By the Book

An English professor struggling for tenure discovers that her ex-fiancé has just become the president of her college—and her new boss—in this whip-smart modern retelling of Jane Austen’s classic Persuasion.
 

Anne is determined to score a position on the coveted tenure track at her college. All she’s got to do is get a book deal, snag a promotion, and boom! She’s in. But then Adam Martinez—her first love and ex-fiancé—shows up as the college’s new president.
 

Anne should be able to keep herself distracted. After all, she’s got a book to write, an aging father to take care of, and a new romance developing with the college’s insanely hot writer-in-residence. But no matter where she turns, there’s Adam, as smart and sexy as ever. As the school year advances and her long-buried feelings begin to resurface, Anne begins to wonder whether she just might get a second chance at love.

I must first confess, that I have never read Jane Austen's Persuasion.  When I realized the novel was based on this well loved novel I was excited to give it a go.  But when I saw some negative reviews for this book I was nervous to pick it up.  However, maybe because I had never read Jane's original novel, I really loved this book!  I thought it was delightful and heartwarming.  The characters felt realistic and I was invested in Anne's story.  I can understand that some may not like this sort of fluffy, quick read, but for me it was pretty perfect.  If you are looking for a light, fun read I would highly recommend this book.  And because I liked it so much, I may just have to pick up Persuasion later this year. 

            * I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

Just Between Us

Alison, Julie, Sarah, Heather. Four friends living the suburban ideal. Their jobs are steady, their kids are healthy. They’re as beautiful as their houses. But each of them has a dirty little secret, and hidden behind the veneer of their perfect lives is a crime and a mystery that will consume them all.

Everything starts to unravel when Alison spots a nasty bruise on Heather’s wrist. She shares her suspicions with Julie and Sarah, compelling all three to investigate what looks like an increasingly violent marriage. As mysterious injuries and erratic behavior mount, Heather can no longer deny the abuse, but she refuses to leave her husband. Desperate to save her, Alison and the others dread the phone call telling them that she’s been killed. But when that call finally comes, it’s not Heather who’s dead. In a moment they’ll come to regret, the women must decide what lengths they’ll go to in order to help a friend.

Just Between Us is a thrilling glimpse into the underbelly of suburbia, where not all neighbors can be trusted, and even the closest friends keep dangerous secrets. You never really know what goes on in another person’s mind, or in their marriage.

What a ride!  I picked up this book when I was struggling a bit to find anything that kept my interest and this was exactly what I needed.  It kept me up reading at night, which few things do these days, and I would sneak in a couple pages whenever I found the chance.  The four main characters in the story were easy to relate to in many ways.  They seemed like the friends many moms have once they have children.  I have read a couple reviews that found the change in narration confusing, but I didn't have any problems.  If I forgot for a second, the page heading displayed who was narrating and I was right back on track.  I would classify this book as a domestic thriller, which I tend to love because there is character development, along with a fast-paced timeline.  If I had one complaint, it would be that I had to suspend belief for a few of the decisions/actions of the characters.  I didn't always think it was how people would behave, but in some ways that's exactly what this book is about.  I had suspicions early on about what was happening, and while I was correct, there were still enough details in the why that left me shocked.  I will be on the hunt for more novels like this is the future, it's what makes reading books so enjoyable!

          * I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *