Judith’s review of Sirens in Bliss by Sophie Oak
What happens after happily ever after?
It’s the event of the year. The wedding of Leo and Wolf Meyer to their beautiful sub, Shelley McNamara, has all of Bliss up in arms—and makes everyone think about love and marriage and family.
Wolf and Leo have to deal with the sudden reappearance of their father. Rafe Kincaid is handed an opportunity that might take him and his family away from Bliss. Aidan, Lexi, and Lucas O’Malley find themselves at a crossroads in their marriage. And Stefan Talbot must face his biggest fear—possibly losing his wife in childbirth.
So come to the Feed Store Church, pick a seat, and enjoy the chaos as all your favorite characters from Texas Sirens and Nights in Bliss, Colorado, come together for one eventful weekend. And some of them may never be the same again. Note: This is a reunion book, which shares an overall story arc and many crossover characters with the Texas Sirens and Nights in Bliss series. This is not a stand-alone.
Those of us who have read all the Texas Sirens and Nights in Bliss series by this author will understand that this is one of those not-stand-alone books that makes all of us terribly happy. We all have series that we grow to love and find incredibly enjoyable and find ourselves re-reading them from time to time. It is even better when an author brings all these characters together in a follow-up novella that brings us up to date in these characters’ lives as well as entertaining us once again. This is especially true with all the very odd and charmingly strange characters who have put down roots in Bliss, CO, a haven for every different kind of person and where everyone is accepted without holding back at all. The people of Bliss have been a source of wonderful fun throughout this entire series beginning with the former sheriff and his twin right up to the former FBI agents and the people who live at the nudist camp and crazy Mel who wants to make sure that the aliens don’t attack and attempt to “probe” all his friends. Add in Leo and Wolff’s mom who insists that their new bride has to like beets because of their curative powers and you are in for one of the funniest romance books you have ever encountered.
Having a sense of humor is wonderful and I appreciate the fact that this author writes humor into her stories with ever making fun of anyone. She just lets the individuality of her characters speak for themselves, all of whom are genuine and precious, warmhearted and giving, and whose idiocyncracies simply clash and bounce off one another in a way that is truly lighthearted and wonderful. The best part of all this is that all of these really strange folks really know how to love–how to receive it and how to give it. They know the power of forgiveness and they understand what it means for broken people to be healed by acceptance and an opportunity to take back their personal power. One of the funniest parts of Sophie’s stories is the group of women whose membership is for those who have shot an attacker. They have been abused and injured in past experiences. Not anymore. They empower one another and they make sure that none of their friends are ever endangered. The men of Bliss know when to take cover. It’s absolutely wonderful!
For those who have not read the Bliss, CO series and the Texas Sirens series, I urge you to do so. Most are menage relationships but it doesn’t matter. All are filled with characters who learn to accept others as well as themselves, who learn the power of love to connect and heal and overcome the faults that lie within us all, even those who don’t think they need anyone else. This story will probably not make much sense to those who have not encountered these characters beforehand. So I think going back and reading the first books in these series will be a good experience. Recently I went back and re-read all the Texas Sirens books and was impressed all over again at how insightful they are in bringing human foibles into full view and allowing these people to learn the joy of genuine relationship built on caring and loving.
Perhaps the best part about this book is the fact that these characters are well beyond the “happily ever after” stage where most romance novels end. Some of them are in trouble and some are wondering where all the “magic” has gone. Some are just discovering the full potential of their love to reshape and renew their lives, but all of them are wonderfully human and their situations will speak to those of us who are entertained by their stories. So I happily give this book a rating of 5 out of 5. It’s always going to be one of my favorites!
You can read more from Judith at Dr J’s Book Place.
This title is available from Siren Publishing. You can buy it here or here in e-format.
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