Category: 4-Stars

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Book Review: A California Christmas (Silver Springs #7) by Brenda Novak @Brenda_Novak

A California Christmas
(Silver Springs #7)
by Brenda Novak 

 

Amazon  / B&N / GP

 

Up-and-coming TV anchor Emery Bliss can’t imagine anything more humiliating than the sex tape her ex revenge-posted online. That is, until it causes her to lose her job on top of her self-esteem. Seeking solace—and anonymity—in Silver Springs, Emery isn’t looking to get involved with another man anytime soon. But when she’s thrown back into contact with Dallas Turner, she sees something that his many detractors have missed.

Being home for the holidays and his adoptive mother’s wedding isn’t where mountain climber Dallas feels most comfortable. Thanks to his troubled childhood, he’d rather be on a rock face alone than trying to connect with people. Emery, however, makes him want to overcome his past…somehow. Both Emery and Dallas had been planning on a quiet, solitary Christmas, but the sparks between them are lighting a fire strong enough to last—possibly forever.

My Rating:

Favorite Quote:

 

Attitudes are as catchy as the flu.

 

My Review:

 

This holiday romance featured multiple storylines which were all equally engaging and well-nuanced with family drama, wedding prep for an older couple, career crossroads, a revenge-porn sex-tape scandal, a new budding relationship that was meant to be a non-romance, and new beginnings. Ms. Novak’s small-town characters were immensely likable, realistically flawed, and held my interest. The story threads were busy and eventful yet relatively easy to follow, even for someone like me who is not familiar with the series or read the previous installments, although now I am feeling the pull to do so as I am quite curious about several of the characters.

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It was a shocking experience that jump-started Brenda Novak’s career as a bestselling author–she caught her day-care provider drugging her children with cough syrup to get them to sleep all day. That was when Brenda decided she needed to quit her job as a loan officer and help make a living from home.” When I first got the idea to become a novelist, it took me five years to teach myself the craft and finish my first book,” Brenda says. But she sold that book, and the rest is history. Her novels have made the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists and won many awards, including eight Rita nominations, the Book Buyer’s Best, the Book Seller’s Best, the Silver Bullet, and the National Reader’s Choice Award.

Brenda and her husband, Ted, live in Sacramento and are proud parents of five children–three girls and two boys. When she’s not spending time with her family or writing, Brenda is usually raising funds for diabetes research (her youngest son has this disease). So far, Brenda has raised $2.6 million!

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Book Review: Christmas Charms by Teri Wilson @TeriWilsonauthr

Christmas Charms
by Teri Wilson 

 

She never dreamed her holiday would include

her hometown, a dog, or a firefighter.

But a mysterious charm bracelet

predicted it all…

Ashley’s supposed to be having the Christmas of her dreams. After four years of working at an upscale jewelry store in Manhattan, she’s finally going to get a little velvet box of her own―from her boyfriend Jeremy, who’s taking her on a romantic trip to Paris. What could go wrong?

Well, everything.

Ashley heads home to Owl Lake instead, falling asleep on the train ride there…and waking up with a beautiful antique charm bracelet on her wrist. Soon, she realizes that each silver charm predicts an event that happens in real life. What does this mean for her and Jeremy…or her and Aidan, her former high school boyfriend, who’s now a local firefighter? Is there still a chance that she could have the perfect Christmas?

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

You should have dumped your pizza on his head and smeared the tomato sauce in his hair… He deserves way more than public humiliation by way of cheese.

 

Let me tell you, drawing things with frosting is a lot harder than it looks. My poor gingerbread firemen look like they’re wrestling yellow snakes instead of wielding fire hoses. Happy holidayssssssssssss.

 

I should probably stop getting enchanted by the idea of a perfect holiday date and concentrate on living in the real world. The last time I thought I was going to have the ultimate Christmas date, I ended up breaking up with my boyfriend of three years. I’m still haunted by the thought of mozzarella cheese.

My Review:

 

This was a whimsical, light, and pleasantly amusing holiday second chance romance featuring a magical charm bracelet, small-town rituals, and a chance meeting with a lovely woman who just may have been Mrs. Claus. I enjoyed the sweet Hallmark Christmas flavor, wry humor, and lovable characters. The Santa Skate was brilliant, I don’t know if that is a real thing or not, but it certainly should be if it isn’t, even though I have never strapped on a pair of ice skates in my entire life.

About the Author

 

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Teri Wilson is the author/creator of the Hallmark Channel Original Movies Unleashing Mr. Darcy, Marrying Mr. Darcy, and The Art of Us, as well as a fourth Hallmark movie currently in development. Teri is a double finalist in the prestigious 2018 RWA RITA awards for her novels The Princess Problem and Royally Wed. Teri also writes an offbeat fashion column for the royal blog What Would Kate Do and is a frequent guest contributor for its sister site, Meghan’s Mirror. She’s been a contributor for both HelloGiggles and Teen Vogue, covering books, pop culture, beauty, and everything royal. In 2017, she served as a national judge for the Miss United States pageant in Orlando, Florida, and has since judged in the Miss America system. She has a major weakness for cute animals, pretty dresses, Audrey Hepburn films, and good books.

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Book Review:  Christmas at the Little Waffle Shack (Heritage Cove #2) by Helen J. Rolfe @HJRolfe @rararesources  @BoldwoodBooks

Christmas at the Little Waffle Shack
 (Heritage Cove #2)
by Helen J. Rolfe

 

Amazon 

Heritage Cove is in full swing for the festive season and as the temperature dips, who will be lucky in love this Christmas?


It’s December in Heritage Cove and along with the village Christmas tree, frosty mornings, and the promise of the most wonderful time of the year, the new waffle shack is about to open. And its owner isn’t a stranger to the Cove, because after all this time, Daniel is back to make amends with his brother Harvey – as well as a few other locals he might have offended along the way.

Fairly new to the village, local blacksmith Lucy has kept up the pretense of being with her ex for the sake of his gran but she’s fed up with all the lies. Determined to come clean and live the life she wants to live, she’s devastated to find that her attraction to Daniel is tainted by the fact he’s hiding a few things of his own. And his secrets are ones she isn’t sure she’ll ever be able to get past.

Heritage Cove is full of friendship and community; it’s a welcoming place people visit and never want to leave. But will it work its magic for Daniel and Lucy?

A festive read packed with Christmas romance, love, and second chances, this is Book 2 in a series of standalone novels set in Heritage Cove, the little village by the sea…

My Rating:

My Review:

 

This was a slowly-paced and semi-sweet women’s fiction tale thick on family drama with waffles, ex-spouses, and new beginnings. Ms. Rolfe’s writing was richly detailed, my mouth watered and I convinced myself I could smell and taste the sugar and butter.   Her story seemed to whet my appetite and may have led to the gain of a pound or two during perusal as I found myself visiting the cupboards for a tasty snack to rival Daniel’s creations.

The feminist in me enjoyed the interesting twist of the female lead having the more physically demanding occupation of being a blacksmith while the male lead was establishing a new business of running a waffle shop.

The emotional tone was well balanced between angsty regrets, family conflicts, humor, and a new attraction that hadn’t quite gotten off the ground before poisonous small-town gossip and long-held family resentments sent it careening and into a stall.

This was book two in the series and noted to be a stand-alone although I frequently sensed I probably would have gotten a bit more from the tale what I read the first book.

 

About the Author

Helen J Rolfe writes romantic fiction and contemporary women’s fiction and enjoys weaving stories about family, friendship, secrets, and community.

Location is a big part of the adventure in Helen’s books and she enjoys setting stories in different cities and countries where she thinks her readers might like to escape to.

Social Media Links –

Helen loves to hear from readers so please don’t hesitate to get in touch. She can be found at:

www.helenjrolfe.com
https://www.facebook.com/helenjrolfewriter
https://twitter.com/hjrolfe
www.instagram.com/helen_j_rolfe/

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Book Review: Dr. Hot Stuff (Ponderosa Resort Romantic Comedies #9) by Tawna Fenske @tawnafenske

Dr. Hot Stuff
(Ponderosa Resort Romantic Comedies #9)
 by Tawna Fenske

Amazon  / B&N / GP/ Apple 

 

Life’s taken strange turns for Lady Isabella Blankenship. Bouncing from royal blueblood to the twisty branches of the Bracelyn family tree was wild enough, never mind the surprise kidney transplant. All she wants is quiet bonding with her new fam at Ponderosa Resort, and maybe a chance to ogle her hottie doc. But letting anyone close means exposing one monster secret, and no way does Izzy feel ready.

Dr. Bradley Parker makes no secret he’s scouting for a wife, or that Izzy kicks his heart into high gear. All symptoms suggest she’s fiery with the same fever, so why is Iz dodging him?

The puzzle turns perplexing when weird things start happening at the resort. Maybe it’s coincidence about the lethal looking guy trailing Iz like a creepy puppy, but Bradley’s not taking chances. He’s sticking close, even if it means enduring Izzy’s bizarre culinary tastes and a pig named Kevin.

The more Iz avoids Bradley, the harder she falls for the fine, funny physician. Will Izzy’s two lives collide in a monstrous mass of heartache, or can the good doc find the cure for all that ails her?

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

She bit a kid at daycare…. Tell me that’s a normal stage of development and I’m not raising a serial killer.

 

If we were out together drawing undue attention, she’d stare at someone with this evil look and say, ‘I must find a new host body. Yours looks suitable.’ It never failed to send them running.

 

That’s going in the wedding vows—‘ to love, honor, and get the hell out of my way.’

 

Let’s go old disgracefully together.

 

My Review:

 

I am sad to see the end of these smirk-worthy series as each entertaining installment has been a delightful escape into clever and irreverent humor that began with the cheesy titles and cover models and doesn’t stop until the back cover. Dr. Hot Stuff maintained the trend in style while featuring a sexy medical nerd and a European royal. The variegated Bracelyn family tree just kept expanding and spreading their uniquely appealing genes and bawdy humor among the masses. It has been so quite educational as in this installment alone I have learned twenty new colorful euphemisms for genitalia and birth control. And to think my mother always chided severely whenever she caught me reading fiction, claiming it was a complete waste of time.

About the Author    

Website 

Amazon

Goodreads

 

When Tawna Fenske finished her English lit degree at 22, she celebrated by filling a giant trash bag full of romance novels and dragging it everywhere until she’d read them all. Now she’s a RITA-nominated, USA Today bestselling author who writes humorous fiction, risqué romance, and heartwarming love stories with a quirky twist. Publishers Weekly has praised Tawna’s offbeat romances with multiple starred reviews and noted, “There’s something wonderfully relaxing about being immersed in a story filled with over-the-top characters in undeniably relatable situations. Heartache and humor go hand in hand.”

Tawna lives in Bend, Oregon, with her husband, stepkids, and a menagerie of ill-behaved pets. She loves hiking, snowshoeing, standup paddleboarding, and inventing excuses to sip wine on her back porch. She can peel a banana with her toes and loses an average of twenty pairs of eyeglasses per year. To find out more about Tawna and her books, visit www.tawnafenske.com.

 

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Book Review: Stay For Me (The Arrowood Brothers #4) by Corinne Michaels

She’s the girl who might be worth staying for. Stay For Me by Corinne Michaels is now live!

From New York Times Bestselling author Corinne Michaels comes the final poignant love story in the Arrowood Brothers Series.

Hollywood taught me everything I know about relationships–except how to be in one. As an actor, I became an expert at faking it. Faking that I wasn’t affected by my childhood. Faking that I was okay. Faking that I knew how to save the day, the girl, the whole damn world. But I’ve always known the truth–I’m no one’s hero. Until I’m forced to move back to Sugarloaf for six months, and Brenna Allen offers me a chance to prove otherwise. She’s everything I never knew I wanted, but can’t have. Her broken heart, perfect face, and adorable children turn my world upside down. Instead of preparing for my next leading role, I’m directing a middle school play. All to make her smile. The more time I spend here, the more I want to stay. Build a life in this town that I swore I’d leave–for her. But when the world comes crashing down around us, I’m forced to decide if staying for her is the right choice or if leaving is better for the woman I love.

Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Audible, Google Play, Kobo, Barnes & Noble!

Amazon: https://geni.us/SFMAmazon

Apple Books: https://geni.us/SFMApple

Nook: https://geni.us/SFMNook

Kobo: https://geni.us/SFMKobo

Google Play: https://geni.us/SFMGP

Audible US: https://geni.us/SFM_Aud

Audible UK: https://geni.us/SFM_AUDUK

Goodreads: https://geni.us/SFM_GR

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

I would bet all my dollars.

 

“Are you crying?” “No, my eyes are leaking.”

 

Teenagers are nature’s way of preparing adults for what hell looks like.

 

If one were to meet Catherine, they’d think she was a sweet, kind woman with dark brown eyes that seem almost like melted chocolate. What most never realize is that she has fangs, and she bites.

 

We’re all flawed, Jacob. It’s finding someone who sees the beauty in the cracks that makes them perfect for you.

 

My Review:

 

The final swoony Arrowood brother has found his soul mate and did so quickly but the process still required some serious wooing and to and froing, and a bit of peril and lots of steamy treats and sassy humor. Written in my favorite dual POV, the couple featured was endearing and admirable, yet challenging and somewhat ragged around the edges from past traumas and spiky current events. I have enjoyed this series, which has been my introduction to Corinne Michaels’s irreverently humorous, engaging, and sexy small-town storytelling. Her characters have been well-textured, complex, and somewhat batter and jaded by misfortune yet deserving of a better life ahead. I fell for each in turn and am curious to see what and whom she conjures next.

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Meet Corinne

Corinne Michaels is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of romance novels. Her stories are chock full of emotion, humor, and unrelenting love, and she enjoys putting her characters through intense heartbreak before finding a way to heal them through their struggles.

Corinne is a former Navy wife and happily married to the man of her dreams. She began her writing career after spending months away from her husband while he was deployed–reading and writing were her escapes from the loneliness. Corinne now lives in Virginia with her husband and is the emotional, witty, sarcastic, and fun-loving mom of two beautiful children.

Connect with Corinne

Website: http://corinnemichaels.com

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2N1H2Gb

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1NVZmhv

Facebook: https://bit.ly/1iwLh6y

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/corinnemichaelsbooks/

Instagram: https://bit.ly/2L1Vzo6

Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Jcp29z

Bookbub: https://bit.ly/2yc6rss

Pinterest: https://bit.ly/2m7MkEL

Book+Main: https://bit.ly/2EibEEn

CMBOOKS TO 77948

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Book Review: The Watchful Neighbour by Debbie Viggiano @DebbieViggiano @rararesources 

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The Watchful Neighbour
by Debbie Viggiano 

Amazon US / UK 

 

When Jade Ferguson’s affair with a married man abruptly ends, she’s devastated.

There is no quick fix for a broken heart. A fresh start is required.

New job. New home. New neighbours.

The residents of Gresham Terrace seem pleasant enough.

Except for one…

An absolutely gripping debut psychological thriller.

My Rating:

Favorite Quote:

 

…mistress. Jade flinched at the label. She’d never thought of herself as such a person.

 

My Review:

 

Earlier in the year, I read this author’s delightfully humorous Willow’s Wedding Vows and promptly added her entire listing to my TBR. Silly me, when I started this book, I didn’t realize I was currently picking up her initial foray into her darker side by delving into her first thriller. Thankfully, Ms. Viggiano didn’t leave her sense of humor or witty banter behind and frequently tucked in snarky exchanges and musings as well as wryly-amusing observations.

The pacing was a bit disconcerting and the storylines were slow to evolve yet my curiosity was well teased and taunted with sporadically dropped breadcrumbs and seeds to keep the little pea in my brain busy and engaged in gathering clues and formulating hunches.

I struggled with the unstable main character of Jade as she was the type of person I go out of my way to avoid in the real world as I am retired no longer have to accommodate crazy. Jade was deeply damaged, highly paranoid, devious, snide, arrogant, hostile, OCD, and generally obnoxious to almost everyone. The secondary characters were more endearing although they were also a peculiar lot of strangely torqued yet compelling and enigmatic personalities that added intrigue and flavor to the suspense.

Given this adroit author’s flexibility and creative straddling of genres, I’m curious to see what the wily minx scribbles out next.

About the Author

Prior to turning her attention to writing, Debbie Viggiano was, for more years than she cares to remember, a legal secretary. She lives with her Italian husband, a rescued pooch from Crete, and a very disgruntled cat. Occasionally her adult children return home bringing her much joy… apart from when they want to raid the fridge or eat her secret stash of chocolate. Tweet @DebbieViggiano or follow her on Facebook!

Social Media Links –

Twitter: @DebbieViggiano

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debbie.viggiano.5

Instagram: debbieviggiano

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Book Review:  A Christmas Wedding At The Castle (Life on the Moors Book 5) by Eliza J. Scott  @ElizaJScott1 @rararesources

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A Christmas Wedding At The Castle
(Life on the Moors Book 5)
by Eliza J. Scott

Amazon US / UK  

Do you believe in fate? Livvie Weatherill does…

This time last year, if anyone had told Livvie Weatherill she’d have fallen in love and would be making plans for her Christmas wedding to Zander Gillespie, she would have laughed in their face. If they’d gone on to say they’d be planning to have their wedding at the imposing Danskelfe Castle, she’d have laughed even louder!

But it would seem fate had plans for her…

Since moving to the pretty moorland village of Lytell Stangdale Livvie is happier than she’s ever been. She’s living with Zander and she’s working at her dream job as a wedding dress designer at Romantique with her friends, Kitty and Violet. It’s fair to say, she’s enjoying immersing herself in village life, from romantic walks in the countryside, to meeting friends at the quaint Sunne Inne. And she can’t think of anything better than rounding off the day cozying up with Zander.

Life is sweet.

Her blossoming friendship with Freda Easton, the endearing but reclusive elderly lady who lives down the lane, has taken everyone by surprise. But Freda has a secret and, in a turn of events no one could predict, she finds herself grateful for Livvie’s fierce loyalty, cementing their friendship further.

Just when things seem to be running smoothly, a face from the past arrives on the doorstep casting a shadow over Livvie’s wedding plans. Adding to the drama, an icy blast of Arctic air brings heavy snowfall to the village, covering the moors in a thick blanket of snow.

Is their love strong enough to withstand the challenges thrown at them? Will they get their magical Christmas wedding?

Join Livvie and Zander – and all the usual characters – for a sparkling Christmas full of love and laughter in Lytell Stangdale.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

I’m absolutely starving; I could eat a scabby horse between two mattresses!

 

I know it’s a shock, but I can’t help thinking the worst thing to come out of this is having Lady Davinia as your sister-in-law. She’s got a face pinched tighter than a cat’s bum.

 

Precariously, Livvie stepped out of her lacy knickers and flung them flamboyantly behind her where they landed on Alf’s head. The Labrador yelped in shock and ran off to watch proceedings from a safe distance.

My Review:

 

This was a fun and delightfully cheeky read packed with eventful and lively storylines laced with witty banter, irreverent humor, and riotously amusing scenarios that kept me smirking and giggle-snorting in mirth. I adore this sassy group of tight-knit and supportive friends who enjoyed a good chinwag, wore deely-boppers to hen night, and frequently dropped comical quips about various topics ranging from serious family issues to carpet burgers. My favorite threads involved a drunken striptease and the long-overdue dressing down of the vile and snooty Lady D. Personally, I live for such moments. I am looking forward to my next trip to this peculiar little village, which appears to be populated with the most oddly alluring characters.

About the Author

Eliza is proud to be a member of the RNA. She lives in a village in the North Yorkshire Moors with her husband, their two daughters, and two mischievous black Labradors. When she’s not writing, she can usually be found with her nose in a book/glued to her Kindle or working in her garden, fighting a losing battle against the weeds.

When she’s not reading or gardening, Eliza also enjoys bracing walks in the countryside, rounded off by a visit to a teashop where she can indulge in another two of her favorite things: tea and cake.

Her biggest weakness is ginger biscuits dunked in tea.

Eliza is inspired by her beautiful surroundings and loves to write heartwarming romance stories with relatable female characters. She enjoys exploring the dynamics of female friendship, with a key feature of her books being how women pull together and support one another when things get tough.

Eliza’s novels will always have happy endings.

Social Media Links 

Twitter: Eliza J Scott – @ElizaJScott1

Instagram: Eliza J Scott – @elizajscott

Facebook: Eliza J Scott – @elizajscottauthor

Blog: www.elizajscott.com

Bookbub: www.bookbub.com/authors/eliza-j-scott

Amazon Author Page: UK: www.amazon.co.uk/Eliza-J-Scott/e/B07DMQWPMH

US: www.amazon.com/Eliza-J-Scott/e/B07DMQWPMH

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Book Review: No Room at the Little Cornish Inn by  Nancy Barone @NancyNBW @Aria_Fiction

No Room at the Little Cornish Inn
by  Nancy Barone

Amazon  / B&N / GP/ Apple

Rosie Anderson was hoping to whisk her young son Danny away for a lovely Christmas with family, far from the hustle and bustle of her life in London. But then her boss at the head office – aka Susan the Sacker – suddenly assigns her to go in incognito and save a tiny inn in Cornwall from being closed permanently. Rosie doesn’t know why The Old Bell Inn is performing so badly but it’s on her to sort it out!

Hours in the car later, Rosie arrives at the inn to find she’s been double booked – there are no rooms left. And she isn’t there for more than a minute before she’s butting heads with the manager, Irishman Mitchell Fitzpatrick. He seems to dislike her on sight, so it’s confusing that he seems to get on so well with Danny… But if he’s as terrible as his reputation, Rosie will have to be the one to fire him.

This really isn’t the Christmas Rosie was dreaming of. But maybe, just maybe, it could be a whole lot more…

A sweet and uplifting Christmas romance, No Room at the Little Cornish Inn is perfect for fans of Philippa Ashley, Holly Martin, and Jenny Hale.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

… blasting from my mobile phone in the form of the infamous and ominous The Ride of the Valkyries tune. It’s the ringtone I’ve assigned to the HR manager at Johnson Hotels Head Office, Susan Hearst – better known as Susan the Sacker… Rumour has it no men are allowed anywhere near her home, where she lives with her divorced sister who joined the Single and Furious Club. Apparently, they have a ground-to-air missile they use to fight off blokes.

 

I hug myself and breathe deeply, and feel a sudden, unfamiliar rush of what I soon realise must be joy. I didn’t know happiness could have its own fragrance.

My Review:

 

This was a fun, light, and sweet holiday read with a bit of somewhat underhanded hidden motives as well as some snooping and sneaking around during an undercover investigation.   The characters were likable and relatable and the storylines were easy to follow with amusing bits of levity, a blossoming romance, and curious tidbits tossed in that poked at my curiosity.   This was my introduction to Nancy Barone and I enjoyed her fluid writing style and gently paced storytelling.

Ms. Barone also provided me with a new entry for my Brit Words and Phrases list with bubble and squeak – which Mr. Google tells me is a traditional British dish that was named for the sound it makes while cooking and is made from cooked potatoes and cabbage which is mixed together and fried, although looking at the pictures it appears that sometimes meat, a fried egg, or other vegetables are also added.

About the Author

Nancy Barone Wythe grew up in Canada, but at the age of 12, her family moved to Italy. Catapulted into a world where her only contact with the English language was her old Judy Blume books, Nancy became an avid reader and a die-hard romantic. Nancy stayed in Italy and, despite being surrounded by handsome Italian men, she married an even more handsome Brit. They now live in Sicily where she teaches English. Nancy is a member of the RWA and a keen supporter of the Women’s Fiction Festival at Matera where she meets up once a year with writing friends from all over the globe.

Follow Nancy:

Twitter: @NancyNBW

Instagram: @nancybaronewythe

Follow Aria

Website: www.ariafiction.com

Twitter: @aria_fiction

Facebook: @ariafiction

Instagram: @ariafiction

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Book Review: The Stranger in my Bed by Karen King  @karen_king @bookouture

The Stranger in my Bed
by Karen King 

 

Amazon  / B&N / GP/ Apple / Kobo

 ‘We have a patient who has been involved in a serious accident. We believe he’s your husband.’

When Freya first met Phil, she thought he was the man of her dreams. He bought her roses every week, booked surprise trips to sun-soaked destinations, and showed her affection like she’d never experienced before. But over time the dream has become a violent nightmare. And now Freya is packing her bags, knowing it’s time she escaped their increasingly broken marriage.But then Freya gets a visit from the police. Phil’s been in a horrific car crash and – as he comes around – it becomes clear that he remembers nothing since their blissful honeymoon two years before, back when their relationship was perfect. All he wants is to be happily married again.

Freya knows giving him another chance could be dangerous. But now he’s the one who needs her, it’s a chance to turn the tables, and to change the outcome of their relationship once and for all. After all, he will only know what she chooses to tell him…

But what really happened during those two years of marriage? And as they start over again, who is safe? And whose life is in danger?

Fans of The Girl on the Train, Behind Closed Doors, and Date Night, who are looking for a dark, gripping psychological suspense novel, will love The Stranger in My Bed.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quote:

 

‘Determined, not stubborn,’ she corrected lightly. ‘Determined is a good trait; stubborn isn’t always.’

My Review:

 

This is the type of story that has me wanting the shake sense into the characters and give them a good pinch for being so obtuse they annoy me. The women knew better, yet they still fell repeatedly for the Irish charm. The intriguing storylines were twisty, well-paced, and taut with impending peril, domestic abuse, family drama, lies, betrayals, and secrets aplenty. This was my introduction to Ms. King’s work and I was astounded to see her Goodreads listings packed with multiple genres including children’s books, rom-coms, suspense, poetry, and even some naughty erotica. Oh, my. I do believe further research into this talented scribe is now required.

 

About the Author

Karen King is a multi-published bestselling author of fiction for both adults and children. She has also written several short stories for women’s magazines.

Currently published by Bookouture and Headline. Karen has recently signed a two-book deal with Bookouture to write psychological thrillers. The first one will be out in November and the second one in 2021. She is also contracted to write three romance novels for Headline, which will be out in 2021 and 2022

Author Social Media Links

 FACEBOOK:  https://www.facebook.com/KarenKingAuthor

TWITTER:   https://twitter.com/karen_king 

 

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Book Review: Night Train to Paris (A Fen Churche Mystery #2) by Fliss Chester @SocialWhirlGirl @bookouture

Night Train to Paris
(A Fen Churche Mystery #2)
by Fliss Chester

 

Amazon  / B&N / GP/ Apple

Meet Fen Churche, as she steps off the night train with the sun rising over Paris. Cat whisperer, crossword puzzler… accidental detective?

Autumn, 1945. Fen cannot wait to see her beloved godmother Rose, who has invited Fen to stay with her in the city of lights. As she arrives, Fen is dreaming of strolls by the Seine, taking tea at the Eiffel Tower and above all French feasts with Rose where they can trade stories of how they survived the terrifying war years.

But Fen has barely made friends with Rose’s bad-tempered poodle when she returns to the apartment to find her godmother murdered, a paintbrush stuck in her neck. Suddenly Fen is thrown into the middle of a truly puzzling mystery. Who on earth would want to murder Rose, a gentle artist and generous friend?

A blackmail letter convinces Fen that the police have got everything wrong and Fen knows she has to solve the case just like one of her crosswords, one clue at a time. As she meets her godmother’s friends, she makes a surprising discovery: Rose was part of the Resistance during the war…

When a second body turns up, another of Rose’s wartime contacts, Fen must act fast. But as the killer turns their sights on Fen, does she have what it takes to solve this mysterious murder and get justice for her darling godmother?

You won’t be able to put down this utterly addictive historical cozy mystery! The absolutely perfect treat if you love Agatha Christie, Rhys Bowen, and Jacqueline Winspear.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Fen shook her head in disbelief. She’d heard of pretty girls turning men’s heads, but this one seemed to have twisted James’s noggin right off.

Her brother had once threatened to throw her over this bridge when she’d naughtily flicked one of his toy soldiers into the Seine. Her claims that the little fellow wanted to be a sub-mariner hadn’t cut the mustard and sibling relations had hit rather a low point.

My Review:

 

This was a head-scratcher and rollicking good multileveled mystery encompassing several complicated cases involved past participants of the French Resistance, art theft, forgery, and murder in post-war Paris. The highly likable main characters of Fen and her newly acquired friend, James, met the likes of a young Christian Dior, Pierre Balmain, and the already famous Josephine Baker. My poor old coronary muscle squeezed each time the iconic Notre Dame was mentioned. The engaging storylines were enjoyable and poked at my curiosity with tough cases and somewhat undecipherable clues while populated with an oddly unique and generally untrustworthy cast of secondary Gaelic characters. Being a fan of crosswords, I particularly enjoyed Fen’s continued deployment of puzzle strategies in her efforts of working her way through the perplexing crimes.

I garnered a new entry for my Brit Words and Phrases list with “up the spout;” which Mr. Google informed me has two meanings – one being something that was no longer in working order and for a woman – pregnancy. I also learned the clever origin of the term “bangers” for sausages being the high water content used in the meats during the war that caused them to explode or “bang” in the frying pan.

 

About the Author

Fliss Chester lives in Surrey with her husband and writes historical cozy crime. When she is not killing people off in her 1940s whodunnits, she helps her husband, who is a wine merchant, run their business. Never far from a decent glass of something, Fliss also loves cooking (and writing up her favorite recipes on her blog), enjoying the beautiful Surrey and West Sussex countryside, and having a good natter.