Monthly Archives: August 2023

Happy Publication Day -31 August 2023

The Gingerbread Christmas Village By Kiley Dunbar

Everyone deserves a Christmas treat…

The annual Wheaton gingerbread exhibit (a model village made of gingerbread) and grotto has been an important part of the sleepy Cotswold hamlet’s Christmas celebrations for decades.

For years the gingerbread exhibition drew visitors from across the region and each year the model town grew more elaborate and ambitious but recently, interest has been dwindling. The gingerbread grotto needs to be rehomed or close forever.

Sixty-four-year-old Margi, the event’s founder, has had enough of village life (and its total lack of eligible men) and is planning to sell up and head to Birmingham to live closer to her niece.

She has lost her spark and her Christmas spirit and decides this will be her last gingerbread village, but despairs when she finds her only support is her old friend, Izzy, her niece Lucy from Birmingham, and Fern, the shy young farmer’s daughter. Oh, and Patrick, the gorgeous, reliable school caretaker.

As if this wasn’t enough, Lucy is determined to get her out dating again and persuades her to try some online dating apps but Margi’s had her heart broken too many times and wonders if she has just missed her chance.

Can they save the Gingerbread Grotto and can Margi get her old spark and her Christmas spirit back?

Protecting Mandy By Leslie North

Even an ace mechanic can’t repair a broken heart…

When Mandy’s father died he left her alone, heartbroken, and buried in crippling debt to an unscrupulous bookie. Now, Mandy’s the proud owner of an auto repair business whose only other mechanic just quit. Things couldn’t get any worse. Until former Navy SEAL Chance McCallister, the man who broke her heart when they were teens, walks through her door. He’s looking to help, and even hotter than she remembers. She’d be crazy to hire him as her new mechanic.

And she’d be even crazier to fall in love with him again…

Chance knows Mandy’s in trouble. And even though he doesn’t want to get involved, he just can’t stop those feelings flooding his heart, the same way they did when he was a kid. Nothing has changed… Except Mandy is even more beautiful, more fierce, more everything. But he’s not going down that road again. One messy breakup is enough. He’ll protect her. He’ll put his life on the line. And he’ll do what he can to keep her safe.

But this time, he’ll protect his own heart as well…

Book Review – The SEAL’s Hookup By Leslie North

Romance and risk go hand in hand when a Navy SEAL’s unborn child is threatened…

Navy SEAL Jonathan Winter and DEA Agent Tabitha Andrews have a long history together. And it’s about to get longer. Tabitha is determined to clear Jonathan’s name after a mission gone wrong. But her case just hit a bump in the road… a baby bump.

The two shared one night of passion—and now Tabitha is in a fight against time. She’s the only one who believes Jonathan is innocent, so she has to keep working the case. And she won’t be allowed to do that if her superiors learn she’s pregnant with the gorgeous Navy SEAL’s child.

Jonathan’s upbringing tells him marriage is the only option when he learns Tabitha is pregnant. And when he realizes her life may be in danger thanks to the investigation, keeping Tabitha—and his unborn child—safe becomes his only goal.

They decided years ago that a relationship between them couldn’t last. But working together to solve a deadly puzzle may send this headstrong couple in a direction neither anticipated…

Published Date: 9 March 2023

My Review

Jonathan and Tabitha share a complicated history. Jonathan is a Navy SEAL, while Tabitha works as a DEA Agent. When their team faces internal betrayal, Tabitha becomes their best hope in clearing Jonathan’s name through her investigation. However, her discovery of being pregnant with Jonathan’s child prevents her from assisting him. Now, both she and the baby are potential targets, and Jonathan must ensure their safety. This well-crafted and captivating story revolves around a suspenseful romance, featuring strong chemistry between the main characters. As they work together to solve the puzzle of their case, their personal relationship begins to unravel. Overall, it is an engaging and enjoyable read.

My Rating

Review Card – The SEAL’s Hookup By Leslie North

Romance and risk go hand in hand when a Navy SEAL’s unborn child is threatened…

Navy SEAL Jonathan Winter and DEA Agent Tabitha Andrews have a long history together. And it’s about to get longer. Tabitha is determined to clear Jonathan’s name after a mission gone wrong. But her case just hit a bump in the road… a baby bump.

The two shared one night of passion—and now Tabitha is in a fight against time. She’s the only one who believes Jonathan is innocent, so she has to keep working the case. And she won’t be allowed to do that if her superiors learn she’s pregnant with the gorgeous Navy SEAL’s child.

Jonathan’s upbringing tells him marriage is the only option when he learns Tabitha is pregnant. And when he realizes her life may be in danger thanks to the investigation, keeping Tabitha—and his unborn child—safe becomes his only goal.

They decided years ago that a relationship between them couldn’t last. But working together to solve a deadly puzzle may send this headstrong couple in a direction neither anticipated…

About The Author

Link To Purchase

Happy Publication Day – 29 August 2023

Frenemies With Benefits By Lydia Sharp

If there was an award for Least Able To Function Around Cute Boys, Jess Webster would clean up. She can barely talk to a guy, let alone engage in naked things. But now that high school is over, Jess resolves to put her big-girl pants on and at last bang.. eh hem bag the longtime object of her desire, Andrew. All she needs is someone to practice on first.

Enter Benjamin Oliver. Jock hot, nerd hot (which is just greedy, really), star quarterback, and all-around pain in Jess’s ass. While Jess would rather nap on a nest of fire ants than be his girlfriend, there’s still something about him that sends a jolt through her stomach, making him her best (and only) candidate for her guy game glow-up.


With summer in full swing and not one but two cute boys on the horizon, Jess is pretty sure she’s on the winning side of the bargain. But can her deal with Benjamin stay purely business-with-pleasure? And, the question that Jess soon can’t ignore: does she want it to?

One Christmas Eve By Shari Low

Three women, three decades, three Christmas Eve moments that change their lives forever.

On Christmas Eve, 1968, Cathy McLean receives a surprise visit from the lost love of her life and is forced to choose between the one that got away and the one that stayed.

On Christmas Eve, 1993, Cathy’s daughter Helena is overjoyed to hear that her boyfriend is about to propose, until a devastating encounter threatens to bring her heartbreak instead of diamonds.

On Christmas Eve 2023, a shocking discovery rocks Eve Quinn’s world. The only gift Eve wants this year is the truth. But will it take a Christmas miracle to unravel generations of secrets?

Book Review – Faking It With The Grump By Kate O’Keeffe

Harper
It’s one thing to be dumped by the huge Hollywood star you thought you were going to marry. It’s quite another to move back to the small town you’re both from.

As a booby prize for being shown the door by Dex Ryder, everyone is trying to set me up with their son, their nephew, or their long-lost cousin’s gardener. Either that or they’re throwing me pitying looks that say, “You’re a big loser.”

I’m not going to put up with their patronizing sympathy anymore.

So, when I spot new-guy-in-town Christopher Young, I set out to make him mine. Or you know, pretend to make him mine. I’m still in a horrible funk over Dex, and Christopher is an uptight grump. Not exactly my type.

The fact that despite appearances, he’s gorgeous and doing weird things to my blood pressure doesn’t mean a thing.

Really.

Not. A. Thing.

Christopher
Hunter’s Creek, population next to nothing, is the reason I work all the time. I’m solely focused on buying the town’s lumber mill so I can go back to NYC and get my big promotion. This small town is a means to an end. Nothing more.

That is until the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen superglues her lips to mine in an unexpected and very public way. She’s not the kind of woman I usually go for with her boho dress and ankle boots, but that kiss…

I’m disappointed when she comes up for air and tells me it’s all for show. But if Harper Cole wants me to be her fake boyfriend while I’m here in town, who am I to turn her down? Being attached to a local might ingratiate me to the townsfolk and make my job that much the easier.

After all, dating Harper can only be make believe. Not when my entire future is at stake.

Published Date: 14 March 2023

My Review

Harper, a lively and enthusiastic teacher, finds herself heartbroken after being dumped by her childhood sweetheart. Returning to Hunter’s Creek, a community where she is adored yet pitied due to a viral video, she strives to project strength and avoid the sympathetic gazes of those around her. On the other hand, Christopher, a high-powered city lawyer, visits the town with a specific objective in mind, focused primarily on his work and maintaining a strict demeanor. In an effort to fend off the pitying looks from friends and family, Harper impulsively claims to be dating someone—none other than Christopher himself. Surprisingly, Christopher agrees to this ruse, recognizing that pretending to date a local may alleviate suspicions about his true purpose in town.

This book delves into the intricacies of a fake relationship within a close-knit community, set against an incredible backdrop. The main characters, Harper and Christopher, couldn’t be more different from each other. Harper is gentle, intelligent, and selfless, often putting others’ needs before her own. In contrast, Christopher is gruff, adhering to rules, and guarded when it comes to matters of the heart. The dynamic banter and chemistry between them are truly captivating. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, finding it to be a delightful experience.

My Rating

Happy Publication Day – 28 August 2023

Fairytale Of New York By Zoe Folbigg

Thirty-two-year-old Charlie Brown has a plane to catch.

As Christmas approaches, she is New York bound, to be reunited with boyfriend Harry after work has kept them apart.

But once she lands, Harry is nowhere to be found…

There’s no hand-drawn sign with her name being brandished at the gate. No answer from Harry’s phone. And all at once, Charlie’s worst fears come true.

What has happened to Harry? And what should Charlie do now that she’s an ocean away from home?

As Charlie slowly comes to terms with her predicament, she makes a decision. She’s not leaving New York without finding out the truth, and with a little help from her handsome new friend Pete, there might still be a path to happily-ever-after…

Review Card- Faking It With The Grump By Kate O’Keeffe

Harper
It’s one thing to be dumped by the huge Hollywood star you thought you were going to marry. It’s quite another to move back to the small town you’re both from.

As a booby prize for being shown the door by Dex Ryder, everyone is trying to set me up with their son, their nephew, or their long-lost cousin’s gardener. Either that or they’re throwing me pitying looks that say, “You’re a big loser.”

I’m not going to put up with their patronizing sympathy anymore.

So, when I spot new-guy-in-town Christopher Young, I set out to make him mine. Or you know, pretend to make him mine. I’m still in a horrible funk over Dex, and Christopher is an uptight grump. Not exactly my type.

The fact that despite appearances, he’s gorgeous and doing weird things to my blood pressure doesn’t mean a thing.

Really.

Not. A. Thing.

Christopher
Hunter’s Creek, population next to nothing, is the reason I work all the time. I’m solely focused on buying the town’s lumber mill so I can go back to NYC and get my big promotion. This small town is a means to an end. Nothing more.

That is until the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen superglues her lips to mine in an unexpected and very public way. She’s not the kind of woman I usually go for with her boho dress and ankle boots, but that kiss…

I’m disappointed when she comes up for air and tells me it’s all for show. But if Harper Cole wants me to be her fake boyfriend while I’m here in town, who am I to turn her down? Being attached to a local might ingratiate me to the townsfolk and make my job that much the easier.

After all, dating Harper can only be make believe. Not when my entire future is at stake.

About The Author

USA TODAY Bestselling Author Kate O’Keeffe writes exactly what she loves to read: laugh-out-loud romantic comedies with swoon-worthy heroes and gorgeous feel-good happily ever afters. She lives and loves in beautiful Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand with her family and two scruffy dogs. When she’s not penning her latest story, Kate can be found hiking up hills (slowly), traveling to different countries, and eating chocolate. A lot of it.

Link To Purchase

Book Review – The Winning Tickets By Judith Keim

Sometimes magic happens…

Gabby Willets returns to her hometown of Ellenton, NY, to care for her father, who’s dying of cancer. She and her father are exceptionally close because her mother died giving birth to her in a situation that should never have happened. As Gabby was growing up, she and her father shared a love of cars and even participated in a few races. Her father suggests she work at the Dan Davis Lexus Dealership, where he has been head mechanic for years, and Gabby decides to do it. When a contest is announced with the prize of two tickets for a 10-day Caribbean cruise for the salesperson selling the most cars in a two-month period, Gabby goes for it, competing against the owner’s son, Hank.

Gabby wins the tickets, and she and her best friend, Jessica Knight, board the ship, Tropical Magic, hoping for some magic of their own. The cruise is full of surprises starting with Hank’s arrival with Ashley Phillips, the woman he’s been dating—a woman both Gabby and Jess detest with good cause. Though Hank and Gabby have been attracted to one another, they don’t act on it because dating someone you work with seldom works, and Gabby doesn’t want to lose her job. But as Gabby and Hank get to know one another, magic does happen and suddenly they’re faced with different choices.

Surprises continue, including the most touching surprise of all when Gabby and Hank discover more than a cruise was at stake.

Published Date: 8 March 2023

My Review

This is the tale of Gabby and Hank, two individuals acquainted for years who both work as car salespeople at the local Lexus dealership. Their ongoing competition intensifies as they vie for the grand prize: a luxurious cruise for two. Gabby, raised solely by her father following her mother’s passing during childbirth, returned from New York City to her small hometown to care for her terminally ill father. Hank, on the other hand, is the son of the dealership owner, and his relationship with his father only developed after he moved back to town. Although a mutual attraction existed between Gabby and Hank, they never pursued it due to the dealership’s strict no-dating policy. Gabby intends to bring her best friend, Jessica, on the cruise if she wins, while Hank plans to bring his new girlfriend. In a surprising turn of events, Gabby emerges victorious, only to discover Hank and his girlfriend in the neighboring cabin once aboard the cruise ship named Tropical Magic.

Prepare for an engaging and humorous romantic tale that will keep you hooked with its unexpected turns. The characters in this story are authentic and remarkably well-crafted. The plot is meticulously planned, captivating readers from the very beginning. These characters possess depth, and despite my initial reservations, I couldn’t help but fall in love with Hank. All in all, this book provided me with an enjoyable reading experience that I highly recommend.

My Rating

Happy Publication Day – 26 August 2023

Love Blossoms At Puddleduck Farm By Della Galton

How can life be too busy for love?

Phoebe Dashwood is living the dream. She’s running her own successful vet practice, Puddleduck Vets, alongside her grandmother’s animal sanctuary.

She’s also dating the gorgeous, yet slightly broken Rufus Holt, the most eligible bachelor in the New Forest. 
So why isn’t she blissfully happy?

Both Phoebe and Rufus are consumed 24/7 by their own commitments. Their relationship is always last on the list. 
Phoebe juggles quirky, yet demanding clients and their pets whilst widowed Rufus is consumed by his anxieties, responsibilities of fatherhood and the unenviable tasks of being a Lord in waiting with a huge estate to manage.

Phoebe knows that when you’re a vet, there isn’t always a happy ending. But will there be a happy ending for Phoebe, Rufus and everyone else at Puddleduck Farm?
Is it ever really possible to have it all?

Review Card – The Winning Tickets By Judith Keim

Sometimes magic happens…

Gabby Willets returns to her hometown of Ellenton, NY, to care for her father, who’s dying of cancer. She and her father are exceptionally close because her mother died giving birth to her in a situation that should never have happened. As Gabby was growing up, she and her father shared a love of cars and even participated in a few races. Her father suggests she work at the Dan Davis Lexus Dealership, where he has been head mechanic for years, and Gabby decides to do it. When a contest is announced with the prize of two tickets for a 10-day Caribbean cruise for the salesperson selling the most cars in a two-month period, Gabby goes for it, competing against the owner’s son, Hank.

Gabby wins the tickets, and she and her best friend, Jessica Knight, board the ship, Tropical Magic, hoping for some magic of their own. The cruise is full of surprises starting with Hank’s arrival with Ashley Phillips, the woman he’s been dating—a woman both Gabby and Jess detest with good cause. Though Hank and Gabby have been attracted to one another, they don’t act on it because dating someone you work with seldom works, and Gabby doesn’t want to lose her job. But as Gabby and Hank get to know one another, magic does happen and suddenly they’re faced with different choices.

Surprises continue, including the most touching surprise of all when Gabby and Hank discover more than a cruise was at stake.

About The Author

Judith Keim, A USA Today Best Selling Author, is a hybrid author who both has a publisher and self-publishes. Ms. Keim writes heart-warming novels about women who face unexpected challenges, meet them with strength, and find love and happiness along the way, stories with heart. Her best-selling books are based, in part, on many of the places she’s lived or visited and on the interesting people she’s met, creating believable characters and realistic settings her many loyal readers love.

She enjoyed her childhood and young-adult years in Elmira, New York, and now makes her home in Boise, Idaho, with her husband and their two dachshunds, Winston and Wally, and other members of her family.

While growing up, she was drawn to the idea of writing stories from a young age. Books were always present, being read, ready to go back to the library, or about to be discovered. All in her family shared information from the books in general conversation, giving them a wealth of knowledge and vivid imaginations.

Link To Purchase