Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒ Pets of Park Avenue by Stefanie London is the second book in her Paws in the City series that features both pets, and New YFour and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒ Pets of Park Avenue by Stefanie London is the second book in her Paws in the City series that features both pets, and New York City. This can be read as a stand-alone.
Story Recap: Scout Myers is a self-proclaimed hot mess and works for her best friend at a pet-influencing company. When Scout messes up a photo shoot of a Bichon Frise, the only way to get out of the mess is to borrow her husband's dog, an exact doppelganger for the dog she accidentally dyed pink. The only problem? She hasn’t talked to her husband in over five years after she walked out on him.
My Thoughts: I enjoyed this second-chance romance very much. The fact that Scout and her husband were still married, but hadn’t talked to each other in five years was a bit of a stretch for me, but I just went with it and I’m so glad I did! I found their emotional reunion very powerful and loved watching them fall in love again.
Scout is a very relatable character, and I just wanted her to succeed so much. She claims she’s a hot mess, but she is very intuitive and great with people. She’s very conscientious and hardworking and I love that in a heroine. Lane, her husband, is adorable and I love the way he cares for his family, and still has strong feelings for Scout. Any man who loves an adorable Bichon Frise is a good man.
I also enjoyed seeing the characters from the last book again. And I love the New York City setting. I loved the dog aptly named Twinkle Stardust, who had a big part in trying to get her “parents” back together.
Recommendation: I highly recommend Pets of Park Avenue to anyone who enjoys romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Merged review:
Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒ Pets of Park Avenue by Stefanie London is the second book in her Paws in the City series that features both pets, and New York City. This can be read as a stand-alone.
Story Recap: Scout Myers is a self-proclaimed hot mess and works for her best friend at a pet-influencing company. When Scout messes up a photo shoot of a Bichon Frise, the only way to get out of the mess is to borrow her husband's dog, an exact doppelganger for the dog she accidentally dyed pink. The only problem? She hasn’t talked to her husband in over five years after she walked out on him.
My Thoughts: I enjoyed this second-chance romance very much. The fact that Scout and her husband were still married, but hadn’t talked to each other in five years was a bit of a stretch for me, but I just went with it and I’m so glad I did! I found their emotional reunion very powerful and loved watching them fall in love again.
Scout is a very relatable character, and I just wanted her to succeed so much. She claims she’s a hot mess, but she is very intuitive and great with people. She’s very conscientious and hardworking and I love that in a heroine. Lane, her husband, is adorable and I love the way he cares for his family, and still has strong feelings for Scout. Any man who loves an adorable Bichon Frise is a good man.
I also enjoyed seeing the characters from the last book again. And I love the New York City setting. I loved the dog aptly named Twinkle Stardust, who had a big part in trying to get her “parents” back together.
Recommendation: I highly recommend Pets of Park Avenue to anyone who enjoys romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
Cinderella Hired for His Revenge is a terrific second-chance romance that I enjoyed very much. This reversal of fortune story features Cass, who once Cinderella Hired for His Revenge is a terrific second-chance romance that I enjoyed very much. This reversal of fortune story features Cass, who once lived a life of privilege and wealth until her father was imprisoned for fraud and her family became the villains of New York society. Now a florist, she lives a much simpler life.
Grant Santos was the gardener for Cass’s family when he fell in love with her. He dreamed of a future with her. Then suddenly she dumped him with no warning. He worked hard to forget her and built an empire that made him rich beyond his dreams. So, when Cass shows up at his business with a proposal to furnish flowers and arrangements for his various business meetings, he’s determined that it’s time for revenge.
Although this is a revenge story, the revenge is not mean-spirited, nor does it last long. Grant’s and Cass’s feelings for each other are soon resurrected and their chemistry is strong. Although, trust takes a bit longer to return. Eventually, Cass and Grant rekindle their feelings, but can they learn to trust each other again? I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒ Begin Again by Emma Lord is a delightful Young Adult book about a young woman navigating her life as a transfer student in Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒ Begin Again by Emma Lord is a delightful Young Adult book about a young woman navigating her life as a transfer student in college. This book is delightful, and I loved it.
Story Recap: Andie Rose is a planner. She is transferring from the community college to Blue Ridge State to their prestigious psychology program to fulfill her lifetime goal of becoming a self-help guru. It also helps that her boyfriend, Conner is also enrolled at Blue Ridge State.
Once she arrives, she finds out that her boyfriend, Conner has transferred back to the community college because of his grades. Her carefully laid plans are already in disarray as she works to navigate her life at the university as a transfer student.
However, she finds life at Blue Ridge State exciting. Her roommate Shay is welcoming, but not the resident advisor, Milo. Being a fixer, Andie is determined to help Shay find a major, but that becomes more difficult than she expected. Soon she finds herself part of the pirate radio program, The Knights Watch. And her grumpy RA is the Knight, and she eventually becomes The Squire. The radio show is a legacy that her mother was part of many years ago. Andie finds her place at Blue Ridge State and starts to settle in, and then everything goes wrong and she’s wondering about her new life, and her expectations.
My Thoughts: Emma Lord is such a talented writer and she understands and communicates the angst and insecurities of young adults expertly. In Begin Again, we have, organized, and planner, Andie and sleep-deprived, grumpy Milo in a slow-burn romance that was just what I wanted.
The friend group of Andie, Milo, Shay, and Valeria was wonderful. They worked at a local bagel place called Bagelopolis, and during the very early mornings, produced and performed the pirate radio show, The Knights Watch.
This book tells the story of what it’s like to start in a new college and making friends and finding love.
Recommendation: I highly recommend, Begin Again to anyone who enjoys young adult romances. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒ A Thousand Miles to Graceland by Kristen Mei Chase is a delightful road trip story about a woman and her eccentric mother. Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒ A Thousand Miles to Graceland by Kristen Mei Chase is a delightful road trip story about a woman and her eccentric mother. This mother-daughter bonding trip is heartwarming, emotional, and a lot of fun.
Story Recap: Grace Johnson’s husband has left her and she’s feeling lost and doesn’t know what to do next, so when her mother suggests they go on a road trip to Graceland in Memphis, she reluctantly decides to go along. Grace’s relationship with her outlandish mother hasn’t always been good, and she’s not looking forward to spending so much time together. But, it’s her mother’s seventieth birthday, and she knows it’s the right thing to do.
So, Grace and her Elvis-obsessed mama hop in a purple Cadillac and drive from El Paso, Texas to Memphis Tennessee to see the iconic Graceland, the previous home of Elvis Presley. Along the way, they have a few adventures and learn a lot about themselves and each other.
My Thoughts: I love a good road trip book, and A Thousand Miles to Graceland did not disappoint! The story is heartwarming, funny, and emotional at times. Grace and her mother couldn’t be more different on the surface, but as we get to know each of them more, we realize that they are quite similar deep down inside.
I thought the pacing was very well done. There were moments of humor to break up the more emotional parts and that made a nice balance. There is also a bit of light romance, which I also enjoyed.
If you enjoy heartwarming stories about family dynamics, with a bit of humor and romance, this is the book for you.
Recommendation: I highly recommend A Thousand Miles to Graceland to anyone who enjoys stories about families. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
The Village Vicar by Julie Houston is a lovely story mostly about three sisters with some family drama, small-town drama, and a bit of romance.
Story The Village Vicar by Julie Houston is a lovely story mostly about three sisters with some family drama, small-town drama, and a bit of romance.
Story Recap: Rosa Quinn is returning to her home village as the vicar. She’s been away for years, and never expected to return, especially as the vicar! She had a high-powered job in finance, and after a health scare, she re-evaluated her life and became a vicar.
Rosa also wants to be closer to her sisters, Eva and Hannah who are her triplet siblings and they grew up very close. Eva is a dentist, married to another dentist who is bored with her marriage, and Hannah is single, but dating a married man. Each of these sisters has a lot going on, but the book is mainly about Rosa.
My Thoughts: I love a good book about sisters and this one fit the bill. I loved that they are triplets and yet they each have separate and very distinct personalities. Rosa is my favorite sister and the book is mainly about her. She’s had a tough time with a bad health scare and a cheating husband, but she’s optimistic and ready to serve the village as the vicar.
The pacing was good. It did take a bit to get into, but the pace picked up soon after and the rest of the book flew by. I also enjoyed the sister's interactions, as they felt authentic to me. I hope to get a book about Hannah, as I enjoyed her character and would like to know more about her and Eva.
Recommendation: I highly recommend The Village Vicar to anyone who enjoys women’s fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ...more
Alaskan Mountain Search is a fast-paced, exciting story. A teenager is missing and a serial killer is on the loose. The teenager is police captain BreAlaskan Mountain Search is a fast-paced, exciting story. A teenager is missing and a serial killer is on the loose. The teenager is police captain Bre Dayton’s niece and she is convinced that the only way to find her is to enlist the help of her ex, search and rescue worker Griffin Knight, and his K-9 companion, Ember, an Alaskan Husky.
This suspenseful story just flew by and I was on the edge of my seat for most of the book. The romance between Bre and Griffin was a slow burn and a sweet romance, and I enjoyed the way they learned to trust each other again, and become friends and then more. The star of this story, in my opinion, is Ember, the intelligent husky rescue dog! I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
Lawman to the Core is the third book in the popular series, The Law in Lubbock County, but can be read as a stand-alone. Really, this series should beLawman to the Core is the third book in the popular series, The Law in Lubbock County, but can be read as a stand-alone. Really, this series should be read in order, but the author does a splendid job of summing up the previous books and has a nice character list at the beginning of the book that I found very helpful.
Lawman to the Core is a fast-paced romantic suspense where I was on the edge of my seat the entire time reading. I loved the fast pace and enjoyed the characters immensely. I loved the way Hallie and Nick cared for little David as they fell in love with each other and the baby. The mystery as to who was trying to take David and hurt Hallie and Nick was a good one, with a few suspected, it was tough to figure out who was after them. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ...more
One Night Only by Jayci Lee is the second book in her Hans Trio series and can easily be read as a stand-alone book. This surprise baby story is emotiOne Night Only by Jayci Lee is the second book in her Hans Trio series and can easily be read as a stand-alone book. This surprise baby story is emotional, heartwarming, and just a bit steamy.
A surprise baby trope can sometimes be tricky, but I liked the way the author handled this one. After a one-night stand, concert violinist, Meghan Han finds out she’s pregnant. She immediately knows she’ll keep the baby, but doesn’t know how to contact the father. Until he shows up at her home as a guest. Her baby’s father is Daniel Pak, CFO of her father’s company. In order to save his job, they decide not to tell anyone he’s the father for a while and they also decide to keep their own relationship secret.
Daniel made an adorable hero. He wanted the baby in his life from the first moment he found out and he made a great father-to-be. Meghan was also a lovely character. I loved her determination to keep Daniels's job safe, even if it meant more difficulty for herself. Overall, this was a fun, emotional, and satisfying book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
Owner of a Lonely Heart by Eva Carter is the story of a woman’s journey from the grief of her husband’s death, to choosing to love again, even when itOwner of a Lonely Heart by Eva Carter is the story of a woman’s journey from the grief of her husband’s death, to choosing to love again, even when it’s hard.
Story Recap: Gemma had her entire life mapped out until tragedy struck, and her husband died of cancer just a few months after their wedding. Now, she’s having trouble moving forward as all she’s ever wanted was the life she dreamed up with her husband.
Dan is about to have a major life event. He’s about to meet his twelve-year-old daughter, Casey, for the very first time. Casey and her mother will be living with him, while she undergoes treatment for her brain tumor. Dan is terrified that he won’t be able to be a dad or live up to her expectations. He’s lived his entire life making no commitments nor allowing anyone to depend on him.
One day, Gemma, Casey, Dan, and Gemma’s dog Bear all meet and there is an instant connection between all of them. Can they overcome their fears and learn to care for each other?
My Thoughts: I loved this book very much. It is emotional, funny at times, hopeful, and inspirational. The characters were deep, well-developed, and realistic. I didn’t care for Gemma or Dan much at the beginning of the book. Gemma is sad and stuck grieving, and Dan is a commitment-phobe and seemed to be a one-dimensional character. It was 12-year-old Casey, and Bear the dog, who grabbed me and made me want to read further. Casey is adorable and courageous, she’s the one who found and contacted her father and asked to stay with him while she undergoes treatment.
After reading for a while and getting pulled into the book I started to realize that Dan and Gemma were both much more complex than I initially realized. Also, they were very good together. Gemma made Dan a better person and made him want to do better. And Dan was the light that Gemma needed in her life. However, they both have their own issues they need to work out first.
Another interesting character is Angelica, Casey’s mother. Angelica and Dan never married or had much of a relationship. Angelica is bossy, controlling, and very stressed. She raised Casey on her own and now her daughter is dealing with a life-threatening brain tumor. Her anxiety leads her to controlling behavior, which leads to more anxiety.
The way these characters interact and learn to trust each other makes a wonderful story and I was glad to go on this journey!
Recommendation:
I highly recommend Owner of a Lonely Heart to anyone who enjoys fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
Four and a half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒ The Backup Plan by Jill Shalvis is the third book in her popular Sunrise Cove series, but can easily be read as a stand-aloFour and a half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒ The Backup Plan by Jill Shalvis is the third book in her popular Sunrise Cove series, but can easily be read as a stand-alone. I’ve enjoyed The Sunrise Cove series, and The Backup Plan is a wonderful addition.
Story Recap: Alice, Knox, and Lauren each inherit a part of the Last Chance Inn after Eleneour passes away. Alice and Lauren used to be best friends until an incident caused a rift, and they have never spoken to each other since. Alice had a huge crush on Knox for years, but he never gave her a second look.
Part of the will stipulates they must fix up the Inn and live in it for a year. But, with so many secrets and misunderstandings between them, just being civil towards each other is hard enough. So, they make a list of rules to keep the peace while they work on the inn.
My Thoughts: I’ve been loving the Sunrise Cove series and this addition did not disappoint. I like that instead of just two people, it was three people who inherited the inn. This made for a more lively dynamic in my opinion. All of the relationships are strained a the beginning so that made for some funny moments.
I liked that all three characters had a very different relationship with Eleanor and each have a different perspective of her character. It’s almost like Eleanor was three different women. All three characters have secrets as well as some misunderstandings and it takes some time for everything to come out and for these characters to learn to like and trust each other.
Recommendation: I highly recommend The Backup Plan to anyone who enjoys fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
Three and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭒ The Rom-Com Agenda by Jayne Denker is a charming romantic comedy with a friends-to-lovers trope.
Story Recap: Leah Keegan hThree and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭒ The Rom-Com Agenda by Jayne Denker is a charming romantic comedy with a friends-to-lovers trope.
Story Recap: Leah Keegan has spent the past year nursing her foster mother with a terminal illness. Now that she’s passed, Leah is working several jobs to save up enough money in order to be able to leave town.
Eli Masterson always believed that Victoria is the woman for him. But, when she leaves to spend a year in Rome, he is determined to win her back. His sister and her friends enlist Leah to help them transform Eli into the man for Victoria. Leah thinks Eli is fine as he is but helps him anyway.
My Thoughts: I enjoyed this sweet romance and all the rom-com movie references. I liked the Gilmore Girl references too. Eli nicknamed Leah, Kirk because she has so many jobs and seems to be everywhere at once, just like Kirk from The Gilmore Girls. I liked Eli’s sister and friends and how they rallied around him to help him, and how they pulled Leah into their group. And I liked Leah, she spent an entire year helping her foster mother, who wasn’t particularly good to her,
What didn’t work for me was Eli. His single-minded determination to win over Victoria’s heart was tiring. She made it clear that she wasn’t interested in him, but he still insisted they could work out as a couple. And his willingness to change himself in order to please her was just a bit too much for me.
I did like that Eli’s ex, Victoria wasn’t an awful person. I liked that she knew she wouldn’t fall in love with Eli and she tried to let him know that they were not meant to be. It was Eli, who couldn’t handle the rejection. Overall, this was a fun and light book that I enjoyed.
Recommendation: I recommend The Rom-Com Agenda to anyone who likes romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
Three and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭒ Without a Trace by Danielle Steel is a fast-moving romantic suspense set in France, about a man who decides to change his lThree and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭒ Without a Trace by Danielle Steel is a fast-moving romantic suspense set in France, about a man who decides to change his life after a near-fatal accident.
Story Recap: Charles Vincent appears to have everything he’s always wanted in life, his two children are grown and off doing their own thing, and while his marriage isn’t perfect, he’s worked hard to keep it together. His job pays well, which helps his wife maintain the lifestyle she desires, but his job isn’t what he’s always wanted to do. But, overall he’s content with his life, but he hasn’t felt true happiness in a long time.
On a trip from his office in Paris, to his château in Normandy, his car swerves off a cliff, and Charles and his car plunge into the ocean, far below the road. Charles manages to get out of the car and swim to safety and even manages to climb up the cliff and back onto the road, where he walks, in the dark, until he finds a remote cabin. There he meets the beautiful, Aude Saint-Martin, who takes him in and helps tends to his injuries. But, when Charles discovers that the police think he’s dead, he thinks about just staying with Aude and living a simpler life.
My Thoughts: I’ve always wondered about people who can just walk away from life, and in Without a Trace, we get to see a man walk away from a lavish lifestyle, his wife, and two grown children.
The setting is gorgeous, part of the book is set in Paris, some of it is set in Charles’s lavish château in Normandy, and part of it is set in Aud’s small cabin, also in Normandy. All of these places are well described and made for a bit of escapism.
The characters were not very likable for the most part. Although I could sympathize with Charles in wanting to leave his old life, I didn’t like that he actually let his family believe he was dead. Also, the romantic relationship between Charles and Aud was very rushed and not all that believable to me. Aud wasn’t very well developed and although she had a rough past, I didn’t understand her rush into a new relationship.
Recommendation: I recommend Without a Trace to anyone who enjoys romantic suspense. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒ The Wedding Ranch by Nancy Naigle is a wholesome romance set in a small town featuring a large Mastiff dog!
Story Recap: LoFour and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒ The Wedding Ranch by Nancy Naigle is a wholesome romance set in a small town featuring a large Mastiff dog!
Story Recap: Lorri Walker thought her husband was trying to save her marriage when he gave her a Mastiff puppy for Valentine's day. Six months later, he left her, and the dog for good. Lorri decides to move out of Raliegh and move to the rural suburb of Dalton Mills and finds a home with a big yard for her dog, Mister.
Ryder Bolt has lived in Dalton Mills his entire life, and he’s not happy about the housing development that was built on land that should have been his. Still grieving after the death of his wife and young son, seven years ago, Ryder tries to keep busy with his ranch and helping his twin niece and nephew with their wedding event business at The Wedding Ranch.
Neither Ryder nor Lorri want a relationship, but as they spend more time together, their friendship becomes more. But, can their past show up and change their future?
My Thoughts: I love a good small town romance, and The Wedding Ranch was all that and more! I love a romance when both characters don’t want a relationship but just can’t help themselves as the attraction is so strong, and The Wedding Ranch is a perfect example.
I liked that Lorri wanted to move out of the city and live in a rural suburb, especially as she has such a big dog. She definitely enjoys the small town vibe and makes the most of moving to a small town.
I loved this heartwarming sweet romance. The characters were well developed and I liked them both very much. It was clear they were meant to be together from the start. But, they each had a considerable amount of baggage and I loved seeing how they each were able to unload it.
Recommendation: I highly recommend The Wedding Ranch to anyone who enjoys a sweet romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
Storm in a D Cup by Nancy Barone is the third book in the popular The Husband Diet series but can be read as a stand-alone novel. However, I do feel yStorm in a D Cup by Nancy Barone is the third book in the popular The Husband Diet series but can be read as a stand-alone novel. However, I do feel you would get more out of this book if you read the entire series.
Story Recap: Erica Cantell lives in Tuscany with her ex-baseball player husband and famous author, Julian Foxham, and her two children. Erica and Julian have been married for seven years and they moved from the States to Tuscany to escape Erica’s abusive ex-husband. They have a successful bed and breakfast and life is good for the family. Until, Julian’s ex-girlfriend, Genie Stacie arrives in Tuscanny. Genie is gorgeous and a successful model and actress and this fuels Erica’s insecurities.
My Thoughts: I think I would have enjoyed this more if I had read the previous books in the series, however, it was still a fun book and I enjoyed these characters.
I really connected with Erica. She had a tough life, and now everything is going great for her until Genie shows up. I totally got her insecurities, and with her history, I could also understand why she kept feeling like she wasn’t quite enough for Julian.
Genie is charming, manipulative and disruptive. She’s a very unlikeable character, but she gives the story the chaos and conflict it needs. Otherwise, the story would be about a happy couple and not much would happen! Genie knows how to get under people’s skin and how to do what it takes to get what she wants. And she wants Julian. But, will she get him?
Recommendation: I highly recommend Storm in a D Cup to anyone who enjoys women’s fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The Spice Master at Bistro Exotique by Samantha Vérant is an enemies-to-lovers romance that transported me to Paris where IFour and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
The Spice Master at Bistro Exotique by Samantha Vérant is an enemies-to-lovers romance that transported me to Paris where I found beautiful ingredients and lovely food. This book gave me serious food cravings as well as strengthened my desire to go to live in Paris.
Story Recap: Kate Jenkins has always dreamed of opening a restaurant in Paris. But, Kate is not a dreamer, she believes in hard work and a solid plan. Now, she’s on the verge of opening her restaurant after years of hard work and planning in a premium spot in Paris. Nothing will stop her success, not even the handsome man next door who thinks she’s a crazy American or his mother, Garrance, the self-proclaimed Spice Master of Paris, who ominously warns her of the previous owner's failures.
When a series of events leads Kate to believe she might be cursed, after most of her staff quit, her neighbor, Garrance offers up her mastery of scents and spices. The only catch is that Kate must work with her son, Charles, the man she just can’t get along with. But, eventually working Charles ends up being less of a chore and more of a friendship.
My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this enemies-to-lovers romance. First, I loved the setting. It’s clear that the author knows and loves Paris. Her descriptions of the farmer's markets and the city were beautiful. Second, I love all the food and descriptions of the food. This book should come with a warning, “Will Cause Serious Food Cravings”.
The characters were well-developed and sympathetic. First are the meddling mothers and they were both a delight! It’s obvious they love their children and only want the best for them, but I’ll admit, they are a bit meddlesome, which makes for a great story. Kate is a bit serious, but once she opens up and lets her guard down and we could see her vulnerability as well as her humor, I grew to like her very much and wanted her restaurant to succeed. And Charles was a bit snooty at first, but he has a great sense of humor and I learned to love him as well.
And there are recipes at the end of the book!
Recommendation: I highly recommend The Spice Master at Bistro Exotique to anyone who enjoys romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒ The Key to My Heart by Lia Louis is a heartwarming story about one woman’s journey to deal with her grief. I loved this booFour and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒ The Key to My Heart by Lia Louis is a heartwarming story about one woman’s journey to deal with her grief. I loved this book that followed her journey.
Story Recap: Natalie Fincher has it all until she doesn’t anymore. When her husband suddenly dies, all her hopes and dreams die with him. After two years, she’s still struggling with his death and barely finding time to visit with her friends. Now, the only music in her life is when she occasionally plays the piano in a London train station on her way home.
When she starts to find pieces of sheet music on the piano in the train station, she is immediately heartened as the music is all pieces that remind her of her husband and he is the only person who knows how special the music was to them. She begins to play with more enthusiasm as she starts to see light at the end of her dark tunnel. But who can be leaving the music for her? And why?
My Thoughts: I’m a huge fan of Lia Louis and her latest book did not disappoint. I was quickly immersed in the story and I couldn’t wait to find out who left the music on the piano. Natalie has been stuck in her grief for a couple of years, and nothing seems to help her change until she finds the sheet music on the piano. There were a couple of suspects and I like how Natalie not only tried to find the person leaving the music, but also grew and began to understand that those around her were there to help.
This is a heartwarming story that tells a story of grief and friendship and taking a chance. Natalie has a wonderful group of friends who love her, but she has walls built around her to keep them out, and it isn’t until she can let them in and help her heal that she can live a full life.
Recommendation: I highly recommend The Key to My Heart to anyone who enjoys heartwarming fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Never Ever Getting Back Together by Sophie Gonzales is a fun, YA romance about a dating show. I enjoyed this book and the bFour and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
Never Ever Getting Back Together by Sophie Gonzales is a fun, YA romance about a dating show. I enjoyed this book and the behind-the-scenes look at a dating show.
Story Recap: Maya can’t escape her ex-boyfriend, Jordy after Jordy’s sister married the crown prince of a small European country. Jordy is now one of the most eligible bachelors in America. However, the world doesn’t know that Jordy is a cheating liar, and Maya wants to destroy him after he broke her heart two years ago. So when Maya is approached to do a dating show with Jordy as the “prize” bachelor, she immediately refuses. But, after thinking about it, she realizes this is the perfect chance to expose Jordy for the lying cheat that he is. Once she gets on the show, she meets Skye, the “other” woman that Jordy was seeing at the same time as Maya. At first, Maya despises Skye, but once they compare stories, they realize that Jordy was cheating on both of them at the same time. Maya and Skye bond and form a plan to work together to take down Jordy.
My Thoughts: At first, I thought that Maya’s need for revenge was a bit over the top, but as I got to know Maya better, I began to understand her need for revenge a bit better. I liked Skye the best, she has such a good heart and seems to balance Maya’s cynicism really well. Jordy was horrible, but he made a good villain for the story.
I liked the behind-the-scenes of a dating show, and in this case, I thought it sounded very authentic. What I especially liked was the way the producers could easily change the narrative and the perceptions of the participants. It was very clear that the show participants didn’t have much input into how they were portrayed and how these types of shows can be easily manipulated in order to please the audience.
Recommendation: I highly recommend Never Ever Getting Back Together to anyone who enjoys YA romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
Counterfeit Courtship by Synithia Williams is the third book in her popular Heart & Soul series, but can easily be read as Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
Counterfeit Courtship by Synithia Williams is the third book in her popular Heart & Soul series, but can easily be read as a stand-alone book. I loved this fake dating story and now I need to go back and read the first two books in the series.
Story Recap: Tyrone Livingston is a ghost hunter and makes a paranormal television series with his brothers. Tyrone has always wanted to bring their TV show to the next level so when a family-oriented channel wants to pick up their show, Tyrone knows he needs to clean up his playboy reputation. But, when he gets caught kissing makeup artist, Kiera Fox, they both decide to fake date in order to save both of their reputations and ensure the television show gets picked up. But, will fake dating turn into more?
My Thoughts: I loved the inside look into making a show about ghost hunters. I would have liked more ghosts in the story, but it’s focused on the romance, as it should be. I loved Tyrone, as he’s such an outgoing and charming man and he loves his family so much and wants the show to succeed. Kiera is such a strong character and she knows what she wants in life and is willing to work hard to obtain it.
Both characters have issues with relationships and neither wants a real relationship, so fake dating is perfect for both of them. They both need to face some issues from their childhood in order to move on. And I loved the way they leaned on each other to help each other grow stronger. Their attraction was strong from the beginning, but they both have relationship fears.
Recommendation: I highly recommend Counterfeit Courtship for anyone who enjoys romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
A Love by Design by Elizabeth Everett is the third book in the author’s popular The Secret Scientists of London series. However, this can be read as aA Love by Design by Elizabeth Everett is the third book in the author’s popular The Secret Scientists of London series. However, this can be read as a stand-alone novel. My advice is to read the entire series as it’s all so much fun.
Story Recap: Margaret Gault returns to Athena’s Rest after working at her husband’s firm in Paris. Now, after his untimely death, Margaret’s father-in-law, won’t let her run the company. Margaret has plans to start England's first women-owned engineering company, but she faces opposition at every turn.
George Willis is now the Earl of Grantham, and he’s happy to see that Margaret has returned to London and Athena’s Rest. George and Margaret were friends as children, long before George became the Earl of Grantham. But, when Margaret gets commissioned to build a new project with his political archnemesis, his work to hurt his business rival, may destroy Margaret’s chances to be the first woman to design a tunnel under the Thames river.
My Thoughts: So far, this is my favorite book of the series. And it’s all about Lord Grantham, and his charming ways. He accepts Margaret’s intelligence and he knows she’s more intelligent than he is, but that doesn’t harm his ego one single bit. Margaret is a widow and doesn’t need the distraction of George, and besides, she can’t trust him because he broke her heart many years ago.
It’s clear that Margaret and George are meant to be together as they balance each other out. And they still love each other as they did when they were kids. Margaret is thoughtful and methodical, as you would expect an engineer to be. And she’s also very determined to own her own firm, but she has so many obstacles and has to make a decision that could hurt her friends at Athena’s Rest.
A Love by Design is heartwarming, exciting, humorous and just delightful. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
Recommendation: I highly recommend A Love by Design to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
The Man I Never Met by Elle Cook is an emotional and lovely romance between two people who meet because of a wrong number. It’s not a light romance, bThe Man I Never Met by Elle Cook is an emotional and lovely romance between two people who meet because of a wrong number. It’s not a light romance, but a deeply emotional story about the power of love.
Story Recap: Hannah is happy, living in London when she takes a phone call from a stranger, who accidentally dialed her phone. Davey, an American who lives in Austin, Texas was calling for a job interview in London, and accidentally calls Hannah. This chance encounter turns into a few texts between Hannah and Davey, and in the next few weeks, the texts eventually turn into phone calls and video calls.
When Davey finally flies to London for his new job, Hannah is very excited to finally meet him in person. They have fallen for each other over texts, and phone calls and they have plans for Hannah to show him around London. When Davey’s plane lands, and he doesn’t get off the plane, Hannah is confused and devastated. What caused Davey to stay in Austin? Will he ever move to England? Will Hannah and Davey ever get a chance to meet in person?
My Thoughts: The first part of this book is swoony and fun. I loved watching Hannah and Davey fall in love over texts, emails, and phone calls. They were so different, and yet they found so many things in common, and they share a delightful sense of humor too. They seem to be meant for each other.
Then came the middle of the book and it was so emotional and downright sad. I was still rooting for Davey and Hannah but it seems impossible that they can ever get together. The author wrote such a heartbreaking story, and yet I never gave up hope. It’s a true emotional roller coaster of a book. I was happy, smiling, laughing, sad, crying, and surprised. I loved these characters and their story.
Recommendation: I highly recommend The Man I Never Met to anyone who enjoys fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
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