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Book Review: Murder in Manhattan (A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery #14) by Verity Bright  @BrightVerity  @Bookouture 

Murder in Manhattan
(A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery #14)
by Verity Bright

Amazon  / B&N / BB

Glitzy parties, sightseeing at the Statue of Liberty, and strolls through Central Park with Gladstone the bulldog… Lady Eleanor Swift is loving her first trip to the city that never sleeps, until she witnesses a murder!

After crossing from England on the SS Celestiana, Lady Eleanor Swift sets up her home-away-from-home in a lavish apartment in New York City. She is soon the toast of the town, with no high-class soirée complete without her presence. Of course, she drags her butler Clifford and Gladstone the bulldog along to every party too.

But when she witnesses the charming doorman of her building, Marty, knocked down and killed in a hit-and-run, she finds fashionable society suddenly closes rank. The only local detective interested in helping her find the culprit is street-smart beat cop, Officer Balowski.

Resolved to get justice for Marty and his family, Eleanor searches Marty’s tiny apartment and is shocked to find five rolls of banknotes tucked under the floorboards. Money talks, but Marty was struggling to make ends meet, so where did the cash come from?

The next day,  wealthy entrepreneur and flashy philanderer Ogden P. Dellaney – a man Marty used to work for – is found dead downtown, miles away from his swanky Upper East Side mansion. Eleanor and Balowski are sure the deaths are connected, but not even Dellaney’s wife is willing to answer their questions.

Then Eleanor is served with an eviction notice and Balowski is fired from the NYPD. It becomes clear that something is rotten in the Big Apple and Eleanor is determined to get to the core of the mystery before the murderer strikes again…

Murder in Manhattan is a fun, fast-paced, and twisty Golden Age cozy mystery set in New York. Fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey, and Lee Strauss will be glued to the pages.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

I won’t tell ya some of the things I’ve heard over the years. Make your wig spin if I did.

Ogden was all mustard and no steak.

My Review:

 

Another lively, cleverly witty, and pleasantly amusing conundrum that the little pea in my brain was far from solving on its own. Lady Swift finds herself in serious peril more than once in this active and smartly paced adventure. I missed the involvement of her ever-patient policeman beau but the Lady has unwittingly assembled a rather surprising and diverse crew to pick up the slack, and she was in dire need of every one of them. Thankfully, Clifford, one of my favorite characters of all time, continued to be brilliant and always several steps ahead of everyone else.

About the Author

.
Verity Bright is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing partnership that has spanned a quarter of a century. Starting out writing high-end travel articles and books, they published everything from self-improvement to humor, before embarking on their first historical mystery. They are the authors of the fabulous Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery series, set in the 1920s.
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Book Review: One Hundred Desires (An Aspen Cove Romance Book 23) by Kelly Collins  @kcollinsauthor

 

One Hundred Desires
(An Aspen Cove Romance Book 23) 
by Kelly Collins

 

Amazon /   BB

 

She’s all work.

He’s all play.

Can they meet in the middle for love?

Vivian Armstrong has taken control of Vortex, her family’s security business, and she’s determined to prove her worth. She may be the youngest of seven and the only woman bodyguard on the team, but she’s every bit as tough as her older brothers. On a trip to Aspen Cove, she finds herself working for famous bass player Red Blakely, the personification of everything she detests in a man: arrogant, entitled, and too handsome for his own good. How can she protect him when all she wants to do is kill him?

Red is used to getting what he wants when he wants it. He likes his women here tonight and gone by morning. But when a fan becomes a fanatic, he finds himself in need of Vivian’s assistance. Forced to stay together, they discover an attraction they never expected, but can love really blossom between a workaholic and a playboy?

Welcome to Aspen Cove, the tiny Colorado town where fire and gasoline combine to create red-hot love…

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

All in black, you look like a cat burglar on a coffee break.

There’s more to life than one-night stands and an unlimited supply of penicillin from Doc,

The last real action she’d seen between the sheets was when she was on assignment in Australia and woke to find a snake in her bed.

“Why do they call coffee Joe?” Maisey set the pot on the table and touched her chin. “I have no idea. Since it’s a man’s name, I imagine he had to be bold and bitter.”

I’m not looking for a wedding just yet. Besides, my mom was not in the ‘why should he buy the cow if he gets the milk free’ camp. She always told me to try it before you buy it and make sure your bull is hung the way you like. Doesn’t matter how many cows he can milk if he doesn’t satisfy you.

My Review:

 

Yet another entertaining and engaging tale from Aspen Cove, I adore this series. I will never tire of these witty and quirky small-town residents. The storylines are always easy to follow, packed with humor, snarky banter, observant insights, and picturesque descriptions that have me wanting to hop on a plane and visit. Ms. Collins’s tales are so well depicted and familiar, I feel I know these people and could recognize them on the street without a formal introduction.

ABOUT KELLY COLLINS   

 

  Goodreads  / Website  / Amazon / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / Bookbub

International bestselling author of over 30 novels, Kelly Collins writes with the intention of keeping the love alive. Always a romantic, she blends real-life events with her vivid imagination to create characters and stories that lovers of contemporary romance, new adult, and romantic suspense will return to again and again.

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Book Review: Strictly For Now (The Salinger Brothers #3) by Carrie Elks  @CarrieElks

Strictly For Now
The Salinger Brothers #3
by Carrie Elks

 

 

Amazon / BB

 

She hates hockey. He hates everything else. And now they have to work together…

Falling flat on my back in a sweaty locker room isn’t how I planned to introduce myself to my grandpa’s hockey team. Especially when I’m there to turn the business around financially; something nobody else in the stadium seems to want.

But that’s how I first meet Eli Salinger, the team’s aggravatingly smooth player-turned-coach.

And from the moment I introduce myself to him, he makes it clear he doesn’t want me there.

It doesn’t take a genius to work out why. Eli’s only interested in one thing – turning the team into a winning side, no matter what it takes.

And he’s determined to fight every change I try to make.

What he doesn’t know is that I’ve never taken on a project that hasn’t succeeded. And I’m not about to let this be the first.

I don’t care if he’s grumpy and adorable in equal measure. Or that every time he looks at me it sends me all a flutter.

This is a game of wits. And there can be only one winner.

I’m determined it will be me.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

I’ve seen Isabella when she wants revenge. The day I picked her up from Danny Hart’s apartment, when everything between them imploded, she poked a hole in all of his condoms and soaked them in chili juice for an hour, before drying them all off and sliding them back into the box in the bathroom cabinet. I have no idea if he used them or not, but the thought of it makes me wince.

How is it that you can get everything you want and it still feels like you’re missing something?

My Review:

 

Another delectable treat from the talented pen of Carrie Elks. I have giggled and gasped through every missive of hers I’ve been lucky enough to pick up. She always seems to perfectly score that magical formula of humor, sass, steam, and amusing family drama that keeps me smirking and highly entertained.

Carrie Elks writes contemporary romance with a sizzling edge. Her first book, Fix You, has been translated into eight languages and made a surprise appearance on Big Brother in Brazil. Luckily for her, it wasn’t voted out. Carrie lives with her husband, two lovely children, and a larger-than-life black pug called Plato. When she isn’t writing or reading, she can be found baking, drinking an occasional (!) glass of wine, or chatting on social media.

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Book Review: The Murder Affair (A Beth Haldane Mystery #9) by Alice Castle @bookouture @AliceMCastle

The Murder Affair
A Beth Haldane Mystery #9
by Alice Castle

Amazon  / B&N  / BB

In a quiet little village, mourners gather for a church funeral. But some of the tears flowing are fake – and Beth Haldane suspects foul play…

On a rainy afternoon, Beth Haldane accompanies her elderly mother Wendy to the funeral of her boyfriend and local councillor Len . But as they gather in the church, Beth can’t help but notice how many women are there who look just like her mother.

As the service begins it soon becomes clear that all of the women thought they were Len’s special someone – and one of them even claims to be his distraught wife. Wendy suspects foul play and immediately asks Beth to investigate.

As Beth begins to speak to the women she has to ask, was one of Len’s many disgruntled girlfriends out for revenge? Why was Len borrowing money from the ladies he romanced? And why did his work for the local council seem so suspicious?

Then, Len’s secretary Bella is found dead amongst the dahlias in a planter. Beth starts to suspect Len was involved in something far more dangerous than she’d assumed but what did Bella know about his business that led to her unfortunate end?

With the village rumor mill in full swing, fingers start to point at Wendy. After all, distraught Wendy is telling everyone who lends her an ear that Len was murdered – and she saw Len the very evening he was found dead. The clock is ticking for Beth to clear her mother’s name before it’s too late!

A deliciously cozy and gripping murder mystery, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey, and The Thursday Murder Club .

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Beth’s relationship with her mother had never been an easy one. She didn’t want to judge Wendy too harshly, but she did sometimes wonder whether she had cooked her father to death, presenting him with huge fry-ups every morning and massive steamed puddings every night, until he succumbed to a heart attack far too early. What was more, the family diet changed radically the day after her father’s demise, and Wendy had been picking at muesli and salad ever since.

‘He promised me he wasn’t seeing anyone else. But I’m beginning to wonder if he wasn’t telling me an incy bit of a lie,’ quavered Wendy, holding the damp tissue up to her welling eyes… Judging by the number of disgruntled well-preserved women in widow’s weeds packing out the church, yes, Len had been telling a thumping great whopper.

‘What actually is polyamory?’ Beth was silent for a second, then plunged in. ‘I think it must just be the latest modern way of saying everyone’s sleeping around and monogamy’s for old farts.’

It took a lot to get the better of Belinda McKenzie. As Beth knew only too well. She’d been trying for years and never managed it. Julie-Ann was clearly a ninja-level practitioner of dark arts Beth could only dream of.

My Review:

 

I adore this amusing and cleverly penned series, the wily author has populated her tales with realistic and uniquely composed yet recognizable quirkiness, and combined that with the humorous observations and witty inner musings of the main character. Nina’s malapropism is rather brilliant.

I remain enamored with the pixie-booted Beth, she is far from perfect and haphazard about observing her work hours and attending to her own personal appearance yet tenacious in following her insatiable curiosity. I would enjoy knowing her in the real world but must settle with following her exploits on my Kindle.

About the Author

Before turning to crime, Alice Castle was a UK newspaper journalist for The Daily Express, The Times, and The Daily Telegraph. Alice is an avid reader of crime fiction, her favorite stories are cozy crimes with a strong sense of place. When she couldn’t find a series about her beloved south London, she decided to write her own – and single mum amateur sleuth Beth Haldane was born. Alice also writes twisty psychological thrillers for HQ Digital under the name A.M. Castle. The Perfect Widow was a top-selling audiobook in 2019 and The Invitation hit the top 50 on Amazon UK in 2021. Alice lives with her two children and two cats and, if she isn’t writing or reading a whodunit, she’ll be watching one on telly.

Alice is also a blogger and book reviewer via her website: https://www.alicecastleauthor.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AliceMCastle

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Book Review: The Problem With Pretending by Emma Hart @EmmaHartAuthor

 

 

The Problem With Pretending
by Emma Hart

Amazon  / BB

From New York Times bestselling author Emma Hart comes a swoony, hilarious rom-com about what happens when you find yourself snowed in at a Scottish castle… with only one bed to share with your aristocratic fake boyfriend…

Literally, colliding with the hottest guy in the world and agreeing to be his date to his sister’s wedding? Done… for some reason.
Finding out he’s actually an aristocrat and will one day inherit an ancient Scottish dukedom and castle? Yep, that’s a surprise.
Sharing a bed with him at said castle because his family thinks I’m his girlfriend? Okay, I’m sure I’ll survive. Even if he does make my heart pitter-patter and my lady bits— uh, never mind.
Dealing with his family feud, his bridezilla sister, and his grandma’s gobby cockatiel who fancies himself the castle alarm system? It’s… well, it’s… something.
Oh, and a snowstorm, keeping my real identity a secret, trying to figure out where the heck I know the Glenroch family from, and why his mum keeps looking at me weirdly?
Yeah, that I’ll need some help with…

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Amber slowly dragged her gaze from her phone screen to meet mine, and she was so stony-faced that if she stayed there much longer, she’d end up turning into a gargoyle and catapulting herself to live on the side of my father’s house.

“You’d be even more fabulous if you brought your mascara out of the spider-leg craze of two-thousand-and-seven, though.” She batted those spider-leg eyelashes at me. “I’m holding onto my youth.” “You’re seventy-six. I think your grip is slipping.”

“You’re not helping.” Grace prodded me in the shoulder. “Ah, see, you’ve mistaken me for someone who was trying to.”

When Granny heard it, she scoffed and said Gramps might have had her heart, but she also had a clitoris, and he was never very good at finding it. She had needs, and now he was dead, she could fulfil them without hurting his feelings.

“Granny,” Grace said. “There is no relationship.” “You say that, but you’re over here sucking his face like you’re in a desert and he’s the only cactus with any water around.”

“You wouldn’t buy a car without taking it for a test drive. I’m just test-driving potential boyfriends by taking them for a spin around the bedroom, that’s all.” I grinned. “A very effective way of weeding out the weak.”

My Review:

 

Picking up an Emma Hart book has become one of my favorite indulgences, her tales generally result in multiple instances of giggle-snorting during perusal. Her vividly drawn, vibrant, and quirky characters enamor, delight, and entertain me like no other and never fail to include razor-sharp banter, clever wit, and ridiculous discussions. I adored this couple and enjoyed their conundrums and navigation of each other as well as their complicated family issues.

 

About the Author

New York Times & USA Today bestselling author, Emma Hart, has written more than seventy romance novels in the last decade. She loves writing snarky, swoony romcoms with a side of chaos, occasionally venturing into romantic mysteries. Which are exactly the same as her romcoms, just with a dead body or two. That’s the reason for her questionable Internet history—at least that’s the story she’s sticking to.

She lives on a smallholding in North Wales with her husband and their two children, a clowder of very fluffy cats, one giant German Shepherd, and an undisclosed number of chickens and ducks. Don’t ask her to count them. She will not, thank you very much.

When she’s not writing or chasing ducks in her pajamas, you can find her creating cozy gaming content for her Youtube channel and live streaming on Twitch.

Find her online:

Amazon: https://emmahart.pub/books 

Youtube: https://emmahart.pub/youtube 

Twitch: https://emmahart.pub/twitch 

Facebook: https://emmahart.pub/Facebook 

Instagram: https://emmahart.pub/Instagram 

Tiktok: https://emmahart.pub/TikTok 

Twitter: https://emmahart.pub/Twitter 

Website: https://emmahart.pub/site 

 

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Book Review: Can’t Fight It (Lessons Learned #3) by Allie Winters @SmartyPantsRom

 

 Can’t Fight It
(Lessons Learned #3)
by Allie Winters

Amazon  / B&N / BB

Can’t Fight It, an all-new friends-to-lovers college romance from Allie Winters, is LIVE in Kindle Unlimited!

Mousy bookworm. Psychology nerd. The kind of girl who constantly sticks her foot in her mouth.

The last thing I am is the type to attract the intimidating, motorcycle-riding guy in the apartment next door. Especially when that mouth of mine gets me in trouble and he overhears me talk smack about him…

So no one’s more surprised than me when he shows up as a participant in the psych study I’m running on campus. Or when he generously offers me some much-needed self-defense lessons. Or when we grow closer than I thought possible. It turns out some people aren’t at all what they seem at first glance. They can actually be everything you never knew you wanted in a man.

The thing is, Austin Langford is so far out of my league, it’s laughable. Muscled boxers don’t go for nobodies like me. I need to forget about this one-sided attraction.

Even when it feels like I can’t fight it.

‘Can’t Fight It’ is a full-length contemporary romance and can be read as a standalone. Book #3 in the Lessons Learned series, Educated Romance World, Penny Reid Book Universe.

My Rating:

Favorite Quote:

 

She gives me a look like I’ve got about two working brain cells and one just gave out.

My Review:

 

I enjoyed this sweet and sexy romance, it was a slow burn until their chemistry sparked a volcanic eruption and they became a fire hazard. I adored this couple, a clever case of looks can be deceiving and never assume.

 

About the Author

Allie is the author of the Suncoast University series, the Bishop Brothers series, and the Lessons Learned series. She lives in sunny Florida with her husband, daughter, and two cats. A librarian by day, she spends her nights writing happily ever afters. She enjoys reading, playing video games, and all things Disney.

Find Allie Winters online

Website: http://bit.ly/357VYOr

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/389mnNO

Facebook: http://bit.ly/3b5KJdk

Instagram: https://bit.ly/3pOJNhB

Connect with Smartypants Romance

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Book Review: The Vinyl Frontier (Lessons Learned Book 4) by Lola West @romance_lola @SmartyPantsRom

The Vinyl Frontier
(Lessons Learned Book 4)
by Lola West

 

The Vinyl Frontier, all-new opposites attract college romance from USA Today bestselling author Lola West, is LIVE in Kindle Unlimited!

What happens when an uptight preppy frat boy sets his sights on a punk rock princess? #superherolevelchaos

Zack Worthington’s life is a carefully curated performance. Controlled by his politician father, he stands on his mark and recites his lines. There’s no room for deviation, no time for comic books, and no patience for obscure Trekkie facts. He’s all business, polished to a shine–the sparkling jewel in his father’s crown.

Then one night, Zack lays eyes on a girl he can’t unsee…

Open-minded, self-sufficient, Deaf drummer, Molly Mills is working hard to find her rhythm in a competitive college music program. She’s driven to prove herself to nearly everyone, even while living off of packaged noodles and thrift-store clothing.

Watching her alone on the dance floor, punky, free, and wild, Zack told himself that opposites attract was totally not a real thing. But a couple days later when he realizes he’s the teaching assistant in her research methodologies class, he can’t ignore his instincts. He has to know her.

Only Molly isn’t interested in his platitudes and superficial chit-chat.

Suddenly, all bets are off because this buttoned-up, rule-following rich guy actually wants to be more than meets the eye…

‘The Vinyl Frontier’ is a full-length contemporary romance and can be read as a standalone. Book #4 in the Lessons Learned series, Educated Romance World, Penny Reid Book Universe.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

She shook hands like she owned the earth. I envied the technique and shook hands with her any chance I got, trying to commit the feeling to memory.

This was not the kind of girl who stood next to you on the podium as you swore to uphold the law. This was the kind of girl who went with you to the county fair, screamed something profane from the top of the Ferris wheel, and licked the cotton candy off her fingers.

Sure, it might end in a blaze of heartbreak— but maybe every girl should date at least one totally inappropriate guy.

Thing was, I didn’t want dick pics. They weren’t sexy. Mostly they made me want to laugh. Penises, just hanging out without abs or heads, or personalities, looked kinda like the alien cousins of mole rats.

My Review:

 

I’m an old lady so I don’t often find myself reading New Adult stories, but since this is Smartypants I was all in. I am delighted to advise that this was an amusing, thoughtful, and perceptively written tale that informed of the differences between the non-hearing and hearing perspectives, and I loved that. I enjoyed the careful texturing and multi-layering of the characters as well as their snarky inner musings.

This was my introduction to the clever and insightful arrangements of words of Lola West, and I was an instant fan. I look forward to delving into more of her scribblings.

 

About the Author

Lola West writes short, sweet, smart, silly, sexy romances. With a Ph.D. in women’s studies and a flair for the dramatic, Lola likes to keep it real. Her loves are cotton candy, astronomy, kitten heels, and small-town hunks. Lola’s heroes make you swoon and her heroines talk back. Also, she believes that consent is always sexy, even in books.

You can learn more about Lola by visiting lolawestromance.com and find a FREE READ or you can find her hanging out all over the internet.

Find Lola online

Follow Lola on Instagram

Follow Lola on Facebook

Follow Lola on Goodreads

Follow Lola on Bookbub

Follow Lola on Tiktok

Hang with Lola in the private Facebook group: Sugary Sweet & Lots of Heat

Connect with Smartypants Romance

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

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

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

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Website: https://smartypantsromance.com/

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Book Review: Bear With Me Now by Katie Shepard @YTCShepard @BerkleyRomance

Bear With Me Now
by Katie Shepard

Amazon  / B&N / Apple / GP / BB

After being hospitalized for panic attacks two years after his mother’s death, charitable foundation executive Teagan van Zijl is dragged by his sister to a wilderness therapy retreat in Montana. Lost in the woods, Teagan nearly gets eaten by a bear but is saved by an angel in muddy hiking boots—the program’s handywoman, Darcy Albano, that is. After spending the summer with Darcy, Teagan realizes he doesn’t want to return to New York without her. He hires Darcy as his sober companion—a position he doesn’t actually need filled and for which Darcy is completely unqualified—hoping she can help him figure out how to move forward. But once they get to the city, all Teagan can think of is how to confess the truth while keeping her in his life.

Darcy Albano thought she was going to work as a wilderness guide when she was hired on the camp staff, but ended up a handywoman instead—only the latest screwing-over she’s endured since her ex stole her car and her parents ruined her credit score. But Teagan van Zijl is the silver lining she didn’t expect to appear—clearly going through something but willing to commit to Darcy’s unique brand of wilderness education as the cure for what ails him. They form an unlikely bond based on the unexpected support they provide each other. Darcy never imagined staying in the city, but with Teagan’s unshakeable belief in her abilities, anything seems possible.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

He had a dimple in his left cheek, and the lopsidedness of his mouth made it appear that he was holding half a smile in reserve rather than fully committing to the expression.

Teagan is not a horny mistake. I am not going to lay his pipe, even though I totally could, and that would probably fix all his substance abuse issues, add five years to his life, and show him the very face of God. No. I’m helping him. Therapeutically.

She should have said something, Darcy decided. Next time she’d make a scene. She didn’t really mind making a scene, and she sensed that the women at this event would consider it a tragedy if the entire evening passed and nobody made a scene. It might as well be Darcy.

So she twined her arms around his neck and turned her face up to his. “If this is talking, I can’t wait to see you argue,” she said.

You’re that first cup of coffee that gets me out of bed in the morning. You’re the song on my playlist for the drive home. You’re every good thing that I promise myself to get through the day.

My Review:

 

I enjoyed this tale, the characters were all of the total mess variety, yet authentically complicated while tickling my gray matter to know more about them. The storylines and writing style were lively and humorous with perceptive descriptions and situations that put vivid images behind my eyes and a frequent grin on my face.

 

I write love stories. I write about people whose jagged edges happen to match up with someone else’s. I write love stories because I wanted to make happy endings for people who are afraid they won’t get them.

I studied Soviet history and worked in human rights law before burning way, way out and achieving professional tranquility as a simple country bankruptcy lawyer. It’s just as exciting as it sounds!

I live in Texas with my husband, kids, and elderly rescue cat, but am often found hiking in the mountains of Montana or the virtual woods of Thedas.

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Book Review: Dough You Love Me? (Donner Bakery #2) by Stacy Travis

 

Dough You Love Me?
(Donner Bakery #2)
by Stacy Travis

Amazon  / B&N / BB

Dough You Love Me?, an all-new second chance small-town romance from Stacy Travis, is LIVE in Kindle Unlimited!

The first rule when returning to your hometown after storming out of sight is: don’t fall for the guy who broke your heart.

Julia Browne should know better than to kiss where she bakes. She’s built a bread empire in California, and only plans to stay in Green Valley long enough to sell the family house.

She certainly won’t spend any more time with Shane Meadows than she has to…and she will not let him draw her in with his soft blue eyes or level her with his handsome smirk of a grin.

The last thing she wants is a temporary gig at Donner Bakery, baking sourdough side-by-side with Shane and clashing with his ego. And he thinks the sassy baker should take her fancy bread and return where she came from.

But that’s before they take a series of wrong turns on a road trip to look at wheat, leaving them stranded for the night. Out on the open road, neither of them can escape the sizzling attraction and old feelings that feel a lot more real this time around.

But life is complicated, and Julia’s life in California might derail their second chance at love. Will they wake up and smell the sourdough?

They say you should leave the past in the past, but what if it’s the winning recipe for love?

‘Dough You Love Me?’ is a full-length contemporary romance, that can be read as a standalone, and is book #2 in the Donner Bakery series, Green Valley World, Penny Reid Book Universe.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

You sound like a rusty tin can rolling down a road full of potholes.

Combining misery with sweet tea didn’t seem fair to the tea.

I anticipated it with the enthusiasm of a painful dental procedure without anesthesia.

If there was an atom of my being that didn’t already find him to be the sexiest man I’d ever encountered, that voice split it in two like a nuclear bomb.

My Review:

 

Another adorable entry to the Smartypants Romance collection and my introduction to the clever scribblings of Stacy Travis – double win for me. I was well entertained, highly amused, and educated with a new word – symbrachydactyly. Make that a triple win for me.

I’m looking forward to more from this scribe.

 

About the Author

Stacy Travis writes charming, spicy romance about bookish, sassy women and the hot alphas who fall for them.

Writing makes her infinitely happy, but that might be the coffee talking.

She’s worked as a journalist, camp counselor, TV writer, SAT tutor, corporate finance researcher, education technology editor, and non-fiction author. When she’s not on a deadline, she’s in running shoes complaining that all roads seem to go uphill. Or on the couch with a margarita. Or fangirling at a soccer game.

She’s never met a dog she didn’t want to hug. And if you have no plans for Thanksgiving, she’ll probably invite you to dinner.

Stacy lives in Los Angeles with her very tall sons and a poorly-trained rescue dog who hoards socks. And she’s serious about the Thanksgiving thing.

Find Stacy online

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

Reader Group: https://bit.ly/2B1psS4fbgroup

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stacytravisauthor

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@stacytravisauthor

 

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Book Review: The Sickness by Britney King  @britneyking_

The Sickness 
by Britney King

 

 

Best-selling author Britney King returns with an adrenaline-fueled thriller about an unlikely array of characters and their heart-pounding plunge into the dizzying depths of madness.

March 2020: Stranded on a remote cruise ship as the pandemic ravages the world, 753 desperate passengers find themselves in a perilous situation. With no hope of docking in sight and dwindling supplies, each must fight their inner demons to survive. Among them are an eclectic mix of people—a father desperately searching for a way to save his daughter’s future, an artist running from a broken past, and a hacker looking to make one last score. But what they didn’t count on is the mysterious cult convention taking place on board.

With enough resources at stake to change or end lives, suspicion and fear quickly build. When bodies begin to drop, they question—is it the virus? Or is it one of them?

Don’t miss this spine-tingling psychological thriller that takes readers on a white-knuckle ride to uncover the truth and find out who—if any—will make it off the ship alive.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

I close my eyes for a moment and will the darkness to take me. I don’t want to die like this, but I don’t want to live this way either.

Once again, I am reminded that wealthy doesn’t mean intelligent. Quite the opposite, I assure you. The thing about rich people is that they must be wowed. They’ll do a lot of stupid things in search of something new, something different.

Stupidity seems to be contagious on this ship, and I decide I would rather not catch it.

As we continue our stealthy advance, I can’t help but reflect on the absurdity of our situation. Here we are, a motley group of passengers, armed with little more than kitchen utensils, attempting to overthrow a murderous cult on a luxury cruise liner. It would almost be hilarious if it weren’t so terrifying.

My Review:

 

Britney King is a wily one! I need a spa day and a vat of wine to recover from her latest missive. This story was intense, rather brutal, and filled with the prickliest of travel complications. Ms. King is such a crafty scribbler, she continued to ratchet up the tension until my shoulders were in my ears and my stomach was a boiling cauldron, yet I didn’t dare put my Kindle down as I didn’t want to leave the characters in such peril.

I was ensnared, enmeshed, and invested in their plight despite their slim chance at rescue. But she has ruined me for sailing. I may never take to the sea again, which is quite unfortunate as I live on a tropical island…

About the Author

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Britney King lives in Austin, Texas with her husband, children, two dogs, one ridiculous cat, and a partridge in a pear tree.
When she’s not wrangling the things mentioned above, she writes psychological, domestic, and romantic thrillers set in suburbia.
Without a doubt, connecting with readers is the best part of this gig. You can find Britney online here: 
To get more– grab two books for free, by subscribing to her mailing list at  bit.ly/britneykingweb
Happy reading.