Book Review: The Facilitator – Part 2 by Tracie Podger

The Facilitator, Part 2

by Tracie Podger

Amazon US / UK / CA / AU 

 

The game was over – but who had won? 

Mackenzie Miller thought his life was perfect. He had the woman of his dreams but there was one last piece of his life puzzle to fit. Could he do it in time?

Lauren Perry thought her life was perfect. She had the man of her dreams but when humiliation comes full circle is she brave enough to face it head on?

More importantly, what happens when your list of fantasies has been achieved?

A new list has to be explored, of course.

The Facilitator, part 2 follows on from The Facilitator – this erotic romance features graphic scenes of sex and very colorful language – you have been warned!

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

“I believe a gentleman should reciprocate,” he said. “I like the reciprocation, but I don’t need a gentleman,” I said.

 

He’ll have a bit of how’s ya father with her and then come to his senses. Sometimes, Lauren, these men, they need to have the sex, get it all out of their system before their brain can work properly.

 

I feel so sorry for you. The acid from the bitterness that consumes you must need a shitload of medication.

 

My Review:

 

This salacious tale was quite a sizzler. This libidinous pair didn’t merely scorch the sheets, their lustful activities and repeated frictions appeared quite capable of setting the bed aflame! I adored Mackenzie and Lauren and enjoyed the continuation of their mutually thoughtful and solicitous love affair. I was also intrigued by the suspenseful storylines and delighted with the sweetly loving and deeply supportive and soul-deep connection the couple shared, although there were several cringe-worthy sensual scenes that took me quite a bit outside my comfort zone.

I would love to know what type of vitamins, magical elixirs, or health regime this licentious couple would have followed, as their stamina was otherworldly. I would certainly buy stock in whatever product could induce such vigor and endurance. I didn’t know whether to be impressed, jealous or horrified when one encounter became so intense Lauren passed out from the bliss. However, the most satisfyingly erotic scene for me was the tender care Mackenzie took in dressing Lauren for a special evening out with clothing that he had personally procured for her. Sigh. He was very attentive and considerate of her.

I picked up some new Brit lingo with how’s ya father – which apparently is a euphemism for sex in the UK.   But I was rather aghast in the results of Googling pie and mash – which was defined as leftover scraps of meat and vegetables baked in a pastry crust and served with mash potatoes drenched in a green parsley sauce, and commonly accompanied with jellied eels and the liquor sauce made from the liquid used to boil the eels. Hmm, I’m not sure I’m adventurous enough for green and eely potatoes on the regular.

Author Bio

 

Tracie Podger currently lives in Kent, UK with her husband and a rather obnoxious cat called George. She’s a PADI Scuba Diving Instructor with a passion for writing. Tracie has been fortunate to have dived some of the wonderful oceans of the world where she can indulge in another hobby, underwater photography. She likes getting up close and personal with sharks.

Tracie writes in various genres, Contemporary Romance but likes to explore relationships that are not always easy and there isn’t always a happy ending, Romantic Suspense, Thriller, and Erotic Romance. She likes to have her books feel real with realistic timelines and with strong women who don’t run because the going gets tough. Sex is important between loving people, therefore all her books contain graphic scenes. However, the character’s relationship is more important.

If you would like to know more, please feel free to contact her, she would love to hear from you.

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Book Review: Getting Hot With The Scot by Melonie Johnson

Getting Hot with the Scot

(Sometimes in Love #1)

by Melonie Johnson

 

 

amazon.com    Barnes & Noble    Books-A-Million    iBooks   
IndieBound    kindle    kindle    nook

 

The first in a new series, a journalist focused on her career and a sexy Scottish comedian turn a one night stand into forever.

Cassie Crow leaves for vacation with two goals: fill up her empty charm bracelet and have a one night stand. For once, she wants to have fun instead of obsessively checking her work email. And kissing a man in a castle who’s dressed as a Scottish Highlander is the perfect solution.

Except when that man turns out to be Logan Reid, the host of a popular sketch show—and Cassie has just been roped into his latest prank. She wants nothing to do with his antics, but that was a really great kiss, and one night together couldn’t hurt.

It’s clear that one night isn’t enough and when Logan’s show brings him closer to Cassie, they decide to give dating a try. Can the woman who’s focused solely on her career and the man who refuses to take life seriously make it work?

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My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Three Weeks ago, Cassie Crow left Chicago armed with a naked charm bracelet and a full box of condoms… No longer bare, her bracelet was loaded with tiny keepsakes she’d found in shops all over Europe. The condom box, however, was still full.

 

Bonnie was a library whore. The mere glimpse of an old book got her more worked up than a boy-band fangirl with a front-row seat and a backstage pass.

 

Contrary to her fantasy version of Scotland, hunky, shirtless guys in kilts weren’t sprinkled liberally across the country.

 

“Shakespeare, Cass. He’s quoting Shakespeare!” Good thing her best friend had an on-the-brink -of-setting-a-date fiancé back home, otherwise Cassie was pretty sure Bonnie would have climbed Logan like a tree and made him her personal Scottish jungle gym.

 

My Review:

 

I knew I was in for a treat when the first sentence already had me smirking. I believe I read most of the book while sporting a delighted smile. This lively tale was brimming with irreverent humor, sassy banter, and clever wit. Each character was endearingly and distinctly drawn with unique traits and odd little quirks that kept me curious and eager to learn more about them. I was knocked out of my favorite pair of red crocs when noticing this well-crafted story was the author’s debut publication. Her writing style was fresh, crisp, and unfailingly engaging with steamy and heart squeezing storylines as well as highly humorous ones.   And it was brilliant casting to feature a devilishly sexy and mischievous ginger who spoke with a Scottish burr and owns his own kilt… Logan was irresistible.

 

I hit the mother load in Scottish Words to add to my British Isle’s Word List with fearty cat – chickenhearted; clatty – slovenly; bampot – Scottish slang for idiot; fashed – bothered or annoyed; fouter – of no value; winching – kissing with tongue; clootie dumplings – a dessert; guffy – someone whose behavior is annoying or getting on your nerves; shavie – a joke or prank; bridies – meat pastry; Hogmanay – Scottish New Year’s Eve; and first-footing – the Scottish custom of going house to house visiting friends for food and drink on New Year’s Eve. Clatty and fearty cat are my current favorites. 

About the Author

A Star Wars junkie and Shakespeare groupie who quotes both Yoda and the Bard with equal aplomb, award-winning author Melonie Johnson—aka #thewritinglush—is a two-time RWA Golden Heart® finalist who loves dark coffee, cheap wine, and expensive beer. And margaritas. And mimosas. And mules. Basically, any cocktail that starts with the letter m. She met her future husband in that most romantic of places—the mall—when they were teenagers working in stores across the hall from each other. They went on to live happily ever after in the suburbs of Chicago with two redhead daughters, a dog that’s more like a small horse, and a trio of hermit crabs. After earning her Bachelor of Arts magna cum laude from Loyola University Chicago, Melonie taught high school English and Theatre in the northern Chicago suburbs for several years. Now she writes smart and funny contemporary romance and moonlights as an audiobook narrator under the pseudonym, Evelyn Eibhlin.

Author website: https://meloniejohnson.com/

Author Twitter: @MelonieJohnson

Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meloniejohnson/

Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelonieWrites/

SMP Romance Twitter: @SMPRomance or @heroesnhearts

SMP Romance Website: https://heroesandheartbreakers.com/

Book Review: Time (Laws of Physics #3) by Penny Reid

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Time (Laws of Physics #3)

by Penny Reid 

“Utterly addictive, fascinating, hilarious, and absolutely electric chemistry!”

Samantha Young, New York Times Bestselling Author

New York Times bestselling author Penny Reid’s The Laws of Physics Trilogy is complete with TIME!

LOP_TIME

A (brokenhearted) physicist.

Now an infamous (who is LITERALLY EVERYWHERE!! UGH!) musician.

The worst has already happened.

Mona has learned that she has nothing figured out and plans are meaningless. After leaving her in Aspen, Abram is now breaking sales-records, rising to rock star fame almost overnight. Mona can’t seem to escape him. He is literally everywhere, or at least images of him are.

Just when she thinks things can’t get any more confusing, Abram returns . . . What happens next? Only TIME will tell.

TIME_ALLLIVE01

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Being with you is like living in a song.

 

Give us a chance to win big, and also fail spectacularly.

 

Nothing happened, and yet— and yet, I carry it around with me, empty luggage, and I have no idea why.

 

Please don’t waste energy on this. Haters gonna hate, idiots gonna procreate.

 

Do I like it? Does each action have an equal but opposite reaction? … Sorry. Newton. Not the fig kind.

 

 My Review:

 

I adored this series as well as the precious and cleverly matched couple of Mona and Abram; they were fascinatingly complex, multi-layered, and beautifully textured by the divinely talented Penny Reid. Suffering heinous cliffhangers and a near-fatal dose of angst, finally, (yes finally!) the TIME was right, the planets aligned, and hopefully, soonish, the tension in my neck and shoulders will abate as Abram and Mona have finally fallen into sync with an exceptionally cunning, fun, and smirk-worthy ending.

Download your copy today!

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Start the series today with MOTION!

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Continue the series with SPACE!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2SL7P09

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

Nook: http://bit.ly/2I1Rekw

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

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2RRny94

Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2tfBT5C

Excerpt:

I wrapped my arms around her body, lifted her off the ground, and kissed her lips.

She was warm, and soft, and tasted like peppermint and honey. I bit back a groan.

God, she felt good. Great. Celestial. Heavenly. I may have surprised her, but she responded immediately, enthusiastically, twisting her arms around my neck, opening her mouth and welcoming the invasion of mine.

It wasn’t enough.

It was a crumb, and I was starving. Desire—to tighten my hold, devour, take, keep, cherish, to never let her go—obscured thought and sight, and I slipped a hand under her shirt to touch the silky skin of her back, sliding my fingers upward until they rested under her bra strap.

Mona lifted her chin, breaking our mouths apart, and I kissed the point of it, the elegant line of her jaw, the tender spot beneath her ear, the hot skin where Mona’s graceful neck met the slope of her shoulder. I was so hungry for her, I couldn’t stop myself from tasting every exposed inch.

“Abram,” she said, her voice a breathless, disbelieving whisper, followed by a little laugh. Her fingers flexed at the back of my neck, pressing me closer. Every part of my body hummed and vibrated, unable to contain the immensity of now, of this divine feeling.

“You’re here,” she said, her soft voice full of wonder and happiness, soothing the ravenous panic holding me hostage for the past six days. It had been a peculiar kind of madness, not being able to reach her while pretending all was fine, pretending she didn’t occupy my mind every second of the day. But receding now, it left a new kind of turmoil and urgency in its wake.

We had no time.

No, I corrected myself, We have time. We have the rest of our lives.

“I need your fu—your phone number.” I spoke gruffly against her neck, squeezing my eyes shut and breathing her in, again and again, the heat and sweetness of Mona.

I’d missed her, and that was a gross understatement. I’d been speeding toward this moment for days and being with her now felt like the aftermath of a head-on collision. Stupefied, frantic, but determined to enjoy every shared second remaining. My hands were shaking.

We have time. Calm down. Calm down.

Mona laughed lightly, the sound melodic, beautiful, and she pressed a kiss under my ear. “Why didn’t you just ask Leo? Or send me an email?”

Leo.

I worked to keep the darkness of my thoughts from showing on my face as I leaned away, letting her slide to the ground but unwilling to release her fully, fisting my unsteady hands into her T-shirt. “I couldn’t find an email for you anywhere, and neither could Marie. She tried calling your department for me. They told her all media requests had to go through the PR department at the university and it would take two weeks to a month for a response.”

“Ah, that’s true. My email is on lockdown, otherwise it gets out of hand.” She nodded contritely. “But what about Leo?”

“Leo.” I forced my jaw to relax and I lowered my voice but couldn’t completely disguise the intensity of my wrath. “Leo wouldn’t give me your number.”

Mona’s hand moved to my face, her palm pressed against my cheek, the pads of her fingers softly stroking my beard. “What? Are you serious?”

“Yes,” I ground out. “He said he was doing me a favor. So I flew to LA.”

“You flew to LA?” I felt her body tense, and the moment realization dawned, her beautiful eyes growing impossibly large as they moved over my face. “You must be so tired and—but I wasn’t in LA, I was—”

“Here. Yes. I found that out yesterday when I stopped by your department at Caltech and they told me you weren’t due back until Friday,” I rushed to explain, multitasking, using the time to devour the sight of her, soak and submerge in the reality of being here with her.

Calm down. We. Have. Time.

Meet Penny Reid:

Penny Reid is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Best Selling Author of the Winston Brothers, Knitting in the City, Rugby, and Hypothesis series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she just writes books. She’s also a full-time mom to three diminutive adults, wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought ninja.

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Connect with Penny:

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www.pennyreid.ninja

Book Review: Bridesmaids by Zara Stoneley

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Amazon US / UK / AU / CA / 

B&N / iBooks / Waterstones 

 

Meet Rachel, the beautiful bride with BIG plans for the perfect day! The venue is a castle and the dress is designer.  It’s just a shame her husband is a rat.

Maddie and Sally have only one thing in common – they both love the same man!

Beth is a newly single mum with a mystery baby daddy.  Surely the father isn’t someone the girls all know?

And then there’s Jane, the glue holding them all together, but being dumped doesn’t make her the happiest bridesmaid…especially with gorgeous flatmate Freddie complicating things. Will the bride say, ‘I Do!’?  Or will her bridesmaids save the day…and find love along the way?    The most hilarious, feel-good rom-com of the year!

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

He has been ‘he who must not be named’ for quite a while now. Mainly because hearing his name led either to an irrational outburst (from me), featuring lots of swear words, and descriptions about what I’d like to do to various parts of his anatomy, or, and this was so much worse, horrible, snot-inducing tears. Don’t you hate it when that happens, when you end up inside out and can’t stop?

I cut his head off all my photos. And a triangle out of the crotch area. And looked if Amazon Prime supplied Voodoo Dolls. They do, just in case you need to know for future reference.

Sally was the girl at school who either already had it all or was damned well going to get it soon. You know the type? You get that longed for pony, next minute she’s got a unicorn. A pink one, that makes dreams come true and farts rainbows.

I’m more Krispy Kreme doughnuts than quinoa, if you know what I mean. And most of that healthy stuff just seems to get stuck in my teeth and annoy me for the rest of the day. Whoever thought a rice cake was a good idea? I mean, who dreamt that the words rice and cake should even be in the same sentence?

‘But I’ll get over it. Plenty more fish in the sea,’ she raises an eyebrow, ‘just not that particular sprat.

 My Review:

 

My perusal of this cleverly crafted tale was rudely interrupted by occasional outbreaks of giggle-snorts and one particularly vivid scene involving a sick infant in a bridal shop that erupted in spasms of laughter that ceased all further reading until normal respirations and clear vision was regained. Ms. Stoneley’s quirky cast of characters and engaging storylines hit all feels in a highly entertaining and pleasantly appealing manner. This was a fun read with a badly behaved groom, poorly kept secrets, and reams of sharp wit and clever snark. A new addition to my Brit word list is bint, which Mr. Google tells me is derogatory (and possibly offensive) slang for a female in the UK but is also used as a cheeky form of endearment in Western Sydney.

This  divinely written book was chosen for my Review of the Month contribution  LovelyAudiobooks.info 

About the Author

Zara Stoneley is the USA Today bestselling author of The Wedding Date.

Born in a small village in the UK, she wanted to be a female James Herriot, a spy, or an author when she grew up. After many (many) years and many different jobs, her dream of writing a bestseller came true. 

She writes about friendship, dreams, love, and happy ever afters, and hopes that her tales make you laugh a lot, cry a little, and occasionally say ‘ahhh’.

Zara now lives in a Cheshire village with her family, a lively cockapoo called Harry, and a very bossy (and slightly evil) cat called Saffron.

Zara’s bestselling novels include ‘No One Cancels Christmas’, ‘The Wedding Date’, ‘The Holiday Swap’, ‘Summer with the Country Village Vet’, ‘Blackberry Picking at Jasmine Cottage’ and the popular Tippermere series – ‘Stable Mates’, ‘Country Affairs’ and ‘Country Rivals’.

Where you can find her-

Website: http://www.zarastoneley.com
Twitter:
@ZaraStoneley
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/ZaraStoneley

Instagram: zarastoneley

Book Review: Midnight at the Tuscany Hotel by James Markert

Midnight at the Tuscany Hotel

by James Markert

Amazon US / UK AU / CA / B&N

Paperback: 352 Pages

Publisher: Thomas Nelson (April 9, 2019)

A once-beloved hotel and a fountain whose water suddenly can restore lost memories. But is it a miracle, or are there strings attached?

The Tuscany Hotel was once a haven for young artists. A place full of inspiration and a work of art in and of itself, the hotel was built by Robert Gandy for his wife, Magdalena: a woman of beauty beyond description who was orphaned as an infant in Florence and grew up without the ability to remember. A tragedy caused the hotel to close its doors, however, and it has been years since the fountain in the courtyard ran with water and inspiration.

Vitto Gandy, Robert’s son, returns from the horrors of World War II to a wife who fears him, a son who is too young to remember him, and a father whose memory of him is fading. As Vitto faces the memories that torture his heart and mind, his father runs off in the night to seek solace in the last place he was happy: the Tuscany Hotel. Instead of finding ruins, he discovers that the water in the fountain has begun to run again. And as he drinks it, his memory returns.

Filled with Alzheimer’s patients hoping for restored memories rather than artists longing for inspiration, the hotel is once again a source of life and art. But nothing is truly as good as it seems, and the mysterious gift of the hotel comes with a price that each must determine they’re willing to pay. Bursting with beauty, art, and inspiration, Midnight at the Tuscany Hotel is a story of parent and child, husband and wife, and the joy and pain of what it means to be alive.

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My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

He’d been staring at her in awe but was afraid to say it—in awe because of her pretty face he wanted to touch but somehow couldn’t or shouldn’t, in awe because of those blue eyes that still looked as bright as liquid paint, in awe because of who she still was, that comforting soul, even as a child, who had always seemed to be a bandage for things in need of bandaging.

 

Time can be a tenuous dancing partner, Mr. Gandy. And memory the devil. Sometimes the wounds we can’t see leave the worst scars, unless they’re tended to.

 

Her demeanor immediately relaxed them, her smile a deep breath, her gait showing a grace no Tinseltown set could ever muster.

 

Juba was a vault stuck inside of a vault and he’d swallowed the key long ago.

 

 My Review:

 

This was only my second time reading James Markert’s masterful storytelling and I was once again wonderstruck by his intricate texturing and craftsmanship. This man can deftly weave a captivating and sophisticated yet circuitous tale that is not fully comprehended until reaching that last thoughtfully written page.   The story was slowly and stealthily crafted with threads of Greek mythology, history, and creative magic while deploying a narrative densely populated with elusive and eccentric characters who navigate interesting twists and turns that appeared ancillary until it was apparent they weren’t. Didn’t I mention he was clever and sneaky?

About the Author

James Markert lives with his wife and two children in Louisville, Kentucky. He has a history degree from the University of Louisville and won an IPPY Award for The Requiem Rose, which was later published as A White Wind Blew, a story of redemption in a 1929 tuberculosis sanatorium, where a faith-tested doctor uses music therapy to heal the patients. The Angels’ Share is his second novel, and he is currently working on his next historical, All Things Bright and Strange. James is also a USPTA tennis pro, and has coached dozens of kids who’ve gone on to play college tennis in top conferences like the BIG 10, the Big East, and the ACC.

Connect with James

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Book Review: I’ll Be Watching You by Courtney Evan Tate

 I’ll Be Watching You

by Courtney Evan Tate

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA / B&N

 

Paperback: 336 Pages

Publisher: MIRA; Original edition (March 26, 2019)

 

IT’S EVERY MOTHER’S NIGHTMARE…BUT ONE SHE WILL NOT ACCEPT

In an unthinkable flash, Emmy Fisher’s fifteen-year-old daughter, Leah, seemingly drowns close to shore one summer night—at least that is what the police report says.

In deep grief, Emmy needs time and courage before she can enter Leah’s bedroom. But when she does, she finds something at first bewildering, then unspeakable, as she begins to understand the full implications…

She uncovers evidence that Leah had been secretly involved with someone, someone perhaps older, someone with dark appetites.

Bit by bit, the last few months of Leah’s life unfold in a terrifying way that Emmy can hardly imagine.

All she knows is that she has to find the person who took her sweet daughter’s innocence. No matter the cost.

The truth will set her free. Or bury her.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

She wants to sit and float on top of her board, staring at the moon, pretending the rays hitting her skin are fairy dust.

 

Bars always smell the same, even when they have open windows on the end of a pier. Like… old peanuts and neon lights, and felt-top pool tables and desperation.

 

My Review:

 

This cleverly paced and well-contrived tale started slowly and gradually built into a gripping tale that occasionally had me cringing and frequently found me biting my cuticles. I had narrowed down my list of suspects from four to two before all hell broke loose and removed all doubt. The premise was original and relevant and unfortunately could happen all too easily in any society. Ms. Tate’s writing was emotive and evocatively detailed, conjuring keen visuals in my cranium as I read. Her active storylines were cunningly constructed and perfectly pitched for each idiosyncratic character.

 

While the subject matter was a bit disturbing given the inappropriate and predatory behaviors involving a minor, the narrative was more intensely driven toward the well-crafted intrigue and mystery rather than provocative sensuality, although there was some of that as well. I was fully invested and bristling with curiosity as I gathered clues, formulated theories, and cast aside possible perpetrators, but I would never have anticipated this conclusion. Courtney Evan Tate is a sly and crafty wordsmith. This was my first exposure to her clever arrangements of words and I anticipate delving into many more.

About the Author

Courtney Evan Tate is the nom de plume for New York Times bestselling author, Courtney Cole.  Courtney Evan Tate is her darker side… the side that explores shadowy places.

Courtney lives in Florida with her husband and kids.  She has a passion for raising drug addiction awareness, the Marine Corp (her middle son is a Marine) and being introspective on the human condition.

Connect with Courtney

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Book Review: The Lieutenant’s Nurse by Sara Ackerman

The Lieutenant’s Nurse

by Sara Ackerman

Paperback: 352 Pages

Publisher: MIRA; Original edition (March 5, 2019)

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA / B&N

 

November 1941. She’s never even seen the ocean before, but Eva Cassidy has her reasons for making the crossing to Hawaii, and they run a lot deeper than escaping a harsh Michigan winter. Newly enlisted as an Army Corps nurse, Eva is stunned by the splendor she experiences aboard the steamship SS Lurline; even more so by Lt. Clark Spencer, a man she is drawn to but who clearly has secrets of his own. But Eva’s past—and the future she’s trying to create—means that she’s not free to follow her heart. Clark is a navy intelligence officer, and he warns her that the United States won’t be able to hold off joining the war for long, but nothing can prepare them for the surprise attack that will change the world they know.

In the wake of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Eva, and her fellow nurses band together for the immense duty of keeping the American wounded alive. And the danger that finds Eva threatens everything she holds dear. Amid the chaos and heartbreak, Eva will have to decide whom to trust and how far she will go to protect those she loves.

Set in the vibrant tropical surroundings of the Pacific, The Lieutenant’s Nurse is an evocative, emotional WWII story of love, friendship and the resilient spirit of the heroic nurses of Pearl Harbor.

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My Rating:

 

Favorite Quotes:

 

Eva had been shown a Pro-kit— sulfa ointment, directions, and a soaped-up cloth— and told to hand them out to every soldier who left the hospital. A Good Soldier Will Not Get Venereal Disease was stamped across the front.

 

Murmurs erupted and the room cleared faster than if someone had let loose a bagful of snakes.

 

He felt as though he were watching a war movie, his eyes unable to believe what he saw. He kept thinking about that first Zero and how close it had been. The bastard had actually waved. That face, he would never forget.

 

I swear to you, that morgue right there is enough to turn anyone against a war. Even the most hardened general. You ask me, it ought to be required visiting for those folks.

 

 My Review:

 

This was an engaging and poignantly written tale which combined fact and fiction, although, there were more surprising factual events than I was ever aware of or would have expected. The premise was unique and entertaining, with writing that squeezed my heart while continually plucking at my curiosity. I enjoyed the well-crafted mystery as well as the interplays between characters as much as I appreciated the historical significance of the story. Ms. Ackerman’s characters were complicated, smart, disarmingly endearing, and well fleshed out. Her scenes were lushly described and well textured to involve and employ all the senses. And despite the traumatic backdrop of the carnage of war, the emotional tone was generally well-balanced with surprising twists and unexpected bursts of wit tucked in.

 

I live in Hawaii and though I wasn’t around during the attack on Pearl Harbor, I am old but not that old, it was several levels beyond cool to read a book that mentioned quintessential local landmarks that were familiar and special to me. Some are no longer standing such as the iconic Dole Cannery water tower, which was shaped and painted like a pineapple; where else in the world would you ever see one of those? Having trod many of the same steps, it was supremely pleasing to be able to read of the locales they frequented and know exactly where they were and what it looked like. I’ve also sucked back drinks at sunset at the illustrious Royal Hawaiian Hotel, which is still lovely and still pink. And I could hear the crunch and taste the pleasant crispness as the nurses snacked on Saloon Pilot crackers, which are the absolute best and still baked fresh in Honolulu. Reading that scene had me cheating on my diet while digging my own tin out of the pantry and grabbing the guava jelly for an afternoon treat. That extra pound on the scale tomorrow will be blamed on Sara Ackerman’s charismatic storytelling.

About the Author

Sara is the bestselling author of Island of Sweet Pies and Soldiers. Born and raised in Hawaii, she studied journalism and earned graduate degrees in psychology and Chinese medicine. She blames Hawaii for her addiction to writing and sees no end to its untapped stories. When she’s not writing or teaching, you’ll find her in the mountains or in the ocean. She currently lives on the Big Island with her boyfriend and a houseful of bossy animals. Find out more about Sara and her books at www.ackermanbooks.com.

Connect with Sara

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Book Review: The Worth of a Penny by Jess B. Moore

 

The Worth of a Penny

by Jess B. Moore

 

Amazon

 

Sweetheart Penelope Davies is what her daddy calls gullible, right after he told her she was stupid and worthless. With her cheek red from being slapped by him, and her heart trampled by a worthless boyfriend, she packs up and follows her half-brother to Fox River, North Carolina, in need of a fresh start.

Dominic MacKenna is the youngest of five brothers, the friendly one with a killer smile and easy laugh. His brothers are all grown up, and one by one they’re flying the nest, leaving him out of sorts and unsure of his place. Who is he if not the youngest MacKenna?

Penny falls in with the MacKenna brothers, welcomed in as family, and offered the kind of love and support she never knew existed. With a new job and a lot of determination, she is finding out what she’s capable of. The last thing she needs now is to fall in love with the most notorious flirt in town.

Dominic falls for the sweet strong girl with a penchant for random facts and quirky homemade dresses. All he wants is to show Penny how wonderful she is, how smart and funny, and how desired and loved—even if he has to do it as her friend.

 

My Rating:

 

Favorite Quotes:

 

Are they monitoring your texts now? Should I send a shot of my nipples? My gentleman sausage? Would it get you fired?

 

“I can show you all the places girls have professed their love for Dominic.” “Oh, yes, please show Penny all the graffiti. Way to keep it classy, Magnolia.” I deadpanned, shifting my weight, and wishing for an end to this conversation. “Don’t’ Magnolia me, Dominic Oswald MacKenna.” I sucked in a breath. Maggie middle named me. In front of Penny.

 

It’s all my sisters do, and all the women working here. Like a sickness. I swear, if and when I meet a woman who doesn’t gossip, I’ll know she’s the one.

 

My Review:

 

There has to be some type of bewitchment or inexplicable magic that Jess B. Moore sprinkles on her stories as I am immediately sucked into her characters’ vortex whenever I pick up her books. This is my third exposure to her craftily written and heart squeezing tales, and this delightful phenomenon has occurred each and every time.   Her word voodoo is strong! I adored these quirky, irresistible, and complex characters. Ms. Moore certainly has a knack for casting her tales with uniquely compelling and slighted dented yet highly endearing individuals. Penny and Dominic were both adorable, highly appealing, and gentle souls who were well worth knowing. I cannot wait to see what Ms. Moore conjures next for Fox River.

About the Author

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.

Her novels combine her interests in family, music, and small towns into thoughtful tales of growing up and falling in love.

Social Media Links –
Website:
https://jessbmoore.com
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/authorjessb
Twitter
: https://twitter.com/authorjessb
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjessb/

 

Book Review: One Hundred Ways (Aspen Cove #8) by Kelly Collins

 

One Hundred Ways

 (Aspen Cove #8)

by Kelly Collins

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA 

Welcome back to Aspen Cove, the tiny mountain town filled with fresh starts and happily ever afters…

After the death of her father, sculptor Riley Black leaves Butte, Montana for Aspen Cove in search of the family she’s never known. There, she will bend steel to her artistic vision… and maybe, just maybe find a place to belong. Her welcome is less than warm however when handsome firefighter Luke Mosier catches her violating fire safety codes.

Luke Mosier isn’t just dead sexy. He’s dead serious about keeping the people of Aspen Cove safe. He’s convinced Riley Black is an accident waiting to happen. Even so, under her welder’s mask, Riley is the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen. His iron jaw softens when he realizes she’s more than she first appears to be… Not only can she melt metal, but she melts his heart.

As their attraction heats into a red hot passion and their world goes up in flames, Luke has to choose between love and duty. Will their bond hold together under the strain… or shatter into a thousand pieces?

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

“We have many single men in town, and they have deep pockets for a girl with a nice smile.” She looked down to where the buttons of her dress were opened to reveal a large amount of cleavage. “Don’t forget to show your personality… Remember to smile. You may want to murder someone on the inside, but you get more tips with sugar than salt.” Riley was sure the saying was something like you get more flies with honey than vinegar, but it never made much sense because why would someone want flies?

 

“Honey, you know I fell in love with you when you used your pickup line.” She tapped her chin. “What was it… oh yeah: baby, if you were a fruit, you’d be a fineapple.”

 

“It all starts with a kiss.” “Says the confirmed bachelor buying a family home on a street called Pansy.” He sat back and frowned. “It gets me more bang for the buck.” “With your crazy standards, you’ll never see any bang in that house.”

 

“I don’t like to talk poorly of the dead,” Maisey said. Riley squinted her eyes and tilted her head. “She’s not dead.” “She is to me.”

 

“That damn love bug hit him like a hammer to the head.” Riley giggled. “I hear it’s contagious.” Thomas held up his hand, giving her a five finger stop sign. “I’m inoculated.” “Someday, someone will worm their way into your heart.” He cuffed her chin. “I’m not an apple.”

 

 My Review:

 

Another lively and wittily amusing small-town romance by the lovely Kelly Collins, AKA, The Queen of Hearts. I adore her wry and uniquely engaging writing style and One Hundred Ways finds her in fine form with reams of keenly honed quips, witty banter, and lots of quirky and interesting little details that tickled my brain and conjured sharp visuals, such as a man drowning during a vodka-fueled session of dishwashing. I enjoyed getting to know this sweet couple and am already looking forward to becoming better acquainted with one of their friends in the next installment.

ABOUT KELLY COLLINS   

Kelly Collins writes with the intention of keeping the love alive.

Always a romantic, she is inspired by real-time events mixed with a dose of fiction. She encourages her readers to reach the happily ever after but bask in the afterglow of the perfectly imperfect love.

Kelly lives in Colorado with her husband of twenty-seven years. She loves hockey, shiny objects and has a new-found appreciation for green smoothies.

Book Review, Giveaway: The Inheritance (The Guernsey Novels #7) by Anne Allen

The Inheritance

(The Guernsey Novels #7)

by Anne Allen

 

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA B&N

 

1862 Young widow Eugénie faces an uncertain future in Guernsey when her husband dies at sea. A further tragedy brings her to the attention of Monsieur Victor Hugo, exiled on the island and living in his voluptuous house only yards away from Eugénie. Their meeting changes her life and she begins working for him as a copyist, forming a strong friendship with both Hugo and his mistress, Juliette Drouet.

2012 Doctor Tess Le Prevost, born in Guernsey, now living in Exeter, is shocked to inherit her Great-Aunt’s house on the island. As a child, she listened to Aunt Doris’s tales of their ancestor, Eugénie, whose house this once was, and who, according to family myth, was particularly close to Hugo. Was he the father of her child? Tess doubts it, but inheriting the house allows her to make a fresh start on her beloved island.

Will she discover the truth about Eugénie and Hugo? A surprise find may hold the answer as Tess embraces new challenges which test her strength – and her heart.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

She didn’t like confrontations but her mother thrived on them and not for the first time, Tess questioned why she lived in the same city as her mother… Her father had disappeared to his study soon after she arrived. He referred to it as his ‘strategic withdrawal’.

 

I am not particularly religious and not in awe of a God who allows so much death and misery to be endured on this earth.

 

You may be a clever doctor, but I’m not sure how well you understand the workings of the heart.

 

My Review:

 

I know I’m more than fashionably late to the party as this was my introduction to The Guernsey Novels series at book seven. I was an instant convert to Anne Allen’s special talents. Her word voodoo is strong as her transportive writing provided effortless travel for me today, and not just in distance, but also in time. I slipped right into this divinely written and evocative tale that covered two active and eventful timelines one-hundred-fifty-years apart. Ms. Allen’s writing was fluid, well-paced, highly engaging, and so vividly detailed it was as if a movie reel was rolling through my cranium as I read. Her characters were worth knowing and held my interest and curiosity with their lives. I was so deeply enamored with the subjects and setting I was compelled to hit Mr. Google and Ms. YouTube for additional info. I despaired on reaching the end and felt rueful in having to leave them behind, but I’m always greedy when it comes to excellent literature. Anne Allen has mad skills and a rabid fangirl.

All the other 6 titles in The Guernsey Novels are only 99p/c across all ebook retailers until 15th April while The Inheritance is only £1.99/$2.99 until that date. 

Here’s the link for all titles on Amazon: http://Author.to/AnneAllen

 

About the Author
Anne Allen lives in Devon, by her beloved sea. She has three children, and her daughter and two grandchildren live nearby. Her restless spirit has meant a number of moves which included Spain for a couple of years. The longest stay was in Guernsey for nearly fourteen years after falling in love with the island and the people. She contrived to leave one son behind to ensure a valid reason for frequent returns. By profession, Anne was a psychotherapist, but long had the itch to write. Now a full-time writer, she has written The Guernsey Novels.

Giveaway 

 

Win a copy of The Inheritance and a notebook

(Open Internationally)

1st Prize – Signed copy of The Inheritance and notebook

2nd Prize – E-copy of The Inheritance and notebook

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