May 19, 2020

REVIEW: Beach Read by Emily Henry

JayneB Reviews / Book Reviewsauthor / Contemporary / dysfunctional family / enemies to lovers / family relationships / First-Person / Michigan3 Comments

A romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever afters. Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens ... more >

April 6, 2020

REVIEW: Yours with Love by Mary Burchell

JayneB Reviews / Book Reviews1980s / dysfunctional family / England / family relationships / London / Older Man/Younger Woman / secretary8 Comments

The scheme would be of mutual benefit When Jason Kent literally crashed into Virginia’s life, he turned her whole world upside down. In return for a large sum of money, he asked her to pose as his mistress so that his wife would divorce him. Virginia agreed because it meant ... more >

April 1, 2020

REVIEW: On the Hillwilla Road by Melanie Forde

JayneB Reviews / Book ReviewsContemporary / dysfunctional family / family relationships / fish-out-of-water / Hillwilla series / older woman / West Virginia / Womens-FictionNo Comments

This follow-up novel to Hillwilla explores how disparate characters can grow to need and depend on one another In Hillwilla, Beatrice Desmond, a former Bostonian Ivy Leaguer, found herself in midlife on a llama farm in remote West Virginia. Clara Buckhalter, a troubled young girl, drew Beatrice out of her ... more >

March 12, 2020

REVIEW: One Way to Venice by Jane Aiken Hodge

JayneB Reviews / Book Reviews1970s / dual-timeline / dysfunctional family / Estranged Couple / Gothic / mystery/thriller / Suspense / Venice2 Comments

Five years ago, Julia Rivers’ life fell apart. After a whirlwind marriage to the love of her life, Julia found herself trapped in a family filled with secrets. When she was nearly killed, Julia and her unborn child fled, leaving behind this family who seemed to have it out for ... more >

February 26, 2020

REVIEW: The Bridled Tongue by Catherine Meyrick

JayneB Reviews / Book Reviews16th-century / arranged-marriage / commoners / dysfunctional family / Historical / merchant class / Tudor-England / witchNo Comments

Death and life are in the power of the tongue. England 1586 Alyce Bradley has few choices when her father decides it is time she marry as many refuse to see her as other than the girl she once was–unruly, outspoken and close to her grandmother, a woman suspected of ... more >

February 18, 2020

REVIEW: The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James

JayneB+ Reviews / Book Reviews / Recommended Reads1980s / college-student / dual-timeline / dysfunctional family / murder-investigation / mystery / Serial-Killer / strong heroine6 Comments