Susan's Review of Lost in Paris by Elizabeth Thompson

When a deed to an apartment in Paris turns up in an old attic trunk, an estranged mother and daughter must reunite to uncover the secret life of a family matriarch.

Hannah Bond has always been a bookworm, which is why she fled Florida—and her unstable, alcoholic mother—for a quiet life leading Jane Austen-themed tours through the British countryside. But on New Year’s Eve, everything comes crashing down when she arrives back at her London flat to find her mother, Marla, waiting for her.

 
Marla’s brought two things with her: a black eye from her ex-boyfriend and an envelope. Its contents? The deed to an apartment in Paris, an old key, and newspaper clippings about the death of a famous writer named Andres Armand. Hannah, wary of her mother’s motives, reluctantly agrees to accompany her to Paris, where against all odds, they discover great-grandma Ivy’s apartment frozen in 1940 and covered in dust.

 
Inside the apartment, Hannah and Marla discover mysterious clues about Ivy’s life—including a diary detailing evenings of drinking and dancing with Hemingway, the Fitzgeralds, and other iconic expats. Outside, they retrace her steps through the city in an attempt to understand why she went to such great lengths to hide her Paris identity from future generations.

 
A heartwarming and charming saga set in the City of Lights, Lost in Paris is an unforgettable celebration of family and the love between a mother and a daughter.

I thoroughly enjoyed Elizabeth Thompson’s novel Lost in Paris. The novel is filled with unique characters, romance and secrets which span four generations.

Loved Elizabeth Thompson’s voice—-the vivid descriptions of Paris and its sights and sounds, and the people drew me into the story. I loved the pages where Marla and Hannah get lost in Paris the minute they step off the train from London. I imagined I was walking the streets of Paris with them. I could hear the street noise, see the architecture and the feel the joie de vivre of the city.

Elizabeth Thompson’s choice to use Ivy’s diary to connect the past to the present was executed flawlessly. Ivy’s story comes to life as Hannah reads each page—this drew me into the story. The diary provided insight into Ivy, her life and Paris during this exciting time as Paris established itself as a home to members of The Lost Generation. The author’s descriptive writing style shines as Ivy becomes part of the F Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemmingway and Gertrude Stein social circle.

The relationships between four generations of the same family are perfectly intertwined throughout the book. Marla and Hannah’s relationship is complicated at best and I really enjoyed their honest, heartfelt and often frustrating conversations. Lost in Paris is filled with great secondary characters; Hannah’s roommates: Cressida and Tallulah as well as Aiden and Gabriel.

Lost in Paris has all of the story elements that I adore—intrigue, romance and complex family relationships. Like a red wine, Lost in Paris should be savored slowly for its blend of dynamic characters and well-paced storyline. Lost in Paris is a special vintage—ENJOY!
Reviewed by Susan Gorman
ARC provided by Net Galley
Photo by Pilat

Elizabeth Thompson is a lifelong Francophile with a degree in journalism. She loves food, books, and art. Lost in Paris is her first novel for Simon and Schuster‘s Gallery Books. She currently resides in Tennessee with her husband and their Pembroke Welsh corgi, Luna.

For pre-order information, take a look Elizabeth's Blog HERE!

BUY LINKS

Simon & Schuster  | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Target

Fragile by Lisa Unger - Audio Version

 Fragile

by Lisa Unger

Audio Version

The Hollows is a mystery series that belongs in a mystery 

lovers collection. The Hollows is a small town just a ways 

from New York City. I think the location must be what 

makes it kind of like a small town but also crazy like

most big cities are. Maybe it's something in the water. 

Each story brings out another little bit of the town. 

The characters are fun and scary and genuine. The whole

town is so real it feels like you could plan a road trip. 

But maybe don't go alone. 

The thing with a small town is secrets are never really

very far gone. They will always be just below the 

surface. Even years and years later. The only thing that

changes is someone just happens to look in the right

place.  Places don't change much over time in a small 

town. So it's all right there. Waiting for someone to look. 

So who is going to look?? 

Lisa Unger has introduced a wonderful town with

great characters. You just never know what you will 

find. Who will surprise you the most? 

Review by Lisa Hutson

Susan's Review of One Night With A Cowboy by Sara Richardson

Rodeo cowboy Wes Harding left his family ranch after one reckless mistake cost his loved ones everything. But when his sister needs help, Wes agrees to come home and take the reins of their ranch’s big charity event. However, he didn’t plan for his distracting, stubborn co-hostess. One kiss with Thea throws his world off balance . . . and has Wes craving the family he’s never dared dreamed of.

Single mom Thea Davis doesn’t have time for an inexplicable, toe-curling attraction to Wes Harding—no matter how well he listens or how sweetly he treats her children. Her focus needs to be on holding her fragile family together. But the more time she spends with Wes, the more attached she—and her kids—become. With the week drawing to a close, can Wes convince her to give love a chance before she leaves Silverado Lake—and him—behind for good?

I thoroughly enjoyed Sara Richardson’s One Night With A Cowboy, the second novel in the Silverado Lake series. The author has created novel filled with charming characters, honest emotions and a heartwarming storyline.

Wes and Thea are complex characters. Wes Harding is rodeo clown who is on the road constantly until his sister asks him to supervise a special event at the family’s ranch. Guilt and regrets over things unsaid have kept Wes away from the ranch. I loved that there was so much more to Wes’s happy go lucky image. The author decision to have Wes and Ryan bond immediately was a great plot choice as it enabled the reader to connect with both characters.

Sara Richardson is spot on with the mother daughter conflict between Thea and her daughter Liv—the dialogue in these scenes was perfectly written. I loved that the author dug deep with Thea; everyone thought that she had the ideal life when in fact her marriage was anything but perfect. The author portrays Thea’s situation with honesty and emotion. I was drawn to Thea and her determination to raise her children and to continue leading the military retreat at Silverado Lake.

I liked the sizzling attraction between Wes and Thea – I could easily imagine the sparks flying! On the surface, Wes and Thea seemed total opposites but, in truth their wants and needs were very much in sync. The author writes a compassionate, heartwarming romance for this couple. Loved the messages of hope, love and redemption found throughout the novel.

One Night With A Cowboy is second chance romance that will tug at your heartstrings. The engaging characters, the relatable conflict and the author’s message resonated with me. One Night With A Cowboy has a special place on my keeper shelf.

I highly recommend this novel and am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

Book provided by Forever

 

National bestselling author Sara Richardson writes uplifting stories about love, friendship, and family. Her books have received numerous award nominations and critical acclaim, with Publishers Weekly recognizing her stories as “emotionally rich, charmingly funny, and sensitive.”

Completing a master’s degree in journalism inspired Sara to become a storyteller, and she wrote her first novel soon after. When not writing, Sara can be found teaching Pilates or hiking the trails near her house. A lifelong Colorado girl, Sara lives and plays near the mountains with her husband, two sons, two fur babies, and a tortoise named Leo.