Book Review: Pictures in the Sky by Amanda Paull

Pictures in the Sky

by Amanda Paull 

Amazon US / UK / CA / AU

She gave up on romance years ago. He’s going through the motions. Their lives change forever when he makes contact out of the blue

With her daughter leaving the nest, Michelle Cameron would rather spend her time with good friends, a glass of fizzy and a box set, than with another idiot bloke chipping away at her self-esteem. But when childhood friend Daniel Helmsley gets back in touch, the years roll away on a tide of laughter and friendship, which soon gives way to another roller coaster of love, excitement and panic. Can Michelle let herself trust again? What if Dan is just another idiot bloke, disillusioned with the present and nostalgic for the past?

If you like cozy romance that makes you laugh as well as cry, then you’ll love this feel-good tale of past disappointment, renewed friendship and finding true love. 
Download Amanda Paull’s Pictures in the Sky today to discover if Michelle dares to love again.

‘Your lively style and humor are exactly right for this genre.’ Susan Davis.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Michelle had tried Pilates… but she kept dozing off during mat work, and couldn’t face going back after the snoring episode.

 

She knew she tended to see her glass as half empty, and she really did try to do the half full thing, but sometimes she just felt like she didn’t even have a glass.

 

I’m going to sue Walt Disney… All lies. There are no castles or princes, just hard graft and twats.

 

Audrey also wanted her ashes to be mixed into a firework, to be set off one dark night, with all the family gathered around, gasping in awe and wonder as she soared up in one final blaze of glory. She had cried with laughter at Michelle’s and Gary’s horrified faces. But she was adamant that she wanted to go out with a bang.

 

The men Mingle had matched her with resembled a Crimewatch line-up. It was all very different to the free trial search. That had yielded some tasty-looking men in their forties, with interesting profiles, decent jobs and socially acceptable reasons for being single. They were all looking for monogamous relationships, and none of them looked as if they might play with themselves on a first date in a car park. Not that you could really tell from a dating profile –poor Joan hadn’t suspected anything dodgy about her car park pervert.

 

My Review:

 

I alternated between smirking at Michelle’s comical visualizations and sighing at her ridiculous choices, she was a difficult character for me to like as she was spineless and often exasperated me, yet she also squeezed my heart. Michelle’s biggest problem was being a hopeless turd-magnet with men, although she had lots of issues, lots! She was highly anxious, prone to catastrophizing, always on alert for gloom and doom while visualizing the worst-case scenarios, and with mounting stressors from family and work she was slowly edging into the land of dysfunctional, yet she was also intelligent and witty.

Ms. Paull’s writing was highly descriptive, evoking keen visuals.   I also enjoyed her clever wit and biting humor. She has also greatly expanded my Brit Vocab list with the introductions of blaggard (scoundrel, untrustworthy, contemptible person); quiff (hairstyle brushed upward and backward from the forehead); winklepickers (a style of shoe “reminiscent of medieval footwear” and re-popularized again in the 1950s by British rockers and has a very sharp and long pointed toe); yonks (a very long time); and flapjack (a sweet baked oat bar), although in American flapjacks is another word for pancakes. I’ll pass on the winklepickers but find I now have a taste for flapjacks of both varieties.

 

Author Bio –

Amanda Paull is a writer of humorous romantic fiction. She lives in the North East of England with her husband and works in the public sector. The inspiration for her stories comes from real life, which she tries to show the funnier side of by embellishing to the hilt.

Amanda’s Website: http://www.amandapaull.co.uk

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Apaullfiction/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Apaullfiction

Book Review: By Virtue Fall by Carrie Elks

Title: By Virtue Fall
By: Carrie Elks
Publication Date: October 11, 2018
Publisher: Piatkus (Little Brown)
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Love Blooms When You Least Expect It…

Juliet Shakespeare is done with love. With a growing floristry business and an adorable daughter to raise, life after separating from her husband is complicated enough.

But when handsome single father, Ryan Sutherland, arrives in town, everything changes. As much as she tries to distract herself, Juliet can’t help but be drawn to the easy-going Romeo next door and the way he makes her feel.

Photographer Ryan is only back in his hometown for a few months so there’s no point falling for someone he’ll just have to say goodbye to. But he didn’t account for Juliet – the intriguing and beautiful, red-haired woman next door. And in her, he might just have found everything he ever wanted . . .

A gorgeous Shakespeare Sisters romance from the bestselling author of Fix You.

 

UK Buy Links

Amazon UK | iBooks UK | Kobo UK | WHSmith

US Buy Links

Amazon US | iBooks | Kobo | Nook  

Advance Praise for By Virtue Fall

This story is amazing, beautiful, intense, sweet & loving. So need more of this series..’ – Teresa, Goodreads Reviewer, Five Stars

‘Carrie Elks is an excellent story-teller.’ – Steph N, Goodreads Reviewer, Five Stars

‘Oh wow Elks has written another book that has blown me away.’ – Donna, Goodreads Reviewer, Five Stars

‘What a blissful read.’ – Shelley, Goodreads Reviewer, Five Stars

‘An outstanding read.’ – Evonne, Goodreads Reviewer, Five Stars

‘Carrie Elks has a way with her words that takes me into another world and leaves me breathless.’ – Melanie Moreland, New York Times Bestselling Author

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Miss Mason had been a Kindergarten teacher for more than twenty years. Everything in her classroom was ruled by bathroom breaks.

 

The denim clung to him like it couldn’t bear to let go.

 

Funny how she’d bristled at that nickname when he’d first used it. Now she loved it. It was like a little secret only the two of them knew. She wanted to cover it in bubble wrap and keep it safe, protect it from the harsh winds of the outside world. Because right then everything felt fragile. Like a wisp of smoke blowing on the wind.

 

…there’s nothing worse than running away, only to find your troubles bought a ticket and decided to travel right along with you.

 

My Review:

 

This was my first exposure to Carrie Elks and I am greatly disappointed in myself, how have I not noticed this deftly gifted wordsmith before now? Snap! Reading her entertaining arrangements of words was a total pleasure. Her storylines were relatable, insightful, amusing, vibrantly detailed, and populated with lovable and clever characters. By Virtue Fall was book four of a series featuring a family known as the Shakespeare Sisters, yet it was quite capable of standing on its own as it possessed strong tango dancing legs. However, there is nothing else in this world I would rather read right now than the previous three installments as well as every other book, novella, and short story on her backlist. Carrie Elks has a new fangirl.

This was chosen as a  Review of the Month for the review collection on LovelyAudiobooks.info

About the Author

Carrie Elks writes contemporary romance with a sizzling edge. Her first book, Fix You, has been translated into eight languages and made a surprise appearance on Big Brother in Brazil. Luckily for her, it wasn’t voted out. Carrie lives with her husband, two lovely children and a larger-than-life black pug called Plato. When she isn’t writing or reading, she can be found baking, drinking an occasional (!) glass of wine, or chatting on social media.

Twitter – CarrieElks

Facebook – CarrieElksAuthor

Goodreads – 7266211.Carrie_Elks

Website

 

Book Review: The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox

The Witch of Willow Hall

by Hester Fox

Amazon | Books-A-Million | B&N

Paperback: 368 pages

Publisher: Graydon House; Original edition (October 1, 2018)

Two centuries after the Salem witch trials, there’s still one witch left in Massachusetts. But she doesn’t even know it.

Take this as a warning: if you are not able or willing to control yourself, it will not only be you who suffers the consequences, but those around you, as well.

New Oldbury, 1821

In the wake of a scandal, the Montrose family and their three daughters—Catherine, Lydia and Emeline—flee Boston for their new country home, Willow Hall.

The estate seems sleepy and idyllic. But a subtle menace creeps into the atmosphere, remnants of a dark history that call to Lydia, and to the youngest, Emeline.

All three daughters will be irrevocably changed by what follows, but none more than Lydia, who must draw on a power she never knew she possessed if she wants to protect those she loves. For Willow Hall’s secrets will rise, in the end…

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quote:

 

Mother has thrown herself into the occupation of invalid with her characteristic vigor and dedication. She has the whole household on pins and needles.

 

My Review:

 

I struggled valiantly with this one to the very end; it just wasn’t my cup of tea. Don’t get me wrong, this wasn’t a bad book just, unfortunately, an avalanche of my pet peeves. While the premise was interesting and the storylines were imaginative and well written, the plot unfolded at an extremely slow pace and was cast with largely unlikable and disagreeable characters. This book felt more historical YA than anything else, and there is a reason I don’t often read YA; I tend to become exasperated with the characters, which unfortunately happened here. The parents were indifferent and disinterested in parenting, the older sister was vile, and the main character was naïve and spineless.

 

The author performed an excellent job of maintaining tension, as most of the characters were uptight, fractious, deceitful, and largely uncommunicative while the storylines were taut with family drama, angst, and conflict. The sense of impending doom was well executed from beginning to end. This wealthy family had fled Boston on the edge of ruin to avoid scandal, although it is well into the book before the actual cause of the scandal was exposed and wow – it was not the usual twist. I was intrigued and curious about the otherworldly issues which were the most creative and entertaining aspects to the tale, but sadly, those story threads occupied but a small portion of the narrative. I was considerably frustrated and circling despair when the last few pages finally allowed me to unclench my jaw with a satisfactory HEA although I still despised most of them… but I tend to hold a grudge.

 

About Hester Fox

Hester Fox has a background in the museum field as a collections maintenance technician. This job has taken her from historic houses to fine art museums, where she has cleaned and cared for collections that range from paintings by old masters to ancient artifacts to early American furniture. She is a keen painter and has a Master’s in historical archaeology, as well as a background in medieval studies and art history. Hester lives outside of Boston with her husband and their two cats.

Connect with Hester

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

 

Book Review, Giveaway: WHISKEY Dick Series by Ryan Ringbloom (Whiskey Dick #1, Whiskey Chick #2)

WHISKEY DICK

by Ryan Ringbloom
Whiskey Dick, #1
Publication Date: July 24, 2018
Genres: Adult, Romantic Comedy, Contemporary, Romance, Standalone

BUY NOW! AVAILABLE WITH KINDLE UNLIMITED!

SYNOPSIS:

A NIGHT WITH NO HARD FEELINGS

Nothing like this has ever happened to me before. It’s a fluke. Too much whiskey. Believe me when I say, it will NEVER happen again.

I’m trying not to take it personally. Sh*t happens. It’s not a reflection on me. He claims it was too much whiskey. A onetime occurrence. And I believe him.

But then why the hell does it happen a second time?

Fate’s a funny thing.
He likes her.
She likes him.
They say the third time’s a charm….

Get ready to laugh, cringe, and swoon as two terrified flyers travel toward romance in this lovable Romantic Comedy.

This is a standalone book intended for mature readers.

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My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

She leans across the table and lowers her voice. “Erectile dysfunction happens.” Wrong words. So very wrong. If there were a book called The Big Book of Men, the first chapter would clearly state that those two words never be said to any man ever. Ever. It would be the first freaking rule.

 

One minute, I like her, I think she’s great and the next, I want to rip her head off. If we were in kindergarten I’d think I was in love with her.

 

“Is this a condom thing?” The cashier looks from me to Jax, back to me. “No need to be weird. It’s the middle of the night, half the people who come in here at this time are buying condoms. If you think you might need them, get them. Or else you’ll be like the other half who come in here in the middle of the night to buy diapers.”… I just basically agreed to sex at the register in a Walmart.

 

My Review:

 

What a delight!   This was a fast, fun, and cleverly amusing read. Two anxious fliers meet in an airport bar while killing time due to a delayed flight.   Their anxiety levels continue to ratchet skyward when their dreaded flight is pushed back several times then finally canceled due to mechanical difficulties. A situation that doesn’t inspire confidence in even a seasoned flier, so they opt to share the long drive instead. Flirting, whiskey, anxiety, mutual attraction and lots of kissing in a shared hotel room – record scratch – the little head didn’t seem to get the invitation when it came time for the main event. Awkward. Which became increasingly mortifying as they embark on a very long and testy road trip the morning after. I adored these characters.

 

 

WHISKEY CHICK

by Ryan Ringbloom
Whiskey Dick, #2
Publication Date: September 9, 2018
Genres: Adult, Romantic Comedy, Contemporary, Romance, Standalone

BUY NOW! AVAILABLE WITH KINDLE UNLIMITED!

SYNOPSIS:

A NIGHT FULL OF HARD FEELINGS

Nothing like this has ever happened to me before. It’s a fluke. Too much whiskey. Believe me when I say, it will NEVER happen again.

I’m trying not to take it personally. Sh*t happens. It was a blind date. She drank too much whiskey. I hope it wasn’t a reflection on me.

Okay, so the first date didn’t work out. But what happens when the second one doesn’t either?

Fate’s a funny thing.
She likes him.
He likes her.
They say the third time’s a charm….

Get ready to laugh, cringe, and swoon as fate blindly intervenes in this lovable Romantic Comedy.

This is a standalone book that features a new couple intended for mature readers.

 

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My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

“Don’t worry, they probably just saw me. On top of my bed. Doing a striptease. And they probably think I’m by myself.” First there was my questionable boner-hiding moment with my aunt and mom, and now this. “They probably think I’m up here doing some pathetic mating dance before masturbating.”

 

I look back out the window. My father and uncle sit by the fire and the rest are gone. I’m guessing they’re inside pouring bleach into their eyes.

 

My Review:

 

Another quick, engaging, and fun read from the delectable Ryan Ringbloom, which kept me smirking most of the way through. Remi was a hot mess, although, to her credit, she often tried, yet she just couldn’t seem to help herself, or keep a job, or maintain her focus, or find anything to hold her interest. Her social filter was missing, a condition that didn’t seem to bother her all that much except for that one appalling incident that had always caused her shame, she had been the blind date from hell after too much whiskey.   Adam had never forgotten that date either and had recounted the story of the Whiskey Chick so often it had become a myth-like legend among his family and friends. Remi and Adam happened to meet up and square off again two years later with considerably better results, although there were complications, lots of humorous complications. The storylines were highly enjoyable and packed with colorful levity, steamy sensuality, and occasional bits of humbling angst. Ryan Ringbloom is good fun!

ABOUT RYAN RINGBLOOM

Hi, I’m Ryan Ringbloom, a Jersey girl who doesn’t write Alphas. I couldn’t if I tried. Social Media stresses me the frick out, yet I can’t seem to walk away from it. I love to binge watch TV. I think cats are awesome. I’m obsessed with coffee and Fireball. But never together. My road rage is ridiculous. And if there is ever a zombie apocalypse, I won’t even try to run. I will let the first one I see eat my brain and get it over with.

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Twitter | Bookbub | Amazon Author Profile

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Book Review: November Road by Lou Berney

 November Road

by Lou Berney

HarperCollins | Amazon | B & N

 Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: William Morrow (October 9, 2018)

Set against the assassination of JFK, a poignant and evocative crime novel that centers on a desperate cat-and-mouse chase across 1960s America—a story of unexpected connections, daring possibilities, and the hope of second chances from the Edgar Award-winning author of The Long and Faraway Gone.

Frank Guidry’s luck has finally run out.

A loyal street lieutenant to New Orleans’ mob boss Carlos Marcello, Guidry has learned that everybody is expendable. But now it’s his turn—he knows too much about the crime of the century: the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Within hours of JFK’s murder, everyone with ties to Marcello is turning up dead, and Guidry suspects he’s next: he was in Dallas on an errand for the boss less than two weeks before the president was shot. With few good options, Guidry hits the road to Las Vegas, to see an old associate—a dangerous man who hates Marcello enough to help Guidry vanish.

Guidry knows that the first rule of running is “don’t stop,” but when he sees a beautiful housewife on the side of the road with a broken-down car, two little daughters and a dog in the back seat, he sees the perfect disguise to cover his tracks from the hit men on his tail. Posing as an insurance man, Guidry offers to help Charlotte reach her destination, California. If she accompanies him to Vegas, he can help her get a new car.

For her, it’s more than a car— it’s an escape. She’s on the run too, from a stifling existence in small-town Oklahoma and a kindly husband who’s a hopeless drunk.

It’s an American story: two strangers meet to share the open road west, a dream, a hope—and find each other on the way.

Charlotte sees that he’s strong and kind; Guidry discovers that she’s smart and funny. He learns that’s she determined to give herself and her kids a new life; she can’t know that he’s desperate to leave his old one behind.

Another rule—fugitives shouldn’t fall in love, especially with each other. A road isn’t just a road, it’s a trail, and Guidry’s ruthless and relentless hunters are closing in on him. But now Guidry doesn’t want to just survive, he wants to really live, maybe for the first time.

Everyone’s expendable, or they should be, but now Guidry just can’t throw away the woman he’s come to love.

And it might get them both killed.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

What if someone happened to come round that corner right now and caught them skulking? Trouble in this business had a way of spreading, just like a cold or the clap. Guidry knew you could catch it from the wrong handshake, an unlucky glance.

 

The only poor decision was a decision you allowed someone else to make for you.

 

Charlotte longed to live in a place where it wasn’t so hard to tell the past from the future.

 

Her favorite movie, as a child, had been The Wizard of Oz, her favorite moment when Dorothy opened the door of her black-and-white farmhouse and stepped into a strange and wonderful land. Lucky Dorothy. Charlotte dipped her brush again and not for the first time imagined a tornado dropping from the sky and blowing her far away, into a world full of color.

 

My philosophy is that guilt is an unhealthy habit… It’s what other people try to make you feel so you’ll do what they want. But one life is all we ever get, as far as I know. Why give it away?

 

My Review:

 

It is still unclear what actually transpired and how deeply tangled the web had to have been leading up to that awful November day in Dallas in 1963. This book wasn’t about JFK but proposes a possible, highly likely, and often speculated version of events culminating and occurring after his horrific demise with additional storylines that provided a realistic slice of life for those along the path.

The writing was superb and highly engaging. I was riveted to my Kindle and soaked in each well-chosen word like a sponge. I don’t often read this genre and this was my first exposure to the talents of Lou Berney, who is a gifted scribe. His storylines were dynamic, well-crafted, and ingeniously woven with mind prickling details. Yet I felt the true treasure of his creation was his vibrant and oddly endearing characters. I was thoroughly transported and only wished for more, but I’m greedy like that.

I was provided a review copy of this exceptionally well-written book by HarperCollins and TLC Book Tours.

 

 About Lou Berney

 

Lou Berney is the author of three previous novels, Gutshot Straight, Whiplash River, and multiple prize-winning The Long and Faraway Gone. His short fiction has appeared in publications such as The New Yorker, Ploughshares, and the Pushcart Prize anthology. He lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Find out more about Lou at his website, and follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

 

 

Book Review: One Day in December by Josie Silver

 One Day in December

by Josie Silver

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

Paperback: 400 Pages

Publisher: Broadway Books (October 16, 2018)


Two people. Ten chances. One unforgettable love story.

Laurie is pretty sure love at first sight doesn’t exist anywhere but the movies. But then, through a misted-up bus window one snowy December day, she sees a man who she knows instantly is the one. Their eyes meet, there’s a moment of pure magic…and then her bus drives away.

Certain they’re fated to find each other again, Laurie spends a year scanning every bus stop and cafe in London for him. But she doesn’t find him, not when it matters anyway. Instead they “reunite” at a Christmas party, when her best friend Sarah giddily introduces her new boyfriend to Laurie. It’s Jack, the man from the bus. It would be.

What follows for Laurie, Sarah and Jack is ten years of friendship, heartbreak, missed opportunities, roads not taken, and destinies reconsidered. One Day in December is a joyous, heartwarming and immensely moving love story to escape into and a reminder that fate takes inexplicable turns along the route to happiness.

“Josie Silver writes with a warmth so palpable her characters sneak their way into your heart and stay for a long time.”—Jill Santopolo, New York Times-bestselling author of The Light We Lost (a Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick)

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

‘I’ve got a date next week… I met him in a lift. I held him to ransom with the stop button until he agreed to ask me out.’ I really need to take life lessons from Sarah… I need to make ‘What would Sarah do?’ my life motto.

 

I’ll have to take a rain check. I’ve got a double date tonight with Ben and Jerry. They’re sweet… We’re going to work our way through the Karamel Sutra. It’s going to be a thrill a minute.

 

If I tell you something, do you promise to never tell another living soul, not even a goldfish?

 

I’ve only met Oscar’s brother once before. All I can recall is that Gerry doesn’t seem to be much like his easy-going younger brother, and his poker-thin wife, Felicity, looks as if she exists on fresh air and Chanel No. 5.

 

… how very tangled and complicated our lives have become over the years. We are a triangle, but our sides have kept changing length. Nothing has ever quite been equal. Perhaps it’s time to learn how to stand on our own, rather than lean on each other.

 

My Review:

 

A pair of strangers shared a fleeting connection when their eyes met and locked at a bus stop.   Laurie was on the crowded bus, while Jack was sitting at the bus stop. They did not speak to each other but their profound gaze left a deep and lasting impression before the bus pulled away and parted them yet again.   Neither ever forgot that interaction and though they had each searched, they did not meet up again until Laurie’s roommate, Sarah, introduced Jack as her new boyfriend a year later. Oops, what a mess… but what to do about it?   Denial and avoidance was apparently the unspoken plan.

This engaging tale covers a decade of unfortunately bad timing in the life these two conflicted soul mates as well as their small group of friends. Written in my favorite dual POV, this clever scribe’s writing was crisp and sparkled with wit and levity during the first half, although, to my consternation, grew steadily heavier with angst and conflict as the characters matured and struggled with various life stressors, relationships foibles, family, and work issues. I was running out of pages and hope for resolution when the crafty author pulled a sly and smooth move, which provided that much desired and highly satisfactory HEA. This was my first exposure to the delightful Josie Silver – what a trickster!

New additions to my Brit Vocabulary List include squiffy which Mr. Google said was a stuffy or overheated room; naff – which apparently has several meanings such as tacky, lame or uncool, and go away; and my new favorite of cock-a-hoop which means highly pleased or excited. I’m cock-a-hoop to have found a new author to fangirl.

 

About Josie Silver

JOSIE SILVER is an unashamed romantic who met her husband when she stepped on his foot on his twenty-first birthday. She lives with him, her two young sons, and their cats in a little town in England called Wolverhampton.

Connect with Josie

Website | Twitter | Instagram

 

Book Review: If the Shoe Fits (Almost Royal #1) by Rachel Lacey

If the Shoe Fits

 (Almost Royal #1)

by Rachel Lacey

Goodreads

Amazon / B&N

NOT ALL FAIRYTALES END AT MIDNIGHT

Elle Davenport is no princess—she just dresses up as one for her job at a local theme park. But when she gets the call that she’s won a contest to live and work at a real-life castle in Virginia, she finally feels like she’s found her calling. If she’s successful, her venture could become permanent, and that sounds like Elle’s idea of the perfect modern-day fairytale. There’s only one problem: the castle’s grumpy—and sexy—new owner wants her gone as soon as possible.

Theo Langdon never imagined he’d inherit the title of Earl of Highcastle so young. With his grandfather’s recent death, he needs to sell Rosemont Castle so he can return to London. If only he wasn’t butting heads with the vivacious new property manager at every corner. Although he’s got a life waiting for him in London, Rosemont Castle suddenly feels a lot like home, thanks to Elle. As the clock winds down on her time at the castle, he’ll have to reconcile his obligations in London with the American woman who’s stolen his heart.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quote:

 

I’m used to thinking about life in black and white, but you’ve made me see all the beautiful colors in between…

 

My Review:

 

What a clever premise!   I adored this delightful book and all the thoughtful and well-crafted storylines as well as the ingenious fine touches that gave it sparkle. As an animal lover, I particularly appreciated the creative workings of the Fairy Tails program, which provided visiting guests the opportunity to interact and bond with adoptable shelter pets while staying at their inn.

Rachel Lacey has mad skills. The writing was pleasantly entertaining, engaging, lushly detailed, and laced with levity, delicious steam, and insightful observations into and from the characters inner musings. The story flowed smoothly and her characters were unique, witty, and enticing; I was enamored with each and look forward to delving more deeply into each one during future installments.

About the Author

Rachel Lacey is a contemporary romance author and semi-reformed travel junkie. She’s been climbed by a monkey on a mountain in Japan, gone scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef, and camped out overnight in New York City for a chance to be an extra in a movie. These days, the majority of her adventures take place on the pages of the books she writes. She lives in warm and sunny North Carolina with her husband, son, and a variety of rescue pets.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads 

Book Review: Magic O’Clock and Magical Memories by Lynne Fellows

Magic O’Clock

by Lynne Fellows

Goodreads

Amazon  (universal)

Other eretailers (Kobo, B&N, Apple) :https://www.books2read.com/MOC

 

Archie Royle is a kind, funny, gentle man.

He’s also my dad. My storyteller. My hero.

Except he doesn’t remember my face anymore.

His world, these days, doesn’t include me or his family.

Life may have changed for him, but he hasn’t given up on life.

Not at all.

It’s just different.

Dad still tells his stories, albeit for a new audience.

He makes people smile and chuckle. As he always did.

He’s a fighter, a survivor and maybe sometimes too clever for his own good! He’ll surprise you. I can assure you of that.

Welcome to Magic O’Clock, where time is irrelevant and hope is unlimited.

Magical Memories

Goodreads / Amazon

 

As Archie Royle takes his final breath, three sisters race to say their goodbyes.

Two don’t make it in time.

I do.

And now, it’s all my fault they’re too late.

Despite him having dementia.

Despite them not visiting in over a month.

 

But I won’t let anger win.

After all, we’re all grieving, aren’t we?

Surely, as a family, we can let bygones be bygones.

 

It’s what Dad would want. Expect.

It’s what he deserves.

We have so much to be grateful for.

So many fond and magical memories to share.

 

Magical Memories is a fictional tale of loss, grief and moving on.

 

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

Magic O’Clock

Every day, without fail, shortly before three o’clock, he stops everything and heads off to his command post ready to enthrall his eager listeners. No watch is needed to tell him when it’s time. It’s purely instinctive and part of the daily marvel I have come to cherish.

 The grandfather clock in the main vestibule strikes once, then again and finally the third chime rings out. Dad is back. Complete with his confident mannerisms and easy charm. The lost soul that inhabits his body and mind for most of the day is vanquished for now and the man in his place is my father of old. My heart skips a beat as the transformation takes effect and the wonderful, self-assured storyteller prepares to weave his tale.

 He is a true word-smith, a man for whom eloquence and diction make pillow talk while he sleeps.

 Audience participation is his specialty. He loves teasing them into a frenzy. The nurses are constantly telling him not to, after all, some of these people have serious conditions, and too much excitement can be dangerous. But Archie’s response is always the same, ‘at least they’ll die with a smile on their face.’

Magical Memories

 

Where his tales came from, we’ll never know. Like a seasoned bowler, he’d put his own spin on it, launching it at full speed towards his unsuspecting audience.

 

When he surrendered the battle of the comb-over some years ago, it marked a turning point. It was at that moment I accepted defeat to his dementia. My hopes to avoid admitting him to a private care home waned, and I finally conceded that all the stored memory in my father’s brain was leaking out like a burst water pipe I could not fix.

 To say she blanched would be an understatement, but her complexion made Frosty the Snowman look like he was having a hot flush.

 Diplomacy is the act of thinking twice before saying nothing – not a skill I had ever learnt.

My Review:

 

While her father may have lost his memories and no longer recognize his family, mercifully, he had not lost his words or the ability to spin a good yarn and entertain his fellow residents at the retirement village.   These were delightfully vivid, tender, and heart-squeezing tales of bittersweet observations and inner musings.  The writing was poignant and emotive and so dear it stung my eyes and put a hot rock in my throat.  L.S. Fellows conjures sharp visuals with her excellent word skills.  She is a master storyteller with immediate engagement and keenly crafted storylines.

 

Author Bio – Despite being born in England, my heart now lies in Spain. Many moons ago, I was a student in Granada, Spain. I loved it so much and swore I would return one day on a more permanent basis. In 2003, I did just that.

Now, as a fur-mum to two adorable but mischievous mutts, in my free time, I can usually be spotted with my nose in a book, armed with just the teeniest chunk of chocolate and a zillion pomegranates!

Social Media Links –

Facebook: www.facebook.com/LFWrites

Twitter: @lfwrites – https://twitter.com/lfwrites

Website/Blog: https://just4mybooks.wordpress.com

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Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/lsfellows

 

Book Review: Louisiana Catch by Sweta Srivastava Vikram

Louisiana Catch

by Sweta Srivastava Vikram

IndieBound | Amazon | B & N

 

• Paperback: 268 pages
• Publisher: Modern History Press (April 10, 2018)

Ahana, a wealthy thirty-three-year-old New Delhi woman, flees the pain of her mother’s death, and her dark past, by accepting a huge project in New Orleans, where she’ll coordinate an Annual Conference to raise awareness of violence against women. Her half-Indian, half-Irish colleague and public relations guru, Rohan Brady, who helps Ahana develop her online presence, offends her prim sensibilities with his raunchy humor. She is convinced that he’s a womanizer. Meanwhile, she seeks relief from her pain in an online support group, where she makes a good friend: the mercurial Jay Dubois, who is also grieving the loss of his mother. Her work in the U.S. and the online medium bring the two men into her life, and Ahana learns that neither is what he seems. With their differing sensibilities on a collision course, Ahana finds herself in a dangerous situation—and she discovers a side of herself that she never realized she had.

Louisiana Catch is an emotionally immersive novel about identity, shame, and who we project ourselves to be in the world. It’s a book about Ahana’s unreliable instincts and her ongoing battle to determine whom to place her trust in as she, Rohan, and Jay shed layers of their identities.

As Ahana matures from a victim of domestic sexual abuse into a global feminist leader, she must confront her issues, both with the men in her life and, ultimately, with her own instincts. Whom can she rely on to have her best interests at heart?

Praise

“This book will be a welcome addition to modern-day discussions of women’s rights, multiculturalism, and online technologies.” ~ New York Journal of Books

“Raw, real, and profoundly moving, this is a very fine novel that begs for continuation in the form of a series. Sweta’s honors are well earned.” San Francisco Review of Books

“Louisiana Catch, by Sweta Srivastava Vikram,is an emotionally immersive novel about identity, shame, and who we project ourselves to be in the world. An extraordinary and entertaining read from cover to cover, Louisiana Catch is unreservedly recommended.” ~ Midwest Review

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Ms. Pamela signed off her tweets with “xoxo,” but I chose to read it as “I am a ho.”

 

Silence has the deepest voice.

 

Michael loved eating garlic naan with butter chicken. And he would sweat, like a hosepipe burst in his body, after eating raw green chilis with onions with all his Indian meals.

 

Life is too short to give another minute to anyone or anything that doesn’t make you happy.

 

My Review:

 

I struggled to get through this one. While the premise was topical and important to me, the reality of the blatantly perverse and oppressive patriarchal conditions for women living in third-world countries in this day and age was ever so disturbing.   I am largely ignorant and totally unfamiliar with Indian culture and was shocked to realize the current apathetic and openly abusive societal conditions towards sexual harassment, rape, and women’s safety in general. I applaud the author for her efforts in bringing this issue into the light of day.

The storylines were relevant yet slowly developed and more than a bit bogged down with an overabundance of ancillary details and a huge cast of characters, yet I remained curious as to how the main character of Ahana’s many issues would hopefully be resolved.   I had empathy for Ahana although I steadily lost patience with her, as she was exasperating and ridiculously juvenile for a woman in her thirties. She was also a clueless turd-magnet who was overly rigid and prone to self-sabotage. Rather than giving in to the urge to toss my beloved Kindle against the wall, I felt the need to put it down several times and walk away as I was finding Ahana’s moronic and immature behaviors increasingly tedious, although I shudder to think how annoying I would be if forced to endure such repressive conditions.   Given my penchant for freethinking opinions and sassy mouth, I would most likely be swiftly dispatched to an early grave.

 

About Sweta Vikram

Sweta Srivastava Vikram (www.swetavikram.com), featured by Asian Fusion as “one of the most influential Asians of our time,” is a best-selling author of 12 books, five-times Pushcart Prize nominee, coach, holistic wellness entrepreneur, and a certified yoga & Ayurveda counselor who helps people lead creative, productive, and healthier lives. Louisiana Catch (Modern History Press 2018) is her debut U.S. novel. It’s the #1 new release on Amazon under women’s divorce fiction and featured on U.K.’s list of “Books to Read in 2018.”  Sweta won Voices of the Year Award, past recipients of which have been Chelsea Clinton, for her work with Louisiana Catch and her tireless support of women who have experienced sexual assault and abuse.

Born in India, Sweta spent her formative years between the Indian Himalayas, North Africa, and the United States collecting and sharing stories. She writes hopeful stories about multiculturalism and women’s issues with a healthy dose of suspense, reflection, wellness, and food. Sweta, whose work has appeared in The New York Times, amongst other publications, across nine countries on three continents, is an award-winning writer and graduate of Columbia University. She lives in New York City with her husband and in her spare time, teaches yoga to female survivors of rape and domestic violence. You can find her in these online spaces: Twitter (@swetavikram), Instagram (@swetavikram), and Facebook.

 

Book Review: Speak of the Devil by Britney King

Title: Speak of the Devil
Author: Britney King
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Release Date: October 4, 2018
Speak of the Devil is a captivating, darkly satiric psychological thriller which offers readers another savage look into a utopian cultish society where beauty and perfection are valued at all costs and it’s best to keep your friends close and your enemies closer. 
 
In the upscale suburb where Vanessa Bolton lives, she’s your average suburban housewife.
 
She does her grocery shopping on Tuesday, Thursday mornings are reserved for Pilates, Sundays for church. At home, she’s an impeccable housekeeper and a mother with a mediocre track record.
 
But in discreet hotel rooms throughout the city, she can be whatever you want her to be—provided you can afford the hourly fee.
 
In the rapidly expanding cult to which she belongs, Vanessa has been assigned the role of a “Siren”—a recruiter trained to use seduction to elicit compliance from her marks.
 
Vanessa’s latest assignment—an unsuspecting chemist merely looking for something without strings—proves to be her toughest yet. Unwilling to neatly slide into the roles society has prescribed for them, the two collide in a sensual and savage affair that threatens not only their own lives but also those they seek to protect most.
 
Featuring “tantalizing suspense, pulse-pounding danger, sex, and double-dealing,” Speak of the Devil is a timely and riveting psychological thriller that is impossible to put down.

 
 

 

 
“….this is a series that stands apart from all other psychological thrillers out there as Britney King uses unique concepts and slays character roles.” – Elle’s Book Blog
 
“By far my favorite of the New Hope series. I couldn’t put it down!!” – Goodreads review
 
“The writing in fantastic. The plot was engaging and original…” – Between the Bookends
.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

The thing about seduction is you can’t be someone’s fantasy and be real at the same time.

 

How long does it take for a dead body to start smelling? What’s the best way to dispose of a corpse? How deep does a grave need to be? What’s the best way to get blood stains out of cement? God, so many questions. Questions I can’t very well Google. I need answers, and somehow I don’t think Siri would be much help either. Quora, maybe? There are a lot of options. I can at least be grateful for that. I can’t imagine what they used to go through in the olden days.

 

My Review:

 

What an odious and loathsome cast of characters, there were no heroes in this story; while some were more monstrous than others they were all contemptible and doggedly manipulative. The New Hope church/cult practices were deplorable, the church leaders were unsavory and despicable, and their lifestyle and underpinnings of sex trafficking and blackmail, and the use of torture, brainwashing and drugging of their members were disturbingly abhorrent. Yet, despite all that, the remarkably talented Brittany King’s unique writing style and insightful and captivating storytelling kept me riveted to this provocative and twisted tale, and while I frequently flinched and cringed while reading, I could not put my Kindle down. I’m a bit worried what that says about me.

 

Britney King lives in Austin, Texas with her husband, children, two dogs, one ridiculous cat, and a partridge in a pear tree.
When she’s not wrangling the things mentioned above, she writes psychological, domestic and romantic thrillers set in suburbia.
 
Currently, she’s writing three series and several standalone novels.
 
The Bedrock Series features an unlikely heroine who should have known better. Turns out, she didn’t. Thus she finds herself tangled in a messy, dangerous, forbidden love story and face-to-face with a madman hell-bent on revenge. The series has been compared to Fatal Attraction, Single White Female, and Basic Instinct.
 
The Water Series follows the shady love story of an unconventional married couple—he’s an assassin—she kills for fun. It has been compared to a crazier book version of Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Also, Dexter.
 
Around The Bend is a heart-pounding standalone, which traces the journey of a well-to-do suburban housewife, and her life as it unravels, thanks to the secrets she keeps. If she were the only one with things she wanted to keep hidden, then maybe it wouldn’t have turned out so bad. But she wasn’t.
The With You Series at its core is a deep love story about unlikely friends who travel the world; trying to find themselves, together and apart. Packed with drama and adventure along with a heavy dose of suspense, it has been compared to The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and Love, Rosie.
The Social Affair is an intense standalone about a timeless couple who find themselves with a secret admirer they hadn’t bargained for. For fans of the anti-heroine and stories told in unorthodox ways, the novel explores what can happen when privacy is traded for convenience. It is reminiscent of films such as One Hour Photo and Play Misty For Me. 
 
Without a doubt, connecting with readers is the best part of this gig. You can find Britney online here: 
Web• http://BritneyKing.com
Instagram • https://instagram.com/britneyking_ 
Facebook • https://www.facebook.com/BritneyKingAuthor
Twitter• http://twitter.com/BritneyKing_
Goodreads • http://bit.ly/BritneyKingGoodreads
 
To get more– grab two books for free, by subscribing to her mailing list at britneyking.com or just copy and paste bit.ly/britneykingweb into your browser. 
Happy reading.

 

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