Category: Book Review

The Gentleman’s Confession + Giveaway

Inexperienced in love, Jemma seeks help from her best friend, Miles, unaware that he has secretly loved her for years.

Brookeside, England, 1822

Jemma Fielding has always considered herself an independent woman, but to honor her beloved grandmother’s dying wish, she makes a promise that she will marry and fall in love. To fulfill her promise, she turns to the Matchmaking Mamas Society for assistance and is paired with the charming Mr. Bentley. Though he is everything Jemma could hope for in a match, she is clueless about how to win his heart. Desperate to make a good impression, she seeks guidance from her dearest friend, Miles Jackson, a humble rector with a talent for understanding matters of the heart. 

However, Miles’s secret affection for Jemma has spanned years, and teaching her to love someone else threatens to betray his own heart. Trapped by his own selfless nature, Miles fears he will never be more than a humble rector in her eyes.

Even as he gives Jemma lessons in love, Miles grapples with the challenge of convincing her that Mr. Bentley may be a perfect gentleman but he is not the perfect match for her. Will Miles’s advice in romance jeopardize their years of friendship, or will it reveal the attraction that has quietly blossomed between them, proving that this time, the Matchmaking Mamas may have made a mistake? Miles must decide if he’s brave enough to confess his feelings to Jemma before she is whisked away forever.

My Review:

Squuuueeeealllll!!! I’m in Regency heaven! Well, if you can call being rapturously tortured by a kinda/sorta love triangle heaven. It isn’t usually for me but…oh…my…word!!!!!!! Miles as the silently besotted friend, forced to assist Jemma in her bid to make herself fall in love with another man. Gasp! My emotions were in tatters for most of the book .

I have a certain fondness for brooding heroes, though I will confess wanting to throttle Miles on more than one occasion during the course of this read. He’s his own worst enemy — being all noble and vicar-ish. Bwahaha! So much of his misery is caused because he doesn’t take action so situations spiral out of control and it sent me into a tizzy of the vapours. I so needed my fainting couch to see my way safely through to this happily every after.

And while it might sound like the dreaded LT is all angst…it isn’t really because it’s obvious that Jemma and Mr. Bentley are not a good match. And, the author has written some truly hilarious scenes that make this more of a lighthearted read. Plus, I could clearly see ahead of a few of the plot twists so that provided me with a comforting safeguard and upped by bibliophile bravery so I could soldier on.

And then, oh….my….THUD…when Miles finally makes his move! Toe-curls and swoons ensued and I was one very happy reader.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening the audio edition of this novel. Mary Jane Wells and James Joseph’s performances were stellar! They captured all the angst and the humour to perfection.

Of note: This is the third book in the ‘Matchmaking Mamas’ series but can easily be read as a standalone. I haven’t read the other books…yet…and I had no problem jumping into the series here.

My thanks to the publisher, Dreamscape Select and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of the The Gentleman’s Confession, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 19 2024.

A Merry Little Murder Plot

‘Tis the season in Briar Creek, and this year festivities become fatalities in the newest Library Lover’s Mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of Fatal First Edition.

During the most wonderful time of the year, famous author Helen Monroe arrives in Briar Creek to be the writer in residence, but her “bah humbug” attitude excludes her from the many holiday celebrations the town residents enjoy. To try to spread some Christmas cheer, library director Lindsey Norris invites the new writer in residence to join her crafternoon club. Helen politely refuses and when an altercation happens between Helen and another patron, Lindsey begins to suspect the author has been keeping to herself for a reason.

Another newcomer, Jackie Lewis, reveals she’s visiting Briar Creek to be near Helen because she believes they are destined to meet. Having dealt with a stalker in the past, Lindsey feels compelled to tell Helen about Jackie, as she suspects that Helen is unaware her “number one” fan is in town.

When Jackie’s body is later discovered in the town park beneath the holiday-light display with a copy of Helen’s latest manuscript in her hand, the reclusive novelist becomes the prime suspect in the murder of her self-proclaimed mega-fan. Helen’s frosty demeanor melts when Lindsey offers her help, and now the librarian and her crafternoon pals must prove the author innocent before “The End” becomes Helen’s final sentence.

My Review:

The ‘Library Lover’s Mystery’ series is one of my all time favourites. The books include the perfect blend of cozy and mystery along with a couple of delightful romances. And this book, #15 (!) showcases all the things I love about this series. So, yes, it’s best to read the books in order due to the phenomenal character growth and relationship developments. Plus the small town vibes are all kinds of sweet perfection — not to mention the library programming! I so want to be a Crafternooner!

There’s a wonderful mix of holiday, humour and mystery in ‘A Merry Little Murder Plot’ (clever title, by the way.) As Library Director, Lindsey has her hands full with a number of unexpected developments at this most wonderful time of the year…like a dead body. Because nothing says Merry Christmas quite like murder and mayhem! Bwahahaha!

Love the way the author fleshes out the secondary characters. There are layered complexities to each of them, which makes armchair sleuthing both fun and challenging. And, goodness, but did she ever get my emotions fired up as I was drawn into the mystery. Love, love, love becoming wholly immersed in a story and it’s so easy to do that when Jenn McKinlay is doing the writing.

Loved the sweet romantical bits included in this story. Not over done, so if you’re not a romance fan, you won’t mind a bit. But, I live for those tender little nods to a certain couple’s happily ever after so I was blissfully happy. Merry Christmas to me!

I enjoyed listening to the audio edition of ‘A Merry Little Murder Plot’. Narrator Allyson Ryan does such a fantastic job creating distinctive voices for these characters and she’s part of the reason I choose to listen to the books in this series rather then read them. It’s a special kind of homecoming when I settle in to start a new audiobook and hear her voice coaxing me back to Briar Creek.

My thanks to Dreamscape Media and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

A Not So Holiday Paradise + Giveaway

Things you bring on a desert island…

1) Sunscreen, obviously. Because these Irish freckles of mine will burn, baby, burn, and lobster red is not a great color on me.
2) An extra dose of my seizure meds, just in case.
3) A backpack full of snacks, including but not limited to a canteen of Dr. Pepper, a box of mini Christmas cookies, and granola bars—the gross crumbly kind, not the chocolate chip kind, because I’m trying to be healthy.
4) Sunglasses, so that when I inevitably wind up staring at my brother’s best friend—who I haven’t seen in years—no one will be able to tell. I’ve been in love with him forever, but it would never work out; he lives on a literal island, while I’m still in grad school. It can’t hurt to look, though, right?
5) Also bug spray.

My packing list is all well and good for a quick port excursion as part of my family’s Christmas cruise. But when the cruise ship leaves me behind, with only the contents of my bag and my brother’s best friend to keep me company? Well, I’ve got problems—especially since I’m going to run out of medicine soon. And I don’t think they make sunscreen strong enough to block the sparks that are growing between Beckett and me…

My Review:

This was my second Gracie Ruth Mitchell book and I’ve just finished another one because…new favourite author alert! Scrambling now to read through her back list. Love her unique brand of humour and the way she delivers believable characters with realistic backstories and then plops them into the middle of comedic mayhem. So. Much. Fun.

So we have Molly heading out on a Christmas cruise with her family and they meet up with her brother’s best friend who is working in the Virgin Islands. Of course, things go awry and Molly finds herself stranded with Beckett…in paradise. Eeeeeppp!!! But there are complications — of course!

Molly has had a secret crush on Beckett forever. He’s never seen her as anything but his best friend’s kid sister. Until she steps off the ship and rocks his carefully curated world. She’s not ‘Baby O’Malley’ any more but he doesn’t do relationships and her brother has warned him off so…

Eeeeppp — major grumpy/sunshine trope with a whole lot of heart. Loved Molly’s POV — all sass and snark punctuated with poignant introspection. And Beckett is the classic introverted grump. Talk about clashing personalities! But Molly is up to the challenge of getting Beckett to crack a smile now and again. The banter is priceless and I love the way the romantic tension slowly builds as the story progresses. Toe-curling perfection.

I really appreciate the epilepsy representation in this story. Molly’s overall attitude and the way she views herself, especially regarding how her condition could affect a potential relationship with Beckett, was so raw and real and emotional. The author really put her heart into developing Molly’s character and it shows. Brilliantly done.

And look no further then Beckett for book boyfriend material…even if his attention is given grudgingly at first. There’s no denying the sizzling attraction he feels for Molly, though he gives it an epic try! Which leads to some great comedic moments. But, oh my…when he gets all intensely tender and protective…be still my heart. Thud!

I listened to the audio edition of ‘A Not-So Holiday Paradise’ and thoroughly enjoyed the performances of Rylee Kuberra and John Rogers. They nailed Molly and Beckett’s personalities and increased my appreciation for these characters and their story. Highly recommend the audio edition of this book.

My thanks to the Dreamscape Select and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY

ebook copy available to anyone with a US Kindle account (.com) 

Canadians will have a choice of receiving an Amazon.ca gift card towards the purchase of an ebook OR an audible copy. Winner’s Choice.

If you would like a chance to win an ecopy of A Not-So Holiday Paradise, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 12 2024.

Over the Edge + Giveaway

Trauma survivor Lindsey Barnes hasn’t fully recovered from the ordeal that almost took her life, and now she’s in the middle of another crisis. Not only is she the sole witness in a high-profile murder case, but someone is also pushing her to question her sanity.

Police detective Jack Tucker doesn’t know what to make of her story, especially when her elusive enemy leaves no evidence behind to lend credence to her claims. Yet the more he gets to know the appealing personal chef, the more he’s convinced someone is targeting not only her sanity, but her life.

And unless they can figure out who is behind the campaign to undermine her credibility, a murderer could slip away–leaving more than one body in his or her wake.

With her signature spellbinding style, the bestselling and award-winning “queen of inspirational romantic suspense” (Library Journal) delivers another riveting tale that will keep you turning pages long into the night.

My Review:

Whoa! That was just…I don’t even have the words. Spellbinding? Thrilling? Compelling? Unputdownable? Those all might be true but they are so inadequate to describe how I feel about this book.

I mean, the way Hannon incorporated a creepy mind games factor into the suspense plot was diabolical! And upped the tension and my engagement to such a level that this became a compulsive read (well, listen) for me. (True confession: I might have notched the audio speed up to 3x at the climatic end just to see it through asap and then I backtracked and listened to it again at my regular speed — once I caught my breath and got my heart rate back down to normal.)

This author’s writing is pure magic. The way she delves into complex back stories — not only of her main characters but secondary ones as well– is phenomenal. She makes me care about all of them to the point I feel like they are real people and worry over every little detail of their lives. Keeps me totally invested in the story.

And the (shudder) glimpses into the villain’s point of view — the way she slowly adds small details that might possible be clues to their identity — masterfully done. Kept me on tenterhooks all the way through. I had my suspicions and ended up with three possible suspects…and one of them was kinda sorta right, but not really. Ha! You’ll just have to read this book to understand how that can even be possible.

I listened to the audible edition of ‘Over the Edge’ because: narrator extraordinaire, Therese Plummer. Her stellar performances are not to be missed. She is often the deciding factor between buying a paperback or an audio book for me. And she makes relistening to my fave authors’ stories that much more enticing.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of the Over the Edge, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 12 2024.

Meddling With Mistletoe + Giveaway

Whitney Garrett is preparing to enter culinary school in the spring, but first she has to sell enough homemade pies at the local Christmas markets to pay her tuition. When her oven breaks, Whitney asks Marie Sloan, proprietor of the Red Door Inn, if she can use the inn’s kitchen to keep up with her orders. Marie agrees, with a catch: Whitney has to watch the three Sloan children and cook breakfasts for the Red Door in return.

The inn is busy with holiday guests–including Aretha Franklin Sloan’s perpetually single nephew Daniel and Ruby, a businesswoman in town to purchase Aretha’s antiques store. Intent on making a Christmas match for the two, Aretha enlists Whitney’s help in her schemes. But the deeper Whitney gets, the more she realizes that Ruby is definitely not the right woman for Daniel–and the more she thinks that she just might be his perfect match.

Cuddle up for some warm holiday cheer as New York Times bestselling author Liz Johnson explores the unforeseen consequences of meddling with mistletoe when love is on the line.

My Review:

All kinds of bibliophile deliciousness here…and not just because of the copious amount of pie baking going on! We have a grumpy/sunshine trope played out to perfection. The most adorable trio of children to lighten things up (and convey some pointed truths when necessary.) A chance to revisit the most wonderful real-life, fictional place in the world! And the love triangle hinted at in the synopsis isn’t really a love triangle — woohoo!

So fun to meet up with some fave characters from the Prince Edward Island Dreams series — but you totally don’t have to have read any of the other books in order to enjoy this Christmasy gem.

Septuagenarian Aretha Franklin ( no relation) is back sticking her oar in and messing with the course of true love. She’s found the ‘perfect’ match for her nephew and is counting on some Christmas magic and mistletoe to force the reluctant Daniel into the arms of…the totally wrong woman. Everyone knows it, especially Whitney who is inexplicably falling for the reticent grump herself.

A lovely blend of comedy and drama mixed together with some charming holiday traditions at the Red Door Inn. Deeeeeelighful!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of the Meddling with Mistletoe, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 12 2024.

The Christmas Cottage

Set in the breathtaking coastal California town of Miramar Bay, this uplifting new novel from internationally bestselling author Davis Bunn celebrates the challenges and triumphs of new beginnings, second chances, romance and redemption, and faith in the future. For fans of Nicholas Sparks and Karen Kingsbury.

When life is in turmoil . . . Pushing through his troubled childhood, Dillon Farrow was seventeen when he said goodbye to Miramar and did himself proud, thriving as a successful investment counselor. But a betrayal by a trusted friend has brought everything crashing down. Dillon’s only recourse—return to Miramar, penniless and feeling defeated—more so when a winter flood sweeps away all roads to town. Now he and his fellow stranded travelers are destined to spend Christmas at the only available accommodations—the local jail. Yet it’s in this makeshift inn that Dillon sees her. His first love. The girl he left behind.  There’s always hope if you wait out the storm . . . 

After an emotionally and financially devastating divorce, Olivia Greer has no choice but to come back to her hometown of Miramar. Less a retreat than a surrender, it’s the first time in years—since Olivia’s mother, her best friend for life, passed away. In the interim, their hillside cottage has remained empty, as forlorn as Olivia herself. The flood only seems like fate testing her resilience one more time. But providence comes in myriad Dillon Farrow, the sweet boy who once had dreams of better things. Just like Olivia.  

The future can hold dreams as well. Crossing paths is a Christmas blessing Dillon and Olivia never expected—a reunion with the potential to impact other lives too. And for both of them, perhaps in the cottage on the hill, Miramar could finally start feeling like home again.

My Review:

Classic, feel-good holiday fare.

‘The Christmas Cottage’ is all about second chances — for a storm-ravaged town as well as two world-weary souls who make their way back home after devastating circumstances leave them no choice. Dillon and Olivia haven’t seen each other in years but fate has brought them back to Miramar at just the right time.

This is as much the town’s story as it is theirs. Because Miramar is a community made up of overcomers. Good people willing to help in whatever capacity they can. And the town needs that help after weathering a bout of storms, floods and mudslides. Miramar is officially a disaster zone just days before Christmas.

Love the host of diverse secondary characters in this novel and the way they pull together in a time of adversity. When Dillon and Olivia get swept up in the cause, they both discover their unique talents are exactly what the town needs and, in serving others, they find their way to healing and second chances.

I listened to the audio edition and enjoyed Graham Winton’s portrayal of these characters. He really captured the spirit and hope in the story in his narration

My thanks to RB Media and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

Rescued by the Hero + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

The hardest part about this fake relationship is hiding it from her brother. Especially when it doesn’t feel fake.

Joanna Drake can’t wait to escape to Freedom Ridge for the holidays. She needs to put hundreds of miles between her and her creepy coworker who won’t seem to take no for an answer. When she runs into her brother’s best friend at the ski resort, every relationship gets complicated.

Aiden Clark is shocked to find out that his best friend brought his little sister along on vacation, especially when he finds himself interested in getting to know her. When she asks him to play along as her boyfriend to ward off an unwanted pursuer, he wholeheartedly agrees despite his friend’s warnings to stay away from her.

Between hiding their fake relationship from her brother and flaunting it in front of her pursuer, Aiden and Joanna find themselves wishing the relationship was as real as it seems under the mistletoe. When their ruse is exposed and Joanna is in danger, Aiden will have to put it all on the line to bring her home.

Visit Freedom, Colorado and enjoy the faith, friendships, and forever-afters of the Heroes of Freedom Ridge in this Christian Christmas romance.

My Review:

published in 2020

A holiday romance with a side of suspense.

Is it weird that I admit to loving a good Christmas stalking story? I don’t think my festive reading can be complete without one and, while this is definitely more contemporary romance than romantic suspense, there’s enough of a stalkerish vibe to keep me happy. 🙂

And who doesn’t love a fake dating story? Especially when it turns all too real? This one is a bit of an insta-love romance, but realistically written so I think even readers who aren’t fans of this trope will enjoy Aiden and Joanna’s story.

Love all the holiday touches as well. What a great time of year to introduce the town of Redemption Ridge to readers! ‘Rescued by the Hero’ is the first book in the ‘Heroes of Redemption Ridge’ multi-authored series.

A winning combination of faith, romance and a hint of suspense.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of the Rescued by the Hero, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 5 2024.

A K-9 Christmas Reunion + Giveaway

Can one special dog make this a Christmas to remember?

Struggling to manage his father’s dementia while raising two young sons, widower Nathan Crenshaw is desperate for help. That is, until his dad’s new service dog arrives with an unexpected guest—trainer Gemma Spencer, the woman who broke his heart fifteen years ago. Now Nathan must spend the holidays working alongside his first love and ignoring their rocky history. But when Gemma steps up for his family after a near tragedy, old feelings start to resurface. With their future uncertain, can matchmaking relatives and a K-9 turn the New Year into their second chance?

My Review:

Phew! What a heart-wrenching read! Carter has captured all the emotional nuances that rise to the surface after a dementia diagnosis. The Crenshaw family dynamics are shifting and neither Nathan, his young sons, or his ailing father are prepared for the changes ahead.

Until Gemma arrives with Rascal, a very special service dog. Trouble is Nathan and Gemma have a history; a first love gone awry when Gemma broke his heart and he’s not keen on having her stay around for the two weeks it will take to acclimate his dad with his new service dog. But if he doesn’t accept her help they’ll go back on the waiting list and by the time his dad’s name comes up again it will be too late. What’s an overworked, super stressed and grieving single dad to do? Put up with the close proximity of his first love for the sake of not only his father, but his whole family.

So — sqquueallll — Second Chance Romance with a Single Dad, two of my favourite tropes! Made all the better because we’re back in Truelove where the civic hobby is matchmaking. So, yes, parts of this novel are hard to read between the dementia diagnosis and the tough back stories of both our hero and heroine BUT the author has also infused their romance with laughter and hope as they create some precious Christmas memories.

A heartwarming inspirational holiday romance.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of the A K-9 Christmas Reunion, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 5 2024.

The Night Woods

The sixth Mercy Carr Mystery in which Mercy and Elvis must prove the innocence of a new friend accused of murder.

Record snow and sleet and rain are pummeling Vermont and a wild boar has escaped from an exclusive hunting club nearby―but that won’t stop a very pregnant and very bored Mercy Carr from hiking her beloved woods with her loyal dog Elvis. She’s supposed to be decorating the nursery and helping her mother plan the baby shower, but she’d much rather be playing Scrabble with Homer Grant, a word-loving, shotgun-toting hermit living deep in the forest. But when she and Elvis drop by Homer’s cabin for their weekly game, they arrive to find an unknown dead man―and no sign of Homer.

As they search the woods, Mercy discovers a patch of devastation that could only be left behind by wild boar. She’s relieved when Elvis tracks Homer, injured but alive. But Homer’s troubles are far from over, as he’s still the number one suspect and he remembers nothing of the attack. When another corpse with a link to Homer is found, Mercy is determined to help her friend, an effort complicated by the unexpected arrival of her young cousin Tandie, sent by Mercy’s mother to keep an eye on her until the baby is born.

As the floods worsen, Troy and Susie Bear are called out with all the other first responders, and Mercy finds herself alone at Grackle Tree Farm with a concussed Homer, Tandie, and Elvis. As waters rise and the wild boar rampages, Mercy realizes that the murderer is out there ready to strike again, this time much closer to home.

My Review:

This is such a stupendous series! I particularly love the deep characterization that builds from book to book – and not just in Mercy but other characters as well. In fact, by this sixth book, she has accumulated a wonderful group of misfits who have become the best kind of found family.

I recommend reading this series in order to get the most out of character back stories and growth in relationships. Both Mercy and her dog, Elvis, are former military, have struggled to varying degrees with PTSD and are still adjusting to civilian life. Mercy has also made some significant life changes over the course of the series which makes me appreciate her all the more in ‘The Night Woods.’

And, mercy! (pun intended), what an incredible addition to the series. In a word; unputdownable! This mystery hits very close to home at a time when Mercy is most vulnerable. My heart was in my throat the entire read. A complex, twisty-turny plot kept me on edge right to very end. But it’s not all high-octane intensity because Munier brilliantly mixes action and suspense with more heartwarming scenes with family and friends which made for some very sweet (and sometimes funny) interludes.

A very satisfying and immersive ‘read’.

Well, ‘listen’ actually because I enjoyed the audio edition expertly narrated by Kathleen McInerney who gave Mercy just the right kind of edge and grit while creating distinctive voices for a multitude of secondary characters.. McInerney is one of my favourite voice actors, her name attached to a fave author’s screams ‘buy me’ and I usually do.

Of note: contains some mild language.

My thanks to Macmillan Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book..

One Happy Summer

Running away from my disastrous career to an island off the Florida coast wasn’t part of my summer plans, but life hasn’t been cooperative lately, anyway. At least here, I can hide away and figure out how to untangle the mess I’ve gotten myself into.

One thing is certain: my A-list status and title of America’s Sweetheart are long gone, and they’re probably never coming back. I’ll just remain on this island until the worst of it blows over. Until the gossip magazines move on to another juicy topic. Until the paparazzi lose interest.

The problem is, I’m feeling pretty bored and lonely. Sneaking into town and grabbing a book to keep me occupied turns out not to be my best move. Because what I absolutely don’t need is Briggs Dalton, the man who runs the shop. He’s handsome and funny, and I can’t stop thinking about him.

Briggs believes that despite the chaos that is my life, I can still have a fun summer, and he’s determined to prove it to me.

Maybe, just maybe, this summer could turn out to be a happy one after all.

My Review:

I’m happy to be back in Sunset Harbor for this sixth book in the multi-authored ‘Falling for Summer’ series. I’ve read — well, listened– to five of the seven books now and am really enjoying these summer romances.

FYI: I read them all out of order, so each book reads well as a standalone, but since all the romances are happening during the same summer, there are some fun cameos of heroes and heroines from previous stories. This one is the least interactive that way though, because of Presley’s need to lay low so that no one knows where she’s staying and I definitely missed being able to catch up with some of the characters I’ve grown attached to from previous books.

Briggs and Presley’s meet-cute x 2 is all kinds of cringey and awkwardly funny. And I was kinda already swooning since he’s a glasses wearing hero (Presley likes that too) but — GASP — he’s actually not a reader despite the fact that he’s running the island bookshop. I was crushed!

So, we have a heroine who is running away from a scandal and a hero who is regrouping after a business failure — not exactly a solid foundation to build a relationship on but they just can’t resist each other and there are some solid Notting Hill vibes to their love story.

As their friendship grows, Briggs orchestrates the kind of summer Presley has always dreamed about but never experienced. All the simple, playful staples of summery activities she missed out on as a kid. There’s a ‘poor little rich girl’ air about Presley and I adored the gentle way Briggs went about making her feel seen and heard and accepted.

Of note: I was surprised by the occasional usage of mild language in this novel. It’s sparse, but just not what I was expecting, or looking for in a ‘clean’ read. Also, some kissing scenes were a bit overly descriptive — definitely fits the ‘clean’ category, but with a wee bit more detail than what I’m used to in this romantic sub-genre.

I listened to the audio edition — loved the dual narration by Abigail Reno and Ryan Stone. Their voices suited the personalties of Briggs and Presley and their performance enhanced my enjoyment of ‘One Happy Summer’.

My thanks to the author and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.