Book Review – Page 109

Book Review – The Girl I Used To Be By Debbie Howells

Anna and Will have been passing in and out of each other’s lives since they were just teenagers.

Now 20 years later, Anna is married – she has a lovely house, a grown-up stepdaughter and a husband with a good job.

What she doesn’t have is joy. When she runs into Will it sparks something in her, a longing for the Anna she used to be.

Together they embark on a journey to find what brings them joy, to discard what doesn’t and to become the people they always wanted to be.

But in finding themselves, can they also find each other?

Published Date: 19 October 2022

My Review

Anna and Will reconnected and fate keeps bringing them together and yet circumstance make them being apart. Their timing was off for many years after their breakup. When they do run into each other it is usually after some major event which they do not share to each other which lead to the miscommunication between them.

This book is about second chance and living the life differently from the one that you are. This story is a slow romance with rollercoaster emotion on the play. The author did a good job in letting the reader to get the view of both of the characters at different timelines and their inner thoughts. The characters are well developed. Overall this is a lovely story to me.

My Rating

Book Review – Reasons Why Not To Date Your Nemesis By Melanie Munton

There’s a new sheriff in town…
And he’s her worst nightmare.

Reason #1: Ben Crawford is Olivia Knight’s long-time arch rival. They’ve been sworn enemies ever since she wore overalls to school one day, and he asked her in homeroom where she parked her cow. Now that he’s back, it doesn’t appear much has changed. He’s still arrogant. He’s still trouble. And this time, he’s got a badge and handcuffs. Which will make murdering him and disposing of his body much more challenging for her.

Reason #2: Sheriff Ben has done a lot of growing up during his time away from Shell Grove. He went and got himself some muscles and tattoos, and has the nerve to wear that sheriff’s uniform absurdly well. For some reason, that’s all she can seem to focus on whenever they cross paths. All the nice changes he’s made, instead of how vehemently she’s vowed to hate his guts for all eternity.

Reason #3: The complicated connection that has forever entwined their lives doesn’t have a pleasant backstory. As adults, they should be able to forget what happened when they were teenagers and move on. But in a small town where everyone has long memories, there are reminders everywhere of the nasty events that destroyed both of their families years ago. And she’s not sure their growing feelings for each other are enough to forgive the sins of the past and carve out a future…together.

Ben has a secret. A big one. The longer he’s in Shell Grove and surrounded by people who know his sordid history, the more likely that secret is going to come out. But if it does, Olivia will never speak to him again. Which will not do. Because he’s finally realized that Olivia is the reason why he came back to town in the first place. And if he doesn’t want to lose her forever, he needs to correct the mistakes he made a long time ago and prove he’s not the NEMESIS she’s always thought him to be.

Published Date: 4 October 2022

My Review

Ben and Olivia are rival in school who crossed path years later. When Ben’s father and Liv’s father fell in love and escaped while married to someone else leaving behind the children and partner, it is difficult for both Ben and Liv to live and face each other then. Now Ben is back in town as the town new sheriff, Liv need to learn to face him.

This is not just a simple enemies to lovers story. Both Ben and Olivia strive to prove themselves, he to right all the wrong and she to earn respects. Love their amazing batter and it lovely to see how their chemistry especially when they irritate each other and what trigger it. Overall it is an amazing read to me.

My Rating

Book Review – Christmas In The Little Irish Village By Michelle Vernal

Welcome to the little Irish village where Christmas celebrations are in full swing! Twinkling lights, cosy fires and big mugs of hot chocolate are in abundance as Shannon Kelly returns home to the Shamrock Inn. Will this be the year she finds the man of her dreams or is she destined to be forever unlucky in love?

Thirty-four-year-old Shannon is heartbroken following an unexpected break up. Seasonal joy is the last thing on her mind, as she wonders if she’ll ever find the kind of long-lasting love she’s always dreamed of. Even the comforting distractions of her big Irish family can’t cheer her up. Then things get even worse when Shannon slips over on the ice and finds herself red-faced in the arms of a gorgeous American man…

Despite the embarrassing encounter, Shannon can’t help wondering who the handsome stranger is. She soon finds out when James Cabot takes a room at the Shamrock Inn. Their second meeting is equally disastrous when she gives James the tour – without realising her skirt is tucked into her knickers! Shannon isn’t sure how she’s going to survive living under the same roof when she has such a talent for making a complete eejit of herself, and resolves to avoid their new guest at all costs.

But when Shannon discovers James is in Ireland because he’s claiming to be the long-lost grandson of her elderly neighbour, Maeve Doolin, she is immediately suspicious. Shannon has known kind Maeve since she was a little girl and feels protective of her, so she’s determined to find out the truth. Even if it means spending more time with James…

The two of them end up getting closer than she’d bargained for when they take a tour of Emerald Bay and end up snowed in together. But just as James begins to make Shannon’s heart melt with his cheeky grin and awful carol singing, a shocking secret threatens to shatter the growing romance between them.

Can Shannon trust James? And will she get the happily-ever-after she’s been hoping for this Christmas?

Published Date: 14 October 2022

My Review

Shannon is back with her family to stay after her breakup and whilst she is there, she met James who she have her doubt in his intention to visit her elderly friend. She decides to get to know James to discover his intention and soon, she found she is attracted to him.

This book is about family reunion with romance as secondary theme. There is drama and surprise secret which was revealed at the end. Love both Shannon and James’ character. It is a warm, cosy and touching story line and I enjoyed reading it.

My Rating

Book Review – The Prince’s Pregnant Secretary By Emmy Grayson

One night. One baby.

One royal wedding!

Though Clara Stephenson takes five different pregnancy tests, she’s still unprepared for the result: she’s carrying her royal boss’s baby! The last thing that Clara wants is to become Prince Alaric’s convenient princess when the painful memories of her previous relationship still remain.

Making Clara his bride is the only way for Alaric to save his heir from a scandal-filled childhood like his own. But when their honeymoon reminds Clara and Alaric of the desire that led them to the altar, will they realize that more than duty binds them?

Published Date: 25 October 2022

My Review

Clara is pregnant with her boss’ baby after they spend a night together. Alaric decide that they need to get married to avoid scandal it would bring to the kingdom. Alaric is fighting his attraction to Clara whilst Clara never once wanted Alaric to tie himself to her and their child.

The storyline is engaging and it was easy to get into the story and my attention throughout the whole book. Love the chemistry between Alaric and Clara and their sweet moment together. Overall it is a sweet read to me.

My Rating

Book Review – Loving Brooke By Elsa Winckler

Can two friends fake love or will their fake relationship end their real friendship?

Irritated by their families continued efforts to get them together, good friends widow Brooke Johnson and Gavin Wilson decide to fake a relationship for the next two weeks. But then Gavin kisses her, making her aware of the desires she’d suppressed for so long.

Suddenly, Brooke struggles to focus on finishing paintings for an upcoming exhibition and her simple life becomes way more complicated than before.

When a creepy gallery manager makes her life unpleasant, Gavin wants to take control of the situation and red lights flicker. Brooke had made a vow to handle her own problems rather than relying on someone. Her husband’s death had left her in the dark about finances. She couldn’t let Gavin take over but will their new romance stand up to her hands off attitude? Or will Brooke learn that it’s okay to lean on the ones you love sometimes?

But in the small town of Alisson, Montana, love will find a way.

Published Date : 11 October 2022

My Review

Brooke and Gavin are friend but when their family started to play Cupid to get them together, both of them decided to play pretend to be involved to each other to get their family off their back. Only it turns out they fall in love with each other without letting each other know.

This book has a great storyline that make you turning the pages and kept your attention throughout the book. Love both Brooke and Gavin, him being sweet and loving and Brooke, being so independent and stubborn in her own way. She know want she want. Overall it is a delightful read to me.

My Rating

Book Review – Lucky Streak By Tif Marcelo

I never thought I’d see her again. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right? But five years later, my casino fling is my new next-door neighbor.

A lot’s happened since we got acquainted in that hotel room. I finished out my military career, took a job with my estranged father, moved to the beach…the only thing that hasn’t changed is that Beatrice has always been on my mind. I can’t let her get away again. Lucky for me, she feels the same way.

Not so lucky, though, is our families’ business rivalry—and our resorts’ competition for the same property.

As much as I want to ride off into the sunset with Beatrice on the back of my bike, we want to make this work. And that means smoothing things out between our families.

If we thought finding each other after our night in Vegas was a long shot, this feud is about to give impossible a whole new meaning.

Published Date: 27 September 2022

My Review

Five year ago Beatrice and Jackson meet in Vegas and they spent the night together. Both of them has not really forget that night and then 5 years later, he discover she is his neighbor. He is back in the same as Beatrice as he is working got his father to buy property for their own. Unknown to him, Beatrice’s family and his father are rival and soon, he found out that her brothers are also bidding to buy the same property.

A second chance romance filled with family drama and its complexity and the interracial relationship. Loved seeing Beatrice and Jackson working on their relationship and remain true to themselves despite their family rivalry. Overall it is a fun read to me.

My Rating

Book Review – Snowflakes Over Primrose Woods By Jill Steeples

Winter has arrived in Primrose Woods bringing with it new loves, new adventures and warm hugs on cold days.

Abbey Carter, her boyfriend Sam and their trusty canine companion Lady, relish living in the picturesque village of Wishwell at the edge of their beloved Primrose Woods. The woods and the country park are full of activity as the festive season approaches.

Lizzie Baker is flat out at the Treetops café, serving all sorts of winter warmers, festive goodies and lashings of hot chocolate. And when her daughter and grandchildren arrive to stay, the run up to Christmas is set to be even more magical than she had expected.

Rhianna West has finally found the perfect man to fall in love with – if only Luke wasn’t moving away in the New Year.

As the snow falls on Primrose Woods, and the village of Wishwell sparkles with Christmas lights, could this be the year that every wish comes true for the three friends?

Published Date: 4 October 2022

My Review

Lizzy is happy with her work and her love, Bill. As Christmas is getting nearer, she found her daughter and grandchildren arrived at her doorstep, back to stay while waiting for her husband to join them. Sam and Abbey is happy together although they did hit a rough patch in their relationship throughout the story while Rhi who is excited and scared to start her own business, has secretly fallen in love with Luke. But Luke is moving away for a better job prospects after the holidays.

This is a story filled with romance and focus on family theme. The storyline flowed very well and I love the unexpected twists in the story. Love the community in Primrose Woods and all the character mentioned in the book sound so real to me. There is characters of all ages. This book is the second book in the series and I get to reconnect with the characters from the first book. Overall it is lovely read to me.

My Rating

Book Review – Someone Like You By Rachel Dove

Hannah leaves her unhappy marriage with her daughter Ava and moves to the village of Leadsham to start afresh. She plans to keep a low profile, focusing on Ava and making a new life for them, far away from her violent ex-husband.

What she hadn’t counted on was Andrew Brody. A police officer with a strict moral code, he knows something’s wrong as soon as he meets Hannah, and he wants to help. But Hannah has been let down by the police – and men – before, and pushes him away.

But the more Hannah tries to ignore Brody, the more she’s drawn to him. Caring, kind and patient, he’s nothing like the man she’s running from. Can Hannah finally put her past behind her, and open her heart to someone new?

Published Date: 21 September 2022

My Review

Hannah ran away with her daughter to a new town to start afresh without her husband who abused her. She plan to keep low profile and focus on her baby’s upbringing. She have to start from scratch without knowing a single soul in the town. She encountered Brody, a lone police officer with strong characters and from the start, Brody sense she is running and he want to help her. But Hannah, given her past, push him away at every corner.

The storyline is very engaging from beginning till the end and I love watching Hannah’s recovery from her past and found her happiness in the end. I love Ava, Hannah’s daughter and Bullet, Brody’s dog too. Overall it is an emotional read to me.

My Rating

Book Review – Twenty- One Nights In Paris By Leonie Mack

‘An utterly gorgeous romantic read. It made me want to pack my bags for Paris!’ Sandy Barker Irena and Sacha come from two very different worlds.

An heiress to a fortune, Ren’s home-from-home is the Ritz, while the handsome and brooding Sacha has grown up in Paris’s less salubrious suburbs. So when an accident brings them together, romance seems an unlikely outcome.

When Ren’s society engagement reaches a very public end, Irena’s over-protective grandmother wants her home in London. Ren needs an excuse to stay in Paris, and so after some persuasion, Sacha agrees to pose as her new boyfriend. But only for the twenty-one days Ren’s grandmother has allowed her to nurse her broken heart before heading home to face the music.

Over the course of three weeks, Ren realises the world outside her exclusive bubble is more beautiful than she could have imagined. While Sacha reluctantly begins to see the goodness of the woman behind the wealth. When their time is up, will Ren want to return to her gilded cage, and will Sacha be able to let go of the woman he’s been ‘pretending’ to fall in love with…

Published Date: 6 August 2022

My Review

Irena’s engagement reaches a public end and her over protective grandmother want her home but she wanted some times to explore and stay in Paris. Irena or best known as Ren met Sacha, she persuade him to be her new boyfriend for the 21 days before heading home and as they spent more time together they began to fall in love with each other.

I love both Sacha and Ren. Sacha had all the traits of a rough Parisian man while Ren is very sensitive and as the story progress her character grew in strength. The storyline is a mixture of fake relationship and forbidden love. Overall it was a good read to me.

My Rating

Book Review – Christmas Eve Cowboy By Diana Palmer, Delores Fossen & Kate Pearce

Snow is falling, and when it comes to love, so are these rugged, gorgeous cowboys, in a romantic holiday collection from three bestselling authors . . .

ONCE THERE WAS A LAWMAN * Diana Palmer
FBI agent Thomas Kincaid Jones has soured on love and Christmas, but Annalisa Davis could change all that. Except the lovely nurse isn’t looking to get involved with someone whose job requires a gun on his hip. And Tom has a case to solve that has nothing to do with love. Yet the spirit of the holidays just might spark a lifetime connection . . .

CHRISTMAS CREEK COWBOY * Delores Fossen
In Christmas Creek, Texas, folks go all out for the holidays, but Sheriff Calen Jameson is too busy commiserating about cheating exes with his best friend, Emmy Kendrick. Calen always thought their bond was too precious to risk, yet maybe it’s time to start making some changes . . . by firing up the heat with Emmy.

COMING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS * Kate Pearce
Lucy Smith thinks Santa has outdone himself when Caleb Erickson shows up at her B&B. In high school, Caleb was oblivious to her crush. But while they wait out a snowstorm, he’s discovering she may be the gift he never knew he wanted . . .

Published Date: 27 September 2022

My Review

Once there was a lawman by Diana Palmer tell the story of Thomas who is an FBI agent is in town to solve a murder case, met Annalisa who live next door to the motel that he is staying. He becomes friend w Annalisa and as time past, they become closer. However both of them are not interested in marriage..

Christmas creek cowboy by Delores Fossen is about two persons come together after a betrayal by their loved ones. Calen and Emmy found their fiancés together last year at Christmas and have spent the last year together together to come to term about the betrayal:

Christmas Eve Cowboy by Kate Pearce tell the story of Lucy and Caleb. Caleb is Lucy’s brother best friend and she has loved him for years. Caleb is back to town to see his father and to patch back whatever there is left of their relationship. As they found themselves in each other company, Caleb realised that his feeling for Lucy is no longer what it is used to be.

This is 3 short Christmas stories featuring cowboys / sheriff as the hero. These stories have the same theme I.e reunion stories and based on its title, it happen around the holiday. Overall i love all the individual stories.

My Rating