Source: Gift

Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison | Book Review

Posted December 23, 2022 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 0 Comments

Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison | Book ReviewLovelight Farms by B.K. Borison
Series: Lovelight Farms #1
Published by Self on November 10, 2021
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Holiday - Christmas, Romance
Pages: 416
Format: eBook
Source: Gift
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Where the lovelight gleams …

A pasture of dead trees. A hostile takeover of the Santa barn by a family of raccoons. And shipments that have mysteriously gone missing. Lovelight Farms is not the magical winter wonderland of Stella Bloom’s dreams.

In an effort to save the Christmas tree farm she’s loved since she was a kid, she enters a contest with instafamous influencer Evelyn St. James. With the added publicity and the $100,000 cash prize, she might just be able to save the farm from its financial woes. There’s just one problem. To make the farm seem like a romantic destination for the holidays, she lied on the application and said she owns Lovelight Farms with her boyfriend. Only … there is no boyfriend.

Enter best friend Luka Peters. He just came home for some hot chocolate, and somehow got a farm and a serious girlfriend in the process.

Well that was lovely. Anyone who throws together fake dating best friends on a Christmas tree farm deserves my undivided attention. And, B.K. Borison you got it! I will admit, I was worried about the hype but I needn’t have worried. This was lovely. Lovely, I tell you. As always, my main points are bolded.

1. Ok. Stella owns a Christmas tree farm that she and her mother, who passed away before the book began, went to when she was a child. It holds so many memories for her, so when it went up for sale she bought it. But times are tough. The farm is hemorrhaging money because everything keeps going wrong (or is it sabotage??), so she enters a content to try and win a cash prize and publicity from a famous social media influencer. Grrr… I am so tired of influencers. Like, SO tired. lol. But moving on. Stella lies on the application for the contest and claims her best friend, who she has been in love with for years, is her boyfriend. No big deal, she will rope him into pretending he is. And he is really, really good at it. Stella is super likable. She’s guarded, but she loves fiercely and protects those she cares about. Luka is a dreamboat. No complaints.

2. Speaking of Luka. He’s Italian and loves to cook Stella yummy pasta dishes, tidies up her home when he visits, and will drop everything at the drop of a hat to be there for her. Where do I get myself a Luka? And his mother, oh my gosh. I love his mom.

3. I love the other supporting characters who co-own the farm with Stella. They’ve got a lovely found family dynamic, and look out for one another. The three of them are such a supportive and loving unit. I’m excited to read their stories in the other books in this series. I also love the local sheriff. He’s taken Stella on as a daughter figure and is very quick to help her with whatever she needs. He watches out for her, and I loved that. The influencer, Evelyn, even won me over, with her down-to-earth personality and caring nature. All in all, it’s such a great cast of characters.

4. I loved the setting so much. The Christmas tree farm sounds magical and beautiful, and the descriptions of the scenery and the weather were breathtaking. I loved the small town, and how everyone knew everyone. It felt like such a friendly place to be.

5. There’s a bit of a mystery, with a couple tense moments, which really added to the story! There’s also a lot of depth surrounding the origins of Stella’s and Luka’s friendship and also how she acquired the farm, which grounded the rather light and fluffy main storyline.

All in all, I loved this. Lovelight Farms is just as sweet and cozy as its name, and I really enjoyed reading it. I got all the warm fuzzies and so much Christmas cheer. I can’t wait to read the other books!


A Christmas Spark by Cindy Steel | Book Review

Posted December 21, 2022 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 0 Comments

A Christmas Spark by Cindy Steel | Book ReviewA Christmas Spark by Cindy Steel
Series: Pride and Pranks #1
Published by Self on December 5, 2020
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Holiday - Christmas, Romance, Romantic Comedy
Pages: 131
Format: eBook
Source: Gift
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Snowed in at a cabin with the most infuriating man in the world. I may take my chances with the wolves...

When my best friend found out I’d be alone over Christmas, she hooked me up with a week stay in her family’s cabin in Idaho. I was on a publishing deadline for my latest book and was really looking forward to a cozy week by the fire, cuddled up in flannel pajamas with my laptop and hot chocolate.

Alone.

So imagine my surprise when I arrived at the cabin during a blizzard, and found it already occupied. By an all too familiar face and a fine pack of chiseled abs. Even though it had been ten years since I’d last seen Chase, he had no problem picking up exactly where we left off. I had a big problem with it.It didn’t matter what he threw at me—the old nickname, the teasing, his charming grin, or even those chiseled abs (did I already mention those?), I refused to let him get to me after…the incident. Nope, not me. I was made of stone.

Unfortunately, I’m beginning to understand that when you strike Chase against stone…you get sparks.

★A Christmas Spark is a closed-door romantic comedy full of heart, sizzle, witty banter, and one tiny swear word, but swoony kisses are as steamy as it gets!

I love, love snowed in romances, so when I stumbled across this book last year while looking for some fun Christmas reads I knew I had to have it even though I’m not the biggest fan of enemies to lovers. In this story, the enemies part comes from back in high school when Chase said some hurtful things about Penny. She still feels that pain, whereas he has no recollection of ever saying anything. I think the fact that only one of them saw the other as an enemy is why the trope didn’t bother me. I do wish these two had talked it out way before now, though, because 10 years is a long time to feel that kind of pain over a thing your dumb brother’s best friend said as a teen. But then we wouldn’t have a story, would we? And honestly, if I put myself in Penny’s shoes I’d still be hurt 20 years later and definitely wouldn’t have said anything to Chase about it, so who am I to talk? High school is rough. I know I came out a little traumatized. I really enjoyed how they handled working through it, though, and Chase’s treatment of the situation warmed my heart. The boy has grown up. And he’s gotten himself some abs.

I loved the setting of the cabin. It sounded so cozy and remote, with all the snow and the cold nights under blankets. I’d love to be stranded in that cabin, and I’d really love to be stranded in it with Chase. I loved the banter, the antics, and the Christmas. It’s such a short, short story that I really can’t say much more without spoiling anything! There’s some super swoony moments and some tender discussions and I enjoyed all of it. Many feelings. Cindy’s writing is great, and I can’t wait to read more of this series!


Devil In Disguise by Lisa Kleypas | Book Review

Posted August 11, 2022 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 2 Comments

Devil In Disguise by Lisa Kleypas | Book ReviewDevil In Disguise by Lisa Kleypas
Series: The Ravenels #7
Also in this series: Cold-Hearted Rake, Marrying Winterborne, Devil In Spring, Hello Stranger, Devil's Daughter, Chasing Cassandra
Published by Avon on July 27, 2021
Genres: Historical Romance, Romance
Pages: 384
Format: eBook
Source: Gift
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An enthralling and steaming romance between a widowed lady and a Scot on the run—who may have connections to one of London's most noble families.

Lady Merritt Sterling, a strong-willed young widow who’s running her late husband’s shipping company, knows London society is dying to catch her in a scandal. So far, she’s been too smart to provide them with one. But then she meets Keir MacRae, a rough-and-rugged Scottish whisky distiller, and all her sensible plans vanish like smoke. They couldn’t be more different, but their attraction is powerful, raw and irresistible.

From the moment Keir MacRae arrives in London, he has two goals. One: don’t fall in love with the dazzling Lady Merritt Sterling. Two: avoid being killed.

So far, neither of those is going well.

Keir doesn’t know why someone wants him dead until fate reveals his secret connection to one of England’s most powerful families. His world is thrown into upheaval, and the only one he trusts is Merritt. Their passion blazes with an intensity Merritt has never known before, making her long for the one thing she can’t have from Keir MacRae: forever. As danger draws closer, she’ll do whatever it takes to save the man she loves . . . even knowing he might be the devil in disguise.

Alrighty, this review might hurt a little. I LOVE Lisa Kleypas. I’ve read over 12 of her books just this year, and have loved all of them so much. You know how when you fall in love with an author’s books you sort of hold them to a higher standard? That’s what I’ve done. Lisa Kleypas has changed how I judge a historical romance. I love The Ravenels series, but Devil In Disguise is my least favorite. Making this even sadder is the fact that Devil In Disguise is also the last book in this series. I wanted a grand finale, and I got a dud instead. That’s not to say the book wasn’t good. Lisa’s writing is still phenomenal, the swoons are there, the storytelling is great, and the characters are lovable. Let me try and explain my feelings a little better. As always, my main points are bolded.

1. First of all… I don’t know why this book is a part of the Ravenels series. Merritt is not a Ravenel. She’s Marcus’s (Lord Westcliff) daughter. Readers meet Marcus in The Wallflowers series, he marries Lillian Bowman, and they end up having Merritt, who is a sweet little baby in the first book of The Hathaways series, Mine Till Midnight, later on. Keir is also not a Ravenel. The title of this book has “Devil” in it which, up to this point, has only been used in book titles that feature Lord St. Vincent (Devil In Winter: The Wallflowers book #3) and his son, Gabriel (Devil In Spring: The Ravenels book #3). So I went into this a little confused. Every Ravenel found love in the previous books, so who is left? And does the word “Devil” in the title mean Sebastian St. Vincent is a key character in this story? I did get my answers but this is not a Ravenels book. It would make more sense to call this a second generation Wallflowers book because of who Merritt’s parents are. 

2. I didn’t really connect with Merritt or Keir. I liked them, but I didn’t feel like I got to know them and become as attached to them as I have other Lisa Kleypas characters. Merritt is a widow and runs her husband’s shipping company with her brother. She’s strong, self-sufficient, and guarded. Understandably, she’s not actively seeking out romance. She is a very good businesswoman, and cares a lot about the people who work for her. Keir is a Scottish man, who was adopted at a young age, and is a whisky distiller. Keir is not super memorable. I would have liked a little more info on his backstory and see more of his personality, but I digress.

3. The romance. Meh. Again, it’s not very memorable and includes some tropes I don’t like. Merritt and Keir are working out a partnership between their two businesses, so he’s traveled from his home in Scotland to London for that reason. After their meeting an attempt is made on Keir’s life and he gets amnesia. Merritt steps in to take care of him while he recovers and we run into a sort of instalove situation, which I’m not a fan of. I also don’t like amnesia plots. Merritt has also struggled with infertility (she has uterine fibroids), which is magically cured by Keir’s virility. I don’t like the magical sperm trope either. lol. Finally, Keir says some incredibly cheesy things and I found myself cringing a lot when he made his sweeping declarations of love and devotion. So yeah, I didn’t like this romance very much.

4. I really think this book was written because Lisa Kleypas is in love with Sebastian, Lord St. Vincent, and wanted to give him another book. And I love him, too, so I actually liked seeing so much of him! I’ve seen people complain that St. Vincent overshadowed Merritt and Keir, but I was fine with that (although, I suppose I might have gotten to know them better and like them more if they had been more of a focal point.). I love St. Vincent and it was fun to check back in with him, Evie, and characters from Lisa’s other books like Ethan Ransom (LOVE HIM).

5. I did enjoy the suspenseful aspects. Keir is the target of assassins, so there is danger lurking under everything for the bulk of the story. I love it when Lisa Kleypas adds in a suspenseful subplot.

All in all, this was a disappointing end to the Ravenels series. It was fun to see cameos from some of my favorite characters from Lisa Kleypas’s other books and her writing is always lovely, but the romance left much to be desired and I felt like both Merritt’s and Keir’s characters were less developed and easy to love when compared to other characters of Lisa’s (like West Ravenel and Marcus).


Marrying Winterborne by Lisa Kleypas | Book Review

Posted April 21, 2022 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 0 Comments

Marrying Winterborne by Lisa Kleypas | Book ReviewMarrying Winterborne by Lisa Kleypas
Series: The Ravenels #2
Also in this series: Cold-Hearted Rake, Devil In Spring, Hello Stranger, Devil's Daughter, Chasing Cassandra, Devil In Disguise
Published by Avon on March 31, 2016
Genres: Historical Romance, Romance
Pages: 380
Format: eBook
Source: Gift
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A ruthless tycoon.

Savage ambition has brought common-born Rhys Winterborne vast wealth and success. In business and beyond, Rhys gets exactly what he wants. And from the moment he meets the shy, aristocratic Lady Helen Ravenel, he is determined to possess her. If he must take her virtue to ensure she marries him, so much the better . . .

A sheltered beauty.

Helen has had little contact with the glittering, cynical world of London society. Yet Rhys’s determined seduction awakens an intense mutual passion. Helen’s gentle upbringing belies a stubborn conviction that only she can tame her unruly husband. As Rhys’s enemies conspire against them, Helen must trust him with her darkest secret. The risks are unthinkable . . . the reward, a lifetime of incomparable bliss.

And it all begins with . . . marrying Mr. Winterborne.

I immediately jumped into Marrying Winterborne after finishing Cold-Hearted Rake, thanks to a kind friend gifting me a copy when she saw it on my wish list. I’m so, so grateful she did because I loved this book so much and am happy I was able to read it right after coming off that high from the first book. I was not ready to leave this family and I was eager to read about Helen’s love story with Rhys after the slight cliffhanger the first book ended with. Marrying Winterborne picks up right where Cold-Hearted Rake ends, and I quickly settled in for what I was sure would be a magical and swoonworthy romance. I was right. As always, my main points are bolded.

1. Helen is my favorite Ravenel lady. I loved reading about her interactions with Rhys while she was nursing him back to health after he was injured in a train accident in Cold-Hearted Rake, and she continues to endear herself to me. She’s very sheltered and innocent, but so strong and brave at the same time. Her past holds a secret that she fears could ruin her relationship with Rhys, but that doesn’t stop her from allowing herself to fall for him fully and completely. She exhibits bravery multiple times in her interactions with others and her convictions to do what’s right. She takes care of those she loves and will throw her fears aside to fight for what she wants. Do not underestimate Lady Helen.

2. Rhys Winterborne… *dreamy sigh* When I met him in Cold-Hearted Rake, I wasn’t so sure how I was going to feel about him. He came off as terse, grumpy, cold, stubborn, and determined to get what he wants. I couldn’t imagine him being so romantic, loving, caring, compassionate, and protective. But he is! Helen brings out this mushy, endearing side of Rhys. He will fall over backwards for her, and will stop at nothing to give her everything possible and be everything she deserves. He’s quick to swoop in and make everything ok, but he also allows Helen the freedom to voice her own opinions and make her own decisions without railroading over her to serve his motives. Oh, and he’s one of those rare champions of women that we hardly ever see in the genre! He firmly believes that women are capable of anything, and hires strong, talented women to work for him because he knows their worth. I just loved that about him. Rhys might just be my favorite hero in historical romance.

3. The romance is so, so romantic. I loved watching Rhys and Helen get to know one another in Cold-Hearted Rake, but seeing them fall in love was a treat. The passion they have for one another, and the feelings they have are so well written and powerful. These two are very different and come from very different backgrounds. Helen’s sheltered upbringing, combined with her soft-spoken personality create a very interesting contrast to Rhys’s fight from the bottom of society to the top. He’s a self-made success in the business world, and has had to work hard to solidify his reputation as a worthwhile member of society. The feelings these two feel for one another are just… *chef’s kiss* I don’t know how Lisa Kleypas can write such passion and unconditional love, but she can and she did it beautifully with this story. Rhys and Helen face some pretty significant obstacles, but they come through them so much stronger and more in love because they’re able to communicate and express themselves. They stand by one another through it all, and how can you not swoon over a couple like that?

4. Lisa Kleypas seems to enjoy writing a little bit of suspense and danger in her books, and I LOVE it. 

5. The ending is seriously one of the best endings I’ve read. There’s always this point in a romance where there’s a big reveal or a big issue that threatens the couple’s relationship. You know what I’m talking about. When that moment struck in Marrying Winterborne, I will admit that I was nervous how it would all go down. I was so pleasantly surprised and delighted by the man that Rhys is during this scene. I fell in love with him even more. There’s a string of very tender, heartwarming moments during the last part of the book that had me soaring by the end.

All in all, Marrying Winterborne was fantastic. I honestly think it might be my new favorite historical romance ever. Do yourself a favor and read it right away. Better yet, buy the entire Ravenels series! I know you’ll fall in love with them just as I have. I’m not usually one to binge historical romance series, but I am flying through this one and loving every moment!

 


One Night Only by Catherine Walsh | Book Review

Posted February 3, 2022 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 4 Comments

One Night Only by Catherine Walsh | Book ReviewOne Night Only by Catherine Walsh
Narrator: Jessica Regan
Published by Bookouture on July 30, 2021
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Romantic Comedy
Pages: 311
Length: 9 hours 17 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Gift
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Who could have predicted this? Being at the same wedding. In Ireland. There’s a reason one-night stands are one-night stands. You’re not supposed to see each other again, especially not when you’re the maid of honor, and he’s the groom’s brother…

Sarah Anderson has never been more excited about anything in her life. She’s going to her best friend’s wedding. And not just any wedding. An Irish wedding. Goodbye New York, hello rolling green hills and men with beautiful accents and twinkling eyes.

But Sarah should have known that not all guests are fairy-tale princes…

There’s the chinless Uncle Trevor, whose idea of small talk is to claim climate change is a conspiracy.

Then there’s Great Aunt Eileen, who doesn’t talk at all (she’s too busy replacing the hotel cutlery with her own set).

Worst of all, there’s Declan Murphy. Best man. Brother of the groom. And the man Sarah last saw naked.

Is there anything more mortifying than bumping into a one-night stand halfway across the world? Especially as Declan seems determined to embarrass Sarah at every turn. At least when the wedding’s over she’ll never have to see him again.

But, back in New York, Sarah finds the more she tries to forget Declan, the more she can’t shake the thought of that infuriatingly charming smile and the way he wears a tux…

Was he really just for one night only, or might Declan Murphy be The One?

Prepare to laugh until you cry with this perfect feel-good romantic comedy about taking a chance on love. Fans of Sophie Ranald, Sophie Kinsella and Marian Keyes won’t be able to put this down!

The travel bug in me is rearing its ugly head these days! I can’t stop reading books set in other countries, so of course I had to read this rom-com that takes place, at least for some of the book, in Ireland! Sarah, an architect living in New York, is off to a small town in Ireland for her best friend’s wedding at a fancy resort. I really enjoyed this vacation to the Emerald Isle right along with her! As always, my main points are bolded.

1. Let’s start off with Sarah. I liked her a lot, even though I also wanted to smack her sometimes. She knows what she wants and is perfectly capable of standing up for herself. She also has great self-esteem, knows her worth, and isn’t afraid to put herself first. She’s a really good friend. She’s been hurt by a former love, and is very protective of her heart (I can relate to that). Because she’s not a relationship person anymore, she tends just have one night (see where the title comes from?) with a man and then that’s the end. At the beginning of the book, we see her kicking a sexy Irishman out of her house so she can rush off to work. My biggest problem with Sarah is how she treated this man. He was so nice and wanted to spend more time with her, and he seemed so confused and hurt that she kicked him out in such a rude way. When he tried to talk to her she slammed the door in his face. I could never be that way towards a person.

2. Luckily we see this Irishman again very quickly! His name is Declan, and he’s the brother of the groom in this Ireland wedding! When Sarah sees him, she goes into a panic and begins avoiding him immediately. Awkward! This guy is swoony, so I don’t even understand Sarah. He’s got the Irish accent and sounds like he’s very handsome. He’s funny and charming and sarcastic. He sees something he likes in Sarah and will not give up. She continues to be rude to him, and he keeps finding ways to be around her and talk to her. Finally he starts to wear her down little by little, but she’s put up guards of steel. I love his determination to tear them down. He and Sarah have a long conversation over drinks in the bar one night, and even though they both get plastered he remembers the important things she tells him. He’s empathetic and understanding, and I love how he tries to ground her when he can see that she’s about to flee in a panic. He creates a safe space for her and allows her time to realize she’s falling for him.

3. The secondary characters are all great! Sarah’s best friend, Annie, was really sweet. She doesn’t play a huge part in the story, but I loved her wedding and her big family (well, most of them). I really liked Sarah’s roommate, too (she gets a tiny romance herself). Oh, and then there’s Sarah’s fun co-worker, Will, who I loved!

4. We end up back in New York much sooner than I was expecting, which was a bit of a disappointment. I loved the wedding and the sightseeing the characters did in Ireland, and I wanted more of that.

5. Once Sarah gets back home to normal life and tries to forget about Declan, there’s a period of her trying to date someone else and dealing with workplace drama. This part of the book didn’t work for me as well. I wanted more romance!

6. But… I suppose that this romance was pretty realistic. There’s push and pull, back and forth, time away to process, etc. So I get it. I understood. There were some very romantic moments, but I felt like there was also a lot of focus on Sarah’s personal growth. I loved seeing her come to the realization that not every love story ends in heartbreak, but it was a process getting there. It was very relatable, and will resonate with so many readers (it definitely resonated with me)… but I wanted more of that magical, sparkling romance I crave from romance novels.

7. The writing was very well done. I loved the bits of humor here and there, and the characters are very well-rounded and developed. The book’s synopsis tells us to “prepare to laugh until you cry”. This… didn’t happen. I didn’t find the book that funny. It had its moments, but there were more serious moments than funny ones for me. Not a problem, but that’s a bold statement to make and this book did not deliver that.

8. I listened to the audiobook, and Jessica Regan did a good job. I enjoyed listening to her, and would gladly listen to more books she’s narrated. She has a nice, soothing voice. My only real criticism is that Sarah is an American, but sounded like an Irish woman trying to sound like an American. It was a bit distracting to hear Sarah pronounce words in a way that no American would in an accent that was trying to sound American but had a hint of that Irish lilt to it. That being said, Jessica did keep Sarah’s voice relatively consistent and she did a great job switching back and forth from Declan to Sarah. It would be so hard to switch accents that quickly.

All in all, One Night Only was a very fun read! I enjoyed the parts that took place in Ireland a lot, and I loved Declan so much. The romance was a little underdeveloped for me, but the ending was very sweet and gave me the swoons I wanted. I’m definitely interested in reading more from Catherine Walsh.