Book Review – Page 50

Review Card & Book Review- Christmas At The Little Bookshop By The Sea By Eliza J. Scott

A festive treat brimming with the magic of bookshops and Christmas…

In the seaside town of Micklewick Bay, Florrie Appleton and Ed Harte are gearing up for a magical Christmas at the Happy Hartes Bookshop. Florrie’s book-themed decorations are the talk of the town, while Ed’s dazzling window displays could have been plucked straight from a fairytale. With romance in the air, this promises to be their best holiday season yet.

But after a surprise phone call from his father, Florrie worries that Ed is keeping a secret. Why is he spending so much time in the attic? And what’s making him act so distantly?

Determined to make this Christmas unforgettable, Florrie packs their days with festive treats from gingerbread hot chocolates to sleigh rides under the stars. But when Ed disappears just a few days before Christmas, Florrie fears the worst. Will her holiday dreams shatter like a dropped bauble? Or is Florrie in for a Christmas surprise of her own?

About The Author

My Review

This is an absolutely delightful and cozy festive story, perfect for anyone who loves heartwarming Christmas reads. Although it’s the fourth book in Eliza J. Scott’s series, it stands well on its own. I still found their journey as a couple to be truly endearing. If you’re less focused on intricate character development, this book is an ideal, feel-good read for a snowy day. The charming setting of Micklewick Bay and the Happy Hartes Bookstore adds even more magic to the festive atmosphere.

Florrie and Ed are a lovable couple, and the strong sense of community and friendship surrounding them only enhances the story’s warmth. Filled with humor, sweetness, romance, and festive spirit, the book is a true Christmas treat. While the plot is light and pleasant, the enchanting holiday details—like Christmas lights, mulled wine, and ice skating—make it an immersive and heartwarming read. It fully captures the essence of Christmas, offering a perfect blend of romance, family, and community that’s sure to leave you smiling.

My Rating

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Review Card & Book Review – Eden’s Comfort Kitchen By Tilly Tennant

Run away to Seaglass Bay where the waves crash against ivory cliffs, the beach is a perfect golden ribbon of sand, and a little café is about to change Eden’s life forever…

When Eden turns the key in the red door of Four Winds Cottage, the clifftop house where she used to holiday as a child, she is overwhelmed with bittersweet memories. She lost her mother recently, and she’s hoping Seaglass Bay will heal her broken heart.

The villagers welcome Eden with open arms, but she can’t help but notice that life is tough for them when the holidaymakers go home. Her mother always gave so much to those around her, and Eden is determined to follow in her footsteps. She sets up a community kitchen where her new friends can enjoy a homecooked meal, and as she watches people chatting over delicious stews, she feels sure that her mum would be a little bit proud of her.

But Eden’s happiness doesn’t last long. An unwelcome visitor arrives in Seaglass Bay in the form of handsome, chiselled Cam, who wants to buy the land the kitchen stands on. Eden is determined to save it and challenges him to a fortnight working with her so he can see how much would be lost if it closed.

As Cam rolls up his shirtsleeves and whips up his famous roast chicken, sparks fly and Eden feels a sense of triumph – he clearly can’t resist a challenge. The heat rises as they mess around in the kitchen, Cam’s dark hair dishevelled and his blue eyes shining with fun, and she realises that maybe he doesn’t have a heart of stone after all…

But just as she begins to let her guard down, Cam disappears without warning. Has she failed to win over the man she swore she’d never catch feelings for? And can she save the place that’s helped save her?

About The Author

My Review

Eden’s Comfort Kitchen by Tilly Tennant follows Eden as she retreats to Seaglass Bay after her mother’s sudden death. Struggling with grief, Eden embraces small-town life and opens a community café where locals pay what they can. However, tension arises when a developer threatens the café. While the story had potential, it felt rushed, with underdeveloped characters and a romance that seemed forced. The town’s charm and Eden’s growth were highlights, but the abrupt ending and unresolved plot points left it feeling incomplete. Despite its flaws, the book had heartfelt moments and a strong sense of community.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

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Review Card & Book Review- Not Exactly A Small- Town Romance By JJ Knight

Kelsey Whitaker knows every hit rom-com by heart and why they work. It’s her job. As a casting assistant to a fearsome boss nicknamed the Demon, Kelsey creates chemistry with perfect leads. Let the tropes take it from there. So where’s the meet-cute in her own life? That she’ll have to make happen herself.

With the help of her best friend and wingman, Zachery Carter—a total Hemsworth, even if his career is ebbing—Kelsey trades in her big-city stilettos for small-town tennies and hits the back roads. Somewhere between Hollywood and her Alabama roots, she’s determined to strategically stumble into the arms of an all-American flannel-wearing, decent-hearted, rustic boy next door. It’s a blockbuster blueprint for success! Isn’t it?

It’s all a secretly smitten Zachery can do not to tell Kelsey she’s looking for love in all the wrong places. If she really wants a happy ending, they may have to do a little rewriting, town by town and mile by mile. Together.

About The Author

My Review

Kelsey, a matchmaker for on-screen romances, tries to create her own real-life Hallmark-style meet-cute after visiting a fortune teller, unaware that her best friend Zach, who deeply cares for her, is her perfect match. Zach supports her in every way, but Kelsey takes him for granted while chasing love elsewhere.

Her efforts lead to funny, embarrassing situations, and she eventually realizes the small-town romances she seeks aren’t for her. The story blends humor and heart, though Kelsey’s dependency on Zach becomes more apparent when she struggles without him. Overall, it’s a lighthearted, entertaining read.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

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Review Card & Book Review- Swipe Right For Mr. Perfect By Justine Lewis

THE ART OF DATING A DUKE

For art conservationist Laura, suffering chronic endometriosis means no relationships. Only, thanks to her interfering mother, she’s matched online with @FarmerDan and can’t bring herself to swipe left… But then she learns “Dan” is really her new boss, Henry, and their attraction is as intense in person as in cyberspace! Being a modern-day duke, Henry’s duty-bound to produce an heir. So while meeting Laura is thrilling, it becomes clear that her condition makes her fertility uncertain. With life pulling them in different directions, is their connection strong enough to flourish offline?

About The Author

My Review

Laura, an art conservationist dealing with endometriosis, connects with a man on a dating app. Though she’s not ready for a relationship, they stay friends due to their strong connection. Meanwhile, her new boss, a charming Duke, might be the same man from the app, and they hit it off in real life as well. However, the Duke needs an heir to preserve his title and legacy, complicating their future due to Laura’s fertility challenges.

Laura and Henry have a great connection, both online and in person, but his need for an heir poses a major obstacle to their happiness. The story is enhanced by delightful side characters, especially their mothers, and the setting at the Duke’s estate adds charm. Laura’s endometriosis is portrayed with care, and Henry’s supportive response to her condition is especially heartwarming.

Despite the short length, their relationship is well-developed, though the reader might wish to see more of their future after the satisfying epilogue.

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Review Card & Book Review- Fa-La-La-La Faking It By Teri Wilson

It’s beginning to look a lot like kiss…er…Christmas!

Matchmaking services as a Christmas gift? No thank you! It’s bad enough that, to save her grandmother’s feelings, Adaline Bishop fibs and says she’s seeing someone. It’s worse when Jace Martin, her grade school crush turned nemesis, volunteers that he’s the someone. Now Adaline will have to fake it until Jace’s flannel-shirted, piney-scented goodness leaves town in a couple of weeks.

Jace would like to make up for his past transgressions and for his elderly uncle’s meaner-than-the-grinch behavior during Adaline’s therapy dog visits. In the spirit of peace and goodwill toward all, Jace will happily be her fake boyfriend. It’s just that what began as a lie as big as Texas is starting to feel like the magic of a Christmas wish come true.

About The Author

My Review

Adaline Bishop, who loves baking and training therapy dogs, often visits her grandmother at a senior center and tries to cheer up the grumpy Mr. Martin. When Jace Martin returns to town to care for his dying uncle, Adaline is reminded of how he embarrassed her in fifth grade. Despite their past, she reluctantly asks Jace to be her fake boyfriend for her brother’s wedding.

Set during the Christmas season, this romance blends the enemies-to-lovers and fake relationship tropes, with therapy dogs adding charm to the story. Adaline’s vibrant personality and her bond with her grandmother, along with Jace’s redemption, make for a fun and heartwarming read.

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Review Card & Book Review – Doctor Off Limits By Alison Roberts

What Happens on the Night Shift…

Helicopter paramedic Tama James isn’t afraid of hard work, danger or putting his patients first. And he expects nothing less from his team. But when his newest recruit arrives, the bubbly and beautiful Mikayla Elliot, he’s unimpressed to discover she didn’t earn her place. She’s the superior’s daughter. So, he’ll make it is mission to show her just how tough the job really is!

However, Qualified doctor Mikayla is determined to prove everyone wrong. Starting with Tama whose smile is irresistible and infuriatingly arrogant! But neither expected the added distraction of the chemistry catching fire between them. Can they ignore it long enough to keep things professional?

About The Author

My Review

Helicopter paramedic Tama James is tough, fearless, and dedicated to his patients. When he’s assigned to train Mikayla Elliot, the daughter of his superior, he’s skeptical, thinking she got the role through connections. Determined to make the process difficult for her, he soon realizes she’s just like him—hardworking, fearless, and committed to her patients. Plus, she’s an actual doctor. Their similarities lead to a deeper connection as they work together, facing challenges that reveal more about themselves.

During a call to rescue a 15-year-old boy stranded on an unstable cliff, Mikayla repels down, leaving Tama in the helicopter. What unfolds is a moment where their lives intersect in unexpected ways, with shared experiences that bring them closer. Without giving away spoilers, the story shows how life’s circumstances can draw people together, helping them confront and process what they’ve been avoiding. The depth and emotional layers of the story are far more profound than expected, and Alison Roberts masterfully tells this tale of connection and healing.

My Rating

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Review Card & Book Review – Book Of The Month By Jennifer Probst

She’s desperate for another bestseller… and she’ll go to any length to get it. Even if it means sacrificing her pride to chase the hottest bachelor in town and get him to break her heart…

Once the literary world’s golden girl, Aspen Lourde can’t seem to produce another successful book, and the pressure’s on to prove she’s not just a one-hit-wonder. But there’s a catch: her bestseller was a heartbreak hit, straight from her own love life disaster. Without any fresh romantic turmoil to fuel her pen, Aspen needs inspiration quick enough to create a book her agent can sell to her publisher. So she escapes for the summer to the Outer Banks with a plan to live a story worth writing.

Brick Babel is a romance novelist’s dream: a local heartthrob with a reputation as wild as the horses running free in the town. He’s everything Aspen needs for a muse kickstart—gorgeous, moody, and notoriously unattainable. His affairs are legendary in the small town, and every woman warns her off, including her sister.

Too bad a good heartbreak is exactly what she needs to meet her deadline.

But Brick refuses to play the game, rejecting all of her advances. When Aspen hears his tour company is on the verge of bankruptcy, she offers him a deal: fake a whirlwind summer romance, then ditch her, drama guaranteed.

Desperate to save his grandfather’s business, Brick agrees to the ridiculous deal. What starts as a contractual fling spirals out of control as lines blur and real feelings emerge. Brick’s falling hard, and Aspen’s rethinking her plot twist. The novel might be her ticket back to the top, but at what cost?

Because Aspen’s finally found her muse, but some stories may be too true to share.

About The Author

My Review

Aspen Lourde is desperate to write another bestseller, but without any new romantic drama, she’s struggling. To spark inspiration, she heads to the Outer Banks for the summer with a plan to get her heart broken by local heartthrob Brick Babel, known for his wild reputation. However, Brick isn’t interested in playing along, until Aspen offers a deal: fake a whirlwind summer romance to help her write, and in return, she’ll help him save his failing tour company. Though it starts as a fake relationship, real feelings develop, complicating the plan.

Set against the beautiful backdrop of North Carolina’s Outer Banks, this romance novel delivers steamy chemistry, especially with Brick’s take-charge attitude. The vivid setting and engaging secondary characters add depth, making the story even more enjoyable. If you love fake dating, bad-boy romances, and small-town settings, this book is a must-read. The evolving romance between Aspen’s sister and Brick’s best friend also sets up an exciting potential sequel. Overall, it’s an entertaining and spicy read!

My Rating

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Review Card & Book Review – The Anti-Social Season By Adele Buck

In this offbeat holiday romantic comedy, an overworked firefighter turned social media coordinator and a librarian with an unrequited crush break a few rules in the company handbook…

For Thea Martinelli, burnout is real. After working as a firefighter for the Emergency Services Department over the last ten years, she can’t stomach any more close calls. Just when she’s ready to hang up the hose for good, she’s offered an out: stay on as the station’s new social media coordinator. It’s a move that would keep her on the squad and off the truck—if she makes it through the probation period.

Basically, she needs to learn everything there is to know about social media…fast.

Librarian and social media coordinator Simon Osman is shocked to learn his new responsibilities include showing Thea Martinelli—his high school crush—the ins and outs of digital engagement. And the fact that she doesn’t even remember him? Not helpful. Still, this could be his chance to finally turn his part-time role into something long-term.

But as the chaos of the holiday season unfolds, Thea and Simon find that the closer they work together, the hotter their attraction burns. Yet giving in to these feelings could mean giving up their careers. Are they willing to risk everything they’ve worked toward…for each other?

About The Author

My Review

Thea and Simon have a complicated relationship, often creating issues where there aren’t any due to miscommunication or overreactions. Despite getting along well, their relationship is frequently disrupted by misunderstandings, which they struggle to address maturely. After periods apart, they reconnect but seem to fall into the same patterns.

This heartwarming story focuses on second chances and new beginnings, with a festive charm that many readers will enjoy. Although their past connection adds depth to the story, it sometimes overshadows their present-day romance. Overall, this is a light, quick holiday read, perfect for fans of workplace romances with a bit of spice and a cosy, uplifting tone.

My Rating

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Review Card & Book Review – Lone Wolf In Lights By Stacey Kennedy

Everyone daydreams about a fresh start…but Willow Quinn is making it happen. She’s left her life in Phoenix to open a bar in cowboy-country Montana with her two best friends. It’s a chance to reboot in a new town with a new life—and leave behind the shadows of her past and heal. Hopefully.

All she wants to do is create an empowering space for women who need support. Snow and the holidays are on the way, so surely a craft circle is the perfect way to build community… Except who knew her plans would ruffle so many feathers.

Enter former bull rider Eli Cole. She’s drawn to the green-eyed cowboy, his intensity and the electrical charge between them. (Even though he seems to have as many dark secrets as she does.) And when she and her bar, The Naked Moose, go viral for being interlopers, suddenly Willow’s new life is on rocky ground.

But Eli has the perfect solution—give the fiercely single bar owner a fake relationship with a local. But while it might dim the negative spotlight and convince the town she really does fit in, it definitely won’t protect her heart from the cowboy she can’t resist…

About The Author

My Review

Willow Quinn moves to Timber Falls, Montana, with her friends Aubrey Hale and Charly Henwood to open a bar, hoping to leave behind her traumatic past, including her abusive ex, Niko Sanchez, now in jail. She’s struggling to feel safe again. Eli “The Storm” Cole, a quiet and patient man, understands this feeling of guilt and loss, having lost his sister to domestic violence while he was away on the rodeo circuit. He feels drawn to Willow and wants to protect her, though she initially pulls away after a passionate kiss.

As Christmas approaches, Willow starts a support group at the bar called “Empowerment Elves” to help local women by making and selling Christmas decorations for a women’s shelter. However, when Willow receives threatening messages, Eli suggests they pretend to date for her safety. As they grow closer, they begin to confront their pasts and build trust.

Just as things are looking up for Willow, disaster strikes, shaking both her and Eli to the core. It takes time and deep reflection before they can find their way back to each other, but ultimately, they achieve their happy ending. This steamy, fake-dating Christmas story highlights Eli’s caring nature and how he helps Willow regain her confidence. The story sets up anticipation for Aubrey and Gunner’s future romance in the series.

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Review Card & Book Review – The Wolf Of Mayfair By Christi Caldwell

I don’t want visitors. But when the butler says the caller is a she, I spring to attention. The night just got a lot more interesting.

Turns out the recently orphaned Helia Wallace has come to see my mother, her godmother, for help with a dastardly, dowry-chasing cousin. A likely story. But there’s a snowstorm brewing, and she begs me to let her stay the night. I reluctantly agree.

It’s her reputation at stake, not mine.

With the duke and duchess wintering elsewhere, Horace House is all mine. I’m free to do whatever I want. And what I want is Helia. The Marquess of Wingrave and virgins don’t typically mix, but this one’s different—too bad I could ruin her forever.

About The Author

My Review

This historical romance is a captivating blend of suspense, passion, and redemption set in the Regency era. The story follows Helia Wallace, a recently orphaned young woman fleeing a greedy cousin and arriving in London, only to meet Anthony, the Marquess of Wingrave, known as “The Wolf” for his heartless ways. Despite Anthony’s brooding and rough demeanor, sparks fly between him and Helia, leading to a fiery romance. The book is filled with witty banter, humor, danger, and steamy moments. The reviewer loved the story, especially when Anthony’s character evolves, making the eventual happy ending all the more satisfying.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

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