Review Card & Book Review – The Sawmill Book Club By Carolyn Brown

Unsure of the future but ready for risks, Libby O’Dell trades big-city life for whatever the back roads hold. In this case it’s the small community of Sawmill, Texas, where Libby’s taken a temporary job putting an antique store in order. Her new boss, Benny Taylor, a handsome charmer with a three-legged dog named Elvis, isn’t a bad change of scenery, either.

Across the street Benny’s surrogate grandmothers—the widows Minilee and Opal—are ready with homemade corn bread, sweet tea, and an invitation for Libby to join their book club. Even if it is mostly a gathering for local gossip and meddling. The ladies’ main agenda: find Benny a wife. Except Benny’s not looking, and Libby’s only passing through until she decides what direction she’s headed next.

Truth is, Sawmill is starting to feel pretty nice. Benny, even nicer. Time will tell if this meantime job in a stopover town is just what Libby’s been looking for—and where she belongs.

About The Author

My Review

It follows Libby, a young woman who takes a job at Benny’s antique store to find herself. Benny, having inherited the store from his grandfather, aims to revitalize the business. Libby bonds with two widows, Benny’s surrogate grandmothers, who form the Sawmill Book Club, which is more about gossip than books. While the title drew interest, the book club aspect is minor. The story is somewhat repetitive with a predictable ending and lacks plot twists, but Brown’s warm writing captures small-town life with humor and heart. “The Sawmill Book Club” by Carolyn Brown is a cozy, feel-good novel set in the small town of Sawmill, Texas.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Happy Publication Day – 7 January 2025

Beg, Borrow Or Steal By Sarah Adam

Maybe it’s time for a plot twist . . .

Emily Walker hates anyone disrupting her carefully curated life, especially her legendary nemesis, Jack Bennett – the exact opposite of the wonderful heroes she dreams up in her double life as a romance writer. But now Jack’s back in town after a failed engagement and he’s here to stay . . . as both her colleague and her neighbour.

Jack is glad to be back, eager to renovate his house and work on the next mystery novel under his bestselling pen name. Until, that is, he realises he’s now neighbours with the one woman who has always pushed his buttons.

With their red-hot animosity at an all-time high, Emily makes a mistake that could reveal her secret literary identity. Frustratingly, she needs Jack’s help to make it right. Will their unlikely alliance put an end to their rivalry? Or could it lead to a steamy plot twist they never saw coming?

Review Card & Book Review – The Grouchy One By Leslie North

They say that diamonds are a girl’s best friend. But the guy that sells those diamonds? My worst enemy.

It took me precisely 0.1 seconds to start hating Cameron O’Connor. I’m late to a job interview and it seems like kismet when a cab stops outside my apartment. Until the grumpiest, grouchiest, and most outrageously handsome suit-hole steals it. Of course, I get to my interview and who is behind the desk? “You’re late. Couldn’t find a cab?” This infuriatingly beautiful man makes my blood boil. So I’m completely justified when I tell him all the ways his company is messing up their current PR disaster. I wouldn’t touch this job—or the brutally chiseled bossbeast—with a ten-foot pole.

Until he offers me a number with more zeros than a box of donuts. Now I’m working alongside the bosszilla. Trying to keep the snark level to somewhere between brazen defiance and outright mutiny. If only he hadn’t hired that influencer to promote the company’s engagement rings. And if only she hadn’t announced that Cameron and I were hiding a secret romance. Now suddenly, our relationship is all anyone can talk about. Except there’s zero romance—we hate each other. To sell the story, we have to go on fake dates and fake being in love. Only at some point, I don’t have to pretend anymore. And I start thinking Cameron isn’t faking either. There’s no way I’m falling for my bosshole. Right?

About The Author

My Review

Felicity and Cameron’s story begins with a confrontation over a cab, leading to Felicity getting the ride after Cameron forgets his wallet. Felicity is on her way to a crucial job interview at Veritigue, where she impresses everyone but is delayed for her final interview with the CEO, Cameron, who turns out to be the man she clashed with earlier. Despite the tension, Cameron offers her the job, but she initially declines. Cameron, dealing with his company’s troubles and a friend’s personal issues, sees potential in Felicity’s ideas and eventually convinces her to join with a lucrative offer. Felicity proposes a PR campaign involving an influencer, Lucy Dubois, which leads to a misunderstanding about a fake engagement. This causes a fallout between Felicity and Cameron, impacting both their relationship and the company’s fortunes. Felicity, heartbroken, decides to leave, prompting questions about whether Cameron will realize his feelings for her and if she’ll give him another chance.

My Rating

Link To Purchase