 Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for Starting Over at Primrose Woods by Jill Steeples.  Starting Over at Primrose Woods Abbey Carter should be feeling on top of the world. She has the home of her dreams – a picturesque cottage just walking distance from her beloved Primrose Woods. She has a job she loves, great friends, and most exciting of all – a wedding dress hanging in her wardrobe ready to be worn. So why does she feel so lonely… Lizzie Baker loves her job at the Treetops café in Primrose Woods, and she loves being a grandmother even more. If only she could face her fear of flying and see her granddaughter in person rather than on a screen. Rhianna West is head over heels for her boyfriend Jay. She just wishes he could see her more regularly. His excuses are starting to wear thin, and Rhi’s dreams for the future are beginning to fade. Can the fun and friendships, the picture-perfect scenery and rolling seasons in Primrose Woods help the women find the happy endings they deserve? After all anything is possible if you dare to dream… An absolute treat of a book. Let Jill Steeples whisk you away into the beautiful countryside for the perfect feel-good comfort read. Just right for fans of Cathy Bramley, Heidi Swain and Julie Houston. Purchase Link  My thoughts: My first book by Jill Steeples and I'm so charmed know it won't be the last. Sweet, cozy, relaxing, this book is full of lovely countryside views and decent people (with one very notable exception) on the brink of getting a second chance at love. The three main female characters couldn't have been more different. Abbie with her sweet and caring personality also carries a touch of vulnerability and sadness, perhaps due to missing her late mother. Deep down she knows her relationship with her fiance Jayson has seen more downs than ups recently. They are heading to the altar in just three weeks time, so should she even be listening to her heart which is telling that not everything is right despite having been together with Jason for twelve years. Confident and decisive Rhianna is so consumed with her whirlwind romance with Jay to have not time or energy to make friends in the place she moved to after graduating. There are warning bells ringing in her head too...Why is Jay being so secretive about them and when exactly will he be completely free of his nagging, petty ex? Fifty-nine-year-old Lizzy would love nothing more than to see her her daughter Katie who live in Australia. Her fear of flying is so debilitating that Lizzy's only hope to properly meet her granddaughter Rosie is to wait for her Katie's family to come over and visit her...Until she gets both good news and bad news. All three characters were charming and realistic, flawed and decent at the same time. They are a kind of people you would like to have as neighbours or even friends. As you have already guessed the three stories are interwoven and are connected with each other through a lovely place- The Primrose Woods Park. I loved the descriptions of nature and fabulous walks..I can't help thinking that the author had a particular place in mind she based these vigniettes on. I really enjoy second chance romances and can often see myself at a crossroads moment of my life going through similar emotions or my friends second-guessing whether they are ever going to find an honest, reliable partner who is going to love and appreciate them. I also like the inclusion of two widowed protagonists who have a different kind of challenges. If you like books with a small-town setting, but are a bit apprehensive of their way too coomon focus on gossip, rest assured Starting Over at Primrose Woods is nothing like that. What you get instead is healing nature, a sweet and playful dog, a traditional country pub, and lots of thoughtful, kind people, genuinely caring about each others' feelings. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys low-angst books with clean romance in a lovely setting. Definitely looking forward to reading more from this author! Thank you to Rachel, Boldwood books and the author for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion.  Author Bio – Jill Steeples is the author of many successful women’s fiction titles – most recently the Dog and Duck series - all set in the close communities of picturesque English villages. She lives in Bedfordshire. Social Media Links Facebook / Twitter  Thank you for reading the post! Have a lovely Monday and a wonderful new week!   Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for No Ex Before Marriage by one of my favourite authors Portia Macintosh.  No Ex Before Marriage It's not over until someone says 'I do'... While her friends join the "Wife Club" one by one, Poppy feels like that part of her life is done and dusted. Already married and divorced she's not desperate to go through all that again. But what if her divorce never actually went through...? After a shock revelation Poppy not only discovers she is still married, but that Zac is about to have his second wedding! Coming face to face with her (almost) ex-husband after six years apart is never going to be easy. And when Zac panics and tells his new wife-to-be that Poppy is family, things can't get much worse as she is welcomed with open arms as part of the wedding party! As the memories flood back, can Poppy really leave the past where it is? And can she watch the first love of her life walk down the aisle to say 'I do' once again? Purchase Link  My thoughts: Portia MacIntosh is one of my favourite authors as my local bookshop and my library card can attest. Her books are such a treat-lighthearted but with some serious issues explored on the way, with sweet and loyal protagonists, and incredibly entertaining plotlines. No Ex Before Marriage was no exception- once again five stars, Portia does it again! The book opens with a wedding scene. The last of Poppy Walker's childhood friends Rachael has joined the Wives' Club. She might have gone a bit over top with relegating Poppy to a sad singles' table, but Poppy is a good sport, she won't spoil her friend's wedding by complaining. Well, Poppy does have some things to be unhappy about. Her best friends have been excluding her from their social life. While Poppy was the first to get married, at the tender age of twenty four, she was also the first one to get divorced. Add her mum dying in a freaky car accident and her dad barely coping with his grief...What Poppy needs is love and support of her friends, but all she is getting is judgy comments. The single table would be an utter disaster, were it not for Kat, a fun-loving fellow pariah who reminds her to take every opportunity to live her life and have a good time. Then out of blue, Poppy's Dad informs her that her divorce was never finalised and she has very little time to correct the situation before her ex gets married in a private ceremony in a remote part of Scottish Highlands and Poppy doesn't think twice- she needs to save Zac, 'the nerdy love of her life', from becoming a bigamist. The pace was great. Portia hits the ground running with the opening scenes and the road trip and then lets us absorb what actually happened to Poppy and Zac's relationship through a series of flashbacks entertwined with the scenes at the Scottish castle where Zac and his influencer/ daughter of a movies star fiancee are getting ready for their wedding. It isn't difficult to guess what caused Zac and Poppy's breakup and when we finally got to discussing this heavy topic, I was very happy to see it was dealt with in an extremely sensitive way. It did add a touch of real life sadness to this very well-balanced book. Poppy is a very likeable protagonist, although, unlike Portia's other protagonists, she does come across as a bit weak- defeated by life? in need of a good hug and a fun night out with her friends? She's serious and honest, and takes responsibility for her own actions. She doesn't give up on her friendships, because sometimes life happens and you can drift apart, the important thing is to talk and make time for your lifelong friends. You're probably going to hate Poppy's friends at the beginning of the book and might not find it easy to forgive, but I bet it will make even more appreciative of Kat. Well, the more, the merrier, and there's place in life for all kinds of friend, old and new. I often see books described as heartwarming and uplifting and I don't always agree with the blurb, but that's exactly how this one felt. The message is great: live your life and do things, even though it might mean you making mistakes, because no one is perfect, live your life so that you don't have regrets later, have fun and take care of your loved ones. Highly recommended to anyone who appeciates a good British romcom. Thank you to Rachel, 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 over 15 novels, including Stuck On You and The Plus One Pact. 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   Synopsis: A frothy, effervescent romantic comedy from the author of Ten Rules for Faking It, Sophie Sullivan delivers another read that will have you delighted from start to finish. Interior Design School? Check. Cute little house to fix up? Also check. Sexy, grumpy neighbor who is going to get in the way of all your plans? Check. Unfortunately. Grace Travis definitely has it all figured out. In between finishing interior design school and working a million odd jobs, she’ll get her degree. She’ll have her dream job. And most importantly, she’ll have a place to belong, something her cold, manipulative mother could never make for her. When an opportunity to fix up—and live in—an adorable little house on the beach comes along, Grace is all in. Until her biggest roadblock moves in next door. Noah Jansen knows how to make a deal. A real estate developer with a knack for betting and winning big, he’s not one to let a good opportunity slip away. So when a beachside house with great bones is ripe for a remodel, Noah doesn’t hesitate. Except in order to spruce it up properly (is it even a beach house if it doesn’t have a pool?), he’ll need to take over the house next door. The house with the willful and combative and way-too-intriguing woman living in it. With the rules for being neighborly going out the window, Grace and Noah are in an all-out feud. But sometimes, your nemesis can turn out to be the person who shows you that home is always where the heart is.  My thoughts: A new delightful romcom from Sophie Sullivan, the author of Ten Rules of Faking It. I absolutely adore the enemies to lovers trope especially when it is as well-written as it is in this case. The tension, the chemistry, the weird irresistible attraction which is a dead giveaway to what we the readers secretly know almost from the word Go- these 'enemies' are made for each other....Now if only they could see it themselves. But then we wouldn't have this lovely romcom...so fight away, Grace and Noah! Grace has inherited her grandparents' old house on the beach which is a dream for a design student like her, someone who loves fixing things up. Unfortunately, Grace can't afford the necessary renovations straightaway, despite doing lots of odd jobs to make the ends meet. When she sees her new next door neigbor Noah for the first time, she can't help fancying him, but it turns out he is a property developer with an agenda of his own. Noah would love nothing better than to extend his own house by buying Grace's without knowing how much it really means to this 'stubborn' girl. In a twist of fate a magazine offers to buy a house makeover story and they want Grace to be the designer... I loved the way Sophie Sullivan created sweet, flawed and relatable characters, both main and supporting ones (including Morty and Tilly). Lighthearted, cute, romantic, How To Love Your Neighbour offers a great escape from the problems of our daily life and the misery of January weather. Recommended to all contemporary romance readers who enjoy the enemies-to -lovers trope. Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin's Griffin for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion.  Synopsis: Can Kerra's Cornish hometown offer the fresh start she needs?When Kerra left the quiet Cornish town of Penvennan Cove for the bright lights of London she didn't look back. But after the death of her mother, she's decided it's time to face her past and return to the place she called home. Her father needs her, and perhaps she needs him more than she's willing to admit? Tackling town gossip, home renovations and a flame from her past, it's not quite smooth sailing for Kerra. Ross is the bad boy she was meant to forget, not a man who still sets her heart aflutter. As he helps bring her dream home to life, they begin to break down the barriers that have been holding them back and in the process learn things about themselves they never thought possible. As friends old and new come together, the future in Penvennan looks bright. Perfect for fans of Milly Johnson, Phillipa Ashley and Julie Houston. Publisher: Aria Publication Date: January 14, 2021 ISBN 9781800245938, 1800245939 Purchase Amazon UK / Amazon US  Coming Home to Penvennan Cove is the first book in Linn B.Halton's new series featuring a picturesque village in Cornwall, a thirty year old who decides to come back home after having built up a successful company, an unforgettable first crush, a kind and understanding neighbour, a proud and independent Bengal cat with a very cute name (Ripley) and lots of other memorable characters.
I love a good homecoming story, although usually they start with a series of disasters that force the protagonist to run to their small town where the community spirit is strong and everybody knows what you looked like in pimary school. This time there is a twist: Kerra Shaw is a successful entrepreneur who wants to come back to stay with and support her grieving father. She might feel a bit lost about what she would like to do with her life now that she sold her company, but there are neighbours and old friends and her tiny cottage. When Kerra's neighbour Drew designs an extension to both parts of their semi and hires a local contractor, Kerra is in for a huge surprise-it's Ross -her first crush and first heartbreak. Penvennan Cove is an archetypal small town with lots of gossip and people making assumptions based on very little evidence (well, Kerra herself does it!). It can be stifling and it might feel next to impossible to change what other people think of you, but it can also be very caring and supportive with neighbours turning up on your step with Welcome Home baked goods. You have to think twice about staying over at your friend's, because the whole village will know your car wasn't parked in its usual place, but you can also depend on your neighbours to check on you simply because they are worried about your safety. A huge part of the book is about friendships and relationships- building things over time and taking a leap of faith. It captures well the particular problems of having a relationship when you are both serious, decent people, but you've been hurt before or you've made mistakes and would like to avoid making them again or lost the love of your life. Do you take a chance when you feel things are right or do you stall because you don't want to move too quickly, impose, come across as needy? what about other people in your life and how your relationship might affect them? I will admit that this wasn't a super fast read- I needed time to get used to the author's writing style and ...the minutiae of Penvennan Cove life. On one hand, it seems like nothing much is happening, on the other hand, there's so much rich detail, which made me oddly fascinated and hooked on the story. Pick this book if you love British women's fiction, small town settings, and second chance romance. I will definitely be picking up the second book in the series.
Side Effects
GIVEAWAY! Hosted by:
My thoughts:
This was my first book by LJ Greene and it was such a lovely surprise! Side Effects is Book 4 in her Ripple Effects series and if you look at the other covers, you'll see straightaway that it's all about contemporary romance. I absolutely adored this 'fantasy/sci-fi/ techno nerds can be heroes' cover- absolutely stunning and very appropriate once you start reading the book and realise what kind of company Ally and Marcus,the protagonists of Side Effects, work for. The book had everything I love in contemporary romance- my favourite enemies-to-lovers trope, the protagonist I can relate to, secrets and intrigue, great pace, and great chemistry between the main characters! The book is written from a single POV- Ally's- and I thought that it gave the book this additional touch of realism and tension as in real life we rely on our instinct, observations, feelings to try to get a read on what the person we're attracted to is thinking. Highly recommended to anyone who loves slow-burn, workplace romance with a bit of suspense. I'm off to get my hands on LJ Greene's previous books! Thank you to Giselle from Xpresso Book Tours, the author and the publisher for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion. #Blog Tour #The Wedding Crasher and the Cowboy by Robin Bielman #Romance @Inkslinger PR @Entangled25/10/2021
 Today I'm delighted to participate in the blog tour for Robin Bielman's latest romance The Wedding Crasher and The Cowboy.  Title: The Wedding Crasher & The Cowboy Genre: Contemporary Romance Synopsis: Kennedy Martin is shocked when her ex calls days before his wedding, expressing serious second thoughts. Doesn’t he see his fiancée's actually the glaze to his doughnut? Now she’s got no choice but to crash his wedding and convince the man he’s with the right woman. Instead, she crashes into the absolute last man she ever wanted to see: Maverick Owens, her old college nemesis. Maverick is still as awful, infuriating, and just The Worst as ever—even if he looks way too sexy in his cowboy hat. And of course he’s convinced she’s actually at the seaside ranch to ruin the wedding. Now the only way to get some face time with the groom and save this marriage is to participate in all sorts of pre-wedding events…with Maverick. Stuck on a canoe, making small-talk at cocktail hour, and even a hoedown with her worst enemy? This just might be the longest week of her life… Buy Links: Amazon | Paperback | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon AU| Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Google Play | Kobo  My thoughts: Just admire this lovely cover for a moment. So full of sunshine and hope- this is exactly what this book is like. Kennedy Martin is the kind of person who never loses her calm-at least at work and she'd better not to, as she is an ER doctor. She's a person who will listen to you attentively and genuinely care about what you're saying, ready to step in and help if necessary. So when her ex-boyfriend Reed, not the latest ex (you'll just have to read the book to find out what that one did), calls her out of blue during his bachelor party and confesses he isn't sure he wants to get married, For the sake of their friendship, she needs to help him. There's only one snag- Kennedy wasn't invited to the wedding, which means she needs to crash the wedding to talk to him to make sure he's making the right decision. Whatever it will be. And if the event happens to take place on a ranch which belongs to her old college rival/archinemesis Maverick Owen's family, so be it. Nothing will stop this five feet tall, stubborn woman from ensuring her friend's future marital bliss. But as there's still a whole week before Reed's nuptials, there's plenty of time to find out why were Maverick and Kennedy trying to outdo each other at the pre-med school, what happened to them afterwards. There's plenty of time to fall in love (again) and maybe even have your heart broken. Or mended. Once again, I want to sing praise to the author who chooses a good guy as her protagonist. Romance books are full of 'flawed, but so charming' playboys-makes life interesting, right? wrong! makes life full of stress and anxiety. Give me Maverick any day! He's the proverbial good man who is so hard to find. I absolutely adored Kennedy and her insatiable thirst for knowledge about everything and everyone around her. She's sweet, hard-working, optimistic and likeable. Maybe not as likeable as her friend Andrew with his improvised stories that kept poor Kennedy on her toes. There were several moments in this book where I just couldn't help tearing up, but overall, There's more emotion in this book than carefree banter and it felt right. Sometimes this is exactly what you need- a sweet story of finding love when you are ready for it and not taking anything for granted, but taking care of people you love here and now. Thank you to Inkslinger PR, NetGalley, the publisher (Entangled Amara) and the author for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion.  Author Bio:
USA Today bestselling author Robin Bielman lives in Southern California with her awesome family and her very cute dog, Harry. She writes both sweet and sexy contemporary romances with one goal in mind: to leave you with a smile on your face. When not attached to her laptop, she loves to read, go to the beach, and frequent coffee shops with friends. She also dreams of traveling to faraway places and loves to connect with readers. Keep in touch on social! Xoxo Author Links: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter | BookBub | Amazon  Summary: Meg Cabot, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Princess Diaries, returns to Little Bridge Island with a new story about a children’s book author with a case of writer’s block and an arrogant novelist who have to set aside their differences as they get through a weekend long book festival that just might change everything—including their feelings for each other. Don’t Judge a Book by Its Author... Welcome to Little Bridge, one of the smallest, most beautiful islands in the Florida Keys. Jo Wright always swore she’d never step foot on Little Bridge Island—not as long as her nemesis, bestselling author Will Price, is living there. Then Jo’s given an offer she can’t refuse: an all-expense paid trip to speak and sign at the island’s first ever book festival. Even though arrogant Will is the last person Jo wants to see, she could really use the festival’s more-than-generous speaking fee. She’s suffering from a crippling case of writer’s block on the next installment of her bestselling children’s series, and her father needs financial help as well. Then Jo hears that Will is off-island on the set of the film of his next book. Hallelujah! But when she arrives on Little Bridge, Jo is in for a shock: Will is not only at the book festival, but seems genuinely sorry for his past actions—and more than willing not only to make amends, but prove to Jo that he’s a changed man. Things seem to be looking up—until disaster strikes, causing Jo to wonder: Do any of us ever really know anyone? Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks Fiction / Romance / Contemporary ISBN 9780062890092, 0062890093 Purchase Link
My thoughts: I'm a faithful fan of Meg Cabot, having read almost everything this talnted author has written. It was great to come back to the Little Bridge Island and its wonderful community. Although this is the third book in the series, it can definitely be read as a standalone. If you enjoy a well-written enemies-to-lovers trope and would like to get an insight into what it's like to be a popular author, you'll love this plot based on the rivalry between two very different kinds of writers. The characters were unique and well-developed and I'm not just talking about the protagonists. I couldn't help wondering how much of Meg Cabot's real life experience went into creating Jo and Will's characters. As usual, Meg Cabot's style is fun and engaging- she really knows how to draw you into her stories. Can't wait to read Meg's next book! About the author:
Meg Cabot was born in Bloomington, Indiana. In addition to her adult contemporary fiction, she is the author of the bestselling young adult fiction series, The Princess Diaries. Over 25 million copies of her novels for children and adults have sold worldwide, and many of them have been or will be turned into movies and TV series. Meg lives in Key West, FL, with her husband. #Book Blitz #Gingerbread & Jingle Bells by Caro Carson #Contemporary Romance @Xpresso Book Tours11/10/2021
Gingerbread & Jingle Bells
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo -- EXCERPT: Eve clutched the apron to her chest, wishing she could rewind the conversation—and this time, keep her mouth shut. “Listen, the gingerbread giant is on the house. One-hundred percent discount. I don’t even work here. It was my goof. Please, don’t tell anybody about this. My grandmother always does everything right when it comes to the bakery.” “I insist on paying for it. It’s even more festive now that you’ve fixed the damage.” He reached out to take the apron from her, admonishing her lightly in that posh British accent. “Besides, you cannot seriously think I would ever harm your grandmother’s reputation. She is kindness itself. She never charged me for a single cookie she gave me as a child.” As a child? Eve searched his handsome face, its masculine angles appealing but unfamiliar. His smile lit his eyes, which were as warm and brown as rich gingerbread. Posh, British gingerbread… “Oh, my goodness. I know you. You’re—” “Jingle Bell!” the man shouted, as the brown dog came sprinting back into the kitchen. Eve squealed in terror as she dove to save the freshly frosted giant, but with a stern sit and stay, the man stopped the dog in its tracks as if he were some kind of magician. “My apologies,” he said. “She was a stray until quite recently. I’ve been working with her, but her instinct to steal food still overcomes her at times.” “Daniel Shephard.” She pressed her hand over her hard-beating heart. “It’s me, Evie Richards. From fifth grade. I didn’t recognize you, now that you’re all…” She nodded toward his sharp black slacks, his narrow tie. Toward the broad chest that filled out a burgundy dress shirt. Up, way up, to those eyes. Hadn’t she been the taller one? “…all grown up, and—and tall. Do you recognize me?” “Yes, of course.” She dropped her hand. She liked to think she was a polished, worldly woman of business, but apparently, she didn’t look much different from a girl in cable-knit tights. She forced a chuckle. “I haven’t changed, huh?” “We are standing in your family’s bakery. That’s quite the clue.” “Right.” Her cheeks were warm. “This is such a coincidence, because I was thinking about you today with the snow flurries, and now here you are.” Daniel crossed his arms over his chest and returned her gaze with an indulgent sort of smile, like he knew she was a little flustered as she tried to reconcile the boy she’d known with the man in her bakery. He apparently was having no trouble seeing little Evie Richards in her. He didn’t look flustered in the least. Then again, he hadn’t been putting his foot in his mouth about discounts and patch jobs or yelping in terror at a dog. She turned her back to him and picked up a wide box of cellophane wrap, taking two seconds to compose herself. Then she turned around like the brisk, efficient woman she was, ready to secure the giant cookie to its support board for the short trip to the veterinary clinic. “So, you’re back in town and going to the party. Who do you know at the vet’s office?” Are you somebody’s date? Maybe he had a wife. She dropped her gaze to his hand. He ruffled his dog’s ears affectionately. Stop petting your dog. I want to see your ring finger. “I am the vet, actually. Dr. Shephard, at your service.”
GIVEAWAY! Hosted by:  Synopsis: From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh comes Her Renegade Cowboy, the final book in the Moving Violations trilogy… He will risk his life… The oh-so-proper school teacher, Lily Donovan has learned, the hard way, that men are not to be trusted. Period. Until Levi Roberts, the new cowboy working at her cousin's ranch, tempts her carefully-built resolve and awakens an all-consuming passion she thought lay dormant. But when she discovers his deadly secret, and her own secrets come to light, Lily unwittingly joins the lethal cat and mouse race between Levi and the man he’s been hunting for weeks. To save her heart… Former Ranger Levi Roberts has seen his fair share of deadly trouble during his years as a tough-as-nails operative. The ultimate expert in undercover investigations, he’s been tasked to find a man with a dangerous agenda in town. Routine work has been boring…until he runs into Lily, the prickly school teacher who tempts him like no other. Getting under her skin has been deliciously satisfying for his red-hot desire, but when Lily lands in the hands of the very man he’s been investigating, Levi will have to fight with every ounce of his heart and soul to save her—and to heal the heart he broke. Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks Publication Date: September 28th, 2021 ISBN 9781250252012  My thoughts: First of all, I love this cover and think it's a perfect representation of the protagonist of the book Levi Roberts- strong, confident and totally swoon-worthy.... I didn't realise that this was the third book in the series. If you are planning to read the previous ones, I think it is better to do it in order, as there are some spoilers for Book 2 Strong, Silent Cowboy. Having said that, it works perfectly fine as a standalone. Schoolteacher Lily Donovan is hiding a big secret from anyone in her town apart from her sister Shay and her cousin's wife Sallie. While she was a student at college she was almost killed by one of her professors. Lily found strength to testify, but later refused to go into the Witness Protection Program as that would mean giving up everything and everyone she loves. She returned to her home town of Deer Haven, finished her degree online and started teaching, trying to move on with her life. When she gets a call from US Marshals Service Bureau informing her that her tormentor Graham Brisbee escaped from prison,Lily's nightmares return. Levi Roberts is a new cowboy at her cousin Jacob's ranchand notonly is he gorgeous, it is also clear that he is interested in Lily despite her feisty reputation. Lily knows Jacob would never hire anyone without checking their background thoroughly, so he must be trustworthy despite his overconfident, cocky attitude, but she has been lied and manipulated before, can she really trust him enough to have more than a one-night stand? To be honest, at the beginning I felt things were developing a bit too fast (lust at first sight?)and judgy me felt it was wrong of Levi to start anything with Lily given the vulnerability of her situation and his job.
'I have to warn you, I heard relationships based on intense experiences never work'- 'Okay, we'll have to base it on sex then...' Levi is definitely a generous lover, although he guards his secrets a bit too well from one person he should have confided in. So, if you aren't looking for clean and wholesome, but rather the opposite, you're going to appreciate the physical attraction they are feeling for each other. Still, their secrets are just too big and too important for their identity to hide behind the physical side which gives them an illusion of closeness. The second part of the book proved that Levi's conflict of interests was the main point of the book- he knew that he was putting his job on line, but the desire to protect her was stronger than any common sense, professional experience or even the code of conduct he must have signed at some point in the past. The pace picked up and suddenly I was so engrossed in these action-packed final chapters that I couldn't put the book down for the life of me!
Recommended to any reader who likes romantic suspense with alpha male, protective characters, small town setting, danger, pursuit, and lots of steamy scenes. Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin's Pressforthe ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion. #Book Review #When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting #Contemporary Romance @St.Martin's Griffin20/9/2021
 Synopsis: Running the Spark House, a hotel/event space that has been in her family for years, has been Avery Spark’s lifelong dream. After years of working hard and making personal sacrifices, Avery and her two younger sisters have turned the Spark House into the premier destination in Colorado Springs. Avery is living her best life—she works with her sisters and loves every minute of it, she has a great group of friends, and she lives in a fantastic condo with her best friend Declan. She might not have any love in her life, but she's happy. But everything comes to a screeching halt when Avery is in a car accident, leaving her immobile for weeks. After nearly losing Avery, Declan insists that he will be the one to take care of her while she recovers. However, as Declan becomes Avery’s caretaker, lines begin to blur. Avery and Declan have been best friends since college and always had an attraction to one another, but when she ended up dating his best friend, Sam, they successfully stamped down any feelings they may have ever had for one another. Now, as Declan and Avery spend more time together, they each begin to wonder what would’ve happened if she'd dated him instead of Sam. What starts as a friend helping out another friend turns into foreplay and, before they realize it, they recognize how deeply they care for one another. But when things get serious their past threatens to destroy everything they have built. Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin Publication Date: September 21, 2021 ISBN 9781250624703, 1250624703  My thoughts: Friends/Best friends-to-lovers is one of my favourite tropes, but I do appreciate it isn't easy to do it well. You have to show the emotional connection and the development of the relationship. Helena Hunting does a great job of doing this as well as creating likeable characters and an entertaining storyline. Avery Spark lost her parents in a car accident when she and her sisters London and Harley were teenagers. Now all three of them run Spark House (a hotel/an events centre) together. They have a very close relationship and complement each other. Avery enjoys organising events and dealing with customer relations and tries to expand the business by bringing in new contracts. She is on her way to a business meeting at her former university when she gets into a bad car accident. Her best friend/roommate Declan was supposed to be with her driving his SUV to the meeting (Avery's car wasn't suitable for the weather conditions), but he really messed up. Feeling guilty for what happened and eager to earn Avery's forgiveness, he promises to take care of Avery and all her needs. There is a good reason why these two are best friends-they really understand each other and care. There's also a good reason why neither of them has had a serious romantic relationship for a long time.Avery had her heart broken by Declan's friend and is happier spending her time at work or doing sports rather than dating, and Declan... Declan has a lot of emotional baggage. If you like the trope of close proximity, you can guess that sparks will fly (and bring in lots of heat), but will Avery and Declan find it easy to navigate the new dynamics of their relationship? The book is told from two alternating perspectives -Avery's and Declan's, so we get a pretty good insight into their feelings. I really liked Avery and her sisters. It was interesting to read about the way they ran the business together dividing roles according to their strengths and how they all had to pull their weight to make sure the company stayed successful. They had very different personalities, but it was clear that they cared for each other. Avery also has a very supportive group of friends. There is clearly a potential for a series-hooray! I love a good catch-up to see what happens after the HEA . Overall, I enjoyed the story and the characters. If you are a fan of Helena Hunting's writing style, you know her books are very easy to read and have an addictive quality. Looking forward to reading London and Harley's stories! Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin's Press for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion. New York Times and USA Today bestselling author HELENA HUNTING lives outside of Toronto with her amazing family and her two awesome cats, who think the best place to sleep is her keyboard. She writes all things romance -- contemporary, romantic comedy, sports and angsty new adult. Helena loves to bake cupcakes, has been known to listen to a song on repeat 1512 times while writing a book, and if she has to be away from her family, prefers to be in warm weather with her friends.
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