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A review by bellareadsromance
Resolve: A New Year's Anthology for Choice by S.E. Rose, Lainey Davis, Alexa Rivers, Marie Tuhart, Danika Bloom, Sara Whitney, Kathy L Wheeler, Susannah Nix, Karen Grey Esq, Lea Coll, Liz Alden, Karen Grey, Reina Torres
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
4.5
I had ARCs for 2 of the 11 stories in this anthology - Karen Grey and Lainey Davis.
Karen Grey: Ch-ch-ch-ch Changes
Fantastic - 5-stars!
This one follows young couple Sam and Dee, over the course of a very long relationship, from about 2005 until present day (actually, about 6 months from now), on New Year's Eve or thereabouts each year that the check-in happens. When they are early dating, to when they find out she's pregnant, to having a family, to having issues, until now.
Sam is a nurse and he works in a family planning clinic for abortions when they start out. He goes through all of the stages that we've seen in the news over the years with protests, physical altercations, being scared for his life just for working there, to moving elsewhere, to changing to covid care, and back again. Moving states when Roe vs. Wade was overturned to get back into what he believes to be a critical health care measure.
Dee is a law student and when she finds out she is pregnant she goes through the stages of decision for her future of not being able to finish her schooling, not being able to pursue her law dream if she's a mother - all of the terrible thoughts and feelings that go along with the "what if" when the lines appear on the stick that so many women have. And once she has the children, the story follows the couple through so many ups and downs and fights and resolutions over the years.
An extremely real-life short-story that is probably what many couples have lived through, whether the same careers or just similar, and extremely eye-opening. As with all of Karen's books, very well researched for what each character was going through emotionally, at work, the protests, just everything.
I really enjoyed this one!
Lainey Davis: Champagne Punch
Very cute - 4-stars!
This is a single night, new year's eve, and is couple Lyra and Rayland who meet at a bar party - and it's his birthday. It's instant attraction on both sides. They decide the party isn't for them, and attempt to leave and go to a nearby bowling alley instead. Lyra needs socks, and the place is packed (because... NYE!), so instead decide to go back to her apartment.
She offers that he can pet her cat - not a euphemism but her real cat, until later, when it becomes the other meaning. It's a single night story all about choice and partaking in the spirits of the evening and a woman's right to do what she wishes.
It's quick (under 40 pages), extremely enjoyable, and I wish that it did go beyond the single night and talk of doing it again the next year!
I received advance copies from both authors and Home Cooked Books, and this is my honest feedback and reviews.
Karen Grey: Ch-ch-ch-ch Changes
Fantastic - 5-stars!
This one follows young couple Sam and Dee, over the course of a very long relationship, from about 2005 until present day (actually, about 6 months from now), on New Year's Eve or thereabouts each year that the check-in happens. When they are early dating, to when they find out she's pregnant, to having a family, to having issues, until now.
Sam is a nurse and he works in a family planning clinic for abortions when they start out. He goes through all of the stages that we've seen in the news over the years with protests, physical altercations, being scared for his life just for working there, to moving elsewhere, to changing to covid care, and back again. Moving states when Roe vs. Wade was overturned to get back into what he believes to be a critical health care measure.
Dee is a law student and when she finds out she is pregnant she goes through the stages of decision for her future of not being able to finish her schooling, not being able to pursue her law dream if she's a mother - all of the terrible thoughts and feelings that go along with the "what if" when the lines appear on the stick that so many women have. And once she has the children, the story follows the couple through so many ups and downs and fights and resolutions over the years.
An extremely real-life short-story that is probably what many couples have lived through, whether the same careers or just similar, and extremely eye-opening. As with all of Karen's books, very well researched for what each character was going through emotionally, at work, the protests, just everything.
I really enjoyed this one!
Lainey Davis: Champagne Punch
Very cute - 4-stars!
This is a single night, new year's eve, and is couple Lyra and Rayland who meet at a bar party - and it's his birthday. It's instant attraction on both sides. They decide the party isn't for them, and attempt to leave and go to a nearby bowling alley instead. Lyra needs socks, and the place is packed (because... NYE!), so instead decide to go back to her apartment.
She offers that he can pet her cat - not a euphemism but her real cat, until later, when it becomes the other meaning. It's a single night story all about choice and partaking in the spirits of the evening and a woman's right to do what she wishes.
It's quick (under 40 pages), extremely enjoyable, and I wish that it did go beyond the single night and talk of doing it again the next year!
I received advance copies from both authors and Home Cooked Books, and this is my honest feedback and reviews.