Category: 4-Stars

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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.
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Book Review: Promises in the Dark (Detectives Kane and Alton #10) by D.K. Hood @DKHood_Author @bookouture

Promises in the Dark
(Detectives Kane and Alton #10)
by D.K. Hood

 

The young girl pushes against the backseat of the family sedan, fighting to free herself from the crude ties restricting her hands and feet. As the car speeds towards the edge of town, she looks back at her family home, and watches in horror as it is suddenly engulfed in a mass of flames. Trembling with fear, she turns towards the driver and hears only laughter. She knows that the worst is yet to come…

Detective Jenna Alton surveys the charred remains of the large suburban home, stopping to pause at the three lifeless bodies of the Woods family. Jenna knows she’s looking for a serial killer, but her priority is finding the missing teenage daughter last seen on the night of the inferno.

Days later, Sophie Wood’s body is discovered floating in a shallow pool of crystal-clear water—known locally as Dead Man’s Drop—but Jenna still doesn’t know who would target the quiet family in such a brutal attack.

Delving into the family’s past, she makes a shocking discovery—a link between the killer and someone connected to her deputy David Kane. If Jenna is right and the killer is back and seeking revenge, then she must act fast to keep her deputy safe.

When another girl is taken, Jenna and David follow the trail into a network of underground caves on the outskirts of town. With little time before the killer claims his next victim, they race into the pitch-black tunnels, unsure whether they have just walked into the killer’s trap. Can they find the girl in time and escape the caves without the killer chasing them down?

If you like pulse-racing thrillers from Lisa Regan, Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliot, you will love this gripping new book from USA Today bestselling author D.K. Hood.

**Each Kane and Alton book can be read as part of the series or as a standalone**

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quote:

 

There was something about Aunt Betty’s Café that soothed even the roughest day, like sitting in your grandma’s kitchen and waiting for the cookies to come out the oven.

My Review:

 

I am seriously slacking and horribly uninformed as this was book #10 in a series and my first time picking up one of D.K. Hood’s eleven books. It was a nonstop whirligig of high voltage action and the author’s writing slotted me right in the midst of it. I am exhausted and feel like I’ve been in a marathon while digging through ashes, performing autopsies, climbing mountains, jumping out of helicopters, dodging bullets, skidding on ice, crawling through spooky caves, and running after dogs while chasing an elusive psychopath arsonist who was also a murdering rapist. Unholy smokes, he was definitely a multitasking fiend, yet he still had time and energy to compose blog posts which were brilliant in their double meanings. Despite his unethical and disturbing proclivities, I had to stop to admire his wry phrasing as well as his devotion to his work ethic.

About the Author

I’ve always had a wicked sense of humor and was the kid who told the ghost stories around the campfire. I am lucky to have family all over the world and have spent many vacations in places from Paris France to Montana USA and Australia. I use the wonderful memories from these visits to enhance my stories.
My interest in the development of forensic science to solve crime goes back many years. I enjoy writing crime, mystery and thrillers. With many stories, waiting for me to write I’ll look forward to sharing many spine-tingling stories with you.

D.K. Hood is an active member of International Thriller Writers.

Author Social Media Links:

Website: www.dkhood.com

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

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/DKHood_Author

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Book Review: Murder in the Snow (A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery #4) by Verity Bright @bookouture

Murder in the Snow
(A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery #4)
by Verity Bright

Amazon  /  B&N

 

An English Christmas has mince pies, cheerful carols, a twinkling tree… and a murder? Thank goodness Lady Swift is on the scene!

Winter, 1920. Amateur sleuth Lady Eleanor Swift is feeling festive. She is playing host to the entire village at Henley Hall for gifts, games, and gingerbread. She’s also purchased perfect presents for each of her household – not forgetting the biggest bone in the butcher’s shop for her partner in crime, Gladstone the bulldog – and is looking forward to celebrating her first English country Christmas.

As snowflakes fall, Eleanor is cheering on contestants in the traditional Christmas fun run in the grounds of the Hall. But tragedy strikes when one of the runners drops dead at the finish line. Dashing Detective Seldon is convinced it’s just a heart attack, but Eleanor isn’t so sure. When she finds a rather distinctive key where the man fell, Eleanor knows she’ll never rest until she finds out the truth about what happened in her own home.

Next the vicar is taken ill with what looks like poison and Eleanor starts to wonder if the two cases are linked. When someone tries to frame her by planting poisoned berries in her own kitchen, she knows speed is of the essence. But the entire village was at Henley Hall for the festivities and Eleanor has enough suspects to stuff a town full of turkeys. Can she nail the true killer and clear her name in time for Christmas?

Christmas won’t be complete without it! A festive treat for fans of Agatha Christie, TE Kinsey, and Lee Strauss.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

Indeed, the flames of fury do not necessarily diminish with time. Rather, time tends to feed them. Brooding over old injuries all too often leads to one result… Revenge… 

I had no idea Christmas Day could be so exhausting… And I thought being a Lady of the Manor was all about languishing on chaise lounges and chiding the tradesmen! 

Those eyes could melt a nun trapped in a glacier… I just meant that I can see why Canning did so well with the ladies, if all the stories are true. Not my type, but I can imagine in his day, Canning was quite the fox women would have howled at the moon over.

My Review:

 

I am continuing to enjoy this amusing series of historical cozy mysteries based in the early 1920s. The new and ongoing mysteries have been intriguing and unpredictable with characters who are unfailingly compelling, likable, and quirky. The storylines for Murder in the Snow were well-constructed and thoughtfully contrived with descriptive and wryly humorous insights and observations. This was a holiday season tale and felt more complex than the previous books with less romance and more sleuthing with her enigmatic and curiously fascinating butler.

 

About the Author
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Verity Bright is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing partnership that has spanned a quarter of a century. Starting out writing high-end travel articles and books, they published everything from self-improvement to humor, before embarking on their first historical mystery. They are the authors of the fabulous Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery series, set in the 1920s.
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Book Review: The Mistletoe Trap (Heart in the Game #2) by Cindi Madsen @CindiMadsen

The Mistletoe Trap
(Heart in the Game #2)
by Cindi Madsen

 

From the moment Julie sees her best friend, Gavin, in the airport, it’s like no time at all has gone by instead of months and months. No matter how long they’ve been apart, their relationship has always been steady, comfortable, and decidedly just friends. Even though their meddling parents have hung what seems like unlimited amounts of mistletoe everywhere she goes this holiday season, Julie knows some things will never change.


Gavin is well-aware his family’s wanted him and Julie to get together since forever, even though he’s been friend-zoned since they could talk—and he’s been happy to play that role. After all, as the new starting quarterback for the San Antonio Mustangs, he’s got enough on his plate without adding romance to the mix.

But between playing elves in the holiday bazaar to nights spent one-on-one watching rom-coms or soaking in their town’s hot springs, suddenly the “reverse parent trap” they’ve fallen into is actually starting to work. But this could be one scheme where letting themselves get trapped might be way too dangerous.

Each book in the Heart in the Game series is STANDALONE:
* The Wedding Deal
* The Mistletoe Trap

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Julie’s dance moves were white-girl-wasted, even sober…

 

In life, there are certain questions that should never be asked. How bad can it be was one of them.

 

No idea why he hadn’t noticed it before, but their mothers were nearing evil genius range.

 

She raised her shoulder and batted her eyes at him, hoping her attempt at coquettish didn’t look more like she was having a seizure.

 

Wow, her guilt trips are intense… Seems like they should require a passport for how far she sends you.

My Review:

 

My first holiday-themed book of the season and it was a light and fluffy friends to lovers romance featuring a socially awkward female brainiac pathologist and a handsome NFL quarterback.   It was a quick and easy to follow read with amusing levity, wit, and a bit of steam and sizzle after a lot of dancing around and parental meddling. The characters were likable and endearingly quirky with a cute and long history as best friends since childhood. It was an enjoyable read and a pleasant way to while away an afternoon.

About the Author

Cindi Madsen is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and young adult novels. She sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting, revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she’d be even crazier. She has way too many shoes, but can always find a reason to buy a pretty new pair.

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Book Review: Kissing Lessons (Kissing Creek Book 1) by Stefanie London @MissRiki

Kissing Lessons
(Kissing Creek Book 1)
by Stefanie London

 

Welcome to Kissing Creek, where everything has a romance-themed pun for a name and love is lurking around every corner…

Audrey Miller doesn’t believe in happily-ever-after, so she is definitely living in the wrong town. But she’s never getting out of Kissing Creek, because playing pseudo-mom for her younger siblings doesn’t leave time for much else. She’ll do anything to make sure they don’t end up stuck like she is, working as a barista in a college town, serving Pink Passion mochas with Chocolate Smooch donuts.Then Ronan Walsh, a new young professor, and walking cliché, right down to the elbow patches on his blazer, steps in for a coffee and into her life. She knows his type—intelligent and charming, yet sweet as a cinnamon roll, the sort of man she’s inevitably attracted to but is always out of her league. So why does someone like him have any interest in a worker bee with no future?

Her bland-as-oatmeal existence has nothing to offer, but Ronan’s temporary teaching position is only a stepping stone on his way to somewhere else. He isn’t here to put down roots, Audrey’s roots are firmly planted—neither of them is looking for love. And maybe that’s just perfect.

But in a small town called Kissing Creek, sometimes love can be impossible to avoid…

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Ronan didn’t date much these days—he’d tried it once or twice, and it always ended up in tears. Never his.

 

The llama let out the same bleating, hollering sound, which could only be described as Chewbacca on helium crossed with angry cat gurgling. In other words, a sound that would haunt him for the rest of his life.

 

He loved his grandmother to bits… But her stubborn Irish blood made her tough as nails and twice as sharp.

 

Maybe it was the worry festering in his brain about his grandmother getting old. But his resentment was hot and angry, and it was so close to the surface he was sure that if he turned his wrist over he would see it bubbling in his veins.

 

She had dark hair and darker eyes and looked so effortlessly glamorous that Audrey suddenly felt like a cave troll having a bad hair day.

 

“…their coffee tastes like dishwater.” “That’s putting it mildly,” Audrey quipped. “I would have said it tastes like Satan’s backwash.”

 

My Review:

 

I enjoyed this kickoff installment for a new series; it was a fun and cleverly amusing read, yet it hit all the feels with insightful observations, realistic issues, heartbreaking family concerns, delicious sensual steam, and enigmatic personalities.   The characters were appealing and endearing as well as earnest, hard-working, and sincere. I loved that the Rubenesque and uneducated high school dropout Audrey was a trivia genius with a brain bulging with obscure facts on an endless array of topics that could stump a panel of college professors on their best days. I gleaned a considerable amount of UBIs from Audrey that may prove useful someday such as the fact that babies have extra bones, wombats poo in cubical form, and male elephants have highly impressive personal units… all information that was previously unknown to me. I had such a good time with this one I am eager to see what Ms. London does with the rest of the series.

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Stefanie London is a multi-award-winning, USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romances and romantic comedies.

Stefanie’s books have been called “genuinely entertaining and memorable” by Booklist, and “Elegant, descriptive and delectable” by RT magazine. Her stories have won multiple industry awards, including the HOLT Medallion and OKRWA National Reader’s Choice Award, and she has been nominated for the Romance Writers of America RITA award.

Originally from Australia, Stefanie now lives in Toronto with her very own hero and is currently in the process of doing her best to travel the world. She frequently indulges in her passions for good coffee, lipstick, romance novels, and anything zombie-related.

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Book Review: The Perfect Liar by Beverley Harvey @BevHarvey_ @bookouture

The Perfect Liar
by Beverley Harvey

 

‘Are you sure he’s someone you can trust? We know nothing at all about him. Who is he, really?’

Susanne and her two best friends have been dreaming of a holiday. All of them need an escape. Especially Susanne, who is reeling from the news that her ex is getting remarried. They need the warm Tuscan sun, delicious Italian food and wine, and – most of all – the time to unwind with each other. What they get is Harry.

Handsome, charming, and great company, Harry soon sweeps Susanne off her feet for a holiday fling. And why not? Except that everything he’s told them is a lie.

Who is the man they’ve let into their house – who Susanne has let into her bed? They have no idea what Harry is capable of – what he’s done to get this far, and what he’s prepared to do to ensure he gets his way.

By the time they find out, it will be too late to stop their dream holiday from becoming a nightmare.

An utterly addictive, page-turning thriller with a jaw-dropping twist. If you loved The Girlfriend, The Holiday, and Something in the Water, you’ll be completely gripped by The Perfect Liar.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Harry’s accent is warm toffee sauce poured over ice cream. Everything about his demeanour drips wealth, privilege and confidence…

 

Evie imagines her at the tough south London school where she works, holding the rapt attention of her class. Twenty-odd hormonally charged fourteen-year-olds under her spell, the boys damp with adolescent desire, the girls in awe of her strength and urban style. Evie has never met a lesbian before –well, not that she knows of –and is a little intimidated. Then again, the sensations of wrong-footedness and embarrassment are as familiar to Evie as hunger and thirst.

 

‘You’re a cracking girl, Evie; I’ve always fancied you,’ Roland growls. ‘Discreet, too,’ he adds, before turning over and snoring like a warthog.

 

Evie saw the way they looked at each other when they thought no one was watching, like feral teenagers at a disco.

 

Evie’s so prim and proper, she thinks she’s being radical if she changes the parting of her hair.

My Review:

 

I enjoyed this well-contrived tale. There were multiple storylines with slowly unfolding yet compelling nuances and sketchy characters who were not altogether likable and difficult to fully appreciate, yet oddly managed to elicit my compassion. Other than for dear Evie I kept waffling on whom was more deserving of my empathy.

This was my introduction to the duplicitous word stylings of Beverley Harvey and I was a quick convert.   And for a bonus, Ms. Harvey has provided a new addition to my Brit Words and Phrases List with “kick into touch,” which Mr. Goggle taught me was to halt discussion when it is clear the issue cannot be achieved or solved. I plan to immediately deploy this handy phrase when anyone mentioned the ever hazardous topics of politics or religion.

 

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Throughout Beverley’s many years spent working in advertising and PR, she had always wanted to write fiction. In 2015 a creative writing course inspired her debut novel, Seeking Eden, which was published in 2017. The sequel, Eden Interrupted, soon followed. Beverley’s third novel – her first with Bookouture – fulfills a long-time goal to publish a psychological thriller.

Born in Yorkshire, and raised in Kent, Beverley currently lives in West Sussex with her partner and their adorable terrier. When not writing, you’ll find her reading, walking the dog, or listening to rock music.