Both are True by Reyna Marder Gentin is a 2021 Moonshine Cove Publishing publication.

Jackie Martin is a family court judge on the cusp of her fortieth birthday. She's entered a relationship with Lou, which has advanced to the point of co-habitation. But Jackie is blindsided when Lou suddenly walks out on her.

In the meantime, her professional life, which is always stressful, has reached a new level of pressure, perhaps leading to some controversial decisions. Things really get dicey, though, when her personal life converges with her career creating an awkward moral dilemma.

This book was very different from what I was expecting. In fact, if I’m being honest, I’m not sure what prompted me to download this one, other than perhaps I was drawn to the legal aspects, or the conflict and emotions that family court usually entails. Some of that is in here, but this is not what I was anticipating.

The narrative switches back and forth between Jackie and Lou after the break-up. Jackie confers with her sister, while Lou moves back in with his ex-wife until he can find a place to stay… though he doesn’t seem to be working too hard on that task.

When Jackie finds one of her cases overlapping into her private life, she doesn’t do what would be customary.

This is one of those cases where I look at all the reviews and wonder if we all read the same book. The book has the bare bones outline- but it needs much more sustenance. The plot is super rushed, the characters are not properly fleshed out making it impossible for me to connect- or even like them.

The book is categorized as a ‘romance’ on Goodreads and as a ‘Mystery/Thriller’ on Amazon. The book doesn’t have enough of either of those elements to qualify for those categories. I’d say the book is mostly a drama, with a barely detectable romance, with a few tense scenes.

It would appear, though, with 83 ratings and 63 reviews, at the time of this writing, mine will be only the second 2-star- review- so I guess I’m the very definition of an outlier on this one. Thankfully, it was short read. ( )

Title: Both Are True
Author: Reyna Marden Gentin
Publisher: Moonshine Cove Publishing
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
"Both Are True" by Reyna Marder Gentin

My Opinion:

'Both Are True' by this author gives the reader quite a dramatic, entertaining story featuring Jackie Martin and Lou Greenberg where we find these two living together and in some romance that ends quickly with Lou walking out. We find Jackie was serving as the youngest Manhattan Family Court Judge, and Lou divorced and a journalist. Lou was emotional support for Jackie in all that she was going through in family court, especially not having her children. But it seems like Lou was seeking something from his past and end up back at his ex's [Tara] door and leaving Jackie to question her own life decisions. And as one knows, life can give us something as it was in this story that will bring Jackie and Lou back together due to issues with his stepdaughter, Bryn. And this story will pick up from here.

Be ready for some strange characters that will shake their heads but give the reader a good story. [from the ex-wife, Tara, stepdaughter...Bryn Jackie's sister...Mindy and Mike, to name a few].
The ending was interesting with ended up with who...and I will stop here and say you will need to pick up this read and see for yourself how this author brings it all out.

Thank you, NetGallery and Moonshine Cove Publishing, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. ( )

I struggled to fully embrace the characters in this story. Yet, what Jackie and Lou were feeling with the outcome of Lou's choice is very relatable. I did not fault Lou for what he did. At points in our lives we reach crossroads. It is the "after" that helps to shape us on what we do with these choices.

Thus, I guess you could say that I did relate some towards Lou. I think when it came to Jackie; she was so shell shocked which I would have been as well in her place but that she was not willing to show as much emotion as Lou. Thus the reason I gravitated towards Lou.

The last third of the story is where it did all come together for me. It was a satisfying ending for both Jackie and Lou. I would read another book by this author. ( )