Showing posts with label Romance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Romance. Show all posts

Wednesday 14 February 2024

Book Review: Someone Else's Bucket List by Amy T. Matthews

 Someone Else's Bucket List

by

Amy T. Matthews

Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication date: 31st January 2024
Genre: Contemporary / Romance
Pages: 390
RRP: $32.99AU (trade paperback)
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
 

Review: Someone Else's Bucket List

It's no secret I love a heart-wrenching read and Someone Else's Bucket List ticks all the boxes.
However, Amy T. Matthews doesn't simply break her reader's heart she has added lots of humour, adventure, arm-chair travel and even a touch of romance.
 
Jodie Boyd is shy and anxious, she has never been one to follow her dreams. Her sister Bree is an adventurous, globe-trotting, hugely successful Instagram influencer.  Jodie loves and admires her sister but she could never put herself out there like Bree does. Bree's untimely death leaves the family not only devastated but facing financial ruin with huge medical bills to pay.
Then a prescheduled post pops up on Bree's Instagram challenging Jodie to finish the last six items on Bree's bucket list. If she finishes them a sponsor will pay off the family's debts, with one condition, it all needs to posted to Instagram.
 
I loved how Matthews conveyed Jodie's terror at not only having to preform these very public acts but also having it all broadcast across Bree's Instagram, watched by over a million followers.
Every character in this story was so well portrayed, each playing an important role in Jodie's growth.
 
It was so much fun to follow Jodie as she checked items off the list, mostly freaking out about everything but pushing through and discovering a more assertive side of herself. Her character growth was slow to evolve which made it all the more believable.
I loved following all the # teams for who Jodie may have as a love interest - so much fun! 
 
Someone Else's Bucket List is a beautiful, heart-wrenching and fun read about grief, hope, love and courage. It's about believing in yourself and going after your dreams. 
 
My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
 
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Friday 19 January 2024

Book Review: The Blue Gum Camp by Leonie Kelsall

The Blue Gum Camp

by

Leonie Kelsall 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Publication date: 3rd January 2024 
Genre: Rural Romance
Pages: 419
RRP: $32.99AU (trade paperback)
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
 

Review: The Blue Gum Camp

The Blue Gum Camp is Leonie Kelsall's fifth book featuring characters from Settler's Bridge and surrounds.
 
Charity Farrugia is persuaded to attend a B & S ball by her sisters, Faith and Hope. They feel the always serious and always responsible Charity needs to relax and have some fun.
 
Lachlan is only going to the B & S ball to keep an eye on his mischievous younger brother Hamish. Lachlan has been working the family farm whilst his father has become a curmudgeonly recluse since his mother's untimely death twelve months ago.
When Lachlan and Charity meet sparks fly but Charity isn't ready to let her guard down.
 
I enjoyed the different ways of thinking between Hope and her friends in their early twenties and that of mid thirties Charity. Having characters from different age groups adds diversity to the story. I loved all the sibling banter and light ribbing both with the Farrugia sisters and Lachlan and Hamish. It felt very natural and was filled with humour. The siblings' similarities and differences were perfectly portrayed.

If you have read the previous books you will see many well-known and much loved characters get a mention which adds a further level of connection with the whole community that surrounds the books.
 
Kelsall explores themes of running a farm, aging parents, early onset dementia, feeling responsible for siblings, cognitive disorders, loss and grieving.  
The Blue Gum Camp has slightly darker themes and more drama than most rural romance novels however the main theme is still one of rural life and the lack of potential partners in small country towns.
 
My rating 4 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sunday 14 January 2024

Book Review: It's Probably You by Jayne Denker

 It's Probably You

by

Jayne Denker

Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication date: 3rd January 2024 
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Pages: 320
RRP: $32.99AU (paperback)
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
 

Review: It's Probably You 

It's Probably You is a funny, engaging and heartwarming enemies to lovers romance.
 
Gillian is comfortable with her life after 5 years divorced, but wouldn't say no to finding that someone special. After many disastrous dates via dating apps she's happy to work in her garden with her eye on winning the local gardening competition.
 
Noah has recently moved to town after a devastating break-up and decides the fixer-upper he has bought, sight unseen, is exactly what he needs to keep him busy. When he has an altercation with fiery neighbour Gillian, over a border hedge he removed, he knows she is trouble but he can't keep his mind off her.
 
I loved this sweet, slow-burn rom-com. It's probably You is filled with down-to-earth, relatable characters. Gillian is confident, smart, funny and sexy. We see Noah's confident side but not around Gillian. She undoes him and enjoys pushing his buttons.
I enjoyed the matchmaking trio of elderly women neighbours who weren't reticent in giving advice to Noah and eavesdropping whenever they got the chance. A vast array of supporting characters add plenty of humour and drama to the plot.
 
It's Probably You ticks all the boxes for the perfect beach read this summer. It is a sweet, slow-burn, closed-door, small town romance with a curvy female main character and an enemies to lovers trope. 
 
If you are after a book that will leave you smiling long after you have read the last page you can't go past It's Probably You by Jayne Denker
 
My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tuesday 9 January 2024

Book Review: The Italian Marriage by Jenna Lo Bianco

 The Italian Marriage

by

Jenna Lo Bianco

An inheritance. A fake marriage. Must be amore.
 
Publication date: 27th December 2023
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 368
RRP: $34.99AU (trade paperback)
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
 

Review: The Italian Marriage 

I loved this book! The perfect beach read, even though I'm nowhere near a beach.

The Italian Marriage is so sweet I think I 'aawed' through the whole book.
The Italian Marriage is a fake marriage trope; he falls first, one bed, sweetly sexy, romance.

Matthew D'Adamo is set to inherit the family estate but first he needs a wife. The estate goes to the youngest 'married' D'Adamo male.

Sarah Browne, a free-spirited event manager, agrees to an air-tight pre-nup and is looking forward to a break from the emotional toll of her endometriosis. The first time the two meet is on the flight to Florence. When they arrive they find another claimant has surfaced and now they must spend a year together restoring a rundown hotel. Whichever couple is most successful after 12 months wins the family estate.

I loved both Sarah and Matthew! They were both so perfect; kind, accommodating and thoughtful. Sarah is fun, spontaneous and confident. The story introduces lovely friends that help them connect with the community and there are also those that are bent on thwarting them so there is loads of drama between all the sweet moments of Sarah and Matthew getting to know each other.

With chapter headings in Italian and lots of Italian interspersed throughout conversations it was very easy to connect with the location.
The Italian Marriage is steeped in the culture of Italy. The language, the food, the architecture is all vividly played out on the page.

If you are after a sweet romance with plenty of drama and a few little twists The Italian Marriage will not disappoint.
The Italian Marriage is destination romance at its best!

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
 

Friday 20 October 2023

Book Review: Loving Lizzie March by Susannah Hardy

 Loving Lizzie March

by

Susannah Hardy

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia
Publication date: 29th June 2021
Genre: Rom-Com
Pages: 368
RRP: $32.99AU (trade paperback)
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
 

Review: Loving Lizzie March

I absolutely loved Lizzie March! She was such a ditz and a lot crazy.
Lizzie is desperate to find 'the one' but she always focuses on the wrong guys and rushes in to one night stands then goes all stalkerish calling them and following them.
 
Lizzie is all brazen and out-going on the outside but underneath she lacks self-confidence.
Her life goes from bad to worse before she gets a wake-up call from best friend Clem. Lizzie did make a terrible best friend, everything was always about her, and I was so glad when Clem finally stood up to her.

It was easy to feel empathy for Lizzie. She followed the old adage - know your dream and go for it - instead of just letting life happen she kept pushing for that perfect relationship.

Loving Lizzie March is a lighthearted rom-com that had me laughing quite often throughout the novel. I was glued to the pages wanting to know how Lizzie would turn her life around.
I enjoyed the character development of Lizzie and Clem's dedication to their friendship. It was clearly hard work for her but she was a true friend.

If you are after a story with a great balance of laughs, heartache and romance grab a copy of Loving Lizzie March and settle in for an entertaining read.

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
 
Trigger warning (spoiler ahead)
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Miscarriage

About the author

Originally an actor, Susannah Hardy completed a Bachelor of Arts at the University of NSW before running away to study acting in Paris. Back in Australia, her work has involved anything from film and television roles to being one of two singing/rollerblading Carmen Mirandas, Tutti & Frutti, and creating sketch comedy for Foxtel. During this time, Susannah discovered a passion for writing, and fourteen years ago, started working freelance, creating feature articles and copy for print and online publications. However, in between writing on parenting and home interiors, Susannah pursued her love of women's contemporary fiction, and now enjoys creating stories about the more comic side of life and love.

Susannah lives in Sydney's inner west with her husband, two young daughters and recently acquired puppy.

Thursday 31 August 2023

Book Review: The Summer Place by Janette Paul

 The Summer Place

by

Janette Paul

Three women, lives adrift, and a life-changing beach

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia
Publication date: 26th April 2023
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Pages: 384
RRP: $34.99AU (paperback)
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
 

Review: The Summer Place

The Summer Place is a thoroughly enjoyable, heartwarming story about love, healing and friendship.
 
Told through the perspective of three women, each broken in different ways. I like that Janette Paul portrayed each woman's obstacle with equal importance because for each of them their hurt was equally debilitating.
 
Erin is recovering from a near-fatal accident, holding tight to all her grief and anger. She is constrained by her PTSD and the scars that riddle her body.
Cassie, recently widowed, cannot seem to move on from her grief and regrets. 
Jenna has been secretly in love with Blake for years, and now she has been invited to his wedding.
 
All three women have been invited to a wedding at Hope Head, a place that holds memories, in much happier times, for each of them.
I loved every character in this uplifting story. The three main characters' problems all came across as real and the supporting characters were just that; supportive and honest, edging Erin, Jenna and Cassie to make decisions towards happiness and healing. 
 
The fictitious Australian town of Hope Head on the mid north coast of New South Wales was beautifully described and a fitting location to have an epiphany on life and moving forward.
 
The Summer Place is sentimental and sweet, with HEAs all round, it filled my heart with joy.
 
The Summer Place is the perfect beach read.
 
My rating 5 happy stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
 
About the author
 
Janette Paul is an internationally published author of contemporary women's fiction and romantic comedy, and is the alter ego of award-winning suspense author Jaye Ford. Her first novel won two Davitt Awards for Australian women crime writers and her books have been translated into nine languages. She is a former news and sports journalist, and ran her own public relations consultancy before turning to fiction. She now writes from her home in Newcastle, New South Wales.

Wednesday 5 July 2023

Book Review: One More Time by Mandy Magro

One More Time

by

Mandy Magro

Publisher: Harlequin Australia
Publication date: 7th June 2023
Genre: Romance
Pages: 352
RRP: $32.99AU (paperback)
Source: courtesy of the publisher
 

Review: One More Time

Mandy Magro has written a heart-wrenching and meaningful story about life, love and second chances.

Charlie Wilson is attending his ex-wife's 70th birthday party. His life has not been easy, he has many regrets and the 'what ifs' play heavily on his mind. fate steps in and magically gives Charlie a second chance at life.

One More Time is not your normal love story. There are lots of I love yous and sweet endearments however Mandy Magro has thrown everything at her characters to test the bounds of their love and sometimes they break.
I love that one of the main characters is a Vietnam veteran, there aren't enough stories about these brave and underrated soldiers.
With themes of PTSD, survivors guilt and alcoholism and the effect this has on relationships. PTSD and survivors guilt not only destroys the sufferer's life but also the lives of those who love them and Magro shows this with candour and compassion. There are also strong themes of love, forgiveness and not giving up on each other.

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

Mandy Magro lives in Cairns, Far North Queensland, with her fiance, Des, their daughter, Chloe Rose, and their two adorable pooches, Sophie and Sherlock. With pristine aqua-blue coastline in one direction and sweeping rural landscapes in the other, she describes her home as heaven on earth. A passionate woman and a romantic at heart, Mandy loves writing about soul-deep love, the Australian way of life, and the wonderful characters who call the country home.
 

Wednesday 17 May 2023

Book Review: In a New York Minute by Kate Spencer

 In a New York Minute

by

Kate Spencer

Their love story has gone viral. But it hasn't even begun.... 
 
Publisher: Macmillan Australia

Publication date: 29th March 2022
 
Genre: Contemporary Romance / RomCom
 
Pages: 309
 
RRP: $26.99AU (paperback)
 
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
 

My review of In a New York Minute

I really enjoyed this lighthearted romcom. A meet-cute with a backdrop of New York City.

Just when she thinks she is on the way up and due for a promotion Franny is put off her job. Her life goes from bad to worse when her dress is caught in the subway door and tears wide open. Hayes is on the same train and seeing Franny is now a blubbering mess gives her his jacket to cover up. Franny is mortified when she finds out their encounter was videoed and is now trending on Instagram as #subwayQTs.
"The world's worst meet-cute had been turned into an adorable romantic comedy that everyone was talking about'
Franny hopes to never see the Hot Suit guy again but the universe has a different idea when they keep bumping into each other.
 
In a New York Minute was such a fun read. A slow burn romance with just the right amount of angst. 
Franny is vivacious and outgoing although she harbours insecurity and self-doubt . Hayes is awkward, methodical and a workaholic. This was a perfect opposites attract story!
 
I loved Franny's friends and it's so nice to read about females supporting each other and genuinely happy about each other's successes. Everyone needs friends like Cleo and Lola.
 
New York shines bright in this novel and Kate Spencer's love for the city radiates throughout the book. 
 
My rating 4 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐
 
About the author
 
Kate Spencer is the co-host of the award-winning podcast Forever35 and author of the memoir The Dead Mom's Club. In a New York Minute is her first novel. She writes a bi-monthly column for In Style, and her written work has been published by the Washington Post, Rolling Stone, Esquire, Cosmopolitan, Buzzfeed, and numerous other places. Previously she worked as a senior editor and producer at VH1.
She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two daughters.

 

 


Friday 5 May 2023

Book Review: New Beginnings in the Little Irish Village by Michelle Vernal

 New Beginnings in the Little Irish Village

by

Michelle Vernal

Publisher: Bookouture
 
Publication date: 4th may 2023
 
Genre: Romance (RomCom)
 
Pages: 305
 
RRP: $4.99AU (Kindle)
 
Source: eBook courtesy of the publisher
 

My review of New Beginnings in the Little Irish Village

New Beginnings in the Little Irish Village is such a fun story! I loved it from start to finish! It is a warmhearted romcom set in the small village of Emerald Bay where everyone knows your business and nobody seems to mind that it's that way.

Michelle Vernal has delivered a whole town of quirky and lovable characters. The story is just as much about the whole town as it is about the main character, Imogen Kelly, one of the five Kelly sisters.

Imogen, a highly successful Dublin interior designer, has returned home to Emerald Bay to complete an interior design project at Benmore House, the home of her first love Lachlan Leslie. A high school romance she still hasn't found closure with. Whilst at home surrounded by her family Imogen reflects on her own lifestyle choices and her current romance with a man 27years her senior.
 
New Beginnings in the Little Irish Village is a light read, a feel good story with plenty of humour at Imogen's expense. Imogen takes all the mishaps with good grace and is even able to have a laugh at herself, making her a very endearing character.

I really enjoyed this story about families, celebrations, reconnecting with your true self and new beginnings. I loved getting to know all the townsfolk of Emerald Bay and Imogen's large and loving family. I am looking forward to reading Christmas in the Little Irish Village and being back with them all again.

My rating 5 / 5   ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

Michelle Vernal is a New Zealand author who writes stories that will take you onto the page with her characters and make you feel part of their lives. She writes with humour and warmth, and her readers describe her books as unputdownable, feel good and funny. Her writing has been likened to Maeve Binchy but with a modern-day vernacular. In 2015 she was shortlisted for the Love Stories Award. In 2020 she won the Reader's Favorite Gold Medal Award for Chick lit, and in 2021 was shortlisted for the Page Turner Book Awards.
 
Follow the blog tour below
 

 

Thursday 8 December 2022

Book Review: The Christmas Postcards by Karen Swan

 
Title: The Christmas Postcards
 
Author: Karen Swan
 
 
Publication date: 27th October 2022
 
Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Romance
 
Pages: 480
 
RRP: $34.99AUD (Paperback) 
 
Source: Courtesy of the publisher 
 
My review of The Christmas Postcards
 
Every year I look forward to Karen Swan's Christmas story. I can always be assured of a riveting tale and a happy ending set in an exotic location with plenty of snow. 
 
In the weeks leading up to Christmas Natasha's  young daughter loses her treasured toy cow, Moola, accidentally leaving her behind in a B & B in Vienna. 
Duffy is staying one night in Vienna, hoping to catch up with a friend before his next flight to Nepal, when he happens across a toy cow exactly like the one his sister had. He takes this as a sign and now Moodle will be his good luck mascot as he treks the Himalayas.
 
A social media post to help find Moola goes viral eventually reaching Duffy although he is already too far to return the toy he promises to send photos whenever he has internet.
I loved the idea of a social media post to find Moola going viral and flying around the world. So many wonderful people wanting to help. 
 
There is so much to this story! It has mystery, suspense, armchair travel, edge of your seat suspense and romance all rolled into one.
 
Nat is very unsettled in her marriage, she has everything she could want and she can't seem to pinpoint why she is unhappy. Swan deftly depicts Nat's unsettledness without making her unlikable or appear selfish.
 
The two plot lines are so different in content and theme. Nat's is all about a husband who is rarely home and trying to handle a distraught toddler alone and her feelings of disconnect now she is no longer in the workforce. Duffy's story is more melancholy, showcasing the atmospheric Himalayas and the dangers faced by mountain climbers in extreme conditions. The two plots are pulled together by the emails and photos between Natasha and Duffy.
 
The Christmas Postcards is an immersive story about love, loss, second chances and the fate that sometimes controls our life.
 
My rating 5 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 
About the author
 
Karen Swan is the Sunday Times top three bestselling author of twenty-two books and her novels sell all over the world. She writes two books each year - one for the summer period and one for the Christmas season. Previous summer titles include The Spanish Promise, The Hidden Beach and The Secret Path and, for winter, The Christmas Secret, Together by Christmas and Midnight in the Snow. 
 

Tuesday 13 September 2022

Book Review: The Last Summer by Karen Swan

 The Last Summer
by
Karen Swan

An island full of secrets. An irresistible love story....

Publisher: Macmillan Australia 
 
Publication date: 26th April 2022
 
Series: The Wild Isle #1
 
Genre: Historical Fiction
 
Pages: 496
 
RRP: $32.99AUD
 
Format read: Paperback 
 
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
 
My review of The Last Summer
 
I loved this book and I need the next one now!!
 
I never read the back cover blurb before I start a book, always preferring to go in blind. So I was thinking this was a dual time line, as some of Karen Swan's previous books, but I was delighted to find that The Last Summer is purely historical fiction and also the first in a new five book series.
 
Set on the remote island of Hirta in the St Kilda archipelago in the months leading up to the 1930 evacuation of the villagers to the mainland of Scotland. Swan uses real events to weave a fictitious tale of resilience.
 
Life is hard for the villagers on the island but it's the only life 18 year old Effie Gillies has known. Effie is wild and determined she has  had to work as hard as the men to help support her ailing father.
Lord Sholto has lead a privileged life but when he and his father visit the island they do not show airs and graces as Effie acts as tour guide to the visitors. Sholto falls for Effie the minute he sees her and Effie dreams there may be a life for her off the island.
 
I loved all the descriptions of the wild beauty of the island, Effie's skill at cragging (abseiling) on the sheer cliffs and how the villagers lived in harmony like one large family. The continuous effort of getting a meal on the table as well as work to pay taxes to the landlord was extremely interesting.
 
Karen Swan has delivered the perfect forbidden love story with the two protagonists separated by powerful class boundaries that seemed insurmountable.
I was totally immersed in this story from beginning to end and I flew through the pages eager for Effie to find acceptance as her wild, free self.
 
The Last Summer is a love story that defies distance, standing and a dangerously jealous man.
Be warned, the story ends on a cliffhanger that will have you eager for the next installment.
 
My rating 5 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
 
 About the author

Karen Swan is the Sunday Times top three bestselling author of twenty-one books and her novels sell all over the world. She writes two books each year - one for the summer period and one for the Christmas season. Previous summer titles include The Spanish Promise, The Hidden Beach and The Secret Path and, for winter, The Christmas Secret, Together by Christmas and Midnight in the Snow.
Previously a fashion editor, she lives in Sussex with her husband, three children and two dogs. 
 

 

Wednesday 24 August 2022

Book Review: Earning It by E. F. Dodd

 Earning It
by
E. F. Dodd
 
Publisher: Sugar Beaver Books

Publication date: 23rd August 2022
 
Genre: Romance
 
Pages: 322
 
Format read: eBook
 
Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley
 
 My review of Earning It
 
Earning It by E F Dodd is a light, fun read. A second chance romance told through the dual narrative of Rae and Van.
 
A chance encounter at her best friend's wedding has Rae reeling when she comes face to face with the man who broke her heart and ruined her life five years ago.
 
There is bucket loads of angst in this story as Rae gets all that hurt off her chest. Van is ever the gentleman as he works toward redemption and boy does Rae make him work for it. I give him ten points for tenacity!
 
This was an easy read. I enjoyed the banter between Rae and Van's friends and how they gave each other sound advice without interfering too much in each others' lives.
 
Even though I am not a fan of overly angst ridden romances I did enjoy this second chance romance. However, we never see how broken Rae was, only read about it in backstory, which made it hard to connect with her.
 
Earning It, I am sure, will be enjoyed by readers after a light romance read.
 
My rating 4 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 
 
 
 Follow the blog and Instagram tour for Earning It below
 

 

Wednesday 20 July 2022

Book Review: Love Never Chose Me by Rosanna M.I.

 Love Never Chose Me
by
Rosanna M. I. 
 
Publisher: Cherry Publishing 
 
Publication date: 16th December 2021
 
Genre: Romance / New Adult
 
Pages: 246
 
Format read: eBook
 
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
 
My review of Love Never Chose Me
 
Love Never Chose Me is an easy light read. Emily at  twenty-three is already an accomplished thriller writer however her agent tells her she must write a romance (okay, we need to suspend our disbelief a little with that.)
 
Emily hates romance! She has sworn off love since her heart was broken three times. She has been single now for 4 years.
 
The story follows Emily as the three boys (now men) who broke her heart come back into her life. Emily must work through the pain and rejection before she can fall in love again.
 
Emily comes across as a bit of a drama queen with lots of meltdowns and tantrums. I felt bad for her love interest, Andrew, who never gave up even though she treated him badly.
 
I found Love Never Chose Me to be a fun read and I chuckled over how disillusioned and cynical Emily was at such a young age. as with any romance read it ends nicely, after much drama, with a HEA.
A story to be enjoyed by upper teen readers 15 - 19 years.
 
My rating 3 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐

 
About the author
 
Rosanna M.I. is a Japanese-Brazilian author who loves New Adult and Young Adult Romance novels.
As an avid reader from an early age, she found herself writing poems and stories as a hobby, not imagining that creating fiction would become her biggest dream and main goal later in life.
Most of her works are full of emotional roller coasters, drama, not-perfect characters, second chances and changes, as she would like to read them.
When Rosanna M.I. is not going crazy with her books, she is spending time with her three cats, listening to music and taking care of her mental health.
 
 
 

Sunday 5 June 2022

Book Review: The Wattle Seed Inn by Léonie Kelsall

The Wattle Seed Inn
by
Léonie Kelsall 
 
Bestselling author of The Farm at Peppertree Crossing
 
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
 
Publication date: 5th July 2021
 
Genre: Rural Romance
 
Pages: 416
 
RRP: $29.99AUD
 
Format read: paperback
 
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
 
My review
 
I absolutely loved this story and can't believe I let it sit on my shelf for this long!! 
Rich city girl meets and falls in love with country boy.

Told through the eyes of Gabrielle, a city girl with something to prove, Hayden, the country boy that has underlying demons and Ilse, family matriarch and original owner of The Wattle Seed Inn (formerly Wurruldi Hotel).
 
Gabrielle, having bought out her ex-fiance, is now the owner of the dilapidated Wurruldi Hotel. She has grand plans to turn it into a B & B and prove to her ex that she can do this on her own.
 
Hayden just wants to be left alone, he feels he can't be relied upon as he let the one person that means the most to him down. But the new girl in town as caught his eye.
 
Ilse loves the Wurruldi Hotel, it has been in her family for generations. She is hoping the new owner will take her advice with renovations. 
 
I thoroughly loved being back in the small country town of Wurruldi on the Murray River and I loved the casual banter between the friends and how they eagerly included Gabrielle into their lives.
Both Gabrielle and Hayden had hidden demons that they held close preventing them from opening up and starting a relationship. Strong themes of forgiving yourself and accepting yourself are explored through these two characters.
The mysteries that surround each character weave themselves throughout the story urging the reader on, looking for answers.
 
Léonie Kelsall explains, through Hayden, that PTSD is not only about nightmares and panic attacks. There is also the self loathing, paranoia and catastrophising. The inclusion of the aptly named companion dog, Trigger highlighted the work of companion dogs in situations I would not have normally thought of.
 
I found the encounters between Ilse and Gabrielle both endearing and heart-wrenching. Kelsall writes with real emotion.
 
I enjoyed revisiting characters from The Farm at Peppertree Crossing as they popped in and out of the story as Kelsall included many themes around country living.
 
Léonie Kelsall has written another winner; heart-wrenching, endearing and full of country charm. A story of forgiveness and moving on...
 
My rating 5 / 5   ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 
 About the author
 
Raised initially in a tiny, no-horse town on South Australia's Fleurieu coast, then in the slightly more populated wheat and sheep farming land in the Murraylands,
Léonie Kelsall is a country girl through and through. Growing up without a television, she developed a love of reading before she reached primary school, swiftly followed by a desire to write. Pity the poor teachers who received chapters of creative writing instead of a single page!
Léonie entertained a brief fantasy of moving to the big city (well, Adelaide), but within months the lure of the open spaces and big sky country summoned her home. Now she splits her time between the stark, arid beauty of the family farm at Pallamana and her home and counselling practice in the lush Adelaide Hills.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Monday 28 March 2022

Book Review: Company Ink by E.L. Lewis

Company Ink
by
E. L. Lewis 
 
Publisher: Cherry Publishing - English

Publication date: 18th June 2021
 
Series: Ink Series #1
 
Genre: Romance
 
Pages: 357
 
RRP: $6.61AUD (Kindle price @ 28/3/22)
 
Format read: eBook
 
Source: courtesy of the publisher
 
My review
 
After Cassie loses her job in event management she is desperate for work, she has a serious shoe obsession that needs funding, so she takes a temporary job as a PA in a law firm. Cassie is immediately attracted to her boss, the charming Adrian, but she also feels some connection  with her other boss, the quietly brooding Blake.
 
Company Ink was a nice, fun story it just didn't have that 'I can't stop reading' factor. Cassie started out sassy and flirty, going after Adrian. She was smart and funny. Then, she just suddenly did a back flip and wanted commitment. Cassie's best friend is getting married and she sees this as her cue to stop playing the field and get serious.
 
Cassie initially comes across as shallow and insincere but as we get to know here she is devoted to her best friend Monique and her cousin Vanessa. She really is a chilled character and I could see why everyone loved her.
 
Both supporting males are charming and handsome and I found it hard to pick a favourite and I enjoyed the tension between Blake and Adrian. It was never clear who Cassie would pick and there were plenty of misunderstandings between the three to keep the story interesting.
 
Love triangles aren't really my romance reading preference. However, I found Company Ink to be a light, fun read perfect for a holiday or beach read.
 
My rating 3 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐
 
About the author
 
I took a creative writing class in high school and quickly fell in love with the craft, but it wasn’t until quarantine, ten years later, that I had the time to actually sit down and put all the ideas running rampant in my mind on paper.

For Company Ink, the title actually came before the plot and voila, an office romance was born! I knew I wanted to incorporate a love triangle in the book where both of the love interests complimented my protagonist’s personality – but in very different ways.

Often in love triangles, one love interest outweighs the other, and for Company Ink, I wanted to keep readers guessing and on the edge of their seats. Who will it be? Adrian or Blake? Readers should expect to experience severe whiplash while reading!
For Cassie’s character, I wanted to write a relatable heroine that was bold, confident and fun but also had flaws – a true modern woman. I wanted to portray the relationships between Cassie, Blake, and Adrian as symbiotic, where they help each other grow into better versions of themselves, step outside their comfort zones, and confront their fears.