Tag: anger

REVIEW: A Thorn in the Saddle by Rebekah Weatherspoon

REVIEW: A Thorn in the Saddle by Rebekah Weatherspoon

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Kensington/Dafina in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Jesse Pleasant is thrilled that his brothers have found love. But his anger and resentment at being the dependable one – the rock – the family caretaker – is starting to feel like too much. In fact, he completely loses his cool when he walks in on his grandmother and her new boyfriend. He knows his response was way over the top.

Lily-Grace is furious that her father got hurt because Jesse had a temper tantrum. And she’s prepared to make him suffer her wrath over it for awhile. But when he takes her chiding to heart and gets a therapist, she wonders if the sweet kid she met in elementary school is still there in the heart of this angry, brooding man.

While things start to thaw  – and then heat up – between Jesse and Lily-Grace, both are at a crossroads in life. Will their choices push them closer in the end or lead them on separate paths?

Review

When I first picked this up, I meant to just start it – a chapter or two before bed. Next thing I knew, I was up way past my bedtime and halfway through the novel. It was worth the loss of sleep to spend time with the Pleasant family again. The therapy-positive focus of this book was awesome. I enjoyed the exploration of Jesse’s anger and his journey through the whole book.

I loved Jesse and Lily-Grace together. There are some great one-liners here to balance out the more serious moments. Fans of re-imagined fairytales should enjoy this take on Beauty and the Beast. I have really enjoyed how the author has taken these well-known stories and made them her own. The connections are clear if you are looking for them, but they are also super subtle and nuanced so that it’s possible you won’t even notice the parallels. Series fans should NOT miss this latest installment of the Cowboys of California series. I don’t believe these have to be read in order to be enjoyed, but it does help establish the relationships in the family. (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Tuesday Night Miracles by Kris Radish

REVIEW: Tuesday Night Miracles by Kris Radish

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Four women are court ordered to an anger management class.

  • Kit, grieving the loss of her mother after being her caregiver for months, attacks her brother with a broken wine bottle after he shoves her and accuses her of causing their mother to die “sooner”
  • Jane attacked another real estate broker with her stilettos when a crucial deal broke down
  • Grace, weighed down by life choices, weary work, and raising teens who are not turning out like she expected, repeatedly rams her daughter’s boyfriends car with her own.
  • Leah loses control of her temper with her children after years as a victim of domestic violence.

Shepherding these women is Dr. Bayer, a therapist on the edge of retirement who thinks it is time to try some unusual interventions that she’s always wanted to explore. These women will be her last group, and she’s hoping for some miracles in their Tuesday night meetings.

Review

I really enjoyed this book! The premise was terrific, and it was executed well. I cared about what happened to these women. The unusual therapy was terrific – a mixed bag of success and failure. This is pretty realistic.

I identified most with Kit. I was angry FOR her in the inciting incident. And I enjoyed her evolution the most in the story. Leah was also an endearing character. While suffering more than any of the other women, she was also the most ready to dig in and pursue change for her own sake as well as the sake of her children.

I’m so glad I stumbled on to this book – the cover really grabbed my attention. The dog in the story was sweet. I took note of one of the author’s other titles when I discovered this one, and I am looking forward to giving that a try. (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥