REVIEW: The Holiday Honeymoon Switch by Julie McKay

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from  Netgalley and G. P. Putnam’s Sons in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary


Holly and Ivy have been best friends since their boyfriends introduced them at a Christmas frat party while singing an intoxicated version of the old carol their names called to mind. Eight years of friendship brings them to the weekend of Holly’s wedding to Matt – when Matt calls the whole thing off and dumps her.

Holly decides to take Ivy’s remote vacation cabin in the woods for two weeks to wrestle with Matt’s blindsiding announcement. And she sends Ivy on her non-refundable Hawaiian honeymoon. Except Matt has shown up for the honeymoon, too. With his girlfriend.

Since they look so much alike, Ivy was supposed to pretend to be Holly and enjoy the trip as her friend. Instead she’s stuck in a lie, trying to dodge Matt. Ivy finds a place to stay, but keeps the whole story from Holly to protect her from Matt’s most recent betrayal.

Holly’s vacation cabin is owned by an old friend from high school. Making a few friends on her remote retreat is doing a lot to help her over her heartbreak. But what is going to happen – for both Holly and Ivy – when it’s time to go home?

Review


This was fun! I can’t remember the last time I read an entire adult novel in one day. But this was exactly what I expected and what I wanted this to be. I easily predicted how one of the closing conflicts would play out – this absolutely follows the beats of a Hallmark movie. None of the conflicts lingered for too long. Things happened and then they were resolved to make way for the HEA. I would have liked a bit more from the epilogue – if I’m going to get details of what happens next, I want all of them. But overall it was satisfying in the end. (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: The Pact by Jennifer Sturman

Summary


An almost wedding mystery. Rachel Benjamin and her college girlfriends made a pact, once upon a time, to save one another from bad relationships. When Emma’s deplorable fiance dies the night before the wedding, Rachel has to wonder if one of her friends followed through on The Pact.

If it wasn’t one of the girls, there aren’t many other choices. The only people at the property were wedding party members or family. Who would have taken such drastic steps to keep Emma and Richard from getting married?

Review


I read this series years ago, but didn’t remember much about it so I decided to read it again. Because I remembered so little, I was able to (unsuccessfully) try to guess at the culprit as if I was reading it for the first time.

The main characters  – the five college friends – are written well as distinct personalities. I hope the rest of the books in the series will give me a better sense of all five of them, as well as their significant others. I wanted to know more about them as I read this.

The mystery was delightfully twisty. I liked that it kept me guessing all the way through. There were plenty of possible culprits. And the motives were realistic and plausible. Rachel is an interesting sleuth. When she thinks someone did it, she goes all in! I’m looking forward to re-reading the other books in this series. This book did include some foul language.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥