The Perfect Divorce (Perfect, #2) by Jeneva Rose

 The Perfect Divorce (Perfect, #2) by Jeneva Rose-280 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

Goodreads synopsis: It’s been eleven years since high-powered attorney Sarah Morgan defended her husband, Adam, against the charge of murdering his mistress. Sarah has long since moved on, starting a family with her new husband, Bob Miller, and changing careers. Her life is back to being exactly how she always wanted … or is it?

After discovering Bob engaged in a one-night stand, Sarah wastes no time filing for divorce. However, amid their ugly separation, new DNA evidence is uncovered in the case against Adam, forcing the police to reopen the investigation and putting Sarah right back in the spotlight. Everyone wants to know what really happened, most of all former deputy Marcus Hudson, who is hell-bent on finding the truth.

But when the woman Bob slept with is reported missing, he and Sarah start to fight dirty, and a high-stakes game of cat and mouse ensues. Filled with page-turning suspense and Jeneva Rose’s signature twists and turns, this book will have readers wondering: Can Bob and Sarah achieve the perfect divorce? Or will it be “’til death do us part”?

Verdict: I really liked this sequel to The Perfect Marriage. It's a page-turning thriller that is more unpredictable than the first book. I did still guess a small part of the end game, but much of it I didn't predict this time. I find that I like Jeneva Rose's writing and I would recommend her books (especially the thrillers). 

The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose

 The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose-337 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sarah Morgan is a very successful defense lawyer and has made partner at a law firm in Washington, D.C. She is married to Adam, a writer who hasn't had much success. He spends a lot of time at their lake house writing (so she thinks, at least) these days. It turns out he was not only writing but also had a relationship with another woman. When that woman turns up dead in their bed at their lake house Adam becomes the prime suspect in her murder investigation. Can Sarah successfully defend her husband against the murder charge and does she even want to? I have to say that there's a gigantic twist at the end and I did see part of it coming, but not all. This is a very good read. I've liked both books by Jeneva Rose that I've read so far and I intend to read more of her books. 

Happy Place by Emily Henry

 Happy Place by Emily Henry-385 pages

Harriet is looking forward to going to her Happy Place (which is a cottage on the coast of Maine) and seeing her college friends (Sabrina, Cleo, Parth, and Kimmy). However, she doesn't expect to see her ex-fiance, Wyn. She and Wyn haven't told their friends about their break-up yet and decide to wait until the end of the week when Sabrina and Parth announce that they're getting married while they're all together. Also, the cottage is being sold by Sabrina's father, so this could be their last week together in Maine. As you can imagine, this makes for a very awkward start to the week for Wyn and Harriet. However, so much happens during the week and it's a very emotional ride for all of the friends. Will Wyn and Harriet get back together and can they make each other happy? Will Sabrina and Parth go through with the wedding? Will the friends still be together after this week? This is a really good exploration of what it means to be happy and dealing with depression, pressure, and expectations. I really enjoyed reading this book and I especially like the ending. I didn't know what to expect going into reading this because I don't usually read romance. Emily Henry has been a popular author recently, though, so I thought I'd try out her latest. I am glad that I did. 

Death of a Green-Eyed Monster (Hamish Macbeth #34) by M.C. Beaton

 Death of a Green-Eyed Monster (Hamish Macbeth #34) by M.C. Beaton and R.W. Green-240 pages

The latest in the Hamish Macbeth series finds Macbeth in love with his new police constable, Dorothy McIver. Hamish and his new constable soon become engaged to be married. However, a new murder occurs on their patch and it could have implications for Hamish's and Dorothy's plans. Will Hamish finally get married or will his plans be thwarted once again? I enjoyed reading this book. However, I can't give it more than 3 out of 5 stars because I'm not fully satisfied with the ending. I agree with Mary that, if this is the last Hamish Macbeth mystery, this ending is not satisfactory. I wish the book would have had a different ending. That being said it's still a good read. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, then you'll enjoy the Hamish Macbeth series. 

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover, 385 p.

CW: Domestic abuse 

"Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up — she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life suddenly seems almost too good to be true.

Ryle is assertive, stubborn, maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily. And the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head. But Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his “no dating” rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place.

As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan — her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened."--Goodreads blurb

Colleen Hoover is loved by many a reader. This was my first foray into her books, and I did enjoy the writing and the story kept me interested. But I'd heard that I'd be sobbing on the floor while/after reading this book. That was definitely not the case for me as I found myself more angered than touched by this storyline. This was another case of a book's hype perhaps ruining a bit of the experience of reading said book. I will be trying another Hoover book in the future, though.

The Good Widow by Liz Fenton

The Good Widow by Liz Fenton-322 pages

Elementary school teacher Jacqueline “Jacks” Morales’s marriage was far from perfect, but even in its ups and downs it was predictable, familiar. Or at least she thought it was…until two police officers showed up at her door with devastating news. Her husband of eight years, the one who should have been on a business trip to Kansas, had suffered a fatal car accident in Hawaii. And he wasn’t alone.

For Jacks, laying her husband to rest was hard. But it was even harder to think that his final moments belonged to another woman—one who had left behind her own grieving and bewildered fiancé. Nick, just as blindsided by the affair, wants answers. So he suggests that he and Jacks search for the truth together, retracing the doomed lovers’ last days in Hawaii.

I won't give the ending away but it is creepy and I did not see it coming.  I enjoyed it and was pulling for Jacks all the way.   

First Comes Scandal by Julia Quinn

First Comes Scandal by Julia Quinn - 277 pages
A Bridgerton Prequel

Nicholas Rokesby is not happy when he called back home from his medical studies in Edinburgh.  He arrives home to find that his father has decided he is to marry their next door neighbor Georgina Bridgerton after she was kidnapped and ruined by a fortune hunter.  He's even more surprised to find that he does want to marry Georgie and that maybe this was the best thing to happen to him.

I enjoyed this prequel novel about the Bridgertons.  It was fun and funny to read.  I actually laughed out loud a few times.  Both characters were interesting and had great chemistry together.  I would definitely recommend this to fans of historical romance -- whether they've read the other Bridgerton books or not.

 

Sparrow by L.J. Shen

Sparrow by L.J. Shen -- 312 pages

Troy Brennan

Every southie in Boston knows that name. The son of a dead mobster. The heart throb with steel blue eyes. "The Fixer" who can make or break you in this city.

Oh, and my new husband.

Sparrow Raynes

That's me. No one seemed to remember my name up until he barged into my life.
But then he caged me.
Kidnapped me.
And killed every chance I had to runaway from the place where we grew up.
Put simply, Troy Brennan clipped my wings.

I have dreams, big ones, but I doubt he'd ever let me chase them. I have no idea why he'd decided to take me as his wife. But I do know this: pissing off this man will not do me any good. At all.

Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas

Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas - 266 pages
The Ravenels #6

Lady Cassandra Ravenel has always wanted to marry -- to find love and have a little family of her own.  However, she's starting to think it will never happen.  She can't find someone to love that loves her in return.  Tom Severin wants to marry Cassandra but he agrees that he is not capable of love.  Then Cassandra is maligned in a scandal and Tom hurries to rescue her . . .

This is the final book in the Ravenels historical romance series.  It is also probably my favorite in the series so far.  I really liked the character of Tom and have from the beginning of the series.  Cassandra was also much more interesting in this book than in the previous ones.  I'm looking forward to see what family and historical period Lisa Kleypas focuses on next.

Love & Respect: The Love She Most Desires; The Respect He Desperately Needs by Dr. Emmerson Eggerichs

Love & Respect: The Love She Most Desires; The Respect He Desperately Needs by Dr. Emmerson Eggerichs - 324 Pages

Reveals the secret to couples meeting each other's deepest needs--without love she reacts without respect, and without respect he reacts without love, and a painful, negative cycle begins. Outlines steps that you can take to really improve a marriage. These steps work. 

Love Her or Lose Her by Tessa Bailey

Love Her or Lose Her by Tessa Bailey -- 352 pages

Rosie and Dominic Vega are the perfect couple: high school sweethearts, best friends, madly in love. Well, they used to be anyway. Now Rosie’s lucky to get a caveman grunt from the ex-soldier every time she walks in the door. Dom is faithful and a great provider, but the man she fell in love with ten years ago is nowhere to be found. When her girlfriends encourage Rosie to demand more out of life and pursue her dream of opening a restaurant, she decides to demand more out of love, too. Three words: marriage boot camp. 

Never in a million years did Rosie believe her stoic, too-manly-to-emote husband would actually agree to relationship rehab with a weed-smoking hippie. Dom talking about feelings? Sitting on pillows? Communing with nature? Learning love languages? Nope. But to her surprise, he’s all in, and it forces her to admit her own role in their cracked foundation. As they complete one ridiculous—yet surprisingly helpful—assignment after another, their remodeled relationship gets stronger than ever. Except just as they’re getting back on track, Rosie discovers Dom has a secret... and it could demolish everything.

When We Were Young by Karen Kingsbury

When We Were Young by Karen Kingsbury - 368 pages

From their first meeting, to their stunning engagement and lavish wedding, to their happily-ever-after, Noah and Emily Carter were meant to be together. Theirs is a special kind of love and they want the world to know.

More than a million adoring fans have followed their lives on Instagram since the day Noah publicly proposed to Emily. But behind the carefully staged photos and encouraging posts, their life is anything but a fairy tale, and Noah's obsession with social media has ruined everything.

Distraught, Emily reaches out to her friend Kari Baxter Taylor and tells her the truth: Noah and Emily have decided to call it quits. He is leaving in the morning. But when Noah wakes the next day, everything is different. Emily is gone and the kids are years older. Like Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, bizarre and strange events continue throughout the night so that Noah is certain he's twenty years older, and he is desperate for a second chance. Now it would take a miracle to return to yesterday. 

When We Were Young is a rare and beautiful love story that takes place in a single day. It's about the gift of knowing what tomorrow will bring if you really walk out that door today.

On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan

On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan, 203 pages

On Chesil Beach follows two young newlyweds Florence and Edward as they travel to a hotel on the Dorset coast for their much anticipated honeymoon in July 1962.  Both are virgins from very different backgrounds.  Edward is eager to get physical with his new bride.  But, to the contrary, Florence is disgusted to have any physical contact with Edward.  It is actually quite a sad story.  One cannot help feel sympathy for both Florence and Edward.

The Secret Ingredient for a Happy Marriage by Shirley Jump

The Secret Ingredient for a Happy Marriage by Shirley Jump -- 368 pages

This book was so-so for me. It is a sweet story that encourages the reader to see that sometimes an internal change is needed for outside circumstances to improve. I would give this author another try, but if the next one isn't better, I probably wouldn't read a third book.  

To Catch an Heiress by Julia Quinn

To Catch an Heiress by Julia Quinn - 377 pages

Caroline is running away from her odious guardian and his son when she is mistaken for a spy by English espionage agent Blake Ravenscroft.  However, this is fine with her as it will mean she's hidden away for a time and her guardian won't be able to find her.  Ravenscroft is horrified to discover the mistake and that she will then have to spend even more time his company -- horrified as he is starting to fall in love with her.

I found this historical novel to be fun and amusing.  Although the subject matter of espionage, treason, and rape are incredibly serious, the book was very humorous. 

Truth or Dare by Jayne Ann Krentz

Truth or Dare by Jayne Ann Krentz - 401 pages

Zoe and Ethan are settling into married life when things start to get interesting.  Zoe, a psychic interior decorator, starts sensing toxic spiderwebs at various locations throughout town.  Then their friend Arcadia seems to have a stalker.  They must work through these and more issues to get to their happily ever after.

This is actually the sequel to Light in Shadows so it was a little confusing.  I listened to this on audio and the narration was good as was the story.  However, there did seem to be several instances were previous knowledge was required.  Still I enjoyed the audiobook.

Four Weddings and a SIxpence by Julia Quinn, etc.

Four Weddings and a Sixpence by Julia Quinn, Elizabeth Boyle, Laura Lee Guhrke, and Stefanie Sloane - 407 pages

Four friends find a sixpence hidden in their mattress as children at school.  They decide that it will be their lucky piece that will help them find the husbands of their dreams.  So as adults entering society, they pass the sixpence from one to another as they search for true love.

This was a compilation novel by four historical romance writers.  I thought it was pretty well done.  I enjoyed all of the different writers' stories as each one wrote one of the girls' romances.  I also really enjoyed the narrator and her accents/dialects she used.  She did a great job of keeping the characters voices unique to them.

Daring to Hope: Finding God's Goodness in the Broken and the Beautiful by Katie Davis Majors

Daring to Hope: Finding God's Goodness in the Broken and the Beautiful by Katie Davis Majors-209 pages

I really enjoyed Katie's first book, Kisses from Katie, so I was looking forward to reading this. This one is just as good and did not disappoint. Katie chronicles the recent things God has taught her and done in her life since her last book was published. She has gotten married and added a biological son to the family. She has truly shown God's love to so many in Uganda through their suffering and, sometimes, through their healing. Her story is an inspiration and encouragement.

Kamisama Kiss, v. 25 by Julietta Suzuki

Kamisama Kiss, v. 25 by Julietta Suzuki - 208 pages

It's finally time for Nanami to graduate from high school.  It's also time for her and Tomoe to marry and leave Mikage Shrine.

This is the final volume in the Kamisama Kiss manga series.  It ties up of the series bringing back most of the characters for the wedding.  A good ending to a great series.

For Men Only: A Straightforward Guide to the Inner Lives of Women by Shaunti Feldhahn, Jeff Feldhahn

For Men Only: A Straightforward Guide to the Inner Lives of Women by Shaunti Feldhahn, Jeff Feldhahn -- 192 pages



Women: Complicated and impossible to understand? Do you love and want to please the woman in your life, but just can't seem to figure her out? That was before For Men Only. Now at your fingertips is the tool that will unlock the secret to her mysterious ways. Through hundreds of interviews and the results of a scientific national survey of women, this book demonstrates that women are actually not random and that they really can be systematized and "mapped." In fact, much to men's delight, this book shows that women are actually quite easy to understand and please-as long as you know what it is they need. This simple map will guide you to loving your wife or girlfriend in the way she needs to be loved.



Okay, yes, I read the book for men about women, mainly because I was curious to see how accurate it is. It's decently accurate, but very, very general. They had to make very broad generalizations to make this book work. When it comes to your significant other, you'll have to learn who they are as an individual and what they struggle with. At best, this book will help you consider things that you haven't and prompt you to ask questions that you ought to ask.