Coming Home to Merriment Bay

Part Three – Christmas

by Emily Harvale

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

He’s stolen my dreams and made them his. But he hasn’t included me. And somehow, that’s the worst betrayal of all.

Just nice? Didn’t you feel your heart beat faster, or get tingles up and down your spine? Or hear a choir of angels, or even Santa’s elves playing violins, or something?

 My Review:

Gah! This was an eventful installment but I’m getting whiplash from these indecisive and wishy-washy characters. I am indignant and tetchy with impatience for an actual conversation between the two as they take a tiny step forward and three steps back. The secrets remain untold but I have several theories percolating in the tiny pea that resides in my skull. Manipulative and magniloquent Mary deserves to be drawn and quartered several times over for her contemptible and selfish behaviors over the years.

Cliffhangers are the handiwork of Satan himself and have left me itchy to pinch and maybe even give a good smack to the bedeviling minx Emily Harvale with my beloved Kindle for vexing me so! One more installment to go and two long weeks to wait for gratification. I fear I am just not equipped to read serials. I beseech you; please write quickly, Ms. Harvale.

 A Forgiven Friend

(Friends #3)

by Sue Featherstone

A Forgiven Friend: Lies, Loss, and Love, But Always Friendship

Friendship will always come first.

There’s only one way out from rock bottom and that’s up, and Teri Meyer is finally crawling out from the worst time of her life – no thanks to her best friend Lee. But no matter, she’s finally found love – real love with a real man, a successful man, a man who accepts all her flaws. Teri’s never felt like this before, and yet it’s changing her in ways she doesn’t understand.

And there’s only one person who can help, one person who truly understands Teri.

It seems that no matter how hard Lee Harper tries, there’s a battle awaiting her at every turn these days, and she’s tired. And as if she needs the extra stress, Teri continues to create constant and unnecessary drama. But Lee’s the only one who really knows what’s going on under Teri’s hard, convoluted exterior, and that’s why she’s always been there for her.

But the question is: will Teri be there when Lee needs her most?

The brilliant and entertaining final book in the unique FRIENDS trilogy dishes out another dose of rib-tickling mayhem for our favorite thirty-something professional women.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

Good Lord! Where were the toilets? Ms Kostanechi had gestured towards the shrubbery at the bottom of the garden. ‘We have the very latest in sustainable lavatory technology.’ What did that mean? A hole in the ground and a handful of moss, in place of a roll of aloe vera toilet paper?

She’d been as co-operative as a chattering of four-year-olds with earthworms in their knickers.

‘You’ve done what?’ Dogs three streets away howled in anguish, Connie-behind-the-Portly & Groops-counter dropped the tray of coffee cups she was carrying, and a toddler, who’d been struggling to climb out of his highchair, slid back into his seat and buried his face in his hands. Teri blinked… ‘Why? Why?’ I’d lowered my voice, largely because the huge lump in my throat was making it difficult to speak.

I’m not really into food where the steak is so lightly cooked there’s a good chance it’ll leap off the plate and start chewing the cud.

… those flirtingly sparkly blue eyes and heart-shaped ruby lips belie one of nature’s meanest gossips. She works on the basis that if a rumour has even a smidgen of truth in it, it’s worth spreading around the whole university on the basis that it’s bound to come true by the time it’s finished its travels… ‘Well, don’t you think it’s exciting?’ she chirruped, leaning in slightly and glancing into the back of my car in the hope there might be something incriminating there – like a naked man whose wrists were tied perhaps.

‘But, what about the age gap?’ She waved an elegantly painted finger. ‘Oh, age is just a number.’ ‘But aren’t there rather a lot of numbers between you?’

My Review:

While almost all of the characters in this book were personalities I would avoid on pain of death and would definitely not enjoy personally sharing air with as they were deeply flawed and rather abhorrent, I smirked and barked my way through this witty and snarky tale. So much so, that I plan to read the two earlier books in the series. The writing was stellar and packed with highly amusing observations and rib-tickling descriptions that pulled sharp visuals to mind. I cringed and groaned at some of the awful things that Teri said and did, but I also couldn’t wait to see what happened next.

The character of Teri was the most loathsome to me as she was a thoughtless loose cannon and an obnoxious, red Louboutin shod drama-queen. She was basically a self-involved diva who couldn’t see or concern herself with anything beyond her own nose. She was selfish, impetuous, demanding, petty, lazy, gorgeous, insecure, and a honey trap for men. I couldn’t imagine why the stodgy academician, Lee, remained her friend. Teri thoughtlessly blundered on creating huge scenes and life-altering messes and Lee would seethe and grind her teeth, but eventually, she would sigh and forgive her. I must confess to never being that kind or patient towards anyone – friend or family.   When someone screws me over – I make sure they aren’t able to do it more than once, and the earth beneath them is usually scorched!

I gained a treasure trove of new additions for my Brit Words and Phrases List with make a decent fist – make a worthy effort; lolloped – moving in an ungainly or awkward manner; and the multi-tasker of pipped which has several meanings such as – shoot with a gun, drunk, insult, molest, or defeat by a narrow margin; and twonk – which is Victorian slang for a stupid or foolish person, and although it may no longer be in use today, it is still fun to say.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

I don’t want to keep you on your toes. I just want to keep you.

 

I’d always thought that knowing you’ve found the one was going to take time… But this felt so perfect that I was close to bursting with happiness. I didn’t even know it was possible to feel so much joy. It was like a physical force, like a pressure from the inside out.

 

My Review:

 

Written in my favorite dual POV, this sweet and sexy book was a refreshing angst-free delight.   What a relief to read upbeat and pleasurable storylines rather than constant conflict and yo-yo push/pull on and off relationship drama. This sexy couple brought out the best in each other in the boardroom, bedroom, and every environment in between. The storylines were engaging, delectably steamy, and easy to follow while populated with characters who were thoughtful, smart, hardworking, and highly likable.   Sigh, I adore Layla Hagen.

About Layla Hagen   

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Christmas Kisses On Hollywell Hill

by Jackie Ladbury

Christmas is coming and actress Kirsty Castille seems doomed to play the front part of Nag, the Christmas pantomime horse, when a surprise audition lands her the lead role as Maria in the Sound of Music.

Even better she bonds with a handsome chef over a piece of squid at her local supermarket, although sadly romance is the last thing on Jake Levy’s mind.

He has a Christmas deadline, an ex-wife to mourn and lots of emotional baggage to drag around. He certainly doesn’t have time for romance and even if he did he wouldn’t fall for someone like Kirsty who craves the limelight: been there, done that.

A misunderstanding leads Jake to offer Kirsty a job in his new restaurant and she takes it purely to convince him that she’s the girl of his dreams.

Her charm offensive begins to work but while he’s cooking up a storm she’s secretly sparkling under the spotlight – until her cover is busted.

The fallout is catastrophic, but as they say in Luvvie Land, the show must go on, even if Kirsty is terrified that she’s taken her last curtain call and ruined her chance for love.

Read on and immerse yourself in this delightful winter romance as the snow starts to fall and Christmas day becomes a magical reality.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

Kirsty gave him her Cruella de Vil glare, the one she practised in the mirror for when her big break came and she’d have to fight off autograph hunters and journalists.

She’d discovered in dating agency lingo, that five foot ten, actually meant five foot six, “emotional” was a euphemism for misery guts who just wanted to drone on about the ex-wife’s handbag addiction, and “sporty with a sense of fun,” meant juvenile show off who wanted to blag on about his chronograph diving watch and his knowledge of stupid YouTube videos. At least the one she conversed with did – and he had a rare DeLorean apparently. She’d asked whether he’d had some cream from the doctor’s for it, and he’d ended the conversation abruptly.

‘The men look like they’re already seated,’ Kirsty said with a giggle. ‘I’ve seen taller men on the set of Snow White.’ Allie gulped at her drink and fiddled with the strap of her bag. ‘All the girls are pretty and the men are all pretty ugly. What an unfair world we live in.’ She surveyed the room.

Boring would be the last thing I’d put on your tick sheet. Keeping up with your conversation is harder than trying to understand my grandma without her teeth in.

I was good, you were bad, very bad … you were a wolf in wolf’s clothing.

 My Review:

This was a fun yet somewhat challenging read. I enjoyed Ms. Ladbury’s quirky characters, unpredictable and ironic plot twists, and zings of clever levity; although the yo-yo on and off nature of Kirsty’s relationships and Jake’s indecisiveness were rather frustrating. Kirsty led a rich fantasy life, she talked to inanimate objects, inventing lives and families in her head for strangers and names on tombstones, and was prone to break out in dance in the grocery store aisle if the muse hit her. While she wasn’t mentally ill, she was much like a female Walter Mitty, as by her own choice her grasp of reality was often tenuous as she would rather live in her head than face her rather grim and near penniless reality. Most of the main characters had a few screws loose but my patience was well rewarded with this engaging and entertaining read.

For a new addition to my Brit Word List, I spied the unfamiliar munter – which is British informal for an ugly person and a very fun word to mutter or say aloud. 😉

Coming Home to Merriment Bay

Part Two – Sparks Fly

by Emily Harvale

Lily Harper is an events organizer, but her neat, ordered world has just exploded. First, she lost her job, then she lost her fiancé. Her five-year plan is looking increasingly shaky.

Lost and lonely, Lily heads home to her childhood village, and accepts the position of live-in housekeeper at the grand but welcoming Willow Tree Hall. It’s not exactly her dream job – Lily is more used to arranging parties than pantries – but at least she’s working.

Her first task is to arrange the Willow Tree Hall summer fete. Lily is in her element, writing to-do lists and organizing bunting and baking – until her old flame Jack Carter turns up in the village. Lily hasn’t seen Jack in over ten years, when he sped off on his motorbike, taking with him the pieces of her broken heart.

Lily vowed she would never forgive him. But as Willow Tree Hall weaves its magic, Lily finds she might just give Jack a second chance after all…

Full of warmth, tears, love, and laughter, this is a gripping romance for fans of Heidi Swain and Philippa Ashley.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

‘Paddling pool time,’ she said, with a grunt. ‘Which at least will replace the horror of bath time. And then bedtime followed swiftly by gin o’clock.’

‘How marvellous,’ said the woman, giving Jack a once over that would make anyone blush. ‘Is that flashy car yours? How I do like a man with a fast-running motor!’ ‘Thank you,’ said Jack, his mouth twitching into a smile. Aunt Rose had to be at least seventy years old and was dressed in a very fashionable dress, jacket and matching hat from which protruded a large feather in the same hot pink colour. Sam sighed. ‘I’d like to say that you get used to my aunt’s flirting but don’t assume that you have to.’ ‘My darling nephew, I do not flirt!’ said Rose, with a throaty chuckle. ‘I merely stun and disarm.’

‘Men!’ said Rose, rolling her eyes. ‘They’re just too awful but oh! L’amour! Who can resist them? Now, have you tried Tinder? I mean, you get a few freaks obviously but the sex is marvellous!’

‘You’ve put on a pound or two, haven’t you, chubby?’ ‘Stress eating,’ the man told him, taking a step backward. ‘Mind you, that’s nothing compared to your grey hairs.’ ‘It’s being famous again,’ said Mick, rubbing his grey sideburns which he’d missed with the hair dye. ‘People wanting money everywhere I look. Vultures, the lot of them.’ ‘Poor you,’ said the stranger in a sympathetic tone. ‘You really enjoyed those years being has-beens after all, eh?’

My Review:

I’m continuing to enjoy my stay in the quaint little village of Cranley and the extensive grounds of Willow Tree Hall. This installment was considerably more angst-ridden than the last with significant career, personal, and family stressors present for the two new main characters of Lily and Jack, who both separately find themselves unemployed and back in their small village after more than a decade apart. Despite the heavier issues and concerns covered, Ms. Sherlock thoughtfully and shrewdly provided comic relief often through the always effervescent and outrageous flirting of great-aunt Rose. Aunt Rose continued to delight and entertain with her feisty attitude and joie de vivre. I aspire to be as cool at any age as Aunt Rose in her seventies. Although, there were several other oddly enticing and idiosyncratic visitors bringing in smirk-worth levity as well. I am enjoying my travels to this busy little hamlet and look forward to more adventures there.

New additions to my Brit Word List include budge up – to move over, make room for others; and scrumping – stealing apples from someone else’s orchard.

Ten Things My Husband Hated

by Pauline Wiles

Maggie Moone is happily divorced.

And with her talent for fixing things, she’s perfectly content with her mundane life in the sleepy English village of Saffron Sweeting. That is, until one humiliating March evening when she learns everyone else assumes she’d love to mend her broken marriage.

Determined to prove them wrong, Maggie and her friends concoct a list of ten ways to assert her independence and live large. But her mission to move on leads to unexpected encounters, and Maggie soon finds herself mixing business with pleasure. Is the attractive young Irishman just another item on her list, or is he something more?

Before long, unresolved issues from her past begin to clash, and Maggie is forced to wonder if antagonizing her ex-husband was such a stellar idea.

No sooner does she begin to understand what’s important to her, than she stands to lose everything that truly matters.

This is the fourth in the collection of Saffron Sweeting romantic comedies, which can be read in any order. If you like gentle British humor and deliciously resilient heroines, you’ll love Ten Things My Husband Hated.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

Not only had I jumped the queue, I’d snapped at an old-age pensioner, and accused everyone of needing pills to help them poop.

It felt strange to hear my maiden name after so long. I probably hadn’t heard it since my wedding day, way back when Pluto was a planet.

‘I know you have a knack for it, but surely you’re not liking these odds and sods?’ She made it sound as though I was embalming corpses at the morgue, or cleaning public toilets.

Nobody in Saffron Sweeting knew Mrs Worthing’s first name. Everywhere you went, people accorded her the respect she demanded. She walked around in all weathers with a headscarf firmly tied, and her chin half an inch higher than it should be. The corners of her mouth, on the other hand, never lifted at all.

He shrugged, then wrote something on the clipboard. No doubt a secret acronym for patient is deranged.

I looked down, and recoiled in horror… I was an unmitigated dog’s dinner. My clothes were drenched in sweat, my hair was a hedgehog’s nest, my face was smeared with goodness knows what, and I’d wiped my nose on my shirt.

My Review:

This was my second time reading the crafty Ms. Wiles amusing words, and I believe she has become a bit habit-forming, as perusing her clever tales is something I would enjoy incorporating into my diet for a tasty treat.   Written from the first-person POV of Maggie, a rather wimpy and mousy jam loving divorcee who must have been a medical marvel as she appeared to be missing any trace of a backbone. I enjoyed the humorous storylines but wanted to provide Maggie with several brisk yanks as a form of medical intervention to dislodge her cranium from her backside. However, her friends hoped to refocus her energy and give her a kick-start toward self-independence by making a list of activities to be viewed as rebellious acts against her rather smug and self-serving ex-husband. There were a few mixed results and comical escapades along the way with a small village full of quirky yet oddly captivating residents.

I gleaned two new and fun additions to my Brit Words and Phrases list with: odds and sods – different kinds of things that are usually small and unimportant; and much of a muchness – two things that are very similar.   The UK saying of “odds and sods” seems much of a muchness to the use of “odds and ends” in the USA, although I’m finding odds and sods to be far more fun to say aloud.

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Coming Home to Merriment Bay
Part One: A Reunion
Merriment Bay series
by Emily Harvale

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

I don’t know how your mum stays alive because she clearly doesn’t have a heart.

 It’s like an inferno in that kitchen. But that might have something to do with Luigi, the chef. He could make my pot boil any time he wants, if you catch my meaning. I’ve half a mind to make him husband number three.

 So many questions and thoughts and fears careered around in Cat’s mind, but her lips wouldn’t form any words. Not polite ones, anyway.

 The expression on Mary’s face was one of abject horror. As if she had seen the four horsemen of the Apocalypse and they were heading straight for her.

 My Review:

Starting a new series involves setting the stage, establishing the traits and personality quirks of the various characters, and drawing the reader in with various story threads and my curiosity has been poked, nudged, and dialed to itch factor, as I’m impatient to know the secrets. What a tease that Emily Harvale, I would stamping my little foot and turning the air blue if I didn’t already have Part Two already loaded on my Kindle.