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Book Review: Shelter Me (A Frazier Falls – Book 2) by Kelly Collins

Shelter Me
(A Frazier Falls – Book 2)
by Kelly Collins

 

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA 

 

She’s a city slicker. He’s a man married to small-town living. They are totally wrong for each other … or are they?
Emily Flanagan loves everything about the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles, especially her career. But when her mom suddenly takes ill, Emily has to put her life on hold and rush to Frazier Falls. The small town offers nothing she desires, and everything she loathes, especially the handsome but arrogant Eli Cooper. If she didn’t want to throttle him each time she saw him, he could be a nice distraction.When Eli Cooper first sees the beautiful stranger slip on the ice, he thinks he might have a chance to play Prince Charming to her Cinderella. But as soon as he offers assistance, he discovers she’s not the type who needs—nor wants—rescuing. Within minutes, Emily and Eli are fighting like warring nations. As far as he’s concerned, she can’t leave town soon enough.

They aren’t a perfect match, but it’s said that there’s a fine line between love and hate.
Can they have a ceasefire long enough to realize their true feelings for one another?

Kelly Collins brings her signature wit, wisdom, and warmth to yet another charming small-town series filled with hope, love, and happily ever after.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Most of the male population here are in diapers, both young and old.

 

“We all have secrets.”… “There’s a picture out there somewhere of me wearing a thong.” I laughed. “Women’s or men’s?” “Not sure. In all fairness, there was a lot of whiskey and a dare involved.”

 

Had I known taking you to a spa was all I needed to get you naked, I’d have suggested it the first time I saw you.

 

 My Review:

 

This was a quick and satisfying small-town romance between two people who had irritated and annoyed each other upon first blush. Emily was a tough cookie and more than a bit prickly so it took considerable effort to warm up to her, although I enjoyed her snarky observations and humor. She gave and received good banter with Eli, who was also blessed with the gift of snark although his heart and edges were considerably softer and he was vastly more comfortable in his own skin. I’m enjoying Ms. Collin’s quirky Frazier Falls community almost as much as her beloved Aspen Cove series, although I sense my feelings will soon equalize with more familiarity.

ABOUT KELLY COLLINS   

 

  Goodreads  / Website  / Amazon /

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: Crime and Periodicals (Green Valley Library #2) by Nora Everly

GVL02-BANNERBT-SBPR

Crime and Periodicals, an all-new sweet and swoony romance from Nora Everly, is available now!

 

20190718_GVL02_Crime and Periodicals_Everly_KDP_FINAL

Crime and Periodicals
(Green Valley Library #2)
by Nora Everly

Download your copy today or available in Kindle Unlimited!

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

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

Amazon Print: https://amzn.to/2kx29rb

 

In Green Valley, Tennessee everybody knows everybody, but nobody knows Sabrina Logan.

Sabrina has been hiding in plain sight for years. Living her life inside of books, dutifully helping her family, and hoping no one will notice her. So far? Mission accomplished!

Yet when sexy—and distrustful—sheriff, Wyatt Monroe returns to town with his daughters, he definitely notices the quiet librarian everyone else overlooks. The single dad can’t seem to shake thoughts of shy Sabrina. Without quite understanding the impulse, Wyatt makes his mission finding her again, so he can . . . well, he’ll just have to reckon with that later.

What Wyatt discovers is a woman who trusts too easily, but who’s afraid to live. Trust doesn’t come easily to Wyatt. But living? That’s never been a problem.

And he’d sure like to show her how.

‘Crime and Periodicals’ is a full-length contemporary romantic comedy, can be read as a standalone, and is book#2 in the Green Valley Library series, Green Valley World, Penny Reid Book Universe.

GVL02-LIVE

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

By now I was pretty sure that every time I looked directly at him my IQ lowered because I could not think of one stinking word to say to him. I opened my mouth anyway though, just in case the flirt fairy decided to bless me with a witty anecdote or some charming repartee. Nope. That was a big fat nothing coming out of my mouth.

 

I was beginning to develop suspicions that he was as nice as he was hot. And that made him just like a unicorn. A total keeper.

 

I made myself laugh at the jokes, but it came out nervous and I probably sounded insane. I took a step back and braced myself… I shoved my glasses up the bridge of my nose and looked around. I tried to do it surreptitiously. But I was sure I had crazy eyes.

 

I would drop dead of embarrassment. I would be the first documented case. People would study it, and then I would come back to life and drop dead again.

 

This apple had fallen so far from the tree it was on another planet in another galaxy in an alternate universe made up of nothing but future romance novel heroes.

 

I sat there, panting like I’d just run a six-minute mile. My head was filled with images of fireworks and stars, planets realigning in the universe, that enormous Harvest Moon illuminating us from up above like it was there just for us, and the feeling that everything in my life had shifted into place so I could be right here at this moment—exactly where I needed to be.

 

My Review:

 

I adored every word of this cleverly penned tale – it was a total delight from beginning to end and meshed seamlessly with the beloved yet highly peculiar community created by the ingenious Penny Reid. Written in my favorite dual POV and filled with endearingly flawed and heart-squeezing characters, Harry Potter references, breath-stealing insights, and highly amusing observations; Ms. Everly’s writing sparkled brighter than the glitter aisle at Hobby Lobby. I was as enamored and besotted with the fatally shy yet MAC red lippy wearing Sabrina as I was with the thoughtful, kind, and gentle giant hot dad Wyatt. I frequently barked with laughter, giggle-snorted, and gleefully savored every well-chosen word and mourned a bit when hitting that perfectly satisfying HEA as I am greedy and wanted more.

Excerpt

 

“Wow, he can dance,” I observed.

I gasped when Wyatt’s hand on my waist slid up my side then up the underside of my arm to take my hand from his shoulder and link our fingers together. It was just like in Dirty Dancing, except I was facing him instead of away like in the movie. His grin grew a little bit wicked right before he used both of my hands to turn me. His front was now at my back with our arms crossed in front of us.

I felt his warm, hard body behind mine and I felt…way too much. Tingles covered every square inch of me. The air felt different against my skin; I was burning up.

His chin dipped low to rest on my shoulder. “Are you okay?” he whispered into my ear. His breath ruffled the hair against my neck, and I shivered.

“Yes,” I whispered. Then I nodded in case he didn’t hear me. I felt his stubbled jaw graze the side of my face and I began to experience heretofore unknown feelings. My perception of what was possible for my life shifted. My brain had disengaged, and I floated along on pure sensation.

We rocked side to side like that—closer than I’d ever been to anyone in my life. His chest rose and fell against my back as his arms tightened around me and he sighed against my hair. The last of my conscious thoughts dissolved and I succumbed to pure feeling. His body moving against mine became my world. His hands in mine kept me tethered, lest I float away on this cloud of sensation that was gradually becoming overwhelming.

I had never felt anything like this. I never even thought feelings like this were possible in real life. In romance novels, sure. But to feel such contentment laced with giddiness right now was something I had not expected. Before I could succumb to the spreading tingles and dwindling brain power and embarrass myself, he raised our arms up high and twirled me around and around underneath them. I giggled and squealed. Apparently, I was that girl—a squealy, laughing, girly girl. But maybe we were all that girl in the right circumstance.

He was right. I did not need to know how to slow dance when I was with him. We danced close; so close his knee was between my legs. I delighted at the feel of his soft, warm skin when he placed one of my hands on the back of his neck. He moved his free hand low on my waist, hooking his thumb in my belt loop to guide me in slow, small circles over our spot on the dance floor, then back and forth using his hands to push me out and pull me back into his body. He coaxed me where I needed to go. I felt weightless and graceful.

The whole bar and everyone in it disappeared until it was just us dancing together, bathed in the moonlight filtering in through the high windows, and the little lights—so much like stars—illuminating the dance floor with their tiny rays. As the song ended, he spun me out and then back up against his body to dip me low with his arm wrapped tight around my waist. He grinned down at me with those gorgeous lips and beautiful chocolate brown eyes and I—I would never forget this moment—not ever.

About Nora Everly

Nora Everly is a lifelong bookworm. She started reading the good stuff once she grew tall enough to sneak the romance novels off the top of her mother’s bookshelf and it has been non-stop ever since.

Once upon a time she was a substitute teacher and an educational assistant. Now she’s a writer and stay at home mom to two small humans and one fat cat.

Nora lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family and her overactive imagination.

Connect with Nora Everly

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

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

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2kx2f21

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2kuLMeI

Website: https://www.noraeverly.com/

Connect with Smartypants Romance

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Website: https://smartypantsromance.com/

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Book Review: The Last Witch of North Berwick House by T.J. Podger

The Last Witch of North Berwick House
by T.J. Podger

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA

When Adrian Carter followed his wife, Agnes, to their dream home in North Berwick he had no idea it was to be the start of a truly terrifying journey.

Every old house has its folklore and stories so he was told. He hadn’t expected those stories to be true. As a horror writer, Adrian had a terrific imagination, but even he could not envisage what was to come.

Tracie Podger, a multi-genre author, wrote this ghostly tale initially as part of an anthology. But she just couldn’t keep it short enough so released The Last Witch as a novella.

Witches and ghosts, dunking stools, and old houses combine in this entertaining tale of the goings-on at North Berwick House. 

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quote:

 

Adrian had discovered that back in King James VI’s day, North Berwick had been the site of one of the countries largest witch hunts. Somewhere between seventy and two hundred witches had been executed. That figure had astounded him. He was amazed there was that many residents back in the fifteen hundreds, let alone witches.

 

My Review:

 

I don’t often read this genre but I made an exception for one of my favorite authors who had the notion to dabble with something new. This novella was expertly paced and had me transfixed to my Kindle while the creepiness factor steadily ratcheted up. I was squirming, and for good measure, not only was it creepy but given Tracie Podger’s skillful handling, it was hot as hell. Oh my, clutch the pearls! My brain and my gusset were both on fire.

 

About the Author

 

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: Meet Me On Love Lane (Hopeless Romantics #2) by Nina Bocci

Meet Me On Love Lane
(Hopeless Romantics #2)
by Nina Bocci

Amazon US / UK / CA / AU 

B&N / BAM 

Paperback: 304 pages

Publisher: Gallery Books (December 10, 2019)

From the USA TODAY bestselling author of On the Corner of Love and Hate comes a romantic comedy about a woman who grudgingly returns home to small-town Pennsylvania, only to find herself falling in love—not only with the town, but with two of its citizens. 

Charlotte Bishop is out of options in New York City. Fired, broke, and blacklisted by her former boss, she’s forced to return to her hometown of Hope Lake, PA to lick her wounds. Although she’s expecting to find a miserable place with nothing to do, she is pleasantly surprised to discover it is bustling and thriving.

She’s only supposed to be in Hope Lake temporarily until she can earn enough money to move back to New York. She’s not supposed to reconnect with her childhood friends or her beloved grandmother. She’s not supposed to find her dream job running the local florist shop. And she’s definitely not supposed to fall for not one but two of Hope Lake’s golden boys: one the beloved high school English teacher, the other the charming town doctor.

With a heart torn between two men and two cities, what’s a girl to do?

A perfect blend of humor and heart, Meet Me on Love Lane is the second in a new series from USA TODAY bestselling author Nina Bocci that is sure to charm fans of Josie Silver and Sally Thorne.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Staring down at him, I could see that he was very well-built, clearly a runner, but I knew he must do more than that. Football? Was there a sport where you needed to be even beefier than that? Something where you tore trees from their roots and tossed them?

 

His shorts hit a spot on his leg that highlighted calves that looked like he had sewn a softball into each. I admired him for a beat. On a scale of one to ten, what were the chances of hooking up with a guy after you’ve hit him in the business? Probably slim to none, with slim out of town.

 

“I’m so happy to see you again. I heard you were here and baked cookies for you! Just like I used to do when you were little,” she explained. I looked down at her empty hands, confused. “Oh, I ate them. And then my dog, Whiskey, well, he got the rest. I’ll make more tomorrow.”

 

I get these brief flashes, but it’s like my brain won’t let the memory train fully back into the station…

 

I’ll have you know I’m like Santa. I always make my list and check it twice.

 

My Review:

 

In continuing my total infatuation with the gifted wordsmith Nina Bocci I gleefully picked up and perused Meet Me on Love Lane, which only further convinced me that I must amass and read all of her clever arrangements of words. All. Of. Them. I adore her endearingly flawed characters, snappy banter, snarky humor, and sassy wit. Her writing style was velvety smooth, unfailingly engaging, hit all the senses, and was so effortless to read it felt as if I were watching a movie. Somewhere on the first page, I was off like Dorothy to OZ, having been instantly sucked into a whirlwind vortex, and, honestly, I was enjoying myself so much I was unwilling to pull myself back out and only did so under duress – while deeply resenting the interruption.   Nina Bocci has a rabid fangirl on her hands, and I have a new favorite author.

 

About the Author

Nina Bocci is a USA TODAY bestselling novelist who loves reading and writing about swoony, relatable heroes and smart, witty heroines. If it’s set in a small town, even better. You can always find her chatting on social media about her massive, crazy Italian family, and her favorite person in the world, her son.

Connect with Nina

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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Book Review: On the Corner of Love and Hate (Hopeless Romantics #1) by Nina Bocci 

On the Corner of Love and Hate
(Hopeless Romantics #1)
by Nina Bocci 

Amazon US / UK / CA / AU 

B&N / BAM

For fans of Christina Lauren and Lauren Layne comes a delightfully sassy and sexy romance about a campaign manager who reluctantly works with the local Lothario to help revamp his image for the upcoming mayoral elections, only to discover that he’s hiding something that can turn both their lives upside down.

What’s a campaign manager’s worst nightmare? A smooth-talking charmer who’s never met a scandal that he didn’t like.

When Emmanuelle Peroni’s father—and mayor of her town—asks her to help rehab Cooper Endicott’s image, she’s horrified. Cooper drives her crazy in every way possible. But he’s also her father’s protégé, and she can’t say no to him without him finding out the reason why: Cooper and her have a messy past. So Emmanuelle reluctantly launches her father’s grand plan to get this Casanova someone to settle down with and help him lose his lothario reputation.

Cooper Endicott wanted to run for Mayor, but he never wanted the drama that went with it. Now that he’s on the political hamster wheel, the other candidates are digging up everything from his past. Even though he’s doing all the right things, his colorful love life is the sticking point for many of the conservative voters. He wants to win, badly, and he knows that if he wants any chance of getting a vote from the female population, he needs to change his image. The only problem? He might just be falling in love with the one person he promised not to pursue: the Mayor’s off-limits daughter.

A perfect blend of humor and heart, On the Corner of Love and Hate is the first in a new series from USA TODAY bestselling author Nina Bocci.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Dating is like shopping the clearance racks: you sift through a lot of pretty yet questionable items in the hope of lucking out and finding that one perfect outfit. The same could be said about the men I’d been with lately.

 

EMMA THOUGHT: For a hopeless romantic, you’re awfully hopeless.

 

Anytime I was alone with him, which was why I actively avoided it, I was transported back to that eleven-year-old girl who realized that the belly flutters she got when he walked in wasn’t a lactose allergy but her first full-blown crush. At twenty-eight, those feelings didn’t remain, but the reminder of what they felt like did.

 

Kirby Rogers reminded me of how movies in the seventies depicted used-car salesmen: swarmy, cocky, and dressed in a suit that was too big, as if he were trying to fill the loose fabric with fake confidence. Plus he had a ridiculous comb-over that you could probably spot from space.

 

Henry was one of those guys men wanted to try to arm wrestle and women just straight-up wanted, but he was content with being everyone’s friend.

 

I saw the girlfriend with him the other night at dinner— that girl can freeze ice on her backside. Why is she so serious?

 

My Review:

 

This was wicked funny I fell right into this observantly amusing and insightfully written tale which was shot through with clever wit and snarky levity. I loved it, adored it, reveled in it, smirked my way through it, and am now totally enamored with the talented Nina Bocci.

About the Author

Nina Bocci is a USA TODAY bestselling novelist who loves reading and writing about swoony, relatable heroes and smart, witty heroines. If it’s set in a small town, even better. You can always find her chatting on social media about her massive, crazy Italian family, and her favorite person in the world, her son.

 

Connect with Nina

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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Book Review: An Unexpected Gift (Insta-Spark Collection #4) by Melanie Moreland

An Unexpected Gift
(Insta-Spark Collection #4)
by Melanie Moreland

Now Available exclusively on Amazon for only 99 cents

#Free to Read on Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2pNxed5

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/UnexpectedGR

BookBub: http://bit.ly/UnexpectedGiftBB

GPS Failure? CHECK

No gloves, No boots? CHECK

Car malfunctions? CHECK

It appears that Santa’s elves may have a detour planned for Evan’s holiday. What he didn’t

count on Christmas delivering was An Unexpected Gift.

An unplanned journey

A change of direction

The meeting of two lost hearts

When Evan Brooks sets out to repair his fractured relationship with his family, a broken-down

car and an unplanned detour lead him to Holly Cole.

Her eyes captivate him.

Her words comfort him.

Her heart warms him.

Is she the unexpected gift he’s longed for?

Is this just a detour, or the road to happiness?

Find out in this heartwarming Christmas story.

 

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

“Your taste in strays is excellent.”

“You’re not odd. You’re Evan. You’re perfect.” Her words were like a small shock running through my system.

My Review:

 

This was a quick, sweet, easy to fall into, and sexy read that left my heart feeling light and satisfied. The main characters were lovably endearing and sweet enough to cause dental issues. I adored them as much as their supportive and passionate romance. Evan was a treasure.   Sigh, we all want a besotted and thoughtful husband like Evan, although admittedly, most of us don’t deserve one quite so devoted.

 

An Unexpected Gift is part of the Insta-Spark Collection!

What is Insta-Spark?

When you want a bit of naughty along with the nice.

Insta-Spark collection from Melanie Moreland are complete standalone reads with one thing in

common – lots of sweetness and a guaranteed HEA. Instant attraction, little angst – love and

happiness abounds in this series.

An Instant Connection #3: mybook.to/AnInstantConnection

Christmas Sugar Insta-Spark #2: http://mybook.to/CSrAmz

It Started With A Kiss Insta-Spark

#1: getBook.at/ItStartedWithAKiss

Available #Free to read on #KindleUnlimited

About the Author

New York Times/USA Today bestselling author Melanie Moreland, lives a happy and content life in a quiet area of Ontario with her beloved husband of twenty-seven-plus years and their rescue cat, Amber. Nothing means more to her than her friends and family, and she cherishes every moment spent with them. 
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While seriously addicted to coffee, and highly challenged with all things computer-related and technical, she relishes baking, cooking, and trying new recipes for people to sample. She loves to throw dinner parties, and also enjoys traveling, here and abroad, but finds coming home is always the best part of any trip. 
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Melanie loves stories, especially paired with a good wine, and enjoys skydiving (free-falling over a fleck of dust) extreme snowboarding (falling down stairs) and piloting her own helicopter (tripping over her own feet.) She’s learned happily ever afters, even bumpy ones, are all in how you tell the story.
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Melanie is represented by Flavia Viotti at Bookcase Literary Agency. For any questions regarding subsidiary or translation rights please contact her at flavia@bookcaseagency.com
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Book Review: Time After Time (Give Me Shelter #3) by Josie Kerr 

Time After Time
(Give Me Shelter #3)
by Josie Kerr 

Amazon US / UK / CA / AU 

Christine Dearborn met her soulmate in high school. They eloped shortly before he went to boot camp, allowing her to escape from her austere, loveless childhood home. But being a military wife came with its own challenges, and Christine fought her own enemies at home even as her beloved battled adversaries overseas.

William Cashton had always been a guardian. When he was eighteen, he promised to protect his wife and his country. Fighting a foreign enemy turned out to be the easy part, and the war at home has more devastating casualties than Cash ever imagined.

Five years after she let Cash walk away, Christine gets a phone call that changes everything. Can Christine convince Cash to try to salvage their marriage, or will their emotional wounds be fatal?

My Rating:

Favorite Quote:

 

I’ve come to believe that fate has a way of introducing us to things we don’t know we need until they’re in our lives.

 

My Review:

 

Getting through the holidays isn’t easy for everyone and can stir up and/or wring out the regrets for some, which can either result in completely ruining the holidays and further embittering the combatants, or being the impetus for real change. The first half of this tale was a rather tense and angsty read that was heavy on regrets while the characters were each quietly hopeful for clearing the air. I held my breath for this stubborn middle-aged couple, as they had successfully avoided all communication for five years after each had sullenly taken to their different corners of the country and licked their wounds while living in an odd form of marital limbo. The characters of Cash and Christine were endearingly flawed and near ruined with grief and contrition, yet still accessible; they prickled my curiosity to know all their secrets. I appreciated the realistic imperfections of these characters, they were well fleshed out and knowable to me while their reasoning and insights resonated as ringing true with their gained maturity.   The writing was emotive and heart-squeezing with welcome bites of humor while the couple worked through their issues and ultimately reinforced their foundation and reestablished their commitment while scorching the sheets and singing the ceiling tiles.

 


Josie Kerr   

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Josie Kerr is a transplanted West Texan living on the edge of semi-profoundly rural Georgia, a.k.a. the southernmost edge of the northernmost county in Metro Atlanta.

She has an M.Ed. in Secondary English Education but discovered that she hated high school more the second time than she did the first, so she decided to meld her love of technology with her education background and became an Instructional Designer. When not writing articles about how to fire someone without getting sued or why you should really not apply for jobs using your SexxyStud99@aol.com email address, she writes steamy romance novels that feature grown-up Heroes and Heroines.

 

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Book Review: One Christmas Eve (Cedar Street #2) by Shannon Stacey 

One Christmas Eve

(Cedar Street #2)

by Shannon Stacey

 

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA /

B&N / Apple / Kobo / Google

 

They couldn’t be more different. Or more perfect for each other.

New York Times bestselling author Shannon Stacey returns with a warm and cozy opposites-attract Christmas story.

Zoe Randall is busy living her life as she damn well pleases. She’s back in her favorite town, her divorce in her rearview mirror, and living out her childhood dream of running a bookstore with her cousin. She has no interest in the uptight nerd who opened his boring-ass business next to her shop…until he complains about one of her sexy window displays.

Then it’s game on.

Preston Wheeler knows he takes life a little too seriously. But when the saucy bookseller next door starts pushing his buttons, he can feel that changing. Beautiful, vivacious Zoe challenges him in all the best ways, and soon he’s pushing her buttons right back: teasing and flirting all the way through the holiday season.

As Preston loosens up and Zoe is treated to the man behind the suit (particularly his forearms), she realizes she’s more interested than she cares to admit. And Preston comes to see the beauty—the absolute delight—in adding Zoe’s bright splashes of color to his once very black-and-white existence.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Disapproval. Zoe knew that look. She’d divorced the man she’d thought she was going to spend the rest of her life with— a man who’d claimed to love and cherish her— because of that look, so she wasn’t about to accept it from a total stranger. Arching one eyebrow, she gave him her best bitch face.   And not the resting kind, either. Hers was a fully active bitch face.

 

“Just… be neighborly.” “Oh, should I run home and bake him a pie first?” “I’ve had your pie and I’m going to vote no.”

 

 My Review:

 

This was my first experience reading Shannon Stacey and I’m not sure what took so long for her to ping my radar, as she seems to have been quite busy with a veritable library of books listed under her name. I plan to make amends to the talented Ms. Stacey for my slacking as I enjoyed her easy-breezy writing style, snarky humor, and wily wit. I picked a nice place to start with this light, small-town, holiday romance with opposite attraction. The characters were endearingly quirky and likable while the story held my interest, was easy to follow, and developed at a good pace with tasty bites of steam, levity, and a sweet HEA for all involved.

About the Author

Amazon
Goodreads
Website

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New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shannon Stacey lives with her husband and two sons in New England, where her favorite activities are writing romance and really random tweets when she’s not riding her ATV. She loves mud, books, football & watching way too much TV.

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Book Review, Giveaway: Bluebell’s Christmas Magic by Marie Laval

Bluebell’s Christmas Magic

by Marie Laval

 

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA / B&N

A gorgeous new Christmas story from the author of best selling novel Little Pink Taxi


A flick of a feather duster and a sprinkle of Christmas magic …
Cassie Bell is used to mess. Her cleaning business, Bluebell Cleaning, is well known in the Cumbrian village of Red Moss. However, now it’s almost Christmas and Cassie has a slightly messier situation to deal with than she’s used to.

She’s been hired to help Stefan Lambert, an injured army helicopter pilot who’s staying at the local Belthorn Manor whilst he recovers. Stefan resents Cassie’s interference and is definitely not looking for Christmas cheer. But Cassie prides herself on sparkling surfaces – so, can she bring some festive sparkle to Stefan’s life too?

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Before she could move out of the way, Piers bent down, slid his arm around her waist and kissed her cheek, dangerously close to her mouth. His lips were warm and moist, and she tried to repress a gasp as she caught the whiff of beer, musky aftershave and sweaty socks that always seemed to cling to him.

 

‘We’re getting too old for dealing with overexcited children all day,’ her granddad replied. ‘Last time I dressed up as Santa… and I’m not even mentioning the fake beard that gave me a rash for days afterwards.’ ‘I fell asleep in the grotto and my snoring scared the children away,’ David Fern added, laughing.

 

‘Do you know what charms my husband gave me to thank me for the hard time I had giving birth to his three sons?’ Tim’s cheekbones flushed bright red. ‘It was a joke, Rachel…and I’m a farmer after all.’ Oblivious, Rachel carried on, ‘He bought me a sheep, a tractor and a cow! If he thinks that’s an incentive for me to produce baby number four, he is seriously mistaken.’

 

The shop and restaurant were boarded up, and padlocks and chains hung from the doors to the shower blocks and launderette. There was no sign of life in the office either. All that was needed to complete the desolate décor was tumbleweed blowing about and whining harmonica of a Spaghetti Western soundtrack.

 

My Review:

 

I was again enamored with Marie Laval’s breezy yet absorbing writing style and creative and amusingly descriptive storytelling. Her latest delightful tale kept me well entertained and had a bit of everything; an injured helicopter pilot with PTSD nightmares staying in the manor of the absent yet wealthiest family, a comedy competition, elder abuse, holiday festivities, a sudden rash of crime in the previously safe village, family issues, a blossoming romance, sexual harassment in the workplace, ghost sightings, and a century-old mystery to solve. I adored the main characters, especially the sweet and naïve Bluebell house cleaner Cassie, who took excellent care of her clients well beyond their cleaning needs and may well have used a bit of fairy magic during her dusting. The fairy riding a feather duster painted on the side of her van brought a smile to my face every time it was mentioned, and her clever grandfather was a treasure.

About the Author

Originally from Lyon in France, Marie now lives in Lancashire with her family. She works full-time as a modern language teacher and in her spare time, she loves writing romance and dreaming about romantic heroes. She writes both historical and contemporary romance and best-selling Little Pink Taxi was her debut romantic comedy novel with Choc Lit. She belongs to Authors on the Edge and writes short stories for the best selling Miss Moonshine’s anthologies. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and the Society of Authors. Her native France, as well as her passion for history and research, very much influences her writing, and all her novels have what she likes to call ‘a French twist’!

Social Media Links –

https://www.facebook.com/marielavalauthor/

https://twitter.com/marielaval1

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Book Review: The Kill Club by Wendy Heard

 The Kill Club
by Wendy Heard

 

 

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA 

Fiction / Thrillers / Psychological 

368 pages

A haunting thriller about a woman who attempts to save her brother’s life by making a dangerous pact with a network of vigilantes who’ve been hunting down the predators of Los Angeles.

Jazz can’t let her younger brother die.Their foster mother Carol has always been fanatical, but with Jazz grown up and out of the house, Carol takes a dangerous turn that threatens thirteen-year-old Joaquin’s life. Over and over, child services fails to intervene, and Joaquin is running out of time.

Then Jazz gets a blocked call from someone offering a solution. There are others like her, people the law has failed. They’ve formed an underground network of “helpers,” each agreeing to murder the abuser of another. They’re taking back their power and leaving a trail of bodies throughout Los Angeles—dubbed the Blackbird Killings. If Jazz joins them, they’ll take care of Carol for good.

All she has to do is kill a stranger.

Jazz soon learns there’s more to fear than getting caught carrying out her assignment. The leader of the club has a zero-tolerance policy for mistakes.

And the punishment for disobeying orders is death.

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My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

“Okay,” I say, and in that one word is contained an ocean of acceptance. This is where I am. This is what I’m doing.

I think about what the reporter said, that the people who have been killed have had records of stalking, domestic violence. It actually sounds like the voice on the phone is who they say they are. They invented a serial killer. The police are searching LA for a murderer that doesn’t exist.

I don’t know how I feel about this, morally. Is it bad to kill someone like Carol? Does she deserve the death sentence? Do I have any feelings about her being dead? … I remember the guy I saw die at Villains. I heard him scream. It’s definitely not painless. But then I remember Carol with her baseball bat crunching through my bones like glass, and I think, Good.

How is she so put-together at six in the morning? When I work early shifts at Trader Joe’s, I look like an orphan in a Christmas movie.

 

My Review:

 

This book was devilishly clever and fiendishly addictive, I was taut with tension and unable to put my Kindle down without deeply resenting the intrusion to my reading. The main character of Jasmine was deeply flawed and horribly unlucky, and though well-intentioned she was a total screw up in every arena. I cringed for her while simultaneously wanting to give her a smack to the back of the head. The storylines were highly active, heartbreaking, twisted, brutal, gripping, and fraught with tension with unexpected and greatly welcomed glints of snarky levity and sharply edged wit. This was my first exposure to the cunning storytelling of Wendy Heard and I was an instant fangirl, I greedily want to amass all her clever words.

About the Author

Facebook: @wendydheard

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Wendy Heard, author of Hunting Annabelle, was born in San Francisco and has lived most of her life in Los Angeles. When not writing, she can be found hiking the Griffith Park trails, taking the Metro and then questioning this decision, and haunting local bookstores.