Tag: Romance

ANOTHER BORING DAY IN PARADISE

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By Malcolm Roscow

Another Boring Day in Paradise

When John and Lisa decide to move to the Bahamas to look for investment property, they go into partnership with Sybille.  They had been warned that she would do anything to own the property, but to what extent would she actually go?

ANOTHER BORING DAY IN PARADISE is not a title I would have picked up to read.  It just didn’t sound like the book for me.  When the author contacted me to review his book, I agreed with some misgivings. But I am so glad I did.  The story is a delightful read, perfect for relaxing on the beach or by the pool.

I give it 4 stars because of the predictability of the outcome of the book.

Genre:  General Fiction

Page count:  217

Published:  January 30, 2015

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd of Canary Wharf, London. www.austinmacauley.co

Available in hardback, paperback and ebook

Sample chapters are available at Amazon.com.  Click on the following link and use the Look Inside feature.  Link: ow.ly/JJkWx

About the AuthorMalcolm Roscow

ANOTHER BORING DAY IN PARADISE is Malcolm Roscow’s debut novel. He spent 35 years in the pulp and paper industry, which took Roscow to 68 countries on five continents. He lived for a total of 7 years in the USA, where he and his family gained green card permanent resident status and his daughter Laura was born, making her an American citizen. He also lived for a year in the Bahamas. Now living on the south coast of England, the author spends his time writing novels and keeping fit at the gym.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MalcolmRoscow.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MalcolmJRoscow

This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks for reading! To return to the FICTION WRITERS BLOG HOP on Julie Valerie’s Book Blog, click here: http://www.julievalerie.com/fiction-writers-blog-hop-may-2015/

WHAT IT TAKES

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By Terry Tyler

 

What It Takes by Terry TylerBook Blurb:

A tale of three sisters…

Karen Kavanagh has spent her life feeling like the runt of the family.

Her two elder sisters, domestic goddess Ava and salon owner Saskia, are mini versions of their mother, a gorgeous Danish beauty. Karen has inherited her father’s droopy, dull brown hair and long nose – pitted against two Scandinavian sauna babes, she feels like Cinderella in reverse.

Danny Alvarez doesn’t see her like that. He thinks she’s wonderful.
Lots of women want Danny, but Danny just wants Karen.
He pursues her with the devotion of a stalker – but she pushes him away. Then she realizes what she’s done…

Set in Norfolk, Terry Tyler’s sixth novel, “What It Takes”, is a story of insecurity, jealousy, sibling rivalry, love and loss, and the games people play in the search for love – because if you love someone with all your heart you’ll do what it takes to make them yours…

Sample chapter:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/What-It-Takes-Terry-Tyler-ebook/dp/B00EZV832M/ref=pd_sim_b_4/280-7055956-6800560?ie=UTF8&refRID=115R7E2GT1NWD66VAZC8

Type of Book: Kindle book only

Publisher: self

Pub Date: September 2013 (Amazon gives a later date, because it ‘re-publishes’ when you change the cover)

Page or Word Count: approx 90K words

Genre: romantic suspense

About the Author:

Terry lives in the north of England with her husband, and has published ten books on Amazon. Readers say she has created her own genre, which lies somewhere in the area of contemporary drama and romantic suspense, with the occasional bit of rock fiction and mystery thrown in.

LAST CHILD is her latest release; this is the sequel to Kings and Queens, both of which are modern day parallels of events that took place during the Tudor era of history. Terry is now at work on a third ‘history revisted’ novel, this time based on the women behind the Wars of the Roses.

Website:

http://www.terrytyler59.blogspot.co.uk/

Social Media Links:

Twitter – https://twitter.com/TerryTyler4

Facebook –  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Terry-Tyler-author/127960897322262,

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5821157.Terry_Tyler

My Review:

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first started reading WHAT IT TAKES. The first part of the book was devoted mainly to introducing the characters, of which there were quite a few.  I almost lost interest here, as it was somewhat tedious, but I am thrilled that I continued to read the book.  When the author dove into the story, there was magic in her words.  The words flew by, and before I realized it, I had finished the book.  I was not ready.  Even though everyone involved seemed to resolve his/her own character conflict, I wanted more.

I think most people can relate to Karen at one point or another of their lives.  She lacked confidence; she always felt she came up on the short end of the stick.  Her sisters were gorgeous, whereas she felt she was more of a plain Jane.  Karen’s perception was that everyone else got the best of everything in life and in love.

Then there is Danny Alvarez.  Danny had good looks, but was that enough for Karen?  He seemed less refined.

I give WHAT IT TAKES 4 stars because of the slow start.  In the end, the story won me over.  I would definitely recommend this book.

Amazon US

Amazon UK

 

All’s Fair in Love and Cupcakes By Betsy St. Amant  

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All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes

ALL’S FAIR IN LOVE AND CUPCAKES is about what?  Love and cupcakes, of course.  The story finds twenty-six year old Kat Varland fretting over her future.  She is in love with Lucas Brannen, but Lucas has not expressed interest in her beyond eating her cupcakes and being her best friend. She works in her aunt’s bakery making the same old vanilla-chocolate-strawberry cupcakes, but yearns to show off her real talent in making novelty cupcakes.  She is at odds with her family, feeling that she is not appreciated for what she chose to be her livelihood.

Lucas Brannen coaches the local high school football team. He loves Kat but doesn’t know how to tell her. Every chance he gets, he freezes up.  When he secretly signs her up for the reality TV bakeoff on Cupcake Combat, he does so as an expression of love and to give Kat a shot at seeing her life’s dream become an actuality.

When Kat choses Lucas to be her assistant on the show, things start heating up between them; and I don’t mean romantically.  Constantly at odds, but both in love with the other, though unable to express his/her love, and trouble on the set with each other and other contestants, the stress keeps building.

Will Kat and Lucas resolve their friendship/love life?  Will Kat win the competition and realize her dream come true? What are they each willing to sacrifice for the other?

The story was cute, but I only gave ALL’S FAIR IN LOVE AND CUPCAKES a three star rating, because the story dragged on without purpose for too long.  For me, it took too long to get to the conclusion with little added value.  A novella length would have been more to my liking.

The characters were well developed and could have been someone you know or someone you’d meet on the street.  They each had flaws true to real life.

Betsy St. Amant is a Christian writer but doesn’t put so much into her book to turn off someone who is not a fan of Christian novels.

To find out more about St. Amant, check out her website Betsy St. Amant, Twitter page https://twitter.com/betsystamant, and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/BetsySt.Amant.

I received a copy of ALL’S FAIR IN LOVE AND CUPCAKES by Betsy St. Amant from Net GALLEY in exchange for an honest review.

Spare Change By Bette Lee Crosby

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Spare Change
Ethan Allen Doyle had a tough life. His mother was so wrapped up in herself, and his father had a mean streak. He had more on his plate than any eleven-year-old should ever have, and then, he witnessed a brutal murder. Fearing for his life, he takes off in search of his grandfather, known only to him by the Christmas cards he received.
Olivia Westerly is settled into her single life when she meets Charlie Doyle, who sweeps her off her feet. Her married life quickly takes a turn to the unexpected, and Olivia was forced into a situation that causes her to re-evaluate her life. Through various events, the most important of which is having the care of Ethan Allen forced upon her, she finds all of her preconceived notions of the kind of person she is, are no longer applicable.
SPARE CHANGE is a murder mystery. The storyline drew me in quickly with its superstitions, mystery, romance, friendship, humor, and its flawed characters that are so realistic that every reader can find them believable. The story moves quickly and is told from several different points of view. It’s about how we deal with life’s challenges and the power of love in changing who we are.
When I first started reading SPARE CHANGE, I thought I wouldn’t like it very much, but once into a few pages, I was captivated by the story, the writing style, the author’s voice, and the characters. I am amazed that so much emotion, mystery, and story is found in just 280 pages. It is a book I heartily recommend to all readers in every genre. I look forward to reading more of Bette Lee Crosby’s work.
According to Amazon, SPARE CHANGE is their number one bestselling historical mystery and the winner of five literary awards.
You can find out more about Bette Lee Crosby on these websites:

 

Her website – Bette Lee Crosby Words, Wit & Wisdom

Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads

Buy SPARE CHANGE and Bette’s other books at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Powells, BooksAMillion, or your favorite Indie bookstore.

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

LOVE ON MIMOSA LANE by Anna DeStefano

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Love on Mimosa LaneLOVE ON MIMOSA LANE is more than just another romance.  It is about the foster care system, alcoholism and the toll it takes on family life, and about bullies. It is a book filled with interesting characters, some to love, and one not so much.  The descriptions are rich and the story moves quickly.

Law is a bad-boy type with a soft heart that he guards closely.  His past and his divorce from Libby have left him afraid to trust anyone, His desire to protect his daughter Chloe from the ugliness of his divorce, her mother’s drunkenness, and the rumors about his life, have caused him to build a wall around himself.

Kristen, the assistant principal at Chloe’s school, is dealing with her own demons, but recognizes the personal battle Law is fighting. She recruits him to help Fin, a foster child who is troubled and lonely, to play soccer.  The deal is that if Law helps Fin, she will convince Fin to recruit Chloe, who loves soccer but was convinced by her mother, that rather than playing soccer, she should concentrate on being like the popular girls.

There is, needless to say, a romantic attraction between Law and Kristen, but neither can get beyond the wounds of their pasts to let love in.  They both grew up in dysfunctional families where love was rationed out, rather than given freely.

This story has a lot going on in it, but it is expertly pulled together by DeStefano.  I loved that there were so many loose threads that needed to come together before the book’s end. There was a lot to pique my interest.  The characters were well crafted, and I fell in love with them right away.

This is the third book in the Seasons of the Heart series. I have not read the other two yet, but I felt this book could stand on its own without reading all of them. I would definitely recommend LOVE ON MIMOSA LANE to anyone who doesn’t mind a bit of romance, but enjoys reading books that touch on some of society’s sad issues.

To learn more about Anna DeStefano, check out her webpage Anna DeStefano, her blog Anna DeStefano, on FaceBook, Twitter, and on Pinterest.

Purchase the book on  Amazon,  Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million, Powells, or your favorite Indie book store.

Tattered Innocence by Ann Lee Miller

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Tattered Innocence by Ann Lee Miller

After an affair with Bret, a married man, Rachel Martin wants to get as far away from him as she can.  Jake Murray’s love life had just turned topsy turvy not only when his fiance Gabrielle dumps him, but she leaves him without a first mate on his charter cruise boat, The Smyrna Queen. Rachel applies for the job and gets it, but at her first meeting with him, she has made up her mind that her new boss is cold and unfriendly.

Jake left the corporate world to start his own business on The Smyrna Queen, a dream he shared with his deceased grandfather. Nearly everything he owns is in this venture.  He needs a first mate to help him sail the boat and prepare meals for the guests. Since the only available sleeping quarters are in his cabin, Rachel makes it clear from the beginning that she is there for the job and nothing else.

It is quickly apparent that there is an attraction between the two of them, but neither will admit it because they are both still running away from previous relationships. Add to that, family problems, hurricanes, and the guilt they carry; this story has multiple layers to it.  Since this is a Christian romance novel, there are references to God all the way through the book. Rachel convinces Jake to go to a beach service with her, and though he is skeptical at first, he comes around.  There are often instances throughout where Rachel and Jake each reach out to God for guidance and forgiveness.

The book is well written, and the story will keep you turning the pages. If you are looking for a light romance novel and don’t mind Christian references, this is undoubtedly a book I would recommend.

Ann Lee Miller grew up in New Smyrna Beach, earned a BA in creative writing from Ashland (OH) University, and currently lives in Phoenix with her husband and children. She writes full time and lectures at various Arizona colleges.

My Mr. Manny by Jennifer Garcia

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My Mr Manny by Jennifer Garcia

Mia is a single mother raising her daughter on her own while juggling a full time job and housework. Mia’s sister convinces Mia she needs a manny (male nanny) for her daughter Lucia, and she had the perfect one in mind. Dominic!

Though I felt Dominic was too perfect, he was an immensely likeable character and was a perfect fit for Mia. While they both are recovering from disastrous relationships, they unexpectedly find what they are looking for in a relationship with each other. The story is about commitment, moving on, and becoming a family.

If you are looking for a light, fast-paced romance novel to read, Jennifer Garcia’s MY MR. MANNY is the book for you. It is well written with excellent attention to details and vivid descriptions. I highly recommend this book.