Reaching for Normal (Bloo Moose #1) in The Insecure Writer's Support Group Book Club

Jun 02, 2020 Lynda Young rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Myla is always looking for her next adventure to write about, but she has a weak leg. She over-compensates by making sure she’s super independent. She won’t even stay in one place for long, and that suits her just fine.

Sawyer is an ex-navy SEAL. He’s seen a lot of dark stuff in his past and prefers the blissful solitude of the mountains.

When they meet, sparks fly, and I loved it! And when trouble comes to the mountains, I loved that too!

The character of Myla is great. I enjoyed her determined, ...more

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Jun 28, 2020 Yolanda Renee rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Reaching for Normal: A Bloo Moose Romance by Jemi Fraser was the first book in the series that I read. I was immediately hooked on blogging sensation Myla Esperanza, who believes that the bigger the adventure, the better. She's not afraid of anything, but when a moody Sawyer Banks rescues her from a snow-filled ditch, she's determined to prove she is more than capable. However, for some reason in his presence, Myla is entirely discombobulated. Despite that, she makes her desires known and insist ...more

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Aug 09, 2020 C. McKenzie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

A great read for summer, well anytime you want to enjoy a good laugh, some exciting woodsy adventure, and a lot of sexy romance. Myla is an interesting character with her so called disability, which doesn't hold back her adventurous and eager- to-try spirt in the least. Sawyer is the ultimate hunk who comes with some serious past issues. Together they make a perfect couple if only they can overcome their resistance to love and attachment. ...more

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Aug 03, 2020 Ellen rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: romance

There was so much to love about this book from the action-packed suspense, the sweet little town of Bloo Moose, the focus on winter outdoors activities, to the sizzling romance between Myla and Sawyer! I loved how both characters bring different baggage to the relationship and, how through their growing attraction to each other, they both realize that they're capable and worthy of love. This is a fantastic start to a new romance series and I can't wait to read the next book! ...more

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Jul 18, 2022 Ronel Janse van Vuuren rated it really liked it

Shelves: romance, steamy, iwsg-member-book, tbr-2022-challenge, book-club, romantic-suspense, a-z-r

It’s good. I enjoyed Myla and Sawyer’s story, how they grow and how they complement each other. The scenery is gorgeous. And I love the dogs – too bad they didn’t have more page-time. I liked the danger element and the obvious (if you read a lot of romance) culprit. That person is crazy!

The hashtag titles without chapter numbers didn’t work for me – I need chapter numbers to know where I am and where I’m heading. Also, Sawyer using the Lord’s name as an expletive didn’t sit well with me.

As for t ...more

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Jul 27, 2022 J. Dorner rated it really liked it

Shelves: iwsg

This was a very good romantic suspense novel. This review is my honest opinion. The author and I do know each other online and share several of the same cyber social circles.

What I found most interesting, and relatable, about the book was a main character who is out of the ordinary. Myla's foster past and leg set her apart from typical romance heroines. Sawyer was a lot like other romance-book guys, but his love of wolves is what drew me in. (Without him actually shifting into one, because this This was a very good romantic suspense novel. This review is my honest opinion. The author and I do know each other online and share several of the same cyber social circles.

What I found most interesting, and relatable, about the book was a main character who is out of the ordinary. Myla's foster past and leg set her apart from typical romance heroines. Sawyer was a lot like other romance-book guys, but his love of wolves is what drew me in. (Without him actually shifting into one, because this isn't a paranormal romance.) I got this book on Amazon a few months ago, and cracked it open this month because of the IWSG book club. I would recommend it to readers who like both romance and suspense. It felt like every chapter had equal parts of a suspenseful story and a budding romance (or potential lusty fling, could have gone either way for a bit). I don't read a ton of romance books, but I did like this one. I like that Freddy is named. Huskies Loco and Gunner are fantastic additions, but it kills me that they're on page 94 (#aloneagain chapter) and then vanish until page 248 (#finallymaybe chapter).

My heart ached for Myla when she felt like a liability, when the term ripped into her. But later there's a great line, "Not only how to get up when I fall, but to believe I can get up."

"People only fall in love this quickly in books and movies." - That line is funny because, of course, we are reading a book. Which is even better later when Myla starts writing a steamy romance.

Sawyer has dark, curly hair and dark chocolate eyes, and is age 30 (and apparently has a great behind 🍑). Hazel eyes and deep-brown curls with dusky skin for 28-year-old Myla, and though her last name could hint at ethnic diversity, it's actually not a birthparent's name. Lots of first for her in this book, including what is potentially her first comforting hug from someone (Darby).

I read the whole book because I wanted to see who the villain was (I was guessing between two people, I was right about the one I thought was more likely.) I also wanted to see if they'd make a go as a couple, or just change a status of hers, or something else. I might go back to Bloo Moose again for another story from Jemi. Gage LaChance has my interest, so perhaps book 4.

This book is a comedy if you find someone being clumsy (mostly due to a physical condition) to be funny (Myla self-identifies as clumsy and aims for it to be funny). Though the better humor is moose-related. It all felt plausibly realistic. The characters are the best reasons to read this book. There's a happily-ever-after (or for now) ending to this romance. A good amount of action and it's entertaining. It could be informative if, like Myla, you don't know much about snow and winter excursions in the forest.

Sawyer has PTSD, which includes a war flashback. There's also an animal brutally killed, and while the audience is spared the action sequence, several painful details are cringe-worthy. I'll be in nightmare-town with Sawyer on that one.

As to editing, 19% in, Myla's name is Myna. "...equipment he had for keeping them warm had blown up with the shed"-- I'm pretty sure that should be sleds, as I don't believe the shed is blown up. Both are minor errors a lot of editors might miss. I'm not used to snowmobiles being called snow machines, but they sometimes are in some areas, so it's not wrong. I hadn't encountered "packsack" before either. Guess I need to spend more time with my thesaurus! Green branches are both difficult to burn and cause a lot of smoke, so why Sawyer grabbed them along with wood is beyond me, unless that's what's mentioned later to "sweep" tracks.

Redemption, courage, and love are all themes in this book. The setting is well-done and feels like a small town in Vermont (especially upstate). The goals in this book weren't easy. Both characters had to evolve a bit to get to the end. Myla especially had to overcome a lot of obstacles. Myla and Darby are two women who talk to each other about winter expeditions, so this book may pass the Bechdel test. ...more

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Aug 07, 2022 Toi Thomas rated it it was amazing

Actual rating, 4.75, but does that really matter?

This is one of those books I expected to like simply because I was somewhat familiar with the author as a blogger, but I was not expecting to like it so much. This is not a genre I tend to gravitate to, so I'm always delighted when the IWSG Book Club gives me a chance to step out of my comfort zone, and it pays off.

Before I get into what I loved about this book, I'll briefly mention the one nagging thing that kept me from giving it a solid 5-star Actual rating, 4.75, but does that really matter?

This is one of those books I expected to like simply because I was somewhat familiar with the author as a blogger, but I was not expecting to like it so much. This is not a genre I tend to gravitate to, so I'm always delighted when the IWSG Book Club gives me a chance to step out of my comfort zone, and it pays off.

Before I get into what I loved about this book, I'll briefly mention the one nagging thing that kept me from giving it a solid 5-star rating, knowing that this will likely not be an issue for most readers.

The main character experiences a lot of "firsts" in this book. There was one first, in particular, that didn't really do much for me. I didn't understand why it had to be part of her character arc. It didn't feel to me that that "big thing" would have changed anything about how the narrative of this story played out. I felt that the main character was already well developed, strong, and had interesting characteristics that kept her from being generic in any way. This "big thing" was just something extra. Perhaps, this is a popular trope in the genre that I'm not familiar with. In any case, I want to be clear that it did not take away from the story in any way, I just didn't feel that it was necessary.

Sooooo, here's what I loved!

The steam level for this story is very adult, but not vulgar in any way. It's nice to read mature scenes that don't turn into exploitive expositions of acts a reader can imagine for themselves if the writer knows what they are doing. Plus, I don't always feel the chemistry between fictional characters comes off as genuine, but I enjoyed seeing these two characters come together.

The characters. The leading man was a typical romantic lead, so no major revelations there. He was handsome and brooding. I did like that the author used some of that trope to introduce hard subject matter such as mental health and PTSD. He's also our connection to nature and the message of animal conservation that is present. He's a good character. Back to our main female character, Myla. I really like Myla. It's been a while since I've enjoyed a main female character like this that wasn't a person of color. She's a writer, a blogger, and a clumsy girl who likes to have adventures and tries new things. She uses the word "clumsy" to downplay the fact that she has a physical disability, an ability that hasn't slowed her down or defined her in any way. I want to be friends with Myla.

I really enjoyed reading about the town of Bloo Moose, but don't think I'd want to visit unless it's as fun and beautiful in the summer as it is in the winter. Just too cold for me, but perfect for the setting of this story.

I also liked the villain in the sense that you love to hate a villain. I figured out who it was early on, but had no idea the level of crazy this character was going to present. It was thrilling reading about how it came together in the end.

Trigger warning- animal cruelty depicted without being glorified in any way.

Overall, highly recommended to fans of romantic suspense, characters with varying abilities, and lovers of nature. ...more

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