Thursday, February 22, 2024

French Holiday

 In this blog post, I reviewed Sarah Ready’s French Holiday This stand-alone romcom would take you on a wild adventure to France and bring on the heat. For Meredith “Merry” DeLuca, it all started when her sister Angela marries her best friend Leo.  As the matron of honor, she’s paired up with Noah Wright, a person she couldn’t stand and thought he had hated her.  Then things got worse at work, and her sister announced her pregnancy. Then her godmother Jupiter mentioned taking a holiday at a chateau in France for three months. What a perfect getaway. But then she ran into Noah at the same chateau, who she had to live with. She learns Noah’s there doing research for his film and also looking for his long-lost parents there. During her French holiday, Merry and Noah’s feelings begin to grow and deal with mysterious discoveries of France that brought them closer together.  In the end, they found each other and true love in the romantic country of the world.  

This  tender-hearted romcom is so heartfelt and emotional.  I cared for Merry, who had panged for her best friend in the worst way. Told from Merry’s POV, this pulls you into her story and how she fell in love with Noah to get her happily ever after fairy tale ending.  I loved the idyllic French countryside for the location and its mesmeric scenic settings. The theme of the story is never judge a book by its cover, even if it’s worst rival.


I rated this fantastic romcom, five stars, for no reason. If you love loveswept romcoms with non-stop romantic action, and plenty of sizzling, heart-pounding page-turning dramatic suspense, you’ll love French Holiday This book is recommended for fans of Heidi Stephens, Zara Stoneley, and Hallmark Movies.


Monday, February 19, 2024

The One for Me

 In Rachel Hanna’s The One for Me, the first installment in the January Cove contemporary romance series, this beautiful second chance love story would sweep you off your feet. For Jenna Watson, she’s a single mother and divorced from her crummy husband. She’s hit the hard times when her house forecloses and then loses her job. Then she didn’t expect to run into her ex-boyfriend, Kyle Parker, the one she broke his heart,  years ago. For Kyle, he wanted to venture out on his own real estate business and do his own thing. But he needed his mother’s approval. But then, when she came upon Jenna and her house, he couldn’t believe his eyes. And his own luck. Memories had come crashing back to him and the old heartache. Since he didn’t want her and her daughter Kaitlyn to be homeless, he invited him to live with him on a temporary basis, until she could find a new home. During this time, they’ve gotten closer together to revisit the past and maybe to start again to fall in love. But with Jenna’s past sneaking back to her, he needed to know the truth about her and her failed marriage, and make romantic overtures to reclaim what he had lost back then. 


This sweet contemporary romance pulls at your heartstrings.  I cared for Jenna, who works so hard to support her daughter, while trying to make ends meet. I also cared for Kyle, who hasn't gotten over Jenna and her heartbreak. I loved the location of January Cove that’s settled off the coast of Georgia. It had mesmerizing scenic settings for this sweet oceanside town. The theme of the story is to believe in second chances in life, love, and happiness. 


I rated this sweet contemporary romance, four of five stars, for no reason. If you love loveswept contemporary romances with non-stop dramatic action, and plenty of sizzling, heart-pounding page-turners, you’ll fall in love with The One for Me. This book is recommended for fans of Kristan Higgins, Jill Shalvis, Debbie Macomber, and Hallmark Movies.


Monday, January 29, 2024

Dockside Danger

 In this blog post, I reviewed Carol Ericson’s Dockside Danger, the third installment in The Lost Girls romantic suspense series, This caper had plenty of heat, romantic suspense, and twists and turns. For LAPD Detective Jane Falco, it all started for her when she landed a complicated domestic case. She had recently been given a hard time at the LAPD, since everyone knew about how she goes through her partners. And she hoped her partner, Damon Carter, would work out for her. But at the crime scene, she’s reunited with her former flame, FBI Agent Tim Ruskin. Tim couldn’t believe his luck when he ran into Jane after she formerly had known him as his undercover name as Terry Rush in a previous case. Together, they work on a case to locate missing and trafficked Russian women and investigate the Bratva connection. Though the heat was on, and the chemistry between them was cranked up a notch, someone wanted to do more than rattle Jane’s cage. In the end, they took down the bad guys in a fierce battle of life-and-death. 

This scintillating romantic suspense has a compelling fast-paced plot.  I cared for Jane, who had more than her fair share at work and in romance. I also cared for Tim, who wanted to find Lana and bring her home safely. The scenic settings for Los Angeles were idealistic and picturesque for the location. The dual themes of the story is give love a second chance, while greed could lead you to danger. 


I rated this sexy romantic suspense novel, four of five stars, for no reason. If you love heated romantic suspense novels with non-stop dramatic action, and plenty of sizzling, heart-pounding suspense, Dockside Danger is one to read this year. This book is recommended for fans of Karen Rose, Lisa Jackson, and Lisa Gardner.


Sunday, December 31, 2023

A Matter of Hive and Death

 In this blog post, I reviewed Nancy Coco’s (aka Nancy Parra) A Matter of Hive and Death, the 2nd installment in the Oregon Honeycomb Mystery cozy mystery series. This caper will captivate you and educate you about beekeeping at the same time. Wren Johnson owners her own small business, Let it Bee, and makes her own products from freshmade honey. As a fellow beekeeper, she went out to get some supplies from fellow beekeeper, Elias Brentwood. But she discovers a shocking mystery: his dead body and vandalized bee hives. This is when she calls her a fellow beekeeper friend, Klaus, for assistance. But the police have their eyes on him for a prime suspect, but Wren doesn’t believe he did it. As she works on making sales at her store, a former flame enters her life and stirs things up, while there’s a small brewing chemistry between her and Oceanview Detective, Jim Hampton. As she digs deeper into Elias’s life and beekeeping business, things get complicated for her and her Aunt Eloise at the shop. Caught in the middle, it’s up to Wren to figure out the truth from the lies before it’s too late for her, when she least expected who was the true culprit.

This compelling crafty cozy mystery has a good plot and educates readers about how saving the bees are essential to our ecosystem.  I cared for Wren, and how she has a sharp eye for details and solving mysteries. The scenic settings for Oceanview were windswept and compelling for Oregon’s picturesque location. The theme of the story is about greed and not mixing water with vinegar for evil scientific experiments.


I rated this interesting crafty cozy mystery, four of five stars, for no reason. If you love crafty cozies with a twist, non-stop action, and plenty of dramatic suspense, A Matter of Hive and Death is a must-read to read next year. This book is recommended for fans of Laura Childs, Holly Quinn, Sally Goldenbaum, and other cozy mysteries.


Monday, December 18, 2023

Curds of Prey

 In this blog post, I reviewed Korina Moss’s Curds of Prey, the 3rd installment in the Cheese Shop Mystery Romantic Cozy series, this enticing mystery is full of suspense, and a hint of romance.  For Willa Bauer, she owns a cheese shop in Yarrow Glen in Southern California. Her small business is successful selling cheese products. She’s confused on her feelings for her potential boyfriend, Roman Massey. She’s been uncertain and receiving mixed feelings about him. And when she learns about his past connection to the Harringtons, it gets complicated. When she’s invited to attend the wedding shower of Summer Harrington, things aren’t what they seem, when the potential groom winds up stabbed by a pitchfork in the stable. And Roman is the potential person of interest. To get him off the hook, she does a little sleuthing on her own to learn more about the Trumbull-Harrington families, and also on Summer’s sibling rivalry with her sister Chloe. One by one, more clues turn away from Roman and into another direction, when she winds up injured in a horseback riding accident. That’s when handsome Detective Heath comes to her aid and tiny sparks emit between them. Meanwhile, things turn up the heat for Willa when she becomes wary of a potential suspect or two of her own, before she gets caught off guard on whodunit and why. 

This  compelling romantic cozy mystery has a good balance of romance and mystery all wrapped up in one story. I cared for Willa. She’s a strong character to root for. She’s successful and has a keen eye on solving mysteries, though she ends up caught into a complex mystery. The scenic settings for Yarrow Glen were enchanted and mystique for the location in Southern California. The theme of the story is deception mixed with revenge can lead to danger. 


I rated this intriguing romantic cozy mystery, four of five stars, for no reason. If you love culinary cozies with a twist, non-stop action, and plenty of dramatic suspense, Curds of Prey is a must-read to read next year. This book is recommended for fans of Laura Childs, Janet Evanovich, Diane Mott Davidson, and Joanne Fluke.


Saturday, November 18, 2023

The Engagement Embargo

 In this blog post, I reviewed Samantha Chase’s The Engagement Embargo, the first installment in the Meet Me at the Altar contemporary romance series. This daring romance will make your heart sigh and weep with joy. For Elliott Sullivan, he had four failed relationships that ended up in engagements. After his recent bride on his wedding day left him at the altar, Elliott was tired of the heartache and the dejected rejection, hoping and wishing for the one. That’s when his family had told him to go on an embargo for one year–no dating and no relationships to get him out of this funk. But when his sister’s Josie’s best friend Skylar Jennings came out to drop him food from the canceled reception she became a good listener and a great friend. For Skye, she had the hugest crush on Elliott for the longest time, and had been in love with him for oh so long. But when Josie asked her to help her out with Elliott, she did it as a friend, though they had treated her like family. At first, there was nothing wrong with a casual relationship between friends seeking advice. But after the first kiss led to their first romp, it became a game-changer and a secret romantic relationship. Skye had heard Elliott say he didn’t want the same things she did, when all they had was casual sex and nothing more.  Though Elliott had broken the embargo, he had also broken her heart in the same process. In a valiant move, he professed his love for her and claimed her as his own for their fairy tail ending that would sweep you off your feet. 

This  heartfelt contemporary romance was beautifully written, and oh so moving for a wonderful love story. I cared for both Skylar and Elliott, who had to follow their hearts to find each other and took more than a huge leap of faith. They were both meant to be together and forever. I adored the North Carolina settings and the picturesque scenic locations. The theme of this story is love might sneak up on you right before your eyes.


I rate this awesome contemporary romance,  five of five stars, for no reason. If you love endearing romances with a crush on a bestie’s brother’s trope, juicy romantic action, plenty of drama, and lots of suspenseful twists, The Engagement Embargo is the one for you. This is recommended for fans of Robyn Carr, Jill Shalvis, Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Carly Phillips.


Thursday, November 16, 2023

Cheddar Late than Dead

 In this blog post, I reviewed Linda Reilly’s Cheddar Late than Dead, the 3rd installment in the Grilled Cheese Cozy Mystery series. This caper takes a big bite out of crime. It all started for Carly Hale, who owns a grilled cheese eatery in Balsam Dell, Vermont, when she was invited to host a wedding shower party for Klarissa Taddeo, one of her former high school friends, at the last minute. Though it would’ve been a perfect opportunity for her to conjure up more business for her grilled cheese sandwiches, when exactly she witnessed a shocking crime unexpectedly. When Klar’s fiance Tony was found dead, talk about total chaos at the scene. And Dawn Chapin, another former classmate of Carly’s and wedding planner, is the main suspect. Carly didn’t believe she had the gall to do it and did some sleuthing herself. Later, she discovered that the newest town manager, Gretel Engstom, had been missing for the past week. Were these two crimes connected in anyway? While she continued to run her business, she dug deeper to get close to the truth, until she became an unexpected victim and trapped with the culprit in the bitter end.

This delightful culinary cozy mystery was decadent as brie cheese and rich with twists and turns like chocolate. I cared for Carly, who was stuck into a twisted murder mystery, and had the hankering for solving the crimes.  I also felt bad for Dawn and Klarissa, who had difficult mothers who controlled their lives. I adored Havarti, Carly’s dog. I loved the windswept small town of Balsam Dell in Vermont for the location. It had rich picturesque scenic settings that painted it so well. The theme of the story is that overzealous obsession will lead you nowhere when you’re sick with greed.


I rate this book, four of five stars, for no reason. If you love heart-stopping culinary cozies with plenty of non-stoppable action, lots of intense suspense, and incredible drama, Cheddar Late than Never is right up your alley with delicious recipes to make at home! This book is recommended for fans of Diane Mott Davidson, Joann Carl, Joanne Pence, and Laura Childs.