Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book, as this book has already been published, I will not share my review on Netgalley at this time.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Most of the books that I have read on here that have been seconds in a series have also been stand alone books. I thought I would be able to easily get into this as I love horses but found it hard to get into. I will give it another attempt in a week or so after my next book.

This book follows on from The Lines of Happiness and I definitely think you need to have read that first as it doesn’t offer any sort of recap. The only thing I think it did need to reiterate is that it’s set in 1998 which makes Lo’s hesitancy to come out make even more sense. The scene setting is beautiful and you can really picture the gorgeous winter Wyoming scenery.

There are some great recurring characters as well as some new ones to fall in love with. I love that you get to see that a new relationship isn’t always sunshine and rainbows especially when you’re also discovering your sexuality in a conservative town. I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the first one just because there is so much angst and no communication. Some of their actions felt very immature. It also seemed to wrap up very quickly after a whole book of arguments and build up. However, the end was adorable and the relationships, romantic and platonic are beautiful. I also love the horsey element.

I received a copy of the ebook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

This story is borderline okay. Not a fan of the author’s writing style. While having read the first book may have put more of the story into context, it isn’t worth it to trudge through that book to learn about why this couple is a couple. After hitting a few too many run on sentences I felt like giving up. Especially after one sentence that had seven, yes seven, uses of the word and in it.

In all honesty I only forced myself to read it because it was an arc from Netgalley and I felt obligated to review a complete book and not one I stopped reading halfway through.

I am sorry that I am no longer interested in reading this book, as it has taken space on my shelf only for me to lose interest and end up not reading it. That is my bad. Apologies.

Honestly, I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first, there is too much angst and poor communication for me. The book is well written and it is a deep book, exploring themes of grief, coming to terms with a new country and coming to terms with one's sexuality. It was realistic in showing that happy ever after takes work, but some of the behaviour was hard to believe and even harder to read. In that respects it's very different from the first book.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Happiness is a Shade of Blue by Venetia Di Pierro became a must read as soon as I realized it is the sequel to The Lines of Happiness. I read the first novel a while back, and fell in love with the setting, people and their story. I am very glad I had the chance to read more about these characters. I need to mention here that this is not a standalone novel. To get the true impact of this novel and to understand what these characters are going through, you need to read both books in order.

In the second book, Flo has moved back to Wyoming from Australia to be with Gloria and hopefully work on her career with dressage horses on the ranch. Through a combination of fear, outside interference and especially a lack of communication between Flo and Gloria, things happen that could tear them apart, even as they struggle to make a life together.

The author had me on the edge of my seat reading as fast as I could all the way through the book. I was already in love with this couple from the first novel, so it was easy for me to become immersed in this narrative. This is a very complex and complicated tale with lots of highs and lows as well as hurt and angst in the plotline.
Believe me, once you start reading, you won’t want to put the book down before you’re finished. Also, keep a box of tissue handy, just in case. I recommend both novels to all romance lovers.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bella Books for an honest review.

Happiness is a shade of blue by Venetia Di Perro

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC ebook for an unbiased review.

This is a sequel and you do need to read the 1st book to get a full understanding of the characters at play here.
Lo and Gloria are finally able to live together, but this isn't without its own set of problems. Not least, despite it being the 1st time Gloria is with a woman, it is Lo who is struggling. This then has a significant impact not only on her relationship with Gloria, but it ripples out further than that.

It shows insecurity can come from those you'd expect to have the greater strength. The damage it can wield, but most importantly, how love can pull you through to the other side, even if it all isn't perfect. That life is messy and complicated.

This was a beautifully written book that compliments the 1st wonderfully.

Overall a very satisfying read. A great addition if a sapphic romance with a lot of depth is something you'd enjoy.

5/5 stars 🌟

Good book. The relationship between Gloria and Lo was a bit on the complicated side. You could tell that they loved each other very much, but from reading this story and understanding their conversations and experiences together, I could see that they hadn't said they loved each other yet. Lo I felt was the one holding back the most and I feel it pushed Gloria to do some pretty unforgivable things. There's so much anguish, angst, and drama in this tale, the author did a great job of keeping me on my toes with what was going on in this book. I will definitely read the previous book in this series, and I would definitely recommend this to my friends and family, and I look forward to what's next from this author.

Just like the first book, The lines of happiness, the sequel is just as emotional. It tells a story of grief, love, building relationships and moving on. It's a very moving story with bouts of laughter. You'll laugh, but you will also cry.
Highly recommend the next instalment, Happiness is a shade of blue.

I really hope we will see more of these characters.

5 out of 5.

Love is patient and love is kind. It does not insist on its own way. It does not rejoice at wrongdoing but …

In Happiness is a Shade of Blue, Gloria is back in Heaven End’s trusting that the same Lo who came after her will settle and they might both finally have a shot at happiness. However, the longer Gloria stays and the longer Lo waits to acknowledge their relationship, the lines of communication start to close and trouble not only brews but blows out of control.

As with its predecessor, the author’s writing is a work of art. While the Lines Of Happiness flows like a stream into a river, Happiness is a Shade of Blue swirls like a whirlpool. The intensity and depth of Gloria’s love is written lyrically but to love with that kind of strength, it opens up to vulnerability. Have to admit with the turn of events it looked like a lost cause but am thankful there was a happy ending.

I just reviewed Happiness is a Shade of Blue by Venetia Di Pierro. Thank you NetGalley and Bella Books for the ARC.

Conclusion complements the first book
This is the sequel to di Pierro‘s acclaimed first book „The Lines of Happiness“. It complements and concludes the story of Gloria and Dolores („Lo“) and in my opinion these two books need to be read together to fully understand the dramatic arc. Lines of Happiness gives us the coming back to the land of living of Dolores after a devastating loss and the tentative growth of new happiness in poetic and evocative language.
The second part is the next step - and where Lines of Happiness is subtle and at times subdued, Happiness is a Shade of Blue is dramatic and loud (stroke of genius to set it in the quiet winter landscape). Gloria is back from Australia with a Green Card. The (monumental) task at hand is to build a new life for herself, a new life together and a new kind of relationship in a conservative environment where being straight is the assumed norm, esp. when you have been married to the local (male) lawyer beforehand and you want a new f/f relationship on the down-low. Which becomes the first point of contention between out Gloria and not-out Lo. And with that „Happiness is a Shade of Blue“ is off to an exploration of how the new territory of life and love might look like. This is drama of the highest order - ups, downs, tears, silence, arguments, misunderstandings and the steady basso ostinato of a very special love. The resolution seemed at one point impossible and was teetering at the abyss of abject unhappiness. Drama!
Some is better understood when you keep in mind that this story is set around 1998 in conservative Wyoming (unfortunately this is not pointed out from the get-go) - so being gay was not publicly advertised, coming out there and then was very unusual and life without smartphone depending on landlines was differently paced.
The language is powerful again, the nature, the wintery white landscape of Wyoming and the beauty of the horses are real highlights. I loved the insights into a rural community who may not be as unenlightened as one might have thought.

When I first saw this book pop up on NetGalley, I only noted that it was a queer romance between two women on a horse ranch and immediately slammed that request button. I did not realize until after I was approved that it was a SEQUEL. 😂 (My partner always jokes about me having been a "horse girl" growing up so can you blame my excitement???) ANYWAY. I was still excited, so I bought the first book (The Lines of Happiness) and read that first to give a proper review.

I loved this little duology and I am so surprised I hadn't heard of TLoH prior. It feels like a cozy queer Hallmark romance when you're into it, but with so much more to take away from it than those kinds of movies usually bring to the table.

The first book is a beautiful, tender slow burn that covers grief, self-reflection, and self-discovery. Happiness is a Shade of Blue did not disappoint as a follow up. It sees the two main characters through the beginning stages of their new romance and addresses the difficulties of starting a relationship in somewhat messy circumstances. It is about healing and growth as much as the first book, but this time what it looks like to take those tasks on together. The book addresses the usual new-relationship-insecurities, but it is written about with understanding and grace. One of my favorite things about this book is that it speaks on not only battling depression, but what it means to love someone through it.

The writing is so beautiful and poetic. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a cozy, but meaningful, sapphic romance.

"Oh, I love you, she thought, but she didn't say it, instead keeping it as a warm coal, burning a hole in her pocket."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you to NetGalley and Bella Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars
I love the way this author writes. It drew me in and would not let me go. It is filled with emotion, realistic dialog and rich believable characters. The love between the 2 main characters is strong but so troubled and full of angst.
The first 80% of the story really tugged at my feelings and I had no idea how this author was going to convince me that all of their concerns about their life and love would be resolved. And then something really stupid happens that changed everything. And now I really couldn't see a resolution. This is where the story changed from a 5star to a 4.5 star for me. The ending is scary and but then became a little light weight compared to the beginning. But it is a solid read and I highly recommend it.

Be aware, this is the sequel to "Lines of Happiness".
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review

This is the much awaited sequel to The Lines of Happiness and requires the series to be read in its natural order.

Australian Gloria Grant has arrived in Wyoming to be with Lo Ballantyne. Lo is grieving the loss of her young son but is having more good
days than bad. The joy and exuberance of new love is being curbed by the staunch request by Lo to keep their relationship hidden. Even though Lo is the first woman she has ever loved, Gloria bristles at being held in the closet.

Di Pierro maintains the insightful pathos from her first novel with ease as she delves deeper into the disharmony of love. She creates characters who are fully human with their ticks and shortcomings. Characters who we agonize with and about depending on the moment in the storyline.

Happiness is a Shade of Blue masterfully demonstrates the weightiness of love in all its manifestations. This two book series is one which I will return to in the future to lose myself in both the writing and the story.

I received a free advance review copy from Bella Books through NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is a novel I didn’t know I needed. This is a direct sequel to the lines of Happiness. Meaning it continues with the story of Delores and Gloria months after that book finishes. Gloria is Australian and returns to the small town near Jackson Hole to be with Delores. She wants to get an indoor horse arena set up so she can begin dressage training and working with horses. There isn’t money for that yet so she turns to a neighbor to see if she can work in her indoor arena. Meanwhile Delores is returning to work in the Law offices with her soon to be ex husband. Distrust builds as both are working hard but neither are communicating well. And the biggest obstacle for Gloria is that Delores can’t bring herself to acknowledge their relationship publically.

The author's writing is beautiful and descriptive. I was a little surprised she chooses not to recap more of the first book for a reader who begins here. If you start with this book you don’t know that it is set in 1998. (Which helps explain Delores fear of coming out in her community and lack of recognition of Gloria as a partner.) Delores is still grieving from the loss of her son but she is much improved from the first novel. The first novel is about grief and working with the horses to aid in the recovery. This is the story of two women who love and want to be together but aren’t sure what that looks like. They need to find a way that works for both of them and Delores is still very emotionally fragile. There is jealousy on both parts that needs to be resolved.

I absolutely recommend this book but strongly suggest the stories be read in order. It is closed door for intimacy but chemistry is shown. Thank you to NetGalley and Bella Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

Delores and Gloria story continues as they build a life together. As Delores trying to build an indoor horse arena without the funds right now she ask neighboring can she use theirs. Gloria returning to work where she be working with her ex husband as they both become busy there are some mistrusts happening. As they go through this will they able keep their relationship going or will its end. This was a good read Delores stills mourn her son as she struggles to be open about her relationship with Gloria as Gloria realize they both have a lot to learn not just with each other but with themselves.