A glossy read without the necessary conflicts.
An elderly widow has a second chance at love in this romance.
One year after losing her husband of five decades, Ericka Reed leaves her Marin County home for a fresh start. The real estate agent–turned–bestselling romance author heads north with only her beloved miniature Yorkie, Fritz, for company. She plans on meeting her best friend, Amanda, a fellow widow and author, in Seattle and ending the trip in Vancouver. After years of caregiving for her late husband, Bob, Ericka is content with her own company and is fortunate to be close to her two grown sons, her grandchildren, and Amanda, but she wonders if she’ll ever find love again. Enter Liam Lachowski, a handsome, charming, and single man about her age, whom Ericka meets at a coastal seafood restaurant and can’t quite shake from her thoughts. Strengthened by her resolve to “embrace the tide” of her new life, Ericka gives Liam a call, and this simple action kicks off a whirlwind romance with a sexy, loving man who will stop at nothing to give Ericka anything and everything she wants. Though Ericka at first doubts Liam’s true feelings, the widow’s new paramour quickly wins her over with trips on private jets, swanky dinners, and, finally, a proposal in Paris. Life seems perfect—until a tragedy threatens to tear it all apart. Williams dedicates the book to Carole and “the Bobs,” making the reader speculate whether this novel is inspired by real life, a romantic fantasy, or both. Ericka and Amanda’s friendship is the core relationship of the book, and the two are strong, confident older women who encourage each other in their respective pursuits of love and the high life. Though the novel’s copious details of delicious meals and shopping sprees may entice, the lack of any conflict that isn’t resolved in two pages makes the story feel incomplete.
A glossy read without the necessary conflicts.Pub Date: Dec. 29, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-955177-66-5
Page Count: 260
Publisher: Primix Publishing
Review Posted Online: March 31, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A wistfully nostalgic look at endings, beginnings, and loving the people who will always have your back.
Exes pretend they’re still together for the sake of their friends on their annual summer vacation.
Wyn Connor and Harriet Kilpatrick were the perfect couple—until Wyn dumped Harriet for reasons she still doesn’t fully understand. They’ve been part of the same boisterous friend group since college, and they know that their breakup will devastate the others and make things more than a little awkward. So they keep it a secret from their friends and families—in fact, Harriet barely even admits it to herself, focusing instead on her grueling hours as a surgical resident. She’s ready for a vacation at her happy place—the Maine cottage she and her friends visit every summer. But (surprise!) Wyn is there too, and he and Harriet have to share a (very romantic) room and a bed. Telling the truth about their breakup is out of the question, because the cottage is up for sale, and this is the group’s last hurrah. Determined to make sure everyone has the perfect last trip, Harriet and Wyn resolve to fake their relationship for the week. The problem with this plan, of course, is that Harriet still has major feelings for Wyn—feelings that only get stronger as they pretend to be blissfully in love. As always, Henry’s dialogue is sparkling and the banter between characters is snappy and hilarious. Wyn and Harriet’s relationship, shown both in the past and the present, feels achingly real. Their breakup, as well as their complicated relationships with their own families, adds a twinge of melancholy, as do the relatable growing pains of a group of friends whose lives are taking them in different directions.
A wistfully nostalgic look at endings, beginnings, and loving the people who will always have your back.Pub Date: April 25, 2023
ISBN: 9780593441275
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Berkley
Review Posted Online: Feb. 23, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
A sweet and sparkling adult debut.
A romance ghostwriter who’s lost her motivation after a breakup is haunted by the spirit of her newly departed editor in this whimsical paranormal romance.
Florence Day doesn't believe in love or happily-ever-afters any longer. Unfortunately, she’s also the ghostwriter for a prominent romance novelist and is currently trying to finish her fourth and final contracted book. The deadline for her latest manuscript has already been pushed back several times, and her new editor, Benji Andor, isn’t allowing for any leeway. Florence can also see ghosts, an ability that’s made quite a name for her in her hometown but also partly contributed to the devastating end of her previous relationship. On the eve of her deadline, Florence finds her life upended by both an unexpected kiss with her editor and the sudden death of her beloved father. Returning home comes with its own set of baggage, though Florence holds out hope that her father’s ghost will appear for one last goodbye. She’s shocked, however, when the spirit that visits her isn’t her father but Ben Andor, mysteriously dead only a day after she’d met him. Now Florence must not only navigate her grief and fulfill her dad's last wishes, she must also contend with Ben’s confused ghost following her around until they can correct his unfinished business. The zippy banter between Florence and nearly everyone she meets keeps things moving at a sprightly clip. Every interaction is a delight, and getting to know the cast of characters in Florence’s orbit adds excitement to the book. The romance takes a bit longer to build, though, and flits in and out of focus. Florence and Ben share such chemistry that it’s a shame readers are often left waiting for them to interact. The ghostly element is fun and fresh, adding slightly higher stakes to Florence and Ben's happily-ever-after.
A sweet and sparkling adult debut.Pub Date: July 5, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-33648-9
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Berkley
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2022
SEEN & HEARD
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