I received this book for free from my own shelves in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: my own shelves
The Forgettable Miss French
by
Kristen Painter
paranormal romance in a Kindle edition that was published by Sugar Skull Books on August 5, 2019 and has 342 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Blood Rights, Flesh and Blood, Bad Blood, Out for Blood, Last Blood, House of the Rising Sun, City of Eternal Night, Garden of Dreams and Desires, Miss Frost Solves a Cold Case, All Fired Up, "Prologue to The Vampire's Mail Order Bride", The Vampire's Mail Order Bride, The Werewolf Meets His Match, The Gargoyle Gets His Girl, The Professor Woos the Witch, The Vampire's Fake Fiancée, The Shifter Romances the Writer, "The Witch's Halloween Hero", The Dragon Finds Forever, The Vampire's Accidental Wife, The Reaper Rescues the Genie, The Detective Wins The Witch, The Vampire's Priceless Treasure, The Werewolf Dates the Deputy, "When Birdie Babysat Spider", Miss Frost Ices the Imp, Miss Frost Saves the Sandman, Miss Frost Cracks a Caper, Miss Frost Braves the Blizzard, "The Werewolf's Christmas Wish", The Vampire's Cursed Kiss, Her First Taste of Fire, The Trouble With Witches, Moody and the Beast, The Vampire's Sunny Sweetheart, Miss Frost Chills the Cheater, Lost in Las Vegas, Wrapped Up in Christmas, Mystified in Music City, Sucks To Be Me, A Sky Full of Stars, Suck It Up Buttercup, Sucker Punch, The Suck Stops Here, Nixed in New Orleans, Miss Frost Says I Do and Spider Too, The Witch's Christmas Catastrophe
Third in the Shadowvale paranormal romance series and revolving around the citizens of a small, hidden, town in the Carolinas. The couple focus is on Ginny French and Easy Grayle, a pair of werewolves who become neighbors.
My Take
The Forgettable Miss French is a sad tale with a happy ending. I know you won’t be surprised when I say this, as Painter’s tales usually have an HEA.
It’s the thought of what Ginny had to suffer through and following her life that will make you want to cry — it is especially helpful that Painter uses third person dual protagonist point-of-view, so we learn how bad it is for Ginny. Especially when she keeps being chased from the local pack for being a “strange” wolf. I can see, however, why she’s considering bank robbery as a hobby, lol.
As for Easy, I find his curse funny, frustrating — and embarrassing. His is the other POV. The things he learns about his ancestors! I do like that Painter has created him as a regular guy who has his fantasies about becoming famous and enjoying big-city life.
I did have to laugh when Ginny decides she can do anything she likes — because no one will remember her, and she lays one on her new neighbor, Easy. Only . . . lol . . .
I do think Gwen is ridiculous in her thinking their family is cursed. Although I don’t blame her for being afraid.
It’s a sweet story that is more complex than I’d’ve thought with all sorts of conflicts and considerations.
The Story
Easy is hoping Shadowvale will be a good refuge for someone with his curse. He’s on deadline to finish his book and then attend that movie premiere. Until his editor calls with a new deadline!
It doesn’t help that his encounters with his new neighbor are so distracting when he catches her sneaking out of his pool in a barely-there bikini and then that kiss!
It becomes a meeting of curses and too much sharing.
The Characters
Virginia “Ginny” French, a werewolf, is a graphic designer whom no one can remember. The only other, besides her aunt who sometimes remembered her, is Seymour, the lake monster. Bob, Comet, and Sparky are Ginny’s goldfish. Aunt Gwen, the woman (and werewolf) who raised Ginny after her parents were killed (Robert was Gwen’s brother), lives at Emerald Manor in an assisted living wing. Lucas Cartwright, another werewolf and a retired cop, also lives at Emerald Manor and is Gwen’s gentleman friend.
Ezekiel Zachariah “Easy” Grayle, a.k.a. EZ, is a former Army Ranger and a New York Times bestselling author with a movie already in production. He’s also a werewolf with a problem. Tomahawk Jones, supersoldier, is the protagonist of Easy’s thriller book series. Long Lone Howl is his current work-in-progress. John is his editor at Redstone Press. Raina is his agent. Malachai and Caleb are his brothers.
Shadowvale is . . .
. . . a small town in the Carolinas where the sun never shines, the gates decide who enters, and every resident bears a curse. The town was created by Amelia Marchand, a countess, a witch, and an abandoned woman. Thoreau is Amelia’s companion tiger. Becket is Amelia’s majordomo and warden.
Deacon Evermore, a raven shifter who can take on others’ curses, is the town’s peacekeeper. He’s engaged to Emeranth “Em” Greer, Amelia’s niece (The Trouble With Witches, 1) and the new barista at the Black Horse Bakery. His brothers include Shepherd, who is the fire chief, and Bishop, who runs a tree trimming service. Gracie is their young sister who works from home as an accountant.
Rico Martinez is the alpha of the local pack. Oluf Erikson, a Viking berserker, is a time refugee. Shops include Deja Brew, the Green Grocer market, Club 42 is a jazz club, Spellbound, the Creamatorium makes the best ice cream, Philly’s is a great hole-in-the-wall, and Fritzi’s Pizza. Five Bells is a pub with no shortage of men and where Lyra is a server, Jerry Washington owns the dry cleaners. I really, really want to shop at The Chocolate Dragon with its mouthwatering displays and chocolates is owned by Charlie Ashborne, a dragon shifter. Flora’s Blooms is a flower shop where Carena works.
Nasha Black runs the Black Horse Bakery (she’s the daughter of Famine, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse) where only the coffee has a price. Stella Kittridge owns Stella’s Bargain Bin and does she ever have the bargains! Della Kittridge is her twin sister and sometimes helps out.
A legendary book is hidden in Dark Acres in the Enchanted Forest. Droxes are winged foxes related to dragons while meowls are a blend of cat and owl. Lylianna, a nymph, is the captain of the grove guard. Nightingale Park is treasured as it’s the only place where the sun does shine. Pam is the too-interested realtor who sold Easy his house. The sellers had moved after their son, Ryan, outgrew his curse. The Freeman kids, also werewolves, need a sharp, short lesson in manners. Shauna Perez had been Easy’s love interest in high school. Smith and Sons Bakery is one of the clues Ginny uses with her Aunt Gwen. Arnold Fuller had sold insurance and once dated Aunt Gwen.
The Cover and Title
The cover is bright with its fuchsia background of mist and dark sky with the bright fuchsia orbs of varying sizes scattered along the left and right. The gates to Shadowvale are golden with the series info incorporated into the gate — the number in a right curl. The head of a wolf with blue eyes is emerging from the center of the gate, giving you a hint of its main characters. At the top is an info blurb in purple with the author’s name immediately below it in white. Below the wolf, at the bottom of the cover, is the title in white and outlined in deep fuchsia.
The title truly is about The Forgettable Miss French.
