Category Archives: Book Review

Review Card & Book Review – Mr. Hook Up By Marni Mann

Hooked. An app designed for the ideal one-night stand is the brainchild of Harvard graduate students Easton Jones and his two best friends. When Easton creates his Hooked profile, he gets a 100 percent perfect match.

Who is this sure thing? Her username is Love.

Their chemistry is off-the-charts explosive, and just when Easton begins falling for her, she disconnects from the app and disappears.

Five years later, Hooked is now the number one dating app in the country.

But that’s not the only thing on fire.

Easton’s brilliant, gorgeous new recruit, Drake Madden, has ignited a desire he hasn’t experienced in years. Professionally and personally, they’re sizzling.

Just as things really start getting serious, Love resurfaces. She wants a chance to explain, and she’s sending Easton’s heart into rewind.

He has a loving woman in the flesh and a fantasy from his past—Easton’s world is about to be rocked.

And rocked hard.

About The Author

My Review

Easton and Drake, alias Mr. Boston and Love, initially connect on the dating app Hooked, where Easton, one of the founders, is surprised to find a 100% match with her. Despite their chemistry, life gets in the way, and they lose touch for over five years. However, they reconnect when Drake interviews for a position at Hooked, leading to a revelation of their true identities. Despite some initial frustration, Easton’s caring nature shines through, and their relationship flourishes without the typical third-act breakup trope. The Hooked app adds an intriguing twist to the romance plot, while the palpable chemistry between the characters keeps readers engaged. Although the steamy scenes are enjoyable, they sometimes overshadow the emotional connection. Overall, “Mr. Hook-up” is a recommended read for fans of steamy romance novels, offering a fun and captivating story with a unique premise.

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Review Card & Book Review – Mr Right Next Door By Rachel Dove

On her deathbed, Rory Gallant’s mother begs him to be a good man, and to not behave like his caddish father, Doug.

Now all grown up, Rory is a good man, but loves seems to elude him. Maybe he does need to be a bit more of a cad after all?

Deciding to follow the cad dating rules, and with a bit of help from lothario Doug, Rory decides to become the complete opposite of the man he really is….

Rory’s best friend and neighbour Sarah doesn’t understand why Rory thinks he needs to change to find love – he’s perfect just the way he is. She’s determined to show him that he doesn’t need to change in order to find love.

That maybe it’s standing right under his nose…maybe even right next door?

About The Author

My Review

Rory and Sarah, lifelong best friends, support each other through thick and thin, with Rory serving as a steadfast presence for Sarah and her daughter, Annabel. Feeling lonely, Rory decides to shed his “nice guy” persona and adopt a more confident approach to win over Sasha at the club. Sarah reluctantly supports his transformation but wishes he would recognize his worth without changing. While the premise is charming, the story unfolds at a slow pace, with the central romance developing only in the final pages. Despite the endearing characters, lack of chemistry between the main couple and numerous editorial oversights detract from the reading experience. Additionally, the abundance of British colloquialisms may alienate non-British readers. Overall, while the story has its moments, it lacks the captivating allure to hold the reader’s interest, often resulting in a lackluster reading experience.

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Review Card & Book Review – Three Cowboys And A Puppy By Kate Pearce

With a thriving cattle ranch and good friends all around, there’s not much Luke Nilsen would change about his life. But when his buddy Noah’s sister comes to visit, Luke begins to wonder if it’s time to change himself—and become the kind of man a sophisticated city woman like her would want. Maybe his female bestie, Bernie Murphy, who runs the local coffee shop, can use her womanly expertise and give him a man makeover . . .

Bernie thinks Luke is just fine the way he is—more than fine, even—aside from being blind to the fact that Bernie is perfect for him. But what’s a BFF to do? Perhaps it’s time for her to finally get over Luke and move on. Yet as Luke helps organize their small town’s Adopt a Shelter Dog auction event, one sweet little puppy seems to be on a mission to help Luke realize that the right woman has been right by his side all along . . .

About The Author

My Review

Three Cowboys and a Puppy is the second book in the series, featuring a friends-to-lovers tale between Luke and Bernie. Luke seeks a makeover to attract his friend’s sister, unaware of Bernie’s long-standing affection for him. As they navigate their feelings, they must decide if romance will jeopardize their friendship. The author crafts an engaging story with relatable characters, including Bernie’s independence and Luke’s struggles with PTSD. The inclusion of rescue dogs adds charm, while secondary characters enrich the narrative. Kate Pearce delivers a heartwarming and entertaining romance, continuing the series’ promise of finding love after service.

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Review Card & Book Review – The Seaside Ice-Cream Parlour By Sarah Hope

An opportunity of a lifetime…

When Jenny has the chance to leave her days of sofa surfing behind and move to the beach to run her best friend’s ice cream parlour, she jumps at the opportunity.

With no relevant experience, she’s certainly kept busy with learning new skills to manage the ice cream parlour at the same time as juggling motherhood and trying to settle into their new home.

But when Nick, her best friend’s ex, comes into her life, ill feelings quickly turn to friendship, leaving them both wanting more.

Can Jenny put her feelings aside or will truths be told that might change her mind about her and Nick’s future?

About The Author

My Review

Struggling single mom Jenny moves to a seaside town to help her friend Helen’s ice cream parlor while Helen is in Australia. Jenny’s opinions about Helen’s ex, Nick, shift when she learns he’s a silent partner in the business. Jenny juggles running the parlor and caring for her daughter Grace, while questioning Helen’s carefree attitude in Australia. The relationship between Jenny and Nick lacks romance, and Nick’s behavior seems odd. Overall, it’s a fun beach read with ups and downs, misunderstandings, and a touch of romance.

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Review Card & Book Review – The Déjà Glitch By Holly James

To break out of a 24-hour time loop, all Jack needs is for Gemma to fall in love with him in a single day. All Gemma needs is to remember him first . . .

Gemma Peters is doing fine. She’s making a name for herself in the L.A. music biz as a radio producer. She’s got a ride-or-die best friend in Lila, and she gets to come home to Rex, her loving Labrador, every night. But ever since her rock star ex-boyfriend used her to get a record deal from her rock legend dad, she’s made a “no musicians” rule when it comes to dating that’s becoming more like a “no dating” rule, period.

So, when Gemma crashes (literally) into Jack one Thursday morning, at first she feels like fate might finally be doing her a favor. After all this guy is cute and, wait, is she imagining it, or is he staring a little too deeply into her eyes? And how does he know her name? Even harder to explain is the funny feeling of déjà vu she gets every time she looks at him. It’s not at all like Gemma to kiss a man and forget him completely, so then how can she explain the dreamlike memory of his lips on hers?

The truth is this is no ordinary Thursday. Not for them. In fact, they’ve lived this day over and over for months. And while Gemma has been totally oblivious to the time loop, Jack has been agonizingly aware of every single iteration. Luckily, Jack has a theory to bring his own personal Groundhog Day to an end. And it’s simple. Before the day is over, he just has to get Gemma to fall in love with him.

About The Author

My Review

Gemma Peters, leading a quiet life distanced from her famous father and fame-seeking ex, encounters a mysterious stranger, Jack, at a coffee shop who surprisingly knows a lot about her. Despite initial unease, Gemma experiences a deja vu connection with Jack. As Jack tries to convince Gemma of the truth, he must test a theory to prevent history from repeating itself – can Gemma fall in love with a stranger in just one day? The book, reminiscent of Groundhog Day and modern romance, captivates with its original concept. Beyond the love story, it explores friendship, family, risk-taking, and personal growth, showcasing Gemma’s transformation from stubborn to open-hearted. Jack’s persistence makes him her perfect match, and the book caters to those who prefer ‘closed-door’ romances without explicit content.

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Review Card & Book Review – The Head That Wears The Crown By Mariah Stewart

Annaliese—Annie—Gilberti is a divorced South Philadelphia mother of two with a nine-to-five job when a shocking discovery turns another average day upside down: her late grandmother was the exiled ruler of a small European country, and Annie is next in line to wear the crown and restore the monarchy. The would-be grand duchess of the Grand Duchy of Saint Gilbert has vacation time coming, enough to take a quick trip to check it out.

It’s easy to fall in love with Saint Gilbert’s villagers; its mysteries (why does everyone look decades younger than they claim to be?); her family’s ancestral home, Castle Blanc (so many hidden rooms and passages!); and maybe—just a little—with the dashing Maximilien Belleme, the captain of the castle guard. Never one to walk away from a challenge, Annie steps up, determined to be worthy of the crown that’s been offered. As she, her sisters, and her children work to bring Saint Gilbert into the modern age, Annie discovers a legacy of courageous women and that no threat is too great to deny the grand duchess’s right to the throne.

About The Author

My Review

A South Philly single mom of two finds out she is heir to a small country called St. Gilbert. Annie travels to St. Gilbert, falls in love with the country, and moves there with her teenagers, followed by her sisters and best friend. She becomes the Grand Duchess and is tasked with modernizing the country, which lacks tourism infrastructure and has an ineffective council. Despite some eye-rolling moments and unrealistic aspects, such as the smooth transition for Annie’s family and the council’s acceptance of the new Duchess, the novel offers a cute and quick read reminiscent of a mix between Princess Diaries and Hallmark movies. The story includes a twist three-quarters of the way through and a romantic subplot with a hunky captain. Overall, it’s a fun and light read, perfect for a vacation or weekend escape.

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Review Card & Book Review – The Holiday Mix-Up By Ginny Baird

Lonely-hearted waitress Katie Smith has nowhere to go for Christmas, and a huge crush on her gorgeous diner patron Juan Martinez. So when Juan asks Katie to pose as his girlfriend for holiday festivities at his family’s winery, Katie leaps at the chance…that is, until an accident lands Juan in a coma right after giving his folks the “news.” Katie knows she should tell the Martinezes the truth, but when they immediately embrace her, Katie is reluctant to let her fantasy of a family holiday go. And then there’s Juan’s brother, Mateo, whose smile tugs at her heartstrings just right—and who tells her perfect Juan might not be everything he seems.

Second son Mateo Martinez loves his brother, but Juan’s plan to “rebrand and expand” Los Cielos Cellars has cost their family too much and put its entire tradition in jeopardy. Katie seems to understand, but she’s still committed to Juan…even when Mateo starts to wish her gentle heart and beautiful smile were committed to him instead. With the winery at stake, secrets on all sides, and Juan due to wake up any day, can Katie and Mateo follow their hearts to a Christmas miracle, or will this mix-up ruin their chances?

About The Author

My Review

This book is about. Katie Smith, who faces spending the holidays alone after losing her last family member. Regular diner patron Juan presents her with an unexpected opportunity to spend Christmas with his family by posing as his fake date. Despite initial hesitation, Katie agrees, hoping their charade could lead to something more. However, a dramatic turn of events occurs when Katie saves Juan from an oncoming van but ends up injured herself. With Juan in a coma and his family believing they were dating, Katie is torn between her feelings for Juan’s brother Matteo and her promise to Juan. As she navigates her deceptive act, Katie grapples with her growing feelings and moral dilemma. Set against the backdrop of a close-knit Latin family’s holiday celebration, this heartwarming tale explores love, loyalty, and the complexities of relationships.

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Review Card & Book Review – A Cowboy Country Christmas By Jennie Marts

There’s no better time than Christmas to open your heart

Holt Callahan used to the love the holidays, but getting dumped on Christmas Eve with a ring tucked in your pocket would turn anyone into a Grinch. Now he hates Christmas and all the holly jolly shenanigans that go with it. When he moves back to his cousin’s ranch in Creedence, Colorado, the last thing he expects is to come face to face with the one who got away and all of her holiday cheer.

Lainey McBride is all about Christmas, and despite running her family’s ranch festivities while her grandfather is in rehab, she hasn’t lost her holiday spirit. Not even when the horse that was supposed to offer snowy sleigh rides can’t be found. She couldn’t be happier to see a cowboy riding up with her missing horse, or more shocked to see that cowboy is Holt Callahan. But the holidays have their own way of healing, and a Christmas in Creedence just might be the merry magic that brings these two broken hearts back together again.

About The Author

My Review

“A Cowboy Country Christmas” follows Holt Callahan, who despises Christmas due to past heartbreaks, and Lainey McBride, who returns to Creedence to organize her grandfather’s Christmas festival. When Holt finds a beautiful black horse on his ranch, he discovers that it belongs to Lainey, his past love from twelve years ago. Despite their unresolved feelings, they reconnect and navigate their second chance at love amidst the holiday season. With plenty of Christmas spirit, quirky town residents, and a lovable stray dog, the novel delivers a heartwarming second chance romance. The story culminates in a wonderful happily ever after, complete with Christmas cheer and a heartwarming Christmas miracle.

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