REVIEW: Secrets Of A Shoe Addict by Beth Harbison

Title: Secrets Of A Shoe Addict (Shoe Addict #2)
Author: Beth Harbison
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Publication Date: June, 2008
Genre: Chick-Lit
Buy The Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

Description: Every woman has a secret. The question is: How far will she go to make sure it stays secret?

Abbey Walsh never wanted anyone to find out about her shady past. After all, she’s the wife of a minister now, living an exemplary life. That is, until someone shows up from her past with blackmail in mind . . .

Tiffany Vanderslice Dreyer never dreamed that she’d find herself up to her new designer sunglasses in credit card debt from one mad moment of a shopping spree. She’s an upstanding wife and mother with the perfect marriage . . . right?

Loreen Murphy hadn’t meant to hire a male prostitute in Las Vegas. It was all just a big, stupid, and expensive misunderstanding. . . .

Abbey, Tiffany, and Loreen are each in need of thousands of dollars and fast. Tiffany’s sister, Sandra, has the perfect idea. It’s fast, it’s easy, it’s legal, and it’s the secret that kept her shoe addiction alive. It’s the perfect plan. . . .

My Thoughts: Though technically a sequel, this story introduces us to three friends who each get into financial trouble while in Vegas. To resolve their financial crises, they become phone sex operators. I thought the book was enjoyable and contained many laugh out loud moments. There wasn’t much connection to shoe addiction, but the story was entertaining.

New Additions To The TBR Pile In February

Title: Adventures Of A Vegan Vamp by Cate Lawley
Description: Dead? Someday, sure. But undead and vegan? That's not how this girl envisioned her future.

Waking up thin is one thing. But waking up gaunt, hangry,and undead makes for a very bad day. That's only the beginning. Mallory's killer better hide, because she's just discovered blood, meat, and dairy don't agree with her--and a future with no cheese is grim indeed. She's out to find her killer...and maybe a vegan cheese that doesn't melt her nose hairs.

Find out how Mallory quashes a killer hunger while hunting a vicious vampire!

Title: Echoes In Death by J.D. Robb
Description: This chilling new suspense novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author J.D. Robb is the perfect entry point into the compelling In Death police procedural series featuring Lieutenant Eve Dallas.

As NY Lt. Eve Dallas and her billionaire husband Roarke are driving home, a young woman—dazed, naked, and bloody—suddenly stumbles out in front of their car. Roarke slams on the brakes and Eve springs into action.

Daphne Strazza is rushed to the ER, but it’s too late for her husband Dr. Anthony Strazza. A brilliant orthopedic surgeon, he now lies dead amid the wreckage of his obsessively organized town house, his three safes opened and emptied. Daphne would be a valuable witness, but in her terror and shock the only description of the perp she can offer is repeatedly calling him “the devil”...

While it emerges that Dr. Strazza was cold, controlling, and widely disliked, this is one case where the evidence doesn’t point to the spouse. So Eve and her team must get started on the legwork, interviewing everyone from dinner-party guests to professional colleagues to caterers, in a desperate race to answer some crucial questions:

What does the devil look like? And where will he show up next?

Title: Ghostly Paws by Leighann Dobbs
Description: Middle age can be murder ...

At least that’s how it seems to former crime journalist, Wilhelmina Chance, whose near-fatal accident has given her a strange side effect ... she sees ghosts.

After a messy divorce sends her fleeing back to her hometown of Mystic Notch, nestled in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Willa finds herself haunted by the tenacious ghost of the town librarian who insists Willa solve her murder.

Luckily, she has lots of help, including a quirky cast of small-town characters, the cat she’s inherited from her grandmother, and her best friend, Pepper, who claims her herbal teas can work magic.

But just when Willa thinks she’s discovered who the killer is, she finds out that things are not what they seem in Mystic Notch, and the case takes a strange turn that has Willa adding even some of her long-time friends to her suspect list.

Can Willa find the real killer in time to keep the magical balance in Mystic Notch on the side of good, or will evil prevail?

Title: Just The Three Of Us by Lori Schafer
Description: Meet Kathy, a thirty-seven-year-old drifter who’s constantly on the move: to new towns, new jobs, and new relationships. Imagine her surprise when she’s befriended by lifelong friends Sam and Ted, attractive young men who, though ten years her junior, are far more settled than she thinks she’ll ever be. Cheer them on as their three-way friendship succumbs to passion, then passion to romance, and romance to… well, surely it couldn’t be love. Could it?

With a Heat Level of 4+, dialogue that will make you laugh out loud, and a plot to tickle your most sentimental of spots, Just the Three of Us promises an entertaining read for fans of romance looking for a unique take on love and sexuality.

Title: Self Helpless by Rachel Hall
Description: Jenny Peterson is a single, self-help junkie looking for her soul mate. But despite being an expert in self-improvement, her life still seems to be stuck in a rut. Her designer clothing rental business, even with its well-heeled Orange County clientele, is mysteriously losing money. And although it goes against every fiber in her moral makeup, the one guy she pines for happens to be her best friend’s husband. But are her fortunes about to change? A super-cute mystery guy has just recommended a new book, and from the moment she opens the pages of A Better Life, her world is turned upside down in ways that not even Dr Phil could have predicted.

Title: The Rosewood Whistle by Pat McDermott
Description: Surrounded by Ireland’s music and myths, a widowed American writer meets a tour guide leery of love…

On her own at the end of a long and difficult marriage, Gemma Pentrandolfo still hears the critical voice of her husband taunting her from his grave. To foster her independence, she schedules a summer vacation in County Mayo intending to write her first book, and she’s counting on Ireland for inspiration. An idea presents itself when she tours Achill Island with a silver-tongued tour guide whose good looks prompt her to write more than her high-minded novel: she transcribes her years of longing in a steamy fantasy no one is meant to see.

Years have passed since an accident claimed the self-absorbed wife who scorned Ben Connigan and his music. Since then, the former tin whistle ace has avoided marriage, though he never lacked for female companionship before he traded his high-tech career for the slow-paced life of a hometown tour guide. Ben has accepted the end of his run of discreet affairs, until he takes Gemma touring. Her passion for Ireland impresses him. Her love of Irish music soon compels him to dust off his whistles. Knowing she’ll leave at the end of the summer, he sees no harm in keeping her company—until he dares to dream of spending the rest of his life with her.

But he knows it can’t be, not while the ghosts of their partners still haunt them. Not unless the music and myths of Ireland can help them find their way…

Title: Unfinished Business by Carolyn Ridder Aspenson
Description: In UNFINISHED BUSINESS AN ANGELA PANTHER NOVEL, #1 AMAZON bestselling author Carolyn Ridder Aspenson introduces her now trademark blend of witty dialog and hilarious banter in the first book of her hilarious and heartwarming paranormal chick lit, cozy mystery, Angela Panther series.

When Angela Panther's mother Fran Richter wakes her up in the middle of the night ranting about stolen Hershey Bars, Angela thinks her mother's got a screw loose. And then it hits her. Her mother is dead. Just a few hours before, Angela watched as the funeral home staff nearly dropped her mother's body off the gurney while sliding her into the hearse. So maybe she's the one that's nuttier than a fruitcake?

But Fran keeps popping in and with a volcano full of drama already brewing at home—crazy or not—Angela's grateful for her mother's presence.

It's the other ghosts Angela can do without.

Seems Fran's return opened a portal between Angela and the other side and ghosts are hitting up the reluctant psychic medium for help. From the naked British guy juggling balls in the coffee shop parking lot to the woman desperately trying to save her sick child, Angela must find a way to balance her own life with the unfinished business of the dead.

Title: Witch by Tim O’Rourke
Description: Twenty-year-old Sydney Hart has always made mistakes and when she meets Michael Grayson, she soon comes to wonder if she hasn’t made the biggest mistake of her life. That one moment of passion between them causes Sydney’s world to spiral rapidly out of control.

Suffering from nightmares, Sydney soon realises her life and the people closest to her aren’t who or what she believed them to be. Fearing she has been cursed, Sydney attempts to unravel the dark secrets that surround her, and is desperate to discover why a dying man called her ‘Witch’.

A racy, paranormal romance with a chilling twist.

REVIEW: Guilt By Degrees by Marcia Clark

Title: Guilt By Degrees (Rachel Knight #2)
Author: Marcia Clark
Publisher: Mulholland Books
Publication Date: January, 2012
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Buy The Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

Description: Someone has been watching D.A. Rachel Knight--someone who's Rachel's equal in brains, but with more malicious intentions. It began when a near-impossible case fell into Rachel's lap, the suspect-less homicide of a homeless man. In the face of courthouse backbiting and a gauzy web of clues, Rachel is determined to deliver justice. She's got back-up: tough-as-nails Detective Bailey Keller. As Rachel and Bailey stir things up, they're shocked to uncover a connection with the vicious murder of an LAPD cop a year earlier. Something tells Rachel someone knows the truth, someone who'd kill to keep it secret.

Harrowing, smart, and riotously entertaining, GUILT BY DEGREES is a thrilling ride through the world of LA courts with the unforgettable Rachel Knight.

My Thoughts: Guilt By Degrees is the second book in the Rachel Knight series by former L.A. district attorney Marcia Clark. I found this book just as enjoyable as the first book. This story reunites tenacious D.A. Rachel Knight with Detective Bailey Keller on a case that spins a web of deceit and intrigue, revealing dark and sinister layers as they proceed in the investigation.

While awaiting her turn in court, Rachel witnesses a fellow prosecutor drop the ball on his case of a murdered homeless man so badly that she feels compelled to refile it, which is just the tip of the iceberg. When Rachel discovers a connection to the murder of a police officer, the investigation quickly escalates into an intense and frightening ride into the seedy side of L.A. as Rachel and Bailey try to draw out the killer.

This book was a fast read and I thoroughly enjoyed the interactions between Rachel and Bailey. Ms. Clark does a fantastic job with the character development, building the personalities of all of the characters on a personal level, which gives the reader a real sense of knowing the characters and feeling empathy for them. I especially liked that Rachel finally shares some of her past history with Bailey, Toni and Drew and I am excited to see what happens next between Rachel and Graden.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend Guilt By Degrees, but make sure you read the series in order. This series offers action, suspense, mystery, romance and humor. I look forward to joining Rachel and Bailey on their next adventure.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Guilt By Degrees from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Etiquette And Espionage by Gail Carriger

Title: Etiquette and Espionage (Finishing School, #1)
Author: Gail Carriger
Publisher: Hachette, Little, Brown & Company
Publication Date: February, 2013
Genre: Urban Fantasy / Steampunk
Buy The Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

Description: Fourteen-year-old Sophronia is the bane of her mother's existence. Sophronia is more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper etiquette at tea--and god forbid anyone see her atrocious curtsy. Mrs. Temminnick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady. She enrolls Sophronia in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.

But little do Sophronia or her mother know that this is a school where ingenious young girls learn to finish, all right--but it's a different kind of finishing. Mademoiselle Geraldine's certainly trains young ladies in the finer arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but also in the other kinds of finishing: the fine arts of death, diversion, deceit, espionage, and the modern weaponries. Sophronia and her friends are going to have a rousing first year at school.

My Thoughts: Sophronia Temminnick is not your average, run of the mill, fourteen-year-old girl. She has no interest in fashion or boys and could care less about balls, performing the perfect curtsy or dancing. She would much rather dismantle items and climb down dumbwaiters and give her mother as much gray hair as she possibly can. At her wit’s end, Sophronia’s mother sends her off to Mademoiselle Geraldine’s Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality, in the hopes that someone will be able to turn her erstwhile tomboy of a youngest daughter into a lady. Neither Sophronia or her mother realize that this finishing school will teach Sophronia to be a lady, but will also teach her espionage, weapons and how to effectively poison just about anyone.

Etiquette and Espionage is the first book in the Finishing School series and introduces several unique and interesting characters. I really liked Sophronia and felt a lot of empathy for her. She has a quick wit and a strong mind and doesn’t hesitate to stretch the rules, or outright break them, to serve the greater good. Sophronia’s friends, Dimity, Vieve and Soap, were also interesting characters that hopefully will make appearances throughout the series. I also enjoyed the paranormal aspect of this story with characters Professor Braithwope, a vampire and Captain Niall, a werewolf who wears a top hat, even in wolf form. I especially liked Sophronia’s mechanical sausage dog, Bumbersnoot, who consumes coal and emits steam.

My Final Verdict: I enjoyed Etiquette and Espionage for the interesting storyline and tongue in cheek humor with the historical setting and steampunk surroundings. I am curious to see how Sophronia and her friends evolve into ladies and spies.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Etiquette and Espionage from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

New Additions To The TBR Pile In January

Title: Collecting Isobelle by L.L. Muir
Description: Being buried alive taught her nothing...

Believing that true love can never be hers, Isobelle plunges herself into danger, yet again, for the sake of desperate lovers. But this time, the man who condemns her is much more powerful than any priest, and it is not her death he seeks, but something she considers much worse.

He knows when someone is lying--unless it is himself...

Gaspar is content to hide behind the mask of God’s Dragon until a fiery Scotswoman bursts into his life. He believes his thick scales can protect him while he bends her to his will, but he is sorely mistaken.

And he’s not the only one determined to collect Isobelle...

Title: Dirty Little Secret by Willow Sanders
Description: Who is the girl with the red-soled shoe? A Cinderella she certainly isn't!

A self-proclaimed nerd, twenty four year old Hillary Sloan isn’t the helpless damsel in anyone’s fairy tale. An Ivy League graduate who is hoping to get noticed as she works her way up the corporate ladder, she’s desperate to keep her alcohol fueled night of bad decisions under wraps.

But, what about the DJ?

Bert “DJ XTC” Morder was on the air at his overnight radio job when an old friend called him and asked to use the bathroom. He had a thing for high-heeled shoes, especially those fancy ones with the red soles Hillary was wearing. A little flirting, a kiss or ten and suddenly the pair found themselves smack dab in the middle of a scandal of epic proportions.

How long can their dirty little secret stay under wraps? Hillary and Bert would have loved to keep their tawdry little romp strictly between friends, but there’s the unfortunate incident of the studio’s live stream they have to contend with. Now, all of Chicago is wondering exactly who the girl in the red-soled shoes had been. What other secrets are they hiding, and what will happen when Hillary’s dirty little secret gets exposed?

Title: Divorcees.Biz by Eileen Thornton
Description: Despite their different personalities, Connie, Sadie, Jenny, and Lucy have been friends for years.

Frustrated that they may never find ‘Mr. Right’, these four, thirty-something, divorced women decide to set up an online dating agency with a difference: it’s for divorcees only. But will this be the answer to their problems? Or the beginning of a whole lot more?

And with so many delicious men to choose from, who will be the first to find their ‘Mr. Right’.

Title: Marry Me For Money by Mia Kayla
Description: Leaving her small town behind, Bethany Casse moves to Chicago in search of a new life. Working at a top financial bank brings her into contact with two men who are as different as night and day.

Kent Plack, heir to Plack Industries, has no interest in being with a woman for longer than one night. A spoiled and lazy man-whore, he is completely content with his playboy lifestyle, and Beth is surprised when they form an unlikely friendship.

Brian Benson, a finance banker, is gorgeous and respectful. A man plucked from Beth’s dreams, he is definite husband material. Unfortunately, Beth has a hard rule against dating coworkers, but Brian is determined to change her mind.

When a deadbeat mother and money problems follow her to Chicago, Beth is offered a solution that could fix everything. Marrying for money seems simple enough, but when lines become blurred, Beth faces difficult choices, making her realize that the easy way out just made her life even harder than before.

Title: Not Without Juliet by L.L. Muir
Description: She will let nothing stop her...

Juliet Bell has a hit man, the FBI, a long-lost sister, and a handful of handsome Highlanders hunting her through time. But she's not going back until she gets what's hers. And her hunters won't go back either--not without Juliet.

He's had a change of heart...

Quinn's timing stinks. He's about to die a martyr, which would have been fine with him a year before, but 15th century Scotland has revived his survival instincts and he's decided he wants to live after all. His only hope? Making one of his foes believe Quinn can control the future.

An enemy they never saw coming...

Juliet and Quinn are thrown together, whether by the hands of Fate or a pair of clever witches, and they find love lends a much nobler purpose to their impossible quests. But they'll have to maneuver around a centuries-old curse and a villain with a higher purpose of his own--or everything they want will be out of their hands forever.

Title: Rosie’s Little Café On The Riviera by Jennifer Bohnet
Description: A summer of taking chances!

Rosie Hewitt’s dream of opening a little French café on the Riviera is finally coming true. She’s giving up on love and instead chasing her own perfect recipe for happiness…

Only, she never expected the oh-so-sexy, award-winning chef, Sebastian Groc, to set up his restaurant next door – or for his freshly-baked croissants to smell quite so delicious.

But with just a few days until she opens her doors and all her sugar-coated dreams crumbling around her, Rosie isn’t prepared to give up without a fight!

Title: The Beachside Sweet Shop by Karen Clarke
Description: Chocolate fudge, butterscotch and raspberry bonbons… treat yourself to some sugary treats, a big slice of friendship and a sprinkling of romance at The Beachside Sweet Shop.

When Marnie Appleton inherited a sweet shop from her grandfather she was determined to do his legacy proud. The shop has been a much-loved feature of the little seaside town of Shipley for years, but now Marnie needs to bring it up to date, and she’s recruited gorgeous new assistant Josh to help.

Marnie gets busy redecorating the shop and choosing delicious new sweets to stock, but things are never that simple: new neighbor Isobel, a fame-hungry blogger, is on a crusade against sugar, and she’ll go to any lengths to secure bad publicity for Marnie’s shop.

Marnie fights back with homemade sugar-free treats, but with her best friend Beth heavily pregnant, her grandmother Celia recovering from an operation, and her very recently ex-boyfriend Alex returning to Shipley with a new love, Marnie has a lot on her plate.

And then there’s Josh, with whom Marnie is struggling to keep her relationship strictly professional…Will both the sweet shop and love flourish?

Title: The Difference Between You & Me by Celia Hayes
Description: Can stepping out of your comfort zone lead you to ultimate happiness?

Trudy Watts has everything she's ever dreamed of: a job that she loves, a successful boyfriend and an ultra-modern apartment in one of the most fashionable parts of London. With a long-awaited promotion due to come her way and her wedding just around the corner, Trudy's life is just perfect...

That is until catastrophe strikes and her life is turned upside down. She's transferred to Turriff, a remote Scottish town to manage a small, struggling bank branch.

Her arrival is traumatic and she wishes she was anywhere but here... Until she sees him – Ethan, the charming pub landlord, who seems to enjoy nothing more than to tease her. And it's right there, in that pub, that her life will suddenly change...

Title: The One by John Marrs
Description: How far would you go to find THE ONE?

One simple mouth swab is all it takes.

One tiny DNA test to find your perfect partner - the one you're genetically made for.

A decade after scientists discover everyone has a gene they share with just one person, millions have taken the test, desperate to find true love.

Now, five more people take the test. But even soul mates have secrets. And some are more shocking - and deadlier - than others...

A psychological thriller with a difference, this is a truly unique novel which is guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat.

REVIEW: Unbreakable by Kami Garcia

Title: Unbreakable (The Legion #1)
Author: Kami Garcia
Publisher: Little, Brown Books
Publication Date: October, 2013
Genre: Urban Fantasy / Young Adult
Buy The Book: Amazon | Audible | Barnes & Noble

Description: Supernatural meets The Da Vinci Code in this action-packed paranormal thriller, the first book in a new series from New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia.

I never believed in ghosts. Until one tried to kill me.

When Kennedy Waters finds her mother dead, her world begins to unravel. She doesn’t know that paranormal forces in a much darker world are the ones pulling the strings. Not until identical twins Jared and Lukas Lockhart break into Kennedy’s room and destroy a dangerous spirit sent to kill her. The brothers reveal that her mother was part of an ancient secret society responsible for protecting the world from a vengeful demon — a society whose five members were all murdered on the same night.

Now Kennedy has to take her mother’s place in the Legion if she wants to uncover the truth and stay alive. Along with new Legion members Priest and Alara, the teens race to find the only weapon that might be able to destroy the demon — battling the deadly spirits he controls every step of the way.

Suspense, romance, and the paranormal meet in this chilling urban fantasy, the first book in a new series from Kami Garcia, bestselling coauthor of the Beautiful Creatures novels.

My Thoughts: If I had to summarize my thoughts and feelings for Unbreakable by new to me author, Kami Garcia, into only one word, that word would be WOW! This story immediately grabbed me by the neck and ankles, dragged me in and wouldn’t let go. Upon finishing this story, the primary questions filling my mind are:

1. Where has this author been?
2. Why have I never read anything by this amazing author before now?
3. Why do I not have the second book in this series already residing on my Kindle?

I loved Kennedy and immediately felt a connection to this character. She’s a strong character and she has an old soul, despite her teenage chronology. Kennedy has to learn very quickly how to stand on her own two feet and survive in a world filled with evil demons and vengeance spirits determined to kill her. This story introduces four other equally amazing characters; twins Jared and Lukas, Alara and Priest. These characters make up The Legion, a secret society committed to protecting the world from a demon, who is hell-bent on killing them all. Members of their families were all murdered on the same night as Kennedy’s mother and when the demon tries to murder Kennedy in her sleep, she meets Jared and Lukas when they break into her home and save her life. Now all five are in a race against time to find the weapon they believe will destroy the demon once and for all, if they can survive that long.

This story gets high marks for intensity. The author does a brilliant job of illustrating the intensity to give the reader a very real sense of what the characters are feeling and experiencing. There is a very suspenseful scene in a well and another with an electric chair that had me on the edge of my seat feeling my blood pressure rising. This story also gets high marks for the character development. All of the characters demonstrate unique and interesting personalities that drew me to them. I also enjoyed the spark of romance…I mean really; you got to have some romance amongst all the death, destruction, murder and mayhem, right? The struggle for me is who I want to see Kennedy with more, Jared or Lukas. I need the next book, like yesterday, so I can find out what happens next!

My Final Verdict: If you have never read anything in the young adult or urban fantasy genre, Unbreakable is an excellent choice to begin with. Be prepared for a major cliff-hanger at the end, however. I highly recommend this story and encourage you to have the second book on hand so you can get right on it and find out what happens next!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Unbreakable from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Hopelessly Devoted To You by Jill Steeples

Title: Hopelessly Devoted To You
Author: Jill Steeples
Publisher: Carina UK
Publication Date: August, 2014
Genre: Chick-Lit
Buy The Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Description: Meet Ruby’s fiancé, Finn. He’s gorgeous, thoughtful, successful and adoring – pretty much everything anyone could ever want in a man. In fact, he’s perfect. The catch? He’s just not perfect for her. But when Ruby finally plucks up the courage to come clean, Finn’s so furious that he misses his footing as he runs down the stairs – and suddenly, it’s not just his heart that’s broken!

When Finn wakes up, he can’t remember a thing. Not that Ruby dumped him – not even that they were ever engaged! It’s on the tip of Ruby’s tongue to come clean, but somehow, it never seems to be the right time... And as the weeks pass, she sees a new side to Finn. Arrogant and a shameless flirt, he’s irresistibly bad, and the chemistry between them is explosive!

It’s not that Ruby’s lying… she’s just withholding the truth. And seeing as things are going so well, perhaps there’s no need for Finn to have his memory jogged… The trouble is, there’s every chance that Finn might remember for himself!

My Thoughts: Hopelessly Devoted To You by new to me author Jill Steeples is a cute and entertaining story about a woman named Ruby who is at a cross-roads in her life. She and her long-term boyfriend, Finn, are due to get married in a few months and Ruby has come to the realization that she doesn’t love him the way a woman marrying a man should. She decides to tell Finn the truth and as one can expect, he does not take the news well. As he is leaving Ruby’s flat, he mis-steps and plunges down the stairs. After several weeks in a coma, Finn awakens but does not remember anything; especially that Ruby and he broke up or were even getting married in the first place. That’s not all that’s changed. Finn now speaks with an Australian accent and his personality has undergone a change as well. He is like a whole new man and one that Ruby finds herself drawn to in and out of the bedroom. Ruby fully intends to tell Finn the truth but the timing never seems right and she is constantly worried that his memory will come back suddenly before she has had the chance to tell him what happened that night and that she was wrong and that she is hopelessly, head-over-heels, in love with him.

I believe honesty is the best policy in any relationship and without it, the relationship cannot survive. I felt bad for Ruby for the predicament she finds herself in though, for the life of me, I couldn’t understand why she let it go on so long. The writer does a wonderful job conveying the fear and anxiety Ruby feels after Finn’s accident, I felt like I was on pins and needles with her. Will Finn’s memory come back? If so, how will he react to what happened? Does their relationship stand a chance of weathering this storm? I was plagued with my own anxiety while reading this. I had a little difficulty warming up to the new Finn that emerged when he woke up. He was more arrogant than before and seemed more moody and insensitive towards his parents, which rubbed me the wrong way. My first thought was that Ruby made the right decision and should just tell him right then that the wedding was off and be done with it. Like Ruby, the more time spent it Finn’s company, the more interesting he seemed. He demonstrated more life and passion for things he hadn’t before. He didn’t seem to be so consumed with work and showed no interest in rushing back to the law firm, where he had made partner. He lost his “neat-freak” tendencies and brought a scraggly, dirty mutt home, much to Ruby’s shock and dismay. The more of the new Finn I saw, the more intrigued I was and couldn’t put the book down because I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen next, though it may not be happy. I really like this author’s voice and the life she breathes into the characters and their lives. Her writing style is fun and flirty and tugs on the feminine heart-strings. This book will provide many hours of entertainment and delight.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this book if you enjoy chick-lit or women’s fiction or enjoy fun stories that deliver many unexpected twists. I don’t know how this author and her writing slipped by me, but I will be on the hunt for more by Ms. Steeples. If you are a book hoarder, like me, and you have any of her titles buried in your to be read pile or on your Kindle, dig those babies out and get them read!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Hopelessly Devoted To You from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Virgin by Radhika Sanghani

Title: Virgin
Author: Radhika Sanghani
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: August, 2014
Genre: Chick-Lit
Buy The Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

Description: Okay, I admit it…I didn’t do it.

Yet.

This is normal, right? I mean, just because everyone I know has talked like they’ve already done it doesn’t mean that they’re telling the truth…right?

It’s not like I’m asking for that much. I don’t need the perfect guy. I don’t need candlelight or roses. Honestly, I don’t even need a real bed.

The guys I know complain that girls are always looking for Mr. Right—do I have to wear a sign that says I’m only looking for Mr. Right Now?

Sooooo…anyone out there want sex? Anyone? Hello? Just for fun?

I am not going to die a virgin. One way or another I am going to make this happen.

Hey, what have I got to lose? Besides the obvious.

My Thoughts: Hysterically funny, Virgin, by new to me author Radhika Sanghani, delivers a story that introduces us to Ellie, a twenty-one year old virgin who is desperate to remedy that situation. Her journey along the way dealing with issues like waxing pubes, oral sex without biting, STD’s, and the proper kissing techniques are just some of the side-stitch producing belly laughs I got to experience while reading. We can all relate to Ellie, whether we are still virgins or not. We have all been where she is, at some point in our lives. What she and the rest of us have learned afterward is that virginity should be viewed as a gift, not a curse.

I found the characters easy to relate to and the story very funny as well as poignant. I did feel a little sad for Ellie after she learns some painful truths about herself and her chosen partner and the mistakes she makes along the way. But, once again, we have all been where she is, it’s all part of the growing up process in life. What I really liked about Ellie is that she doesn’t let fear or heartbreak stop her from chasing her dreams and I couldn’t help but cheer for her. I loved her friend, Emma, who turns out to be a strong ally for Ellie and her quest. Ellie’s best friend, Lara, took a while to appeal to me. I won’t tell you why because you need to read the book to find out. I thought Jack was an OK character, if not a little typical typecast as the potential partner for Ellie’s journey.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this was a fantastic story that had me laughing out loud no matter where I happened to be reading. I recommend this story to everyone, whether or not you are sexually active is irrelevant. This story is not about getting laid. It’s about a woman’s journey to find the acceptance she feels she is missing in her life, only to learn she has to accept herself first. I look forward to reading more by this talented author.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Virgin from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Guilt By Association by Marcia Clark

Title: Guilt By Association (Rachel Knight, #1)
Author: Marcia Clark
Publisher: Mulholland Books
Publication Date: April, 2011
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Buy The Book: Amazon | Audible | Barnes & Noble

Description: Los Angeles D.A. Rachel Knight is a tenacious, wise-cracking, and fiercely intelligent prosecutor in the city's most elite division. When her colleague, Jake, is found dead at a grisly crime scene, Rachel is shaken to the core. She must take over his toughest case: the assault of a young woman from a prominent family.

But she can't stop herself from digging deeper into Jake's death, a decision that exposes a world of power and violence and will have her risking her reputation--and her life--to find the truth.

With her tremendous expertise in the nuances of L.A. courts and crime, and with a vibrant ensemble cast of characters, Marcia Clark combines intimate detail, riotous humor, and visceral action in a debut thriller that marks the launch of a major new figure on the crime-writing scene.

My Thoughts: I was not sure what to expect when I started reading Guilt By Association. My memories of Marcia Clark extended solely as the prosecutor on the O.J. Simpson murder trial. I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the writing, the vibrant characters and the intriguing story. I liked Rachel and Bailey immediately. Their friendship and working partnership is intermixed with snark, sarcasm and humor as they work to solve the mysterious death of their friend and colleague, Jake.

Ms. Clark does a brilliant job of weaving an intricate plot that held my interest while making the events relevant to the plot and not overly obvious so the end still held an element of surprise. The characters are easy to relate to and brought to life so realistically, the reader gets a sense of being around them and interacting with them.

My Final Verdict: Guilt By Association is my first Marcia Clark novel but it won’t be my last. I am looking forward to reading more by this talented author and getting to know Rachel and her friends better. I highly recommend this story to anyone who enjoys thrillers and mysteries without taking the drama too seriously while enjoying some humor mixed in.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Guilt By Association from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Honorable Mentions of 2016

For the books that didn't make the top reads list for the year, I want to give an honorable mention to the titles I read in 2016 that didn't make the cut for the best but were still good reads and recommended:

The Love List by Eve Devon
Difficult Husbands by Mary de Laszlo
A Christmas In Disguise by Katie Fforde

Annual Reading Review - 2016

Another year has come and gone and the best part of the reading year is upon me as I get to look back and evaluate what I read and how my stats measured up. Though I gave up on fewer books in 2016, 2 compared to 10 in 2015, I was unable to come close to meeting my goal. I began the year with a goal of 60 books, but it was lowered to 30. I read 23 books, which is a 77% completion rate.

Goal for 2017: 50 books.

There were not any noteworthy changes to my reading in 2016 except for the sheer lack of productivity. Review requests continue to dominate my reading pile and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future as I work towards getting caught up.

Overall, 2016 saw Chick-Lit and Mystery / Suspense / Thriller and Young Adult drop by over half. However, Erotica doubled, Paranormal Romance dropped by half and Historical Romance remained the same. New for 2016 was the addition of a memoir. I was fortunate to include 3 Christmas themed Chick Lit books for the holiday season. There was a complete absence of Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, Urban Fantasy and General Fiction. Here's how 2016 stacked up:

Chick-Lit: 13
Erotica: 2
Historical Romance: 2
Memoir / Biography: 1
Mystery / Suspense / Thriller: 3
Paranormal Romance: 1
Young Adult: 1

A big shout out to the authors who were new to me and the authors that made multiple appearances in my reading year:

New To Me Authors In 2016
Kat Bastion
Betsy J. Bennett
Abby Clements
Vonnie Davis
Mary De Laszlo
Eve Devon
Katie Fforde
Kate Flora
Ellen Hawley
Charlotte V. Howard
Ashlyn Macnamara
Alexandra Petri
Nick Spalding
Samantha Tonge

Authors Read Multiple Times In 2016
Ashlyn Macnamara


My selection for the best reads of 2016 in the order they were read are:
Bella’s Christmas Bake Off by Sue Watson
Santa Takes A Wife by Betsy J. Bennett
Obsession In Death by J.D. Robb
No Weddings by Kat Bastion
Worst Case by James Patterson
Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
A Highlander’s Obsession by Vonnie Davis
What A Lady Craves by Ashlyn Macnamara
Fat Chance by Nick Spalding
What A Lady Demands by Ashlyn Macnamara
All Shook Up by Chelsey Krause
Twitter Girl by Nic Tatano
The Black Door by Charlotte V. Howard
One Night In New Delhi by Kemberlee Shortland
Love Is A Four-Legged Word by Michele Gorman
Mistletoe Mansion by Samantha Tonge

Here's hoping 2017 will be a more productive year!

New Arrivals To The TBR Pile In December

Title: A Very Merry Manhattan Christmas by Darcie Boleyn
Description: Lucie Quigley hates Christmas. It’s the time of year when everything goes wrong in her life. So this year, when she’s asked to be a bridesmaid at her friend Petra’s Manhattan wedding, she jumps at the invitation to escape the festivities.

Dale Treharne has been best friends with Lucie for as long as he can remember. He’s used to looking out for his oldest friend and when she asks him to be her plus one, he can’t seem to find a reason to refuse. Instead, he sees it as a way to help Lucie get through what is, for her, the most miserable time of the year.

In New York, as the snow starts to fall, Lucie and Dale start to realise that their feelings run deeper than just friendship. But can they overcome their pasts, and make it a very merry Manhattan Christmas?

Title: My Fairy Godmother Must Be On Strike by Rebecca Moisio
Description: As it turns out, challenges can often reveal the greatest opportunities.

Ada Lee was perfectly content just being herself. Yes, was – then her boyfriend David suddenly got sick of her and broke off their relationship. To make things worse, the break-up was anything but graceful. Poor Ada overheard David trashing her to a “frenemy”, saying she had put on weight, become socially awkward, and was all-in-all incompetent at life. Ouch!

What band-aid could possibly heal this ailing heart? Ada's friends think they have the magic cure and quickly swoop into action to help Ada patch her broken spirit with a beautiful exterior. Ada's new makeover boosts her confidence to new heights as her friends encourage her to focus on the superficial and lose weight, dabble in make-up, obtain a new fashion sense (or get one, period), and touch up her social skills.

Ada's new look turns heads and brings in all the attention she could ever want. So why does Ada feel strangely empty? Sometimes the most obvious things are the most difficult to see, and Ada may miss an important opportunity right under her nose. As she finds out, her new glitz and glamor have blinded her, and she is about to miss life-changing opportunities and hurt those she loves. Will she be able to get back to what really matters and fix things before it is too late?

Title: Rome Is Where The Heart Is by Tilly Tennant
Description: Can a holiday romance ever have a happy ending? Escape with Kate to the sun-drenched city of Rome where a love affair is just about to begin …
When Kate’s husband Matt dumps her on Friday 13th she decides enough is enough – it’s time for her to have some fun and so she hops on a plane to Rome. A week of grappa and gelato in pavement cafes under azure blue skies will be just what the doctor ordered.

What she doesn’t count on is meeting and falling for sexy policeman Alessandro. But the course of true love doesn’t run smoothly – Alessandro has five meddling sisters, a fearsome mama and a beautiful ex Orazia. They’re all certain that Kate is not the girl for him.

Can Kate and Alessandro’s love last the distance? Or will she return home with the one souvenir she doesn’t want – a broken heart …

Fall in love with the colorful cafes and the cobbled piazzas of Rome and follow Kate’s dreams and her heart in this enchanting escapist read.

Title: The Good Girlfriend’s Guide To Getting Even by Anna Bell
Description: When Lexi's sport-mad boyfriend Will skips her friend's wedding to watch football - after pretending to have food poisoning - it might just be the final whistle for their relationship.

But fed up of just getting mad, Lexi decides to even the score. And, when a couple of lost tickets and an 'accidentally' broken television lead to them spending extra time together, she's delighted to realize that revenge might be the best thing that's happened to their relationship.

And if her clever acts of sabotage prove to be a popular subject for her blog, what harm can that do? It's not as if he'll ever find out . . .

Title: Wicked Days by Lily Harper Hart
Description: Ivy Morgan is happy with who she is, and what she can do. She certainly doesn’t need to second guess her life, or her witchy ways ... that is until Shadow Lake’s newest police detective enters her life.

Jack Harker is haunted by a past he refuses to talk about, and he’s not looking forward to a future with anyone – especially a sassy witch with boundary issues. Jack and Ivy find their paths crossing on a regular basis when a dead body is discovered on the edge of Ivy’s property. Jack doesn’t want any romantic entanglements, but there’s just something about Ivy that keeps drawing him in. When the truth is finally revealed, Jack has to decide what he believes – and he has to do it before a murderer turns his attention to Ivy.

Can Ivy heal Jack’s wounds? Will she even get a chance to try?

REVIEW: Mistletoe Mansion by Samantha Tonge

Title: Mistletoe Mansion
Author: Samantha Tonge
Publisher: Carina Press
Publication Date: November, 2014
Genre: Chick-Lit
Buy The Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Description: Kimmy Jones has three loves: cupcakes, gossip magazines and dreaming of getting fit just by owning celeb workouts.

When Kimmy's Sensible Boyfriend told her he didn't approve of her longing for the high life or her dream of starting a cupcake company Kimmy thought she could compromise – after all, she did return those five-inch Paris Hilton heels! But asking her to trade in cake-making for a job sorting potatoes is a step too far.

So, newly single - and newly homeless – Kimmy needs a dusting of Christmas luck. And, masquerading as a professional house sitter, her new temporary home is the stunning Mistletoe Mansion. Soon she’s best buds with glamorous next door golf WAG Melissa, and orders are pouring in for her fabulous Merry Berry cupcakes! The only thorn in her side is handsome handyman Luke, a distraction she definitely doesn't need. And talking of distractions, something very odd is going on at night…

Kimmy is finally living the life she’s always wanted. But will her glimpse into the glittering lifestyle of the rich and famous be as glamorous as she’s always imagined?

My Thoughts: Mistletoe Mansion by new to me author Samantha Tonge delivers a cute and entertaining story about a woman who has big dreams and a big heart. Unfortunately, her dreams don’t match those of her boyfriend, Adam. He drops the ultimate ultimatum on her…give up her dreams of starting her own cupcake business and get a dreadful and boring full time job or they are finished. Now, single and homeless, Kimmy and her best friend, Jess, also newly homeless, take a job housesitting at Mistletoe Mansion until it sells. Neither one of them has any experience or has a clue what they are doing but they manage to pull it off and make it work.

The secondary characters of Melissa, Luke and Terry bring so much texture to this story. The author brings all of these characters to life with unique personalities that the reader gets a real sense of who they are and feels a connection with all of them. Adding to the mix are the strange goings-on at Mistletoe Mansion…Christmas music being played by nobody…smoke coming in under doorways…it has driven off several previous house sitters but Kimmy is determined to do a good job and stay on until the place sells…paranormal spookiness or not! There are quite a few twists and surprises in this story that I was not expecting but really enjoyed.

My Final Verdict: Mistletoe Mansion was a very good choice for my Christmas holiday reading list. I recommend this story to anyone who enjoys Christmas themes, romance, fun and a little bit of paranormal on the side. I have a few other titles by this author that I am very much anticipating reading.

REVIEW: The Christmas Bake-Off by Abby Clements

Title: The Christmas Bake-Off
Author: Abby Clements
Publisher: Quercus
Publication Date: November, 2012
Genre: Chick-Lit
Buy The Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Description: With Christmas just around the corner, the residents of Skipley village are gearing up for the annual bake off, and tensions are high.

Winning means a lot to everyone involved - talented cake-shop owner Katie dreams of baking stardom, Rachel wants to prove she's more than a stay-at-home mum, and John hopes his culinary skills will impress the woman he loves.

But when the judges discover that some cakes have been tampered with, the villagers' loyalties are called into question - whose ambition would stretch to sabotage, and why?

The Christmas Bake-Off is an exclusive short story from Abby Clements, author of Meet Me Under the Mistletoe.

My Thoughts: Very short, very fast Christmas story about the annual Christmas bake-off in Skipley village. The story was too short to feel a real connection to any of the characters and just when things started to get interesting with the revelation of the tampering, the story was over. If you are looking for something short and fast that can be read in one sitting, this would be a good choice for the holiday reading pile. If you prefer your stories to have more substance, depth and a connection to the characters, you may want to look for something else.

REVIEW: A Christmas In Disguise by Katie Fforde

Title: A Christmas In Disguise
Author: Katie Fforde
Publisher: Cornerstone Digital
Publication Date: November, 2015
Genre: Chick-Lit
Buy The Book: Amazon

Description: When Jo’s friend Andi asks if she’ll stand in to cook Christmas lunch for her employer, Jo reluctantly agrees. She knows Andi will lose her job if she doesn’t, and wants to help out her friend.

Jo is nervous because Andi’s boss is a well-known celebrity diva, who outright refuses to have anyone but Andi cook for her. But she also insists Andi wears full chef's whites so the girls think they’ll get away with it … it’s the perfect Christmas disguise.

But when Jo runs into one of the guests - good looking and very smart Anthony - things get even more complicated…

My Thoughts: Readers looking for a short story with a Christmas romance theme will enjoy A Christmas In Disguise by new to me author Katie Fforde. In order for her friend, Andi, to spend Christmas with her family, Jo agrees to stand in for her to make Christmas dinner for Andi’s employer. The only problem is that Andi’s employer is not very flexible and will not appreciate anyone but Andi cooking the meal. Jo and Andi concoct a plan where Jo will disguise herself as Andi in the hopes that nobody will notice.

This was a cute story that kept me entertained waiting for the other shoe to drop as Jo tries to balance it all and meeting one of the guests, Anthony, was perfect, especially when the reader finds out Jo isn’t the only one pretending to be someone she isn’t. Romance and fun are the perfect recipe for Christmas.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of A Christmas In Disguise from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Love Is A Four-Legged Word by Michele Gorman

Title: Love Is A Four-Legged Word
Author: Michele Gorman
Publisher: Notting Hill Press
Publication Date: October, 2016
Genre: Chick-Lit
Buy The Book: Amazon

Description: Best friends Scarlett and Shannon spend their days tangled up in dog leads and covered in fur, running their dog business together. Scarlett’s intensive training course, Ruff Love, fixes owners as much as their pets, while Shannon spends her days walking spoiled pooches.

They share more than their business though: they also share Scarlett's husband, Rufus, who's been Shannon's best friend since childhood. It's a cozy setup. Unless one of them has a secret...

When Scarlett and Rufus's baby plans are decimated by a surprise turn of events, their marriage hits the rocks and they both turn to Shannon. All three relationships are pushed to breaking point, but when loyalties become divided, how do you decide who's most important?

My Thoughts: Love Is A Four-Legged Word by Michele Gorman offers a light story that perfectly blends romance, fertility and dogs. The story centers on best friends and partners Scarlett and Shannon who run a dog business together. Scarlett is married to Shannon’s best friend, Rufus and Shannon harbors a major crush on “Mr. Darcy,” a man she sees in the park, but lacks courage and confidence to approach him. The business is doing well, with Scarlett providing dog training and Shannon providing dog walking, but Scarlett and Rufus have been struggling to conceive. After several months of trying, they go to a fertility specialist to be tested, but discover their plans aren’t going to develop as they had hoped. The stress puts a major strain on their marriage and thrusts Shannon into the middle.

I really enjoyed this story as I got to know Scarlett, Shannon and Rufus. I got a really good sense of Scarlett’s frustration with the lack of pregnancy and her feelings of anger and resentment towards pregnant women. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting all of Scarlett’s dog training clients, both the four-legged and two-legged ones. The secondary characters bring interesting layers to this story with their own personalities and voices. I felt more connected to Shannon and could relate to the awkwardness she feels and was cheering for her to find her happiness. I especially liked Shannon’s attraction to “Mr. Darcy” and am hopeful there is a story for Shannon in the future.

I wanted to be angry at Rufus for the way he behaved, but I felt sorry for him for the most part. I think his reactions and behavior are quite typical when handed the kind of news he gets and though I wish he had behaved differently, I think he and Scarlett needed a major wakeup call so they could find their way back to each other.

My Final Verdict: If you want hours of entertainment when you read, you can’t go wrong with Michele Gorman. She writes great characters you can easily relate to and care about with storylines that are entertaining, you can get lost in the book for hours. I highly recommend this book for sappy romantics like me looking for a wonderful story as well as people who like their romance mixed in with four-legged characters or characters struggling with everyday issues and sensitive relationship problems.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Love Is A Four-Legged Word from the author in exchange for an honest review.

New Arrivals To The TBR Pile In November

Title: Karma Inc. by Melanie James
Description: Witches, Werebears, and Imps. Oh my!

Waiting for Karma is fine—for the patient. But for the rest of us, it sure would be nice to give Karma a little nudge every once in a while.

Too many dates that turned out to be losers or liars? Have a problem with two-faced backstabbers? And don’t even start with the so-called customer service centers. There comes a day when enough is really, truthfully, enough already. For Kelly and Esmeralda, two snarky single witches, that day was yesterday. After applying their witchcraft to dish out a little magical payback, they realize they have a penchant for the dark art of revenge. And who’s to say a witch can’t make a few bucks with a talent like that?

Doing the odd job was fun and gratifying. Then along came an unusual client with a pitch for an idea, “Karma Inc.-Reality TV.” The witches set up shop in the sleepy little town of Caldron Falls, Wisconsin. By enabling the good citizens to settle old scores, they hoped to transform the town into a virtual coliseum of televised revenge. It didn’t take long before a few inconvenient and unexpected dead bodies began to pile up. To complicate matters, Caldron Falls just happens to have more than its fair share of paranormal creatures, not to mention a Chicago mobster seemingly bent on taking over the town.

Can Esmeralda and Kelly solve the rash of unexplained deaths before they get the blame and end up behind bars? What will Marie Laveau and the Witches Union have to say about this? And as any fool knows, Karma carries a roundtrip ticket.

Title: Lizzie’s Christmas Escape by Christie Barlow
Description: A gorgeous country house hotel, a liberal dusting of snow, a cozy weekend away…what more could Lizzie ask for at Christmas?

Every Christmas Lizzie promises herself that things will change and she will leap into the New Year a new woman. And yet here she is again, at the beginning of December and nothing is different. Her girls have grown up and left home, her husband Henry is slumped in front of the TV and she is alone in the kitchen, seeking refuge in the cooking sherry and talking to her Gary Barlow calendar. She’s also been very diverted by handsome new neighbor Marcus and she knows she shouldn’t be …

So when best friend Ann suggests a weekend away in the country, Lizzie jumps at the chance. Will this Christmas escape give Lizzie some much needed perspective and allow her to mend her marriage? Or will Marcus prove to be too much of a distraction?

A funny feel good festive read about rediscovering the magic of Christmas - just the thing to curl up with on a cold winter’s night.

Title: The Beauty Bride by Claire Delacroix
Description: More cherished than gold are the Jewels of Kinfairlie, and only the worthiest may fight for their love…The Laird of Kinfairlie has unmarried sisters, each a gem in her own right. And he has no choice but to see them all wed in haste.

Lady Madeline’s heart is not for sale…especially not to a notorious outlaw like Rhys FitzHenry. Yet Madeline’s hand has been sold, to none other than this battle-weary warrior with a price on his head. A more dutiful maiden might cede to the Laird’s command and meekly accept her fate, but Madeline has never been obedient. She decides to run away, though she never dreams that Rhys will pursue her.

She does not expect this taciturn man to woo her with fanciful stories, much less that each of his enthralling tales will reveal a scar upon his shielded soul. She never imagines that a man like Rhys could imperil her own heart while revealing so little of his own feelings. When Rhys’ past threatens his future, Madeline takes a leap of faith. She dares to believe him innocent—and risks her own life to pursue a passion more priceless than the rarest gem.

REVIEW: One Night In New Delhi by Kemberlee Shortland

Title: One Night In New Delhi (City Nights #27)
Author: Kemberlee Shortland
Publisher: Tirgearr Publishing
Publication Date: October, 2016
Genre: Erotica
Buy The Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Description: Hannah Maguire and Sudesh Kumar had been lovers in Dublin City, both studying for their degrees in similar areas of Archaeology. What she had treated as a college romance, Hannah realized, as he was leaving Dublin for the job of a lifetime back home in India, was she had lost her heart to him.

Now, five years later, Hannah is working as an archivist in the National Museum in Dublin when she's invited to the National Museum of India in New Delhi to inspect a new and rare artifact found on an archaeological dig.

The last person she expects to see when she enters the museum is Sudesh. She didn’t know where he was, or even if he was still in India, but soon learns he's the one who made the discovery, and had been the one encouraging the museum to invite her onto the project.

On meeting, everything they'd shared washes over Hannah—all of the love and passion, and a heart so broken, she still hadn't recovered. To make things more difficult, it's Deepavali/Diwali and Sudesh has promises to make it a memorable experience.

Will this one night really be one to remember, or will it send Hannah into a tailspin she might not recover from this time?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this culturally rich story about a young Irish woman who finds herself in India to work on an archaeological project with the national museum in India. Hannah has been nursing a broken heart for the last five years when her lover, Sudesh Kumar, left her in Dublin to take a job in India, so it comes as a huge surprise to her when she crosses paths with Sudesh again and learns he is responsible for her invitation to the project.

I really liked Hannah and Sudesh. The emotions they still feel for one another remain strong and, though, it frustrates me to have a big misunderstanding plot, I thought the author handled it perfectly. The characters are both nursing emotional scars and being together again for the first time in five years brings intense reactions. The passion and love they feel for one another have not diminished over the years and neither one is hesitant in expressing themselves, in public or not.

My Final Verdict: The author does an amazing job of creating a setting so rich and vibrant in color, sight and smell, it gives the reader a real sense of being there in the marketplace with Hannah and Sudesh, touching the fabrics, eating the food and hearing the hustle and bustle of the people all around. A big plate of chicken tikka masala and garlic naan would have complemented this story perfectly. I highly recommend One Night In New Delhi if you enjoy traveling to exotic locales in the books you read, want romance between the main characters to be white hot in sensuality and passion and are looking for a good story that features vibrant characters who are easy to connect with and relate to.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of One Night In New Delhi from the author in exchange for an honest review.