Category: 4-Stars

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Book Review: How (Not) To Date A Prince by Zoe May

How (Not) To Date A Prince

by Zoe May

 

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA 

 B&N / Kobo

 

Surely fairy tales don’t happen in real life?

After being jilted at the altar, high-flying journalist Sam doesn’t believe in love anymore – and she certainly doesn’t believe in fairy tales! So, when she’s asked to cover the Royal Wedding, it’s the last thing she wants to do.

And when she crashes into a ridiculously handsome stranger, Anders, things go from bad to worse. But as the big day draws closer, Sam finds herself being swept up in the excitement – as well as swept off her feet by Anders!

But there’s something that Anders is hiding from her – and when he finally reveals his secret, might Sam just have the happy-ever-after she never thought she wanted…?

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Trust me, I am not normally a head-turner. At least not for the right reasons. There was one time at work when I noticed that people’s eyes were following me across the office and then I realised I was trailing a six-foot long piece of loo roll from my shoe. I was a head-turner that day. And then there was another time when people kept glancing at me on the tube. I thought maybe they were checking me out. It was only when I got off that I realised I had bird shit in my hair. I was definitely turning heads that day.

 

There are five images of my butt in total, bulging in white lace. My bum looks so big that I’m beginning to wonder if the photos have been edited or taken with a fish-eye lens or something… ‘Someone has described me as a “cheeky mare”,’ I say, reading one of the comments aloud… I look down to find another comment, with hundreds of up-ratings. ‘That’s ANUStonishing view!’

 

My Review:

 

I enjoy the engaging manner in which Zoe May spins a tale while generously weaving in clever levity, endearingly quirky and awkward characters, insightful observations, and wryly-comical descriptions and inner musings. I enjoyed the storylines as well as all the creative extra touches tossed in as added treats, such as the witty puns used in the creation of greeting cards by Samantha’s friend and roommate.

 

Samantha was a political reporter who was well acclimated to covering Westminster with no interest in the royals but when a co-worker went on maternity leave, Samantha’s boss reassigned her to cover all the hoopla and madness leading up to and following the upcoming nuptials of a British reality star and a Norwegian prince. Samantha was greatly annoyed by the switch to fluffy news as well as the extravagance and ridiculousness of how her fellow associates in the press rapturously swooned over each minuscule detail of the event. However, she kept running into one particularly appealing and charismatic reporter who always seemed to have an inside scoop as well as familiarity with all the wedding vendors. And then she really ran into him, with her car.

About the Author

Zoe May lives in Oxford and writes romantic comedies. Zoe has dreamt of being a novelist since she was a teenager. She spent her twenties living in London, where she worked in journalism and copywriting before writing her debut novel, Perfect Match. Having experienced the London dating scene first hand, Zoe could not resist writing a novel about dating, since it seems to supply endless amounts of weird and wonderful material!

Perfect Match was one of Apple’s top-selling books of 2018. It was also shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Joan Hessayon Award, with judges describing it as ‘a laugh out loud look at love and self-discovery – fresh and very funny’.

As well as writing, Zoe enjoys walking her dog, painting and, of course, reading.

Social Media Links –

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/zoe_writes/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe_writes/

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

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Book Review: Summer at the Lakeside Resort (Lakeside Resort Book #2) by Susan Schild

Summer at the Lakeside Resort

(Lakeside Resort Book #2)

by Susan Schild 

 

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA / B&N

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

I think I’ll go slather myself with Ben Gay so my muscles won’t freeze up on me like the tin man.

 

Australians had been credited with inventing the black box flight recorder, the cochlear implant, and the electronic pacemaker. She groaned internally as she read on. Son of a biscuit. They’d also invented box wine. That was genius.

 

I hope you remember the girl you were, the one who rode bikes fearlessly, got dirty, and didn’t give a fig about how you looked.

 

“My legs and arms are white as rice, and I still have my winter weight.” Her thighs reminded her of rice pudding.

 

When she got back to their campsite, Charlotte was outside frying bacon on an electric skillet. Jenny sniffed. “Someone should make a perfume that smells like that.” “Men and dogs would just follow you around,” Charlotte said.

 

My Review:

 

Jenny was highly focused and working hard to get her resort fully operational but being a one-woman operation, she was anxious about balancing her money, time, and energy and was grateful to have her new love for support – but did she? Luke was called away on business to Australia and highly distracted by his new project during the rare phone connections. Luke was a kind and gentle man but he wasn’t much for discussing feelings and seemed to be as attentive and romantic as a frozen fish stick.

After reading several taut thrillers, I enjoyed the leisurely pace, real-world issues, subtle levity, rustic feel, and down-home flavors such as the name of the general store – Gus’s Gas-N-Git -, which was, smirk-worthy.   While slow in pace, the storylines were easy to follow, realistic, wryly written, and chaste enough for my elderly mother’s church ladies’ book club, which is indeed a rare find on my reading list.  😉

About the Author

Goodreads
Amazon

Susan Schild writes heartwarming and funny novels about women over 40 having adventures. falling in love, and finding their happily ever afters.

Susan is a wife and a stepmother who enjoys weekend getaways with friends, reading fiction, and rummaging through thrift stores and antique stores for treasures like four dollar cashmere sweaters and amateur watercolor paintings. A dog lover, Susan is especially fond of Lab mix rescue dogs.

With a professional background as a psychotherapist and a management consultant, Susan has used her professional background to add authenticity to her characters.

Susan and her family live in North Carolina where she is busy writing her next novel.

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Book Review: Code Name – Genesis (Jameson Force Security #1) by Sawyer Bennett

Code Name: Genesis (Jameson Force Security, Book #1)
Sawyer Bennett
Release Date: May 7, 2019

 

Synopsis:

Years ago, they were in love. She was an up-and-coming superstar and he was the devilishly handsome security professional hired to keep her safe. They fell hard and fast, no matter how they tried to resist one another. But not everyone around them was happy about their relationship, and a string of lies and deceit destroyed what they once had.

Having just taken the helm of a nationally renowned protective services company, Kynan McGrath is looking to rebrand and revamp his career. The newly crowned Jameson Force Security is moving from the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas to the mountainous steel town of Pittsburgh, and the last thing Kynan has time for is to deal with his past.

More than a decade has passed since their split, but even a bruised and battered heart remembers its first love. So when Joslyn Meyers comes to him for help, Kynan reluctantly agrees to keep her safe from a terrifying stalker who keeps threatening her life.

As the danger they face continues to intensify, Kynan realizes he’ll stop at nothing to protect the woman who turned her back on him all those years ago. Because one thing is certain—no matter how hard he tries to convince himself otherwise, Joslyn still has his heart.

Download Code Name: Genesis:
Amazon | Nook | Apple | Google Play | Kobo | Amazon Print | B&N Print

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

We named him after Tony Stark.” “You’re kidding me?” “I never kid about the Avengers,” she says in all seriousness.

 

My mind races, trying to remember if I ever learned anything from watching MacGyver about how to help me out of this situation. Without a paper clip, it seems hopeless.

 

 My Review:

 

Joslyn had it all, a successful career, a bank full of money, lovely homes, a dangerous stalker, a bitter ex, and a deceitful stepmother. Yikes, I’ll stick to my quiet life of obscurity, thank you very much. The storylines alternated between suspense and sensual romance, with a side order of family drama for additional flavor.   The book was written from a dual POV of the two main characters of Kynan and Joslyn, who honestly, were not totally likable. Kynan may have been a sexy Brit with a swoony accent yet he was also a crass prick, and Joslyn was all too gullible. I did pick up a new word for my Brit Vocabulary List with a word I’ve noticed often but never actually knew exactly what it meant – duffer – which according to Kynan means a useless person. Silly me, all this time I thought it was a bad golfer.

About the Author:

Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, in January 2013, Sawyer Bennett has released multiple books, many of which have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists.

A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real-life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

Sawyer likes her Bloody Marys strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active daughter, as well as full-time servant to her adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great work-out, cake, or even better, both.

Sawyer also writes general and women’s fiction under the pen name S. Bennett and sweet romance under the name Juliette Poe.

Connect with Sawyer:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Book+Main Bites | BookBub | Amazon | Newsletter | Master Blogger List

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Book Review: The Unexpected Shelter (Applebottom Matchmaker Society Series) by Abby Tyler

The Unexpected Shelter

(Applebottom Matchmaker Society Series)

by Abby Tyler

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA / B&N

Savannah Perkins has always loved the animal shelter her father started in memory of her mother. It’s been her life’s work and a peaceful place for her to care for him.

But it’s a hard living, and volunteers have gotten hard to come by.

Until Luke.

No one was more surprised by Luke Southard’s arrival in Applebottom than his father. Mayor T-bone had no idea he had a son.

While Luke waits on the local veterinary school to accept his transfer, the town suggests he help out at the shelter.

But some of the local boys take issue with his closeness to Savannah, blaming him for vandalism around town. When the new vet school refuses him, Luke figures he’s overstayed his welcome.

It will take some quick thinking by the town to help Luke and Savannah realize that in each other, they’ve found their perfect shelter.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

The room went wild with chairs scraping back and people gasping like T-bone done announced he was from Nebraska.

 

Violet had come over that morning and done her nails and helped with makeup. They had a long day ahead, so they needed armor, Violet had said. Armor by Maybelline.

 

 My Review:

 

Continuing on with my fangirling of the lovely Abby Tyler with another sweet Applebottom tale, this one was a bit more melancholy than the rest due to the rather tragic circumstances the main character of Savannah was mired with. Savannah’s tale is a very relevant and realistic one for anyone struggling with elderly family members. Despite the heavier concerns, the storylines were lively, entertaining, and highly relatable, although my two favorite tenacious pie bakers were not as prevalent in this tale and I sorely missed them. I enjoy Ms. Tyler’s amusing voice and highly endearing characters. She squeezed my heart with this one as I am a huge animal lover and involved in cat rescue and fostering myself.

About the Author

Abby Tyler loves puppy dogs, pie, and small towns (she grew up in one!) Her Applebottom Matchmaker Society books combine the sweet and wholesome style of romance she loves with the funny, sometimes a-little-too-truthful characters she remembers from growing up in a place where everyone knew everybody’s business.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

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Book Review, Giveaway: Coming Home to Wishington Bay by Maxine Morrey

Coming Home to Wishington Bay

by Maxine Morrey

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA / B&N

 

Home is where the heart is…

Holly doesn’t have time for a holiday this year. But when her job threatens to send her over the brink, her boss insists she take a sabbatical. So she packs her bags and escapes to her beloved grandmother Gigi’s house on Wishington Bay, which has sat empty since Gigi passed away.

But Holly’s dreams of a coastal escape take an unexpected turn. Holly didn’t expect to spend time with any man this summer – let alone an Aussie Adonis…but when she meets her next-door neighbor Gabe and his little dog Bryan, it’s clear her quiet summer of strolling along the sand and wandering through the seaside village’s tiny streets on her own will come with a hefty dose of distraction.

With a summer to fill and Gigi’s wonderful and surprising house to sort through, Holly knew it would be a summer packed with old memories. She just didn’t expect to make so many new ones…

Coming Home to Wishington Bay is the new gorgeous uplifting rom-com from Maxine Morrey, perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Tilly Tennant!

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Although, if I’m honest, ever since I found out that the man I’d been dating thought girlfriends qualified as a “two for the price of one” deal, batteries were something I tended to keep a stock of.

 

No, I promise this time, it’s most definitely not a set-up. I’m pretty sure you’re not his type anyway. His last girlfriend was an absolute stunner.’ My brother was, as always, the epitome of tact.

 

It was at least a week before I could even look at chocolate cake again but, as I wasn’t a quitter, I’d forced myself to beat that particular problem.

 

I was civil at work because I had to be, Paul! What I really wanted to do was grab your nuts and rip them out through your throat, but I was reliably informed that HR would most likely frown on something like that. More’s the pity.

 

Who cares if you can bounce a pound coin off her arse? … Mine would probably just eat it like a money box.

 

Some days are better than others. Some days I still want to kick him in the nuts so hard his grandchildren would be sopranos– but apart from that.

 

 My Review:

 

This was a fun and amusing read with frequent spikes of wry wit and clever banter. I enjoyed the liberal levity, sassy teasing, and flippant quips that regularly marked the characters’ verbal exchanges and inner musings. Ms. Morrey’s application of humor alternated between feisty and mischievous to wry and ironic, and I reveled in it all and jonesed for even more.

Cool new additions to my Brit Word List include gobby – British slang for talking in a loud and offensive manner; snaffle – steal or nab; caught on the hop – being surprised or unprepared; boot sale – pop-up markets involving selling goods from the trunk of cars; and fizzog – face.

About the Author

Maxine has wanted to be a writer for as long as she can remember and wrote her first (very short) book for school when she was ten.

As time went by, she continued to write, but ‘normal’ work often got in the way. She has written articles on a variety of subjects, as well as a local history book on Brighton. However, novels are her first love.

In August 2015, she won Harper Collins/Carina UK’s ‘Write Christmas’ competition with her first romantic comedy, ‘Winter’s Fairytale’.

Maxine lives on the south coast of England, and when not wrangling with words loves to read, sew and listen to podcasts. Being a fan of tea and cake, she can (should!) also be found doing something vaguely physical at the gym.

Follow Maxine Morrey

Website           www.scribblermaxi.co.uk

Twitter @Scribbler_Maxi

Instagram @scribbler_maxi

Facebook www.Facebook.com/MaxineMorreyAuthor

Pinterest ScribblerMaxi

Giveaway

 Win a Wishington Bay notebook, a Wishington Bay canvas shopper bag, and an e copy of the book.

(Open to UK only)

*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will be passed to the giveaway organizer and used only for the fulfillment of the prize, after which time I will delete the data.  I am not responsible for dispatch or delivery of the prize.

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Book Review: A Little Hotel in Cornwall by Laura Briggs

A Little Hotel in Cornwall

by Laura Briggs

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA 

 

Struggling American waitress and aspiring novelist Maisie Clark dreams of becoming a full-time writer — even though in real life she’s just lost her chance at an exclusive writer’s mentorship program that would give her novel its big break. Desperate, she decides to take a chance and ask her favorite writer, a celebrated but reclusive English novelist, to help her find a second chance.

When she receives the author’s reply in an envelope with a Cornish postmark, Maisie decides not to take the writer’s half-hearted ‘no’ for an answer. With nothing to lose, she takes off for the author’s last known location, a beautiful hotel on Cornwall’s western coast. But when the hotel mistakes her for the latest applicant for a maid’s position, Maisie finds herself given an opportunity too good to lose … and a chance for a summer adventure far bigger than she ever imagined.

Surrounded by breathtaking Cornwall and working in an elegant hotel, Maisie’s world becomes one of secret identities, quirky friends, and unintentional mishaps — and despite reminders of past relationship disasters, a certain handsome, charming local resident Sidney Daniels has her conflicted about her heart’s desires, too.

Will Maisie find the chance she’s been waiting for — and a possible new romance — in her perfect Cornish summer?

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My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

And when I opened its cover and read the first page, I began a passionate love affair with its words. I fell into that story and didn’t come up for air. I drowned in its world for three whole days and came back to life after the last sentence, a little part of me wishing I was still there.

He pretended to flex his muscles beneath the sleeves of his jacket. “Please, I haven’t eaten lunch yet,” said the other one. “Your muscles will remind me of hard-boiled eggs.”

I was going to have to ring the antique bell on the desk, which I hated doing — there’s something so impatient about ringing service bells. That annoying little peal that has two tones — ‘come now’ and ‘still waiting.’

My Review:

 

This quick and wryly written novella starts off a twisty new Laura Briggs Cornwall rom-com series. I’m curious to see where this story goes as I’ve already started postulating theories. Ms. Briggs introduces a colorful cast of quirky characters on both continents. The main character of Maisie’s situation has become rather dire and she has turned into a total fraud, which gave me pause but the deception wasn’t her initial intention, although she did conveniently step right into it without much hesitation.   Maisie had moxie – I’ll give her that.

About the Author

Laura Briggs is the author of several chick lit and romance stories, including the Top 100 Amazon UK seller ‘A Wedding in Cornwall’. She has a fondness for vintage style dresses (especially ones with polka dots), and reads everything from Jane Austen to modern-day mysteries. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with family, caring for her pets, going to movies and plays, and trying new restaurants.

Social Media Links –

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PaperDollWrites

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/authorlaurabriggs/

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Book Review, Giveaway: Lies Behind the Ruin by Helen Matthews

Lies Behind the Ruin

by Helen Matthews

 

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA  
Helen Matthews

 

Emma Willshire has overcome plenty of obstacles in her life. From student bride to single mum of a son, Owen, but she has found happiness with her second husband, Paul and another child, Mollie. Emma’s dark days seem far behind her until a fatal accident happens at Paul’s work and he is held responsible.

On holiday in France, Paul’s behavior turns erratic. On impulse, he buys a cheap, dilapidated property and, to Emma’s dismay, persuades her they can renovate it into a holiday home.

Back in England, their problems spiral out of control. Escape to a new life in France seems the only solution but with heart-breaking loss for Emma. As the couple strives to renovate their ruin and open a small business, shadows from the past threaten their happiness and safety. Because, how can you build a new life on toxic foundations?

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quote:

 

My empty kitchen shelves yawn, as if they’ve been plundered by a thief with a crockery fetish.

 

My Review:

 

Family drama, deceit, betrayal, duplicity, financial strain, and lots of angst underscore this slowly evolving tale of treachery. The writing was easy to follow and held my attention and despite the slow pace, I remained curious as to how long the deception could remain undetected. Apparently, Emma wasn’t a deep thinker, or at all observant, or diligent about birth control. Ms. Matthew’s storylines were taut with tension and fraught with various stressors and uncertainty as a British family stumbled and fractured while attempting to start anew in France amidst the insecurities of Brexit. I didn’t find any of the main characters to be totally likable yet I was sympathetic to the blinkered and beleaguered Emma, although I had nothing but disdain for either of her husbands.

About the Author

 

Helen Matthews is the author of Lies Behind the Ruin, a contemporary suspense novel set in France, to be published in April 2019 by Hashtag Press. Her debut novel After Leaving the Village, published in 2017, won first prize for the opening pages of a novel at Winchester Writers’ Festival. Born in Cardiff, she read English at the University of Liverpool and holds an MA in Creative Writing from Oxford Brookes University. Helen’s short stories and flash fiction have won prizes and been published in Reflex Fiction, Ad Hoc, Artificium, Scribble and Love Sunday. Her freelance journalism has been published in the Guardian and broadcast on BBC radio. She is an ambassador for Unseen, a charity that campaigns to end human trafficking and modern slavery.

Social Media Links – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HelenMK7Writer/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HelenMK7

Giveaway

Win 2 x Signed copies of Lies Behind The Ruins

(Europe Only)

*Terms and Conditions –European entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will be passed to the giveaway organizer and used only for the fulfillment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for dispatch or delivery of the prize.

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Book Review, Giveaway: Pieces of Us by A.L. Jackson

A second chance stand-alone romance in A.L. Jackson’s Confessions of the Heart Series.
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“I absolutely adored all of the sweet emotion, angst, and just all of the feelings “Pieces of Us” inspired. The characters and their growth had me hooked from the first page. Read it. You will not regret it.”
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~NYT & USA Today Bestselling Author Kylie Scott
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My loves!! PIECES OF US IS LIVE!!! I am so freaking excited, I can hardly stand it! This book is EVERYTHING!
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✓ Second-chance romance
✓ Sexy AF hero
✓ All the feels
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DETAILS:
TITLE: PIECES OF US
SERIES: A Confessions of the Heart Stand-Alone Novel
RELEASE DATE: April 22nd, 2019
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Maxon Chambers has a way of stealing all the attention.
All my affection, and all my dreams.
What I needed to remember was he’d stolen my good judgment and my virginity, too.
When he broke up with me, I ran across the country and swore I’d never return to Broadshire Rim.
But here I am, thirteen years later.
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Maxon is all grown up.
Sexier than sin and more tempting than ever.
A detective on the Charleston force, he lives on the outside of safety, devoted to protecting the people of his city.
But with the way he’s looking at me now? I’m pretty sure what needs protecting is my heart.
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Can we mend the pieces of us? Or will he leave my heart shattered forever . . .
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My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Daddy-the-Great looks like he might be at his wit’s end. Grams said she is always at her wit’s end, and I don’t think we need to be driving Daddy there, too. It seems like a dangerous place to be. We might need an intervention.

 

I looked at Ian’s infant who was wearing nothing but a towel duct taped around his waist… “If you can get her into her bed for a nap without waking her up, I’ll give you a thousand dollars. Strike that, I’ll give you my car.”

 

Pulling me closer, she hiked up on her toes and murmured quietly in my ear so only I could hear, “Now don’t go and do something stupid like hurt my daughter. I’ll hunt you down and cut off your balls. Know it took some big ones for you to show up here today, so use ’em wisely.”

 

That’s a really bad word, Mr. Mack. Don’t tell me you really are a troublemaker, too. Mom’s already got her hands full with the two of us.

 

My Review:

 

A.L. Jackson seems to revel in anchoring her compelling yet broken and deeply flawed characters in misery, angst, melodrama, distress, and indecision while keeping her storylines fraught with tension. Thank goodness she always plants a few adorable children without filters on their mouths within her addictive stories to provide comic relief.   Like the previous two books in this series, Pieces of Us was an intriguing, tragic, and heart squeezing second chance romance with elements of suspense and a ton of heartbreaking family drama. My poor coronary muscle feels battered and bruised and is in dire need of wine therapy and lighter fare. I’m thinking a vat of Moscato and a nice relaxing romantic comedy is in order for my next read.

Don’t miss the awesome giveaway for the Pieces of Us release! It’s the first two books from the Confessions of the Heart Series + Kindle Fire + Polaroid Camera + All the Goods!
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Ahhh I can’t wait for you to experience this story! I’m so insanely proud of it! I can’t wait to hear what you think!
xoxo ~
Amy
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A.L. Jackson is the New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance. She writes emotional, sexy, heart-filled stories about boys who usually like to be a little bit bad.

Her bestselling series include THE REGRET SERIES, CLOSER TO YOU, BLEEDING STARS, and FIGHT FOR ME novels. Grab A.L. Jackson’s latest novel, PIECES OF US, the third stand-alone novel in her brand-new CONFESSIONS OF THE HEART series.
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If she’s not writing, you can find her hanging out by the pool with her family, sipping cocktails with her friends, or of course with her nose buried in a book.
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Be sure not to miss new releases and sales from A.L. Jackson – Sign up to receive her newsletter http://smarturl.it/NewsFromALJackson or text “aljackson” to 33222 to receive short but sweet updates on all the important news.
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Connect with A.L.
Facebook: http://smarturl.it/ALJacksonPage
Reader Group: http://smarturl.it/AmysAngelsRock
Amazon: http://smarturl.it/ALJacksonAmzn
Bookbub: http://smarturl.it/ALJacksonBookbub
Twitter: @aljacksonauthor
Instagram: @aljacksonauthor
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Book Review: One Last Summer by Victoria Connelly

One Last Summer

by Victoria Connelly

 

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA / B&N

 

They have the whole summer ahead of them. Is it enough to rekindle the friendship they once shared?

Harriet Greenleaf dreams of spending the summer in a beautiful ancient priory on the Somerset coast with her two best friends—but her dream is bittersweet. On the one hand, it’s a chance to reconnect three lives that have drifted apart; on the other, she has a devastating secret to share that will change everything between them forever.

First to arrive is Audrey—the workaholic who’s heading for a heart attack unless she slows down and makes time for herself. Then Lisa, the happy-go-lucky flirt who’s always struggled to commit to anyone—or anything. Ever the optimist, can Harriet remind them of the joy in their lives and the importance of celebrating good friendship before it’s gone?

Through the highs and lows of a long, glorious summer, these three women will rediscover what it means to be there for each other—before they face the hardest of goodbyes.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

He was the head of the maths department and she’d told him that she’d always hated figures and he’d made some wisecrack about liking hers.

 

Harrie’s diagnosis. D-Day, she called it, and now her life seemed to be divided between everything that had happened before D-Day and everything that had happened after.

 

Kindness. That was the trait she’d come to value most in recent years. You realised that as soon as you became ill. Kindness trumped absolutely everything else.

 

… the likelihood was that she wasn’t going to see her birthday. How strange a thought was that – to know that you have seen your last birthday?

 

A moment of stillness and wordlessness passed between the two women. It was a strange feeling because Harrie didn’t feel any sort of closeness to Mrs Ryder, but this confession – this sharing of intimate pain – now connected them. Harrie had found that her journey with cancer had linked her to so many people in this way – people she probably would never have spoken to.

 

Lisa, aligning my chakras and teaching me how to breathe through one nostril isn’t going to save me… This thing’s got me good and proper.

 

I know he’s the father of my daughter and there’s a part of me that will always love him, but he’s moved on now. He’s married to Lizzie, who has big hair and wears tight tops. So, you see my health isn’t his concern anymore.

 

My Review:

 

Knowing her days were numbered, Harriet, Harrie for short, splashed out a fortune to provide one last hurrah to host a peaceful summer vacation with her two oldest and dearest friends of twenty years, who are unaware of her dire health issues. This wasn’t a highly eventful or active story but a slowly evolving character-based study of coming to grips with mortality, as well as how that was processed and dealt with within complicated relationships and personalities. Each woman possessed a distinct and complex identity with vastly different temperaments, life goals, and levels of accomplishment, yet they cared about each other and fussed like siblings.

The premise was relevant and thought-provoking while the writing was emotive and thoughtfully insightful with recurrent themes of interpersonal tension, poignancy, melancholia, angst, and wry humor. The main characters were well fleshed out, although the character of Audrey was the most difficult for me to warm up to as she was the type of person I generally make an effort to avoid in real-life; she was stubborn, bristling with self-importance, driven, highly opinionated, and abrupt. I actually found the local workers to be the most compelling and interesting and greatly enjoyed their addition and contributions to the story.

New additions to my Brit Word list include plimsolls – which are rubber-soled canvas shoes; slap-up – a large and sumptuous meal; and supply teaching – what most Americans know as substitute teaching.

About the Author

Victoria Connelly studied English literature at Worcester University, got married in a medieval castle in the Yorkshire Dales and now lives in rural Suffolk with her artist husband, a young springer spaniel and a flock of ex-battery hens.

She is the author of two bestselling series, Austen Addicts and The Book Lovers, as well as many other novels and novellas. Her first published novel, Flights of Angels, was made into a film in 2008 by Ziegler Films in Germany. The Runaway Actress was shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Romantic Comedy Novel award.

Ms. Connelly loves books, films, walking, historic buildings and animals. If she isn’t at her keyboard writing, she can usually be found in her garden, with either a trowel in her hand or a hen on her lap.

Her website is www.victoriaconnelly.com, and readers can follow her on Twitter @VictoriaDarcy and on Instagram @VictoriaConnellyAuthor.

Social Media Links –

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312085782631729/

Twitter: @VictoriaDarcy

Instagram: @VictoriaConnellyAuthor

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Book Review: Amazing Grace by Kim Nash

Amazing Grace

by Kim Nash

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA

  Kobo / Apple

 

She’s taking her life back, one step at a time…

Grace thought she had it all. Living in the beautiful village of Little Ollington, along with headteacher husband Mark and gorgeous son, Archie, she devoted herself to being the perfect mum and the perfect wife, her little family giving her everything she ever wanted.

Until that fateful day when she walked in on Mark kissing his secretary – and her perfect life fell apart.

Now she’s a single mum to Archie, trying to find her way in life and keep things together for his sake. Saturday nights consist of a Chinese takeaway eaten in front of the TV clad in greying pajamas, and she can’t remember the last time she had a kiss from anyone aside from her dog, Becks…

Grace’s life needs a shake up – fast. So when gorgeous gardener Vinnie turns up on her doorstep, his twinkling eyes suggesting that he might be interested in more than just her conifers, she might just have found the answer to her prayers. But as Grace falls deeper for Vinnie, ten-year-old Archie fears that his mum finding love means she’ll never reconcile with the dad he loves.

So when ex-husband Mark begs her for another chance, telling her he’s changed from the man that broke her heart, Grace finds herself with an impossible dilemma. Should she take back Mark and reunite the family that Archie loves? Or risk it all for a new chance of happiness?

A funny, feel-good romance about finding your own path and changing your life for the better – readers of Cathy Bramley, Jill Mansell and Josie Silver will love this uplifting read.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

I’ve been on eighty-seven dates so far but have still not yet found the girl of my dreams. There’s been something wrong with every single one of them.

 

Derek, here’s a tip from me. On your next first date, treat your lady like a princess. Turn up on time, be nice to her, buy her a drink, ask her about herself and don’t talk about poo.

 

To be honest, even if David Beckham woke me up saying he wanted to roger me senseless in the middle of the night, I’d slap him and say, David, don’t bloody wake me up.

 

He treats me with kindness and respect, something that you don’t appear to have for anyone, not even your own family. And I suggest that if you ever want people to like you, go look those words up in a dictionary.

 

My Review:

 

Amazing Grace was a fun and lively read and the publishing début for this talented weaver of words. I just love finding new authors to fangirl!   The storylines were creative and eventful, yet easy to follow and fairly well-balanced in emotional tone between periods of angsty indecision and Grace’s gradual personal transformation as she waded through tense encounters and confusing exchanges with her ex-husband, rueful reminiscences of her mother, parenting issues, a thrilling new love interest, and other-worldly influences; until she finally found her own voice and regained her long-lost sparkle.

 

Ms. Nash’s writing was pleasantly engaging and evocatively detailed with shimmers of delightful humor that occasionally found me barking out a laugh. She has definitely earned a spot on my Ones to Watch For list. And an interesting addition to my Brit Word List was “big girl’s blouse,” which the Urban Dictionary defined as British slang for “a wimpy, emasculated and weak man. In particular, one who complains immoderately.” Hmm, I used to work with one of those… Retirement is oh, so, sweeet!

 

Author Bio

Kim Nash lives in Staffordshire with son Ollie and English Setter Roni, is PR & Social Media Manager for Bookouture and is a book blogger at www.kimthebookworm.co.uk.

Kim won the Romantic Novelists Association’s Media Star of the Year in 2016, which she still can’t quite believe. She is now quite delighted to be a member of the RNA.

When she’s not working or writing, Kim can be found walking her dog, reading, standing on the sidelines of a football pitch cheering on Ollie and binge-watching box sets on the TV. She’s also quite partial to a spa day and a gin and tonic (not at the same time!) Kim also runs a book club in Cannock, Staffs.

Amazing Grace is her début novel with Hera Books and will be out on 10th April 2019

Connect with Kim on Social Media here:
Twitter: (@KimTheBookworm) https://twitter.com/KimTheBookworm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KimTheBookWorm/
Instagram: @Kim_the_bookworm