#BookReview Irresistible You by Kate Meader @KittyMeader @Pocket_Books

#BookReview Irresistible You by Kate Meader @KittyMeader @Pocket_Books Title: Irresistible You

Author: Kate Meader

Series: Chicago Rebels #1

Published by: Pocket Books on Aug. 14, 2017

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 400

Format: eBook, ARC

Source: Pocket Books, NetGalley

Book Rating: 9/10

Hot in Chicago series author Kate Meader returns with her all new, scorching Chicago Rebels hockey series, featuring her signature “steamy sex scenes, colorful characters, and riveting dialogue” (Romantic Times). Three estranged sisters inherit their late father’s failing hockey franchise and are forced to confront a man’s world, their family’s demons, and the battle-hardened ice warriors skating into their hearts.

Harper Chase has just become the most powerful woman in the NHL after the death of her father Clifford Chase, maverick owner of the Chicago Rebels. But the team is a hot mess—underfunded, overweight, and close to tapping out of the league. Hell-bent on turning the luckless franchise around, Harper won’t let anything stand in her way. Not her gender, not her sisters, and especially not a veteran player with an attitude problem, a chip on his shoulder, and a smoldering gaze designed to melt her ice-compacted defenses.

Veteran center Remy “Jinx” DuPre is on the downside of a career that’s seen him win big sponsorships, fans’ hearts, and more than a few notches on his stick. Only one goal has eluded him: the Stanley Cup. Sure, he’s been labeled as the unluckiest guy in the league, but with his recent streak of good play, he knows this is his year. So why the hell is he being shunted off to a failing hockey franchise run by a ball-buster in heels? And is she seriously expecting him to lead her band of misfit losers to a coveted spot in the playoffs?

He’d have a better chance of leading Harper on a merry skate to his bed…


Review:

Provocative, passionate, and red-hot!

Irresistible You is a lighthearted, hockey romance featuring the delicious Cajun, Remy who finds himself traded to a losing team just as he’s thinking about retirement, and the ballsy, competent Harper who finally has the career she’s always wanted but with some unexpected strings attached.

The writing is effortless. The characters, including all the supporting characters, are fun, intriguing, and downright swoon-worthy. And the plot is an engaging mix of genuine emotion, sexy banter, palpable attraction, smouldering chemistry, hockey, food, and of course some sizzling romance.

What a fantastic way to start a new series. Irresistible You is a smart, seductive story with great character development, and a smoking hot cover that will undeniably leave you wanting more.

This is the first book in “The Chicago Rebel” series but keep your eye out for the second novel in the series, So Over You, due to be published later this year.

 

 

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

                                            

 

 

Thank you to NetGalley, especially Pocket Books, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Kate Meader

Originally from Ireland, Kate Meader cut her romance reader teeth on Maeve Binchy and Jilly Cooper novels, with some Harlequins thrown in for variety. Give her tales about brooding mill owners, oversexed equestrians, and men who can rock an apron, a fire hose, or a hockey stick, and she's there. Now based in Chicago, she writes sexy contemporary romance with alpha heroes and strong heroines (and heroes) who can match their men quip for quip.

#BookReview Are You Sleeping by Kathleen Barber @katelizabee @SimonSchusterCA

#BookReview Are You Sleeping by Kathleen Barber @katelizabee @SimonSchusterCA Title: Are You Sleeping

Author: Kathleen Barber

Published by: Gallery Books on Aug. 1, 2017

Genres: Mystery/Thriller

Pages: 352

Format: Paperback, ARC

Source: Simon & Schuster Canada

Book Rating: 7.5/10

Serial meets Ruth Ware’s In A Dark, Dark Wood in this inventive and twisty psychological thriller about a mega-hit podcast that reopens a murder case—and threatens to unravel the carefully constructed life of the victim’s daughter.

The only thing more dangerous than a lie…is the truth.

Josie Buhrman has spent the last ten years trying to escape her family’s reputation and with good reason. After her father’s murder thirteen years prior, her mother ran away to join a cult and her twin sister Lanie, once Josie’s closest friend and confidant, betrayed her in an unimaginable way. Now, Josie has finally put down roots in New York, settling into domestic life with her partner Caleb, and that’s where she intends to stay. The only problem is that she has lied to Caleb about every detail of her past—starting with her last name.

When investigative reporter Poppy Parnell sets off a media firestorm with a mega-hit podcast that reopens the long-closed case of Josie’s father’s murder, Josie’s world begins to unravel. Meanwhile, the unexpected death of Josie’s long-absent mother forces her to return to her Midwestern hometown where she must confront the demons from her past—and the lies on which she has staked her future.


Review:

Complex, creative, and satisfying!

Are You Sleeping is a character-driven thriller that takes us on a journey to solve a 10-year-old murder while delving into the intricacies and psychological effects homicide, deception, and abandonment have on surviving family members.

The writing is well done. The characters are scarred, leery, and emotionally distant. The plot has a good mix of mystery, intrigue, conflict, and drama. And the unconventional narration using true-crime podcasts and social media postings adds a unique touch.

Are You Sleeping is ultimately a novel about familial dynamics, twinship, friendship, secrets, lies, murder and the power of media and although it isn’t exceptionally fast-paced or unputdownable, it is certainly a strong debut for Barber.

 

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

                                            

 

 

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Kathleen Barber

Kathleen Barber was raised in Galesburg, Illinois. She graduated from the University of Illinois and Northwestern University School of Law, and previously practiced bankruptcy law at large firms in Chicago and New York. When she’s not writing, Kathleen enjoys traveling the world with her husband.

#BookReview Dirty Deeds by HelenKay Dimon @helenkaydimon @readloveswept

#BookReview Dirty Deeds by HelenKay Dimon @helenkaydimon @readloveswept Title: Dirty Deeds

Author: HelenKay Dimon

Series: Dirty #1

Published by: Loveswept on Aug. 8, 2017

Genres: Contemporary Romance, LGBTQIA, Romantic Suspense

Pages: 240

Format: eBook, ARC

Source: Loveswept, NetGalley

Book Rating: 8/10

No dirty deed goes unnoticed in a seductive game of cat and mouse. But for Alec and Gaige, the wrong move could get them killed.

Alec Drummond didn’t make his billions by playing nice—or by playing much at all. When it comes to pleasure, Alec only has time for whatever’s quick and easy, which is exactly what he gets from his company’s hot new computer genius. But Gaige Owens isn’t some pushover. He pushes back, and it’s giving Alec a rush. The question is, could Gaige be the one who’s leaking trade secrets? Just to be safe, Alec keeps him close at hand . . . night and day.

Gaige never thought he’d roll over for a man like Alec again, but who could resist sex this mind-blowing? Then there’s the draw of Alec’s mysterious side: his cutthroat ambition, his covert CIA connections, and the murder in his past. For Gaige, a deeper look proves an irresistible temptation. But when Gaige and Alec are stripped of their defenses by an unseen danger, everything they don’t know could bring them closer together—or tear them apart. Only one thing is certain: Before it’s all over, someone’s going down.


Review:

Deliciously steamy, highly entertaining and action packed!

Dirty Deeds is the first book in the new “Dirty series,” and once again Dimon has written a novel full of deception, mystery, danger, clandestine operations, seduction, hotter-than-sin sex scenes, dirty banter, and romance.

The writing is fluid and smooth. The plot is fascinating, suspenseful, and sultry. And the characters are powerful, sexy, strong, and confident.

I have to say Dirty Deeds is a fun, enjoyable read with lots of energy, excitement, intrigue, heat, heartthrobs, great supporting characters and of course the happy-ever-after ending we all love. And it has certainly left me eagerly awaiting the next novel in the series, Dirty Games, Finn and Justin’s story which is due out in Spring 2018.

 

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

         

 

 

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House – Loveswept for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About HelenKay Dimon

HelenKay Dimon is a divorce lawyer-turned-romance author. After dedicating years to helping people terminate relationships she now writes romance novels full time. Her books have earned praise, appeared on bestseller lists, won numerous awards and twice been named Red-Hot Reads and excerpted in Cosmo. She sometimes writes erotic romance, sometimes writes romantic suspense and sometimes writes contemporary romance. But no matter what she’s writing her books are always filled with smart banter and sexy times, and a HEA is guaranteed.

#BookReview The Late Show by Michael Connelly @Connellybooks @littlebrown

#BookReview The Late Show by Michael Connelly @Connellybooks @littlebrown Title: The Late Show

Author: Michael Connelly

Series: Renée Ballard #1, Harry Bosch Universe #29

Published by: Little Brown and Company on Jul. 18, 2017

Genres: Mystery/Thriller

Pages: 405

Format: eBook, ARC

Source: Little Brown and Company, NetGalley

Book Rating: 9/10

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Michael Connelly, a new thriller introducing a driven young detective trying to prove herself in the LAPD

Renée Ballard works the night shift in Hollywood, beginning many investigations but finishing none as each morning she turns her cases over to day shift detectives. A once up-and-coming detective, she’s been given this beat as punishment after filing a sexual harassment complaint against a supervisor.

But one night she catches two cases she doesn’t want to part with: the brutal beating of a prostitute left for dead in a parking lot and the killing of a young woman in a nightclub shooting. Ballard is determined not to give up at dawn. Against orders and her own partner’s wishes, she works both cases by day while maintaining her shift by night. As the cases entwine they pull her closer to her own demons and the reason she won’t give up her job no matter what the department throws at her.


Review:

Extremely tense, highly suspenseful and masterfully paced!

The Late Show is a skillfully crafted, well-executed police procedural that introduces us to the feisty Detective Renée Ballard as she heads out on a shift that will have her hunting a burglar, a sadist, and a ruthless killer.

The writing is tight and seamless. The characterization is spot on with a gang of multi-layered, gritty characters including the gutsy, tenacious Ballard. And the plot is a thrill ride of twists, turns, surprises, corruption, violence, forensics, police politics and murder that will have you hooked from the very first page.

Connelly is a best-selling author, and with this new release it’s easy to see why. The Late Show is a raw, action-packed page turner that is compelling, entertaining and will leave you wanting more.

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

                                       

 

 

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

#BookReview One Summer Day in Rome by Mark Lamprell @marklamprell @Flatironbooks

#BookReview One Summer Day in Rome by Mark Lamprell @marklamprell @Flatironbooks Title: One Summer Day in Rome

Author: Mark Lamprell

Published by: Flatiron Books on Aug. 1, 2017

Genres: Contemporary Romance, General Fiction

Pages: 272

Format: eBook, ARC

Source: Flatiron Books, NetGalley

Book Rating: 8/10

Mark Lamprell’s The Lovers’ Guide to Rome is an enchanting novel about three couples drawn irresistibly to Rome, narrated by the city itself.

Alice, an art student in New York City, has come to Rome in search of adventure and inspiration before settling down with her steady, safe fiancé. Meg and Alec, busy parents and successful business people from LA, are on a mission to find the holy grail, a certain blue tile that will make their home renovation complete—but soon it becomes clear that their marriage needs a makeover as well. Connie and Lizzie are women of a certain age—“Sometimes I look at my laughter lines and wonder what on earth could have been that funny”—who come from London to scatter the ashes of their beloved husband and brother. Both women are seemingly done with romance, but Rome has other ideas.


Review:

Absorbing, romantic and incredibly moving!

One Summer Day in Rome is a story about love, new love, struggling love, eternal love, and lost love.

The story takes place in the time span of one day and takes us into the lives of three couples; Alice and August, university students from different continents who test the idea of love at first sight; Alec and Meg, a middle-aged married couple who’ve lost that loving feeling; and Constance a heartbroken widow who recently lost her soul mate.

The prose is light, humorous and incredibly descriptive. The narration is unconventional. The characters are multi-layered, real and endearing. And the plot is an entertaining mix of emotion, dialogue, humour, hijinks, mishaps, and passion.

I have to admit that I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started One Summer Day in Rome but it wasn’t long before Lamprell not only swept me away to a city he obviously knows and loves and gave me a truly romantic guidebook to all the history, must-see landmarks, culture, lifestyle, and food but also immersed me in a heartfelt, touching story that made me laugh, smile and even cry.

 

This novel is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links. 

                                          

For more information on Mark Lamprell follow him on Twitter at: @marklamprell

 

 

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

#BlogTour & #BookReview The Wright Mistake by K.A. Linde @AuthorKALinde @InkSlingerPR

#BlogTour & #BookReview The Wright Mistake by K.A. Linde @AuthorKALinde @InkSlingerPR

#BlogTour & #BookReview The Wright Mistake by K.A. Linde @AuthorKALinde @InkSlingerPR Title: The Wright Mistake

Author: K.A. Linde

Series: Wright Series #3

Published by: K.A. Linde Inc. on Aug. 8, 2017

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 340

Format: eBook, ARC

Source: K.A. Linde, InkSlingerPR

Book Rating: 8/10

A new stand alone enemies-to-lovers romance by USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde…

I spent six weeks screwing Austin Wright’s brains out and all I got was this broken heart.

He can’t be trusted. Not with my body or my heart. Yet, two years have passed and I still crave him like an addict needing a fix.

The last time we tried this, it nearly ruined me. I know I should run and never look back. But his dark haunted eyes and razor blade smile speak to my soul. His touch sets my body on fire. And we all know what happens when you light gasoline. Someone is bound to get burned.

A second chance might destroy us both.

Because everyone knows two wrongs don’t make a Wright.


Review:

Passionate, angsty, and emotive!

The Wright Mistake is a heartwarming tale about the quirky, fun-loving Julia who has a weakness for bad boys and a past riddled with heartbreak, and Austin the sexy, charismatic playboy who masks his deep-rooted sadness and prefers the numbness and oblivion he finds in a bottle.

The writing is fluid and sultry. The characters are amusing, supportive, and entertaining. And the plot takes us on a whirlwind through the highs and lows of alcohol addiction and the explosive and spicy chemistry of falling in love.

Once again, Linde has proven that when it comes to writing contemporary romance stories that are emotionally compelling, bursting with sexual tension, and full of characters we can’t help but root for, she’s certainly one of the best.

The Wright Mistake is the third novel in the Wright series. If you haven’t had a chance to read my reviews for the first two books in the series The Wright Brother and The Wright Boss be sure to check them.

 

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

Amazon USAmazon UKiBooksB&NKoboGoogle Play

 

 

Thank you to InkSlingerPR and K.A. Linde for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About K.A. Linde

K.A. Linde is the USA Today bestselling author of more than fifteen novels including the Avoiding series and the Record series. She has a Masters degree in political science from the University of Georgia, was the head campaign worker for the 2012 presidential campaign at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and served as the head coach of the Duke University dance team. She loves reading fantasy novels, geeking out over Star Wars, binge-watching Supernatural, and dancing in her spare time.

She currently lives in Lubbock, Texas, with her husband and two super adorable puppies.

#CoverReveal Fatal Masquerade (A Lady Alkmene Mystery #4) by Vivian Conroy @VivWrites @HQDigitalUK

Lady Alkmene and Jake Dubois are back in a gripping new adventure facing dangerous opponents at a masked ball in the countryside.

Masked danger…

Lady Alkmene Callender has always loved grand parties, but when she receives an invitation to a masked ball thrown by Franklin Hargrove – oil magnate, aviation enthusiast and father of her best friend, Denise – she’s never seen such luxury. The estate is lit up with Chinese lanterns in the gardens, boats operated by footmen float across the pond and the guest list features the distinguished, rich and powerful!

But below the glamour, evil is lurking. When a dead body is discovered, it forces Lady Alkmene to throw off her mask and attempt to find the true killer before Denise’s family are accused. If only her partner, Jake Dubois, weren’t hiding something from her…

This case might just be more dangerous than either of them could have imagined.

Fatal Masquerade releases on October 4, 2017.

Preorder now at one of the following links and stay tuned for my review closer to publication.

 

                                

 

About the Author:

Vivian Conroy discovered Agatha Christie at 13 and quickly devoured all Poirot and Miss Marple stories. Over time Lord Peter Wimsey and Brother Cadfael joined her favourite sleuths. Even more fun than reading was thinking up her own fog-filled alleys, missing heirs and priceless artifacts. So Vivian created feisty Lady Alkmene and enigmatic reporter Jake Dubois sleuthing in 1920s London and the countryside, first appearing in A PROPOSAL TO DIE FOR (published by Carina UK/Harper Collins).

For the latest #LadyAlkmene, with a dash of dogs and chocolate, follow Vivian on Twitter via @VivWrites

#BlogTour & #GuestPost Rock Hard by Jozie Di Maria @JoZieRockFit @Authoright

Synopsis:

If there’s one woman who rocks harder than anyone it’s JoZie Di Maria. Gorgeous, outrageously fit and heavily tattooed, Di Maria has worked as a dancer with — and a trainer for — some of the biggest names in rock music. Having toured with legendary bands like Mötley Crüe, Papa Roach and Jane’s Addiction, she has lived a life that most people could only dream of. 

But Di Maria soon found that staying in top shape on the road was tough; performing long shows at packed stadiums late into the night, combined with endless hotel stays, poor nutrition and constant partying was gruelling. So Di Maria decided to take control and develop her own fierce fitness routine so that she could rock hard and train hard at the same time. 

Rock Hard: A Backstage Pass to Staying Fit on the Road the Rockstar Way is both an outstanding fitness guide and a nostalgic behind the scenes account of JoZie Di Maria’s incredible life on the road, training rockstars from Tommy Lee (Mötley Crüe) to Billy Morrison (Billy Idol) and Josh Todd (Buckcherry). Her easy to follow routines prove that you can work out anytime, any place — airports, offices, hotels, no excuses! — building a strong and healthy physique, inside and out, while developing a positive approach to body image. Beautiful paintings of her rockstar gym buddies accompany hand-drawn illustrations of work out moves, making it easy and lots of fun to train along with her, Di Maria’s Rock Hard is a fitness book worthy of any rock God.

And Now JoZie Di Maria on Mötley Crüe:

 

TOMMY LEE

MÖTLEY CRÜE – DRUMMER/DJ

WORKOUT: DRUMMING, DANCING, SEX

Tommy Lee is a man of many talents though known best as the drummer for Mötley Crüe. I’ve been blessed with the fortune to have been part of the Mötley Crüe legacy, as well as experiencing this super-hyper man’s energy and light. In an almost child-like way, Tommy finds excitement in just about everything. Everyday is truly a new day for him. His tall, fit frame is no doubt stamped Body by rock’n’roll, is covered in tattoos and piercings, and kept lean from intense drumming. I was always awe-struck when I’d watch him sweat buckets during shows. Tommy always plays his drums shirtless, driving the girls to want him and the guys to be like him. He is the epitome of cool.

Not one to work out at a gym, Tommy Lee is clearly keeping fit in a non-conventional fashion. Along with his drumming, he DJs around the world. Dancing and moving the entire set while he spins (which lasts anywhere from 90 minutes to three hours), he burns hundreds of calories without even trying. I would have to say, Tommy Lee has the “non-workout” workout. Would you believe he would most likely top a professional football player in fitness and condition? Well, believe it.

Research conducted in Britain by Chichester University used Blondie drummer Clem Burke to prove such a point. Clem, along with other drummers, were connected to equipment measuring their heart rates, oxygen up-take, and the levels of lactic acid in their blood as they played. The stress caused to their bodies while drumming was then compared to football players. Drummers’ heart rates were raised up to 190 beats per minute and burning anywhere from 400 to 600 calories in a 90-minute performance. Drummers need to have high stamina in order to play shows. The average working drummer plays a 90-minute set, five days a week for up to three months during an average touring schedule. The breaks in between legs of a tour range from two weeks to a month. That’s a whole lot of increased heart rates and calorie burning going on! The rock star lifestyle seems so unhealthy, but drummers counteract a lot of the toxicity without realizing it since they’re perpetually sweating toxins out. Tommy loves to beat on those skins unapologetically and is keeping fit at the same time.

 

VINCE NEIL

MÖTLEY CRÜE – LEAD VOCALS

LEATHER PANTS WORKOUT: ADJUSTABLE DUMBBELLS, ON-STAGE ACTIVITY

The first moment I met Vince back in 1998, we literally giggled and hugged as if two old friends were reuniting. He had the most infectious laugh that kept me giggling and we instantly hit it off. When we began touring together, we’d often go to hotel gyms by day or hang at a Hooter’s, then hit the local strip club at night. We were having fun! But those little hotel gyms were definitely NOT where Vince was burning calories.

SHOWTIME!

During an average Mötley Crüe show, Vince stays extremely active, running from one side of the stage to the other, using his upper body to swing his arm up and punch, psyching up the crowd for the majority of the 90-minute show. Mix that with adrenaline and it’s a perfect cocktail for calorie burning. The average concert stage is approximately 60’ in length. Between songs when Vince has a quick break, he runs into his private tent and pumps up with portable resistance bands before he runs back to continue rocking out! Amazing! It’s an impressive two-hour workout burning an estimated 1,100-1,500 calories per show! Multiply that by five shows a week and it comes to 5,500-7,500 calories burned every week on tour. At the end of each show, Vince’s stage clothes would be completely drenched in sweat as if dowsed with a bucket of water. Peeling off the sweat-soaked, heavy leather pants is a bit of workout in itself, probably adding extra muscle-toning resistance to his already active stage routine. Wet leather is no joke.

THE KISS

I was so often asked about my nightly kisses with Vince on stage. They were so passionate that many thought we were an item. Vince is an amazing kisser. He is a non-smoker with soft, supple lips and knows exactly how to use them. Often times I found myself flushed and a bit heated by a really good kiss. With blood rushing to certain areas and my heart pounding, I wondered about kissing and calorie burning. Apparently, you do burn calories during kissing. When I say kiss, I mean a deep-throat, make-out session. Unfortunately, mine and Vince’s make-out sessions did not last long enough to make any real dent, but we can add an extra 3-5 calories burned on Vince’s part and maybe two for me.

Remember being in high school and having the long, drawn out, sweaty, dry-humping make-out sessions that seemed to last hours? Too lazy to workout? Rediscover that delicious way to burn some bulge.

About the Author:

Originally from Roselle, New Jersey, JoZie “LoveStar” Di Maria is a certified personal trainer who has travelled the world as a make-up artist, stylist and back-up dancer to some of the biggest bands in rock. Just fifteen years after she first went to her first ever concert – Mötley Crüe at Madison Square Garden – she was invited by the band to perform with them on tour. She has worked as a make-up artist for MTV, VH1, TLC and Discovery.

Thank you JoZie Di Maria. It was an honour to have you guest post on my blog today!

Pick up a copy of this novel from your favourite retailer or from the following link!

For more information on JoZie Di Maria visit her website at: rockhard.fit

or follow her on Twitter at@JoZieRockFit or Facebook at: JoZieRockFit

#BookReview The Ice-Cream Makers by Ernest van der Kwast @ernestvdkwast @SimonSchusterCA

#BookReview The Ice-Cream Makers by Ernest van der Kwast @ernestvdkwast @SimonSchusterCA Title: The Ice-Cream Makers

Author: Ernest van der Kwast

Published by: Atria Books on Aug. 1, 2017

Genres: General Fiction, Historical Fiction

Pages: 320

Format: Paperback, ARC

Source: Simon & Schuster Canada

Book Rating: 8/10

In this international bestseller, a poet struggles to decide if he should put his family’s or his own needs first when he returns to Italy to help run the ice cream dynasty he left behind years ago in this charming tale perfect for fans of A Man Called Ove.

As the heir to a proud Northern Italian ice-cream dynasty, Giovanni Calamine’s family is none too happy when he decides to break with tradition and travel the world as a notable poet. So when Giovanni receives an unexpected call from his brother, he is faced with a difficult decision: return home to serve in his family’s interests or continue on his own path in life once and for all?

In a heartwarming tale that weaves history with lore and poetry with delicious culinary curiosities, The Ice-Cream Makers paints a century-long, multi-generational portrait of a family wrestling with the conflicting pulls of legacy and desire.


Review:

Poignant, intriguing, and delightfully entertaining!

The Ice-Cream Makers is set in both Rotterdam and Northern Italy and is the multi-generational story of the Talamini family and their ice-creaming making dynasty.

It centres around two brothers; Giovanni, the oldest who decides to branch out from tradition and lead a life filled with words, festivals, travel, and independence; And Luca the youngest who does what is expected and continues the family business of making ice cream like his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather did before him.

The prose is rich and sophisticated. The characters are unique, diligent, and authentic. And the story is ultimately about family, sacrifice, responsibility, guilt, tradition, love, poetry, and ice cream.

Overall the Ice-Cream Makers is a well written, fascinating story that reminds us that family legacies can often be a blessing and a curse, that the choices we make often have far-reaching consequences, and that ice cream is the result of mouth-watering ingredients, a complex process, and a lot of hard work. 

 

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

                                            

 

 

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Ernest van der Kwast

Ernest van der Kwast is a Dutch author born in Mumbai, India, in 1981. He made his debut in 2005 with the novel Sometimes Things Are Better When People Applaud. His breakthrough book is Mama Tandoori, which became a bestseller in the Netherlands and Italy upon publication, and has to date sold more than 100,000 copies. He lives in Rotterdam.

#BookReview Emerald Coast by Anita Hughes @hughesanita @StMartinsPress

#BookReview Emerald Coast by Anita Hughes @hughesanita @StMartinsPress Title: Emerald Coast

Author: Anita Hughes

Published by: St. Martin's Griffin on Aug. 1, 2017

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Women's Fiction

Pages: 296

Format: eBook, ARC

Source: St. Martin's Press, NetGalley

Book Rating: 7/10

Lily Bristol arrives at a luxurious resort in Sardinia for the grand opening of her newest home furnishing store on the Emerald Coast. Thirty-two and newly divorced, she’s ready to handle things on her own. At least until her private butler, Hector, escorts her to a beautiful suite where she notices a suspiciously familiar pair of men’s slippers and shaving kit. Lily is horrified. Her ex-husband Oliver moved out of their restored Connecticut farmhouse six months ago, but they booked this trip when they were trying to save their marriage and never cancelled the reservation. Oliver, a food critic for the New York Times, is here covering Sardinia’s hottest new restaurant. The only other available room is the adjoining suite; and worse, Oliver isn’t alone. He’s brought a twenty-something named Angela with him.

Lily is determined to make do and enlists Hector to find her a suitable man. But it’s not as easy to find new love as they both expected. When Lily and Oliver find themselves alone on a very important night, they turn to each other. Sparks begin to fly, but can they be together without breaking each other’s hearts?

Set on the glamorous Italian island, EMERALD COAST is a touching and humorous story about marriage and the difficulty of finding love and happiness at the same time. With the summer season winding down, Hughes’ latest will have you soaking in the last rays of summer sun and dreaming of endlessly warm days.


Review:

Sweet, uplifting, and romantic!

Emerald Coast, the latest novel by Hughes, takes us into the lives of the recently divorced Lily and Oliver and reminds us of the complicated ups and downs of marriage, the importance of appreciating what we have, accepting the things we can’t change, and understanding that honesty and trust truly are the backbone of love and happiness.

The prose is exceptionally descriptive. The characters are successful, driven, and quirky. And the plot is a charming mix of life, friendship, family, introspection, jealousy, forgiveness, drama, courage, new love, old love, sex, and mouth-watering cuisine. 

Emerald Coast is the second novel I’ve read by Hughes and even though I would have liked to connect with the characters a little bit more when it comes to writing a lighthearted, easy read set in a tropical paradise and full of all the glitz and glamour of the rich and famous she nails it.

If you haven’t already had a chance to read my review of White Sand, Blue Sea be sure to check it out here:

 

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

                                          

 

 

Thank you to NetGalley, especially St. Martin’s Press, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Anita Hughes

ANITA HUGHES is the author of Monarch Beach, Market Street, Lake Como, French Coast, Rome in Love, Island in the Sea, Santorini Sunsets, and Christmas in Paris. She attended UC Berkeley’s Masters in Creative Writing Program, and lives in Dana Point, California where she is at work on her next novel.