Tag Archives: Contributors Reviews

How to Survive a Modern Day Fairy Tale by Elle Cruz -a Review

Posted on by
13

How to Survive a Modern Day Fairy Tale by Elle Cruz -a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Book Depository

 

Description:
Claire Ventura is nothing like the poised and perfect heroines she reads about in her favorite romance novels. She’s a quirky, people-pleasing bookworm with a loving yet obliviously intrusive family and a passion for cookie decorating—all rolled into a five-foot-two Filipina American fueled by chamomile tea.

Then she meets Nate, billionaire CEO of a global tech company, the modern-day Prince Charming who sweeps her off her feet. Though he does his best to convince Claire that he’s genuinely head over heels for her, she knows he’ll soon realize she’s more underwhelming Plain Jane than jet-setting socialite. And once he meets her family, if their initial questioning doesn’t scare him off, then their tendency to decide “what’s best for her” certainly will.

Between her whirlwind romance with Nate and her meddlesome family, Claire wishes she had a fairy godmother to guide her. But this is the real world in the twenty-first century, and the only way to get her happily ever after is by grabbing firm hold of what she really wants—and letting her heart be her guide.

 

Review:

Claire Ventura has wanted to own a business. She’s got a big heart and will do about anything for her family especially her grandmother. When Claire almost runs over a man parking her car and she has no idea who he is. Nate Noruta is a tech CEO and a billionaire. When he’s almost run over by a beautiful woman who has no idea of his identity. Nate knows Claire is The One for him at first sight. He just needs to convince her she belongs with him. Claire and Nate will have figure out How to Survive a Modern Day Fairy Tale to hopefully find true love.

Elle Cruz’s How to Survive a Modern Day Fairy Tale brings together a billionaire and a woman trying to survive her family and wants to expand her cookie decorating business. Their instant attraction just gets stronger as they get to know each other. He’s a man who knows what he wants but can he convince her of that fact. Her insecurities and responsibilities just may get in the way. How to Survive a Modern Day Fairy Tale is a well written story about the Filipina American whose world revolves around her grandmother and large family. Her insecurities just may stop them from finding the true love they weren’t looking for. Both have past issues that affect their relationship with each other. She’s trying to keep the relationship quiet until they know each other better. A woman and man who are opposites in their social standing must find their way between two worlds.

Elle Cruz writes a story full of steamy, sexy love scenes and emotions that the reader feel right along with the characters. How to Survive a Modern Day Fairy Tale is a roller coaster of will they stay together and when especially her family gets involved it may just more complicated than they think. Throw in a few spontaneous moments that make things even more complicated and you get a story very worth your time. Elle Cruz’s How to Survive a Modern Day Fairy Tale just maybe the designer cookie you’ve been looking forward to reading.

Reviewed by Kim

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Share

Her Forbidden Highlander Husband by Allison B. Hanson -a Review

Posted on by
12

Her Forbidden Highlander Husband by Allison B. Hanson -a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple

 

Description:
Liam MacKinlay is certain that when he asks for Evelyn Stewart’s hand in marriage, the third time’s the charm. For hasn’t he risen to war chief of the clan MacKinlay, a seasoned warrior, and an honored member of the clan that took him in as a child? But once again, her father denies Liam the lass he lost his heart to years ago.

Daughter of the Laird of the Stewart clan, Evelyn is expected to perform her daughter’s duty, including marry for the better of the clan…. even if that’s against her will. But upon learning her father plans to trade her to an unknown clan in exchange for cattle, she will do almost anything to escape the future set out before her— including running away and marrying Liam MacKinlay.

Liam’s discovering that beneath Evelyn’s sweet disposition is an iron will to match any warrior. But now their marriage may start a war between the clans and Liam must fight for his new wife and his family. Even if it means raising his sword against those he calls “kin”…

 

Review:

Her Forbidden Highlander Husband begins Evelyn Stewart being summoned to her father’s study. Once she arrives, her father, the Laird of the Stewart clan, informs her that she is to marry someone from a neighboring clan in order to obtain cattle to replenish their dwindling herd. Her heart sinks as she can’t bear the thought any man ever touching her again after being kidnapped and “ruined”. She also knows that once her father makes up his mind, he cannot be deterred. Just as she doesn’t understand why he seems to blame her for her kidnapping, she also doesn’t understand why he acts as he no longer loves her. She is told she will be married by summer’s end and there is nothing she can do about it, other than to honor her father’s wishes.

Liam MacKinlay, war chief of the clan MacKinlay, arrives see the Laird of the Stewart clan to ask for his daughter’s hand in marriage……. for the third time. Liam had met Evelyn Stewart when he and his clan had helped rescue Evelyn from a horrible predicament and he had escorted her home. It, for him, was love at first sight. When he arrives and is shown into the Laird’s study, he once again askes for Evelyn’s hand in marriage and he is once again turned down.

Liam, heartbroken and dejected, heads to the barn to get his horse and leave. When he turns to leave, he finds none other than Evelyn Stewart, bag in hand, standing before him. To add to his shock, she informs him that she wants to marry him and leave with him right away. Having always wanted his own family, after being abandoned by his own and never knowing them, they are married right away. On their way out of town, Evelyn asks to make one more stop, and Liam obliges his new bride, only to have her emerge with something that changes everything.

Once they head back to Liam’s home, it doesn’t take long for them both to wonder if they had made a huge mistake. Liam knows and even understands why Evelyn is skittish around men. Evelyn knows in her heart that she can trust Liam, but it’s her mind that needs convincing. Once they arrive back on MacKinlay land, the real test begins. They just hope that a clan war doesn’t begin as well.

Her Forbidden Highlander Husband is a well written story that pulls you in from the beginning. Evelyn’s backstory is hard to read at times but handled beautifully. Liam’s backstory may be easier to read, but it’s heartbreaking. I do think that Evelyn’s outbursts were a bit over the top at times, but after I reminded myself of what she’d been through, it made more sense. The twists and surprises that present themselves will endear this book to all who read it. You may also shed a tear or two. If you’re a fan of the genre, you’ll enjoy this just as I did. Well done, Allison B. Hanson!!!!

Reviewed by Vickie

Copy provided by Publisher

Share

To Covet a Countess by Sapna Bhog – a Review

Posted on by
11

To Covet a Countess by Sapna Bhog – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple

 

Description:
Nicholas Delmore, the Earl of Hawksley, was not expecting a snowstorm-sieged London evening to end with a dagger held to his throat. Nor did he anticipate his spirited attacker to have glossy black tresses and lush red lips that might invite a lesser gentleman to steal a kiss. But before he can demand his beautiful assailant to identify herself, she faints dead away in his arms.

Sania Aaryan has no choice but to trust the breathtakingly handsome Earl of Hawksley with both her life and her sister’s. Trusting him with the truth, however, is out of the question. Because fleeing India for the icy shores of England was rash. Impulsive. And it might have saved her life—only to land her into the arms of a man who poses an entirely different kind of danger.

Now Sania is experiencing a world filled with luxury and opulent decadence. But starry nights and fairy-tale balls cannot chase away the shadows of Sania’s secrets. Especially when her terrible past arrives in London with an eye for icy vengeance…

 

Review:

To Covet a Countess by Sapna Bhog is the second book in her “The Elusive Lords” series. I’ve not read the first book, but no matter as it doesn’t really help in this book. Although there are characters from the first book in this one.

Sania doesn’t know what to do! Escaping India with her sister seemed a lot easier than trying to gain entry to see her cousin in England! After being refused entry into her cousins home, Sania has no other option (except to freeze in the English winter) but to break into her cousins home and explain why. And getting caught by a handsome gentleman only adds to her dilemma!

Nicholas sees a figure trying to break into his friend and neighbors home! Doing the honorable thing he tries to apprehend the intruder. Imagine his surprise when he finds out that it’s a woman! And even more surprised and shocked when she faints in his arms!

Nicholas and Sania are absolutely adorable to read. She’s a feisty female who knows what she wants, and will speak her mind freely. Not interested in the suitor picked out for her in India, she’s had no choice but to run away, and taking her younger sister with her was the best option for them both.

Nicholas is haunted by things from his past, but he tries to be a good man. Not really interested in society and their ways! He’s such a great character to read, making a change from the usual rogues that get the lady.

Reuniting Sania with her cousin Lara, Nicholas although thoroughly enamored with the beautiful Sania, he knows she would be better off without him being around! So with a heavy heart he tries to avoid the young lady. But thankfully Sania isn’t going to make it easy for him.

A wonderfully written story that I finished in one afternoon. It’s part of a series (Lara has her own book (“Date to be a Duchess”) and although Lara and Wolf play quite a large part in this book, it doesn’t take away from this story. (Although I’m rather taken with reading their story now ?) Very well thought out, enough description for me to imagine myself outside freezing in the English weather, and to see myself at the ball.

It’s a “love at first sight” story for me. And I really don’t have a problem with that. The chasing down of Nicholas by Sania had me smiling (as it’s usually the man chasing the reluctant lady)

*And the issue of race is done brilliantly. Nothing is hidden, we are made aware of their differences and we are made painfully aware that people have always and will always be prejudice against someone different from themselves! *

So can Sania convince Nicholas that they can be together and damn what society thinks of it all? There is a blip in their happiness….. Can they overcome it when Sania’s past comes knocking on their new found happiness? Can Sania be able to see past Nicholas’ mistakes and forgive him for his misgivings?

The only tiny issue I had (and that’s just me) was that I wasn’t sure what time period this was set in. (But that’s just me being picky). But I’d happily recommend this book if you like your historical romance with a little steam and a few twists.

 

Reviewed by Julie

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

Share

The Cursed King by Abigail Owen – a Review

Posted on by
13

The Cursed King by Abigail Owen – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple

 

Description:
Airk Azdajah, the rightful King of the White Clan of dragon shifters, spent half a millennium being tortured by the false High King Pytheios. The only reason he’s alive is a curse— the man to kill Airk will be consumed in his own fire. Which is why Pytheios kept Airk alive, barely, unable to shift in his prison cage, driving the creature half of him into madness. Airk escaped, but he’ll never be truly free. What good is a king who can never let his feral dragon loose, never fly, and never lead his people? He’s better off dead.

Angelika Amon is the last unmated phoenix. The problem? She has no powers. Zip. Zilch. Angelika hates being dormant, especially now that her three sisters are blissfully mated to powerful dragon shifter kings and are very much part of the fight to take down the rotting king Pytheios, their parents’ killer. What good is a useless runt of a phoenix in a battle to save the dragon kingdom?

Desperate to find some way to help, she offers herself to Airk as a mate — just for political leverage. But a dormant phoenix is no damn use to him just like a dragon who can’t shift is no use to her. Until Pytheios sets his sights on Angelika for himself…

Each book in the Inferno Rising series is STANDALONE:
* The Rogue King
* The Blood King
* The Warrior King
* The Cursed King

 

Review:

The Cursed King by Abigail Owen is the last book in this wonderful series (Inferno Rising). I’m happy I’ve read it, but I’m sad that this amazing journey is over! You could read this story without reading the previous books, but there is so much going on throughout the series, it would definitely give you a better grasp on what’s going on.

In the last book we get a snippet of how things will go with Arik and Angelika, and it’s going to be a bumpy ride!! Angelika is tired of being useless! Hidden away from everyone, but especially the high king (he wants the last Phoenix to retain his throne) she needs to feel useful. She wants to help bring down the dragon that killed her parents and enslaved the man she’s falling in love with…. Being free after being held captive by the High King Py for centuries should have been a joyous time for Arik, to see the blue sky without bars should have made him smile. But a feral dragon lived inside him (this was caused by the centuries of incarceration) they battle on a daily basis, he can’t let him out as Arik is positive the dragon would kill without distinguishing friend from foe!

Forming an alliance with Arik makes perfect sense to Angelika, they could persuade the White Dragon Clan to defect to their side and abandon the High King. Py always seems to have the upper hand in battles, is it because of numbers (white, red and green dragons follow him) so they need to even up the score. But convincing the stubborn white dragon of that fact is proving difficult for Angelika! With Arik it was one step forward, six steps back!! We all know he wants her, she’s made it clear she wants him. So let’s get it going Arik!!

I absolutely loved this one, we have danger, intrigue, twists and battles. We have a stubborn white dragon afraid to get close to the only woman that has held his and his dragon’s interest. And we have the youngest of the four Phoenix sisters trying to find her place in this dangerous world! And we have so much passion and romance between the two main characters that it almost steamed my glasses up? Drawing in the sisters and their mates, we even get to catch up with a powerful wizard and his mate (book)

The author drew up all the loose ends and left nothing dangling. All avenues were explored and all allies were included. So can Angelika and Arik convince the white dragons to rebel against Py? Can they really defeat him with a defective dragon and a useless Phoenix? And the ending…. It just had to be that way ?? ? 

Reviewed by Julie

Copy provided by Publisher

Share

April May Fall by Christina Hovland – a Review

Posted on by
12

April May Fall by Christina Hovland – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Book Depository

 

Description:
April Davis totally has her life in order. Ha! Not really. Yes, she’s the Calm Mom—a social influencer with a reputation for showing moms how to stay calm and collected through yoga—but behind the scenes, she’s barely holding it all together. Raising tiny humans alone is exhausting, but that’s just the chewed-up cherry on the melted sundae of her life. Her kids aren’t behaving, her husband left her for his skydiving instructor, and her top knot proves she hasn’t showered in days.

Then a live video of the “always calm” April goes viral…and she’s most definitely not. Enter Jack Gibson, April’s contact at the media conglomerate that has purchased April’s brand. The too-sexy-for-his-own-good Jack will help clean up April’s viral mess, and even work with her to expand her influence, but toddler tea parties and a dog with a penchant for peeing on his shoes were definitely not part of the deal.

Now April’s calm has jumped ship quicker than her kids running from their vegetables. Not to mention, the sparks flying between her and Jack have her completely out of her depth. Forget finding her calm—April’s going to need a boatload of margaritas just to find her way back to herself again.

Each book in the Mommy Wars series is STANDALONE:
* Rachel, Out of Office
* There’s Something About Molly
* April May Fall
* Everything’s Fine, Emmaline 

 

 

 

Review :

April May Fall by Christina Holland is the third book in her Mommy Wars series.  I’ve read and loved this series. This one though is my favourite so far. April is hilarious, Jack is smooth and a total hottie. Together with this author, you’ll laugh until something bursts?

April online is a super efficient mother. There is nothing she can’t do, and nothing she can’t advise you on….. But when the camera clicks off!! Then that’s a whole different story…..

Jack can put a spin on most things, and when he’s asked to help contain a viral leak (well more like an explosion) Jack thinks it’s going to be a walk in the park…..
This book was just so funny, the banter between the main characters was quick and had me chuckling out loud. The predicaments they would get themselves into had me both rolling my eyes and holding my sides. Throw in the kids and a few characters from previous books and you have a winning combination.

It is a slow burn romance that at times will have you shouting at the book/kindle. They fancy each other like mad, but neither will make a move…A hiccup in their relationship has the brakes firmly on, and at one point I did think the whole thing might derail!

Being a single parent can’t be easy, trying to support yourself and your kids must be a nightmare (and I applaud the single parent whether it be male or female) having your newly found confidence shattered because of a stupid video would have me scurrying for the chocolate tin! But April doesn’t give up, she might have a mini breakdown, but she’s made of stronger stuff.

This author has become an automatic click for my kindle, and I’m happy to recommend her books for a feel good vibe and a hearty chuckle at life.

Reviewed by Julie

Copy provided by Publisher

Share

The Wedding Crasher and the Cowboy by Robin Bielman-a Review

Posted on by
11

The Wedding Crasher and the Cowboy by Robin Bielman – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N /  Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Book Depository

 

Description:
Kennedy Martin is shocked when her ex calls days before his wedding, expressing serious second thoughts. Doesn’t he see his fiancée’s actually the glaze to his doughnut? Now she’s got no choice but to crash his wedding and convince the man he’s with the right woman.

Instead, she crashes into the absolute last man she ever wanted to see: Maverick Owens, her old college nemesis. Maverick is still as awful, infuriating, and just The Worst as ever—even if he looks way too sexy in his cowboy hat. And of course he’s convinced she’s actually at the seaside ranch to ruin the wedding.

Now the only way to get some face time with the groom and save this marriage is to participate in all sorts of pre-wedding events…with Maverick. Stuck on a canoe, making small-talk at cocktail hour, and even a hoedown with her worst enemy? This just might be the longest week of her life…

 

Review:

Kennedy Martin is a doctor in an emergency room and interviewing for her dream job. When a drunken call from her ex-boyfriend/good friend in the middle of the night declaring second thoughts about getting married has Kennedy worried. She just might have to crash his wedding celebration to figure out how to help. While crashing the wedding Kennedy gets reacquainted her old college competitor and just may find more than she bargains for. Maverick Owens is still grieving the loss of the love of his life and keeping to the promises they made to travel the world. He’s about to embark the last trip then move on with his life. Then Mav just may go back and finish his veterinarian school and hopefully start a new business. When his former college nemesis shows up to crash the wedding of a guest Maverick is determined to keep her from destroying his family’s business. As these two get reacquainted they just may find that the competition from the past just may turn into something special if each of them can get over their individual pasts. A wedding crasher just maybe what the cowboy needs. The Wedding Crasher and the Cowboy just may find true love with each other, and their dreams could change.

Robin Beilman writes a wonderful story of trust and competition between former college nemeses. . The Wedding Crasher and the Cowboy has a doctor who wants to help her friend after a call from him when he talks about not wanting to get married. The only idea is to crash his wedding celebration in a small town. It brings her back into the world of the man she competed with all through college. With several years passing these two people just may have a changed enough to find love with each other. Both have severed heart ache. The Wedding Crasher and the Cowboy  takes a unique look at what can happen when you’re ready to start over but afraid to do so. They’ll learn that their perceptions of each other aren’t the same and the competition from college just may’ve been there way of dealing with unknown feelings. Lives and dreams will change as their time together comes to a close. Robin Beilman’s The Wedding Crasher and the Cowboy will pull at the heartstrings of the reader while they hope that these two can find their ways through their pasts to find the true love they’ve been looking for. You’ll want a happily ever after for these two wonderfully written character and feeling the emotions come through. You’ll cry, cheer and just wonder what will happen to these characters by the time the book ends.

Reviewed by Kim

Copy provided by Publisher

Share

No Player Required by JoAnn Sky – a Review

Posted on by
11

No Player Required by JoAnn Sky – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple

 

Description:
Billionaire casino magnate Rafael “Rafa” Salord is forced to exchange caviar for cowboy boots when he’s sent to “grow up” and run his father’s newly acquired casino in the middle of nowhere downtown Reno. When he crosses paths with feisty Destiny Morson, he starts to wonder if that nonsense about love-at-first-sight might actually be true. Maybe it’s time to trade in his playboy status and bet on something more.

Social worker Destiny Morson has always had good reason for keeping romance at arm’s length. After finding out that her business partner ran off with the community-raised funds from their non-profit, she’s ready to swear off people completely. So when the sexy casino executive seems interested in helping her with her woes, she can’t help but mistrust his motives, no matter how he makes her burn…

From a night out throwing axes to supporting Destiny’s charity, Rafa stops at nothing to win over the gunshy woman he can’t get out of his head. He’s determined to break through her tough exterior, and Destiny slowly lets her guard down. But after a night of passion in his penthouse suite, things at the casino go sideways for both of them, forcing them to decide if the past is enough to prevent them from a future together.

 

Review:

No Player Required by JoAnn Sky is the third book in the Biggest Little Love Story Series. No need to read the previous books (and I haven’t, but that’s not to say I won’t go back and read the others) 

Rafael or Rafa to his friend is a typical playboy, love not fun is all he’s interested in! Coming to Reno should be a straight forward trip, assess the family business for his father, then head back to Spain. 

Meeting Destiny for the first time he mistakenly thinks she’s a call girl! Trying to right that mistake is going to take time. But there is something about her that makes him want to try. But he’s going home after this trip, so maybe they could have a little fun before he goes home? 

Destiny is a social worker and needs to raise money for her new charity. Wary of entanglement, she’s seen what love can do to people and it’s not for her…..Her business partner took the last lot of money she raised, so her trust is a little thin on the ground! 

Rafa might make her knees go weak, but trusting a man again. That’s not going to happen any time soon! She’s seen first hand at what love can do to a person (her mother is a prime example of love at first sight).

But what I didn’t understand was the love she had for her auntie (she’s a huge gambler) if she’s trying to help people, then wouldn’t she be trying to help her family with the gambling habit? 

Chalk and Cheese? Possibly. 

But when these two people meet there is something there. Loved how Rafa has to work at getting Destiny’s affection, she’s no pushover. And she does push him away time after time. It’s a quick read with no real angst, but more of a mistrust on her side. 

So after a passionate night together both think there might be something there, but love doesn’t always run smooth, and a couple of bumps on the road will have Rafa trying to prove to Destiny that he wants more than a few nights together! 

So I’d recommend this book if you love a couple that don’t instantly fall for one another. The steamy scenes aren’t hot and heavy, but more fade out! 

Reviewed by Julie

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Share

Not Seeking Mr. Right by Natasha Knight – a Review

Posted on by
10

Not Seeking Mr. Right by Natasha Knight – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / Book Depository

 

Description:
Ginny Colburn can’t believe she’s been dumped by her wedding date. 

And everybody knows it. 

So when a cute, younger man serving champagne to the guests flirts with her, she decides to really give the guests something to talk about and flirts back. 

But the incredible one-night stand gives her more than great memories. 

A few weeks later, she’s got a positive pregnancy test and the task of having to tell a guy half her age, “Congratulations, you’re a dad.” 

Only he doesn’t react the way she thinks he will at all…

 

 

Review:

Not Seeking Mr. Right by Natasha Moore is part of her The Single Ladies of Lakeside series.  Ginny is forty and single! Babies and marriage don’t seem to be on the cards for her! And being dumped by her wedding date spurs her on to decide on one night stands from now on! 

Josh has the world at his feet! Recently finished with college he wants to change the world around him with his architect degree. He hasn’t got time or the inclination to settle down, that’s later on in his life…. 

They meet by accident at a wedding that Ginny is attending and Josh is working. A little flirting, a little alcohol and a one night stand which at the time seemed like the best idea. Only this one night has a consequence neither had expected! 

A slow burn romance that concentrates more on the budding friendship than the romance. And after reading so many dark/bully/Mafia books this makes a welcome change of pace. 

Josh is extremely grownup for his age. He’s prepared to do the right thing and be a part of his baby’s life. But Ginny wants to do this on her own! Is that because she doesn’t want to trap Josh, or she really does want to go this alone?  So will Josh give up his dream and look after Ginny and his unborn child? Will Ginny let him? 

A small town romance that has a close knit family and friends network that are prepared to help this couple. It’s low on angst, but high on a feel good factor. It’s both funny and moving. I loved both Ginny and Josh, even when you wanted to move them both along in their relationship ? add in the cast of supporting characters (which some of them need their own book lol?  and you have a read good read. 

Loved how Josh wanted to support Ginny, even though she’s older and has her own life. She’s not some teenage girl that needs financial support. Ginny is such a laugh, never losing her sense of humour or her outlook on life. 

I’d recommend this book if your a lover of low angst and slow romances. 

Reviewed by Julie

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

Share