Tag: Novella

Posted in Book Review, Novella, Serial

5*#Review-Bella Osborne -Wildflower Park Part1- Build Me Up Buttercup – @AvonBooksUK @osborne_bella

Posted on by jolliffe01

Life’s not always a walk in the park…

When Anna is dumped by her fiancé, she moves into her own place on the edge of the gorgeous Wildflower Park and pledges to stay off men and focus on her career, but a handsome new colleague seems to thwart her attempts at every turn. And when she receives an accidental text from a mystery man, could it be the new start she needs? Or someone she really shouldn’t be falling for?

Anna’s neighbour Sophie is a stressed-out mum-of-two with a third on the way. Her husband is a constant frustration, and their children are a regular source of newly-invented swear words and unidentifiable sticky surfaces.

Luckily, Anna and Sophie have each other – and Wildflower Park proves to be a sanctuary as they map out a path to find the happiness they both deserve…

Amazon UK

My Thoughts…

It’s always fun to start the New Year with a new series and Wildflower Park promises to be the perfect Winter to Spring read.

Anna’s engagement is over, and she decides life without men is the way forward. Moving into a new flat with its own private park is a step in the right direction. There she plans and schemes with her best friend Sophie, mother of two and pregnant with a third, whose life is not what she imagined.

A difficult male colleague who threatens her career provides the conflict and humour in the first part of this serial. There’s also a mystery texter who makes her wonder if she’s really sworn off men and her ex refusing to stay out of her life. The wildflower park is a source of solace as Anna faces her past and tries to forge a future she can live with.

Ambition, angst, conflict, humour and romance all appear in this short story, in a series which promises to be addictive.

I received a copy of this book from Avon Books UK via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

 

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Posted in Book Review

The Windmill Cafe Summer Breeze Poppy Blake 3 *Review

Posted on by jolliffe01

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The Windmill Cafe is open for business!

As Rosie Barnes serves glasses of tangy lemonade and ice-cold prosecco at her summer garden party, she couldn’t be happier. The Windmill Café, with its peppermint green sails, is a roaring success and has given Rosie a chance to escape the heartbreak of her busy life in London.

But then disaster strikes when popstar Suki Richards is taken unexpectedly ill at the party. Now all eyes are on Rosie…have her famous raspberry cupcakes poisoned her most high-profile guest? Or is someone else trying to damage Suki’s chance of stardom?

If Rosie wants to save her picture-perfect life, and the reputation of her beloved Windmill Café, she’s going to have to get to the bottom of the mystery…and fast!

Amazon UK

Amazon

My Thoughts… 

A windmill cafe is a delightfully quirky idea. Although the windmill doesn’t take centre stage in this story, the plot is also quirky, a cosy mystery mixed in with a romantic comedy.

This story lacks imagery. I want to know about the windmill and the glorious Norfolk countryside and coast but the details are sketchy, and so for me, the setting doesn’t have the impact it should.

I like cosy mysteries, lots of characters, a beautiful setting, an enigmatic detective or two and foul play. This story has all the necessary ingredients for a fun read, but they need more mixing and cooking to achieve their full potential.

The story’s protagonists are immature and naive; they remind me of the children’s characters,’The Famous Five’. They need to develop as the story does and unfortunately, they don’t, remaining two dimensional rather than complex and three dimensional.

An okay read but needs to be faster paced, with more suspense, plot twists and character development.

I received a copy of this book from Harper Impulse via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Book Review, Festive Read

Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe – Debbie Johnson- 5* Review

Posted on by jolliffe01

 

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Blurb 2016- 2

Becca Fletcher hates Christmas so much, she’s considering getting ‘Bah Humbug!’ tattooed on her forehead. She has her reasons for being Little Miss Grinch; Reasons that make this the very worst time of year for her.

Now, though, she can’t avoid her version of ho-ho-hell – because she’s travelling to the Comfort Food Cafe to spend the festive season with her sister Laura, and her family. She’s expecting mulled wine, 24-hour Christmas movie marathons and all kinds of very merry torture.

But little does Becca know that the Comfort Food Cafe is like no other place on earth. Perched on a snow-covered hill on a windswept bay, it’s a place full of friendship where broken hearts can heal, new love can blossom and where Becca’s Christmas miracle really could happen – if only she can let it…

Buy Links 2016 -2

Amazon UK
Amazon

Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe

I really enjoyed ‘Summer at the Comfort Food Café’ and as I’m a fan of festive books, I couldn’t wait to revisit the café at Christmas time. ‘Christmas at the Comfort Food Café’ is every bit as charming as the Summer but with snow. It is told in three parts: ‘Christmas Past, Present and Future’. It reads well as a standalone Christmas tale but if you haven’t read ’Summer at the Comfort Food Café’, don’t miss out.
This story reintroduces the reader to the delightful characters from the first book but concentrates on Laura’s sister Becca, who reluctantly visits Dorset for a month. Becca feels she is the antithesis of Laura. She is a loner, drawn to life’s vices, drink, drugs and one night stands. As Becca relives two life changing family Christmas days, we realise this is never going to be her favourite season.
Becca is soon charmed by Dorset and the regulars of the Comfort Food Café. The characters in this story are realistic and it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of the forthcoming festive wedding. Becca has left her teenage vices behind but we don’t know why. Even when her sister tries to fix her up with Surfer Sam she resists. Men are off the menu but he is drop dead gorgeous and she’s only human. Becca’s choice of confidant is not who you’d expect but when she reveals her secrets, her teenage bad behaviour reflects more as a cry for help than anything else. Becca’s emotional baggage threatens what she has with Sam but despite this, she leaves Dorset a changed woman.
Christmas Future offer hope and the chance of a happy ever after, the perfect start to any new year.
I received a copy of this book from Harper Collins via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

 

Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe by Debbie Johnson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe by Debbie Johnson

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4* Review: The French Retreat – Sue Fortin (Falling for France #1)

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Blurb 2016- 2

Losing her job and her home, wasn’t on Marcie Grainger’s wish list for the new year. In a bid to reassess her life, she heads off to the only place she has ever felt content – her brother’s farmhouse retreat in rural France.

Marcie isn’t the only one looking to escape. Ex-soldier Will hopes the gentle pace of French life will help to banish the ghosts of his past and offer him the fresh start he desires.

However, all is not what it seems at The Retreat. Fuelled by a string of strange happenings and local rumours, Will and Marcie are pushed together as they try to discover who or what is behind it all. In so doing, they are faced with a moral dilemma and question if doing wrong is doing right?

The French Retreat is a story of human compassion, hope and love.

Buy Links 2016 -2

Amazon UK

Amazon

My Review

The French Retreat (French Mystery Series Book 1)

Marcie and the establishment have come to blows when she seeks solace in France, at her brother’s aptly name home, ‘The Retreat’. The mystery starts when she meets Will, an ex soldier who is staying at the retreat. Will’s attraction to Marcie is undeniable but can it overcome the demons he is battling?
The vividly described setting is lovely and makes the perfect backdrop for the mystery that unfolds. Although the plot isn’t complex, there are enough twists to make you think one thing, when in fact the truth is something else entirely. The fast paced story keeps you interested and the moral dilemma it poses, makes you wonder what you would do faced with the same set of circumstances. The unsurprising, romantic ending, is satisfying and sets the scene perfectly for book 2.

 

The French Retreat by Sue Fortin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The French Retreat (French Mystery Series Book 1) by Sue Fortin

Sue Fortin

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Posted in Book Review

4* Review: The One with the Engagement Party- Erin Lawless – (Bridesmaids #1)

Posted on by jolliffe01

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BLURB

Nora Dervan is getting married… but her four bridesmaids are more full of secrets than champagne.

Bea has barely gotten past the fact that her two best friends are seeing each other, and now they’re engaged, and Cleo is rather distracted by the hot new colleague she absolutely, definitely must not sleep with. Daisy is dreading the singles’ table, whilst Sarah’s own marriage hasn’t turned out to be all she hoped it would be…

Buy Links

Amazon UK

Amazon

Flowers - My Review

The One With The Engagement PartyWell it is the ‘wedding season’ and this short introduction to the ‘Bridesmaids’ series, captures the atmosphere perfectly. The vivid and image rich characters and dialogue in this novella, make it an enjoyable read. All the bridesmaids have an interesting story to tell and this introductory book makes you want to find out what happens next.
There is a refreshing realism about this story, which many who have organised a wedding or been a bridesmaid will recognise. The overbearing ‘mother of the bride’ and the ‘best friend who hasn’t been asked to be a bridesmaid’, are particularly well portrayed.
If you enjoy light hearted contemporary romantic comedy, this is for you.
I received a copy of this story from Harper Impulse via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

The One With The Engagement Party by Erin Lawless

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The One With The Engagement Party by Erin Lawless

Erin Lawless

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Posted in Book Review, New Books

5* Review: Homecoming – Tanya Bullock

Posted on by jolliffe01

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Poppy - Blurb

Rosie and Tom belong together.
For too long, war and its devastating aftermath have kept them apart.
Now that Tom has finally returned home, Rosie hopes that they will be able to put the past behind them.
But when a mysterious sequence of events unfolds, their love is put to the test once more.
With a shocking secret hanging heavily over their relationship…
With circumstances conspiring against them at every turn…
Rosie and Tom find themselves caught up in the biggest battle of their lives.
Will their demons ultimately consume them?
Or will love conquer all in the end?

Flowers - Buy Links

Amazon UK

Amazon

Flowers - My Review

HomecomingPromoted as ‘quite possibly the strangest romance ever told’; after reading this unusual novella, it is more aptly described ‘the most poignant love story you will ever read’. This is a gentle love story full of passion and romance with an unlikely hero and heroine, who by the story’s end symbolise everything that true love means.
Sensitively written and raising some ethical issues, the plot is full of surprises that will change your preconceptions about romance and romantic couples and there are numerous twists to hold the reader’s interest. The characters are complex and demand a response from the reader. Rosie is feisty yet vulnerable. Tom is sweet and devoted, Chrissie is genuine and caring and Gemma is cynical and judgmental.
Although this is a short story, it has the depth and structure of a longer novel and a satisfying ending.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review.

Homecoming by Tanya Bullock

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Homecoming by Tanya Bullock
Tanya Bullock

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Posted in Book Review, New Books

4* Review: A Kiss in the Dark – Lisa Fox

Posted on by jolliffe01

25678438Poppy - BlurbGrace’s attraction to her new web designer, amateur boxer and all-around playboy, Ryan Granger, is off the charts. But the bad boy of programming is not someone she needs to get entangled with. She’s got too many responsibilities and no time for games. She has deadlines to meet and a sick father to care for. Ryan is tempting, but being with him is completely unrealistic. Still, a girl can fantasize, right?

Ryan wants Grace badly, but while he’s building her website, they have to keep things strictly professional. Thankfully, walking her home during a city-wide blackout is on his own time and whatever happens in the dark doesn’t count. He’s falling hard for Grace and he is a man used to winning. The only problem is, he’s got to convince her that he’s worthy of her trust.

Flowers - Buy LinksAmazon UK

Amazon

Flowers - My Review

A Kiss In the DarkAn easy to read novella that delivers nicely written, contemporary escapism, perfect for the beach. Grace and Ryan are likeably imperfect and easy to warm to. The story’s New York setting adds an extra dimension and makes the couple’s unlikely meeting plausible.

Ryan is a web designer who also enjoys boxing. His fashionable job and trendy hobby, ramp up the escapism value of this story. Grace, a successful writer has family issues, which make her insular and guilty. Playboy Ryan is the perfect man to let her live a little. Something every girl needs. The scenes with Grace’s father are poignant, realistic and sensitively written.

Despite the story’s brevity, both character’s develop as a result of their interaction and the romantic ending is worthy of them and their emotional journey.

I received a copy of this book from Harper Impulse via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

A Kiss In the Dark by Lisa Fox

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A Kiss In the Dark by Lisa Fox

Lisa Fox

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Posted in Book Review, New Books

5* Review: Meet Me at the Honeymoon Suite – Charlotte Phillips (Do Not Disturb)

Posted on by jolliffe01

9780008119393_p0_v2_s260x420Poppy - BlurbFascinated by weddings since her mother was jilted at the altar when she was seven years old, Amy Woods is a brilliantly efficient wedding organizer, thanks to her ability to see past all the emotion and magic of ‘the big day’. Now, after years of being the assistant, she’s landed her dream job as Wedding and Events Manager at exclusive boutique hotel The Lavington. All she needs to do is pull off her first wedding weekend without a hitch…

Unfortunately the groom turns out to be her own marriage-phobic ex-boyfriend, proving yet again that Amy is good enough to be the warm up act but never the real deal. Then she breaks all her own rules and sleeps with the delicious but definitely off limits best man! To pull off the perfect weekend now, she will need to be her most clear-headed and emotionless. But as she gets to know best man Owen outside the bedroom, keeping herself focused on the task isn’t so easy anymore.

Flowers - Buy LinksAmazon UK

AmazonFlowers - My Review

Meet Me at the Honeymoon Suite: HarperImpulse Contemporary Fiction (A Novella) (Do Not Disturb, Book 5)Wedding Planner Amy doesn’t believe in marriage but still wants to succeed in her chosen career and is prepared to put her life on hold to do it. Old boyfriends, a sexy best man and a haunted past, make Amy’s first wedding in charge, full of humorous, poignant and sexy encounters. Owen challenges her all work and no play philosophy. I enjoyed the other books in this ‘Do Not Disturb’ series and this final one is just as easy and pleasurable to read. The characters in this novella are complex and well crafted and the ending is fittingly romantic.
I received a copy of this book from Harper Impulse via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Meet Me at the Honeymoon Suite: HarperImpulse Contemporary Fiction (A Novella) by Charlotte Phillips

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Meet Me at the Honeymoon Suite HarperImpulse Contemporary Fiction (A Novella) (Do Not Disturb, Book 5) by Charlotte Phillips

Charlotte Phillips

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3* Review: Awakening the Warriors (Legends of the Seven Galaxies) SE Gilchrist

Posted on by jolliffe01

Adult only read – Erotic- fantasy romance – menage.

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BLURBSet in the world of the Legend Beyond the Stars, an erotic novella about two warriors who have lost the ability to desire, and the human woman who is about to wake them up.

Fran must have been crazy to leave her ordinary, safe life and volunteer as a colonist to terra-form a new earth. Now she is trapped in a prison cell on an alien planet a zillion miles from home and bound for a hideous death in notorious research chambers.

She has one chance of escape: awaken the long dormant sexual urges of the Darkon Warriors shackled in the next cell.
It’s a desperate job, but someone has to do it.
Buy Links

Amazon UK

Amazon

My Review -1

Awakening the Warriors (Legends of the Seven Galaxies #1.5)This is my first foray into the ‘Legends of the Seven Galaxies’ and it’s made me want to read more. Fran, a human who signs up for the new world project but is captured and imprisoned by aliens; escape looks unlikely unless she can awake the desire in her adjacent cell mates – The Darkon Warriors.
The characters are vivid. It’s easy to imagine Fran’s alien cell mates and the sexy warriors. There are some dark undertones in this short story; if Fran can’t get the warriors on her side she faces experimentation. The sexual encounters between the two Darkon warriors and Fran are explicit but sensually written from Fran’s point of view.
This is a short novella, a snapshot of the seven galaxies’ world. The fast paced plot’s important elements reach a satisfactory conclusion. However there some outstanding questions to be answered, presumably later in the series.
I received a copy of the book from Escape Publishing via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Awakening the Warriors by S.E. Gilchrist

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Awakening the Warriors (Legends of the Seven Galaxies #1.5) by S.E. Gilchrist
S.E. Gilchrist

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Posted in Book Review, Book Spotlight, New Books, Release Day Blitz

Release Day: Steam Bunny – Felicity Kates. Spotlight and 4* Review

Posted on by jolliffe01

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It’s release day for debut author Felicity Kates, Steam Bunny is the first in an erotic romance novella series called Little Miss Kick-Ass.

 Blurb

Business is all about pleasure for Casey Jackson. Helping Lucas Haskell promote his graphic novel, Steam Bunny, is an erotic dream job. Until he gives her the ultimate ultimatum—commit or leave. She doesn’t want his ring or the complications of marriage. But with a boss who knows what he wants and exactly how to get it, playing dress-up has never been so steamy…or so much fun.

Erotic romance novella, containing adult language, naughty situations and steamy sex scenes. Recommended for readers 18+

Tag

Playing dress-up has never been so steamy…or so much fun.

 

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 Buy Links
Steam Bunny is available at:

Amazon UK  Amazon  Amazon CA

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Kobo

iBooks

5-day promo-full

My Review

 Steam Bunny, the debut novella from Felicity Kates is the first in the Little Miss Kick-Ass erotic novella series. I loved the originality of this story. Casey Jackson, promotional model to the enigmatic and very sexy author Lucas Haskell, takes us on her sensual journey in search of love. Full of erotic moments, this is a light-hearted novella with an outwardly wilful yet inwardly vulnerable heroine and an enigmatic but secretly soft-hearted hero.
Lovers as well as work colleagues, the couple have hit an impasse in their relationship. Casey loves Lucas but her aversion to marriage forces her decision to hang up her bunny costume and leave the man she loves. Lucas is determined to keep his Steam Bunny and will do whatever it takes, to make Casey stay.
Told from Casey’s point of view this is a humorous, naughty tale. An erotic quest for happy ever after. You may need to cool off when you’ve read this sizzler, which makes it the ideal quick, adult read for the beach or pool.
I look forward to the next in the series where we meet, two more larger than life characters.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

 About the Author

Felicity Kates is a mild-mannered manager by day. At night, she trades in her sensible shoes for stilettos and lets her imagination run wild. Steam Bunny is her debut novella, the first in a new erotica series called Little Miss Kick-Ass.
The next book in the series about Casey’s BFF, Astrid Bitten, and her nemesis/love interest, Race Lindstrom, called Fit to Be Tied, is due out in December 2014.
Felicity enjoys writing fun, flirty fantasies, lives off of coffee and dreams, loves her husband, son and old, yowly cat and is a firm believer in shopping therapy to warm up the cold Canadian winters.

She also loves to hear from her readers and can be found on:

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