Thursday 19 April 2018

Release Day: Good Girl Gone Bad by Carmen Falcone

GOOD GIRL GONE BAD 
by Carmen Falcone 
Get your copy and go bad today!



Lily has always lived up to her preacher father’s expectations of how she should behave, but all that changes when a hot stranger walks in to her hair salon and a feral need to have him takes over her common sense. On a whim, she screws him in the supply room, caving to a desire that only grows with each kiss.

When she learns he’s the billionaire alpha who wants to boot her out of her business for the sake of his own, she’s livid. But the pulse between her legs never got the memo. Things heat up even more when he offers her a naughty proposal that’s going to make this good girl stop thinking twice about being bad…


Review: My Dear Hamilton by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie



My rating: 5 of 5 stars


After my loss of words reaction, I can say My Dear Hamilton is unquestionably my favourite book read so far this year (2018).

I dived into this novel with no prior knowledge of who Elizabeth Schuyler or Alexander Hamilton were. After finishing the book, it left me with a huge void and a desire to discover more about the people closest to Elizabeth and Hamilton and the legacy they both left.

My Dear Hamilton captured my imagination and left me craving more. Of course, Alexander Hamilton himself intrigued me and I fully appreciate why he has become such an iconic historical figure. He is perfect as a romantic hero; dashing, brave and imperfect. However, it is his wife Eliza who is the one full of surprises. Historically, she's known more as the daughter of a general and as the wife of one of the founding fathers; but Eliza's life after Hamilton's death is noteworthy. As well as her stubborn determination to preserve her late husband's legacy, she championed the protection of widows, their children and orphans.

A book to savour! With over six hundred pages, Initially, I was a little concerned about my ability to absorb all the historical facts. However, the writers' did a marvellous job of incorporating the finer details within the narrative which not only kept my interest but enabled me to maintain and remember the information as we learn it. Written as a historical novel, the writing style definitely played a significant part in my overall enjoyment of this momentous period in American history.

I'm happy with the literary liberties the writers took with some facts and fully appreciate the thought process involved. The inclusion of this information at the end of the book is informative and adds an extra dimension to an already rich text.

This is the first novel I've read by these authors. I already own a copy of America's First Daughter and after my positive reading experience of My Dear Hamilton, I can't wait to read it.

***arc generously received courtesy of William Morris via Edelweiss+***

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Eliza Hamilton was a philanthropist, the devoted wife of Alexander Hamilton, and a revolutionary who, like her new nation, struggled to define herself in the wake of war, betrayal, and tragedy. Coming of age on the perilous frontier of revolutionary New York, heiress Elizabeth Schuyler champions the fight for independence. New York society has been transformed by the excitement of war and when Eliza meets Alexander Hamilton, Washington’s penniless but passionate aide-de-camp, she’s captivated by the officer’s charisma and brilliance. But the union they create, in their marriage and the new nation, is far from perfect. From glittering inaugural balls to bloody street riots, the Hamiltons are at the center of it all—including the accusation of corruption and the treachery of America’s first sex scandal, which forces Eliza to struggle through heartbreak and betrayal to find forgiveness.
But where most pop-culture representations of Hamilton end—MY DEAR HAMILTON goes further and beyond Alexander’s death. When a duel destroys Eliza’s hard-won peace, the grieving widow fights her husband’s enemies to preserve Alexander’s legacy. But long buried secrets threaten everything Eliza believes about her marriage and her own legacy. Questioning her tireless devotion to the man and country that have broken her heart, she’s left with one last battle—to understand the flawed man she married and the imperfect union he could have never created without her.

Review: Love At Last by Claudia Connor



My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Attending a conference on a tropical island still means all work and no play to Dr Deacon Montgomery until he sees a beautiful woman and asks her out for dinner. A fling is just what he needs but spending time with Clare makes him realise how lonely he is. When a phone call summons him home, he leaves without saying goodbye, but their story is far from over.

Clare Franklin should be on her honeymoon, but without a husband, the trip to the Dominican Republic has become a singles holiday. After the drama, it's a chance to relax and recuperate before moving to Chicago to begin her new life. Surrounded by sun, sea and sand it's more than she needs until a sexy fellow guest walks into her life and turns it upside down.

It's complicated! Deacon and Clare's relationship may have begun almost perfectly, surrounded palm trees and the sound of waves but the reality now is unfamiliar. Their path to reconnect after Deacon's hasty departure is full of misunderstands. When they finally reconnect, their attraction to each other is still there, but with the added baggage of undisclosed information not shared in the Dominican Republic and a surprise discovery, the protagonists have greater challenges to overcome than the geographical distance between them.

I'm not a huge fan of children included within a romance novel however, Ms Connor always has a knack of incorporating little people into her narratives which doesn't detract away from the sexual chemistry between the protagonists. As a single father of twins, Deacon is caring and considerate of others, even though he has little time for himself. Yet, he still manages to go the extra mile when he and Clare finally reconnect. Clare isn't the same woman he fell for on the tropical island, her life has changed dramatically since he distracted her from the memory of her non-wedding day. She's strong and determined but cautious so their relationship begins tenuously as past actions are forgiven.

With strong secondary characters to support Deacon and Clare, the beginning may have started quickly, but circumstances slowed it down in a satisfying way. The ending is a sugar-coated cliché, but satisfying all the same. Overall, a fun, light and entertaining novel. Perfect for a poolside read with a cool drink.

***arc generously received courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley***

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How many times can you be unlucky in love before you decide it’s not luck, it’s you? 

I’m in love with someone else. With her ex-groom's words still ringing in her ears, Clare Franklin flies off alone to her would-be honeymoon. Forced to accept not everyone gets that happily ever after she’s always dreamed of, she’s done with men. Until she gets tangled up, quite literally, with one sexy veterinarian. 

The only thing Dr Deacon Montgomery wants is to share his surgical expertise and get back to his two year old twin daughters. But, the connection he feels with Clare highlights just how alone he really is and makes him wonder if he can be more than doctor and daddy. 

Long talks and moonlit walks under the rustle of palms has Clare thinking maybe she gave up on love too soon. Until one phone call from home changes everything.