Review: Lilac Time by Fern Michaels, Lori Foster & Carolyn Brown

Publisher: Kensington
Publication Date: April 2025

SWEET AS HONEY * Fern Michaels
Natalie is through with pining over her ex. If only her efforts to be social again didn’t lead to repeated run-ins with an infuriating beekeeper at the local farmer’s market. Yet Garrett keeps buzzing around. And as Natalie watches his patience and dedication in tending his hives, she begins to wonder if life has a sweet surprise in store.
 
EVERYTHING SHE’D EVER WANTED * Lori Foster
Annabeth can see that her neighbor’s handsome nephew, Devlin, has his hands full, raising his little girl single-handed. Yet though his life is frazzled, it’s full of the kind of joy and togetherness she longs for. And when Devlin’s daughter and Annabeth’s tiny dog fall hard for each other, it might be the start of more than one beautiful friendship.

THE MEMORY CABIN * Carolyn Brown
Jenna Stewart loves gathering at her Texas lakeside cabin with her girlfriends. It’s an annual tradition to reconnect with the women who helped her deal with her mother’s passing along with the end of her marriage. But this year, lives are changing, dreams are evolving. And perhaps Jenna’s heart has healed enough to welcome a new love that arrives with the first flowers of spring . . 

Lilac Time is the latest anthology from three of the loveliest authors in the industry.  All three stories are a breath of fresh air.  There is definitely something for everyone here.  While I enjoyed all of the stories, my favorite was Everything She'd Ever Wanted.  I loved watching Annabeth and Devlin finally give into their attraction. Annabeth has yearned for a forever family. Devlin, his daughter and uncle are exactly the people she needs in her life.   It's such a sweet story.   I highly recommend this one as well as the others in the anthology.

Throwback Thursday: Sea Gypsy by Fern Michaels

Author: Fern Michaels
First published in 1980 by Simon and Schuster

He was a man of infinite charm and boundless magnetism. In short, Jared Parsons was not to be trusted. Cathy Bissette thought she had left everything behind--the broken heart, the publishing job, the glamour and riches of New York--for a quiet three-month vacation at home on the shores of North California.

But from the moment Jared sailed the lavish Sea Gypsy into Pamlico Sound she knew her quiet refuge was ruined. She feared this arrogant stranger and the passions he inspired!

Was she running away again? Or into the arms of the man she hated to love...?

That second to the last question in the synopsis was one I wanted to answer with the statement: "Please, run far and run fast!", repeatedly throughout  Sea Gypsy.  I'll ask again, what was with 80s romances?  If that is really the way that men treated women in 1980, I am so glad I was not an adult around then.  Did romance readers really go for this type if neanderthal jerk of a man?

I really can't recommend this early romance by Ms. Michaels.  I didn't see where they fell in love with each other.  Jared treated Cathy like crap throughout the entire book, so how exactly did she fall in love with him?  She even admits it at one point!  I'm not even sure why I finished this one.  I think I was holding out hope that Cathy would wake up, tell Jared off, and walk off into the sunset with just her dog!

Throwback Thursday: Paint Me Rainbows by Fern Michaels

Author: Fern Michaels
First published in 1981 by Silhouete

With nothing but her shattered pride and wedding dress, Jill Barton flees town after the heartbreak and humiliation of being left at the altar. While a charming country retreat in Washington State offers her sanctuary, its hard-bitten owner, Logan Matthews, does not. And soon Jill realizes that nothing is safe around Logan - not her secrets, not her desires and especially not her heart. 

I have to wonder if women in the early 80s really liked reading books like this one.  You know, the heroine starts out fairly strong then turns into an idiot you want to strangle every other minute? And the hero is a chauvinist jerk who all of a sudden becomes sweet in the end?  The basic story is that Jill is left at the altar.  She decides to escape for a while and ends up in an artists' colony to relax and recover.  Pretending to be a writer, she convinces the owner, Logan, to let her stay.

Seems like a great set up for a romance, right?  I thought so too until I read the book.  Where the heck was the romance?  Jill and Logan spend their time either sniping at each other or he is constantly grabbing her and kissing her against her will. Eww. Every time she said she loved him, I was like. "WHY????".  I didn't get it. There was no getting to know each other.  The addition of the evil, conniving ex-fiance drove me crazy. As I listened to this book, I kept yelling out loud to Jill to stick up for herself.  But, sadly, she never listened to me. Jill was a sap and Logan was a jerk.  I guess they deserved each other?  I can't say I enjoyed this one or recommend it. 

Southern Comfort

Author: Fern Michaels
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation

Atlanta homicide detective Patrick 'Tick' Kelly turned his back on the world the day his wife and children were murdered. Abandoning his city and his career, he holed up in a beach house on Mango Key, Florida, and drowned his grief in Jack Daniels. Now sober and a bestselling author, Tick would gladly stay a recluse forever if his brother Pete didn't keep trying to drag him back to the land of the living. After years of sacrificing her personal life in favour of her DEA job, special agent Kate Rush resigned and moved back to her native Miami. But the unofficial assignment that has just come her way is too intriguing to pass up. She and a fellow ex-agent are relocated to Mango Key to keep an eye on an imposing, mysterious fortress believed to be at the centre of a human trafficking ring. At first, the Kelly brothers are suspected of involvement, but Kate is sure Tick poses no danger - except for the slow-burning gaze that makes her breath catch and her heart race. Tick finds himself fascinated by Kate's investigation - and by her inviting mix of courage and kindness. Teaming up, they uncover a web of betrayal, blackmail, and ruthless greed. And as danger mounts, Tick realizes how far he'll go to protect the rare and surprising gift that's come his way: a second chance at a happy ending.

Southern Comfort is the latest by Fern Michaels. I have to admit that I was largely disappointed by this one.
What I didn't like: The plot. It never got off the ground for me. The book dealt more with Lawrence "Larry" Tyler and his problems than it did with Kate and Tick. I found Larry Tyler a very annoying character. I can't stand whiners and that is how he came across to me. I found myself rooting for Kate and Sandy when they were picking on him. The suspense part of the plot was never really there. I found myself not caring about who was blackmailing Larry. As for the group on the island, they were never in any real danger and there was one small action scene that didn't amount to much.

As for the romance, I was expecting so much more after reading the description. The HEA epilogue came out of nowhere. I'm not sure how they went from smoldering glances to getting married. It was just a bit too neat. The couples never even kissed or expressed any kind of like for each other. In fact, they are never alone together, except for a few hours on a stake-out.

What I liked: The Parrot. I think he was the best character out of the bunch. Very clever use of a bird as a main character.

I felt like this book had so much potential. If she had explored the relationships between the two couples more it would have rounded out the story better. I think fans will like it, but I wouldn't recommend it.

--Kari