Review: Just the Way You Are

Just the Way You Are 
by Pepper D. Basham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Eisley Barrett is a single mom who came to England to help solve a family mystery, not to get involved with a movie star who's taciturn, cynical and way out of her league. Wes Harrison's had enough scandal and betrayal to last a lifetime, so there's no way he's going to believe Eisley's actually as sweet and genuine as she seems to be. But circumstances - and matchmaking family members - keep forcing them to spend time together. Can they overcome their pasts and the differences in their circumstances in order to have a future together?

This was such a great story with wonderful characters. Eisley was imminently likable, she's the kind of person you'd want to have as a friend and hang out on weekends with. Wes was a little more of a challenge for me, but once I understood his motivation, I hurt for him and the mistakes he'd made. The spiritual thread fits naturally into the story in a way that felt organic. Pepper Basham hit this one out of the park.

Just the Way You Are is a funny, tender story that manages to hit the sweet spot between warmth and witty with a healthy dose of grace. I can't wait for the next in the series.

Just the Way You Are on Amazon

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Review: An Elegant Façade

An Elegant Facade by Kristi Ann Hunter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lady Georgiana Hawthorne has a secret and she must marry well so that if she's ever found out, she'll have the standing in society to still be accepted. Colin McCrea is wealthy and respected, but he holds little power by society's standards, yet he just might be the man Georgiana needs.

I have to admit, I hate reading books out of order. So I read An Elegant Facade in order to get to the author's next book, An Uncommon Courtship, and along the way I found myself drawn into a wonderful Regency tale. It would have been easy to dislike the heroine, after all, she's a nineteenth-century trophy wife wannabe - how likable can she be? But Kristi Ann Hunter does an excellent job of teasing you with just enough of the real girl behind the snob - and some very cute interior monolog - to make it impossible for you to hate Georgiana. She turns out to be pretty relatable and touchingly vulnerable. And Colin? Well, every girl needs a Colin in her life. He was all that was admirable--honorable, compassionate and honest with a great sense of humor he often uses to tease Georgiana when she was at her most snooty.

The Spiritual thread was meaningful and very well woven in without being heavy handed. There was much food for thought that was easily applicable to today-- challenges can be taken by some as a sign of God's disfavor, perfection will bring happiness, money and success will bring safety.

Fans of Regency romances will want to pick this one up. After reading this, I'm even more interested in her next one.



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