Category Archives: Review card

Review Card & Book Review – A Wonderland Wish On Ever After Street By Jaimie Admans

There’s always time for tea… unless you’ve lost your teapot…

Cleo Jordan has only ever wished to open her own teashop in memory of her lovely gran. So when she’s offered a prime spot on Ever After Street, she knows her dream is about to come true!

Stepping into The Wonderland Teapot is like falling down the rabbit hole – magical! But there’s a catch: Cleo has completely lost her love of baking! It seems her dream is over before it’s begun.

Until she meets her very own Mad Hatter. Magician Bram brings an energy to the teashop that lifts everyone, and slowly, Cleo gets back to doing what she loves best.

But when things start going wrong at the teashop, Cleo wonders if the culprit sabotaging her dream is someone closer than she thinks?

If Cleo wants her wish to work, she has to learn to trust again before she loses her head and heart completely…although it might already be far too late for that…

About The Author

My Review

Cleo is thrilled to fulfill her dream of running a tea room, continuing a family tradition set by her mother and grandmother. But her journey isn’t without challenges. She only rents the property from the Council, meaning she has to prove her tea room, Wonderland Teapot, is a valuable addition to Ever After Street. A more significant hurdle is her sudden inability to bake anything edible. Once a great baker, her skills vanished after the loss of her grandmother and a devastating house fire.

Enter Bram, a whimsical magician and entertainer hired by the Council to assist in the tearoom. Bram is charming yet maddeningly unpredictable, using humor and pranks to lighten any situation. Despite his playful antics, Bram reveals a kind and helpful side, proving instrumental in helping Cleo with her business struggles.

Bram’s eccentricity brings a delightful energy to the story, echoing the craziness of the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland. His playful wordplay and banter, especially when he feels uncomfortable, add to the charm. Though Bram often hides behind his humorous facade, he helps Cleo rekindle her lost joy in running the tea room.

While the setting on Ever After Street suggests a happy ending, the path there is filled with bumps and twists, making the development of Cleo and Bram’s friendship an enjoyable and engaging journey.

My Rating

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Review Card & Book Review- Old Girls Behaving Badly By Kate Galley

Something old, something new, something stolen…?

Gina Knight is looking forward to the prospect of retirement with her husband of forty-three years. Until, to her surprise, said husband decides he needs to ‘find himself’ – alone – and disappears to Santa Fe, leaving a Dear John letter in his wake.

Now Gina needs a new role in life, not to mention somewhere to live, so she applies for the position of Companion to elderly Dorothy Reed. At eighty-nine, ‘Dot’ needs someone to help her around the house – or at least, her family seems to think so. Her companion’s first role would be to accompany Dot for a week-long extravagant wedding party.

But when Georgina arrives at the large Norfolk estate where the wedding will take place, she quickly discovers Dot has an ulterior motive for hiring her. While the other guests are busy sipping champagne and playing croquet, Dot needs Georgina to help her solve a mystery – about a missing painting, which she believes is hidden somewhere in the house.

Because, after all, who would suspect two old ladies of getting up to mischief?

About The Author

My Review

The story revolves around Gina, a woman in her 70s whose life is turned upside down when her husband suddenly leaves, forcing her to sell their home. Having spent years focused on her family instead of her career, she’s not sure what to do next. When she answers an ad to be a companion at a week-long wedding, she sees it as a potential opportunity.

However, Dorothy, the woman who placed the ad, doesn’t actually need a companion; she needs someone to help her find a stolen painting at the country estate where the wedding will be held. Dorothy discovers that Gina was once an antiques expert and decides she’s the perfect person for the job. Gina only learns about this hidden agenda when she arrives in Norfolk and reluctantly agrees to help.

What Gina thought would be a simple job turns into a complicated mystery. She and Dorothy begin following clues, discovering unusual happenings, and realizing that other wedding guests might be hiding secrets. There’s even a priest from the local parish whose behavior raises suspicions. The plot thickens with twists involving blackmail and other shady dealings.

The narrative feels like the start of a series of mysteries featuring Gina as a modern Miss Marple. The mix of quirky energy, sleuthing, and intriguing characters suggests that Gina’s adventure-solving journey has just begun.

My Rating

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Review Card & Book Review- Reckless By Kimberly Kincaid

He’s a hotshot firefighter who lives on the edge. She’s his captain’s daughter…and his new boss.

Chef Zoe Westin’s number-one priority is making sure no one goes hungry in her hometown of Fairview. Running a soup kitchen is also the perfect way to prove to her dad that helping people doesn’t always mean risking life and limb. After all, the dangers of being a firefighter broke up her parents’ marriage, and she’s only interested in playing it safe.

But when Zoe is saddled with a gorgeous firefighter doing community service after yet another daredevil stunt, the kitchen has never been so hot.

Alex Donovan thrives on adrenaline, and stirring a pot of soup doesn’t exactly qualify. He’s not an expert at following the rules either, not even when they come from the stubborn, sexy daughter of the man who’s not only his captain, but his mentor. He’s stuck with by-the-book Zoe as his boss for four whole weeks, his fate as a firefighter in her hands.

The fact that she tempts him at every turn on top of everything else? Yeah, that only adds fuel to the fire.

Determined to show Zoe that not every risk ends in catastrophe, Alex challenges her, both in the kitchen and out. One reckless step leads to another, but will falling for each other be a risk worth taking, or will it just get them burned?

About The Author

My Review

Firefighter Alex Donovan is an adrenaline junkie, a trait that suits his career but often lands him in trouble. After an incident with a firehouse captain, he’s given a choice: complete four weeks of community service or lose his job.

Zoe Westin, who runs a soup kitchen, is not thrilled to get a reluctant volunteer. She’s dealing with tight resources and a determination to prove to her father, who’s Alex’s boss, that leaving her high-end restaurant job in D.C. to start the soup kitchen was the right move. When she finds out that Alex is her new volunteer, she’s certain he’s going to be trouble.

However, as Alex and Zoe work together, they start to learn from each other. Zoe begins to see that risk-taking can lead to growth, while Alex understands that some rules are worth following. The building chemistry between them adds suspense, and when they finally come together, it’s clear that their connection goes beyond the surface. Their journey from reluctant partners to a genuine emotional connection creates an engaging story of growth, understanding, and love.

My Rating

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Review Card & Book Review – A New Dawn At Owl’s Lodge By Jessica Redland

Could one chance meeting change your life forever?

Zara is at a crossroads in life. While she adores her job as a producer’s assistant working on hit TV shows, travelling around the country means she doesn’t truly feel that she has a home. With a fractured relationship with her family and unrequited love weighing heavily on her heart, she is torn about what her next step in life should be…

Snowy is hiding from the world. He’s devoted his life to home schooling his young son and caring for sick owls at his home, Owl’s Lodge, deep in the Yorkshire Wolds countryside. While he’s passionate about both, it’s a lonely existence and he’s starting to question his decisions. But how do you step back into a world you’ve pushed away for years…?

When Zara brings an injured owl to Owl’s Lodge, its frosty, reclusive owner is far from welcoming. Despite hostilities, there’s a connection that neither could ever have prepared themselves for. As they discover a shared passion, a new friendship blossoms, but both Zara and Snowy are used to shutting people out.

Can they both find the courage to open up and the strength to move on from their pasts? And what could this mean for their future happiness?

About The Author

My Review

The novel is set in the scenic Yorkshire Wolds and centers on Zara, a producer’s assistant with a wandering lifestyle, and Snowy, a reclusive man living at Owl’s Lodge who homeschools his son and cares for injured owls. Despite their contrasting backgrounds and initial tension, they find a common bond in their shared passion for caring for animals.

As their friendship deepens, they both confront their emotional struggles—Zara with her unresolved family issues and Snowy with his reclusive tendencies. The evolving relationship between them allows the author to explore themes of love, loss, and the healing power of connection.

The story stands out for its authentic characters, set against a beautiful countryside backdrop with a cast of charming supporting characters. It ultimately serves as a reminder of the potential for transformation through human connection and shows that even in moments of isolation, new beginnings can emerge.

My Rating

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Review Card & Book Review – The Wedding Box By Toni Blake

MARRIAGE
Not even a bridal-veil-stealing dog can ruin Haley and Ben’s wedding day. And when Haley’s beloved Aunt Nan gives them a gift that’s not to be opened “until your first big disagreement,” Haley is sure the box will sit gathering dust for a lifetime. After all, she and Ben are the perfect couple. Aren’t they?

MAKING UP
But life comes with stresses. Architect Ben’s career dreams are rooted in losses from his past, while bakery owner Haley has her own firmly-set – and conflicting – plans for how to get to a happy future. Each time they decide to open the gift, though, something stops them, pushing them to solve the issue themselves, and before long, the mysterious box takes on almost mythic proportions. They can’t imagine what’s inside that could fix every marital woe, but they want to save it as long as possible.

MIRACLES
What happens when a problem comes along that can’t be solved and no gift could ever fix? This one might just take believing in miracles.

About The Author

My Review

Ben, an architect, is excited about his new skyscraper project in Cincinnati, while Haley, his wife, co-owns a bakery with her sister, Hannah. Before leaving for their honeymoon, Haley’s Aunt Nan gives them a special wedding present—a box to be opened only when they face their first big disagreement. Confident they won’t need it, they store it away.

As the story unfolds, told from both Ben’s and Haley’s perspectives, they navigate the usual challenges of marriage, like adopting a pet, buying a home, and discussing parenthood. Despite a harmonious start, these issues cause friction, making them reconsider the wedding box. However, they opt to resolve their problems through conversation and compromise, delaying the box opening. When they eventually open it, the moment feels underwhelming, not just for them but for the reader as well.

Overall, the story is wholesome but lacks dramatic tension and excitement, with a feel-good ending that could have been more engaging. Though I appreciated the couple’s growth and Aunt Nan’s wise counsel, the narrative often felt slow and didn’t hold my attention as much as I had hoped.

My Rating

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Review Card & Book Review – Love At First Knight By Megan Clawson

She’s no damsel in distress, and he’s certainly not wearing shining armour. But one knight can change everything…

Daisy Hastings has always thought she was born in the wrong era. So when she bags a summer job at the Tower of London helping to run their Knight school, it feels like a step in the right direction.

Theodore ‘Teddy’ Fairfax is a loose cannon. A disgraced distant relative of the royal family, he’s tall, dark and now (begrudgingly) helping with the Tower of London’s summer programme – and there’s nowhere he’d like to be less.

When Teddy’s oath to be an obstruction almost gets Daisy fired, she declares war. But as the two cross swords, they start to discover they both need a little rescuing…

And that maybe, just maybe, love can bloom, even on a battlefield…

About The Author

My Review

“Love at First Knight” focuses on Daisy Hastings, who has struggled with anxiety and shyness for years. She still lives with her parents, feeling at ease mostly with family, friends, and during her live-action role-playing (LARPing) sessions. When a summer position at the Tower of London’s Knight School opens up, Daisy takes the opportunity, stepping out of her comfort zone into an exciting new environment. There, she meets Theodore ‘Teddy’ Fairfax, a disgraced royal and her polar opposite, whom she is tasked with helping.

I was intrigued by the book’s premise, but I found the character development somewhat lacking. It was interesting to learn about the world of LARPing, which seems like a fun activity, and I appreciated the warmth of Daisy’s family. However, the romantic relationship between Daisy and Teddy didn’t quite work for me; it felt underdeveloped and could have used more depth.

My Rating

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Review Card & Book Review – The Love Algorithm By Camilla Isley

He’s off limits – but you can’t fight physics…

At 28, with a Ph.D under her belt and a meteoric rise to head of Research and Development at Mercer Robotics, Reese feels her decision to put her career first has worked out pretty well for her. Sure, she doesn’t have many personal relationships to speak of, but she does love her team and they like her too.

So when she’s called to the Big Boss’s office and told she will be looking after his son while he does a rotation in her lab, she’s not thrilled that her hard work and achievements have boiled down to being a glorified babysitter – especially to a billionaire playboy with zero experience of mechanical engineering.

But then tall, blond Thomas walks into her office, and Reese realizes this assignment is going to be even harder than she thought. Because the CEO’s son is not only extraordinarily gorgeous, chiseled, and charming… he’s also on course to become her new boss one day, and so extraordinarily out of bounds. As the pair get to know each other, can Reese hold her nerve and her beliefs, or will she fall victim to the billionaire charm?

About The Author

My Review

Thomas Mercer is the heir apparent to his family’s company, but to earn his father’s approval, he needs to get a better understanding of every department. He starts by working in the robotics division with Dr. Reese Campbell. I found Reese and Thomas to be an amazing pair. They come from different backgrounds: she’s an intelligent and quirky robotics expert, while he’s a sociable and dedicated individual. Despite not knowing much about each other’s lives or work, they quickly discover they have great chemistry and a strong connection. I was cheering for them from the start, as their journey together was entertaining, and their chemistry was palpable from their very first meeting.

My Rating

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Review Card & Book Review – Coming Home to Roseford Villas By Fay Keenan

Aurora Henderson and Leo McKendrick were love’s young dream when they first dated as teenagers.

But like many a first love, parents, life, and distance got in the way, and the couple lost touch. Now, twenty years later, Aurora – Rory to her friends – needs a break. Burnt out from her teaching career and longing to write a novel, Rory heads to the idyllic village of Roseford for a summer of writing and relaxation.

Leo needs a change too. Ex-pat life in Australia has come to a sticky end so the opportunity to run his family’s B&B, Roseford Villas, for the summer is too good to turn down.

Neither Rory nor Leo believe in fate, but when Leo opens the door to his latest guest, he might just have to reconsider. And when a sultry summer fills with nostalgia and memories and six weeks flies by too fast, love’s young dream might just get a second chance…

About The Author

My Review

Rory, an English teacher from York, is eager to spend the summer in Roseford to finally work on her dream of writing a novel. However, her plans are disrupted when her reserved chocolate-box cottage gets switched to a lodge at Roseford Villas. Although the new accommodation has its inconveniences, like not being able to plug in her laptop at the table, it’s still within walking distance of Roseford Hall, where the archives can aid her research for her book. Plus, her former friend, who lives nearby, is available to discuss her ideas, and the village pub is ideal for observing local life. The real surprise comes when Rory discovers that Leo, her first love from 20 years ago, is temporarily managing the B&B at the Villas while the regular owners are away.

Their unexpected reunion ignites a heartwarming second-chance romance, with both Rory and Leo carrying baggage and secrets from their long time apart. As their slow-burn relationship starts to rekindle, they find themselves facing practical complications—Rory’s commitment to her teaching job, and Leo’s plans to start a new position in London—which raise doubts about whether their relationship can last beyond the summer.

The book captures the emotional journey of reconnecting with the past and the challenges of overcoming obstacles on the path to a happy ending. It balances the romantic elements with Rory’s journey as a writer and the historical discoveries that come with it. Although this could be the final book in the series, it leaves readers with a sense of closure and a feeling that the residents of Roseford are well on their way to their own happy-ever-afters. With strong characters, a captivating setting, and thoughtful storytelling, it’s a charming and engaging read.

My Rating

Link To Purchase