Book Review – Page 146

Book Review – The Little Library On Cherry Lane By Katie Ginger

Synopsis

Elsie Martin may lead a quiet life, but working in her beloved local library is enough to make her happy. After all, books have always been her armour against the world. So when the library is threatened with closure to make way for a new housing development, Elsie knows it has to be saved – and that, despite being painfully shy, she needs to lead the campaign to save it.

Jacob Yardley thinks he’s doing the right thing by building a new affordable housing development. Why shouldn’t local people be able to buy a house in the place they grew up? Having to leave his own small hometown broke his heart. Plus, people don’t really use libraries anymore, do they?

As Elsie and Jacob clash over the future of the library, sparks begin to fly. Jacob is falling back in love with books and libraries – could he possibly be falling for her too? And will Elsie be able to save the library that means so much to her?

Published Date: 11 March 2022

My Review

Elsie loves book and library is her paradise. Being able to work as a librarian in a library is a dream come true for her but this is going to be taken away very soon from her. The location where the library is being identified for future development by a private construction company led by Jacob. Being a shy and timid , it was a surprise to see Elsie rise above to protect the one thing that meant to her.

This is a lovely story and I love both Elsie and Jacob’s character very much. The author did a good job in writing the way the relationship between them grow and the ending is really uplifting . Not too fast or vice versa. I love the supporting characters i.e the local who frequented the library. Love their story and it give you a cosy feeling reading about them.

My Rating

Book Review – Calder Grit By Janet Dailey

Synopsis

As the countryside explodes in violence, the Calder patriarch has the power to stop the destruction, though some believe Benteen Calder is only stoking the flames for his own gain. One man courageously straddles the divide…

That man is Blake Dollarhide, the ambitious young owner of Blue Moon’s lumber mill. When Blake’s spoiled half-brother takes advantage of the innocent daughter of a homesteading family, Blake steps in as Hanna Anderson’s bridegroom to restore her honor and give her unborn child his name. But Blake doesn’t count on the storm of feelings he develops for sweet Hanna. When the war between the factions rages anew, everyone wonders if Blake will stand by the close-knit community he serves, or the wife he took in name only…

A marriage of love is more than Hanna ever dreamed of. For her family, surviving the rugged trip west, claiming a parcel of land and planting their first crops on the vast prairie are the only things that matter. Which is why the unexpected passion she feels for her husband is all the more poignant. But even as she longs to trust the strong bond growing between her and Blake, Hanna knows it will take courage and grit to overcome the differences between them. And even greater strength of will to put down roots in this wild new country.

Published Date: 22 February 2022

My Review

Blake Dollarhide is from a rich family and is an owner of a lumber mill in town. His half brother is a spoiled brat and impregnated Hanna Anderson. He doesn’t take responsibility for his action. Given their different status ie rancher and homesteader, there is no way Mason would marry her. Blake steps in and do the honorable thing by marry her to take care of her and her unborn child.

This is my first ever historical romance story and I love it! This book tell the story of two different caste ie the rancher and homesteader. Love how the story moves along and the way the author draw us into the lives of her characters.

My Rating

Book Review – One Greek Summer By Kate Frost

Synopsis

When Harlow Sands arrives on an idyllic Greek island to work on a big budget movie, it should be the opportunity of a lifetime. But her uncertainty over the direction of her life and the high expectations of Maeve Fennimore-Bell, her domineering Hollywood producer mum, threatens to ruin her summer on beautiful Skopelos

Location manager Tyler Reed has his fair share of demons. His and Harlow’s lives have been entwined for over a decade and now forced to work together, their complicated past begins to unravel.

Harlow is desperate to break free and make her own way in the world, but with a fractured family, a long-hidden secret and a need to belong, can her happy-ever-after be found during one Greek summer?

Published Date: 9 March 2022

My Review

Harlow is in Skopelos to work as an assistant location manager for her mum’s big movie. She responsible for scouting and helping the crews in the various location on Skopelos Island. Working together with Tyler, her close friend with benefits history make it even harder for her. On the island, she met Adonis and their relationship started to grow despite their rocky start of the friendship.

It is a sweet romance between two persons who are caught in between their desire and their commitment and responsibilities to their loved one. Love the story between Harlow and Adonis though at the beginning of the story it focuses more on the relationship between Harlow and Tyler. Too much that it overshadow the actual story of Harlow and Adonis. This book have relatable character with a lot of pent up emotion, complicated relationship and secrets.

My Rating

Book Review – Friend Me By Michelle McCraw

Synopsis

She’s found her Prince Charming. Her plan to win him needs a little help from her best buddy. Who’s suddenly…sexy?
Romance-reading executive assistant Marlee has a three-step plan to woo her crush, icy and aloof San Francisco tech executive Cooper Fallon.

Step 1: Dance with him at her boss’s wedding. Melt that ice.
Step 2: Work late. Bond over takeout.
Step 3: Share a magical kiss.

But when Cooper takes a date to the wedding, Marlee counters by asking her nerdy, Star Wars–loving, always-there-for-her best friend, Tyler, to pretend to be her boyfriend. Everything is perfect until Tyler gives her a toe-curling kiss on the dance floor and their date doesn’t feel fake anymore.

Kissing the wrong guy? Not in her plan. And neither is Tyler asking for more than she can give. She never meant to break up with her best friend. Especially when she suspects she’s falling for him.
Friend Me is a slow-burn-to-red-hot, friends-to-lovers romantic comedy featuring a starry-eyed heroine, a sweet, cinnamon-roll hero, and a pair of cranky cats. It can be read as a standalone and is the second book in the Synergy series.

Published Date: 24 July 2021

My Review

Marlene, a super fan of romance and an PA working in a tech company has been in love with her boss Cooper for the past 3 years. Everyone knows it except Cooper. If only she can convince him that she is the love of his life. For her best friend Alicia’s wedding, she accepted her buddy, Tyler’s offer to attend together with a plan to make Cooper jealous.

This romance is all about friendship turn into office romance. It started with one sided love both from Marlee and Tyler and story develop to a totally different direction after that. At one point, I even have this thinking that this story may end up with a totally different ending. Love both Marlee and Tyler but abit skeptical with Cooper’s character.

My Rating

Book Review – Wrapped Up In Christmas Hope By Janice Lynn

Synopsis

He’s willing to risk his life to save others.
Is she willing to risk her heart on him?

Morgan’s late husband was a daredevil…and now she’s a widowed single mom. All she wants now is to set up a stable life for herself and her son in the small town of Pine Hill, Kentucky.

Andrew’s a firefighter who thrives on the rush of saving others. His secret dream is to become a smokejumper and fight raging wildfires across the country. But it’ll mean leaving his hometown and the people who rely on him.

Morgan and Andrew are drawn together as they both volunteer to make quilts for veterans at the local quilt shop. Morgan’s son looks up to Andrew, and Morgan can’t help but notice how good Andrew is with him. Meanwhile, Andrew’s torn between his ambition and his growing attraction to Morgan. They both have choices to make about their future…and about each other.

Published Date: 26 October 2021

My Review

The story focus on Morgan who moved back to Pine Hill together with her son Greyson when she loss her husband to restart their life again. She prefers to stay safe given the reason she lost her husband but fate shoved her to the direction that she never want to be. Greyson idolised a firefighter Andrew who has a dream of becoming a smoke jumper

From the start I love the vibrant characters and the heartwarming story about fears and anxieties and overcoming them. Love the way Andrew treated Greyson and the patience for him is truly amazing. Morgan given the circumstance, was someone who is indecisive, make the story more draggy.

My Rating

Book Review – Accidentally Perfect By Marissa Clarke

Synopsis

Workaholic Lillian Mahoney has given everything to her job. The hugely popular lifestyle show she helped create monopolizes her time, energy, creativity, and anything remotely resembling a life. But all it takes is the show’s womanizing, egomaniac star throwing a massive hissy on live TV to utterly implode Lillian’s career in a New York minute.

Now Lillian’s hiding out in the gorgeous and completely unknown seaside village of Blink, Maine. Out of gas. A stolen wallet. A broken heel. And worse, she’s somehow managed to completely piss off the town’s resident hunk, Caleb Wright. She’ll show that hot, grumpy single father exactly what she’s made of.

But Blink isn’t quite what Lillian expects—and neither is Caleb…or his feisty teen daughter she can’t help but love. And while her entire life and career are in shreds, Lillian might just discover what happens when she gives her bad first impression a second chance…

Published Date: 1 March 2022

My Review

This book is about Lilian and Caleb who isn’t looking for a relationship found love when they least expecting it. Lilian is a workaholic who in need of a sabbatical leave found herself in a small town and met Caleb, a local boat builder who think she is con artist. The tow people welcome her with open arms. But to Caleb, she was up to something and he need to figure it out.

This is a story about letting go of the past and finding the place that you truly belong. It is filled with twists and turns. I find it a lovely read, which keep me amused throughout the book. Totally Love how well the story was written.

My Rating

Book Review – Working It Out By Jo Platt

Synopsis

Her new colleague is about to shake things up…

When her love life crashed down around her, Edie turned to work for solace. But office life goes downhill with the departure of her work wife, Ruby, and the arrival of new guy Cameron – a chauvinist, a womaniser and the very opposite of a team player. But is Cameron the bad guy he seems to be?

When a best-forgotten ex decides to get back in touch, Edie’s work life, love life and home life are on a collision course. Exactly what she will be able to salvage from the twisted wreckage, is anybody’s guess.

A funny and feel-good romance for fans of Mhairi McFarlane and Jo Watson.

Published Date: 3 February 2022

My Review

The story focus on Edie and people around her. She is an architect and have close relationship with her colleague except for one, Cameron. The story continue with the lies that Ruby told her which affect her opinion on Cameron and her subsequent boycott of him.

The story remind me of I don’t friend you, you don’t friend me kind of situation. Edie come across as one who easily take in people’s opinion and uphold it as her own. She doesn’t seem to be a person who have her own thought. Despite that, the characters are lovable although I find some situations in the story make me feel awkward.

It is a good read for me although the story grow on me at a much later part. Love how the author created and develop the characters.

My Rating

Book Review – The Women Who Took A Chance By Fiona Gibson

Synopsis

Meet Jen. Flight attendant. Mum to a grown-up daughter. Permanently single.

Age: Fifty (gulp)

Number of children: One

Number of husbands: Zero (it’s complicated)

Number of failed first dates in the last month: Too depressing to contemplate

Number of tickets for a romantic, once-in-a-lifetime trip: Two

Number of days left to find her Mr Right to take on holiday: Quickly running out…

Publish Date: 17 March 2022

My Review

A-bit difficult for me to get connected to the characters as I begin to read this book. It is a interesting storyline of a women in 50s tapping on the online dating which play a center stage in this book. This book is a about Jen, who was been made redundant. She finds that she have a lot of time alone and unsure how to spend it alone. With some persuasion from her daughter, Hannah she signs up for online dating site. The book continue with the story about her countless dates which come across as hilarious but not so much to Jen.

Overall, it is a slow start at the beginning but it’s accelerated fast towards the ending of the story which make a reader rather disoriented with the book.

My Rating

Book Review – Protecting The Desert Princess By Carol Marinelli

Synopsis

Seven days without her crown!

Princess Layla of Ishla craves just one week outside the gilded cage of her palace. A chance to try absolutely everything that is forbidden!

1. Sharing a romantic dinner

2. Dancing the night away

3. Kissing a gorgeous man…

The only exception? She must remain pure for her future husband! When she arrives in Australia, she finds there’s only one man who can help her fulfill this dream….

Revered yet feared, Mikael Romanov has earned his ruthless legal reputation, yet spirited Layla quickly gets beneath his skin. Mikael’s sworn to protect her, but can he protect Layla from himself?

Published Date: 21 October 2014

My Review

Layla has been protected all her life in her castle by her father. Being able to go see the outside world is something that she dream of doing. And the opportunity arises when her father allow her to accompany her brother and sister in law to Australia. She has it all plan. She leave the hotel that they booked in and seek the help of Mikael to prevent her brother to go after her and allow her to stay and do what she have planned. Mikael, taken aback by the request and relented when he saw just how desperate she was. Mikael, took her into his stride and introduce to her (on her own instigation) things that in her bucket list. During the course, Layla found herself to be attracted to him but Mikael knows that there are both from a different world and there is no way that they can be together.

It is a fun story of a princess that keen to see the world and prepared months before her outing to runaway as soon as she arrive her destination in order for her to experience her freedom eventhough it is temporary. I admired her courage for the action that she undertakes though it was rather irresponsible in her part. I also love her naivety and her absolutely clueless of the reality world that makes the story fun to read.

My Rating

Book Review – To Defy A Sheikh By Maisey Yates

Synopsis

Princess Samarah Al-Azem knows you cannot rush revenge. Having bided her time, she’s finally ready to bring down Ferran, her kingdom’s enemy and the man who took everything from her. In the still of night, she lies in wait in his bedchamber….

It isn’t the first time Sheikh Ferran has found himself at the edge of an assassin’s blade…but never has it been wielded by such a beautiful assailant. Soon he has her at his mercy—something he’s wanted for years!

Now Samarah must decide: imprisonment in a cell…or in diamond shackles as his wife.

Published Date: 21 October 2014

My Review

Samarah attack Sheikh Ferran because he kills her father when she was only a little girl. Obviously, her attempt failed and as a compromise, he demand marriage in exchange of imprisonment to reunite both their nation. Realising that there are other other ways, she reluctantly agreed and as the story progressed, she start to realized just how she was about him and she begin to understand the circumstance leading to the killing of her father. This has also make her begin to love him but Ferran is a broken man and he thought that he is incapable of love.

This is a love story between two persons who are bought being burden by their past history and connection and being weighed down by their responsibility to their nation. I like both Samarah and Ferran for their individuality uniqueness that has to work past their history which somehow seems to be interconnected. In their course of recovery, both of them has help to heal their wound from the past. Overall, it is a sweet romance for me with well developed plot and strong main characters

My Rating