Review: Sophie's Key by Jodi Jensen

Cover of Sophie's Key

This is a novel by Jodi Jensen and published by Champagne Books.

It's been a while since I've done a book review. For those of you in the know, this is because of a few factors that led to me being so busy I wasn't able to find the time to read anything other than the work I was editing. Unfortunately, Sophie's Key by Jodi Jensen was a book that arrived right before all this started so it has been sitting on my bedside table waiting for me to say hello to the story contained within.

I finally had a chance when I was stuck with a friend at the hospital while she had day surgery. It was a good book to have with me even though it is not the type of tale I would normally read. While I do write and read some romance, I am rather particular about it. I am not a fan of the insta-love trope. If you've ever read my work (any of it), you would know that I prefer stories with a dark edge to them.

This is not that kind of story.

Which also means that I am definitely not the target audience of this book, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't give it a fair review. A part of being a good reviewer is knowing that and still be able to review a book without the bias of that preference. So, let me tell you about this novel.

Sophie's Key is a brilliantly written time-travel romance. There is no denying the talent with which the author crafted the book and the scenes within. Every character you encounter is well-developed, intriguing, and delightfully written. I fell in love with a couple of the side characters that were so dynamic that they almost stole the scenes!

There is also ample evidence that Jodi did her research into the historical accuracy of the era in which our heroine, Sophie, finds herself. There is nothing that can ruin a time travel book quicker than a blatant inaccuracy. Or even a minor inaccuracy, if you're a history buff.

And of course, this is a true blue romance. That means there are several scenes that do get rather "spicy". Once again, the talent of the writing shines in that the author does a great job of balancing the sensual prose with the physical descriptions. These scenes were neither too technical nor too flowery.

Even though I was not the target audience, I can say that there are plenty of scenes in this story that made me laugh, wonder what was next, or simply kept me engaged. So there is no denying that this is a good book.

My biggest critique that I do have is that I wish I had a better feel for Sophie prior to her ending up in the past. I didn't really feel like I knew her before things got turned upside down, but the facts that are relevant later in the novel are established well enough that it doesn't affect the plot line at all. So my biggest critique is rather minor in the long run.

So, if I am not the ideal audience for this book, who is? Well, I would say this book is for readers who adore a more traditional style romance with only slight fantastical elements, or anyone who can't get enough of those good, old-fashioned, hunky cowboy heroes. 

Find out more about this story and where to purchase it here: http://champagnebooks.com/store/blanc-de-blanc-paranormal/837-sophie-s-key-print-9781771553421.html