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.

 

Flash Book Giveaway: A Family of Strangers by Fiona Lowe

 Thanks to the generosity of Harlequin Australia I have one uncorrected proof copy of A Family of Strangers to giveaway.

 

A Family of Strangers

by

Fiona Lowe

 

 About the book

 

With a coveted promotion dangling within reach, the last thing Addy Topic needs to do is waste precious time singing in Rookery Cove's choir. But when she's reminded how much music meant to her late mother, she can't say no. The building pressure raises the ghosts that sent her running from Rookery Cove years earlier - memories she's spent decades keeping hidden, silencing them with work, alcohol and sex.

For Stephanie Gallagher, Rookery Cove was meant to be a new beginning in the slow lane. A place where she and her husband can embrace community, parenthood and evenly share the load. But the sea-change is changing everything. How much longer can they survive as a family?

Brenda Lambeck is finding her feet after the death of her husband when her best friend, convinces her to join the choir. Beloved as a grandmother, Brenda is determined to mend the fraught relationship she has with her daughter, Courtney. But is that even possible when she continues to lie?

In the wake of a spectacular betrayal, three women are forced to face the uncompromising truths about the choices that have shaped their relationships with those they love most. The consequences will shatter their lives and all they hold dear. After such a disaster is rebuilding even possible?

 

Giveaway:

I have one uncorrected proof copy of A family of Strangers to give away.

 

Enter via the form below. (Open to Australian addresses only). Entries close at Midnight on 31st March 2022.

 

This giveaway is now closed and the winner was announced HERE

 

 

 

Book Review: A Family of Strangers by Fiona Lowe

A Family of Strangers

by

Fiona Lowe 

 

How can you know so little about those you love?

 

Publisher: Harlequin Australia

 

Imprint: HQ Fiction

 

Publication date: 2nd march 2022

 

Genre: Contemporary fiction

 

Pages: 544

 

RRP: $32.99AUD

 

Format read: Paperback

 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

My review

 

In A Family of Strangers Fiona Lowe brings together three women, who would not normally mix, and has them supporting each other and solving problems together.

Set in the small seaside community of Rookery Cove, Tasmania, Brenda is trying to get back on her feet after the death of her husband. She is hoping to connect with her daughter Courtney. Their relationship has always been fragile. Encouraged by her friend Marilyn, Brenda joins the Rookery Cove choir.

 

Stephanie and husband Henry have come to the Cove to start a new life, a more relaxed way of living, with their young son and Henry's 12 year old daughter Zoe. But Steph finds herself doing the lion's share of the parenting and starts to resent Henry and his daughter. She joins the local choir for some me time.

 

Addy is back at the Cove to renovate her late parent's home. Meanwhile she is taking on large amounts of work and the pressure has her turning to alcohol as a release. When new friend, Steph, asks her to join the choir she is torn between friendship and old ghosts.

 

This is such a big book, I tend to shy away from anything over 400 pages because I easily get bored with the characters. However, I was totally immersed in the story of these characters. I loved them all and genuinely cared about their lives.

I am amazed how Fiona Lowe can include a diverse amount of topics that are relevant to women and the story does not sound at all contrived. (I don't think I did a single eye roll).

Some themes included are; alcohol abuse, helicopter parenting, step parenting, relationships after a partner's death, bullying, misogyny in the work place, shaming by social media and infertility.

 

I love the idea of a choir as the glue for the friendships. It's a hobby that is all inclusive and not bound by gender or age.

Each woman has her demons that need to be overcome and I loved the way they supported each other even when they weren't at their best. Forgiveness, acceptance and support are key themes throughout and Fiona Lowe shows how our decisions can impact on family and relationships.

 

Fiona Lowe is a counsellor herself and I like how therapists and counsellors have a sort of ghost appearance in her novels. Their value in society is sometimes overlooked. 

 

My rating  5 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

About the author

 

For more about Fiona Lowe see my author interviews:

 

 https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogspot.com/2022/03/author-interview-fiona-lowe.html

https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogspot.com/2019/02/author-interview-fiona-lowe.html 

 

 

 

 

Mailbox Monday - March 21st

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week (or month). I post my new books on the last Monday of the month. EDIT: only just realised the 21st isn't the last Monday of March (life has been crazy this month) 😄 Mailbox Monday now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday Blog

 

 Happy Monday!

 

We have had son no. 2 at home with a broken ankle for the last month. He is slowly recovering and goes to see the surgeon again in three weeks to see if he will be able to start load bearing on his foot. He is sleeping in our spare room in a tiny double bed and I am sure he is looking forward to going back to his own place as soon as he can.

 

The Book Fairies were out and about all over Australia leaving copies of The Sky is Everywhere for people to find. These are a couple of the books I left. 

 

There has been an abundance of gorgeous flowers blooming at the moment. These are some I came across on my walks.

              

Books I purchased after reading and loving book #28 in the Stephanie Plum series. These were found at my local Op Shop.

 

 Books Purchased with a Dymocks voucher I was given. The book with the sprayed edges is The Witches by Roald Dahl. 

 Books received during March for review

 

 In a New York Minute - Kate Spencer

 

The Gosling Girl - Jacqueline Roy

 

The Kaiju Preservation Society - John Scalzi

 

The Understudy - Julie Bennett

 

The Nurses  War - Victoria Purman

 

Rising Dust - Fleur McDonald

 

Sister Stardust - Jane Green

 

Her Time to Shine - Fiona McCallum 

 

What has arrived in your mailbox lately?

 

Book Review: The Postcard from Italy by Angela Petch

 The Postcard from Italy

by

Angela Petch

 

Publisher: Bookouture

 

Publication date: 16th March 2022

 

Genre: Historical Fiction

 

Pages: 375

 

Format read: eBook

 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

My review

 

The Postcard from Italy is a dual timeline historical fiction.

 

1945 - Billy, a gunner with the RAF, is shot down over Puglia, Italy. He is found unconscious by Domenico and together with his grandson Anto they nurse him back to health. Billy has lost his memory and has no idea who he is or how he came to be on the beach. Domenico is becoming frail and Anto secretly wishes Billy, who they call Roberto, will stay. However, both Domenico and Anto are harbouring secrets.

Present day - Susannah's grandmother is in a nursing home and whilst Susannah is clearing out her home she finds a hidden postcard from Italy dated 1947 with professions of love but unsigned. Did her grandmother Elsie have an affair with an Italian soldier?

 

Billy's story in 1945 is narrated in first person and then later through his diary entries. He has forgotten his previous life and feels writing snippets of thoughts could bring back details of his past.

The descriptions of the scenery of Puglia are visceral and the day to day life of the simple country people was amazing to read about.

 

I also enjoyed Susannah's story and how she was eager to find out more about the writer of the postcard and her trip to Puglia held a small romance. We all know those Italian men are pretty hot!!

I was much more invested in Billy's story however I was still intrigued as to how Angela Petch was going to tie it all together. This was executed well and the events that led to Sussannah finding out the full story were quite believable. 

I loved everything about the small country town of Puglia, it's past and present day. The characters were real and heartwarming, the scenery was spectacular and the food was mouthwatering. I almost felt like I was experienced it all firsthand.

My Rating 4 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

Published by Bookouture, Angela Petch is an award-winning writer of fiction – and the occasional poem. 

 

Every summer she moves to Tuscany for six months where she and her husband own a renovated watermill which they let out. When not exploring their unspoilt corner of the Apennines, she disappears to her writing desk at the top of a converted stable. In her Italian handbag or hiking rucksack she always makes sure to store a notebook and pen to jot down ideas.

The winter months are spent in Sussex where most of her family live. When Angela’s not helping out with grandchildren, she catches up with writer friends.

Angela’s gripping, WWII, Tuscan novels are published by Bookouture. While her novel, Mavis and Dot, was self-published and tells of the frolics and foibles of two best-friends who live by the seaside. Angela also writes short stories published in Prima and People’s Friend.

 

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Book Review: Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult

 Wish you Were Here

by

Jodi Picoult

 

What if your dream holiday wasn't what it seemed.... 

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

 

Publication date: 25th November 2021

 

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

 

Pages: 336

 

RRP: $32.99AUD

 

Format read: Uncorrected Paperback

 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher 

 My review

 

Through Wish You Were Here Jodi Picoult expresses the feelings of isolation, loss of control and re-evaluation of life that we all struggled with during the pandemic.

Wish You Were Here is not only a story set during the pandemic it is centred on the pandemic.

 

Diana has her perfect job at Sotheby's art department and she is about to land a major coup; auctioning a painting by Toulouse-Lautrec. I am sure the references to the painting Diana was going to auction and all the information on the painter and the John and Yoko-ish vibe had some deep meaning but I just didn't get it.  

Diana is also certain her boyfriend, Finn is going to propose to her on their upcoming holiday.

 

It's March 2020 and the cusp of the Covid pandemic. Finn, an intern in a New York hospital, is called in to do extra hours at the hospital and he encourages Diana to go on their prepaid holiday alone.

 

Diana arrives on the island of Isabela in the Galapagos just as they are going into a two week shut-down and communication with the outside world is scant. As the weeks turn to months we are taken on an exquisite tour of the island in all its beauty as Diana lives with the locals.

Updates on the pandemic are received through intermittent emails from Finn who is on the front line. Through these emails we see the catastrophe unfold; the horror, the fear and death is real.

Picoult's descriptions of the idyllic island life are captivating and vividly contrasted with life back in New York.

There is a huge plot twist in the middle of the book and I found it hard to recover from this. For me, the remainder of the book was hard to read, Covid is still too fresh and raw. I think if I read it again in another 5 or 10 years I would find myself more invested.

My rating 3 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐

About the author

photo credit: Goodreads

  Jodi Picoult is the author of twenty-five novels, with forty million copies sold worldwide. Her last twelve books have debuted at #1 on the New York Times best-seller list, including her most recent, The Book of Two Ways. Five novels have been made into movies. She is the recipient of multiple awards, including the New England Booksellers Award for Fiction, the Alex Award from the YA Library Services Association, and the New Hampshire Literary Award for Outstanding Literary Merit. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband.

 

 

Book Review: The Magical Girl's Guide to Life by Jacque Aye

The Magical Girl's Guide to Life

by

Jacque Aye 

 

Find your inner power, fight everyday evil & save the day with self-care.

 

Publisher: Ulysses Press

 

Publication date: 21st December 2021

 

Genre: Self Help

 

Pages: 192

 

RRP: $17.95US  $24.95CAN

 

Format read: Hardcover

 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Pacific & Court Publicity

 

My review

 

The Magical Girl's Guide to Life is a unique pocket sized book aimed at finding your inner magic and dispelling self-doubt. 

I originally thought this was a middle grade book, just going by the manga style cover, however the book is geared toward a young adult and older readership.

 

Jacque Aye uses scenarios from her favourite anime shows, such as Sailor Moon, Winx Club and cardcaptor Sakura, and explains how these magical girls handled different situations.

 

There are lots of fun exercises, journal prompts and personality tests throughout the book and sections on making friends, expelling self-doubt, caring for yourself, finding love and how to survive a broken heart. I found the book helpful to read a bit at a time, having fun with the quizzes, and learning more about my inner power.

 

Author Jacque Aye is an advocate and vocal supporter of mental health awareness and self-care. The Magical Girl's Guide to Life is a fun little book that will be especially loved by followers of anime and manga readers but will also find a special place on the shelf of any girl who wants their life to be a little less boring and a whole lot more magical.

 

My rating 3 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐

 

About the author

 

Jacque Aye is a therapist-in-training and “Head Magical Girl” of the Adorned by Chi lifestyle brand, Since launching Adorned by Chi in 2015 Jacque has grown her business tremendously, racking in 6-figure sales within the first two years of operation and a development deal within the first five. Adorned by Chi has also worked with the likes of Sanrio, collaborating on a collection for their Small Business, Big Smile initiative. As a leader in the manga and anime space, Jacque has grown her small tight knit community into one that boasts over 100,000 magical beings across social media. She is a vocal supporter of mental health awareness and self care amongst Black women, and advocates for those suffering from social anxiety. In 2020, Adorned by Chi was able to donate $10,000 to the Loveland Foundation.