This is the first adult fiction novel by Christine Skippins, and she has really found her stride from the start. Love, Lies and Butterflies, although not always dealing with pleasant events, is easy to read. The author’s voice is clear, and I found myself caught up in the events of the story. If you’re looking for a tale full of intrigue, beautiful destinations and adventure, with a hint of romance, then I’d recommend this book. (Michelle Marshall, Book Tour Reviewer)
Christine Skippins’ Love, Lies, and Butterflies’ is a cautionary tale of how to find love again after your partner cheats – without getting burned in the process. It speaks of learning to let go, learning to take chances, and finally, once you’ve worked through all your issues, learning to trust again, even if it’s just to find a friend. This tale is based on a situation that is becoming more prevalent in our high-tech world – that of the charlatans who prey on the vulnerable, fleecing them of their resources while professing undying love and devotion. It shows how easily a seemingly good and wholesome relationship can sour, but more importantly, it shows how you can be like Jane and overcome. Jane Steele is our main character and is the narrator of this story. She has done so much for Gavin, her husband, only to find that it wasn’t enough to keep him from straying. He leaves and for a while her world falls apart. However, she soon learns that there is love to be found online. Enter James, a debonair, wealthy man who sweeps Jane off her feet with promises of love and devotion. However, a business trip to New York and then onto Istanbul develops into a nightmare when his passport is seized due to unpaid taxes and Jane is asked to bail him out. At some point, we meet Barry, a private investigator who helps Jane and other women bring the errant James to justice. Jane and Barry become an item. What Jane once found endearing about Barry she now finds cloying and suffocating. She moves on, breaking Barry’s heart. But what does Jane learn from all this self-reflection and relationship-hopping Skippins is a master at dialogue. Jane’s interactions with her paramours and friends keep the story moving along. We see the heartache and anguish at each break-up point through the dialogue. All Jane’s emotions are well displayed by the relevant emotion, from happiness and elation to virtual depression. The book is well-edited and the story flows well., being mostly evenly paced with a few places where I thought it dragged out a bit. However, I can see the value of this. After all, some relationships do die a slow death, which makes the slower pacing appropriate in those instances. Skippins has worked a masterful plot around the effects on a woman’s psyche as she navigates times of divorce, betrayal, and relationship mistakes, culminating in a destination of self-discovery. I enjoyed this book, and would highly recommend it to any adult woman, particularly those who have navigated divorce, cheating husbands, the pitfalls and dangers of online dating, and who are perhaps on their own journey of self-discovery. (Phoebe Wilby – Book Tour Reviewer)
This isn’t entirely my genre: I prefer a lot more action in my stories. That being said, I enjoyed the intrigue and the section with the surveillance as Jane with Barry et al built the case against James, the mastermind fraud. I felt personally that the romance was a little overblown, and quick to come to fruition. I was expecting there to be another marriage by the end, because our Jane really was seeking out romance! Overall though, it’s got a positive message and ends on a high note. A good read. (Eryn McConnell, Book Tour Reviewer)
We award 4.5 stars.
