Review: Riversong by Tess Thompson

I received a copy of Riversong in exchange for an honest review!

What they say: Author Tess Thompson assembles a colorful cast of endearing small-town characters and takes you on a journey that will make you believe in the possibilities of life - even in the face of overwhelming adversity and unimaginable grief.

Lee Tucker is the kind of woman you find yourself rooting for long after the last page is read. When her husband commits suicide, he leaves her pregnant and one million dollars in debt to a loan shark. Out of options, she escapes to her deceased mother's dilapidated house located in a small Oregon town that, like her, is financially ruined, heartbroken and in desperate need of a fresh start. Lee's resilience leads to a plan for a destination restaurant named Riversong, to new chances for passion and love, and to danger from her dead husband's debt as her business blooms.

A surprising mix of romance, humor, friendship, intrigue and gourmet food, Riversong entertains while reminding you of life's greatest gifts.

What I say: I wasn't sure what to expect before I started reading Riversong - but after a few pages I was instantly drawn to Lee and her suffering. She suffers in silence as a child/teenager and never asks for help. Lee has fallen into the role of outsider. When the story picks up years later Lee finds herself in a whole heap of trouble.

Riversong is about perceptions and relationships. Tess Thompson very cleverly analyses relationships and the traps people fall into. Even before her husband's suicide Lee has been surviving instead of living. She runs away from brutal debt collectors and the web of lies her dead husband Dan created; ending up as a broke and pregnant widower, hiding in her home town.

 

Desperate for money, Lee takes over a struggling bar and transforms it into a restaurant called Riversong. In the town she fled from as a teenager, Lee builds a new life with friends, family and Tommy (a hot new man with the patience of a saint). Lee finds it hard to trust anybody and keeps everybody at arms length. A great deal of the story is focused on Lee opening up and accepting happiness in places where she least expected it.

 

Riversong is a sentimental, modern romance, which made me think how nice it must be living in a small town (apart from when wannabe gangster's find you). I loved Lee's best friend Linus, and Annie was a great secondary character too.

 

Watch out for my review of book #2 Riverbend.

3.5 Stars in my Sky!

My fav non-spoilery quotes:

• "I don't know if I can do this." Lee pulled the dry t-shirt over her head. "Sure you can." Cindi tied the apron on Lee and gave her a squeeze. "It's just beer and perverts."
• But she knew there was no such thing as Prince Charming, especially for a pregnant Cinderella.
• "Love isn't like your lists. When you love someone there's nothing you won't do for them, and sometimes that means it's a colossal mess."