Peaches and Lace


Fiction - Paranormal
339 Pages
Reviewed on 08/02/2019
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite

Joy Ross-Davis’ Peaches and Lace plunges the reader into a world of glitz and fashion modeling and explores the intricate nature of jealousy and hatred. Thirty-nine-year-old Peaches Malone is a first-class wedding gown designer who experiences greater fame and success as she moves from Atlanta to Portugal. She caters to the needs of a unique and rich clientele. But her success attracts the jealousy and hatred of one of her models, who forms a group with the sole purpose of murdering her. She just happens to have a mole among her staff. A mysterious man has always been there for her, protecting her like a guardian angel, but on the day she is utterly vulnerable, exposed to the vicious schemes of her enemy, can she find the protection she needs or will it be too late?

I enjoyed the world Joy Ross-Davis creates for her characters. Peaches is portrayed as someone who loves perfection and this is evident in the beauty of her work. The prose is beautiful and the author uses apt and vivid descriptions to portray the world of a famous designer. The conflict is very strong and it moves at different levels — emotional, psychological, and physical — and the use of irony as well as humor makes the narrative enjoyable. Readers know the enemies of the protagonist and she is oblivious of who is poised to bring her down. The author makes readers guess and want to know what will happen next, and this unpredictability in the plot had me turning the pages. Peaches and Lace is a tightly plotted, entertaining novel with colorful characters and a vivid setting.

Edith Wairimu

In Peaches and Lace by Joy Ross-Davis, Peaches Malone, a renowned wedding gown designer, moves to Portugal from the U.S. In Atlanta, Peaches meets a man while preparing for her upcoming runway show. When one of the models fails to show up, the man steps in to help. He is like no one she has ever met before, from his style of dress to the warmth she feels while she is near him. However, her mother and her best friend all express their reservations. Something about him seems strange. Meanwhile, in Portugal, a gang organizes a revenge plan against Peaches. They track her every move and they are not intimidated by Peaches’ close relationship with the Prime Minister. Peaches has a guardian angel but is he reliable enough to be there when the gang attacks?

Filled with suspense, Peaches and Lace by Joy Ross-Davis is a page-turner. From the appearance and disappearance of the guardian angel to the vengeful gang, there is a lot that grabbed my interest. Peaches is also a likeable character, mostly because of her kindness which makes her a great protagonist. The paranormal thread incorporated in the plot makes it more interesting though this is not fully explored. This applies also to the romance element in the story. Still, there is a lot that makes the book stand out. The bloodthirsty gang that will stop at nothing to seek revenge and the different settings the story is set in makes it captivating. The dialogue included also kept me engaged. Peaches and Lace is thrilling and suspenseful.

Fiona Ingram

When wedding dress designer extraordinaire, 39-year-old Peaches Malone, moves her business to Portugal, buys a castle and sets up there, life couldn’t be better. She is feted by the rich and famous, adored by everyone, surrounded by loving friends and family, and everyone who is anyone wants a wedding dress by Peaches. However, Peaches has a past she hides, an insecurity she covers up, and self doubt is not far away. Added to that is the fact that the world of designer gowns has a bright sparkly façade, but behind the glittering exterior it’s a world of jealousy, cut-throat competition, and worse. Competitors will go to any lengths to steal designs and get away with it. Any lengths? Peaches soon finds out her life is under threat, but a special someone in her life, a mysterious man who comes and goes when least expected seems to be a sort of guardian angel. But will his presence be enough to save Peaches?

Peaches and Lace by Joy Ross-Davis is a romantic suspense novel for romance fans who want something more in a romance novel. And the author gives them a bit of everything – suspense, danger, intrigue, conspiracy, passion, an exotic setting, and a touch of the supernatural. The characters are charming and Peaches herself is absolutely lovable and appealing. I liked that she was a slightly more mature heroine, which she would have to be in order to have an established business. The author isn’t afraid to show her heroine’s insecurity about getting older, wondering if she is still attractive. The pace of the story is slow to start, setting up Peaches’ background, history, and the reason she moves to Portugal. But once she’s there, the drama and action take off like a rocket.

The reader is introduced to a spectacularly fairy tale-like ambiance of glitz and glamour as they enter the world of designer couture. This is a complex plot, but readers won’t get lost as the twists and turns are well managed by the author. The story flows smoothly, and does the dialogue. Themes of generosity, bonds of family and friendship, trust and faith, and being able to love again are just a few to appreciate. Readers will enjoy getting to know Peaches and the people who mean so much to her. The story ends with a hint at a sequel to come and I hope Joy Ross-Davis has more of Peaches’ story in store.

Rabia Tanveer

Peaches and Lace by Joy Ross-Davis is a paranormal story that takes some interesting turns. From the get go, I was completely immersed in the story and wanted to know more about the characters. Peaches Malone is an interesting character, one that I haven’t come across in a long time. I wanted to know more about her and when I did, I loved her. She is no shrinking violet and she is a go-getter. I loved how she took responsibility and never stepped aside to let someone else do the job for her.

Peaches Malone is a 39-year-old wedding gown designer. When she moved to Portugal, she knew that her life would take some exciting new turns and she was waiting for them! Since her business is doing so well, she buys a castle and moves in. There her business flourishes even more, but something is happening around her that is stopping her from being truly happy. One of her staff members and a male model of hers wants her dead for some reason. But what she does not know is that she has a guardian angel that will do whatever it takes to help her and keep her safe. What will she do? Can her angel keep her safe?

I enjoyed the suspense and the mystery around Peaches’ guardian angel. The suspense was so thick at times and added so much essence to the story. The narrative was strong, the flow was perfect and the character development was amazing. I could feel the anxiety that Peaches was feeling and experience her emotions. Peaches and Lace is a wonderful novel! Very enjoyable.