One Last Shot: a marriage pact and a second chance at romance

One Last Shot by Betty Cayouette is a friends to lovers, marriage pact romance. From the moment Emerson and Theo met freshman year of high school, they were inseparable best friends. As they expressed their true feelings for each other, their lives went on different paths, not before promising each other that if they were not married by twenty-eight, they would marry each other. Emerson is an in-demand supermodel nearing her twenty-eighth birthday. When a calendar reminder pops up on her phone of her marriage pact with Theo. She realizes that this is her shot to rekindle the only love she really wanted. She learns where Theo, now a photographer, is shooting next and orchestrates her way to be a part of it. A four-day shoot in the romantic setting of Cinque Terre, Italy, Emerson and Theo find their feelings being tested as roadblocks after obstacles get in their way. Is this their last shot at love or their final goodbye? 

One Last Shot is the debut romance from Betty Cayouette and I love a good second chance, friends to lovers romance. I hemmed and hawed about reading this story as I do not care for fashion or supermodel world. But I decided to give it a chance anyway. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get into it. The main issue with this story was the miscommunication. The miscommunication trope is one of my least favorite romantic trope. Their roadblocks and obstacles could have been avoided if they just talked about it! They dance around their marriage pact, something they are both aware of as they reunite, and yet pretend they had forgotten about it. The constant flashbacks to their high school years took me out of the present events and bogged the story down. Overall, the story was okay. I think I am not the right audience for this book. If you think you may enjoy this story, I recommend giving One Last Shot a try. 

One Last Shot is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

If The Dress Fits: Southern social graces, sass and undercover sleuthing

If the Dress Fits is the follow up to Deconstructed by Liz Talley. Cricket Crosby has gotten her private investigator license and is ready to snoop and solve cases! Fresh off her divorce, she is ready to get running with her PI skills. When Juke, a local PI, is hired to solve the case of the theft of luxury items, he hires Cricket to go undercover. She is willing and ready to go; however, in her eagerness, she shines the focus on her employee and new bestie, Ruby Balthazar. Ruby’s past is always right under the surface. She can’t hide it but she certainly wants to rise above it. Her fashion line, Deconstructed, is a finalist in a local fashion competition. She receives an invitation to New York City’s Fashion Week. Ruby can’t believe her luck. But when she is arrested for the thefts, it rocks her to her core and feels everything she has dreamed is unraveling. The only solution now is to catch the thief. But can they before the thief strikes again? 

If the Dress Fits is such a fun book! I laughed at their antics. I cried with them. I sighed at the romantic moments. I even cheered as Cricket and Ruby battled through the theft case, their own insecurities and moving on with their lives with a new sense of purpose. I enjoyed seeing Cricket and Ruby in their new paths. I particularly loved that these women were not going to let their misfortunes dictate their lives. Outside of Cricket and Ruby, my favorite character is Gran, Ruby’s grandmother. She offers so much wisdom, tough love, and humor that she would be someone fun to have around. I also enjoyed that you didn’t necessarily need to read Deconstructed first (although I highly recommend it), in order to enjoy If the Dress Fits. Ms. Talley gives enough background detail that you can follow the relationships and the story without being lost. If the Dress Fits is filled with Southern social graces and sass that will leave you in stitches. I highly recommend If the Dress Fits.   

If the Dress Fits is available in paperback and eBook

Deconstructed is also available in paperback and eBook

The Pattern Artist: one woman's courage to fulfill her dream

The Pattern Artist by Nancy Moser is the story of one woman’s dream to make her life better than what she lived before. Annie Wood is a housemaid for a wealthy English family. She has dreams of becoming a lady’s maid in the household as she travels with Lady Newly and her daughter, Miss Henrietta, to America. When she realizes that her dream isn’t going to become a reality, she strikes off on her own in New York City.

Set in 1911, Annie is a young woman with a natural talent for fashion and her skills for alternations and sewing are used to the advantage of the lady’s maids.  She sets out with Iris and Danny Dalking, servants from the household that she’s visiting. Alone on the streets with nothing to their names, the trio is taken in by a family who runs a bakery. Knowing that working in a bakery isn’t where she wants to be, Annie sets off and tries to get a job at Macy’s. To her surprise, she does and immediately begins to establish herself with great customer service and an eye for the fashions her customers desire. She soon gets involved with a pattern salesman, Sean Culver, who helps open another door which will lead her closer to a new dream of design fashions for the everyday woman. As she works, more and more doors of opportunity open. Does she dare walk through them, knowing there is no return? Can she trust God to guide her through those doors?

The Pattern Artist is a great story of the American Spirit where “humble beginnings are a badge of honor. It’s not where you begin but where you end up.” I loved Annie who struggles with her own worth but had the bravery to try anyway. I loved all the characters she meets along the way especially Sean. The budding romance between the two is sweet and heartwarming. The story has romance, suspense, heartbreak and joy. I highly recommend The Pattern Artist.

The Pattern Artist

is available

in hardcover, paperback and Kindle/Nook

on Amazon and Barnes and Noble