Book Review – Page 128

Book Review – Be Your Everything By Catherine Bybee

With two protective older brothers and a traditional Catholic Italian mother, it’s surprising that Chloe D’Angelo can manage a date without someone in the family naysaying her romantic choice. And Dante Mancuso…oh, no. Her brother’s best friend is not a dating-app right swipe.

But when they are left unsupervised on a late night in Vegas, all of that changes. Add in a Vegas wedding chapel and a couple of “I dos” and Chloe wakes up with a ring on her finger and a hangover. Dating Dante was always a secret desire, but marriage? The rift that this news would cause in her family has both of them keeping their nuptials to themselves as they scramble to undo their Vegas mistake.

Dante knew the rules: Chloe was off-limits. Only, he can’t stop once his mind starts to believe she might be his forever. Just as their attraction deepens, Chloe flees to Bali, desperate to clear her head.

All Dante has to do is keep her brothers from killing him and convince Chloe that they are meant for each other. But first, Dante has to find her.

Published Date: 15 November 2022

My Review

Chloe has crush in Dante for a long time and she convince herself she is not. Dante know Chloe is off limits because she is his best friend’s sister, but he could not help himself in Vegas. They end up drunk and Dante is not sure how it happened, but he married Chloe. They realise it was a mistake the next morning but it was too late to do anything. When their families find out about the wedding, they begged them to stay out of it and let them handle things their own.

A delightful, funny and adorable story to me. The storyline is mix of love, heartbreak, family ties and drama. Love both Dante and Chloe for their great chemistry and endearing characters.

My Rating

Book Review – Resting Scrooge Face By Meghan Quinn

After a bad breakup, Nola wants nothing to do with Christmas, especially in her quaint hometown of Bright Harbor, Maine. Infuriatingly charming and cheery, Nola’s surroundings only worsen her sour mood.

To make matters worse, Caleb, the boy who broke her heart years ago, is all grown up and still living in town. While doing her best to avoid him, Nola bumps into the local mailman, who gives her a mysterious letter. And when she finds that the writer is a fellow Scrooge, she can’t help but feel her spirit lifting.

Nola writes back to her new pen pal—who, unbeknownst to Nola, is none other than Caleb. When Caleb gets a response hand delivered by the mailman, he’s intrigued by the mystery sender. A friendly correspondence develops—and quickly turns flirtatious.

Although Nola and Caleb claim they can’t stand each other, they can’t deny the simmering attraction that brought them together in the first place.

Can these nameless pen pals write their own love story—or will they be too caught up with the ghosts of their Christmases past to find a future together?

Published Date: 29 November 2022

My Review

Nola and Caleb was previously a couple but they part way due to lack of communication. Now, Nola was dumped by her boyfriend and move back to her hometown to stay at her parent’s home and restore it. Caleb now runs his hardware store, is feeling lonely and frustrated. His feeling is expressed in his writing which he refer himself as Resting Scrooge Face. With the mailman’s help, both Nola and Caleb become pen pals without knowing who they are writing to, with Nola signing off as Ho Ho No. This a delightful read to me with short story of regrets, pride and love.

My Rating

Book Review – 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?

Published Date : 10 November 2022

My Review

Troy met Lark when he comes to her rescue and find himself attracted to her. Troy is an ex-pro rodeo roper who run a family ranch with his grandmother. He gave up his dream of working the rodeo circuit to look after his grandmother. Lark on the other hand, has plans for her future , to owned a restaurant in Portland and to achieve that , she works tirelessly on her food truck. Both of them had difficult relationships in the past and neither is looking for anything serious. What started of as a friendship, fate seem to keep drawing them together.

This is a heartwarming story of two person who have dreams found love when they least expected it. Love especially the nickname that Troy gave Lark “songbird”.

My Rating

Book Review – A Movie Magic Christmas By Caitlin McKenna

Christmas magic is in the air in this heartwarming and witty small-town reunion romance

Actress Catalina Jones has no intention of spreading Christmas cheer. She’s in St. Nicholas, Colorado, to save her career, not uncover the truth behind the famous “Scrooge Legend.” Besides, there isn’t enough magic in the world to fix the trust issues years in show business have given her.

When Hollywood director turned wildlife photographer Jay Townsend hears Catalina is the lead in the production, he has no intention of lending a hand. She’d been his leading lady once…before she broke his heart.

But some things are just meant to be.

Together again in a winter wonderland filled with someone’s little helpers determined to spread Christmas cheer, Catalina and Jay find themselves on a journey of rediscovery and learn that love is the most powerful magic of all.

Published Date: 25 October 2022

My Review

Catalina is in Colorado filming a new movie. This is an opportunity for her to run away from the controversial breakup with her ex-boyfriend. She is a star but her ice queen persona is causing her issue with the crew and fans. While everyone was at the set, she found out that Jay is also part of the crew as a Still photographer. Jay was on sabbatical leave as a director. He was the one who directed the film that turned Catalina into a star. The story then continue with both Catalina and Jay trying to rebuild their relationship and overcoming the obstacles along the way. This is fun and sweet holiday romance set in a small town of Colorado.

My Rating

Book Review – Let’s Not Be Friends By Phoebe MacLeod

What’s a girl to do when Prince Charming turns into a frog?
City girl Sophie has married the prince (or landed gentry – close enough), moved to his pile (which is more accurate a description than she’d anticipated) and is set to live happily ever after with the love of her life . . . until she finds the other half of her perfect life in the stables with the stable girl, and they’re definitely not grooming the horses.

Shocked and appalled, Sophie’s no happier to learn that she’s supposed to ‘just get on with it’. After all, according to her mother-in-law, she got the title . . . they even overlooked her family’s ‘new money’ status.

But Sophie is no one’s doormat and there’s no way she’s going to turn a blind eye to her husband’s infidelity. There may be some bumps on the road, but Sophie is going to find the life she deserves

Published Date: 23 November 2022

My Review

When Sophie found her husband has been having affair with the groomer and she tries to find solace in her Mother in law only to discover how the family view her. However, Sophie willing to take a chance with James for him to redeem himself. After a series of events, Sophie decided enough is enough and left him. She went back to her previous life before she married James, found herself back to the job that she loves and the opportunity for her to discover about herself, family and relationship again.

This book is a story about empowerment mixed with second chance and Sophie’s journey of rediscovering and redemption. The characters were well developed with chemistry and interweave with each other. Love Sophie for her attitude who did not wallow in her sorrow but forges ahead to rebuild her life and the engaging storyline.

My Rating

Book Review – Spencer By Leslie North

Desire is the deadliest weapon…

Navy SEAL Spencer Nixon knows falling for Toni Williams is a bad idea. But some women are impossible to resist. Beautiful, intelligent Toni seems dedicated to helping underprivileged children…but her father is tangled in the dark underworld of international terrorism. And Spencer is convinced Coran Williams may have orchestrated his SEAL teammate’s murder.

To Toni, Spencer seems perfect in so many ways—from his sexy, toned body to his razor-sharp wit. But he has a violent side as well, honed by years as a Navy SEAL. And the truth is, it frightens her. Could she ever love someone trained to kill people?

How can Toni choose between family and a man she just met? When those two clash, will her broken heart be a casualty of their war?

Published Date: 17 November 2022

My Review

Toni run a foundation that helped the underprivileged children to read. She is looking for bodyguard to protect her for her upcoming trip to the country of Jubail. She knows her life is in danger if she goes. Spencer and his team suspect that Toni’s father is responsible for the death of his team mate. He was assigned to get close to Toni and to find her father whereabouts and her connection in her father’ business.

This book have 2 strong main characters with suspense and danger as it’s storyline. Its storyline is full of suspense and as it progress, the intensity grows. Overall, it is an enjoyable read to me.

My Rating

Book Review – 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.

Published Date: 8 November 2023

My Review

This is a story of 2 cousins: Ellie and Tabby needed a change in their life decided to manage the family Bed & Breakfast which they inherited from their Great Aunt Charlotte. A hurricane was about to hit them and Aunt Charlotte requesting them to take in 4 elderly guests; Maude, Chloe, Frank and Homer. The story thereafter continue with what the days together as they wait out the hurricane.

This story is about love, second chances and families. in This book come as a surprise for me as there are multiple layer within the story. I feel heartbreaking especially for Ellie and Tabby when their story was revealed.The storyline is very well written and is full of laughters and tears as they learn to coexist with each other and romance blooms too!

My Rating

Book Review – A Sister’s Promise By Caroline Finnerty

Sisters Laura and Penny were once close, bonded together after the early death of their mother. Laura always had her younger sister’s back until one day everything changed and Penny disappeared.
Twenty years later Laura finds herself alone and at a crossroad in her life; questioning her marriage and her future.
Meanwhile Penny has spent her whole life running away from her problems until one day she is forced to stop and face the shocking truth.
When Penny turns up on Laura’s doorstep late one stormy night, holding the hand of a shivering little girl, Laura is immediately suspicious of her sister’s motives. Just what does Penny want and who is this little girl?
Penny carries a devastating secret that will test their bond as sisters and is forced to make an impossible choice.
Can the sisters find it within their hearts to forgive and unite before it’s too late?

Published Date: 22 November 2023

My Review

This is a story of 2 sisters who have not be in contact for many years. The story started with Penny who lives in Australia, struggle to take care of her small daughter Willow after she fled from her abusive husband. To make thing worst, she discover that she have cancer. She realise that she have no support and she can’t let Willow to go back to her husband. With no alternative available, she did the only that she can think of, she went home and seek her estranged sister for help.

Laura live a more comfortable wife and have a lovely home. From the perspective of an outsider, she may have it all but with her 2 adult children, she become increasingly notice the fragility of her marriage. Being betrayed before, she discover that her husband is having an affair. She asked him to leave and determine to face the future alone. Until she found her long lost sister appeared at her doorstep together with her niece.

Both Laura and Penny have their own flawed and the way they mend back their relationship is fascinating to read. They had different challenges and truly love the way they pulled thru together. It showed to the reader how precious family unit is. Overall, it is an emotional book to me that had me sobbing hard at the end of the story.

My Rating

Book Review – The Three Loves Of Sebastian Cooper By Zoe Folbigg

As friends and family gather for the funeral of charming and charismatic Seb Cooper, three women sit in the congregation, mourning his loss.

First there is Clair, Seb’s wife and partner of twenty years, and mother of his two children. Furious at Seb for dying and leaving their children without a father, Clair isn’t sure of her place, and has been left baffled and bemused by the conflicting stories of Seb’s last days.

Then there’s Desiree, the woman Seb left Clair for. Heartbroken, self-conscious, and wondering if she made a mistake coming today.

And the third and noisiest mourner of all is Noemie – Seb’s lover and the last woman to see him alive.

Three women who loved Seb in their own different ways.

Three women whose lives have now changed forever.

But only one woman knows what really happened at the end…and only one truly had his heart…

Published Date: 27 September 2022

My Review

The story started with Sebastian’s family gathered at his funeral with everyone have in the same question in their ind, how does it happened. As the story progresses, we were introduced to the 3 women in his life; Claire, Desiree and Noemie. The story was told from these 3 women’s perspective and essentially the story of Seb’s life. Claire is his ex wife and partner for 20+ years and mother of his 2 children. Desiree is the women he left Claire and Noemie, Seb’s lover and the last women who the last saw him alive.

Honestly, from the title and synopsis of this book, it was not something i would pick for myself but i m glad that i did. It is a family drama and i love the narrative alternating from present to past and from each character’s point of view which allow the reader to understand how thing really are which unfortunately the character is not privy do. Overall it is a well constructed story that weaves between the main characters.

My Rating

Book Review – Hate, Rinse, Repeat By Whitney Dineen & Melanie Summers

Christmas is a time for hate…

Maisy Moore is not looking forward to the holiday season. As owner of the only hair salon in Gamble, Alaska, she’ll be run off her feet helping her clients get dolled up for Christmas and New Years Eve parties. Parties she’ll never be invited to.

But that’s not the worst of it. As a single mom, she knows she still won’t be able to give her seven-year-old son, Jack, the kind of magical Christmas his classmates get. Telling him how much she loves him will only get a kid that age so far. If only she could give him what he really wants—to know who his dad is.

The last thing Maisy needs is for NHL star Chase Evans to come waltzing back into town like he’s God’s gift to women. But that’s exactly what he does.

After a taking a crosscheck from behind, Chase’s season is over. Instead of scoring goals, he’s recovering from shoulder surgery, and according to his mother, there’s no better place to recover than home. Because let’s face it, basking in the glow of local adoration won’t be too bad. There are no fans quite like hometown fans.

Chase doesn’t expect is to find Maisy Moore still single. When he does, he decides to see if maybe they could rekindle their brief romance that occurred the night of their ten-year high school reunion. But when he tries to talk to her, he discovers Maisy’s feelings of lust have turned to loathing. And he’s determined to find out why.

Will Maisy manage to keep the identity of her son a secret? Will there be a holiday miracle that will reunite two hard-headed lovers? Will the BOGO special on shampoo and conditioner be a hit?

Published Date: 27 October 2022

My Review

Maisy is a single mom to a seven year old son who live in her small town and own a beauty salon. No one know who is her son father and she guarded the info tightly. After a bad injury, Chase Evans is back in town after his career as a pro hockey player ended. He and Maisy has met at their class reunion and it was there that Jack was conceived. Chase have no idea that he have a son. With Chase back in town, Maisy found it hard for her to continue with the secret and she could not bring herself to tell Chase who Jack is. Maisy is a victim of bully and as a result, she have low self esteem. She have trust issue and for her, relationship is alien to her.

The story is about insecurity, fear and miscommunication in a relationship and how it has cause trouble between 2 individual and preventing a relationship from developing. The banters between Maisy and chase will make you angry and sad. Every page have something that will keep your interest going. Overall this book is a heartwarming story to me.

My Rating