The Bridge Club by Patricia Sands

A special thank you to the author, Patricia Sands for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you also to Kate Rock Book Tours for the opportunity to be a part of the Blog Tour.

Eight women. Four Decades. One unimaginable weekend.

At its core, The Bridge Club is a story about female friendships and the unbreakable bond between women. This moving story is a testament to the kind of friendship that both celebrates the triumphs and weathers the storms. 

Once a month, eight women's lives intersect to play bridge. What began as one night of cards ends up spanning four decades. Loosely based on her own bridge club, Sands takes her reader through some of life's most difficult situations and asks: How far would you go to help a good friend? Is there a place where you might draw the line?

Ti-Ming is everything. I had the sincerest pleasure of meeting Patricia, totally by chance, at a launch party for another author. She is absolutely delightful and her warmth and wonderful personality comes through on the page—her books are like reading letters from a cherished friend. 

Each chapter of the book is dedicated to a member of the Bridge Club. The ladies take turns navigating and surviving a life-changing event thanks to the support of the group which is their life raft. Sands' characters are unique and their personalities jump right off the page. Her ear for dialogue effectively captures how a group of women that know each other so intimately can laugh and tease one another, even through the tears. 

Sands depicts the bond of female friendship so succinctly. She also is realistic in her approach with the way the relationships ebbed and flowed. There were times when members of the group were  distant because of other commitments, things that traditionally fall with women, like being caregivers to children and/or parents. Although these situations would take priority, the relationships would pick up right where they left off, a sign of true friendship. 

The beginning chapter is a little slow and a bit confusing. But please do not let that deter you because this book is worth your patience! Sands is simply setting the table and they lays out a feast. 

PATRICIA SANDS is a proud indie author who is also delighted to be under contract with Lake Union Publishing for her Love in Provence series. Her award-winning debut novel The Bridge Club was published in 2010 and the audiobook is read by Patricia herself.

With a focus on her love of the south of France, women’s issues and ageing, her stories celebrate the feminine spirit and the power of friendship. Patricia encourages women of all ages to stare down the fear factor and embrace change.

Sands lives in Collingwood with her husband and travels whenever she can.

The Peculiar Fate of Holly Banks by Julie Valerie

A special thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and the author, Julie Valerie, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

The women of Primm have it all together, all of the time and Holly Banks has made it her mission to be the same. But she's quickly learning that keeping up with the Joneses is a full-time job and nothing seems to be going to plan.

With her husband’s job in flux, her daughter having trouble learning to read, and her mother’s new enthusiasm for dating, Holly’s life is anything but picture perfect. Then her dog digs up an old artifact in the village centre which brings the attention of local media. Because of course it would.

Holly finds herself at the center of a mystery between two rival towns that, if solved, could change the Village of Primm forever. Attention is the last thing she needs as she’s launching a new business, the village-wide “Parade of Homes” is approaching—though she’s hardly unpacked—and she needs to submit her entry for an upcoming film festival. Can Holly still create her perfect (looking) life? Or is fate about to go off script and give her a story she never could have imagined? 

Wife, mother, aspiring filmmaker Holly Banks is back! Still living in the idyllic Village of Primm, this book takes place a few weeks after the first book. Holly is clinging to the pursuit of perfection, but fate has other plans for her.  

True to Julie Valerie's style, The Peculiar Fate of Holly Banks also has its share of shenanigans, but it is more serious and even a little mysterious. I missed the humour and lightheartedness from Holly Banks Full of Angst, this book is definitely not as quirky. That being said, I would still recommend, if not for just reading about Struggle the dog—he was a total scene-stealer.

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JULIE VALERIE writes humorous women’s fiction and is developing a series set in the idyllic Village of Primm. She has an editing certificate from the University of Chicago, a master’s degree in education, and a certification in wilderness first aid. 

Valerie enjoys reading, the study of wine, section hiking the Appalachian Trail, and travel. She is married to her college sweetheart, has four children (two girls, two boys) and two English Labradors (one yellow, one chocolate

Drawing Lessons by Patricia Sands

A special thank you to the author, Patricia Sands, for generously providing me with a copy to review.

Sixty-two-year-old Arianna arrives in the South of France for a two-week artists’ workshop. She is full of anticipation, but weighted down with the guilt of leaving her husband, Ben, back in Toronto—he is literally slipping away before her very eyes. 

After her husband's devastating diagnosis with dementia and caring for him with little time for herself, Arianna's family have convinced her to take some time away. It is in Arles where Arianna rediscovers her passion for art, finding comfort in her her fellow artists and from the guest lecturer, Jacques de Villeneuve. 

Drawing Lessons is one woman's moving journey to seek the permission of her heart to create a new life for herself. 

I had the sincerest pleasure of meeting Patricia, totally by chance, at a launch party for another author. She is absolutely delightful and her warmth and wonderful personality comes through on the page—her books are like reading letters from a cherished friend. 

Sands' intimate portrait of Arles will have readers falling in love with the city. Rich in art history, most notably, van Gogh, it is the perfect canvas for her story. Patricia carefully and compassionately writes about dementia, a disease that is sadly so prevalent today. It is through painting that Arianna begins the healing process and she is able to come to terms with her husband's condition. Art is the perfect vehicle for Arianna's story to unfold.  

What I love most about the book is reading about characters that are not widely published—a mature woman as well as someone who is on the autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This is refreshing. Thank you, Patricia, we all need more stories with diverse characters.  

Drawing Lessons is a reminder to enjoy the pleasures life has to offer, even the simple ones. 

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PATRICIA SANDS is a proud indie author who is also delighted to be under contract with Lake Union Publishing for her Love in Provence series. Her award-winning debut novel The Bridge Club was published in 2010 and the audiobook is read by Patricia herself.

With a focus on her love of the south of France, women’s issues and ageing, her stories celebrate the feminine spirit and the power of friendship. Patricia encourages women of all ages to stare down the fear factor and embrace change.

Sands lives in Collingwood with her husband and travels whenever she can.

How to Save a Life by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke

A special thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

To say that Dom is having a bad day is an understatement. And to make matters worse, he can't escape it.

Don and Mia broke up almost a decade ago and he's never gotten over her. So when he bumps into his ex-fiancée in a serendipitous meeting, he can't help but think that fate has intervened and offered him a second chance.

When Mia tragically dies on their date, Dom makes a plea to the universe to be given the opportunity to save her. The next morning, Dom wakes up and is ecstatic to learn that his wish came true—Mia is still alive! But no matter what he does, day after day, she meets the same terrible fate.

The harder Dom tries, the more obsessed he becomes with saving Mia and rekindling their relationship. Forced to take a long hard look at who he has become, Dom needs to work through his life choices in order to be a better version of himself and save Mia in the process.

How to Save a Life is modern twist on Groundhog Day that asks the question: How far are you willing to go to save the life of someone you love?

Fenton and Steinke are a powerhouse duo that are truly gifted storytellers. Over the course of the narrative, they explore several scenarios for Dom to tackle his flaws which he believes will rescue Mia. They also look at the effects of grief and extreme trauma, and juxtapose this against love and missed opportunities.

I absolutely loved it. Congratulations, Liz and Lisa!

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LIZ FENTON & LISA STEINKE are the author team of five novels, including The Two Lila Bennetts, Girls' Night Out, and the The Good Widow.

Liz and Lisa have been best friends for 30 years.

This Won't End Well

A special thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Annie Mercer has sworn off people after her boss sabotaged her career and her best friend tried to cure her with crystals. Now Jon, her fiancé, said that he needs space while gallivanting around Paris.

So Annie decides to focus instead on her new cleaning business. But when Harper moves into the house next door, Annie can't help being intrigued by the glamorous, yet fragile, woman and makes it her mission to keep an eye on her. Enter Mo, an amateur detective, that Annie teams up with to keep Harper safe.

After breaking her rule by letting two new people into her life, Jon reappears and wants her to come to France. She has a feeling that letting anyone get to close won't end well and that a second chance may not be worth the risk.

From the onset I was smitten with Annie's biting and sarcastic wit—it is so refreshing to read about an intelligent woman (Annie is a scientist). There are going to be a lot of readers that relate to Annie's wanting to withdraw from people in reaction to being hurt. But what's beautiful about this story is that it reminds us that given the chance, there are people that will surprise you in the best way.

The epistolary narrative style was a good choice because it really highlighted Annie's character. She's quirky, direct, and literal. It also played to her scientific mind, how she approached things, and it was the perfect vehicle to show her growth and self-discovery.

Where Pagán missed the mark is in the actual chemistry—the romantic kind, not the science kind. They relationships just didn't work for me, and neither did the ending. And why the Epilogue? Totally unnecessary. Dare I say that it was also perhaps a little more campy than her other books. That being said, I would still recommend it. Simply put, Camille's writing is engaging. She knows when to inject humour, and when to give in to the emotional aspects of the story.

This Won't End Well was a fun, quick, and overly enjoyable book. 

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CAMILLE PAGÁN is bestselling author of I'm Fine and Neither Are You, and Life and Other Near-Death Experiences, which was recently optioned for film. Her books have been translated into more than a dozen languages. A journalist and former magazine editor, Pagán has written for the New York Times, The Oprah Magazine, Time and many others.

Pagán lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with her family.

The Poison Garden by A. J. Banner

A special thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Elise Watters seems to have it all—a happy marriage, a beautiful Victorian home, and runs her own business inherited from her late mother. She was also left a sizeable inheritance.

She decides to surprise her husband, Kieran, a day early for their first anniversary. But they are both left stunned when she catches him in their bed with another woman.

Her world is completely turned upside down, especially since the return of her ex-husband who has is conveniently working right next door. Everything she thought she knew is coming into question—her marriage, her friends, and Elise can't trust either her husband or her ex. With her paranoia increasing, she has no where to turn and no one to trust.

I enjoyed After Nightfall and was excited to have been selected as an early reviewer of The Poison Garden. Unfortunately, the main character's paranoia overwhelmed the plot and the story is never fully fleshed out.

The pacing was too rushed—Banner needed to make the story more robust, and to be perfectly honest, credible. A lot of what was going on was either not believable, or too coincidental. The reader isn't going to buy in, especially in a genre that has such stellar offerings.

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A. J. BANNER was born in India and raised in North America. Her first novel, The Good Neighbor, was a #1 Kindle bestseller for thirty-four days. The Twilight Wife was a USA Today bestseller.

Banner lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and five rescued cats.

The Two Lila Bennetts by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke

A special thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In this intense thriller, Lila Bennett is an attorney with an insatiable hunger for success. To get to where she is, Lila has made many bad choices, and one of those choices has literally split her life in two.

In one life, after celebratory drinks, she's taken captive by a masked man who seemingly knows a lot about her. Lila is trapped in a concrete cell with her feet and hands bound. She is forced to face her unsavoury actions or be killed.

Although she manages to evade being captured in her alternate life, she is still hunted by someone who is exposing her secrets one at a time. As result, her happiness, and everything she has worked for, is slowly being chipped away.

You see, in both of these scenarios, everything is on the line—her marriage, her career, and her life. Lila must make a list of those in her past that she's wronged to determine who is responsible, before it's too late. And even if she can figure out who is behind what is happening to her, will she even survive? Which Lila Bennett will emerge? Because one thing is for certain, life as she knows it is over.

Inspired by the movie Sliding Doors, Liz and Lisa have ratcheted up the suspense in their newest novel. The story starts out as linear, but when Lila literally muses that her life "could split in two," and that the choices laid at her feet would lead her on completely different paths, the narrative actually splits into two. From here, Fenton & Steinke alternate between the two scenarios at the same point in time (each chapter is title "Captured" and "Free"). Readers are not only treated to some pretty incredible writing, but are tasked to figure out who is responsible.

Lila is a complex, layered character and the perfect unreliable narrator. She's whip-smart, but her intelligence and success are ironically part of her downfall. Also, her conscious is questionable—she gets people off for murder—yet for someone who is so bold and brazen, she actually fosters insecurities about her persona.

What is remarkable, besides the writing, is that it totally makes you start to question some of the decisions you have made in your own life, and that there are always several possibilities in every scenario. Both endings are outstanding and overall, this book is so damn clever! This ambitious narrative style could have easily gotten away from Fenton & Steinke, but it figuratively knocked my socks off.

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LIZ FENTON & LISA STEINKE are the author team of five novels, including Girls' Night Out and the The Good Widow.

Liz and Lisa have been best friends for 30 years.

Valencia and Valentine by Suzy Krause

A special thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Valencia has been working as a debt collector for the past 17 years. She suffers with crippling OCD and is incredibly timid. Of all her fears, it is both flying and turning 35 that are her worst. To help her break free from the constant trepidation that she feels, her therapist suggests that she fly somewhere before her birthday. After speaking with repeat caller James Mace from New York City, and developing feelings for him, Valencia thinks she has the perfect destination. The only problem is that he may not exist.

Mrs. Valentine is 87-years-old and fears her time is coming to an end. She has a mild fascination with death (after all she frequents the funeral home a lot) and is desperate for company of any kind. When her new cleaning girl, Anna, provides an ear, Mrs.Valentine recounts her life story which includes a love story and adventures with her husband before his mysterious disappearance.

Valencia and Mrs. Valentine appear to have nothing in common and are worlds apart, but life is never predictable.

Krause's debut effort is an unconventional love story with themes of loss, and second chances. Unfortunately it is not without issues. Not only did it take a while to get into the story, but I struggled with both characters—what was with their mild obsessions with death? I love quirky characters, but Valencia was exhausting.

The plot was convoluted at times and other times it was repetitious and circular. There was a pivotal event in high school—which was I assume the catalyst for Valencia's downward spiral—that should have packed more of an impact, but instead it left me with more questions. Also, there were some issues with timeline and the only thing I can come up with is that this was done on purpose to mislead the reader.

Surprisingly this book was a bit dark and depressing and I was expecting more of a feel-good story rather than a character study. But please don't let this review sway you away from reading it, Krause's writing is quite good, I just don't think the book was for me.

SUZY KRAUSE is a Canadian writer who, like Valencia, has worked as a debt collector, and like Mrs. Valentine, she likes to tell stories.

Valencia and Valentine is her first novel.

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler: A Novel by Kelly Harms

A special thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Amy Byler is an overworked and underappreciated single mom that could use a break. Three years ago, her husband went on a business trip to Hong Kong and never returned. So naturally Amy is skeptical when he shows up and offers to take care of their kids for the summer. With no one to answer to, Amy decides to head to New York City—her former college stomping ground—for a librarian conference.

On her kid-free escape, Amy thinks she's in for catching up on sleep, lots of reading, and some professional development. Instead, she lets her hair down and has a fling with a handsome librarian. She also reconnects and stays with Talia, an old friend from college. Talia is a successful magazine editor who talks Amy into a makeover which she dubs as a "momspringa" (a take on Rumspringa) and documents the experience as a feature in the magazine.

With one man capturing her heart, and the summer coming to a close, Amy has to decide how this is all going to play out. What is going to happen to this new Amy and the life that she has carved out for herself? Before she can decide, past and present collide and Amy may lose a lot more than either of her identities.

This book was incredibly charming! I loved the dynamic between Amy and her teenage daughter, Cori (who the reader gets to know through her journal entries). Harms's writing is relatable, endearing, and witty. She is particularly effective in capturing the struggles and challenges of a mother—from mother's guilt to constantly worrying about your children. Women regularly sacrifice themselves for their children and oftentimes it is at the expense of their own happiness. This can be detrimental to the relationships that they have with their partners and their friends.

Are you in need of a momspringa? I know a lot of women that are...so if that's you, grab your girlfriends, and grab a cocktail, this book is for you!

KELLY HARMS a former editor, lived in New York and worked with many of her author-heroes as at HarperCollins and then as a literary agent at the Jane Rotrosen Agency.

Harms lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with her sparkling son, Griffin; her fluffy dog, Scout; and her beloved Irishman, Chris. 

I'm Fine and Neither Are You by Camille Pagán

A special thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Close female friendships are built one secret at a time."

Penelope Ruiz-Kai is doing it all—with little to no help from her husband—working, mothering, housekeeping and cooking. Her best friend, Jenny, is one of those women that seems to do it all and makes it look easy. From an outside perspective, it would appear that Jenny is incredibly well-put-together will her Instagram worthy home, adoring husband, well-behaved child, and popular lifestyle blog, whereas Penny's house is always upside-down, her husband is barely working, her children are unruly, and her career is unfulfilling.

When a shocking tragedy pulls back the curtain on Jenny's life and all is not as it appears, Penelope is rocked to the core. She decides that she can no longer keep quiet about the issues that are plaguing her marriage. She and her husband, Sanjay, decide to make a list of changes they want the other person to make and above all, commit to being totally honest with one another.

At first the idea seems to be a good one as it forces the couple to actually talk to one another. But then things take a turn for the worst when secrets are revealed and tensions flare. As Penny struggles with the very real possibility that this could actually end her marriage versus save it, she questions if honesty really is the best policy...

Pagán's novel is an exploration into the intricacies of marriage, and how fragile relationships are. It is a comment on commitment, and how easy it is for women to lose themselves when they become a wife/mother. Balancing a career, family, and marriage is a difficult feat in itself and Penny also has the added stress of an ailing parent and dealing with a monumental tragedy. The story also examines how destructive the lies are that we tell each other and ourselves in order to keep up the facade of happiness, and how facing the truth is never easy, but necessary to save one's self.

The writing was absolutely captivating with Pagán striking the right balance of humour and emotion. There are times when the story is so raw and heartbreaking, and I found the novel completely real and relatable.

Penny was such an interesting character—she is flawed, yet the most enlightened because her perception was challenged as a result of a monumental loss. Jenny was also incredibly relevant because of the digital age we are living in. Many women use social media as the lens to view their lives through which is incredibly damaging to their self worth. It is hard enough being a woman, you don't need to compare yourself with another woman's best versions of themselves—these versions are filtered, edited, and fractured reality.

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CAMILLE PAGÁN is the #1 Amazon Kindle bestselling author of five novels, including Life and Other Near-Death Experiences, which was recently optioned for film. Her books have been translated into more than a dozen languages. A journalist and former magazine editor, Pagán has written for the New York Times, The Oprah Magazine, Time and many others.

Pagán lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with her family.

Girls' Night Out by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke

A special thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For estranged friends Ashley, Natalie, and Lauren, it’s time to heal the old wounds between them. Where better to repair those severed ties than on a girls’ getaway to the beautiful paradise of Tulum, Mexico? But even after they’re reunited, no one is being completely honest about the past or the secrets they’re hiding. When Ashley disappears on their girls’ night out, Natalie and Lauren have to try to piece together their hazy memories to figure out what could have happened to her, while also reconciling their feelings of guilt over their last moments together.

Was Ashley with the man she’d met only days before? Did she pack up and leave? Was she kidnapped? Or worse—could Natalie or Lauren have snapped under the weight of her own lies?

As the clock ticks, hour by hour, Natalie and Lauren’s search rushes headlong into growing suspicion and dread. Maybe their secrets run deeper and more dangerous than one of them is willing—or too afraid—to admit.

Liz and Lisa, what a ride! This book was fantastic! The writing is layered, dynamic, and oh so clever. The character depictions are detailed and fierce and I was completely captivated by the timelines and narratives.  

What Fenton and Steinke do best is conversation. Did you not feel like you were on this trip too?  Beyond the story are deeper themes of secrets, complicated relationships (at what point is a friendship obligatory?) and mystery. The brilliant aspect of this book is the juxtaposition of complex friendships against a frantic search for a loved one. Female relationships are complex, but three is never an ideal number and this ratchets the tension even further. I would highly recommend this book.

LIZ FENTON & LISA STEINKE are the author team of five novels, including Girls' Night Out and the The Good Widow.

Liz and Lisa have been best friends for 30 years.

After Nightfall by A. J. Banner

A special thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Marissa Parlette and her former best friend, Lauren, have recently reconciled after not speaking for years.  Marissa had extended an olive branch and invited Lauren and her husband to her engagement party.  Only things aren't going so well, Lauren is blatantly hitting on her fiancé and doing so in front of her own husband.  After a tense and awful night, Marissa's body is found at the bottom of a cliff.  Did she fall?  Was she pushed?  Or did she willingly step off?

Desperate to make sense of the tragedy, Marissa digs in.  The party seems to have brought out the worst in her guests, even her fiancé is suspect.  The more Marissa questions, the more she is left confused.  Marissa ends up questioning everything she knows about her friends, the man she loves, and even questions herself.

I had the pleasure of reviewing The Twilight Wife and was impressed, but unfortunately this story fell a little flat for me, but Banner redeemed it at the end.

The plot is interesting with enough twists to keep the reader vested in the story.  When looking at the synopsis, this appears to be a clever book with an interesting cast of characters that are connected enough to add another layer of mystery.  However, the characters were not developed enough and neither was the backstory.  For me this was the difference between 3 and 4 stars.

A. J. BANNER was born in India and raised in North America. Her first novel, The Good Neighbor, was a #1 Kindle bestseller for thirty-four days. The Twilight Wife was a USA Today bestseller.

Banner lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and five rescued cats.

Daughters of the Dragon by William Andrews

A special thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't know anything about 'comfort women'; the women and girls that were forced into sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army before and during WWII.  The name is a euphemism for prostitute(s).  Women were either abducted from their homes in countries that were under Japanese rule, or lured with promises of work in factories — our character, Ja-hee and her sister were told they were going to work at a boot factory.  I was completely immersed in the flashbacks, but not vested in Anna.  As a main character, I felt that she was underdeveloped and flat.  

This was an ambitious topic, not only is Andrews writing historical fiction, about another culture, but also as a female.  For the most part, I would say he pulls it off.  The difference in the rating for me between a four and a five star review is that the narration was made up of short choppy sentences and this abrupt writing style between the passages of dialogue was distracting for me as a reader and the story then became a bit forced.