Book & Author Details: Three Coins by Kimberly Sullivan Publication date: October 22nd 2021 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Synopsis:
One Eternal City. Three women. Three wishes. Three coins.
Emma, an American expat living in Rome for twenty years, can’t count on her ex-husband to help out with the kids when things get tough. Dario Rinaldi, famed plastic surgeon to the stars, is too busy gallivanting around Europe with young women to take an interest in his family.
Beautiful Tiffany, born and bred in Iowa, is desperate to get a spot as a dancer on an Italian television show. But is she willing to do whatever it takes to make her dreams of TV stardom come true?
Annarita, from an Italian-American family in Yonkers, teaches English to over-privileged Italians and regularly has her heart trampled by boyfriends all wrong for her. As her mother is always quick to point out, nothing has gone right for her since she moved to Italy. And she isn’t getting any younger, either.
Emma, Tiffany and Annarita all meet up by chance at a 1950s movie night while on a restorative holiday at a beach resort off-season. The triumphs and hardships of these three very different women become intertwined as they form an unlikely friendship and work to better their messy lives.
AUTHOR BIO:I write the women’s fiction stories I love to read, both contemporary and historic tales of women and the rich lives they lead along their journeys of self-discovery. A lifetime admirer and longtime resident of Italy, I’m often guilty of sneaking the bel paese into my stories.
Today I’m delighted to participate in the blog tour for Robin Bielman’s latest romance The Wedding Crasher and The Cowboy.
Title: The Wedding Crasher & The Cowboy
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Synopsis: Kennedy Martin is shocked when her ex calls days before his wedding, expressing serious second thoughts. Doesn’t he see his fiancée’s actually the glaze to his doughnut? Now she’s got no choice but to crash his wedding and convince the man he’s with the right woman.
Instead, she crashes into the absolute last man she ever wanted to see: Maverick Owens, her old college nemesis. Maverick is still as awful, infuriating, and just The Worst as ever—even if he looks way too sexy in his cowboy hat. And of course he’s convinced she’s actually at the seaside ranch to ruin the wedding.
Now the only way to get some face time with the groom and save this marriage is to participate in all sorts of pre-wedding events…with Maverick. Stuck on a canoe, making small-talk at cocktail hour, and even a hoedown with her worst enemy? This just might be the longest week of her life…
Just admire this lovely cover for a moment. So full of sunshine and hope- this is exactly what this book is like.
Kennedy Martin is the kind of person who never loses her calm-at least at work and she’d better not to, as she is an ER doctor. She’s a person who will listen to you attentively and genuinely care about what you’re saying, ready to step in and help if necessary. So when her ex-boyfriend Reed, not the latest ex (you’ll just have to read the book to find out what that one did), calls her out of blue during his bachelor party and confesses he isn’t sure he wants to get married, For the sake of their friendship, she needs to help him.
There’s only one snag- Kennedy wasn’t invited to the wedding, which means she needs to crash the wedding to talk to him to make sure he’s making the right decision. Whatever it will be. And if the event happens to take place on a ranch which belongs to her old college rival/archinemesis Maverick Owen’s family, so be it. Nothing will stop this five feet tall, stubborn woman from ensuring her friend’s future marital bliss. But as there’s still a whole week before Reed’s nuptials, there’s plenty of time to find out why were Maverick and Kennedy trying to outdo each other at the pre-med school, what happened to them afterwards. There’s plenty of time to fall in love (again) and maybe even have your heart broken. Or mended.
Once again, I want to praise the author who chooses a good guy as her protagonist. Romance books are full of ‘flawed, but so charming’ playboys-makes life interesting, right? wrong! makes life full of stress and anxiety. Give me Maverick any day! He’s the proverbial good man who is so hard to find. I adored Kennedy and her insatiable thirst for knowledge about everything and everyone around her. She’s sweet, hard-working, optimistic and likeable. Just maybe not as funny as her BFF Andrew with his jokes and improvised stories that kept poor Kennedy on her toes.
There were several moments in this book where I just couldn’t help tearing up, but overall, There’s more emotion in this book than carefree banter and it felt right. Sometimes this is exactly what you need- a sweet story of finding love when you are ready for it and not taking anything for granted, but taking care of people you love here and now.
Thank you to Inkslinger PR, NetGalley, the publisher (Entangled Amara) and the author for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
Author Bio: USA Today bestselling author Robin Bielman lives in Southern California with her awesome family and her very cute dog, Harry. She writes both sweet and sexy contemporary romances with one goal in mind: to leave you with a smile on your face. When not attached to her laptop, she loves to read, go to the beach, and frequent coffee shops with friends. She also dreams of traveling to faraway places and loves to connect with readers. Keep in touch on social! Xoxo
A brand new Christmas cowboy novel from New York Times bestseller Donna Grant! Emmy is witness to a crime in Denver and under police protection after she’s threatened. When the criminals discover her whereabouts, the detective in charge decides to take her somewhere no one will think to look for her – Montana. Dwight owes his buddy a favor, but he never expects his friend to bring a woman to his ranch to protect. What should be a walk in the park turns into something else entirely as he and Emmy grow closer, making his Christmas the best he’s ever had. The only problem is that those after her are closing in.
My thoughts:
A gripping romantic suspense with strong, independent, caring characters and great pace.
Donna Grant’s newest page-turner begins with Emmy’s heart-racing escape from Denver where she is supposed to testify against one of the most powerful mobsters and where, despite being placed into a witness program, she was held at gunpoint. Her handler Dalton Silva needs to find who in the Marshals office is leeking the information, but first and foremost he needs to hide Emmy and he even knows the best place- his old friend Dwight’s ranch. Dwight has a lot of military and Homeland Security experience and would anything to protect an innocent like Emmy. There is no safer place for Emmy, who is suffering from PTSD.
Donna Grant is a master of creating fast-paced stories with loyal, protective men and strong, independent women, and love born out of danger. If you enjoy the forced proximity trope, you’re going to love the way Emmy and Dwight develop feelings for each other. They feel safe and comfortable in each other’s company, understand each other without words, have the same values- perhaps these extreme circumstances brought together two soulmates who would have never met otherwise.
Add one of the most beautiful settings- Montana mountains around Thanksgiving-Christmas period of time and you have my heart melting. Well, there’s also a lot of heat in this perfect blend of romance and suspense, but, if you are a fan of Donna Grant’s, you probably expect some passionate scenes.
A quick and enjoyable read for any reader who loves a good romantic suspense story. Can’t wait to read Donna’s next book!
Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin’s for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant has penned over a hundred novels, novelettes, novellas, and short stories spanning multiple genres of romance including the exhilarating Dark King and Reaper paranormal series, the romantic suspense Sons of Texas series, the historical paranormal Kindred series, and the contemporary Heart of Texas series. She lives in Texas.
It’s Monday! What are you Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn from Book Date, a place to share and discuss what we’ve read in the past week and what we’re in the middle of or are planning to read this week.
What I read / listened to last week:
Retribution (DCI Jane Birchfield #3) by Heaton Wilson
An ex-soldier is mown down in a brutal hit and run. Was it an accident, or an act of murder?
DCI Jane Birchfield isn’t sure. She is struggling to stay focussed after a surprise marriage proposal, and is still waiting for news about a promotion. But she has to push it all to one side as the investigation swiftly escalates into the biggest challenge she has ever faced, bringing her into conflict with her superiors, her partner, and the British Army. She’s tested to the absolute limit, and for the very first time, finds herself asking whether it’s worth the sacrifice. Can she survive the pressure as the harsh reality of military conflict hits the streets of Ashbridge?
A Christmas at Gingerbread Falls by Katie Mettner
Actress Carrie Murray’s films are a Christmas lover’s delight. Filled with twinkling lights, festive carols, and happy endings, they’re the perfect escape from reality—for her and the audience. Then Tinseltown calls.
Braxton Timothy is Hollywood’s biggest action star. Handsome and talented but decidedly on the naughty list, no one can fathom his sudden desire to produce a feel-good Christmas movie—least of all, his no-name co-star.
Alternating between scenes reminiscent of everyone’s favorite made-for-TV movies and unexpected, off-screen chemistry, Gingerbread Falls has surprises in store this holiday season. The question is, will there be enough Christmas magic to convince two imperfect people that they’re perfect for each other?
…and the most enjoyable out of all of them… a buddy read with Yesha…
The Wicked King by Holly Black
The enchanting and bloodthirsty sequel to the New York Times bestselling novel The Cruel Prince.
You must be strong enough to strike and strike and strike again without tiring.
The first lesson is to make yourself strong.
After the jaw-dropping revelation that Oak is the heir to Faerie, Jude must keep her brother safe. To do so, she has bound the wicked king, Cardan, to her, and made herself the power behind the throne. Navigating the constantly shifting political alliances of Faerie would be difficult enough if Cardan were easy to control. But he does everything in his power to humiliate and undermine her even as his fascination with her remains undiminished.
When it becomes all too clear that someone close to Jude means to betray her, threatening her own life and the lives of everyone she loves, Jude must uncover the traitor and fight her own complicated feelings for Cardan to maintain control as a mortal in a Faerie world.
What I am reading/listening to now:
Home For a Cowboy Christmas by Donna Grant
Tis the season—for everyone except Emmy Garrett. She’s on the run after witnessing a crime. But when it becomes clear that trouble will continue following her, the US Marshal in charge takes her somewhere no one will think to look–Montana. Not only is Emmy in a new place for her protection, but now, she’s stuck with a handsome cowboy as her bodyguard…and she wants to do more than kiss him under the mistletoe.
Dwight Reynolds left behind his old career, but it’s still in his blood. When an old friend calls in a favor, Dwight opens his home to a woman on the run. He tries to keep his distance, but there’s something about Emmy he can’t resist. She stokes his passion and turns his cold nights into warm ones. When danger shows up looking for Emmy, Dwight risks everything to keep her safe.
What I’m reading /listening to next:
Yesha and I have just finished the first two books from the Folk of Air trilogy. Can we stay away from the third one? of course, not!
The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black
A powerful curse forces the exiled Queen of Faerie to choose between ambition and humanity in this highly anticipated and jaw-dropping finale to The Folk of the Air trilogy from a #1 New York Times bestselling author.
He will be the destruction of the crown and the ruination of the throne
Power is much easier to acquire than it is to hold onto. Jude learned this lesson when she released her control over the wicked king, Cardan, in exchange for immeasurable power.
Now as the exiled mortal Queen of Faerie, Jude is powerless and left reeling from Cardan’s betrayal. She bides her time determined to reclaim everything he took from her. Opportunity arrives in the form of her twin sister, Taryn, whose life is in peril.
Jude must risk venturing back into the treacherous Faerie Court, and confront her lingering feelings for Cardan, if she wishes to save her sister. But Elfhame is not as she left it. War is brewing. As Jude slips deep within enemy lines she becomes ensnared in the conflict’s bloody politics.
And, when a dormant yet powerful curse is unleashed, panic spreads throughout the land, forcing her to choose between her ambition and her humanity . . .
Stolen Ones (D.I.Kim Stone #15)by Angela Marsons
25 years ago he took a girl. Today he takes another. One August afternoon, eight-year-old Grace Lennard skips into the garden of the childcare centre she attends and vanishes into thin air.
Hours before, Steven Harte walks into Halesowen police station and confesses to having information that will lead Detective Kim Stone to Melody Jones – the little girl who was taken from a playground exactly twenty-five years ago. But something about his confession is off and Kim dismisses his claims.
Arriving at the scene of Grace’s disappearance, Kim finds a chilling piece of evidence: the heart bracelet belonging to Melody. Now Kim must play Steven’s twisted game if she is to find Grace alive. But they’re going to play by Kim’s rules.
With only twenty-four hours to make every second of Steven’s interrogation count, and scan his behaviour for hidden clues, Kim and her team soon link Steven to the abduction of several vulnerable girls – two were kept for a year and then released, unharmed – but where are Melody and the others?
Then small bones are discovered in the grounds of a local park, and Kim fears the worst.
Kim may be close to convicting a killer, but there’s another who wants revenge against her – Dr Alex Thorne – the evil woman Kim did her best to keep behind bars. Alex is about to reveal a shocking secret to Kim that will hit her where it hurts the most. And if Kim lets Alex mess with her head, she might not be able to save Grace and find the other missing girls in time.
An edge-of-your-seat thriller that will leave your heart in your mouth. You will be totally hooked on the utterly addictive, number one, multi-million-copy bestselling Detective Kim Stone series.
How did your last week go and what are you reading this week?
Title: Sea & Ash Author: Heather C. Myers Publication date: October 21st 2021 Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Synopsis:
Seventeen year old Hannah Walker can tell when people are lying and she hates it. This magic has been with her since she was born and no one has taught her a thing about it or why she has it in the first place. The only thing she knows is that if it’s discovered, she will be put to death. Not even being the second daughter of Port Ankura’s manager will save her from the strict laws put forth by the regency concerning magic.
When Hannah’s best friend is found brutally murdered, Hannah vows to solve who committed such a vicious act no matter what the cost. She enlists the help of businessman Adrian Blood, a man as wicked as he is handsome, in hopes to use his vast resources to find the killer. He owes her a debt after she saved his life and exposed her magic to him in the process. They strike a bargain: help her find out what happened to her friend and she’ll use her powers to tell him who wants to kill him.
Clues begin to pile up, hinting that the murderer isn’t a man at all, but a Blood Mage. Blood Mages are thought to be stories that scare wicked children into compliance. They live on their ships during the day and terrorize land at night, feeding on blood of the innocent to survive.
As they chase down leads and sneak into the morgue in order to inspect the body, Hannah starts to feel things for Adrian she shouldn’t. Not only is Adrian dangerous, but there’s something she can’t quite put her finger on. More than that, Hannah knows Adrian is keeping a secret from her. Can she learn to trust him anyway, even knowing that whatever Adrian is hiding might be the key to everything?
SEA & ASH has the dark paranormal mystery of the STALKING JACK THE RIPPER COLLECTION by Kerri Maniscalo, and the forbidden romance of FROM BLOOD AND ASH by Jennifer L. Armentrout. It is the first in a trilogy.
Full disclosure: I am an acquired taste. I’m a typical blonde Orange County suburbanite who says ‘like’ more than necessary, laughs loud and probably obnoxiously, and loves to dance in the rain. I’m a 28 year old college graduate with more than a few tricks up my sleeve, and I also happen to be a pretty big Ducks fan. Oh, and I’m a writer. Like, for real.
I don’t speak in third person (normally) nor do I wear glasses (except when I’m feeling particularly mischievous). I’m lucky to have found my soul mate at the ripe old age of 22, even though he frustrates me on purpose to get a reaction out of me. We live near Disneyland, have two rambunctious female puppies, and have two beautiful girls. He has two amazing boys, and has gotten me hooked on Smallville, watching soccer (okay, okay FOOTBALL – FC Barcelona, baby!), and Cancun Juice.
Book & Author Details: G.O.A.T by Liz Crowe (Detroit Sports Network, #4) Published by: Evernight Publishing Publication date: October 7th 2021 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Synopsis:
On the day Roz Garnet signed divorce papers, ending her near thirty year marriage to a hot-shot sports agent, she figured a celebration was in order. Little did she know that stopping by her favorite Detroit bar for an old fashioned would lead to a life-altering moment. All she wanted to do was to sink in her own self-pity puddle and try to figure out what she was going to do next.
Retired football star Sean Ridley was thrilled to have landed an up-and-coming agent for his son, so once that deal was struck, he stopped by his favorite Detroit bar for his own solitary celebration—no plans in place for a life-changing, chance meet up either.
But lives are changed, and plans are altered, and after one seriously hot weekend at a premiere horse racing event, Roz and Sean have to face the fact of the matter—that their first meeting might have been pure coincidence but it was one that made all the difference.
Lust and love don’t stop happening after forty—just ask the G.O.A.T.
Liz Crowe is a Kentucky native and graduate of the University of Louisville living in Central Illinois. She’s spent her time as a three-continent expat trailing spouse, mom of three, real estate agent, brewery owner and bar manager, and is currently a social media consultant and humane society development director, in addition to being an award-winning author. With stories set in the not-so-common worlds of breweries, on the soccer pitch, inside fictional television stations and successful real estate offices, and even in exotic locales like Istanbul, Turkey, her books are compelling and told with a fresh voice. The Liz Crowe backlist has something for any reader seeking complex storylines with humor and complete casts of characters that will delight, at times frustrate, and always linger in the imagination long after the book is finished.
Book & Author Details: Frozen Agenda by Maureen A. Miller (High-Risk Agenda, #3) Publication date: September 30th 2021 Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense
Synopsis:
A mysterious coin leads two strangers on a daring journey to an uncharted island.
I am being followed…
That was the cryptic note that accompanied the ancient coin Zachary Selmon examined in his campus office. An archeology professor by day and a numismatist, or collector of coins by night, Zach was puzzled by this piece of silver and concerned about the old friend who sent it.
Art grad student, Gretchen Rice, was too engrossed in studies to worry about the snowstorm that shut down Summerlin University. But when an armed man appears in the library, demanding to know, “Where is the coin?” she did what she had to…screamed and ran.
Zach and Gretchen collide in the hallway, an encounter that pits them together in a race to determine the origin of the coin. They are being followed. They are being hunted. They are falling in love. And their only recourse is to rely on each other and embark on a daring journey to an arctic island that is not supposed to exist.
USA TODAY bestselling author, Maureen A. Miller worked in the software industry for fifteen years. She crawled around plant floors in a hard hat and safety glasses hooking up computers to behemoth manufacturing machines. The job required extensive travel. The best form of escapism during those lengthy airport layovers became writing.
Maureen’s first novel, WIDOW’S TALE, earned her a Golden Heart nomination in Romantic Suspense. After that she became hooked to the genre. In fact, she was so hooked she is the founder of the JUST ROMANTIC SUSPENSE website.
Recently, Maureen branched out into the Young Adult Science Fiction market with the popular BEYOND Series. To her it was still Romantic Suspense…just on another planet!
Christmas is still about sixty days away from us, but it’s never too early to read a sweet and romantic story such as A Christmas at Gingerbread Falls by Katie Mettner.
Book details:
A Christmas at Gingerbread Falls by Katie Mettner Publication date: October 12th 2021 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Holiday, Romance
Synopsis: Actress Carrie Murray’s films are a Christmas lover’s delight. Filled with twinkling lights, festive carols, and happy endings, they’re the perfect escape from reality—for her and the audience. Then Tinseltown calls.
Braxton Timothy is Hollywood’s biggest action star. Handsome and talented but decidedly on the naughty list, no one can fathom his sudden desire to produce a feel-good Christmas movie—least of all, his no-name co-star.
Alternating between scenes reminiscent of everyone’s favorite made-for-TV movies and unexpected, off-screen chemistry, Gingerbread Falls has surprises in store this holiday season. The question is, will there be enough Christmas magic to convince two imperfect people that they’re perfect for each other?
This “sweet as a Christmas cookie” romance (bestselling author Heidi Swain) includes an original recipe for Maple Glazed Gingerbread Scones.
I don’t know about you, but I’m already looking forward to my Christmas marathon of Hallmark movies with their festive spirit and all the warm and fuzzy feels. When my initial confusion over the first scene in this book cleared and I realised we were on a movie set and ‘the protagonist’ Noelle was a movie character, I was delighted. A Christmas at Gingerbread Falls is a story in a story and both of them are romances.
No one is as surprised as Carrie Murray when she gets an invitation to audition for a role next to famous (or should we say notorious?) Braxton Timothy. She has no idea why this celebrity chose to make and co-star in this sweet, feel good romance. For Carrie, this is the genre she feels most comfortable with, but will they have enough onscreen chemistry to create something special and make the audience believe in love magic? And when it becomes clear that there’s the proverbial spark between the two lead actors, should they leave their past experiences behind and let their feelings grow?
To be honest, I found the onscreen romance between Noelle, a homeloving cafe owner in a small town, and Carson, a new doctor who has just moved to the town, unbelievably cheesy, but the ‘real life’ plot was well-balanced with uplifting moments (and some steam!) and sad, tragic backstories.
Overall, this was a quick and entertaining Christmas read and I would love to read more from Katie Mettner in future.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and Giselle from Xpresso Book Tours for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
AUTHOR BIO: Katie Mettner writes small-town romantic tales filled with epic love stories and happily-ever-afters. She proudly wears the title of, ‘the only person to lose her leg after falling down the bunny hill,’ and loves decorating her prosthetic with the latest fashion trends. She lives in Northern Wisconsin with her own happily-ever-after and three mini-mes. Katie has a massive addiction to coffee and Twitter, and a lessening aversion to Pinterest — now that she’s quit trying to make the things she pins.
Book & Author Details: The Choices: A Treasure Hunt Thriller by Alan L. Moss Publication date: October 15th 2021 Genres: Adult, Thriller Synopsis:
Sixty-six million years ago, the Chicxulub asteroid crashed into the Yucatan peninsula. Its heat and dust killed the dinosaurs and most other species on the planet.
Based on newly generated NASA measurements and a unique theory, a Ph.D. geology student concludes the Chicxulub asteroid created a fortune in hidden diamonds. When she discovers her business partner and financier is of questionable character, she escapes to Canada to plan an expedition to mine the stones.
Gary Levin arrives in the same Canadian village to mourn the loss of his wife, senselessly murdered during a white supremacist shooting. He soon finds a wounded golden retriever and a flash drive of unknown origin.
Puzzled by information on the flash drive, Levin learns the data could guide mining the fortune in diamonds from Mexico’s Yucatan cenotes (underground water channels). Although there is danger diving/mining the waters and evidence of opposition plotting their demise, the lure of the diamonds and the opulence they represent are too much to resist.
Levin and his companions crisscross the globe in a race to obtain the diamonds before the spurned financier and an approaching hurricane can disrupt their efforts.
Alan L. Moss is a unique and emerging voice in the thriller genre. His novels spin sophisticated tales of conspiracy, love, sex, and subterfuge.
In his latest work, The Samoa Seduction, two strong willed individuals are haunted by their love for one another while manipulated by a deadly conspiracy.
Alan’s writing draws upon Ph. D. research capabilities and many years in Washington, D.C. as a federal Chief Economist, Congressional Fellow, and Adjunct Instructor at the University of Virginia’s Northern Virginia Center. In 2002 he put his government career aside and moved to the Jersey Shore to pursue his writing.
He has penned six published books, four novels and two nonfiction works. After years of politics and bureaucracy, Alan has found the freedom of writing fiction an intoxicating and satisfying calling.
Distinguishing features of Alan’s novels are involvement with significant national and international issues and spectacular locations. His new novel, The Samoa Seduction (October 2015 by A-Argus Books/W & B Publishers) is an eye opening thriller that combines the action of a drug company conspiracy, industry efforts to suppress wages, and government corruption with murder and a steamy affair. Settings include Samoa’s lush scenery, the Central Canterbury Plains of New Zealand’s south island, a resort on Hawaii’s Molokai Island, the TranzAlpine Railroad, and tuna fishing vessels on the Tasman Sea.
Alan’s previous work on The Insidious Deception Saga chronicles how a pre-med student and brilliant college professor become entangled in conspiracies hatched by al Qaeda and a ruthless CEO. The two resulting novels include:Insidious Deception (Whiskey Creek Press 2013), and the sequel, Surviving the Endgame (Whiskey Creek Press 2014), in which a presidential election becomes a deadly contest between the international conspirators and those seeking their destruction. Rob Taylor, the series’ protagonist, finds the love of his life and struggles to protect her from the conspiracy’s violent tentacles.
Turning to Alan’s nonfiction work, in May 2008 Praeger Publishing released Selling-Out America’s Democracy. The book shows how special interests, through their lobbyists and the U.S. system of campaign financing, have denied a majority of the American population the policies they seek and have led the nation into a period of decline. The book includes telling interviews of Washington insiders and a four-part plan to restore the U.S. democracy. Copies are available at www.amazon.com and other web book sites.
Alan is a member of the Authors Guild, International Thriller Writers, and the American Political Science Association.
For more information about Alan and his writing, see www.alanlmoss.com.
Thankyou to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to participatein the blog tour for Christmas Wishes at the Chocolate Shop by Jessica Redland.
Christmas Wishes At The Chocolate Shop
Sometimes you just need a little Christmas magic to make your wishes come true… When master chocolatier, Charlee, takes the leap to move to the picturesque seaside town of Whitsborough Bay, she is determined to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps and set up a chocolate shop.
Luckily, she finds the perfect location for Charlee’s Chocolates on beautiful Castle Street… Now she just has to refurbish it in time for Christmas!
With a useless boyfriend and countless DIY disasters, Charlee doesn’t know if she’ll make it in time. With no ‘traditional’ family to support her, she feels lost in her new surroundings and the secrets of the past are weighing her down.
But the warmth and festive spirit of the Whitsborough Bay community will surprise her, and when plumber, Matt, comes to the rescue, it might be that all of Charlee’s dreams could come true this Christmas, and she could learn what family really means…
Escape to Castle Street for the perfect uplifting, festive read from top 10 bestseller Jessica Redland. Christmas Wishes at the Chocolate Shop was originally released as Charlee and the Chocolate Shop. Now re-released with a new title and new cover, this version has been freshly edited and features several new chapters.
My thoughts: It’s always a pleasure to pick up one of Jessica Redland’s lovely, magical, full of emotion and drama stories! Especially when it is set in Whitsborough Bay, a small seaside town with a great community. Let’s just admire this gorgeous cover for a moment…It really doesn’t get more festive and romantic than this! My heart went straightaway to Charlee, a master chocolatier (what a fabulous jobit is- making people happy with your creations, a bit like writing Christmas stories ), who has just relocated to Whitsborough Bay with her boyfriend. There’s a lot of pressure on her and Ricky couldn’t have been more useless, even if he tried! Luckily, Charlee is about to find out what a wonderfully caring community her new town is. Sometimes you really need a bit of help and friendly support to make you see the big picture and change the way you feel about some pretty important things in life. As usual, the characters are well-developed and have their own challenges to overcome. Charlee becomes stronger and more determined throughout the story and it’s impossible not to wish her love and happiness she deserves. If you’re looking for a sweet story with family secrets, friendships and festive fabulousness, Christmas Wishes at the Chocolate Shop might be exactly what you need at this time of year.
Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources and Jessica Redland for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
Author Bio –
Jessica Redland writes uplifting stories of love, friendship, family and community set in Yorkshire where she lives. Her Whitsborough Bay books transport readers to the stunning North Yorkshire Coast and her Hedgehog Hollow series takes them into beautiful countryside of the Yorkshire Wolds.
readingtonic 