Book Review – Page 77

Review Card & Book Review – Love in Province By Jo Thomas

Escape to the beautiful lavender fields of Provence this summer

Del moved to the south of France three years ago and hasn’t looked back. She’s found new friends, new purpose, and new love with gorgeous Fabien.

But just as harvest on her little lavender farm is due to begin, Del gets some shocking news. With no time to dwell as she welcomes a new crew of lavender pickers, she unexpectedly waves goodbye to Fabien for the summer.

Usually cooking – the thing she loves best – would help soothe her troubles, but Del doesn’t remember how . . . And then chef Zacharie comes to town, dropping another bombshell!

Over one summer in Provence that’s full of surprises, friends old and new rally round. Can they complete the harvest and pull the community back together? And if Fabien returns, will Del finally get her happy-ever-after?

About The Author

My Review

After three years on a lavender farm in the South of France, Del enjoys her life with younger boyfriend Fabian and her cooking passion at Henri’s bistro. However, her happiness is disrupted when Fabian is called away, Henri’s ambitious son Zacharie plans changes that exclude her, and Del faces a challenging lavender harvest alone. As she struggles with these new difficulties, including a loss of confidence in her cooking skills, the community, including new lavender pickers, comes together to support her.

This book explores themes of love, friendship, and second chances, featuring rich character development and a heartwarming resolution. Del realizes she has been neglecting important aspects of her life, particularly her relationship with Fabian, but with the help of her community, she finds a way forward. The story is filled with emotional highs and lows, misunderstandings, and ultimately, a heartwarming conclusion.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Review Card & Book Review – It Had To Be You By Beth Moran

Growing up, sisters Libby and Nicky never knew who they’d find at breakfast.

Their parents fostered children of all ages, and although the girls loved playing their part in providing a safe haven, it meant that life was rarely peaceful.

Now as a single mother of two, Libby’s life is still anything but peaceful. In her work as an antenatal coach, as well as for the charity she and Nicky run for teenage mothers, Libby uses all the skills she learnt growing up surrounded by children. Her days are full, caring for her family, the mothers-to-be and the latest strays she has welcomed into her home. But in the dark of the lonely nights, Libby worries she’s falling apart at the seams.

One troubled boy and a reckless decision she made thirteen years ago still haunts her.

Two hearts that were broken, still not mended.

The time has come for Libby to look out for herself. As her family, friends and her community have known forever, Libby is one of a kind, and if she can just learn to love herself, she may be able to welcome back the love she let slip through her fingers.

About The Author

My Review

Libby and Nicky, who grew up in a foster family, now run a program for vulnerable mothers. Libby, divorced and raising her children alone, faces chaos and struggles daily. When Jonah, a troubled boy she loved at 17, reappears, memories of a reckless choice from 13 years ago resurface, reminding her of the resulting family destruction. Determined to support Jonah and his sister, Libby strives to keep her life from falling apart.

The story, more focused on life than romance, showcases Libby’s realistic self-reflection and growth. It sensitively addresses difficult topics like neglect, adoption, drug use, and abuse, with empathy. Libby’s character development adds depth to this touching narrative.

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Review Card & Book Review – The Love Hack By Sophie Ranald

She’s a rookie advice columnist. He’s her office crush. It’s about to get complicated…

Landing a new job as online agony uncle “Ask Adam” Lucy dishes out relationship tips to men. But when it comes to her own love life, she’d rather spend Friday nights curled up on her sofa with Netflix and her cat, Astro.

That is, until she meets Ross, her new co-worker who makes her snort with laughter at his silly jokes and sets off butterflies in her stomach when his hazel eyes meet hers over his laptop.

After her last work boyfriend broke her heart, Lucy swore she’d never fall for someone in the office again. And she’s just about to have two more good reasons not to.

An email has just landed in the “Ask Adam” inbox and Lucy is convinced it’s from Ross.

He’s most definitely not single.

As her advice column goes viral and her inbox overflows with problems, Lucy turns to her AI assistant for help decoding romantic troubles, including her own. Can her state-of-the-art cupid really help her navigate her feelings for Ross? Or will the truth behind “Ask Adam” turn her non-existent love life into a hot mess?

About The Author

My Review

“The Love Hack” follows Lucy, a new online advice columnist for men, under the pseudonym “Ask Adam.” Despite knowing little about men, she faces another challenge: her attractive coworker, Ross, whose presence makes her blush. Having been betrayed by a past coworker-turned-boyfriend, Lucy is reluctant to pursue a relationship. Lucy’s life is further complicated by her sister’s marriage to a controlling man. At a bachelorette party, Lucy sees Ross kissing another bridesmaid, leading her to distance herself from him to avoid heartache. Despite this, working closely with Ross helps Lucy understand men better and grow into her role, while their friendship deepens. However, Ross’s continued involvement with the bridesmaid dampens Lucy’s romantic hopes.

The story explores Lucy’s journey of self-discovery, building self-esteem, and learning about relationships through her “Ask Adam” column. The book blends humor, romance, and valuable relationship insights, making it a delightful summer read.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

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Kobo

Review Card & Book Review – Rancher’s Law By Diana Palmer

One night in his arms changes everything…

For Amelia Rose Grayson, there was only ever one love: Cal Hollister. When Cal, a police captain, is wounded, she’s there for him and helps nurse him back to health. After he shrugs off their undeniable chemistry, Amelia knows she needs to cut all her old ties. She escapes her small-town life and forges a new path, trying to leave Cal behind. But Amelia can’t break free of Cal’s orbit. Emotion—and an unrelenting passion—takes over when they reconnect, sending them both into dangerous territory. Can the two of them move past their previous hurt and make peace? And will they finally face the reason they keep finding each other?

About The Author

My Review

Amelia Rose Grayson meets Cal Hallister, a former police officer turned mercenary for Eb Scott, when he moves into her neighborhood. Despite warnings from her grandfather about their age difference and Cal’s unsuitability, Amelia and Cal grow close. After Cal is injured on a job, Amelia cares for him, though he has a high-society girlfriend in the city. Without telling Amelia, Cal re-enlists with the police and leaves, intending not to return. After her grandfather’s death, Cal contacts Amelia again, but true to Diana Palmer’s style, their reunion is fraught with complications.

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Review Card & Book Review – ER Doc’s Miracle Triplets By Tina Beckett

TRIPLE THE SHOCK!

ER doctor Isabella can’t believe it. She’s miraculously pregnant! With triplets… She knows she must tell her husband, Sebastián, that he’s about to be a father. But they’re separated, and the last time she saw him, he was departing Argentina following yet another IVF heartache. Isabella was left questioning if there would be a marriage for him to come back to. Now Seb’s home, can they reignite their flame to secure their future as a family?

About The Author

My Review

This is a poignant romance set in an emergency room. It follows Harper and Jared as they navigate love, loss, and second chances. Beckett’s engaging storytelling and well-developed characters make readers deeply connect with the narrative. The story is rich with tender moments, palpable chemistry, and an overarching theme of resilience and hope, emphasizing that light and love can be found even in the darkest times if one is willing to take a leap of faith.

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Review Card & Book Review – Spanish Marriage Solution By Jackie Ashenden

Marry her enemy
or lose everything…

When Alice first met Spanish duke Sebastián Castellano, the fiery attraction between them was instant, forbidden and unequivocally ignored—he was her brother-in-law. Then Alice’s husband and sister were killed in a car accident, leaving behind Alice’s baby nephew, Diego…and the shocking revelation that Sebastián was not his father.

For Sebastián, Diego is his son, no matter the bloodline. The Castellano hacienda is their home, and if Alice insists on being part of their life, it’ll have to become hers too. Her choice is simple. Leave…or stay—as his wife!

About The Author

My Review

Sebastian Castellano, a Spanish Duke, grapples with the loss of his wife while facing a custody battle with his grieving sister-in-law, Alice, over his son, Diego. Despite their emotional turmoil, their journey is filled with captivating chemistry and engaging dynamics, leading to a satisfying happily ever after.

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Review Card & Book Review – Slow Dance With The Italian By Scarlet Wilson

HE’LL SWEEP HER OFF HER FEET!

Receiving a bucket list from her late sister, Darcy’s forced out of her self-imposed comfort zone—into a dance class with charismatic Arturo! It’s obvious the Italian’s dealing with his own losses, but they clearly share a connection. So she can’t deny his offer of help when next she adopts a boisterous puppy! Falling for the pup is easy, but can she open her guarded heart to Arturo as well?

About The Author

My Review

It is a heartwarming story about Darcy, who embarks on a journey to fulfill her late sister’s bucket list and finds love with Arturo, a charismatic dance partner. Set against the backdrop of Edinburgh and Rome, their emotional journey resonates with authenticity and depth, capturing the struggles of love, loss, and learning to live again.

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Review Card & Book Review – A Colton Kidnapping By Justine David

A marriage of convenience

…to protect two small children from danger.

They had nothing in common—Briony, a shy accountant, and Greg, a gruff Colton rancher. But after the death of their two best friends, Briony and Greg become uneasy guardians of the couple’s two children. When the children’s dangerous grandfather tries to gain custody, the two new parents know they must get married to protect their found family. Can Briony and Greg save the children—and also their hearts—as they grow closer together?

About The Author

My Review

This is an engaging romantic drama where rancher Greg and accountant Briony, drawn together by tragedy, must marry to protect their deceased friends’ children from an estranged grandfather. As they navigate grief and guardianship battles, they grow closer, but face suspenseful mysteries surrounding the deaths of their friends. While action is sparse, the emotional depth and compelling characters make for a gripping read. Will they keep custody, uncover the truth, and find happiness together?

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Review Card & Book Review – The Scent Of Hours By Barbara O’Neal

Nikki Bridges has it good. An enviable home in an upscale neighborhood, a heavenly-scented hobby making personal-blend perfumes, a cherished daughter, and comfortable rituals with a husband she loves. How was she to know it would all blow up with her husband’s affair, a blindsiding divorce, and an identity crisis she never saw coming?

With little money, less work experience, and a modest apartment, Nikki is tentatively moving on. Along the way: a waitressing job, a bond with an empathetic group of friends, and reentering the dating game at fortysomething. Luring her out of her funk is Niraj, an ex-Londoner with twinkling eyes and a hint of cinnamon and ginger. For the first time in a long time, Nikki feels a warm summer flush—and with it, a spark of inspiration.

On a liberating quest for self-expression and the courage to follow a dream, Nikki is blending the pieces of a new life into a fragrance that is uniquely and passionately her own.

About The Author

My Review

In “The Scent of Hours,” Nikki Bridges, in her mid-40s, faces upheaval when her husband leaves her and her house explodes. Left with little but a dream of becoming a perfumier, she allows her daughter to move in with her ex and starts anew. Through struggles and newfound opportunities, Nikki rebuilds her life, finding herself, making friends, and pursuing her passion. The novel delves deep into Nikki’s journey of self-discovery and resilience, offering a heartwarming tale of love, loss, and new beginnings.

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Review Card & Book Review- All’s Fair In Love And War By Virginia Heath

When former naval captain, Harry Kincaid, is left in the lurch with his flighty older sister’s three unruly children, he hasn’t a clue how to handle it. Desperate, and prepared to pay whatever it takes, he turns to Miss Prentice’s School for Young Ladies for an emergency governess who can get his formerly ordered house running shipshape again.

After a strict and miserable upbringing, fledgling governess Georgie Rowe doesn’t believe that children should be seen and not heard. She believes that childhood should be filled with laughter, adventure, and discovery (. . . everything hers wasn’t). Thankfully, the three Pendleton children are already delightfully bohemian and instantly embrace her unconventional approach. However, their staid, stickler-for-the-rules uncle, is another matter entirely.

Georgie and Harry are soon butting heads over their differences, but as time passes, their attraction soon becomes undeniable and, after all, all’s fair in love and war . . .

About The Author

My Review

At 16, Georgie Rowe is sent to a prestigious school for governesses by her abusive stepfather after her mother dies of smallpox. Six years later, she’s the last of her friends to be hired and is sent to Captain Harry Kincaid’s household. Harry’s free-spirited sister has left her three unruly children (and a dog) with him, while he, a strict and orderly Navy man, struggles with the new responsibility. Georgie, a bit of a rebel, works hard to manage the disciplined Captain and the energetic children who are not used to traditional schooling. Their romance develops slowly but engagingly, with a significant location change and many fun moments with the children and secondary characters. Georgie’s past trauma, particularly her memories of her abusive stepfather, adds depth to the story.

My Rating