Category Archives: Book Review

Review Card & Book Review – Before We Were Us By Denise Hunter

When Lauren Wentworth wakes up in the hospital after falling from a ladder, she has more questions than answers. Way more. She knows where she is—the wilds of New Hampshire. But she’s apparently lost the last four months of her life. Is she really contemplating forfeiting her big-city dream job for a position at a rustic resort? And how did her number one nemesis become her adoring boyfriend?

Jonah Landry is crushed to learn Lauren has forgotten their entire summer together. Terrified of losing her for good, he determines to help her remember their deep connection as she finishes her obligation to the resort. But soon it becomes apparent Lauren doesn’t want to remember falling in love with him or rethinking the entire course of her career. She wants to pretend the summer never happened and move on with her life. Without him.

As Lauren falls back into the steady routines of resort work with Jonah, she’s relieved her memories haven’t returned and remains resolute about her big-city future. But as autumn leads into winter, she begins to see glimpses of the Jonah she’s forgotten. Will she be able to resist the steady love of this patient man? Or is her heart destined for its own freefall?

About The Author

My Review

Jonah and Lauren’s love faces a heartbreaking test when an accident erases Lauren’s memories of their relationship, leaving her only with memories of when they disliked each other. The story explores the emotional complexities of love, loss, and rediscovery as Jonah supports Lauren, even if it means letting her go. Their journey, filled with pain and hope, showcases how love can endure despite the challenges of change and forgotten memories.

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Review Card & Book Review – Written In The Stars By Helen Rolfe

A hidden secret

Live every day as if it were your last – that’s the motto Bess has lived by since her father died unexpectedly. As a critical care paramedic, Bess sees every day just how easily life can be taken away. But carefree living has risks, and as Bess’s debts mount, she discovers her actions could have terrible consequences…

An unexpected arrival

Nothing gives Gio more joy than his work saving lives in the fire service. And on the days when his call-outs put him in the path of the air ambulance, and one paramedic in particular, things are pretty perfect. Until Gio’s world is spun on its head, first by the arrival of his estranged mother on his doorstep, and then by an accident that could put his career on hold indefinitely.

A new beginning?

Gio and Bess have always worked well together, but could they be the solution to each other’s problems beyond the frontline as well? And will they let their guard down enough to give each other a chance before snow falls over Whistlestop River?

About The Author

My Review

Bess and Gio, long-time friends and first responders, face mounting personal and professional challenges in this slow-paced, friends-to-lovers Christmas romance. With dual third-person limited perspectives, the story delves into their struggles—Bess’s financial burdens and grief, Gio’s injury, and his mother’s addiction. While the characters are realistic and relatable, the romance develops late, leaving some desire for more tension and depth in their relationship. Despite the slower pace, the story offers emotional depth and a warm, wintertime charm that will appeal to many readers.

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Review Card & Book Review- Christmas At Polkerran Point By Cass Grafton

Fate may have brought them together, but secrets seem destined to keep them apart…

An accident and a lost passport mean Gemma’s six-month sabbatical to go travelling is not off to a strong start. She heads to Polkerran Point to stay at her aunt’s while her new passport is processed and to find temporary work in the meantime.

Enter musician Matt. Newly moved into a secluded, renovated mill – complete with a recording studio – Matt is preparing for his band’s big reunion tour. Focused on writing new music for the album, he needs a live-in housekeeper.

Even as sparks fly, Gemma can sense Matt’s keeping secrets and with her role ending once Christmas is over, will there be anything to keep her in Polkerran?

About The Author

My Review

Gemma’s travel plans are delayed, leading her to work as a housekeeper for the reserved and troubled Matt at an isolated mill. Despite their initial clash, Gemma’s cheerfulness gradually breaks through Matt’s guarded exterior. Their relationship evolves from friendship to a heartwarming romance, complicated by Matt’s hidden struggles. Set against the festive backdrop of Polkerran, the story captures the warmth of community, the magic of Christmas, and the joy of new beginnings, including a touching wedding. This charming and festive romance, filled with well-drawn characters and a touch of mystery, makes for a delightful read.

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Review Card & Book Review – Marrying The Enemy By Dani Collins

Two warring households…
One marriage to unite them!

The Blackwood and Visconti feud has spanned generations. So when billionaire Domenico is stranded on a remote island with stunning adversary heiress Evelina, sparks are sure to fly. Just not the ones he thought…

Eve surrenders to her instant soul-burning chemistry with Dom, vowing never to reveal their sin… Until the age-old rivalry threatens to destroy her family. Now to ensure a truce, Eve must do the unthinkable: marry the enemy. Except how can she keep things strictly on paper when she can’t ignore the hunger her husband has unleashed?

About The Author

My Review

In this sizzling romance, Eve Visconti and Dom Blackwood, heirs to feuding families, share an intense attraction that ignites during a chance encounter. Despite knowing they should stay apart, they can’t resist each other, leading to a passionate relationship. As they grapple with their family’s feud, they must decide if marriage can bring peace. Dom’s emotional growth and Eve’s determination make for a compelling love story that will leave romance readers smiling.

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Review Card & Book Review – Pregnancy Surprise With The Greek Surgeon By Luana DaRosa

REUNITED…AND REVEALED AS HER BABY’S FATHER!

After Nikolas’s intoxicating encounter with cardiologist Camila at a medical conference last month, bringing her to his cardiac institute in Athens is the best and worst decision the Greek surgeon could make. Professionally, her groundbreaking research could cure his patient. But as his colleague, she’s now otherwise completely off-limits… The confirmed bachelor just never imagined that Cami would surprise him with the news that she’s pregnant!

About The Author

My Review

Niko and Cami’s one-night fling during a medical conference leads to complications when she later reveals she’s pregnant. As they work together at Niko’s cardiac institute, their undeniable attraction deepens, but trust issues rooted in their pasts hinder their relationship. Misunderstandings and insecurities threaten their future, but advice from loved ones helps them overcome their fears and build trust. The story also delves into medical challenges, adding intensity to their professional collaboration.

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Review Card & Book Review- Last Mission By Lisa Childs

Even the best-laid plans 

Can go up in flames…

Mack McRooney is retired from military special ops, but there’s one final mission he has to take on—catch the saboteur targeting his brother-in-law’s firefighting team…even if that means becoming a firefighter himself. Partnering with state trooper Wynona Wells, however, was not part of the plan. Mack and Wynona are fighting their fiery attraction to one another and a deadly saboteur. And if they lose this fight, they might just also lose their lives…

About The Author

My Review

In this suspenseful series finale, Mack, a retired special ops soldier, joins the hotshot team to uncover a saboteur. Distrust and mutual attraction complicate his relationship with state trooper Wynona. As they grow closer, they face escalating attacks from the saboteur, leading to a tense final confrontation. The epilogue provides a satisfying conclusion, revisiting characters from earlier books.

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Review Card & Book Review- Snow Is Falling By Sarah Bennett

The festive season is in full swing, and Sadie throws herself into the packed Twelve Days of Christmas programme, relishing the opportunity to make new friends and new memories.

Single father Dylan Travers hasn’t been to his childhood home of Juniper Meadows for decades. Estranged from his cantankerous father Monty, he has made a happy life for himself in the States. But now with teenage children keen to know more about their roots, Dylan has brought them back to the Cotswolds to meet his family.

As Sadie and Dylan both navigate a Christmas very different from the ones they had expected it’s soon clear that, geography apart, they have a great deal in common. And as Dylan confronts his past and Sadie contemplates her future, perhaps the miracle of this Christmas will be the happily-ever-after they both deserve.

About The Author

My Review

It follows Sadie, who, after divorcing her cheating husband, is treated to a Christmas getaway at Juniper Meadows by her adult children. Meanwhile, Dylan, who left Juniper Meadows years ago, returns with his teenage kids to reconnect with his past. The story beautifully explores themes of family reconnection, finding love in your fifties, and discovering what truly matters during the holiday season.

The Travers family, known for their warmth and resilience, welcomes Dylan back with open arms, adding to the book’s comforting atmosphere. Sadie and Dylan’s relationship stands out for its honesty and maturity, making their bond feel authentic and refreshing. While the characters may seem a bit idealized, this only enhances the book’s sweet and uplifting tone. The setting is so vividly portrayed that it feels like a real place readers might want to visit.

Overall, it is a feel-good read, perfect for those looking for a low-drama, heartwarming story filled with love, family, and holiday magic.

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Review Card & Book Review – ‘Tis The Damn Season By Fiona Gibson

Old friends Shelley, Lena and Pearl have reached their limit with the festive preparation that has always fallen to them, and five days before Christmas, they’ve booked a mini break… without their families. Up until Christmas Eve, they’ll be sipping prosecco in the Highlands while their kids wrap bacon around 100 chipolatas and their partners brave the supermarkets.

It’s exactly what they need… until they’re snowed in. Facing the prospect of Christmas 500 miles from home, each woman is forced to confront her real reasons for needing to escape: the fiance with the obnoxious family; the son’s new girlfriend who is taking over their home; the family who take their mother for granted all year round…

Will the friends make it home before Christmas day? And if they do, can they really go back to their old lives?

About The Author

My Review

This humorous and heartwarming novel follows three women overwhelmed by Christmas preparations, who escape to a Scottish B&B for a break. Facing unexpected challenges, they bond, navigate family dynamics, and ultimately find happiness. Meanwhile, their families at home struggle to manage Christmas without them, leading to satisfying resolutions. The story is funny, insightful, and has a perfect happy ending, ideal for fans of women’s fiction.

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Review Card & Book Review – The Sky Beneath Us By Fiona Valpy

1927. Violet Mackenzie-Grant is embarking on her dream of studying at the Edinburgh School of Gardening for Women. She doesn’t yet know that it’s a journey that will take her to Kathmandu and beyond, deep into captivating landscapes and cultures that are worlds away from everything and everyone she’s left behind in Scotland.

2020. Daisy Laverock has dreamed of retracing the footsteps of her great-great-aunt Violet ever since discovering her long-lost journals, whose accounts of plant hunting in the 1930s inspired Daisy’s own career. Divorced, and facing an empty nest, Daisy decides to embark on the trip of a lifetime. She arrives in Nepal, ready to start trekking in the shadow of Everest. But fate, and the pandemic, have other plans.

Stranded and alone, Daisy must fall back on the kindness of strangers, taking inspiration from Violet’s determination and resilience to keep going in the darkest of times. As she gradually pieces together the fragments of Violet’s story and uncovers long-held secrets, can Daisy finally reveal a path forward to her own future?

About The Author

My Review

This book tells the interwoven stories of two women from different eras, Violet in 1927 and Daisy in 2020. Violet, a student at the Edinburgh School of Gardening for Women, faces an unexpected pregnancy and decides to leave the school to embark on a journey to Nepal to reunite with the father of her child. Almost a century later, Daisy, newly divorced and with her children grown, discovers Violet’s journals. Inspired by her great-great-aunt’s story, Daisy decides to follow in her footsteps and travel to Nepal.

The novel alternates between these two timelines, exploring themes of passion, determination, love, and sacrifice. The author, Fiona Valpy, skillfully integrates the COVID-19 pandemic into Daisy’s story, making it relatable and authentic for contemporary readers. The book is praised for its engaging plot twists, relatable characters, and compassionate reflection on the pandemic, creating a compelling and beautifully written narrative about two women navigating challenges in Nepal’s rugged environment.

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Review Card & Book Review – Illicit Temptations By Katee Robert

What if the one person you shouldn’t want is the one you can’t resist?

Make Me Yours

Becka Baudin gets what she wants, and she wants Aaron Livingston—but only for a quick affair. Weeks later, her coveted freedom starts to disappear thanks to a plus sign on a pregnancy test. Aaron insists she move in to his penthouse and commit to a relationship, but Becka demands he give her space without pushing for more. They are total opposites—with different jobs, interests, lives. But their chemistry keeps pushing them together…for better or for worse?

Make Me Need

Trish Livingston desperately needs her new job. Which means putting up with the world’s grumpiest boss—who is also her brother’s best friend and business partner, Cameron O’Clery. The way he looks at her is pure disdain…but when he touches her, it’s pure fire. With family and business ties at stake, they are not supposed to be together. There’s a fine line between hate and lust, and they are going to cross it…but at what cost?

About The Author

My Review

This is a book that features two novellas set in the same universe, offering readers a mix of romance tropes and character-driven stories.

Novella 1 focuses on Becka and Aaron, who unexpectedly find themselves dealing with a pregnancy after a one-night stand. Despite the accidental pregnancy trope, the story is appreciated for the strong chemistry and connection between the characters, even before their intimate encounter. The story is angsty, with Becka dealing with parental neglect and the complexities of first-time pregnancy while developing feelings for Aaron. The fact that the characters were sober during their night together was a positive aspect for the reader, as it added a layer of authenticity to their relationship.

Novella 2 follows Trish, Aaron’s younger sister, and Cameron, his business partner. Their story embodies the grumpy-sunshine dynamic with an added twist of best friend’s sibling. Trish’s bubbly personality contrasts with Cameron’s gruff demeanor, making their developing relationship enjoyable to watch. Their romance is engaging, with Cameron being the first to realize his feelings for Trish, adding depth to their dynamic.

Both novellas are quick, fun, and spicy reads, making them enjoyable for those who appreciate explicit romance. The first novella sets the stage with a surprise pregnancy that acts as a catalyst for the characters to address their personal issues, while the second novella builds on the relationships introduced, offering a different but equally compelling romantic storyline. Although the endings of both novellas felt a bit rushed due to their brevity, the characters and their relationships were well-crafted, making the stories satisfying overall.

My Rating

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