REVIEW: The Dream Keeper's Daughter by Emily Colin

Title: The Dream Keeper’s Daughter
Author: Emily Colin
Narrator: Roger Wayne, Emily Woo Zeller
Publisher: Random House Publishing – Ballantine Books
Publication Date: July 2017
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: An archaeologist discovers her presumed-missing boyfriend is trapped more than a hundred years in the past—a love story that transcends time and place, from the author of the New York Times bestseller The Memory Thief.

Eight years after the unsolved disappearance of her boyfriend Max Adair, archaeologist Isabel Griffin has managed to move on and rebuild her life with her young daughter, Finn, her last tie to Max. But after a series of strange incidents, Isabel begins to wonder if Max might still be alive somewhere, trying to communicate with her. She has no idea that the where isn’t the problem—it’s the when. Max has slipped through time and place, landing on his ancestral family plantation in 1816 Barbados, on the eve of a historic slave uprising. As Isabel searches for answers, Max must figure out not only how to survive the violence to come, but how to get back to his own century, the woman he loves, and the daughter he has only ever met in his dreams.

My Thoughts: Shortly after learning his girlfriend is pregnant, Max disappears from Isabel’s life without any warning or explanation. Is he dead? Did he get scared about impending fatherhood and take off? Isabel is used to being abandoned because her mother did the same thing six years prior.

Now, eight years later, having raised a daughter practically on her own, working on her relationship with her father and the prospect of a new romance on the horizon, Isabel is on an archaeological dig in Barbados when she gets a phone call…from Max. At least the caller ID says it’s Max, but when she tries to call him back, as she has done many times over the years, the phone number has been disconnected and is no longer in service. Strangely enough, Isabel’s daughter, Finn, is claiming to have seen her father and has talked to him.

After following what appears to be the ghost of his ancestor into the woods behind his home, Max finds himself in Barbados in the year 1816 mere days before a slave rebellion breaks out. Max is appalled at the treatment he witnesses the slaves receiving and has enough knowledge of this crucial event to want to try to stop it, but he risks drawing the wrong kind of attention from both the slaves and the plantation owners.

I really enjoyed the historical background of the Bussa Rebellion as a backdrop for this story and felt a lot of anxiety for Max and the characters on both sides of the rebellion. I was also in high anticipation of whether Max would make it home and if so, what kind of reception he would receive.

I paired the reading of this book with the audiobook format narrated by Roger Wayne and Emily Woo Zeller. I found their performances to be realistic, portraying the character’s personalities accurately. The characters were believable and their actions were appropriate for the situations they were in. I liked all of the characters, but especially Max’s daughter, Finn. I also liked how the author illustrates the time paradigm in this story. When Max first left, Isabel was pregnant and now Finn is eight, but for Max, he has only been gone several weeks.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this was a very good story with a moderate pace that is told in both Isabel and Max’s points of view. There were some unexpected twists in the story that I didn’t anticipate that left me unsettled and though it didn’t alter my enjoyment of the story, I would very much enjoy seeing a sequel to see how Max, Isabel and Finn move forward.

I recommend this book to readers who like time travel, real historical events woven into the story and romance.

Thank you to the publisher, Random House Publishing – Ballantine Books, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: The Difference Between You & Me by Celia Hayes

Title: The Difference Between You & Me
Author: Celia Hayes
Publisher: Aria
Publication Date: March 2017
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy the Book: Amazon | Audible

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...

My Thoughts: Upon meeting Trudy initially, she comes across as someone who is hard to get to know; she has her guard up and appears to be standoffish. After getting to know her, I learned that she is someone who is very career driven and has to work very hard to get to where she is at.

After her wedding plans go up in smoke and a night of drowning her sorrows in a bottle, she learns that she drunkenly applied for a temporary position in the bank at a branch in a very remote village in Scotland. The kind of village where shopping malls, movie theaters and a decent Wi-Fi signal are hard to find. Coming from London, it is a huge culture shock of sorts for Trudy. Along with this, her temporary position requires her to determine if this branch has any viability and is worth keeping or if it should be sold, which would mean a loss of employment for those working there. It would be a massive understatement to say that her arrival is not met with enthusiasm.

On the flip side, Ethan was very likable and easy to relate to immediately. Though he and Trudy butt heads and clash at every turn, he seems to enjoy it and often seeks her out, much to Trudy’s irritation. Trudy’s assignment is for six months and she seems to spend most of her time anxious for her return to London but I really loved how the more resistant she is, the more the town and the people in it grew on her.

I really enjoyed this story, especially when Trudy starts making a real effort to not only get to know the people she works with and other villagers but also coming up with ways to save the bank branch. The atmosphere of the village was quaint and though Trudy feels like a fish out of water, the charm is hard to ignore.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this was a very enjoyable story that I highly recommend to readers who enjoy contemporary romances and women’s fiction. I also recommend this story to readers who enjoy remote locations and the slower pace of small communities.

Thank you to the publisher, Aria, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: The One by John Marrs

Title: The One
Author: John Marrs
Narrator: Clare Corbett, Vicki Hall, Simon Bubb, Jot Davies, Sophie Aldred
Publisher: Penguin Random House UK
Publication Date: May 2017
Genre: Thriller
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: How far would you go to find The One?

A simple DNA test is all it takes. Just a quick mouth swab and soon you’ll be matched with your perfect partner the one you are genetically made for.

That’s the promise made by Match Your DNA. A decade ago, the company announced that they had found the gene that pairs each of us with our soul mate. Since then, millions of people around the world have been matched. But the discovery has its downsides: test results have led to the breakup of countless relationships and upended the traditional ideas of dating, romance and love.

Now five very different people have received the notification that they’ve been “Matched.” They’re each about to meet their one true love. But “happily ever after” isn’t guaranteed for everyone. Because even soul mates have secrets. And some are more shocking than others…

A word-of-mouth hit in the United Kingdom, The One is a fascinating novel that shows how even the simplest discoveries can have complicated consequences.

My Thoughts: Prior to starting this novel, I had heard a lot of praise for this book and for the author so I had very high expectations going in. This book and the author lived up to everything I had heard. I loved the concept that there is someone for everyone out there; someone who is your genetic match, your other half. I loved that upon meeting this individual, most people will feel an immediate connection even if the identity of their match comes as a shock or a surprise.

This story follows the lives of five individuals and how their lives are impacted upon taking the test. Ellie, Nick, Mandy, Jade and Christopher are all about to find out what happens when they get the very best or the very worst news of their lives. Tagging along with each character as they explore this alternate avenue of finding the one kept me on pins and needles.

Normally, a story with this many central characters would be an undertaking to keep straight but the author’s writing style flows seamlessly between the characters. The chapters are very short and alternate and rotate through each character’s point of view. This made the story easy to follow and easy to keep track of who is who.

I paired the reading of this book with the audio format. The narration was performed by five narrators, Clare Corbett, Vicki Hall, Simon Bubb, Jot Davies and Sophie Aldred, which I thought was brilliant. Each narrator performed one of the central characters so hearing their point of view in a different voice was quite enjoyable. Each narrator brought a different emotion and personality to their performance so the characters felt solid without feeling like cardboard. Additionally, each character’s personal experience and situation were vastly different so I didn’t feel like I had to pick a favorite. This helped me connect with all five characters, keeping me engaged in their lives and very curious and in high anticipation how it would all play out.

This story was simply amazing. There are so many twisty bits and jaw dropping moments with all of the characters. Just when I got my bearings settled after one bomb, the next chapter and character throws another in my lap. This story left me feeling breathless, shocked, surprised, scared, amused and sad. This story also teaches that relationships are never easy and there is no guarantee of a happy ever after in life, DNA match or not.

My Final Verdict: After reading this book, all I want to do is pick up another one by this author. I wonder if this is how drug addicts feel after the best high of their lives and needing another fix. I want to read everything this author has written, including his shopping list. Fortunately, he has an extensive backlist for me to dive into.

I highly recommend this book to readers who love stories that twist them around like they are on a roller coaster and unable to catch their breath. I highly recommend this book to readers who love stories that have characters who are easy to connect with but will surprise you. Lastly, I highly recommend this book to readers who love stories that will shock them, surprise them, and leave them wanting more.

Thank you to the publisher, Penguin Random House UK, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: A Wedding in Italy by Tilly Tennant

Title: A Wedding in Italy (From Italy With Love #2)
Author: Tilly Tennant
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: April 2017
Genre: Chick-Lit / Contemporary Romance
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Sun, spaghetti and sparkling prosecco. When it comes to finding love, there’s no place like Rome...

Kate is living the dream with her gorgeous boyfriend Alessandro in his native city, but the reality is sometimes a little less romantic than she’d hoped. Every day in her new home is a fight against leaking pipes, her cantankerous landlord and her less-than-perfect grasp of the Italian lingo.

All around her there is talk of weddings, but when a secret from her past is thrust out into the open, Kate must fight to prove to Alessandro’s Mamma – and the rest of his formidable family – that she truly is Italian marriage material.

With the women in Alessandro’s life on a mission to break them apart, the cracks begin to show and Kate starts to question if Alessandro really is the man of her dreams. Can love and the city of romance conquer all, or is that just a fairy-tale?

Let Rome steal your heart this summer in this gorgeously romantic escapist read. Perfect for fans of Jo Thomas and Abby Clements.

My Thoughts: This book picks up practically on the heels of the first book in the series so I recommend reading Rome Is Where the Heart Is first. Kate has officially made Rome her home but it isn’t all it is cracked up to be. Navigating the language barrier is not easy and it surprised me that Kate wasn’t doing something more proactive to learn Italian, like taking classes. Fortunately, many Italians speak English with varying degrees of proficiency so Kate is able to manage although it is clunky. I really liked the author peppering Italian phrases throughout the book so that while reading on my Kindle, I could look up the translations of phrases.

The author illustrates very well the struggle Kate is experiencing trying to find her place in Rome, needing to find a job to make ends meet but still having a dream of starting her own dress making business. Her landlord’s wife is her first customer but Kate is a little bit of a pushover in that she doesn’t charge the market rate for the dresses. Her landlord expects a discount but doesn’t discount her rent. Allesandro and his family are quite vocal to Kate about this and often want to speak out on Kate’s behalf but she doesn’t want them to. This theme is present throughout most of the book and it did seem to get quite repetitive. Kate is persistent about making it on her own without having to rely on anyone but sometimes help from the right source can be a blessing and it takes quite a while before Kate realizes this. I had a lot of empathy for Kate and was able to relate to her situation of trying to find her place in a new country, fitting in and making it her home.

Getting to know Alessandro’s family better in this book was enjoyable and Kate’s insecurity around them was understandable. The author’s creation of the minor characters in the story added more depth to the story as they really impact Kate in many ways, especially as some of them take more time warming up to Kate’s presence and whether they accepted her as a good match for Alessandro. The author has quite a few surprises up her sleeve that I didn’t expect but really enjoyed. The story moves at a smooth pace I really enjoyed tagging along with Kate through the streets of Rome.

My Final Verdict: Overall, I found this story delightful and it has only inspired me even more to add Rome to my bucket list of travel destinations. I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy stories where the girl gets her happily ever after in exotic locations.

Thank you to the publisher, Bookouture, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: New York, Actually by Sarah Morgan

Title: New York, Actually (From Manhattan with Love #4)
Author: Sarah Morgan
Narrator: Jennifer Woodward
Publisher: Harlequin | HQN
Publication Date: May 2017
Genre: Chick Lit / Contemporary Romance
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: One man. One woman. Two dogs.

Meet Molly—New York’s most famous advice columnist, she considers herself an expert at relationships…as long as they’re other people’s. Still bruised from her last breakup, Molly is in no rush to find happily-ever-after—the only love of her life is her dalmatian, Valentine.

Meet Daniel—A cynical divorce lawyer, he’s hardwired to think relationships are a bad idea. If you don’t get involved, no one can get hurt. Until he finds himself borrowing a dog to meet the gorgeous woman he sees running in Central Park every morning…

Molly and Daniel both think they know everything about relationships. But as they try—and fail—to resist their undeniable chemistry, they’ll soon discover they just might have a lot left to learn…

My Thoughts: Initially, I had some reservations about reading this book because it’s the fourth book in a series and I am usually a stickler for reading a series in order. This book is definitely the exception as the author does a brilliant job making this story a stand-alone. Characters from earlier in the series do make an appearance in this story but it did not detract or in any way take my focus off of Molly and Daniel. Honestly, I don’t think even a meteorite crashing into my living room would have distracted me.

I loved this story. It checks off so many of the things I look for in the romance genre without getting too sappy or bordering on too explicit. First of all, dogs. Especially dogs that feature prominently in the story are going to interest me. The dogs in this story are Molly’s dalmatian, Valentine, who is named for his heart shaped nose and Brutus, the German Shepherd that Daniel wrangles as a prop to grab Molly’s interest. I loved that these two dogs are actively part of the story, and not in the background.

I also loved that Daniel and Molly really appear to be so broken that love and relationships just don’t work out for them the way they do for others. And with good reason, given their respective backgrounds. The underlying message that love finds you most often when you aren’t looking for it was wonderful and it was awesome to watch it happening with these two.

I thought the story was realistic and the premise was cute, though it could appear a little creepy that a man would “borrow” a dog so he could meet a girl he sees jogging in the park. I did not feel an “ick” factor. Instead, I felt Daniel deserved points for his ingenuity in arranging this meet cute. I’m also super grateful that the author did not drag out the whole “keeping secrets and being dishonest” trope because that would have annoyed me as both Molly and Daniel played their cards very close to their chests. The great thing is that when dishonesty was discovered on both their parts, discussions were had like adults and the reader was saved from too much of the giant misunderstanding and drama chaos.

This book is my first experience reading Sarah Morgan’s work and I am excited to find more of her work. She creates characters that are very easy to like and relate to and that give the reader a sense of camaraderie with. This entire series is set in and around Manhattan which gives me more of an interest in visiting. The descriptive detail of Molly and Daniel’s world feels very picturesque and vibrant. I now want a Dalmatian that I can walk in Central Park.

I paired my reading of this book with the audiobook format which was quite enjoyable. The narrator, Jennifer Woodward does a wonderful job of bringing these characters to life and flawlessly switches between Molly’s English accent and everyone else’s American accent. The emotion she put into her narrative performance brought tears to my eyes and had me laughing out loud several times.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this book because…did I mention dogs? Fans of dogs must absolutely stop what they are doing right now and read this book. I also highly recommend fans of the romance genre, be it romantic comedy, contemporary romance or chick-lit read this book because a happily ever after is always a good thing.

Thank you to the publisher, Harlequin | HQN, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: Baby Teeth by Celia Silvani

Title: Baby Teeth
Author: Celia Silvani
Publisher: Orion
Publication Date: November 2024
Genre: Thriller / Suspense / Women’s Fiction
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: They said a mother knows best and I believed them. Was I wrong?

It is supposed to be a dream. James and I have been trying for years. But now it is starting to feel like a nightmare.

Doctors don't ask questions, or care about how you're feeling. They just tell you what to do. They never listen.

Mam and James don't understand either. James thinks I'm being anxious and Mam says it'll pass. It always does. That's what she did when Dad died.

I've never felt more alone. Or scared.

Then I joined an online group for mothers. A sisterhood, really. They might be on a screen, but sometimes it feels like they know me better than James. They listen, they care. It's all I could have asked for.

Until the worst happens and I see them for who they are. But if I leave, what if they come for me next?

My Thoughts: I enjoyed this book and thought the subject matter was thought provoking but I didn’t love it. Additionally, there are triggers in this story involving infertility and pregnancy loss. I felt increasingly frustrated at the lengths Claire went trusting complete strangers that she only knows online instead of midwives and doctors. I agreed with the general consensus that doctors and the medical profession make you feel like a number, but to trust advice from people who have zero medical background puts not only the mother but the fetus at risk. When tragedy strikes one of one women in the group who loses her nearly full-term baby, I was deeply disturbed at how this group of faceless women treated her simply because they did not approve of her seeking medical attention.

I understood how Claire felt torn wanting to do the right thing and her fear of hospitals and mistrust of doctors stemming from losing her father but I wanted to yell at her through most of the book that she should be seeking advice from people she knows in real life as well as experts in the field. I had such a huge problem that she told strangers she was pregnant before she told her own husband. In large part due to her behavior, I had a difficult time relating to or empathizing with her.

The plot moved me into thinking something horrifying was going to happen to Claire at the hands of the online group and my imagination was running wild thinking that someone was going to try to murder her and steal her baby. I must be reading too many thrillers because I am looking for psychopaths around every corner.

This is my first time reading the work of Celia Silvani and thought she illustrates well the fears and anxieties of not just a woman having her first child but the vulnerability of those who have struggled to conceive as well as the devastating grief of a pregnancy test not bringing the most desperately hoped for result.

My Final Verdict: Overall, the story ended with a lot of unanswered questions for me and a bit of a letdown in the thriller and suspenseful side of things. I think fans of both thrillers and women’s fiction will enjoy the story if they can overlook their personal biases regarding the best approach to childbirth.

REVIEW: Mystery at Maplemead Castle by Kitty French

Title: Mystery at Maplemead Castle (Chapelwick Mysteries #2)
Author: Kitty French
Narrator: Cat Gould
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: March 2017
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Welcome to Chapelwick, a leafy English town in the hills of Shropshire, where chocolate pecan cookies come with a helping of sabotage.

Maplemead Castle is crawling with ghosts, and the new owners need them gone. When Melody Bittersweet and the Girls' Ghostbusting Agency arrive on scene, they quickly identify the troublemakers swinging from the chandeliers...literally.

A century ago, stunning trapeze artist Britannia Lovell plunged to her death, and has done every night since. But did she really just fall, or was there something more to her demise?

Forced to work with Leo Dark, her scoundrel ex, and infuriating, irresistible reporter Fletcher Gunn, Melody's investigative powers are under strain (i.e., lost in a pink mist of lust and confusion). She needs her team on top form, but best friend Marina's cake pipeline goes AWOL, assistant Artie's distracted by a giant sausage roll, and the pug is scared witless by a lion.

Somewhere, hidden in the castle, is a heartbreaking secret, but what will it take to find it? And is there a chance it could set Britannia free, or is she doomed to repeat her last fateful act forever?

My Thoughts: Melody Bittersweet is back with her friends and one-eared Pug, Lestat to clear Maplemead Castle from a circus troupe of ghosts and their lion. Yes, there’s a ghost lion named Goliath who Lestat makes his displeasure about known. Melody’s ex, Leo Dark, and reporter Fletcher Gunn are also back which I thought added more interesting aspects to the story.

I enjoyed this book very much and couldn’t wait to find out the backstory of the ghostly circus performers and the author didn’t disappoint. This story had me laughing out loud, especially when Lestat squares off to a ghost lion and made my eyes tear up when I learned the tragic story of Britannia as well as learning more about Fletcher’s back story. He really grew on me in this installment and I am eager to see if he and Melody continue to connect. Surprisingly, I also felt less irritation and annoyance towards Leo this time around.

I liked Melody and found her easy to relate to and appreciate the care and concern she demonstrates for both the living and the deceased. I keep hoping that Marina and Artie will get together too but so far, they remain steadfast colleagues.

This story offers the perfect blend of fun, charm, mystery, intrigue and romance fans of cozy mysteries will expect. The characters are easy to connect with and relate to and the plot flows smoothly. If you prefer audiobook formats, the narration of this book was expertly performed by Cat Gould.

This book ends on the assumption that Melody and her crew will be starting another case but so far I have been unable to confirm there will be a third book in this series. I hope there will be because it would be a great disappointment to see this series stall with so many unanswered questions.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this story was fantastic and I highly recommend it to fans of cozy mysteries, romances, stories featuring dogs with or without both of their ears and ghosts.

Thank you to the publisher, Bookouture, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.