Book Review: Masquerade, by Janette Rallison

When Clarissa takes a much needed job under slightly false pretenses, she doesn't think it will be such a big deal. She may have told her movie-star boss that she was married, but that shouldn't matter. After all, she doesn't want anything to do with men for a long, long time.

It's hard for a woman to keep up the masquerade when her boss is as handsome as Slade Jacobson and the job takes her to Hawaii with him. In between handling his whirlwind four-year-old daughter and dealing with a whole cast of Hollywood personalities, Clarissa has to keep a tight hold on her heart.

***

Another charming and clean romantic comedy by one of my favorite authors, Janette Rallison.  It had the same type of voice and wit as her young adult novels do, but with a grown woman stumbling through embarrassing situations instead of a teen. 

The story was completely enjoyable.  Rallison has the ability to make me forget that I am not part of the plot.  I melt into the world of the characters, and get lost in their ups and downs.  I laughed so much during this book, and it was refreshing to read something other than teen angst.  

I appreciated that both of the main characters were divorced (in a non-morbid way of course).  But it made the story less picture perfect and more believable.  I loved how neither Clarissa or Slade were flawless.  They were both just average people with regular problems that happen to land in one humorous situation after another.  

For only $2.99, you can't go wrong with this one.

Age Level: Adult
File Size: 496 KB
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Book Review: Hide in Plain Sight, by Marta Perry

She couldn't turn her back on her family in their time of need. So when her sister was injured, financial expert Andrea Hampton traded the big city for Amish country to help turn her grandmother's house into an inn.

But life with the Plain People took a treacherous turn when a string of accidents and pranks threatened her family. Someone didn't want the secrets the old house harbored to come to light. Trusting anyone-- even the handsome carpenter who seemed so genuine--was a battle for Andrea, but her life depended on her ability to find the truth.

***

This book was obviously written by a seasoned author.  In some ways, it is a good thing because it gives a reader a certain amount of security in knowing that they are going to be consuming a well written novel.  In other ways, it is a bit disappointing.  The story seemed a bit formulaic and unoriginal.  It seemed like it was novel #30 for this author, and she has gotten into the habit of switching character names and location, while essentially writing the same book over and over.  

Now don't get me wrong, it was a very well written novel and a good story.  I would happily read another book written by Marta Perry.  The romance was perfectly clean and innocent.  I didn't have to worry about anything questionable popping up.  There were secrets, suspense, and suspicion milling around the story.  I loved all of that.  Plus, the book is FREE for Kindle readers right now.  

For a free book, it was definitely worth reading.  It only took me a couple of sittings to read it.  There was nothing too heavy or weird in it.  All in all, it was an enjoyable experience.

The main character was likeable and mostly believable.  I could empathize with her as she struggled to figure out the best way to take care of her family members.  I liked Cal, the handsome carpenter that shows interest in Andrea.  I didn't like the theme of big city life and ambition being incompatible with a Christian lifestyle.  I also didn't really buy into the whole issue that Andrea had with her grandfather.  If I were in Andrea's shoes, I would be more angry with my father for abandoning the family, and with my mother for being irresponsible.  While neither of those things seem to bother her, she has a hangup about how her grandfather let her mother take her sister and herself away from the farm.  It just didn't strike me as realistic.

Like I mentioned before, it seems like Perry has fallen into what I like to call the "Louis L'Amour trap".  It's where an author has found a formula that works for their stories and they stick to it like glue.  This was my first Marta Perry book, but I just have this feeling that when I read another one, it will hold a LOT of similarities to this one.


File Size: 335 KB
Print Length: 247 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense (August 1, 2012)
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