Review card – Page 75

Review Card & Book Review – One Of A Kind By Jane Lovering

A long-held secret, and a beautiful heart hoping to be understood.

Cressida Tarbet loves her job at an animal rescue centre, even if it means she’s resigned herself to scrimping to make ends meet – a lifestyle far removed from her best friend Ivo’s, in his ancestral gatehouse stuffed with antiques and art.

But although their upbringings were different, Ivo has held Cress’s heart ever since she clapped eyes on him at university. The trouble is – she has never told him. So, when a mystery and a baffling crime throw Cress and Ivo together, she can’t help but wonder if fate is telling her something.

As the puzzle takes them from beautiful Yorkshire, to the stunning Isle of Wight, the pair get closer. Ivo begins to understand the cause of Cress’s risk-aversion and she puts her irritation at his brilliant mind to one side as she starts to appreciate Ivo’s uniqueness. But then the unthinkable happens and their worlds are turned upside down, and Cress has to wonder if fate was calling after all…

About The Author

My Review

Cressida Tarbut, a dedicated wildlife rescue ranger, is called by her friend Ivo to save a red squirrel found in a dead man’s pocket. Realizing the squirrel, Fred, was hand-reared, Cressida joins Ivo in investigating the man’s death, which Ivo believes is more than an accident. Secretly in love with Ivo, Cressida navigates romantic tension, complicated by their different social backgrounds. Ivo’s quirky, non-neurotypical personality adds charm to the story. Their adventure becomes unexpectedly eventful, filled with humor typical of Jane Lovering’s books, providing many laugh-out-loud moments.

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Review Card & Book Review- Escape To The Country Kitchen By Hannah Langdon

Shy, world-weary Juliet Carlisle reluctantly returns to her family’s crumbling English manor house, seeking solace after a painful heartbreak… only to discover that her family has launched a new cookery school, run by the handsome but irritatingly cheerful French chef Léo Brodeur.

Between her manipulative ex, two much-loved sisters who just won’t stay out of her business, and a home falling down around her ears, Juliet has enough on her plate without dealing with an exasperating Frenchman. But as they work together in the kitchen – surrounded by the warm scents of baking croissants, fresh garden thyme, and Léo’s peppery cologne – she begins to see a more serious side to him that she never noticed before.

Just as her heart begins to mend, Juliet discovers the shocking reason Léo suddenly left France, and she doesn’t know what to believe. Should she run away, or fight for the chance of a future at Feywood filled with healing… and maybe even love?

About The Author

My Review

This book follows Juliet, a successful cartoonist grappling with the lingering effects of her late mother’s harsh criticism. This criticism damaged Juliet’s self-esteem and contributed to a toxic relationship with an ex-boyfriend. With the support of her sisters, aunt, and father, Juliet faces new challenges when her father reveals financial troubles caused by her mother’s extravagant spending during her illness. Returning to her family home, Juliet meets Leo, a French chef hired to start a cooking school. Initially wary of Leo due to her past relationship traumas, Juliet gradually comes to appreciate his kindness. The family’s collective care for an orphaned puppy adds warmth to the story. The novel delves into psychological trauma, relationship issues, and self-esteem, highlighting Juliet’s journey from alcohol dependence to finding true love. The presence of her father’s new girlfriend hints at potential future conflicts. Overall,it is a heartwarming story about healing, new beginnings, and the power of supportive relationships.

My Rating

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Review Card & Book Review – The Summer Of Keeping Secrets By Jill Lynn

Recently widowed Marin Henderson considers time with her two adult children a gift. And she’s intent on not prying into their lives while they’re all together, cleaning out her late parents’ Colorado home. But from the start, nothing goes as planned. Her free-spirited daughter, Slade, and her strait-laced son, Reed, both arrive ahead of schedule, and no one is explaining why. Marin knows they’re hiding issues in their personal lives. But she can only push so far because she, too, is keeping secrets.

Setting aside family tensions, the three of them get to work purging the house. But when Slade discovers a decades-old newspaper clipping about a body found on the rocks below the house, questions arise. Marin insists the death was ruled an accident, but Slade’s curiosity is piqued. And when a roof leak compels Marin to call on an old friend and flame for help, it’s the catalyst for a wave of revelations.

Between a daughter bent on distracting herself from her own career turmoil, a son desperate to hold on to his marriage and a mother forced to confront her choices from that long-ago summer, pieces of the past and present begin to unravel. And before the summer is over, they each must decide what to hold on to and what to let go…

About The Author

My Review

This is a women’s contemporary fiction story with elements of family reconciliation, grief, healing, and a touch of romance. Recently widowed Marin Henderson returns to her late parents’ home in Colorado with her children, Slade and Reed, to clean it out. Each family member harbors secrets: Marin about her own past, Slade about a recent job-related sexual harassment case, and Reed about marital troubles. As they sort through the house, Slade discovers a 1990 newspaper article about a death on the property, prompting questions and uncovering more secrets. The story evolves from one of hidden truths to open sharing, culminating in the family coming together to address their issues. Marin reconnects with Garrett, an old high-school flame, adding a romantic subplot. The mystery of the 1990 death ties into their family history, enhancing the narrative’s depth and resolution.

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Happy Publication Day – 7 December 2024

Stuck In Second Gear By Carmen Reid

Divorced, Re-wedded. Survived….

Lucie Marshal is absolutely furious! How did she go from being a successful wife and mother to divorced, teetering on bankruptcy, and barely speaking to her grown-up daughter? Even worse, she’s just heard that her moronic ex-husband Miles is marrying a much younger woman in an influencer-style wedding in France #blessed #theone

Lucie will absolutely NOT be going. To hell with Miles, his new teeth, new hair and new wife! She’s perfectly fine…In fact, Lucie feels lost and angry almost all of the time. Just what happened to her younger, freer wild child self, who used to live life to the full?

But then pregnant daughter Zoe needs a lift… and eccentric nephew Deva needs a lift too and now Lucie has somehow agreed to drive her Dad’s beloved old Jag all the way across France to take them to her ex-husband’s wedding.

With a pitstop in Paris, a breakdown, unexpected passengers, and miles of open road, all set to Deva’s showtunes soundtrack – could this be the journey Lucie needs to find a way back to herself?

Review Card & Book Review – The Island Love Song By Emma Cowell

Hydra, the picturesque Greek island, is a paradise for most, yet for sisters Ella and Georgia, it is a place where their darkest secrets dwell. And now the time has come for them to confront their past as they return to Greece to scatter their mother’s ashes.

Ella is haunted by a love song that was written for her by the man who broke her heart years earlier and she longs to find peace so she can move on with her life.

Georgia pretends everything in her life is perfect, but she is plagued with guilt. If what she’s kept hidden for decades was revealed, their family would never be the same again.

About The Author

My Review

Sisters Ella and Georgia are opposites in looks and temperament: Ella is an olive-skinned, free-spirited photographer, while Georgia is a fair-skinned, conventional stay-at-home mother. Despite their differences and friction, they are bound by their love for their mother and Georgia’s daughter, Phoenix. After their mother’s death, they embark on a journey to scatter her ashes on Hydra, a Greek island laden with painful memories—Ella’s heartbreak over a lost lover and Georgia’s guilty past. On Hydra, they confront their secrets and strained relationship, with the narrative exploring themes of family, loss, love, and fate. This is a beautifully woven tale of reconciliation and emotional depth, enriched by the island’s mythical ambiance and poignant use of music.

My Rating

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Review Card & Book Review – Lady Luck’s Map of Vegas By Barbara O’Neal

India Redding is juggling a web design career, a long-distance romance, and an exasperating promise she made to her late father: keep an eye on her vivacious mother, Eldora. A former Las Vegas showgirl, the flamboyant sixtysomething bombshell never lacks for curveballs. Her latest idea is that she and India hightail it out of Colorado Springs and hit the road for Sin City in her turquoise ’57 Thunderbird.

Eldora can revisit the neon strips of her youth, and together they can track down India’s twin sister, Gypsy, a haunted vagabond artist prone to disappearing. As mother and daughter sail down Route 66—the Mother Road of souvenir shops, outlying motels, and roadside diners—a flood of memories returns for Eldora. So do the secrets of her past that she could never bring herself to share, until now.

But India has her own secrets, too. Maybe she and her mother are getting to know each other, truly, for the first time. Whatever bumps lie ahead, it’s going to be a life-changing ride to remember.

About The Author

My Review

Lady Luck’s Map of Vegas by Barbara O’Neal is a compelling inter-generational road trip story. Eldora, 63, embarks on a Route 66 journey with her twin daughter India to find Gypsy, her schizophrenic twin. Eldora reveals her adventurous past while India harbors her own secret. Despite an imperfect ending, the characters and engaging narrative captivate throughout.

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Review Card & Book Review – Fired Up By Gigi Templeton

Avery Reed knows how to fire up the grills! And with his piercing blue eyes, the rugged pitmaster makes women’s mouths water, including Layla Jenson’s. She’s a YouTube cook-off host who’s spotlighting talented BBQ cooks across the country. Her current project is a bunkhouse cook showdown—and former pitmaster pro Avery holds the key to its success.

Unfortunately, Layla’s running from a troubled past. And Avery has his own demons nipping at his heels.

When Layla visits the TRIPLE R to ask Avery to be on the show, will their scorching chemistry seal the deal? Or will their complicated pasts tear them apart?

About The Author

My Review

“Fired Up” offers a sizzling romance between Avery and Layla, whose chemistry is as intense as the grills they cook on. Gigi Templeton crafts a charming cowboy in Avery and a determined heroine in Layla, creating an enjoyable, light-hearted read perfect for a lazy afternoon. While the romance is well-executed, the spice level may feel a bit lacking for some, and there’s a desire for deeper exploration of the characters’ backstories and challenges. Despite this, the book provides a delightful mix of barbecue and love, with a touch of danger to keep things interesting.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

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Review Card & Book Review – The Summer Of Perfect Mistakes By Cynthia St. Aubin

You can’t have the breakthrough without the breakdown…

No one in Spring Valley recognizes Lark Woodley anymore. They only remember who she used to be. Homecoming queen. Valedictorian. And one half of Spring Valley High’s golden couple. But Lark knows that her once-perfect life wasn’t really perfect. Hell, it wasn’t even her. And in one evening, she lost it…and that perfect girl is gone forever.

Now Lark’s trying to put the fragile pieces back together, with no idea of where to start. She’s only a faint sketch of the person she was, with blurry, tentative lines—and under the constant scrutiny of her overbearing parents. The only bright spot in her life is a community art class taught by Nick Hoffman, the esoteric and unreasonably hot guy from high school. And he’s not interested in a “perfect” Lark at all…

Suddenly Lark’s world is taking shape and the colors are growing more vibrant, from afternoon margaritas with Southern-fried divorcées to late-night apple pie with chocolate ice cream and an increasingly spicy situationship with Nick.

But what she’s found comes with a “best before summer’s end” expiration date. And Lark doesn’t know if she can ever truly let go of aiming for perfect…

About The Author

My Review

This book follows Lark, a former prom queen and valedictorian now at Dartmouth, as she navigates life after a public breakup and the decision to leave medical school. Battling depression and anxiety, she finds solace in an art class taught by a former classmate, Nick. As they reconnect, Lark learns to indulge in life’s pleasures and starts healing. The story, filled with humor, wit, and deep emotion, highlights Lark’s journey from perfection to embracing her true self. Lark’s supportive friends, Tammy, Linda, and Julia, and Nick’s tender care add warmth and depth. The book portrays the non-linear path of healing and the importance of self-acceptance, with well-written, steamy romance scenes adding to the charm.

My Rating

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Happy Publication Day – 3 December 2024

Beautiful Broken Love By Shanora Williams

It’s been months since her dreams of forever were brutally shattered. Seven long months since her husband and soulmate, Lew, died in her arms, leaving her to carry on. Alone. And Davina Klein-Roberts still isn’t sure how to move forward.

To escape her anguish, Davina throws everything into work, pushing Golden Oil Co., her self-built skin care line, to become a viral success. Now she’s poised to clinch a major endorsement deal too. But it’s bittersweet without Lew by her side.

A meeting with Deke Bishop, the hot NBA star she’s courting for her brand, leaves Davina flustered. With his dimpled smile and warm handshake, Deke’s a natural pitchman. And he’s clearly interested—not only in her lotions.

Davina soon discovers that Deke’s more than just another player and carries his own pain. But as her feelings for him grow, so does her guilt. Will the pain of a future already lost keep her from embracing hope for a new one?

Review Card & Book Review – Such A Good Family By Caitlin Weaver

I was so happy when my son, Knox, began dating my best friend’s daughter. Our kids grew up together and we used to joke, as we sipped wine and watched them play, that they’d get married one day. But when Knox came home late after a party, zipping his hoodie up to hide the scratches I caught a glimpse of on his collarbone, a chill went down my spine.

That night, our whole world shattered. Now, I hardly recognize my husband as he sweeps into action, calling in a hot-shot lawyer to defend our boy.

I love my son, but what if I don’t know him at all? It turns out, everything I thought I knew about my perfect family is a lie. And I’m about to discover just what I’ll do to stop it from falling apart.

About The Author

My Review

Lorrie and Eden, best friends for 15 years, live across the street from each other and share many aspects of their lives, including raising their children, Summer and Knox. As the children start dating around their high school graduation, Eden receives a call that Summer is in the hospital. Summer’s only word, “KNOX,” leads to an accusation that shatters their world and their friendship. The story follows the two mothers as they navigate the ensuing family crisis and make difficult decisions to protect their loved ones. The book is a thought-provoking and emotional domestic drama that explores the ripple effects of the accusation on everyone involved, highlighting the complexities of the characters’ choices and the strain on their relationships.

My Rating