Category: Book Reviews

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Book Review: Tear Me Apart by J.T. Ellison

Tear Me Apart

by J.T. Ellison

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

 

SYNOPSIS:

The follow-up to her critically acclaimed Lie to Me, J.T. Ellison’s Tear Me Apartis the powerful story of a mother willing to do anything to protect her daughter even as their carefully constructed world unravels around them.

One moment will change their lives forever…

Competitive skier Mindy Wright is a superstar in the making until a spectacular downhill crash threatens not just her racing career but her life. During surgery, doctors discover she’s suffering from a severe form of leukemia, and a stem cell transplant is her only hope. But when her parents are tested, a frightening truth emerges. Mindy is not their daughter.

Who knows the answers?

The race to save Mindy’s life means unraveling years of lies. Was she accidentally switched at birth or is there something more sinister at play? The search for the truth will tear a family apart…and someone is going to deadly extremes to protect the family’s deepest secrets.

With vivid movement through time, Tear Me Apart examines the impact layer after layer of lies and betrayal has on two families, the secrets they guard, and the desperate fight to hide the darkness within.

My Rating:  

Favorite Quotes:

 

There is a nurse named Eleanor Snow who runs the ward, but we all call her Ratchet because she is a bitch. No one said we had to be original.

 

She doesn’t want to die. She feels the cancer moving through her, like a shadow in her blood. It has grown in the past few days, is becoming harder and harder to fight… Its snapping jaws are just there, out of reach, but for how long?

 

The words are absurd. This is one of those bizarre nightmares where you’re dreaming inside of a dream, and you know you’re dreaming, so you tell yourself to go ahead and wake up because this isn’t fun at all.

 

“Show me the Milky Way, Mommy. I want to see the candy bars in the sky”… She was so mad when she found out that the sky didn’t have chocolate in it.

 

Everything here is dirty; though it’s been cleaned, again and again, the stink of raw bleach hangs on every corner like a blanket. Bleach and fear, the prison olfactory. Plus the dirt of a thousand people, grimed into the history of the place.

 

My Review:

 

There was much beneath the surface of this slowly developing and captivating story; it was maddeningly paced yet in the end, I appreciated the cunning and craftiness of the plot. J.T. Ellison is an evil genius. I had initially devised a theory of a terrorist plot but quickly abandoned that when I easily identified the culprit although I had no idea of all the complex twists and turns and nuances there were to this tale. There were lots of clues as well as misdirections, yet the mounting incidents and the number of deceased in various cities and occupations were cleverly situated and although the deaths seemed incidental and easy to explain their occurrence was far too often to not be foul play. The writing was top quality, engrossing, and flowed smoothly in an alluringly addictive and enticing manner and while I wouldn’t call it a thriller, it certainly held my attention and kept me well entertained and glued to my Kindle. I also greatly treasured the recognition of Project Semicolon in the author’s ending notes.

About the Author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author J.T. Ellison writes standalone domestic noir and psychological thriller series, the latter starring Nashville Homicide Lt. Taylor Jackson and medical examiner Dr.  Samantha Owens, and pens the international thriller series “A Brit in the FBI” with #1 New York Times bestselling author Catherine Coulter. Cohost of the Emmy Award-winning literary television series, A Word on Words, Ellison lives in Nashville with her husband and twin kittens.

Visit JTEllison.com for more insight into her wicked imagination, or follow her on Facebook, Twitter @thrillerchick, and Instagram @thrillerchick

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Book Review, Giveaway: I Give You My Heart by SarahJane Ford

I Give You My Heart

by SarahJane Ford

Goodreads

Amazon US / UK  / B&N

𝗔 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘀. 𝗔 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲-𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲. 𝗔 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁.

Alice Richards looked forward to watching the seeds of love she and her husband planted bloom and grow well into their old age. But her plans for the future shrivel up and die when she learns she has an inoperable brain tumor.

Determined that she won’t die in vain, she decides to become an organ donor. With a few precious months left, Alice begins documenting her fairytale romance—from their first meeting to the children they dreamed of having. She’ll pass on every detail to her heart’s next owner… along with careful instructions to send her husband reminders of her undying love. Before her time runs out, Alice must find the perfect candidate to guide her husband through unimaginable grief and hold the memory of their love in her heart.

I Give You My Heart is an emotional romantic fiction novel with an uplifting message. If you like strong-willed women, undying love stories, and honest portrayals of coping with a terminal illness, then you’ll love SarahJane Ford’s heart-warming epic.

An unmissable love story full of warmth, beauty and with a huge, beating heart. Perfect for fans of Cecilia Ahern’s ‘P.S. I Love You’ and Jojo Moyes’ ‘Me Before You’.

My Rating:  

Favorite Quotes:

 

He moved words around his mouth, silently, testing how they tasted before releasing them into the air.

 

I wondered when you were going to bring up your eyebrows, Al. What has happened to them? Did two caterpillars go to sleep on your face and you just didn’t notice?

 

She’d be the one on the front row of the nativity play clapping her hands red, her camera blinding all the children the whole way through the play, making her little darling feel like the next Leonardo DiCaprio while donning the back half of a donkey suit. She was the best.

 

Because she has to be perfect, you know? This is Alex we’re talking about. I mean I was thinking looks of Julia Roberts, spirit of Mother Theresa, sense of humour of Steve Martin, heart of, well, me.

 

Well, before I went into that operating theatre, I couldn’t draw so much as a stick man. When I came to, the first thing I asked is, could you pass me my pencils? Since then I’ve hardly been able to stop my hands. My new heart tells them and then they do it… I go in as a lifetime loser at Pictionary and come out as the next Rembrandt.

 

My Review:

 

Despite the expected seriousness of the underlying premise featuring a terminally ill main character, this brilliantly written first person POV narrative was a pleasantly insightful, thoughtful, and witty read.   After the twenty-six-year-old character of Alice was given the life-shattering news of an inoperable brain tumor, she set about filling her last months on earth with enjoying as many pleasant moments as she could with her loved ones while organizing a plan and writing a personal letter for every possible organ recipient.

 

I adored these captivating characters; their stories made my coronary muscle sigh and sing, as well as squeezed and tugged at the poor old thing. There were a few spots that burned my eyes and put hot rocks in my throat, but the vast majority of the book was artful storytelling that was lushly detailed with vivid and amusing observations and oh so many thoughtful touches. The character of Alice was determined to make a difference by donating as many organs and bits and pieces of her body as was possible, but she had a particular plan for the recipient of her heart. She set about writing a detailed instruction manual and was rather bossy in filling it not only with her personal history and special memories with her husband, but with detailed plans, suggestions, and specific requirements for the recipient of her heart to fulfill in hopes of easing her beloved husband back from the grief of her passing. I am fascinated with the idea of cellular memory and relished this thread throughout her storylines. I have a feeling the sweetness of this story will stay with me for quite some time.   To use a phrase from my ever-expanding Brit Vocab list – it worked a treat.

Author Bio 

SarahJane is the debut author of ‘I Give You My Heart’ which is due to be published on September 1st, 2018.

SarahJane was born in Scotland but grew up in the Cheshire countryside, which is home to her. After a few years living in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, where she went to secondary school, she has now settled back in Cheshire in a quirky flat surrounded by trees, birds and rolling fields.

A marketing professional since finishing her formal education SarahJane is delighted to be following her writing dream. She still works part-time as a Marketing Manager, whilst furiously penning her second novel.

Harboring an adventurous spirit, SarahJane loves to travel, be surrounded by the wilderness or be riding Cornish waves.

SarahJane loves to read (ideally by the sea!). She was raised on the greatest love stories, which is where her romantic soul comes from. She is in love with love…Mr. Darcy’s brooding looks in Pride and Prejudice; Julia Roberts and Richard Gere’s arresting chemistry in Runaway Bride; the intensely emotional Titanic; going weak at the knees for Danny Zuko in Grease; Cecilia Ahern’s heartbreaking P.S. I Love You and Patrick Swayze’s mega moves in Dirty Dancing.

Social Media Links – www.facebook.com/sarahjanefordauthor/

Website: www.sarahjaneford.com

 

Giveaway 

Win signed hardback of I Give You My Heart with a personalized message

(UK Only)

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

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Book Review: Sparrow by Emma Nichole – Meet Me in Savannah Collection

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Meet Me in Savannah: A Collection
Authors: Various
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: August 30, 2018
Blurb
The summer heat isn’t the only thing steamy in Savannah.


Seven authors bring you seven scorching stand-alones about love, lust, suspense and second chances set amongst the historic cobblestones and plantation homes of this southern city where the only thing hotter than the weather is the men that call Savannah home.

 

Behind every great hatred there may be a love story,  but behind the face of an angel and his sweet words was nothing but pretty little lies.
My hatred for Noah Hill really did start as love – hard as it is to believe.
A love that was the earth-shattering, forever type that not everyone is fortunate enough to experience in their lifetime… or so I thought.
Take a picture, it’ll last longer.
That’s what he said to me.
That was the biggest lie of them all.
Because the broken heart remained long after the pictures burned.

 

 

AMAZON – COMING SOON

 

Free in Kindle Unlimited
LA Taylor

 

LA Taylor lives Down Under. Makeup Artist, Shoe whore, Taylor Swift enthusiast, beach bum, coffee drinker, nap taker, bad driver, snake charmer and dreamer. Often can be found having dance parties in her lounge, watching Top Gun or at the beach or at Kmart and Target buying things she doesn’t need.

 

 

Once college sweethearts, Poppy and Keir were the all American couple.

 

Until the big time came calling.
Misunderstandings and miscommunications lead to broken hearts and broken trust.
But fate throws them a second chance when their paths cross again.
Now they have to decide if they are ready to take another try at forever, or if the past is better left behind them.
Kier knows this is his final down. His last opportunity to make it right, but Poppy’s going to need a little more convincing.
Throwing out a Hail Mary, he gives it all he’s got.
With a little luck, this time he may just be able to Score.

 

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Free in Kindle Unlimited
Emma Louise

 

A long time lover of all things romance, Emma Louise is a book blogger turned debut writer.  She’s a die hard bibliophile, addicted to tea (Real British tea) and speaks fluent sarcasm.
She lives with her husband, three children and overgrown puppy in South Wales, UK.
Having been an avid reader for as long as she can remember, she’s recently decided to try her hand at writing a love story of her own.

 

 

The roller coaster called life can take you on many different journeys.

 

Some you crave and long for, others you regret and wish you could forget, but some claw their way inside of you and refuse to let go.
Amelia’s journey has included flips, twists, turns and scares, but when she is finally brave enough to take the reins for herself, her path leads back to her past.
Back to Grayson Aldrich.
He’s the man who embodied all three types of journeys. Longing, regret, and a love so deep it would be forever embedded in her heart.

My Rating:  

4.5

Favorite Quotes:

 

“A sparrow. They symbolize vigilance and hard work. It can guide you to a happy and full life. It’s a symbol of protection. Even if we never see each other again, I’ll always be there…” he reaches down to touch the necklace, “over your heart.”

 

“A dark secret, huh?” She laughs. “I hate chocolate.” “Excuse me? That’s downright blasphemous… I need to speak with your boss. I can’t have a nurse who doesn’t like chocolate. You’re clearly unhinged and not trustworthy,” I say, feigning seriousness.

 

Amelia, that man looked at you like you were a piece of cake, and he wanted to get all up in your frosting.

 

My Review:

 

Sparrow was a quick and super sexy second chance romance. Written in my favorite dual POV, this crafty writer packed a steamer trunk load of contemporary issues into her compelling novella including postpartum depression, spouse abuse, addiction, active-duty injury, single parenting, divorce, abandonment, and grief. Despite all the tragedy, the storylines were well balanced and engaging with hefty handfuls of sensuality, wit, and an adorable preschooler.   The main characters were destined to be together by gravitational pull, vibrantly alluring, endearing, and swore like champions.

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

 

Free in Kindle Unlimited
Emma Nichole
After years of living vicariously through so many characters and stories created by others, Emma Nichole has taken the plunge herself.
A southern girl born, raised, and still residing in Tennessee, she holds the quirks of this area of the world close to her heart, and showcases it in her writing.
She’s a wife, a mother of two, an avid college football fan (Go Vols), a best friend, a sister, a lover of all music, movies, and above all else… a lover of books.

 

 

She was the one that got away.
Destined for culinary greatness, Bethany left behind the only life she’d ever known. And the man who broke her heart.
He was the one she could never forget.
Three years could change a man. Gideon was proof of that.
Pride and selflessness forced him to make choices that altered his life forever. But his biggest regret would always be letting her go.
What happens when true love is set to simmer?
For Bethany and Gideon, it may be a second chance to set fate right.
Meet them in Savannah and fall in love all over again.
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Free in Kindle Unlimited

 

C.G. Burnette

 

I’m a self-proclaimed book addict. It’s sad but true. I want ALL THE WORDS! My love of words led me to blogging and blogging led me to this newest and most awesome adventure as an author. What a ride this will be!
I’m a mommy to two really cute little guys who run me happily ragged on most days and a wife to a wonderful man who has had my heart since the day he said hello. I have a vast collection of Godzilla toys, dinosaurs, LEGO pieces and blocks in all shapes and colors. Romance novels have been my thing since my aunt snuck me a Harlequin when I was ten. And let’s not forget the binge watching of all things anime, Vikings and old B movies.
Let the fun begin!

 

 

You know how fairy tales start?
Once upon a time…blah, blah, blah.
Girl meets handsome prince…blah, blah, blah.
They kiss…blah, blah, blah.
Throw in an apple and she almost dies, he swoops in and saves her life. Then they live happily ever after?
My story is just like that, but with a few minor changes.
Goes like this: Girl sees family being murdered; girl runs for her life, then finds out she isn’t exactly who she
thought she was because she’s been lied to. Oh yeah, as it turns out, she’s also in quite a bit of danger, with a lovely bounty over her head.
With one man ordered to “watch me,” and another one who promised to protect me, who exactly am I supposed to trust, when I’m just finding out who I really am?
Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Scarlett.

 

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Free in Kindle Unlimited

 

Jenna Cole

 

Jenna is a book hoarding, book boyfriend stealing author from Florida. She’s the wife of an Army veteran (Hooah) and the mother of a teen daughter (send wine). She works in the corporate world, where she’s been busted several times for breaking out her kindle to finish a book. When she’s not spending time with her family, you can find her reading, hitting up the beach, and blogging and chatting about books with friends.

 

Protecting her is easy.
Falling for her is dangerous.
Loving her could destroy them both.
Melanie Quinn has given up on finding a man until she meets her sexy new bodyguard with an irresistible smile. She trusts him with her protection but refuses to hand over her heart.
Chase Taylor, ex-marine, has given up on life until he lands a job as a bodyguard for a beautiful, fiery red-head. His emotional wounds run deep, but when danger lurks, he’s always willing to go to war. Protecting his Princess could prove to be deadly.
Fate brought them together. Scars from their past could tear them apart.
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Free in Kindle Unlimited

 

JM Kelley

 

JM Kelley loves to write sexy hot Romance as much as she loves to read it. She grew up and still resides in Long Island New York with her husband of twenty-nine years and her three sons. She is a lover of baseball and has been a Yankee fan since the day she was born. If you can’t find her reading or writing she’s probably in Disney World since that’s her favorite place in earth.

 

Cover Design: Kari Nappi, Kovers by Kari

 

Deception and betrayal caused us to swerve off our path of forever.
Camryn James –
One night. One decision forced me to walk away from my future. Tragedy brings me home after twelve years, forcing me to face my past and the truths I refused to hear. Surviving Trystan once almost broke me completely. A second time would be impossible.
Trystan Harrison –
One mistake. One disaster of epic proportion left the only woman I have ever loved, broken and devastated. After twelve years, Camryn is back home and will be forced to realize that everything is not always as it seems. Second chances are not always promised and I refuse to waste mine.
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Free in Kindle Unlimited

 

Kristi Lynn

 

Kristi Lynn is a certified book whore who has been getting lost in the words of others for years. After going through a tough time a few years back, she decided to put pen to paper as a means to heal. Stories started coming out of nowhere and the decision was made to self-publish. Kristi lives in Connecticut with her rescue pup Jazmine. Coffee is her elixir of choice, followed closely by good sangria, or captain and coke. Music is playing 24/7 around her and she is often singing along (watch those ears, she never claimed to be a good singer). Fall and football season are her preferred time of year (Go Pats! And Julian Edelman is her husband. She has the shirt to prove it.) She lives in flip flops year round (except when mother nature showers her in that blasted white stuff New England is known for in the winter). She swears like a sailor, and has and addiction to finding the perfect quotes for any occasion. She loves to connect with new people, so don’t be shy.
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Book Review, Giveaway: Evie’s Little Black Book by Hannah Pearl 

Evie’s Little Black Book

by Hannah Pearl 

Goodreads

Amazon US / UK  

 

Is hunting down every man you’ve kissed the answer to finding Mr. Right?


When Evie is invited to the wedding of the guy she’d fancied throughout her teens, it’s the final straw. What’s wrong with her and why can’t she keep a man? 

In between consoling herself with ice cream and chocolate, and sobbing her heart out to her cousin Chamaine, Evie has a brainwave – and it all centers around her ‘little black book’ (well, more floral patterned notebook really) – which contains the details of every man she’s ever kissed or dated. Perhaps the cure for her disastrous love life has been nestled within its pages all along … 


Does Evie’s little black book really hold the answers, or will she learn that exes are exes for a reason? 

My Rating:  

Favorite Quotes:

 

‘What you need next,’ she declared, ‘is new underwear. I always feel better when I’m wearing really sexy knickers.’ She pulled the top of her pants up over her trousers to show me. I could see what looked like a piece of leopard print string, and I presumed her taste in underwear was a little skimpier than mine. An elderly gentleman on the next table choked on his tea.

 

‘I like a lot of different types of women.’ That was an understatement. I suspected that Matt and George had very few types of women they didn’t like. ‘But you know what I find most attractive of all in women?’ he asked me. I shook my head, wondering whether he’d be offended if I’d answered with my first response of a vagina and a pulse.

 

If you want people to notice you, you have to show them that you have something worth noticing.

 

I wasn’t a pretty crier. My nose was running and I was taking big, heaving gulps of air every few seconds to power the tears. Jake walked to the cupboard, opened it and handed me a huge bar of Dairy Milk. ‘I’m sure Bea won’t mind you raiding her stash,’ he said. ‘This seems like an emergency.’

 

My Review:

 

This was a slow moving yet thoughtful and often humorous read that chronicled a woman’s efforts to examine her past to recoup and repair her tattered identity by reaching back to examine what had transpired during and after her previous crushes, attractions, and relationships with men. Much of the narrative is interior as she works through her memories and observations of the past while also dealing with the present and meeting new and more interesting people while learning to trust again. The writing was insightful and observant with frequent lashings of slyly amusing dry wit.

 

Ms. Pearl had obviously done her research and compiled the easiest and clearest representation of how an intelligent woman would allow herself to be treated in such a heinous and dastardly manner. She nimbly captured the subtleness and myriad nuances of how a woman could gradually be stripped of her identity and self-confidence and allow and even expect mistreatment and subjugation. Evie wasn’t merely trying to understand what went wrong with her previous relationships, she was trying to find who she had been as she had lost herself and no longer trusted her own judgment, and rightly so, she had been decimated. And thanks to Ms. Pearl, my Brit Vocab List now includes stonking – which Mr. Google tells me is something remarkably large or exciting, I like that.   In an effort to utilize a fraction of my newly acquired knowledge I will close this review with a small sampling of what I have gleaned from my sloney and swot reading list… Bloody Nora, I’m not telling porkies when I say my personally culled Brit list is mahoosive and stonking.

 

Author Bio –

Hannah Pearl was born in East London. She is married with two children and now lives in Cambridge.

She has previously worked as a Criminology researcher at a university in Leicester, as a Development Worker with various charities and even pulled a few pints in her time.

In 2015 she was struck down by Labrynthitis, which left her feeling dizzy and virtually housebound. She has since been diagnosed with ME. Reading has allowed Hannah to escape from the reality of feeling ill. She read upwards of three hundred books during the first year of her illness. When her burgeoning ereader addiction grew to be too expensive, she decided to have a go at writing. In 2017 she won Simon and Schuster’s Books and the City #heatseeker short story competition, in partnership with Heat magazine, for her short story The Last Good Day.

Hannah is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association.

Blog – dizzygirlwrites.wordpress.com 

Twitter – https://twitter.com/HannahPearl_1

 

Giveaway

 Win 2 x set of floral notebook, pen, book locket necklace and chocolate (Open Internationally)

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

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Book Review: Last Heartbreak (A Nolan Brothers Novel Book 5) by Amy Olle 

Last Heartbreak

(A Nolan Brothers Novel Book 5)

by Amy Olle 

Falling in love was easy, instant, and dangerously all-consuming. Breaking up won’t be so simple.

Shea and Isobel were teenagers when they had a baby together, months before they’d even gone on their first date. Now, after nearly eighteen years of marriage, the heartaches have piled one on top of the other, dousing the fire of their passion and drowning the memories of a life built together. Though he is her first and only love, two years spent living separate lives has convinced Isobel it’s time for them to let go.

Except quitting isn’t in Shea’s blood. Every day of his life has been a fight—to save his brothers, to put food on their table, to hold on to the tattered shreds of his dignity—and now he’s in for the toughest fight of them all: the battle to win back his wife. But with Isobel already one foot out the door, is it too late for their second chance at happily ever after?

LAST HEARTBREAK is a full-length, stand-alone steamy contemporary romance from USA Today bestselling author Amy Olle. Fans of emotional, sexy romances will fall in love with this fifth installment in the series about the five Irish-born, fiercely loyal, beautifully flawed Nolan brothers. Books in the series may be read in any order.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

“Eighteen years. The porcelain year.” Porcelain. Like a toilet. Seemed fitting.

 

“Is this my T-shirt?” He rumpled the cotton in his grip. “I’ve been looking everywhere for this.” “Hmm? Oh, you must’ve left it here by mistake. I sleep in it sometimes.” A smug smile curved his impossibly pouty mouth. “And I also wear it when I clean the toilets.”

 

“You know what’s crazy?” Sophie nudged Isobel with a soft elbow. “Your only real flaw is your perfectionism.” Isobel narrowed her eyes. “I don’t want to be friends with you anymore.”

 

My Review:

 

The Last Heartbreak was an angsty and insightful read featuring a failed marriage where both participants had starved the relationship to a skeletal level. Yet the bones hadn’t quite been picked bare.   I held my breath for this deeply flawed couple, they were struggling with each other as well as their own complex issues and family dramas. While I was rooting for them I wasn’t sure they could or should find their way back to each other.

I recall feasting on the first two divinely written books of this series two years ago yet seemed to have lost track when the third and fourth books arrived. I am drawn to this family of complicated brothers as well the author’s skilled and agile style of storytelling. As with my previous experience with her work, Ms. Olle’s engaging narratives were emotive, observant, and heart squeezing with lashings of wit and sensuality – oh my, at one point I was actually gasping for breath and in desperate need of libation.

About the Author

Goodreads

Amy Olle writes sexy contemporary romances filled with hope, heart, and humor. She is delighted to put her Psychology degrees to good use writing romance.

Her debut novel, BEAUTIFUL RUIN, is the first book in a series about the five Irish-born Nolan brothers sent as children to live with family on a remote island in northern Michigan.


BEAUTIFUL RUIN received a Readers’ Favorite 5-star review!

Amy lives in Michigan with her long-suffering husband, brilliant son, and (female) turtle named George.

If you would like to receive notifications of Amy’s new releases, join her mailing list at: http://www.amyolle.com/newsletter/

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Book Review: The Cottage on Lily Pond Lane Part Four – Trick or Treat by Emily Harvale

#LilyPondLane

The Cottage on Lily Pond Lane

Part Four Trick or Treat

by Emily Harvale

Goodreads

Amazon US/ UK

Mia Ward was amazed to inherit her great-aunt Matilda’s thatched cottage in the tiny seaside village of Little Pondale – especially as Mia didn’t know she had a great-aunt Matilda. She was even more astonished to discover she’d only inherit the place if she lives there for a year.

But a lot can happen in a very short time, and life in Little Pondale is not going quite as Mia hoped. She may have finally beaten one fear, but now heartbreak threatens to drown her.

And when at last, she starts to unravel the mystery of Matilda’s past, she uncovers an extraordinary plan for her own future. Now just who can Mia trust?

As the nights draw in and cold winds steal through Sunbeam Cottage, she turns to an unlikely source for comfort and support. But with the fortune teller’s warning still ringing in her ears, is Mia about to make the biggest mistake of her life?

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

 I was always saying to Hector, “You need to be more open, Hector. Keeping feelings pent up inside will be the death of you.” I was wrong about that, of course. The car hitting him, tossing him in the air, and him landing on his head was the death of him. But if the car hadn’t killed him, stress would have.

She sauntered towards him, which wasn’t as easy as she’d hoped, given that she was walking through water. Daniel Craig had made it look simple and ultra-sexy in the James Bond film.

Plus at our age, Fred and I can’t afford to wait. We could be dead at any time. And we’ve already told the vicar that if one of us dies before the wedding, we can have the funeral on the date instead. We’ll use all the same flowers and hymns.

My Review:

 

I quickly consumed this delightfully amusing and juicily informative installment from beginning to end, I believe I only put my Kindle down to refill my coffee cup, okay, I refilled like ten times, but still, I didn’t want to leave it longer than necessary as the secrets were finally, yes finally, being exposed and several mysteries were solved. And oh, snap! I could never have put so many deliciously scandalous details together. I was ridiculously impressed and nearly delirious with glee. What a clever girl that Emily Harvale, she definitely has an incredibly fertile imagination to have conjured up so many twisty and creative back-stories within a short novella.

This volume put a new spin on vicar and tart jokes and for an added treat, we were witness to a sweetly bizarre wedding where the elderly bride was given away by her constant companions – the ghost of her first husband and her beloved purple vest wearing pet rat, Prince Gustav, who sat upon a lavender pillow in his Cinderella carriage-like cage.   I had grown so attached to Ms. Harvale’s quirky characters and eccentric little village and was feeling a bit rueful as I neared the end as for some reason I was under the impression this was to be the last in the series but – oh happy day – there will be more!

Author Bio –  

Having lived and worked in London for several years, Emily returned to her hometown of Hastings where she now spends her days writing… and chatting on social media. Emily is a Member of the SoA, a PAN member of the RWA and a Pro Member of ALLi. She’s an Amazon bestseller and a Kindle All Star. Emily loves writing and her stories are sure to bring a smile to your face and a warmth to your heart.

Emily says, “I write about friendship, family and falling in love. I believe in happing endings.” When she isn’t 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.

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

https://www.twitter.com/emilyharvale

https://www.instagram.com/emilyharvale

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Book Review: The Freedom Diamond – A Novella by Tracie Podger 

The Freedom Diamond – A Novella
by Tracie Podger 

Goodreads

Amazon US / UK  

 

Beginning with a journey upon the fated RMS Titanic to New York and then India, Lady Mountford embarks on a most exciting mission…

…an operation to right the wrongs of her father.

With the help of Ernest, Dorothy has decided the pain her father had caused needs rectifying. This endeavor takes immense courage from the young Lady, strategic planning, and many miles of travel.

Follow Dorothy on this adventure as she attempts to shed her upbringing and standing in society for the sake of freedom.

The Freedom Diamond is an updated version of Dorothy’s Journey and was part of Titanic Tales, a charity anthology launched to coincide with the Titanic signing, Belfast, 2018.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

The ship often creaked, and although I stilled to listen for the noise again, I wasn’t overly concerned. It was the shudder that followed the noise that had me sit upright. I watched pictures that hung on the wall sway from side to side. The lampshade on the side table shimmered, its tassels twirled for a moment, and then it all stilled. There was an eeriness; a calmness that took me a moment to understand.

 

I was a woman way ahead of her time and impatient for the world to change and catch up.

 

I was a Titanic survivor, a diamond smuggler, a righter of wrongs, and now patron of a women’s refuge and a children’s orphanage in India.

 

My Review:

 

I was fascinated by the premise and this cunning author’s word voodoo pulled me right inside her clever character’s cranium. It was an entertaining stay inside the lovely and feisty Dorothy’s headspace and I enjoyed being privy to her shrewd inner musings and astute observations. The atmospheric quality of the writing held me in place and I remained there throughout Dorothy’s adventure as she plotted her scheme, enjoyed the grandeur of the luxury liner, struggled with the cold to board a lifeboat, or made the quick and stealthy work of a cat burglar. The tale quickly flew by while whetting my appetite for more.

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.

Social Media Links

Facebook    Twitter    Amazon    Instagram

Website    Facebook Reader Group

Facebook Book Club

 

 

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Book Review: The Things We Leave Unsaid by Megan Mayfair 

 

The Things We Leave Unsaid

by Megan Mayfair 

Goodreads

Amazon US / UK  / B&N

 

Is it the things we don’t say that haunt us the most?

Clare is anxious to start a family with adoring husband, Pete. When she takes on the seemingly simple task of obtaining her late mother’s birth certificate, she finds herself in a family history search that will challenge everything she thought she knew about her life.

Scarred by her parents’ ill-fated marriage, Tessa lives by three rules – dating unavailable men, building her café into a food empire, and avoiding her father. However, when her carefully planned life is thrown into chaos, Tessa is forced to decide which of these rules she’s willing to break.

As Clare and Tessa’s paths cross and their friendship grows, can they both finally unlock their family secrets in order to realize their futures?

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

“Well, I’m very proud.” Pete’s dad lifted up a bottle of beer as if to toast his son. “Who would’ve thought that a kid that ate glue until Grade 2 would now be a doctor?”

 

She was straight off to Mass to pray for him. I’m sure Father Foley loved hearing all about the latest De Luca family drama. I’m not sure who she prayed to. I mean, who was the Patron Saint of Assholes?

 

She hadn’t been in love –he was right about that –but nor had she been electrocuted or struck by lightning or bitten by a snake, and she knew she had no interest in trying out any of those things. In the interest of risk management, some things in life were better not experienced.

 

Harry approached the counter carrying a large chocolate cake. Tessa longed to tackle him to the ground for it and then escape with it to the privacy of her office where she would just eat it with her hands and wash it down with a cappuccino.

 

Was this crazy? Was this bunny-boiler territory? She hadn’t seen him since the night she broke up with him… Where was he getting his coffee from now? She knew it wouldn’t be as good. Was he drinking crappy coffee to avoid her? That was a depressing thought. Life was too short to drink bad coffee.

 

I do know that it’s the things we leave unsaid that cause us the most pain.

 

My Review:

 

I had finished reading and was looking over my notes while letting my opinion settle and gel when I noticed this captivating tale was the author’s first novel. This was an eye-popping realization for me as the writing was exceptionally insightful, well-paced, and engaging whether factoring in the issue of first works or not, but adding in that information was a revelation and caused me to upgrade my opinion and rating as I found it an impressive accomplishment. The book contained several well-crafted and unique storylines featuring interesting and enticingly nuanced characters that captured and held my attention as well as piqued my curiosity. I was as desirous of unraveling their family histories and unanswered questions as the anxious characters themselves.

This wasn’t a fast-paced thriller or heavily laden with an aura of mystery or suspense, it was a realistic and relevant story that could easily happen anywhere, yet it was the shaping and telling of the tale that drew me in and belies the skill and dexterity of the author. I relished the concept of “mental revenge points” which one character secretly tallied, a behavior I may have been guilty of a time or ten but had never thought to define with such a creative label. Additionally, I find I now have a need for an Aussie Word List due to the lively notation of “stickybeak” which Mr. Google informed me was a nosy person. Those Aussies can be so colorful and fun 😉

Author Bio –

Megan Mayfair is a Melbourne-based writer who draws inspiration from her beautiful hometown and regional Victoria to create contemporary women’s fiction, containing a big dash of romance and a spoonful of family intrigue.

With a background in public relations, copywriting and higher education, Megan is passionate about words and loves to bring them to life on the page. Megan holds a Master of Arts in professional communication and is a member of Romance Writers of Australia and Writers Victoria.

Megan is married with three children, loves a good cup of coffee and believes you can never have too many scarves.

Social Media Links –

www.meganmayfair.com

https://www.facebook.com/meganmayfairauthor/

https://twitter.com/MayfairMegan

https://www.instagram.com/meganmayfairwrites/

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Book Review, Giveaway: Twisted Fate (Southern Devotion – Book #4) by Amy K. McClung


Author: Amy K. McClung

Title: Twisted Fate

Series: Southern Devotion, Book 4
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: August 4, 2018
Designer: Claire Smith
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Add to TBR
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 Available now! 
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2LurYQq
All other links: books2read.com/twisted-fate

Two love stories. Two lost souls. Two fates, twisted together.

Old habits are hard to break when lust factors in. Angel is celebrating her sobriety and making changes in her life. Surrounded by happily married couples, she realizes how much she wants to fall in love. Angel meets her match in more ways than one.
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Cameron has been working behind the scenes, manipulating fate to help his friends find their happiness. But as he works to make everyone else happy, he’s hiding his own pain. So focused on concealing the truth, his relationship with Gavin suffers because of it.
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Join Angel and Cameron in the spectacular conclusion of Amy K. McClung’s The Southern Devotion series, as this group of friends battle to find their happily ever afters.
 Available now! 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

It popped into my head. I sometimes have spontaneous Tourette’s.

 

Its true name is Cameron Jr. Any male genitalia can be a penis. It takes a truly spectacular specimen to be a Cameron Jr. Lesser penises have begged for the name and been denied. He’s a legend unto himself. He stands to attention and other penises salute him.

 

We were social butterflies, painting the town, spreading fabulosity all over. Trust me; fabulosity was a word.

 

No one will reach our level of happiness. We’ve bought cloud nine and aren’t moving.

 

My Review:

 

Last year I just happened to stumble upon this series and binge read three books in a row.   And despite having read several hundred books since then, I still remember them. The books were easy to follow yet I was impressed by the depth and diversity of the young characters as they struggled with considerable social issues, medical concerns, family drama, and each other as they matured, bonded, and gradually formed a strong and cohesive unit. I admired and adored this odd collection of quirky and compelling characters, each with their own issues, oddities, and traumas. Twisted Fate is the final installment and brings an emotional and satisfying conclusion to the series and brings all the featured characters at the end with a fast-forward of thirty-five years. I enjoyed their transitions, adventures, romances, heart-squeezes, matchmaking/meddling, feuds, diva ways, clever banter and amusing quips. I’m curious to see what this cleverly insightful and observant author comes up with next.

~~~~~~~

The Southern Devotion Series


For the Love of Gracie
Book 1
 On sale for 99c 
 
Curves in the Road
Book 2
 On sale for half price 
Complicated Relationships
Book 3
 On sale for half price 
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | TSU

Amy McClung was born in Nashville, TN. She is the second oldest of four girls and occasionally suffers from middle-child syndrome. She met the love of her life online in August of 2004, on his birthday of all days, and married him in September 2005.Currently they have no human children, only the room full of colorful robots that transform into vehicles and the large headed Pop Funkos who represent their favorite characters. Collecting movies, shot glasses, Pop Funkos, and dust bunnies are some of her favorite pastimes.Amy began writing in September of 2011 and independently published her first YA novel, Cascades of Moonlight, Book one of the Parker Harris series the following May. Her first book was a means of therapy for her, enabling her to escape reality for a while during a difficult transition in her life.

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Book Review: Restored Dreams – #sexysilverfoxes Series by L.B. Dunbar

Title: Restored Dreams
Series: #sexysilverfoxes
Author: L.B. Dunbar
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: August 22, 2018
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Blurb
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More romance for the over forty.

Brut Paige needs a life break.
As caretaker to his brother, his business, and his son, he’s used to being the man to get things done.
Yet, along the way, he’s forgotten how to have fun.

Lily Warren deserves a vacation.
She’s worked hard to establish her bakery, a lifelong dream. She’s proud of her accomplishments.
But, she knows there’s something missing.

A broken heart tore them apart.
A little matchmaking forces them together…
Twenty-two years later.

Funny thing about being over forty—forgiveness and frosting can lead to all kinds of trouble…or restored dreams.

+ + +

If you loved Hank Paige in Midlife Crisis, you’ll want to learn more about his brother, Brut, a sexy silver fox mechanic, and the lost woman of his dreams.

 

Purchase Links
$2.99 for a limited time
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Free in Kindle Unlimited
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My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

His abs stack like a pile of books, and I want to read every page.

 

I feel like a puzzle poured out of the box for the first time. Pieces scattering, nothing matching, waiting to be assembled.

 

He’s gotten through so many things, but I understand at some point, you wish for more than merely getting by.

 

I wanted to grow old with you, not wait until I was old to have you.

 My Review:

Second chances don’t come around often yet this couple frittered away their second chance but thankfully they heeded the third, and the difference echoed throughout their family and friends. Written in my favorite dual POV, the engaging storylines were well-paced, atomically sexy, easy to follow, and full of feels. The premise was original and interesting and the mature yet vibrant characters were endearing and inspiring human beings. I adored Brut’s kind and caring manner, inventive games, creative use of scrabble tiles, and the supportive and sweet relationship he was determined to forge with his Lily Pad, even if it took him over twenty-two years to get it right.

Also Available

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited

 

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited

 

Author Bio

 

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.

 

Author Links