Book Review: LAST CHANCE MATINEE (Hudson Sisters #1) by Mariah Stewart

LAST CHANCE MATINEE
A Hudson Sisters Novel #1 

by Mariah Steward

        

 

From New York Times bestselling author Mariah Stewart comes the first novel in her all-new series, The Hudson Sisters, following a trio of reluctant sisters as they set out to fulfill their father’s dying wish. In the process, they find not only themselves, but the father they only thought they knew.

When celebrated and respected agent Fritz Hudson passes away, he leaves a trail of Hollywood glory in his wake—and two separate families who never knew the other existed. Allie and Des Hudson are products of Fritz’s first marriage to Honora, a beautiful but troubled starlet whose life ended in a tragic overdose. Meanwhile, Fritz was falling in love on the Delaware Bay with New Age hippie Susa Pratt—they had a daughter together, Cara, and while Fritz loved Susa with everything he had, he never quite managed to tell her or Cara about his West Coast family.

Now Fritz is gone, and the three sisters are brought together under strange circumstances: there’s a large inheritance to be had that could save Allie from her ever-deepening debt following a disastrous divorce, allow Des to open a rescue shelter for abused and wounded animals, and give Cara a fresh start after her husband left her for her best friend—but only if the sisters upend their lives and work together to restore an old, decrepit theater that was Fritz’s obsession growing up in his small hometown in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains. Guided by Fritz’s closest friend and longtime attorney, Pete Wheeler, the sisters come together—whether they like it or not—to turn their father’s dream into a reality, and might just come away with far more than they bargained for.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

What could he have said?” Cara lowered her voice. “‘Oh, Susa, by the way, did I mention that I was married to someone else when I married you? But she passed away, so we don’t have to worry about those pesky bigamy laws.’

 

“I don’t know a whole lot about men, but I do know that none of them come with guarantees.” “Well, they should. They should come with grades or little caution cards. ‘Lies without conscience.’ ‘Will cheat every chance he gets.’ ‘Really does think that dress makes your ass look fat.’ ‘Only pretends to like puppies.’”

 

Cara watched Joe take a bite of his burger and was tempted to whisper, ‘Moo,’ but thought maybe she’d pulled that chain enough for one day.

 

I bought champagne to celebrate you. He doesn’t matter. You matter… We matter. We deserve a chance, and this is where we begin. You in?

 

I had the best time. Joe is… The one I thought I’d never find.

 

My Review:

 

I enjoyed this engaging story from beginning to end. The writing was entertaining, amusing, and lushly detailed. While the storyline initially seemed a bit complicated, it was easy to follow and pleasurable to read. Upon their father’s death, three women discover they have more family members than they realized – as Papa was a Rollin’ Stone.   According to the “ironclad” will, the three women were required to work together on an extensive and challenging restoration project with firm conditions and stipulations before they would earn their father’s large estate. Their project required the sisters to relocate to a quaint little town in Pennsylvania, which sparked outrage for Allie – the snide LA diva sister, although she was most hard edges and always on the verge of outrage.   There was a large cast of interesting and vibrantly detailed characters, with each being delightfully unique, easily differentiated, and memorable. My favorites being Joe – for his clever wit and patience, and Des for her thoughtful insights and gentleness. All the characters intrigued me, although I would not want to spend one second of my time with the bitter drama llama Allie.

About the Author

Amazon

 

Mariah Stewart is the award-winning New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of numerous novels and several novellas and short stories. A native of Hightstown, New Jersey, she lives with her husband and two rambunctious rescue dogs amid the rolling hills of Chester County, Pennsylvania, where she savors country life and tends her gardens while she works on her next novel. Visit her website at MariahStewart.com, like her on Facebook at Facebook.com/AuthorMariahStewart, and follow her on Instagram @Mariah_Stewart_Books.

Book Review: The Pieces of You and Me by Rachel Burton

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The Pieces of You and Me

by Rachel Burton

Purchase Link: mybook.to/PiecesYouMe

 

They say time can heal all wounds…

When Jess and Rupert parted ways, it was the end of a great love story that might have been. Now ten years later, the very different paths they have taken in life will bring them back together for a chance meeting.

But with so much left unsaid about the breakup neither ever recovered from and with each keeping their own devastating secrets, will they finally be able to make the fractured pieces of their love for one another whole again?

 

 

My Rating:

 

Favorite Quotes:

 

Gem, I know you’re over the moon about getting married and I’m delighted for you, but it doesn’t mean that you get to matchmake. Even if I am the last one left on the shelf.

 

We were born twelve hours apart – you at six p.m. and me the following morning – in the same hospital, our mothers recovering in beds next to each other… You were early and I was late, which was the pattern that continued for the rest of our lives. You were always waiting for me to catch up with you.

 

Too young to be here, too old not to be. We’d always done terrifying things together. It felt like the first time we jumped into the deep end of the swimming pool, hand in hand, as children.

 

Looking back on it now with the advantage of age and hindsight I realised how foolish I’d been, how foolish we are when we’re young. Maybe that alone was reason enough for us to have gone our separate ways. I had been too young to understand nuanced grey areas of thought back then, too young to understand discretion and diplomacy and how sometimes we have to say things we don’t really mean just to keep the peace.

 

My Review:

 

One of my favorite tropes just so happens to be second-chances, and this couple was more than deserving of a rekindled relationship as they had each been living a rather miserable half-life while a decade apart. Serious health and family issues and tendencies to live too deeply inside their own heads further compounded their pressures and littered their path with landmines. This could easily have been a maudlin tale but Ms. Burton craftily shaped and paced her endearing flawed yet stubborn characters’ insights, memories, and encounters to circumvent the reader falling into the pit of despair.

While the narrative was often melancholy and angsty – which typically has me twitching and sighing in agony – I am absolutely astounded to report that I didn’t seem to mind. Ms. Burton may well have deployed some sort of magical word voodoo on her book file as, despite the angst, the tender quality and ingenious tempo of her superb storytelling kept me fully engaged, deeply invested, and intensely curious about their slowly unraveling and intriguing story. Contemplating this surprising and momentous phenomenon leaves me rather astonished and blinking in amazement. Such a sly and clever wordsmith deserves a five-star rating for that alone.

About the Author

Rachel Burton is the author of the international ebook bestseller The Many Colours of Us. 

Rachel spent most of her life between Cambridge and London but now lives in Yorkshire with her fiance and their three cats. The main loves of her life are The Beatles and very tall romantic heroes.

Find her on Twitter & Instagram as @bookish_yogi or follow her blog at rachelburtonwrites.com. She is always happy to talk books, writing, music, cats and how the weather in Yorkshire is rubbish. She is mostly dreaming of her next holiday.

Social Media Links – Twitter: twitter.com/bookish_yogi

Instagram: Instagram.com/Bookish_yogi

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rachel-Burton-353151308524664/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/rachelburton6/pins/

Book Review: Fleeting (The Nash Brothers #1) by Carrie Aarons

Today we are celebrating the release of the newest standalone title by Carrie Aarons. FLEETING just went live, and it is the first book in the Nash Brothers series!

Purchase it now or read for FREE as part of Kindle Unlimited, and follow Carrie for exclusive updates about the book.

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Fleeting by Carrie Aarons

Available Now | Nash Brothers, #1

Read it for FREE in Kindle Unlimited

Presley McDaniel lives her life from moment to moment.

Making permanent decisions means obligation, and that would force her to stop being the family disappointment. Waitress, fitness instructor, dog walker … you name the hourly job and she’s probably held the position.

But when her grandmother can no longer run her book shop in Fawn Hill, a town so small it barely has its own zip code, Presley steps up to help.

The move from bustling city to green pastures may be exactly what she needs to sort out her life. But she didn’t ask for that happy ending to include a gorgeous veterinarian with an all-American smile and a penchant for snuggling puppies. The good doctor is reliable, responsible, and just the kind of man Presley has always avoided.

Love and commitment are predictable.

So why, the moment she lays eyes on him, are they all she wants?

Keaton Nash has never questioned his steady path.

His brothers may tease him about settling into his father’s passed-down role of small-town veterinarian, but Keaton has never minded his rural roots. And after tragedy struck two years ago, he has a duty as the eldest Nash man to look after his family.

What he doesn’t need is the sexy, flighty stranger who shows up in town and gets his broken heart beating again. Presley McDaniel is a distraction, a red-headed temptation that is the definition of a bad idea.

He’s barely recovered from the love who left him to chase bigger dreams, and this woman is bound to do the same.

Except for the first time ever, he wants to abandon stability.

She makes him want to be reckless.

 

Add the book to Goodreads

 

My Rating:

 

Favorite Quotes:

 

How old are you, anyway? And what’s your middle name? I should at least know the basics before I go on a date with you. You could be a serial killer.

 

I am jumpy, anxious, my palms are sweating … it is as if I’ve been arrested for a crime I didn’t commit and am about to confess just to make it stop.

 

… the two have the chemistry of a box of fireworks. Illegal ones.

 

 My Review:

 

This was an excellent start for a new series.   Fleeting was a fun and lively read that was loaded with zings of clever humor, irreverent wit, sizzling steam, and endearingly flawed and appealing characters. Written in my favorite dual POV, the writing was briskly paced, easy to follow, engaging, and pleasantly entertaining. While it wasn’t all rainbow sprinkles and unicorn farts, the heart-squeezing moments were not overly angsty or unrealistically melodramatic. Presley was a bit of a hot mess but I totally adored the earnest white knight Keaton.   I would have a standing appointment if my vet were as thoughtful and sexy as Dr. Nash. However, his family dynamics were uniquely vexing with each member having intriguing issues and distinct personalities. I look forward to getting to know each of them better in subsequent installments.

What Reviewers Are Saying…

“So what do I need to do to find a quaint little town like Fawn Hill? And some Nash brothers? Because good golly Miss Molly I am in love with everything here!” -The Book Branch

“This book is fabulous…I had a smile on my face for most of it. I read this book in one sitting, it is a pager turner.” -Goodreads Reviewer

“I suggest y’all grab a copy when it releases on March 14th! Scratch that … I’m TELLING you to! Mrs. Aarons has won my heart over with these boys already.” -Goodreads Reviewer

Read it for FREE in Kindle Unlimited

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AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Author of romance novels such as Red Card and Privileged, Carrie Aarons writes books that are just as swoon-worthy as they are sarcastic. A former journalist, she prefers the stories she dreams up, and the yoga pant dress code, much better.

When she isn’t writing, Carrie is busy binging reality TV, having a love/hate relationship with cardio, and trying not to burn dinner. She lives in the suburbs of New Jersey with her husband, daughter and dog.

 

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Book Review: Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah

Where the Forest Meets the Stars

by Glendy Vanderah

 

Amazon US / UK / AU CA / B&N

Hardcover: 332 Pages

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing (March 1, 2019)

In this gorgeously stunning debut, a mysterious child teaches two strangers how to love and trust again.

After the loss of her mother and her own battle with breast cancer, Joanna Teale returns to her graduate research on nesting birds in rural Illinois, determined to prove that her recent hardships have not broken her. She throws herself into her work from dusk to dawn, until her solitary routine is disrupted by the appearance of a mysterious child who shows up at her cabin barefoot and covered in bruises.

The girl calls herself Ursa, and she claims to have been sent from the stars to witness five miracles. With concerns about the child’s home situation, Jo reluctantly agrees to let her stay—just until she learns more about Ursa’s past.

Jo enlists the help of her reclusive neighbor, Gabriel Nash, to solve the mystery of the charming child. But the more time they spend together, the more questions they have. How does a young girl not only read but understand Shakespeare? Why do good things keep happening in her presence? And why aren’t Jo and Gabe checking the missing children’s website anymore?

Though the three have formed an incredible bond, they know difficult choices must be made. As the summer nears an end and Ursa gets closer to her fifth miracle, her dangerous past closes in. When it finally catches up to them, all of their painful secrets will be forced into the open, and their fates will be left to the stars.

“Enchanting, insightful, and extraordinary.” Novelgossip

“A heartwarming, magical story about love, loss, and finding family where you least expect it. This touching novel will remind readers of a modern-day The Snow Child.” —Christopher Meades, award-winning author of Hanna Who Fell from the Sky

 

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

As always, words fail when you most want to say the right thing… I’ve decided language isn’t as advanced as we think it is. We’re still apes trying to express our thoughts with grunts while most of what we want to communicate stays locked in our brains.

 

He was teaching her how to play poker, and they were using oyster crackers as betting chips. “First guns, now gambling,” Jo said. “You’re a bad influence.” “Not for long,” he said. “We can’t stop eating our money.”

 

“And I know what you’ve been through—how it could have …influenced what you did.” Why did everyone think that? She kept her mouth shut, but she wanted to say that she wouldn’t have done anything different if she still had her mother and her breasts and her ovaries. She would love Ursa just as much.

 

Did she tell you she once snuck a lamb into the hospital? … She knows I love the baby farm animals she works with, so she packs the lamb in her car with its milk, drives up to Chicago, and sneaks it into my room two days after my breasts were removed. She takes this tiny lamb out of a shoulder bag, lays it on my bed, and hands me the bottle. There, she says, who needs tits anyway? There are other ways to give milk.

 

Before his life fell apart, he’d wanted to be an astrophysicist. He named his daughter Ursa for the Big Bear in the sky, and he’d taught her the names of stars and constellations. When Ursa was afraid of the dark, he would open her window a crack and tell her good magic that fell out of the stars was coming in her window. He said the magic would always keep her safe. After he died, Ursa opened her window wide every night, trying to let in lots of good magic.

 

 My Review:

 

This captivating book bewitched and enthralled me. I delighted in the unexpected and stealthy hits of clever wit and levity that was surprisingly tucked into the most unexpected places. I gleefully endured the prickling and tauntingly enticing mystery that relentlessly beckoned to me to continue reading and ignore anything and everything beyond the screen of my Kindle.

 

Ms. Vanderah’s writing was alchemy and I was ensorcelled. I was repeatedly taken with the layered depth of the fascinating and quirky characters as well as the thoughtful creativity of the storylines, which were complex and beautifully textured with cleverly amusing and cringe-worthy details.

 

I waffled in my theories of whether the girl’s fantastical explanations and alien assertions could be true as she was oddly intelligent and insightful, and far more advanced than many adults in her ability to absorb knowledge or sketch, yet she was a small child with an estimated age of nine. My curiosity was as unabating as Ursa’s quarks.   I reveled in this stunning and cunningly crafted tale from beginning to end and was absolutely staggered once aware it was the author’s debut. Glendy Vanderah is definitely one to watch. A Five-Star rating is not enough by half.

About Glendy Vanderah

Glendy Vanderah worked as an endangered bird specialist in Illinois before she became a writer. Originally from Chicago, she now lives in rural Florida with as many birds, butterflies, and wildflowers as she can lure to her land. Where the Forest Meets the Stars is her debut novel.

Connect with Glendy

Website | Instagram

 

Book Review, Giveaway: The Trail to You by Lindsay Detwiler

Title: The Trail to You
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: March 16, 2019
Cover Designer: Claire Smith
On sale for half price!

An independent blonde seeking a fresh start.

Orphaned and unhappy, Ally Hunter makes a life-changing decision to move across the country to a small town that once felt like home. As she reinvents herself, she realizes there’s one part of the equation missing—love. However, a tragedy from the past makes her hesitate when it comes to giving up her heart.

A betrayed man looking for a sense of pride.

Abandoned by his first love and family, Ronan has one friend he can truly count on—his two-hundred-pound mastiff, Henry. When he returns home from service in the National Guard, though, he finds his entire life catapulted in a different direction with the disappearance of his beloved dog.

A loyal four-legged friend who will unexpectedly bring them together.

When Henry, Ronan’s brindle mastiff, finds himself far from home, Ronan sets out on a journey to bring him back. However, as the trail to Henry leads Ronan to Ridgewood, Virginia, and an interior designer with a big heart, he’ll realize some hardships lead to beautiful discoveries.

The Trail to You is a sweet stand-alone romantic novel.

On sale for half price!

 

 

My Rating:

 

Favorite Quotes:

 

I’m a sad, lonely housewife who cleans up boogers and deals with Candyland fights. Give me something interesting here.

 

Well, the guy thinks white socks and black dress shoes go together and believes watching Jaws is a romantic night. I had my doubts.

 

Her idea of being a foodie was knowing the different types of sauces at Chick-Fil-A.

 

You know how I spent Christmas Eve? Crying over bed bugs, looking up Pinterest ideas on getting gum out of Aggie’s hair, and reassuring Greg that the bump on his ass was not actually a bed bug bite… even though I’m pretty sure it was. Yeah, trust me, we weren’t exactly singing ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing’ either. Of course, maybe you were.

My Review:

 

This was one of those sweet and touching stories that make me want to run to the pound and adopt all the dogs, ALL of them…   And I’m a cat person. As with all Ms. Detwiler’s emotive stories, The Trail to You was thoughtfully written yet pleasantly well-balanced, consistently engaging, relaxing and easy to follow, heart squeezing, insightfully observant, colorfully amusing, and stung my eyes a few times before reaching a satisfactory and sigh-inducing HEA. Her characters were endearing everyday people doing their best and ensnaring my heart along their journey. I adored this couple, they became so familiar I believe I would recognize them if I saw them walking their precious dog Henry on the street.

 

A high school English teacher, an author, and a fan of anything pink and/or glittery, Lindsay’s the English teacher cliché; she loves cats, reading, Shakespeare, and Poe.
She currently lives in her hometown with her husband, Chad (her junior high sweetheart); their cats, Arya, Amelia, Alice, and Bob; and their Mastiff, Henry.
Lindsay’s goal with her writing is to show the power of love and the beauty of life while also instilling a true sense of realism in her work. Some reviewers have noted that her books are not the “typical romance.” With her novels coming from a place of honesty, Lindsay examines the difficult questions, looks at the tough emotions, and paints the pictures that are sometimes difficult to look at. She wants her fiction to resonate with readers as realistic, poetic, and powerful. Lindsay wants women readers to be able to say, “I see myself in that novel.” She wants to speak to the modern woman’s experience while also bringing a twist of something new and exciting. Her aim is for readers to say, “That could happen,” or “I feel like the characters are real.” That’s how she knows she’s done her job.

Lindsay’s hope is that by becoming a published author, she can inspire some of her students and other aspiring writers to pursue their own passions. She wants them to see that any dream can be attained and publishing a novel isn’t out of the realm of possibility.

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Book Review: The Truth About Love and Dogs by Lilly Bartlett

The Truth About Love and Dogs

by Lilly Bartlett

Amazon US / UK CA / AU 

 

Four little words, uttered by her husband…
‘Oh my god,’ he gasped into her shoulder. ‘Shannon!’
There’s just one problem: her name isn’t Shannon.

Rewind six months and Scarlett and Rufus aren’t in the honeymoon stage anymore so much as the honey-should-we-bother phase. Desperate to get their sparkle back, Scarlett has plotted, planned and waxed more than any woman should have to, but none of it is working. Which makes it very hard to start the family they want.

At least her business is going strong, even if her marriage isn’t. She and her best friend spend their days tangled up in dog leads and covered in fur. Scarlett/ is the fairy dogmother, training hopeless pets like compulsive eater Barkley, impulsive Romeo Murphy, and bossy Biscuit. Meanwhile, her best friend walks the dogs and pines for the man who doesn’t know she exists. Thank goodness the women have each other.

If only Scarlett could work out how to get her marriage back on track. But Rufus isn’t sharing his feelings with her. He is, though, sharing with her best friend. Her best friend, Shannon.

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My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

‘I don’t have needs.’ ‘You don’t?’ ‘Nope, not me, none. I’m like a self-cleaning oven. No upkeep required. You don’t need to worry about me.’ ‘Well, just remember. It’s not healthy to self-clean for too long.’

 

Roxy the Rocket, their class’s very own man-eater. She’d been round the campus more times than the Domino’s delivery guy.

 

A slip of the tongue, Rufus? Really? Exactly where has your tongue been slipping?

 

That man could put a positive spin on a dysentery epidemic. Sure, I shit my pants, but I went down a belt notch!

 

Please, Octavia, you’re one to talk about looking unnatural. You’ve been tucked so many times you look like a hospital corner.

 

 My Review:

 

I adored this delightfully amusing book from beginning to end.  The writing was crisp, breezy, and heaving with zingy levity and colorful observations that conjured keen visuals. The storylines were cleverly developed, highly entertaining, and kept me smirking.   I will also confess to few outright giggle-snorts escaping my mouth. It wasn’t all fun and games as a few rather unpleasant intrusions to their marital bliss needed to be ironed out and the main characters may have each needed a swift kick or two in the derriere to dislodge their misplaced craniums, but they found their way to my must have and highly satisfying HEA. It is a red-letter day as the dual personality of Lilly Bartlett/Michele Gorman has a new fangirl and I have a new author to stalk.

About the Author

Lilly Bartlett is the pen-name of Sunday Times and USA Today best-selling author, Michele Gorman, who writes best friend-girl power comedies under her own name.  Lilly’s books are full of warmth, romance, quirky characters, and guaranteed happily-ever-afters.

Michele writes books packed with heart and humor, best friends and girl power. Call them beach books, summer reads, romantic comedy or chick lit… readers and reviewers call them “feel good”, “thought-provoking” and “laugh out loud”. She is both a Sunday Times and a USA Today bestselling author, raised in the US and living in London with her husband. She is very fond of naps, ice cream, and Richard Curtis films.

Book Review: Space (Laws of Physics #2) by Penny Reid

SPACE_BT.jpg

Space, the second book in the all-new Laws of Physics Trilogy from Wall Street Journal and New York Times bestselling author Penny Reid, is available now!

LOP_SPACE.jpg

One week.

Private cabin.

Famous physicist.

Still an unrepentant slacker.

What’s the worst that could happen?

Mona’s meticulously planned allotment of relaxation is thrown into chaos by the unscheduled appearance of her older brother’s band of friends, including the one person she’d hoped to never face again. Abram still makes her feel entirely too much, which is one of the reasons she disappeared after their one week together. But now, trapped on a mountain of snow and things unspoken, Mona will have to find a way to coexist with Abram, chaos and all.

Laws of Physics is the second trilogy in the Hypothesis series; Laws of Physics parts 1 (MOTION) & 2 (SPACE) end with a cliffhanger.

SPACE_LIVE01.jpg

My Rating:

 

Favorite Quotes:

 

Sometimes reality feels like a dream. Something happens, and it makes you question everything you know to be true, everything you take for granted about the world, about yourself. When that happens, your surroundings and interactions become likewise warped, like you’re watching those around you through a magnifying glass, or in high saturation color, and you can’t stop. You can’t make the world normal again, you know too much.

 

I’m not used to pensive Abram. I’m used to salty, sarcastic Abram. What’s going on? Is your manbun too tight?

 

Fine. Now you know the truth. Leo is a cutie pie and I just want to wrap him up in rice paper and eat him up like an egg roll.

 

Don’t you roll your eyes at me. You write poetry for barnacle’s sake. You can’t tell me you’re not tender. You’re like veal, or foie gras, but without the sketchy ethics issues.

 

Mean smiles, no jokes, broody eyebrows. You’re like an arthouse movie but without the nudity.

 

My Review:

I inhaled this book and didn’t fully exhale until reaching the last cleverly written word.   I didn’t plan to greedily read all the highly coveted words in one sitting, but had no choice really, as after I started I was sucked into an oddly intense yet extremely pleasant vortex and was compelled to keep going well past my bedtime. It was a bit of a frenzy but I moved through each and every scene while beside either Mona or Abram the entire time; fully engaged from start to finish. I actively sighed, smirked, snorted, cringed, held my breath, and swore aloud while they dithered and debated.

Be warned – you will experience all the feels in this deviously paced and ingeniously plotted tale. I was mesmerized, bewitched, besotted, and transfixed. While I had eventually grown to love Martin while reading the Hypothesis series, I felt like throat punching him during his brief drop-in visit near the end of this installment. The extraordinarily crafty and deft wordsmith known as Penny Reid obviously possesses a magical sparkle filled pen that has been blessed by the fairies.

 

Download your copy today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2SL7P09

AppleBooks: https://apple.co/2WOXsrj

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/SpacePR

Nook: http://bit.ly/2I1Rekw

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2GzSvwS

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2RRny94

Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2tfBT5C

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2SpmiKZ

SPACE_T02.jpg

Excerpt:

“Hi—hello,” she said, stepping forward but not out of the way, drawing my attention.

She was still staring at me, her face still pale, but her eyes had turned searching instead of stunned.

“I—” She stopped herself, swallowing, her gaze dropping to the front of my coat, a cute little frown furrowing her eyebrows. In the next moment, she was pulling off the glove of her right hand. Abruptly, she shoved the ungloved fingers toward me, returning her eyes to mine. “I’m Mona.”

I suppressed my disbelief at her small action before it could break my outward mask of calm. I wasn’t calm. Just to be clear, I was the opposite of calm.

The fact that she was introducing herself to me now meant that she thought I was too stupid to figure out her lies over the last two-and-a-half-fucking years. She was arguably one of the smartest people in the world, after all. To her, people like me must seem like housebroken pets. So it shouldn’t have surprised me. But it did. The tension and tightness around my ribs reappeared, squeezing uncomfortably.

Dropping my attention to her bare hand, I pressed my lips into a tighter line, dismissing the way my pulse jumped at the sight of her wrist, the olive tone of her skin under the yellow string lights overhead. Glaring at her outstretched offering, I considered telling her to go to hell.

I considered it, but I wouldn’t.

I didn’t trust myself to speak, that was reason number one.

The other reason was harder to explain, or use as a justification, or admit to myself. Staring at her hand, I braced against a sudden flare of hunger. She might consider me a lower life-form, but that didn’t change the fact that I wanted to touch her. I wanted to touch her more than I wanted to tell her to go to hell, and that was fucking pitiful.

But there it was.

Acting on the compulsion, I lifted my right hand and tugged off the ski glove, sliding my warm palm against her much colder one. Her hand felt good in my hand, the right weight, the right size, the right texture, and I inhaled freezing air.

Mona also seemed to suck in a slow but expansive breath as our hands touched, held. This brought my eyes back to hers in time to see her lashes flutter. Pink colored her previously pale cheeks. The sound of the wailing wind, the sting of the air and frost momentarily melted away, leaving just her, her soft skin warming against mine, her beautiful face filling my vision.

So beautiful.

She really was. She was stunning. I hated that she was still so beautiful to me.

Start the series today!

Motion

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2T5iZto

AppleBooks: https://apple.co/2QYvTaB

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/Motion

Nook: http://bit.ly/2R1mpvn

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2ASuOfq

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2DoH8pv

Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2T4ebo9

Pre-order the highly anticipated conclusion today!

Time

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Gk59Aq

AppleBooks: https://apple.co/2MYQ73J

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/TimePR

Nook: http://bit.ly/2TFwsIH

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2RTODZD

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2Sm1Zmu

Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2WSQbXe

Meet Penny Reid:

Penny Reid is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Best Selling Author of the Winston Brothers, Knitting in the City, Rugby, and Hypothesis series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she just writes books. She’s also a full time mom to three diminutive adults, wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought ninja.

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Book Review: Magnolia House by Angela Barton

Magnolia House

by Angela Barton

 

Amazon US / UK / CA / AU B&N

 

Rowan Forrester has it all – the happy marriage, the adorable dog, the good friends, the promising business and even the dream home after she and her husband Tom win a stunning but slightly dilapidated Georgian townhouse in London at auction. 

But in the blink of an eye, Rowan’s picture-perfect life comes crashing down around her and she is faced with the prospect of having to start again. 

To make ends meet she begins a search for housemates, and in doing so opens the door to new friends and new beginnings. But could she be opening the door to new heartbreak too?

 

 

My Rating:

 

Favorite Quotes:

 

He’s such a messy man, she thought. Was a messy man. The change of tense felt like an obscenity.

 

‘Last few things,’ said Ace, carrying a cactus through his new front door. ‘What on earth is that?’ said Rowan, pointing at the spiky plant. ‘It’s a bit …phallic.’ ‘This is Dick and you’d better not be laughing. He’s been a good friend to me and helped me out of a depression last year.’ … Ace placed the plant pot reverentially on his kitchen table. ‘When I was feeling low last year, my boyfriend bought Dick for me. And before you start questioning its name, it’s because my boyfriend was called Richard, okay? … He was sensitive and supportive when I couldn’t be bothered to get out of bed, wash or eat. We’re talking my boyfriend here by the way, not the cactus.’ … It really worked. It took some weeks but every time I glimpsed Dick sitting on my bathroom shelf, bulbous and proud – the cactus, not my boyfriend – it would make me smile.’

 

How can your impression of the man you’ve loved, change in an instant? It was as if she was viewing him through a distorted fairground mirror, where his image had changed beyond all recognition.

 

I never did like that Helen much. Likes to put her oar in but can’t row the boat.

 

‘You haven’t told me what the doctors have said about your pain. I heard you’d had stomach ache and were having a lobotomy.’ Libby giggled. ‘A laparoscopy.

 

Don’t talk to me about time flying. Every time I look in the mirror I see less of Enrique Iglesias looking back and more of Julio.

 

I’m relieved you’re on the mend now they’ve removed those trees from your oasis.’ ‘Endometriosis, idiot.’ ‘That’s what I just said.’

 

 My Review:

 

Angela Barton is my new favorite author. I adored her sagacious use of clever levity, which handily balanced out the heavier storylines that were fraught with tension, angst, and indecision. The busy plot was highly active, well populated, shrewdly paced, and held my interest throughout with several intriguing concerns and relevant issues. Ms. Barton’s writing was unfailingly engaging and tapped all the feels, frequently swinging between heart squeezing and wittily amusing within the same scene. Her characters were uncommonly and deeply flawed yet they were also uniquely endearing, well drawn, and well-meaning while striving for betterment, although I might have wanted to give several of them a few sassy pinches at various times; except for Ace, who was the perfect comedic foil and had all the best lines and cleverest quips.

About the Author

Angela Barton was born in London and grew up in Nottingham. She is married with three grown-up children and adorable four-year-old twin granddaughters. Angela is passionate about writing both contemporary and historical fiction and loves time spent researching facts for her novels. Having signed publishing contracts for three of her completed novels with Choc Lit’s new imprint, Ruby Fiction, Angela is excited to be working alongside such a lovely team.

Angela and her husband, Paul, recently moved to France and planted a lavender field. She’s looking forward to spending more time writing in the beautiful Charente countryside working from her new writing room, a beautiful shepherd hut. Angela is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and Nottingham Writers’ Studio.

Social Media Links –

Website:  https://www.angelabarton.net  

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/angela.barton3

Twitter: https://twitter.com/angebarton

Arlette’s Story:   amzn.to/2lAyIlb

Magnolia House:   smarturl.it/fttfc2

 

Book Review: Knowing You by Samantha Tonge

Knowing You

by Samantha Tonge

Amazon US / UK / CA / AU /

B&N / iBooks / Kobo Google

 

An abrupt change; a new friendship; a dark secret…


 Kind-hearted Violet has never fitted in, but despite being bullied at school is now content. She is dating ambitious Lenny, has her dream job in publishing and runs a book club at the local retirement home.

 

However, when her relationship with Lenny begins to falter, Violet, hurt and alone, seeks the advice of her new flatmate, Bella. She changes her image and with her head held high aims to show that she doesn’t need Lenny in her life to be happy and successful.

 

Her long-term friends Mable and Farah worry about Bella’s influence and slowly Violet starts to distance herself from them. When she was a child, her closest confidant and companion was a boy called Flint. Her mother didn’t approve of their closeness and he suffered a terrible end. She won’t let the same thing happen to Bella, no matter what anyone says…

 

Knowing You is about friendship and knowing who to trust with your deepest secrets; it’s about taking control of your life and not being afraid to stand out. Perfect for fans of Ruth Hogan, Gail Honeyman, and Amanda Prowse

 

My Rating:

 

Favorite Quotes:

 

My first love was an assistant manager at the local bookshop where I had a Saturday job. It was then that I realised the most attractive thing about a man was the width of his reading list.

 

Uncle Kevin got headhunted. Sounds scary, doesn’t it? Makes me think of my favourite Horrid Henry story about cannibals. It means he got offered a job in America, the place where people eat bacon with pancakes, do cheerleading and own guns.

 

I need help persuading Farah that there is no health scare big enough to warrant switching to soya milk.

 

I have a habit of calling on people at the worst moment. Like when Gran’s in the middle of putting on her tights or my brother has just plastered his face with shaving foam.

 

If she were an item of stationery, she’d be a stapler. Uncomplicated and unassuming but holding everything together.

 

I try not to think about it. But when I look in the mirror, I worry. I worry that the woman staring back isn’t me. She’s a stranger and I can’t find an instruction manual.

 

My Review:

 

Knowing You was an exceptionally engaging and thoughtfully written tale. I was intensely absorbed and quickly entranced by the ever enticing and smoothly fluent flow of the writing as well as the captivating narrative.   Ms. Tonge’s emotive and nimble writing style deftly hit all the feels while peeling back an elegant vulnerability of the highly sympathetic character of Violet at different ages and timelines.   Her poignant storylines were ingeniously paced, cunningly crafted, vibrantly detailed, and adroitly evocative.   I was so impressed I raced to Goodreads and added her entire backlist on my TBR.

 

In addition to a new favorite author to fangirl, I also garnered two new additions to my Brit Word List with bedsit – which appears to be what I know as a studio apartment, and collywobbles – which appears to have several meanings such as nervousness and/or a queasy stomach.

 

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About the Author

Samantha Tonge lives in Manchester UK and her passion, second to spending time with her husband and children, is writing. She studied German and French at university and has worked abroad, including a stint at Disneyland Paris. She has traveled widely.

When not writing she passes her days cycling, baking and drinking coffee. Samantha has sold many dozens of short stories to women’s magazines.

In 2013, she landed a publishing deal for romantic comedy fiction with HQDigital at HarperCollins and in 2014, her bestselling debut novel, Doubting Abbey, was shortlisted for the Festival of Romantic Fiction best Ebook award. In 2015 her summer novel, Game of Scones, hit #5 in the UK Kindle chart and won the Love Stories Awards Best Romantic Ebook category.

Links

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamTongeWriter

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

Website: http://samanthatonge.co.uk/

Book Review: Imagine That (Small Town Big Love Series Book 2) by Kelly Collins

Imagine That

(Small Town Big Love Series Book 2)

by Kelly Collins

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA 

 

A mourning heiress. A selfless sheriff. Saving their town could free them both.

Maya Blackwood drowns her loss in alcohol. After her husband’s untimely death, she retreats to her family’s namesake town only to find they’ve sold it to shady developers. She hardly expected to be taken by the home she never knew and the handsome sheriff who patrols its streets…

Kevin Hoisington has always put everyone else first. And even with the whole town of Blackwood in danger, he finds himself drawn to helping the enchanting, damaged heiress. Holding her hand through recovery, he’s surprised to find that Maya has become his only priority.

When a sinister conman threatens to undo their efforts to protect the town, Kevin might have to give up everything to save the woman he’s falling for.

Will Kevin, Maya, and Blackwood fracture, or can they save both the town and their hearts?

Imagine That… is the second standalone book in the Small Town ~ Big Love series of contemporary romance series. If you like damaged heroines, self-assured heroes, and second chances for the heart, then you’ll love Kelly Collins’ sweet and sexy tale.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

She was a Blackwood by birth and kept her name after her marriage to Brad Dick. He couldn’t say he blamed her.

 

Do you really want to report back to Togi that I let you slide? … I don’t. My coffee would never taste right again.

 

I’m not keeping anything on the down low. I’m just moving slowly. I want to do it right, but mark my words, it’ll be wherever and whenever after that. Got it?

 

While the universe hadn’t necessarily always been kind to her, it had offered her the gold standard for men when Kevin appeared in her life.

 

 My Review:

 

Oh swoon, I have a new BBF and his name is Kevin – he is simply divine; thoughtful, sexy, caring, and sweetness personified, he should be thoroughly checked for possible wings! He has to be fictional as men like this just do not exist out in the wilds of the real world, but I can still be totally enamored with him anyway. My fondness for Kelly Collins’ uniquely amusing and satisfying writing style and Small Town Big Love Series continues to grow, with eager anticipation already brewing for the next installment. I fully appreciate and have to stop to marvel how each crackerjack book interconnects with a continuing storyline yet are complete, cliffhanger free, hit all the feels, and are strong enough to standalone while enticing me to continue on for more. Boffo!

ABOUT KELLY COLLINS   

Kelly Collins writes with the intention of keeping the love alive.

Always a romantic, she is inspired by real-time events mixed with a dose of fiction. She encourages her readers to reach the happily ever after but bask in the afterglow of the perfectly imperfect love.

Kelly lives in Colorado with her husband of twenty-seven years. She loves hockey, shiny objects and has a new-found appreciation for green smoothies.