Tag Archives: Fiction

Counting Miracles by Nicholas Sparks – a Review

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Counting Miracles by Nicholas Sparks – a Review

 

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Description:
Tanner Hughes was raised by his grandparents, following in his grandfather’s military footsteps to become an Army Ranger. His whole life has been spent abroad, and he is the proverbial rolling stone . . . happiest when off on his next adventure, zero desire to settle down. But when his grandmother passes away, her last words to him are: find where you belong. She also drops a bombshell, telling him the name of the father he never knew—and where he might be found.

Tanner is due at his next posting soon, but his curiosity is piqued, and he sets out for Asheboro, North Carolina, to ask around. He’s been in town less than twenty-four hours when he meets Kaitlyn Cooper, a doctor and single mom. They both feel an immediate connection; Tanner knows Kaitlyn has a story to tell, and he wants to hear it. For Kaitlyn, Tanner is mysterious, exciting—and possibly leaving in just a few weeks.

Meanwhile, nearby, eighty-three-year-old Jasper lives alone in a cabin bordering a national forest. With only his old dog Arlo for company, he lives quietly, haunted by a tragic accident that took place decades before. When he hears rumors that a white deer has been spotted in the forest—a creature of legend that inspired his father and grandfather—he becomes obsessed with protecting the deer from poachers.

As these characters’ fates orbit closer together, none of them is expecting a miracle . . . but that may be exactly what is about to alter their futures forever.

 

 

Review:

Counting Miracles by Nicholas Sparks is a heartwarming story line.  We meet Tanner Hughes, who has been raised by his grandparents, after his mother died at childbirth; and never knew who his biological father was. When he grew up, Tanner became an army ranger, and spent his whole life abroad; Army for fourteen years, then left the service and worked for the USAID for over six years, and ended up in Cameroon to work for the International Rescue Committee. He came home to help his grandmother, until she passed.  She left him a note giving him the name of his father; which Tanner decided to find him in Asheboro, North Carolina.

In Asheboro for less than 24 hours, Tanner’s car was accidently damaged when a young girl hit his car; where he meets the girl’s mother, Kaitlyn Cooper.  Kaitlyn is divorced and has two children, Casey (who backed into Tanner’s car) and Mitch (8 year old son); she is a doctor. In a short period of time, Tanner finds himself attracted to Kaitlyn, and he invites himself to go to the Zoo, with Kaitlyn and Mitch; leading into Tanner and Kaitlyn spending time together. As much as Kaitlyn becomes attracted to Tanner, but she has fears that he will soon leave Asheboro, once he finds his biological father. Even though they both became close, Kaitlyn knows Tanner will leave, and decides to break up with him.

The second POV revolves around Jasper Johnson, who is 83 years old, and lives in a cabin with his dog, Arlo. Jasper has many medical conditions, which has burn scars over more than half of his body.  We find out that he lost his entire family to a tragic fire, with only him surviving. Jasper, who has a number biblical references throughout the book, hears about a white deer, which his father and grandfather had noted back in the day, that the white deer is sacred.  He is determined to protect the deer; especially when some teenage boys are trying to find the dear, and kill it.  When Jasper follows them, he falls accidently in the forest, and is stranded with a broken ankle.

Tanner has not been successful in finding his biological father, and when Casey tells Tanner that Jasper has been missing for days, and she pleads with Tanner to try and find him.  Jasper’s dog, Arlo keeps coming to their house, and Tanner realizes the dog might be able to find Jasper.  When he comes close to finding Jasper, Tanner finds his car, and upon looking at the car paper work, he realizes that Jasper is part of the family he is looking for.

What follows is Jasper is found, and will have a slow recovery period, with Kaitlyn being his doctor, and Tanner, becoming family to Jasper.  He did learn the tragic event that the whole family died in the fire, which included his biological father all those years ago.  Tanner, Jasper and Kaitlyn were actually connected in different situations; being very emotional.  I did love both Casey and Mitch, who were so good, especially Casey pushing her mom to care about Tanner.

Counting Miracles was a beautiful heartbreaking, emotional and heartwarming story that kept me glued to my seat.  Counting Miracles was so very well written by Nicholas Sparks. This was a fabulous story about family, love, forgiveness, kindness and sadness.  I wholly suggest you read Counting Miracles, which was a fascinating read.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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We’ll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida – a Review

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We’ll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida – a Review

 

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Description:
A cat a day keeps the doctor away…
Discover the award-winning, bestselling Japanese novel that has become an international sensation in this utterly charming, vibrant celebration of the healing power of cats.

Tucked away in an old building at the end of a narrow alley in Kyoto, the Kokoro Clinic for the Soul can only be found by people who are struggling in their lives and genuinely need help. The mysterious clinic offers a unique treatment to those who find their way it prescribes cats as medication. Patients are often puzzled by this unconventional prescription, but when they “take” their cat for the recommended duration, they witness profound transformations in their lives, guided by the playful, empathetic, occasionally challenging yet endearing cats.

Throughout the pages, the power of the human-animal bond is revealed as a disheartened businessman finds unexpected joy in physical labor, a young girl navigates the complexities of elementary school cliques, a middle-aged man struggles to stay relevant at work and home, a hardened bag designer seeks emotional balance, and a geisha finds herself unable to move on from the memory of her lost cat. As the clinic’s patients navigate their inner turmoil and seek resolution, their feline companions lead them toward healing, self-discovery, and newfound hope.

 

 

Review:

We’ll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida is a Japanese novel that became an international sensation.  The story is a vibrant and charming celebration of the powerful healing of cats.   The mysterious clinic is an old building in a narrow alley, that offers unique treatments, especially for patients who are struggling in their lives. The doctor is kind of weird, as well as the receptionist; depending on the patient’s situation, they prescribe a cat for their wellbeing. Each of the patients are given a cat, for two weeks or more, and surprisingly they do begin to reach their own self-discovery and healing.

Each cat is different, as they become wonderful therapeutic companions that help guide the owners with comfort, warmth and hope; with many of the patients wanting to keep their cat.  Each of the patients were had different issues; an unhappy businessman finds himself enjoying physical labor; a young girl at school having problems; a middle age man who struggles, a bag designer tries to control her emotions and another woman who tries to find her lost cat.

Each of the cat have their own interconnected short stories:

 Bee, female gray cat – around 8 years old
Margot,  female mixed breed – 3 years old
Koyuki – white kitten – 2 ½ months old
Tank – Male shorthair – 2 years old
Mimita – male Scottish fold – 5 months old

 Each of the owners will find their way to happiness and comfort; though some of the cats will be given back to the clinic, and eventually find their own cat.

We’ll Prescribe You a Cat was a cute story line, with people finding transformations in their lives, guided by the playful, adorable, and endearing cats.  We’ll Prescribe You a Cat was very well written by Syou Ishida.  This is a different kind of read, which has become an International sensation in Japan.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

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By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult – a Review

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By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult – a Review

 

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Description:
Two women, centuries apart—one of whom is the real author of Shakespeare’s plays—are both forced to hide behind another name to make their voices heard.

In 1581, Emilia Bassano—like most young women of her day—is allowed no voice of her own. But as the Lord Chamberlain’s mistress, she has access to all theater in England, and finds a way to bring her work to the stage secretly. And yet, creating some of the world’s greatest dramatic masterpieces comes at great cost: by paying a man for the use of his name, she will write her own out of history.

In the present, playwright Melina Green has just written a new work inspired by the life of her Elizabethan ancestor Emilia Bassano. Although the challenges are different four hundred years later, the playing field is still not level for women in theater. Would Melina—like Emilia—be willing to forfeit her credit as author, just for a chance to see her work performed?

Told in intertwining narratives, this sweeping tale of ambition, courage, and desire asks what price each woman is willing to pay to see their work live on—even if it means they will be forgotten.

 

 

Review:

By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult is a standalone novel about two woman’s POV that take place in present time and in a different era, 1581.   The two heroines are Melina Green in the present, who is a talented writer; and Emilia Bassano, who also is a writer, but her talent is not recognized openly, as women were not accepted.  Both women hide their names behind a man, as women were not acknowledged.

Emilia Bassano, at a very young age, is forced to become Lord Chamberlain’s mistress, and for years he treated her well. He takes her to the theatre in London, and she secretly writes her own poems and plays. Working secretly, Emilia has to sell her play to male playwrights, in order to get her work on the stage. She makes an agreement with a young actor, William Shakespeare to be the playwright of her work. Later on in life, when Emilia became pregnant, she was forced again to a marriage, since she had no money, and her husband treated her badly, always beating her up.  That was a very sad part of the story.

In the present, Melina Green is inspired by her ancestor Emilia Bassano to write her story, and make her voice heard, though she needs to get Andre (her roommate and gay friend) to present the play, and pretend to be his assistant. Her play actually wins the contest, with Andre entering her play into a competition, which she wins.  Jasper, a former critic of her work, begins to become attracted to Melina, and slowly she reveals that Emilia Bassano’s book was her work.  Though there are five centuries between the timelines, it seems that male privilege is still in power.  

I will say that I thought the book was a bit slow in the first half, though it did pick up later on.  I read that Picoult did a lot of research and stands by her feeling that Emilia Bassano’s work was the true playwright for William Shakespeare.  Melinda in the present time, manages to finally have a chance to show her play, with help from Jasper.  The historical part of the past, will have Emilia, as she gets older, begin to write her own books; with Bassano actually being a real person.

By Any Other Name was an interesting story, with historical fiction, feminism, passion, heartache, and love.  It was a different kind of story by Jodi Picoult, which was very well written. If you are interested in possible real-life changes from the past, I suggest you read By Any Other Name.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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The Night Ends With Fire by K.X Song – a Review

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The Night Ends With Fire by K.X Song – a Review

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Description:
Infused with magic and romance, this sweeping fantasy adventure inspired by the legend of Mulan follows a young woman determined to choose her own destiny—even if that means going against everyone she loves.

The Three Kingdoms are at war, but Meilin’s father refuses to answer the imperial draft. Trapped by his opium addiction, he plans to sell Meilin for her dowry. But when Meilin discovers her husband-to-be is another violent, ill-tempered man, she realizes that nothing will change for her unless she takes matters into her own hands.

The very next day, she disguises herself as a boy and enlists in her father’s place.

In the army, Meilin’s relentless hard work brings her recognition, friendship—and a growing closeness with Sky, a prince turned training partner. But has she simply exchanged one prison for another? As her kingdom barrels toward destruction, Meilin begins to have visions of a sea dragon spirit that offers her true power and freedom, but with a deadly price.

With the future of the Three Kingdoms hanging in the balance, Meilin will need to decide whom to trust—Sky, who inspires her loyalty and love; the sea dragon spirit, who has his own murky agenda; or an infuriating enemy prince who makes her question everything she once knew—about her kingdom and about her own heart.

 

 

Review:

The Night Ends with Fire by K.X. Song is a fantasy built around Chinese mythology.  Three Kingdoms are at war, and Meilan’s (our heroine) father, who has an addiction, refuses to enter the draft. He decides that he will sell his daughter, who is 18 years old, for a dowry, with her husband-to-be being a violent and evil man.  Meilan leaves home and enlists in the war, disguising herself as a young boy, named Ren. Meilan/Ren has trained over time to be excellent in martial arts, as well able to fight better than most men. She is assigned to the Seventh Company, and is surprised that the leader is Liu Sky, the prince of Anlai. Meilan knows she must conceal her identity, as women are not permitted to fight or practice black magic (she is a spirit medium); revealing her secret could mean death.

In the army, Meilin/Ren earns respect from fellow soldiers, as she is a workaholic; bringing recognition and friendship along the way.  Slowly, her commander, Sky admits that Ren is better than any of the other men in the group; until when he discovers that she is a woman.  At first, Sky ignores her, but keeps her secret; and in time he begins to have feelings for Meilin; as she also slowly falls for him. I did like the chemistry between Meilan and Sky, as they were very good together. When Meilan is captured by Prince Cao Ming Lei and his army, he knew from the start that she was a woman; and in time he also was attracted to the beautiful Meilan. 

As the war escalates, Meilan beings to have visions of a dragon spirit that offers her magical powers, which could come as a price. Meilan needs to know who to trust; Sky, whom she is loyal to; The Dragon Spirit, Qinglong, who may not be telling the truths or Lei, attractive possible enemy, who could be revealing the real truths. 

The Night Ends with Fire was an exciting intriguing, fast packed adventure of magic, war, feminism, romance and betrayal.   I thought the first third of the book was a bit slow, though that last half was very exciting. To say too much more, would ruin things along the way.  This was an enthralling epic fantasy, with an ending that was wild and climatic.  The Night Ends with Fire was very well written by K.X. Song, and I look forward to the next book in this dulology/series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

K. X. Songis a diaspora writer with roots in Hong Kong and Shanghai. Raised between
cultures and languages, she enjoys telling stories that explore the shifting nature of
memory, translation, and history. She is the author of An Echo in the City and the
forthcoming The Night Ends with Fire, her adult fantasy debut. You can learn
more at kxsong.com.

 

 

 

 

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A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey – a Review

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A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey – a Review

 

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Description:
A tender and touching novel about a young woman who discovers the family she has always longed for when she spends a life-changing summer in North Carolina.

Present Keaton Smith is desperate for a fresh start. So when her mother needs someone to put her childhood home in Beaufort, North Carolina, on the market—the home that Keaton didn’t know existed until now—she jumps at the chance to head south. Keaton’s grandparents died in a tragic car accident before she was born, so she’s eager to learn more about the family she never met. But even though she has help from her charming next-door-neighbor, his precocious ten-year-old son, and a flock of endearingly feisty town busybodies, Keaton soon finds that she has more questions than answers.

1976: After meeting her adoring husband Townsend, Rebecca “Becks” Saint James abandoned the life she knew and never looked back. Forty years later, she’s made a name for herself as the best hostess North Carolina has ever seen. Her annual summer suppers have become the stuff of legend, and locals and out-of-towners alike clamor for an invitation to her stunning historic home. But she’s struggling behind the façade. Becks strives to make the lives of those around her as easy as possible, but this summer she is facing a dilemma that even she can’t solve. And as the end of the season looms, she is brought to a decision she never wanted to make.

As both Keaton and Becks face new challenges and chapters, they are connected through time by the house on Sunset Lane, which has protected the secrets, hopes, and dreams of the women in their family for generations. For fans of Summer of ‘69 and The Notebook , Last Summer on Sunset Lane explores the power of family, the bonds of friendship, and the boundless nature of love.

 

 

Review:

A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey is another wonderful story that we have come to expect from Harvey.  Keaton Smith, has been fired from her successful job; and her mother asks her to travel to Beaufort, North Carolina (her childhood home) to clean up the home that hasn’t been lived in for decades.  Keaton’s mother and uncle have never returned to that home, after the death of their parents; and once it’s cleaned up, Keaton will put it on the market to sell. There are two POV’s in this story, the present and in the past, 1970’s.

Rebecca (Becks) and Townsend fell in love, and despite her family not accepting that her husband was of a different religion, she married Townsend having a wonderful marriage. Rebecca Saint James became a household name in Beaufort, as the best hostess in North Carolina, with her annual suppers and local parties; with everyone hoping to get invitations to their historic home. Keaton finds her journals, and begins to learn about Becks wonderful life with Townsend for more than 40 years.  Her grandparents died in a car accident, and Keaton was determined to discover what really happened all those years ago.

Keaton quickly meets a number of friends of Becks, who recognize her as she looks like Becks, and they go out of their way to make her feel welcome.  A friendship with these wonderful older ladies, escalates as she learns more about Becks; keeping the memory of Becks and the wonderful things she did all these years.  Keaton works hard to clean the place, and even her newfound friends would come over and help her.  She also meets her next-door neighbor, Bowen and his wonderful adoring son, Anderson; which will lead to a slow burn romance, and her feelings about possibly staying in Beaufort.

A Happier Life is a wonderful journey with fascinating chapters revolving around Keaton in present day and Becks from the past, learning more about what happened to Keaton’s grandparents when they died. It was nice to see Keaton’s brother show up, and help her find more clues to solve the mystery. I love how Keaton begins feel at home, especially with Becks friends and how much they all loved Rebecca Saint James.

A Happier Life was such a heartwarming and wonderful story that was so very well written by Kristy Woodson Harvey.  If you enjoy a story of family, bonds of friendships, and the love of two generations; you should read this book. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Jackpot Summer by Elyssa Friedland – a Review

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Jackpot Summer by Elyssa Friedland – a Review

 

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Description:
After the Jacobson siblings win a life-changing fortune in the lottery, they assume their messy lives will transform into sleek, storybook perfection—but they couldn’t be more wrong in the new laugh-out-loud novel from beloved author Elyssa Friedland.

The four Jacobson children were raised to respect the value of a dollar. Their mother reused tea bags and refused to pay retail; their father taught them to budget before he taught them to ride a bike. And yet, as adults, their financial lives—as well as their personal lives—are in complete disarray.

The siblings reunite when their newly widowed father puts their Jersey Shore home on the market. Packing up their childhood isn’t easy, especially when they’ve all got drama brewing back home. Matthew is miserable at his corporate law job and wishes he had more time with his son; Laura’s marriage is imploding in spectacular fashion; Sophie’s art career is stalled while her boyfriend’s is on the rise; and Noah’s total failure to launch has him doing tech repair for pennies.

So when Noah sees an ad for a Powerball drawing, he and his sisters go in on a ticket. Matthew passes but the ticket is a winner and all hell breaks loose as the infusion of cash causes sibling rivalries and family secrets to resurface. Without their mother, and with their father busy playing pickleball in a Florida retirement village, the once close-knit siblings search for comfort in shiny new toys instead of each other.

It’s not long before the Jacobson’s start to realize that they’ll never feel rich unless they can pull their family back together.

 

 

Review:

Jackpot Summer by Elyssa Friedland is a fun story about a family of four Jacobson siblings, who spend the summers in LBI (Long Beach Island) on the Jersey Shore.  The story begins when their widowed father tells the family that he has put his home on the market, much to their chagrin. Everyone is spending the July 4th weekend together, not too happy about the sale; but their dad is determined to move to Florida. We meet the four siblings, Matthew, who is a wealthy lawyer; Laura, who thought all was well in her marriage; Sophie, is an artist, as well as a teacher; and Noah, the youngest, makes little money doing tech work. During their time of helping to pack up the place for the sale, we get a see each of the them in their own environment, which gave us a view of their lives.

Noah says he wants to buy a lottery ticket, as it is currently in the millions; Laura and Sophie want to join in, with only Matthew not interested. To their shock, they win part of the lottery (a couple of others share the prize), making them instant billionaires. Laura, Sophie and Noah are all thrilled at their winnings, anticipating that their lives will change for even better. The three of them learn quickly that winning all the money is not always the answer to their own problems, especially with each of them doing extravagant purchases, taking trips, buying a new expensive house, making donations, etc. They also began to feel guilty of leaving Matthew out of the group, even though he and his wife were very wealthy on their own.

Each of the characters were so enjoyable, entertaining and fun; I loved how close they all were, as they were always committed to each other.  Laura and her husband became closer once they won the money, though they bought a huge house, but over time, she missed her friends.  Sophie loved doing her art, but she did miss her teaching days.  Noah, who truly was lonely, managed to spend too much of his winnings. Matthew and Beth were not worried about money, but in time Matthew will quit his job, looking for something more filling. The Jacobson’s were a close-knit family and knew they needed to resume a normal life with their family.

Jackpot Summer was a fun, sweet engaging story, filled with family, love and laughter. I loved all the mentions of places in LBI (I am a Jersey Girl), which was so much fun to catch. Jackpot Summer was a different kind of story, which was so very well written by Elyssa Friedland.  I loved every minute of this book, and suggest you read Jackpot Summer.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A Good Life by Virginie Grimaldi – a Review

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A Good Life by Virginie Grimaldi – a Review

 

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Description:
Full of humor and compassion, a profound exploration of sisterhood, healing, and the ineffable beauty of life from France‘s most beloved contemporary novelist

Laughter, tears, the transformative power of love, unexpected revelations, and striking natural these are the ingredients that combine to make best-selling author Virginie Grimaldi’s American debut the feel-good read of 2024. Grimaldi is among France’s top ten contemporary authors and her uplifting, unputdownable literary novels have quickly garnered her millions of adoring fans. This, her American debut, is among her most delicately wrought and emotionally compelling novels to date. 

Emma and Agathe are sisters. They were thick as thieves when they were young but have always been as different as can be. Agathe, the younger sister, is disorderly, chaotic, and fiery. Five years older, Emma has always been the more mature sister, the defender, the protector, the worrier. Their relationship as adults is scarred by a tragedy that transformed their happy, ordinary childhoods into something much more complex and challenging. For a long time, Emma hasn’t wanted to be involved in Agathe’s life. But then they must return together to the Basque Country, to the house of their adored grandmother, to empty out her home and in the process to reconcile, to remember, and to pour out what is in their hearts. 

The story alternates between Agathe and Emma’s childhood and their present day, with everything in between, and readers see them as young girls, teenagers, young women, mothers, wives, partners, individuals, sisters. This is a story that encompasses whole lives, complex lives, women’s lives, asking all the while how the scars of the past can be healed and what, in the end, is a good life.

 

 

Review:

A Good Life by Virginie Grimaldi is a family-oriented story that centers around two sisters, Emma and Agathe.  Virginie Grimaldi is a famous author from France, and this book was brought into America, as her debut. Both sisters as young children were close, but as they grew older, things slowly fell apart. Emma is the oldest, with Agathe being 5 years younger. A Good Life is told via flashbacks, from the each of the girl’s earlier and present years.

Emma is the mature sister, always protecting and defending her, especially Agathe’s wild and reckless escapades. Agathe has always had many ups and downs, with Emma dedicated her life to protecting her younger sister, sheltering her from the worst of their mother’s fits of anger.  Emma always made sure during the summers to spend most of their time with their beloved grandmother’s house near the ocean, giving them a reprieve.

After many years being distant, their beloved grandmother passed away, and they decide to meet and help clean up their grandmother’s house, as it has been sold. In the process, the memories of their childhood help them reconcile and bring them closer, with all the scars of the past.  They enjoy that one week vacation, enjoying the town and ocean, and discover all that they lost; with a new bond bringing them back.

A Good Life is an emotional story of love, heartbreak, grief, mental health and the ins/outs of their dysfunctional family. The book continually alternates between both Emma and Agathe in the past and present, as we learn everything about them during their troubled days, as their younger selves, grown women and sisters.  A Good Life was very well written by Virginie Grimaldi. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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Look on The Bright Side by Kristan Higgins – a Review

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Look on The Bright Side by Kristan Higgins – a Review

 

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Description:
Lark Smith has always had a plan for her life: find a fantastic guy, create a marriage as blissful as her parents’, pop out a couple of kids and build a rewarding career as an oncologist.

Things aren’t going so well.

For one, the guy didn’t work out. Theoretically, she’d love to find someone else, but it hasn’t happened. Two, she’s just been transferred out of oncology for being too emotional. (Is it her fault she’s a weeper?) Three, her parents just split up.

Deviating from the plan was…well, not in the plan. A potential solution comes from the foul-tempered and renowned surgeon Lorenzo Santini (aka Dr. Satan). He needs a date this summer for his sister’s wedding. His ancient Noni wants to see him settled. In exchange, he could make a few introductions and maybe get Lark back into the field of her choice.

As a sucker for old people and fake relationships, Lark agrees. Teeny problem—she instantly falls for his big, warm family. Especially his estranged brother.

Meanwhile, Lark’s mom has moved in with Lark’s flamboyant landlady, Joy, and an unlikely friendship blossoms. The three women have a long summer and a big beautiful house on the ocean to figure out what’s next…and quite possibly learn that the best things in life aren’t planned at all.

 

 

Review:

Look on the Bright Side by Kristan Higgins is a sweet family oriented standalone novel. The story revolves around three women POV’s, but Lark Smith (our heroine) takes the lead; with Ellie, her mother and Joy, a wealthy friend sharing some of the stories. We meet Lark, who is a doctor resident in Oncology, but since she gets too emotional with her patients, she is sent to work in ER (emergency room). Lark is very intelligent, and her coworkers in the emergency room, respect her knowledge, and she builds a friendship with them; even though she wants to return to oncology. To her surprise, Dr. Santini (who is known as Dr. Satan), offers her a deal, paying her money, to help Lark attend his families upcoming events, including his sister’s wedding; as she would be his fake girlfriend.   He also promises her that he can get her contacts to return to oncology when it’s over.

Dr. Satan (Lorenzo) has a terrible reputation at the hospital, as he is rude, obnoxious, arrogant, with no one liking him. Lark is strong and always answers back at Lorenzo’s nasty comments. But when she meets his family, and is shocked how likeable they all are; in a short time. she fits in with them, having a great relationship with them all (except Lorenzo).  Lark quickly finds herself being attracted to Dante, Lorenzo’s younger brother, who is sweet and caring. Can she continue to keep her fake dating secret?

The other two storylines revolve around Ellie and Joy. Ellie, discovers her husband might be cheating on her, and decides to move out and ends up staying with Joy, as Lark is also staying at Joy’s huge house, by the beach.  Ellie and Joy develop a wonderful friendship, with each helping each other. Ellie has to deal with her husband and learn more about what she thought was betrayal. Flamboyant Joy, became wealthy due to ex-husbands, is also obsessed with plastic surgery over the years, making herself look pretty.  She is thrilled to have both Ellie and Lark staying at her place, especially since she was lonely after her brother’s death. Joy will find herself a wonderful job at a memory care place livening up the patients, and is thrilled to throw parties for both Ellie/Lark’s family and the Santini family. The three women have a wonderful summer together in helping each of them discover what is next.

There are emotional flashbacks with Lark and her deceased love from years before.  She loved Justin since they were 13 years old, and when he had leukemia, she was also there for him, and in time he was able to recover. Years later, when they were planning their wedding, the leukemia returned, but again he was able to recover; with something else effecting his body, and he died.  Lark has never gotten over Justin’ death, and when a memory flashes, she discovers that Dante was the fireman who helped her get to the hospital, to see Justin before he died. The back story revolving around Justin and Lark was very sad and emotional.

What follows is a heartwarming story of love, friendship, sadness, tragedy and life changing issues.  Lark was an amazing and passionate heroine, whom I loved throughout the story.  I was happy that she would find love in the sweet epilogue. Look on the Bright Side was a fantastic story, that was emotional, captivating, trauma, and romantic.  Look on the Bright Side was so very well written by Kristan Higgins.  You need to be reading this book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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