Love Look Away by Lisette Brodey is a charming romantic comedy novel. This gem takes place in Swansea, New York, and is as entertaining as it is amiable.
- Title: Love, Look Away
- Author: Lisette Brodey
- Publisher: Saberlee Books on October 10, 2019
- Genre: Romantic Comedy
- Format: Kindle Edition
- Rating: 4/5
AUTHOR’S NOTE: Love, Look Away is set in the same fictional town (Swansea, NY) as my first romantic comedy, Molly Hacker Is Too Picky! This book is not, however, a sequel or a series. Love, Look Away is a stand-alone novel. Some readers will recognize several characters from Molly, including Molly herself, playing supporting roles.
And to readers who have never read Molly, but who may wish to do so, rest assured this novel does not give away the ending.
If you would like to pick up a copy of Love Look Away by Lisette Brodey, you can purchase it on Amazon.com. If you click my special link, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Twenty-nine-year-old Sage Gordon has had it with love. When she’s not busy running her metaphysical gift shop in the old-money town of Swansea, New York, she’s content with the company of her dog and two cats.
Years ago, the boy she thought she’d marry some day disappeared in the middle of the night and was never heard from again. Haunted by the loss of Jimmy, she remains wary about love, until she is set up with a gorgeous NYC marketing executive. Love moves quickly, and she finds herself engaged — but if only he had betrayed her before she sent out the save-the-date cards.
Sage reverts to her former mindset: love, look away. Forever. Despite her best efforts, though, two completely different yet wonderful men enter her life. Still haunted by the past, can she let romance back into her life?
Goodreads
My Review of Love Look Away by Lisette Brodey:
Brodey sets the stage of this tale in a sweet, albeit offbeat gift shop. You can find all things mystical in the shop. Mystical can also be used to describe the characters depicted in this lovely tome. A past love has gone in the blink of an eye. A broken heart leftover from a rebound relationship. And the sweet love offered by two men leaves Sage, the main character, in a puddle of her own emotions.
I love to read a good romantic comedy to lighten the load of the more serious fare I usually have in front of me. Love, Look Away, did not disappoint. While the plot was predictable, the storyline was different enough that I was never bored. I shed a few tears, and I laughed a lot too. This book left me in a glorious mood, and I feel ready to tackle the world with my beaming eyes.
I am thrilled to award this novel 4 out of 5 stars. The utter joy of the characters left me with a feeling of having drunk a few glasses of wine. If you are looking for a wonderful break from reality, this is the book for you.
I would like to thank the author and publisher for gifting me with a copy of Love Look Away in exchange for an honest review.
Excerpt:
Sage hurried back into the store, to see a gorgeous man with a huge head of tousled brown hair and a sexy two-day growth on his face. He was wearing a button-down blue-and-white checked cotton shirt, with three buttons undone and a pair of sunglasses hanging from the V neckline it created. His sleeves were rolled up to reveal three leather bracelets on his left wrist and a watch on the right. He wore khaki chino pants and ankle-high brown moccasins. And he had the biggest smile Sage had ever seen.
“G’day!” he said before she could greet him. He turned to see Godiva. “And g’day to you too.”
“You must be Freddie’s houseguest,” Godiva said. “From Australia.”
“Benton Bradley,” he said, taking care to make eye contact with both women before Rufus greeted him with enthusiasm. “G’day, fluffy mate. I reckon you and my Kelpie Matilda might enjoy a good pash.”
“Is that short for ‘passionate?’” Sage asked as she walked around the counter to greet him, her eyes bright and curious. “Hi, I’m Sage Gordon.”
As Rufus finally settled on his mat by the meditation cushion, Benton took both of her hands in his. “Indeed it is, Sage. You’re beautiful as.”
Unnerved, but not put off by the intimacy of the exchange, Sage delicately pulled away. “Benton, you said, right?”
“I did.” He winked. “You can call me Bent, but please, don’t call me crooked.”
Sage laughed, finding herself unable to avert her gaze.
He looked at Godiva. “You must be Freddie’s lady, Godiva Jones.”
“I am,” Godiva said as she walked over to shake his hand. “Or I will be,” she mumbled under her breath. “It’s lovely to meet you, Benton.” She winked at Sage. “I’m going into the office to finish those website updates we talked about.”
Sage’s eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed as if to playfully chastise Godiva. “Yeah, by all means, update my website. Seems like we’ve been talking about that incessantly … and nothing else.”
“Don’t I know it? Well, you know where to find me if the bells clang too much,” Godiva said. She walked behind the curtains with a satisfied smile.
Sage looked at Benton while his eyes scanned the store with great interest. “Quite a place you have here. I like it.” He looked at the sign above the counter. “What’s that all about?”
“Oh, the Private Property sign. It’s just there for decoration.”
“I don’t suppose you’d like to sell it. I’ve got a small farm, and that would be a welcome addition to my front gate.”
“It’s not for sale,” Sage said. “Besides, you can’t bring wood into Australia. They’d confiscate it at customs.”
“No wood for me then,” Benton said, laughing to himself.
Sage felt oddly tantalized by the stranger’s words.
“That sign looks a good deal older than you.”
“It is, I think. Or maybe it just ages faster. Besides, I use moisturizer twice a day. I don’t think the sign cares about self-preservation.”
“It could use a good oil rubdown,” Benton said, grinning. “I’d be happy to do that for you.”
About the Author:
Lisette Brodey is a multi-genre author who writes strong, character-driven novels/stories, infused with humor, centered on the lives of flawed human beings in both tragic and funny situations. Lisette writes mostly women’s fiction and literary fiction, but has written a YA paranormal trilogy, and a 1970s coming-of-age novel.
She was born and raised in the Philadelphia area. She spent ten years in New York City, and now resides in Los Angeles. In addition to writing, she occasionally works as a SAG background actor in movies and television. And she loves animals.