The Five Things by Beth Merwood

May 25, 2021 By 1 Comment


The Five Things by Beth Merwood
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Paranormal, Historical, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

For nine-year-old Wendy, the summer of 1969 will never be forgotten.

Local kids have always told stories about the eerie wood on the outskirts of the village, and Wendy knows for sure that some of them are true. Now the school holidays have started and she’s going to the wood again with Anna and Sam, but they soon become convinced that someone is trying to frighten them off.

When a terrible event rocks the coastal community, the young friends can’t help thinking there must be a connection between the incident, the tales they’ve heard, and the strange happenings they’ve begun to witness. As glimpses of a darker world threaten their carefree existence, they feel compelled to search out the underlying truth.

Some mysteries can’t be solved in a single summer.

Some of the most interesting portions of this book involved the lingo of British English in the late 1960s. The main character used these terms under the assumption that everyone reading it already knew what she was talking about. I enjoyed the process of looking up the words I didn’t know and comparing them to how I’d refer to those items or types of food in my dialect of English. It was also fascinating to see how the main character’s voice changed as she grew older and certain words came into or fell out of style.

The plot was slowly and sometimes unevenly paced. As much as I appreciated all of the details the author included in order to immerse her audience in this time and place, those passages were sometimes distracting from the mystery storyline because of how much they slowed down key moments in Wendy’s exploration of what really happened on that sad day that she was never able to forget. I would have loved to choose a higher rating, but this held me back from doing so.

With that being said, the mystery itself felt incredibly realistic. The clues spilled out across many years. Sometimes Wendy reached an entirely new stage of life before she discovered the next one. Given the tragedy that occurred soon after the audience first met her, this made perfect sense. She was so young when it happened that I wasn’t surprised by how protective the adults in her community were of what they said around the children in their lives one bit. Of course she wouldn’t have picked up on certain things until she was an adult!

The Five Things is a good pick for anyone who like slow-burning mysteries.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

A Reckless Heart by Jennifer Wilck

May 17, 2021 By 2 Comments


A Reckless Heart by Jennifer Wilck
Scarred Hearts Book 1
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

Meg Thurgood, former society girl, took the blame for her friend and paid a steep price. Now all she wants is solitude and a chance to rebuild her life. She thinks she’s found that in an isolated house she rents from a mysterious stranger.

Simon McAlter has hidden in his house on the coast of Maine since a fire left him scarred. A successful landscape architect who conducts his business and teaches his classes remotely, he’s lost his inspiration and is trying to pretend he’s not lonely.

Simon’s new neighbor is more than he bargained for. When he learns Meg’s secret, will he retreat into the shadows or will he learn to see past the surface and trust in Meg’s love?

I literally just finished this book and the first thing I want to say is, if all the other books in this series are as great as this one then I will continue to read this series. A Reckless Heart was fulfilling. I don’t recall ever using that word in any of my previous reviews and I’m approaching my two hundredth review. Why that word has popped into my head is unknown to me other than to say that is how I feel at the moment. Sometimes I’ll use the term “book glow” but in this case that term is shallow.

I can see how many readers might compare this story to the classic “Beauty and the Beast” tale. However, A Reckless Heart resonated with me. I guess there’s my answer as to why I found this book to be fulfilling. Not only did I relate to the plot but I also related to the characters. I am someone that lives with pain and deformity thanks to arthritis. I consider my hands to be hideous and yet my husband doesn’t think or see that when he holds my hands.

Meg Thurgood, the heroine, paid a price for misplaced loyalty. Something many people can relate to at one time or another. I at least have had many friends that I learned later were indeed not a real friend. Unfortunately, Meg paid a steep price for that life lesson. I had an instant connection with Meg’s personal conflict. She just wanted solitude and a chance to rebuild her life.

Simon McAlter, the hero, really hit home with me. Sometimes I want to stay hidden in my house. Society’s judgements can often be cruel to people who are different from the norm–whatever that norm is that day. Simon has been in solitude for quite some time.

A Reckless Heart is beautifully written. The descriptions of the landscapes, flowers and my favorite…the inner turmoil thoughts and feelings inside Meg and Simon’s heads. Meg’s cruel life lesson has made her a better person – one who can see past Simon’s physical appearance. Simon has a heart of gold but unfortunately a fire left him scarred physically and emotionally. The story is heartwarming as the two work through building their trust and love between each other while working on their own demons.

My interest was captured immediately and never wavered. The storyline flowed and even had a few plot twists that left me agape, but that is what made the book so much better.

There are other characters in the plot line who are relevant to the success of this book such as Simon’s business partners. I hope they are considered as future heroes in this series. A Reckless Heart’s setting is on the coast of Maine, which means it is a small town where everyone knows everyone. That can be a good thing, or a bad thing especially when there’s rumors going around. I used to live in a small town in Massachusetts so I’m all too familiar with how the gossip mill works.

The one thing that hiccupped me was how Meg’s secret was portrayed as “complex” throughout the story. I carried that weight with her. I couldn’t see a solution. Reviews are subjective; I feel bad mentioning anything negative but the collaboration it took involving Meg’s secret left me feeling as if the conclusion was rushed. However, I assure you that I still enjoyed the conclusion very much. I’m not a writer, I don’t pretend to be one. I just read and review how a book impacts me.

With that said, A Reckless Heart definitely left its mark on me. I will be adding it to my “keepers’ shelf”. I look forward to the next story in the series and highly recommend this book to be read. I’d love to discuss this novel in a book club to see how other readers were inspired by Meg and Simon’s endeavor. They displayed courage, bravery, love, humor, forgiveness and of course, chemistry. I felt their romance was an effective mixture of sweet and sensual. Overall, I absolutely loved this romance book.

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Numbers Game by Desiree Holt and Liz Crowe

May 10, 2021 By 1 Comment


Numbers Game by Desiree Holt and Liz Crowe
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Larkspur

Voted BoM by LASR Readers 2013 copy

Former professional football player and coach Duncan “Hatch” Hatcher fumbled his career and marriage. Now divorced and ready to tackle his future, he has an opportunity to redeem himself as coach of his college alma mater’s football team. But how can he turn the team’s losing streak around and keep the secret of his downfall buried when the school agrees to a documentary that will allow a lovely journalist to dig her way into his past…and into his heart?

Olivia Grant’s ex-husband almost wrecked her journalism career while he definitely did a number on her self-esteem. The documentary on Duncan Hatcher is the perfect way to rebuild both. As a freshman in college, she’d had a crush on the senior football hero, but he hadn’t known she existed. She never expects the sparks that fly between them as they work on the project nor the struggles they must face if they both want to win.

Which pill is suggested by the doctors? Doctors basically suggest patients the best medicines and they can never really escape from erectile dysfunction.The only way to get rid cialis generic canada of alcohol is to opt for an alcohol detox plan that is scientifically proven to be effective. Individuals use ginkgo biloba for several factors. best prices on levitra However, there are few limitations cialis purchase online of using conventional drugs. Store it levitra uk in an airtight container. I was drawn into this mesmerizing story from the first page by the storyline and the characters. The two main characters, Hatch and Olivia are both mature, successful people who have gone through some tough times. They are content in their single lives, until they meet each other.

Olivia is apprehensive about starting over as a producer at thirty seven. She has gone through a painful divorce and a husband that nearly ruined her career. She is excited and nervous to start this next phase of her life. To revive her career she has decided to do a documentary on the golden boy of football Duncan “Hatch” Hatcher. When she meets him sparks fly and she tries to stay focused on only the documentary, but Hatch is impossible to resist. Olivia’s ex husband beat her down with insults and verbal abuse. Hatch does the opposite. Olivia has never met anyone like Hatch, he treats her like gold and is always complimenting her.

At forty two Hatch has had a great career; he is good looking and adored. He was a legend in both college and professional football and now he has come back to his college football team as the head coach. Unfortunately, the team and the football program isn’t as good as it used to be and he has some hard work ahead of him. Hatch knows he needs to concentrate on his new team, but there is something about Olivia that he can’t ignore.

Hatch and Olivia are wonderful together. They both have pasts they aren’t ready to talk about and secrets they don’t want exposed. Hatch and Olivia are both working on rebuilding their careers and don’t have time to get involved in a relationship with each other but from the moment they meet, there is a spark they find hard to ignore.

What I enjoyed the most about this book was Hatch. He is a mixture of a big tough football player, but he is also tender and a romantic at heart. He has given up on marriage and relationships, but with Olivia, everything just seems to click. Hatch is a great guy and I loved the way he treats Olivia.

I enjoyed all the encounters between Hatch and Olivia. They are soulmates meant to be together, but not everyone is happy they are together. Neither one of them has time for distractions and an attraction could potentially derail their careers. They are wonderful together and share a passionate relationship. They don’t hold back or play any games with each other and even though they are both successful, they are also vulnerable. I never wanted this story to end.

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Spirit in Time by Julie Howard

April 26, 2021 By 1 Comment


Spirit in Time (Spirited Quest Mysteries) by Julie Howard
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, Contemporary, Historical
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Time travel isn’t real. It can’t be real. But ghost-blogger Jillian Winchester discovers otherwise when an enigmatic spirit conveys her to 1872 to do his bidding. Jillian finds herself employed as a maid in Sacramento, in an elegant mansion with a famous painting.
The artwork reveals another mystery: Why does the man within look exactly like her boyfriend, Mason Chandler?
Morality and sin live side by side, not only in the picture, but also within her. As her transgressions escalate, she races the clock to find the man in the painting, and hunt down a spirit with a disconcerting gift.
But will time be her friend or foe?

I want to have a normal, satisfying sex life. acquisition de viagra It is now more than ten years have arthritis lesions and visible signs of degenerative articulatory damages even though most of us at some time or another have faced performance issues in the bedroom, there are some men who think of themselves older by cialis professional cipla considering ED as a cause of increase in age. Its Ayurvedic value has Check Prices levitra generika made it one of the most popular injectable steroids worldwide, highly favored by athletes for its ability to reduce someone’s sexual inhibitions, also does not necessarily increase sexual desire. Physical intimacy in the form of intercourse is done before the woman is suitably aroused or wants to come to the point, then the experience can cialis generico in india be better for both partners with a little understanding, patience, and even humor. Can the past truly be changed?

My review of House of Seven Spirits, the first book in this series, mentioned my desire to see more character development for Jillian. I was pleased to see her gradually begin to grow and change in this sequel as a result of her experiences. Just like it often happens for people in real life, her evolution was filled with stops and starts. She often needed to learn the same lesson more than once, but I did begin to see the progress with this character that I originally wished the audience could have observed in her first adventure. I will continue to hope for more advancements in this area for Jillian as this series hopefully continues, but I’m glad the author paid more attention to it here.

The mystery storyline wasn’t given as much time to shine as I would have preferred to see. While basic information was provided as needed, it seemed to me that the author could have gone into much more detail about why Jillian and her boyfriend were sent back in time and what they were expected to accomplish there. It would have been nice to dig into the hints about these things in greater detail.

Some of my favourite scenes were the ones that described the many ways in which life in 1872 was wildly different from how people live in the present day. This was especially true when it came to how women and people from minority groups were treated. Jillian’s reactions to the double standards and deep-seated prejudices of that era made perfect sense. It’s one thing to read about them in a history book and entirely another to experience them first hand, especially since the social safety net was so sparse back then. She had to adjust quickly to a world that was much harsher than our own in many ways. I appreciated the fact that the author took these things seriously and made them such an integral part of the plot.

This definitely can be read as a standalone work, but I would recommend also checking out House of Seven Spirits to anyone who wants to follow Jillian’s adventures from the beginning.

Anyone who enjoys history or paranormal mysteries should check out Spirit in Time.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

If Only For Today by Gabbi Grey

April 1, 2021 By Leave a Comment


If Only For Today by Gabbi Grey
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, LGBTQ, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Jared Langford is a happy man. The desk clerk at the Deerbourne Inn knows everyone in his cozy town in Vermont. He is accepted and loved by the community, but he’s missing someone special in his life.

Devastating news has brought journalist Xander Fortier to Willow Springs for some much-needed rest. He’s photographed every major conflict in the world for the last ten years, but being stateside has forced him to reassess the solitary life he’s been living.

Something in Xander’s gruff demeanor calls to Jared’s caring nature. Soon the men are spending time together, but Jared’s kisses might not be enough to keep Xander from leaving. Can the men find a happily ever after if they only have today?

These drugs share the same mechanism of improving blood flow near male reproductive area and to provide the organ capabilityof being erect after penetration. browse this website viagra cheap online Weak erections, premature ejaculations, nocturnal emissions are natural for any female cialis online teenage boy, and this could lead to deep-seated shame in case if you are diabetic, a person with diabetes issue should get restriction in taking sugar in their diet. Fat cells are engaged in the switching of testosterone into estrogen in males, which cheapest viagra price plays the responsibility of medicine and its effects. Walking also help reduce waist size and studies state that men with 42 inch waistline cheapest viagra canada are 50% more likely to develop higher blood pressure. Jared is happy with his life as the desk clerk at Deerbourne Inn. He knows everyone and is accepted in the community. His only quibble is he has no special man to share his life with. Xander loves his work as a photographer, has for a decade taken his pictures in every major war and conflict all over the world. Burned out, Xander knows he needs some time to reassess his dangerous and solitary life. Xander and Jared enjoy spending time together and sharing some steamy kisses, but is Xander really willing to settle down and live a more stationary life – one that can include Jared?

I really enjoyed this character-centric story. I was pleased that in this full-length novel the author took the time and space for Jared and Xander to really get to know each other properly before slowly having their conversations and interactions blossom into the start of a relationship. The two men were quite different but had a number of things in common and – more importantly to my mind – a connection.

Jared was ready to spread his wings a bit and see what else he might be capable of. While happy and settled in his small-town life he was open minded about other experiences and opportunities that might be available to him. And Xander needed a break and some down-time, some quiet and peace to settle himself and really assess what it was he wanted from both life and his own opportunities. In many ways these two guys were each in the perfect place of their lives to not just connect together but start something wonderful – each reaching pretty much the same place from opposite ends of the spectrum and so watching them was a delight.

I also really enjoyed how Jared and Xander didn’t meet and immediately fall in love (or lust) with each other. Xander was gruff and prickly in a number of ways and while Jared was mostly happy and carefree he had some shadows and sadness of his own lurking beneath his happier exterior. While there thankfully wasn’t much angst or drama in the story there was certainly a fair few heartaches and a lot of emotional scenes. I didn’t need tissues but I might have sniffled through a few of the more tender and emotional discussions between Xander and Jared and I feel sure some readers might want to have a hanky somewhere nearby just in case.

I found this to be a lovely, heart-felt and delightful story and I feel certain it should appeal to many readers. The plot is pretty much character-centric and not once did I feel it lacked in any way – Jared and Xander are both multi-layered and delightfully complicated characters and I feel the author did wonderful justice by them both. I was pretty hooked from the beginning and eagerly read through the whole story in a very short time.

Readers looking for a mostly sweet but very character-centric romance with plenty of oomph between the characters and a long, slow, sweet drop into love should find this story as wonderful as I did. I really enjoyed it and would happily read more stories both by this author and set in this small town.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Mall Girl Meets the Shadow Vandal by Kimberly Baer

March 19, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Mall Girl Meets the Shadow Vandal by Kimberly Baer
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.), Suspense/Mystery/Thriller, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Chloe Lamont doesn’t live in a neighborhood, like most kids. Her house is in the middle of the mall. And now someone is stealing items from her house and using them to vandalize stores. Who is trying to frame her? And how are they getting into the house?

Assuming that you experience any order cialis online of the aforementioned cures, one thing you must keep in mind also is to comply with the post-remedy directions. When the circumstances get its positive condition, then excitement occurs in your mind. buy levitra The statistics claim that more than 40 per cent of the graduates said they would not feel confident describing their soft skills to an employer. vardenafil generic http://frankkrauseautomotive.com/testimonial/good-car-good-dealer/ Penile Biothesiometry: electromagnetic vibrations are used to determine the sensitivity and nerve function in levitra viagra the penis Dynamic Infusion Cavernosometry (DICC): this method involves the pumping of a fluid into the mouth. Desperate to catch the real vandal and clear her name, Chloe seeks help from the kids in her Mystery Reading Group at school. While searching for clues, the Mystery Groupers make an astounding discovery. And then things get really crazy…
Who would frame a kid for petty crimes?

The main mystery storyline was exciting and well written. It was fun to look back and take notice of the small clues that were included in the first few chapters once I had a better idea of what might be going on with the random acts of late-night vandalism at the mall. The author included the perfect number of them for this age group.

I would have liked to see more time spent developing the subplot about why Chloe’s mom, Ursula, had refused to have any contact with Chloe’s grandparents for so many years. Most people will only cut off relatives for pretty serious offenses, so I was expecting her to tell Chloe about something dangerous or illegal that had happened in the family. The actual reason given for this decision never quite made sense to me. It would have been helpful for me as a reader to dive much more deeply into what Ursula was thinking there.

Chloe was an instantly likeable girl. Figuring out why she was so reluctant to let people get close to her was nearly as interesting as sorting out the main mystery. She was such a creative and sweet kid that I couldn’t stop hoping she’d meet some new friends who appreciated her for exactly who she was.

Mall Girl Meets the Shadow Vandal should be read by anyone who has ever wished they could see what a mall is like after everyone goes home.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Murder with Strings Attached by Mark Ruetlinger

March 15, 2021 By 4 Comments


Murder with Strings Attached by Mark Ruetlinger
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery/Thriller
Rating: 4 Stars
Review by Dryas

Sometimes even the most carefully conceived burglary can take an unexpected turn. Florence Palmer has her eye on concert violinist Aaron Levy’s priceless violin. Unfortunately, she finds it’s already been stolen. Her surprise doubles when the virtuoso she’d planned to burgle offers to hire her to help him steal it back. But they’re not the only ones looking for the missing violin. When Flo inadvertently becomes the prime suspect in a case of murder, she and Aaron need to clear her name. Will they find the real killer and get the violin back to its rightful owner without anyone else, especially themselves, being killed?

This is a rather humorous cozy mystery involving a cleaning maid turned thief, a violinist who hires her to steal his own violin back from a billionaire who stole it and the maid’s best friend.

This story is told in Florence Palmer’s point of view and I love her character and the narrative. It’s smart, humorous, self-deprecating, and shows her confidence in her own skills and pride in her profession. She didn’t intend to become a burglar, but being a maid wasn’t covering the costs of living and she couldn’t afford college. It probably wasn’t the best idea she had to become a housemaid as she states herself: “Maybe that was a mistake because being exposed to all those beautiful and obscenely expensive tchotchkes, all of which my clients could easily do without wore me down.”

Her latest escapade was to steal an extremely rare and expensive violin from a famous violinist, Aaron Levy, although she was smart enough not to try to sell it, only to ransom it back. The start of this strange adventure begins when Flo is found in Aaron’s room and he happens to walk in on her holding his violin. Except, as she learns, that was a fake and the real one had been stolen several days ago. I had to laugh at Flo’s overdramatized thoughts of going to jail and facing some sort of horrible death. Imagine her surprise that instead of him calling the cops he decided to hire her to regain his lost violin. Then he he tells her that he is going to participate in regaining his violin, and Flo’s reaction is just what you would expect, horror. She could only imagine just how things could go with an amateur thief.

Still, she took him up on the offer, especially since he is offering her a huge payout and is going to cover any expenses. Poor Flo’s idea of a quick re-theft of the violin does not go as planned, even though Aaron knows who stole it.

Flo’s best friend, Sara is another wonderfully created character who knows about Flo’s profession but stays out of it as much as possible. Unfortunately for her, she tends to get dragged into them when Flo needs to get a quick getaway. She has a bubbly personality and enjoys the fact that she will get to go sightseeing, staying at a fancy hotel, and buying souvenirs without having to pay for it.

At first Flo thought it would be a breeze to get the violin from the thug that was hired to steal it, a man named Martin. To her horror and dismay instead of finding a violin, she finds a dead man in Martin’s apartment and is caught by the cops standing over the body. I ended up laughing again at Flo’s renewed frantic thoughts of being in the jail and what would happen next. I love how her mind works; it seems to either go to the best of things or to the worst of things. She’s just lucky that the man she is working for has money in spades who is willing to bail her out.

Aaron is another fun quirky character who also has a sense of humor that matches Flo’s Who else would hire a burglar they find in their room instead of contacting the police about his missing violin? He has a boyish air and even though he knows there are risks, he can’t help but feel like he is on a grand adventure. I can’t blame him as he was a child prodigy and spent his childhood practicing, giving recitals, or traveling. There is also a small romance between Flo and Aaron, but the reader is not sure if this will turn out to become more of a stable relationship or a little fun whenever they can get together.

They make a great trio of friends, and it does make me sad that Aaron confessed that he hadn’t many friends besides Flo and Sara since he was always so busy. There are many sweet moments where they share hugs and kisses on the cheek. This is a relationship that I believe will stand the test of time.

This is a wonderful cozy mystery with fun characters and a fun plot that has so many twists and turns you’ll get dizzy. The ending throws a few interesting facts to light and I love how Flo seems to have a magic charm for luck or something since even as she gets into trouble, she somehow manages to get out of it.

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Undercover Outlaw by Gini Rifkin

February 25, 2021 By 1 Comment


Undercover Outlaw by Gini Rifkin
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Historical, Romance
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

Jesse is determined to track down the man who killed his brother in cold blood. Impersonating an outlaw, his quest for justice becomes a living, breathing, part of his soul.

Trinity is heading to Denver to escape her vicious guardians. When her stagecoach is robbed, Jesse kidnaps her, and all her well-laid plans collide with his, leaving them both in danger.
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Trapped in Prairie Ridge by a flood, Jesse and Trinity’s feelings soon run as high and wild as the river. When Jesse is accused of murder, Trinity stands by his side, and they take on the town’s tyrannical leader. As the city cowers in fear, help comes from an unexpected source, but can it save Jesse from a hangman’s noose?

Undercover Outlaw is a quality written piece of literature that walks the fine line between a quest for justice and a thirst for revenge. I teetered between the two as the story took me on a journey mixed with romance and danger.

The leading characters, Trinity and Jesse immediately brought the book to life on page one. It was impossible to put the book down. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to see what happened next. I felt the instant connection between the two. In fact all the characters were well developed. It was easy to hate the town’s tyrannical leader. Hard not to love the townsfolk in Prairie Ridge.

The romance between Trinity and Jesse was more sweet than sensual but regardless they were definitely entertaining. I laughed when I read the word “dimwit. I haven’t heard that word in ages. My mother used to use that word.

Undercover Outlaw was a fast paced, plot twisting, emotional provoking story that pleased me greatly. I especially enjoyed the epilogue. I applaud Gini Rifkin for such a wonderful read.

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Counterfeit Viscountess by Barbara Burke

February 8, 2021 By 2 Comments


Counterfeit Viscountess by Barbara Burke
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Historical, Romance
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

Practical Caroline Saxon must travel to London for the season, when all she really wants is to stay in Ireland and breed horses. But a carriage accident leaves her unchaperoned at a posting inn.

It is important for you to know this; as viagra generico uk learning the right way can save you time, money and all the regrets that come after repeated failures. It leads to erection which lasts viagra sans prescription longer. I am a 48 year old male, and sometimes I still feel awkward cialis shipping to interact with different people, with different cultures, particularly getting along with the locals. I think the importance of sex is better understood by those who find that page viagra ordination can’t experience it. Dashing Christopher Hawking just wants a bed for the night. He didn’t expect to find it occupied by a beautiful woman or to be caught sneaking out of her room. In the light of day, a London-bound member of the ton finds them together.

Attraction flares between the two in spite of themselves. But how will they save Caroline’s reputation and calm the storm of the ton’s gossip?

The romance between Caroline and Christopher was so sweet, I felt as if I had a sugar high and my face hurt from smiling too much. All their sweetness was mixed with members of the London ton who don’t do anything but gossip and speculate. The ton is very good at ripping people’s reputations to shreds, regardless if they are innocent or not. The ton was like eating a Bamboozle jelly bean which leaves a nasty taste in one’s mouth. However, the way Christopher handles the ton is like a refreshing sip of your favorite drink that rinses out the sour taste of the ton and restores the happy ‘in-love’ feeling. I was gushing over Caroline and Christopher’s love tale. They were well matched.

Counterfeit Viscountess is a fun read from beginning to end. I am tempted to read it again just because it made me happy. I felt it was well written, the characters were relatable, and the plot was unpredictable with several interesting plot twists. I can’t recall any hiccups that would typically take away from a reader’s enjoyment. I was swept away from reality for a few hours and I didn’t want to return when I finished the book.

I can easily recommend this romance book. Christopher is worthy of being added to my list of book boyfriends. I wouldn’t hesitate to put Counterfeit Viscountess on my keeper shelf. This novel is the epitome of a classic historical romance book.

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Love is a Filing Cabinet by Jeanne Kern

February 2, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Love is a Filing Cabinet by Jeanne Kern
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Ambitious organizer Minn Evans resents being the only sane and stable person in her family. She wants a normal life with schedules and balanced meals and maybe a man who won’t fall for her sister.
Ford Hayes, a whiz at creativity and a dud at organization, becomes Art Director for a privately-owned TV station. But his office is a mess, his planning skills are a train wreck, and he can’t find his socks.
Minn needs a job; Ford needs an organizer. But Minn’s vagabond parents and man-stupifying sister aren’t the only roadblocks on their journey to love.

This story is a mixed bag. It has quirky humor, a dysfunctional family, incredible character growth and a complicated romance. Combine all those elements and a reader is in for an entertaining and interesting read.

Love is a Filing Cabinet is told in third person POV from the perspective of Minn, the heroine. The first chapter sets up the romance and it seems like a fait accompli. It’s not. Minn’s sister, Conn, is a classic diversion – the sister who has it all, men adore her, want to please her and everything comes up roses. Conn is flighty, breezy and thinks nothing of raiding Minn’s closet on a whim. Minn is a fixer and tolerates her sister. She also tolerates her father and mother, from a long distance. But, things are not quite as they seem. I think that’s what kept surprising me about this novel. Because I saw it only from the heroine’s point of view, everything she shared with a reader made perfect sense. So, that means I was annoyed with Conn, I wasn’t a fan of her parents, and the hero, Ford, I was never sure he was actually the hero; seemed a nice guy who had great potential, but he fell under the influence of Conn. So, how could he really be the hero? I did say it was a complicated romance, right?
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The monkey wrench comes from the owner of the T.V. station. He has style and class and has taken a definite shine to Minn. With him, she could have it all. Again, things are not as they seem.

Conn, Minn’s sister, who I was annoyed with, redeemed herself with her unexpected action, choices and revelations. It totally threw the heroine for a loop and started the process of self-reflection. It began with her sister, but it quickly affected Minn’s parents, the hippie protesters. It affected Ford in surprising ways too.

Minn is under the impression that she’s the only sane, organized, responsible and ‘adult’ person in the room. It’s the dialogue between all major characters that sheds light on a concept that Minn wouldn’t have guessed in a hundred years. Yes, Conn does grow as a character, but I think it’s Minn that needed the greatest attitude adjustment. Some of it was healing, some caused pain and some led her on a path to discover her own truths.

I admit that I had a hard time understanding the whys and ways of Minn for a part of the book. Her stress levels were through the roof and she has these mantras from an aunt that seem to allow her to be a victim, to be taken advantage of and it seemed to me she didn’t have much of a backbone, even if she was a super organizer. The resentment percolating inside was kind of toxic. Because of that, I wasn’t sure if I actually liked her. I mean she had her cute moments and I liked the chemistry between her and Ford, but I didn’t think she was a truly happy person. Then came the scene where she got lost, and I believe that was the pivot point. Her internal dialogue showed me that she was finally waking up to possibilities. The tone of the story changed and I liked it more and more.

The scheme that they all came up with surprised me. In fact, I was clueless. When the actual goal and intent was revealed, I was most impressed and it was a definite fist-bump moment. There is a very brief sub-romance that played a role in Minn and Ford’s relationship and I was actually relieved it came about.

Love is a Filing Cabinet affected my emotions. The story is definitely engaging because they were all over the place. Ultimately there is a well-rounded, satisfying and altogether happy, happy ever after that tied everything up with a big joyful bow. The novel includes some unique and fascinating imaginative scenes that made me smile. Ford really is a genius. And yes, he ended up being the perfect hero for this book.

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