Book Review—The Elnora Monet

About the Book

Book:  The Elnora Monet
Author: Rachel Skatvold
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance
Release date: April 27, 2021

Islanders call him the Elnora Monet.

Is that island speak for “pompous, arrogant jerk?”

When Carly Mulligan volunteered to make house calls on Elnora, she never imagined treating the richest cat on the islands. What other feline has his own wing in a mansion like the Belshaw Estate?

After a wrong turn in the mansion, Carly stumbles across a secret room—one filled with incredible paintings. Perhaps there’s something more to the man than she first thought.

Most people envy Jean-Luc Belshaw’s position. The heir to a lucrative business and family fortune, he should have everything he could dream of.

But Luc dreams of days past. Days when he traveled the world with his wife and painted the breathings of his soul disappeared with Angeline’s passing.  Faith and inspiration gone, he wonders if returning to France to take his place in his father’s business is the right thing to do.

Carly has a few relational demons of her own, and she’s reluctant to trust him, but Luc’s paintings draw her in even as his story touches a long-empty place in her heart.

Only God can transform two broken pasts into a work of art.

The Elnora Monet continues the Elnora Island romances of the Independence Islands Series featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.
The Independence Islands Series: beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.

My Thoughts:

I have been reading glowing reviews about the books in this series and how great they are, so I decided to request a review copy of The Elnora Monet. It was a good way to read a book by an author I had heard of but never read, as well. I didn’t realize until I started reading it that it was a billionaire romance.

Carly was working as an assistant to her veterinarian sister Kendall. They ran a clinic out of an RV, and made house calls on the islands. Her first call, in this story, was to treat a cat who lived in his own wing of a mansion! What kind of person would have space like that? She treated the cat—and then wandered into another wing and found herself snooping before she realized what she was doing. She couldn’t believe the paintings she found in there; there was more to Luc, the cat’s owner, than she had at first thought.

As Carly got to know Luc better, he had to face memories from his past. He used to paint a lot—until Angeline died. Since then, he had not painted at all, but Carly’s snooping brought him face-to-face with his past. What should he do about it? He couldn’t stop thinking about the snoopy young veterinary assistant, either. As the two spent more time together, she had to face up to her hang-ups about men. Could she allow herself to get close to Luc?

I did not enjoy this story very much, unfortunately. If I had realized that it’s pretty much straight-up romance, I would have passed on it. I don’t mind some romance in a book, but I much prefer if there is a story apart from that. I also really don’t like billionaire romances, come to find out! I like more realistic, every-dayish stories! So, bottom line: I probably won’t be requesting very many more review books from this series—I’ll be back to my policy of being very picky—but most ladies would love this book.

I received a review copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

WARNING: There are passionate kisses in chapters 13, 15, and 17.

About the Author:

Rachel Skatvold is a Christian author and stay-at-home mom from the Midwest. She enjoys writing inspirational romance and encouraging blogs. Rachel completed her first series, the Riley Family Legacy Novellas in 2014 and is now working on the Hart Ranch Series, set in the Montana wilderness and the Ladies of Ardena Series, set in medieval times. She is also a contributing author in the Whispers in Wyoming and Brides of Pelican Rapids Series. Other than writing, some of her hobbies include singing, reading and camping in the great outdoors with her husband and two young sons.

More From Rachel:

Thank you for helping celebrate the release of The Elnora Monet by following this Celebration Tour hosted by Celebrate Lit. I hope you enjoy learning a little more about the characters and what inspired the story. Please follow the other stops on this tour and don’t forget to enter in the giveaway. Thank you!

It has been a wonderful experience working with the talented authors and editors in the Independence Islands Series. Each of these stories has a heartwarming message of faith and the characters always teach me something new. Ever since writing Kendall Mulligan’s story in Her Merriweather Hero, I’ve been excited to share her free-spirited younger sister’s story.

Carly had many struggles in the first book, questioning what purpose God had for her life. This time around, her feet are more grounded, but she still has some growing to do when it comes to faith. Carly has been a fun character to write about because of her witty extroverted personality and some of the humorous predicaments she ends up in…one of them including getting caught snooping around a billionaire’s mansion.

While not outspoken as Carly, I can relate to the character’s search for direction. Sometimes it is difficult learning to trust, especially during troubling times, but we can rely on God’s promises. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; don’t rely on your own intelligence. Know him in all your paths, and he will keep your ways straight.” This verse means so much to me because I know even when I can’t understand something, He is behind the scenes guiding me in the right direction. For Carly, it leads in a direction she never expects, but it is worth it in the end.

Certain parts of the story were inspired by my mom. If you have read Her Merriweather Hero, you know the Mulligan sisters are originally from New England, close to where my mom grew up. I love hearing about her memories of spending time at Nantasket Beach, drinking orange pop, and putting chips in her sandwich so they wouldn’t blow away. Even though I grew up in the Midwest, I still put chips in my own sandwich because of watching her do the same thing and her fridge is always stocked with orange pop to this day. Little bits of my mom’s childhood are weaved into this story, making it close to my heart.

I hope you have enjoyed learning a little more about characters and story behind The Elnora Monet. Now continue reading for a summary of the book and giveaway. Blessings!

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