From New York Times and USAToday bestselling Texas romance author Jean Brashear: a boxed set of the three-part serial, The Book Babes of Austin, including Texas Ties, Texas Troubles and Texas Together, another story in her popular Texas Heroes series
The Book Babes reading group began as five women wanting to talk books—but now they’ve become family. There’s romance author Ava Sinclair, … Sinclair, organizer and backbone; happily-married mother of five Ellie Preston, the heart of the group; elegant art gallery owner Sylvie Everett; single mom and sociology professor Luisa Martinez; and ambitious attorney Laken Foster, the wild child of the bunch. For several years now, they’ve met monthly and discussed the current book a little–and dissected their lives and loves far more often.
But now change is rippling through the group, begun by Laken’s restlessness with her freewheeling life of serial hookups and sent into hyperdrive by Ava’s suddenly-hot career, while Luisa’s abusive ex tries to reclaim their teenage son and Sylvie faces her mother’s decline. But it’s when Ellie takes her first step into life after her children fly the nest and falls under the spell of the sexy artist who’s teaching her to paint that the group’s orbit begins to wobble on its axis, and life–for all of them and the men they love–will never be the same.
And then there’s the surprise Sweetgrass Springs connection…
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Audio Version: The Book Babes Boxed Set: The Book Babes (Texas Ties/Texas Troubles/Texas Together) (Texas Heroes) by Jean Brashear (Author), Eric G. Dove (Narrator)
Heartwarming, humorous and honest. Brashear continues to steal hearts with her tales of courageous women and the men who love them. Ava, Ellie, Sylvie, Laken and Luisa are a sisterhood that inspires, conspires and fights back, whenever the need may be. I love the fact that even at their weakest, Brashear refuses to make these women victims. A heroine is a woman, not afraid to risk, determined to suceed and never afraid to ask for help. The Book Babes are a family in heart, if not by blood. Ironic that Dove is not afraid to be vulnerable when it comes to saluting a heroine. Brashear, chose well.
This is Texas Ties, Texas Troubles, and Texas Together, and you must read all three for the whole story. It’s about five women in a book club, but they spend the entire time talking and sometimes gossiping. Ava’s children are grown, and she is moving upward as an author. Ellie has five children who are getting older, and she is freaking out about who she is. Sylvie owns a gallery and is struggling with the loss of her mother’s health. Luisa is a single mother, raising her children, putting herself through school, and working hard to make ends meet. Laken is an attorney who never wants to settle.
Most of the women are selfish and refuse to see their own issues. I did not like Luisa’s pain and subsequent revelation had to be tied to romantic feelings of Tom. He is a lawyer and friend, why make something that was not there and felt out of place. Her jealous coworker wanted to make trouble, and it should have been left at that. Ava then felt vindicated in blaming all her issues at Louisa’s feet. Totally unnecessary. Luisa was also left out of the epilogue. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.
I listened to this Trilogy via Audible. I think this is the best way whether you read/listen to it, having all the books at one time, flow from one to another.
In the first book, you get the background on the five friends. You can see the trouble brewing on the horizon. The second book detailed each person’s issue. Every one of the Book Babes had a a significant issue in some aspect of her relationship. The third book ties everything together as an almost tragedy pushes everyone toward a resolution of their issue and ultimately to a HEA.
Eric G. Dove did an excellent job with the narration on this book. He made you feel all the feels. The book was chock full of emotion. Happiness, sadness, anger, grief, fear, uncertainty, vulnerability, and love. There were moments of suspense, a sense of danger, and feelings of distress.
Admittedly, there are so many people in this book that it was a bit difficult to get the right Book Babe with the right partner and situation, but it was well worth the effort.
There was also the tie to Sweetgrass Springs with Michael’s character. I am hoping he gets a book and maybe we can see what happens with him and Laken.
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book, and I only had to stop to sleep. Lol!
I voluntarily listened to and reviewed this book.