Tag: women’s fiction

Posted on

One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallery

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2024 

One Big Happy Family book cover

You may be thinking pumpkin spice, but Christmas isn’t as far off as you’d like to think, and I already have a recommendation for your holiday reading this year! Susan Mallery’s One Big Happy Family comes out October 1, 2024. You can preorder now!

Summary

Julie’s adult children made their own plans for Christmas this year. Heath, Julie’s boyfriend, has young children, but they’re spending the holiday on vacation with his ex and her boyfriend. That means Julie and Heath can have a quiet Christmas together. Until plans change.

Julie’s children, Dana and Nick, drop their plans because they want to do their traditional family Christmas at the cabin. They hope it will help them get through their first Christmas since their dad’s death. Although their parents have been divorced for many years, their father normally spent the holiday with the family at the cabin.

When Heath agrees to join them, Julie needs to figure out how to introduce her kids to her boyfriend, younger than her by 12 years, whom she’s been keeping a secret. Then, just before Heath’s ex takes the kids on the vacation, her boyfriend dumps her. Julie invites Heath’s kids and his ex to join them for the holidays. Isn’t that what most people would do? Oh, and they’re bringing their dog.

Nick’s mother-in-law has recently moved to the area. Even though his wife Blair and her mother have a strained relationship, she needs somewhere to be for the holidays. Why not include her? Meanwhile, Dana is getting over a breakup with her boyfriend Axel, again.

Suddenly Julie has a lot of planning to do to accommodate a house full of people. The “cabin” has plenty of room, but it’s the mixture of personalities, secrets, and past hurts that bring the conflict and tension. And Julie, a woman with a big heart, is forced to deal with her control issues. Does ANY big family gathering turn out exactly how you want it?

My Thoughts

Susan Mallery, author pic
Susan Mallery, author

If you like fun Christmas novels about dysfunctional families, this is a wonderful read. This family’s holiday is a lovely, chaotic mess full of wonderful traditions, fun, love, personal growth, and acceptance. I enjoyed getting to know each of the guests and watching them squirm through situations often out of their control. It’s a fun, easy read for your holiday season!

Pick up Susan Mallery’s new book, One Big Happy Family! Give yourself a gift for the holidays.

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review of the book.

If You Like…

If you like One Big Happy Family, you may want to check out this past recommendation:  Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews.

 

Drop me a comment below! What are you reading that you’d recommend? Who are your favorite authors?  Ask me a question about books and/or writing. I’d love to hear from you!

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

@author.robin.shelley

Netgalley Professional Reader

Posted on

A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey


Robin’s Rave Reviews 2024

Yes! Another perfect book for your beach bag this summer! A HAPPIER LIFE by Kristy Woodson Harvey, part historical fiction, part mystery, part women’s fiction, part romance, is told in a dual timeline: present day with Keaton Smith, and in 1976 with her grandparents Rebecca “Becks” and Townsend St. James.

Summary

Keaton, a young professional in NYC, has lost her job and her condo. While she figures out her next move, her mother asks her to clear out Keaton’s grandparents’ house in Beaufort so it can be sold. Keaton knew they died in a car accident before she was born, but this is the first she’s heard of the historic house on the North Carolina seaside. Her mother and uncle have held onto the house for nearly fifty years. Keaton agrees and takes her dog Salt along for the trip. (Who doesn’t love a story with a dog? And this dog is based on Kristy’s own dog named Salt!)

A Happier Life book cover and author Kristy Woodson Harvey

Keaton isn’t prepared to walk into a 1970s time-warp. It looks like Becks and Townsend just stepped away, including dishes left on the dining room table from one of Becks’ famous dinner parties. As Keaton is adjusting to the shock, Anderson, a ten-year-old, boy pops in. He lives next door with his divorced, grumpy, hot dad, Bowen.

While Keaton struggles with the enormous cleaning job, she connects more deeply with the locals.  Keaton learns that everyone knows everything in a small town, so different from NYC. She becomes friends with the Dockside Dames, a group of older women who get together every morning for coffee and gossip. Their stories of her grandparents help Keaton connect with family she never knew. Keaton sees what life could be like here. She’s faced with comparing her fast-paced, workaholic life in NYC to what small town life on the ocean with Bowen and his son could be like.

The story of her grandparents dying in a car accident begins to have some holes. Although her grandparents’ car was found submerged in the water, their bodies were never recovered. When Keaton discovers her mother and uncle have suspicions that their parents were actually murdered, Keaton better understands why they never returned to the house. But what really happened to Becks and Townsend?

We go back in time for Becks to tell her love story. Becks was disowned by her parents for marrying Townsend, the love of her life. She focuses on making life easier for others and throwing her famous dinner parties while Townsend starts his doctor practice in Beaufort. Although Becks journals all her entertaining tips for her daughter, her granddaughter Keaton is the one to find it nearly fifty years later. It helps her connect with the grandmother she never knew.

Trying to decide what to keep and what to discard from her grandparents’ life and mother’s childhood is more difficult than Keaton expected. Keaton finally convinces her mother and uncle to come look through some things and get closure. Becks and Townsend left multiple clues behind, leading the family to learn the truth of what happened to them.

My Thoughts

There’s a lot here for readers of several genres including romance, women’s fiction, and mystery. It’s a multi-generational story of family relationships and how we deal with damage done in the past. It’s about forgiveness and reconciliation, about valuing the past and the family who came before us, and about romantic love and second chances. It reinforces that we shouldn’t judge the happiness of someone else’s life because people define happiness differently. What’s right for one isn’t for another. Perhaps when you determine you’ve lived a life worth living, you’ve found true happiness.

I loved A HAPPIER LIFE by Kristy Woodson Harvey. May I suggest you purchase A HAPPIER LIFE here at Bookshop.org? This online bookstore supports mom and pop bookstores nationwide!

Kristy Woodson Harvey, author

If you like…

If this book appeals to you, check out these Kristy Woodson Harvey books I’ve previously reviewed and recommend:  The Summer of Songbirds, The Wedding Veil, Under the Southern Sky, Feels Like Falling, and the whole Peachtree Bluff series.

 

Drop me a comment below! What are you reading that you’d recommend? Who are your favorite authors?  Ask me a question about books and/or writing. I’d love to hear from you!

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

@author.robin.shelley

Netgalley Professional Reader

 

Posted on

The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2024 

THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW by Adrienne Young is a unique novel. I’m being careful to not give you too much about this one because it’s best experienced by the reader. If your reading tastes are similar to mine, you’ll love it!

This time travel novel includes the loyal/loving family theme wrapped with mystery and a touch of romance, but it also has a complexity that will keep you on your toes. Your brain will be engaged while reading this book, and it will keep you thinking long after, all in a good way.

Book cover for The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne YoungSummary

The Farrow women are well-known for two things: their flower farm in Japer, North Carolina, and a mysterious curse. Years ago, after showing signs of mental instability, Susanna Farrow disappeared. She left behind baby June to be raised by the grandmother.

Now an adult, June is very familiar with the town’s rumors and whispers about her family and her mother’s disappearance. When June hears a voice calling her name and wind chimes that don’t exist and sees a ghost horse and a mysterious red door that appear out of nowhere, she questions if she is headed down that same slippery slope of mental illness. That’s why she feels she must sacrifice finding love and having children. The curse will stop with her.

Early in the story, just before June’s grandmother dies, she mails an old photo to June. June questions how the two people in the picture could be together since they didn’t live in the same time period. June investigates more about her mother and the disappearance. Every bit of information leads to another question. After receiving a yellowed envelope with the message “Trust me,” June decides to test her hallucinations. The next time the red door appears, she opens it and walks through. When she does, June must navigate a scenario where the present and the past intertwine, and answers lead to tough decisions.

My Thoughts

In the beginning of THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW by Adrienne Young, the author tosses the readers tidbits of strange experiences until she hooks you into the story. You suddenly realize you’ve fallen down the rabbit hole, but the Mad Hatter doesn’t seem so mad after all. Here, the impossible becomes reality. As Junes learns about the Farrow women’s ability to time travel, her view of the family curse changes.

Motherhood is a major theme, revealing the family love and loyalty of generations of Farrows. The story explores the choices we make and what we’re willing to sacrifice for those we love. Add a murder mystery and fierce, heartbreaking romance, and you have a winner of a novel.

Author Adrienne Young
Author Adrienne Young

I’d rate THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW with 4 1/2 stars out of 5. The only reason it isn’t a 5 is that trying to understand the timelines as they relate to the Farrow family makes my head spin. Once I understood the familial relationships between the characters, I was fine. It’s amazing how complex time travel is in this story, but the author handles it smoothly. Readers will let down their walls of believability long enough to accept the impossible is possible, at least in this world.

So I pose a question to you: If a door appeared that wasn’t there a moment before, would you step through it? Leave me a comment below.

If you like…

If this book appeals to you, check out these books I’ve previously reviewed and recommend: Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young (same author), Valley of the Moon by Melanie Gideon, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab, and Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber.  Happy reading!

Drop me a comment below! What are you reading that you’d recommend? Who are your favorite authors?  Ask me a question about books and/or writing. I’d love to hear from you!

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

@author.robin.shelley

Netgalley Professional Reader

Posted on

The Cafe at Beach End by RaeAnne Thayne


Robin’s Rave Reviews 2024 

Family reconciliation is a major part of the storyline in THE CAFE AT BEACH END by RaeAnne Thayne, but you also get two love stories for the price of one!  Cousins Meredith and Tori both get second chances at love in this clean romance. The small beach town setting will draw you in and the characters will make you want to hang around.

The Cafe at Beach End book coverBackground

Tori and Meredith were best friends when they were younger, more like sisters than cousins. As adults, their relationship is non-existent.

At age 19, Tori got pregnant and married, keeping her in Cape Sanctuary and helping her grandmother at The Beach End Cafe. But when Tori’s husband died making her a single mom to their six-year-old daughter, Tori’s life wasn’t easy. When her grandmother became ill, Tori balanced being a caregiver, a single mother, and the manager of the cafe.

Meredith, on the other hand, graduated with an art degree, married a wealthy man, and opened her own art gallery in the city. She didn’t help emotionally support Tori when her husband died, and she wasn’t around to help care for Grandma or run the cafe. Tori felt ignored and left behind while Meredith enjoyed a perfect life.

Tori didn’t know what Meredith’s marriage looked like behind closed doors. Bad led to worse when Meredith’s husband was convicted of cheating investors out of millions of dollars. The FBI made her life even more miserable after her husband died in prison. They believe she knew about the scheme and knows where the money is hidden. The FBI finally drop the case against her since they couldn’t prove her involvement. Meredith has a hard time feeling sorry for herself and what she’s lost when so many people lost money to her husband. 

Grandma never held a grudge against Meredith, believing she had good reasons for not coming around. When Grandma died , Tori was dismayed that she left Meredith a cottage and 49% ownership of the cafe. Tori has the other 51%. It didn’t matter much until Meredith returned to Cape Sanctuary to start over. 

Summary

The book opens with Meredith — shamed, depressed, broke, and without a job. She returns to Cape Sanctuary to hide away, distancing herself from her ex-husband’s scandal. Tori isn’t happy to see her. She’s bitter. And she certainly doesn’t want Meredith to suddenly have a say in “her” cafe after she’s spent so much time and energy running it. Much of the story is the gradual rebuilding of their relationship.

Liam, who is renting out the house next door to Meredith, says he came to the quiet town to write a book, but he’s hiding his real identity and motives. Liam shows interest in Meredith, and she opens up to him. As they develop feelings for one another, his secret could ruin everything.

Tori’s divorced brother-in-law Sam moves back to Cape Sanctuary with his daughter, Cristina. When Tori’s daughter Emilia and her cousin get into trouble at school, Tori and Sam work together to guide the girls onto the right path, hopefully including passing the eighth grade. Tori and Sam are drawn to each other, but Tori holds back. Even though her husband passed years ago, being interested in her husband’s brother doesn’t feel right.

Photo of author RaeAnne ThayneMy Thoughts

THE CAFE AT BEACH END by RaeAnne Thayne is a wonderful feel-good book to pick up for your summer reading. It came out in 2023. When I started reading it, I didn’t realize this was book five in the Cape Sanctuary series. I didn’t matter one bit that I hadn’t read the others. Each book in the series is a standalone, following different characters and situations, all in the small fictional California beach town of Cape Sanctuary. I’ll be returning to the Cape Sanctuary series another time. RaeAnne Thayne just may become one of my go-to authors for contemporary romance. This book is well written, and RaeAnne respects her reader’s IQ by not repeating details like some romance authors do.

If you like…

If this book appeals to you, check out these books I’ve reviewed and recommend: Famous in a Small Town by Viola Shipman, The Unsinkable Greta James by Jennifer E. Smith, The Newcomer by Mary Kay Andrews, and The Beach House and The Beach House series by Mary Alice Monroe. Happy reading!

Drop me a comment below! What are you reading that you’d recommend? Who are your favorite authors?  Ask me a question about books and/or writing. I’d love to hear from you!

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

@author.robin.shelley

Netgalley Professional Reader

Posted on

The Island by Elin Hilderbrand

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2024 

Thinking about your reading list for this summer? If you’re looking for a good older book you may have missed, try THE ISLAND by Elin Hilderbrand. THE ISLAND came out in 2010, so it should be easy to find at the library and at bookstores.

The Island by Elin Hilderbrand book cover

 

THE ISLAND is a story of familial and romantic love, recovery from tragedy, sibling rivalry, and family support. The story reveals the individual paths four women have taken for love and the course each path set for their futures.

Summary

Shortly after Chess called off her wedding, her ex-fiancé tragically dies rock climbing. To help her through this dark time, her mother Birdie, her aunt India and her sister Tate take Chess to their family vacation home for a full month. They haven’t been back to the house on Tuckernuck Island near Nantucket in over a decade. They hope the family memories and serenity of the location will be healing.

The homes on Tuckernuck have no electricity, no heat or air conditioning, no hot water, no internet, and no cell service. A vacation home caretaker whom Birdie hired years ago has been checking on the house. When he retired, his son Barrett Lee took over the business. Birdie sent Barrett money to make the place livable for their visit since it had been neglected for so long. Upon their arrival, Barrett supplies their transportation by boat between Nantucket and Tuckernuck. He also brings them mail and groceries. Barrett, who is a widow with a child, focuses on keeping all of his clients happy, but one client, Nantucket socialite Anita Fullin, is jealous. She doesn’t want to share Barrett’s time and attention with the other family. Tate’s focus is also on Barrett, hoping this could be the summer he finally notices her.

The characters each have their own story and baggage. Birdie, the mom, is still recovering from her divorce. Free-spirited, artsy India is rediscovering herself after her husband’s death. Computer geek Tate thinks her sister has always had the advantage, but she still wants to support her. Chess, who is dealing with her grief and guilt, is also hiding a deeper secret.

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this novel. The island/beach setting is right up my alley. I love a good book about love and family relationships. Birdie’s journey was a bit too predictable for me, but I did like that each character’s journey and personality was unique and had depth. Elin Hilderbrand has a way of breathing life into complex, distinctive characters.

My favorite character storylines were India and Tate. India is a widow, but her reflections on her marriage with a famous artist husband felt realistic, and her free-spirit was interesting. Tate has a successful career, but love hasn’t been in the picture. She has always felt she was in her sister’s shadow. With memories of Barrett from their summer trips years ago, she wonders if she might have a shot with him. Her same old fear rears its head – Is he more interested in Chess?

If you’re considering your summer reading list, THE ISLAND by Elin Hilderbrand is a great addition. If you like this book, check out my review on The Identicals, another Hilderbrand book here.

 

Note About My Book Reviews This Year

Although I love reading books close to when they’re published, I have so many older books on my TBR (To Be Read) pile! I want to catch up on some of them. This year I promised myself I’d work on those more than new releases. My blog will reflect that. Sure, you’ll still see some newer books or ARCs (Advanced Reader Copies) because I automatically say yes to certain authors’ books, but you’ll see some older outstanding books here as well. Hope you enjoy the mix of older and newer in my reviews this year!

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

@author.robin.shelley

Netgalley Professional Reader

 

Posted on

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

Robin’s Reviews5 Stars

THE WISHING GAME by Meg Shaffer is an adult novel, but it brought back the magical feelings of reading from my childhood.

I emotionally remembered that feeling of enchantment from reading books for the first time, like Harriet the Spy, Nancy Drew/The Hardy Boys, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, to name a few. Certain books touch the heart of a child.

Think back to books you read as a child. Now remember with your heart, not your mind. Were you enchanted by a story you couldn’t put down? Do you remember the joy as a story unfolded? Do you remember feeling proud of yourself for figuring “it” out? Did you want to escape into the world in that book? To become the character in the book? To finish a book under the covers with a flashlight after bedtime? Ever not want to come when called for dinner because you were reading? 

THE WISHING GAME will have you reliving all those feelings, but in an adult story. It’s easy reading, could be YA, but it also covers several heavier topics: childhood neglect, the foster system, running away, and childhood illness, to name a few. Meg Shaffer skillfully includes these tough problems in a way that doesn’t darken or weigh down the story. THE WISHING GAME by Meg Shaffer should definitely go on your adult bookshelf!

Summary of THE WISHING GAME

Jack “the Mastermind” Masterson is a reclusive, eccentric, and best-selling children’s author. He lives on Clock Island, the setting of his magical, mysterious children’s book series. In each of his books, a child has to make a wish and then find his or her way to the island. They are all brave children who then face their fears through riddles and games to get a chance at their wish coming true.

Five years ago, Jack mysteriously quit writing. Finally, he now announces he has a new book and will be running a competition for four adults. These adults were picked because, as children, they actually found their way to Clock Island after reading his books. Now, as adults, they will compete in a Clock Island game. The winner will get the one and only copy of Jack’s new children’s book to keep or sell. The publisher is already willing to pay six figures for it, but other interested parties may be willing to pay even more. Each contestant has a real need to win.

The protagonist of THE WISHING GAME is Lucy Hart. As a child, Lucy found comfort in reading the Clock Island series. It helped her through a difficult childhood. Now an adult, Lucy desperately wants to adopt seven-year-old Christopher, to give him the love she never had. She has been reading the Clock Island books to Christopher to help him through his own messed-up childhood. Lucy can’t afford to adopt him on her teacher’s aide salary. This contest could be the answer to both of their wishes. If Lucy wins, selling the book would provide all she needs to adopt Christopher and give him a loving, stable home.

My Thoughts

Jack Masterson and Hugo Reese are wonderful secondary characters. Jack, the author, is mysterious, and yet he’s that grandfatherly character. The twinkle in his eye hints at his joy in creating games and riddles. Hugo Reese, the long-time illustrator of the books, lives on the island with Jack. Hugo is ready to move on with his life, but when Jack hit a low and stopped writing, Hugo couldn’t leave him. He needs to know Jack will be okay without him. Hugo and Lucy develop a fondness for each other that grows into a sweet relationship.

THE WISHING GAME was endearing and wholesome. I thoroughly enjoyed this whimsical, mysterious book, although I wanted to get to the contest faster. The plot was a bit predictable, but I didn’t mind. It brought me something no other adult book has: I remembered in my soul what it felt like being a kid again, trying to solve the riddles right along with the competitors.

Interested in purchasing? Try here at Bookshop.org. They’re a wonderful website that supports the Mom and Pop bookstores nationwide.

Last Thoughts

Although the Clock Island books don’t actually exist in the real world, I would  LOVE to see Meg Shaffer try her hand at children’s literature to create them! What books bring back fond memories of childhood for you? I’d love if you shared below!

 

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

@author.robin.shelley

Netgalley Professional Reader

 

 

 

Posted on

Beautiful Little Fools by Jill Cantor

 

Robin’s Reviews5 Stars

Yes. I admit it. I was one of those people that loved reading THE GREAT GATSBY, so I was excited to hear about BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FOOLS by Jill Cantor. Let me tell you, her retelling didn’t disappoint. It gives fans a chance to relive the classic through a new lens. Same plot. Same characters. BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FOOLS is told from the women’s point of view, including capturing the limitations of women in the 1920s.

Beautiful Little Fools book cover

 

Cantor’s title is perfect! Perhaps you recall Daisy Buchanan’s quote in the classic when her daughter is born: “I hope she’ll be a fool — that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.”

SPOILERS AHEAD FOR THE GREAT GATSBY (NOT FOR BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FOOLS)

*I’m going to assume you’ve read THE GREAT GATSBY or watched the movie at some point, so fair warning, there are some Gatsby spoilers in this review. It would be hard not to when reviewing a book heavily inspired by the original.

Readers know Jay Gatsby ends up dead in his swimming pool in the original, and readers believe George killed him in a jealous fit. In BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FOOLS Cantor turns the story into a murder mystery. She gives readers a reason to re-evaluate who murdered Jay when a hairpin is found in the bushes near the murder scene. A mobster hires Detective Frank Charles to determine the actual murderer.

WOMEN CHARACTERS COME ALIVE

The best fleshed out character in the classic is Daisy Buchanan. Married for financial security, she’s an unhappy socialite, but Cantor fills in more of her backstory. You may remember her best friend Jordan who is involved in a scandal on the golfing circuit. Cantor reveals her to be a lesbian. (It isn’t that big of a stretch from the insinuations in the classic.) Readers also dive deeper into Myrtle Wilson’s character. The wife of a garage mechanic, she’s unhappy with the lack of glitz and excitement in her life and becomes Tom Buchanan’s mistress. Catherine, Myrtle’s sister, was only a background character in one scene in the original. She now becomes a fully fleshed out character as a 1920s suffragette who had a casual relationship with Gatsby.

Cantor’s character development keeps the reader guessing who killed Gatsby. They each have a motive. Although Cantor makes some character choices based on the classic that I wouldn’t have, it was interesting to follow her vision of these women.

Although readers can enjoy BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FOOLS as a standalone, it fits best as a companion to THE GREAT GATSBY. Perhaps Fitzgerald wouldn’t have seen his characters exactly as Cantor develops them, yet it’s interesting to see how she develops storylines and backgrounds that fill in gray areas left by the original. And Cantor’s ending gives readers a twist you won’t see coming!

Have you read THE GREAT GATSBY? How long ago? Is it time to revisit this old friend? Or is it time to finally read this classic for the first time? What about watching the movie version on a cold winter evening? If you love the classic, you’ve got to read BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FOOLS.

Photo of Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby raising a glass of champagne

 

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

@author.robin.shelley

Netgalley Professional Reader

 

Posted on

The Good Part by Sophie Cousens

Robin’s Rave Reviews5 Stars

As soon as I finished The Good Part by Sophie Cousens, I wanted to start it all over again! (I don’t often say that.) Since this was such an enjoyable read, I will be reading more by this author. I was lucky to get an ARC of The Good Part, my first novel by Sophie Cousens. You can get a copy, too, because today is Sophie’s pub day! Happy Pub Day, Sophie! (November 7, 2023) 

Summary:

Tom Hanks in the movie Big asks Zoltar to grant his wish.

Lucy is disheartened by her life in her twenties – working hard and getting nowhere, going on bad dates, living in a dumpy apartment. Wanting to skip to The Good Part of her life, Lucy makes a wish on an old arcade wishing machine (inspired by the movie Big). Imagine waking up to find sixteen years have passed you by! Suddenly Lucy is married, has two children, and is a successful TV executive. The world has changed, and she has no memory of the missing years. As she adjusts to this life she’s been dropped into, she begins to question if the wishing machine worked or if she simply has amnesia.

Watching Lucy maneuver through her new circumstances included some laugh-out-loud moments, and watching her fall in love with her husband and children was especially heartwarming. So many rich characters in this story!

Toward the end I couldn’t decide if I wanted Lucy to go back in time or stay where she was. I had to see what her decision would be! This novel makes readers consider how experiencing the good and bad makes us who we become, and the necessity of going through it.

*I lean toward “clean” novels. Although this one isn’t exactly clean, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s five-star fun! Just so you know: The author handled the sex scenes with discretion. The characters drop some F bombs.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Putnam for an arc of The Good Part. The opinions are my own.

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

@author.robin.shelley

Netgalley Professional Reader

Posted on

The Summer of Songbirds by Kristy Woodson Harvey

Robin’s Rave Reviews

Do you want to hang on to summer a little longer? Try The Summer of Songbirds by Kristy Woodson Harvey. It will take you back to fond childhood memories of going to summer camp. Even if you never went to summer camp, you will enjoy this story of three women who became friends as children and create a bond that lasts into adulthood.

The Summer of Songbirds novelCamp Holly Springs has a special place in the hearts of these three women since they first met there at age six. They continued attending every year, even becoming camp counselors in their teens. Now in their thirties, they learn the camp is floundering after Covid. The girls kick into high gear to help save it. Otherwise, Daphne’s Aunt June will have no choice but to sell out to a developer. While the three friends devise and carry out plans to save the camp, the story is complicated by their personal lives.

Mary Stuart is getting married. The guest list includes her friends Daphne and Lanier, and Lanier’s brother, Huff. Daphne and Huff were “a thing” a long time ago, and Lanier would like it to stay that way. Could seeing each other at the wedding reignite the flame? After the wedding, Mary Stuart has time to put her PR/marketing background to use to help save the camp.

Lanier, a bookstore owner, is engaged, but she isn’t as excited about getting married to Bryce as she should be. She senses he isn’t telling her something. When the girls throw her a bachelorette party at the camp, Lanier runs into Rich, the owner of the neighboring boys’ camp AND her teenage crush. What will come of this temptation?

Before Lanier’s bachelorette party, Daphne, a lawyer, is put into an impossible situation. She knows Bryce has multiple lawsuits against him that will tarnish his professional reputation and financially destroy him. As a loyal friend, she should tell Lanier before she marries him, but telling her would lead to Daphne being disbarred. As a single mother, Daphne has a son to support. To top it off, seeing Lanier’s brother Huff at Mary Stuart’s wedding was . . . interesting. Unfortunately she knows Lanier isn’t the forgetting type when it comes to Daphne’s past struggles.

Harvey uses Lanier’s, Daphne’s, and June’s alternating POV, so it’s important to keep the characters straight. Mary Stuart doesn’t have her own POV chapters, probably because her life is the most stable. She’s an anchor for the others.

♥ What I loved  ♥

*Camp Holly Springs reminded me of good times at the summer camp I attended as a child–the activities, the new friendships, and the sense of freedom.

*The entire story isn’t about the camp’s problems. Kristy Woodson Harvey included multiple complications going on in the lives of these women.

*Bryce’s poor decisions put Daphne into one of those situations where she just doesn’t have any good choices. That makes for great conflict.

*The women regularly sent each other emails asking the others to do the “hard things” for them. They each used their strengths to help in  areas where their friends struggled.

*Daphne had a great plutonic relationship with her son’s daddy, even though they never married.

*A strong storyline revolved around one character who experienced a challenging childhood. She makes her own mistakes in her twenties but learns to overcome. This past struggle still taints a friend’s perspective of her today. Will this friend truly forgive and put the past in the past? Will she support her friend now?

 

This isn’t just a summer book. The Summer of Songbirds is a wonderful choice for the fall as well. Kick the leaves on the ground as you take a walk to the campfire. Sit down and relax to the crackling of the fire, watch the firefly embers float off into the night sky, and indulge in a S’more. Lose yourself in watching three friends navigate their personal problems while also trying to do good for the camp, Aunt June ,and the community.

The Summer of Songbirds by Kristy Woodson Harvey hit the New York Times Best Sellers list shortly after its release.  It was also a Good Morning America buzz pick. Interested in other books by Kristy Woodson Harvey? Click on the title to go to other KWH book reviews I’ve written: The Wedding Veil, Under the Southern Sky, Feels Like Falling, or if you’re interested in a series, The Peachtree Bluff series.

Friends and Fiction authors

Also catch Kristy on the Friends and Fiction weekly podcast with co-anchors Mary Kay Andrews, Patti Callahan Henry, and Kristin Harmel. Every Wednesday at 7 PM the group talks about their books and interviews other authors with recent releases. It’s a great way to discover new titles and authors! Join in the fun by joining the Friends and Fiction Facebook group or go to their YouTube channel where you can watch live and catch up on older episodes.

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

@author.robin.shelley

Netgalley Professional Reader

Posted on

Famous in a Small Town by Viola Shipman

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2023

 

Step into nostalgic comfort in Good Hart, Michigan with FAMOUS IN A SMALL TOWN by Viola Shipman. Your summer pace will slow as you relax by the shores of Lake Michigan with BFFs Becky and Q. When you tire of the lake, take a drive through the picturesque Tunnel of Trees. Then head to the Very Cherry General Store to send a postcard. Or better yet, pick up a bakery goody or a sandwich . While there, say hello to Mary, the feisty octogenarian owner. And you don’t want to miss the annual Cherry Festival and Cherry Pit Spittin’ Championship. Did I mention Mary won when she was 15, back when women had never entered such an unladylike activity? In these parts she’s known as Cherry Mary, and no one has broken her record since 1958. Up for a try?

Summary

Cherry Mary is the third-generation woman to own the general store, but she doesn’t have a daughter to pass it down to. Her son and grandson aren’t particularly interested, either. But Cherry Mary still holds onto a prediction given to her in childhood – that another woman is destined to join the female line of store owners. Mary repeatedly sees a vision of four women in the distance walking toward her over the lake, reinforcing the prediction. Or is it simply a mirage? Mary was told it will take a lifetime to be fulfilled.

Becky just turned 40, the same day her long-time relationship crashed and burned. She feels unfulfilled in life after always making safe choices. Becky and her friend Q go on a Michigan vacation reminiscent of childhood summers with Becky’s grandparents. Becky sees herself fitting in at this lakeshore community. Just as Cherry Mary takes her under her wing, Mary’s grandson Ollie shows up. He’s changed his mind about the quirky town and old-fashioned general store, and he feels threatened by Becky.  He wants to protect his grandmother from this stranger “taking advantage” of her.

FAMOUS IN A SMALL TOWN is about love, friendship, family (by blood and by choice), destiny, and the choices we make. It’s a story with heart and soul. Be prepared. You’ll want to book a trip to Michigan after you read it!

 

I only review books I would give a 4 or 5 star rating, for well-written, enjoyable books I would recommend. Just keep in mind, if it doesn’t sound like your cup of tea from the description, then move on to my next book review. Perhaps this book is too slow paced for you, but that’s part of its charm. The author does a fabulous job conveying a small lake town struggling to keep life simple in a crazy world. The slow-paced summer days, the quirky people in the community, the general store as the hub of community life, the small-town festival – it’s cherry pie Americana at its best.

Interesting fact

Viola Shipman is a pen-name. The books are written by Wade Rouse, but he writes under his grandmother’s name as a way to honor her.  He writes stories that take place in Michigan, his home state. I had the joy of meeting Wade at an author event back in June through the Cuyahoga County Public Library’s Beyond the Book Jacket Speaker Series.

Check out review I did a few years back on another Viola Shipman book, The Heirloom Garden.

 

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

@author.robin.shelley

Netgalley Professional Reader

Posted on

The Secret Book of Flora Lea – Take 2

This is a redo of a post that looks fine on my website but came out all wonky for blog followers who get the email version, so here’s The Secret Book of Flora Lea – Take 2!

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2023

5 Stars

Photo of The Secret Book of Flora Lea next to a fairy garden cottage.You may have seen my excitement opening my book mail when The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry arrived. If you missed it, check it out on Facebook or Instagram. Now let me tell you how good this book is! The further I got into the book, the faster the pages flew by, and I was hooked. When I finished, I looked around and realized I’d left my world behind for a time. That’s the sign of a good book! The Secret Book of Flora Lea has already made the NY Times Best Seller List for several weeks.

SUMMARY

During WWII, Operation Pied Piper sent English children out of the cities to the countryside to protect them from falling bombs. The novel revolves around sisters (fourteen-year-old Hazel and five-year-old Flora Lea) who are sent to a small village outside Oxford. Luckier than some, they are billeted by a kind Bridie Aberdeen and her teenage son, Harry, who live in an enchanting stone cottage along the River Thames. Hazel creates a fairytale about Whisperwood, an enchanted forest, as a comfort mechanism for her sister. When Flora mysteriously vanishes and is believed to have drowned, Hazel blames herself. Twenty years later, Hazel comes across a fairytale book from America called Whisperwood and the River of Stars. Could the sister who disappeared so many years ago be alive? Could Flora be the author?

Robin Shelley with author Patti Callahan Henry at a book signing

The Secret Book of Flora Lea examines the bond of sisters, the conflict of loving two men at once, the scars of guilt and grief, and perseverance to never give up hope. And to keep you guessing, Patti adds surprising twists to the twenty-year-old mystery. So good! Now let’s hope this post, The Secret Book of Flora Lea – Take 2, translates correctly for my email blog followers as I press the “Publish” button!

Check out my other reviews of Patti Callahan Henry’s work: Once Upon a Wardrobe, Surviving Savannah, and Becoming Mrs. Lewis. To learn more about the author, go to PattiCallahanHenry.com.

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

@author.robin.shelley

Netgalley Professional Reader

 

Posted on

The Secret Book of Flora Lea

Robin’s Rave Reviews 20235 Stars

You may have seen my excitement opening my book mail when The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry arrived. If you missed it, here it is on Facebook and Instagram. Now let me tell you how good this book is! The further I got into the book, the faster the pages flew by, and I was hooked. When I finished, I looked around and realized I’d left my world behind for a time. This book has already been on the NY Times Best Sellers List for two weeks since it came out in early May.
Photo of The Secret Book of Flora Lea next to a fairy garden cottage.Summary
During WWII, Operation Pied Piper sent English children out of the cities to the countryside to protect them from falling bombs. The novel revolves around sisters (fourteen-year-old Hazel and five-year-old Flora Lea) who are sent to a small village outside Oxford. Luckier than some, they are billeted by a kind Bridie Aberdeen and her teenage son, Harry, in an enchanting stone cottage along the River Thames. Hazel creates a fairytale about Whisperwood, an enchanted forest, as a comfort mechanism for her sister.  When Flora mysteriously vanishes, Hazel blames herself. Twenty years later, Hazel comes across a fairytale book from America called Whisperwood and the River of Stars. Could the sister who disappeared so many years ago be alive? Could Flora be the author?
Robin Shelley with author Patti Callahan Henry at a book signing
The Secret Book of Flora Lea examines the bond of sisters, the conflict of loving two men at once, the scars of guilt and grief, and a young woman who never gives up hope. And to keep you guessing, Patti adds surprising twists to the 20-year-old mystery.  So good!
Check out my other reviews of Patti Callahan Henry’s work:  Once Upon a Wardrobe, Surviving Savannah, and Becoming Mrs. Lewis.

 

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

@author.robin.shelley

Netgalley Member Professional Reader

Posted on

Dreamland by Nicholas Sparks

Robin’s Rave Reviews – 2022

Dreamland by Nicholas Sparks gets a strong 4 1/2 stars!

Readers enjoy guessing how two storylines in a novel will cross. Not so easy with this one! Sparks doesn’t reveal it until a long way into the book. I kept guessing, and the anticipation kept me reading. I figured it out, but later than I’d like to admit. ; )

Book Cover of Dreamland

Beverly’s story:  She is on the run with her young son. I wanted her to successfully get away from an abusive husband and father, but to make the situation harder, he works for Homeland Security. That means he has access to many tools to try to locate them. I got involved in her story, but I was annoyed that some of the details in Beverly’s story felt like clips from Safe Haven. (That’s the only reason I didn’t give the book a full five stars.)

Colby’s story: Colby gave up his dream of writing music and singing when the aunt who raised him needed his help to save the family farm. After a few years of getting the farm running smoothly, it was time for Colby to take a break. He takes a working vacation as a musician when he lands a short-term gig in Florida. He meets Morgan who is vacationing with friends before her big move to Nashville. She is about to chase her dream of a music career. Colby and Morgan fall in love as they bond over writing songs, but Nashville calls to Morgan while Colby has obligations back at the farm. Is it possible to continue a summer romance as a long-distance relationship?

Readers will be doubting that these two very different stories could possibly match up, but they will. It’s worth the wait.  That’s the best part of the book. It’s what makes it stand out.

Dreamland by Nicholas Sparks comes out Sept. 20, 2022, but you can pre-order a copy today!  If Dreamland sounds like a book you’d like, check out my past reviews on these Nicholas Sparks novels:  The Wish, Every Breath (and a feature on the Kindred Spirits mailbox), and Two By Two.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the ARC of this novel. The opinions are my honest thoughts.

Netgalley Member Professional Reader

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

@author.robin.shelley

 

 

 

Posted on

The Wedding Veil by Kristy Woodson Harvey

Robin’s Rave Reviews – 2022

The best book I’ve read so far this year?

The Wedding Veil by Kristy Woodson Harvey! I’m so excited to encourage you to pick this one up!

This dual timeline story has something for almost everyone. The Wedding Veil is women’s fiction, contemporary romance, and historical fiction all in one book. It has wedding stories (wins and fails), family drama, multi-generational stories, younger and older characters, tradition – and breaking tradition. The story travels from the ocean side of North Carolina to the mountains surrounding the grand estate of Biltmore in Asheville, North Carolina to the ocean side of St. Thomas. I am truly impressed that Kristy Woodson Harvey wrote two equally strong storylines, an especially difficult task when the fictional modern story has to compete with the story of the Vanderbilt family.

In the present day, the story focuses on Julia Baxter and her grandmother, Babs. Julia plans on wearing a wedding veil that has been passed down in her family. The stranger who gave it to Julia’s great-grandmother told her it has been a symbol of good luck in her family. Women in Julia’s family have worn the veil, a symbol of happy marriages, ever since. The wedding weekend festivities have already begun, but Julia has reason to believe she is making a mistake, and she doesn’t want to be the one to break the good luck of the veil. Panicked, she escapes to the Virgin Islands for a honeymoon for one. The events there change the course of her life.  Meanwhile, Babs, who is grieving the loss of her husband, leaves the emptiness of the house they shared and moves to a retirement community. She doesn’t expect a romance story of her own to begin.

Photo I took while visiting Biltmore

The other timeline follows Edith Dresser, the woman who married George Vanderbilt. As a child, Edith often tried on her mother’s magic wedding veil. Her mother told her it would bring a fairy-tale life to all who wore it. Readers experience what life was like for Edith at Biltmore, a majestic home her husband built in the mountains of North Carolina. Edith and her daughter Cornelia had so much and yet hard financial times fell on the Vanderbilts through George’s premature death, war, flooding and the depression. Trying to make the estate self-sustaining to keep George’s legacy alive was no easy task for the Vanderbilt women. On her twenty-fifth birthday, Cornelia became the legal owner and new mistress of Biltmore. Less than a year later, Cornelia wore the family veil for her wedding to John “Jack” Cecil. Cornelia’s husband became a great help to Edith as they modernized processes to save money, but Cornelia struggled with being tied down to the estate, not the life she wanted for herself.

I want to tell you so much more, but I won’t spoil the story for you! Let’s just say Kristy skillfully connects the modern story with Vanderbilt history. Read my reviews of other novels I’ve enjoyed by Kristy:  Under the Southern Sky and Feels Like Falling.

Kristy Woodson Harvey, author of The Wedding Veil

I was able to visit Biltmore a few years back. This book brought back wonderful memories and made them richer.  Now Biltmore seems like so much more than a beautiful mansion preserving a time in history. The Wedding Veil brought the people who lived and worked there alive for me, making the experience more personal. When Kristy described where the family sat down for breakfast the morning after Cornelia’s birthday parties, I pictured the banquet hall with the immense table and enormous tapestries hanging on the walls. When Kristy described Edith sitting in George’s library, talking to his spirit as she smoked a cigarette, I remembered seeing the walls of books, smelling the leather and old paper, and admiring the ceiling painting worthy of any museum.

While visiting Biltmore, we drove around the grounds, getting a sense of how complex it was to keep the estate running – the mansion, the gardens, the farm, the dairy, and more modern additions – the vineyard and winery. The Vanderbilts needed a small army to run the estate, so they built a town on their property where their workers lived and raised their families. Even though Edith Vanderbilt could have simply enjoyed her great wealth, she had a passion to help lift the community.

The balcony has a panoramic view of the mountains.

If you are interested in the history of Biltmore, you’ll enjoy how Kristy brings it to life. Pick up your copy of The Wedding Veil by Kristy Woodson Harvey! And if you haven’t visited Biltmore, put it on your bucket list! To learn more about Biltmore, go to the Biltmore Estate website here. Also check out this short video of the Biltmore Estate . 

 

 

You can follow me on Facebook and Instagram.

@author.robin.shelley

Posted on

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

Robin’s Rave Reviews – 2022

THE LOST APOTHECARY by Sarah Penner was sitting on my TBR (To Be Read) pile for awhile. I’m so glad I finally got to it! Although it’s classified as women’s historical fiction (which I do enjoy reading), this isn’t a typical women’s fiction novel. The dark premise is what caught my attention: A female apothecary secretly dispenses poisons to liberate women from the men who have wronged them – setting three lives across centuries on a dangerous collision course.

Nella is an apothecary in 1790’s London. Although she learned the art of healing from her mother, Nella has personal reasons for making poisons. Her women clients want to kill off their husbands, lovers, and other men who have hurt or betrayed them. The potions are never to be used to harm other women. Nella keeps a record of each transaction with the client’s (and intended victim’s) name(s). Her world begins to change when a 12-year-old servant girl picks up a potion for her mistress and, to Nella’s annoyance, she continues to hang around. Then, an aristocratic client’s attempt to poison someone goes very wrong. A police investigation threatens to uncover the record of her clients and what Nella has been doing from her back alley store. This timeline in the story kept me turning the pages.

The other timeline follows a modern American woman, Caroline, who is visiting London. She discovers an old blue vial in the Thames while mudlarking (searching the mud near a river for interesting or value items). Due to her love of history, she uncovers information about the vial that connects it directly to Nella’s apothecary. This timeline was the weaker part of the story; however, due to my love of history, I was interested to see how she tracked down the connections. I wasn’t as connected to her personal life and her cheating husband.

Some of the themes in the book weren’t what readers might think from reading the blurb. Revenge was expected. I wasn’t expecting Nell’s reason for recording the women clients’ names. She felt the attitude that women were inferior in that time period most likely meant their names would be lost to history unless she recorded it. I also didn’t expect some of the themes: sacrifice for another, the importance of friendship, women supporting women, and getting your dreams back on track.

I would have liked a darker, mysterious ending for the apothecary’s story. It felt a bit forced – tied up too neatly. Still, overall, I enjoyed the read. I’d give it 4 out of 5 stars. (Keep in mind, I only write reviews of books I enjoy and would recommend.) So if THE LOST APOTHECARY sounds like your type of story, try it out. I would not have guessed this to be Sarah Penner’s debut novel. I look forward to seeing what she has for us next!

If you want to read my other book reviews, click here.

 

You can follow me on social media –

Facebook and Instagram @author.robin.shelley

Netgalley Professional Reader

 

Posted on

The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews

Robin’s Rave Reviews – Christmas 2021 Edition

It may seem early, but The Santa Suit, a heart-warming Christmas novel, comes out September 28.  It can be pre-ordered now. (Remember:  buying a new book through pre-order or the first week of publication is the most helpful to an author.) The Santa Suit would make a great gift – even for yourself! Too busy to read during the holidays? No problem. The Santa Suit is a light, easy read with a Hallmark movie feel (but less predictable). You might just find the holiday stress slipping away while you read.

After her divorce Ivy moves to a small town and into an old farm house she bought sight unseen. Ezra, her hunky realtor, helps her fix immediate problems in the house  leading to sparks of romantic interest. Meanwhile, when clearing out items the previous owner left behind, Ivy finds an old Santa suit with a child’s note in the pocket. Ivy wants to solve the mystery of who the girl was and if her Christmas wish was fulfilled. This curiosity connects her to the small town community and culture right at Christmas-time while she makes new friends and reconnects others who have lost touch.

I have to admit, when I got the advanced reader copy, I wasn’t really in the mood to read a Christmas story in September, but I got sucked in right away. The Santa Suit feels Christmas-y without being cliché.  Every time I read a Mary Kay Andrews book, I’m in awe at how it flows so naturally. (MKA’s writing expertise makes it look easier than it is.)  MKA’s characters always feel real and relatable. She masterfully ties up loose ends I didn’t even realize were loose, tying everything together like a pretty Christmas bow on a special package.

If you like Mary Kay Andrews, take a moment to read my review on The Newcomer, the book she wrote before The Santa Suit.

Posted on

Under the Southern Sky by Kristy Woodson Harvey

Kristy Woodson Harvey‘s newest book Under the Southern Sky is my first ARC (Advance Reader Copy). An ARC book is given to reviewers before the book hits mass distribution in exchange for an honest opinion.

Right from the first page, I was sucked in. It wasn’t just the story or characters but a freshness and energy in the writing. Originally I was a bit hesitant about the topic, but Harvey brought hope and joy to a tricky, sensitive situation.

When journalist Amelia digs into her research for a story, she discovers that her childhood friend Parker and his late wife Greer have frozen embryos that have been classified as “abandoned.” Bringing it to his attention adds to Parker’s pain of his loss but also gives him new options to consider.

I had to keep turning the pages to see how their friendship would evolve as they dealt with these adult situations.  A nice addition to the list of characters included best friend/meddling mother characters that were patient and subtle. I also enjoyed Aunt Tilley’s character. She’s lovable, quirky, and more complex than first meets the eye. Plenty of twists and turns in the story keep readers engaged.

I would highly recommend reading Under the Southern Sky by Kristy Woodson Harvey. It comes out in April 2021, but you can pre-order a copy from your favorite bookstore today. Pre-orders are very helpful to authors so if you think you’ll buy this book, why not pre-order today? If your sweetheart is looking for a special gift to get you for Valentine’s Day, ordering this book would be a great suggestion.

Posted on

Feels Like Falling by Kristy Woodson Harvey

Time to share another book recommendation with you. Feels Like Falling was the first book I’ve read by Kristy Woodson Harvey. If you are looking for a light and easy read in women’s fiction, Feels Like Falling is a great choice. It’s a pleasant story to escape into. I really enjoyed the unlikely friendship that develops between two women from opposite socio-economic positions.  Feels Like Falling is an uplifting example of friends, new and old, supporting each other through good times and bad.

The structure of this book was refreshing since it was different from the women’s fiction books I’ve been reading.The structure switches POV back and forth (in a clear way) between Gray and Diana so the reader can experience these women’s thoughts and actions through their eyes.

While Gray seems to have it all, she struggles with a divorce that drags on and with dating again as a single mom. On the other hand, Diana seems to have nothing, living in her car after leaving an abusive relationship and getting fired from her job. When Gray gives her a chance to improve her situation, Diana takes the opportunity which changes the direction of her life. Both women become better people through the development of their friendship. Readers will enjoy unfolding their stories page by page.

Kristy Harvey Woodson

Harvey has also written the Peachtree Bluff series as well as Dear Carolina. Under the Southern Sky is currently on pre-order and slated to be released in April 2021.

Let me know if you’ve read a book by Kristy Woodson Harvey. If so, which one(s)? What did you think of it?

Posted on

The Genre Game

Hi Shells! Thanks for opening my post today. I hope you are enjoying my blogs. Please share with your friends and family. The more, the merrier! Anyone can go to robinshelley.com and sign up to get my blog sent directly to their email box. Your support is much appreciated!

Over the last few years I’ve been learning about the publishing world so I can make an educated plan of attack to get my book published. To publish in the traditional way (not self-publish), I need to find an agent who believes in  my writing and my book. When approaching agents, one thing they want to know is the book’s genre. That sounds like an easy request, but not all novels are cut and dry. It’s actually a deeper topic than it first appears for identifying my novel, The Lighthouse Legacy.

Let’s start analyzing:  It’s fiction. That’s easy. It has romance in it, but it isn’t a romance book. Still, women readers will be attracted to this story which includes romance. The protagonist strives to overcome his past to become a better person because of the woman he’s falling for. Ahhh, it must be women’s fiction, right? Wrong. Apparently this isn’t the normal formula for women’s fiction. People in the industry argue that women’s fiction must have a female protagonist. Go figure!

Ok, well . . . The Lighthouse Legacy centers around Ryan, a male protagonist, who must break a family cycle to find success in love again. It’s his journey, and yet this multi-generational story is so much more. Ryan arrives in Port Morgan to learn about his grandfather who was a lighthouse keeper there. Through his interest in his family’s past, Ryan meets Kate, a shop owner and local history junkie. She discovers a journal written by Ryan’s grandfather. As they follow up on stories in the journal, Kate and Ryan build a relationship. Together they investigate unanswered questions about a moonshine rivalry during prohibition, his grandfather’s death, and an antique necklace. Meanwhile, when a rich developer wants to force Kate out of business, Ryan tries to fix the situation for her. Plenty for both women and men to enjoy!

During my research to identify the genre, I kept believing my novel was women’s fiction. I went looking for well-written and well-received books that would prove that women’s fiction can have a male protagonist. That’s how I stumbled upon Sand Dollar: A Story of Undying Love by Sebastian Cole. Unfortunately he doesn’t label his book as women’s fiction. He considers his book romantic fantasy. So does that mean my novel is romantic reality? Is there such a genre? Silly, right? It just shows how hard it is to wrap my head around this genre debate.

After reading Sand Dollar and writing The Lighthouse Legacy, I don’t see why male protagonists aren’t in more stories with romantic elements. A male character can be strong while also having a vulnerable side due to love. After all, isn’t that what women are looking for in a mate?

Yes, the industry looks for a female protagonist for women’s fiction, but I continue to wonder why it can’t include male protagonists who are made better by a good woman. Don’t most women think their guy is a better man because of her influence in his life? Wouldn’t women want to read about a man who overcomes for his woman?

 What do you think? Can women’s fiction have a male protagonist?  Would that turn you off or doesn’t it matter to you? Let me know your thoughts.

Finally, after much deliberation, I’ve decided my book isn’t women’s fiction.  Nope. It’s upmarket fiction with a crossover to the women’s fiction market (at least until someone in the industry tells me otherwise!)  Upmarket novels lie somewhere between the commercial and literary genres. These books appeal to readers who want a high quality and complexity of writing but also look for strong characters and plot. 

Okay, I’ll stop my ranting now.  But since I read it for research, my next post will be the book review of Sand Dollar: A Story of Undying Love by Sebastian Cole. Look for it coming to your email box soon!