Wednesday, November 26, 2014

REVIEW: Cold Feet At Christmas by Debbie Johnson

Title: Cold Feet At Christmas
Author: Debbie Johnson
Publisher: Harper Impulse
Publication Date: November, 2014
Genre: Chick-Lit

Description: Running out on your wedding shouldn’t be this much fun! A remote Scottish castle on a snowy Christmas Eve. A handsome husband-to-be. A dress to die for. It should have been the happiest day of Leah Harvey’s life – but the fairytale wedding turns sour when she finds her fiancé halfway up the bridesmaid’s skirt just hours before the ceremony! Fleeing the scene in a blizzard, Leah ends up stranded at the nearest cottage, where she collapses into the arms of its inhabitant – a man so handsome she thinks she must have died and gone to heaven! And when Rob Cavelli suddenly finds himself with an armful of soaking wet, freezing cold, and absolutely gorgeous bride on the run, he’s more than happy to welcome her into his snowbound cottage this Christmas…

My Thoughts: Leah Harvey runs out on her wedding after she discovers her groom in a compromising position with a bridesmaid. She finds herself stranded in rural Scotland in the middle of a snowstorm without a cell phone signal or any supplies to survive. She finds a cottage where she hopes to wait out the storm and meets the inhabitant, Rob Cavelli.

Every Christmas Rob Cavelli heads to the remote Scottish cottage to hide from his pain and the guilt he carries and is unable to let go of. When he opens the front door of the cottage to find a bride, gorgeous and nearly frozen, he brings her in to the cottage and his life, against his better judgment.

Leah and Rob spend Christmas together exploring the attraction they both feel and when Christmas is over, Leah accepts an invitation from Rob to go to Chicago with him, but as friends only.

I enjoyed this cute and charming story. I liked Leah immensely. She is a spunky and feisty character who doesn’t let the events of her fiancé’s betrayal and failed wedding hold her back from grabbing a chance at happiness. She takes a huge leap of faith and travels to Chicago with Rob and believes he is the only man for her, in spite of his determination to push her away. I liked Rob when I first met him, but after they returned to Chicago, I didn’t care for the change in his behavior or personality. He became overbearing and at times, downright hurtful to Leah. Even after learning why, I felt bad for him, but still wanted to hit him with something heavy until he fell down. It surprised me that Leah continued to believe the best in Rob in spite of his constant rejection and I really liked that she didn’t become bitter or hurtful in response.

I recommend this book if you are looking for a story about forgiveness and second chances.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Cold Feet At Christmas from the author in exchange for an honest review.


Sunday, November 16, 2014

REVIEW: The Reluctant Elf by Michele Gorman

Title: The Reluctant Elf
Author: Michele Gorman
Publisher: Notting Hill Press
Publication Date: October, 2014
Genre: Chick-Lit

Description: Meet Britain's Worst Innkeeper

Single mother and extremely undomestic goddess, Lottie, has five days to become the ultimate B&B hostess to save her beloved Aunt Kate’s livelihood.

When Aunt Kate ends up in the hospital, Lottie and her seven-year-old daughter are called to rural Wales to stand in at the B&B. Without the faintest idea how to run a hotel (she can barely run her own life), Lottie must impress the picky hotel reviewer and his dysfunctional family who are coming to stay over Christmas. Without the rating only he can bestow, Aunt Kate will lose her livelihood.

But will Danny, the local taxi driver who she hires to help her, really be Santa’s little helper, or the Grinch who stole Christmas?

My Thoughts: When Lottie’s Aunt Kate is seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident, Lottie and her seven year old daughter spend Christmas in Wales and find themselves hosting a reviewer at her Aunt’s B&B to obtain a rating that will ensure Kate keeps her business. What Lottie doesn’t count on is the home is rundown and in dire need of repairs and refurbishing. With the assistance of the local taxi driver, Danny, she tries to turn the B&B into a Victorian themed Christmas experience for the reviewer and his dysfunctional family.

I really enjoyed this cute story. Lottie and her daughter were likable characters that I had a lot of empathy for. Lottie is in over her head without a clue how to turn this Christmas disaster around but I liked how determined she was to try. Lottie’s daughter is precocious and the statements she makes throughout the story should be from someone who is much older than a seven year old. I wasn’t too sure about Danny at first, especially when Lottie offers him a large chunk of change to help her and she knows virtually next to nothing about him. Fortunately, Danny turns out to be a decent guy who steps up to assist and has quite a lot in common with Lottie.

Though the results were not perfect, Lottie and her crew manage to pull off their best effort in spite of the reviewer’s demanding and ungrateful family. Michele Gorman pens a sweet Christmassy story that will thaw the heart of any Grinch.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of The Reluctant Elf from the author in exchange for an honest review.


Thursday, November 13, 2014

REVIEW: Tales From A Broad by Jeannine Henvey

Title: Tales From A Broad
Author: Jeannine Henvey
Publisher: Melange Books, LLC
Publication Date: June, 2014
Genre: Chick-Lit

Description: If you enjoy new twists on old classics, then Tales From A Broad is a comedic adventure of one woman’s quest to find herself, but the spotlight focuses on her older chaperone, instead.

Forty-two and feeling not-so-fabulous, Lucy Banks allows her older sister to talk her into accompanying her twenty-four-year-old niece on a trip around Europe. In the past year she has lost her fiancé, her job and her fertility. Embracing her role as spinster aunt seems to be Lucy’s only option, until she embarks on a romantic adventure through London, Amsterdam, Munich, Paris and Florence. Will a room with a view and a handsome stranger be enough to open her heart and mind to new experiences?

Tales From A Broad promises to draw readers into a light-hearted tale of emotional development, self-discovery and love.

My Thoughts: Tales From A Broad by new to me author Jeannine Henvey is a wonderful story about a woman who cures her broken heart by going on a European adventure with her niece, Tess. After Lucy Banks has lost her job, her life takes a downward spiral when her fiancé dumps her after she finds out she is infertile.

I really enjoyed this fun and uplifting story as Lucy comes to terms with her heartbreak and learning to open herself to the possibility of love again. I really liked Lucy and Tess. Their witty dialogue and banter made their relationship one of friendship as well as family. The introduction of brothers Mark and Simon made the story even more entertaining and interesting. The author does a fantastic job of drawing the reader into the locales Lucy visits on her trip that I got a real sense of what Lucy was experiencing as if I was there with her.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this was a fun story with characters that the reader can easily relate to and care about. I highly recommend this story to readers who want to get so completely immersed in a story, they easily forget it’s a work of fiction instead of a real adventure.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Tales From A Broad from the author in exchange for an honest review.


Saturday, November 01, 2014

New Additions To The TBR Pile In October

I never tire of new books arriving on my TBR pile. I seem to be drawn to more Christmas themed settings this year so I am hoping to get in the quickly approaching Christmas season. Here are the new arrivals now making themselves at home...

Title: Cold Feet At Christmas by Debbie Johnson
Description: Running out on your wedding shouldn’t be this much fun!

A remote Scottish castle on a snowy Christmas Eve. A handsome husband-to-be. A dress to die for. It should have been the happiest day of Leah Harvey’s life – but the fairytale wedding turns sour when she finds her fiancé halfway up the bridesmaid’s skirt just hours before the ceremony!

Fleeing the scene in a blizzard, Leah ends up stranded at the nearest cottage, where she collapses into the arms of its inhabitant – a man so handsome she thinks she must have died and gone to heaven!

And when Rob Cavelli suddenly finds himself with an armful of soaking wet, freezing cold, and absolutely gorgeous bride on the run, he’s more than happy to welcome her into his snowbound cottage this Christmas…

Title: Don't Mention The Rock Star by Bree Darcy
Description: They fell in love in an instant … so why have they spent a lifetime apart?

As a teenager Kellie dated an American boy but circumstances meant they went their separate ways. Now he’s back and she’s so tempted to see him again. But two decades have passed and they are both married with children.

And the last thing a celebrity reporter like her needs is the world finding out about her past relationship with a rock star. Especially as Kellie’s husband doesn’t even know she once dated AJ Dangerfield, lead singer of legendary band Danger Game. And she has no intention of him finding out. EVER.

As Kellie deals with a demanding boss, a bullied son, an infuriating mother-in-law and a best friend who won’t act her age, she finds herself playing a dangerous game. What will happen if her two worlds collide? And is it possible that first love never fades?

Title: I'll Be Watching You by Andrea Kane
Description: "I'll be watching you . . ." the cryptic e-mail read.

Taylor Halstead, psychologist and successful radio personality, is terrified that she'll never be safe again. Coming on the heels of a series of tragic and terrible events, the e-mail sends chills racing up her spine. Her safe, secure world has already been violated by her cousin Stephanie's boyfriend, Gordon Mallory, in her own apartment. Only the door buzzer and Stephanie's intervening voice rescue her, but not before Gordon promises to return. Soon after, he is killed along with Stephanie in an inexplicable explosion aboard his yacht. Or is he?

The e-mail is just the beginning. The terror campaign escalates when an electronically disguised voice on Taylor's telephone threatens to kill her, and her life becomes a nightmare. It seems the only one she can turn to is attorney Reed Weston, her confidant, protector, and, ultimately, lover. But is Reed's determination to protect her enough to avert disaster? And can Taylor trust Gordon's identical twin, Jonathan, who always seems to show up when she least expects him?

Grief and dread unravel Taylor's sanity, playing tricks with her mind and heart. Someone out there wants her dead—a crazed fan or the troubled teenage boy she's been counseling or, impossibly, Gordon himself. His vow to return and those final menacing words—"I'll be watching you"—haunt her day and night. Whoever is out there is coming closer, and Taylor Halstead has nowhere to run and nowhere to hide.

Title: Snow Angels, Secrets And Christmas Cake by Sue Watson
Description: For Tamsin Angel, Christmas is always the biggest and best… chic parties and a little showbiz sparkle are a must. This year though, things aren’t going quite as planned…

With bailiffs suddenly at the door and her husband nowhere to be found, it looks like Christmas just got downsized. Moving into her sister’s one-bedroom flat, she wonders whether things will ever be the same again.

After losing her husband on Christmas Eve, Sam Angel has rebuilt her life around her son Jacob and her new business – The White Angel Bakery. She’s also found herself a very handsome, loving boyfriend, but is struggling to let go of the past.

Thrown together with a sprinkle of Christmas magic, Sam and Tamsin might just learn a little more about each other – and themselves. But when disaster strikes at the bakery, will they be able to save the day in time for Christmas?

Title: The Extraordinary Life Of Lara Craft by Lola Salt
Description: From bestselling authors Becky Wicks (Before He Was Famous, Before He Was Gone) and Sarah Alderson (Hunting Lila, Fated, Come Back to Me) comes a new romance with a difference...

After losing her job and her boyfriend on the same day, Lara's beginning to wonder if her life can possibly get any worse. Then along comes Jamie, a childhood friend, offering her a job delivering mysterious packages to random destinations around the world. Suddenly, things are looking up.

Lara packs her bags and sets off on an epic adventure, meeting billionaire Arabic Princes in Dubai, rugged cowboys in Australia, a sparkling wannabe vampire in LA, a love guru with sex on the brain in Bali and Angelina Jolie's bodyguards in a hostage situation that can only be resolved with some very special eggs. But though trouble always seems to find Lara, it seems love is rather more elusive.

Pack your bags. The adventure's about to begin!

Title: The Reluctant Elf by Michele Gorman
Description: Meet Britain's Worst Innkeeper…

Single mother and extremely undomestic goddess, Lottie, has five days to become the ultimate B&B hostess to save her beloved Aunt Kate’s livelihood.

When Aunt Kate ends up in the hospital, Lottie and her seven-year-old daughter are called to rural Wales to stand in at the B&B. Without the faintest idea how to run a hotel (she can barely run her own life), Lottie must impress the picky hotel reviewer and his dysfunctional family who are coming to stay over Christmas. Without the rating only he can bestow, Aunt Kate will lose her livelihood.

But will Danny, the local taxi driver who she hires to help her, really be Santa’s little helper, or the Grinch who stole Christmas?

Title: The Undead Pool by Kim Harrison
Description: Witch and day-walking demon Rachel Morgan has managed to save the demonic ever after from shrinking, but at a high cost. Now strange magic is attacking Cincinnati and the Hollows, causing spells to backfire or go horribly wrong, and the truce between the races, between Inderlander and human, is shattering.

Rachel must stop the occurrences before the undead vampire masters who keep the rest of the undead under control are lost and it becomes all-out supernatural war. However, the only way to do so is through the ancient elven wild magic, which carries its own perils.

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I am not a professional reviewer, but I love to read and share my opinions on my reading with others who are interested. I work full time but my ideal perfect day would be to curl up with a good book. The majority of the books I review here are from my private collection and my reviews are provided purely for entertainment purposes. I receive no compensation whatsoever for sharing my thoughts and review on any book. If you would like me to review your book, please email me at sharalsbooks@yahoo.com Happy Reading! :o)