Through a publicist with Harlequin, and Netgalley, I was given the opportunity to read Her Homecoming Wish (Harlequin Special Edition) and Witness Protection Widow (Harlequin Intrigue). What follows are my unbiased reviews of both books. Have I mentioned how much I love being a book reviewer??
Her Homecoming Wish by Jo McNally
Publication date: February 1, 2020
Pages: 224 pages
Genre: Contemporary romance
Rating: 3/5 stars ✰✰✰
Strengths: Likable characters
Weaknesses: Predictability
As her divorce is complete, Mackenzie Wallace's aging father falls off a ladder and calls her back to her hometown to help out. She is officially done being a 'good girl' and fulfilling everyone else's expectations of her. Imagine her surprise to find her childhood crush (and her older brother's best friend from childhood) is now the local sheriff. I don't want to spoil it, but there's a love connection to be made - just sayin.
I love feeling like characters are people I could be friends with. Mack coming home and running the liquor store that her dad has owned for ever sounds so quaint and cozy. The little apartment above the store reminds me of childhood dreams of living in the 'city' (yes, I grew up in a small town) and being able to walk everywhere. Mack and Sheriff Dan's biggest struggle isn't falling back into the roles they've always lived, but proving to the community that they aren't who everyone thinks they are, and forging their own lives they way they want them to be. Yes, I am a sucker for a good HEA (happily-ever-after).
I'd give this book 3 out of 5 stars. Nothing brilliant about it, but a fun way to spend a couple days reading.
Witness Protection Widow by Debra Webb
Publication date: February 1, 2020
Pages: 256 pages
Genre: Suspense
Rating: 3/5 stars ✰✰✰
Strengths: Characters
Weaknesses: Predictability
Another reviewer commented that she was really engaged with the characters from reading the previous four books in the series. While I'm sure that would be the case, I enjoyed the characters just from this book, and feel it worked well without all the backstory too.
Allison James Armone (now Alice Stewart, in witness protection) is the best witness to get her former father-in-law locked away for all of his criminal activities, culminating in murdering his own son, Allison's evil husband. The US Marshals now just need to keep her alive til she can testify. When Marshall Holloway is in a car accident, they call in another nearby Marshall, who happens to be Allison's first love from ten years earlier. They need to ask themselves if their previous connection will get in the way of their primary task - making it to trial and locking away the evil crime lord.
Maybe it's because I read too many crime books, but I would have loved to see the actual words that the bad guy was convicted. Perhaps that's something that will be disclosed in a subsequent book, since it's a series. I'd give this book 3 out of 5 stars. It was a good read for a couple days and I kept wanting to find out what their next suspicion or obstacle would be. With more time on my hands, I'd keep the earlier books in the series in mind as well - the characters seemed like pretty cool people.
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