Friday 30 August 2019

Book Review: THE AUSSIE NEXT DOOR by Stefanie London

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The Aussie Next Door 
by Stefanie London


Release Date: August 27, 2019


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The Aussie Next Door, an all-new standalone romantic comedy by USA Today Bestselling author Stefanie London.

American Angie Donovan has never wanted much. When you grow up getting bounced from foster home to foster home, you learn not to become attached to anything, anyone, or any place. But it only took her two days to fall in love with Australia. With her visa clock ticking, surely she can fall in love with an Australian—and get hitched—in two months. Especially if he’s as hot and funny as her next-door neighbor…

Jace Walters has never wanted much––except a bathroom he didn’t have to share. The last cookie all to himself. And solitude. But when you grow up in a family of seven, you can kiss those things goodbye. He’s finally living alone and working on his syndicated comic strip in privacy. Sure, his American neighbor is distractingly sexy and annoyingly nosy, but she’ll be gone in a few months...
Except now she’s determined to find her perfect match by checking out every eligible male in the town, and her choices are even more distracting. So why does it suddenly feel like he—and his obnoxious tight-knit family, and even these two wayward dogs—could be exactly what she needs?



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Download your copy today!



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MY THOUGHTS


THE AUSSIE NEXT DOOR by Stefanie London takes place in the fictitious Australian beach town of Patterson’s Bluff. Angie Donovan has run as far as possible from her previous life. She’s finally found a place she feels she can call home but with an expiring visa, Angie could see herself unwillingly heading back to the US. Jace Walters is Angie’s landlord. He likes order and routine, and prefers to keep himself to himself. They may be neighbours, but the bubbly Angie and the introverted Jace are outwardly not a likely pair.

Once Angie and Jace decide to give a relationship between them a go, I really enjoyed their journey. They both come with baggage that impacts the relationship. I liked that their issues are not a result of miscommunication, but rather a perceived need to act in a particular way to appease each other. This creates a friction that makes for interesting reading.

The hurdle for me is that the parts I liked best in this book happen towards the end. To get there I needed to read a story that I felt was too slow paced to hold my interest and I found myself putting this book down several times because of the protracted story telling.

I did enjoy meeting the secondary characters, and I assume some of them will get their own books in this series. As an Australian, I very much enjoyed reading a book set in the country I live in. I would be happy to come back and visit Patterson’s Bluff in later books.




*****
About Stefanie 

USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance with humour, heat and heart. Also llamas.
Originally from Melbourne, Australia Stefanie now lives in Toronto, Canada with her wonderful husband. She loves to read, collect lipsticks, watch zombie movies, and drink coffee.
Her bestselling book, Pretend It's Love, is a 2016 Romantic Book of the Year finalist with the Romance Writers of Australia.


Connect with Stefanie:
Sign up for Stefanie's newsletter and get a copy of A Kiss in Kite Harbour: http://stefanie-london.com/
Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/2DYVVHb
Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/2DYXBjX
Goodreads Author Page: http://bit.ly/StefanieLondon

Wednesday 28 August 2019

Book Review: IN BLACK & WHITE by Nia Forrester






About the Book




A marriage, a friendship, the fate of a missing child ... All three hang in the balance.

Noah and Dana are already facing a difficult time in their short marriage when their daughter, Samara, is abducted. The fallout from friends and family, and the harsh judgment of the public, force them to face some difficult truths about their views on love, marriage, and race. As Dana reflects on the road leading to her and Noah's union, she begins to examine her motives for getting married, consider whether they should go on, and most painfully, question whether she and her husband ever really knew each other at all. 



My Thoughts


IN BLACK & WHITE by Nia Forrester is another highly commendable addition to her catalogue. She offers some thoughtful insights about privilege and interracial relationships in this book about a separated couple living the nightmare of having their child abducted.

The book splits its focus between the tension of not knowing what’s happened to your child, the friction of a couple experiencing a strained relationship and the pensiveness of a character questioning her understanding of her life and the choices she’s made.

Dana’s contemplation about her relationship with Noah through self-reflection and conversations she has with others are what makes this book for me. It’s weighty and deep and kept me turning those pages.

What stops me from giving this book five stars is the abduction storyline. I felt its inclusion stretched the book too thinly. I understand it acts as a catalyst for Dana and Noah’s current indecisiveness but it’s a lot to tackle in a book that’s already substantial. Perhaps my lack of investment in the abduction storyline also stems from me guessing who abducted Samara early on.

I highly recommend IN BLACK & WHITE. For me, Forrester is a leader at writing about relationships in romance fiction.   


About the Author



I live in Philadelphia, PA where I am a public policy attorney, spending much of my time mining my experiences for material to write about. My intended audience is anyone who likes what I write, but one of my missions is to speak directly to the experiences of women of color who don’t fit the mold and don’t see themselves represented in gritty urban novels about drugs, guns and the ghetto, but who occasionally want to read something a little more accessible than the lyrical but complex prose of some of our best poets and writers. 

https://niaforrester.com/




Book Review: WINE & DINE by L.B. Dunbar



About the Book


Dolores Chance.
When I was falling apart, I fell in love.
It wasn’t supposed to happen like this.
I ran away from life and ended up running into…his dog.
Actually, his dog ran into me. I don’t care for dogs.
Then I met the owner.

Garrett Fox.
When my neighbor’s sister came to visit,
I promised to show her around town.
I’m an investor in things, not people, not emotions.
I’m not a fan of love. I’ve been burned before.
Then I met Dolores.

When a sexy mature, man-of-means encounters a silver vixen, healing her broken heart might be worth more than gold.

Romance has no age limit. 


My Thoughts


I have really enjoyed L.B Dunbar’s Sexy Silver Foxes series and Wine&Dine is no exception. Dunbar’s books and my reading tastes have crossed paths and we’re at a sweet spot where I am always looking forward to what she will publish next.

Wine&Dine is Dolores Chance’s story. We first met her in Second Chance. She’s a woman who works incredibly hard to remain independent but time, responsibility and admittedly, some apathy means she finds herself taking stock of her life and not liking what she sees. I think Dolores represents many women; that melancholy we feel when we look back and wonder why we gave up things we loved to do. And it’s not just the big things, but the small pleasures in life that have fallen away. She is tired; drained.  How did it come to this? It can be quite a sobering experience.

With a firm push from her brother, Dolores takes the chance to leave her life behind and get out into the wider world. She wants to be a better version of herself, even not knowing what that is.

Enter Garrett Fox. He is more interested in building his bank balance than in building relationships. Like any 50 year old, he’s been shaped by life experience and while his attraction to Dolores is strong, learning to trust again will take a giant leap of belief.

I really savoured this relationship. As Dolores and Garrett reveal themselves little by little, I felt invested in their relationship. I was cheering them on because I could see how good they were for each other. And let’s not forget the physical attraction, folks. These two gave us some hot and steamy times!

I haven’t read all of Dunbar’s books but for me she has found a niche writing romances for older characters. I hope she continues to do so. 



About the Author



I’ve been accused of having an over-active imagination. To my benefit, this imagination has created over twenty novels, including the creation of a small-town world (Sensations Collection), rock star mayhem (Legendary Rock Star series), MMA chaos (Paradise Stories), rom-com for the over forty (The Sex Education of M.E.), and a suspenseful island for redemption (The Island Duet). 

My alter ego, elda lore, creates magical romance through mythological retellings (Modern Descendants). My life revolves around a deep love of reading about fairy tales, medieval knights, regency debauchery, and strong alpha males. 

I love a deep belly laugh, a strong hug, and an occasional margarita. My other loves include being mother to four grown children and wife to the one and only.


New Release: THE AUSSIE NEXT DOOR by Stefanie London

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THE AUSSIE NEXT DOOR, an all-new standalone romantic comedy by USA Today Bestselling author Stefanie London is LIVE!



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American Angie Donovan has never wanted much. When you grow up getting bounced from foster home to foster home, you learn not to become attached to anything, anyone, or any place. But it only took her two days to fall in love with Australia. With her visa clock ticking, surely she can fall in love with an Australian—and get hitched—in two months. Especially if he’s as hot and funny as her next-door neighbor…

Jace Walters has never wanted much––except a bathroom he didn’t have to share. The last cookie all to himself. And solitude. But when you grow up in a family of seven, you can kiss those things goodbye. He’s finally living alone and working on his syndicated comic strip in privacy. Sure, his American neighbor is distractingly sexy and annoyingly nosy, but she’ll be gone in a few months...

Except now she’s determined to find her perfect match by checking out every eligible male in the town, and her choices are even more distracting. So why does it suddenly feel like he—and his obnoxious tight-knit family, and even these two wayward dogs—could be exactly what she needs?


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Download your copy today!



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About Stefanie
USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance with humour, heat and heart. Also llamas.
Originally from Melbourne, Australia Stefanie now lives in Toronto, Canada with her wonderful husband. She loves to read, collect lipsticks, watch zombie movies, and drink coffee.
Her bestselling book, Pretend It's Love, is a 2016 Romantic Book of the Year finalist with the Romance Writers of Australia.


Connect with Stefanie:
Sign up for Stefanie's newsletter and get a copy of A Kiss in Kite Harbour: http://stefanie-london.com/
Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/2DYVVHb
Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/2DYXBjX
Goodreads Author Page: http://bit.ly/StefanieLondon

Tuesday 27 August 2019

Book Review: FAR CRY by Kate Canterbary




About the Book




Return to Talbott's Cove with a Steamy Rom-Com Standalone!

FAR CRY 
by Kate Canterbary
Release Date: August 27, 2019

🍸 BUY 🍸
Apple Books → https://geni.us/farcryab
Barnes & Noble → https://geni.us/farcrybn
Google Play → https://geni.us/farcrygp
Universal Link → https://geni.us/far-cry


🍸 BLURB 🍸

Brooke Markham needs a man. A real good man. 


But she's not looking for a keeper. She's too busy kicking ass, running an empire, and caring for her ailing father to spend time with men who want annoying things like relationships and commitment and…conversation. 

Brooke knows what she wants and it's not a future with the growly barkeep. 

JJ Harniczek needs money. A whole lot of money. 

He's determined to launch his distillery, expand his tavern, and put Talbott's Cove on the foodie tourism map. But there's no way he's asking Brooke for a dime. Not before he takes her to bed and definitely not after. 

JJ knows where he's headed and the blonde bombshell isn't about to change that. 

Not until she changes his entire world.




My Thoughts


‘For angry women’, reads the dedication in Kate Canterbary’s newest book, FAR CRY. I was already anticipating this book but this dedication built my interest level significantly. 

I was not disappointed. Brooke-Ashley Markham is one of the angriest characters I have read in a long time. Please, don’t misunderstand. Brooke is strong, confident and assertive; she is not a ‘mean girl’ out to consciously hurt people. What she also is, is a product of a life where the expectations of others, plus the responsibilities and promises to others have put her in a position of vulnerability. And she is livid. 

I loved Brooke. She is clever, snarky, funny, and entertaining. She is direct, confrontational, and goes after what she wants: I’d like to make a reservation with your dick ... later this evening, a seating for one.’ 


Brooke is also one of the best friends you could have. The scenes between her and Annette (the heroine in HARD PRESSED, Talbott’s Cove book 2), are fantastic. The love, support, openness, fun and banter between them really is the type of friendship women should aspire to. I am officially jealous of fictional characters.


Then there’s JJ Harniczek; a bar owner who keeps himself to himself. Like Brooke, he grew up in Talbott’s Cove. Unlike Brooke, he has made Talbott’s Cove his home. He’s the quiet achiever and I am going to label him the ‘stealth hero’. JJ may be quieter than Brooke but he gives back as good as he gets. On the surface, his and Brooke’s relationship may seem hostile but it doesn’t take long to realise the attraction between JJ and Brooke is fiery hot. He somehow effortlessly manages to get under Brooke’s skin, and their words, their actions, and the physicality of their relationship had me and my reading device steaming. 


This is the kind of romance book I always want to read. Give me relatable, interesting characters. Give me wonderful friendships. Give me a steamy romance. Make me want to live in this fictional world. FAR CRY by Kate Canterbary. I cannot recommend it enough. 


About the Author



Kate Canterbary doesn’t have it all figured out, but this is what she knows for sure: spicy-ass salsa and tequila solve most problems, living on the ocean–Pacific or Atlantic–is the closest place to perfection, and writing smart, smutty stories is a better than any amount of chocolate. She started out reporting for an indie arts and entertainment newspaper back when people still read newspapers, and she has been writing and surreptitiously interviewing people—be careful sitting down next to her on an airplane—ever since.

Kate lives on the water in New England with Mr. Canterbary and the Little Baby Canterbary, and when she isn’t writing sexy architects, she’s scheduling her days around the region’s best food trucks.

http://katecanterbary.com/



Friday 23 August 2019

Book Review: TAKE IT OF THE MENU by Christina Hovland


About the Book



Saying “I Do” has never been such a mess.

Marlee Medford just got dumped. Yes, things have become ho-hum in her longtime relationship, but she was two days away from walking down the aisle with the man she thought was her forever when he called it off. Convincing herself that they’d be able to reignite their spark once the wedding craziness settled? That was easy. Suddenly finding herself without a fiancé? Not so much. Marlee needs to regain control of her life, and a weekend away with her friends is a solid first step.

One of Denver’s best up-and-coming chefs, perpetual bachelor Eli Howard, isn’t into serious relationships—especially the kind that ends in marriage. As if to prove his point that they aren’t worth the trouble, the wedding he was supposed to be catering just fell apart. Feeling oddly protective of the jilted bride—his little sister’s best friend—his weekend plans now involve a trip to Sin City with her group of friends. But it looks like he had a bit too much fun in Vegas when he wakes up married…wedding night included.

Marlee’s attempts at getting her life back together are failing miserably. Her ex-fiancé is taking the house, her chihuahua is intent on a love affair with Eli’s sneakers, and she’s now accidentally hitched to the guy who can't even say the word marriage. With their quickie annulment denied, Eli and Marlee just have to hang tight until the divorce goes through. It’s just a little divorce amongst friends, what’s the worst that could happen?


My Thoughts


With plenty of laughs, endearing characters and harebrained experiences, TAKE IT OFF THE MENU by Christina Hovland is certainly entertaining.

When Marlee Medford is dumped 48 hours before her wedding day, her best friends rally around her and decide the best first step in her newly single life means a trip to Las Vegas. Now I’ve never been to Vegas but even I know this route comes is fraught with danger. So it proves when Marlee finds herself well and truly married to Eli Howard after a night of drunken shenanigans. The same Eli Howard she’s been friends with for years. The same Eli Howard who is so commitment shy he refuses to say the word marriage. With an annulment ruled impossible, Marlee and Eli find themselves counting down the 90 days needed for their divorce to come through.

There is a lot to like in this book. I enjoyed the relationship between Eli and Marlee. Previously, a romance between them may not have occurred to either of them, but a spark was lit, and I was glad they decided to explore it. I enjoyed the conversations between them. I liked how they supported one another, and I loved the attraction between them.

In addition to a romance, there’s a strong theme of friendship that is apparent throughout the book. Old friends, new friends, shallow friends; they all make an appearance, and it’s the perfect time for Marlee especially to realise who she can and can’t rely on.

TAKE IT OFF THE MENU is an overall light read but it does come with genuine romance, plenty of humour and wisdom.


About the Author



Christina Hovland lives her own version of a fairy tale—an artisan chocolatier by day and romance writer by night. Born in Colorado, Christina received a degree in journalism from Colorado State University. Before opening her chocolate company, Christina’s career spanned from the television newsroom to managing an award-winning public relations firm. She’s a recovering overachiever and perfectionist with a love of cupcakes and dinner she doesn’t have to cook herself. A 2017 Golden Heart® finalist, she lives in Colorado with her first-boyfriend-turned-husband, four children, and the sweetest dog around.




Wednesday 21 August 2019

New Release: TATUM by Nancy George


Title: Tatum
Series: The Widows of Birch Harbor
Author: Nancy George
Genre: Romance Suspense Novella
Release Date: August 21, 2019






Tatum fulfills the role required of her—a loving and devoted wife to her husband, Carmine. But Tatum married into the most feared mafia family in New York, and her every move is reported to Tito Mancini, the ruthless don. Tatum longs to escape the madness. 

Does she have the courage to walk away, or will she spend the rest of her life waiting for the day someone puts a gun to her head?
Two things unite the widows of Birch Harbor…
husbands and death.
Six women from different locations all living diverse lives. Married for better or worse, these women will have one thing in common. One by one they will wake up to face a brand-new day filled with hope and promises only to hear a single word which separates them from other women. Widow.
Some will relish in the prospect that their lives can finally begin. Others will try to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives and face the future alone. 
Fate has not yet finished with them.
Each one will find herself looking out over the deep, velvety-blue waters of the ocean, just outside the sanctuary of Birch Harbor, and wonder what life is all about.




























Nancy George lives in Wanganui, New Zealand with her three cats, and her dog Rosie.
Apart from writing, Nancy is a volunteer for the SPCA, fostering kittens.
This is her third book. Her first one is a short story called “I’m Fifty and Not Out” and her second is “Girl of Shadows” followed by “The Silent Scream”.
Follow me on line.
I have my own blog which I have dedicated to helping people like myself who have watched a love one battle a terminal illness. My blog name www.cancerruinedmylife.com.













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Friday 16 August 2019

Book Review: UNTIL JOE by CP Smith




Title: Until Joe
A Happily Ever Alpha World Novel
Author: CP Smith
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: August 16, 2019



Blurb

Sometimes the greatest love comes in the middle of your life.

Joe Rouger (Uncle Joe from the Until Series by Aurora Rose Reynolds) is ready for a woman who completes him. He finds what he’s looking for in a feisty Southern belle named Bernice Armstrong (Wallflower Series by CP Smith) The question is, can he leave his world behind for a chance at happiness?

And if he does, can he keep Bernice away from outside sources that threaten to steal what he’s waited for his whole life: a soul mate he can live and die for!

Part of the Happily Ever Alpha World brought to you by Boom Factory Publishing LLC, Aurora Rose Reynolds, and Author CP Smith.







Purchase Links

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited





My Thoughts

UNTIL JOE by CP Smith introduces us to 50-somethings Joe Rouger and Bernice Armstrong. I love romance book characters with some life experience, and Smith certainly delivers with these two.

The attraction between Joe and Bernice is strong from the start, and when they come together, these two are hot, hot, hot! With many life lessons behind them, I appreciated that neither was prepared to settle for something that would not enrich their lives and make them happy.

I enjoyed the time we spent getting to know Joe and Bernice, but I do wish we got more of them together as a couple. There was a lot of world building, a suspense plot to be solved and the introduction of many characters that I feel intruded on the Joe & Bernice story.

These two opposites certainly prove the rules not to judge a book by its cover and that opposites attract.




Author Bio

CP Smith lives in Oklahoma with her husband and five children. She loves football, reading, and card games. Writing for her is about escape. She writes what she loves to read, and leaves the rest to those with better imaginations.


Author Links