|
'Sweet, funny, heartbreaking but uplifting at the same time. I absolutely LOVED this book.' Alice Fletcher doesn’t like to take chances and she certainly doesn’t believe in fate. Three years after the end of her last long-term relationship, she’s in no hurry to risk another heartbreak. But fate has other plans. One day, on her drive home, Alice comes across a man, dazed and lost, by the side of a wrecked car. And with no one else around, Alice goes to help. TV star Jimmy Mack is riding the crest of the career wave one minute, and the next he’s staring at his crashed car. But when Alice comes to rescue him, things start to look up. What Alice and Jimmy discover next changes everything. Fate might have marked them out for each other, but somehow their destinies have got tangled. Will they get their happily-ever-after, or might their time together be shorter than either of them would hope… Join Jill Steeples for this truly ‘out of this world’ romance and a love story to remember. Perfect for fans of Jessica Redland, Cathy Bramley and Miranda Dickinson. Publication Date: May 12th, 2022 Publisher: Boldwood Books Purchase Link  My thoughts: A sweet story which is also very difficult one to review without giving spoilers! I really liked Alice Fletcher, the protagonist- she is a hard-working, super-organised PA, someone I would imagine has to be quite down-to earth. At the same time she is kind and romantic. Alice is driving home on Friday the 13th, happily thinking about her weekend, when she sees a car which has clearly been mangled by a horrific accident and a shell-shocked man next to it. Alice doesn't think twice before offering her assistance to Jimmy. Even when she realises he is a TV celebrity, all she sees is someone who needs comfort and help in his admittedly more than unusual predicament. Gradually they get to know each other. There's a special kind of trust, respect, and even tenderness that is growing between them, even when a scandal threatens to tarnish Jimmy's reputation and only Alice is willing to do everything possible to clear his name. Jimmy is sweet, caring, and thoughtful- I dare any reader to try and not fall in love with him, but he has a unique kind of problem that sooner or later will force them to go their separate ways. Or won't it? A very quick, easy read, surprisingly uplifting, despite the sad circumstances in which the protagonists meet. A simple message of living your life to the full and taking care of people around you might be a bit predictable, but it is still true and it still helps to hear it again to make us look around and appreciate what we have. Looking forward to reading Jill's next book! Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood books 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 https://www.facebook.com/jillsteepleswriter Twitter https://twitter.com/jillesteeples   Description Another stunning cowboy novel from New York Times bestseller Donna Grant, That Cowboy of Mine! Is he an enemy? Dillon Young is proud that she inherited her aunt’s ranch. The problem: someone is trying to run her off and is willing to do whatever it takes. Strange, dangerous things keep happening. Dillion suspects her no-good neighbor and fellow wealthy rancher Hank Stephens. Never a man to get his hands dirty, he sends others to get the job done. So, when the irresistible Cal Bennett is found passed out drunk on her property, Dillion is on high alert. Until someone takes a shot at her and Cal springs to her rescue. When the hard-bodied, no-nonsense-talking cowboy points out that she may need some help, Dillion is inclined to reluctantly agree. Or a lover? Waking up on a stranger’s property with a shotgun in his face is not Cal Bennett’s idea of a good time. Never mind that the person on the other end of the barrel is one of the most fiercely beautiful women he has ever seen. Things get more interesting when he finds himself shielding her from flying bullets. It’s clear that this smart, savvy woman could use a hand and Cal is all too happy to lend any part of his body she requires. His proposal: pose as lovers until they find out who is after her ranch. As the danger rises and secrets are revealed, the passion explodes between them and there is no turning back. Publisher: St.Martin's Press, St.Martin's Paperbacks Publication Date:26 Apr 2022 9781250820280, 1250820286 Pre-Order/Purchase Link  My thoughts: It's always a pleasure to read a Donna Grant book and this newest release isn't an exception: the plot is full of passion and danger, the characters are strong and passionate, and the pace is great. If anything, this book is even more streamlined than Gran't previous romantic suspense Home for A Cowboy Christmas. This one is all about trust. Trust, loyalty, dreams, passion, and love, of course. Cal Bennett wakes up with a shotgun aiming at hime and it is clear that Dillon Young means business. Someone stole her prized stallion Legacy and it happened while Cal was having his drink-induced nap on her land. Unfortunately, this rodeo champion doesn't remember anything from the night before, Then someone shoots at Dillon and Cal who yanks her out of the bullet's way at the very last moment. Dillon is torn between two contrasting feelings. Can she trust Cal who had an opportunity to sabotage her business? Can she not trust him after he saved her life? She has been burnt before and decided it was better to shut her feelings and focus on the ranch she inherited unexpectedly from her aunt Dolly. Dillon has been alone for too long and this charmer of a cowboy is only happy to help out at the ranch. A bit of insta-love/lust? perhaps, but wait till you read how comfortable they are with each other. The protagonists are both people of great integrity and the more you read, the better you will understand where they are coming from. Not only is Dillon strong and independent, she also shows a lot of courage in face of danger. Cal also has his own backstory of following in his father's footsteps and perhaps never stopping long enough to work out what his own dreams are. Well, not until he meets Dillon. The mystery/suspense element seems a bit stronger in this book, although do expect at leasy one hot and steamy scene. We find out who wants to harm Dillon and get her ranch by all means early on. Again, there are a few unexpected twists thrown in by master-storyteller Donna Grant who knows how to keep her reader engaged. The book was action-packed with a great pace from the beginning to its nailbiting climax and sweet epilogue. My only complaint was that the villains and their motivations seemed to be a bit one-dimensional. Having said that, the book was gripping and well-balanced. A quick and enjoyable read for anyone who loves a good romantic suspense story. Can't wait to read Donna Grant's next book! Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin's Press for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion.  About the author:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant has penned ninety novels, novelettes, novellas, and short stories spanning multiple genres of romance including the exhilarating Dark King and Reaper paranormal series, the romantic suspense Sons of Texas series, the historical paranormal Kindred series, and the contemporary Heart of Texas series. She lives with her two children, a dog, and three cats in Texas. Description: It Started With A Kiss Can two strangers dreams lead to their destiny? American Star Mendoza is living in her dream location, Edinburgh, a place she discovered in British novels while growing up. Employed at a trendy city centre coffee shop, quirky, pink-haired Star spends her days fantasising about a handsome businessman she serves daily. He's totally out of her league but a girl can dream, right? Fin Hunter is exhausted from striving for his father's elusive love and approval, and of following a life path of his family’s making. When things go drastically wrong Fin decides it’s time to stand on his own two feet and follow his own dream. Star is bereft when her handsome stranger stops coming to her coffee shop, but a chance encounter in the most unlikely of places leaves her wondering if her fantasy could now become a reality? Can opposites attract over their love of a city and music or is their story simply doomed to fail? Previously Published as 'Star Attraction' Publisher: Boldwood Books Publication Date: April21st 2022 Purchase Link  My thoughts:
The first thing I noticed (well, apart from this gorgeous book cover) was how readable the book is. Lisa Hobman's writing style makes it very easy to get into the story and follow the events. It is also very sweet and romantic, given the differences in the background of the two protagonists Fin and Star- and yet, they are also perfect for each other. Fin has been trying to be a perfect son all his life, but nothing makes his demanding parents happy or proud of him. He even agrees to something that can only be called an arranged marriage to please his father and promote his business interests. But then things go spectacularly wrong... Star is An American who is in love with all things Scottish (can't blame her!). When she gets a chance to move to Edinburgh, she can finally move to the city of her dreams. A talented photographer, Star lso works in a coffee shop where she meets Fin. Sparks fly, but the road to true happiness isn't easy. Fabulous setting and lots of great characters, both main and supporting, plus, Lisa Hobman's lovely, warm writing style - the book has so much going on for it! Recommended to all readers looking for a sweet, enjoyable story with a bit of family drama and a happily-ever-after in the end. Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion. From the Blurb: From the USA Today bestselling author of The Wedding Game comes a new romantic comedy about the antics that ensue when three siblings come together for their parents’ fiftieth-anniversary party. Martin and Peggy Chance believe love should last a lifetime. With their fiftieth wedding anniversary on the horizon, they’ve modeled a beautiful relationship for their three grown children. But to their dismay, that lesson hasn’t quite caught on—the three siblings just can’t seem to take a chance and find love in their own lives. There’s Ford, the eldest, devoted to his work and resistant to romance…or so he claims. Cooper, the middle child, can’t get past his divorce—until he reconnects with a feisty baker from his past. And Palmer, the baby of the family, is the free-spirited world traveler who always pictured herself with someone other than a handsome small-town family doctor. When the Chance siblings come together to plan the ultimate anniversary party for their parents, they’ll have to navigate romantic entanglements, sibling rivalries, and the definitive end of their childhood. Whatever happens, The Reunion promises to be a fun, flirty, wild ride. Publication Date: February 22, 2022 Publisher: Montlake FREE in Kindle Unlimited Purchase  My thoughts: This family story of three siblings who needed to rebuild their relationship was so much fun! Yes, there was a lot of bickering, finger-pointing, and we-take-no-hostages attitude-drama, but also lots of banter, and romance…and three kinds of cakes. The book hit the ground running- the emails between Ford, Cooper, and the baby of the family, free-spirited Palmer were really funny. All they had to do was organise a wedding anniversary party for their parents Peggy and Martin and be there for them to show their love and appreciation for these hard-working, affectionate people. But Ford is too busy crunching numbers and obsessively going over every business detail to notice his brother and sister would love to help him with the family business (outdoor equipment stores). He is also too busy to notice his wonderful assistant Larkin who knows him better than he knows himself. Cooper is struggling with people’s pre-conceived ideas of him- ever since his divorce he has done a lot to turn his life around and he is the only child who is there for his parents to rely on in their daily life. Palmer– okay, I didn’t particularly like Palmer (there’s a thin line between being feisty and being obnoxious), she has her own reasons for feeling lost. 3 siblings and 3 love interests- 6 POVs sound a bit intimidating, but it works in this book. Partly, because the love interests are sweet and decent people who often act as a voice of reason. Larkin isn’t just smart and efficient, she’s also emotionally mature and responsible. Oh dear, she will have her hands full with Ford! I wasn’t so sure about her brother’s relationship with Palmer- he didn’t manage to convince me Palmer’s sparkling spontaneity was the best kind of match for him and things between them moved a bit too fast for me. Nora (Cooper’s love interest) was the most self-assured out of all the protagonists, and I could relate to her point of view a lot. It’s just that she sounded a bit too much like a therapist at times. The writing was absolutely compelling and I found myself reading until the small hours, unable to put the book down. The humour also helped! All three relationships have an element of forbidden or rather a certain kind of dilemma in them, so it was interesting to see if the couples were going to stick together in the end or not. Above all, what I wanted to see was whether the Chances were going to find their way back to being a happy, close, and caring family again. I’m glad to have discovered this new-to-me author. Can’t wait to read her next book! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced review copy. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.   About the Author:
USA Today Bestselling Author, wife, adoptive mother, and peanut butter lover. Author of romantic comedies and contemporary romance, Meghan Quinn brings readers the perfect combination of heart, humor, and heat in every book. Facebook / Goodreads / Instagram /Twitter / Website /Bookbub / Amazon 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.  Book Description: From Melissa Foster, the New York Times bestselling author of She Loves Me, comes a sexy and heart-warming novel about finding love—and family—where you least expect it. When chef Abby de Messiéres returns to Silver Island with her sister to get their late mother’s affairs in order, she expected to inherit her mother’s bistro along with their childhood home, not to discover a half sister they never knew existed, and a handsome vacationer camped out on her mother’s patio. Workaholic Aiden Aldridge has been sent to Silver Island on a work-free vacation, armed with a “Let Loose List,” and ordered to get a life by the much-younger sister he raised after the death of their parents. After years of focusing on his sister’s well-being, he’s blindsided by his intense attraction to the gorgeous, free-spirited Abby. Aiden might not know much about chilling out, but he’s excellent at striking deals. He helps Abby with the restaurant in exchange for her help in tackling the items on his list. Sparks fly as Aiden and Abby work, and play, side by side. Intimate conversations lead to steamy kisses and undeniable passion. But there’s more to Aiden then Abby knows, and when the truth comes out, their new romance is put to the test, as the two find out if true love really can conquer all. Publisher: Montlake Publication Date: May 4th 2021 Goodreads Purchase Amazon  My thoughts: If you've read Melissa Foster's books, you know she is a very prolific author with close to a hundred books under her belt. Not surprisingly, she is a master of creating sweet and sassy, loveable protagonists, large groups of friends and extended families, and lots of hot and steamy scenes (if you're looking for a clean romance, you're not going to find it here). Maybe We Will is Book1 in her new series of books set on Silver Island, but there are numerous characters from Melissa Foster's previous series making their appearance as a neighbour, a childhood friend or a business associate. Abby de Messiere and her sister Deidra come back home to sort the llegal issues and take care of their family Bistrot after their mother Ava passed away. Ava had a life-long secret - she had a baby when she was seventeen and was forced to give her away for an adoption. So Abby and Deidra discover they have a new sister Cait. Abby also meets a gorgeous vacationer Aiden and their romance proceeds at a breakneck speed. Aiden Aldridge has given up his private life to take care of his twelve-year-old sister Remi after their parents died in a car accident. Now that Remi is a grown-up woman with her own family, he is free to dedicate more time to his own happiness, but old habits die hard and he is a workaholic in a league of his own. Remi sends him to Silver Island with a list of 'fun' things to do e.g. walk barefoot on the sand and fly a kite. Aiden, a businessman to the bone marrow, can't help himself- he checks out this lovely, albeit neglected property in the prime location. He even makes an offer. Now he can finally relax and get on with Remi's list with the help of the mysterious Runner Girl who has a sparkly personality and a sassy comeback to anything he says. Yes, it's insta-super-hot connection that quickly turns into a super-serious relationship. At thirty-eight, Aiden is ready for something more and he is ready to support Abby in making all her dreams come true. Let's come back to Abby's lifestory for a moment. Abby's father, who was a spectacular chef and a safe haven for Ava, died when the girls were just 9 and 11 years old, and Ava lost her way, drowning her grief in alcohol. It isn't easy to grow up with parent-child roles being reversed. The island community did its best to help (I have to wonder why Social Services didn't get involved). Abby saw how damaging losing the man you depend on can be and she drew her own conclusions. She will always be independent and rely on her own efforts to make her way in the world. This is a very family-oriented romance, despite a large proportion of the book being devoted to hot and steamy scenes (the protagonists get together very early in the book). Their lovemaking and their relationship feel very comfortable and mature- these two people are essentially happy with who they are and where they are at in their life, they are not shy or bashful, they both value stability and honesty. Aiden's love declarations and things he does seem too perfect and too much too soon, but if you are a fan of love at first sight and giving it all to woo your One and Only, you'll find it all romantic and swoonworthy. My biggest niggle with the book is that it seemed too long. We get to introduced to Abby's friends and get updates on what is happening with other couples' lives. Great, if you've been following Melissa Foster's books and are on a lookout for some familiar faces...If this is a standalone for you, treat it as your first big family get together with brand new in-laws. I'm really interested in Cait's story (Abby and Deidra's newly found sister) and I bet there is a good man somewhere there who will break the barriers our workaholic Deidra has built to protect her heart! Looking forward to reading their books. Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake romance for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.  Melissa Foster is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of nearly one hundred books, including the Sugar Lake series, The Steeles at Silver Island series, and the Harmony Pointe series. Her novels have been recommended by USA Today’s book blog, Hagerstown magazine, the Patriot, and others. She has also painted and donated several murals to the Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. She enjoys discussing her books with book clubs and reader groups, and she welcomes an invitation to your event. Visit Melissa on her website, www.MelissaFoster.com, or chat with her on Instagram @MelissaFoster_Author, Twitter @Melissa_Foster, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MelissaFosterAuthor.
|
Archives
January 2025
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
