three stars - No Apology Book Reviews

The Woman Left Behind by Linda Howard

November 5, 2019September 25, 2018

Title: The Woman Left Behind Author: Linda Howard Series: n/a Plot’s a tad messy, hero’s a stranger, heroine had her moments Goodreads says this is part of a series called Go-Team that includes Howard’s last novel, Troublemaker, but I haven’t seen this information anywhere else, e.g. Amazon or Fantastic Fiction; most notably, it’s listed on Howard’s own website as a standalone (since when does she have a website?). It’s certainly possible that these books are related somehow, but don’t worry …

Lost Innocence by Jannine Gallant

August 15, 2019June 6, 2018

Title: Lost Innocence Author: Jannine Gallant Series: Siren Cove #2 Well constructed but I didn’t care for the characters Thank you to Jannine Gallant for reaching out and asking for a review, and thank you to Lyrical Press/Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to give this work three or four stars. Structurally and mechanically, it’s excellent. There were some minor typos which I trust will be corrected for the final …

Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella

November 5, 2019December 3, 2017

Title: Surprise Me Author: Sophie Kinsella Series: n/a heartfelt but unimpressive I would like to thank Sophie Kinsella, The Dial Press/Penguin Random House, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review. After speaking with their doctor, Sylvie and Dan Winter are daunted by the prospect of sixty-eight more years of marriage. Realizing they know each other too well, Sylvie starts Project Surprise Me in an effort to keep them interested in one another. …

Lies Jane Austen Told Me by Julie Wright

October 9, 2018October 25, 2017

Title: Lies Jane Austen Told Me Author: Julie Wright Series: n/a Has its charms but is rather ridiculous I would like to thank Julie Wright, Shadow Mountain, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book had its moments but overall wasn’t impressive or unique. I did like that Blake wasn’t a superficial cookie-cutter villain. Well, not cookie-cutter, anyway. We didn’t get to know him much at all, so as a character …

A Christmas Affair by Jodi Thomas

October 9, 2018October 2, 2017

Title: A Christmas Affair Author: Jodi Thomas Series: Ransom Canyon #6.5 Rushed but well-meaning This was cute, if you don’t mind some cheese and purple prose. It’s so strange; I don’t remember associating Thomas with such fanciful dialogue before this year. Maybe my taste or perception has changed recently. I just couldn’t imagine real people saying some of those lines, and that sense of absurdity distances me from the story. Which might sound like an ironic paradox considering it’s fiction, …

The Scot’s Bride by Paula Quinn

October 10, 2018September 3, 2017

Title: The Scot’s Bride Author: Paula Quinn Series: Highland Heirs #6 Great characters in a messy plot I would like to thank Paula Quinn, Forever/Hachette Book Group, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Charlie Cunningham has one goal: find a cure for her sister’s affliction and get the heck out of Pinwherry. She can barely stand to look upon her father and brothers since the day they murdered the boy she …

Indigo Lake by Jodi Thomas

August 23, 2019July 19, 2017

Title: Indigo Lake Author: Jodi Thomas Series: Ransom Canyon #6 Not entirely bad but hardly satisfying To my astonishment, the leftover sense of disappointment I had from the last installment in the Ransom Canyon series, Wild Horse Springs, tempted me to not only skip reviewing this one, but to skip reading it at all. But my curiosity, a small sense of duty, and years of loving Thomas’ work combined into a force I couldn’t deny, so I read it. My …

Blackthorne’s Bride by Joan Johnston

October 10, 2018June 28, 2017

Title: Blackthorne’s Bride Author: Joan Johnston Series: Mail-Order Brides/Bitter Creek Historical #4 Flawed upon closer inspection…only a fraction of a larger world I would like to thank Joan Johnston, Dell at Penguin Random House, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Josephine Wentworth despises the Duke of Blackthorne. He’d saved her life, nursed her back to health, and promised to return her to her family—then shut her up in one of his …

Phantom Pearl by Monica McCabe

October 10, 2018June 18, 2017

Title: Phantom Pearl Author: Monica McCabe Series: Jewel Intrigue #3 Wasn’t what I thought it would be I would like to thank Monica McCabe, Lyrical Press, and Kensington Books for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I didn’t finish reading this book, and I’m not proud of it. I tried for two weeks to get myself to finish it, but for some reason I just couldn’t justify taking the time. My attention and interest …

America’s Next Reality Star by Laura Heffernan

October 10, 2018March 25, 2017

Title: America’s Next Reality Star Author: Laura Heffernan Series: Reality Stars #1 Awkward… I would like to thank Laura Heffernan, who requested my honest review of her work and kindly sent me a copy to read. In quick succession, Jennifer Reid broke up with her long-term boyfriend, lost her job, and received an eviction notice. No better time to audition for a reality show, right? She had nothing to lose, and she needed the prize money to get her life …