Review: Sketch by Laramie Briscoe

Sketch
Laramie Briscoe
190 Pages
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*** Stars

My name is Devin, but everybody calls me Sketch. I opened my own tattoo shop two years ago, and I’ve finally gotten to the point where I’m going to be able to give my wife everything she’s ever wanted. I’m going to be able to take time off and spend a day a week with her. In fact, tonight, I stopped and grabbed some wine, got her flowers, and those chocolates she likes. 

What I wasn’t prepared for was to be met at the front door by her carrying her sh*t out. 

She loves me, but she’s not in love with me anymore. What kind of bulls*it excuse is that? I’ve left her alone too often, I’ve been completely focused on one goal, and apparently she’s sick of waiting. 

So here I stand. Half the man I was, p*ssed as f*ck, because while I was busy making a better life for us, she was under the impression I was leaving her lonely. I know one day she’ll see what I’ve been doing has been for us, and when that day comes… She can damn well come crawling back to me.

Giving up is easy.  It's the making it work, that's the hard part

It's not too often that I can read a book and instantly relate to the characters.  But that's exactly what happened with Devin and Nina, from the synopsis to the prologue I was interested.

This is your typical newlywed lovers quarrel. Nina and Devin have been married for a few years now, building their lives. As it goes with a young marriage, some tough choices need to be made.  Which is exactly what Sketch was doing.  He was working day and night to build up his business and as things go with that, his wife was feeling neglected.   The story starts at this point and throughout the book we get to watch them grow as individuals as well as a couple.

I really liked the premise of the story and the story telling.  I enjoyed Ms. Briscoe's writing, for a debut novel I believe she has promise.  With that being said, I would have liked to have seen some build up with emotions.  The plot was a bit flat but not lacking, if that makes any sense.   I like my stories to have layers and depth and Sketch would have been so much better if there were more layers.  Take for instance the "dad" issue. It would have given the story more "meat" for lack of a better term, if the author had given a bit more on that. Because it was referenced quite a few times that they married young, more background would have given that aspect layers as well. There was very little build up in terms of angst and emotions. While the pacing of the story was quick I will say that I enjoyed it.

For the swiftness of it all, I became invested in these characters and I'd definitely read more of this authors work in the future.

Character driven with plenty of heat Sketch is one to read if you're like me and love HEA's.

Review: Summer Sins by Jennifer Probst

Summer Sins by Jennifer Probst
Published: August 4
Genre: New Adult, Romance
Source: eARC
*** Stars
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Summer fun before my wedding...

I have one goal this summer. Hang with my besties for some much needed sun, sand, and relaxation while I put the final touches on my idyllic wedding. I didn't count on meeting a smart-mouthed, bad boy biker whose gaze burns hotter than a beach bonfire. I never planned to lose myself, body and soul, and question my entire future. Now, I have to make a choice that’s tearing me apart, and could shatter the lives of the two men I love...

Turns into summer sins...

I have one goal this summer. CHILL. Do nothing. Nada. I need simple before I have to head into Manhattan to take on a high powered position on Wall Street. I didn't count on a dark haired, inky- eyed spitfire who'd spin my world upside down, or make me burn for things I never thought I wanted. I vowed to make her my summer fling, but had no idea she was claimed by another. And now that she possessed not only my body but my soul, the stakes are too high for me to lose her...

Love burns hotter in the Hamptons. Come play.

My Review

Summer Sins is a novella in the Hot in the Hamptons anthology.  This particular short story is centered around a young girl who has denied herself the chance to truly live for herself.   That is until she meets her match in the opposite sex who makes her...feel.  And soon she begins to question everything.

For being a novella, this story was packed with tons of story.  Jennifer Probst expertly wrote a story about second chances and all the emotions that entails within a certain amount of words.  And it was good! Summer Sins was my first time reading anything by Ms. Probst but it certainly won't be my last.   I was able to get a clear picture of the characters right away.  The doubt Storme was feeling about her future and Holden's bad boy-ness.   Can I just say, I am sooo glad is wasn't insta-love! Definitely insta-attraction but the love evolved with the growing relationship, in turn making it believable.   And holy hotness Holden! That boy's gotta mouth on him!

I don't want to give too much away with this review, it is a novella after all, because I want you guys to pick it up and read it! I assure you, you will not be disappointed.   It's got all the elements I love in a romance.  Strong female lead, strong (and sexy) male lead, believable emotions and scorching hot scenes!  This would be a good book to read while at the beach or to take you out of a book slump.  

Review: The Perfect Son by Barbara Claypole White

The Perfect Son
Barbara Claypole White
Lake Union Publishing, 386 Pages
Source: Kindle Unlimited
*** Stars
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From a distance, Felix Fitzwilliam, the son of an old English family, is a good husband and father. But, obsessed with order and routine, he’s a prisoner to perfection. Disengaged from the emotional life of his North Carolina family, Felix has let his wife, Ella, deal with their special-needs son by herself.

A talented jewelry designer turned full-time mother, Ella is the family rock…until her heart attack shatters their carefully structured existence. Now Harry, a gifted teen grappling with the chaos of Tourette’s, confronts a world outside his parents’ control, one that tests his desire for independence.

As Harry searches for his future, and Ella adapts to the limits of her failing health, Felix struggles with his past and present roles. To prevent the family from being ripped apart, they must each bend with the inevitability of change and reinforce the ties that bind.

My Review

The Perfect Son proved to be a quick and heartfelt read. It was an accurate depiction of family life and dealing with behavioral issues. I very much related to all characters, even Harry's.    As the story starts out you get a sense of detachment and maybe even a hint of resentment from Ella towards her husband Felix.  Well, I did anyways.  However,I was pleasantly surprised when the story took a turn in a direction that I didn't see coming.   

Harry is the perfectly imperfect son of Felix and Ella.  He suffers from tourettes as well as ADHD and anxiety. When Harry was a small child and his neurological condition came to light, there was this sort of unspoken arrangement between mom and dad; Felix would be the bread winner while Ella would manage their son's condition and day to day living.  To say the relationship between father and son was strained would be a small understatement.  Not because dad didn't want a relationship rather it was hard to connect with him given the circumstances. However, I liked Harry's character, he tried to be independent, had good insight into his condition while managing himself and his emotions well. Despite his challenges he manages to have a relatively normal life with friends and the all too familiar teenage angst.  

Ella is doting, loving, fierce, strong and determined as a mother.  It's very evident how hard she works with Harry and how much she loves him. She's always anxious to be away from Harry but she must travel to take care of her father who has injured himself.  Ella is on her way home from her father's when tragedy strikes.  And it throws everyone's life into a tailspin. 

In the beginning of the story we don't get much of Felix.  The picture that is painted of him is that of a cold and uncaring man who's only concerned with money and work.  Once Ella's tragedy strikes it throws Felix into this situation with his son that really leaves them no choice but to learn to live with each other.   And  this is when the warm and fuzzy feelings come about and you witness a father and son grow into their relationship.   It was so heartwarming and satisfying! 

While I enjoyed the story and the writing, there were a few things I felt could have been better explained.  For instance, there wasn't too much backstory on Ella's jewelry making although it's mentioned a few times throughout the book.  While there were hints of genetics from dad's side contributing to Harry's condition, it's merely brushed over.  it left me questioning how/if  Felix's upbringing contributed to Harry's condition at all or if dad had any inkling of his own quirks?  These were some of the questions I had while reading the novel however it didn't stop me from liking this book at all. 

Overall, The Perfect Son is a heartfelt and heartwarming story about family and over coming obstacles.  It highlighted choosing family over circumstance and the love parents have for their children and the love children have for their parents.   I really enjoyed the writing and will be looking into more works by this author. 

Review: The Ambassador's Wife by Jennifer Steil

The Ambassador's Wife

Jennifer Steil
Publisher: Doubleday 400 pages, July 28 2015
Source: ARC
*** Stars
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When bohemian artist Miranda falls in love with Finn, the British ambassador to an Arab country, she finds herself thrust into a life for which she has no preparation. The couple and their toddler daughter live in a stately mansion with a staff to meet their every need, but for Miranda even this luxury comes at a price: the loss of freedom. Trailed everywhere by bodyguards to protect her from the dangers of a country wracked by civil war and forced to give up work she loves, she finds her world shattered when she is taken hostage, an act of terror with wide-reaching consequences.

Diplomatic life is a far cry from Miranda’s first years in Mazrooq, which were spent painting and mentoring a group of young Muslim women, teaching them to draw in ways forbidden in their culture. As the novel weaves together past and present, we come to see how Finn and Miranda’s idealism and secrets they have each sought to hide have placed them and those who trust them in peril. And when Miranda grows close to a child who shares her captivity, it is not clear that even being set free would restore the simple happiness that once was hers and Finn’s. Suspenseful and moving, The Ambassador’s Wife is a story of love, marriage, and friendship tested by impossible choices

MY REVIEW

The Ambassador's Wife is a story about a young idealistic woman named Miranda living in a country that frowns upon freedom.  Freedom of speech, freedom of thought and the freedom to live without the constraints of religious beliefs.   Her idealism and liberal western ways is a contradiction to the culture in which she is immersed.  Despite that fact, she has fallen in love with the country and while she humors their cultural laws, in her private space she lives as she wants.  As you can assume, this can be displeasing as well as dangerous.  And that, is the crux of this story.  While it's a love story, I also realized Miranda was quite disrespectful to the culture, thus putting herself  in danger. 

There were times Miranda upset me and I would say to myself "doesn't she know where she is?!" "Why is she pushing so hard to live in a way that isn't culturally accepted there?"  Apart from her being head strong, I felt she was  stubborn and insensitive. If you want to live as you please and do what you want, then go to a place where you won't die if you're caught!!  However, it isn't until she falls in love with a political figure when her life gets exponentially dangerous, shedding light on her behaviors. Again, with the stubbornness from Mira.  Continuing to live as she pleased while living in a certain type of "lime light" was outright stupid.  Someone is always watching.  

As I said, the pincher of the story, the glue of which the plot is held together is Mira's inability to have insight into her one sided point of view. Falling in love with Finn made her much more susceptible to being discovered.   Finn was a sweet man, very honorable and professional and had a good grasp on his position within the country and the role he has to play.  But when he is thrown into the reality of having someone you love taken away from you, he became a bit more dimensional. The love between Finn and Mira was evident.  I got a clear picture of their attraction, respect and admiration for each other.  The fact that this man could tie down this free spirited woman say a lot about said man's character. 

While the author is an actual wife of an ambassador, this novel isn't an autobiography.  It's a love story and one of survival and healing.   Overall, an intense novel with a good plot. It caused me to have pause, to reflect on my personal freedoms and allowed me to realize how lucky I am. It enticed feelings of nervousness, irritation and joy; you know it's good when you experience more than one emotion while reading!  If you enjoy political reads, I would pick this one up.