![Scarlett Undone, Tasha Gold [A Book Review]](https://i0.wp.com/thelitertarian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Book-Review-Generic.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
You couldn’t find a much better place to rebuild your life than a quiet French village, even if it is rumored to house a witch. For Callie and her daughter, it is their latest hope for freedom.
A courageous tale of emancipation and forging new bonds.
The thing about controlling, abusive men is that they lure you in slowly, make you doubt yourself, manipulate everything around you to make your world smaller until the only thing left in it is him. At least, that’s what happened to Callie. Brett started as a supportive friend after the sudden and tragic death of her beloved husband. He did things to make life easier for her in her grief, but before she knew what happened she was having to hide a diary in the basement, writing only whenever he was away from home a journal to herself, evidence that she wasn’t losing her sanity.
This book was powerful, but dark. You can feel the tension of Brett’s ever-presence, cringing in anticipation of his next appearance, but with the clever layout of the narrative, we know that Callie and her daughter were able to get out from under his thumb, escaping to a chateau in France, where he will hopefully never find them.
It is a small community, but welcoming, with just a touch of mysticism. Her daughter makes friends with someone she calls ‘ghost boy’, and the river is rumored to have an unearthly aura.
Right away it is clear that this book was written by someone with a firm grip on the story — a writer you can trust. It’s a good feeling to be able to sink into a story you are (pretty) sure is going to guide you through a thoughtfully crafted experience. The suspense, the drama, the mystery, the romance, all of it comes together in a perfectly balanced tale. As long as you aren’t sensitive to the topics above, this is a book you can depend on for a good story.
Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Details
Title:: The River Muse
Author:: Laura Resau
Genre:: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher:: Harper Muse
Length:: 352 pages
Published:: May 12th, 2026
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars
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The Unraveling of Julia | Lisa Scottoline
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