The Secret of Snow by Viola Shipman

December 3, 2021 By 1 Comment


The Secret of Snow by Viola Shipman
Publisher: Graydon House
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Women’s Fiction
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

The forecast is calling for a reluctant homecoming and regrettable decisions with a strong chance of romance…

When Sonny Dunes, a SoCal meteorologist whose job is all sunshine and seventy-two-degree days, is replaced by a virtual meteorologist that will never age, gain weight or renegotiate its contract, the only station willing to give the fifty-year-old another shot is the very place Sonny’s been avoiding since the day she left for college—her northern Michigan hometown.

Sonny grudgingly returns to the long, cold, snowy winters of her childhood…with the added humiliation of moving back in with her mother. Not quite an outsider but no longer a local, Sonny finds her past blindsiding her everywhere: from the high school friends she ghosted, to the former journalism classmate and mortal frenemy who’s now her boss, to, most keenly, the death years ago of her younger sister, who loved the snow.

To distract herself from the memories she’s spent her life trying to outrun, Sonny throws herself headfirst into covering every small-town winter event to woo a new audience, made more bearable by a handsome widower with optimism to spare. But with someone trying to undermine her efforts to rebuild her career, Sonny must make peace with who she used to be and allow her heart to thaw if she’s ever going to find a place she can truly call home.

Sonny is a middle-aged meteorologist who has a great job and a great home in a warm climate. Suddenly she finds herself out of work but takes up an old colleague on her offer to work for her. The trouble is, Sonny will have to go across the country, back to her childhood home, where it is cold and snows a lot. Sonny dreads going back. Her sister was killed there. But she needs the job at the small station.

Sonny’s mother is awesome, and Sonny meets other great people who all have issues, like her. She is troubled, but her experiences will help her grow and learn things. She will work through her pain.

Setting is important in this story and has a great impact on the plot and characterization. The charming winter wonderland scenes add much to the book. Themes of family, friendship, and facing tragedy help bring this tale to life.

This is a very engaging book with a message and plenty of entertainment. I highly recommend it.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

Swiss Mistletoe and Macarons by Amey Zeigler

December 1, 2021 By 3 Comments


Swiss Mistletoe and Macarons by Amey Zeigler
Christmas Cookies
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Holiday
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Baking enthusiast Livi Hanson never misses Jean-Marc’s online videos. Hoping to save money for pastry school, she agrees to nanny over Christmas break in Switzerland for generous overtime pay.

To expand his audience, pastry chef and internet star Jean-Marc Dobrinsky scores a contract for a network TV slot with one caveat: he needs an attractive co-host who equals him in the kitchen.

When she’s invited to bake with Jean-Marc, Livi must prove she has the culinary chops, and Jean-Marc must put aside his pride. Can they rise to the challenge, or will it flop?

Change can be frightening, but it can also be the best thing to ever happen to someone.

Livi’s character development was delightful. When I first met her, she was the sort of person who would bend over backwards to help others regardless of how difficult it made her own life. Her generosity and compassion were admirable, but I yearned for her to learn how to set appropriate boundaries and take better care of her own needs, too. It was wonderful to see how she grew and changed throughout this novella.

Some of the most memorable scenes in my opinion were the ones that showed the characters making the best of disappointing circumstances. For example, Livi found ways to celebrate her favorite Christmas traditions in an unfamiliar country where it wasn’t always possible to recreate everything exactly how she’d like. Sometimes she had to make substitutions or even try new things altogether. Having such a sensible approach to the holiday season goes a long way in making it special even if one can’t celebrate with the people they miss or eat exactly the same foods they would normally enjoy.

I loved seeing how the romantic storyline unfolded, especially since Jean-Marc had such a strong and opinionated personality. His biggest strengths were often Livi’s biggest weaknesses and vice versa. This led to a few personality clashes between them in the beginning, but I could see each side of their conflicts so well that I couldn’t pick between them. Both of these characters made good points, and it was evident from the beginning that they could learn a lot from each other.

Swiss Mistletoe and Macarons was an immensely satisfying Christmas romance novel that I can’t recommend highly enough.

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The Return of the Earl by Joan Wolf

November 23, 2021 By Leave a Comment


The Return of the Earl by Joan Wolf
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Historical, Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

Laura’s situation is dire. She and her little daughter are being evicted from their home. Her husband has committed suicide and her house is now the property of the next male heir. When her godmother offers her a position at Chiltern Hall, Laura leaps at the chance. The new Earl of Chiltern is representing England at the Congress of Vienna, and his home and his nieces cannot be left to the care of the servants.

Laura accepts the position of chatelaine at Chiltern Hall. She loves the house and the children, and she becomes fond of the estate steward, the gorgeous Mark Kingston. Then the earl comes home. And Laura falls in love. How can she remain at Chiltern Hall feeling the way she does?

I’ve read several Joan Wolf books now and her writing style is consistently enjoyable. I always feel connected to the characters and absorbed into the setting. Positive escapism in a book is my stress relief. What was I to do while stuck in Chicago for five hours waiting for a connecting flight? Why read, of course.

I started what I hoped would be a great book and The Return of the Earl by Joan Wolf didn’t disappoint. While reading it, I had several moments where I had no idea I was in an airport or that my husband was talking to me. Before I knew it, it was time to board my plane.

The heroine, Laura, is genuinely sweet. It’s impossible to dislike anything about her. The hero, Robert, is a hero in every sense of the word. Together, they make the perfect sensational romance.

The story kept me engaged from beginning to end. There were some unexpected plot twists that kept me riveted. All-in-all, The Return of the Earl is a remarkable book worth spending the time to read.

What I liked most about this book was the journey. It was heartwarming, funny and a little bit suspenseful. If the prologue intrigues you as it did me, then definitely give it a shot.

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Finding Nikki by Jamie L. Biggs

November 15, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Finding Nikki by Jamie L. Biggs
A White Mountain Pack Novel
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Nikki always knew she was different. What she didn’t know was that she isn’t entirely human.
Nikki discovers after her mom dies, why they never stayed in one place. She is now determined to make Mesa, Arizona her permanent home.

But when the broody, tall, dark, and handsome stranger shows up in her diner, Nikki realizes that if she is ever going to stand a chance at making a home for herself, she will have to go on the run again or fight like never before.

Now Zack has tipped his hand by letting his wolf out to protect her. Nikki’s hands are tied – or are they?

As fate approaches, only one question remains: Will Nikki accept Zack and what he has to offer her, a real home and family, or will she go on the run?

I was pleasantly surprised by this novel. The trope has been done before, true, but the way Ms. Biggs wrote Finding Nikki totally entertained me and left me feeling very happy when the story concluded with its well-rounded epilogue.

This book was the first one I’ve ever read by this author and I liked her style. I enjoyed the flow of the story, from Nikki’s first meeting Zack, to finding out why her mother was so paranoid, and why it was nothing like the heroine anticipated. Yes, there is the ‘fated mates’ plot but I appreciated the fact that the connection and relationship actually started when they were kids. It may have seemed sudden to the heroine, but it actually wasn’t. Another aspect of the novel was its being told in first person POV. The author did it well. There were no awkward moments or lengthy internal narrations. The pace was perfect for this story.

As with most paranormal stories with werewolf cultures, there are the violent, passionate natures, claws, rival packs and political plots and conflicts. What I found to be a breath of fresh air and is one hundred percent appreciated by me was the author’s decision to keep me out of the bedroom. I was spared the announcer-type-moment-by-moment details to the nth degree about what happens between Zack and Nikki. I found the kisses, the touches, the eye-to-eye contact and the sensual atmosphere more than enough for me to get the picture that the chemistry between them is hot, satisfying and wild. True, it made the story move a bit faster but that was okay by me. I didn’t have long to wait for the good stuff.

My emotions were affected, especially the part about Nikki’s dad. I didn’t expect that to happen and it got me in the heartstrings. When it came to the dramatic and climactic attack amid all the growls and violence, again, the author didn’t need to go into graphic detail. I understood. I comprehended the ramifications. In this novel, less is more and again, I felt it to be a strength because I focused more on the characters, their emotions and the end results. As a reader, I was given everything I needed to fall in love with the main characters, feel emotions for them, worry and celebrate with them when the epilogue revealed a wonderful future and happy-ever-after for Nikki and Zack. I also thought her nickname for the hero was genius – cute, adorable, and ever so accurate. What starts off as annoying to the hero turns into a label of love and affection. That’s how I knew they had a strong and positive relationship.

I looked for more from this author and it doesn’t look like there are additional stories specific to the White Mountain pack, but if there ever is one, I’ll be one happy reader. I’d snap it up in a heartbeat. This story was an utter joy to read and has a complete happy ever after with all the threads that matter tied up with a wonderful, happy bow. I can easily recommend this to paranormal romance readers like me who are more into the romance and the story than the bed.

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Sweet Tea by Piper G. Huguley

November 15, 2021 By 1 Comment


Sweet Tea by Piper G. Huguley
Publisher: Hallmark Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

Southern traditions, history, and hope come together in author Piper Huguley’s heartfelt romance from Hallmark Publishing.

Althea Dailey has succeeded beyond her wildest dreams: she’s about to make partner at her prestigious law firm in New York. So why doesn’t she feel more excited about it? When she has to travel South for a case, she pays a long-overdue visit back home to Milford, Georgia. To her surprise, a white man she’s never met has befriended her grandmother.
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Jack Darwent wasn’t interested in the definition of success dictated by Southern high society. His passion for cooking led him to his current project: a documentary and cookbook about authentic Southern food. Althea’s grandmother is famous for her cooking at Milford College, a historically Black institution. But Althea suspects Jack of trying to steal her grandmother’s recipes.

Despite Althea and Jack’s first impressions of one another, they discover they have more in common than they’d guessed…and even as they learn about one another’s pasts, they both see glimmers of a better future.

Althea is a lawyer who has made partner. She goes from New York to Georgia to help her grandmother. Jack is a young man who has befriended her grandmother, and Althea is suspicious of him. Does he want to use her? Jack insists that his intentions are completely honorable. He wishes to make a documentary on Southern women who cook.

Althea is cold to Jack but little by little gets to know him. Maybe he can be trusted. Their relationship develops in a natural and tender way; then she has some big decisions to make. The bonds of friendship and family underlie this story and add depth. The setting is well described, bringing this sweet story to life.

Ms. Huguley is a talented writer, and I would recommend this story to anyone who is a fan of romance.

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Caprice by Linda Palmer

November 12, 2021 By 2 Comments


Caprice by Linda Palmer
Psy Squad #9
Publisher: Uncial Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

LilyAn Kerry, librarian at the prestigious Rutledge Institute for psychics, couldn’t be happier. Not only does she get to work with amazing young people at the school, she gets to do it in a castle in the wilds of Wyoming. LilyAn’s Jackson apartment is miles away from Texas where her bossy dad and three older brothers live. At twenty-four, she’s independent and loving it, the reason she avoids long-term boyfriends who might make demands or get serious.

Etan Trahan, a tough-as-nails Special Agent for the World Security League, believes he will know when he first lays eyes on the one woman meant to be his. This romantic notion infuriates the sensible grandmother who raised him. She wants Etan to settle down with any of the eligible young women she magically produces every time he visits. Is it any wonder he chooses to stay with friends when he’s recouping from wounds received during his latest mission?

LilyAn and Etan meet at a charity carnival the WSL sponsors every year to kick off Aspen Days, an autumn festival. LilyAn’s job this year is to dress as a gypsy and tell children their fortunes. It’s quite a shock when a man the size of Etan enters her tent and asks to hear his. Etan is flirty and funny. She instantly responds to him but is sure it will all be okay. He’s only in town to recover from an explosion that wrecked his body. He will move on as soon as he is better.

But Caprice, the mysterious voice in LilyAn’s head that nudges her impulsivity, seems to have a plan of her own this time. It begins with two deadly gunshots and the valiant instincts of a true hero. Can it possibly end in true love?

Psychics don’t get days off.

I thought the dialogue was well done. Each character had their own unique voice that I was quickly able to figure out. Their conversations with each other flowed naturally as well. Sometimes it felt as though I were overhearing friends talk about their days because of how well everything fit together. That’s always a nice thing to find in a book!

The romantic storyline seemed rushed to me. It was never clear to this reader why the characters involved in it had decided so quickly that they were romantically interested in each other. Even having excellent chemistry doesn’t mean two people are actually a good match for a long term relationship, after all. There were so many details that could have been filled in here to explain their reactions to each other and show why they should be together.

Some of my favorite scenes were the ones that developed LilyAn’s relationships with her friends as well as Etan’s humorous relationship with his Nonna. You can learn so much about someone by taking note of the platonic connections in their life. Luckily, there were plenty of opportunities to do just that in this novella. Both of these characters were lucky enough to have loved ones who would do anything for them. It was delightful to see the strength of those bonds.

This is the ninth instalment in a series. It can be read out of order or as a standalone work.

Anyone who likes mixing fantasy and romance should give Caprice a try.

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Scarlet Princess by Elle Madison & Robin D. Mahle

November 11, 2021 By 2 Comments


Scarlet Princess by Elle Madison & Robin D. Mahle
The Lochlann Feuds, Book 1
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, New Adult
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Chamomile

A reckless princess. An enemy kingdom. A mistake that could cost her everything.

Rowan has always known her place in the world and exactly who she is: a princess of Lochlann. That is, until a series of missteps land her in the hands of her enemies. Now, she’s an outsider being forced to reconsider everything she thought she knew.

When her relationship with her captor takes an unexpected turn, she must figure out if centuries of animosity between their two lands is more than they can overcome, or if the Socairans might be able to accept her as one of their own.

If she’s not careful, her choices very well could bring war to the people she’s sworn to protect…

This unforgettable story is packed-full of witty banter, hilarious antics, swoony charm, and sarcastic insults!

This author team does an amazing job of bringing their characters to life, and making them feel real and unique! Not only the main characters (which I loved!) but also the side characters, a detail that makes this story even more amazing and unforgettable!

Princess Rowan is one of those fun characters who lives for mischief and is always getting herself into all manner of trouble, and I loved her brash and spunky attitude, and seeing her travel to a strange, and enemy, land. I also loved her cousin, Davin, who is easily like a twin to her and who is always there to bail her out only to dig headfirst into yet another of their crazy schemes!

Theodore is also a fun character, and between him and Evander, the story never saw a dull moment as Rowan stands toe-to-toe with some of the Clan Heirs and refuses to give anything but her best, and a load of sass while she’s at it!

While this book, and The Lochlann Feuds trilogy, can be read and understood without reading The Lochlann Treaty, also by Elle Madison & Robin D. Mahle , this one happens twenty years after the first, but this one does contain some spoilers as Rowan’s parents as well as some her other family are mentioned in the beginning of this one and it’s their story that is the focus of The Lochlann Treaty series.

This one takes a slightly cleaner approach, but is great for fans of ACOTAR, Shadow and Bone, and Blood Heir. Pairing fun fantasy elements with unforgettable characters, a steamy romance in the making, and epic world-building! This story hits all the high points and is woven together into a must read and unforgettable tale!

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , ,

The After Party by A. C. Arthur

November 9, 2021 By Leave a Comment


The After Party by A. C. Arthur
Publisher: Montlake
Genre: Contemporary, LGBTQ, Romance, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Cholla

Three women form an unbreakable bond in a sexy, suspenseful, and adventurous novel about empowerment and sisterhood through thick and thin.

Venus McGee, Draya Carter, and Jackie Benson are coworkers with a lot in common. They’re smart, independent, driven, and deserving of recognition—certainly more than they’ve been handed by a demoralizing boss. He’s the topic of conversation at their impromptu get-together after the company holiday party, where the threesome fantasizes about a life without him. There has to be an alternative to taking a deep breath and sucking it up. There is. It’s just not the one they expected.

When morning comes, Venus, Draya, and Jackie are blindsided by murder—a twist of fate that brings a startling new challenge to the table and forces them to navigate a hair-raising detour they never saw coming. For better and (unless they can help it) for worse, it’s going to turn their world upside down. What starts as a necessary bond of mutual trust soon morphs into an empowering and galvanizing friendship that Venus, Draya, and Jackie need now more than ever.

It’s said that a harrowing experience can bring people closer. That’s exactly what happens to three co-workers – Venus, Draya, and Jackie – on the night of their company Christmas party. None of them expected what was to come in the morning, but when they’re all implicated in a murder, they decide to band together instead of leaving each woman to herself. Will they be able to find the real killer before one of them goes to jail?

Although coming from very different backgrounds, the three women share a lot of common qualities. They’re hard workers, smart, driven, and loyal to a fault. These things, as well as a mutual dislike of their boss, Rufus, are what bond the women together initially, but as the investigation progresses, they find love and support from each other as well as from surprising sources.

Of the three, Jackie was my favorite. I wanted to take her home and feed her and let her know that she had a safe place to hang out. She also felt to me like the best developed character, although the other two were complete, too. Venus was relatable to me in the way that she felt she always had to act in a way that wouldn’t harm her father’s political careers. Although neither of my parents were ever politicians, I do understand the whole ‘don’t embarrass me’ environment that she grew up in, and felt she had to adhere to as an adult. Draya was the one I had the hardest time relating to; however, I loved her spirit. There wasn’t anything that was going to stop her from getting whatever she wanted, and I can admire that.

At times, the murder mystery took a back seat to the budding friendship between the women, which was okay with me. As much as I love a good mystery, these three were a riot when they were together. The author does a good job of dropping little breadcrumbs here and there about the murder. Watching the girls make the connections, find the information, and figure out the truth was well worth the wait. I would even enjoy a follow up book about the three and where they are a year or two after all this ended, simply because they were so much fun to be around.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

*Out of the Blue by P. Dangelico

November 8, 2021 By Leave a Comment


* Out of the Blue by P. Dangelico
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Larkspur

Life comes at you fast and love comes out of the blue…

A small town romance about letting go of the past and learning to live in the moment.

Blue Baldwin takes no horse crap from anybody. Well, actually, that’s not entirely true. She does take horse crap. Piles of it. The real kind that is––not the metaphorical one. It kind of goes with the job description when you run a large animal rescue. What she does not take, however, is crap from an entitled movie star who needs to reform his rotten image.

Unfortunately, the farm she manages is in trouble and if she doesn’t raise the cash to save it she’ll be homeless along with the precious animals who depend on her. So she’ll grin and bear the King of Hollywood Screw Ups, and the assistant, and the overprotective brother he brings along. I mean, she takes care of large animals for a living. Isn’t that basically the same thing?

Rescuing animals means everything to Blue. I enjoyed reading this slow burn romance about two broken people. I found it easy to connect with the two main characters, Blue and Shane and loved reading their story as they helped each other heal.

P. Dangelico is one of my favorite authors, so I was excited to read her newest story, Out of the Blue. It is sweet and emotional and sometimes heartbreaking. The characters’ spirits are broken along with the abused animals they are taking care of. Taking care of the animals seems to help them deal with their issues and heal.

Blue is just trying to get through each day, but everything changes when Shane and Aiden come to stay at the animal rescue farm where she lives. Shane is a broody, successful author and Blue is immediately attracted to him, but Shane keeps his emotions to himself and is hard to read.

Shane and Blue are easy to like and they’re good people underneath all their issues. There is a lot of chemistry flowing between Shane and Blue, even though they try to ignore it. I kept turning the pages hoping they would realize how good they were together. Along with Blue and Shane, I also found the secondary characters added another dimension to the story and I can’t forget all the animals. I loved every minute of this beautiful and emotional read.

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Cookie Collision by Darlene Deluca

November 4, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Cookie Collision by Darlene Deluca
Christmas Cookies
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Holiday
Rating: 3 Stars
Review by: Astilbe

Before she can let up and enjoy some holiday cheer, real estate agent Alana Drake has work to do. With Christmas moving in fast, she has clients to meet with, houses to show, and cookies to bake. Every open house deserves her special touch—homemade and hand-decorated sugar cookies for a warm welcome. And she needs several dozen for upcoming holiday events and open houses.

But a poorly timed stop at the grocery store could upend more than her bag of groceries.

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When all she wanted was to bake some cookies…

Even the unluckiest accident can have a silver lining.

Some of the most interesting scenes in my opinion were the ones that showed how Alana juggled everything that was going on in her life. She had a rewarding career, a fun hobby, and a loving circle of friends and relatives to keep up with. I always enjoy reading about characters in romance novels who have already built happy and well-rounded lives for themselves long before they meet someone special. Alana definitely fits the bill here!

I would have liked to see more attention paid to a subplot involving conflict between Alana and another realtor. There was so much time spent building tension between them early on in the storyline that I was caught off-guard by how quickly the author tied everything up later on. The resolution made that early foreshadowing feel overdone to me. It would have been helpful if their mutual grudge had either not been given so much attention in the beginning or if they’d had more opportunities to address the problem later on.

The chemistry between Alana and Justin was perfect. I loved their lighthearted banter and how it revealed the many similarities they shared. They were both kind and loving people who often expressed their feelings for the people they cared about through the food they made for them. Many of their hobbies were compatible with each other as well which can also be a good sign when looking for a long term partner. The more I learned about both of them, the stronger I hoped they’d live happily ever after together.

Cookie Collision was a sweet and heartwarming read.

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