2024 TBR Challenge Summary

The year is almost over. It does seem too convenient to keep repeating "time flies" but clichés exist because they are often the best way to express something realistic. Sometimes it does seem some days take too long, other times the day is not enough...

Anyway, the year is ending and that means one more TBR Challenge, hosted by Wendy, the SuperLibrarian, has been finished. 

As I have done in recent years, here's a little summary of my choices to wrap up the year.

My list:

January: Maggsie McNaughton's Second Chance by Frances Maynard 6/10

The protagonist decides to giver her life a new chance by starting a new job but, as she had done in the past, she gets herself in several mix ups anyway, especially when she starts telling herself she will prove she is improving and that will get her something she desires. Will she be able to learn about her past mistakes and be wiser now?

February: A Reason for Hope by Kristin von Kreisler 7/10

The heroine finds herself in a position she never imagined and she decides she needs to do something about it, even if it means being scared and needing Hope, the dog who is there to help those who went through some kind of trauma. In the way, perhaps she will learn to trust and love...

March: Spacer's Cinderella by Adria Rose 8/10

The heroine manages to be part of a project she was dreaming of, so she can learn enough to help her how planet surviving. In the process she discovers the man she could fall in love with was not only her new boss, but also someone who had the knowledge to help.. but at what price?

April: The Marquess Who Love Me by Sara Ramsey 5/10

After many years, and problems, the hero comes back home to take over his estate, and he decides to get revenge on the woman he was in love with and that he thinks betrayed him. Of course things aren't that simple and while he tries to put his plan into action, he finds love doesn't die that easily either...

May: Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy 7/10

A naive heroine and her group pf friends are discovering new adventures and what it means to be a mature person while at university. But with growing up there are also responsibilities and challenges, and some might be too hard to deal with. Friends should be there for all occasions, though...

June: Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops by Jen Campbell 7/10

This non fiction book is a collection of funny, or silly, comments and situations booksellers have heard or have lived through in bookshops. Interaction with the public is always a game of patience and, perhaps, amusement, as proven by the examples used.

July: Magic's Pawn by Mercedes Lackey 6/10

Fantasy can be great or not but I had high hopes for this world and by this author, which many readers love. The protagonist's adventure into becoming an adult who has a task to perform and who needs to wise up wasn't as smooth as it could be, however.

August: Protecting What's Mine by Lucy Score  8/10

The author has been hyped in the recent times, and she does have a kind of formula. Still, this story about a woman who is starting over in a small town and now needs to deal with a lot more people, a lot more closely than before is quite cute, especially if it includes he man she is falling in love with...

September: The Violet Hour by Katherine Hill  3/10

A dysfunctional family having boring and sometimes annoying inner thoughts proved to be quite a disappointment. The author likely aimed for literary reflections but this was only an exercise in frustration and unnecessary situations.

October: The Distant Hours by Kate Morton  6/10

I was eager to read this tale, which promised a specific type of environment. However, the protagonist's investigation into the lives of two sisters who live in an old castle felt forced, and the mystery associated with their intertwined lives didn't have enough sparkle, to me.

November: The Outsider by Penelope Williamson 7/10

The protagonist, who is part of an Amish-like community, finds and restores to health an outsider, who has the fame of not being a good man. As the recovery continues, they talk and start respecting one another. From there to love is one small step but there are obstacles in their way...

December: The Christmas Dress by Courtney Cole 7/10

The heroine comes back to Chicago after the death of her father. She now needs to manage an old building and deal with the tenants... there are difficulties in her path but also new friends, a possible new love and old stories to finally solve, all around the Christmas spirit...

Some notes:

→ I would say my average wasn't great but I like the idea of trying things to suit the themes as best I can, and that might mean some books will not be as great as I would have preferred;

→ The majority of my choices were contemporary books, which kept the trend of my current preferences; 

→ Eight choices were by new authors to me;

→ Five of the books were in paperback format, the others were ebooks;

→ All my choices had been in the pile for more than one year, at least. Most of them even more than that. Thus, I think it's a personal success to choose and read them, and it's 12 more books out of the pile...

Happy reading, and until next year's challenge!

TBR Challenge: Courtney Cole - The Christmas Dress

When hopeful fashionista Meg Julliard must return to her hometown of Chicago to manage her late father’s apartment building, she thinks her dreams of making it in the fashion business are over. Add in her father’s eclectic roster of tenants who all need Meg’s attention (ASAP!), a host of building related disasters, and a handsome handyman she keeps embarrassing herself in front of, and this has all the makings for the worst Christmas she’s ever had.
Ellie Wade, one of the building’s longtime residents, is also not feeling the Christmas Joy this year. She is preparing to move into a nursing home (reluctantly), and is in the process of sorting through her belongings to downsize. Every corner of her apartment holds memories, some good, some bad. But there’s one dress she hesitates to pack up as it represents both the best and worst night of her life.
Ellie and Meg strike up an unlikely friendship and the story of Ellie’s dress comes out. Ellie gifts the gorgeous dress to Meg, hoping that it will bring her more luck, on the condition that she wear it to the building’s Christmas party.
The dress magically fits, and while it eventually leads to the best night of Meg’s life, it also acts as inspiration for Meg to follow a life-long dream of her own, a dream that will help save the crumbling Parkview West, and restore it to its former glory, and keep it as a safe home for all of the current tenants.
The dress and the magic of the holiday season helps both Meg and Ellie find their own happy endings.

Comment: At last, the final entry to the TBR Challenge of 2024. For December, the theme is "It's a Party!" which could mean a lot, but December is also a traditional month for Christmas and New Year parties and I've picked a book where the characters, at some point, need to plan for a party, so...

When Meg Julliard's father dies, she leaves her demanding job at a fashion magazine in New York behind to go back home to Chicago, to take care of the historical building her father owned and managed. Things don't go very well at first, despite the happy welcome of several tenants, who are all in older age gaps, because there's a lot to be done and a lot that needs to be repaired and, apparently not much money to do it. Meg and tenant Ellie become friends and Meg's fashionista side can't help but admire a dress Ellie owns, for its timeless quality. This propels Meg to want to design her own collection and, along with handyman Logan's help, who becomes a friend as well, she enters a competition to win money which could help the renovations the building needs to be classified as historical and, then, have grants to help supporting it. But all challenges have obstacles, will Meg and her friends be able to overcome theirs?

The cover of this story is all about Christmas and I felt it was quite appropriated to this story. I wasn't certain when the party detail would be included but, as expected, it does happen closer to the end of the book, when things are finally solved and everyone can celebrate the festivities. In that regard, I believe this book did meet the challenge.

This is another new author for me, it's the first book I try by Courtney Cole and I had no expectations about her writing style. I only wished for a sweet story, to go along with the season, and in that aspect, I think the criteria was met again. This is a straightforward story, without many distractions and with some situations being dealt with and even "solved" without lots of drama, something that I feel happened because the page count isn't long either.

I liked Meg, she is the narrator and someone who is easy to care about. Of course, the other side of the coin of having a shorter novel is that some things happen a bit too quickly sometimes, or too conveniently staged, and that made those things feel a little underdeveloped, since the author clearly wanted to reach this or that moment without too much fuss or a long setting up. I'm specifically thinking about how quick it felt for Meg to create a few designs and to easily take them in one bag to New York, for what was meant to be an important presentation (or maybe I'm just spoiled by Project Runway...), but I suppose I can ignore certain details since the plot felt alive and fast paced.

The plot does have a lot going on, it's Meg's personal life, then the problems of the building, then trying to find ways to renovate it, how to get money, then the fashion aspects, the interaction with secondary characters, the coincidence of a few situations... I mean, this story clearly was not meant to win any literary prizes and the writing feels a bit all over the place here and there, but it was still engaging to me, it was still interesting in the sense I wanted to see the characters do well and find a way to solve the problems.

There's a romance between Meg and Logan, which is sweet but a little underdeveloped. I feel that, since this is not the focus of the book, it wasn't that bad, and the author could have done better, but in terms of empowering Meg to feel she is worthy of things, including someone who loves her too, this was done well enough. I think the author added a few obstacles for them which were so... out of place, that I couldn't help but think it was just a easy way to add that drama, but that aside, the romance was OK for the overall story.

I was more interested, to be fair, in the dress that propelled the whole thing, and I was even wondering if there would be some kind of magical realism in this story but no. Things are a lot simpler than that and the power of Meg's accomplishments is only on her own self and in how she has the support of those who like her. Still, the idea of the dress was a great one, and obviously quite a theme for me, from the top of my head this is the third or fourth novel I remember reading where a dress is almost a character too, in relation to how its existence helps the characters or not. I also liked the connection of it to Ellie's story in the past and why she has this dress now. Under developed sub plot of course, but still sweetly solved.

All in all, this was a cute enough novel, has the necessary ingredients to make it a sweet contemporary with some serious issues but in a light tone, which is the best, I'd say, for a Christmas seasoned plot. I'll investigate if other titles by this author catch my eye, but this one, although not amazing, did fit the bill for what I was expecting.

Grade: 7/10

TBR Challenge: Penelope Williamson - The Outsider

A daughter of the faith…a stranger with a gun…a forbidden love.Throughout the years on her Montana homestead, Rachel Yoder had never been afraid—the creed of the Plain People had been her strength. Then the day came when lawless men killed Rachel’s husband in an act of blind greed. Now, at her darkest hour, an outsider walks across her meadow and into her life…Johnny Cain is bloody, near death, and armed to the teeth. A man hardened by his violent past, Cain has never known a woman like Rachel—someone who offers him a chance to heal more than his physical wounds.Cain’s lazy smile and teasing ways steal Rachel's heart and confound her soul. Soon she must choose between all she holds dear—her faith, her family, perhaps her very salvation—and the man they call the Outsider.

Comment: We arrive once more at the third Wednesday of the month and that means it's time for the TBR Challenge post. For this month the theme is "it came from the 1990s" which clearly means the choice would need to be something published in that decade... well, that's how I saw it. Thus, I've picked this book by Penelope Williamson who published mostly in those years, and this book is from 1996.

In this book we meet heroine Rachel, who lives a Plain Life (similar to Amish?) in her community and her life changes when she and her son Benjo rescue a stranger from the outside world, as they call it, when he is fund in their land with a bullet hole in his chest and close to dying. At first this is Rachel doing what the Lord would demand of her, but the longer the outsider stays with then, the more fascinated she becomes. Rachel is a widow and she knows she and this stranger would never be able to be together if she wants to still be part of everything she is familiar with, but what if the Lord has a different path for her? However, perhaps the stranger's enemies will want to catch him anyway, since they weren't successful the first time... 

I had read another book by the author in 2021 and liked it a lot. I was told by a friend that this one was also a good one and that is why it was in the TBR pile. I thought it would suit this theme since this book was published in the right decade and, in a way, that seems to be something related to writing style as well. I wouldn't say the "voice" is that distinctive, as other author's sometimes are, but the writing style is one I'd think of when thinking about books written in the 90s for certain, things with a lot more emphasis on romance and emotion instead of about characters' competence, for instance.

The plot is very simple but, as it used to happen with the so-called old school" types of stories, there is a lot being developed in regards to plot and the characters, including some who are secondary. This also means the story is a lot longer than it would be necessary if the focus were to be on simply the main romance. I wouldn't go as far as to say that there are pointless elements, but the author takes time to set up things and to let the reader know why some are important.

I liked Rachel as a heroine, for she is a good person and not only because she is part of a Plain Life community. Even people who worship God in such way have prejudice and imperfections, and this was an important part of the story when it became obvious that Rachel would fall in love with her stranger, Johnny. I was actually reminded of Laura Kinsale's Flowers from the Storm, which I loved reading, because the main idea is the same: hero and heroine come from different places and the heroine's Faith is an important part of her life and future choices.

That is how I saw this book for the most part, Rachel would need to make a choice at some point, but as always, the road leading there is what would make that choice an easy or a hard one and I think the author did manage to set up things in such a way that it would never be easy, no matter how much in love she would feel towards Johnny. The romance vs religion discussion was an interesting one here, and I didn't feel the author was preaching or defending this or that. I think there is enough focus on romantic notions to make it seem as if Rachel would not have a choice after all, but reading with attention might not make it be that obvious right away.

As with many books from this decade, there is an emphasis on the heroine and what she is feeling, and I do miss that Johnny didn't seem be developed as well emotionally or in a way that would match the level through which we see the development of Rachel. As a couple they were fine to me, but I must say I wasn't as dazzled by them nor their dynamics as I was with Kinsale's book I've mentioned before. The romance here was certainly more subdued.

I liked the interactions with Rachel's son and how we got to have a few scenes from his POV as well. Funny we have him, we have two or three other secondary characters' POV but not the hero's... as for the conflict, it went beyond the religious issues. There is a man who wants to take over Rachel's land and was the reason why her husband was killed, and this has some interesting development but I will confess I've skimmed some parts where this man is plotting bad stuff because it simply didn't matter to me, I wanted to get back to the main characters.

As expected, there comes a time where things become too hard, some bad situations happen to secondary characters as well, and we keep having some debates on whether Faith and Belief are enough to make one a Righteous person. I'm naturally interested in religious beliefs being important for a character and for what they stand for, so this theme captivated me, but of course a modern view on these things makes some situations in the book feel very unfair. In terms of romance, nevertheless, I think Rachel went into a path many would believe the right one.

In the end, I liked the subtlety in which some situations were dealt with. I liked how we are told a story but not how we should feel about it or what the characters should do. I liked that some things are so obviously good and bad that, as in real life, the choice is always impossible to be simplified. I didn't connect with this book as well as i did with the other one I had read by this author, but it was certainly a good one to send time with.

Grade: 7/10

TBR Challenge: Kate Morton - The Distant Hours

Edie Burchill and her mother have never been close, but when a long lost letter arrives one Sunday afternoon with the return address of Milderhurst Castle, Kent, printed on its envelope, Edie begins to suspect that her mother’s emotional distance masks an old secret.
Evacuated from London as a 12-year-old girl, Edie’s mother is chosen by the mysterious Juniper Blythe and taken to live at Milderhurst Castle with the Blythe family: Juniper, her twin sisters, and their father, Raymond.
Fifty years later, as Edie chases the answers to her mother’s riddle. She, too, is drawn to Milderhurst Castle and the eccentric sisters Blythe. Old ladies now, the three still live together, the twins nursing Juniper, whose abandonment by her fiancé in 1941 plunged her into madness.
Inside the decaying castle, Edie begins to unravel her mother’s past. But there are other secrets hidden in the stones of Milderhurst Castle, and Edie is about to learn more than she expected. For the truth of what happened in the distant hours has been waiting a long time for someone to find it....

Comment: For October, the TBR Challenge post has the theme "Spooky (Gothic)" but since I rarely read things I'd consider spooky - certainly not intentionally - I've decided to stick to the Gothic part of the suggestion. 

Looking through my TBR, I've failed to find something that would be immediately seen as such so I picked an author I wanted to try for some time but never had the impulse to do so. I've chosen a book by Kate Morton, then, at the library, for her work often has the label Gothic associated with her historical novels.

In this story we meet heroine Edie, an editor at a small publisher, who has a pretty stagnant life in 1992. She also doesn't have a very warm relationship with her mother but one day a letter arrives and her mother has a reaction she never imagined she would see such a stoic person have. She discovers the letter is related to her mother's youth experience as an evacuee during the war and she decides to investigate the castle where she stayed. It just happens it's also the home of famous author Raymond Blythe, and his three unmarried elderly daughters still live there. Following her curiosity, Edie visits the castle and she leaves with more questions than when she arrives, propelling to keep the contact. With time, what she discovers not only gives her a new perspective about her mother, but also about the castle's current inhabitants...

I had seen several friends of mine on GR giving positive grades to this author's work. I must also say the covers of her books, well, most of them, are gorgeous and that does appeal to the eye. Still, somehow I was never really motivated to try myself but this time I felt it was a good opportunity for I know most of the author's novels are historical with Gothic-like vibes, at least according to the labels in sites such as GR and retailers.

I had no big expectations before starting but once I did and the page turning was ongoing, I couldn't help thinking the writing was quite wordy, lost and lots of words and descriptions and paragraphs setting up the mood, details which I kept thinking weren't really that necessary... I kept going but there was a time I thought the book was a bit boring. This notion never left me and if there is one word I would use to describe the story is precisely that, boring.

The story is told from Edie's POV, which is fine for the most part, and we get to find out things at the same time she does. There are also several chapters in the past, between late 30s until early 40s, seen through the eyes of secondary characters, and this lets us know which events happened to lead to the situation Edie is learning about in 1992. The plot is dual timed but focused on what happened in the castle at the time Edie's mother was there as young girl, as well as what happened to other people who had lived there before. There is a lot of content about the Blythe sisters, still alive in her eighties in 1992 but who had very different takes on life in 1940.

I think the author clearly researched a lot about the area and the evacuation premise one not often seen in these types of historicals. Well, the ones I've read don't usually mention this. I liked how she devised the mystery Edie is investigating and the atmosphere surrounding the 30s and 40s is definitely moody, although Gothic is perhaps a description I would not think of right away. I also think there's a certain push to make things seem odd and lugubrious and to me this was not done in a convincing way. 

It's understood something terrible happened to the Blythe sisters, namely the youngest, whose fiancé never arrived for a meeting they had planned and she has mourned the loss since then. The other sisters have taken care of her, for her health deteriorated and her mind is not sane anymore, but all these elements are given to the reader by Edie's eyes, and then there are chapters in between main events where we see the sisters as young women and their interactions with others. I have to say I wasn't particularly interested in these segments, because the characters are, for the most part, too bland. I failed to find sympathy towards them besides the obvious.

When things get closer to the end the plot becomes a bit more interesting, as the secrets the Blythe family has start becoming known, but Edie isn't exactly the most fascinating of heroines and the writing kept on being wordy. I was reading but not really feeling an emotional connection, even when more heartfelt situations were being described. The solution/explanation for the big mysteries were also a little too convenient and I've struggled to see them in my head. I think the author could have done a better job bringing all the loose threads together.

When the story ends, there's also a very melodramatic scene we are told about which I think was over the top and slightly ridiculous. Thinking of this and the way some situations happen reminded me there were better ways for the plot to be secretive for longer or for it to be more engaging. This means the writing wasn't a great one for me and the execution should have been done bettor by the author. Nevertheless, let it be said, I've read a translation and having studied this in the university I could kind of see where some options might have come from... perhaps reading another book by the author in English might suite me better. I'll definitely try but probably not that soon.

Grade: 6/10

TBR Challenge: Katherine Hill - The Violet Hour

For a moment that afternoon, it was only woman and water, the Bay in all its sickening glory squaring itself for a fight.
Life hasn't always been perfect, but for Abe and Cassandra Green, an afternoon on the San Francisco Bay might be as good as it gets. He's a doctor piloting his new sailing boat. She's a sculptor finally getting a bit of recognition. Their beautiful daughter Elizabeth is off to Harvard at the end of the summer. But then there is a terrible row. Cassandra has been unfaithful. In a fit of insanity, Abe throws himself off the boat.
A love story that begins with the end of a marriage, The Violet Hour follows a 21st century American family through past and present, from a lavish New York wedding to the family funeral home in suburban Washington, from a drunken PTA party to a scene of unexpected public violence.
In this resonant odyssey of youth, middle age, ambition and loss, intimacy is fragile and the search for gratification breeds destruction. Here is a family ripped apart by individual desires. And here is a family possibly reborn.

Comment: Ah, one more TBR challenge post and for September the theme is "drama". Certainly this means quite a broad range of possibilities and I've picked something that, considering the genre, would fit quite well, but I was not happy with the experience.

In this drama story we meet the Green family while they are sailing and apparently at ease but a few comments finally make Abe, the husband, say out loud he knows his wife Cassandra is cheating and he spontaneously dives and swims to the shore. Cassandra and their daughter Elizabeth sail back, but the day is not salvageable, much less the marriage. As the years go by and Cassandra and Abe follow different roads, Elizabeth has learned to deal with this but then, suddenly, Cassandra's father dies and Abe comes back, to pay his respect. Is there any chance they can, at least, agree on talking again?

Last month I had also read a book about a woman who cheated on her husband and, among other issues, that made me dislike the story immensely. Therefore, I wasn't impressed, at all, with Cassandra and her choice and even less with the reasons she had to behave this way. This means the story was not appealing to me and if not for the prologue and Cassandra's father - the short amount of time we had with him alive in the story - this would have an even lower grade, just like I gave the other book.

The prologue was quite interesting, the writing and the vibe made me think the plot would revolve around making amends or if the main characters really were separating, how their lives would evolve... I'd have liked to read that story, but it wasn't so. I thought to myself that the author must have written the prologue in an inspired moment and only later on decided to write the rest and her muse might have been gone. Most of the book is written in such a boring way and has such uninteresting situations that I struggled to keep going.

I could have stopped, of course, but I had this book chosen for this theme since the beginning of the year and didn't want to change the plans I had for the titles chosen for this month anyway. Still, I hoped the story would have been much better than what it was and I still can't quite describe what this was supposed to be about, since the characters didn't do much. I didn't sympathize with any character except, perhaps, Cassandra's father, but his death propelled the majority of the situations and those were vague enough to not matter much in the end, after all.

I can't understand, really, what is the point of writing about people who are not satisfied with life or who make decisions because they are bored or unhappy and why would the reader care about them. If the goal here was to make Cassandra realize the repercussions of her decisions or that they had been, mostly, wrong, perhaps there would be interesting study of human nature, but it felt as if Cassandra was one of those free spirit types of people who would never settle for anything but what they would see as a slice of life, not caring others are affected by that. Frankly, I disliked her and could not see her being redeemed in any way.

This, along with the several characters who don't seem to have any special importance for this story except to prove infidelity and promiscuity is easy, means the story doesn't get any obvious development. Why this story and why this way, I kept thinking. Surely the author had a goal with this and if the idea was to expose the bad side of people, in a general notion, then it would not be necessary to use so many pages. Since the prologue, which I liked how was written, to the end, the plot is more a reunion of episodes with several passages where we see the characters in the past doing things that might somehow justify the current behavior/dialogue, there isn't much to it. I really expected more out of this book when I read the blurb.

Anyway, considering none of the characters "learned" anything from their life experiences and supposed mistakes, and that even Elizabeth seemed to follow the path of her parents in the sense she seemed to be rather careless with her attitudes and intimacy choices, I just can't find any consistency in this story to make it something I'd recommend. It's one of those attempts that just didn't go well, although it most definitely has drama!

Grade: 3/10

TBR Challenge: Lucy Score - Protecting What's Mine

Fire Chief Lincoln Reed is known for his heroics in the fire department and in the bedroom. Life is a never-ending good time. Until she lands in the middle of the accident scene he’s working…and then his backyard. Too bad she’s immune to flirty first responders.
Flight trauma surgeon Mackenzie O’Neil is on a crash course with burnout. She’s got a scar on her face and a shake in her hands. A temporary job as a small-town family physician is just the prescription. She’ll learn to meditate. Sleep more. Take up gardening.
She definitely won’t take her shirtless, firefighting neighbor’s hot body for a test drive.
But Linc and his tattoos are very persuasive. What’s a harmless little adrenaline-fueled fling between neighbors? It’s all naked fun and games until the shadows from Mack’s past find their way into her present. Can Linc be her hero when she needs him the most or will their scars ruin everything?
One thing is certain: Someone is going to get burned.

Comment: And August is practically done! I sincerely can't wait for its end, not only because it will mean, statistically, less heat in my region, but also calmer times at work. August's theme for the TBR Challenge is "everyday heroes" and I've picked up this book because it would feature a fireman hero and a doctor heroine and in our contemporary reality, how heroic they often need to be?

In this story, we meet doctor Mackenzie O'Neil, just as she is about to start an experiment on family medicine, which she hopes will mean a quieter time in her life, after doing many years as a flight trauma surgeon. She still does this from time to time in emergency rotations and it's precisely while helping with a patient while on helicopter duty that she meets chief fireman Lincoln Reed. They seem to like what they see and soon realize Mack is the town's new doctor and they happen to be neighbors. As everything and everyone seems to try to make them see how perfect for each other they are, they both start seeing it too, but Mack is still wary, considering her childhood disappointments with the idea of family. However, good hearts and patience can do a lot, and they surely deserve their happiness...

It is true Lucy Score has been hyped recently, mostly due to tik tok or something, although I can't be certain, since I don't have an account there. Anyway, this is the second book I read by the author and I think I can see why she's now so popular... her style is mostly light, fun, sweet, with conflict and drama in very small doses in key moments, making her stories mostly romantic and cute.

This is actually the third story in a trilogy but I don't think it's necessary to have read the other installments to follow the plot. There were several references to the protagonists of those other stories (since they all live in the same small town) but nothing exaggerated. In fact, the whole sense of community, of family, of togetherness is one of the main reasons why this story is so fascinating. I also live in a place where everyone knows everyone and it's always so fun to read about places where people are this invested in one another, as friends and family when my experience isn't that pleasing in real life.

The plot is quite simple: Mackenzie and Lincoln keep meeting one another while becoming friends and, of course, lovers, until it's more than obvious they will be together. While they debate this, we sometimes have scenes of them in their work, and I was particularly interested in Mackenzie's attempt at family medicine, being her lesson to be learned the fact she needs to adapt to a slower pace and to get to know her patients closely, treating them as friends too and not only as patients to fit in a slot.

Lincoln is an interesting character because he is confident, self assured and once he thinks Mackenzie is the one for him, he decides to be the person for her as well. I had the same impression with the hero of the other book I had read by the author, making me believe she does have a certain way to write male heroes... the fact he is a fireman and helps others also is positive in seeing him through that POV of helping and taking care of others. Besides, it's wonderful to have heroes in contemporary romance who know they like (and might love) the heroine and aren't afraid of acting on it.. much better than those heroes who keep acting as if they aren't good enough or are not meant for romance.

There were some situations throughout the story which were a little lame, and one or two conflicts between them before the big finale felt a little ridiculous, but to be fair the vibe here isn't one of perfect decisions and perfect writing, so... that said, I think a few scenes were slightly forced, not very natural and used to create a shock or a need for a sudden change... I don't mind this tactic on itself but certainly makes a few switches or jump of scenes a bit awkward or weaker by comparison.

The biggest issue to develop here is related to Mackenzie's past and how her childhood was far from idyllic. Of course we know that at some point Mackenzie would need to confront what happened in the person of her mother, who was the most responsible person to make Mackenzie feel she could't deal with stability and companionship in a lengthy relationship. I mean, this is clear to the reader and while I think the goal of making her realize things was accomplished, some plot decisions until the end weren't always the best, in my opinion.

Nevertheless, this was a successful story for me, for the most part. I like the style, even with the flaws and as a whole, this story had enough elements and scenes to make me feel entertained as I was reading. I felt like turning the pages and seeing what would be next, and sometimes that is more than enough...

Grade: 8/10

TBR Challenge: Mercedes Lackey - Magic's Pawn

Though Vanyel has been born with near-legendary abilities to work both Herald and Mage magic, he wants no part of such things. Nor does he seek a warrior's path, wishing instead to become a Bard. Yet such talent as his if left untrained may prove a menace not only to Vanyel but to others as well. So he is sent to be fostered with his aunt, Savil, one of the famed Herald-Mages of Valdemar.
But, strong-willed and self-centered, Vanyel is a challenge which even Savil can not master alone. For soon he will become the focus of frightening forces, lending his raw magic to a spell that unleashes terrifying wyr-hunters on the land. And by the time Savil seeks the assistance of a Shin'a'in Adept, Vanyel's wild talent may have already grown beyond anyone's ability to contain, placing Vanyel, Savil, and Valdemar itself in desperate peril...

Comment: One more month gone, just like that! No wonder one feels time is passing by...

For July, the TBR post theme is "what a wonderful world" and my mind went immediately to fantasy, which doesn't have to be synonym with wonderful of course, but often it can be. My choice was simple; I have heard many good things about this author and I had added this to my TBR because it would feature a LGBT character, at a time I was super focused in reading stories which would include the theme. Thus, the mix of fantasy and of wonderful in this world sounded promising.

In this magical world, Vanyel is a young man who feels misunderstood by those around him. He isn't interested in the things his siblings are but he is still his father's heir and he knows expectations are on him. His life is pretty much organized into what his family hierarchy demands of him, but his true dream is to become a Bard. When he defies the norm in combat against someone his father trusts, he is sent away to his aunt Savil, a Herald Mage of Valdemar, who has magic and powers and who might teach Vanyel while he stays with the mages.

Vanyel isn't too happy with this, but he prefers to go than to get into more disputes he won't win, although he is wary since his aunt in the past had said he didn't show evidence of having magical ability. Things change when he meets Tylendel, another student, and someone who changes his whole world. The problem is that magic can have another side, one people might not control, and events will lead to Vanyel discovering precisely what happens when magic is out of control...

I suppose I can say this was, indeed, a wonderful world, but perhaps - to me - not exactly with the positivism one tends to think of when we associate the word wonderful to good things. I say this because this story didn't end up being as great as I expected, both when it came to my personal imagination and due to the accolades given to the author. Perhaps I have not chosen the best book by her to have that impression, but the overall tone of the story was not as captivating as I thought it would be.

Vanyel is, for all purposes, described as being slightly arrogant or entitled and I struggled to like him in the beginning. I can understand he feels his family, well his father in particular, doesn't respect his wishes to develop his musical skills and become a Bard, which apparently is important enough in this fantasy world. A lot is set on him becoming a lord like his father, and he knows others only are his friends because of who he is and not for himself. This makes him also hide a little beneath this facade of haughtiness, which might drive some people away.

We also learn, at some point, that his father might have pushed him even more towards a reality in which he will be a lord and such, by making him practice weaponry skills, and fighting skills, which he doesn't care for, because he suspects Vanyel might not like girls, and this way he would not be as easily exposed to less manly things, such as music I suppose, and, therefore, to other boys and men who might be like him. I mean... I guess this might make sense for the world in question, and for the characters' personality but it certainly put me off and I wasn't as interested in the story from them on.

As it happened with other books, the writing style also affected my perception of the story. Things are told in a direct way, but not in one I'd say is engaging, and adding this to my lack of interest and the more boring sections where nothing was really happening made reading the book sometimes dull. When things finally happen, mostly magic related, to turn everything upside down, I confess I felt it was a bit too confusing and the sequence of events hard to imagine in my head.

After the big shocking situation happens, Vanyel is a changed young man and he does discover he has had magic all along, but the way he now must deal with them is quite hard, for he was not prepared for the intensity of the powers, nor is he skilled enough to deal with them nor with the consequences of using them. This part did interest me more, and I also liked he had a Companion, magical horses who can bond with a magical human, and they helped each other. But the plot seems to be going in the direction of Vanyel being set up for something due to his powers and I'm not really curious about that.

I've seen reviews by some readers who claim this was groundbreaking for its time (published in 1989, I was 4 year old) and I can see that, and perhaps, again, I'd have loved it more had I read it when I was going through the hype of the genre, but the truth is that this story didn't seem well written to me. I feel this wasn't engaging and what is being described felt it lacked real importance, which is a shame considering the amount of angst and drama that keeps happening.

I suppsoe I can also say I'm perhaps not seeing the story as it was intended, but I thought this would be so much cozier, not in the sense everyone only does humble, quiet tings, but the sense of cumminity, of family, of life... I was hoping for something more like that, but so complex that I would not even notice the pages turning. It is also possible this does happen more along these lines in other books in this world, but now I'm not as invested in finding out, which means this wonderful world wasn't as wonderful as I wished.

Grade: 6/10

TBR Challenge: Jen Campbell - Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops

This Sunday Times bestseller is a miscellany of hilarious and peculiar bookshop moments: 'Can books conduct electricity?'

'My children are just climbing your bookshelves: that's ok... isn't it?'

A John Cleese Twitter question ['What is your pet peeve?'], first sparked the 'Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops' blog, which grew over three years into one bookseller's collection of ridiculous conversations on the shop floor.

From 'Did Beatrix Potter ever write a book about dinosaurs?' to the hunt for a paperback which could forecast the next year's weather; and from 'I've forgotten my glasses, please read me the first chapter' to 'Excuse me... is this book edible?: here is a book for heroic booksellers and booklovers everywhere.

This full-length collection illustrated by the Brothers McLeod also includes top 'Weird Things' from bookshops around the world.

Comment: June this year is special in the TBR challenge, for the theme is "bananapants" and it implies a certain type of book, with a crazy type of content. The first thing that came to mind was to find a book with a strange or different type of story and having looked around some of the titles I had in the pile, I saw this non fiction one, with a very suggestive title. How much crazier can something be than the silly things some people say?

In this little book we have several entries of weird things people say in bookshops, and it can be seen as a funny and quick reunion of what can happen when one mixes up a certain lack of awareness, perhaps the lack of knowledge of certain subjects and the amazing natural things sometimes people say in the spur of the moment in a public situation. The examples were taken from experiences in two main bookshops, and then there is a section with a few entries sent by booksellers in other places.

This is a short compilation of what those particular people said in bookshops, therefore not very representative, but for anyone who likes books, who likes the world of books and has some knowledge of books or related subjects, this will sound quite fun at times. To me, this was a funny book to go through, because I also work with the public (sadly, not in a bookshop nor a library) and all those weird, sometimes silly stuff we find in the internet people say/do being apparently unlikely in this day and age of information being available everywhere? Well, not really, and people do say silly things.

I think my issue here was not as much the entries chosen, like I said for those who like books and book related stuff, this will be appealing. If there is one critic I can do is that the entries are very limited, I imagine for comprehension reasons and because why extending the scene, but each entry read so quickly, I saw myself just turning pages almost without much thought. This means it's very easy and quick to read, but some examples are not as interesting as others, or perhaps they don't make as much sense depending on one's geography.

The edition I got was also illustrated and I will confess I sometimes thought to myself I wish there were less images - with a art style I don't appreciate particularly - and more entries, because the book was already small, then having so many small entries, then the images... I mean... I also saw this started off as a blog, and perhaps on that platform the graphics work out better, but I think the way the information is presented in book format could have been better planned too.

In relation to the entries, they were mostly fun and the result of a specific context, such as this one:

Customer: What kind of bookshop is this?

Bookseller: We're an antiquarian bookshop.

Customer: Oh, so you sell books about fish.

Or we have others I liked more, such as this one:

Customer: It’s amazing, isn’t it, how little we really know about writers’ lives? Especially the old ones.

Bookseller: I guess the lives of writers have changed a lot.

Customer: Yes. And don’t forget about those women who used to write under male names.

Bookseller: Yes, like George Eliot.

Customer: I always thought Charles Dickens was probably a woman.

Bookseller:…I’m pretty sure Charles Dickens was a man.

Customer: But who’s to say?

Bookseller: Well, he was pretty prominent in society, lots of people saw him.

Customer: But maybe that was all a show – maybe that was her brother, while Charlene was at home, writing.

Bookseller:…

Again, I need to say I think this is better appreciated for readers who like to imagine these things, and I think this was a good try for me because I work with the public and one never knows what comes next, but I also like bookshops and libraries and I can certainly imagine the "adventures" of those who work there needing to be polite about certain situations.

While reading this book I also remembered another one, with entries compiled by Gina Sheridan, about what people say in libraries. I used to follow the blog: https://iworkatapubliclibrary.com/ but it seems as if it's no longer being updated or used. What a pity because this blog had many entries and some were more poignant than silly, which I liked too.

Anyway, this certainly fit the bananapants notion if one thinks of the things people do say in bookshops (and everywhere), but I did expect to have more content. I know there is a sequel, perhaps one day I might try to get that one.

Grade: 7/10

TBR Challenge: Maeve Binchy - Circle of Friends

It began with Benny Hogan and Eve Malone, growing up, inseparable, in the village of Knockglen. Benny—the only child, yearning to break free from her adoring parents...Eve—the orphaned offspring of a convent handyman and a rebellious blueblood, abandoned by her mother's wealthy family to be raised by nuns. Eve and Benny—they knew the sins and secrets behind every villager's lace curtains...except their own.
It widened at Dublin, at the university where Benny and Eve met beautiful Nan Mahlon and Jack Foley, a doctor's handsome son. But heartbreak and betrayal would bring the worlds of Knockglen and Dublin into explosive collision. Long-hidden lies would emerge to test the meaning of love and the strength of ties held within the fragile gold bands of a...Circle Of Friends.

Comment: Here is the TBR Challenge post for May! This time the theme is "with a little help from my friends", which I interpreted at its more obvious meaning and chose a story where we would see the interactions of a group of friends. It also helped that the title of this book by Maeve Binchy was so suitable from the start as well!

In this story, set in 1957 if I saw correctly, we follow the lives of Eve Malone and Benny Hogan, two friends since childhood, as they embark on their college lives in Dublin. One tragic event brings them closer to Nan Mahon, Jack Foley and other young people who will form their circle of friends. However, as all go on with their more cosmopolitan lives, the roots and the links to each of their childhood homes remain, and sometimes dreams and needs can't match what they still carry with them... or can they? Some choices will be made, and some decisions will have to happen, for will these friends remain the same?

I know, I know, that my little summary is vague, but as it happened to other books I've read by the author, her stories are pretty much a study in character's interactions and dynamics, not as much about a complex plot. I feel that explaining better might spoiler a few things too much, and that is not my main goal with my comments. I think the real wonder of this book is in how small things can create big problems and how trusting the right person or not can influence a lot. Isn't this the bread and butter of everyone's lives?

Benny and Eve are the main characters for they are the ones we see developing/evolving the most, even though there are more characters besides them from which we have a POV. Benny is trustworthy, a little naive but friendly and self conscience of her size and how others see her. Eve, on the other hand, feels she might not be recognized enough because of her parent's relationship and the fact she was not legitimated by her rich mother's family. Their personalities should not make for a lasting friendship, but somehow they do and I liked seeing their development for the most part.

This was, in my opinion, a longer book than it needed. We have a full chapter dedicated only to the girls' childhood and how they became friends, which I didn't mind, but from the moment the setting is 1957, when they are about to go to college and all the difficulties that entailed, I felt the author left the setting up of things for too long. I get it that this is her style and in a way I can accept the technique as  valid one, for it does explain very well why some characters behave the way they do, but I think a few less scenes, few pages would not have changed much. There was a point where I did struggle a little to feel focused on what was going on, and I persisted because I kind of expected it to improve, but not every little detail was necessary.

Since the story is set in Ireland and in the late 50s, there is obviously a lot of content related to this era or to the expectations of society in this time. I think that, in part, this does help to create an atmosphere which justifies a few decisions the characters make regarding several things, and one can more easily accept why those and why not something else, after all the pressure of others and of families and society in general influenced a lot of people's choices.

Benny and Eve each have a path to go and of course, a good element was to see their growth into adult women who thought about what they could and should do. I liked that their personalities weren't compromised by the experiences they went through. This aspect was better achieved, i'd say, with the character of Nan, whose alcoholic father colored a lot of her life at home, and while I can understand her actions and thoughts throughout the novel, she is clearly made to look worse by comparison... in fact, the whole group of friends only seem to be more or less something when near someone else. Apart from Eve, Benny and Nan, everyone else had less depth and was more obviously secondary.

Did I like this story? I liked reading it for the most part, but it wasn't exciting all the time, no. I'm aware this is meant to be cozy drama, if I can use this expression, but in terms of writing, there were moments where things simply dragged too long. I also think that someone hoping to be amazed or thrilled by any kind of conclusion or climax will be disappointed, for I don't think the author aimed the plot towards any kind of big reveal. Despite my less favorite aspects, I'll probably read more by this author.

Grade: 7/10

TBR Challenge: Sara Ramsey - The Marquess Who Loved Me

The widowed Marchioness of Folkestone is notorious for her parties, her art collection, and her utter disregard for the rules. But Ellie Claiborne knows her destruction is near. The new marquess is her first lover–the man whose sculpted body and sardonic grin haunt her every time she picks up her paintbrush. If he ever returns to claim his inheritance, her heart won’t survive seeing him again.
Nicholas Claiborne hasn’t stepped foot in England since watching Ellie marry his cousin. He has no use for the gorgeous, heartless girl who betrayed him, or the title she abandoned him for. But when his business in India turns deadly, Nick must return to London to uncover a murderer–and take revenge on the woman he couldn’t force himself to forget.
Nick hates Ellie’s transformation from sweet debutante to jaded seductress. Ellie despises him for leaving her behind. Still, the sparks between them reignite the passion that should have been their destiny. As their demands of each other turn darker and a potential killer closes in, they must decide whether to guard the fragile remnants of their hearts—or find a way to fall in love all over again.

Comment: One more month gone and it's now time for a new TBR challenge post! For April the theme is "no place like home" and in my mind I imagined someone returning home after being away for a long time, for that feeling of cherishing home is certainly stronger in that situation. It just happened that I had already planned to read this book this month, about a man who left his country and is now back to take charge of his estate, thus my choice was easy this month. 

This is actually the third installment in the Muses of Mayfair series, about four friends who have uncommon hobbies/passions considering the historical setting. 

Elinor, a widowed marchioness and painter, is going on about her life as usual, when Nicholas Claiborne decides to return and take over his estate. In the past Nick and Ellie had been sweethearts in love but when her father was told about this, he found a titled husband for her instead of Nick, who was a merchant's son at the time. Coincidentally, Ellie's new husband was Charles, the marquess of Folkstone, who happened to be Nick's cousin, and he could not accept the betrayal, leaving for India. Now Nick is back after several years, is the current heir of the estate where Ellie has lived and he wants revenge. However, despite the years, could it be that there is still love between them, and a place at home for Nick?

I will say that most of this book proved me right, once again, on why I tend to not enjoy the lovers reunited trope that much.

Ellie and Nick had been in love, a sweet, puppy kind of love which they believed could last forever and they were even intimate. Then, events happened to prevent them from being together and Nick could not believe she would marry his cousin instead, thinking she had done it only for the title, whereas he and his family were linked to trade and he could not give her the same. That is why he left and why he became successful. Now he is back and wants to get revenge on Ellie, but as they start interacting once more, they both realize the teenage feelings aren't gone.

I find these lovers reunited stories very boring in general, because there are pages and pages or scenes popping up all the time about past memories, about reminiscence, about past events/situations which cannot be changed and that, nevertheless, affect the characters and their choices in the present. I was, I admit, rather annoyed at Nick and Ellie for how they behaved in the past, but even more so for how they are now and the type of actions/behavior they have. This meant that while the story had its appeal, and I was curious to see them interacting with the secondary characters, their actual romance and reunion was boring as everything.

Certainly that this is a personal interpretation of the story line, and the reunion the actual purpose of the plot, but I struggled to find interest in what they were saying and doing. Most times I was annoyed because a frank conversation both in the past and now would make things easier - if not solving the conflict right away - but when this does happen to minimize the problems between them as I predicted, many chapters of silly games had already happened, increasing my general displeasure about them as a couple.

In the past, Ellie accepted to marry Nick's cousin because it was what her father wanted. However, I could not sympathize because in the now, the father is no longer in the picture and Ellie is sometimes acting as a jaded widow, and I just could not empathize with her. I think we are supposed to see her as becoming colder or cynical because of her past experiences, but I think I'd have liked her more if her choice in the past had been for a greater/stronger reason. Pleasing a father in an historical context might have more importance than in a contemporary one somehow, but I don't think the author wrote things in the best way to make the reader (well, me) convinced that those reasons had been the only possible ones.

Perhaps I can add that, in general, the writing of this story was not very.... satisfying. Perhaps, in part, it's the trope's fault, always something I'm already beware of, but the characterization of Ellie and Nick in the now just did not made me root for them. I knew the end would be that they would become an established couple again, but the process was not a romantic nor sweet one enough for me to think of them as a successful one. 

Nick, as well as Ellie, is now a more experienced person in relationships with others and this did affect his behavior into something less understanding. But I could put this aside if his goal was to win Ellie back or to find a way to finally get answers, but his silly games of revenge and how the author invented a way for them to need to be together while they didn't want to nor needed to, was really frustrating. Silly sexual revenge games did not make me think of them as a romantic couple, and when, supposedly, their feelings are romantic and happy again, I was no longer interested in them.

There are some references to Ellie's painting and why it was important to her, but not as much as the passions of the other female protagonists had been highlighted for plot purposes. I did like the interaction between the protagonists and the secondary characters, but when the author adds an apparent villain who is trying to kill Nick, so that the plot has to move towards romantic bliss more obviously, I thought this was a rather weak method of doing it. 
I think the "no place like home" notion that prompted my choice was well achieved, for Nick does return from India and he does reminisce about his home and his younger years, and the story ends with an HEA for him and Ellie in his current role, and estate.

Still, in general, this wasn't as special as I imagined it could be despite my usual reservations for this trope... I hope the final story of the quartet is more to my taste, at least the idea of it seems to be and I hope I won't be disappointed.

Grade: 5/10

TBR Challenge: Adria Rose - Spacer's Cinderella

A broken shoe. A forbidden ball. A sexy cyborg with a secret.
Born on an abandoned colony barely held together by sealant tape and hope, Aurora Sato is at the very bottom of the social pecking order. Hard work and brains got her into a coveted spot in the quadrant’s top university… But her new supervisor is a woman who's not about to let an upstart like Aurora get anything close to a break.
And a break is exactly what Aurora needs right now. Her home colony is dying and nobody is in any rush to save it or her family. Aurora’s research project is their last hope, but only if she can complete it in time — an impossible task.
One night out is all she’ll allow herself. One night to forget her troubles. She never expects to meet a man who dazzles all her senses. Magnus Thorne is a battle-hardened, ruthless cyborg. Rich, respected and powerful, he’s too much for innocent Aurora. For one magical night he makes her feel like a princess, awakening a longing she doesn’t know how to quell.
But Aurora is in more danger than she realizes. And Magnus isn’t about to let her face it alone, no matter how hard she tries to shut him out.
He's determined to break every rule to save her from ruin. But will she trust him enough to let him?

Comment: We're back to another TBR Challenge post. One month apart seems to be enough time but when it comes to the challenge it feels as if only last week I was writing about the previous entry! 

Anyway, for March the theme is Not in Kansas Anymore and what I immediately thought of was of a place which isn't usual, and my mind went to science fiction. I got his book after seeing very positive grades out there and I'm quite glad I chose it, since the story is not only set up in space - very unusual - but the heroine is actually at a place not her homeland and had to adapt.

Aurora Sato is working on planet Calliope with a scholarship, so she can use the university's equipment and resources to develop her terraforming project, which she hopes to finish successfully and, then, help her home planet Tigris, which will run out of breathable air soon, and everyone there will be killed. She knows practically everyone in the planet has more and better means, and if not for her professional work and her teaching and her scholarship, she would not be able to afford to stay. 

Everything changes when her mentor and fellow professor Abe is accused of hiding information and is expelled. With him goes the sympathy of the university and the person in charge seems to want her to fail. At the same time she meets Magnus and they have an instant attraction. He is also a teacher at the university and Aurora feels their change is gone when she applies to a project conducted by him and his team, but the more they try to keep the distance, the more they find out things about one another that makes them like each other even more. Will there be any hope for them? Will Aurora be able to finish her project and save her family?

Until a certain point in more than half way through the story I was confident I'd give this story five stars. I was that engaged, that dedicated and that seduced by the world and the characters. Unfortunately, around the 70% mark things started to drag a little, a few situations weren't as incisive anymore, in my opinion, and I felt the plot lost some urgency. Nevertheless, as a whole, this was extremely appealing to me and I hope the author will publish more stories in the future, I might be interested in checking them out.

The setting of this novel is on a planet where money and influence matter. The university is recognized for its groundbreaking work and projects and it becomes obvious that society expectations determine some people have more or better opportunities than others. If things don't work out or when contracts end, people can be easily shipped out back home or into places which aren't as visible. The idea of this set up isn't much of a novelty in the world of romantic stories, but I felt the author developed the world building enough to make me eager to see how well Aurora would succeed.

In fact, a major element that made me love this book was Aurora herself and, in particular, the competence she demonstrated and how clever and professional she was at work, including her work ethics. A huge part of the story is set on how "goody two shoes" Aurora is for the most part, although one could say her attraction to Magnus and the fact they maintain a relationship while they both work in the same project should not happen. Despite this, I had the feeling all the elements were working out well, that the author had thought about a way to make the characters larger than life and I was rooting for their success.

As expected, especially considering the title, there is a difference in status between Magnus and Aurora but to me their differences were just a romantic reason for why they might become a couple. In reality, they have a lot in common, I really liked how they were both teachers and smart and a lot of the things they had in common (more than the physical attraction) were mental, in the sense that they matched each other and I could accept them as a functional couple at almost all levels. The money issues or the social hierarchy differences were obvious but to me never an impediment to their relationship.

A lot of the conflict in the story is Aurora's need to have a successful project and when certain problems arise, I was as nervous as if it was my own work, because of how important that was to Aurora. I also liked that, when possible, Magnus helped and apart from a few glitches, his help was always on point and without a price, which some might see as prepotence but which to me felt like friendly help. It somehow made sense to me and I never got the icky feeling. I also would say that the confirmation of their mutual acceptance of how much the other person meant, romantically, was delayed by this but ultimately an obstacle they overcame when love and need proved stronger.

As I've said, I was really enjoying this story a lot until a certain point, where a few situations seemed to drag, some more dramatic scenes were exaggerated,perhaps for plot reasons, I also had the feeling a few things were being repetitive even if in different settings, and I felt the urgency, the vibe let's call it that, started to be lost. the story remained interesting but to me it felt as if the cliches one would expect in these types of stories seemed more glaring and not as easily interwoven into the main story. At that moment, I could more easily put the book aside if I had to whereas before I wanted to read non stop.

Despite this, I loved the space setting, I loved the relationship dynamics and I liked the end, although I feel a few aspects weren't as developed as I feel they deserved. The bad guys are punished, the "cinderella" elements were cute and not over the top, there's a HEA and a few secondary characters which I liked seeing interacting with the main ones. All in all, this was a successful read to me, perhaps not perfect as I felt like it would be in the beginning, but I can understand, and now agree with, the positive opinions of other readers.

Grade: 8/10

TBR Challenge: Kristin von Kreisler - A Reason for Hope

A heartwarming and uplifting story of healing, courage, love—and one irresistible yellow Labrador retriever—from the bestselling author of An Unexpected Grace and Earnest.
On San Julian Island, across Puget Sound from Seattle, Tessa Jordan works as a bookmobile librarian, recommending books and poems to her patrons. In her spare time, she cares for a colony of feral cats. But Tessa’s simple, satisfying life is shockingly upended after she meets Nick Payne, a respected community leader, and he invites her to dinner.
Far from a pleasant first date, Tessa’s evening with Nick leaves her feeling confused and upset. After deep soul-searching, she decides to step forward and accuse him of assault. Her distress grows when local prosecutor Will Armstrong declines to pursue her case, citing lack of evidence. Her main solace is Hope, a courthouse dog, trained to comfort victims through the difficult judicial process. As she lays her head in Tessa’s lap, her gentle brown eyes seem to say, Don’t worry. Everything will be all right.
Will, who is Hope’s primary handler, longs to get justice for Tessa, yet knows how rocky the path will be. It’s Hope who, true to her name, shines a bright ray through the darkness. With Hope by their side, Will and Tessa find surprising strength in each other as they learn just how resilient a heart—whether human or canine—can be.

Comment: No wonder one gets the feeling the years are passing by more quickly now that in the past...it's already time for another TBR post!

This month the theme is "furry friends" and of course I immediately thought about a book where animals would be featured. This title came to mind pretty quickly and to top it off, the cover has this gorgeous dog, I mean!

In this story we meet librarian Tessa, a 36 year old who feels the need to tray dating again. She registers at an online site and pretty soon has a request. Nick Payne is someone everyone knows in the San Julian island they live in, and Nick is even campaigning for a public position. However, after a successful first date, they meet again at Nick's house for a wine tasting and Tessa doesn't feel well until she wakes up the next morning, aware something is wrong. After a few days she does go to the police and what she believed would be pretty simple takes a long time and is dependent on a lot of legal matters. The prosecutor Will is eager at first, then tells her the case can't go on, which Tessa struggles to understand. The only help is taking care of some cats and Hope, the working Labrador at the courthouse, trained to help victims of abuse. Can Hope help Tessa long enough until something can be done?

I had not heard of this author before when I saw this title in the list of deals from the site I subscribed to, two years ago. The cute dog on the cover drew me in and I liked the summary of the blurb enough to feel like trying the book. I knew from the start the theme would not be easy and I was fully prepared for drama and for some unappealing discussions throughout, but I will say that, in this aspect, the book wasn't that hard to read because, I feel, the author toned down a lot of the content.

By that I mean that the narrative "voice" wasn't as emotionally draining as I imagined it would, considering the theme. In fact, the story is told in a competent and easy manner, almost a bit too detached in relation to the reader. The theme is hard and I can see how it might trigger some readers, but nothing here is descriptive, and it feels as if the author took care to be as politically correct as possible, so the focus would be on healing, and processing things and having animals to help. I can see the idea behind this plot, the supposed "uplifting" content, but to me some moments of the story seemed a little too superficial.

I'm not saying this had to be filled with bad moments or the characters suffering all the time, of course not! But I did expect the healing process to be more obviously gradual. Most of the plot is Tessa going through the legal and technical motions until her courtroom moment, and how things aren't always easy to accomplish. In the end there's a sudden twist that kind of solves what had been presented as more complicated, but even then Tessa isn't able to be at peace with the proceedings. I can accept this reaction, but certain exchanges, certain conversations and attitudes felt more like a manual on how people might react and/or cope rather than a fictional story about a woman overcoming her negative feelings so she can have a life outside of her trauma.

Basically, I expected a cozier story where the animals would be featured more or in a different way. I mean, I don't think I can truly complain about this, Hope is on the page often, or she is mentioned a lot, as are the cats Tessa helps. I think their presence does justify a few scenes and why we see the animals in them. I will also admit, my hopeless expectations, that a romance would be included here too. Reading the blurb, it was so easy to picture where the story might lead to, and in a way, my guess was correct. The only thing is, the romance is a bit like a final afterthought and was not romantic enough to me. I also think the road there between the two of them could have had better, stronger hints.

I believe the author might have intended to write something that can be devastating in a more positive way, without a lot of the negativity that one links to the theme. Everything is mentioned properly, without much tension, and the characters behave mostly in an understanding way too. The issue is that this feels a bit underdeveloped and I missed stronger emotional complexity, I wish there had been more interactions between the key characters (namely Tessa and Will, the prosecutor).

The epilogue is meant to be hopeful and beneficial but to me what had happened before wasn't developed enough on the page for me to be satisfied with was being described. 

All in all, this book did meet the challenge of the furry friends presence and importance, but the main story line wasn't as well done as I imagined it could.

Grade: 7/10