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| Photo: Author's own |
Full disclosure: The Lawson Sisters by Janet Gover is
the first book I have ever been sent by a publisher (Thanks Harlequin – I have
discovered I LOVE book mail), and I also consider Janet to be a friend of mine,
which is why I was glad I liked this book! It would have been terrible if I had
to tell her it stank. 😉
I’ve also not written a book review, all proper-like, since
year nine in high school (which was more than 30 years ago <argh!>). So,
here’s hoping this is on point… and doesn’t give away too many spoilers.
The Lawson Sisters is a tale of two very different,
but very similar, women who also happen to be sisters – Elizabeth and Kayla. Following
the death of their parents in a car accident, Elizabeth stays on the family stud,
keeping the business alive, while a much younger Kayla is packed off to
boarding school. They go their separate ways until Elizabeth needs her sister’s
help to rescue the stud and she’s ultimately none too happy with Kayla’s idea to
give them the income they need.
I opened the book staunchly on Liz’s side – but as the story
progressed, I wanted to just take her out to the stables and shake some sense
into her. She’s hard to like. I also started out thinking that Kayla would be a
spoiled brat, only to grow fonder of her as I got deeper into the book, so I think
Janet does her job in developing multi-dimensional, and realistic characters. I
can definitely understand how the sisters got to where we find them in the
first chapter, and how they are who they are through the resolution of the
conflict and secrets.
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| Photo: Author's own - Irish National Stud 2014 |
As for the main secondary character – Mitch – I’d have liked
to have seen a little more fire in Mitch… but that being said, I’m a romance
reader at heart and this is definitely a romantic elements tale – the story is Elizabeth’s
and Kayla’s to tell (not Elizabeth’s and Mitch’s).
I also have to mention the extra ‘character’ in this book –
which is the setting. Janet has clearly done her research, and builds a clear picture
with her words of the Australian rural landscape, contrasted nicely on occasion
with the city. She also does a wonderful job in detailing the Willowbrook
homestead, and how it comes alive again over the course of the sisters’
relationship repair.
The one thing that did bug me about the book is the pacing. We
get great build up with short chapters that pull you along for the ride but I’d
have liked it to linger a little longer in the second half with a little more
emotional payoff from the sister’s relationship. Things resolve pretty sharply
after the climax and I’d have liked a little more time to sit with the end of
the story. I’m also a little perplexed at how Mitch’s parents didn’t do more
for Elizabeth at the time of her parents’ death… but these are things we’re
left to wonder.
Overall, four out of five stars from me!
P.S. There were also tears, so make sure you have tissues
handy.
Kristine Charles writes sexy tales where coffee (and red wine) is abundant, designer shoes and handbags are cheap, chocolate has no calories and men always put the toilet seat down. Find her at www.wordsbykristinecharles.com or on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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