Travis: sometimes you need to lose it all to gain a brighter future

Travis by Mia Sheridan is a follow up story to Archer’s Voice. Travis Hale has it all. He enjoys his role as the chief of police in Pelion, Maine. He has built a relationship with his half-brother, Archer, his wife Bree and their three children. Despite a past filled with regrets and misguided choices, he is looking into the future with eagerness. Until he discovers his girlfriend in bed with a new guy in town. Travis immediately begins to plot his revenge, that is until he meets Haven Torres, the new guy’s smoothie-making, plant loving woman from California. Haven is not his type at all and she’s only in town for the summer. Haven left behind a painful past in California, she and her brother have been on the road, only staying in a town for a few months before moving on again. She and Travis form an unlikely friendship that soon turns complicated. 

Travis takes place a few years after the events of Archer’s Voice. While Archer and Bree make the occasional appearance, and it was sweet to see them still living their happily ever after, this story is all Travis as he deals with the fallout from the previous book and trying to rebuild his life. Overall, I enjoyed this story. I loved Travis’ personal and emotional journey. I loved Haven’s growth as well. These were two broken people who come together and heal together. It was beautiful. I loved seeing Travis truly confront his family’s past, his past in order to build a brighter future for himself. The only person I felt really bad for is Gage Buchanan, the other eligible bachelor in Pelion. I think he deserves his own love story. If you haven’t read Archer’s Voice, I highly recommend reading it before reading Travis. If you enjoyed Archer’s Voice, you will enjoy Travis as well.

Travis is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Barefoot Season: a brighter future with the magic of friendship

Barefoot Season is the first book in the Blackberry Island series by Susan Mallery. Michelle Sanderson appears to be the hardened army vet, a strong independent woman. However, deep inside, she is still deeply wounded by the past she left behind on Blackberry Island. After the death of her mother, Michelle returns to the island to claim her inheritance, the Blackberry Island Inn, and recover from a battlefield wound. The only winkle in her plan is the person who occupies the owner’s suite. The last person she wants to see. Carly Williams and Michelle used to be inseparable until a betrayal destroyed their friendship. As a single mother, Carly has had to weather rumors, lies and secrets. With her young daughter, she is finally in a place with a future. Until, that is, Carly is implicated in the financial disaster facing the inn. To save the inn and their futures, Michelle and Carly must find a way to work together. Will the summer bring a bit of luck and the magic of friendship? 

Barefoot Season is the first book by Susan Mallery I have read. Unfortunately, I was underwhelmed by the characters and the story. It was supposed to be a light, beach read about friendship and forgiveness. I was sympathetic toward Michelle for her battle wounds and the after effects of her military experiences. However, she was a hard character to like especially after reading what she did prior to leaving the island for the army. Carly is a little easier to like as she is trying to make it on her own with her daughter. But she was a little too naive to be dubbed like she was. Even after all the years and their experiences, these women, as well as others, revert back to high school pettiness. It was irritating. Overall, the story is very slow moving and I was bored. Unfortunately, I didn’t care much for this book and most likely will not finish the series. However, if you are a fan of Ms. Mallery’s work, you may enjoy Barefoot Season. 

Barefoot Season is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook.