also do some of the things that she planned with her mother. Katy is obviously still grieving, but she meets Adam, a businessman also staying at the hotel.  They hit it off immediately. Katy spends this time exploring the coast, eating the delicious Italian food, hanging out with Adam, soaking up some sun, drinking more than a few glasses of wine, and surprisingly, she sees her mother.  Except this isn't her mother on her death bed, it's Carol, in her thirties, living on the Amalfi Coast, just like she did that one glorious summer.  How can this be? How could Katy's mother be right before her eyes? Without thinking too deeply about it, Katy tries to spend as much time with her "new friend" and along the way, she learns some secrets about her mother.  Katy comes to realize Carol had a whole entire life before she became a mother and she sees her in a whole other light.  Rebecca Serle's One Italian Summer is a book that examines the grieving process, but the story's end it is undoubtably hopeful.

I'm going to be honest here, but Katy wasn't my favorite in One Italian Summer. I was hoping for a nice mother-daughter relationship, but what I found was a co-dependent one that bordered on unhealthy. Katy was way too reliant on her mother for just about everything to the point where her death uproots her life entirely. I wondered if Katy was going to be able to live without her mother telling her what to do, how to dress, etc. Once I got past their extremely codependent relationship that would have benefited from some healthy boundaries, I tried to enjoy the ride.  Serle makes a regular contemporary novel more magical by incorporating a time-warp element to the story.  Once Katy meets her younger mother, I really got suck into the story. What can I say? I love a good Back to the Future vibe.

The real star of the show is the Amalfi Coast setting in One Italian Summer.  Serle really brought it to life and I felt like I was there.  The descriptions of the landmarks, the azure water, the delectable food, the wine, and the people were spot on.  It had me wanting to drop everything to plan a trip to visit the Amalfi Coast and Capri once again.  Because of this absolutely immersive setting, One Italian Summer would be a great spring break read.

It should be noted though that One Italian Summer got a little depressing at times.  There's the issue of infidelity, terminal cancer, and family secrets that felt downright heavy at times.  Serle has written about terminal cancer before and it is starting to get to be a bit too much at times.  Despite this, I felt Serle captured the grieving process very well.

While I had issues with a few things in One Italian Summer, I felt the play on time travel was a nice touch as well as the memorable setting. These factors, along with the fact that it is an extremely quick read, made for a decent novel overall and one that you could throw in your bag over spring break.

So, are you a fan of Rebecca Serle's novels? Is One Italian Summer on your TBR list? Let me know in the comments below.

  

If You Enjoy Bridgerton....

 

Today is the premiere of season two of Bridgerton! Who is excited? I had the privilege of watching the first episode of season two ahead of time, thanks to Netflix, and I know fans won't be disappointed! I loved every second!

I must admit that before Bridgerton, I rarely ventured into the traditional romance genre except for a few historical romances from time to time.  However, I have gravitated towards more romances lately, especially when the world gets pretty heavy and the news cycle is depressing.  There's nothing better than getting lost in a swoonworthy romance, right?  Here are my favorite Bridgerton read-alikes with links to my reviews.

The Gilded Age Heiresses series by Harper St. George

 

Miss Lattimore's Letter by Suzanne Allain

The Siren of Sussex by Mimi Matthews

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean

Pink Carnation series by Lauren Willig

 Bridgerton Read-Alikes on My TBR list:

 

 

Last Duke Standing by Julia London

 

 

League of Extraordinary Women series by Evie Dunmore

 

 

Along Came a Lady by Christi Caldwell

 

 

 

To Have and to Hoax by Martha Waters

 

What are some of your favorite Bridgerton read-alikes? I am new to the historical romance genre, so be sure to share your favorites with me in the comments below. And if you are new to the Bridgerton series, be sure to enter my giveaway for a copy of The Duke and I. 

Audio Book Review: Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

 

Genre: Romance/Audio Book

Publisher: Recorded Books

Pub. Date: July 2, 2002

Source: Personal Copy 

Other Books By Author: The Duke and I, 

 The Viscount Who Loved Me, and An Offer From a Gentleman

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "On the sixth of April, in the year 1812 - precisely two days before her sixteenth birthday - Penelope Featherington fell in love. But Colin Bridgerton certainly didn't fall in love with her in 1812 (and not in 1813, 1814, 1815, or - oh blast, not in all the years 1816-1822, either, and certainly not in 1823, when he was out of the country the whole time, anyway..' Penelope Featherington has secretly adored her best friend's brother for well, it feels like forever. After half a lifetime of watching Colin Bridgerton from afar, she thinks she knows everything about him, until she stumbles across his deepest secret and fears she doesn't know him at all. Colin Bridgerton is tired of being thought of as nothing but an empty-headed charmer, tired of everyone's preoccupation with the notorious gossip columnist Lady Whistledown, who can't seem to publish an edition without mentioning him in the first paragraph. But when Colin returns to London from a trip abroad he discovers nothing in his life is quite the same - especially Penelope Featherington! The girl haunting his dreams. But when he discovers that Penelope has secrets of her own, this elusive bachelor must decides she his biggest threat - or his promise of a happy ending?"

 

Penelope Featherington, if you are familiar with the Bridgertons series, is a wallflower. She is best friends with Eloise Bridgerton and due to this has always been in the Bridgerton family's orbit.  However, she has never really had her moment, that is until this book.  Readers know that Penelope has adored Colin Bridgerton for years.  He has never really noticed her as anything other than Eloise's best friend. Sure, they are friends, but that's it.  He is busy with his traveling, and when he is home, his boisterous family takes up the bulk of his time.  Penelope is confident she knows all there is to know about Colin that is until she stumbles upon his journal from his travels. This isn't something that Colin was willing to share with anyone, so cue major drama.  Penelope had no idea that Colin fancied himself a writer.  Then there's still the issue of Lady Whistledown's identity.  Lady Danbury proposes to offer a reward to anyone who uncovers her identity.  Without giving too much away, this is the book that readers will find out who is behind Lady Whistledown.  Colin can't help but think it's Eloise and he worries that this will ruin her.  As Penelope and Colin spend more time together, sparks fly and despite Colin being not entirely sure of things, he can't deny his new found attraction to her.  Romancing Mister Bridgerton is book four in the Bridgertons series and despite Colin's stubbornness, this book is a delight thanks to Penelope and the uncovering of Lady Whistledown.

I have always enjoyed the character of Penelope. She is an underdog of sorts and I felt she should have been treated better by her family.  Her friendship with Eloise is one of the reasons I adore her and even though she has resigned herself to the fact that she is now a spinster, there's so much still to come for Penelope in Romancing Mister Bridgerton.  Her obsession with Colin in this book is awkward at times, especially when she stumbles upon his journal.  However, despite the cringe-worthy moment, she finds out Colin's big secret, which definitely drives the plot forward a bit.  It appears that Eloise isn't the only Bridgerton who enjoys writing. 

Also, Colin has been interacting a bit more with Penelope than usual, because he is convinced that his sister, Eloise, is Lady Whistledown.  Who better to discuss this with than Eloise's best friend?  Once Colin starts to see Penelope as more than just Eloise's best friend, things really heat up between the two.  But this is where I was conflicted and it surrounds the character of Colin.

Colin has always seem to be the kind Bridgerton brother; however, in Romancing Mister Bridgerton, he is really stubborn and even  rude at times.  I didn't care for his behavior; however, I wanted the happy ending for Penelope and he does come around.  Despite his brash behavior at times, I thought Penelope and Colin's story was a delightful one; plus, who doesn't love to see the underdog win?  Penelope deserves that and more, especially after dealing with her insufferable family. 

As always, I chose to listen to this book and it was a delight. Rosalyn Landor is one of my favorite audio book narrators; I couldn't imagine listening to the Bridgertons without hearing her memorable voice.  I highly recommend the audio version of this series.

So, are you a fan of the Bridgertons series and the TV show? Have you read Romancing Mister Bridgerton? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

  

Audio Book Review: An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn

 

Genre: Romance/Audio Book

Publisher: Recorded Books

Source: Personal Copy 

Other Books By Author: The Duke and I

and The Viscount Who Loved Me

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

 Goodreads says, "Sophie Beckett never dreamed she'd be able to sneak into Lady Bridgerton's famed masquerade ball—or that "Prince Charming" would be waiting there for her! Though the daughter of an earl, Sophie has been relegated to the role of servant by her disdainful stepmother. But now, spinning in the strong arms of the debonair and devastatingly handsome Benedict Bridgerton, she feels like royalty. Alas, she knows all enchantments must end when the clock strikes midnight.  Who was that extraordinary woman? Ever since that magical night, a radiant vision in silver has blinded Benedict to the attractions of any other—except, perhaps, this alluring and oddly familiar beauty dressed in housemaid's garb whom he feels compelled to rescue from a most disagreeable situation. He has sworn to find and wed his mystery miss, but this breathtaking maid makes him weak with wanting her. Yet, if he offers her his heart, will Benedict sacrifice his only chance for a fairy tale love?"

 

 

 

Benedict, the second eldest Bridgerton brother, can't stop thinking about a mysterious woman who attended their family's popular masquerade ball.  It was love at first sight, but for the life of him, he can't figure out who this elusive woman is.  Enter Sophie Beckett who attends the Bridgerton's ball on the sly. She really shouldn't be there; however, she finds herself talking to the extremely attractive (and single!) Benedict Bridgerton.  She knows that this is just for fun, because when the ball is over, she will go back to her normal life as the ward of the Earl of Penwood. She is an illegitimate child of the Earl and ever since he married Araminta, she has gone from a ward to even worse, a servant. Araminta and her two daughters make Sophie's life a living hell.  Once Araminta finds out she attended the ball, Sophie is kicked out of the house and then two years later, her path crosses Benedict's once again.  Even though Sophie is a maid, Benedict can't help to feel responsible for her well-being as she was being take advantage of, but also his undeniable attraction to her. Does he remember her from that fateful night two years ago?  Julia Quinn's An Offer From a Gentleman, book three in the Bridgerton series, includes everything that readers have come to love from the Bridgertons.

Sophie is a character you can't help but feel for in An Offer From a Gentleman.  She has major Cinderella vibes in this novel; obviously Quinn pulled some inspiration from that much loved fairy tale as Araminta and her two daughters play the role of stepmother and the two stepsisters very well.  It broke my heart that Sophie had strong feelings for Benedict, but she knew deep down that their love could never be.  Plus, she is now working as a maid, which would never be acceptable to high society.  When their paths cross in the future, she finds herself being rescued by Benedict from a very upsetting situation.  The big question is do they still have feelings for each other after all this time? Does he remember her as the beautiful woman who stole his heart at the ball years ago? And more importantly, even if they do still have feelings for each other could they possibly make it work against all the odds?

While I don't enjoy Benedict as much as the other Bridgertons, I  enjoyed his part in this Cinderella story. He searched for the mysterious woman clad in silver from the masquerade ball to no avail. No one could place her and he didn't see her again until years later at a party where she was working as a maid.  At this point, he is attracted to her, but couldn't place her exactly.  As their romance develops and he comes to the realization that she is indeed the mysterious woman from the ball, sparks fly.  Readers can't help but wonder how will they make this work in An Offer From a Gentleman. 

I don't really care for the Cinderella or insta-love trope, but Quinn still made An Offer From a Gentleman an enjoyable read that was the perfect escape. I adore this series in that I can pick it up whenever and be reunited with the Bridgertons.  The audio book narrator, Rosalyn Landor, is perfection and I can't wait to continue with the series.

So, are you a fan of the Bridgerton series? Have you read An Offer From a Gentleman? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. 

  

Bridgerton Week and Giveaway

 

Bridgerton fans, this is the week you have been waiting for! Season two of the show premieres on Netflix this Friday. To celebrate its much anticipated release, I am hosting a week all about the Bridgertons! This week, I'll be sharing two reviews of the Bridgerton books I read recently and books I'd recommend to Bridgerton fans.  

 

 

To get the party started, I am hosting a giveaway for book one in the series, The Duke and I by Julia Quinn. If you haven't read the book, you must and I promise you that you will be hooked on the series.  I, for one, can't get enough of the Bridgerton family.  

Check out my thoughts on The Duke and I as well as book two, The Viscount Who Loved Me, which is the book the TV show is focusing on this season.  Also, be sure to let me know if you are a fan of the books, the series, or both in the comments below. Will you be watching the premiere?

 

The Giveaway:

 

One lucky winner will receive a copy of The Duke and I by Julia Quinn. The giveaway is open internationally as long as Book Depository ships to you.  The giveaway will be open until April 4th and please refer to my giveaway rules.  Thank you and good luck!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

 

Book Review: Sisters of Night and Fog by Erika Robuck

Pages: 480

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: March 1, 2022

Publisher: Berkley

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: Call Me Zelda,

Fallen Beauty, The Invisible Woman,  

The House of Hawthorne, and Hemingway's Girl

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "1940. In a world newly burning with war, and in spite of her American family’s wishes, Virginia decides to stay in occupied France with her French husband. She’s sure that if they keep their heads down they’ll make it through. But as the call to resist the enemy grows around her, Virginia must decide if she's willing to risk everything to help those in need.  Nineteen-year-old Violette is a crack shot with an unquenchable spirit of adventure, and she's desperate to fight the Nazis however she can. When her mother sends her to find an exiled soldier, Violette meets the man who will change her life. Then tragedy strikes, and Britain’s clandestine war organization—the Special Operations Executive—learns of Violette’s dual citizenship and adept firearm handling and starts to recruit her. But Violette is no stranger to loss and must decide whether the cost of defiance is too great a price to pay.  Set across the European theater of WWII, Sisters of Night and Fog tells the story of two women whose clandestine deeds come to a staggering halt when they are brought together at Ravensbrück concentration camp. 

Virginia, an American, is living a wonderful life in France. She has a gorgeous French husband, his family is amazing, and life in France is pretty much perfect and they are about to start a family. That is until their world comes crashing down. France becomes occupied by Germany in 1940 and their lives are changed forever.  She hopes that if they don't attract too much attention, perhaps they will make it through unscathed.  Then there's Violette, an Englishwoman, who is feisty, brave, unconventional, and fluent in French.  She meets Etienne, a French soldier, and they have a fast-moving, whirlwind of a relationship that leads them to the altar to get married, but Etienne won't be around for long as the call of duty will send him to fight the Germans.  Violette doesn't want to just sit back and do nothing; she desperately wants to contribute.  The Special Operations Executive hears of her bravery, her ability with a firearm, and her dual citizenship, so they feel she is a perfect fit.  Both Violette and Virginia find themselves helping the French Resistance and summoning a lot of courage to make it through these dark times.  Erika Robuck's Sisters of Night and Fog is such a memorable and moving read about two valiant women during World War II. 

I immediately liked Virginia in Sisters of Night and Fog.  Her dedication to her husband, Philippe, is so admirable. Even though she is an American and could easily go back to Florida before the war really took off, she chose to stay with her husband and his family.  She didn't want to part from him and I really adored their relationship.  Virginia has been through a lot during the first few chapters of the novel and it broke my heart, but it also showed how women have such courage and must harness it to face the day, whether it be dealing with a tragedy or something as serious as the German occupation.  Even though Virginia may not be as brave or dazzling of a character as Violette, I still enjoyed her part of the story and her quiet confidence.  As the war continues and impacts the people around her, she realizes that she can't hide out anymore. She must help the resistance and I was moved by her experience especially when her path crosses with Violette.

Violette is a force of nature in  Sisters of Night and Fog.  She's larger than life and she reminded me a bit of Robuck's other protagonist in The Invisible Woman. They both possessed so much bravery, tenacity, and that special something.  Violette is an extremely charismatic person who was often compared to Ingrid Bergman, so I suppose she used this to her advantage when working with the SOE.  I really adored her story even though at times it really tugged on my heartstrings.  I don't want to give too much of her story away but Violette is the embodiment of courage and her story reminds us to persevere.

I love that Robuck writes about real women from the past and brings their stories to the forefront. While this was tough to read given the current political climate in Ukraine, it was still such a moving and memorable read.  Even though some parts of  Sisters of Night and Fog were extremely sad, I thought that overall it was more about courage though and how we must be brave during dark times as there's always something to fight for.  With that said, if you are a fan of WWII dramas, you must check out  Sisters of Night and Fog; I highly recommend it.

So, are you a fan of Erika Robuck? Have you read any of her novels? Is  Sisters of Night and Fog on your TBR list? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. 

   

Can't Wait Wednesday: Mustique Island

Can't Wait Wednesday is hosted by Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!    

 

Mustique Island by Sarah McCoy

Pub. Date: May 10, 2022

Goodreads says, "From bestselling author Sarah McCoy, a sun-splashed romp with a rich divorcée and her two wayward daughters in 1970s Mustique, the world’s most exclusive private island, where Princess Margaret and Mick Jagger were regulars and scandals stayed hidden from the press.  It’s January 1972 but the sun is white hot when Willy May Michael’s boat first kisses the dock of Mustique Isle. Tucked into the southernmost curve of the Caribbean, Mustique is a private island that has become a haven for the wealthy and privileged. Its owner is the eccentric British playboy Colin Tennant, who is determined to turn this speck of white sand into a luxurious neo-colonial retreat for his rich friends and into a royal court in exile for the Queen’s rebellious sister, Princess Margaret—one where Her Royal Highness can skinny dip, party, and entertain lovers away from the public eye.  Willy May, a former beauty queen from Texas—who is also no stranger to marital scandals—seeks out Mustique for its peaceful isolation. Determined to rebuild her life and her relationships with her two daughters, Hilly, a model, and Joanne, a musician, she constructs a fanciful white beach house across the island from Princess Margaret—and finds herself pulled into the island’s inner circle of aristocrats, rock stars, and hangers-on.  When Willy May’s daughters arrive, they discover that beneath its veneer of decadence, Mustique has a dark side, and like sand caught in the undertow, their mother-daughter story will shift and resettle in ways they never could have imagined."

 

Does this not seem like the perfect beach read? 1970s Mustique sounds like quite the adventure. Also, I adored McCoy's Marilla of Green Gables, so I have high hopes for this book.  What do you guys think? 

 

Book Review: The Golden Couple by Greer Hendrinks and Sarah Pekkanen

Pages: 336

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: March 8, 2022

Publisher: St. Martin's

Other Books By Author: You Are Not Alone,

The Wife Between Us, and An Anonymous Girl

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "The next electrifying novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author duo behind The Wife Between Us.  Wealthy Washington suburbanites Marissa and Matthew Bishop seem to have it all—until Marissa is unfaithful. Beneath their veneer of perfection is a relationship riven by work and a lack of intimacy. She wants to repair things for the sake of their eight-year-old son and because she loves her husband. Enter Avery Chambers. Avery is a therapist who lost her professional license. Still, it doesn’t stop her from counseling those in crisis, though they have to adhere to her unorthodox methods. And the Bishops are desperate. When they glide through Avery’s door and Marissa reveals her infidelity, all three are set on a collision course. Because the biggest secrets in the room are still hidden, and it’s no longer simply a marriage that’s in danger."

 

 

 

Avery Chambers, a therapist, has lost her license due to her unconventional methods; however, this hasn't caused her to leave the field.  In fact, she is more popular than ever and is known for multi-step approach to get back her clients back on track.  That is exactly why Marissa Bishop hires her to save her marriage.  Marissa has cheated on her husband and confesses this during her first therapy session with her husband, Matthew.  This shouldn't be too difficult for Avery to fix, right? Her ten step approach can fix anything, that is until she meets Marissa and Matthew who are hiding too many secrets for their own good. On the surface, they look like the perfect "golden" couple; however, there's many dark secrets lurking below that Avery uncovers slowly and some of the secrets, surprisingly, trip Avery up! But Matthew and Marissa aren't the only characters hiding secrets in the novel. Avery has made some enemies along the way, starting with a drug company that she reported to the FDA. The drug company is hot on her trail and isn't happy with her all.  Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen's The Golden Couple is a solid thriller that had me flipping the pages.

Marissa is, at first, an intriguing character despite her affair.  However, once readers get to know her, they realize that the you don't really know her at all. She hides many secrets and omits the truth quite frequently. For starters, she says her affair was with a guy from her gym, which we find out isn't true at all.  I do give her credit for trying marriage counseling, but can it really work when there's too many secrets between a couple? Slowly Avery tries to figure them out by using her unconventional ways that make her feel more of a detective at times. She visits Marissa's boutique, talks to Marissa's assistant who raises some red flags, trails Matthew, and even visits Marissa's gym to find the guy she had an affair with.  As Avery uncovers more of Marissa's story, she realizes there's more to this than meets the eye.

The other characters are equally interesting in The Golden Couple. Matthew raises some red flags from the beginning, but he wants everyone to recognize him as a victim since he is the one who was cheated on. Slowly readers learn more about Matthew and Marissa's past, how they met, his background, and all of this helps the readers better understand their relationship. Then there's Polly, Marissa's assistant, who seems entirely unstable and a bit Single White Female at times. Readers can't help but feel like she is withholding some secrets, too. Then there's the Avery, who is supposed to be figuring out everyone else's problems, but she has some of her own that are starting to look bigger than she can handle as this drug company's stalking is getting dangerous.  

There are many twists in The Golden Couple and although I enjoyed the novel more than their last novel, I still felt that some twists were a bit forced and I didn't entirely believe some of them.  However, that didn't stop my enjoyment as I thought it was an entertaining thriller despite its downfalls.  

So, are you a fan of Hendricks and Pekannen's collaborations? Have you read The Golden Couple? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.