Book Review (and a Giveaway!): Boots and Bedlam by Ashley Farley

Posted November 14, 2016 by meezcarrie in Ashley Farley, Christmas, contemporary, giveaway / 19 Comments



On Tour with Prism Book Tours

about the book

‘Tis the season for chaos.

 

Wedding bells will soon be ringing in the Lowcountry. All Sam Sweeney wants is to marry her man on Christmas Eve surrounded by family and friends. But emerging complications, some humorous and some not so humorous, threaten to converge and derail the best-laid plans during the busy stretch between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Amidst the chaos—dealing with real estate, planning a wedding, running a seafood market, honoring traditions, and contending with teenagers—even the weather rears its head when the weatherman forecasts a white Christmas. Never has family support been more needed, but will it be enough to restore order and save the day?

 

Escape to the Lowcountry this Christmas where romance, intrigue, and holiday merrymaking await you.

goodreads button RIMSP

SERIES: Sweeney Sisters #3
GENRE: Contemporary Women’s Fiction, Romance
PUBLISHER: Leisure Time Publishing
RELEASE DATE: October 18, 2016
PAGES: 137

Other Books In This Series

“… the lessons we learn the hardest are the ones that teach us the most.”

I fell in love with the Sweeney sisters – and their families – when I reviewed Lowcountry Stranger in September. At the time, I said:

I appreciated that, while this is admittedly not the “Christian fiction” that I normally read & review… there is a distinct emphasis on values I cherish. The southern charm of the setting, combined with the closeness of the Sweeney clan, gives this novel a healthy dose of grace and family, as well as a couple of subplots that bring the tough kind of forgiveness to the forefront.

I stand by that comment again with Boots and Bedlam. Profanity is mild and infrequent, and there are no graphic scenes you have to skip over.

In Lowcountry Stranger, the third person perspective went back and forth between the three sisters, but in Boots and Bedlam we watch the events unfold through only Sam’s eyes.  As she (finally) agrees to marry her man, she thinks the biggest stressor on her plate will be finding a church willing to host their wedding on such a busy holiday. Wrong. In the weeks leading up to their nuptials, if something can turn infinitely more complicated than it needs to be, it will.  As one thing piles up on top of another, Sam battles to maintain her hard won sobriety even as her son Jamie gets a taste of the unyielding claws of addiction.

But… family.

That’s one of my favorite things about this series. The warmth of their family pulls you into their circle and invites you into their story. These are authentic characters with compelling histories and relatable struggles, and you will find yourself rooting for them to succeed.

Bottom Line: Boots and Bedlam is a lively and romantic Christmas novella that reminds us of the strength of family and the heart of the season. While some serious issues are addressed in the story, the mood stays positive and cozy yet doesn’t take addiction lightly. A couple of surprising twists have me eagerly waiting for the next Sweeney book!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received via Prism Book Tours. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)

My Rating: 4 stars / Love it!

amazon button RIMSP B&N button RIMSP

iBooks

about the author

ashley-farley-ap

Ashley Farley is the author of the bestselling series, the Sweeney Sisters Series. Ashley writes books about women for women. Her characters are mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives facing real-life issues. Her goal is to keep you turning the pages until the wee hours of the morning. If her story stays with you long after you’ve read the last word, then she’s done her job.

After her brother died in 1999 of an accidental overdose, she turned to writing as a way of releasing her pent-up emotions. She wrote SAVING BEN in honor of Neal, the boy she worshiped, the man she could not save.

Ashley is a wife and mother of two college-aged children. She grew up in the salty marshes of South Carolina, but now lives in Richmond, Virginia, a city she loves for its history and traditions.

Ashley loves to hear from her readers. Feel free to visit her on Facebook or Twitter.

WebsiteGoodreadsFacebookTwitterPinterestInstagram

Other Books by Ashley Farley

giveaway RIMSP

1 winner to receive a $25 Amazon eGift Card & choice of a Sweeney Sisters ebook

2 winners to receive choice of a Sweeney Sisters ebook

Open internationally

Ends November 21st

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow along with the Prism Book Tour by clicking on the button below to see the tour schedule!

prism-book-tours

Tags: , ,

19 responses to “Book Review (and a Giveaway!): Boots and Bedlam by Ashley Farley

  1. Debbie Clatterbuck

    I think the book sounds very interesting and I like the book cover. Thanks for the giveaway and good luck everyone.

  2. Thank you so much for your flattering review of Boots and Bedlam. YOU are the motivation that keeps me writing. Stay tuned for the next installment of the Sweeney Sisters Series, Tangle of Strings, scheduled for release in January.

  3. Aw, this one sounds really cute! I’ve seen this cover around the blogosphere but hadn’t looked at what it was all about. Glad yo know it’s a sweet contemporary. 🙂

Leave a Reply