Category Archives: Review card

Review Card & Book Review – Summer At Mount Joy By Ophelia London

In a family made almost entirely of successful overachievers, Roxy Elliott is the odd woman out. Yet she’s determined to save her family’s old, run-down ranch from being sold and razed to the ground and, in the process, to prove that she has more heart—and ambition—than her family expected. The only problem? In a town as small as Mount Joy, there’s just one guy who can help her with the ranch’s transformation…and he’s a complete pain in her backside.

Had he known firecracker Roxy Elliott would be his new boss, ex-soldier-turned-cowboy Josh Manning definitely would have taken a hard pass on the town’s new job. He has his own memories from the last time they were together, and he’s not about to let her off the hook a second time. But Josh will do anything to save his family home from foreclosure, even sell his soul to the last woman he ever would have wanted to be partners with. But Roxy Elliott might just surprise him yet…

At first, nothing goes according to plan. The pipes are all rusted, the hideous wallpaper is impossible to remove, and the front porch is one rotten board away from swallowing someone whole. Now the dude ranch is showing some serious potential for not only transforming the community, but both their lives, as well. But while Roxy Elliott is still the loveliest thing to ever cross paths with a grump like Josh, summer romances never last forever…and history has a tendency to repeat itself.

About The Author

My Review

Over 10 years ago, Josh Manning, from a working-class family, was excited to take wealthy Roxy Elliott to the homecoming dance. However, a hurtful comment he overheard made him walk away, changing his life forever. Now, back home after two military deployments and struggling with PTSD and injuries, Josh is trying to save his mother’s ranch from foreclosure. Meanwhile, Roxy is determined to turn her family’s dilapidated ranch into a profitable venture. When Roxy hires Josh as a foreman, not recognizing him, they must navigate their past, present, and feelings to revive the ranch and their relationship. The story explores second chances and the challenges faced by returning troops. While engaging, references to Roxy’s brothers’ previous stories could have enhanced the book.

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Review Card & Book Review – Somebody I Used To Love By Eve Ainsworth

Lost memories. Lost loves. Can they find their way back to each other?

When Will wakes up after a car accident, he’s lost three years of memory. All he wants is his girlfriend and childhood sweetheart, Gem, beside him. Instead, nothing is as he remembers.

Gem has finally moved on from hers and Will’s break-up. With a new life and boyfriend, the last thing she expects is a call to say Will needs her – the man who nearly destroyed her.

As Will recovers, he is determined to prove to Gem that he is the man he once was. But by unlocking the secrets of his past, will he be able to piece together what caused him to change so dramatically? And, faced with the choice, will Gem continue with the safe new life she has built for herself, or will she go back to the man she used to love?

About The Author

My Review

This book follows Will, who wakes up from a car accident with a three-year memory gap. Shocked to find his girlfriend Gem has moved on, Will is determined to win her back despite her new life and boyfriend. As he unravels his past, Gem grapples with her feelings and the stability of her current relationship. The novel, by Eve Ainsworth, brilliantly explores intense emotional dynamics and the flawed, relatable nature of its characters. The storytelling is powerful and gripping, making it a highly recommended read for fans of love stories with a twist.

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Review Card & Book Review – The False Flat By Melissa Collings

Penelope Auberge is at her breaking point. With an overbearing mother, a married boyfriend, and a boss who gives Pen’s high-profile finance clients to male colleagues, it feels like nothing she’s accomplished in her thirty-two years belongs to her.

Determined to build a life entirely her own, Pen moves from Minnesota to Tennessee to open a solo financial business. There, she meets siblings Deanna and Grant, who attempt to coax Pen out of her socially anxious shell. Hesitant to open up so she doesn’t get hurt (again), Pen is slow to develop a friendship with Deanna, and she’s determined to ignore her feelings for Grant, which is difficult given she’s joined his cycling group and a clear something begins blossoming between them.

Pen’s path in Nashville appears to be smoothing out, but she soon learns that packing up her past isn’t quite that easy. If she wants to start fresh, she’ll have to decide what she really wants—even if that means riding away from her old life for good.

About The Author

My Review

This is a delightful and insightful romance novel. It follows Penelope “Pen” Auberge, whose life has been marked by tragedy. Pen copes with anxiety by furiously biking and categorizing people into numbers. Despite her coping strategies, she maintains a job and a superficial relationship. When her life is upended, Pen quits her job, moves across the country, and flourishes in her new city. She joins a local biking group and befriends Grant, leading to mutual personal growth. Pen’s journey from trauma to self-acceptance and finding her “people” is heartfelt and inspiring, showcasing exceptional character development.

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Review Card & Book Review – For Once In My Life By Sian O’Gorman

A tale of love, discovery, and second chances…

In the bustling world of Dublin’s advertising scene, Kitty O’Sullivan, a copywriter, feels an unexplainable void in her life that she can’t quite pinpoint. Her five-year relationship with Dave is stagnant, her creative juices have dried up and she’s even entertaining thoughts of marriage as a cure-all! Something’s missing from her life but she can’t work out exactly what it is…

When Dave decides to take time out from ‘them’, Kitty finds herself momentarily liberated to explore life and have some fun. She and best friend Shazza are corralled into joining a five-aside football team where she meets the intriguing Sweetman brothers, Tom and Rory.

As they sail around the enchanting coast of Dublin, engage in fierce football battles and stumble upon a magical secret drinking den, Kitty falls in love with her new life – and her new self – but is it only temporary until Dave returns?

Will Kitty find the answers to life’s mysteries and take charge of her future?

About The Author

My Review

We return to Sandycove, where we meet Kitty and her best friend Shazza. Kitty is organized and reserved, while Shazza is loud and dysfunctional, yet their friendship works perfectly. Kitty’s people-pleasing nature keeps her in a toxic relationship with her boyfriend Dave and his awful mother, causing her to lose her spark in both her personal and professional life. The novel blends humor with serious themes, emphasizing the importance of living in the moment and prioritizing oneself. The setting and characters are heartwarming, making it a must-read that celebrates family, friendship, and self-love.

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Review Card & Book Review – You’ve Got Male By Marina Adair

Evie Granger’s life is one crisis away from a complete meltdown.

Between single-parenting a sixteen-going-on-forty daughter, managing a mom living her best life way out loud, caring for an ailing father, and keeping the family’s struggling coffee shop afloat, Evie hasn’t looked after herself in far too long.

So naturally her best friend chooses this moment to post a video of Evie describing the ideal man…and sends it stratospherically viral.

Now Evie’s an overnight social media sensation and every eligible (and otherwise) guy in a five-state radius is turning up with his “I’m the one” credentials. But Evie can’t bring herself to let any Prince Charming into a life that’s barely holding together. A life she doesn’t even recognize as hers.

So she strikes a bargain with her sexy—if equally overwhelmed—neighbor to convince America she’s taken. But can a faux fairytale start to feel real…or is it just as doomed from the start?

About The Author

My Review

This feels like a classic 90s rom-com, full of laughter, swoons, and dreamy moments. Evie becomes an overnight viral sensation, attracting eligible bachelors to her workplace. The real romance begins with her neighbor Jonah, with whom she has undeniable chemistry. Their relationship evolves from fun banter to a deep emotional connection, showcasing their growth and mutual support. While the plot is heartwarming and engaging, the epilogue could have offered more future insight. Additionally, Evie’s feelings for Jonah are clear, but Jonah’s love for Evie could have been more explicitly affirmed. Overall, it’s a delightful and well-paced romance.

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Review Card & Book Review – Playing The Field By Becky Ward

When business student Lily’s local football club relocates to a city fifty miles away, she’s just as devastated as everyone else in her town. Determined to keep the community’s love of football alive, Lily, along with her dad and football coach sister, set up a brand-new club, Crawford United, with the dream of making it big.

When notorious professional player Ben Pryce shows up out of the blue to help coach their new team, everyone is shocked. Despite being a top Premier League striker, he’s been temporarily suspended from his team for an altercation with a fan. Ben’s here to revamp his image, and the attraction between him and Lily is as deep as it is instant.

But rule number one of Crawford United: strictly no mixing business with pleasure.

Despite his bad-boy reputation, Lily’s convinced there’s more to Ben than meets the eye. Embarking on a secret whirlwind romance, she soon finds out that this player has a heart of gold.

But will everyone else be convinced?

About The Author

My Review

Lily and her family start their own football club after their home team moves away, despite having little experience. They meet Ben Pyrce, a Premier League player suspended for bad behavior, who offers to advise them. A secret romance blooms between Lily and Ben, but complications arise when Ben returns to his team and must fake a relationship for publicity, leading to their breakup. The story explores the challenges of their relationship, though the execution of character development and the third act breakup could have been improved. Despite enjoying the overall story, the characters felt underdeveloped.

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Review Card & Book Review – Love Under The Stars By Judith Keim

Keeping a family promise can be the beginning of a whole new life for everyone in town.

Whitney Gilford is delighted to be called away from Hollywood where her co-star and former lover, Zane Blanchard, is addicted to drugs and blaming her for his unhappiness. News of her beloved grandmother, GG, giving her and her sisters a cottage on the land of The Lilac Lake Inn is a tremendous relief from the negative publicity about her on social media. In Lilac Lake, helping with the renovation of the cottage, Whitney starts to rethink her entire career. Lilac Lake is full of interesting people, including the man she’d once had a crush on. As she struggles to rediscover the woman she wants to be, Whitney and her two sisters become closer. And when danger arises, threatening the life of the man she’s come to love, Whitney realizes what’s she wants out of a new life.

About The Author

My Review

Book three of the Lilac Inn series centers on Whitney, who returns to help her sisters restore a cottage. After her Hollywood career ends in turmoil, Whitney faces blame for her ex-boyfriend Zane’s drug-related death. In Lilac Lake, she sets up a children’s theater, encountering opposition from a disapproving father and online threats. As she reconnects with her high school boyfriend, Nick, and deals with a ghostly mystery, Whitney contemplates leaving Hollywood behind for a fresh start. The story celebrates sisterhood, love, and new beginnings, blending romance, mystery, and familial bonds.

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Review Card & Book Review – Bring Me Sunshine By Alex Brown

Gina Bennett has had enough after her husband of twenty-seven years lets her down one time too many. Deciding to choose herself, she embarks on a transformative solo journey to break free from the monotony of her life.

She escapes to the gorgeous Greek island of Kalosiros, where she holidayed in her youth, and where she had her first romance with the handsome Nico. Encountering two kindred spirits in Rosie and Deedee, the women bond over art classes and cocktails, renewing their lust for life and a shared quest to find Gina’s lost love.

Together, they navigate the challenges of middle-age, self-discovery, and the liberating power of skinny-dipping. Will Gina find love again with her teenage sweetheart Nico, her husband, or with someone new?

About The Author

My Review

The novel follows 49-year-old Gina as she revisits the Greek island of Kalosiros, where she once enjoyed summers with her mother and a teenage romance. After her mother’s death, Gina led a practical life with her husband. When she finally saves for a return trip, her husband can’t join, so she travels alone, encouraged by her employer. In Kalosiros, Gina befriends fellow solo travelers Deedee and Rosie, leading to a lively girls’ holiday. The journey helps Gina confront her past, search for her first love, and reconsider her future. Celebrating friendship, self-discovery, and the vibrancy of older women, the novel is heartwarming and uplifting.

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