Review of Bless Your Heart
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Josephe-Anne
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Review of Bless Your Heart
[Following is a volunteer review of "Bless Your Heart" by Susann Camus.]
“Leave things better than you found them.” This seems to be the mantra that Jeannie Johal lives by in Bless Your Heart by Susann Camus. Born and raised in India, Jeannie’s past holds secrets and unspoken hardships, but things are better for her now that she lives in Canada. The main story begins when she is unexpectedly sent to North Carolina to assist with a weight loss trial study. Jeannie soon makes some new friends as well as some foes in this close-knit community. Her first day on the job ends with the sudden death of the project’s leader. As more people are attacked, it becomes clear that someone is sabotaging their project. Jeannie must find the culprit before she becomes a victim herself. Along the way, the petite surgeon leaves her mark by helping the locals, one good deed at a time.
The cover design features a huge red heart which bears the book’s title in a cursive script. The heart is surrounded by plum-colored leaves. Below all this, there is a scarlet car being driven by a woman (Jeannie). The themes of this story are friendship, jealousy, patriotism, xenophobia, racism, crime, medical science, horticulture, and botany. Some profanity is used in the text. There is a bit of suggestive material, but nothing extreme. Christian prayer is described briefly, but this book is not overly religious. So, it is suitable for readers of all faiths or none.
Jeannie Johal is short in stature, but she knows how to assert herself when needed. She is observant, empathetic, and genuinely wants to make a difference in the world. Dr. Beatrix Bach is Jeannie’s boss in Vancouver. She is used to getting what she wants by commanding authority. She can be nosey and brash, but she has good intentions. Lila-Jean Lamont is an older African-American woman who runs the local Hilton hotel. She is kind, generous, and exudes maternal characteristics. Then there is the classic good cop/bad cop duo of Officer Harris and Officer Smith. Harmony Harris is a slender spitfire, who is also African-American. She often gets carried away when using force to detain suspects. Her older partner, Henry Smith, is much more level-headed and analytical. There are many other characters, but these are the ones that stood out to me the most. They each play an important part in driving the plot forward.
As an Indian woman, Jeannie is an unusual protagonist for a murder mystery novel. I enjoyed the way the author described the people and the settings. At times, Ms. Camus displayed a blunt sense of humor as she used regional expressions and vernacular in the dialogue. I laughed when one of the characters said, “She dropped me like a scalding samosa...” instead of using the phrase “dropped like a hot potato.” I also appreciated the author’s inclusion of different cultures and her portrayal of the discrepancies that can occur when people from different backgrounds interact with each other. I also learned about Wild West gunslingers that I had never heard of before, such as Stagecoach Mary and Annie Oakley.
However, the narrative is riddled with liberal biases and feminist themes as well as racial and cultural stereotypes. There was a running theme of “racist, ignorant Southerners” belittling non-White people throughout the book. Also, many of the characters had very similar personality traits. For example, Dr. Bach and Dr. Dunn were both strong-willed, highly-educated, old-school feminists who focused on their careers and forsook having families. Jeannie herself is a career woman who does not have children either, despite the fact that she underwent an arranged marriage when she was a teenager. Officer Harris is also a single, strong-willed career woman. The author’s socio-political values were apparent by her use of language. Additionally, the foreshadowing was rather heavy-handed, leaving little doubt as to how certain subplots would unfold. Furthermore, there was a scene where Jeannie goes for gun training, but she never actually uses the skills she learned. So, the inclusion of that scene seemed like a pointless filler.
After much consideration, I have decided to give Bless Your Heart by Susann Camus a rating of 3 out of 5 stars due to the issues I mentioned. The story was somewhat entertaining, but seasoned mystery fans will find the plot and characters rather simplistic and predictable. Nevertheless, this novel can be enjoyed by those seeking a quick and light reading experience.
******
Bless Your Heart
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
“Leave things better than you found them.” This seems to be the mantra that Jeannie Johal lives by in Bless Your Heart by Susann Camus. Born and raised in India, Jeannie’s past holds secrets and unspoken hardships, but things are better for her now that she lives in Canada. The main story begins when she is unexpectedly sent to North Carolina to assist with a weight loss trial study. Jeannie soon makes some new friends as well as some foes in this close-knit community. Her first day on the job ends with the sudden death of the project’s leader. As more people are attacked, it becomes clear that someone is sabotaging their project. Jeannie must find the culprit before she becomes a victim herself. Along the way, the petite surgeon leaves her mark by helping the locals, one good deed at a time.
The cover design features a huge red heart which bears the book’s title in a cursive script. The heart is surrounded by plum-colored leaves. Below all this, there is a scarlet car being driven by a woman (Jeannie). The themes of this story are friendship, jealousy, patriotism, xenophobia, racism, crime, medical science, horticulture, and botany. Some profanity is used in the text. There is a bit of suggestive material, but nothing extreme. Christian prayer is described briefly, but this book is not overly religious. So, it is suitable for readers of all faiths or none.
Jeannie Johal is short in stature, but she knows how to assert herself when needed. She is observant, empathetic, and genuinely wants to make a difference in the world. Dr. Beatrix Bach is Jeannie’s boss in Vancouver. She is used to getting what she wants by commanding authority. She can be nosey and brash, but she has good intentions. Lila-Jean Lamont is an older African-American woman who runs the local Hilton hotel. She is kind, generous, and exudes maternal characteristics. Then there is the classic good cop/bad cop duo of Officer Harris and Officer Smith. Harmony Harris is a slender spitfire, who is also African-American. She often gets carried away when using force to detain suspects. Her older partner, Henry Smith, is much more level-headed and analytical. There are many other characters, but these are the ones that stood out to me the most. They each play an important part in driving the plot forward.
As an Indian woman, Jeannie is an unusual protagonist for a murder mystery novel. I enjoyed the way the author described the people and the settings. At times, Ms. Camus displayed a blunt sense of humor as she used regional expressions and vernacular in the dialogue. I laughed when one of the characters said, “She dropped me like a scalding samosa...” instead of using the phrase “dropped like a hot potato.” I also appreciated the author’s inclusion of different cultures and her portrayal of the discrepancies that can occur when people from different backgrounds interact with each other. I also learned about Wild West gunslingers that I had never heard of before, such as Stagecoach Mary and Annie Oakley.
However, the narrative is riddled with liberal biases and feminist themes as well as racial and cultural stereotypes. There was a running theme of “racist, ignorant Southerners” belittling non-White people throughout the book. Also, many of the characters had very similar personality traits. For example, Dr. Bach and Dr. Dunn were both strong-willed, highly-educated, old-school feminists who focused on their careers and forsook having families. Jeannie herself is a career woman who does not have children either, despite the fact that she underwent an arranged marriage when she was a teenager. Officer Harris is also a single, strong-willed career woman. The author’s socio-political values were apparent by her use of language. Additionally, the foreshadowing was rather heavy-handed, leaving little doubt as to how certain subplots would unfold. Furthermore, there was a scene where Jeannie goes for gun training, but she never actually uses the skills she learned. So, the inclusion of that scene seemed like a pointless filler.
After much consideration, I have decided to give Bless Your Heart by Susann Camus a rating of 3 out of 5 stars due to the issues I mentioned. The story was somewhat entertaining, but seasoned mystery fans will find the plot and characters rather simplistic and predictable. Nevertheless, this novel can be enjoyed by those seeking a quick and light reading experience.
******
Bless Your Heart
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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― Horace Mann
Latest Review: Mom & Dad Are Always Right by Aimee Andren
