Leah’s Surrender by A.M. Westerling

April 30, 2021 By 4 Comments


Leah’s Surrender by A.M. Westerling
The Ladies of Harrington House Book 2
Publisher: BWL Publishing
Genre: Historical, Romance
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

Voted BoM by LASR Readers 2013 copy

With the threat of scandal hanging over Lady Leah Harrington, her parents arrange a temporary position for her in Australia as a companion to her aunt. Leah vows that on her return to England, she will forge her own future as a published lady of letters. However, now that she’s learned men are not to be trusted, having her sensibilities muddled by a dashing navy captain is not what she had planned for herself.

Despite France’s ever-present menace during the Napoleonic Wars, Captain Heath Trevelyan is ordered to transport a load of convicts aboard HMS Charlotte Mary destined for the penal colony of Australia. As a favour to a friend, he also provides passage for an alluring young woman and her aunt. When his ship sinks during a storm, a battle of endurance ensues for Heath and the survivors, including several convicts and the beauty who has captured his senses.

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Well, I’ll be the first to eat my words. I read and reviewed book one in this series and didn’t really think I’d read the next one considering the heroine was going to be Leah Harrington and I wasn’t a fan. I admit that I was wrong. When will I ever learn to “never say never”? I love how this book turned out!

In truth, Leah’s Surrender can be read as a standalone but you might want to read about her in the first book in the series. Why? Because I think you might be surprised about Leah. She caused quite the conflict in the first novel which made for an excellent plot. Because of that, I wasn’t sure how she’d be redeemed in my eyes enough to have her own story. I assure you that the evolution of Leah was well written.

Actually, upon further pondering I’ve changed my mind. I absolutely recommend reading the first one prior to Leah’s Surrender because a reader should fully feel the effect of the scandal hanging over Lady Leah’s head. The more I reflect on Leah’s character, the more my opinion changes. I have to consider her age and that her reactions and choices were appropriate in Sophie’s Choice. I didn’t put much consideration into that fact at the time. As you can see, this series could very well be a great choice for a book club debate. But I’ll give credit where credit is due. Heath helped redeem Leah in my eyes. His perspective of her swung me around to team Leah. I would have preferred her age to be slightly higher, but given this is an historical book, I realize that was probably how it was back then. So, as I said before, her behavior was appropriate for her age and therefore necessary to be accurately written as such.

Even though I’ve gone back and forth about the heroine’s character, the unquestionable fact is that A.M. Westerling’s writing style is absolutely remarkable. I have a memory like Dory in the movie Finding Nemo so the fact that I remember my emotions from Sophie’s Choice is a testimony in itself. The Ladies of Harrington House series is unforgettable and I attribute that to the writing style. It made me feel as if I was in the story as a witness. Oh, I can’t forget to mention a certain villainous character that reappears in Leah’s Surrender. That was a nice plot twist.

If you are debating if you should read Sophie’s Choice first or not I’m going to share what’s in my heart. I think Leah’s Surrender will be better for readers after reading the first novel in the series. The characters are very well developed and a strong relationship is built between the reader and the characters. Book two continues that sense of connection. A.M. Westerling has succeeded in wiping out all previous reservations I might have had early on.

Now, I could re-write this review to try to share even more of my favorite parts because there is a great deal of content to reflect upon. One of them is when the hero, Heath’s, ship sinks during a storm. I should have had my life jacket on reading that scene. I’d love to be saved by Captain Heath Trevelyan! Not only does he meet all my book boyfriend qualities but his name alone is swoon worthy. I just love the name Heath. In the words of an Italian Chef, al bacio!

Regarding Heath and Leah’s relationship, I did find it entertaining and I was in full support of their satisfying happily ever after. I’m pleased at how the entire flow of the book kept me guessing what was going to happen next from beginning to end. Leah’s Surrender was hard to put down. Catherine is the next sister in line for her own story and now I can’t wait to read the third book! This is one series I’m glad I discovered and definitely recommend others to discover it too.

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Parts of Me – From Me to You by Cisel Ozbay

April 30, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Parts of Me – From Me to You by Cisel Ozbay
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Romance, Poetry, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

There is always one person who changes you in ways nobody else has or ever will. That person will always be a part of you because they’ve helped you find yourself. There is a you before them and a you after them. It is not the connection or the person here which is important as such, but the ways in which they have transformed the writer. This collection of poems captures the author’s journey with that one person, with all the bitterness and pain, there is something beautiful in this journey of finding the self in love.

Love has many faces.
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I truly enjoyed seeing how many details the author was able to fit into her concise poems. Some of them were only two lines long, and yet they were every bit as vivid as they needed to be. There is definitely something to be said for trusting the reader to fill in certain blank parts of the plot ourselves, and I was grateful to have the opportunity to do so when I read things that suddenly stopped when I was expecting them to keep going for at least another stanza or so.

The story of this love affair was told non-linearly at times. That is to say, the narrator might share a big fight the two characters had once they’d been dating for a while only to leap back to a lighthearted, romantic moment between them from earlier and happier days on the next page. While I generally do enjoy putting the pieces together in something like this, it was jarring for me as a reader to move between such contrasting emotions over and over again. Anger, lust, joy, uncertainty, and contentment all require such different responses from the audience. It would have been nice to make those shifts between themes less often even if I were still expected to figure out how all of the scenes fit together chronologically.

With that being said, the ending was written nicely. I was glad that Ms. Ozbay decided to keep things more or less in order for the last several poems. They all played an important role in describing what the narrator learned from this relationship and how it affected their life moving forward. It was interesting to me to observe the obvious character growth in this section of a protagonist whose name and gender I’d never figured out. Luckily, those things aren’t required in order to get to know a character quite well, indeed, especially when the audience’s goodbye to them is as meticulous as this one.

Parts of Me – From Me to You was a heartwarming collection that should be read by anyone who loves romance.

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Wilde Child by Eloisa James

April 27, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Wilde Child by Eloisa James
book 6 of 6 in the Wildes of Lindow Castle series
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Historical, Romance
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

He wants a prim and proper duchess, not the Wildest of the Wildes!

Already notorious for the golden hair that proves her mother’s infidelity, Lady Joan can’t seem to avoid scandals, but her latest escapade may finally ruin her: she’s determined to perform the title role of a prince—in breeches, naturally.

She has the perfect model for an aristocratic male in mind: Thaddeus Erskine Shaw, Viscount Greywick, a man who scorned the very idea of marrying her.

Not that Joan would want such a dubious honor, of course.
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For years, Thaddeus has avoided the one Wilde who shakes his composure, but he’s horrified when he grasps the danger Joan’s putting herself in. Staring into her defiant eyes, he makes the grim vow that he’ll keep her safe.

He strikes a bargain: after one performance, the lady must return to her father’s castle and marry one of three gentlemen whom he deems acceptable.

Not including him, of course.

I have never heard of the author, Eloisa James ,who is a New York Times Bestseller. Based on the one book that I just finished, Wilde Child, it’s clear I’ve been missing out. One of the other reviewers here at Long and Short Reviews, Xeranthemum, has reviewed all the previous books in the series. I took the time to read her reviews of the Wildes of Lindow Castle series and promptly went to Amazon to purchase the box set. I can’t wait to start from book one. I enjoyed this novel immensely and want to read the previous five stories in this series as soon as possible.

Wilde Child can be read as a standalone although I wish I hadn’t requested it. Based on the knowledge that I have gathered, I prefer to start the series from the beginning. I wish I knew Xeranthemum was following the series so she could have reviewed this novel. I agree with all of Xeranthemum’s earlier reviews. The Wildes family of Lindow Castle are unique, refreshing and entertaining. The best characteristic of the Wildes is their family loyalty to each other.

I fell in love with the heroine, Lady Joan. She was independent, feisty, possessed a witty sense of humor and was guided by her tender heart. The hero, Thaddeus, was preparing to be the ever-so-proper Duke. He lost perspective of any joy in his life, that is, until he met Lady Joan. At first the two of them shared a dislike of each other that turned from protectiveness to love. It was an entertaining read to see their perceptions of each other evolve from disgust to lust to true love. It was a scandalous process that resulted in several book glows.

The plot contained several memorable scenes. Joan’s good friend Otis was hilarious as Ophelia in the Hamlet play. The banter between him and Joan had me giggling. The back and forth repartee of Joan and Thaddeus was equally funny. The aging peacock, Fitzy, and Gully, the castle goat, had me cracking up as well. There were some serious scenes such as the ones between Thaddeus and his father. There were joyous scenes such as the birth of Joan’s sister, Viola. Then there were some sad scenes such as when they shared their past hurts. Then there were a few scenes where I hated Thaddeus’s father. All in all when put together, Wilde Child was a book that I didn’t want to put down or have it end.

I’m thrilled to have discovered a new author, Eloisa James. I anticipate the Wildes of Lindow Castle series will be going on my “keepers’ bookshelf” once it’s delivered by my favorite book store. Happy Reading!

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

Spirit in Time by Julie Howard

April 26, 2021 By 1 Comment


Spirit in Time (Spirited Quest Mysteries) by Julie Howard
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, Contemporary, Historical
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Time travel isn’t real. It can’t be real. But ghost-blogger Jillian Winchester discovers otherwise when an enigmatic spirit conveys her to 1872 to do his bidding. Jillian finds herself employed as a maid in Sacramento, in an elegant mansion with a famous painting.
The artwork reveals another mystery: Why does the man within look exactly like her boyfriend, Mason Chandler?
Morality and sin live side by side, not only in the picture, but also within her. As her transgressions escalate, she races the clock to find the man in the painting, and hunt down a spirit with a disconcerting gift.
But will time be her friend or foe?

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My review of House of Seven Spirits, the first book in this series, mentioned my desire to see more character development for Jillian. I was pleased to see her gradually begin to grow and change in this sequel as a result of her experiences. Just like it often happens for people in real life, her evolution was filled with stops and starts. She often needed to learn the same lesson more than once, but I did begin to see the progress with this character that I originally wished the audience could have observed in her first adventure. I will continue to hope for more advancements in this area for Jillian as this series hopefully continues, but I’m glad the author paid more attention to it here.

The mystery storyline wasn’t given as much time to shine as I would have preferred to see. While basic information was provided as needed, it seemed to me that the author could have gone into much more detail about why Jillian and her boyfriend were sent back in time and what they were expected to accomplish there. It would have been nice to dig into the hints about these things in greater detail.

Some of my favourite scenes were the ones that described the many ways in which life in 1872 was wildly different from how people live in the present day. This was especially true when it came to how women and people from minority groups were treated. Jillian’s reactions to the double standards and deep-seated prejudices of that era made perfect sense. It’s one thing to read about them in a history book and entirely another to experience them first hand, especially since the social safety net was so sparse back then. She had to adjust quickly to a world that was much harsher than our own in many ways. I appreciated the fact that the author took these things seriously and made them such an integral part of the plot.

This definitely can be read as a standalone work, but I would recommend also checking out House of Seven Spirits to anyone who wants to follow Jillian’s adventures from the beginning.

Anyone who enjoys history or paranormal mysteries should check out Spirit in Time.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

First Down by Leslie North

April 23, 2021 By Leave a Comment


First Down by Leslie North
Publisher: Relay publishing
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Larkspur

Love is a full contact sport…

Mark Coleridge is living the dream. He’s making big bucks as a pro football player with his favorite team, the Savannah Sharks. Life seems perfect. But after winning his latest game, he looks up at the Jumbotron and is shocked to see Tessa Black, his high school sweetheart. And standing next to her is a little boy who looks suspiciously familiar…

Suddenly, football has to take a backseat. Mark’s a father… and still in love with the girl who ghosted him five years ago. Sure, he’s angry she hid his son from him. But when he learns why, it just makes him want her even more.

Tessa’s loved Mark for as long as she can remember. But she knew if she told him she was pregnant, his dreams of playing in the NFL would have been over. She couldn’t bring herself to do it back then. Can she let him into her life now?

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Can their love score a touchdown this time?

Mark Coleridge is shocked to learn he has a son. That is the premise of Leslie North’s newest book, First down. I enjoyed diving into this endearing second chance romance. Mark and Tessa, the two main characters are down to earth and genuinely nice people. They deserve a second chance and I was rooting for them all through the story.

Mark and Tessa go through some tough times before they can find happiness together. They need to realize they are resilient enough to withstand the ups and downs of a high profile relationship. As long as they are together they can take whatever life throws their way.

Mark is the Savanna Sharks newest rookie running back. He loves football and is excited to have finally made into the big leagues, but he has never forgotten his high school girlfriend, Tessa. Mark is caring and a good guy and through everything, he never stopped loving Tessa.

Tessa is just starting in her new position as a teacher and she is excited to finally be doing what she loves to do. She has worked so hard to get to this point in her life.

Even though it made her life much harder, Tessa made the ultimate sacrifice, she let Mark go so he wouldn’t be tied down.

Tessa surprises Mark six year after breaking up with him to let him know he has a son. Mark and Tessa face many challenges and have to wrestle with their emotions as they reconnect. Can they work things out and be together again? Mark and Tessa have both worked hard to accomplish their dreams and goals, now they deserve to be happy. This is a heartwarming and delightful story.

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The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn

April 23, 2021 By Leave a Comment


The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn
Audiobook narrated by Rosalyn Landor
Publisher: Print – Avon, Recorded Books (Audio Publisher)
Genre: Historical, Romance
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

1814 promises to be another eventful season, but not, this author believes, for Anthony Bridgerton, London’s most elusive bachelor, who has shown no indication that he plans to marry. And in all truth, why should he? When it comes to playing the consummate rake, nobody does it better… – Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers, April 1814

But this time the gossip columnists have it wrong. Anthony Bridgerton hasn’t just decided to marry – he’s even chosen a wife! The only obstacle is his intended’s older sister, Kate Sheffield – the most meddlesome woman ever to grace a London ballroom. The spirited schemer is driving Anthony mad with her determination to stop the betrothal, but when he closes his eyes at night, Kate’s the woman haunting his increasingly erotic dreams.

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Anthony was such a forceful personality in The Duke and I that I wasn’t sure how he’d be as a hero in his own book, The Viscount Who Loved Me. I shouldn’t have wondered. He blew away my expectations.

Just like The Duke and I, once again I listened to this novel via an audiobook. When Kate has her nightmare, Ms. Landor, the narrator, was so effective and so emotional, I know my mouth was hanging open in shock, I felt the chills go up my spine, and my breath caught in my throat. It was so REAL! And Anthony was wonderful with her. It affected him as well, and he was determined to help Kate. I know I’m jumping the gun by mentioning something later in the book but that scene was so amazing, and profound and effective, I had to start with it. That scene sealed this story with a rating of 5 stars.

Now, to go back to the beginning, Anthony decided it was time to find a wife. His choice would normally make sense, until a reader understands that he’s being driven by a traumatic event from his past. Here’s the point – it’s a real thing. It’s not his imagination. What is even more amazing is that Ms. Quinn actually explains why she had Anthony do as he did in the wrap up after the novel ends. I can personally attest to that emotional response because my own dad and his brother thought the exact same way. In the back of their minds as they married and lived their lives, there was an age concern, will they live past that milestone, or will genetics win out? It’s a powerful motivator for good or ill. Ms. Quinn used it as a very effective internal plot conflict and because I knew it was a real emotional response in real life, it made the story come alive and it felt very relevant.

The novel isn’t so dark and heavy handed, despite the first couple of paragraphs in my review. Those were the things that touched me deeply on a personal level. But the majority of the book is wonderfully romantic, and with the Bridgerton family playing Pall Mall, hilarity, hijinks and fun is a guarantee. Pay attention to the Mallet of Death because in the audio version there is a second epilogue and Pall Mall provides a significant backdrop that made me laugh uncontrollably too many times to count. I truly mean that. I laughed out loud, giggled, snorted and grinned from ear to ear so long, it hurt. Ms. Quinn has a wicked sense of humor!

What I find interesting about this story is that the intense moments when the true conflicts show up happen after the hero and heroine get married. It’s fascinating. In most romance books, they end after the hero and heroine get their HEA which usually has an ‘I love you’ and off they go. Not so with this novel. No, the author did something different. It’s when people move in together, when they see each other first thing in the morning and the last at night, when all the little quirks and personal habits start showing up and they react. That’s when the true learning of a married relationship starts. That’s what I believe Ms. Quinn does in this novel and it works. It’s wonderful and I can’t say enough good things about it.

The Viscount Who Loves Me is awesome, and whether you read it in print or listen to it in audio, Ms. Quinn has penned a wonderful romance that should not be missed.

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The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

April 21, 2021 By Leave a Comment


The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
Audiobook narrated by Rosalyn Landor
Publisher: Print – Avon, Recorded Books (Audio Publisher)
Genre: Historical, Romance
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Simon Basset, the irresistible Duke of Hastings, has hatched a plan to keep himself free from the town’s marriage-minded society mothers. He pretends to be engaged to the lovely Daphne Bridgerton. After all, it isn’t as if the brooding rogue has any real plans to marry – though there is something about the alluring Miss Bridgerton that sets Simon’s heart beating a bit faster.

And as for Daphne, surely the clever debutante will attract some very worthy suitors now that it seems a duke has declared her desirable. But as Daphne waltzes across ballroom after ballroom with Simon, she soon forgets that their courtship is a complete sham. And now she has to do the impossible and keep herself from losing her heart and soul completely to the handsome hell-raiser who has sworn off marriage forever!

I can’t believe I’m the lucky duck who gets to review The Duke and I. For sure I thought, someone at some time must have already reviewed this book for LASR, but guess what? No one has! I can’t believe it! With the resounding success of the Netflix series, Bridgerton, I figured I was late to the party. I tried and tried to get the paperback through my local library but the wait was three months long. So, I checked the audiobook section and I couldn’t believe my good fortune. It was available!! And let me tell you something, if you haven’t heard the audio version of the novel, you are missing out. Rosalyn Landor did a splendid reading. Spectacular, really. So much so, that when I finally get to watch it on Netflix, I’m going to be comparing the acting to Ms. Landor’s rendition.
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Here’s another personal tidbit. I do a lot of tedious data entry at my day job. I’m in an office by myself so I can listen to audiobooks to my heart’s content. My boss only walked in on me twice and both times I was laughing uproariously. Oops. But she just smiled, gave me a few more needed tasks, and off she went. Supposedly the audio version takes 12 hours to listen to. You could have fooled me. My day positively flew! I grinned, I chuckled, and I most definitely laughed out loud. This book is awesome! Yes, I realize I’m using a lot of exclamation points in this review but how else can I explain how excited I am about my reading/listening experience?

First, a reader meets Simon as a little child; an only child. My heart broke. His father was an arrogant posterior – unrelenting, unforgiving, and an all-around ogre. Thank goodness little Simon had a staunch protector in his nurse. Child psychologists all agree that trauma experienced at a young age tends to affect that person into adulthood. Simon’s character epitomizes that fact. He grew up to be sophisticated, extremely smart, is respected but thought of as very ducal. The author explains the reality. Again, my feelings were affected. Simon certainly qualifies as a tortured hero.

Now, let’s look at Daphne Bridgerton, the heroine. She’s the very opposite of the hero. She comes from a large, boisterous family and she’s only known love. She’s unusual because she speaks her mind and has a fresh, unpretentious way of looking at things. Having grown up with three older brothers, she is wise in many areas, yet innocent as she should be in the areas expected of a lady. But wow, can she throw a solid punch. I really liked the heroine’s personality.

The first half of the story is about their meeting, the courting, the scheming, and working around her two nosiest brothers, Anthony and Colin. The family dynamics are fascinating and Ms. Quinn wrote them into the novel in a seamless fashion as a natural turn of events in the everyday life of the Bridgerton clan. A reader sees ballroom dramas, raucous dinnertimes with a reference to mashed potatoes on someone’s chair, and a healthy dose of love and laughter between the siblings. It was quite delightful.

The latter half of the novel follows the ramifications of Simon’s bad experiences in his youth and how it affects the marriage that eventually takes place between he and Daphne. I felt so sad for Daphne. She goes from a family that harbors few secrets to a husband who is haunted by them. It gets very intense and I worried for Daphne at a few points. I could understand her point of view, but I understood Simon’s too. I had no idea how things were going to be resolved. Of course it is, that’s part of the very happy and satisfying happy-ever-after of which I was thrilled with. And for those that feel a book isn’t complete without an epilogue, guess what? The audio version has a SECOND epilogue! Yes! And not only is it amazing and wonderful and intriguing and at times humorous, it tied up the loose ends about those letters.

I realize that a narrator can only bring a book to life if the author who wrote it provides amazing material, and based on my experience, Ms. Quinn did an outstanding job. Well, of course she did, it’s now a Netflix sensation, right? Well, Ms. Landor’s narration combined with a great novel has completely wowed me. I’m very happy, thrilled and although late to the Bridgerton party, just as enthusiastic as the many fans out there worldwide. If anyone is like me who hasn’t read, or even listened to this book yet, what are you waiting for? There’s no time like the present. The Duke and I ( or as the TV has it, The Duke & I) is a great read no matter how you get it.

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

Red Zone by Leslie North

April 20, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Red Zone by Leslie North
Publisher: Relay Publishing
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Larkspur

James Sullivan, quarterback for the Savannah Sharks, never thought there’d come a day when football wasn’t his priority. But finally finding his feet after his divorce and with a nine-year-old daughter to raise by himself, he has new priorities. And it shows on the field.

Newly hired conditioning coach Daisy Katrakis has pointed out his less-than-stellar play, and that rankles James. He’s known Daisy for years—she’s his best friend’s little sister—and more annoying than her criticism is how attractive she is. When did Daisy get so hot? Though he reminds himself that she’s his coach, it’s hard to ignore their mutual attraction. And harder still to ignore what Daisy is starting to do to his heart.

Being hired by the Sharks is a dream come true for Daisy. The last thing she needs is to complicate things by getting into a relationship with the terminally sexy James Sullivan. Her obsession is football, not a gorgeous quarterback with muscles that have muscles.
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Daisy’s never been a girly-girl, but there’s something about James that brings out her softer side. Something that makes her think there could be more. But a coach dating the quarterback is fraught with complications, and Daisy knows her priority has to be her job. Which leaves her with an impossible decision: live her dream or break her own heart.

When social media twists truths and lies it can hurt people and cause problems.

Daisy, in Leslie North’s newest book Red Zone, tries her best to ignore all the lies written about her on the internet, she knows it is best to dismiss them, but finds it impossible.

James Sullivan is the quarterback for the Savannah Sharks and Daisy Katrakas is the new strength and training coach. James is surprised to see Daisy when she starts her job with the Sharks. Daisy was the little sister of James’ high school best friend and now, she is grown up and hard to resist. James and Daisy just can’t stay away from each other; they love spending time together and have a passionate relationship. Everything is going well, until the internet brings a spotlight on their relationship.

Daisy is one of the few women in the league working as a strengthening coach and because she is a woman, she has to work extra hard to prove herself. Daisy is excited to finally achieve her goal of working with professional football players. She finds it both challenging and fun and she also likes working with James. Unfortunately, some people blame Daisy whenever the team loses.

James and Daisy have great dynamics and chemistry between them and I found it easy to sympathize and relate to them. I enjoyed this refreshing story.

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

The Nosy Neighbor by Fern Michaels

April 15, 2021 By Leave a Comment


The Nosy Neighbor by Fern Michaels
Publisher: Pocket Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Lucy Baker decided it was time to walk away from her high-flying legal career after she successfully defended yet another heinous criminal. Now, almost a year after her life-changing decision, Lucy has never been happier. Leaving New York City for the suburbs, tending to her garden and her dog, Lucy is making future plans with her fiancé and getting acquainted with her neighbors, including the handsome, exasperating one next door, Wylie Wilson.

But one day, everything changes. When FBI special agents confront Lucy with shocking revelations about her fiancé’s secret double life, everything about her husband-to-be is cast in suspicion. Recovering from a freak accident that has left her with a heightened sense of intuition, and getting closer than she ever dreamed to Wylie, Lucy must determine who to trust—and fast, before someone breaks down her defenses and targets her…

Wow, was this a nail-biter! The Nosy Neighbor is a great read, a wonderful romance and a thrilling suspense along with the comic relief of a trio of adorable, lovable dogs to make a reader feel totally engaged. Any characters who love a dog so much they’d make meatloaf all the time specifically for the pup because of dietary needs, you know they’re good people.
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People who are not good are those who believe the only good dog is a dead dog – and that’s why the villain of the piece was such a perfect villain. He didn’t like dogs. Okay, he did a lot of other bad stuff that made him a perfect bad buy, but when compared to how much Wylie loved Clueless Cooper? The bad guy deserved everything he had coming to him … eventually. Before that could happen, a whole bunch of good storytelling, excitement, entertainment and the growing of wonderful friendships and relationships plus a romance between Wylie and Lucy kept me glued to the pages as the story unfolded. Ms. Michaels truly has an amazing talent because she crafted a thrilling romance story that gripped me from the moment those FBI agents approached Lucy and turned her well ordered world upside down.

It took me all afternoon to read this novel. Once I started, I didn’t want to stop. I had to because I was supposed to make supper but as soon as that was done, I dove back into the pages of The Nosy Neighbor, eager to find out what they found at the bad guy’s hideaway. I didn’t find out later what was there and the only niggle about the book was that it never showed the FBI finding the goods or what happened to all the assets that were in someone else’s name. Does that person GET all of it? I think the reason why the author didn’t go off on that tangent is because the book is first and foremost, a romance. That is exactly what I was looking to read and it’s exactly what was delivered – with a lot of intense suspense and drama that spicened up the plot. I never had to guess who the villain was because the FBI made it clear early on, but it was the suspense of knowing the guy was gunning for Lucy and the uncertainty and curiosity of trying to guess how it was all going to play out. How was he going to take down the heroine? Why did he choose her and why was he so angry and obsessed? So many fascinating questions that eventually get answered. It was worth dedicating half of my day to this novel.

Yes, Lucy and Wylie do ‘get together’ and it’s an open-door view for readers but it’s not overly graphic which I greatly appreciated. Some of the physical action was fun and silly, yet serious too. It’s serious because they’re falling in love. It’s serious because once the heroine had the sheet time with the hero, she realized something very important. It’s that epiphany that makes her realize the difference between the two men. It’s romance at its finest.

I didn’t add the paranormal genre tag, but maybe I should have. I mean, Lucy did develop a way to hear things not normal for a human. Then again, I know that scientists have actually studied that phenomenon for real, and I saw a documentary a few weeks ago about people who could READ books while being 100% blindfolded with no way to actually see anything at all, so HOW could they read or describe anything like they weren’t blindfolded? It’s incredibly amazing as it is confounding, but it’s real! So, if that can happen in real life, maybe Lucy’s situation isn’t that farfetched. Because of that, I didn’t attach the paranormal tag to my review.

If Ms. Michaels writes this well all the time, I’ve got to read more of her backlist. The Nosy Neighbor was awesome and I had a great time reading the novel. If anyone else is like me and hasn’t read this yet, my recommendation is to rectify that immediately. If a reader likes romantic suspense, courageous puppies and a hero and heroine who are perfect for each other with a very satisfying happy ever after, know that this book delivers.

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

Remembering Rose by Sheila Claydon

April 12, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Remembering Rose by Sheila Claydon
Publisher: BWL Publishing
Genre: Suspense/Mystery/Thriller, Romance, Paranormal, Contemporary, Historical
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Rachel has a husband who adores her, a beautiful baby daughter, and an extended family she can rely on, so why isn’t she happy? She doesn’t know and nor do the people who love her. Only Rose understands but she is trapped in another century. To help Rachel she has to breach the boundaries of time itself as well as risk exposing the truth of her own past.

When echoes from that past begin to affect other people in the village of Mapleby, things suddenly become a lot more complicated. Can Rachel put things right without giving away Rose’s secret?

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Rachel’s character development was handled beautifully. To be honest, I didn’t like her very much when I first met her because of how negative and critical she was about everything in her life. It was only once I realized that these parts of her personality were symptoms of her postpartum depression and I saw glimpses of who she was before she’d had a baby that my opinion of her began to shift. This was an intelligent way to show how this illness affects not only the new mother but everyone else around her. I truly enjoyed seeing how she coped with her overwhelming feelings and what her loved ones did to help her feel better.

The beginning and middle of this book were well-written and entertaining. Unfortunately, I was disappointed in how rapidly everything was wrapped up in the ending. There were some fantastic subplots that never had enough time to be fully developed. Even the main storyline felt rushed in the last few chapters, especially when it came to Rachel putting all of the clues together and figuring out what Rose wanted from her. If not for these issues, I would have happily gone with a much higher rating.

Some of the most interesting scenes were the ones that showed the audience the many similarities between Rachel and Rose’s lives. Some families repeat the same patterns for generations without necessarily being aware that this is happening. For example, both Rose and Rachel were spoiled youngest children whose parents let them get away with things that would have never been tolerated if their much-older siblings had tried the same stuff. I’ll leave it up to other readers to discover the other similarities for themselves, but I thought this was all nicely explained.

Anyone who likes genealogical or historical mysteries should give Remembering Rose a try.

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