Release Day Review: The Good Luck Charm by Helena Hunting

If you like second chance romances, The Good Luck Charm is a first-class read.

Everything happens in threes and it isn't positive news for Lilah as she discovers a new patient at the hospital she works as a nurse is a father figure to her and he's suffered a stroke. This news after receiving her divorce papers from her ex is a lot to take in and difficult to handle until the guy who broke her heart appears...he is the son of the patient after all. Could her day get any worse?

Ethan Kase is back in Minnesota after being traded. The upcoming hockey season will be a make or break for his career. He has barely had a chance to settle back in his home city when news of his father's stroke sends him straight to the hospital and back to the woman he left eight years ago...an action he has regretted every day since.

I've never picked up a Helena Hunting novel before so I began reading this book with no expectations as to what to expect. In this situation, I really enjoy and appreciate when the words flow effortlessly and the narrative drags you into the protagonist's story. The Good Luck Charm definitely had me invested in within the plot after only a few pages and with the characters very quickly.

The title gives away a huge clue about a major plot thread...the behaviour of pro sports people and their rituals before major events. Ethan is no exception. Until this topic is broached, I adored the hero. However, his neediness triggered by his rekindled romance with Lilah turned my stomach. Ms Hunting's writing allows her readers to feel all the emotions felt by the protagonists...the good and the not so good. However, there's no doubt, Ethan and Lilah are meant to be together, once all their issues have been dealt with and filed away.

Despite my hiccup over my views of Ethan, I adored both him and Lilah together. They complement and respect for one another gives a satisfying happy ending. As for me, I've found a new author to follow...win-win!

***arc generously received courtesy of Forever via NetGalley***

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Is it love, or is she just his good luck charm?

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Helena Hunting absolutely delights with this witty and fun standalone contemporary romance. 

Lilah isn't sure what hurt worse: the day Ethan left her to focus on his hockey career, or the day he came back eight years later. He might think they can pick up just where they left off, but she's no longer that same girl and never wants to be again. 

Ethan Kane wants his glory days back. And that includes having Lilah by his side. With her, he was magic. They were magic. All he has to do is make her see that. 

Just when Lilah might finally be ready to let him in, though, she finds out their reunion has nothing to do with her and everything to do with his game. But Ethan's already lost her once, and even if it costs him his career, he'll do anything to keep from losing her again.

A Release Day Review: Then There Was You by Miranda Liasson

Dr Sara Langdon put aside her painful personal feelings as she returns to Angel Falls because her grandmother needs her. As the police chief, crossing paths with Colton Walker is always going to be inevitable in this small town but she wasn't expecting it to be so soon after her arrival. In her absence, the man whose actions were the catalyst for her fiancé dumping her before her wedding is a good friend of her brother but her grandmother too.

Angel Falls Police Chief Colton Walker loves his life and works in the small town he calls home. When his best friend's ex-fiancée arrives back to help care for her elderly grandmother he knew he was heading for trouble. Especially when the woman isn't aware of all the facts...the truth.

When you're blamed for causing the break-up and ensuing embarrassment for the bride jilted before her wedding, Colton's coping strategy towards Sara does little to improve their fractured relationship. His actions aggravate her anger towards him until the truths from their high school years are uncovered and changes their attitude and feelings towards each other for the better.

Sworn enemies to lovers, this is a slow burn romance with sexual tension sizzling in the background. The protagonists both struggle to ignore their attraction to each other and use defence mechanisms to try to counteract the draw to each other. With them both basing their attitudes on what they believe to be true of the other, it isn't until Tagg, the person with links to them both that the truth begins to surface. Only he also wants Sara back...

As the first book in this Angel Falls series, The There Was You has established a wonderful foundation for future novels set against this small town backdrop. The secondary characters lend a warm family and community spirit to the proceedings. I really enjoyed how the families of both protagonists complemented them and their tentative relationship as we learn more about them too. Whilst I mostly loved this aspect of the narrative, there's phase in the middle of the novel where I would have preferred more emphasis on Sara and Colton. Overall, I appreciated the sentiment enough to continue and read more from this Angel Falls series and Ms Liasson.

***arc generously received courtesy of Forever via NetGalley***

"Emotional, heartwarming romance you can't put down."-- Lori Wilde, New York Times bestselling author 

Welcome to Angel Falls, a town so delightful even enemies can't help falling in love!

Angel Falls is the last place Sara Langdon wants to be. Her hometown may be charming, but it's also filled with memories of her "wedding-that-never-was." Yet Sara's grandmother needs her, and joining her dad at his medical practice gives Sara time to figure out what she wants for her future. But when her first patient turns out to be Colton Walker, the man who sabotaged her wedding, Sara starts to wonder if she'll ever be able to escape her past.

As police chief, Colton Walker is devoted to his small town, and he's equally determined to avoid its newest resident. He and Sara have always gotten along like oil and water, and since the bachelor party incident, he's her Enemy #1. But after sharing an unexpected--and unexpectedly hot--kiss, Colton starts to wonder if the woman he's always fighting with is the one he should be fighting for.

Release Day Review: The Secret Ingredient for a Happy Marriage by Shirley Jump

"Beautifully written and unflinching in its portrayal of the complexities of marriage, sisterhood and long-held secrets." -Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author

From New York Times bestselling author Shirley Jump comes a heartwarming tale about friendship, family, and the unbreakable bond between sisters.

THE SECRET INGREDIENT FOR A HAPPY MARRIAGE

Nora has always been the sister who binds the O'Bannons together. No matter what crisis hits, smart, dependable Nora knows how to fix it. But for Nora, the pressure of perfection is taking its toll.

Nora's marriage is in trouble, and she has been reluctant to worry her sisters with just how dire her situation is. Now though, faced with losing her husband, her home, and the life she's worked so hard to build, Nora can no longer pretend.

As the O'Bannon women rally around her, Nora begins to see that failure is nothing to fear. It's like they say in the bakery: if you want to make something good, you can't be afraid to get messy. When her husband returns, asking Nora to give their family a second chance, Nora must decide if their relationship can be saved-or if it's time to throw out the old recipe and start from scratch.

The Secret Ingredient for a Happy Marriage by Shirley Jump

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Secret Ingredient for A Happy Marriage is the second book in the O'Bannon Sisters series. I've not read the previous one and the author is new to me too. I don't feel I've missed anything by jumping in straight in here as it works as a standalone.

To outsiders, Nora has it all; A fabulous husband, adorable children, comfortable home and a job working in her family's bakery. However, the reality is far different from her distorted portrayal of her perfect marriage and family.

Communication. When it breaks down, it causes bad feeling because each side doesn't understand what the other is doing, leading to presumptive opinions. Nora and Ben are a fine example of how this impacted their relationship and thankfully, they eventually agree to navigate their way through the self-inflicted issues causing the near breakdown of their marriage. I'm glad the author shares both sides of the dispute. As the narrator, Nora's voice is what we here most and I'm so pleased when the conflict comes to a head, we hear how Ben feels too. It's uncomfortable reading but insightful and realistic. It's so easy to take the side of Nora as that's the voice we hear, so it's refreshing when we hear Ben speak too, to understand the concerns from his perspective. His words are equally damning as Nora becomes painfully aware of her personal shortcomings...yet, despite the harsh words, she's praised for trying to keep their family running as clockwork. The result is sobering as we understand fully what contributed to their relationship crisis. Happily and more importantly, there's love and hope for them as a couple,

This is a solid read with likeable and more importantly relatable characters trying to work through their real-life issues as Ms Jump tackles the difficult subject of addiction sympathetically. She effortlessly draws you into the narrative enabling the reader to feel empathy for all the characters. In addition, a couple of sub-plots that I'm guessing will follow through into future instalments are woven into the narrative and I'm particularly interested in following Maggie's story.

This novel differs from what I'm used to reading, but at the beginning of this year I decided to broaden my reading preferences and this title fits the bill nicely. Lastly, I'm drawn to the lovely cover which compliments the novel beautifully.

***arc generously received courtesy of Forever via NetGalley***

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Release Day Spotlight: Miracle at Christmas by Debbie Mason

Miracle at Christmas (a novella)

by Debbie Mason

Part of the Christmas, Colorado SERIES

December 19, 2017 | Forever Yours | .99 cents

Charlotte Bailey needs a miracle. She came to this sleepy little Colorado town to keep the local hospital afloat, but now her scrooge of a boss is demanding she close it down. Charlotte is going to need all the help she can get, even from Dr. McSexy--er, Dr. Matt Trainer--if she's to save Christmas before, well, Christmas!

All Matt wants for Christmas is for Charlotte to give it--and him--half a chance. But with the town looking to him to save the hospital and Charlotte itching to get back to New York in time to see the city decked out in lights, Matt doesn't have much time to make things right. But he's got faith--after all, miracles happen every day in Christmas.

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Debbie Mason is the USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of the Christmas, Colorado series and the Harmony Harbor series. Her books have been praised for their "likable characters, clever dialogue and juicy plots" (RT Book Reviews). When she isn't writing or reading, Debbie enjoys spending time with her very own real-life hero, their three wonderful children and son-in-law, two adorable grandbabies, and a yappy Yorkie named Bella in Ontario, Canada.

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Review: How To Blow It With A Billionaire by Alexis Hall

How to Blow It with a Billionaire by Alexis Hall

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Since reading How To Bang A Billionaire, I've been waiting patiently for book two in the Arden St. Ives trilogy and after finishing I can say; Alexis Hall manages to deliver a truly magnificent second instalment.

This novel picks up where we left off in book one as we catch up with Arden and Caspian in rural Scotland as they salvage their relationship. We see a softer, caring side of Caspian as he convinces Arden to come back to London. If you haven't read the first book, It is possible to pick up the story here, but I recommend you read HTBAB first to truly appreciate the foundations of Arden and Caspian's relationship.

I loved the author's writing in the first novel in this series and yet he manages to exceed my expectations this time around. The narrative's littered with witty dialogue and observations which had me laughing out loud.

"Notorious Wild Child Eleanor Hart Spotted with New Mystery Man at Proms" because the internet murdered brevity the way video killed the radio star.

Some of the humour is more subtle but kept me entertained the whole way through as Arden pushes Caspian's boundaries until he can't.

The character development is exquisite and the chemistry between the is protagonists is palpable always. Arden gains the confidence to systematically coerce Caspian in a direction he wants; for him to trust him. It's done in his own unique way with outrageous humour. Equally, Caspian encourages Arden to take chances to achieve his career goals. In addition, we also see a heart-warming glimpse of his compassionate side and willingness to help the man he loves. It works fine until a face from the past highlights issues Caspian is deceitfully keeping from Arden.

With notable appearances from Ellery and Nik, the novel ends with uncertainty and a yearning to find out what happens next in the life of Arden. You're guaranteed to run through a whole spectrum of emotions as these two very different men try to find a common ground to exist upon.

If you are looking for an exceptionally written M/M erotic romance, I highly recommend this compelling Arden St. Ives series based on what I've read so far.

***arc generously received courtesy of Forever via NetGalley***



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New Release Spotlight: Undercover Attraction by Katee Robert

UNDERCOVER ATTRACTION

by Katee Robert

Part of the O’Malleys series

Forever | November 28, 2017 | Mass Market: $7.99 | eBook: $5.99

"A worthy addition to a sexy series." -- Publishers Weekly

Scandal. Wealth. Power. Seduction. Welcome to the world of the O'Malleys.

Ex-cop Charlotte Finch used to think there was a clear line between right and wrong. Then her fellow officers betrayed her, and the world is no longer so black and white. Especially when it's Aiden O'Malley, one of the most dangerous men in Boston, who offers her a chance for justice. The only catch: she'll have to pretend to be his fiancée for his plan to work.

Aiden can't afford to let anyone see the man behind the mask. To run the O'Malley empire, he has to be cool and controlled at all times. But the moment he meets Charlie, they're playing with fire. Her slightest touch is enough to send him over the edge. At first their "engagement" was a way to eliminate his enemies. Now he'll do whatever it takes to keep her safe-- even if he has to destroy his own family to do it.

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“Come on.” Aidan stepped back and took her hand. “I have something to show you.”

He led the way up the back stairs and through a door she hadn’t explored yet. Charlie’s breath caught in her throat at the sight of candles flickering on a table laid out with a bottle of wine, two glasses, and a whole spread of Chinese takeout.

She let go of his hand and wandered over to peer into the boxes. “How did you know that crispy pork belly was my favorite?” Just like that, the pieces clicked together. She snapped her fingers. “You had your sister feel me out?” She’d thought Kiera had been asking about her favorite food so they could pick a local place next time they ventured out of the house. “Shady. Very shady.”

“I am a mob boss, after all.” He came around the table and poured them both a glass of wine. “I have it on good authority that this cab pairs well with Chinese takeout.”

“How classy of you.” It was like stepping into another realm of existence as she sat down and accepted the glass of wine while he filled two plates. When Aiden had said that he wanted a dinner date with her, she’d assumed that meant dressing to the nines and going out somewhere fancy. She said as much.

He snorted. “Eating out always serves a purpose. Either you’re making a point, or ensuring you’re seen by someone specific, or conducting a business meeting. We’ve been

making points and playing parts since we met. I’d like to try something new—having a relaxing conversation. Just me and you, Aiden and Charlie, not the leader of the O’Malley clan and the former-cop-turned-fake-fiancée.”

“Do you think that’s even possible?” Such a short time together, and it was clear they both had a boatload of issues. It was easy enough to ignore when they were banging each other’s brains out or pretending to be something they weren’t, but holding down a conversation without those masks in place? She wasn’t sure it was a good idea.

Because I already like him.

Katee Robert is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who learned to tell stories at her grandpa's knee. Her novel The Marriage Contract was a RITA finalist, and RT Book Reviews named it "a compulsively readable book with just the right amount of suspense and tension." When not writing sexy contemporary and romantic suspense, she spends her time playing imaginary games with her children, driving her husband batty with what-if questions, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse.

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New Release Spotlight: No Other Duke Will Do by Grace Burrowes

"Compelling, sympathetic characters and a rare blend of passion and humor result in another exquisite gem from a master of the genre. Gorgeously done."―Library Journal, starred review

No Other Duke Will Do

by Grace Burrowes

Windham Brides series

November 7, 2017 from Forever.

Mass market: $7.99 | eBook: $6.99 | ISBN: 9781455570003

One of Amazon’s Top Romance Picks for November

Julian St. David, Duke of Haverford, is barely keeping his head above water in a sea of inherited debts. Though he has a long-term plan to restore the family finances, his sister has a much faster solution: host a house party for London's single young ladies and find Julian a wealthy bride.
Elizabeth Windham has no interest in marriage, but a recent scandal has forced her hand. As much as she'd rather be reading Shakespeare than husband-hunting, she has to admit she's impressed by Julian's protective instincts, broad shoulders, and, of course, his vast library.
As the two spend more time together, their attraction is overwhelming, unexpected... and absolutely impossible. With meddling siblings, the threat of financial ruin, and gossips lurking behind every potted palm, will they find true love or true disaster?

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“I still want to kiss you, Elizabeth. Rather a lot.”

“That sentiment is mutual,” she said, setting off at a brisk pace. “But where is it written that friends can never kiss, or otherwise express their attraction to each other?”

“It ought to be written somewhere,” Haverford said, “in great bold copperplate. Kissing leads to—”

“I know where it leads, Your Grace, in the general case. The destination has been sadly unimpressive on past visits. I’d like to explore where kissing leads with you.”

“You are—”

“I am lonely too.” And doubtless bound for marriage to some charming, boring viscount with clammy hands.

“—quite fierce about this friendship business.” His gaze was on the castle, and Elizabeth suspected he was trying not to smile.

“I’m quite fierce about everything.” And only now coming to admit it.

“We shall be fierce friends then, for the duration of a house party. One shudders to think what mischief… What the devil is he doing here?”

A coach and four was rattling up the drive a quarter of a mile away. The horses were all white, exactly matched for gait and height, and pulling a black coach with red wheels. A single trunk was affixed to the back, though no crest adorned the door.

“It appears you’ve a late arriving guest.” Or a bad fairy calling on the party, based on Haverford’s expression.

“Not a guest, a problem. A most unwelcome problem.”

Grace Burrowes grew up in central Pennsylvania and is the sixth out of seven children. She discovered romance novels when in junior high (back when there was such a thing), and has been reading them voraciously ever since. Grace has a bachelor's degree in political science, a bachelor of music in music history, (both from Pennsylvania State University); a master's degree in conflict transformation from Eastern Mennonite University; and a juris doctor from the National Law Center at the George Washington University.

Grace writes Georgian, Regency, Scottish Victorian, and contemporary romances in both novella and novel lengths. She's a member of Romance Writers of America, and enjoys giving workshops and speaking at writers' conferences. She also loves to hear from her readers, and can be reached through her website, www.graceburrowes.com.

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