Tag: domestic violence

Fireflies and Magnolias – REVIEW

Valerie @ Valerie's MusingsLeave a comment

4 out of 5 stars

Fireflies & Magnolias by Ava Miles book cover - Dark background with fireflies and pink magnolia blossoms

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MagnoliaBranch.jpeg

Synopsis

Amelia Ann Hollins might have been raised to be a sweet magnolia, but she’s found her inner fire—the quest for justice. The secrets she carries and a tragedy from her past prompt her to volunteer at a legal clinic in the worst part of town. Here she can serve and protect the one she couldn’t save. Here she will risk everything.

Clayton Chandler’s happy life ended when his daddy died tragically when he was a boy. He lost his belief in magic and signs, but Amelia Ann is stirring the embers of passion and faith inside him again. He doesn’t plan on risking his heart. To make matters worse, he works for her rock star brother and knows better than to date the younger sister of his best friend.

When Amelia Ann volunteers to help with her brother’s charity concert, Clayton has nowhere to run. Soon he can no longer deny his fiery passion for Amelia Ann, and as the danger of her calling and her secrets threaten their newfound love, they’ll learn fireflies are magical and magnolias can burn hotter than steel. (Source: Goodreads)

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Review

Fireflies and Magnolias by Ava Miles is the third book in the Dare River series. The first time I read this book, I enjoyed it, but I didn’t love it (which is why I didn’t give it 5 stars). However, out of the first three books in this series, this is the one that has stayed with me the most. I’ve read it twice more and I’ve grown to love it.

Ameila Ann’s passion for helping those women (and men) who are in domestic violence situations shows through in everything she does. The additions she makes to the benefit concert at the end of the story, the lengths she goes to in order to get a woman and her children out of an abusive situation, etc. It all adds up to her being one of those extra special people in the world who have realized their calling and will do anything to be successful in it.

Clayton is well, Clayton. He’s gruff, he’s abrupt, he’s annoying at times, but under all the gruffness is a good man evidenced by the fact that he comes when Amelia Ann needs him the most.

Even tho’ Ameila Ann works with victims of domestic abuse, the book does not have a depressing feel to it. Ms. Miles works hard to provide the information needed to be realistic but balancing out with more positive scenes and she succeeds.

I don’t want to give anything away in the story, so I better stop now. Read it. You won’t be disappointed (and if you’re as emotional as I am, have some tissues nearby).

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The Chocolate Garden – REVIEW

Valerie @ Valerie's Musings2 Comments

3 out of 5 stars

Book cover with garden pots of flowers sitting on a wagon and on the grass - with text

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Graphic line of a rake with the points at the left end and a pair of green gardening gloves at the right end.
© Graphic Garden

Synopsis

Visionary gardener Tammy Hollins is making a new life for herself and her children after a tragic marriage. Plants she understands, but men…well, they’re of the weed variety. She’s started her own landscaping business, catering to her country music rock star brother’s friends. Her first client is sexy, soulful, Alpha hero material, and the one man who tantalizes her and scares her to death.

John Parker McGuiness is a man of many talents, working as a songwriter and lawyer for country music’s biggest stars. He’s drawn to Tammy like no other and hires her as his landscaper, wanting to show her they’re made for each other. When Tammy learns he’s a professed chocoholic, she fashions a magical garden for him—a chocolate garden.

As the garden comes to life, their love for each other grows. When tragedy strikes Tammy’s home, John Parker is willing to move mountains to protect her and her children. Tammy struggles to guard her newfound independence as they use the magic of the chocolate garden to help her children feel safe again. But when secrets from Tammy’s past resurface, can their love and passion survive the memories haunting her? (Source: Goodreads)

Line of pieces of candy - chocolate and fruity
© Graphic Garden

Review

The Chocolate Garden by Ava Miles is the second book in the Dare River series. The Dare River series is my favorite series.  The book itself is mostly well-written with great characters and a wonderful setting. And for the most part, I absolutely loved Tammy & John Parker’s story, but I find I cannot give this book 5 or even 4 stars because I’m so incredibly disappointed in how the author handled the beginning of their physical relationship.

I think Ms. Miles missed a perfect opportunity to discuss the PTSD that domestic violence victims go through. While it makes for much less of a romantic story, I was hoping that Ms. Miles would address all the things that come up when someone who’s been abused re-enters into a physical relationship. There are flashbacks. There are times when one has to stop in the middle of sex because of said flashbacks. There’s dealing with self-loathing that comes from being upset with yourself for having to stop. There’s dealing with being frustrated with yourself because logically, you KNOW that the new person you’re with is not anything like your abusive ex, but yet your body still occasionally reacts as if they’re exactly like that abusive ex and it interferes with being able to be intimate. However, instead of a more realistic version where Tammy has to deal with flashbacks and self-loathing and being frustrated with herself, we get a less realistic version where she simply “pushes through” her fears and suddenly everything’s miraculously okay and amazing. John Parker’s quiet support, gentleness, and tenderness would’ve made him the perfect one to help Tammy know that it was okay that she had to stop because of flashbacks and that she didn’t have to be upset with herself for those things. To help her realize that it takes a long time to heal from those traumatic experiences, even with the love of a good man. Instead, we end up with a much less believable, almost trite version where she doesn’t even deal with these issues. I was extremely disappointed.

However, on a positive note, the whole “chocolate garden” and “chocolate fairies” story to help the children feel safe again after a particularly traumatizing night in the book. The children are so wonderful and it’s a great, imaginative way to get them feeling safe again.

Also, the fact that reconciliations are starting to happen in this family is just fabulous. The first book, Country Heaven, found the family splintered apart and only the most tentative of connections being made. But, in this book, the reconciliations are starting to happen and it’s wonderful to see.

Overall, I still enjoyed the book and look forward to continuing on with the series in “Fireflies & Magnolias”.

Pink Tulips, Yellow Daffodils, Purple & Blue flowers in wooden wheelbarrow