“The Mersey Angels” Review

Hello Friends!

I have been reading saga novels for God knows how long, maybe since last year, maybe since 2019, and the more I explore I am fascinated with the genre and the authors. Today I bring you a review of a saga novel.

“The Mersey Angels“, written by Sheila Riley, is a Saga novel, the second book in the Liverpool Saga series, published on 10th August 2021 by Boldwood Books.

I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, Sheila Riley and Boldwood Books for the eCopy of this book, via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Synopsis

1916 LIVERPOOL

Following the death of her father, Ruby Swift, and husband Archie finally move back into Ashland Hall.

As the Great War rages, fathers and sons take the King’s Shilling and head off to fight the unknown enemy, not knowing what horrors lie ahead.

With Ned Kincaid in the Navy, Archie signs up to the volunteer constabulary and nurses Anna Cassidy and Ellie Harrington enlist to do their bit for King and Country.

Soon the true casualties of war are being brought home in droves, Ruby converts Ashland Hall into an auxiliary hospital for wounded servicemen.

It’s not long before the true cost of war is brought closer to home and Anna and Ellie enlist in the British Military Nursing Corp and soon find themselves in the battlefields of France in search of the truth.

But they soon discover more than they bargained for…

Purchase Links: Amazon UK | Amazon US

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About the Author

Sheila Riley wrote four #1 bestselling novels under the pseudonym Annie Groves and is now writing a new saga trilogy for Boldwood under her own name. She has set it around the River Mersey and its docklands near to where she spent her early years. She still lives in Liverpool. Her new trilogy began with The Mersey Orphan in September 2019.

Social Media Links: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

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My Review

Saga books, at least those that I have read, have this sense of community and family. Maybe because of the circumstances following the characters, with the wars and the dangers. Nevertheless, it’s something I love. In this book we follow a group of characters during the WWI.

As Ruby turns Ashland Hall into a hospital and Anna and Ellie follow their path as nurses right to France, a lot can be said for these angels. The characters touched my heart, their kindness, their role in the story… I could feel compassion for them. I worry for them and for their loved ones. That’s the power of stories like this one, even if they are fiction, they feel real, because the events are realistic and the Great War really existed.

Like I previously said, this is about family, about the way we are connected, the way war affects people’s life. It’s also about secrets, and there are a lot of them when it comes to our society. It’s about hardship and love and finding your path and strength. In the end, it may feel like a rollercoaster of emotions, but it gives me hope.

Overall, it was an amazing book. And even though it’s part of a series, I felt it could be read as a standalone. Although, it was a nice continuation of book one and I loved to be back to this group of characters. Sheila Riley did a brilliant job with the characters and with transporting us to their sides in this setting and time period. If this genre and setting is one you enjoy reading about, do give it a change.

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Don’t forget to check out all the other bloggers that given their contribute in this Blog Tour, with their reviews.

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Don’t forget to comment, don’t be stranger. If you have any book recommendation you can leave a message using the form on my Contact Me page.

If you are an author or publisher and want me to do a review of a book please check out my Request Review page to learn more about the reviewing policies.

I always welcome new books to add to my list and I’m always excited to do reviews and read books. And I’m open to debate and exchange opinions, so let’s talk.

Also, if you would like to join me as a guest on my blog, check out the Guests Post page to know more and contact me so we can start planing your visit.

Love,

Jess

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“Between You and Me” Review

Hello Friends!

Today I have some reviews to share. So get ready!

“Between You and Me“, written by Carol Mason, is a Women’s fiction novel, published on 22nd June 2021.

I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, Carol Mason for the eCopy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Synopsis

Is her new husband really who she thinks he is?

When young doctor Lauren Matheson meets Joe, an older divorced businessman, at a glittering poolside in California, it’s a chance encounter that seems life-changing for them both. Back home in London, their feelings only strengthen. But Lauren soon discovers that building a happy future with Joe is going to be an uphill struggle…

She’s determined to be a good stepmother to his children, four-year-old Toby and complicated teen Grace. But under the watchful eye of Meredith, Joe’s intimidating ex-wife, Lauren can’t seem to do a thing right. Why won’t Joe ever take her side against Grace? And what really happened between him and Meredith?

As her husband retreats into a cold, secretive version of the dashing man she met in California, Lauren starts to wonder if she’s made a costly mistake. Was Joe ever the man she thought she married?

Purchase Links: Amazon

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About the Author

Carol Mason is the Amazon Charts and Kindle #1 bestselling author After You Left (more than 300,000 copies sold), The Secrets of Married Women, The Last Time We Met, The Shadow Between Us, Send Me A Lover and Little White Secrets which hit the Bookstat digital bestsellers list top 3 in the week of its launch. She was born in the North East of England where most of her novels are set. She now lives in Canada with her Canadian husband, a rescue dog from Kuwait and a three-legged cat. When not writing, Carol loves to read, cook and binge watch Netflix.

Social Media Links: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

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My Review

There are times when I don’t read the synopsis and just jump to the story, and there are other times when I’m already curious and want to know what it’s really about before I decide to read a book based on impulse. When I saw the title of this book and the cover, I wondered about what it was. Was it a slow burn romance? Was it a Thriller? Was it a crime/mystery novel? So I jumped to the synopsis and looked up the genre of the book. Did I get answers? No. Did I end up super curious and excited? YES! So here I am.

In this book we follow Lauren in her new journey in life. She’s joins to a ready-made family when she marries Joe, a businessman. With him came his two children, a young kid and a teen, and an ex-wife. I loved seeing the interactions and the family dynamics, it’s not easy and that’s life. When changes happen, we have to adapt, we have to learn how to be and what to do in the new situation. That’s part of what I saw at first. A family dynamic that has changes and there is tension which made it interesting to read and follow.

I found the book very interesting. It had some unexpected moments, and it also reminded me of some family stories that my aunts and cousins have told me about. Plus, the books is about an imperfect life. We all have struggles, we all have ups and downs, and seeing Lauren go through them and trying to figure things out, it was very interesting and I enjoyed it.

Overall, it was more than I expected. It had a good pace, thanks to the drama, the romance, the family dynamic. But I also loved that it focused on many things that sometimes we don’t think about when we are reading and just want to relax: the interactions between a couple, stepparents and stepchildren, and of course the ex-partners when the story talks about divorce. I really like those elements, they made the plot and the characters real. It made me connect with Lauren and her life, which I always appreciate.

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Don’t forget to check out all the other bloggers that given their contribute in this Blog Tour, with their reviews and basic promo/spotlight posts.​

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Don’t forget to comment, don’t be stranger. If you have any book recommendation you can leave a message using the form on my Contact Me page.

If you are an author or publisher and want me to do a review of a book please check out my Request Review page to learn more about the reviewing policies.

I always welcome new books to add to my list and I’m always excited to do reviews and read books. And I’m open to debate and exchange opinions, so let’s talk.

Also, if you would like to join me as a guest on my blog, check out the Guests Post page to know more and contact me so we can start planing your visit.

Love,

Jess

“The Last Days of Us” Review

Hello Friends!

Here is finally the review of the book I had a chance to read this month. I did a promo post this weekend if you guys remember.

“The Last Days of Us“, written by Caroline Finnerty, is a Women’s Fiction novel published on 17th June 20211 by Boldwood Books.

I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, Caroline Finnerty and Boldwood Books for the eCopy of this book, via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Synopsis

They say if you love someone, you have to let them go. But what they are your child?

All Sarah McIntyre has ever wanted was a loving, happy family.  So when her husband JP announces on Christmas Day that he is leaving her and their two children, 9 year old Harry and 4 year old Robyn, Sarah is left reeling.

But things are set to get worse when Robyn is diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour.

Can JP and Sarah unite to fight their biggest battle yet? or will they be on opposing sides once again?

With the couple at loggerheads and with Robyn’s condition deteriorating day-by-day, precious time is running out and JP is getting desperate…

The Last Days of Us is a tender story of hope and forgiveness that asks the question how far would you go to save your child?

Purchase Links: Amazon

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About the Author

Caroline Finnerty is an Irish author of heart-wrenching family dramas and has published four novels and compiled a non-fiction charity anthology. She has been shortlisted for several short-story awards and lives in County Kildare with her husband and four young children. Her first title for Boldwood is The Last Days of Us, to be published in June 2021.

Social Media Links: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

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My Review

When I learned about this book I knew it was going to be an emotional read. I knew it would have a lot of topics that hit triggers for some people. Yet, I wanted to read it.

I’m still coming to terms with the book and my thoughts. I’m still dealing with how the book touched my heart and what it made me think and feel. It was a thought provoking book, as well as a story that reminded me of certain family members and their own journeys.

In this book we follow a family and the journey of a cancer patient. We follow a mother doing everything for her daughter, and focusing on enjoying the last moments they have together. And we also follow the family dynamics, how a couple deals with this situation.

Grief, anger, acceptation, sadness, resilience, love. Those are some of the key words for me. Of course, family, cancer, death, moving forward, and SAUDADE (that’s a Portuguese word) came to play as well. But the truth is, I like to think that it was about family and love.

Many may not know, but I have had a lot of family members dealing with cancer, various types of tumors, and one of them was of a little cousin. So, I have seen the worry in my cousin about her daughter’s tumor. I have seen them deal with it, having faith, trusting the doctor, being scared and still having the courage to keep going and doing everything for their loved ones. And Sarah was like that, such a powerful character, trying to focus on her kids and being the best mom possible despite the circumstances.

There are other aspects of the book that were interesting, the legal and medical elements, but for me what got me going was the emotional element. It was the family and how they all had their own thoughts and had their own problems as well as the common one.

Overall, I enjoyed the book a lot. I know I would get emotional, that was a possibility, but I didn’t know what to really expect and I’m so happy that I gave the book a shot and that I went through this journey.

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Don’t forget to check out all the other bloggers that given their contribute in this Blog Tour, with their reviews.

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Don’t forget to comment, don’t be stranger. If you have any book recommendation you can leave a message using the form on my Contact Me page.

If you are an author or publisher and want me to do a review of a book please check out my Request Review page to learn more about the reviewing policies.

I always welcome new books to add to my list and I’m always excited to do reviews and read books. And I’m open to debate and exchange opinions, so let’s talk.

Also, if you would like to join me as a guest on my blog, check out the Guests Post page to know more and contact me so we can start planing your visit.

Love,

Jess

“The Mersey Mistress” Review

Hello Friends!

Ready for a review this lovely Sunday night?

“The Mersey Mistress“, written by Sheila Riley, is a Saga novel, published on 6th April 2021, by Boldwood Books.

I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, and Sheila Riley and Boldwood Books for the eCopy of this book, via Netgalley, and for allowing me to join in the fun and being a part of the blog tour with my honest review of the book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Synopsis

BRAND NEW FROM LIVERPOOLS’ VERY OWN BESTSELLING AUTHOR, SHEILA RILEY

1910 LIVERPOOL DOCKS.
Ruby Swift is a hard-working, straight-talking woman of substance who does not suffer fools gladly,
But when tragedy strikes on a bitter Christmas Eve, Ruby and her beloved Archie take matters into their own hands when a trusted employee’s house is mysteriously engulfed by flames and lives are lost.
Orphaned by the fire, Ruby welcomes heartbroken sixteen-year-old Anna Cassidy, into her home and family but circumstances conspire against them and she is unable to save Anna’s twelve-year-old brother Sam Cassidy, who is sent by the Church to Canada as a Homeboy. 
Can Ruby help mend a broken heart and can these two children ever be reunited or is there another higher game in play?

Mersey Mistress takes you on a journey to another time, another place. From the banks of the River Mersey to the frozen waters of the Canadian Saint Laurence River.

Purchase Link: Amazon

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About the Author

Sheila Riley wrote four #1 bestselling novels under the pseudonym Annie Groves and is now writing a new saga trilogy for Boldwood under her own name. She has set it around the River Mersey and its docklands near to where she spent her early years. She still lives in Liverpool. Her new trilogy began with The Mersey Orphan in September 2019.

Social Media Links – Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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My Review

The more Saga Novels I read, the more I like they. Not just because of the plot itself, that in this book was absolutely amazing, but also because of the way it portraits society back then, since it allows some reflection on life back them (the good and the bad).

Sheila Riley gives us, in The Mersey Mistress, a fantastical well create group of characters. I love following the lives of the main characters. Ruby was amazing, and it was thanks to her that I connected with the story at first. She’s compassionate and friendly, and her background made me understand her more.

The pace was good, I was caught reading page after page. I wanted to know what would happen next to this family, I wanted to know how things would develop and if there would be happy ending once I finished the book.

Overall, this book touched my heart, it was warm and it almost felt like I was reading about my family’s story, it had that familiarity and connection that I could not escape and that I enjoyed.

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Don’t forget to check out all the other bloggers that given their contribute in this Blog Tour with their reviews.

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Don’t forget to comment, don’t be stranger. If you have any book recommendation you can leave a message using the form on my Contact Me page.

If you are an author or publisher and want me to do a review of a book please check out my Request Review page to learn more about the reviewing policies.

I always welcome new books to add to my list and I’m always excited to do reviews and read books. And I’m open to debate and exchange opinions, so let’s talk.

Also, if you would like to join me as a guest on my blog, check out the Guests Post page to know more and contact me so we can start planing your visit.

Love,

Jess

“Summer at my Sister’s” Review

Hello friends!

Today I bring you a review of a book whose author my be familiar to you.

“Summer at my Sister’s“, written by Emily Harvale, is a Women’s Fiction novel, published July 31th 2020.

I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, and Emily Harvale for the eCopy of this book, and for allowing me to join in the fun and being a part of the blog tour with my honest review of the book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Synopsis

Twin sisters. One scorching summer.

A bucketful of secrets.

Diana’s life is perfect. Her twin sister, Josie’s – not so much.

Diana has a rich and successful husband, two talented youngsters and an adorable dog. She always looks as if she’s stepped from the cover of a magazine. Her immaculate second home by the sea, for idyllic summers with her perfect family, was actually featured in one.

Josie has a messy, compact flat, dates, but not relationships, and she can’t even keep a houseplant alive. She moves from job to job, goes clubbing with her friends and often looks as if she’s fallen through a hedge.

Although Josie loves Diana deeply, each year she declines the invitation to spend the summer with her sister. Or any other family holiday. Because Josie has a secret.

But is Diana’s life so perfect? Or is she also hiding something? When secrets are revealed this summer, everything will change. Josie could finally have the life she’s always wanted … if she’s brave enough to take a chance.

Purchase Link – Amazon

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About the Author

Emily writes novels, novellas and short stories about friendship, family and falling in love. She loves a happy ending but knows that life doesn’t always go to plan. Her stories are sure to bring a smile to your face and a warmth to your heart.

Emily loves to connect with her readers and has a readers’ group in which many have become good friends. To catch up with Emily, find out about the group, or connect with her on social media, go to her website.

Having lived and worked in London for several years, Emily returned to her home town of Hastings where she now writes full-time. She’s a member of the SoA, an Amazon bestseller and a Kindle All Star. When not writing, she can be found enjoying the stunning East Sussex coast and countryside, or in a wine bar with friends, discussing life, love and the latest TV shows. Chocolate cake is often eaten. She dislikes housework almost as much as she dislikes anchovies – and will do anything to avoid both. Emily has two mischievous rescue cats that like to sprawl across her keyboard, regardless of whether Emily is typing on it, or not.

Social Media Links – Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

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My Review

Based on what I thought of Emily Harvale’s books I had previously read, I knew there was a higher possibility for me to enjoy this book. With that in mind I decided to join the blog tour. Was I right? Of course! I had fun with this book. From the characters to the various warming and exciting moments that happened.

In this book we follow Diana and Josie. If you read the blurb before reading this review, you know that they are sisters, actually… twins. As someone that has family members that are not- identical twin (my dad and his twin sister), this was something that immediately got me to feel as if I knew this story.

The idea of twins, identical or not, is quite fascinating and I have always found it intriguing. Diana and Josie… Two opposites. Two different lives. And so many secrets.

I loved the family relationships, the uncovering of the mysteries in the family, seeing the love grow between on another, as well as the twin bond. I always love a book that follows a family because it makes me feel as if I am a part of the family, or at least, part of the community.

It was a fantastic setting, something I was always loved about Emily Harvale’s books is the brilliant settings, the feel of the small town and the community, that she writes in her stories. It makes us want to vacation there, and get to see everything with our own eyes, not just our mind.

Overall, I loved it and I hope that we can get to see more stories in this setting. I now don’t want to just spend the summer at the sister’s house, I want to go there for Christmas, Easter, maybe a crazy birthday. It doesn’t even have to be at this sister’s, it can be at any other character’s house. Anyway, I can’t wait to see what Emily Harvale comes up with next.

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Don’t forget to check out all the other bloggers that given their contribute in this Blog Tour, with their reviews.

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Don’t forget to comment, don’t be stranger. If you have any book recommendation you can leave a message using the form on my Contact Me page.

If you are an author or publisher and want me to do a review of a book please check out my Request Review page to learn more about the reviewing policies.

I always welcome new books to add to my list and I’m always excited to do reviews and read books. And I’m open to debate and exchange opinions, so let’s talk.

Also, if you would like to join me as a guest on my blog, check out the Guests Post page to know more and contact me so we can start planing your visit.

Love,

Jess

“Rules for a Successful Book Club” Review

Hello Friends!

I hope you are all doing well this Monday. Today I bring you the secnd review of a series, you may remember my first review a couple days ago, but just in case, you can check it here: “The Book Lovers” Review. Also, stay tune, for more reviews to come of this series.

“Rules for a Successful Book Club“, written by Victoria Connelly, is a Women’s Fiction novel, the second book in the Book Lovers Series, published on February 14th 2016 by Notting Hill Press.

I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, and Victoria Connelly for the eCopy of this book, and for allowing me to join in the fun and being a part of the blog tour with my honest review of the book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Synopsis

Polly Nightingale never meant to fall in love again especially not with a biker thirteen years her junior. But then Jago Solomon enters her life with a guitar strapped to his back, and Polly and her six-year-old son, Archie, know that they’ve never been happier.

But what happened three years ago when Polly’s husband, Sean, went missing? And what will it mean for Polly and Jago if her past ever catches up with them?

Purchase Link: Amazon UK

Don’t forget to add this book to your TBR on Goodreads: Rules for a Successful Book Club

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About the Author

Victoria Connelly studied English Literature at Worcester University, got married in a medieval castle in the Yorkshire Dales and now lives in rural Suffolk with her artist husband, a young springer spaniel and a flock of ex-battery hens. She is the author of two bestselling series, Austen Addicts and The Book Lovers, as well as many other novels and novellas. Her first published novel, Flights of Angels, was made into a film in 2008 by Ziegler Films in Germany. The Runaway Actress was shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Romantic Comedy Novel award.

Victoria loves books, films, walking, historic buildings and animals. If she isn’t at her keyboard writing, she can usually be found in her garden either with a trowel in her hand or a hen on her lap.

Social Media Links: Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

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 My Review

In this book we continue to follow Victoria Connelly’s amazing world, a series surrounded by books and an interesting family.

In this novel we follow yet again another member of the Nightingale family and I was very excited to start this book that I didn’t wait long between book one and book two. We get to met Polly Nightingale in a deeper way, as we learn about her past, her struggles, her daily life and being a mom to her cute six years old son, Archie, and how she ends up meeting the biker Jago Solomon, thirteen years her junior, and how things changed.

Although we follow Polly and get to see what’s happening in her life, and uncovering the mysteries, we still get to see the rest of the Nightingale bunch and I loved that. It is a standalone novel, but by reading it in order you would understand why I’m happy to see Callie and Sam. It is good that the author maintained the connection to the family and the characters in this book, because that really was something I absolutely love, it made the story even more real since I felt as if I was part of the community, of the family and definitely part of that world.

I loved no only the touched related to the book club, but also the way that some subjects were talked about. Books is a common element, and it made me a happy girl, despite that, I was surprisingly more curious about the mysteries around Polly’s husband and all the things that came with that.

Overall, it was yet another fun book that gave me some cozy feelings and it made me realized why I like contemporary romances. I loved that it was a book about people, family, love, friendship, and not letting the past messed up with our future.

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Don’t forget to check out all the other bloggers that given their contribute in this Blog Tour, from reviews to basic promo/spotlight posts.

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Don’t forget to comment, don’t be stranger. If you have any book recommendation you can leave a message using the form on my Contact Me page.

If you are an author or publisher and want me to do a review of a book please check out my Request Review page to learn more about the reviewing policies.

I always welcome new books to add to my list and I’m always excited to do reviews and read books. And I’m open to debate and exchange opinions, so let’s talk.

Also, if you would like to join me as a guest on my blog, check out the Guests Post page to know more and contact me so we can start planing your visit.

Love,

Jess

Promo Post: Dare Nation Series + Cover Reveal

Hello Friends!

I hope you are all doing well this lovely day, despite everything else happening.

Today I bring you a promo post that now only announces a brand new series, but it also has a cover reveal for the books in that series.

Dare Nation Series written by Carly Phillips is a romance series that is making me so excited. In this series, New York Times bestselling author Carly Phillips returns to her sexy Dare world of rich billionaire sports heroes.

And here are the covers!

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Dare to Resist

Release Date: May 12th, 2020

He’s sexy. Alphalicious. And suddenly a dad. 

Austin Prescott is a lot of things. Ex football player. Sports agent. And as of this morning? Father. Finding a baby on his doorstep should have been a joke but the pink sticky note and baby carrier she came in is deadly serious.

What’s an out of his depth bachelor to do? Call his tempting and beyond gorgeous executive assistant and beg her to move in.

Quinnlyn Stone agrees to help Austin until he can straighten out his messy life. It’s just another item on her very long To-Do list. It’s absolutely not because she’s attracted to her very single and extremely handsome boss.

Close quarters. A baby. Undeniable chemistry. What could possibly go wrong?

Pre-Order Links: Kindle | Nook | Apple | Kobo | Google Play | Paperback

Grab for the Pre-Order Price of only $3.99!

Goodreads Links: Dare to Resist

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Dare to Tempt

Release date August 4th, 2020

He’s a smooth talking jock.

An ace quarterback. 

And suddenly screwed.

Damon Prescott had it all. Star quarterback. Money. Fame. Now? He’s being accused of taking performance enhancing drugs and banned from the sport and team he loves.

Determined to prove he’s innocent, he hires tough as nails private investigator, Evie Wolfe. She’s able to bring a man to his knees with a glare, yet sensual in ways that take him off guard – and she’s everything Damon didn’t know he needed.

Evie’s used to men dismissing her, especially playboys like Damon Prescott so she’s not buying the sexual lines he’s trying to sell. She’s with him to do a job, nothing more. But you know what they say about the best laid plans? Sometimes you end up between the sheets with an arrogant football player anyway.

But when the case is over, can Damon convince Evie she’s the only woman for him or will she leave him tied up in love?

Pre-Order Links: Kindle | Nook | Apple | Kobo | Google Play | Paperback

Goodreads Links: Dare to Tempt

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Dare to Play / Dare to Tease / Dare to Stay

Release date/blurbs to be announced at a future date!

Goodreads Links: Dare to Play | Dare to Tease | Dare to Stay

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Meet Carly Phillips:

NY Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestseller, Carly Phillips gives her readers Alphalicious heroes to swoon for and romance to set your heart on fire. She married her college sweetheart and lives in Purchase, NY along with her three crazy dogs: two wheaten terriers and a mutant Havanese, who are featured on her Facebook and Instagram. The author of 50 romance novels, she has raised two incredible daughters who put up with having a mom as a full time writer. Carly’s book, The Bachelor, was chosen by Kelly Ripa as a romance club pick and was the first romance on a nationally televised bookclub. Carly loves social media and interacting with her readers. Want to keep up with Carly? Sign up for her newsletter (below) and receive TWO FREE books at www.carlyphillips.com.

Social Media Links: Website | BookBub | Goodreads | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon

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I’m seriously excited about this series. What do you think about the covers?

Don’t forget to add the books to your Goodreads list. I certainly have done it already. And if it’s a series that you are curious about, go pre-order book one.

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Don’t forget to comment, don’t be stranger. If you have any book recommendation you can leave a message using the form on my Contact Me page.

If you are an author or publisher and want me to do a review of a book please check out my Request Review page to learn more about the reviewing policies.

I always welcome new books to add to my list and I’m always excited to do reviews and read books. And I’m open to debate and exchange opinions, so let’s talk.

Also, if you would like to join me as a guest on my blog, check out the Guests Post page to know more and contact me so we can start planing your visit.

Love,

Jess

“Common People” Review

Hello Friends!

If you have been following my social media you know that a couple weeks ago I posted an article on a Medium publication called “The Open Bookshelf”, and this article is my review of Common People. Still it’s a different since it’s more of an in depth and thought provoking reflection about my opinion on the book.

You can check it out, it’s called “Saudade, nostalgia and the beauty of connection“.

Still, I wanted to leave one of my usual reviews here on the blog, so enjoy this one as well.

“Common People“, an anthology edited by Kit de Waal, was published on May 2019 by Unbound.

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Synopsis

Common People is a collection of essays, poems and pieces of personal memoir, bringing together sixteen well-known writers from working class backgrounds with an equal number of brand new as-yet-unpublished writers from all over the UK.

Too often, working class writers find that the hurdles they have to leap are higher and harder to cross than for writers from more affluent backgrounds. Common People will see writers who have made that leap reach back to give a helping hand to those coming up behind.

We read because we want to experience lives and emotions beyond our own, to learn, to see with others’ eyes – without new working class voices, without the vital reflection of real lives, or role models for working class readers and writers, literature will be poorer.

Working-class stories are not always tales of the underprivileged and dispossessed.

Common People is a collection of essays, poems and memoir written in celebration, not apology: these are narratives rich in barbed humor, reflecting the depth and texture of working-class life, the joy and sorrow, the solidarity and the differences, the everyday wisdom and poetry of the woman at the bus stop, the waiter, the hairdresser.

Here, Kit de Waal brings together thirty-three established and emerging writers who invite you to experience the world through their eyes, their voices loud and clear as they reclaim and redefine what it means to be working class.

Purchase Links: Amazon | Unbound | Kobo | Bertrand | Wook

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My Review

“Common People: An Anthology of Working Class Writers” edited by Kit de Waal and written by several authors, is a collection of essays, poems and pieces of personal memoir.

Each author records, on the pages of the book, their opinions, experience and working class background. Each different from the others, but they all provoke our minds and emotions.

Being an anthology and bringing to light stories and poems loaded with emotions and opinions, I read this book in a measured way, reflecting each chapter and each passage.

Coming from a Working Class family, much of what was described I was able to relate to my life and the reports of my family members. This established a connection with the voices of the authors and their experiences, appealing to the memories of my past and a feeling of Saudade.

In Jodie Russian-Red’s story, The Funeral and the Wedding, I saw my family painted on the pages. It transported me to a past that is still alive in my heart and mind, and not faded by time.

These small moments, which connect us to what is told, are something I consider fundamental in a story. Empathy and connection with the narrators, with the experiences, and consequently, with ourselves.

For those who want to get out of their comfort zone and like Anthologies, I highly recommend this book. Despite being written about Britain, the voice of the working class travels across countries and continents.

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Don’t forget to comment, don’t be stranger. If you have any book recommendation you can leave a message using the form on my Contact Me page.

If you are an author or publisher and want me to do a review of a book please check out my Request Review page to learn more about the reviewing policies.

I always welcome new books to add to my list and I’m always excited to do reviews and read books. And I’m open to debate and exchange opinions, so let’s talk.

Also, if you would like to join me as a guest on my blog, check out the Guests Post page to know more and contact me so we can start planing your visit.

Love,

Jess

“Second Chance At The Ranch” Review

Hello Friends!

Like I said before, I’m going to try and post more reviews, and today I bring you a new review.

“Second Chance At The Ranch“, written by Maxine Morrey, a contemporary romance, published on September 27th 2018 by HQ Digital.

I received a complimentary copy of this book thanks to Maxine Morrey via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Synopsis

It’s never too late for a second chance at love in this uplifting and warm-hearted romance.

It’s never too late to find love…

When Juliet Scott falls for ruggedly handsome Pete while away travelling, she never imagines how different her life will be to that of her sister, successful and beautiful model Hero. Based on a cattle station in the vast Australian Outback, Juliet’s life is now simple, down-to earth and honest, and the perfect antidote to the chaotic celebrity lifestyle that Hero leads in the UK.

With her striking brunette hair, perfect posture, and mesmerising green eyes, it is no wonder Hero has come so far in such a superficial industry. But when tragedy strikes, Hero finds herself in the arms of her sister, recuperating from a terrible accident on the other side of the world.

With her modelling career in tatters, and her scars more than just skin deep, Juliet worries that Hero will hide behind the mask she wears forever. But does Australia have something, or someone, to offer that London never could?

Purchase Links: Amazon | Kobo | Barnes & Noble

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About The Author

Maxine has wanted to be a writer for as long as she can remember and wrote her first (very short) book for school when she was ten. Coming in first, she won a handful of book tokens – perfect for a bookworm!

As years went by, she continued to write, but ‘normal’ work often got in the way. She has written articles on a variety of subjects, aswell as a book on Brighton for a Local History publisher. However, novels are what she loves writing the most. After self publishing her first novel when a contract fell through, thanks to the recession, she continued to look for opportunities.

In August 2015, she won Harper Collins/Carina UK’s ‘Write Christmas’ competition with her romantic comedy, ‘Winter’s Fairytale’.

Maxine lives on the south coast of England, and when not wrangling with words loves to read sew and listen to podcasts. As she also likes cake she can also be found either walking or doing something vaguely physical at the gym.

Social Media Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

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My Review

This was the first every book I have read of Maxine Morrey and I quite enjoyed it.

Following Hero, this novel brings us to a storyline full of emotion. Not only did it have romance, it have family relationship (in this case, Hero and her sister Juliet), and since family means a lot to me, I was quite emotional about the characters’ interactions. I felt as their relationship was such an important pillar in the novel.

Speaking of the characters, I felt very invested in the characters because of how realistic they sounded, plus, once we get to meet them more and as we uncover their past and their ideal, it’s hard not to feel for them, especially Hero.

I won’t enter in any specific aspects about the plot or how the story will turn out, but I recommend the book. It had a good pace, it bring us images of Australia (a place I would love to visit) and it had drama, romance and engaging characters and scenes that made me visualize, feel as I was part of the group and was transported to that moment.

Overall, I enjoyed, and loved how it entertained me until the very end and how I hope I could read more about every character and their future.

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Don’t forget to comment, don’t be stranger. If you have any book recommendation you can leave a message using the form on my Contact Me page.

If you are an author or publisher and want me to do a review of a book please check out my Request Review page to learn more about the reviewing policies.
I always welcome new books to add to my list and I’m always excited to do reviews and read books. And I’m open to debate and exchange opinions, so let’s talk.
Also, if you would like to join me as a guest on my blog, check out the Guests Post page to know more and contact me so we can start planing your visit.

Love,

Jess

“Allergic to Air” Review

Hello everyone!

Today I bring you a review that I have been meaning to share before and no I’m finally doing it!

“Allergic to Air“, written by Chelsea Girard, is a psychological fictional romance, based on true events, and it contains references to depression and anxiety. Published on July 17th 2019.

I want to thank Chelsea Girard for the eCopy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Synopsis

Allergic to air

The mental illnesses you don’t always hear about but are still there.

Fighting to stay alive inside your own mind.

Nellie is a 23-year-old online English teachers whose life is anything but adventurous. After having a severe panic attack while covering a women’s march for her job, she has converted to her home and is now the neighborhood hermit, but they don’t know the worst of it.

Now that her broken family is trying to reconnect and her brother is going off to business school, Nellie finds herself in more trouble then she ever has before.

The only thing that can save her now is the safety of her own mind.

Nellie suffers with Agoraphobia and finds herself trapped in an open room, uncomfortable around people and perceives the world around her as unsafe.

This is her story.

Purchase Link – Amazon

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About Author

I review for professional book publishers such as Simon and Schuster Canada  and Hachette Books. I am always looking for a new book to review.

I tend to draw to novels that draw away from love stories and more towards suspense and personal experiences shared from one person to the next. I love books that make you feel for the character and give you a sense of fulfillment when you claim their happiness as you’re own.

I am always busy with school, work and with my family but I always leave time out of my day to relax with a book and some tea. For me, it’s a form of escape from the world that I am surrounded by, where I can escape to a world where I can draw a connection to the book characters and their stories.

​- Chelsea Girard

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My Review

“At first, it was just a simple panic attack.”

That’s how the book starts. That’s how we enter Nellie’s world. How we learn about Agoraphobia and about how it affects Nellie’s life, and she’s living every moment and every thought.

I have been thinking about this book a lot. Right after I finished the novel, I wanted more. I wanted to keep seeing Nellie, Emmett and Rowan, and even Dr. Summers. I wanted more, but that’s just because I really got attached to the characters and emotional about their progress and development.

Agoraphobia isn’t always portrait in books, and that’s why I was really happy and excited when I first learned about the concept of the book. Like any mental illness, every person has different experiences, and it was such a wonderful thing that Chelsea just let us know that this is how Nellie lives. Treatments that can help one person may not help another, because we are all unique individuals with different pasts and presents, as well as personalities.

Nellie was such a relatable character and even funny at times, despite being anxious and scared, we get to follow her development in trying to live her life and leave her house. But just the simple fact of reading how she tried various things to keep connected to other people… I get it. We all need to connect with one another.

And without giving spoilers… the ending… it was perfect.

“(…) this is just the beginning of my freedom.”

Overall, there are a lot of messages that we can take for this novel. But to me, at this exact moment, the phrase “just the beginning of my freedom” just gives me so much strength to keep trying and keep walking. No matter what we can do it and each obstacle we surpass brings a new path, a new power, a new beginning.

That been  said, I really recommend this book and I hope you all can learn about Agoraphobia and truly feel Nellie’s journey in this path to getting her freedom.

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Don’t forget to comment, don’t be stranger. If you have any book recommendation you can leave a message using the form on my Contact Me page.

If you are an author or publisher and want me to do a review of a book please check out my Request Review page to learn more about the reviewing policies.

I always welcome new books to add to my list and I’m always excited to do reviews and read books. And I’m open to debate and exchange opinions, so let’s talk.

Also, if you would like to join me as a guest on my blog, check out the Guests Post page to know more and contact me so we can start planing your visit.

Love,

Jess