Category: 5-Stars

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Book Review: Matchmaking for Beginners by Maddie Dawson

Matchmaking for Beginners

by Maddie Dawson

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

Hardcover: 370 pages

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing (June 1, 2018)

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Marnie MacGraw wants an ordinary life—a husband, kids, and a minivan in the suburbs. Now that she’s marrying the man of her dreams, she’s sure this is the life she’ll get. Then Marnie meets Blix Holliday, her fiancé’s irascible matchmaking great-aunt who’s dying, and everything changes—just as Blix told her it would.

When her marriage ends after two miserable weeks, Marnie is understandably shocked. She’s even more astonished to find that she’s inherited Blix’s Brooklyn brownstone along with all of Blix’s unfinished “projects”: the heartbroken, oddball friends and neighbors running from happiness. Marnie doesn’t believe she’s anything special, but Blix somehow knew she was the perfect person to follow in her matchmaker footsteps.

And Blix was also right about some things Marnie must learn the hard way: love is hard to recognize, and the ones who push love away often are the ones who need it most.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Pay no attention to Wendy… She missed the class on manners because she was attending two extra courses on personal intimidation.

 

The life force is running out of this room! I’ve been at funerals that had better vibrations than this.

 

We never got married because I’ve finally learned that if you have to bring the law into your personal relationships, then you’re doing it wrong.

 

One time he said to me, “You know, I had a great six-pack when I was young,” and I said to him, “Bragging about beer is so unbecoming for an old man.”

 

It’s like he’s a person who has his emotions in a safety deposit box somewhere, and he forgot where he put it.

 

My Review:

 

Matchmaking for Beginners was the second superbly written book of Maddie Dawson’s that I have had the pleasure of reading. It produced a near-constant smirk and frequent subvocal chuckling. I have a strong compulsion to stop everything and simply indulge in all the various publications of this woman’s clever and creative work as I reveled in her word skills. I adored her highly amusing, clever, and keenly crafted storylines from start to finish. Her quirky characters were each uniquely, inexplicably, and magnetically intriguing, even the villains.

The main character of Marnie was an oddly unobservant bubblehead who was all too easily tilted off the rails and careening towards ruin. While I may have wanted to give her a few smacks to the head with my Kindle, I also found her extraordinarily endearing and held my breath for her on numerous occasions. Ms. Dawson’s humor was well-honed, shiny, and crisp. I particularly enjoyed the witty exchanges between Marnie and Patrick, the “luminous” misanthropic hermit living in the dank basement. Sigh, more, please!

 

About Maddie Dawson

Maddie Dawson grew up in the South, born into a family of outrageous storytellers. Her various careers as a substitute English teacher, department-store clerk, medical-records typist, waitress, cat sitter, wedding-invitation-company receptionist, nanny, daycare worker, electrocardiogram technician, and Taco Bell taco maker were made bearable by thinking up stories as she worked. Today she lives in Guilford, Connecticut, with her husband. She’s the bestselling author of five previous novels: The Survivor’s Guide to Family Happiness, The Opposite of Maybe, The Stuff That Never Happened, Kissing Games of the World, and A Piece of Normal.

Connect with Maddie

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

 

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Book Review: Atticus by S. Bennett

Atticus: A Woman’s Journey with the World’s Worst Behaved Dog

Sawyer Bennett writing as S. Bennett

Release Date: June 12, 2018

Purchase Atticus:

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Google Play

| Kobo | Paperback | Audible

 

Goodreads Link: http://bit.ly/Atticus_GR

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Synopsis:

A heart-warming and deliciously funny story about the world’s worst-behaved dog and how he trained his human how to love herself again.

Through the haze of vodka and self-loathing, Hazel Roundtree saw the poor creature lying in a ditch.

One brown eye. One blue.

Covered in mud and crying from pain, the puppy was desperately trying to free itself from a hopeless situation.

She almost kept walking by. She had her own problems and besides… no one had ever stopped to help her.

Who we’re ultimately meant to be is a journey without end, but there’s always a defined start…

Hazel had no idea the dog would be her beginning, her second chance, the miracle she never saw coming. She named him Atticus. He grew up to be a very bad—and completely awesome—dog. He took Hazel on a life-changing journey filled with mischievous adventure and painful heartbreak. In the end, Hazel grew up to be completely awesome, too.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

“I call it killing them softly,” he says, his voice so gentle and tender I can barely hear him. “It’s a beautiful and peaceful way to die. It’s an honor for me to help them make that transition.” My head snaps to the right where I stare out the window, furiously blinking back the tears from my eyes. For all the grouchy, assholish ways this man has treated me on most occasions, I just realized he may have one of the kindest hearts I’ve known.

 

I realized my dog would always be an unruly child.

 

I wouldn’t put it past your dog to be interested in the news… He’s smart, that one. Like deviously smart. Sometimes I find myself watching what I say around him so as not to be a bad influence.

 

 My Review:

 

I’m feeling a bit stunned after reading this heart-squeezing and evocative tale, much like a deer in headlights. I’ve never read a book quite like it as it was written with a dual POV (my favorite), although one POV was from a mischievous canine named Atticus, whose POV was just as compelling and insightful as his human guardian’s. The premise was captivating and original and the storylines were ingeniously crafted and well paced. The rag-tag grouping of characters were not always admirable yet I adored them as each had an impressive tale that had made them persuasively appealing, realistically flawed and world-weary. The writing was devastatingly insightful, cleverly amusing, and easy to fall into.   I frequently smirked at the colorful depictions of the dog’s antics, motivations, and wit, while the human storylines often plucked at the other end of the emotional spectrum and stung my eyes and put a hot rock in my throat a few times. I seldom shed actual tears but will also confess to a blubbering meltdown during the last few chapters before reaching the oh so satisfying and sweet conclusion. I zipped to Goodreads and double-checked to be sure, but I was appalled to realize I had never read Sawyer Bennett’s work before picking up this dear and delightful treat. An error on judgment I plan to rectify with regular redress.


About the Author: S. Bennett is the pen name for New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Sawyer Bennett. Under the name S. Bennett, Sawyer writes general, young adult and women’s fiction stories that deal with the realities we face on a daily basis such as love, loss, personal growth and all things in between. She tackles difficult issues with grace, while adding her signature humor along the way. Because Sawyer is a romance writer at heart, you’re likely to find a love story within each of her books, though it’s not always a guarantee. When she isn’t writing as S. Bennett, she’s writing contemporary romance as Sawyer Bennett, and sweet romance under the name Juliette Poe.

Connect with Sawyer:

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BennettBooks

Instagram: https://instagram.com/sawyerbennett123/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/Sawyer_Bennett

Book+Main Bites: https://bookandmainbites.com/sawyerbennett

Sign up for Sawyer’s newsletter: http://sawyerbennett.com/signup/

Follow Atticus on social media!!

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Book Review: Breezy by Kelsie Rae

Breezy

by Kelsie Rae

Goodreads

Amazon 

 

Breezy comes from a place without hurricanes, but that never stopped her from blowing in and causing chaos wherever she goes. She’s feisty, energetic, and unafraid of speaking her mind. She’s also a hot mess in need of a job.

Derrick’s used to dealing with all types of people. After all, he owns his own business. But when he meets Breezy, she impacts him harder than any storm ever could. Too bad even the gorgeous new girl in HR can’t make him break his one rule: no dating employees. Ever.

There’s just one problem. Breezy’s never been good at following directions, and her boss isn’t the only one with a serious office crush. Can the new girl convince him to throw caution to the wind?

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Yeah, I’m pretty sure all the good ones are taken or gay. Whoever said there’s a lot of fish in the sea hasn’t been fishing around here.

 

I swear, anytime I’m around this guy he makes me sweat like a sinner in church.

 

I always thought nerds were supposed to be overweight virgins living in their moms’ basements. Not a hot British guy with sexy glasses.

 

FYI, we are not in a relationship, and he’s made it very clear I have cooties.

 

I’m sorry, mate, but shagging in public is slightly frowned upon in the States. Maybe you should head to Amsterdam?

 

My Review:

 

This delightful book was good fun and gave off more sparkle than a highly polished disco ball.   I adored these smart, enticing, and feisty characters and I doubly enjoyed their quick banter, individual quirks, and sassy wit. Breezy was not only the cheeky main character’s nickname but an apt description of the author’s highly amusing and clever writing style. Bree was adorable; she was capable, genuine, ballsy, witty and prone to impulsivity, clumsiness, and chaos. She also snored and drooled in her sleep. I was hard-pressed to believe that this clever manuscript laced with endearing characters was merely Ms. Rae’s second book as it was exceptionally well-crafted, playfully entertaining, immediately engaging, and kept a gleeful smirk on my lips throughout. Kelsie Rae is one to watch as she undoubtedly has a successful future ahead of her. I greedily covet all her words – whether from past, present, and future accomplishments.

About the Author


Kelsie prides herself on writing straight from her own heart, which is how she fell into sweet contemporary romance. She’s a sucker for a love story with all the feels. When she’s not chasing words for her next book, you will probably find her reading or, more likely, playing with her “monsters”.

She adores chocolate, photography, baking, chick flicks, and running. And now that she’s actively pursuing her writing dreams, she’s set her sights on someday finding the self-discipline to not eat an entire batch of cookies in one sitting.

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Book Review: The Widow’s Watcher by Eliza Maxwell

 The Widow’s Watcher

by Eliza Maxwell

Amazon 

Books-A-Million 

 Barnes & Noble

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Paperback: 286 pages

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing (May 29, 2018)

From Eliza Maxwell, the bestselling author of The Unremembered Girl, comes a gripping novel about the mysteries that haunt us and the twists of fate that can unravel them…

Living in the shadow of a decades-old crime that stole his children from him, reclusive Lars Jorgensen is an unlikely savior. But when a stranger walks onto the ice of a frozen Minnesota lake, her intentions are brutally clear, and the old man isn’t about to let her follow through.

Jenna Shaw didn’t ask for Lars’s help, nor does she want it. After he pulls her from the brink, however, Jenna finds her desire to give up challenged by their unlikely friendship. In Jenna, Lars recognizes his last chance for redemption. And in her quest to solve the mysteries of Lars’s past and bring him closure, Jenna may find the way out of her own darkness.

But the truth that waits threatens to shatter it all. When secrets are surrendered and lies are laid bare, Jenna and Lars may find that accepting the past isn’t their greatest challenge. Can they afford the heartbreaking price of forgiveness?

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

“They spend their whole lives walking away from you,” the kindergarten teacher had said on her little girl’s first day. “Your job now is to be there when they look back.”

 

“When the judge said, ‘For better or worse,’ I agreed quick enough.” Lars pinned her with his piercing gaze. “Nobody tells you how bad the worse can get.”

 

She marveled at his matter-of-factness. Was it an innate part of him, or was this what years and the grinding sands of loss did to a person? Shaped them into something smooth and hard and polished.

 

Hope was a frightening thing to rekindle. As impossible to control as a wildfire on a dry plain.

 

No matter how many years go by, the past never really lets you go.” She ran her hands up and down her arms, as if to ward off a chill. “It’s sewn in, like patches on one of my old granny’s quilts. You can run from it all you like, but it’s part of you. Goes where you go.

 

What exactly is involved in playing knick-knack, paddy-whack anyway? And why does it need to happen on my knee? The old man sounds kind of sketchy.

 

My Review:

 

I’m not exactly sure how to classify the genre of this exceptionally poignant and beautifully written book, it was a Contemporary piece with elements of Suspense, but it wasn’t a Thriller. In addition, I also noted considerable Family Drama, Women’s Fiction issues, mental illness, and an unsolved Mystery that spanned thirty years. With a regal wave of my well-manicured hand, I push all that to the side as I have decided I want new categories of Brilliant, Ingeniously Crafted, and Extraordinarily Well-Written.

 

Eliza Maxwell has word voodoo. I was quickly pulled into a disquieting and often uncomfortable vortex of unresolved issues and unsettling events, and oddly enough, I didn’t want to crawl back out. The characters were many and all were irreparably fractured, some hanging by a thread, and most were not always likable or admirable. Yet by the end of this uncannily insightful and maddeningly paced story, I understood that they had each been existing with and working at living through a long series of harrowing events as best they could, and I adored every single one of them by the time I arrived at the epilogue. I seldom cry but this eloquently evocative tale moved me, my eyes stung with an unusual wetness while my throat burned and felt constricted on several occasions. The storylines were brilliantly crafted, tautly written, and hard to quit as they were fraught with addictive tension and prickling intrigue. Sigh, my abused and bruised coronary muscle needs a rest, I believe I’ll be hitting the TBR for a comedy next.

 

About the Author

Eliza Maxwell is the author of The Unremembered Girl, The Grave Tender, and The Kinfolk. She writes fiction from her home in Texas, which she shares with her ever-patient husband, two impatient kids, a ridiculous English setter, and a bird named Sarah. An artist and writer, a dedicated introvert, and a British cop-drama addict, she enjoys nothing more than sitting on the front porch with a good cup of coffee.

Connect with Eliza

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

 

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Book Review: Only With You (Man Enough #4) by Nicole McLaughlin 

Only With You

 (Man Enough #4)

by Nicole McLaughlin 

The men in Nicole McLaughlin’s Man Enough series are tough Alphas devoted to serving their country and the women who love them.

National Guardsman Aiden King has been attracted to Hannah Walters for a while, but he never made a move because of her close relationship with his best friend. But when circumstances change, Aiden is surprised when his friend gives his blessing. Problem is, there’s a reason he’s still alone after all these years, and as much as he wants her, that secret keeps him from acting on his desires.

Hannah has finally decided to wait for the kind of love you read about in books and see in movies. After her failed engagement, Aiden’s unassuming support has become a touchstone for Hannah. It soon becomes apparent that he may be exactly the kind of man she’s been looking for. But the closer they become, the more he keeps her at arm’s length.

When Aiden suggests a road trip to take Hannah’s mind off her troubles, the two of them go on a journey neither one expected. She just hopes that the final destination is them together for good.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Talk about good guys. Jase’s fellow National Guardsman and close friend was like a unicorn of men: kind, quiet, gentlemanly… he was handsome— in that bearded wilderness-man kind of way. He was also big and buff and could probably pick her up with his pinkie finger. As big as he was, did that mean . . . And just like that her mind went to a naughty place.

 

I hate the thought that maybe I’m not capable of the necessary feelings to be someone’s forever person. I mean, is that something you learn? Because if so I was obviously busy focusing on kissing when I should have been paying attention.

 

At the end of the day, I’m just an absolute hypocrite because I want to do what I want, when I want it, without anyone’s input. But I also want someone to do what I want with me, because who wants to do anything fun alone? And kissing. I miss kissing, Dad. Although we both know I’m using the word kissing, but I really… Sorry. Didn’t mean for that to get weird.

 

“This place has the worst name,” she said before they got out of the truck at Smokin’ D’s. “Sounds like a bra set on fire.”

 

 My Review:

 

Although the premise and back-story were truly heartbreaking, Ms. McLaughlin provided engaging storylines with humorous observations and intriguing and enticing tidbits that kept the emotional tone well-balanced and easy to read. The traumatic issues suffered by the characters are sadly relevant in our world and resulting problems were realistically put forward in a humanizing and admirable manner. I applaud and covet Ms. McLaughlin’s agile word skills. I adored these endearing and quirky characters; they squeezed my heart while also providing me with a near constant smirk. More, please.

About the Author 

Amazon  Website

Nicole loves to read, bake, make lists, and binge watch an entire television show season in one day. She lives with her husband and three boys in a small town outside of Kansas City.

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Book Review, Giveaway: When the Waters Recede by Graham Smith

When the Waters Recede

by Graham Smith

Goodreads

Amazon US / UK

 

When a car is pulled from raging floodwaters with a dead man in the front and the decapitated body of an evil woman in the boot, Cumbria’s Major Crimes Team are handed the investigation.

The woman is soon recognized, but the man cannot be identified and this leads the team and their former leader, Harry Evans, into areas none of them want to visit.

Before they know it, they’re dealing with protection scams and looking for answers to questions they didn’t know needed to be asked.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Blessed with neither looks nor brains, she’d fought her way through life, powered by nothing more than a sharp tongue and a cruel streak… Such was her popularity, the list of suspects for her murder wouldn’t be a short one. Everyone who spent more than five seconds in her company could be added to the list, as they’d be sure to want her dead.

 She was a right vicious piece of work. If she fell into the Amazon even the piranhas would be afraid to bite her.

 If Bell’s wife was a car she’d be a twenty-year-old banger with a possible oil leak and dodgy brakes.

 The DCI was a capricious man, who had the square head and shoulders of a rampaging bull – and the temperament to match.

 Eric Adamson didn’t so much have a chip on his shoulder, but the whole potato field.

 Tony made the kind of face only a gargoyle sculptor would appreciate… 

My Review:

 

I was quickly immersed and held enthrall with rapt attention by Mr. Smith’s gripping tale and evocative writing. His uniquely peculiar characters were as compelling as his cunningly crafted and well-honed storylines. I relished and eagerly anticipated his clever introductions and amusingly colorful descriptions of each character, which I tended to pause over and savor, as they never failed to call forth a full visual such as, “His comb-over reached from ear to ear and a small bloodstain decorated one of his chins where a razor had nicked the skin.”

There were several intriguing and tautly written storylines which pull me so deeply into their vortex that I started hearing their different voices with accents, and I couldn’t wait to see how each of the complex threads was going to intertwine. The Cumbria Major Crimes police unit was staffed by a group of quirky, complex, and multi-layered personalities with complicated relationships existing between them. Intricate deceptions were everywhere. This was a superbly written first-rate mystery and I loved every confounding puzzle piece and came away quite satisfied with the stimulating entertainment.

And score! I hit a treasure trove and now have several new entries for my Brit vocabulary list which now includes toerags (a contemptible or despicable person), taken the mickey (take the fight out of), rubber-heeler (internal police investigation units), fly–pitching (street selling), owt (anything) and nowt (nothing).

About Graham Smith

Graham Smith is a time served joiner who has built bridges, houses, dug drains and slated roofs to make ends meet. Since Christmas 2000, he has been the manager of a busy hotel and wedding venue near Gretna Green, Scotland.

He is an internationally best-selling Kindle author and has four books featuring DI Harry Evans and the Cumbrian Major Crimes Team, and three novels, featuring Utah doorman, Jake Boulder.

An avid fan of crime fiction since being given one of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five books at the age of eight, he has also been a regular reviewer and interviewer for the well-respected website Crimesquad.com since 2009

Graham is the founder of Crime and Publishment, a weekend of crime-writing classes which includes the chance for attendees to pitch their novels to agents and publishers. Since the first weekend in 2013, eight attendees have gone on to sign publishing contracts.

Graham can be found at

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

Twitter
https://twitter.com/GrahamSmith1972

Website
www.grahamsmithauthor.com

Giveaway

 

 

To celebrate the release of When the Waters Recede, Graham Smith is offering one lucky reader the chance to win all six books in the Harry Evans series.

To enter, simply sign up for his newsletter via the link provided before the 5th of June 2018 and you’ll be entered into not just this competition, but all competitions that he runs. Entrants from the whole world are welcome.


http://blogspot.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=8bbfc9a3acb79a408253510a8&id=48d2dc65e5

 

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Book Review: Inescapable by C.J. Fallowfield 

Inescapable

by C.J. Fallowfield 

 

Haunted by the ghosts of her past, Alex Bishop flees to London, but soon finds that she can’t outrun her demons.

Reclusive billionaire Tate Castle enters her life as it begins to spiral out of control, and the primal attraction that flares between them knocks her world off its axis. His proposition seems to be the answer to all of her problems, but her acceptance will change their lives irreparably.

Suspense, drama, and passion follow them from the capital to his idyllic Caribbean hideout, as they struggle to reconcile their mutual desire with the deep emotional scars they bear.

Alex is quickly dragged back into her worst nightmare, where she has to fight for what she desires, and her very survival.

They learn the hard way that you can run, but you can never hide. Destiny is inescapable, it will always find you.

Inescapable is a standalone erotic romance novel with suspense.

Warning – As a domestic violence survival story, this novel may contain triggers.

 

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My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

‘I eat danger for breakfast,’ he scoffed, then wilted under my “now’s not the time for your jokes” look. ‘Actually, I eat Coco Pops for breakfast. No, that’s a lie too. I don’t eat them, I leave them sitting in a big bowl of milk, until they unleash all of their chocolatey goodness into it. Then I strain the annoying cereal bits out and drink the delicious nectar.’

 I’d even push Patrick Dempsey under a bus for him, and you know how bad I have it for him.

 I’m not falling, I’ve already fallen, so hard I feel broken when you’re not in my field of vision.

 

My Review:

 

I always take great pleasure in witnessing the transformation of victim to survivor. I was somewhat apprehensive that this would be a dark read, and while it had some cringe-worthy and gasp-inducing moments of torment where I was actually holding my breath, it was not overly gruesome or lurid. The storyline was engaging, intriguing, emotive, and well-crafted. I adore C.J. Fallowfield and want all her words.   As with all her work, I cherished her well-drawn characters and rooted for their progress. I also found a new phrase to add to my Brit Vocabulary list, of “ten to the dozen” which is an informal UK expression meaning very quickly.

 

EMPRESS DJ

About the Author

 
Enough heat to make the pages sizzle, romance to make you swoon, strong characters with depth and emotions to 

pluck at your heartstrings, and humor to make you laugh out loud. Roll all of that into one novel, or in C.J.’s case a lot of novels, and you have the measure of her books. Unless of course, you count the odd twist she likes to throw in to keep readers on their toes. C.J. comes from the United Kingdom and is half-French. She lives in the wonderful countryside of Wales, surrounded by rolling hills, trees and fields full of sheep and cows. She is yet to find her Prince Charming, but lives with her extremely pampered fur baby, Pumpkin, kitten of mass destruction.

C.J Fallowfield. is an Amazon #1 UK and international bestselling author of contemporary humorous erotic romance novels. She released her debut novel in January 2014.

Her alter-ego, Charlotte Fallowfield is an Amazon UK and international bestselling author of sweet, and sex free, romantic comedy novels.

Sign up for her newsletters to be kept up to date on her frequent promotions and giveaways, as well as to get exclusive first looks at covers, teasers, excerpts and her latest releases:

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Book Review: Then There Was You (Angel Falls #1) by Miranda Liasson

Then There Was You 

(Angel Falls #1)

by Miranda Liasson 

Goodreads

Amazon / B&N

iBooks /  Google Play

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Welcome to Angel Falls, a town so delightful even enemies can’t help falling in love!

Angel Falls is the last place Sara Langdon wants to be. Her hometown may be charming, but it’s also filled with memories of her “wedding-that-never-was.” Yet Sara’s grandmother needs her, and joining her dad at his medical practice gives Sara time to figure out what she wants for her future. But when her first patient turns out to be Colton Walker, the man who sabotaged her wedding, Sara starts to wonder if she’ll ever be able to escape her past.

As police chief, Colton Walker is devoted to his small town, and he’s equally determined to avoid its newest resident. He and Sara have always gotten along like oil and water, and since the bachelor party incident, he’s her Enemy #1. But after sharing an unexpected–and unexpectedly hot–kiss, Colton starts to wonder if the woman he’s always fighting with is the one he should be fighting for.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

He had one claim to fame: he’d bedded more women than an eighties rock star.

 He doesn’t beat children or kill cats. Plus I’m twenty-nine. He’s not perfect, but who is? Maybe he’s as close as I’m going to come.

 Don’t ever marry a man who doesn’t look at you like you’re chocolate ice cream…

 Life is just too short to hate cake.

 

 My Review:

 

Regardless of the author, I seem to brace myself when diving into the start any new series with an equal sense of trepidation and anticipation. My response to this sparkling entry was a zealous fist pump and head cheerleader worthy squeal. I needed something fresh and engaging and Sara’s less than confident return to her small-town was just what I needed. The storylines were appealing as well as relevant and relatable, the characters were endearing and realistic, and the writing was pleasantly easy to follow yet craftily observant and amusing, and held my interest throughout. The richly detailed narrative made excellent work of introducing the town and key characters while cunningly laying the groundwork and setting up the series for subsequent installments, and I am eager to schedule a return visit for a family dinner or two at Nonna’s and perhaps some coffee and cake at the Bean. And that’s that.

Author Bio:

Miranda Liasson loves to write stories about everyday people who find love despite themselves because there’s nothing like a great love story. And if there are a few laughs along the way, even better! She’s a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart winner and an Amazon bestselling author whose heartwarming and humorous small–town romances have won accolades such as the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and have been Harlequin Junkie and Night Owl Reviews Top Picks.

Connect with Miranda: 

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | Newsletter | Bookbub | Pinterest | Blog

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Book Review: The Sinister Silhouette by Alex Grayson

The Sinister Silhouette

by Alex Grayson 

Goodreads

Amazon / B&N

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“Luca….”

She whispers my name at night, filling my dreams with her haunting beauty. Her tormented amber eyes beg me for something I don’t understand, and her agonizing pain becomes my own.

For years, she’s come to me, calling my name.

For years, I’ve never known who she was.

Until now….

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My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

If any man other than Theo threatened me like that, I’d drop him faster than a whore drops her panties when she sees a hundred-dollar bill.

 I’m terrified, hopeful, and anxious all at the same time, and there’s no hope of the trio of feelings going away anytime soon.

 She beams a smile at me and it fills my heart with so much love I can feel the seams stretching to accommodate it all.

 My Review:

 

This was a long and slowly developing yet intriguing story, and in the end, it was more than worth every word. Oh my, what a dark and tangled web of deceit had been woven! I had my suspicions early and some proved correct, but I didn’t foresee all the warped tricks and abhorrent twists and turns. Written in my favorite dual POV, I was quickly hooked into the premise and was kept on edge by this clever and devious author’s well-crafted and emotive tale. My cold heart was squeezed by the abhorrent regrets, uncertainty, nightmares, and dangers that Luca and Jules were experiencing, but thankfully, my coronary muscle was sufficiently reinflated with the more than satisfying HEA conclusion. This was only my second time to read the wily words of the cunning Alex Grayson, but I fear I have become enamored and hopelessly addicted.

About the Author

Alex Grayson is the bestselling author of heart-pounding, emotionally gripping contemporary romance including the Jaded Series, the Consumed Series, and two standalone novels. Her passion for books was reignited by a gift from her sister-in-law. After spending several years as a devoted reader and blogger, Alex decided to write and independently publish her first novel in 2014 (an endeavor that took a little longer than expected). The rest, as they say, is history.

Originally a southern girl, Alex now lives in Ohio with her husband, two children, two cats and a dog. She loves the color blue, homemade lasagna, casually browsing real estate, and interacting with her readers. Visit her website, www.alexgraysonbooks.com, or find her on social media!

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Book Review, Giveaway: Clutch by Lisa Becker

 

Clutch

by Lisa Becker

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Amazon

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Clutch: a novel is the laugh-out-loud, chick-lit romance chronicling the dating misadventures of Caroline Johnson, a single purse designer who compares her unsuccessful romantic relationships to styles of handbags – the “Hobo” starving artist, the “Diaper Bag” single dad, the “Briefcase” intense businessman, etc. With her best friend, bar owner Mike by her side, the overly-accommodating Caroline drinks a lot of Chardonnay, puts her heart on the line, endures her share of unworthy suitors and finds the courage to discover the “Clutch” or someone she wants to hold onto.

My Rating:

 

Favorite Quotes:

She was like a walking Chico’s advertisement, if you added forty years, forty pounds, and a Virginia Slims cigarette.

It had never mattered if Caroline was asking Mimi’s advice about a friend, lover, or career. The advice was always the same: ‘Find something you love and hold onto it.’

Dinner with the Barnsworths was like a scene out of a movie, thought Caroline – a snooty English period drama where the rich couple sat on opposite ends of an impossibly-long mahogany dining table while silent, uniformed servants catered to their dining needs.

My Review:

Clutch is one of the most amusing and clever stories I have read in ages. I am enchanted with this author and want to read everything she has ever written. The protagonist in this story, Caroline, is an intelligent yet unassertive purse/handbag designer – hence the title Clutch, cute right? However, Ms. Becker took her cunning wit a step further and titled her chapters after the handbag styles that perfectly summed up the personality or trait of the man Caroline was dating; such as hobo for the moocher, demi for a short man, etc. – ingenious! I adored everything about this book – the plot, characters, humor, and witty banter. The writing style was crisp, engaging, highly enjoyable, consistently entertaining, and lushly descriptive. I think I have a girl crush…

Giveaway

The giveaway is only open to residents of the US – so sorry!
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To Enter: Just leave me a comment on this post with your favorite type of Clutch/Butch Bag/Man Purse.
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Let me know how you entered as I am super lazy and might just have to keep them for myself!
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For extra entries:
-Add Clutch to your TBR
-Follow this blog
– Follow Lisa Becker on Instagram (@lisawbecker)
– Follow Social Butterfly Designs on Instagram (@socialbutterflydesigns)
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The prize is a precious set of “It’s in the Bag” purse-themed notecards from Social Butterfly Designs.
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Facebook: Social Butterfly Designs
Twitter: @SocialBDesigns
Instagram:  @socialbutterflydesigns

About the Author

Lisa Becker is a romance writer who spends her time like she spends her money – on books and margaritas. In addition to Clutch: a novel, she is the author of the Click trilogy, a contemporary romance series about online dating and Links, a standalone, second chance romance readers. As Lisa’s grandmother used to say, “For every chair, there’s a tush.” Lisa is now happily married to a wonderful man she met online and lives in Manhattan Beach, California with him and their two daughters. So, if it happened for her, there’s hope for anyone! You can share your love stories with her at www.lisawbecker.com.
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Find her: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Web | YouTube