Source: Harlequin Books

#BookReview No One But You by Brenda Novak @Brenda_Novak @HarlequinBooks

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#BookReview No One But You by Brenda Novak @Brenda_Novak @HarlequinBooks Title: No One But You

Author: Brenda Novak

Series: Silver Springs #2

Published by: Mira Books on May 30, 2017

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense

Pages: 448

Format: Paperback, ARC

Source: Harlequin Books, Goodreads Giveaways

Book Rating: 8/10

New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak welcomes you to Silver Springs, a picturesque small town in Southern California where even the hardest hearts can learn to love again

Struggling to make ends meet after a messy divorce, Sadie Harris is at the end of her tether. Her waitressing gig isn’t enough to pay the bills let alone secure primary custody of her son, Jayden, a battle she refuses to lose. Desperate, she accepts a position assisting Dawson Reed—the same Dawson Reed who recently stood trial for the murder of his adoptive parents. Joining him at his isolated farm seems risky, but Sadie is out of options.

Dawson has given small town Silver Springs plenty of reasons to be wary, but he’s innocent of the charges against him. He wants to leave his painful past behind and fix up the family farm so he can finally bring his dependent sister home where she belongs.

As Sadie and Dawson’s professional relationship grows into something undeniably personal, Sadie realizes there’s more to Dawson than the bad boy everyone else see she has a good heart, one that might even be worth fighting for.

Review:

Menacing, romantic and engaging!

This is a suspenseful story that highlights the harassment and stigma that surrounds those accused of committing a crime and reminds us just how dangerous the abuse of power can truly be.

The writing is clear and precise. The characters are tenacious, resilient and strong. And the plot is a captivating mix of emotion, drama, violence, injustice, obsession, trust, manipulation, jealousy, corruption, and murder.

Overall this is a quick, easy, enjoyable read with a unique storyline, interesting characters, exceptional tension, and a nice wrapped-up ending.

 

This story is due to be published on May 30, 2017.

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

                                          

 

 

Thank you to Harlequin Books and Goodreads Giveaways for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Brenda Novak

It was a shocking experience that jump-started Brenda Novak's career as a bestselling author--she caught her day-care provider drugging her children with cough syrup to get them to sleep all day. That was when Brenda decided she needed to quit her job as a loan officer and help make a living from home.

"When I first got the idea to become a novelist, it took me five years to teach myself the craft and finish my first book," Brenda says. But she sold that book, and the rest is history. Her novels have made the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists and won many awards, including five Rita nominations, the Book Buyer's Best, the Book Seller's Best and the National Reader's Choice Award.

Brenda and her husband, Ted, live in Sacramento and are proud parents of five children--three girls and two boys. When she's not spending time with her family or writing, Brenda is usually raising funds for diabetes research (her youngest son has this disease). So far, Brenda has raised $2.6 million. Please visit http://www.brendanovakforthecure.org to see how you can help.

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#BookReview & #Giveaway Red Clover Inn by Carla Neggers @CarlaNeggers @HarlequinBooks

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#BookReview & #Giveaway Red Clover Inn by Carla Neggers @CarlaNeggers @HarlequinBooks Title: Red Clover Inn

Author: Carla Neggers

Series: Swift River Valley #7

Published by: MIRA on Mar. 28, 2017

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 400

Format: Paperback

Source: Harlequin Books

Book Rating: 7/10

New York Times bestselling author Carla Neggers delivers an irresistible story about love, family and finding a place to call home..

Marine archaeologist Charlotte Bennett is no stranger to risk, but her dives into sunken wreckage are always meticulously planned. However, being the maid of honor in her cousin Samantha’s English wedding gives her a new perspective on her life as a nomad who’s given up on romance altogether. Though an encounter with roguish wedding guest Greg Rawlings leaves her unsettled, the other people she meets make a trip to the tranquil town of Knights Bridge, Massachusetts, enticing. Acting on impulse, Charlotte offers to house-sit at Red Clover Inn while Sam and Justin Sloan are away on their honeymoon.

The quaint inn isn’t open to the public yet and Charlotte will have quiet time to plan her next project. It might also give her a chance to see how her cousin found love and a sense of family. But the peace is immediately disrupted when Greg shows up at the inn. The Diplomatic Security Service agent lives a dangerous life, and he, too, wants to clear his head before his next assignment. Juggling work, raising his two teenage children and nursing a wounded heart has left him jaded, and the last thing he expects is to find himself falling for the willful Charlotte. As the attraction between them flares, Charlotte realizes she might be in too deep. And each of them must decide if they can put love first before it’s too late.

Review:

Lighthearted, easy and sweet!

In this latest novel in the Swift River Valley series Neggers once again takes us back to Knights Bridge with its beautiful landscape, intriguing inn and small-town charm.

The writing is straightforward. The characters are strong, dependable and pensive. And the plot which seems to get a little bogged down in the first half of the story with information into all the characters and relationships between them definitely picks up in the second half and is quite compelling, mysterious, engaging and romantic. 

Overall this is an enjoyable, entertaining read and fans of Carla Neggers and the Swift River Valley series will love not only this new addition to the Bennett and Sloan clan but will really appreciate the opportunity to catch up with some of the beloved characters from previous novels.

 

This book is available now.

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

                                            

 

 

International Giveaway

And now thanks to Harlequin Books, one lucky reader of What’s Better Than Books? will receive a paperback copy of Red Clover Inn by Carla Neggers as well as a Red Clover Inn Door Hanger. 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Thank you to Harlequin Books for providing me with not only one copy in exchange for an honest review but a copy to give away (please see below).

 

About Carla Neggers

Carla Neggers is the New York Times bestselling author of the Sharpe & Donovan series featuring Boston-based FBI agents Emma Sharpe and Colin Donovan, and the popular Swift River Valley series set in the small, fictional New England town of Knights Bridge. With many bestsellers to her credit, Carla loves to write now as much as she did when she climbed a tree at age eleven with a pad and pen and spun stories perched on her favorite branch.

A native New Englander, Carla and her husband divide their time between their hilltop home in Vermont, a sofa bed at their kids' places in Boston and various inns, hotels and hideaways on their travels, frequently to Ireland.

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#BookReview A Million Little Things by Susan Mallery @SusanMallery @HarlequinBooks

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#BookReview A Million Little Things by Susan Mallery @SusanMallery @HarlequinBooks Title: A Million Little Things

Author: Susan Mallery

Series: Mischief Bay #3

Published by: Mira Books on Feb. 28, 2017

Genres: General Fiction, Women's Fiction

Pages: 368

Format: eBook, ARC

Source: Harlequin Books, NetGalley

Book Rating: 8/10

From the bestselling author of The Girls of Mischief Bay and The Friends We Keep comes a twisty tale of family dynamics that explores what can go terribly, hysterically wrong when the line between friendship and family blurs 

Zoe Saldivar is more than just single-she’s ALONE. She recently broke up with her longtime boyfriend, she works from home and her best friend Jen is so obsessed with her baby that she has practically abandoned their friendship. The day Zoe accidentally traps herself in her attic with her hungry-looking cat, she realizes that it’s up to her to stop living in isolation.

Her seemingly empty life takes a sudden turn for the complicated-her first new friend is Jen’s widowed mom, Pam. The only guy to give her butterflies in a very long time is Jen’s brother. And meanwhile, Pam is being very deliberately seduced by Zoe’s own smooth-as-tequila father. Pam’s flustered, Jen’s annoyed and Zoe is beginning to think “alone” doesn’t sound so bad, after all.

Friendship isn’t just one thing-it’s a million little things, and no one writes them with more heart and humor than book club sensation Susan Mallery! 

Review:

Charming, lighthearted and thought-provoking!

This is an affecting novel that reminds us of the importance to always live life to the fullest, understand and accept that some things are beyond our control and that there truly is no age limit for falling in love. 

The writing is smooth and even. The main female characters are strong, determined, sympathetic and real. And the plot is a heartfelt journey full of self discovery, friendship, familial relationships, love, loss, and motherhood.

This is the third novel in the Mischief Bay series and once again Mallery has written a novel that is touching, compelling and highly entertaining.

 

This book is due to be published on February 28, 2017.

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

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

 

 

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

 

About Susan Mallery

#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery writes heartwarming and humorous novels about the relationships that define women's lives—family, friendship, romance. She's best known for putting nuanced characters into emotionally complex, real-life situations with twists that surprise readers to laughter. Because Susan is passionate about animal welfare, pets play a big role in her books. Beloved by millions of readers worldwide, her books have been translated into 28 languages.

Susan lives in Washington state with her husband, two ragdoll cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur.

Photo by Annie Brady

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#BookReview The Marriage Lie by Kimberly Belle @KimberlySBelle

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#BookReview The Marriage Lie by Kimberly Belle @KimberlySBelle Title: The Marriage Lie

Author: Kimberly Belle

Published by: MIRA on Dec. 27, 2016

Genres: Mystery/Thriller

Pages: 334

Format: eBook, ARC

Source: Harlequin Books, NetGalley

Book Rating: 8.5/10

Even the perfect marriage has its dark side… 

Iris and Will’s marriage is as close to perfect as it can be: a large house in a nice Atlanta neighborhood, rewarding careers and the excitement of trying for their first baby. But on the morning Will leaves for a business trip to Orlando, Iris’s happy world comes to an abrupt halt. Another plane headed for Seattle has crashed into a field, killing everyone on board, and according to the airline, Will was one of the passengers on this plane. 

Grief-stricken and confused, Iris is convinced it all must be a huge misunderstanding. But as time passes and there is still no sign of Will, she reluctantly accepts that he is gone. Still, Iris needs answers. Why did Will lie about where he was going? What is in Seattle? And what else has he lied about? As Iris sets off on a desperate quest to find out what her husband was keeping from her, the answers she receives will shock her to her very core.

Review:

Brisk, intense, and extremely suspenseful!

This is a compelling thriller that reminds us how easily life can turn on a dime, and hauntingly points out that sometimes the ones we think we know the best can often turn out to be complete strangers.

It is, ultimately, a story about family, trust, grief, deception, lies, secrets, and morals. 

The writing is clear and exact. The plot is brimming with twists and turns, multiple surprises, and fast-paced adventure. And the main character, Iris, is strong, bright, inquisitive and determined.

Overall, this is an intelligent, gripping page turner that will definitely keep you engaged and guessing until the very last page.

 

This book is due to be published on January 1, 2017.

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

Amazon UK, Amazon US, Amazon Canada, Indigo, Book Depository, Kobo,

 

 

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

 

About Kimberly Belle

Kimberly Belle is the USA Today and internationally bestselling author of five novels, including the forthcoming domestic suspense, Dear Wife (June 2019). Her third novel, The Marriage Lie, was a semifinalist in the 2017 Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Mystery & Thriller, and her work has been translated into a dozen languages. A graduate of Agnes Scott College, Belle divides her time between Atlanta and Amsterdam.

Photo @mrwattson

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#BookReview Stalked by Elizabeth Heiter @ElizabethHeiter

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#BookReview Stalked by Elizabeth Heiter @ElizabethHeiter Title: Stalked

Author: Elizabeth Heiter

Series: The Profiler #4

Published by: MIRA on Dec. 27, 2016

Genres: Mystery/Thriller, Police Procedural

Pages: 384

Format: Paperback, ARC

Source: Harlequin Books

Book Rating: 9/10

If you’re reading this, I’m already dead… 

That’s the note seventeen-year-old Haley Cooke leaves behind when she disappears from inside her high school. FBI profiler Evelyn Baine is called in to figure out who had reason to hurt her. On the surface, the popular cheerleader has no enemies, but as Evelyn digs deeper, she discovers that everyone close to Haley has something to hide. Everyone from estranged parents, to an older boyfriend with questionable connections, to a best friend who envies Haley’s life. 

Secrets can be deadly… 

One of those secrets may have gotten Haley killed. If she’s still alive, Evelyn knows that the more the investigation ramps up, the more pressure they could be putting on Haley’s kidnapper to make her disappear for good. It’s also possible the teenager isn’t in danger at all, but has skillfully manipulated everyone and staged her own disappearance. Only one thing is certain: uncovering Haley’s fate could be dangerous—even deadly—to Evelyn herself.

Review:

Darkly intriguing, skillfully plotted, and incredibly menacing!

In this compelling fourth installment in the Profiler series, Heiter has written a fast-paced whodunit where suspects continually crawl out of the woodwork, competition and jealous rivalry between teens runs rampant, and life on a college campus has a dark side that’s not all fun and games.

The writing is effective. The characterization is spot on with the persistent and astute FBI heroine Evelyn Baine, the strong, dependable ex-HRT agent Kyle McKenzie, and a few crafty, despicable villains that are easy to abhor. And the plot keeps you on the edge of your seat as it submerges you, page after page, into a world full of abduction, murder, greed, arrogance, jealousy, guilt, deception, secrets and lies.

This is my first Elizabeth Heiter novel and although it can be read as a standalone it has certainly entertained and captivated me enough to put the first three books in the series (Hunter, Vanished, and Seized) high on my “to read” list.

This book is available December 27, 2016.

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

Amazon UK, Amazon US, Amazon Canada, Kobo, Indigo

 

 

Thank you to NetGalley, especially Harlequin – Mira, for providing me with a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Elizabeth Heiter

ELIZABETH HEITER likes her suspense to feature strong heroines, chilling villains, psychological twists, and a little bit (or a lot!) of romance. Her research has taken her into the minds of serial killers, through murder investigations, and onto the FBI Academy’s shooting range. Her novels have been published in more than a dozen countries and eight languages; they've also been shortlisted for the HOLT Medallion, National Readers' Choice, Daphne Du Maurier and Booksellers' Best awards and won the RT Reviewers' Choice award.

Elizabeth graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in English Literature. She’s a member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America and Romance Writers of America.

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#BookReview Miracle on 5th Avenue by Sarah Morgan @SarahMorgan_

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#BookReview Miracle on 5th Avenue by Sarah Morgan @SarahMorgan_ Title: Miracle on 5th Avenue

Author: Sarah Morgan

Series: From Manhattan with Love #3

Published by: Harlequin Books on Nov. 29, 2016

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 384

Format: eBook, ARC

Source: Harlequin Books, NetGalley

Book Rating: 9/10

Hopeless romantic Eva Jordan loves everything about Christmas. She might be spending the holidays alone this year, but when she’s given an opportunity to housesit a spectacular penthouse on Fifth Avenue, she leaps at the chance. What better place to celebrate than in snow-kissed Manhattan? What she didn’t expect was to find the penthouse still occupied by its gorgeous–and mysterious–owner.

Bestselling crime writer Lucas Blade is having the nightmare before Christmas. With a deadline and the anniversary of his wife’s death looming, he’s isolated himself in his penthouse with only his grief for company. He wants no interruptions, no decorations and he certainly doesn’t appreciate being distracted by his beautiful, bubbly new housekeeper. But when the blizzard of the century leaves Eva snowbound in his apartment, Lucas starts to open up to the magic she brings…This Christmas, is Lucas finally ready to trust that happily-ever-afters do exist?

Review:

Captivating, heartwarming, and undeniably romantic!

This story is set in the majestic New York City in wintertime and takes us into the lives of two main characters; Eva, a young woman who is relentlessly optimistic and ready for love; and Lucas, a cynic who prefers to remain isolated and lonely rather than risk his heart once again.

The prose is clear and well turned. The main characters are driven, endearing, and genuinely charming. And the plot sweeps you away into a smart, modern fairytale complete with a beautiful, strong princess, a handsome, stubborn prince, riches, secrets, loss, heartbreak, and of course true love.

What more can I say? Overall this is a fabulous, festive, happy ever after that you won’t want to end.

This paperback is due to be published on November 29, 2016. 

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

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

 

 

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

 

About Sarah Morgan

USA Today bestselling author Sarah Morgan writes contemporary romance and her trademark humour and sensuality have gained her fans across the globe. She is a 3 time winner of the prestigious RITA® Award from the Romance Writers of America and has been nominated five times. Sarah lives near London, England, and when she isn’t reading or writing she loves being outdoors.

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