Book Review, Giveaway: Christmas at Ladywell by Nicola Slade

Christmas at Ladywell

by Nicola Slade

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA

A time for spilling secrets…

Having refurbished her inherited house and upcycled her whole life in the process, Freya – now happily married to Patrick, and with a small child – has to transform her tiny stone barn into a romantic hideaway for a mystery guest who is also looking for change. With Christmas only a week away, things don’t go according to plan…

In the past old uncertainties are resolved when an elderly woman seeks the truth of a legend on Christmas Eve and confesses to a deception; a Tudor wife listens to a story that must never be repeated and is given a precious relic that must never be displayed; and in the early nineteenth century an old woman tells a younger one the story of the hares at Ladywell.

Past and present are only a whisper apart when Freya learns of an astonishing discovery that will make Ladywell famous, but meanwhile, her house is full of unexpected visitors, she has a turkey to cook – and a very special secret of her own that must be told.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

Our family ghost! A few fortunate people sense it, mostly women but sometimes a man will pause, look startled, then shake his head and forget about it.

Violet is a lark. So am I, really, but Patrick says he’s neither lark nor owl as he comes into his own at midday, so he claims to be a sloth.

My Review:

Ghost stories, a Hollywood film star, Christmas blessings from the beyond, exciting genealogy news, a valuable artifact, and a few other juicy secrets await your discovery in this quick yet high eventful and delightful read. While it could possibly be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading The House at Ladywell first for a more knowledgeable and satisfying reading experience. I am quite taken with this clever author; I covet her superior word skills and have added her to my favorites list.

About the Author

Nicola Slade is an award-winning, bestselling author of historical and contemporary mysteries and romantic fiction, all set in and around Winchester and Romsey in Hampshire – which is where she lives. The House at Ladywell – a contemporary romantic novel with historical echoes – won the Chatelaine Grand Prize for Romantic Fiction at the CIBA awards in April 2019.

She is the author of the mid-Victorian Charlotte Richmond mysteries and the contemporary Harriet Quigley mysteries and The Convalescent Corpse, published November 2018, is the first in a new series, The Fyttleton Mysteries, set in 1918.

Social Media Links

Website: www.nicolaslade.com

Blog: www.nicolaslade.wordpress.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/nicolasladeuk/

Twitter: @nicolasladeuk

Pinterest: www.pinterest.co.uk/nicola8703

Giveaway

Win a .mobi or PDF of

The Convalescent Corpse by Nicola Slade

(Open INT)

*Terms and Conditions – 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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November 4, 2019November 4, 2019

Book Review: The House at Ladywell by Nicola Slade

The House at Ladywell

by Nicola Slade

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA / B&N

When Freya Gibson inherits an old, run-down property she has no idea she is the last in a long line of redoubtable women, including the Tudor nun who built the house. Unknown to Freya, these women, over centuries, fought with whatever weapons came to hand – deception, endurance, even murder – to preserve their home and family.

Freya falls in love with the house, but her inheritance includes an enigmatic letter telling her to ‘restore the balance’ of the Lady’s Well. Besides this, the house seems to be haunted by the scent of flowers.

In the past, the Lady’s Well was a place of healing, and Freya soon feels safe and at home, but she has demons of her own to conquer before she can accept the happiness that beckons.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

Did you ever see the film, The Great Escape, ladies? We’re Steve McQueen and we’ve just jumped over the wire!

Ladywell, it was said, was a place of women; that no man prospered there and that the house itself was hostile to the menfolk, so it became a settled fact in the minds of the townspeople that only an exceptional man would marry happily into the house at Ladywell. That it took an exceptional woman to seize disaster and wallop it into success by sheer force of will was overlooked…

My Review:

Compelling characters and complicated storylines were ingeniously crafted and intricately plotted for a riveting and intriguing read. I was so caught up in the tale I didn’t dare put my Kindle down for fear something would happen while I was otherwise occupied. This brilliant, puzzling, and mysterious tale involved an unexpected present-day inheritance of house that seemed alive, paternity issues, questionable bloodlines, phantom flowers, immortal hares, healing waters, a well-plotted elder escape, and possible reincarnation of Mrs. Wallis Simpson as a cat. The story was exceptionally well woven and occurred over multiple timelines following the ancestral generations from 4th century AD to the present day; each one well researched and laced together with the complications and proclivities of the issues facing those in their time. I was enthralled, devastated, engrossed, confounded, infested with curiosity, mesmerized, fully engaged, and delightfully entertained by the cleverness of the tale as well as the welcome nips of levity deftly tucked in throughout.

About the Author

Social Media Links

Website: www.nicolaslade.com

Blog: www.nicolaslade.wordpress.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/nicolasladeuk/

Twitter: @nicolasladeuk

Pinterest: www.pinterest.co.uk/nicola8703

November 3, 2019

Book Review, Giveaway: Christmas at Wynter House (Wyntersleap #1) by Emily Harvale

Christmas at Wynter House

(Wyntersleap #1)

by Emily Harvale

Amazon

After a frosty welcome, things soon heat up at Wynter House.

Neva Grey is looking forward to spending a quiet Christmas with her family in the cosy cottage they’ve rented in the picture-postcard village of Wyntersleap. Nestled between rolling hills and a gently burbling river, it’s going to be idyllic.

Except it’s not. Torrential rain causes the river to burst its banks and the quaint little village isn’t quite so cosy with water lapping at the doors. Add to that a power cut and a sudden blizzard and Christmas is looking bleak … until gorgeous Adam Wynter invites them all to Wynter House.

Although not everyone is happy to share the ancestral home. Adam’s elder brother, Rafe is less than pleased. Their grandmother, Olivia extends a grudging welcome. And for Carruthers, the oddly arrogant butler, unexpected guests are a Christmas surprise he could do without. Especially one as troublesome as Neva’s eight-year-old niece.

But something’s not quite right at Wynter House. What is Rafe intent on hiding behind the locked doors of the old barn? And what really happened to his first wife? It’s a good thing Neva has a sense of humour. She’s going to need it this Christmas at Wynter House.

This is book one in the Wyntersleap series but it can be read as a standalone. The Wyntersleap series is interlinked with the Merriment Bay series and several characters appear in both series.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

… she was a little odd for an eight-year-old. She had already decided to be a ghost and demon hunter when she grew up. Buffy of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, a series she had watched with her mum, was her role model. Her clothes, which were mainly black, had to have pockets for her to store her mini flashlight, garlic, bottle of Holy water and set of knives. The garlic, knives and bottle were plastic. The ‘Holy’ water was from the tap, but Sasha had a vivid imagination, so none of that mattered to her. Her footwear of choice were high top Converse trainers but her one small nod to femininity were that they were black and silver glitter, because according to Sasha, every girl needs a bit of sparkle in their lives, even vampire slayers.

As far as she was concerned, the chemistry between them right now made the Big Bang look like a firework fizzling out.

‘I’ve never dated anyone from his sort of background, I don’t know what to do. Is he always going to be so stiff upper-lipped?’ ‘It’s not his upper lip you need to worry about,’

My Review:

Every book of Emily Harvale’s that I’ve ever picked up has been good fun, I adore her wit and clever levity; and, if you are paying attention – she tosses in sudden nimble dashes and subtle nips of grin producing irony for an added treat. Christmas at Wynter House was a lively yet pleasant read that kept me smiling and engaged throughout. The characters were relatable and realistically prone to a culture clash with mischief, quick banter, innuendo, eye-rolling, thoughtless reactions, and rude blurting – which are common everyday occurrences in my vicinity anyway. This delightfully penned tale kicked off a new series and I will be eagerly awaiting more of the same from this gifted scribe.

About the Author

Emily writes novels, novellas and short stories about friendship, family and falling in love. She loves a happy ending but knows that life doesn’t always go to plan. Her stories are sure to bring a smile to your face and a warmth to your heart.

Emily loves to connect with her readers and has a readers’ group in which many have become good friends. To catch up with Emily, find out about the group, or connect with her on social media, go to her website at www.emilyharvale.com.

Having lived and worked in London for several years, Emily returned to her home town of Hastings where she now writes full-time. She’s a member of the SoA and the RWA, an Amazon bestseller and a Kindle All Star. When not writing, she can be found enjoying the stunning East Sussex coast and countryside, or in a wine bar with friends, discussing life, love and the latest TV shows. Chocolate cake is often eaten. She dislikes housework almost as much as she dislikes anchovies – and will do anything to avoid both. Emily has two mischievous rescue cats that like to sprawl across her keyboard, regardless of whether Emily is typing on it, or not.

Social Media Links https://www.facebook.com/emilyharvalewriter

https://www.twitter.com/emilyharvale

https://www.instagram.com/emilyharvale

Giveaway

Win Christmas at Wynter House themed cushion (size 18 x 18 inches) a Wrendale Designs Christmas shopping pad and a Yankee Candle tealight holder and Winter Glow tealight (Open INT)

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October 31, 2019

Book Review: Saving Grace (Fox River Romance #4) by Jess B. Moore

Saving Grace

(Fox River Romance #4)

by Jess B. Moore

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA / B&N

Brandt Grace is trouble no matter what he says or does, always getting in his own way, and trying to prove he can do better and be better only to fall on his face.

Saving Grace follows Brandt’s unintentional fall for Lola Donovan, the previously friendly girl turned quiet ghost of a girl. They connect at rock bottom, finding an unexpected source of strength in each other.

Can they find a way to leave the past behind and build a future together?

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

Growing up, everyone had a secret crush on a Grace brother. A whispered admission followed by all the reasons it was a bad idea.

If I’d been a cartoon, my jaw would have dropped open and flies would have flown into my mouth. He walked in heels? For a good cause?

Right. Wrong. They had lost some of their meaning over the years, words worn soft from constant use and too much thought. I had too often done the wrong thing, knowing it, and unable to climb my way out. When I tried to do the right thing, it often turned out to be wrong, and I had lost all concept of which was which.

What must it be like to see the world in lines and color? I imagined a mix of vibrancy and shadows, but couldn’t fathom translating objects or people or ideas into art.

I adored my baby brothers, but they drove me nuts. Did not care they were technically adults with good reputations. To me, they were brats who made too many fart jokes and cut the hair off my Barbie dolls.

My Review:

I don’t know how she does it but Jess B. Moore makes angst palatable rather than painful. She has to be some sort of magical being as she has now pulled off this miraculous and mystifying feat four times, I can think of no other explanation. Her writing is poignant, perceptive, and cunningly emotive; it stings my eyes, squeezes my heart, and plays me like a finely tuned Dobro while hitting all the feels as well as the notes to a haunting and evocative melody.

Written in my favorite dual POV, Saving Grace was a heartrending and deftly penned tale occurred during the month between Thanksgiving and Christmas and dealt with addition, regrets, abuse, shame, small-town gossip, and a load of family drama while an unexpected fledgling romance was slowly gathering speed between two silently struggling acquaintances. The characters were endearingly flawed and realistically drawn with real-world issues. Brandt had a dark history and tainted reputation and Lola was a girl with magic eyes, and in more ways than one as she could see Brandt when his own family couldn’t. Sigh, I adored them but am now more curious than ever about Hudson, the last remaining Grace brother.

About the Author

Amazon
Twitter
Goodreads
Facebook
Website

Jess B. Moore is a writer of love stories. When she’s not writing, she’s busy mothering her talented and stubborn children, reading obscene numbers of books, and knitting scarves she’ll likely never finish.

Jess lives in small-town North Carolina with her bluegrass obsessed family. She takes too many pictures of her cats, thinking the Internet loves them as much as she does. She is a firm believer of swapping stories over coffee or wine, and that there should always be dark chocolate involved.

Look her up on social media @authorjessb – she’d be thrilled if you followed her on Twitter, overjoyed if you visited her on Facebook, and filled with glee if you liked her Instagram posts.

October 30, 2019

Book Review: Shadows (Bayou Magic #1) by Kristen Proby

Shadows

(Bayou Magic #1)

by Kristen Proby

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA /

B&N / Apple

From New York Times Bestselling Author, Kristen Proby, comes an all new paranormal romance set in the mystical city of New Orleans…

I am never alone. Not even when I am alone.
I see the unquiet dead, the souls that wander through the French Quarter.
They can’t move on, and I can’t stop seeing them.

I wear malachite for protection, and I control what I let in. It’s the only way to stay sane. Everything changes the day Cassian Winslow joins my ghost walking tour and knocks my world off its axis with green eyes the color of the stone around my neck.
An unspeakable evil is loose in New Orleans, taking young women and leaving a bloodbath in his wake. More shadows lurking for me. More unhappy dead. There might be a way to stop it.

Open myself up to Cassian.
If I do, it could spell his death.
But if I don’t, it’s mine.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

“It’s a hell of a first date,” Millie mumbles. “I mean, most people just get naked and have sex and then regret their life choices in the morning. This is on a whole different level.” I smirk and then shrug. “The night’s not over yet.”

“For you,” she says to Cash, passing him a coffee. “There’s a protection spell in there.” “Does it have eye of newt?” he asks, flashing a smile. “Not this time,” Millie replies with a wink, making Cash’s smile slide from his face.

My Review:

I’m not much of a paranormal reader but I’ve recently discovered this smooth and talented wordsmith named Kristen Proby and thought I’d give it a perusal. Somewhere on page one, her cunning word voodoo sucked me right into her character’s vortex while her strong and crafty juju held me enthralled. I was spellbound by her well-crafted and shrewdly plotted tale.

The engaging storylines and writing were absorbing and swirling with atmosphere and cast with oddly intriguing characters. I couldn’t put my Kindle down despite the chilling and gruesome nature of the crimes depicted. It was spine-tingling. I am definitely hooked and while I may not be much of a paranormal reader, I certainly seem to be one when Kristen Proby throws it down.

About the Author

Kristen was born and raised in a small resort town in her beloved Montana. In her mid-twenties, she decided to stretch her wings and move to the Pacific Northwest, where she made her home for more than a dozen years.

During that time, Kristen wrote many romance novels and joined organizations such as RWA and other small writing groups. She spent countless hours in workshops, and more mornings than she can count up before the dawn so she could write before going to work. She submitted many manuscripts to agents and editors alike, but was always told no. In the summer of 2012, the self-publishing scene was new and thriving, and Kristen had one goal: to publish just one book. It was something she longed to cross off of her bucket list.

Not only did she publish one book, she’s since published close to thirty titles, many of which have hit the USA Today, New York Times and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists. She continues to self publish, best known for her With Me In Seattle and Boudreaux series, and is also proud to work with William Morrow, a division of HarperCollins, with the Fusion Series.

Kristen and her husband, John, make their home in her hometown of Whitefish, Montana.

October 28, 2019

Book Review: Love in Due Time (Green Valley Library #1) by L.B. Dunbar

Love in Due Time, an all-new second chance romantic comedy from L.B. Dunbar is available now!

Love in Due Time

(Green Valley Library #1)

by L.B. Dunbar

Download your copy today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2kwBn29

AppleBooks: https://apple.co/2m24uuN

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

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Amazon Print: https://amzn.to/2ku1o2d

Naomi Winters will be forty—soon-ish—and she’s only been with one man. One night. One time. Long ago. She believes everything happens for a reason, and the universe spoke about Nathan Ryder.

Nathan Ryder isn’t the same man who hightailed his bike out of Green Valley eighteen years ago. As a rule breaker, women are one area he acts a fool. Case in point…the local librarian. He can’t get a read on her, but she’s one risk he’s willing to take. Again.

What do an eccentric librarian and a sexy silver biker have in common? More than you think.

The due date on their love might not be expired after all.

‘Love in Due Time’ is a full-length, contemporary romantic comedy, can be read as a standalone, and is book#1 in the Green Valley Library series.

My Rating:

Favorite Quote:

I don’t want any second-guesses about my intentions. Only second chances.

My Review:

This captivating tale was unusually cast and singularly crafted. It featured a second chance romance for a tenderhearted small-town Wiccan librarian that was circling forty, socially awkward, peculiarly clad, and practically a virgin – how more original or creative could a premise be? Written in my favorite dual POV, the writing was thoughtfully observant, painstakingly insightful, and fraught with angst, interpersonal and familial conflicts, throbbing loins, sexual tension, and decades of regret as well as unexpected slivers of amusing and smirk-worthy levity amidst all that other stuff. The wily Ms. Dunbar has brought her uniquely gifted skill set to Smartypants Romance for an engaging, somewhat arduous, highly evocative, and uncommonly satisfying fusion of synergy.

Excerpt

“Naomi?” My hands cover her shoulders, holding her steady.

“This is all my fault.” Her eyes widen, the widest I’ve ever seen. Panic fills them.

“What do you mean?”

“I … I can’t believe this happened again.” Her hands come to my chest, and she gently pushes at me. “You have to get out of here.”

“What?” My brows pinch at the harsh tone.

“You need to go. I can’t be near you.” Her voice struggles to stay level.

Ouch. That stings a little.

“Why?” I take one step back under the force of her hands.

“I can’t be around you. This can’t happen.”

“Lady, what are you talking about?” My voice roughens.

“Bad things always happen after I’m with you.”

I stiffen, straightening to my full height. My arms cross and I glare down at her. Saying such a thing is just downright mean. Her head shakes as her fingers curl along the open edges of my work jacket. Suddenly, I feel like she’s tugging me to her instead of pressing me away.

What the …

“When I’m with you, something happens. Something bad.” Her breath catches. “Because we kissed, the library is closing.”

I stare at her. She can’t be serious, but I see the hysteria in her eyes, like a rabid, trapped animal. She actually believes what she says.

“Well, we didn’t kiss,” I remind her, my tone stern and condescending. “I kissed you, remember? And you didn’t kiss me back, so I don’t think it counts.”

She glares up at me, her fingers still gripping my open jacket. Her shoulders fall, her head lowers, and it’s as if I can visibly see her relax, like water cascading down a building, washing over her.

Exhale. Settle.

Exhale. Calm.

“I didn’t kiss you back?” she questions and then her head pops up again. She nearly shrieks with the hesitant realization. Commence inhaling, like she’s winding up again. Full steam ahead.

“I didn’t kiss you back,” she repeats, her excitement growing. Another exaggerated inhale.

“I didn’t kiss you back!” Now, she’s just downright gloating, and the engine’s ready to blow.

“You don’t have to sound so pleased,” I murmur. I glance up and notice Mrs. MacIntyre watching us through the window of the librarian’s office behind the check-out counter. Her eyes narrow and I’m certain we’re making too much noise for her liking.

“I … I’m so relieved,” Naomi admits, her head falling forward, her fingers loosening on my jacket. Then her face turns up again. Her lids lift, slow and lazy. Her mouth curls in sweet relief, and she pulls herself up on her toes by the open edge of my jacket and does the damnedest thing. She kisses me.

About L.B. Dunbar

L.B. Dunbar loves the sweeter things in life: cookies, Coca-Cola, and romance. Her reading journey began with a deep love of fairy tales, medieval knights, Regency debauchery, and alpha males. She loves a deep belly laugh and a strong hug. Occasionally, she has the energy of a Jack Russell terrier. Accused—yes, that’s the correct word—of having an overactive imagination, to her benefit, such an imagination works well. Author of over two dozen novels, she’s created sweet, small-town worlds; rock star mayhem; MMA chaos; sexy rom-coms for the over 40; and intrigue on an island of redemption. In addition, she is earning a title as the “myth and legend lady” for her modernizations of mythology as elda lore. Her other duties in life include mother to four children and wife to the one and only.

Connect with L.B. Dunbar

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2kkGqTy

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2lzEmHo

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

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2k1Rk0d

Website: https://www.lbdunbar.com/

Connect with Smartypants Romance

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Website: https://smartypantsromance.com/

October 24, 2019

Book Review: A Moment in Time (Give Me Shelter Book 2) by Josie Kerr

A Moment in Time

(Give Me Shelter Book 2)

by Josie Kerr

_{Amazon Universal}

Ben “Gunny” Anderson spent twenty years in the United States Marine Corps, watching the enemy through the scope of a long gun, waiting for the right moment to snuff out their lives. Now he’s retired and while he figures out what he wants to do with the rest of his life, he’s working with some former teammates, renovating properties.

After a scandal ruins her professional and personal life, Lindsay Beaujardin is looking for a brand new start and a move from Louisville to Atlanta is the perfect way to begin again.

A three-day fling between Gunny and Lindsay turns into the shock of a lifetime when they unexpectedly cross paths again. All it takes is a moment in time to change the course of fate and Gunny and Lindsey are about to find out just how true that is.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

I don’t think I can deal with people today. They’re too . . . people-y.

“Big question here, Lindsay—like, the most important one of all.” Her breath caught in her chest. “Okay. Ask me.” “Pickle-juice snow cones—yes or no?”

My Review:

This story had my Kindle melting with a sizzling first chapter that required a bump up in the air conditioning and a pause to catch my breath. Both main characters started off in transition, turning a corner, and looking for a fresh start; which they both deserved and strived to achieve. The premise was fresh, the writing captured and held my curiosity and attention, and the characters squeezed and absconded with my heart. I’m already feeling a bit impatient for the next installment.

Josie Kerr

Website
Twitter
Goodreads

Amazon

Josie Kerr is a transplanted West Texan living on the edge of semi-profoundly rural Georgia, a.k.a. the southernmost edge of the northernmost county in Metro Atlanta.

She has an M.Ed. in Secondary English Education but discovered that she hated high school more the second time than she did the first, so she decided to meld her love of technology with her education background and became an Instructional Designer. When not writing articles about how to fire someone without getting sued or why you should really not apply for jobs using your SexxyStud99@aol.com email address, she writes steamy romance novels that feature grown-up Heroes and Heroines.

October 24, 2019October 23, 2019

Book Review: Kiss Me Again by Emma Hart

WANTED: ROOMMATE. Must be tidy, polite, and absolutely not my brother’s hot as sin best friend.

Kiss Me Again, an all-new hilarious brother’s best friend standalone romance from New York Times bestselling author Emma Hart is available now!

I have no idea why I said yes.

Maybe I’d had one too many wines. Maybe I’d done it accidentally. Maybe I’d been sleep-texting.

One thing I know for sure is this: I absolutely do not want Ethan Hawkins in my apartment, up in my business, taking over my space.

Yet he’s here. Moving his stuff into my spare bedroom. Sending a wave of panty-melting, musky man-scent my way every time he walks past me.

Here’s the thing.

We don’t get along—at all. We never have, and I don’t think we’re going to start now that we’re under one roof.

There’s also that little issue where I’m kinda, sorta, totally in love with him…

Uh-oh.

Download your copy today!

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My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

It’s ironic… I have a hedgehog on my chest, and you’re still the prickliest thing in this apartment.

Angelica got started on her Danish as if it was going to grow legs and jump off the table. I guess pregnancy made people crazy.

“You took out all the marshmallows!” “Did I?” “You damn well know you did!” She shook the box of Lucky Charms at me. “What kind of f*ing savage are you?”

Every item of clothing needed pockets. Pockets were so underrated. And, as a woman, my clothes did not have enough pockets. Dresses with pockets were so delightful… When I eventually rise to power, everyone will have pockets in all clothes. That was definitely a solid use of power. Ava, 2028. Make Pockets Great Again… I know. First world problems. But first world problems are still problems, and anyone who thinks pockets aren’t a necessity has never pulled twenty dollars out of their bra. Here, have some boob sweat for your troubles, said nobody ever.

“Oh, God, she’s terrorizing the village again.” There was only one person that could be about— her grandma. Had I summoned her? “And she’s with Bethel… Those two could get in trouble in a church. Honestly, I don’t know how they’re able to make it past the doors without sweating.”

Have you met our girlfriends? Ava’s best friends? The Three Musketeers? The three women who will take the place of their elders and terrorize this town when we’re all dead and gone and there’s nobody to control them?

My Review:

This was a rather angsty and highly contentious enemies-to-lover romance featuring highly amusing and irreverent humor, clever quips, snappy banter, childish passive-aggressive pranks, hedgehogs, Doritos, stolen socks and purloined insoles. I adore Emma Hart, even if her main character of Ava was a cranky and grumpy Gus, and I frequently wanted to administer a few smacks to the back of her head. However, the cleverness of Ms. Hart’s deft wit and agile wordplay more than made up for Ava’s annoying and bratty behavior. I will be eagerly awaiting her next missive.

Excerpt

I shoved the front door open and set my gaze on Ethan on the sofa. “If you’re going to lie to me about living here, we’re going to have to set some hard and fast rules. The first one: the stinky, spiky pig lives in your bedroom.”

He peered over at me, one hand in a bag of cheese Doritos and the other tickling the hedgehog who was now lying on his chest.

It was quite the sight.

“How do you know he stinks?” he asked, licking his fingers and cradling the animal before he put the chip packet on the coffee table.

“I Googled. They need cleaning every day. I’m not doing it, and neither am I living in a smell of tiny animal who should be wild.”

“He’s a pygmy hedgehog. He’s bred to be domesticated.”

“His spiky bits could be made out of solid gold and I wouldn’t give a shit.” I put my purse on the island and looked at him. “You can send me Google links to them if it pleases His Highness, but my stance won’t change. That animal is not living in my living room, and I’d rather you didn’t snuggle with him on the sofa.”

“It’s ironic,” Ethan mused. “I have a hedgehog on my chest, and you’re still the prickliest thing in this apartment.”

“If I wasn’t staunchly against animal cruelty, I’d throw a saucepan at you.”

“You can still hit me over the head with it.”

“I was talking about you, not the hedgehog, you pig.”

“May I say that you are an absolute fucking delight, Ava. I can’t imagine why you’re still single.”

“Probably the same reason you are. The asshole gene is strong as fuck and not all that attractive.”

About Emma Hart

Emma Hart is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty novels and has been translated into several different languages.

She is a mother, wife, lover of wine, Pink Goddess, and valiant rescuer of wild baby hedgehogs.

Emma prides herself on her realistic, snarky smut, with comebacks that would make a PMS-ing teenage girl proud.

Yes, really. She’s that sarcastic.

Connect with Emma

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

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Website: https://www.emmahart.org/home

October 22, 2019

Book Review: Notting Hill in the Snow by Jules Wake

Notting Hill in the Snow

by Jules Wake

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA / B&N

It’s mayhem in Bethlehem…unless they can work together!

Viola Smith plays the viola in an orchestra (yes really!), but this year she’s been asked to stretch her musical talents to organizing Notting Hill’s local nativity.
Nate Williams isn’t looking forward to Christmas but as his small daughter, Grace, has the starring role in the show, he’s forced to stop being a Grinch and volunteer with Viola.

With the sparks between them hotter than the chestnuts roasting in Portobello market, Nate and Viola can’t deny their feelings. And as the snow starts to fall over London, they find themselves trapped together in more ways than one…

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

‘I’d offer you a biscuit … but the biscuit burglar has been to visit this week and all the chocolate ones have gone.’ Grace was suddenly very studious with her drawing, nodding in agreement. ‘I hate it when that happens,’ I said. ‘And why do they always steal the good biscuits and leave the custard creams behind?’ Nate laughed. ‘You have the same burglar.’

She came running into the kitchen. ‘I’m starvacious.’

My Review:

I had never noticed this wily author until falling upon this marvelous book but I am completely enamored and besotted with her craftiness while selfishly coveting all her clever arrangements of words. Goodreads lists thirteen books to her credit and I want them all! I was instantly pulled into her vortex like a house of cards in a tornado, and smirked and grinned my way through her brilliantly crafted tale while savoring each perfectly chosen and highly amusing word. The characters were lovable, the storylines were delightfully engaging, and the writing sparkled with perceptive insights and smartly observed and well-paced levity.

In addition to gleeful entertainment, Ms. Wake provided me with two new items for my Brit Word List with: fill your boots – which is an invitation to eat as much of whatever is offered as you want and take some home with you; and LOL dolls – which are apparently highly prized collections of small dolls with big eyes.

About the Author

Jules Wake announced at the age of ten that she planned to be a writer. Along the way she was diverted by the glamorous world of PR and worked on many luxury brands and not so luxury brands. This proved fabulous training for writing novels as it provided her with the opportunity to hone her writing and creative skills penning copy on a vast range of subjects from pig farming and watches, sunglasses and skincare through to beer and stationery.

She writes best-selling warm-hearted contemporary fiction for One More Chapter as Jules Wake and under her pen name Julie Caplin, she writes the Romantic Escapes series.

Between them, the two Js have written twelve novels, Notting Hill in the Snow being the latest.

Social Media Links

@Juleswake

https://www.facebook.com/juleswake.co.uk/

Instagram: juleswakeauthor

October 21, 2019

Book Review: Code of Conduct by April White

“Sharp writing, layered characters, and wonderful tension flow through this book, along with a super-swoon-worthy hero and a kick ass heroine I just love.” — Elizabeth Hunter, USA Today bestselling author

Code of Conduct, the first in the romantic suspense Cipher Security series of standalones, from April White is available now!

There are three things you need to know about Shane P.I.

1) P.I. is not her last name, it’s her job title,

2) Her specialty is catching cheaters, and

3) She’s a superhuman – kind of.

Gabriel is a security expert for Cipher Security, and a former UN Peacekeeper with a fierce protective streak that finds its focus on the beautiful P.I.

Their attraction is like an elephant in a room full of breakable things, and figuring out how to trust each other with their hearts, and maybe their lives, is the most fragile thing of all.

‘Code of Conduct’ is a full-length romantic suspense novel, can be read as a standalone, and is book#1 in the Cipher Security series, Knitting in the City World, Penny Reid Universe.

Download your copy today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2k5hoYk

AppleBooks: https://apple.co/2m20xpX

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

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

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

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2m0Tjm3

Amazon Print: https://amzn.to/2lyxxWG

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

Excerpt

I pulled up the audio version of the newest Iron Druid book, turned my phone on speaker, and when the tub was full, I sank into the hot water with a sigh. Luke Daniels could read a shampoo bottle and I’d listen, but my mind kept drifting off of Atticus’ and Oberon’s adventures, and was instead hopping from rock to rock in the garden of ADDATA, the Quimbys, and Gabriel. I wasn’t even annoyed when the phone rang and interrupted the story, because I knew I’d have to go back to the beginning of the chapter anyway.

It was on its fourth ring when I finally dried off my hand and reached to answer it, so I hit the speaker button just as I looked at the screen.

Gabriel’s name startled me so much I didn’t say anything – I just sat up in the tub and stared at the phone.

“Please say you’re not in the bath.” Gabriel’s voice was quiet, deep, and had a note of pleading in it.

“What do you want, Gabriel?” I moved again, and the water sloshed around me. I knew he could hear it because he groaned softly.

“Where to begin.” It was almost a whisper, and the words sent a shiver through me. He cleared his throat and continued in his normal, beautiful voice. “We had a call from Quimby. He said he’d found you and wondered what we were going to do about it.” I didn’t say anything, and the silence lasted two long heartbeats. “Are you okay?” he finally asked, quietly.

“He saw me turn from Bryn Mawr onto Sheridan. I lost him in the alleys.”

Gabriel exhaled. “Good.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be finding his money? Or his wife? Or something else he misplaced?”

“Do you have his money or his wife?” he asked

“No.”

“Okay.”

“Okay? What exactly do you want from me, Gabriel?” I sat forward and the water sloshed again. I traced the ripples with my fingers as I heard his sigh.

“I don’t know. I just know that every time you move, I hear the water in your bath, and I imagine …” He exhaled sharply. “Be careful, darling. I don’t trust Quimby not to try to hurt you if he can. Don’t let him catch you.”

“You haven’t caught me yet, and you’re far more resourceful than that little man.”

He chuckled softly. “Yet.” He hung up the phone without saying goodbye, and Luke Daniels’ voice returned, continuing the story as I sank down in the water and let its heat lap over the chills on my skin.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

“You must wonder what attracted me to you,” Dane said with a knowing smile. Actually, I was mentally calculating my billable hours and hoping to be done here in less than thirty minutes because … round numbers. “You read my mind,” I said with a low, breathy voice. To my own ears I sounded asthmatic, but experience had taught me that horny guys dug breathless women.

I looked at his phone. “Can I see your profile? I’ve been trying to decide if I want to join.” … “Go ahead. Just don’t swipe right on any ugly chicks.” Just for that I’d be swiping right on the biggest, most redneck, Deliverance-looking guy I could find.

I cook with wine. Sometimes I even add it to the food.

The women of my family all believed that secrets were just lies waiting to happen, and problems were to be aired out like musty rooms with the dust covers ripped off for everyone to see the state of your furniture.

I crave you. You’re like the air when I’m underwater, or like fire when I’m frostbitten.

My Review:

Before picking up this captivating book, April White was a completely unknown entity to me as I don’t often read paranormal or historical tales, but she has leapt far and away from her typical genres with this cleverly penned Romantic Suspense entry into Penny Reid’s Universe of Smartypants Romance. Ms. White’s volume was a seamless insertion using several of Ms. Reid’s established characters from a previous series, some I was familiar with, many I was not as I haven’t read the Knitting in the City series, although that didn’t seem to matter at all.

Ms. White’s nimble writing quickly drew me into the story and held my interest and curiosity throughout. The storylines and writing style were unfailingly engaging and well-balanced between heart-squeezing insights and cleverly amusing levity. The characters were enticing, charismatic, uncommonly quirky, and highly likable. I do loves me a kickass chick and my new gal-pal Shane pulled that off with breath to spare. Shane was a striking female who deserves Superhero status given her cool bravado and sleek wardrobe of tricked-out prosthetic legs with badass gadgets hidden inside. I adored her and her new partner Gabriel as they stumbled into an intriguing case that kept mushrooming from the cheating husband scenario it started out to be. Their adventure was well-crafted and highly entertaining and sets the bar high for subsequent volumes.

About the Author

April White has been a film producer, private investigator, bouncer, teacher and screenwriter. She has climbed in the Himalayas, survived a shipwreck, and lived on a gold mine in the Yukon. She and her husband share their home in Southern California with two extraordinary boys and a lifetime collection of books.

Her first novel, Marking Time is the 2016 winner of the Library Journal Indie E-Book Award for YA Literature, and all five books in the Immortal Descendants series are on the Amazon Top 100 lists in Time Travel Romance and Historical Fantasy.

Connect with April

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2lyxY3g

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2ly75wn

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2k4SdVR

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2k6tCzY

Website: https://aprilwhitebooks.com/

Connect with Smartypants Romance

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2kvDnb4

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Instagram: http://bit.ly/2kwKsYK

Website: https://smartypantsromance.com/