Book Review: A Forgiven Friend (Friends #3) by Sue Featherstone

 A Forgiven Friend

(Friends #3)

by Sue Featherstone

 

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA / B&N

A Forgiven Friend: Lies, Loss, and Love, But Always Friendship

Friendship will always come first.

There’s only one way out from rock bottom and that’s up, and Teri Meyer is finally crawling out from the worst time of her life – no thanks to her best friend Lee. But no matter, she’s finally found love – real love with a real man, a successful man, a man who accepts all her flaws. Teri’s never felt like this before, and yet it’s changing her in ways she doesn’t understand.

And there’s only one person who can help, one person who truly understands Teri.

It seems that no matter how hard Lee Harper tries, there’s a battle awaiting her at every turn these days, and she’s tired. And as if she needs the extra stress, Teri continues to create constant and unnecessary drama. But Lee’s the only one who really knows what’s going on under Teri’s hard, convoluted exterior, and that’s why she’s always been there for her.

But the question is: will Teri be there when Lee needs her most?

The brilliant and entertaining final book in the unique FRIENDS trilogy dishes out another dose of rib-tickling mayhem for our favorite thirty-something professional women.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Good Lord! Where were the toilets? Ms Kostanechi had gestured towards the shrubbery at the bottom of the garden. ‘We have the very latest in sustainable lavatory technology.’ What did that mean? A hole in the ground and a handful of moss, in place of a roll of aloe vera toilet paper?

 

She’d been as co-operative as a chattering of four-year-olds with earthworms in their knickers.

 

‘You’ve done what?’ Dogs three streets away howled in anguish, Connie-behind-the-Portly & Groops-counter dropped the tray of coffee cups she was carrying, and a toddler, who’d been struggling to climb out of his highchair, slid back into his seat and buried his face in his hands. Teri blinked… ‘Why? Why?’ I’d lowered my voice, largely because the huge lump in my throat was making it difficult to speak.

 

I’m not really into food where the steak is so lightly cooked there’s a good chance it’ll leap off the plate and start chewing the cud.

 

… those flirtingly sparkly blue eyes and heart-shaped ruby lips belie one of nature’s meanest gossips. She works on the basis that if a rumour has even a smidgen of truth in it, it’s worth spreading around the whole university on the basis that it’s bound to come true by the time it’s finished its travels… ‘Well, don’t you think it’s exciting?’ she chirruped, leaning in slightly and glancing into the back of my car in the hope there might be something incriminating there – like a naked man whose wrists were tied perhaps.

 

‘But, what about the age gap?’ She waved an elegantly painted finger. ‘Oh, age is just a number.’ ‘But aren’t there rather a lot of numbers between you?’

 

My Review:

 

While almost all of the characters in this book were personalities I would avoid on pain of death and would definitely not enjoy personally sharing air with as they were deeply flawed and rather abhorrent, I smirked and barked my way through this witty and snarky tale. So much so, that I plan to read the two earlier books in the series. The writing was stellar and packed with highly amusing observations and rib-tickling descriptions that pulled sharp visuals to mind. I cringed and groaned at some of the awful things that Teri said and did, but I also couldn’t wait to see what happened next.

 

The character of Teri was the most loathsome to me as she was a thoughtless loose cannon and an obnoxious, red Louboutin shod drama-queen. She was basically a self-involved diva who couldn’t see or concern herself with anything beyond her own nose. She was selfish, impetuous, demanding, petty, lazy, gorgeous, insecure, and a honey trap for men. I couldn’t imagine why the stodgy academician, Lee, remained her friend. Teri thoughtlessly blundered on creating huge scenes and life-altering messes and Lee would seethe and grind her teeth, but eventually, she would sigh and forgive her. I must confess to never being that kind or patient towards anyone – friend or family.   When someone screws me over – I make sure they aren’t able to do it more than once, and the earth beneath them is usually scorched!

 

I gained a treasure trove of new additions for my Brit Words and Phrases List with make a decent fist – make a worthy effort; lolloped – moving in an ungainly or awkward manner; and the multi-tasker of pipped which has several meanings such as – shoot with a gun, drunk, insult, molest, or defeat by a narrow margin; and twonk – which is Victorian slang for a stupid or foolish person, and although it may no longer be in use today, it is still fun to say.

 

About the Authors

Sue Featherstone and Susan Pape

Sue Featherstone and Susan Pape are both former newspaper journalists with extensive experience of working for national and regional papers and magazines, and in public relations.

More recently they have worked in higher education, teaching journalism – Sue at Sheffield Hallam and Susan at Leeds Trinity University.

The pair, who have been friends for almost 30 years, wrote two successful journalism textbooks together – Newspaper Journalism: A Practical Introduction and Feature Writing: A Practical Introduction (both published by Sage), before deciding to turn their hands to fiction.

The first novel in their Friends series, A Falling Friend, was released in 2016. A Forsaken Friend followed two years later, and the final book in the trilogy, A Forgiven Friend, published on November 19.

Sue, who is married with two grown-up daughters, and the most ‘gorgeous granddaughter in the whole world’, loves reading, writing and Nordic walking in the beautiful countryside near her Yorkshire home.

Susan is married and lives in a village near Leeds, and, when not writing, loves walking and cycling in the Yorkshire Dales. She is also a member of a local ukulele orchestra.

They blog about books at https://bookloversbooklist.com/

Follow them on Twitter: @SueF_Writer and @wordfocus

 

Book Review, Giveaway: It’s Not PMS, It’s You by Rich Amooi

It’s Not PMS, It’s You

by Rich Amooi

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA 

 

Ruth “Ruthless” Harper is on the verge of becoming managing partner at her all-male consulting firm and she won’t let anything stand in her way. That includes men, relationships, and that dreaded F word, FEELINGS—distractions she eliminated long ago.

After the worst day ever (a near-death experience and a public wedgie, for starters), Ruth realizes she doesn’t want to live and die alone. She puts together a business plan to find the perfect man and dives headfirst into the murky online dating pool. All she wants is a high-powered executive who understands how important her career is. If only it were that easy.

Problem is most men are intimidated by Ruth’s confidence and shocked by her bluntness. The exception being her landscape designer, Nick, whose cool demeanor and unsolicited dating advice are driving her nuts. He’s the antithesis of the business-oriented man Ruth envisions for herself, so why do all signs keep pointing back to him?

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

…like me, she wouldn’t take crap from male colleagues who thought they could do or say whatever they wanted just because they were packing two olives and a cocktail weenie in their shorts.

 

Stewart was right next to him, a cocky grin on his face like he had just found out his penis was two inches long instead of one.

 

Run, you fool! There’s a chance you are going to be killed! Never call a woman wedgie girl!

 

There are certain things that women ask men that are problematic and have to be dealt with properly and delicately. Some are legitimate questions. Some are tricks. To this day, most men haven’t figured out which is which. It’s like playing a game of Russian Roulette when answering, only there is a bullet in every chamber.

 

“I own a bagel shop. I told you I made a lot of dough. Ha!” He laughed and slapped the table, causing the trout on his plate to go airborne for a brief second.

 

Wait, you sell toilets and your last name is Butts? That is classic. Do you mind if I keep the card? I want to show my friends. Good thing for you that your parents didn’t name you Harry or Seymour.

 

Could you see yourself with the last name of Butts? … Ruth Butts. It kind of has a nice ring to it. Can I get you anything else, Mrs. Butts? Butts, party of two! At your wedding, the guests will say, ‘Wow, I’ve never seen so many Butts in one place!’

 

I could see my first date approaching me and my BS detector was already pegging in the red. It was the way he walked. Was he going for a swagger like Mick Jagger or a drunk pimp limp? It was kind of a mix of the two. Or maybe he had an injured leg or a bad case of hemorrhoids.

 

 My Review:

 

Rich Amooi is my go-to guy for a pleasurable, witty, and delightfully amusing rom/com. His stories are refreshingly light on conflict and a tonic for my beleaguered brain between intense thrillers and heartrending dramas. Not to say his tales are mindless fluff as his likable characters have considerable substance and are typically working through real-world issues while gathering insights and experiencing hard-won epiphanies, just in a more comical manner than most. I adore his humorous observations, easy to follow writing style, engaging storylines, and a unique sense of levity that injects a much-needed sense of buoyancy to my spirits and reading rotation. This is why his name is listed in ink, having earned a permanent slot on my list of favorites.

About the Author

Amazon  / Twitter
Goodreads / Facebook
Website

Rich Amooi is a former radio personality and DJ who now writes romantic comedies full-time in San Diego, California. He is happily married to a kiss monster imported from Spain. Rich believes in public displays of affection, silliness, infinite possibilities, donuts, gratitude, laughter, and happily ever after.

Giveaway

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Book Review: The Mother I Could Have Been by Kerry Fisher

The Mother I Could Have Been

by Kerry Fisher

 

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA / 

B&N / Kobo / Apple / GP

 

Why would you walk away from the one person you can’t live without?

As a child, Vicky Hall never had the sort of family she wanted. The least important person in her new step-family, ignored by her mother in favor of her two younger half-siblings, Vicky was always an afterthought. Sitting alone at her graduation ceremony at the age of twenty-one, she vows to create her own family and her own life, one which is full of the love and attention she has always craved.

When Vicky meets William and falls pregnant in Greece that summer, it isn’t planned. But the two of them believe they can make it work, showering their child with the love which they believe should be enough.

But when her son Theo is two, Vicky leaves him in the care of her mother-in-law, walks out of her front door and drives to a hotel where she takes a room for the night. She doesn’t return.

It’s unthinkable.

What kind of mother does that?

The kind who is hiding a story you can never imagine.

The Mother I Could Have Been is a heartbreaking story of impossible decisions and second chances, from the bestselling author of The Silent Wife and The Woman I Was Before. Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Liane Moriarty and Diane Chamberlain.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

I couldn’t resist Rowan. He was my favourite by far because he was innately naughty. He hadn’t yet mastered the art of throwing a bomb and not being anywhere in the vicinity when it went off. I adored him.

 

I sometimes couldn’t believe she was my daughter, with her endless stream of rules and regulations. ‘Who is coming tonight?’ She managed to say it as though I’d have invited all the local miscreants and some dodgy men with an unhealthy interest in children.

 

You’re brilliant with customers. I love how you tell them to bugger off so politely they enjoy the journey.

 

It was amazing how clearly I could see the flaws in other people’s mothering but would need surgical intervention to patch up the gaping wounds in my own.

 

He carried the message like a wise man cupping a gift of myrrh, reverential, with a sense of ceremony, big man coming through with big news.

 

The woman pursed her lips so tightly, I wanted to tell her that in twenty years’ time, her lipstick wouldn’t bleed, it would haemorrhage .

 

You are such a drama queen. I don’t even recognise the childhood you think you had. No, Mum and Dad weren’t perfect, but they were good enough. You talk about them as though we were left chewing on scraps in a dungeon, fending for ourselves.

 

My Review:

 

I have a new favorite author – despite her heavy deployment of angsty and emotive story threads. I was so absorbed by her brilliantly insightful and evocative writing, complex and profoundly flawed characters, and witty wordplay that I didn’t seem to mind the eye-burning, heart-squeezing, or ire-producing storylines that I typically eschew. I was instantly mesmerized and sucked into this perceptive and thoughtfully crafted tale and resented any intrusion or interruption to my perusal for those unimportant distractions such as sleep, hygiene, whining husband, or nutritional sustenance. Kerry Fisher is a phenomenal writer with powerful word voodoo. I am driven to amass all her clever words and have added her entire listing to my TBR.

About the Author

Amazon
Goodreads
Website

Kerry Fisher is the bestselling author of five novels, including The Silent Wife and The Secret Child. She was born in Peterborough, studied French and Italian at the University of Bath and spent several years living in Spain, Italy, and Corsica. After returning to England to work as a journalist, she eventually abandoned real-life stories for the secrets of fictional families. She now lives in Surrey with her husband, two teenage children and a naughty Lab/Schnauzer called Poppy.

Book Review, Giveaway: Lucy Mathers Goes Back To Work by Julie Butterfield

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Lucy Mathers Goes Back To Work

by Julie Butterfield

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA 

 

Lucy Mathers was once the golden girl of Simcock & Bright. Four years later, she’s a stay at home mum with two adorable children, has swapped her Louboutins for rabbit slippers and spends her day making crustless sandwiches and colour co-ordinated lunches instead of signing up high profile clients.

When her husband is suddenly made redundant, there is panic in the Mathers’ household. With a mortgage the size of the national debt and a credit card balance that’s in danger of toppling, Lucy reluctantly decides she must return to work. So she digs out her old power suits from the back of the wardrobe and leaves Will to become a house husband. But sitting in Lucy’s old office is Grant Cassidy, suave, handsome and ruthless and with no intention of letting Lucy walk back into the number one job.

At home, despite his breezy declaration that swapping boardroom battles for toddler groups would be a doddle, Will’s belief that parental issues could be solved with forward planning and a spreadsheet soon falls by the wayside.

With both Will and Lucy struggling to adapt, could their previously happy marriage be developing some cracks?

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Of course, the result of her hard work was that when Will arrived home his children were bathed, content and happy to cuddle him on the settee in adorable, sleepy mode, while Lucy escaped to the kitchen, holding onto the kitchen work surface for support and drinking wine straight from the bottle.

 

Sliding the shoes out of the box, she laid them reverently on the floor before pulling off her woolly socks and wriggling her toes in anticipation. Her foot disappeared into the shiny red leather, stopping halfway down. Frowning she slipped the shoe off and checked to see if she had left some tissue tucked into the toe. Nothing. Putting the shoe back on the floor she pushed a little harder, squeezing her toes together and grunting until her foot was finally forced in. She gasped in pain. Oh my God, she thought, it was like a scene from Cinderella, and she must be one of the ugly sisters because this was far from the perfect fit.

 

Harry had chocolate smeared in his baby curls and Emily had a hole in her woolen tights that she had made larger by stuffing toys inside and using as an impromptu storage space until she could hardly walk for the huge collection of random objects that stuck to one side of her leg like a hideous growth.

 

Her bag had been emptied of toddler paraphernalia such as the odd sock, baby wipes, a rather crusty bib, Harry’s favourite book, and Emily’s crayons. Before the arrival of her children, Lucy’s bag had been a shrine to lipsticks and perfume along with scented tissues and always a spare pair of tights and it gave her a small thrill to look inside now and see that she had gone full circle.

 

My Review:

 

I gleefully giggle-snorted my way through this delightfully amusing tale of Lucy Mathers, a competitive business professional attempting to recoup her mojo after a four-year hiatus for childrearing.   There were multiple challenges awaiting Lucy, the first being that her entire wardrobe appeared to have shrunk while in the closet – I myself have had that happen as well so I was in total sympathy with her plight. Her harried accountant husband, Will, was taking on the home front while between jobs.   Will’s struggle was just as great, although his wardrobe was no longer of consequence his small children did not seem to respect his spreadsheet timetables organized with accompanying phone alarms, which were hopelessly abandoned during the first week.

 

The engaging storylines and insightful writing were riotously comical and cleverly penned while evoking sharp and mirth-filled visuals that kept me with a near-constant smirk and frequently laughing aloud. Julie Butterfield must be a hoot at parties. I would most likely fall at her feet while looking up at her in total adoration if ever I were lucky enough to find myself in her company.

 

About the Author

Amazon
Goodreads
Website

Julie Butterfield belongs to the rather large group of ‘always wanted to write’ authors who finally found the time to sit down and put pen to paper – or rather fingers to keyboard.
She wrote her first book purely for pleasure and was very surprised to discover that so many people enjoyed the story and wanted more, so she decided to carry on writing!

 

Giveaway

 Win a Paperback copy of Lucy Mathers Goes Back To Work (UK Only)

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

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Book Review: The Silent Victim by Dana Perry

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The Silent Victim

by Dana Perry

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA / B&N

 

The woman’s golden hair is spread out beneath her on the bed of leaves where she’s fallen, her beautiful blue eyes open wide. The police are calling it a random attack, but Jessie Tucker isn’t so sure – she’s seen this crime scene before… she was the victim.

Twelve years ago, Jessie Tucker was attacked as she made her way home from an outdoor concert. She still walks with a limp from that night, and every day since has been a struggle to rebuild her life. The police told her she was unlucky – that she was safe after they charged a local man for the crime. But Jessie has never managed to shake the feeling that there was someone else in the park that night… someone she knew.

But then Margaret Kincaid’s murder file lands across her desk, and Jessie knows she can’t keep silent any longer. Margaret’s wounds so exactly match her own it’s spooky – but Jessie’s attacker is in prison, and Jessie has never met the victim. What links her to Margaret Kincaid, and why did the attacker let one woman live, and the other die?

Nail-biting, gripping and absolutely unputdownable! Perfect for fans of Lisa Regan, Kendra Elliot and Gregg Olsen. 

My Rating:

 

Favorite Quotes:

 

The coffee looked terrible and tasted even worse, but drinking coffee was part of the cop– reporter mating ritual. I had spent hours and hours drinking bad coffee in precinct houses all over the city.

 

I’m hopeless… This is more than just going through a dating dry spell. Men now actually run away to avoid any kind of physical contact with me.

 

My Review:

 

Written from the first-person POV of Jessie a female journalist and survivor of a heinous assault. I fell right into this well-crafted and absorbing tale and slid inside Jessie’s pocket as she went about chasing her story and gathering her info. The storylines and writing style were easy to follow, cunningly paced, and shrewdly plotted with more twists than an anaconda’s lunch.

I am stunned and awed to note this cleverly contrived book was written by a man – what an observant and sly silver-tongued devil he must be! He certainly led me on a merry chase and held my rapt attention throughout as he steadily ratcheted up the tension and intrigue to a staggering climax. I had postulated several theories but I was off by a mile and never would have guessed the end result. Dana Perry may well be an evil genius; his neighbors best keep the noise down and ply him with treats.

 

About the Author
I am a New York City author who writes mystery thrillers for Bookouture about newspaper reporter Jessie Tucker.

Contact me at DanaPerryAuthor@yahoo.com

Book Review: Your Christmas Love by Layla Hagen

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Your Christmas Love

by Layla Hagen

 

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA 

B&N / GP / Kobo / Apple

A sizzling, full-length romance from USA TODAY BESTSELLING author Layla Hagen

Sienna Hensley loves everything about the Christmas season, from hanging decorations to the cozy get-togethers with her family. Despite being part of the well-known Bennett family, Sienna is determined to first gather experience before joining their business. Her job at Statham department store is perfect for that. But her new boss, Winston, is going to be a slight problem. He is broody, dictatorial, and sexy as all get out.

For Winston Statham, Christmas is just a reminder of the deadline looming ahead this year. Saving the store his parents build is his top priority. At least until he finds his branding manager singing and dancing to carols while hanging twinkling lights in his favorite meeting room.

He can’t get the sexy sway of her hips out of his mind…or her determination to make him smile. When he asks her to stay overtime, work isn’t the only thing on his mind. Before long, he’s willing to do anything for one more kiss, one more night together. Winston falls so hard for Sienna, that he can’t imagine ever letting her go.

But with his future up in the air, can he promise her anything more than an unforgettable Christmas season?

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

I don’t want to keep you on your toes. I just want to keep you.

 

I’d always thought that knowing you’ve found the one was going to take time… But this felt so perfect that I was close to bursting with happiness. I didn’t even know it was possible to feel so much joy. It was like a physical force, like a pressure from the inside out.

 

My Review:

 

Written in my favorite dual POV, this sweet and sexy book was a refreshing angst-free delight.   What a relief to read upbeat and pleasurable storylines rather than constant conflict and yo-yo push/pull on and off relationship drama. This sexy couple brought out the best in each other in the boardroom, bedroom, and every environment in between. The storylines were engaging, delectably steamy, and easy to follow while populated with characters who were thoughtful, smart, hardworking, and highly likable.   Sigh, I adore Layla Hagen.

About Layla Hagen   

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Layla Hagen is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance.

She fell in love with books when she was nine years old, and her love affair with stories continues even now, many years later.

She writes steamy and romantic stories and can’t wait to share them with the world.

She is represented by fabulous Louise Fury (The Bent Agency)

Book Review: My Bare Lady by Piper Sheldon

My Bare Lady, a funny and heartwarming romantic comedy standalone from Piper Sheldon and Smartypants Romance is available now!

20190530_TSWS01_My Bare Lady_Sheldon_KDP_FINAL

Suzie Samuels is the only thing standing between Clifford and his life’s work. All he has to do is change everything about her. Perception creates reality and Clifford Rutledge needs the irascible stripper to prove it.

Suzie Samuels is set to prove once and for all she’s more than Short Fuse Suze, stripper for the Black Demons and renowned motorcycle arsonist. If all it takes is hard work, then Suzie knows how to work it hard.

But Suzie’s scandalous spirit tests Clifford’s resolve. And Clifford’s buttoned-up bullying is driving Suzie bonkers.

Can Clifford move past their differences long enough to pull off the impossible task of changing the bare lady into a fair lady?

More importantly, as perceptions shift and priorities change, will he want to?

‘My Bare Lady’ is a full-length contemporary romantic comedy, can be read as a standalone, and is book #1 in the Scorned Women’s Society series, Green Valley World, Penny Reid Book Universe.

SWS01-LIVE copy

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Then his words registered. I was half tempted to chase after him just to smack him upside the head. “Ma’am?!” Me? I was equal parts confused and offended. My outfit hardly covered my nipples and he called me something we call ol’ Mrs. Albensi when we saw her at the Piggly Wiggly. I’m not a ma’am, I’m a miss. I’m still in my twenties! Technically.

Now wasn’t going to be the best time to talk to him but the words had tumbled out after days of preparing them. I guess that’s why everybody told me God used a teaspoon to pour my brains in and had shaking hands.

You clearly have not been burdened by an overabundance of education.

I started making banjo sounds from Deliverance. I was two seconds from lifting my skirt and slapping my knees like at a hoedown…

Don’t let small minds make yours up.

It looked junky and old. I couldn’t remember what color the carpet used to be. If cleanliness was godliness, no wonder I was labeled a fallen woman.

 

My Review:

 

I am rather conflicted with this one. While the lashings of humor and insights were often smirk-worthy and brilliantly clever; I struggled valiantly to get through large chunks of Suzie’s storyline as it was hitting some of my least favorite tropes and triggers. I was expecting a rom/com, and while there were witty and humorous elements, the overall tone leaned more heavily toward angst, and toss in the several perilous and dire situations that weren’t at all comical, well ~ sigh.

I was frequently grinding my teeth and despising Suzie’s idiocy and lifetime of poor choices – with little respite as the characters just kept screwing up and making it worse. However, I was also wickedly curious, deeply invested in the story and remaining series, and unable to stop reading. Funny how that happens.

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

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Excerpt

I was transfixed. It wasn’t just the way she mastered the room. It wasn’t just how her choreography perfectly correlated with the entrancing music. It wasn’t just her sex appeal. It was that unwavering gaze and focus on her task. To the rest of the room, staring blatantly at her admirable—ahem—assets, she was an object, but I recognized the barely controlled passion roiling under her skin. What would it be like to be that strong? Not just physically, but strong in a way that allowed her to bare her soul to a group of greedy strangers. My passions were locked away safely inside me and yet she put it all out there. Such bravery and passion.

In certain moments, I swear she looked right at me—quick stolen glances that shot a bolt of adrenaline down my spine. Perhaps this was a skill she learned to earn more tips, as the money was out in droves now, peppered over the stage and her sweating skin. But I swore she saw me. Saw through me. To the things I didn’t want seen. I stepped back further into the darkness knowing my concerns were irrational but unable to tear my eyes off hers. I was stronger than this. I was thoughtful, pragmatic, and not a victim of animalistic natures and poetic fantasies.

Though she occasionally snapped the thin strips of material that made up her outfit in a playful tease she never took any clothes off. She didn’t need to. She’d managed to capture the attention of every person in that room with her movements alone.

My body reacted despite my rationale; heart pounding, skin aflame. I needed to leave. I wouldn’t be like the rest of these people.

The song crescendoed and in a show of strength, she launched herself back to the top of the pole once again. A small gasp escaped from me but the music drowned out all noise. She performed a trick that made her appear to fall down the entire length of the pole, tumbling over and sideways, limb over limb, only to catch herself at the bottom using only her thighs. She hung upside down, panting, dark hair sprawled out around her and her gaze set on me. Her eyes were a brilliant emerald, unlike any color I’d ever seen. They were luminescent in the stage lighting. Even across the hazy bar, they were transcendent. Glowing. Fixated on me.

Nobody else.

I swallowed but it wasn’t easy. The song ended and the lights went out. The crowd went wild. Several moments passed before I gained control of my faculties again. With that control came the shame of watching her. The understanding that just seeing her perform was enough to make me forget who I was. That couldn’t happen.

I got out of there as fast as I could. The entire drive back to Knoxville my chest heaved at an alarming rate; my body remained a mass of tension. Her hypnotic gaze flashed repeatedly in my vision no matter how often I tried to shake it loose.

Thankfully, I’d never see her again.

 

About Piper Sheldon

Piper Sheldon writes Contemporary Romance and Magical Realism books that hope to be New York Times bestsellers when they grow up. For now, she works as a technical writer during the day and writes about love the rest of the time. Of course she also makes room for her husband, toddler, and two needy dogs at home in the Desert Southwest.

 

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Book Review: Christmas Kisses On Hollywell Hill by Jackie Ladbury

Christmas Kisses On Hollywell Hill

by Jackie Ladbury

 

Amazon US UK / AU / CA 

Christmas is coming and actress Kirsty Castille seems doomed to play the front part of Nag, the Christmas pantomime horse, when a surprise audition lands her the lead role as Maria in the Sound of Music.


Even better she bonds with a handsome chef over a piece of squid at her local supermarket, although sadly romance is the last thing on Jake Levy’s mind.


He has a Christmas deadline, an ex-wife to mourn and lots of emotional baggage to drag around. He certainly doesn’t have time for romance and even if he did he wouldn’t fall for someone like Kirsty who craves the limelight: been there, done that.


A misunderstanding leads Jake to offer Kirsty a job in his new restaurant and she takes it purely to convince him that she’s the girl of his dreams.


Her charm offensive begins to work but while he’s cooking up a storm she’s secretly sparkling under the spotlight – until her cover is busted.


The fallout is catastrophic, but as they say in Luvvie Land, the show must go on, even if Kirsty is terrified that she’s taken her last curtain call and ruined her chance for love.


Read on and immerse yourself in this delightful winter romance as the snow starts to fall and Christmas day becomes a magical reality.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Kirsty gave him her Cruella de Vil glare, the one she practised in the mirror for when her big break came and she’d have to fight off autograph hunters and journalists.

 

She’d discovered in dating agency lingo, that five foot ten, actually meant five foot six, “emotional” was a euphemism for misery guts who just wanted to drone on about the ex-wife’s handbag addiction, and “sporty with a sense of fun,” meant juvenile show off who wanted to blag on about his chronograph diving watch and his knowledge of stupid YouTube videos. At least the one she conversed with did – and he had a rare DeLorean apparently. She’d asked whether he’d had some cream from the doctor’s for it, and he’d ended the conversation abruptly.

 

‘The men look like they’re already seated,’ Kirsty said with a giggle. ‘I’ve seen taller men on the set of Snow White.’ Allie gulped at her drink and fiddled with the strap of her bag. ‘All the girls are pretty and the men are all pretty ugly. What an unfair world we live in.’ She surveyed the room.

 

Boring would be the last thing I’d put on your tick sheet. Keeping up with your conversation is harder than trying to understand my grandma without her teeth in.

 

I was good, you were bad, very bad … you were a wolf in wolf’s clothing.

 My Review:

 

This was a fun yet somewhat challenging read. I enjoyed Ms. Ladbury’s quirky characters, unpredictable and ironic plot twists, and zings of clever levity; although the yo-yo on and off nature of Kirsty’s relationships and Jake’s indecisiveness were rather frustrating. Kirsty led a rich fantasy life, she talked to inanimate objects, inventing lives and families in her head for strangers and names on tombstones, and was prone to break out in dance in the grocery store aisle if the muse hit her. While she wasn’t mentally ill, she was much like a female Walter Mitty, as by her own choice her grasp of reality was often tenuous as she would rather live in her head than face her rather grim and near penniless reality. Most of the main characters had a few screws loose but my patience was well rewarded with this engaging and entertaining read.

 

For a new addition to my Brit Word List, I spied the unfamiliar munter – which is British informal for an ugly person and a very fun word to mutter or say aloud. 😉

About the Author

Jackie Ladbury writes heartwarming contemporary and historical women’s fiction that is always guaranteed a happy ever after. From spending many years as an air-stewardess and seeing that it really is love that makes the world go around, she determined to put the same sparkle and emotion into her stories. Her life is no longer as exotic (or chaotic) as it was in those heady days of flying as she now lives a quiet life in Hertfordshire with her family and two cats, spending her days making up stories and finding excuses not to go to the gym.
To find out more about Jackie Ladbury, check out these pages: https://www.facebook.com/jackie.ladbury
https://jackieladbury.com
https://twitter.com/JackieLadbury
https://thewriteromantics.com/

Book Review: Captain Dreamboat (Ponderosa Resort Romantic Comedies #6) by Tawna Fenske

Captain Dreamboat

(Ponderosa Resort Romantic #6)

by Tawna Fenske

Amazon  US UK / CA / AU /

B&N / Apple / GP 

Jonathan Bracelyn pours his soul into saving the world, and he’s still nowhere near canceling out the sins of dear ol’ dad. But when a medical crisis prompts Jon to toss his sister the ultimate lifeline, he’s forced to hang up his captain’s hat and hit pause on the one thing that makes him…well, him.

At least he has Blanka Pavlo’s heart-flooding smile to buoy his spirits. A brilliant scientist, she knows things can’t last with the do-gooder Bracelyn brother. Not even if he kisses like a dream and boasts biceps as hefty as his heart. Blanka’s learned the hard way how lonely life is in the shadow of a saint, so she’s giving the hottie hero a wide berth.

Except Jonathan sucks at self-care, so maybe she’ll lend a hand (and other tingly parts) to help him out. Soon, they’re bonding over awkward bubble baths and a disturbingly homely cat, while struggling to remember it’s all temporary. But the harder they brace for goodbye, the louder their hearts declare they’re already in too deep.

 

 

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My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

When he got his tonsils out at ten, he came to and immediately looked between his legs… The neighbor’s dog got neutered the week before… Jon was confused about what sort of surgery he’d had. The more we tried to explain it, the more agitated he got, until we finally let him go ahead and inspect things.

 

She points to the screen. “That’s the next one. The next time you’re nude, take a moment to stand naked before the mirror and repeat the following—‘ I’m a beautiful sunflower, fragile and proud, mighty and soft.’” She looks at me and snorts. “I would pay one million dollars to see you do that.”

 

When Chuck takes Wendy’s hand as we pass from the south hall to the north lab, she smiles at him like he invented dark chocolate.

 

“It’s my birthday,” Archie announces proudly. “Eighty-five.”… Archie just beams and takes a bite out of his drumstick. “No one’s spanked me yet.”

 

We wait in silence for more kittens to appear, or for Jessica’s head to spin around. It’s the first time I’ve witnessed feline birth, and it’s not unlike an exorcism. But also magical.

 

I’d never say that to the girls, but Jon was beautiful the instant he came out. The others took a few days to stop looking like rashy coneheads…

 

“How do mothers know the exact right thing to say?” “It’s in the manual,” she says. “They hand it to you in the delivery room, along with a fifth of vodka and a pair of earplugs.”

 

My Review:

 

Tawna Fenske’s clever rom/coms are a guaranteed giggle-snort.   I relish her keen wit and amusingly observant insights and inner musings as much as her well-drawn and charismatic characters. Her engaging stories are always smirk-worthy with irreverent humor and comical antics deftly penned along with the thoughtful insertions of real-world issues and cunning incorporations of unique family drama, personal insecurities, and emotional vulnerabilities.

 

Her characters tend to highly appealing, multifaceted, and exceptionally bright as was the case with the main characters featured in this installment. Blanka was beautiful as well as brilliant with a head full of random facts, which she spouted uncontrollably when anxious. I adored her. Jon was not just a good guy – he was the superhero model of good guys. He was gentle and kind, gave generously from his wallet, and his entire career and much of his free time was spent in exceedingly admirable, selfless, and meaningful service and duty to the less fortunate and a mind toward the greater good. Blanka was all too familiar with these tendencies as her father was of the same mentality, although to the far extreme and to the detriment of his family life, something Blanka had no interest in repeating.   I enjoyed their blossoming romance and laughed aloud through their impromptu picnic with the ribald and saucy octogenarian Archie and his mortified relatives.

 

About the Author    

Website 

Amazon

Goodreads

When Tawna Fenske finished her English lit degree at 22, she celebrated by filling a giant trash bag full of romance novels and dragging it everywhere until she’d read them all. Now she’s a RITA-nominated, USA Today bestselling author who writes humorous fiction, risqué romance, and heartwarming love stories with a quirky twist. Publishers Weekly has praised Tawna’s offbeat romances with multiple starred reviews and noted, “There’s something wonderfully relaxing about being immersed in a story filled with over-the-top characters in undeniably relatable situations. Heartache and humor go hand in hand.”

Tawna lives in Bend, Oregon, with her husband, stepkids, and a menagerie of ill-behaved pets. She loves hiking, snowshoeing, standup paddleboarding, and inventing excuses to sip wine on her back porch. She can peel a banana with her toes and loses an average of twenty pairs of eyeglasses per year. To find out more about Tawna and her books, visit www.tawnafenske.com.

 

Book Review: Coming Home to Merriment Bay: Part Two: Sparks Fly by Emily Harvale

Coming Home to Merriment Bay

Part Two – Sparks Fly

by Emily Harvale

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA

Part Two of this heartwarming four-part serial about finding the strength to put the past behind you and to reach out for a future filled with happiness and love.

Cat Devon knew she couldn’t avoid Amias Wells for long. She also knew sparks would fly the moment they came face to face. They never did get on and nothing has changed in eighteen years – except that Amias is even more annoying. So why does Cat still catch her breath whenever he looks her way?

The fact he flies a vintage Spitfire for the Merriment Bay WWII Museum doesn’t interest Cat, but his knowledge of the former RAF pilots stationed there certainly does. She wants to find out all she can about the man in the photo in Viola’s trunk. And what with hospital visits, dealing with her mum, and sorting out problems with Viola’s house, Cat could use more than just Kyra’s help.

But Kyra makes it clear she thinks Cat and Amias should spend more time together. Which is ridiculous. Apart from the fact they don’t get on, Amias wasn’t interested in Cat before the accident that left the ugly scars on her face and body, so he definitely won’t be attracted to her now. Besides, Cat’s not looking for romance. She’s happy with her life just the way it is.

Emily writes novels, novellas and short stories about friendship, family and falling in love. She loves a happy ending but knows that life doesn’t always go to plan. Her stories are sure to bring a smile to your face and a warmth to your heart.

My Rating:

My Review:

 

Oh my, this is like an addictive soap opera with heinous villains to love to hate. Mary Devon and Granny Violet are vile and have me wanting to bathe my Kindle in bleach. I am inventing new swear words to call Emily Harvale for her wicked tricks.   I am totally ensnared. She lured me in and teased me by divulging a few extremely juicy tidbits and a little knowledge is a dangerous thing as it has just deepened the overall mystery. Ms. Harvale is far too clever and rather despicable as now her hooks are too deeply embedded into my curiosity – tickling and taunting – I must know the secrets. Curses, I am stamping my little foot with impatience!

About the Author

Emily loves to connect with her readers and has a readers’ group in which many have become good friends. To catch up with Emily, find out about the group, or connect with her on social media, go to her website at www.emilyharvale.com.

Having lived and worked in London for several years, Emily returned to her home town of Hastings where she now writes full-time. She’s a member of the SoA and the RWA, an Amazon bestseller and a Kindle All Star. When not writing, she can be found enjoying the stunning East Sussex coast and countryside, or in a wine bar with friends, discussing life, love and the latest TV shows. Chocolate cake is often eaten. She dislikes housework almost as much as she dislikes anchovies – and will do anything to avoid both. Emily has two mischievous rescue cats that like to sprawl across her keyboard, regardless of whether Emily is typing on it, or not.

Social Media Links

https://www.facebook.com/emilyharvalewriter

https://www.twitter.com/emilyharvale

https://www.instagram.com/emilyharvale