Genre: Women's Fiction

#BookReview Revenge by Nigel May @Nigel_May @bookouture

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#BookReview Revenge by Nigel May @Nigel_May @bookouture Title: Revenge

Author: Nigel May

Published by: Bookouture on Feb. 10, 2017

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Women's Fiction

Pages: 386

Format: eBook, ARC

Source: Bookouture, NetGalley

Book Rating: 9/10

If you keep dangerous secrets you’ll pay the ultimate price… 

In the South of France, playground of the rich and famous, world renowned chef Dexter Franklin is organising a night to remember. As he opens the doors to his exclusive restaurant for the first time, he’s handpicked a list of guests, as hot and dazzling as the St Tropez sun itself: 

Mew Stanton: Fashionable, beautiful and a notorious TV chef, Dexter’s ex-girlfriend has all the ingredients for success. As her books fly off the shelves, a secret from her past is about to surface with explosive consequences. 

Holly Lydon: Ex girlband star who has fallen on hard times. Forced to make ends meet she’s having to sleep her way to the top. Now she’s making headlines for all the wrong reasons. 

Rosita Velázquez: Brazilian actress extraordinaire and girlfriend of Dexter’s brother, Leland. When she’s in town everybody needs to know about it, but this is one show-stopping entrance she’ll live to regret. 

Three women have a past with Dexter and a grudge to bear against him. As fireworks ignite in the jet set capital of Europe, there’s murder on the menu. Who will be served their just desserts? 

The sun is setting in the South of France. Pour yourself a glass of champagne and sit back for a read of revenge, regrets and shocking revelations that will have you hooked to the very last page. 

Review:

Wildly addictive, blissfully entertaining, and sinfully salacious!

This is a provocative novel that takes us into the lives of the rich, glamorous and famous and reminds us that not everything is always as it seems and as well as having fancy yachts and designer clothes they also seem to have an abundance of sex, power, temptation, rivalry, jealousy, revenge, deception, tragedy and murder.

The writing is effortless. The characters are self-obsessed, shallow, and ambitious. The settings are exotic and picturesque. And the plot is clever, humorous, mysterious, unpredictable and incredibly captivating.

What can I say, this truly is a jouissance or indulgence you don’t want to miss!

If you haven’t had a chance to check our my review for Nigel May’s previous novel, Lovers and Liars, be sure to check it out HERE!

This book is due to be published on February 10, 2017.

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

Amazon UK, Amazon US, Amazon Canada, Indigo, Kobo, B&N

 

 

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

 

About Nigel May

Nigel May has been described as "the UK's male Jackie Collins" and is an author, TV host and journalist. His three fiction novels have all been published by Bookouture.

His first glam fiction novel was TRINITY, an action-packed blockbuster (or bonkbuster) about the lives of the rich and famous. Glamour, beauty, fame and celebrity mix with murder, intrigue and danger to create an explosive novel which gained incredible reviews and fans across the globe. His follow-up was the glitz-meets-grit whodunit ADDICTED which was also a huge success and once again dived into the diamond-dipped world of the mega-rich but showed that all of the money and fame in the world do not always make for a happy ending. His third novel SCANDALOUS LIES is steeped in secrets, sin, sex and scandal and takes readers around the world as a mysterious celebrity disappearance is investigated. His books have been Amazon best sellers, read by celebrities and fellow authors alike, and have proved that a man can successfully write in a 'bonkbuster world' that has always been a strongly female domain.

Nigel was the only male writer amongst 44 authors featured in the chart-topping, beach-read anthology of short-stories SUNLOUNGER. He also contributed a short story to SUNLOUNGER 2.

On television he regularly presents on UK shopping channels where he has built up a substantial following. He has also featured on Channel 4, C5, ITV and broadcast live from America. He is also one of the UK's most popular craft personalities, having launched his own successful range, A-May-Zing.

As a writer he has written for many of the UK's most successful magazines and newspapers, specialising in showbiz and celebrity, as well as writing on subjects ranging from relationships through to exotic travel.

Website | Facebook | YouTube

#BookReview Always by Sarah Jio @sarahjio

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#BookReview Always by Sarah Jio @sarahjio Title: Always

Author: Sarah Jio

Published by: Ballantine Books on Feb. 7, 2017

Genres: General Fiction, Women's Fiction

Pages: 288

Format: eBook, ARC

Source: Penguin Random House, NetGalley

Book Rating: 7.5/10

A gripping novel about the kind of love that never lets go, and the heart’s capacity to remember, from the New York Times bestselling author of Blackberry Winter and The Violets of March

Enjoying a romantic candlelit dinner with her fiancé, Ryan, at one of Seattle’s chicest restaurants, Kailey Crain can’t believe her good fortune: She has a great job as a journalist and is now engaged to a guy who is perfect in nearly every way. As she and Ryan leave the restaurant, Kailey spies a thin, bearded homeless man on the sidewalk. She approaches him to offer up her bag of leftovers, and is stunned when their eyes meet, then stricken to her very core: The man is the love of her life, Cade McAllister.

When Kailey met Cade ten years ago, their attraction was immediate and intense—everything connected and felt right. But it all ended suddenly, leaving Kailey devastated. Now the poor soul on the street is a faded version of her former beloved: His weathered and weary face is as handsome as Kailey remembers, but his mind has suffered in the intervening years. Over the next few weeks, Kailey helps Cade begin to piece his life together, something she initially keeps from Ryan. As she revisits her long-ago relationship, Kailey realizes that she must decide exactly what—and whom—she wants.

Alternating between the past and the present, Always is a beautifully unfolding exploration of a woman faced with an impossible choice, a woman who discovers what she’s willing to save and what she will sacrifice for true love.

Review:

Captivating, thought-provoking, and deeply moving!

Always is a poignant novel that delves into the emotional, physical and mental anguish suffered by those inflicted with brain trauma and touches on the hardships, prejudices and struggles experienced by those who find themselves homeless.

The prose is polished and precise. The characters are consumed, troubled and genuine. And the story which contains a subtle element of mystery is written in a back and forth, past/present style that gives a wonderful appreciation and depth to all the situations, personalities and relationships within it.

Overall, I enjoyed this novel about friendship, loss, jealousy, compassion, life and enduring love, but I have to say I still prefer Jio’s historical fiction novels, particularly “The Bungalow” which is still one of my all-time favourites.

 

 This novel is due to be published on February 7, 2017. 

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

Amazon UK, Amazon US, Amazon Canada, Indigo, Book Depository, Kobo, B&N

 

 

Thank you to NetGalley, especially Random House – Ballantine for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Sarah Jio

Sarah Jio is the New York Times bestselling author of ALWAYS, published by Random House (Ballantine), as well as seven other novels from Penguin Books, including, THE VIOLETS OF MARCH, THE BUNGALOW, BLACKBERRY WINTER, THE LAST CAMELLIA, MORNING GLORY, GOODNIGHT JUNE, and THE LOOK OF LOVE. Sarah is also a journalist who has contributed to The New York Times, Glamour, O, The Oprah Magazine, Glamour, SELF, Real Simple, Fitness, Marie Claire, and many others. She has appeared as a commentator on NPR’s Morning Edition. Her novels are translated into more than 25 languages. Sarah lives in Seattle with her three young boys.

Website | Blog | Facebook | Instagram

#BookReview Love, Alice by Barbara Davis @bdavisauthor

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#BookReview Love, Alice by Barbara Davis @bdavisauthor Title: Love, Alice

Author: Barbara Davis

Published by: Berkley on Dec. 6, 2016

Genres: General Fiction, Women's Fiction

Pages: 432

Format: eBook, ARC

Source: Berkley Publishing, NetGalley

Book Rating: 8.5/10

From the author of Summer at Hideaway Key comes a sweeping new Southern women’s fiction novel about forgiving the past one letter at a time…

The truth lies between the lines…

A year ago, Dovie Larkin’s life was shattered when her fiancé committed suicide just weeks before their wedding. Now, plagued by guilt, she has become a fixture at the cemetery where William is buried, visiting his grave daily, waiting for answers she knows will never come.

Then one day, she sees an old woman whose grief mirrors her own. Fascinated, she watches the woman leave a letter on a nearby grave. Dovie ignores her conscience and reads the letter—a mother’s plea for forgiveness to her dead daughter—and immediately needs to know the rest of the story.

As she delves deeper, a collection of letters from the cemetery’s lost and found begins to unravel a decades-old mystery involving one of Charleston’s wealthiest families. But even as Dovie seeks to answer questions about another woman’s past—questions filled with deception, betrayal, and heartbreaking loss—she starts to discover the keys to love, forgiveness, and finally embracing the future…

Review:

Perceptive, haunting, and profoundly thought-provoking!

This is a heartbreakingly sweet novel that delves into the emotional, physical and mental anguish experienced by young pregnant girls who historically were spurned, institutionalized and forced to give up their babies, and the incredible power and importance of hope and forgiveness.

The prose is eloquent and beautifully descriptive. The characters are determined, intelligent, consumed, and sorrowful. And the story is written in a back and forth, past/present style that gives a wonderful depth and understanding to all the subplots, relationships, and predicaments within it.

Overall this is, ultimately, an intriguing, deeply moving novel about familial relationships, friendship, love, loss, secrets, abandonment, guilt and grief.

 

This book is due to be published on December 6, 2016. 

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

Amazon UK, Amazon US, Amazon Canada, Chapters/Indigo, Book Depository

 

 

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

 

About Barbara Davis

I’m a Jersey girl raised in the south, now living and writing in New England. Confused? Constantly. Happy? Deliriously! But then, living your dream will do that! After fifteen years of wearing heels and schlepping a briefcase as an executive in the jewelry industry, I traded in my pinstripes for a little peace of mind, and decided to follow my dream of becoming a women’s fiction author. And what a ride it’s been! Six books later, I’m still pinching myself, and I’m still as much in love with writing as I was the day I began this journey. Maybe it’s because I believe in miracles, in happy endings and new beginnings. Heaven knows I’ve had my share.

I’m blessed to be married to my best friend and soul mate, Tom, who I must say, sets the bar pretty high for my on-the-page heroes. We also have a lovely ginger cat named Simon, who is twenty years old, wretchedly spoiled, and doesn’t give a fig if I’m on deadline or not. When I’m not making up stories, you’re likely to find me reading, cooking, watching college football, (Go Gators!) or spreading a little sunshine over on Facebook, on The Sunshine Page.

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | Instagram

#BookReview The Other Wives Club by Shari Low @sharilow @Aria_Fiction

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#BookReview The Other Wives Club by Shari Low @sharilow @Aria_Fiction Title: The Other Wives Club

Author: Shari Low

Published by: Aria on Jun. 28, 2015

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Women's Fiction

Pages: 344

Format: eBook, ARC

Source: Aria, NetGalley

Book Rating: 9/10

Three women thrown together on a surprise Mediterranean cruise to celebrate a milestone birthday of the man they all once loved. What could possibly go wrong? 

Tess Gold – the current wife. When Tess married Drew Gold, she knew his two ex-wives were still in his life. 
Now Drew has planned a luxury cruise to celebrate his birthday … and the former Mrs. Golds are all coming too. 

Mona Gold – the second wife. When it comes to style, fashion editor, Mona, never puts a Louboutin wrong. 
Now it’s time to reclaim the only man she ever really loved … if she can tempt Drew away from his new wife for a second time. 

Sarah Gold – the first wife, the original. When Drew left her for Mona, Sarah’s emotions went into hibernation. 
Now she’s decided to shave those legs and start living again…

Review:

Delightfully entertaining, incredibly sweet, and extraordinarily funny!

This novel takes us on a rip-roaring vacation through the beautiful Mediterranean with the Gold family, complete with ex-wives, new wives, ex-husbands, new husbands, teenage children, grown children, and of course a couple of wee grandchildren.

The writing is seamless. The characterization is perfection. There are characters you love and characters you love to hate. And the plot has a profusion of family drama, emotion, sex, friendship, adultery, secrets, humour, and romance.

This novel truly is a sweet indulgence. I devoured it. And once again, Shari Low captivated, enthralled and thoroughly amused me from start to finish.

If you haven’t had an opportunity to read my review of “The Story of our Life” by Shari Low, be sure to check it our HERE!

 

This book is due to be published on November 1, 2016. 

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

Amazon UK, Amazon US, Amazon Canada

 

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

 

About Shari Low

Shari Low is the No1 best-selling author of over 20 novels, including With Or Without You, Another Day In Winter, One Day In December, A Life Without You, This Is Me and The Story Of Our Life. And because she likes to over-share toe-curling moments and hapless disasters, she is also the shameless mother behind a collection of parenthood memories called Because Mummy Said So. Once upon a time she met a guy, got engaged after a week, and twenty-something years later she lives near Glasgow with her husband, a labradoodle, and two teenagers who think she's fairly embarrassing except when they need a lift. 

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#BookReview #Blog Tour #Giveaway Moondance by Diane Chandler @Dchandlerauthor @Blackbird_Bks

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#BookReview #Blog Tour #Giveaway Moondance by Diane Chandler @Dchandlerauthor @Blackbird_Bks Title: Moondance

Author: Diane Chandler

Published by: Blackbird Digital Books on Oct. 31, 2016

Genres: General Fiction, Women's Fiction

Pages: 352

Format: eBook, ARC

Source: Blackbird Digital Books

Book Rating: 8.5/10

IVF could create a baby but could it also destroy a marriage?

Cat has always been in control of her life. Happily married to Dom, but flying high as a political lobbyist, she dismisses his desire to start a family … until she herself is ready.

But what if it is then too late?

Complex and selfish, intelligent and open, if she is to succeed in having that elusive child, Cat must battle through gruelling fertility treatment and the emotional strain it places on her marriage. By her side, Dom, easygoing and ever the optimist, finds that he too risks being run ragged by their journey.

Both are forced to come to terms with their longing for a baby against the blitz on a relationship tested like never before.

Bittersweet, at times funny, and always emotionally raw, this is by far the most moving and honest novel you’ll ever read about IVF and its impact on a marriage.

Review:

Insightful, poignant, and profoundly touching!

This is an incredibly intriguing novel that delves into the emotional, physical and mental anguish experienced by those suffering infertility and the hardships and struggles involved in the process of IVF. 

The prose is clear and precise. The characters are consumed, self-involved, troubled, and real. And the plot is written in a back and forth, past/present, style that gives a wonderful depth and appreciation to all the relationships and personalities in it.

Overall, this, ultimately, is a thought-provoking, moving novel about familial relationships, friendship, love, loss, jealousy, guilt, and the importance of support and communication.

 

This novel is due to be published on November 1, 2016. 

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

Amazon UK, Amazon US, Amazon Canada, Chapters/Indigo, Book Depository

 

 

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Thank you to Blackbird Books and Diane Chandler for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. It was a real honour and pleasure to read.

 

About Diane Chandler

Diane Chandler worked first as a political lobbyist in Brussels, and then at the European Commission for several years, where she managed overseas aid programmes in Ukraine just after the fall of communism. Ukraine became the subject for her first novel The Road To Donetsk. Moondance, her second novel, about a high-flying career woman battling with gruelling fertility treatment, was informed by her personal experience of the emotional and physical impact of IVF. Diane lives in west London and is available for interviews, events and feature-writing commissions.

Website | Goodreads

 

And for more information on other titles available from Blackbird Books visit them at:

blackbird-books.com or on Twitter at: @Blackbird_Bks

 

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#BookReview Winter Storms by Elin Hilderbrand @elinhilderbrand @littlebrown

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#BookReview Winter Storms by Elin Hilderbrand @elinhilderbrand @littlebrown Title: Winter Storms

Author: Elin Hilderbrand

Series: Winter #3

Published by: Little Brown and Company on Oct. 4, 2016

Genres: General Fiction, Women's Fiction

Pages: 246

Format: eBook, ARC

Source: Little Brown and Company, NetGalley

Book Rating: 8/10

Gather under the mistletoe for one last round of caroling with the Quinn family in this heartwarming conclusion to Elin Hilderbrand’s bestselling Winter Street Trilogy. 

Some of the stormy weather of the past few seasons seems to have finally lifted for the Quinns. After a year apart, and an ill-fated affair with the Winter Street Inn’s old Santa Claus, Mitzi has returned to rule the roost; Patrick is about to be released from prison; Kevin has a successful new business and is finally ready to tie the knot with Isabelle; and best of all, there’s hopeful news about Bart, who has been captured by enemy forces in Afghanistan. 

That doesn’t mean there aren’t a few dark clouds on the horizon. Kelley has recently survived a health scare; Jennifer can’t quite shake her addiction to the drugs she used as a crutch while Patrick was in jail; and Ava still can’t decide between the two lovers that she’s been juggling with limited success. However, if there’s one holiday that brings the Quinn family together to give thanks for the good times, it’s Christmas. And this year promises to be a celebration unlike any other as the Quinns prepare to host Kevin and Isabelle’s wedding at the inn. But as the special day approaches, a historic once-in-a-century blizzard bears down on Nantucket, threatening to keep the Quinns away from the place–and the people–they love most. Before the snow clears, the Quinns will have to survive enough upheavals to send anyone running for the spiked eggnog, in this touching novel that proves that when the holidays roll around, you can always go home again. 

Review:

It’s hard to believe that this is the final instalment of the Quinns’ saga.

This novel starts off where the last one, Winter Street, left off and this time around we get to experience and live a whole year with the gang.

The prose is smooth and precise. The characters are charming, flawed, entertaining and real. And the plot is a whirlwind of ups and downs, highs and lows, weddings, long-awaited reunions, struggles with addiction, exciting endeavours, grim diagnoses, and new loves.

This truly is a bittersweet novel. On the one hand it’s a lovely, satisfying end to an endearing trilogy, but on the other it really is a little sad to know it’s done.

If you haven’t read any of the other books in the Winter Street series, you’re truly missing out. And if you haven’t already had a chance to read my review for Winter Stroll (Winter Street #2), 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.

Amazon UK, Amazon US, Amazon Canada, Chapters/Indigo, Book Depository

 

 

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

 

About Elin Hilderbrand

Elin Hilderbrand is a mother of three, an avid runner, reader, and traveler, and the author of twenty-three novels. She grew up outside Philadelphia, and has lived on Nantucket for more than twenty years.

Website | Facebook | Instagram

#BookReview The Confectioner’s Tale by Laura Madeleine @esthercrumpet

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#BookReview The Confectioner’s Tale by Laura Madeleine @esthercrumpet Title: The Confectioner's Tale

Author: Laura Madeleine

Published by: Thomas Dunne Books on Sep. 20, 2016

Genres: General Fiction, Women's Fiction

Pages: 336

Format: eBook, ARC

Source: St. Martin's Press, NetGalley

Book Rating: 8/10

What secrets are hiding in the heart of Paris?

At the famous Patisserie Clermont in Paris, 1909, a chance encounter with the owner’s daughter has given one young man a glimpse into a life he never knew existed: of sweet cream and melted chocolate, golden caramel and powdered sugar, of pastry light as air.

But it is not just the art of confectionery that holds him captive, and soon a forbidden love affair begins.

Almost eighty years later, an academic discovers a hidden photograph of her grandfather as a young man with two people she has never seen before. Scrawled on the back of the picture are the words ‘Forgive me’. Unable to resist the mystery behind it, she begins to unravel the story of two star-crossed lovers and one irrevocable betrayal.

Take a moment to savour an evocative, bittersweet love story that echoes through the decades – perfect for fans of Kate Morton, Rachel Hore and Victoria Hislop. 

Review:

Mesmerizing, heartwarming, and incredibly clever!

This story is set in two time periods, Paris in the early 1900s and Cambridge in the late 1980s, and is told from alternating points of view. Guillaume, a hardworking labourer who meets and falls in love with the privileged daughter of a famous pâtissier. And Petra, a young student, who endeavours to solve an age-old mystery plaguing the memory of her beloved grandfather, a famous journalist.

The writing is exceptionally descriptive and atmospheric. The characters are loyal, determined, and strong. And the plot, although simple in nature, flows effortlessly between time periods and enraptures you with not only drama, emotion, mystery, and romance, but with the inner workings of the finest pastries imaginable.

This is truly an intriguing mix of family dynamics, secrets, treachery, and enduring love and is a commendable debut novel.

 

This book is due to be published on September 20, 2016.

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

Amazon UK, Amazon US, Amazon Canada, Chapters/Indigo, Book Depository

 

 

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

 

About Laura Madeleine

Laura Madeleine is the author of The Confectioner’s Tale, Where the Wild Cherries Grow (2018, US) and The Secrets Between Us.

After a childhood spent acting professionally and training at a theatre school, Laura changed her mind, and went to study English Literature at Newnham College, Cambridge. She now writes fiction, as well as recipes, and was formerly the resident cake baker for Domestic Sluttery. She lives in Bristol, but can often be found visiting her family in Devon and getting up to mischief with her sister, fantasy author Lucy Hounsom

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#BookReview Winter Stroll by Elin Hilderbrand @elinhilderbrand @littlebrown

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#BookReview Winter Stroll by Elin Hilderbrand @elinhilderbrand @littlebrown Title: Winter Stroll

Author: Elin Hilderbrand

Series: Winter #2

Published by: Little Brown and Company on Oct. 13, 2015

Genres: General Fiction, Women's Fiction

Pages: 263

Format: Hardcover

Source: Purchased

Book Rating: 8/10

“Happy Holidays 2015! It has been a rough year for the Quinns, but I would like to start by saying thank you for all of the well wishes and positive missives sent our way.” 

Another Christmas on Nantucket finds Winter Street Inn owner Kelley Quinn reflecting on the past year as he writes a holiday letter to friends and family. Though the year has had its share of misfortune and worry, the Quinns have much to celebrate. Kelley, now single, at least is on better terms with his first wife Margaret, who is using her celebrity to lure customers to the inn in record numbers. Their son Kevin has a beautiful new baby, Genevieve, with the Inn’s French housekeeper, Isabelle; and their daughter, Ava, is finally dating a nice guy–her devoted colleague, Scott. 

Now the Quinns are looking forward to celebrating Genevieve’s baptism, welcoming Isabelle to the family, and enjoying the cheer of Nantucket’s traditional Christmas Stroll. But just when a peaceful family gathering seems within reach, Kelley’s estranged second wife, Mitzi, shows up on the island after souring on her relationship with the inn’s former Santa Claus. Soon Kelley isn’t the only Quinn entertaining a surprise guest from Christmases past as lovers old and new gather beneath the mistletoe. With jealousy, passion, and eggnog consumption at an all-time high, it’s going to take a whole lot more than a Christmas miracle to get the Quinns–and the inn–through the holidays intact.

Review:

 The Quinns are back!

It’s been one year since we left the Quinns, and in this second novel in the Winter series we head back to Nantucket to see how the gang is faring.

It is a heartwarming story full of grief, jealousy, old loves, new loves, addiction, and the importance of family.

The writing is clear and fluent. The characters are well developed, endearing, and multi-layered. And the plot is engaging and entertaining, with an ending that has just the right amount of intrigue to leave you anticipating what comes next.

It was great to see the story and characters from Winter Street back and more developed in this novel. And although you could read it as a standalone, I think the curiosity and fascination left behind from the first novel was a large contributor to the appeal and enjoyment of this one.

If you haven’t read the first novel in the series, Winter Street, I would highly recommend reading it first, and be sure to look out for the third and final novel in the series, Winter Storms, due out this fall.

 

This book is available now.

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

Amazon UK, Amazon US, Amazon Canada, Chapters/Indigo

 

 

About Elin Hilderbrand

Elin Hilderbrand is a mother of three, an avid runner, reader, and traveler, and the author of twenty-three novels. She grew up outside Philadelphia, and has lived on Nantucket for more than twenty years.

Website | Facebook | Instagram

#BookReview Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid @tjenkinsreid

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#BookReview Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid @tjenkinsreid Title: Maybe in Another Life

Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid

Published by: Washington Square Press on Jul. 7, 2015

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Women's Fiction

Pages: 342

Format: Paperback

Source: Purchased

Book Rating: 8.5/10

From the acclaimed author of Forever, Interrupted and After I Docomes a breathtaking new novel about a young woman whose fate hinges on the choice she makes after bumping into an old flame; in alternating chapters, we see two possible scenarios unfold—with stunningly different results.

At the age of twenty-nine, Hannah Martin still has no idea what she wants to do with her life. She has lived in six different cities and held countless meaningless jobs since graduating college. On the heels of leaving yet another city, Hannah moves back to her hometown of Los Angeles and takes up residence in her best friend Gabby’s guestroom. Shortly after getting back to town, Hannah goes out to a bar one night with Gabby and meets up with her high school boyfriend, Ethan.

Just after midnight, Gabby asks Hannah if she’s ready to go. A moment later, Ethan offers to give her a ride later if she wants to stay. Hannah hesitates. What happens if she leaves with Gabby? What happens if she leaves with Ethan?

In concurrent storylines, Hannah lives out the effects of each decision. Quickly, these parallel universes develop into radically different stories with large-scale consequences for Hannah, as well as the people around her. As the two alternate realities run their course, Maybe in Another Life raises questions about fate and true love: Is anything meant to be? How much in our life is determined by chance? And perhaps, most compellingly: Is there such a thing as a soul mate?

Hannah believes there is. And, in both worlds, she believes she’s found him.

Review:

Intriguing, thought-provoking, and deeply moving!

This is a uniquely written story that delves into the concept of parallel universes, and takes the thought of “what if” to a whole other level. 

It is beautifully crafted. The characters are flawed, resilient, and real. And the plot is distinctive, emotional, powerful, and completely absorbing.

This is, ultimately, a story about life, love, destiny, friendship, familial relationships, and contentment.

I really enjoyed this story and I look forward to hearing all the differing opinions and interesting discussion I am confident it will create.

Thank you to the “Chick Lit Book Club” on Goodreads for nominating this as our August read. This has been in my “to read” pile for way too long and I’m glad you made me finally bump it to the top.

This novel is available now.

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

Amazon UK, Amazon US, Amazon Canada

 

 

About Taylor Jenkins Reid

Taylor Jenkins Reid is the author of One True Loves, Maybe in Another Life, After I Do, and Forever, Interrupted. Her novels have been named best books of summer by People, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, InStyle, PopSugar, Buzzfeed, Goodreads, and others. Her most recent novel, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, is an Indie Next Pick, an Amazon Best Book of the Month, and has been featured in Entertainment Weekly’s Must List and Good Morning America’s Summer Reading Roundup. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, their daughter, and their dog.

Photo by Scott Witter

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram | Pinterest

#BookReview Letters from Paris by Juliet Blackwell @JulietBlackwell

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#BookReview Letters from Paris by Juliet Blackwell @JulietBlackwell Title: Letters from Paris

Author: Juliet Blackwell

Published by: Berkley Publishing on Sep. 6, 2016

Genres: General Fiction, Women's Fiction

Pages: 360

Format: eBook, ARC

Source: Berkley Publishing, NetGalley

Book Rating: 8/10

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Keycomes the story of a mysterious work of art and the woman inspired to uncover its history in the City of Light.

After surviving the accident that took her mother’s life, Claire Broussard worked hard to escape her small Louisiana hometown. But these days she feels something lacking. Abruptly leaving her lucrative job in Chicago, Claire returns home to care for her ailing grandmother. There, she unearths a beautiful sculpture that her great-grandfather sent home from Paris after World War II.

At her grandmother’s urging, Claire travels to Paris to track down the centuries old mask-making atelier where the sculpture, known only as “L’inconnue”—or the Unknown Woman—was created. With the help of a passionate sculptor, Claire discovers a cache of letters that offer insight into the life of the Belle Epoque woman immortalized in the work of art.

As Claire uncovers the unknown woman’s tragic fate, she begins to discover secrets—and a new love—of her own.

Review:

Intelligent, mysterious, and heartwarming!

This story is set in the City of Lights and takes us on a journey into the lives of three main characters. Claire, a young woman who decides to travel to Paris after her grandmother’s death to uncover the history and identity of an unexplainable piece of art; Armand, a brooding Frenchman who is trying to survive his own tragedies while also continuing the family legacy of mould making; and Sabine, a young woman who lived over one hundred years ago, who finds herself entangled in a complicated relationship as an artist’s model.

The writing is well done. The characters are interesting, sympathetic, and strong. And the plot, although a touch slow in the early part of the novel, quickly evolves into a fascinating story that not only manages to intertwine all the subplots nicely, but also ends with a sweet surprise.

Overall, I enjoyed this story. It truly is an intriguing mix of mystery interspersed with a romantic guidebook of the most iconic and memorable must-sees of Paris, including historical landmarks, art, lifestyle, and of course food.

 

This book is due to be published on September 6, 2016.

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

Amazon UK, Amazon US, Amazon Canada

 

 

Thank you to NetGalley, especially Berkley Publishing Group, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Juliet Blackwell

Juliet Blackwell is the New York Times bestselling author of Letters from Paris and The Paris Key. She also writes the Witchcraft Mystery series and the Haunted Home Renovation series. As Hailey Lind, Blackwell wrote the Agatha-nominated Art Lover's Mystery series. A former anthropologist, social worker, and professional artist, Juliet is a California native who has spent time in Mexico, Spain, Cuba, Italy, the Philippines, and France.

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