Double Murder at the Grand Hotel Miramare by Elena Martignoni and Michela Martignoni

August 25, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Double Murder at the Grand Hotel Miramare by Elena Martignoni and Michela Martignoni
Publisher: Kazabo Publishing
Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Ever since his punitive transfer to Lungariva, the sleepy village has quickly become the Cabot Cove of the Italian Riviera…

This time, Deputy Assistant Chief of Police Luigi Berté has to investigate a double murder in the Grand Hotel Miramare, Lungariva’s historic luxury hotel, playground for old nobility, international business tycoons, and polo players. But one of the guests is not what they seem and Berté has to work quickly before his suspects scatter to the four corners of the earth – with deadly results.

Set in the very real Grand Hotel Miramare in the village of Santa Margherita Ligure, this novel features Luigi Berté, one of the best-known characters in modern Italian fiction.

Appearing in a dozen murder mysteries and counting, Berté, a truly unique Italian creation, is beloved for his quirky approach to solving crimes, his kibitzing conscience, and his love for good food.

Small towns aren’t always quiet, safe places to live.

One of the things I enjoyed the most while I read this was comparing the small towns I grew up in with Lungariva. On the surface, they were all sleepy, peaceful communities, but first impressions aren’t always accurate. I smiled and nodded along as I realized how complicated some of the relationships there were. Living alongside the same core group of people for years on end can add all sorts of layers to how people are connected to one another. A relative might also be an employer, and a neighbor might be a friend one year and an enemy the next. The author captured these complexities nicely, so pay close attention if you have any experience at all living in rural areas.

This book had a large cast of characters that I struggled to keep up with even though I made a list of everyone who was introduced and how they were connected to the protagonist. There were simply so many characters that most of them didn’t get much time to express things like quirky personality traits or unusual interests that would have jogged my memory when I was trying to figure out who they were. As interested as I was in the mystery itself, this did prompt me to go for a three-star rating.

The pacing was strong and steady. What made this even better was that a lot of the plot development happened through various conversations Luigi Berté had with hotel staff, guests, and other people who spent a lot of time near the deceased. This is not an easy thing to pull off, so I wanted to make note of the author’s accomplishment here. He did a good job with what can sometimes be a tricky method of revealing new information to the readers.

Double Murder at the Grand Hotel Miramare kept me guessing.

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

Serenade of Solitude by Asif Hossain

August 25, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Serenade of Solitude by Asif Hossain
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.), Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

In the idyllic coastal town of Portofino, Italy, where azure waters meet picturesque landscapes, an introverted post-teen named Firo found solace in solitude. The enchanting harmony of nature and the tranquility of his own company were all he ever desired. At the tender age of 19, Firo had become well acquainted with loneliness, drifting through life with a longing for connection he couldn’t quite fulfill. His life takes an unexpected turn as he encounters a captivating young woman named Anna on a rainy evening.

Love can sneak up on a person at any age.

The descriptions in this novella were vivid and beautiful. Sometimes reading it felt like watching a movie because of how effortless it was for me to imagine everything that was happening, from little moments like a character stepping outside into a clean, glittering world just after a rainstorm ended to scenes that changed the course of the plot forever. There clearly had been a lot of effort put into these passages, and they paid off nicely.

With that being said, I struggled with the slow storyline. So much attention was paid to describing the settings that there wasn’t as much space left over for plot development as I would have liked to see. Sometimes this made it hard for me to remain as interested in the characters as I was in the beginning.

Firo was an interesting and self-aware protagonist. I appreciated the fact that he knew what his flaws were and tried to correct them. That’s a difficult thing for anyone to do, especially someone who is nineteen years old and sometimes acts younger than his chronological age. I found myself wishing I could speed ahead in his life by a few decades to see how much insight he gained about his strengths and weaknesses when he was middle aged or even older than that. There was a lot of potential for growth with him, although I was satisfied with what the author shared at this point in this character’s life as well.

Serenade of Solitude was peaceful.

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The Little Things by M. Jean Pike

August 17, 2023 By 3 Comments


The Little Things by M. Jean Pike
Publisher: White Rose Publishing, Pelican Book Group
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Inspirational
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Chamomile

A decade ago, Rochelle Delany made a decision that changed her life forever.
Wanting more than just football games and potluck suppers, she boarded a bus for California and didn’t look back. But instead of a glamorous life, she became trapped in a nightmare of labor trafficking. Now, she’s made a daring escape and returns home to Ohio.

Sandy Fairbrother has a problem with trust.
Twice betrayed, he now puts his faith only in God. He’ s a single dad doing his best to grow his construction business and raise his young son. But haunted by an impulsive kiss Rochelle gave him fifteen years ago, her unexpected return has him rethinking things. He’ s been given a second chance to win her heart. And this time, he plans to succeed.

Rochelle barely remembers Sandy, but she’s drawn to his goodness. But just when she thinks she’s found peace, her past catches up with her, and she finds herself in danger of losing the only safe haven she’ s ever known.

Returning home to a small down in Ohio isn’t Rochelle’s first choice, and things quickly take a surprise turn!

I loved reading Ro and Sandy’s story! They live in a small town, giving the story that fun small-town charm, while keeping me glued to the pages with plenty of surprises! Sandy is a great character, and a wonderful father. I adored seeing him with Jace his young son, and seeing Jace with Gus! Gus is a bulldog and the bond Jace shares with him in this story is precious!

While this is a fun small town read, it does deal with the tough topics, include labor trafficking and broken families. I enjoyed seeing how the author wove these difficult yet daily issues into the story. It worked well in this one, and as Ro’s story unfolds I found myself drawn into the story more with each new twist! Author M. Jean Pike does a good job of talking about difficult issues with finesse and tact, keeping it subtle and with minimal detail will still alerting readers to the situation. I appreciated her efforts to both bring awareness to these issues while still providing readers with a clean and delightful read!

The romance was also wholesome and heartwarming in this one! It isn’t easy for either of them to trust after the bad hand life has dealt them, so seeing Sandy and Rochelle both overcome there past mistakes and betrayals, learning to work together. Their relationship is sort of a second chance romance, paired with the ‘girl-who-got-away’, so I enjoyed seeing them reunite early on the the story, and loved getting Sandy’s side of things, and especially loved seeing how he regarded his feelings for Jace when considering pursuing a relationship, wanting to be sure Jace has a good life as well. The blooming relationship in the story is a sweet one, and I enjoyed getting to meet these characters!

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A SEALs Touch by Tawny Weber

August 8, 2023 By Leave a Comment


A SEALs Touch by Tawny Weber
Publisher: Harlequin Mills And Boon
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Fern

Subject: Navy SEAL Taylor Powell

Mission: Find a sexy fake girlfriend…with even sexier benefits!

Lieutenant Taylor “The Wizard” Powell has a reputation for getting out of tricky situations. Bad guys, bombs, weapons—no problem. Finding a girlfriend in order to evade matchmaking friends? Not so easy. He’s banking on contractor Cat Peres to help him out…not realizing his tomboy friend has a whole lot of sexy surprises hidden in her tool belt.

Cat can’t remember a time when Taylor wasn’t the object of her hottest dreams—so she can’t help but agree to his plan. Their only rule? Friends, no matter what. Except the deliciously hot chemistry that ignites between them takes them both by surprise…and having nothing between them might just ruin everything.

Lieutenant Taylor Powell is used to taking care of himself, but he’s really struggling to avoid what feels like everyone in his life trying to set him up with a long procession of women. So he reaches out to one of his closest friends, Cat Peres to try and stem the tide. What starts as a fake relationship all too quickly becomes real for them both – but can they risk their long-term friendship on something that might not work out?

This is a very enjoyable, spicy romance. Readers who like the “friends to lovers” trope should feel this is a very satisfying story. While Cat has been smitten with Taylor for years, I really did enjoy how she didn’t just hang around for him. She was completely modern and carried on with her work and life and I was really pleased with this.

With these sorts of books, I am always amused and enjoy how surprised the hero inevitably is by the chemistry and shock at looking at such a long-standing friend in a new light. I really enjoyed how Taylor didn’t try to walk away from that, especially once he realized it was obviously more than just hormones, but a strong and real connection.

Sassy and fun, this is a great and quick read I really enjoyed.

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The Summer Skies by Jenny Colgan

August 4, 2023 By Leave a Comment


The Summer Skies by Jenny Colgan
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Morag MacIntyre is a Scottish lass from the remote islands that make up the northernmost reaches of the UK. She’s also a third-generation pilot, the heir apparent to an island plane service she runs with her grandfather. The islands—over 500 dots of windswept land that reach almost to Norway—rely on their one hardworking prop plane to deliver mail, packages, tourists, medicine, and the occasional sheep. As the keeper of this vital lifeline, Morag is used to landing on pale golden beaches and tiny grass airstrips, whether during great storms or on bright endless summer nights. Up in the blue sky, Morag feels at one with the elements.

Down on the ground is a different matter, though. Her grandfather is considering and Morag wonders if she truly wants to spend the rest of her life in the islands. Her boyfriend Hayden, from flight school, wants Morag to move to Dubai with him, where they’ll fly A380s and say goodbye to Scotland’s dark winters.

Morag is on the verge of making a huge life change when an unusually bumpy landing during a storm finds her marooned on Inchborn island. Inchborn is gloriously off-grid, home only to an ancient ruined abbey, a bird-watching station, and a population of one: Gregor, a visiting ornithologist from Glasgow who might have just the right perspective to help Morag pilot her course.

A woman trying to chart her own path.

Morag knows what she wants in life—to get the heck away from the Scottish winters and find the sun and warmth of Dubai. But she can’t control the circumstances and ends up on an island. The writing was good and the story interesting, but it did take a while to get moving and was a slow start. I did like the characters, though and the journey of her coming into her own. I liked that she had to go on the journey and how she did it. It was fascinating and uplifting, too.

If you’re looking for a good romance with a great journey, then give this book a try.

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The Arrangement by Joan Wolf

August 4, 2023 By Leave a Comment


The Arrangement by Joan Wolf
Publisher: Untreed Reads Publishing
Genre: Romance, Historical
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Mistflower

Dear Reader:

I am afraid I am about to do something exceedingly shocking.

My adventure began when I came to the Earl of Savile’s castle for the reading of George Devane’s will, of which the earl is the executor. I had every intention of refusing George’s blood money, but he foiled me by leaving it to my young son, Nicky. Because I am a young widow, this bequest has subjected me to a great deal of unpleasant gossip.

Now I find that I am in the power of the most exciting man I have ever met, a man whose very presence makes me weak, a man who could very well be my ruination.

Remember me in your prayers, as I shall need them.

(Mrs.) Gail Saunders

If I had to choose four words to describe this book then I’d choose: unpredictable, amazing, satisfying, and unforgettable.

I chose unpredictable because I was surprised twice. I honestly never saw the plot twists coming. My jaw hit the floor. I loved the unexpected wow factor. I chose amazing because this story was well-written. I wouldn’t change a thing about it. The cast of characters were well-developed and relatable, including the ones that added conflict. I felt like I was a fly on the wall inside the story, witnessing it in real life. I chose satisfying because it hit all my feel-good spots from beginning to end. I chose unforgettable because I had to put the book down a few times, and I never forgot what I last read when I picked it back up. I was thinking about the story when I was away from it, feeling eager to get back to it. I was borderline obsessed with this story. Now that it’s over I feel like I want to re-read it again. It’s definitely going on my keeper shelf.

I loved how the synopsis was a letter to the reader from the heroine, Gail Saunders. I’ve never seen that before. The story starts right away with the hero, Raoul, meeting Gail. Immediately I was hooked and couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. The first three chapters were hilarious. Gail is a strong willed, smart, and brave woman. Raoul is loyal, generous, and really easy to love unconditionally. He’s going on my book boyfriend list. Together they make a great team. I could feel their attraction to one another. They made me laugh out loud a few times. I admit they pulled at my heartstrings.

Every thread in the story was tied up nicely leaving me with a definite book glow. I could say more but I don’t want to accidentally give any spoilers. This novel is like a layered cake. Each layer is delicious. However, taken as a whole, it’s mouthwatering.

I strongly urge others to take the time to read this book. I feel it’s worth it.

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Seducing The Marine by Kate Hoffman

August 3, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Seducing The Marine by Kate Hoffman
Publisher: Harlequin Mills And Boon
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Fern

Subject: Marine Will MacIntyre

Current Status: Medical leave

One day a year Will MacIntyre lets himself remember the woman who left him after he enlisted. But seven years later, on the anniversary of that fateful day, Will is defusing a bomb in Afghanistan—and it explodes.

Dr. Oliva Eklund can barely find the boy she loved inside the hard, chiseled body of the man Will is now—a Marine who knows just how to tempt her, just how to seduce her. Olivia is well aware that Will plans to return to his unit after he recovers, but she can’t resist trying to heal him. Even if it means sending him back into a war zone. And breaking them apart forever.

Seven years ago Dr Olivia Eklund and Will MacIntyre broke up – on the day he enlisted to join the Marines. For seven years Will had defused bombs – literally – and not made a single mistake, until he finally lost his streak and the bomb he was defusing blows up. Returning home, Will is shocked to run into Olivia, and even more surprised she’s now a local doctor. Olivia knows she needs to heal Will – but she also knows that means their hearts might break when he leaves. Again.

I enjoyed this spicy romance and really felt Olivia and Will were a strongly matched couple. Neither of them had let their hurt stop them from achieving what they each wanted, even if they had never really been truly happy in the intervening years. I was particularly pleased that even though this is a typical Harlequin romance novel, it was still very modern and relatable. The spice and heat of the chemistry between Liv and Will was believable but not enough for me to feel the book should be slapped with an “erotic” title. There was plenty of plot and characterization outside of the simmering romance between our two main characters.

Equally I was pleased Liv didn’t simply hang around town and wait for her wayward hero to return. Liv actually went out there and enjoyed her life. She has an incredible intelligence and used that to get her medical degree then build a satisfying life around that. I really enjoyed how both Liv and Will had solid and logical reasons for their behavior, but they were each willing to listen and try to keep an open mind about the other.

Readers who enjoy a spicy romance should definitely find this an enjoyable and delicious read.

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Saltwater Sorrows by Rhonda Parrish (editor)

August 2, 2023 By 1 Comment


Saltwater Sorrows by Rhonda Parrish (editor)
Publisher: Tyche Books
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Suspense/Mystery/Thriller, LGBTQ, Paranormal, Romance, Historical, Action/Adventure, Contemporary
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Voted BoM by LASR Readers 2013 copy

Deep, mysterious, beautiful . . . dangerous . . .

Women and the sea have been tied together in myth and story from the beginning of time. Tales of women being drawn to the sea or being left on the shore, waiting for their men’s return, have been passed down through the ages.

But what mysteries lie beneath the sparkling placid waters? What power drives the wind and waves crashing against the shore? There is transformation and exaltation—magic—in the ocean and women alike. And both know that while the sea gives, the sea also takes.

Sink into the icy depths of the ocean with these stories by: E.E. King; Natalie Cannon; Morgan Melhuish; Paul A. Hamilton; Laura VanArendonk Baugh; Sarah Van Goethem; Adria Laycraft; Dino Parenti; B. Zelkovich; Lisa Carreiro; Lea Storry; Nikoline Kaiser; Elin Olausson; Chandra Fisher; Hayley Stone; V.F. LeSann; Catherine MacLeod; and Jennifer R. Donohue.

Safety isn’t guaranteed, but magic is.

Adelia lost multiple relatives to the sea in “Salt in Our Blood, Salt in Our Tears.” When she grew older, she attempted to figure out a way to keep her loved ones safe while they were on the water. I loved her determination and grit and couldn’t stop reading until I’d learned her fate. She wasn’t a wealthy or powerful woman, so anything she accomplished took every ounce of energy and luck she could scrounge up. This was one of my favorite instalments, and I’d love to read a sequel to it someday if the author ever writes one.

In “The Ghost of Violet Gray,” Arthur was distracted by a mysterious woman while surveying a beach to see how much damage the erosion on it was doing to the historic properties that lined the shore. The descriptions of the beach and the stately old homes that had weathered so many storms were beautiful. I would have happily remained in this tale for much longer, especially once my suspicions about how the plot might turn out began to be confirmed. This was a gorgeous snapshot of how the past can be honored by a community who also must adjust to an ever-changing coastline that can’t safely be used in the same way it was before.

“Glass, Paper, Salt” explored how a small group of strangers reacted to a zombie outbreak. The combination of references to zombies, mermaids, and the sea surprised me, especially once I realized how logically the characters were thinking about their longterm chances of survival now that their world was falling apart. This is one of those stories that works best if new readers walk into it unaware of what is coming. I only mentioned the zombies in this review because of how quickly they appeared in the text, but I will leave the rest of the creative plot twists up for others to discover for themselves. It was yet another excellent addition to this book.

One of the biggest reasons why I gave this anthology a full five-star rating was how beautifully different each tale was from one another. Some of them were heavy, difficult, but deeply meaningful reads, while a few were surprisingly light and airy given the dark theme. I wish I had the time and space to review every single one of them in this review. It was tricky to narrow down my selections to only a few! I’d recommend reading this with an open mind and while making as few assumptions about what might happen next as possible. There were so many gems included here.

Saltwater Sorrows was the perfect snapshot of the ever-changing nature of the sea.

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

The Pink Umbrella by Amélie Callot

July 31, 2023 By Leave a Comment


The Pink Umbrella by Amélie Callot
Publisher: Tundra Books
Genre: Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.), Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.), Historical, Romance
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Perfect for fans of Amélie, this is a charming story about the power of friendship, love and pink polka dots to turn rainy days into sunny ones and sadness into joy.

When it’s bright outside, Adele is the heart of her community, greeting everyone who comes into her café with arms wide open. But when it rains, she can’t help but stay at home inside, under the covers. Because Adele takes such good care of her friends and customers, one of them decides to take care of her too, and piece by piece leaves her little gifts that help her find the joy in a gray, rainy day. Along with cute-as-a-button illustrations, The Pink Umbrella celebrates thoughtful acts of friendship.

As Longfellow once wrote, into each life a little rain must fall.

Romance is rarely if ever included in middle grade books, so I was curious to see how the author was planning to incorporate it here. I appreciated Ms. Callot’s subtle and gentle approach to the subject. Younger readers might not even pick on this subtext at all, but it was sweet and perfectly appropriate for the storyline and for their age group if they do.

The plot was slow and meandering. There were scenes where I appreciated how much time it took to soak up the small, ordinary moments of life and other scenes where I felt restless due to that style of writing. If only the characters had faced more conflict during the course of their daily routines. I so wanted to give this a higher rating, but I couldn’t quite justify it.

One of the enjoyable parts of the storyline had to do with how the people in Adele’s community took note of her mental state and worked to make life easier for her when she was feeling sad on cloudy, rainy days. Their empathy was a beautiful thing to witness, and I thought it was lovely to see what appears to be a small town quietly banding together to make the life of one of their residents just a little bit easier.

The Pink Umbrella was one of those rare picture books that’s meant for older readers. It made me smile.

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

Her One in a Million by Rachelle Paige Campbell

July 25, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Her One in a Million by Rachelle Paige Campbell
Publisher: Anaiah Press
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Chamomile

While renovating the MacKinnon mansion, Samantha Holt discovers three prized ceramics in a wall. The one in a million find could provide much needed funds for the restoration—and her family’s struggling auction business. She calls a Chicago expert for a second opinion.

Zachary Reynolds arrives with his five-year-old daughter in tow, intending to leave with the vases immediately. Partly because the pottery won’t reach its six-figure potential in a small-town sale, but mostly because the ceramics will secure his job in an impending merger with a larger firm—and he needs that guaranteed stability for his daughter.

Sam and Zach both need the pottery for very personal reasons, but only one can emerge victorious. As they research the history of the pieces and the mansion, however, the best choice isn’t clear-cut. Add in romantic feelings neither of them expected and things become even more complicated. With the odds stacked against them, can they both achieve the financial and personal success they crave?

I love Rachelle Paige Campbell’s writing style and was thrilled to read this one! Her way with words makes the pages fly by and really brings the characters to life! Her One in a Million is no different, and I found it to be such a fun read!

Sam and Zach begin their story in an interesting way. After finding some highly valuable ceramic pots in the wall of a renovation project, both Samantha and Zachary think they know exactly what to do with them… Only, their ideas are on different sides of the spectrum, and only one can have their way.

I loved seeing them work through their issues as the story processes, and really liked the inclusion of the pottery history and a bit about home renovation that the author wove into the story. The details make the story stand out and made it an interesting and educational read in a way, which I found super cool! The story was a quick read and would be a great weekend read or something to take in vacation but is a great anytime read as well!

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