Booklist Reviews
Mallery brings back her signature mix of friendship, romance, and humor in this third book in the Mischief Bay series. The focus this time around is Zoe Saldivar; her best friend, Jen; and Jen's mom, Pam. Zoe, fresh from a breakup of a long-term, going-nowhere relationship, has an epiphany after she is accidentally locked in her attic. This epiphany leads her to make changes in her life and to a new romance with Steven, Jen's brother. Jen, constantly beset by anxiety about her young son's development, is risking her marriage and her friendships with her worry. Pam, who lost her husband two years ago (The Girls of Mischief Bay, 2015), is tempted to start dating again by Zoe's handsome father, Miguel. Like a real friendship, these three women support each other, argue with one another, and laugh together. Mallery has written a delightful book, with realistic characters facing problems and situations in genuine, believable ways. There isn't a false note in this book or this series. Highly recommended for romance collections. Copyright 2017 Booklist Reviews.
BookPage Reviews
Romance: Loving and learning
Three women discover new versions of themselves as well as romance in A Million Little Things, part of Susan Mallery's Mischief Bay series. Zoe Saldivar is dissatisfied with her single life. She needs a big change, but what to do? Her best friend, young mother Jen Beldon, offers no help. Jen is obsessed with her toddler, neglecting her health and her husband, and although she knows her marriage is suffering, she feels powerless to make adjustments. Her own mother, widow Pam Eiland, tries to gently point out the problem, but that causes trouble between mother and daughter. Meanwhile, new romantic possibilities arise for both Pam and Zoe. Complications come fast on the heels of kisses, however, and soon all three women are forced to re-examine who they are and what they want. Readers will find new friends in these sympathetic heroines and root for them to solve their very believable problems.
UNDERSEA PASSION
Both adventure and romance sizzle in Cherry Adair's Stormchaser. With pride, family and fortune on the line, Jonah Cutter hires acclaimed marine archaeologist Dr. Calista West for his latest underwater salvage project. There's treasure off the coast of Greece—perhaps a bounty beyond measure if Jonah's suspicions are true—and he needs the beautiful doctor to help him prove it. Calista comes aboard his ship with goals of her own, however. She's there to aid her brother-in-law in getting revenge on the Cutters by scooping this prize from their hands. But she couldn't have foreseen her wild attraction to handsome Jonah, and the fire between them is mutual. As they explore the mysteries of the Mediterranean Sea, their passion explodes. When a menace threatens their lives, can the two find a way to save themselves and find a way to forever? Adair's latest is filled with fast-paced, imaginative fun.
TOP PICK IN ROMANCE
In Meredith Duran's A Lady's Code of Misconduct, political intrigue drives a captivating historical romance. Crispin Burke, a member of Parliament, awakens after a devastating head injury to find he's lost five years of his memory and gained a wife—a rich wife named Jane. But as he struggles to learn about this stranger and their relationship, he discovers that during those lost years he was ruthless and manipulative, supporting laws and colleagues for financial gain and power, not for good. News about his marriage is no better—Jane tells him they married for convenience and not for love. None of this sits well with Crispin, and as he traces back through his life, he comes to a better understanding of his family and of his failings. In doing so, he falls for his lovely wife, whom he knows will prove a perfect partner in life and love—if they can survive the danger that stalks them. This Regency romance, part of the Rules for the Reckless series, is a smart love story, peopled with complex and absorbing characters.
This article was originally published in the March 2017 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.
Copyright 2017 BookPage Reviews.Library Journal Reviews
A few months after breaking up with her long-term boyfriend, Zoe Saldivar realizes just how isolated she's become in her life. Her best friend Jen is too busy being a new mom. Working full-time from home, Zoe has no colleagues to discuss anything with and finds herself conversing with her cat frequently. When she confides in Jen's mother, Pam, her life goes from calm to crazy. Pam sets Zoe up with her son Steven, then Zoe finds out her widower father is interested in possibly dating Pam, a widow herself. In the midst of this, Jen seems to be going through postpartum anxiety and is rejecting help from everyone. Zoe, Pam, and Jen must rely on friends, family, and one another to find their inner strength to resolve their issues.
PW Annex Reviews
Mallery's third Mischief Bay novel allows readers to witness what happens when friendship and family collide. Zoe Saldivar gave up her old life for an ex and now she's trying to determine what she wants in her life, love, and career. Isolated and bored by working from home, she even feels distanced from her best friend, Jen Beldon. Jen's incessant worrying, constant dread, and nonstop hovering over her 18-month-old son, Jack, is pushing away her loved ones, including her mother, widow Pam Eiland, and her husband. Pam is content with her life of friends, family, and travel, and has no plans to bother with dating again, but she can't help but play matchmaker with her son, Steven, only to have it backfire. The three women have to learn how to navigate their emotions and confront reality when the ties that bind start to unravel. When the lines between characters' relationships become hazy, the plot becomes more complex, showcasing Mallery's talent as a storyteller. The women develop as the novel progresses, becoming fleshed-out characters readers will care about.