November 2022 – Page 3

Happy Publication Day – 10 November 2022

A Christmas Wish By Lindsey Kelk

Newly single lawyer Gwen Baker is hoping that a family Christmas – countryside, a mountain of food and festive films –
will salve the sting of her career hanging by a thread and her heart being trampled on. Because everyone else has their life sorted: even Dev, her boy-next-door crush, is now a tall, dark and handsome stranger with a fiancée. She can’t help wishing her future was clearer.

Then Gwen wakes up to discover it’s Christmas day all over again. Like Groundhog Day but with turkey. And family arguments. On repeat.

As she figures out how to escape her own particular Christmas hell, Dev is the one bright spot. He might be all grown-up but underneath he’s just as kind and funny as she remembers.

Maybe, just maybe, her heart can be mended after all.

But how do you fall in love with someone who can’t remember you from one day to the next?

Savoring Christmas By Shanna Hatfield

He’s a former rodeo star who gave up his career to run the family ranch.

She’s an aspiring chef with a food truck, a dream, and no interest in another man coming along to ruin her plans.

Troy Lucas walked away from his winning rodeo career to run the family ranch after the death of his grandfather. Now, being a rancher, a farrier, and even team roping just for fun can’t seem to keep him satisfied. He didn’t think he’d miss his glory days in the rodeo when he came back home – in fact, there’s nowhere else he’d rather be. Still, he can’t deny the hole inside that keeps reminding him he’s longing for something . . . more.

Chef Lark Gibson has only one thing on her mind: opening a restaurant in Portland. Until that day comes, Lark will take her food truck to as many events as possible and make sure her customers are always begging for more. The last thing she expected was to find herself distracted by a knight in dusty Wranglers, until a handsome cowboy comes to her rescue and catches her off-guard.

Will the approaching Christmas season lead this hungry cowboy and ambitious chef to realize that what they think they want isn’t what they really need? Find out in Savoring Christmas, a sweet romance full of humor, heart, and holiday fun.

Review Card – Light Through The Vines By Fiona Valpy

Gina’s London life lies in tatters: she has lost her father, her steady job as a wine buyer and her suave but unfaithful boyfriend. When she also suffers the loss of her beloved aunt, a silver lining dawns in the shape of an unexpected legacy: Aunt Liz has left Gina her beautiful, if slightly ramshackle, house in the heart of Bordeaux wine country. With nothing left to lose, Gina takes a chance on a fresh start.

Throwing herself into her new life in the beautiful French countryside, Gina discovers the warmth of a close-knit—sometimes too close-knit—rural community and the exhausting exhilaration of the grape harvest under the late-summer sun. But just as she is beginning to feel like she belongs in her crumbling but charming home, she uncovers a long-hidden secret that makes her question the one person she used to trust the most. While she’s worrying that this is a sign to pack her bags and run, a storm blows a hole in the roof, and Gina finds herself with nowhere else to turn except her neighbour’s capable son for help.

Before long Gina finds herself admiring handsome Cédric for more than just his stonemasonry skills…But everyone she’s ever held dear has left her or betrayed her. And as the grapes ripen on the vine, can Gina find her way to forgiveness, and could it finally be time for her to open her heart to love again?

My Favourite Quote

Don’t let what you don’t know eat away at you. Life’s too short for that. Being able to let go is as important as it is difficult to do…try to get on with your life and try to remember them both with love.

About The Author

Fiona Valpy lives in France, having moved there from the UK in 2007. She left behind a career in Marketing and Public Relations to explore new avenues and now teaches yoga and writes.

Having renovated an old rambling farmhouse with her husband, she has developed new-found skills in cement-mixing and interior decorating, although her preferred pastime by far is wine-tasting.

Link to Purchase

Happy Publication Day- 8 November 2022

The Sandcastle Hurricane By Carolyn Brown

Cousins Tabby and Ellie Mae are due for a change. Running their aunt’s beachfront bed-and-breakfast in Sandcastle, Texas, is just the thing to shake things up…though their lives spin out of control in more ways than one when a hurricane barrels into the coastline. It’s a miracle it didn’t carry them off to Kansas. Not so lucky are the assisted-living center and a small eclectic group of local folks who take shelter with the cousins.

Two estranged sisters, rowdy as a circus, need a referee for a battle that goes back decades. And a pair of veterans, best friends for years, hash out bittersweet old times. There’s also handyman Alex LaSalle and his business partner, Ricky, experts at repairing the hurricane’s damage—and at making Tabby’s and Ellie Mae’s hearts beat a little faster.

As unpredictable, crowded, and stormy as it gets, the Sandcastle B and B is still the perfect harbor for healing past wounds, finding romance, and making up for lost time. Add in Tabby’s homemade pecan pie, and the Texas shore feels like a little slice of paradise.

A Second Chance In Valentine Valley By Emma Cane

Steph Brissette is inching back to life after losing her high school sweetheart husband in a tragic accident. Between her family, her work at the Sugar and Spice Bakery, and helping the Valentine Valley widows save an historic schoolhouse, her days are full. It’s only in her dreams that she revisits the accident – one that she can’t quite convince herself was not her fault.That is, until Jeremy Chen comes back to town.
Jeremy left Valentine for medical school and has now returned to take his place as the town’s new doctor. He first knew Steph as the bratty little sister of his best friend. Then, in one heartbreaking moment, she became the woman he saved – and the widow of the man he couldn’t help. Still searching for his new place in town, Jeremy now sees Steph as a desirable woman. But can she ever look at him without seeing everything she lost? The only certainty is that in a town called Valentine, love is always worth a second chance.

Just Say Yes By Maxine Morrey

Wedding planner Madeleine lives in a picture-perfect thatched cottage, in a picture-perfect English country village.

There’s only one problem – dream cottages take a lot of work, and with a leaking roof, and not enough money to pay for it, what Maddie needs now is a big wedding to plan.

So she’s delighted when she takes on the wedding of Californian heiress Peyton, to all-round good guy Patrick. She’s less delighted to find out that she’s going to have help – from the admittedly gorgeous, but equally maddening, tall, dark and handsome best man Lorcan.

The wedding is set to take place in a castle in rural Ireland, and so, in no time, Maddie and Lorcan are on their way to Ballalee. Life hasn’t always been easy for Maddie, and work has become her refuge. But soon the warmth and humour of Lorcan’s Irish family and friends start to chip away at Maddie’s walls. And as the big day approaches, it might be time for Maddie to focus less on her clients’ love life and more on her own…

Book Review – The Wedding Quilt By Jodi Thomas, Lori Wilde & Patience Griffin

THE SECRET WISH * Jodi Thomas
The little town of While-a-Way, Texas, may as well be named Last Chance as far as Avery Cleveland is concerned. Running her late great-grandmother’s quilt shop is the only way to build back her life after losing her dancing career. But local sheriff Daniel Solis is stunned by Avery’s beauty and spirit—and hopes to show her how to stitch brand-new dreams together . . .

WISH UPON A WEDDING * Lori Wilde
Ellie Winter’s sister is holding a quilting bee as her bachelorette party, creating a memory quilt for their grandmother. If only the event weren’t happening at the ranch where Ellie spent childhood summers, now owned by the man she can’t forget. Four days surely isn’t enough time to fall in love again . . . but what about four long, hot, summer nights?

WHEN YOU WISH UPON A QUILT * Patience Griffin
Paige Holiday’s last visit to the International Quilt Festival in Houston ended in heartbreak. It seems like all the women in her family are unlucky in love. So at this year’s festival, Paige is focused solely on business, until a gorgeous cowboy crosses her path, ready to turn her life—and her luck—around

Published Date : 30 August 2022

My Review

This is a trilogy stories from 3 authors.

The Secret Wish is a story about 2nd chances. Avery went back to her aunt’s quilt shop after given up her career as a world class ballerina. Unlike the other 2 stories, there is also a bit of mystery in the story.

Wish Upon A Wedding tell the story for second chance for love where Ellie return to a grief camp and met her first and only love. Dalton have never stopped loving Ellie and he did the only thing that he feel right for her. She is back in town now. Are they able to reconnect and rediscover their love?

When You Wish Upon A Quilt tell the story of Paige travelling around the world teaching quilting. She have a dream to design her own quilt but after her ex boyfriend steal her design, she kept this dream to herself until she met Holt at the quilting event. Paige have trouble in trusting people after the betrayal and Holt learnt the hard way that long distance relationship doesn’t work for him.

Overall these three stories are beautifully written, with love at first sight, 2nd chance in love and trust issue as a theme.

My Rating

Review Card – The Wedding Quilt By Jodi Thomas, Lori Wilde & Patience Griffin

My Favourite Quote

Stop running from life. The thing you need is right there in front of you, yet you can’t embrace it. Time is short. I know when you’re young it seems as if you have all the time in the world, but you don’t. Stop throwing away the best thing that ever happened to you

About The Authors

Jodi Thomas

Jodi Thomas is a proud fifth generation Texan, a reason why her books are all set in the state. She has her degree in Family Studies, with her original background in Marriage and Family counseling. In 2002, she was honored by Texas Tech University as a Distinguished Alumni. Her first novel, Beneath the Texas Sky, was published in 1988 and won the National Press Women’s Novel of the Year award.

Since then, Thomas has written many books, multiples of which have appeared on the New York Times and USA Today Best Sellers lists. She has won the Romance Writers of America prestigious RITA award four times and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2006 after her third win. Her latest novel, Just Down the Road, was number 15 on the New York Times Best Seller list. Thomas is a Writer in Residence at West Texas A & M University. When she isn’t writing, she and her husband enjoy traveling.

Lori Wilde

Lori Wilde is the author of over thirty-five books for three major New York publishers. Recently, she received a two-book contract from Warner Books based solely on a 25 word ‘high concept’ pitch. When the sale – along with the pitch – was announced on Publisher’s Marketplace, she was approached by eight film production companies interested in optioning her completed novel for a movie. She has been nominated for Romance Writers of America prestigious RITA award and is a four time nominee of the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award.

Patience Griffin

Patience Griffin grew up in a small town along the Mississippi River, living life in a close-knit community. She loves to quilt and has gained some recognition with her September 11th Story Quilt which has toured the country as the property of the Pentagon. With a masters degree in nuclear engineering, she’s a nerdy girl to the core, but loves to read books which make her laugh. She lives in Texas with a hyper Sheltie, a Bishon-poo and a bulimic stray cat.

Link to Purchase

Book Review – Quicksand By Janet Dailey

Tess Champion knows better than to trust Brock Tolman, the rancher who once swindled her late father in a land deal. But with the Alamo Canyon Ranch in foreclosure, Tess is forced to accept Brock’s offer of a partnership. Brock claims he only wants to breed the Champion bloodline into his own herd. In exchange, he offers Tess one of his own young bulls. Soon enough, Quicksand is the rising star of the rodeo circuit, which only proves Tess is better at picking bulls than she is men. Because she’s way too tempted to surrender to her attraction to Brock, despite her certainty he’s only out to steal her family ranch . . .

It’s not until the tycoon’s private plane crashes in the wilderness, stranding him with Tess, that the truth of their relationship will come out. The Champion family’s future is on the line, but it’s Tess’s heart that will take the hit if she’s fallen for the wrong man . . .

Published Date: 30 August 2022

My Review

Tess is being very conscious of Brock and his intention to help her when he is a nemesis of her family. Everyone including of herself know that he have the intention to expand his holding of asset. She could not understand why would he want to help her to the extend of offering her a choice of bull from his farm. Everyone warned her taking the impulsive Quicksand with its bad attitude but Tess saw something in him. There was attraction between Tess and Brock but she aware that she should not have give in as she can’t trust him. There are strange things happening between them, Brock begin to suspect it has something to do with Tess.

It is a suspense romance filled with dangerous mystery evolved around Tess and Brock. And as the layers peeled away, I become engrossed in the story and there was a twist to the story in the end. I love Brock’s story and both Tess and Brock is a strong character. Love reading how their relationship developed. Overall, it is a quick read for me and I enjoyed the drama and romance between Tess and Brock.

My Review

Review Card – Quicksand By Janet Dailey

About The Author

Janet Anne Haradon was born on May 21, 1944 in Storm Lake, Iowa, U.S.A. She always wanted to be a writer and loved books. Her three elder sisters often read to her when she was good. By the age of four, she had her own library card. She studied with the Class of 1962 in the Jefferson High School,Independence, Iowa and she attended Secretarial school in Omaha, Nebraska.

In 1963, she went to work at the construction firm owned by Bill Dailey, her future husband, who was fifteen years her senior. The two continued to work together, often spending 17 hours a day, seven days a week at work. They worked for 10 years before “retiring” to travel around the country in 1974.

Janet wrote her first novel, “No Quarter Asked” in 1974 after her husband urged her to back up her claim that she could write a better romance novel than the ones she had read. The book was accepted by Harlequin, making her the category romance giant’s first American author. Her 57 novels for Harlequin included one written in every state of the Union, and later became known as “The Janet Dailey Americana Series.”

The Daileys were instrumental in forming the Silhouette romance fiction line, for which Janet wrote 12 more titles before entering the mass market field in 1979 with “Touch the Wind,” which marked her debut on the New York Times best seller list.

In 1984, Janet entered the mainstream hard cover market with “Silver Wings,Santiago Blue.” Currently there are over 325 million copies of her novels in print throughout the world, with translations in 19 languages, in 98 countries.

Link To Purchase

Book Review – Christmas Miracles At Hedgehog Hollow By Jessica Redland

It’s the countdown to Christmas at Hedgehog Hollow Wildlife Rescue Centre, and everyone is gearing up for a festive season to remember…
It should be the most wonderful time of the year for Samantha and Josh as they prepare for the arrival of their first baby. But life at Hedgehog Hollow rarely goes to plan and the pair are faced with adversaries, old and new, and unexpected challenges to overcome.

Fizz’s job at the heart of the rescue centre is a dream come true but her personal life is more like a nightmare. With her love life a disaster and her past about to dramatically catch up with her, she needs the love and support of her Hedgehog Hollow family more than ever

Published Date: 6 September 2022

My Review

Samantha is due to have her first baby with Josh is busy preparing for Christmas and a charity fair. Their center has also expanded to accept other animals.

Fizz, one of the stalwarts at the Hedgehog rescue center is a bubbly character. But she carried a secret for so many years until the person that cause so much grief is returning home. Fizz’s turmoil come to surface and the nightmares that she is having as she builds up her confidant to tell her parent is too great for her. Fizz also having a complicated relationship with Yasmin and she is not sure of her relationship anymore.

This is the last book of the series and indeed it ended with a bang! It had love, laughter and tears with full drama, emotion and more animals in the center. It is a sweet yet sad for me to review this final book as I became emotional attached to the characters and will definitely miss them and the lovely hedgehogs.

My Rating

Review Card- Christmas Miracles At Hedgehog Hollow By Jessica Redland

About The Author

Jessica Redland was born in Teesside but now lives on the stunning North Yorkshire Coast which inspired the creation of the fictional seaside town of Whitsborough Bay where she sets all her books.

She lives with her husband, daughter, Sprocker Spaniel and is a self-confessed stationery addict. She loves chocolate, although it doesn’t love her, 80s music, collectible teddy bears and lighthouses.

Her dream is to be able to write full-time one day but, until then, she has a day job as an HR Tutor and tries to balance her time – usually unsuccessfully – between that and writing.

Link To Purchase

Happy Publication Day – 1 November 2022

Once Upon A Royal Christmas By Teri Wilson

She pretends to be a princess at children’s parties.

But can she melt a real prince’s frosty heart?

Get swept away by a Christmas story from Hallmark

and bestselling author Teri Wilson—

the queen of royal romance!

“I’m Prince Nikolas of San Glacera. Oh, you’ve never heard of us? Well, you’re not the only one. Our country relies on winter tourism, but we’re attracting fewer and fewer visitors. I admit it’s a problem. I just don’t think the solution is an American who likes to play dress-up.

You see, while I was away on a trip, my younger sister convinced the palace to hold a contest. The winner gets to star in our annual Ice Village festivities and accompany our royal family to holiday events.

And who did they choose? Gracie Clark, who runs a children’s party business and performs as—I kid you not—‘Princess Snowflake.’

Of course, I do respect the fact that she volunteers at children’s hospitals. I suppose to some, she might have a certain charm… But the whole cheap spectacle is beneath our dignity.

I’m not going to shirk my duty to my kingdom. I’ll go to every event with her. At least, once Christmas is over, she’ll be gone…”

The Cowboy Christmas Charm By Ciara Knight

Colt Whitworth has no desire to take over the family business. To escape his father’s disappointment he joins the Billionaire Bad Boys club where he jet sets to Wyoming and hides out on a secluded ranch.

Jilted bride, Saige McKinnie abandons her life after realizing she has turned into the one person she never wanted to be—her father. A man who only cares about money and never family. To feel closer to her mother, she heads to the family ranch in hopes of connecting with her past by unraveling the story of her most beloved possession from her mother, the Cowboy Christmas Charm.

The ranch is in shambles, but with no purpose in life, Colt decides to pose as a homeless ranch hand. He soon discovers he’s found a new passion for the lifestyle and for Saige. But when she discovers he’s a rich playboy can she forgive the lie and the realization he’ll never live up to the legend of the Cowboy Christmas Charm?

How to Kiss Your Grumpy Boss By Jenny Proctor

Perry Hawthorne is my boss. Only my boss. And I do NOT have a crush.

When one of THE Hawthorne brothers—known by their chiseled jawlines and their family-run farm and event center—hires me to be his virtual assistant, I do everything I can to keep him firmly in the work zone.

His grumpy demeanor helps.

His smoking hot profile picture does not.

But even if I do have a crush (a very tiny one), I can’t catch real feelings for a million different reasons.

Besides the whole business part of our relationship, I’m a single mom. I have to think about what’s best for my son, Jack. And my grumpy, divorced, humorless boss isn’t exactly giving me “ready to be a stepdad” vibes.

When Perry upgrades me from virtual to in-person assistant, I wonder if I’ve gotten him all wrong. He’s actually pretty great with Jack. And with me? Let’s just say the chemistry crackling between us might vaporize all my reasons for keeping my distance.

Trouble is, after his messy divorce, I’m not sure Perry’s ready to bet on a new relationship. But it isn’t just my heart that’s on the line. It’s Jack’s, too. And after everything we went through before my husband died, I’m not sure that’s a gamble I’m ready to take, no matter how desperate Jack is for a daddy.