Chanticleer Book Reviews

Tag: 4 Star Book Review

  • TRACK TWO ON REPEAT by Rebekah N. Bryan – Y/A, Music, Friendship

    TRACK TWO ON REPEAT by Rebekah N. Bryan – Y/A, Music, Friendship

    Annette Amsel is not on the popular-girl list at her school. She’s obsessed with Fuchsia Fireball, an emo band least liked among her peers, and receives more than her fair share of ridicule, which often leaves her close to tears. It doesn’t matter that Annette consistently knocks out has near straight-A grades and is involved in sports (shot put, discus, and track). It isn’t that she lacks a friend, she has a few, but they are all too preoccupied with their boyfriends to notice her misery. Ugh.

    Amid her uncomfortable environs, Annette learns that Fuchsia Fireball will be performing in a sketchy area of Milwaukee. Besides requesting a concert ticket for her upcoming sixteenth birthday, Annette goes through a series of deals (including getting her driver’s license) with her parents so she can attend. One major prerequisite is for her to go with a friend, which is easier said than done. That’s when she turns to a Fuchsia Fireball fan website and begins chatting with a guy who may be a hopeful means to an end. Whether or not he is who he says he is and holds to his word remains to be seen.

    In the next installment of The Fandom Collection award-winning author, Rebekah N. Bryan dishes up a lead character with whom readers will easily relate. Annette is shy, somewhat socially awkward, and just a wee bit introverted. To her, fitting in at school is critical, yet she always seems to be doing the wrong things or liking the wrong bands or, well, whatever. And even though she knows she’s got brains, she doesn’t feel like she measures up to the other girls at school. In other words, Annette is the perfect target for bullies.

    Bryan’s plot may sound stereotypical, and that’s what makes the story ring so true. In a world where pressures surrounding today’s young adults lands somewhere in the too-much lane, Annette embodies these struggles, and we get to see if and how she resolves/solves them. Woven with today’s added bonuses of live chat rooms, experimental music, and online-strangers who feel like friends, bullying is the monster it always was. Readers will focus on the narrative’s underdog and follow along on her journey as she strives for self-acceptance. Bryan’s writing style is sure—a harmonious intermingling of story and dialogue (including chat lingo).

    Light verbal flirtatious innuendos with Annette’s chatroom “boyfriend” help to break the continual tension as Annette finds herself in a flurry of believable and often frustrating situations that appear to block her chances to enjoy high school social life, but more importantly, attend the Fuchsia Fireball concert.

    Track Two on Repeat is an engaging read and a nice addition to Bryan’s collection and won First Place in the 2017 CIBAs, Dante Rossetti, for Young Adult Fiction.

     

     

  • STRAIN of RESISTANCE, Book 1 in the Bixby Series by Michelle Bryan – Alien Invasion, Dark Fantasy/Horror, Parasitology

    STRAIN of RESISTANCE, Book 1 in the Bixby Series by Michelle Bryan – Alien Invasion, Dark Fantasy/Horror, Parasitology

    The apocalypse comes to the world one cloudy day in the form of a mist. But it’s no ordinary mist. There are tiny crystals in it, sentient crystals that once inside a victim, practically turn them inside out to birth a large worm which then takes control of the victim like a jockey riding a zombie.

    On that day, twelve-year-old Emma Bixby is in the park taking refuge from the toxic home environment created by her alcoholic father. For some reason, the crystals, after entering Emma’s lungs and dropping her to her knees, reject her as a host. After surviving the initial attack, Emma rushes home to find her parents dead. And her world, imperfect as it was, gone.

    Eight years later, Bix (Emma) is a hunter for a colony of fellow survivors holed up in a dilapidated hotel, The Grand. The world order has come down to three castes: colonists who live in fortified buildings behind barbed wire, guards who send out hunters to forage for food and supplies, and the ravagers. The last are roving gangs who survive through cannibalism and leeches, and in fact, are the alien invaders who ride their human hosts seeking out survivors to feast upon.

    Eight years after the apocalypse, Bix is capable and strong, unwilling to back down from a fight, and fiercely loyal. But she is also impulsive, defensive, a loose cannon almost as dangerous to her friends as she is to her enemies. And though her heart is in the right place, her reactions and brash decisions frequently put her life and the lives of those around her at risk.

    While resting up after a hunt, word comes down that the colony nearest them squatting in St. Joseph’s hospital has gone radio silent after what sounded like an attack of some sort. At the same time, one of The Grand’s hunting parties hasn’t returned. Bix and her group are sent out to discover what’s happened. The action is compelling and nonstop. Readers will find it difficult to put the book down.

    Bryan defines and fleshes out her characters reasonably well. The opening sequence is one of the best we’ve ever read in a dystopian novel, which we’re betting will hook readers immediately. We like Emma right away, feel her pain and worry for her. Eight years later, we find a flawed and almost-impossible-to-recognize-as-the-same-girl Emma, now Bix. Here’s a character that is, at times, hard to sympathize with. Readers will find themselves rooting for her one minute and flummoxed by her brash behavior the next. The juxtaposition is that jarring.

    The writing is crisp and compelling and contains elements of horror, action, as well as science fiction, skillfully mixed together reminiscent of the film, Aliens. Though present, the violence and gore of the horror elements are not over the top. And to add a bit of distraction, there are some steamy romantic scenes contained within. The pacing is fast, at times a little too fast. All in all, Michelle Bryan delivers on a first-in-series romp through a dystopian world with plenty of action and a lot of material for the following novels.

    Strain of Resistance won First Place in the 2017 CIBAs, the Cygnus Book Awards for Science Fiction.

     

     

  • The LAST DETECTIVE by Brian Cohn – Dystopian, Alien Invasion, Mystery

    The LAST DETECTIVE by Brian Cohn – Dystopian, Alien Invasion, Mystery

    We’re all part of the same universe… aren’t we?

    Here’s a novel that courageously tries to be a number of things simultaneously: bafflingly murder mystery, apocalyptic science fiction, a polemic on racism/systemic bigotry and historical allegory. It’s all woven into an engaging mix, fuelled by a question for the ages that everyone, from philosopher to fisherman has asked at one time or another, Does God truly exist?

    Brian Cohn’s is a straightforward apocalyptic story that begins with news of an alien invasion. While on a routine murder investigation, Detectives Adrian Grace and Yuri Petrov soon lose interest in the crime scene when the sun is blotted out by an unbelievably huge spacecraft. Two years later, the aliens ¾ known as the slicks for their skin texture and tone ¾ rule the Earth. Food is scarce, electricity non-existent, real booze and prescription (even non-prescription) drugs run out and the less fortunate of the survivors of the alien v. human war are summarily shipped off to labor camps never to be seen again.

    The godless slicks seem to be soulless creatures who are only interested in their conquests, survival, and domination. They believe themselves to be the superior race. It doesn’t take long to get the feeling that either Hitler or Stalin (or both!) were Cohn’s models for these world-controlling invaders.

    Murder, as it turns out, is unknown in the alien race. They simply have no concept of this. So, when the apparent murder of one of the slicks, causes the Authority to call upon Grace, imploring him to use his considerable skills and solve the death of the unlucky “visitor,” the story really gets going. Aside: The Authority is a group of humans who have circumvented the labor camps by offering their services to the aliens.

    From that point on, readers will soon learn to realize that no one tells the truth (even a Roman Catholic priest), that nothing is what it appears to be (imagine “fake terrorists” getting away with murder), and how love in the age of alien invasion plays out.

    Fans of this genre will likely enjoy this fast-paced sci-fi despite some editing bumps in the narrative, and be talking about it for some time after they finish. Most, in fact, may be looking for more from this author.

    The Last Detective won 1st Place in the 2017 Cygnus Awards.

     

     

     

     

  • BUILDING MR. DARCY by Ashlinn Craven – Contemporary Romance, Fantasy, Clean & Wholesome

    BUILDING MR. DARCY by Ashlinn Craven – Contemporary Romance, Fantasy, Clean & Wholesome

    Two software developers, Max Taggart and Zoe Bunsen, want to create the perfect artificially intelligent companion. Zycorp needs this project to be successful, or their floundering AI department will be dissolved; however, while Max is a man with a plan, Zoe is a woman with a serious book crush on the character chosen to embody their AI.

    Zoe has grown up loving Mr. Darcy, the hero in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. From their chance meeting to their continuous jostling for power, Max and Zoe find working together almost impossible. While Zoe wants a Darcy with human-like reactions, Max wants a finished product ready for release by the deadline. Their constant bickering coupled with their shared office creates the perfect tension for romance. But finding the balance in Mr. Darcy and the balance in their own personal lives may be more than these two can handle.

    From Max and Zoe’s chivalrous first meeting to their conflicting personalities, Building Mr. Darcy has the feel of a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice. Like her counterpoint Elizabeth Bennet, Zoe is a smart woman in a man’s world. Her free-thinking spirit may be perfect for software development, but her gender makes it difficult for her to succeed in Zycorp where schedules and deadlines keep getting in her way. Her Pygmalion need to create an almost “boyfriend-like” interaction with Darcy arises from her completely disastrous love life, and while her neediness differs from the original feel of Elizabeth Bennet, it helps set Zoe apart from her metafictional doppelganger and give her a slice of her own personality.

    Max has the same no-nonsense attitude of Fitzwilliam Darcy, but he is far removed from the affluently born romantic heartthrob of generations of women. Max is a self-made man with a sketchy family. However, the issues of the original novel, love, friends, family obligations, and subtle human interactions, remain the central focus of this novel. These complete opposites with their ever-present Darcy/Elizabeth arguments and eventual character growth harken back to the well-loved, dog-eared classic that makes their relationship so timeless.

    Irish-born award-winning romance author Ashlinn Craven lives in the shadow of the Alps writing stories about real-life heroes and heroines, people with actual jobs and paychecks. In Craven’s novels, the world doesn’t stop just because two people fall in love. With their trademark touch of geekiness, these novels are heartfelt, uplifting, and realistic.

  • ELEVEN – A BRANDON FISHER FBI Series #1 by Carolyn Arnold – Thriller/Suspense, Hard-Boiled Police Procedural

    ELEVEN – A BRANDON FISHER FBI Series #1 by Carolyn Arnold – Thriller/Suspense, Hard-Boiled Police Procedural

    Carolyn Arnold’s absorbing crime thriller, Eleven, is taut with suspense from the very first page.  Brandon Fisher, just starting his two-year probationary period with the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit, is doing his utmost to impress his supervisor, the legendary Special Agent Jack Harper, as they survey a shocking crime scene.

    They’re standing in an underground dirt bunker with tunnels that lead to small, circular rooms with chicken wire pressed against the dirt walls.  There are ten corpses in all, their bodies marked with identical incisions that tell a tale of ritualistic torture and murder.  Only one victim has not been disemboweled.  Brandon, growing more claustrophobic in the bunker by the second, struggles to show no emotion in front of unflappable Jack, but that’s difficult when he realizes the bunker contains a room for an eleventh victim.  Before long, Brandon will learn that he very well could be the serial murderer’s next target.  Could his first case be any more difficult?

    The forensic team ascertains that the killer is highly intelligent and disciplined.  While they have an immediate suspect, the team is also certain that the killer had a helper.  Most of the book focuses on discerning who, amongst a large group of possibilities, serves as the accomplice.  This second perpetrator is thought of as a “follower” or an “apprentice.” This mentor-apprentice relationship unnervingly echoes the relationship between Jack and Brandon.

    Readers who are drawn to crime thrillers will not be disappointed with the details Brandon, Jack and the rest of the team sort through as they gather evidence.  As the title of the book indicates, the number eleven is a key clue.

    The dialogue involving the latest method s for extracting DNA from objects and lifting fingerprints indicates the author has done her homework; she integrates scientific details nicely into the plot.  In fact, each member of the team is distinct and well realized.

    This book is a fast read as the writing is straight-forward and engaging. Arnold leads the reader through some winding plot twists and each one is more riveting than the last.  Suspense builds and builds and the ending is every bit as shocking as the opening pages of the novel.  Although Jack tells Brandon, “This isn’t like TV,” there’s no doubt that fans of shows like CSI (in its various locations) and Criminal Minds (which has a small cameo) will want to read Eleven.  Readers will find the book difficult to put down – and, if they do, they may very well sleep with the lights on.

    A lead FBI agent hunts his prey and grooms his apprentice while a ritualistic killer does the very same thing. Riveting and disturbing, Eleven, is guaranteed to thrill and terrorize readers.

  • The APPRENTICE by Jana Barkley – Contemporary Women’s Literature, Falconry, Cancer

    The APPRENTICE by Jana Barkley – Contemporary Women’s Literature, Falconry, Cancer

    Forty-three-year-old Sam’s secure life is unraveling. It’s not just that her marriage ended two years ago, or that her job leaves her exhausted, or even that her son has essentially become a food-and-laundry-services-only visitor. It’s the combination of a cryptic phone call from her doctor’s office and the crushing claws of an improperly imprinted raptor that spin Sam down an entirely new adventure as an apprentice in the art of falconry.

    Since an apprentice needs a sponsor, Sam considers friendly Mary Kate or knowledgeable Mike, but unfortunately neither is close enough geographically for it to work. Instead, they suggest the best choice is clearly the mysterious (bordering on surly) Hank Gerard. He has experience raising and flying a wide variety of birds. So with gentle prodding, she and Hank become sponsor and apprentice, and Samantha’s life changes forever. She’s no longer a lonely, harried corporate marketing executive. She’s a falconer in training.

    Unfortunately, she’s a would-be falconer fighting a terminal cancer diagnosis. Sam tries valiantly to keep up with this physically demanding new hobby, but both the disease and the chemotherapy intended to cure it put a strain on her efforts. Readers may find it improbable that someone going through cancer treatment will feel up to full tilt running through a field a few days after chemo. Some patients will, of course, but some won’t. It might pull some readers out of the story if they have had a rough experience themselves or know someone who has.

    Sam’s challenges of learning the art of falconry progress alongside her chemo treatments, and the growing tension between her and her sponsor:  “The next step is a psychological one, too, and probably the biggest. He has to jump from his perch and come toward you in order to get his meal, now. In other words, he’s jumping toward the big scary thing—you.” (p. 119)

    It comes as no surprise that the author is an expert instructor at West Coast Falconry. The company is based in Northern California and offers classes, instruction and public education in the 5000-year-old sport.

    The Apprentice transports the reader to a raw, natural world, one with fields of sweet smelling sage, soaring hawks and diving falcons. The language and beauty of falconry is woven expertly into the narrative, providing the reader a glimpse into a rarified world while providing believable, relatable characters.

  • DEAD SILENT: An ELIZA GORDON MYSTERY by Amy Beth Arkawy – Cozy Mystery, Amateur /Woman Sleuth

    DEAD SILENT: An ELIZA GORDON MYSTERY by Amy Beth Arkawy – Cozy Mystery, Amateur /Woman Sleuth

    Cleverly plotted and well-paced, Amy Beth Arkawy’s Dead Silent: An Eliza Gordon Mystery will satisfy the appetite of cozy mystery readers and gourmets alike, especially those who enjoy an occasional side of gossip with their novel.

    The story picks back up in the small town of Goodship, New York, where Eliza Gordon, former soap star, serves up the daily specials at her restaurant dutifully named “Soup Opera.” A popular eatery, she and her sidekick, Midge Sumner, can’t help but overhear the daily drama spilled by the town locals as they argue and bicker about the latest rumors posted on The Goodship Grapevine, the town’s toxic new gossip site.

    Eliza’s life outside work is on the up-and-up, as she and her boyfriend, Tom Santini, the town’s police chief, entertain the idea of moving in together. But things get put on hold when ill-received radio jockey Paul Hackett is found strangled to death with his headphone cord wrapped around his neck in the studio of WHSP. The only evidence police have to go on are the initials V.O.S. scrolled on the studio mirror in red lipstick.

    Was it Victoria Salinger, Hackett’s third ex-wife, who scrolled her initials at the scene of the crime? Or were they written with the same lipstick worn by his latest fling, the young and alluring studio assistant, Ashley Hoyns? From there the list of possible suspects only grows, and the table is set for a classic whodunit mystery, as Eliza and Midge get back into their usual swing of finding clues.

    Hackett’s murder isn’t the only mystery in the story, either. A secretive cult is going around releasing fliers that urge people to join “The Silent.” What’s more, Jonas, the mysterious playboy brother of Eliza’s late husband, is back in town and his motives seem to be beyond the scope of simply collecting the family estate – it doesn’t help that Eliza is beginning to grow feelings for her newly arrived brother-in-law.

    Dead Silent makes for a great cozy read, perfect for the beach or any occasion when you have a couple of hours of free time. The plotline and ongoing suspense will keep fans of the genre quickly turning the pages and leave them satisfyingly entertained.

    This is the second book in the Eliza Gordon Mystery series, between Killing Time and Murder, She Tweets. Arkawy is also the author of several plays, including Psychic Chicken Soup (McLaren Comedy Award nominee) and Listening to Insomnia: Rage Amongst Yourselves. Her work had been produced in New York City and featured in several anthologies.

    Arkawy’s skills as a playwright sit center stage as she effortlessly seams together fast, witty dialogue between the colorful characters who make up the town of Goodship. The culinary delights described throughout the novel are brilliantly provided in a recipe file at the end of the book. A smart move that is sure to leave readers’ mouths watering and clamoring for next book in the Eliza Gordon Mystery series.

    “If you’re hungry for a fast, fun and deadly cozy mystery, Amy Beth Arkawy’s Dead Silent, the second book in the Eliza Gordon Mystery series is what’s on the menu.” – Chanticleer Reviews

  • DEATH of a DIVA: from BERLIN to BROADWAY by Brigitte Goldstein – Historical Fiction, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

    DEATH of a DIVA: from BERLIN to BROADWAY by Brigitte Goldstein – Historical Fiction, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

    An innocent man is charged with the murder of a stage diva in 1941. Misia Safran’s mission is to save him while unraveling the layers of a woman’s life she idolized, in Brigitte Goldstein’s exceptionally well-researched novel, Death of a Diva: From Berlin to Broadway.

    Misia Safran stops in a horrified state of shock in front of a newsstand, headlines reading: Stella Berger brutally murdered in her dressing room! Stella was Misia’s mentor, and as heartbroken as she is, the police are charging an innocent man in her murder and she must do everything in her power to save him.

    The police investigation begins when two New York City Police Officers take Misia into custody for questioning. The two detectives’ interrogation turns verbally abusive and threatening body language before she is finally released, remaining under suspicion as an accomplice. Her motivation to take every risk, investigate every clue, and follow every trail to the end anchors her determination to exonerate an innocent man, restore her good name, and punish the real villain who killed Stella Berger.

    The murder of Misia’s beloved Stage Star is the axle that turns the wheel of the story. Misia’s long journey begins, wading through uncertain relationships with friends (or are they foes?) and uncovering dark conspiracies. She examines each possible culprit for motive and studies their behavior throughout her search for the true killer. Energized during the eras of WWI and WWII, the murder mystery is rich in character studies, historical accounts, and plot twists.

    Misia Safran, a German Jewish immigrant, escaped the pending cruelties of Hitler, and experiences double doses of prejudice from a few in America. The Diva, Stella Berger, was also a German (but kept her Jewish heritage a secret) who had emigrated to America because of her open and vocal hatred of Hitler and the Nazis during her monologues after every stage performance.

    Brigitte Goldstein presents a sharp analysis of events from the big picture to the minute – often, stream of consciousness – detail, revealing her historical expertise and keen research skills. Readers who appreciate the intricacies of the English language and sophisticated prose will enjoy Goldstein’s work. A dictionary might enhance the enjoyment for some readers as the author does utilize German and French in her dialogue.

    The author’s unique style manages intricate character studies via mini-memoirs for each key player. The reader gains an understanding of their involvement, motivation and actions surrounding the winding twists of the tale, and their relationships to each other.

    The proof reading is near perfect and the story proceeds at a good pace and grips the reader—Death of a Diva is a mystery novel hard to put down. The resolution closes the case and though it may take time, we believe the damaged hearts might heal. Brigitte Goldstein is an author to watch.

  • HEART-SCARRED by Theo Czuk – Literary Western, Coming of Age

    HEART-SCARRED by Theo Czuk – Literary Western, Coming of Age

    Author Theo Czuk provides a refreshing wave of storytelling in his award-winning literary Western debut novel, Heart-Scarred.

    Rory Casso works as a shotgun freighter with the Pinkerton Detective Agency alongside his partner, Juke Bauque, running capital (i.e., money, furs, gold) up and down the Platte for the Reynolds Savings and Loan payroll. Because bandits lay traps along the way, the partners travel separately. Rory, who lived among the Hunkpapa Indian tribe when he was a boy, uses his skill of trail scouting to keep away from the gang. Juke may be part Native American, but he isn’t familiar with indigenous skills since he was “privately tutored and socially cultured.”

    Enter Bronwyn Mason, a childhood friend of Rory’s who plans to open the first one-room school house in Rawlings. Although she hasn’t seen Rory in years, Bronwyn is relieved to meet Rory’s partner, Juke so that she can hire him to be one of her drivers to transport three wagon loads of school material. Bronwyn’s joy about establishing a school house quickly turns to sorrow when she hears that the Thompson gang murdered her father, the esteemed Marshal Isham Mason. Even though she is grief-stricken, she is determined to fulfill her mission. Bronwyn’s traveling band faces various calamities en route, especially when they get held up by Indian warriors. What she doesn’t expect is that the person who comes to the rescue is none other than Rory. Romance blooms between the childhood friends and all appears to go well until the Thompson gang catches up with them.

    Western enthusiasts in search of a refreshing take on their favorite genre have much to look forward to in Czuk’s award-winning novel. Czuk adds verisimilitude to his story by incorporating a host of realistic characters. Veering away from stereotypes, Czuk presents protagonists that mimic the educational and societal waves taking place during the mid to late 1800s.

    Czuk creates three different people from three different educational backgrounds. Rory is a white man whose comes from a dysfunctional home but finds stability living among Native Americans. Juke, who is half black and half Native American, is brought up in the cultural surroundings of Boston—the antithesis of what would traditionally come out of western tribes. Bronwyn—who learned everything she needed to know about life through her father—in many respects reflects an “Annie Oakley” figure, but much more feminine.

    There is more to the Old West than being chock-full of rough and tough characters. Much of the gruff personas came from merely surviving day to day. Czuk aptly weaves in plenty of historical information that shines a light on the differences of what life was like between the eastern and western territories. While pointing out Native American history (including connections with Ireland during the Great Potato Famine), Czuk gives attention to education, or the lack thereof, especially in the West, and thus Bronwyn’s desire to develop a one-room schoolhouse.

    Czuk offers a well-balanced mix of storytelling, history, engaging dialogue, and thought-provoking themes that go beyond the good, bad and the ugly in his novel, “Heart-Scarred.”

  • A FOOLISH CONSISTENCY by Andrea Weir – Women’s Literature, Family Drama, Romance

    A FOOLISH CONSISTENCY by Andrea Weir – Women’s Literature, Family Drama, Romance

    The course of true love almost never runs in a true straight-line, and this is certainly the case in Andrea Weir’s lovely romantic novel about second chances, A Foolish Consistency.

    Although Fate seems to have smiled on Dr. Will Tremaine and Callie Winwood, former sweethearts a couple of decades ago, when they meet again in an emergency room, their second chance at love is problematic. Will is a widower in Westin, a community in the East, and Callie is a divorcée in California. It’s not just the entire country that separates them, but the events of the last twenty-five years. Their attraction to each other is undeniable, however, and as feelings reawaken, they take the first steps to reconnect and build something new, something they hope will last.

    Inevitably, they have obstacles to overcome. Will’s children, Lizzy and Wiley, are thirteen and eleven, respectively, and still grieving the death of their mother, Joanna, two years earlier. Their maternal grandparents behave almost as if their mother were still alive, and they never acknowledge that Joanna suffered from mental health issues. While Lizzy reacts to her father’s new girlfriend with typical adolescent angst and anger, her grandparents completely overreact and plot to gain custody of their grandchildren. Their motives for doing so blind them to the reality of the situation and pit Will and his children against Callie and her grown children, especially her son, Ben, in his early twenties.

    Considerable depth is added to the narrative by Callie’s understanding of Lizzie’s feelings.  Having lost her own mother at an early age, Callie vividly recalls how difficult it was to accept her father’s new girlfriend who eventually became her stepmother. Although Callie loves Will deeply and wants a future with him, she also understands that Lizzy’s feelings are a priority, one that requires a great deal of patience and sensitivity. These qualities make Callie even more attractive to Will who reassures his children that his girlfriend is not seeking to take their mother’s place.

    Most scenes alternate between Callie’s first-person point of view and Will’s third-person outlook. This interchange between the female and male experiences of the romance gives the novel an intimate robustness, very appropriate for the narrative. The author handles the pacing just right, and the reader roots for the outcome one always wants in a romance. Still, the protagonists have much to learn about each other and themselves, and the author does not settle for a too easy denouement.

    Love once lost is not always easy to regain, even when the couple in question are like peas and carrots. Andrea Weir brings memorable characters, shimmering and confident prose, and realistic dialogue to her stellar contemporary romance of mid-life star-crossed lovers seeking a second chance in A Foolish Consistency.