Review Tour: Choosing Happy (Madison Square Book 2) by Samatha Harris

Book Blurb:

Madison Buchanan’s life has imploded…

Her husband left her for his nineteen-year-old intern, leaving her alone and faced with starting over in her forties. With the help of her feisty best friend, Madison reinvents herself, armed with a new look and open to new possibilities.

Sean Taylor is gorgeous, fun, and young—very young…

He hasn’t had the best of luck. Sean’s track record with women is less than stellar, but when he walks into The Den one day, he just can’t help but be captivated by a dark haired beauty with the sad eyes and killer legs. She’s a little older, but he doesn’t discriminate. More than anything, he wants to be the one to make her smile.

Sean personifies the only thing that has eluded Madison all of her life—joy…

It was meant to be a fling, something fun, with no strings and zero drama, but Sean wants something more, and Madison is just not ready. She’s lived by the rules her family, her friends, even her boss have laid out for her, but her new life is not what she expected. Being with Sean opens feelings she never thought she’d experience.

The demands of her family and her job throw her boring, simple life into chaos, and Sean is no exception…

Madison is left with a choice. Give in to the expectations of the world around her—or choose to follow her heart and be happy.

But choosing happy is so much harder than it seems.

Published by: Limitless Publishing

Publication date: September 20th 2016

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My Review:

3 Out Of 5 Magical Kitties (I thought I would try something new)

Genre: Romance--

After Madison's husband of 20 years dumps her for his 19 year old intern, Madison decides she needs to change herself, outside and inside. After letting her best friend Margot give her a makeover, she feels more like who she was meant to be. On a night out to show off her new look, she meets flirty Sean. Sean is 14 years younger than her, gorgeous and fun, and surprisingly, completely into her. Madison is looking for a fling before she settles down with the right man, but Sean is looking for more, and it will be a fight for Sean to get Madison to that something more.

I have wanted to read the first book in the series, Somewhere In Between, for a long time so I jumped at the opportunity to read this story. Each book is a standalone, but characters from the previous book pop up all over the place. That being said, I think that this was not really the kind of plot that I personally like to read, with an older woman who has already lived one life trying to start over. That in no way makes this a bad book, it just was not as appealing to me as a first time love would have been (sure this is probably more realistic in today’s day and age). This was a solid contemporary romance about a woman trying to find herself again and the cute spunky guy who shows her she was never lost.

The book alternated chapter narration between Madison and Sean so the reader got insight into both characters, which I love in my romance books. I was instantly drawn to Sean (just like Madison was) because of his charisma, easy personality and confidence (without being cocky…well, too cocky). He was such a straightforward, sweet person who would do anything for the people he considered family. I loved how mature he was about coming to decisions and his feelings, and age and others opinions did not hold him back. Madison, on the other hand was a difficult character for me to like. She had no real personality, mostly conforming to other’s ideas of what she should be. Sure she had a new look, but that was due to what her friend choose (which luckily Margot has good taste) and at times stood up to people, but hardly ever did what she wanted without weighing others opinions. She was so emotional about everything and had a hard time just being honest and going for what she really wanted. I honestly felt that Sean was the more mature of the two, despite him being younger (and her hang-up on his age).

Overall this was a sweet love story that had a really good ending, as well as a large amount of angst and turmoil to get to the happy I love. There are a ton of side characters thrown in this book, so I am really curious who will find love in the next book in the series.

I received this title from the author in return for my honest review.

Author Bio:

Samatha “Sam” Harris lives near Baltimore, Maryland with her husband David and daughter Ava. Born in Florida, she migrated north which most people agree was a little backwards. She has been an artist all of her life, a Tattoo Artist for more than ten years, and a storyteller since she was a kid.

Sam has a slightly unhealthy love for Frank Sinatra, classic movies, and Jazz and Blues music, but her first love will always be reading. From Romance, to Thrillers, to Historical Fiction and everything in between, she loves to become a part of the story. As a writer she tells the stories that she would want to read.

You can find her on her website, Facebook, Goodreads and Twitter

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