Happy Publication Day – 18 January 2024

Just Do It By Maxine Morrey

Lizzie Rose knows what she likes and likes what she knows. 

Her role at the London Museum is more than a job, it’s her safe place and her passion. So when Lizzie is passed over for a chance in a lifetime opportunity in favour of her ex-boyfriend and fellow Egypt nerd Friedrich Klein, her heartbreak over their relationship pales into insignificance compared to her sadness at losing the project.

Best friend Colette thinks an evening of cocktails is just the medicine for a broken heart, and meeting dashing, charming, but very much ‘not her type’ Finn Bryson at the bar puts a smile on Lizzie’s face too. But Lizzie isn’t used to spending time outside of her comfortable world of academia and doesn’t believe in mixing business with pleasure. So when Finn’s job brings him to the museum, she’s determined to put an end to any notion of romance between them.

But what if Lizzie’s comfort zone isn’t that comfortable any more? Is it time for Lizzie to take the chance on love that fate keeps bringing her way – even if it means changing the habits of a lifetime?

Stand Up Guy By Nina Kaye

Dumped by Instagram post. Not a whiff of a social life. Can it get any worse?

After a string of failed relationships – romantic and platonic – Lea’s had enough of watching life happen without her. When she bumps into Shep, a comedian at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in need of accommodation, it feels like destiny. And voilá – Lea now has a lodger and some company.

The two get on like a flat on fire, and Lea can’t resist falling for outgoing Shep. But she knows it’s a mistake that will cost her heart – he’s just another guy passing through, after all. And with Shep’s stand up routine edging him closer to his big break, there’s no way he’ll stick around.

Love is no laughing matter as the Fringe draws to a close. Can Lea find the confidence to step up and confess her feelings to Shep? Will he want to stay?

Exposed By Leslie North

Undercover desire…

On leave while recovering from a bullet wound, Navy SEAL Eric Harvey is going stir-crazy. So when a buddy asks him to help his journalist sister go undercover to expose crimes at a couples retreat, Eric is all in. But he’s about to get more excitement than he bargained for. Beth, the journalist, is smoking hot and completely irresistible.

Beth Williams is desperate. She needs a fake husband fast. She’ll even take Eric, a Navy SEAL like her big brother. But she won’t allow anything to come between her and her career… Not even the smoldering attraction growing between her and Eric.

Right from the start, it’s clear that something is very wrong at this resort. As the danger mounts, Eric realizes that both his life and his heart are at risk. Beth has made it clear that when she’s done with her story, she’ll be done with Eric too.

Book Review – No Cooldown For Love By Aliyah Burke

When ex-pro basketball player Mitchell Anderson sees an overturned car on the edge of a cliff during a nasty snowstorm, he knows he has only minutes to rescue the woman trapped inside. What he’s not expecting is their instant attraction, or that she can deliver one hell of a pick-up line even under the most terrifying of circumstances.

Hope Roman’s entire life is on the edge. She’s already overwhelmed with grief and upset, and nearly dying is pretty much the icing on a terrible, soggy cake. So it’s just her luck that she’s suddenly snowbound at a charming little inn with the hottest, yet down right grumpiest, man she’s ever met. And naturally, there’s only one room left.

Now the pillow barrier between them keeps disappearing. And the walls are coming down. But Hope knows she doesn’t belong in Mitchell’s world any more than he belongs in hers. The question is whether either of them can trust the other long enough to play for keeps…

Published Date: 26 June 2023

My Review

In “Cool Down For Love,” Mitchell, a former NBA player, has grappled with the consequences of his fame and crosses paths with Hope, a scientific journalist coping with the recent loss of her father figure. Their paths converge at an inn, where the foundations of their love story are laid. Mitchell’s character exhibits various imperfections, primarily rooted in his preconceived notions about people, while Hope’s own faults encompass her proclivity for keeping her emotions guarded. As their narrative unfolds, both characters undergo significant growth, evolving into more resilient and self-aware individuals. Their love story, marked by its chaotic yet therapeutic nature, is driven by their mutual determination to better themselves. “Cool Down For Love” presents an enticing concept, incorporating many of the romance tropes I typically cherish, such as the one-bed scenario, forced proximity, and a celebrity romance.

My Rating