#Blog Tour #The Village Inn of Secret Dreams by Alison Sherlock @Boldwood Books @rararesources5/10/2021
Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for The Village Inn of Secret Dreams by Alison Sherlock. The Village Inn of Secret Dreams Brand NEW from the bestselling author of The Village Shop For Lonely Hearts. After escaping her parents’ unhappy marriage to sleepy Cranbridge a long time ago, Belle Clarke dreams of staying at The Black Swan Inn forever.But with the rundown Inn threatened with closure, Belle may be forced to leave, unless a buyer can be found … quickly. So, when her oldest friend Pete Kennedy returns from working abroad with a plan to save the Inn, Belle should be overjoyed. The trouble is, Pete has some rather radical ideas for the renovation which Belle disagrees with. But when a snow storm hits, Belle and Pete are forced to put aside their differences and work together to help the village. Can Belle realise her dreams to stay in Cranbridge and can Pete ever stop running from his past? As they try to save The Black Swan Inn, secrets are revealed and just maybe they’ll finally find out how they really feel about each other. Purchase My thoughts: A sweet and relaxing clean romance with a focus on community spirit and friendships! First of all, I adore the title and the cover-lovely and atmospheric, they do set you in the right mood for reading this book. The Vilage Inn of Secret Dreams is the third book in the Riverside Lane series which focuses on four friends (Amber, Lucy, Belle and Molly) who live in a picturesque village of Cranbridge. If you have read the previous stories, you will be delighted to see the familiar faces. If not,don't worry, it can be easily read as a standalone. This time it's Belle Clarke's turn to find her own happily-ever-after in her beloved Cranbridge. Belle has a propensity for wearing dark colours as if she doesn't want to draw any attention to herself and once you get to know her family story, it's easy to understand. She was sent away by her parents to live with her uncle and aunt, the owners of the only pub in the village. The Black Swan is in a desperate need of renovation and, to be honest, a new chef, as Belle's aunt can't cook to save her own life. The financial situation is so desperate that it looks like the pub will have to be sold. What will Belle do then and where will she live? Pete Kennedy, Amber's future brother-in-law and Belle's childhood friend, comes back home from Singapore and offers to buy the inn out, but he and Belle may have slightly different ideas about the inn's future... I really enjoyed the setting and the heart-warming focus on the community this book has. Alison Sherlock touches upon some heavy topics-e.g. loneliness in the old age, youth unemployment, marital strife- but she does it with a light hand and sensitivity. The protagonists were sweet and it was very easy to root for them. Belle, perhaps, was a bit quick to jump to conclusions, but otherwise, their romance developed naturally and realistically. I really sympathised with the main characters-Belle for her desire to live in a safe, friendly place she calls her home and give her best to the community, and Pete for his courage to try something new and then being able to learn from his mistakes (he is really a very likeable character!). You can't write a book about a village without a large cast of secondary characters, but it didn't feel overwhelming or confusing at any point- quite the opposite. Grandma Tilly and Amber are probably my favourite, but it was a hard choice to name just a few. Can't wait to come back to Cranbridge for the next story! Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion. Author Bio – Alison Sherlock is the author of the bestselling Willow Tree Hall books. Alison enjoyed reading and writing stories from an early age and gave up office life to follow her dream. Her new series for Boldwood is set in a fictional Cotswold village and the first title was published in July 2020. Social Media Links Facebook / Twitter/ Newletter / Bookbub Thank you for reading the post! Have a wonderful Tuesday!
Thank you to Rachel fromRachel's Random Resources for inviting me to partcipate in the blog tour for Will They Won't They? by Portia Macintosh, one of my favourite authors. Will They, Won't They? When life goes off track sometimes the only thing you can do is go back to where it all began... Emmy Palmer is the star of Bragadon Forest, the biggest fantasy series on TV; adored by the public, living the life of glamour and luxury in London. But when scandal strikes, Emmy must escape the city and return to her seaside hometown to lie low and wait for the storm to pass. Emmy's agent decides it would be a good look to star in the community Christmas pantomime, but who else could be playing her leading man but her ex-boyfriend who she may or may not have ditched to move to London a decade ago... As the show approaches, love and friendships blossom and the real question is - Will they? Won't they? Purchase Link My thoughts: Portia Macintosh is one of my favourite authors and I always look forward to reading her newest book, knowing I can always expect an entertaining storyline, unique characters and lots of funny observations. When Emma Watson moved from a small town in Yorkshire to London and became an actress, she had to take a stage name of Emmy Palmer. She did make it big, landing a role in a fantasy TV show. Unfortunately, her character has just been axed off and there are some vicious rumours in tabloids. All ofthis is nothing compared to the sad news she gets from her. Emma's wonderful grandfather passed away and her mother needs her more than ever. Emma's aunts would like to sell their late father's house straightaway, but Emma knows how much her mum would appreciate more time to say goodbye to it, so she offers to buy and renovate it with the help of a gorgeous neighbour. Then somehow she ends up taking up a role in the local Christmas pantomime with her ex-love interest (the one who got away) playing the Prince Charming... and the old game of Will They, Won't they begins.... I know all of this has the makings of a Christmas Hallmark movie, but this is Portia Macintosh, so the book there is much more comedy than romance. Emma's family is complicated and the only way to survive it and remain sane is to use your sense of humour. Emma suspects she might be the only 'normal' person in her family. Wait till you meet her indomitable aunt Vee, you might just agree with Emma! There is a very large cast of characters - family members, colleagues, old friendships, new acquaintances, aunt's dates etc. Portia Macintosh has a gift for creating unique ('One of a kind!') characters, although I would have prefered fewer and more streamlined storylines/subplots. Emma herself isn't a cold, self-obsessed celebrity (although one of the characters says she can be a bit oblivious to what is going on with other people), she is very likeable and it's impossible not to wish her happiness and true love. The way I see it, the book is less about romance than about figuring what matters the most -family, siblings, kindness, small and large gestures that show that you care (and some of them were really impressive!). Recommended to anyone who enjoys a well-written, funny, and uplifting story. Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources, NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion. Author Bio Portia MacIntosh is a bestselling romantic comedy author of 16 novels, including The Plus One Pact and My Great Ex-Scape. Previously a music journalist, Portia writes hilarious stories, drawing on her real life experiences. Social Media Links Facebook https://www.facebook.com/macintoshportia/ Twitter https://twitter.com/PortiaMacIntosh Instagram https://www.instagram.com/portiamacintoshauthor/ Newsletter Sign Up Link http://bit.ly/PortiaMacIntoshNewsletter Bookbub profile https://www.bookbub.com/authors/portia-macintosh Thank you for reading the post!
Have a wonderful Sunday! Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for The Dating Game, a new hilarious rom-com from Sandy Barker. Dating Game ‘Hilarious and highly original’ Julie Houston, bestselling author of A Village Affair Once upon a time, twelve women joined the hottest reality TV show looking for love. Except one had a secret identity . . . Abby Jones is a serious writer. Or at least she will be, one day. Right now, she spends her time writing recaps of reality television under a secret identity. When a recap for The Stag – the must-watch dating show – goes viral, her editor thinks she should be on set, writing the drama as it happens. The good news: the next season will be filmed in Sydney. Sun, sea and a glamorous trip abroad, this could be Abby’s big break. The bad news: the producers don’t just want Abby to write the recaps, they want her to be on the show. Abby can’t think of anything worse than being undercover and followed around by cameras. But her career depends on it, and when she meets gorgeous producer Jack, Abby begins to wonder if this job might not be so bad after all . . . Purchase Links AmazonUK / Apple Books / Google Play / Nook / Kobo My thoughts: If you are a fan of reality shows (e.g.Bachelorette) and your favourite reading genre is RomCom, this is a must-read book for you! The Dating Game follows the adventures of Abby Jones, an aspiring serious journalist a.k.a Anastasia Blabbergasted, an online columnist with a wicked sense of humour. Well, 'adventures' is probably a wrong word, because Abby's social life is practically non-existent. She isn't exactly over the moon when her editor informs her she is about to go on the Stag! reality TV show as a contestant. Her reluctance somewhat diminishes when she meets Jack, the show's lovely producer, and finds out the latest season is to be filmed in Sydney. Abby has her own classification of the contestants and her recaps of the show episodes become even more 'sarky and snarky' with the insider knowledge. The only problem is that Daniel - the Stag- is becoming more and more interested, while it is absolutely clear that Abby would never fall for someone so self-obsessed. Strategising and catfights aside, the show turns out a great place to make friendships. If only Jack was a bit clearer about what he wants.... The book was pure fun! It isn't always easy to write romcoms-sometimes the author tries too hard,but the jokes fall flat, and sometimes you have a blast of time, because you have a similar sense of humour. Abby's re-caps were hilarious, but never unkind! I loved her attutude: caring about other people's feelings, honest and loyal. There is a whole cast of supporting characters, starting from Abby's BFF Lisa, who may or may not work for MI5, Abby's family, the inimitable Does on the show and ending with Harry, Jack's brother, who has an unfortunate propensity for walking on and spoiling the most romantic moments. Cute and entertaining, this book is a perfect summer read -no, it's not too late, there's always time for an emotional and heartwarming Christmas romance and there's always time for a quick, fun romcom! Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK, OneMore Chapter and the author for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion. Author Bio Sandy is a writer, traveller and hopeful romantic with a lengthy bucket list, and many of her travel adventures have found homes in her novels. She’s also an avid reader, a film buff, a wine lover and a coffee snob. She lives in Melbourne Australia with her partner, Ben, who she met while travelling in Greece. Their real-life love story inspired Sandy’s debut novel One Summer in Santorini, the first in the Holiday Romance series with One More Chapter, an imprint of HarperCollins. Follow Sandy: https://twitter.com/sandybarker https://www.facebook.com/sandybarkerauthor https://sandybarker.com/ https://www.instagram.com/sandybarkerauthor/ Thank you for reading the post! Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Reading!
Carrying Clover Newly single Camille Robins luck is about to change as she embarks on a new chapter of her life, moving to the city near her best friend, Lizzie. A chance meeting at Lou’s B&B, Camille meets George, a handsome man who sweeps her off her feet. Can Lizzie forgive Camille for stealing her previous boyfriend, or will she seek revenge? Camille can’t believe her luck! George can’t believe how perfect she is.... Was it a fate romance, or part of an evil plan? A fresh new twist on a psychological thriller, fast-paced, clever, and thought provoking that will make you question who is the lucky one. Luck, love, deceit, and heartbreak will keep you turning the page. And a breathtaking twist you won’t see coming, will stay with you long after you have finished reading. Purchase Link UK / US My thoughts: Carrying Clover is a psychological thriller/ suspense set in Somerset and Bristol, UK. It is steady-paced, has a limited set of interesting characters and a well-thought-through plot. The protagonist of the novel Camille has just come out of an abusive/controlling relationship. She is quite vulnerable, but her mental attitude is overwhelmingly positive-she is finally free to live her life the way she wants and this includes rebuilding her relationship with Lizzie, Camille's foster sister, and starting a new job in Bristol. While she is waiting for the keys to her perfect new flat (bought with her inheritance money), she checks into a B&B where she meets the sweet owner oftheB&B Lou and baby Sophia. At 34, Camille can't wait to start her own family. There's only one more protagonist of this suspenseful read that is missing. Meet George, a determined sales rep from Bristol, who often stays at Lou's B&B and clearly doesn't waste his time charming the socks off Camille. The story is mostly told in from Camille's POV , and I couldn't help wondering how naive and gullible she appeared...and then Bang! we get snippets from two other characters that give us an insight into their bitterness, obsession, and evil plans concerning Camille. Another thing worth mentioning is the present tense narrative. I know it isn't everyone's favourite, but here it definitely enhanced the writing and made it feel more atmospheric and more immediate. I felt anxiety building up in me and was afraid for poor Camille's life almost from the word go. Suspense with a capital letter! Overall, it was an atmospheric read ( I wish I'd read it for my R.I.P. readathon), full of suspense and dark twists (sorry, can't say they were impossible to predict, but give me logical and foreshadowed over unpredictable any time). Can't wait to read Lorey Durston's next novel! Author Bio – Lorey Durston is an author of thriller and suspense novels.
CARRYING CLOVER is her debut novel. She is currently working on her next suspense novel to be released late 2021. Social Media Links – Twitter https://twitter.com/DurstonLorey Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lorey-Durston-Author-101764481996748 Instagram: loreydurstonauthor Aloha With Love
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My thoughts: Aloha with Love is a sweet and heartwarming story of Jenna Burke who left her hometown in Hawaii to pursue a career in architecture in California. When Jenna's project for an apartment complex she put so much hard work in designing doesn't get an approval from an arrogant potential investor, Jenna is understandably upset. Then, her self-obsessed long-term boyfriend Darren checks out of their relationship which was going nowhere anyway. But all of this pales in comparison with the sad news she gets from home- her beloved Aunt May had a heart attack and passed away. Jenna goes back home for the memorial and stays there to renovate her Aunt's home. Aunt May even stipulated the local contractor she wanted to help Jenna take care of her old house- Ben Fletcher. Ben isn't just handsome, he pays special attention to the beauty and the soul of the old buildings he restores and Jenna cannot help but appreciate it. Jenna is a sunny, optimistic person, willing to work hard and look at the bright side of things. She needs some time to reflect on her life and what makes her happy. I really liked her Aunt May's saying that sometimes taking a step back is two steps forward. The message is quite simple: open up to the love of people who love you the way you are, not for what they can get from you. The story is told from Jenna's point of view, because this is her journey of self-discovery, but there are also interesting supporting characters e.g. Sara, Jenna's sister and her teenage children. Jenna never realised that while she was a bit of jealous of how close Sara was to their mother, Sara would have loved to spend as much time getting to know their father, something that Jenna who was into DIY did a lot. There's also Jenna's wonderfully supportive boss/mentor Patti who encourages Jenna to stay true to herself. The setting is gorgeous and I loved all the local food descriptions, especially Sara's baking creations. Overall, this was a very quick read that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys Hallmark movies and sweet, clean romance. Thank you to Giselle from Xpresso Book Tours, the publisher and the authors for the gifted review copy. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way. #Blog Tour #Book Review of Life's What You Make It by Sian O'Gorman @rararesources @BoldwoodBooks22/7/2021
Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for Life's What You Make It, a new novel by Sian O'Gorman. Dreams can come true, you just have to believe... All new from Irish bestselling author Sian O'Gorman 'Utterly irresistible and joyful - The Perfect Summer Read!' - bestselling author, Faith Hogan After 10 years in London, working in a stressful City firm, Liv O’Neill returns home to Sandycove, a picturesque seaside village, just outside Dublin to care for her mother after a fall. Whilst Liv reconnects with friends and family, she is amazed by Sandycove’s thriving community spirit with its artisan shops, delis and cafes - it’s not quite the place she left behind. As village life begins to creep under her skin, Liv is forced to confront the things that drove her away. Can Liv balance her past, present and future and find her own happy place? And will a handsome young doctor help her make a decision about the life she really wants? Suddenly her old life in London begins to seem extremely unappealing and Liv is forced to use her family’s past in order to forge a brand new future. Purchase Link My thoughts: This was my first book by Sian O'Gorman and I immediately fell in love with her writing style, the setting of a small villige at the seaside near Dublin and all the lovely, quirky, big-hearted characters Sian O'Gorman created in her Life's What You Make It. Olivia O'Neill is working in London as a PA of a highly-strung, overdemanding financial genius with a drink problem. She's been doing it for ten years and cannot imagine going back to the tiny village where she was born and raised by her mum. Then suddenly her boss is sent to a rehab clinic and Liv gets an unexpected five week holiday to go back to Ireland and help out her mum who's had an injury. Liv's flatmate and best friend Roberto keeps telling her that she needs to find what makes her really happy and make her life the life she deserves, but up to now overworked Liv's never had that much time to reassess these things. Once she is back home, she is amazed how easy it is to step back into her lovely, close-knit community and how right it feels to finally allow herself do what she likes, wear things that she likes, and care for people around her. There's a mystery of her own family to uncover, there are a few adorable pets, village gossip to catch up on, the best friend to help, a festival to organise, possibly an old business to revive, and ...a handsome man to make her heart beat faster. Liv may have lost the sight of her own unique personality and her own dreams, but here she gets a second chance at living the best life possible and finally becoming happy. Liv's a very likeable protagonist. She is sweet and considerate (despite feeling guilty for living too far away from her mum to be able to see and help her often enough. Loved her friends Roberto and Bronagh-so different and so much fun to read about. There is a whole cast of wonderful secondary characters that make you feel welcome in their village. There are also a few bad apples that create the tension and drama, but there is a great sense of confidence that whatever life throws at you, you are not helpless, you can choose how to deal with it. Author Bio – Sian O’Gorman was born in Galway and now lives just along the coast from Dublin. She works as a radio producer alongside writing contemporary women’s fiction inspired by friend and family relationships. Social Media Links Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/msogorman Twitter : https://www.twitter.com/msogorman Newsletter Sign Up Link https://bit.ly/SianOGormannewsletter Bookbub: www.bookbub.com/authors/sian-o-gorman Thank you for reading the post! Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for The Life She Wants, a new psychological thriller by J.MHewitt. The Life She Wants You want to save your marriage. She wants to destroy it. Paula worries that her marriage to Tommy is hanging by a thread. She loves how safe her husband makes her feel, but lately, it seems like he’s pulling away from her, and he keeps avoiding a much-needed conversation about finally having children. When Tommy suggests a cruise getaway for the two of them, Paula is thrilled. He’s fighting for this marriage, and he’s even promised that they will talk about growing their family. It’s Paula’s dream come true. Until the couple meets beautiful Anna. From the moment Anna appears in their lives, things start to go wrong for Paula. She finds herself trapped in a sauna. Her hair is destroyed at the salon. Money goes missing from her cabin. At first, Paula thinks she’s paranoid in suspecting Anna is turning her dream holiday into a nightmare. But soon, it becomes clear that Paula may not be the only woman fighting for Tommy’s affections. How far will Anna go to get what she wants? What lines will Paula cross to protect her marriage? And whose dark past will return to destroy them first? The Life She Wants is a suspenseful psychological thriller with a twist. Perfect for fans of Catherine Ryan Howard, Ruth Ware, and Lisa Jewell. Purchase Links ebook / paperback My thoughts: The Life She Wants is an intense psychological thriller that starts as a slow-burn and then picks up the pace to turn into a story full of twists and turns. Paula has been together with her husband Tommy for more than fifteen years. She appears to have it all-a good-looking husband who earns a lot of money and is able to afford every kind of comfort, a five bedroom house, cars, holidays, unlimited free time. On the other hand, she has never used her degree, she hasn't got any real friends and her husband refuses to discuss the question of starting a family. Is her marriage in trouble? Is there anything she can do to save itandensureshe still has the life she wants? When Tommy (unwiling as he is to discuss babies) shows their two tickets for a cruise, Paula is hopeful that maybe things aren't as drastic as she thought. But then aboard the cruise liner, Tommy is back to his usualnarcissistic behaviour andstrangethings begin to happen to Paula, including being locked in the sauna. Could their new aquaintance dazzlingly beautiful Anna have anything to do with it? The story is told from three POVs- two of them are those of Paula and Anna and then there are also 'Before' flashbacks from the mysterious third person. Part of the fun of reading this book is trying to figure out who they are. I can't say I particularly liked any of the characters in the book (I did sympathise with them, though), but the book was very easy to read and it is clear that the author knows how to slowly build the suspense and then surprise the reader with an unexpected twist in the end. Bonus points for using very atmospheric settings that add to the darkness and mystery of the plotlines. Entertaining, full of drama (especially towards the end), intense, The Life She Wants is the firstbook by J.M. Hewitt, but it won't be the last. Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources, NetGalley and Canelo for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion. Author Bio J.M. Hewitt is the author of five crime fiction novels. Her work has also been published in three short story anthologies. Her books usually incorporate twentieth and twenty-first century events and far-flung locations, and her novels explore the darker side of human behaviour. In contrast to the sometimes dark content of her books, she lives a very nice life in a seaside town in Suffolk with her dog, Marley. Social Media Links – Website www.jmhewitt.net @jmhewitt Facebook Author Page J.MHewittauthor j.mhewitt Thank you for reading the post! Have a great Wednesday!
#Blog Tour #Wartime Blues for the Harpers Girls by Rosie Clarke @rararesources @Boldwood Books10/7/2021
Thankyou to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for Wartime Blues for the Harpers Girls,the fifth instalment in Rosie Clarke's popular family saga the Harpers Girls. Wartime Blues for the Harper Girls LONDON 1917 As the Americans enter the War, there is renewed energy in the war effort. With husbands and sons fighting for freedom, the women of Harpers are left to tackle the day-to-day affairs at home and work. With Ben Harper away, Sally fears she is being followed by a mysterious woman. Who is she and what does she want? Maggie Gibbs collapses seriously ill in the frontline hospitals and is brought back to England close to death. Can she be saved and what does the future hold for her and her broken heart? Marion Jackson’s father is on the run from the Police already wanted for murder. She fears he will return to threaten his family once more. And Beth Burrows is pregnant with her second child, worried and anxious for her husband Jack, who has been many months at sea. As Christmas 1917 approaches what will the future hold for Harpers, its girls and their men at War? Purchase Link My thoughts: Wartime Blues for the Harper Girls is the fifth instalment in Rosie Clarke's much beloved Harpers Girls aga. From the start I want to say that it is possible to read and enjoy the book as a standalone, although itis better to go back to the beginning to appreciate the complexity of the plotlines and the wonderful job Rosie Clarke did with the character development. Wartime Blues is set in 1917. The war is raging and lives have been touched and foever changed by its cruel hand. Sally Harper (it is impossible not to admire the strength of her character) is doing her best to run the Harpers, but like many other shops in the wartime, Harpers is experiencing difficulty in getting good quaility stock. Sally may not always agree with Jenni, her enterprising sister-in-law,but both of them want to keep the loyal customer base and the shop reputation. Ben Harper is doing his duty by overseeing logistics and procuring goods much needed by the soldiers in the trenches. While Maggie Gibbs is going through a really tough time in the field hospital in France. Heartbroken and overworked, she falls ill and is sent back to England to recuperate. Meanwhile Beth Burrows, pregnant with her second child is anxious for the news of her husband, like Marion who is helping with window-dressing while talented Mr Marco is fighting in France, like countless women across Britain and other countries. Now that the united States are entering the war, they are daring to hope that the tide is going to turn and the nightmarev they've been living through may end soon. All they want is to do their duty, support each other and hope their loved ones are going to survive and come back home. Rosie Clarke is a master of creating compelling characters and fleshing them out with fascinating details. Our protagonists continue to show their strength and kindness in these difficult times. Their family stories are well-developed and touching. It was great to see the historical context that defines these fictional characters and there's always so much to learn from reading books like this. The Harpers Girls still didn't have the Vote and, yet, they did their duty with love and selfless determination. An enjoyable journey back in time, recommended to everyone who loves women's fiction. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion. Author Bio – Rosie Clarke is a #1 bestselling saga writer whose most recent books include The Mulberry Lane series. She has written over 100 novels under different pseudonyms and is a RNA Award winner. She lives in Cambridgeshire. Rosie’s brand new saga series, Welcome to Harpers Emporium began in December 2019. Social Media Links Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rosie-clarke-119457351778432 Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnneHerries Newsletter Sign Up Link: http://bit.ly/RosieClarkeNewsletter Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rosie-clarke Thank you for reading the post! Have a wonderful Saturday!
Today is my stop on the blog tour for Cathryn Fox's new hot and steamy romance Keeping Score! KEEPING SCORE by Cathryn Fox End Zone, #3 Publication Date: July 6, 2021 Genres: Adult, Sports Romance, New Adult, Football Romance My boyfriend has a debt to pay, and no money to pay it. Desperate for a way out, he begs me to help. Little did I expect for him to hand me over to the man he hated. Rocco Gianni isn’t just a scholarship student at Kingston. He’s a tough kid from the streets of Detroit—the scariest baller on campus. And now he owns me. Everything about him frightens me. Intrigues me. Makes me breathless. But Rocco has a score to settle, and promises to get his money’s worth. From me. Any way he desires. Want to know what scares me the most? That I’m going to let him. My review: Keeping score is the third book in Cathryn Fox's series of sports romances End Zone and it is as gripping and full of drama as the first two books. If you enjoyed Fair Play and Enemy Down or are a fan of New Adult, Sports Romance genre, don't miss this one. It's impossible not to like and root for the protagonists: Regan and Rocco. They may be proverbial chalk and cheese as far as their family background is concerned, but their chemistry is off charts and they are just perfect for each other. Life has taught Rocco to be tough, resilient and passionate about what he does, while Regan is soft, innocent and loyal to her hapless boyfriend who left her to sort out his trouble. Regan would invoke a strong desire to protect in any red-blooded male, so no wonder Rocco and Regan are insanely attracted to each other. Still, they have to think hard about what they've been conditioned to want from life and what their hearts tell them. The story just pulls you in and you have to put everything aside to see how Rocco and Regan are going to cope with the obstacles on their way to their happily ever after. It was both an emotional and entertaining read with a satisfying conclusion. Can't wait to read the next book in the series! Thank you to the publisher and the author for the review copy. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way. ABOUT CATHRYN FOX
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author, Cathryn Fox is a wife, mom, sister, daughter, and friend. She loves dogs, sunny weather, anything chocolate (she never says no to a brownie) pizza and red wine. She has two teenagers who keep her busy with their never ending activities, and a husband who is convinced he can turn her into a mixed martial arts fan. Cathryn can never find balance in her life, is always trying to find time to go to the gym, can never keep up with emails, Facebook or Twitter and tries to write page-turning books that her readers will love. Cathryn also writes New Adult Paranormal under Cat Kalen. SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Bookbub Amazon Author Profile | Entangled Publishing Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for Between You and Me, a new novel from Carol Mason. Between You and Me Is her new husband really who she thinks he is? When young doctor Lauren Matheson meets Joe, an older divorced businessman, at a glittering poolside in California, it’s a chance encounter that seems life-changing for them both. Back home in London, their feelings only strengthen. But Lauren soon discovers that building a happy future with Joe is going to be an uphill struggle… She’s determined to be a good stepmother to his children, four-year-old Toby and complicated teen Grace. But under the watchful eye of Meredith, Joe’s intimidating ex-wife, Lauren can’t seem to do a thing right. Why won’t Joe ever take her side against Grace? And what really happened between him and Meredith? As her husband retreats into a cold, secretive version of the dashing man she met in California, Lauren starts to wonder if she’s made a costly mistake. Was Joe ever the man she thought she married? Purchase Link My thoughts: This was the first book I've read by Carol Mason and I can see now why she has such a great reputation for being an excellent storyteller. I expected the book to be a domestic thriller, but despite a few twists, it turned out to be a solid, well-written family drama exploring what it's like to be a second wife and a stepmother. Lauren Matheson is in her final year of Medical School when she meets fascinating Joe. There is immediate attraction, but Joe is married and has a 13year old daughter Gracy and 3year old son Toby, so there can never be anything between Lauren and him. A year later things have changed - Joe got divorced and is free to date again. After a whirlwind romance Lauren, who is now a junior doctor, and Joe get married and Lauren is sure nothing can come between them. After all, Joe made it clear there's nothing that matters more to him than Lauren's happiness. That is apart from his children. Was Lauren really aware of how difficult it is to be a stepmother to a stroppy teenager and a sweet, but not without his challenges, four-year-old boy?Let's not forget she also has a challenging career which often leaves her emotionally drained. Joe and Meredith (the ex-wife) have joint custody and understandably Joe tries to spend as much time as possible with his children, while Lauren is trying very hard to find her own place in this family. Still, whatever she does, she can't gain Grace's respect, the ex-wife Meredith accuses her of being negligent and irresponsible...and Joe isn't supportive at all. Can Lauren and Joe's realtionship survive these changes or is it something Lauren should have thought more carefully about before falling in love with and agreeing to marry an older man with an ex-wife and two children? I found the book absolutely gripping -it kept me up reading until the small hours. The plot is quite straightforward (ok,there are a few twists that test Lauren's moral principles), but mostly it is about Lauren's marriage. The book is toldfrom her point of view and it is impossible not to sympathise with her, although the reader is aware that there's always the other side of the story. Would it have been better to have other POVs? I am happy with the author's decision- in real life, do we really know what other people think and how they interpret our words and actions? we can only guess and make suppositions, observe and ask. Joe appears quite elusive, or rather it's Lauren's idea of Joe that keeps changingThe number of secondary characters is quite small and they all serve to move the story forward or make Lauren realise some things, which just shows how well-structured this book is. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about family relationships, second marriages, life changes, setting boundaries and working out what makes you happy (or not). I'm gladto have discovered this fantastic author and I can't wait to read Carol Mason's next book. Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random resources, the author and the publisher for the review copy. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way. Author Bio Carol Mason is the Amazon Charts and Kindle #1 bestselling author After You Left (more than 300,000 copies sold), The Secrets of Married Women, The Last Time We Met, The Shadow Between Us, Send Me A Lover and Little White Secrets which hit the Bookstat digital bestsellers list top 3 in the week of its launch. She was born in the North East of England where most of her novels are set. She now lives in Canada with her Canadian husband, a rescue dog from Kuwait and a three-legged cat. When not writing, Carol loves to read, cook and binge watch Netflix. Social Media Links – https://www.facebook.com/CarolMasonAuthor https://twitter.com/CarolMasonBooks https://www.instagram.com/carolmasonauthor/ Thank you for reading the post! Have a wonderful Tuesday!
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