Contemporary Romance – Page 14

Summer Tease

Falling for Beau Palmer would be the ultimate crime

Wild horses couldn’t drag me back to the small island where I grew up, but you know what can? Making sure the Palmer family—aka the worst neighbors ever—show appropriate respect to the newest resident of their retirement center: my grandma.

But as soon as Grams moves in, her shenanigans put her at risk of being kicked out. Since she’s set on staying in Sunset Harbor until her last breath and there’s no way I’m staying on this nightmare island to take care of her, that’s not an option.

Enter Beau Palmer, the infuriatingly charming local cop who’s got the connections to keep Grams right where she needs to be and help me get out of Dodge sooner. But he’s got a price, and it requires putting the Sawyer/Palmer drama firmly in the past.

But the drama isn’t behind us. In fact, it’s right in front of me, wearing a police badge and a smirk that’s really started disturbing my peace.

My Review:

A breezy enemies to more summer romance that both delighted and irked me.

Delighted because…Beau. Dedicated to serving the island and his family, he’s quintessential hero material. Infinitely patient with some of the more…unique…Sunset Harbor citizens and more than fair at times when I just would have thrown the book at the culprit (I’m looking at you, Grams!)

Irked because Gemma was so combative and unwilling to compromise. She did not make a good first impression on me, though Beau took her ire in stride. Their families have a feuding history, so they’ve kind of grown up with the idea that Palmers and Sawyers don’t mix but Gemma took it to a whole other level, expecting the worse from Beau and his family even though they prove themselves time and time again. She does soften as the story progresses (this is a romance, after all) but, in the beginning, I couldn’t understand what Beau saw in her. He definitely has a kinder, more compassionate heart than I do.

Then there’s Grams — oy, spunky and ornery and her outrageous antics were sometimes hilariously funny and others times just plain annoying. I had a love/hate relationship with Grams. 🙂

So, not the ideal mix for a summertime romance, but Keyes makes it work, largely because of good natured Beau and his gentle pursuit of Gemma — at first just to lighten her load as she deals with moving her Grams into the retirement home and fixing up her cottage to sell (see, totally nice guy vibes all the way.) But his reasons soon morph into something much more personal, and honestly, Gemma didn’t stand a chance…I sure capitulated waaaayyyyyy faster than she did.

Like when he introduced his police partner, Xena the fluffy K-5 (because she only completed half the K-9 training and her easy going, love ’em and lick ’em into submission temperament wasn’t exactly K-9 material. Bwahahaha! ) I was a goner in chapter two.

And to be fair to Gemma, she’s been spoon-fed Palmer hostility from childhood and Grams keeps it up once she’s back on the island so it isn’t really any wonder that she struggles with her feelings for Beau. Until island history unravels their families’ dispute and causes Gemma to take an honest look at her past…and her future.

I enjoyed listening to the audio edition of ‘Summer Tease’. Narrator, Ariel Royce made the listening easy — and I loved the way she delivered Grams’ mercurial temperament with such panache!

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

But He’s My Grumpy Neighbor + Giveaway

It’s not stalking if he’s your hot neighbor… right?

At least, that’s what I tell myself when Adrian Carter moves in next door.

His scowl should make me want to run in the other direction, but when I catch him smothering a smile around me, it makes me want to get to know him more.

And when Adrian starts to open up, I find myself falling in love with the cinnamon roll center hidden beneath his gruff exterior.

But between my emotional baggage and his aversion to relationships, it’s looking like we’ll never be more than neighborly.

But He’s My Grumpy Neighbor is a cozy grumpy/sunshine romcom for lovers of small-town romantic comedies. It has all the sizzling chemistry you love, without any explicit scenes. Check out the first book of the But He’s A Carter Brother Series, a series based around four strong, protective brothers finding love.

My Review:

I’m a tad shy of giddy over this ‘new-to-me author’ discovery. I’ve been hearing ‘Annah Conwell this, and Annah Conwell that’ all over book tube and Bookstagram lately and I finally decided to see what all the fuss was about. And, oh my, now I understand!!!!

5 bazillion stars into infinity AND, be still my heart(!) because this is the first book in the Carter Brothers series and having met Adrian’s brothers I absolutely need more!!!!!!

And I do so love a good grumpy/sunshine trope and this one is fantastically wonderful! Adrian is all ‘nothing to see here, move along now I have no intention of being neighbourly…ever’ and Juliette is an over the top best neighbour ever (if you’re in the mood to have the bubbly, cheerful, klutzy kind living next door.) Adrian isn’t…at least that’s what he thinks. Priceless!!!!!! And so much FUN!!!

The small town setting with the majority of it’s population at 60+ adds to the humour (and explains why Juliette is so over the moon excited to have a new neighbour moving in next door who is most decidedly under 60!)

Clear off your fainting couch and practise your swoon dives because this deliciously slow-burn romance captures all the feels. Toe curling kisses included. Humour and angst blend perfectly to create a fulfilling read. And while this is a rom/com, the author brings added depth to the story by touching on a few more serious topics – issues our hero and heroine need to work through before they can reach their happily ever after. It never gets too heavy, Conwell approaches sensitive material with grace and hope…and yes, even humour. Just makes the story that much more emotionally satisfying.

And did I mention the Carter brothers? Some of the best scenes in the book include brotherly banter and camaraderie. I’m left with a real sense of who these guys are, each one with their own hint of mystery that makes me desperate to read their stories sooner than later.

An emotional romance that sizzles and sparks — without the spice. Sweet perfection!

I listened to the audio edition narrated by Leanne Woodward and Evan Sibley. They did a fantastic job bringing Adrian and Juliette (and all the characters) to life. A great narrator/author match which I really appreciate. Love when the narration enhances an already amazing story to new levels and that was definitely the case here.

My thanks to the author, Dreamscape Media 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 one of the But He’s My Grumpy Neighbor, 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 August 3 2024.

Summer Ever After

Falling in love is easy. Finding the right guy to spend happily ever after with… that’s the hard part.

But I have a foolproof plan. I’m taking the tropes that work in romance books and applying them to my love life.

Only one bed? Never fails.

Caring for someone when they’re sick? A classic.

“Who did this to you?” Seals the deal every single time.

So long, loneliness. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

But the more I try to force romance, the more feelings naturally progress with the one man who’s off limits: Walker Collins, the guy I’ve had a secret crush on since 7th grade, not to mention my best friend’s older brother.

Dating Walker crosses BFF lines I swore I’d never cross. Plus, he hates Sunset Harbor, and his pro golf career will take him off the island as fast as he came, sending me back to the land of singlehood, loneliness, and broken hearts.

At the end of the day, I don’t want to be the fool in my foolproof plan.

My Review:

Bwahahahaha! Just….insert lots of snort laughing. And what a brilliant concept for a rom/com — featuring every trope imaginable (and a few micro-tropes I’d never thought of!) in a desperate bid to find a happily ever after with somebody somehow and most definitely by the end of the summer. Oh Jane!

Think a series of worst first dates only themed. So many laugh-out-loud scenes as Jane tries to force sparks upon the unsuspecting single men of Sunset Harbor. Only, of course, those dreamy romantic tropes that play out so wonderfully in fiction don’t quite translate the same way in real life.

Unless it happens to be with the only man not on her list — Walker Collins. And the way that Keisel works Walker into the chaos that is Jane’s summer campaign is so well done! And oh my! The man is flirty and outrageous and knows how to rile Jane up without even trying. 🙂

And while ‘Summer Ever After’ is a lighthearted rom/com, it also has some deeper emotional layers that make the read even more satisfying. Oh — and that ending? — Wowza — silver screen worthy and toe-curling good!

I listened to the audio edition brilliantly narrated by Amanda Friday and Andy Harrington. They delivered the teasing banter to perfection and really captured the charm and eccentricities of these characters — especially Jane’s Pollyanna-on-steroids persona. Such an easy and captivating listen. Highly recommend.

My thanks to the author, Dreamscape Media and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of this book.

You Make it Feel Like Christmas + Giveaway

Merry Christmas in July Retro Read!
What better way to beat the heat?!

Starr Lewis reluctantly returns home for the holidays jobless, single, and not at all prepared to be dragged into her sister’s wedding activities–or to witness her sister’s marriage to Starr’s ex-boyfriend on Christmas Eve. But when her brother’s charming best friend, Waylon Emmerson, attends their family Thanksgiving, Starr begins to believe that maybe coming home isn’t so bad.

As Starr endures wedding preparations, she takes comfort in Waylon’s presence and finds the perfect distraction in helping him keep his late mother’s Christmas shop afloat. As the spark between them grows, Starr must decide what she wants out of life–to go back to New York City or to stay and pursue a new dream.

My Review:

published in 2023

The perfect holiday read! The kind you can devour in one sitting but the story still packs an emotional punch and leaves a reader aglow with the warmth of a yuletide happily ever after. Plus it’s fun and flirty, with enough swoonable moments to keep a romantic like me more than content. My heart’s still humming and I can’t wipe the silly grin off my face. 🙂

And there’s a wonderful faith thread about the importance of prayer. Both Starr and Waylon are wrestling with some major life changes and I really appreciate the raw honesty the author brings to their dilemmas. They are both Christians and invoke the power of prayer in their lives but that doesn’t always mean decisions are easy, or that they even feel divinely guided all the time. Sooooo relatable. And refreshing to read about.

The Lewis family is…interesting. Five siblings, a Christmas obsessed mama (she gave all her children Christmas names, after all) and a kind, but somewhat distant father. Interesting dynamics within the family as well, which strikes a realistic chord. And I’m looking forward to getting to know more about these characters…and their happily-ever-afters…in future books.

While I did have a paperback copy of ‘You Make It Feel Like Christmas’ on hand, I couldn’t resist diving into the audible edition because of it’s wonderful narration. Jasmin Walker’s portrayal of these characters is pitch perfect and made me enjoy the story all the more.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy and is available to any reader, any where — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of You Make It Feel Like Christmas , 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 July 27 2024.

Sycamore Circle

There’s a lot going on in Joy Howard’s life. She’s got an ex-husband who starts acting like he doesn’t want to be an ex anymore, a sixteen-year-old daughter in need of a guiding hand and a lot of rides to dance practice, more orders for paintings than she has time to paint, and a roster of tutoring clients who sometimes need far more than she can give.

What she doesn’t have is time for a new relationship.

Samuel Bo Beauman is a lot of things. He’s a counselor for transitioning ex-cons, a good friend to many, a construction worker, a brother and son, and even a part-time model for a high-end sportswear catalog. He’s also a man searching for redemption.

One thing he isn’t is a man in need of a girlfriend.

But none of that seems to matter when Bo hears Joy’s kind voice in a crowded coffee shop. He instantly knows she’s someone he wants to know better. The two of them hit it off–much to the dismay of practically everyone they know–but Bo doesn’t care what other people think. He feels at peace whenever he’s with Joy, and he won’t let her go without a fight.

When Joy starts getting mysterious texts and phone calls from unknown numbers, she tries to ignore it. But instead of going away, the messages escalate and Joy realizes she can’t handle it alone. But she is juggling a jealous ex-husband, a handful of students with little to lose, and a brand-new boyfriend who spent several years behind bars. Who can she trust?

My Review:

I’m not sure how I feel about the series (Rumors n Ross County.) It’s definitely not the sweet romance I’ve come to expect from Shelley Shepard Gray. It’s like a whole different genre. Still great storytelling, but edgier and the books feel more like general market fiction. I definitely feel that the first book, Edgewater Road, had way more questionable content than this one did. Sycamore Circle is very much ‘toned down’ and I appreciate that but…

Bo is all alpha male with a side of Southern charm that both compliments and contradicts. An ex-con who serves other ex-cons by helping them acclimate to life on the outside. He’s definitely rough around the edges and there were a couple of scenes that made me uncomfortable. Plus there’s a bit of crude language which is par for the course, given the men and their backgrounds, I guess.

Joy is his exact opposite. A straight-laced, by-the-books single mom (with a sixteen year old daughter) who is the older woman who steals Bo’s heart. We’re not told how much older she is — she’s thirty-six. It felt like a lot of their relationship was based on physical attraction and, Bo in particular, was pretty forward in his pursuit of the, understandably, more hesitant Joy which sometimes crossed barriers for me as he relentlessly (albeit politely) pursued her. He never crossed any lines, but sometimes it just felt off for me.

Aside from their romance, there’s a bit of a stalker suspense thread featuring Joy as the victim. There’s also drama with her ex-husband — so lots for Bo to get all alpha male protective over and I enjoyed the rising tension that hits midway through the story until the frantic climax.

There’s also a secondary plot featuring Joy’s daughter and an Amish boy who is thinking about leaving his community which added an interesting twist to the overall story.

There was one major subplot that remained unresolved by the end of the book — not sure if it will be picked up in book three, but it doesn’t seem likely since the epilogue for Sycamore Circle is set a year later and the unresolved issues were time sensitive and would have played out by then so….I’m left with way too many questions, like why that thread was added to the story towards the very end and then just fizzled out?

For all my misgivings, I did find Sycamore Circle a compelling read. I never considered putting it down, but it did leave me feeling a bit unsettled after I finished. And, having said that, I am intrigued enough by another ex-con character who is also ex-Amish that I am really hoping there’s a third Rumors in Ross County and it will feature Seth’s story.

Matters of the Heart + Giveaway

He’s the community’s jokester auctioneer. She’s the serious caregiver for her siblings who also works at the local plant nursery. What future could they have together?

Declan Miller has always had feelings for Bethel King. Back when they were in school, she was the smartest girl in the class and, in his opinion, by far the prettiest. Now the two of them are in their twenties and while the attraction is still there, Declan is as hesitant as ever to let Bethel know how he feels. His corny jokes and wisecracks cover a heart that’s afraid of rejection.

Bethel can’t deny Declan is nice, funny, hardworking, and pleasing to the eye–a perfect match if you asked any Plain girl in the area. But marrying Bethel would also mean marrying into her family. Two of her younger brothers have a rare form of muscular dystrophy, and her sister Claire is now showing signs of having it as well. Fiercely loyal and nurturing, Bethel has promised herself her siblings will always come first. With a good chance that she carries the gene and could pass it on to her children, Bethel has tried to convince herself marriage and family just aren’t in the cards for her.

When a devastating diagnosis of his own turns Declan’s world upside down, he looks to Bethel for understanding, compassion, and a realistic outlook. As they share their dreams and fears and grow together in faith, a bond begins to develop between them. Perhaps their combination of optimistic extrovert and thoughtful introvert really isn’t such a bad thing–perhaps it’s actually a part of God’s beautiful design.

My Review:

I love finding a unique approach to an Amish novel and this one is phenomenal! So much heart and angst and real life (and faith) struggles for both Bethel and Declan which kept me riveted.

Kelly Irvin gently explores hereditary conditions specific to the Amish with compassion and understanding. Bethel’s family carries a gene that can result in a rare form of muscular dystrophy. Three out of her six siblings are living with the condition and Bethel is dedicated to supporting their every need. She’s so wrapped up with daily logistics and worrying that she’s letting the chance at her own future pass her by.

She is, in fact, resigned to the fact that her life’s role is to be the carer for her siblings. Notice I said ‘the’ not ‘a’ because Bethel has fallen into the trap of thinking she’s the only one who can. She harbours a kind of false pride out of her need to be there for her family. She hasn’t forgotten that the Amish are all about community and sharing life’s difficulties, she just thinks that isn’t needed as long as she can do it all. And isn’t that so relatable no matter what kind of community we live in?!

By contrast, fun loving Declan seems to have it all. A family run business he loves and the freedom from responsibility that Bethel can only dream of. These two are exact opposites. He’s the extrovert to her introvert. The jokester to her serious demeanour. And yet, there’s every indication that there could be so much more if only Bethel could let go of some of her responsibilities and a whole lot of her worries.

But then Declan faces a health challenge of his own and — whoa — this story, their romance, spun in a completely different direction. Heartbreaking and tender but ultimately hopeful though there’s a lot of overcoming to be done before the last page. I appreciate the way the author portrayed their unique challenges through their faith journey. She explores the age old question of why God allows suffering as Bethel and Declan wrestle with untenable circumstances.

A beautifully crafted story that shines grace into the darkest corners of our lives.

I enjoyed listening to the audio book narrated by Lauren Berst. She did a wonderful job with these characters — especially Declan with his evolving situation. Her performance helped me feel my way through the story, rather than just listen to it.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio 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 Finding You, 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 July 20 2024.

Beachy Keen

He has it all, except the one thing money can’t buy: her heart.

When Cat Keene finds a medical bill with the horrendous words final notice stamped across the front, she learns two things: first, her uncle/the man who raised her is keeping things from her for the first time in her life. Second, they need money—and fast—or they’ll lose the only thing she has left of her parents: the bed & breakfast she runs with him.

Noah Belacourt is a billionaire with a newly acquired anxiety diagnosis and a one-way ticket to Sunset Harbor for the summer, courtesy of his company’s board of directors. Being on the island he grew up on for a forced sabbatical has a major perk when he runs into the girl he’s harbored a crush on since they were teens. She’s still the same old Cat, except now she’s in some major financial trouble. Noah wants to help her, but Cat is stubborn. She holds onto past biases about his family and takes some convincing.

When Cat agrees to work as Noah’s personal assistant for the summer, she doesn’t realize she’s signing up for a lot more than debt relief. Some of her preconceived notions about the Belacourt family begin to feel wrong. Noah proves that not all first impressions are reliable, forcing Cat to face the past—and to hope that things will end up just peachy keen after all.

Because the alternative is losing everything that matters to her, and she is not about to let that happen.

My Review:

The perfect summer escape read…and look at me enjoying a billionaire romance! It’s not my favourite romantic trope but I’m discovering never say never when I find gems like this.

So yes, Noah is a billionaire — born one and will likely die one — there’s just too much money for him to go through in one life time. 🙂 He’s part of a highly public family (I got Kardashian vibes) but he’s not a fan of the limelight and he’s struggling with a personal issue that has him seeking tranquility in the small island town he grew up in…where his teenage crush just happens to still live.

Only Cat is not a fan of all things Belacourt. She has a painful history that has coloured her opinion of the whole clan. Stuck up, holier-than-thou snobs, the lot of them (in her humble opinion.) Cue the enemies to more trope and settle in for a delightfully funny, achingly sweet love story…with just the right amount of heartache and drama to keep things interesting.

Love the way their relationship develops over the course of the summer. Cat is so stubbornly determined to not give an inch and it was fun to watch Noah gradually wear down her defences. Lots of lighthearted moments with some swoony toe-curling ones thrown in! But since they are both struggling with some serious personal and family issues, there’s plenty of scope for depth and character growth which makes the read that much more rewarding.

I listened to the audio edition narrated by Rylie Kuberra and John Rogers. I quite enjoy listening to a dual narration, especially for a rom/com and I feel like they captured the essence of these characters perfectly. Made the comedic parts that much funnier and the serious parts more emotional. Excellent performances that kept me captivated to the very end.

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

Finding You + Giveaway

She thought love was lost to her until a stranger with a secret connection to her former fiancé opens her heart to a second chance at love in this uplifting contemporary romance from Amy Clipston.

It’s been eighteen months since Darcy Larsen’s fiancé, Jace, was killed in a car accident on his way to pick up Darcy’s medicine from the pharmacy. Eighteen months of missing him and struggling to overcome her heartache, grief, and guilt. Unwilling to open up her heart to more hurt, Darcy is sure her one chance at a Happily Ever After is gone, until a random encounter with a handsome stranger changes everything.

Carter Donovan has a new lease on life. An emergency kidney transplant saved his life, but while he’s eternally thankful to the anonymous donor, he can’t help but feel like a burden to his family. Forced to move in with his sister and her family, he’s ready to move forward–past his broken engagement and his former illness and embrace his second chance at life and love.

When Darcy’s car breaks down and Carter rushes to the rescue, these two souls are thrown together in an unexpected way. As they start to date, Darcy feels herself coming back to life, and Carter begins to believe in the future again. But as they grow closer and open up more about their hopes, fears, and pasts, an explosive secret threatens to break down the gentle romance they’ve built. Carter’s transplant isn’t as anonymous as he’d first thought, and its connection to Darcy–and her fiancé Jace–could shatter everything they’ve built.

My Review:

A touching romance full of heartache and hope. Particularly poignant given the author’s personal experience with the subject matter. Made the read that much more impactful since she obviously captured all the emotional nuances.

‘Finding You’ is pure romance that starts with Darcy and Carter’s unexpected meet-cute and gently evolves into a cautious exploration of deepening feelings…BUT…as in all good romantic fiction…there are complications! Unusually challenging ones, in fact, and Clipston did a wonderful job of driving me crazy as this heroine and her hero battle insecurities and secrets. 🙂

I could understand their hesitancy but, I couldn’t help becoming frustrated over their trust issues. Of course, as the reader, I had the advantage of being aware of both Darcy and Carter’s inner most thoughts so trusting either of them wasn’t an issue for me…until it was! The author did a fantastic job with pacing and plot which included some memorable secondary characters who help our hero and heroine navigate their way to a hard-won happily-ever-after.

I listened to the audio edition and really enjoyed narrator Melissa Moran’s performance. She breathed life into these characters and related their story with warmth and compassion. A pleasant, easy-to-listen to ‘reading’ experience.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio as well as 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.

He’s So Not My Valentine

Valentine’s Day should be outlawed.

Here are a few fun facts about
1. I do not love Valentine’s Day.
2. I love coffee.
3. I’ve never left the state of North Carolina.

I’m not complaining. I grew up in the quaint town of Harvest Hollow, met my charming husband, and had our amazing son here … That was before my “charming” ex-husband decided he needed to expand his horizons.

Since that time, I’ve been raising Nate alone, with the support of my family, and running Cataloochee Coffee like it’s my own business.

I’m not looking for romance–especially not at this time of year when everyone couples up in the name of a dead saint who happens to be the patron of lovers, epileptics and beekeepers.

When Rene Dubois comes from France to visit my sister and her husband, I obviously keep my distance. I don’t need his kisses to my cheeks, his flirty banter, or the way his bright green eyes make me feel flutters in my belly and tingles across my skin. I don’t do flutters or tingles.

My sister keeps assuring me Rene is amazing and harmless. But she’s the dreamer in the family. Rene may be gorgeous, have a buttery French accent, and a charismatic personality. All I know is He’s so not my Valentine

My Review:

Fun and flirty and swoonable!

“Read Savannah Scott,” they said. “You’ll love her books,” they said. “They are so good,” they said…. And they weren’t wrong! This is my first Savannah Scott book, but it won’t be my last. I’d been hearing the chatter on instagram and book tube for a while and added the author’s name to my loooonnnnngggg ‘authors to try’ list and now, here I am, a puddle of melted goo because…

‘He’s So Not My Valentine’ is pure romance. Delectably delightful. Fainting couch necessary because Rene is……thud! Swoon! And repeat all the way through. 🙂 Now, there are kissing books and then there are KISSING books and this definitely fits into the latter category. Definitely a clean, sweet read but, oh la la, the romantic tension is divine!

Loved the banter and the heart to heart’s and the comedic moments that had me giggling until I dove back into a swan-dive swoon again because that Rene is such a charmer!

I enjoyed listening to the audio book narrated by Amanda Friday and Tyler Hyrchuk — great voice actors who delivered solid performances, breathing life into these fun, endearing characters.

My thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and the author for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

Refuge on Crescent Hill + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

Moving home after a recent job loss was supposed to reassure Camden Bristow and give her time to decide what to do next. But when she arrives in Etherton, Ohio, she discovers that her grandmother, who she hasn’t talked to in years, has passed away and “home” is an empty mansion 150 years old. Not exactly the comfort Camden was looking for. What happened to the house she played in as a child, the bedtime stories that told of secret passageways and runaway slaves, and all those family memories?

When antiques start disappearing and footsteps are heard, some of those memories start to creep back and Camden wonders if her grandmother’s bedtime stories might actually be true. What really happened here . . . at Crescent Hill? How was her grandmother involved? Who still has access to the house? And for what purpose? As she works to uncover the past and present mysteries harbored in her home, Camden also uncovers secrets about her family that could change the town―and her life―forever.

My Review:

published in 2010

If you like the hint of a Gothic vibe (aka classic Phyllis A. Whitney) then ‘Refuge on Crescent Hill’ is the read for you. So atmospheric right from the opening page with Camden in desperate straits, heading to her childhood haven and the warmth of her grandmother’s arms. Only her grandmother is dead and the ‘home’ she remembers is a decaying mansion as broken as she feels.

And the house is either haunted or invaded by someone other than herself though no one takes her seriously. And there are so many secrets! Decades of them, all surrounding Camden’s family. And strangers eager to buy the house and the land…some for altruistic reasons, some for nefarious ones. And the town watching every move Camden makes. Sooooooooo scrumptiously mysterious. Layers of villainy to unmask and family history to uncover. Plus a light romance to swoon over. The perfect escape read.

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 one of the Refuge on Crescent Hill, 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 June 22 2024.