Hi everyone! I am thrilled to be hosting a spot
on the THE HISTORY OF US by Jennifer Bardsley Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out
my review and make sure to enter the giveaway!
About The Book:
Title: THE HISTORY OF US
Author: Jennifer Bardsley
Pub. Date: July 12, 2022
Publisher: Montlake
Formats: Paperback, eBook, Audiobook
Pages: 317
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, TBD, Bookshop.org
From Sweet
Bliss author Jennifer Bardsley comes a poignant romance about a
small-town crime that throws together ex–high school sweethearts who have never
quite gotten over their past.
Andrea
Wint’s life in the small town of Port Inez, Washington, is a simple one. She
works, enjoys the gorgeous view from her bay window, and visits her dad at the
memory-care facility. Her father is in the late stages of Alzheimer’s, but
Andrea brings in one coin from his valuable collection every day—little bits of
precious metals that seem to bring him back to himself, even if just for a few
moments.
So when
Andrea’s house is burgled and the coins disappear, she’s bereft.
To track
down the culprit, she turns to Dustin Karlsson, who just happens to be her
former high school sweetheart. Years ago, they broke each other’s hearts, and
some wounds are slow to heal. But Dustin feels indebted to the ailing Tom Wint
and wants to help.
What’s more,
Dustin has a personal stake in finding the perpetrator. In fact, he suspects
the thief could be his own brother-in-law, a gambler and a drunk who skipped
town, leaving Dustin’s sister and two young nieces behind.
As Dustin
and Andrea travel the Pacific Northwest in an effort to recover the missing
coins, old feelings rekindle. Maybe their happily ever after can still be
minted.
Advanced
Praise:
“Jennifer’s
story peels back layer after layer until Dustin and Andrea get down to what
really matters—what they feel down deep in their hearts. A lovely story of
finding love, healing old hurts, and working together toward a lovely future
together.” —Carolyn Brown, New York Times bestselling
author of Riverbend Reunion
“Equal turns
thoughtful and sweet, The History of Us is a darling read.
Dustin and Andrea shine as a couple, and Port Inez is the type of small-town
that will draw you in like you are a member of the Karlsson family.” —Addie
Woolridge, author of The Checklist
“Jennifer
Bardsley delivers a beautifully written story of love, family, and second
chances. You will experience all the feels as the hero and heroine navigate
their way toward happily ever after. The characters were written with such
authenticity that you will feel as if you know them personally. I enjoyed the
love and devotion both main characters showed for their families. Bardsley
skillfully handled the delicate subject of Alzheimer’s disease with grace and
care, weaving it into the storyline flawlessly. These two characters truly went
on a journey that led them back to each other. —Joy Avery, author of Something
So Sweet
“Gripping
and emotional, The History of Us is a beautiful story of what
it truly means to love someone. Bardsley weaves a captivating tale of the
complicated but powerful nature of family bonds, taking readers on a journey
through the Pacific Northwest with two broken people looking to recover
something lost—and along the way, rediscovering their enduring love for each
other.” —Elissa Grossell Dickey, author of The Speed of Light and Iris
in the Dark
“Jennifer
Bardsley’s love stories are exactly what we need right now—books with hope,
family, and characters that feel like home!” —Brooke Burroughs, author
of The Marriage Code and The Name Curse
Penelope's Review
This is the third book I'm reading by Jennifer Bardsley, after really enjoying Sweet Bliss and Good Catch! I was very excited to pick up The History of Us, and it ended up being a cute and cozy read! We have romance, a bit of mystery, and lots of history in this latest addition to Bardsley's bookshelf!
The story features Andrea Wint, a woman in her mid-thirties living in Port Inez (a ferry ride away from Harper's Landing!) where she can visit her dad, who suffers from Alzheimer's. Andrea is doing the best she can in the wake of her father's diagnosis, and I really did admire her strength and outlook on life throughout this book. I really like how realistic the character was, with Bardsley showing both sides of the coin (haha, punny) in which we get a glimpse into the various emotions Andrea feels including guilt, relief, love, anger, sadness, and so on. Andrea was definitely a relatable character, which I find is thanks to very good writing on behalf of the author.
Then we have Dustin Karlsson, the boy who broke Andrea's heart 18 years ago... except it turns out she also broke his heart? This ends up being a heartwarming second chance romance - though I did wish for just a little bit more - things seemed to resolve themselves rather quickly, and I was just hoping to get a little more tension, a little more fight and passion. But if that's not what your looking for, and you want a nice, clean sweet romance then this will be absolutely perfect for you!
In terms of plot itself, we have a crime to solve! Not what I was expecting in a contemporary romance, but it ended up being such a great outline for the story! Andrea's dad was a rare coin collector in his prime, and his love of numismatics remains strong, even after his diagnosis! It's one of the few ways Andrea is able to connect with her dad, so when his entire collection is stolen from her house, she is determined to get back every piece. With the help of Dustin, the two go on a mission to locate their prime suspect - Dustin's scummy brother-in-law. What follows is a fun story, rich in research and history that you have you putting another little notch into your "random things I now know" belt lol!
As always, the writing style here is great! I enjoy the way this author puts pen to paper, and will continue to pick up her books as they come out! I like the characters, and how relatable their struggle are, and the range of emotions they convey. Overall, a good read and looking forward to what comes next from this author!
Rating: 3.5/5 Devils!
About Jennifer Bardsley:
Jennifer
Bardsley believes in friendship, true love, and the everlasting power of books.
A graduate of Stanford University, she lives in Edmonds, Washington with her
husband and two children. Jennifer's "I Brake for Moms" column
has appeared in The Everett Herald every week since 2012. She also writes Young
Adult Paranormal Romance under the pen name Louise Cypress. When she's not writing
books, or camping with her Girl Scout troop, you can find Jennifer walking from
her house to the beach every chance she gets.
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Giveaway Details:
1 winner
will receive a finished copy of THE HISTORY OF US, US Only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Tour Schedule:
Week One:
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Week Five:
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