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.

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 GirlThe 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

 

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.

Book Review: Misadventures with a Rock Star by Helen Hardt

Misadventures with a Rock Star

by Helen Hardt

Add to your TBR

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2tusRUi
Nook: http://bit.ly/2F5B6bo
iBooks: https://apple.co/2q5vXdk
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2GwPNZ7
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2tuF1fR


#MisadventureswithaRockStar


Synopsis:


Heather Myles isn’t exactly thrilled to accompany her groupie roommate to an Emerald Phoenix concert. The aspiring screenwriter would rather be home with a good book. After Susie pleads with her, though, Heather relents. What the heck? Maybe a change of scenery is just what she needs to combat her desolation over getting turned down by yet another small production company.

After the performance, Jett Draconis, lead singer and guitarist for the band, isn’t up for the party scene. He’s grown tired of being mauled by horny devotees…until an auburn-haired goddess catches his eye. Though she initially rebuffs his advances, he’s determined not to take no for an answer. Sparks erupt between him and Heather, but Jett knows better than to fall in love. A secret from his past could destroy him—and everyone close to him—if he does.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Susie was my roommate and a good friend, but she was a notorious rock and roll groupie. The woman had a pube collection, for God’s sake. She’d sworn me to secrecy on that one. She hadn’t needed to bother. Who the heck would I tell? Pubic hair didn’t regularly come up in conversation. Also, keeping locks of rock stars’ gorilla salad in zippered bags made me kind of sick. I’d turned her down when she offered to show it to me.

 My Review:

 

There were parts in this book that were so hot my kindle seized. There were other parts that had me groaning with annoyance and wanting to throw my beloved kindle at a wall. The book wasn’t bad; it just wasn’t my preferred blend of stewed aromatic beverage. But for those of you who enjoy the rock-star fantasy or incendiary erotic rock-star sexcapades with a side order of a waffling semi-relationship – then this would be the book for you. There were lots and lots of carnal and licentious acts, some rather unpleasant and uncomfortable BDSM, and mentions of various types of lascivious activities with multiples, which I personally categorize as sharing without caring. I enjoyed the other Misadventures but I’m saddened to say that this one wins the spot of my least favorite to date. Sigh.

 

Misadventures with a Rock Star live event 4th June

Interested in Going?

Meet The Author

#1 New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Helen Hardt’s passion for the written word began with the books her mother read to her at bedtime. She wrote her first story at age six and hasn’t stopped since. In addition to being an award-winning author of contemporary and historical romance and erotica, she’s a mother, a black belt in Taekwondo, a grammar geek, an appreciator of fine red wine, and a lover of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. She writes from her home in Colorado, where she lives with her family. Helen loves to hear from readers.

 

Buy Links for all Helen’s Books: http://www.helenhardt.com/book/
Join the official street team for Helen

Book Review: Searching For Steven by Jessica Redland

Searching For Steven

by Jessica Redland

 

Goodreads

Amazon US / UK

B&N

 

What if you already know your future… but not the path to take you there?

When Sarah Peterson accepts her Auntie Kay’s unexpected offer to take over her florist’s shop, she’s prepared for a change of job, home and lifestyle. What she isn’t prepared for is the discovery of a scarily accurate clairvoyant reading that’s been missing for twelve years. All her predictions have come true, except one: she’s about to meet the man of her dreams. Oh, and his name is Steven. Suddenly Stevens are everywhere. Could it be the window cleaner, the rep, the manager of the coffee shop, or any of the men she’s met online? On top of that, she finds herself quite attracted to a handsome web designer, but his name isn’t even Steven… During this unusual search, will Sarah find her destiny?

My Rating:

Favorite Quote:

 

All that stuff today was just the icing on the cake; it’s all very nice but the cake is the best part and I already have the cake.

My Review:

 

I have gotten around to all the Whitsborough Bay stories and oddly enough have read the first one last, but it really didn’t matter, they could all stand on their own with independent and strong storylines. I have enjoyed this series with its quirky cast of characters and their amusing encounters and unique considerations. I hope there will be more as I enjoy Ms. Redland’s clever humor and engaging writing style. Her levity balances and tempers the angst and heart-squeezes. I adored the characters of Auntie Kay as well as Nick and Sarah and found Sarah’s attempts to locate her fated Steven to be pleasantly entertaining. The premise was original and interesting while the writing was fun and humorous yet also thoughtfully observant and insightful. And as always, Ms. Redland has provided me with new Brit vocabulary words, this time I have gleaned swot (studious), and pernickety (UK version of persnickety).

Author Bio –

Jessica had never considered writing as a career until a former manager kept telling her that her business reports read more like stories and she should write a book. She loved writing but had no plot ideas. Then something happened to her that prompted the premise for her debut novel, Searching for Steven. She put fingers to keyboard and soon realized she had a trilogy and a novella!

She lives on the stunning North Yorkshire Coast – the inspiration for the settings in her books – with her husband, daughter, cat, Sprocker Spaniel, and an ever-growing collection of collectible teddy bears. Although if the dog has her way, the collection will be reduced to a pile of stuffing and chewed limbs!

Jessica tries to balance her time – usually unsuccessfully – between being an HR tutor and writing.

Social Media Links –

Twitter: @JessicaRedland

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

Website and blog: www.jessicaredland.com

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

 

Book Review, Giveaway: You Send Me by Jeannie Moon

YOU SEND ME, a new Compass Cove novel is LIVE!

In YOU SEND ME, Jordan and Nick must let go or their separate pasts in order to seize their future together in this charming fake engagement romance. Fans of Susan Wiggs and RaeAnne Thayne have fallen in love with the Compass Cove series from International Bestselling Author, Jeannie Moon.

Download YOU SEND ME or add it to your TBR pile on Goodreads! Then keep reading to get a sneak peek and enter the giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift card or books from Jeannie Moon!

Title: You Send Me

Author: Jeannie Moon

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Release Date: May 29, 2018

Publisher: Tule Publishing Group

Series: Compass Cove

Format: Digital/Print

AISN: B07CGJGDPZ

Available at:

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

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2vpQ6ki

iBooks: https://apple.co/2IVOqof

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Synopsis:

Jordan Velsor didn’t want to need anyone. After dumping her cheating fiancé, caring for her sick dad, and nearly being crushed along with her car during a violent storm, she’s pretty much at her breaking point. If anyone needs some luck, it’s Jordan, but the last thing she wants is gorgeous Nick Rinaldi, her landlord’s grandson, hovering over her while she nurses a bad cold. The wounded Navy doctor seems too good to be true… which means he probably is.

Nick Rinaldi left the Navy broken and adrift, wondering if he would ever practice medicine again. When his grandparents’ tenant is almost killed by a falling tree during a storm, he discovers Jordan is not only in shock, but suffering from pneumonia. Not one to miss an opportunity to play white knight, Nick arrives at her cottage to take care of her during the storm… But the lovely teacher has a fierce independent streak, and as he learns more about her, he wants to do more than merely help.

Can Jordan and Nick let go of their separate pasts and seize their future together?

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My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

The dog sighed— sighed her annoyance at Jordan. A dog with an attitude. Didn’t it figure? Gertie practically rolled off the plush cushion and settled on her back on the blue patterned rug. Her short little legs were straight up in the air, feigning death.

 

Nona was wringing her hands, and when she reached in her pocket, Nick thought she might break out her rosary. Whenever someone was sick, Lina hit the beads.

 

It wasn’t that he didn’t want a wife and kids, he did, but the Navy was his first wife and she hadn’t let go easily.

 

Even her dog was in love with him. As if she was staking her claim, Gertie laid at his feet and rolled over with a moan. The slut.

 

He wasn’t afraid of much. In fact, Nick could only think of one thing that truly scared his grandfather. His grandmother.

 

My Review:

 

You Send Me was a slowly developing, tender, sweet, and somewhat angsty read with frequent bites of amusing humor and wit, and just a tiny bit of steam. It is always refreshing to me when the main characters aren’t in constant conflict with each other but are miraculously kind, nurturing, and supportive of each other – why is that such a rare occurrence in novels? I adored these characters, they were people I’d like to know and spend time with. The storylines were relevant and the writing was fluid, easy to follow, and held my interest. I’m enjoying this sweet series and look forward to a return to this pleasant community and circle of friends.

Other books in the Compass Cove series

THE CAME YOU

Available at: Amazon Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks

.

Enter to WIN a $25 Amazon Gift Card or one of 12 print books of THEN CAME YOU or one of 5 print books of YOU SEND ME!

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.

You Send Me Excerpt

Copyright © 2018 Jeannie Moon

The deep rattling cough woke her from a restless sleep. This cold was kicking her ass, but even though all she wanted to do was burrow under the covers, she was out of tissues, and the dog needed to go outside.

Glancing out her window, the weather had worsened. She almost would have been content putting out a pad for Gertie to go inside, but her tissues and cough medicine were in the back seat of her car. She had to go out regardless.

“Come on, Gertie, time to pee.”

With a whimper and a moan from her spot at the other end of the couch, her little rescue buried her face in the corner. Gertie was no dummy.

“Look, if I have to go out, so do you. Your bladder is the size of a thimble, and it’s going to get even worse later.”

The dog sighed—sighed her annoyance at Jordan. A dog with an attitude. Didn’t it figure? Gertie practically rolled off the plush cushion and settled on her back on the blue patterned rug. Her short little legs were straight up in the air, feigning death.

Jordan felt pretty dead herself, but they still had to go outside.

The wind howled, and all the windows in the cottage shook like it was going to lift up and fly away. Gust after gust provided a not-so-subtle reminder that the nor’easter currently blowing across Long Island was going to make all their lives miserable. This storm was brutal. It had been wreaking havoc for the last twelve hours and based on the latest weather report it had slowed down to a crawl, meaning it was going to stick around for a while.

Grabbing the dog’s leash, Jordan gently nudged the little furry blob on the floor. Nothing. She didn’t budge. “Gertie! Come on!”

Ninety-nine percent of the time, she loved the little mutt. This moment definitely fell into the one percent.

After she broke her engagement, Jordan had the sudden urge to have a pet. A lot of people told her it would pass, but she knew that wasn’t the case. Jordan needed unconditional love in her home, so she kept her eyes open for the right opportunity. She couldn’t handle a puppy or a kitten, so when she wandered around a rescue fair one Sunday this past September, she found herself completely enamored with Gertie. A stubby-legged little mutt, Gertie was a tube of golden fur with a pointy snout and big, soulful brown eyes. She was about five years old, and her owner had just died, leaving the little dog all alone.

Jordan felt a kinship with the pooch, and took her home that day.

Lina Rinaldi, who usually frowned on her cottage tenants having pets, took to the dog right away, and Gertie loved the older woman right back.

As Jordan stared at the lump still upside down on the floor, she was about ready to offer Mrs. Rinaldi full custody. Then a deep, rasping cough shook Jordan to the core. It racked her body violently, and pain shot around her chest. God, she felt awful.

“Come on,” she said firmly to the pooch. “We’ll skip the leash this time. Out and in. Let’s get this over with.”

Gertie rolled over and trotted to the front door, giving Jordan the side eye as she waited. Donning her parka and a pair of lined wellies that she pulled over her pajama pants, Jordan grabbed the remote and unlocked her car. When she opened the front door, she was hit by a blast of wind, rain, and sleet that stung her cheeks and chilled her to the bone. “Lord, it’s miserable.” Looking down at Gertie, she nodded. “Okay, let’s make this quick.”

The two of them bolted outside, with Gertie heading for her favorite patch of grass and Jordan heading for her car. She stopped when she coughed so hard she could barely breathe. It hurt. She’d never had a chest cold that hurt so much. Finally, yanking open the door, she heard her pooch barking from the small covered porch. Jordan grabbed the bag that was filled with some basic food provisions, juice, tea, tissues, and a selection of over-the-counter cold remedies. She slammed the car door shut, and on her way back inside she noticed the whitecaps on Jennings Bay. The wind was forcing massive amounts of water into the coves and harbors around town, and she hoped the it didn’t breach the seawall surrounding the property. Jordan’s cottage was closer to Cove Road, but the Rinaldis’ big house was at risk.

Without any further delay, Jordan made it back to the porch, feeling chilled and soaked to the bone despite all the foul weather gear she’d put on. Gertie was barking frantically, having positioned herself under the old wooden swing, and Jordan was starting to lose her patience.

“Gertie, what the hell is the problem?”

That’s when she heard the groan and crack. Jordan looked up just as a large section of an old oak tree, about fifty feet from the house, gave way. Throwing her body against the wall to avoid any debris, Jordan watched as the massive tree split in half and came crashing down, crushing her car in the process.

If she had waited ten more seconds to head outside, Jordan would have been killed.

Frozen in place for—she didn’t know how long—Jordan startled when a large, strong arm wrapped around her.

She looked away from the wreckage in the front yard and into the gorgeous face of Nick Rinaldi.
“Damn. Are you alright?”

Was she? She wasn’t sure. Jordan tried to answer, but she had trouble catching her breath. Sucking in air, he kept her steady when they walked into the house.

Waiting for the dog before he closed the door, Nick sat her on the bench in the entryway. Glancing in the canvas tote from the market, his brow furrowed.

“You’re sick? What’s wrong?”

With a low rattling cough that had him pressing the back of his hand to her forehead, she muttered, “Chest cold.”

Shaking his head, he helped her off with her boots and jacket. “Let’s get you settled in bed, and I’ll go get my bag. You’ve got a lot more than a chest cold.”

“My car…”
“We can’t do anything about your car until the storm passes, so put it out of your head. It’s the last thing you need to worry about.”

“Are you kidding? Not worry about it?” How was she supposed to get to work or see her dad? How was she supposed to do anything if she didn’t have a car? The pain in her chest wasn’t just from her cough at that moment, but at the wave of dread—helplessness—that rushed through her.

“One thing at a time.” Nick, a former Navy doctor, was single minded. And as much as Jordan didn’t want to admit it, he was right. In this weather, there was nothing she could do.

“Come on,” he said. “Lead the way.”

“I’ll be fine,” she said, stopping in her tracks. Those few words taxed her already strained system. She coughed painfully into her arm while Nick guided her into her room. The coughing spell was so violent, ripping at her tender lungs, she couldn’t even object as he tucked her into bed.

Sick as she was, Jordan wasn’t blind. Nick Rinaldi had been on her radar since he landed back in Compass Cove the previous fall. The guy was gorgeous, smart, and a gentleman to the core. But he’d settled back in with his grandparents almost six months ago, and other than a token hello, or a polite smile, he rarely spoke to her.

Still, with his lean frame, dark hair, and kind eyes, he checked a lot of boxes.

She thought she heard him mutter something about being stubborn, but her lack of breath didn’t allow a response. If anyone was stubborn, he was. The man of mystery was a well-known do-gooder, and obviously she was his next project. There was only one problem with that. She didn’t want his help. Needing people was a slippery slope, and Jordan had no intention of heading down that way again.

 

About Jeannie Moon:

Jeannie Moon, author of fifteen novels, has always been a romantic. When she’s not spinning tales of her own, Jeannie works as a school librarian, thankful she has a job that allows her to immerse herself in books and call it work. Married to her high school sweetheart, Jeannie has three kids, three lovable dogs and a mischievous cat and lives in her hometown on Long Island, NY. If she’s more than ten miles away from salt water for any longer than a week, she gets twitchy.

Connect with Jeannie at: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest

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:

Book Review, Giveaway: A Garden in Cornwall (A Wedding in Cornwall Book 12) by Laura Briggs

A Garden in Cornwall

(A Wedding in Cornwall Book 12)

by Laura Briggs

Goodreads

Amazon US / UK

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With their lives exactly what they’ve always dreamed, Matt and Julianne await the arrival of the third member of their family — but their happiness is threatened when their landlady Mathilda announces her intention to sell their beloved Rosemoor Cottage for an impossible value. Devastated, Julianne struggles to accept the cold reality of her and Matt making their home elsewhere.

Matt’s life has taken a new turn as he finally puts aside his academic work to pursue his gardening hobby as a career: his first new job as a landscape designer involves neglected Penwill Hall’s ‘lost’ garden — one with a truly romantic Cornish past. But the task of restoring its legendary beauty from nearly seventy years ago proves difficult among the ruins lost in weeds and wilderness.

With notions of secret gardens and wartime stories echoing in her thoughts, Julianne is determined to help Matt and the estate’s new owner after the discovery of a hidden mural in the hall itself, depicting a breathtaking garden that may well be the lost one. Her efforts to uncover the past lead her to a curmudgeonly local gardener who just may hold the knowledge that would restore the ‘lost garden’ to its former glory. Will Julianne’s quest help her find a way to deal with losing the home she loves?

Hellos and farewells abound as Dinah returns to lend a helping hand at Cliffs House and Julianne relives her favorite memories of her and Matt’s beloved cottage in Book Twelve — the final installment in the bestselling series A WEDDING IN CORNWALL.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Mrs. Norbit’s reign of terror continued… she continued to swipe fingers along the bottom of every portrait’s frame and the surface of every stick of furnishing; and appear suddenly and silently, like a Gestapo agent emerging from the shadows, if you happened to be an offender with a saucerless cup of tea or a trail of crumbs on your desk.

 

Nothing alive is ever the same from moment to moment, I thought, remembering Matt’s words about changes in a garden’s life. My arms tightened around him as I reminded myself that it was true about a human’s life, too.

 

Sometimes a place in your mind is all you have… For some people, a memory becomes a place in itself — bigger and better than just pictures or reminders.

 

Heavens, I’ve seen hens in a coop bicker less over one nesting box than the two of you over some insignificant point of conversation. It’s enough to make an army general cry surrender and crawl under his bunker.

 

My Review:

 

I knew I would be at a disadvantage in picking up a series at book number twelve, and I probably didn’t have the investment in the characters or their backstories as a devoted follower would, but that doesn’t mean the story was difficult to follow.   What it does mean, is I now need to go backward and read the other eleven installments of this pleasant and sweetly entertaining series. I enjoyed the likable characters and Ms. Brigg’s amusingly insightful and observantly descriptive writing style. And I have a new addition to my Brit Vocabulary List with “spit spot” – which Mr. Google informed me was frequently used by Mary Poppins to mean hurry up. I cannot wait to start using and abusing it, though I am a bit concerned some uninformed person may take me literally…

 

 

Purchase Link – http://smarturl.it/agardenincornwall

 

Author Bio 

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

Social Media Links –

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PaperDollWrites

Giveaway

 Win an e-copy of A Garden In Cornwall

(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 despatch or delivery of the prize.

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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: 

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