Tag: Contemporary

An American in Scotland (A Scottish Isle Mystery) by Lucy Connelly

5 Stars

Hopefully the first book

This is my first book by Lucy Connelly and she gives us a really fun and intriguing story with our main character an American named Dr. Emilla McRoy.  Having spent years as an Emergency Room doctor, and had a recent death in her family, she takes a doctor position on a small island off the coast of Scotland to hopefully move past the trauma she’s endured.  She was hired by Ewan Campbell, who is the Deputy Chief Constable, Mayor, and Laird of Sea Isle.  She settles into her new living quarters/office which is located in an old church.  And she is also the Coroner for the island.  Her first night on the Isle, as she’s heading back to the church, she’s caught in a rainstorm and takes shelter in an outbuilding on the church grounds.  And that’s where she finds a dead man.  I really enjoyed the characters in this book, Lucy Connelly has done a great job of describing the island and developed both her main and secondary characters well.  The ensuing mystery is well written-any one of the characters could be the murderer as each has motive and opportunity.  Even Ewan, who could become/is becoming Em’s romantic interest, crosses her mind as a suspect.    I wanted to read this book because the title and blurb caught my interest and I’m very glad I did.  I want to know more about the people and the places on Sea Isle and hope for a second book in this series.  I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion. 

The Plus One by Mazey Eddings

3 Stars

Well written, but …

This book is well written story of Indira and Jude who haven’t gotten along.  I had a difficult time reading this, the characters didn’t mesh with other characters nor made me want to know what was going to happen between them.  The book seemed to go on and on even though it’s just over 300 pages.  I found out after reading it that it is the third book in a series, so maybe that’s why I really didn’t enjoy it.  I didn’t find it romantic but more realistic in how all the characters are.  If you’ve read Mazey Eddings other books and enjoyed them, you’ll probably enjoy this one, but for me there were too many things going on that had me questioning the main characters.  I was given and ARC of the book through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion. 

The Grumpy Count (It’s Raining Royals Book 4) (What the Royals Want: Book 1) by Alix Nichols

4 Stars

Interesting take on a play

This book is part of a larger series where members of a Royal family of a very small country are trying to find keys that will, when all 9 are found, save the country from being absorbed by France.  We meet Count Jonas d’Alenq and his young son Matteo.  He’s providing the location for an audience participation play of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and because of this, he is now Mr. Darcy in it. One of the secondary characters in the play is Caroline Bingley who is played by a somewhat feminist name Margot Nolan.  Both are good actors even though Jonas is performing for the first time.  But the two don’t see eye to eye, and there are some negative feelings between the two.                                                                                                 

  If you’ve read the other books in the It’s Raining Royals series, you’ll know that one of the family is seen in a vision as the next to search for the key needed by the family, and that is Jonas.  He doesn’t trust anyone, especially Margot.  But his inner feelings keep pushing him toward her.  In comparing the prior books to this one, they have much more action and mystery happening but in The Grumpy Count, this isn’t the case.  It’s a change but not for the worse, the story is enjoyable, and the circumstances seem plausible.  Alix Nichols has done a great job of defining and fleshing out her main characters, and the reader cannot help but root for them.  Well written, with no grammatical errors, and a satisfying conclusion.  I am looking forward to reading the next book.  I was given and ARC by the publisher and BookSirens and this is my honest opinion. 

Grot: A Monster Romance (Backyard Goblin Gods: Book 3) by Roxy Collins

4 Stars

Continuing the series with Book 3

Readers need to read the first two books of this series to completely understand and follow the events.  This book features Grottu, called Grot by most of the characters, who has come through the crust to find his fated one.  Here, waiting by the opening in the crust are sisters of a “Chosen Family” who are hoping to be the one the goblin finds.  Except the one sister, Jessica, called Jess, Capulet is a nursing student who wants to finish her studies.  But her offering, thrown into the opening in the crust, is the one that Grot knows marks his fated mate.  And along for this ride is Grot’s brother Glintu, called Glint, who also claims Jess is his fated one.  The author, Roxy Collins, takes us on a winding journey to a satisfying conclusion for our main characters.  The writing is good, with no obvious errors or grammar problems. Characters are well developed, and the story moves along at a steady pace.  Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.  I was given an ARC of the book by the author through BookSirens and this is my honest opinion.

Take the Lead: A Dance Off Novel by Alexis Daria

4 Stars

Is this really how this works?

If you’ve read the other reviews, you’ll know this is the author’s version of a TV reality show like Dancing with the Stars.  Stone Nielson has been in his family’s realty show set in the Alaskan wilderness (not too wild) for years and plays his part in it as a strong, quiet, survivalist.  He’s roped into another realty show called The Dance Off and partnered with a 4-year veteran of the show who’s never won named Gina Morales who is Puerto Rican via New York City.  The show’s producers want them to fake a budding romance during the series.  The writing of the book follows the course of the show with good descriptions of what goes into making a realty series.  I’m not a fan of most reality-based shows, so I can’t say how accurate the book is, but the author knows how to make this read like it is how everything works.  At 362 pages, it dragged for me, but I did enjoy the mechanics of both The Dance Off and Living Wild.  Alexis Daria does a great job of giving both characters interesting personalities, who do grow as the story progresses.  If you’re a fan of any reality show you will enjoy the story.  I was given an ARC of the book by NetGalley, and this is my honest opinion.

Not Your Ex’s Hex’s (Supernatural Singles #2) by April Asher

5 Stars

Not the Prima

This story is Rose Maxwell’s, who is a former Prima Apparent.  She lost the position to her “magicless” sister when her magic finally manifested.  Rose isn’t sad about this, she’s happy to be able to just be herself.  The other main character is Damian Adams, half-demon, who is a trained Veterinarian running an animal sanctuary.  Rose has been a little wild since she’s no longer the Heir and has been sentenced to community service at the animal rescue.    This is a fun read, furthering the story started in book 1, Not the Witch You Wed.  A lot more action in this story, which keeps things interesting.  Rose is one of a set of triplets, so I’m looking forward to book 3 which will be Violet’s story.  If you are considering reading this, read book 1 first.  But a reader can start with this book and still enjoy it.  Well written with great characters and story, I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Released today! The Seventh Key by Michelle M. Pillow

Links:

Author Website: https://michellepillow.com/book/the-seventh-key/

Books2Read Link: https://books2read.com/the-seventh-key/

Add to TBR/Review Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59754915-the-seventh-key

Review on Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-seventh-key-a-paranormal-women-s-fiction-romance-novel-order-of-magic-book-6-by-michelle-m-pillow

Series on Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3icdomi

Series on Amazon Uk: https://amzn.to/3VoNCtr

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The Seventh Key: A Paranormal Women’s Fiction Romance Novel (Order of Magic #6) by Michelle M. Pillow

5 Stars

A new addition…

Nina Cole has been unlucky, but she escaped a serial killer.  Since then, her life has been getting worse and worse.  Trying to escape from reporters, she ends up in Freewild Cove.  Following her there is Private Investigator Jacob Paddock, who proves to her he is really interested in her and not her story.   Instead of things getting better, they continue to get worse until she meets Heather, Vivian, Lorna, Sue, and the ghost of Grandma Julia.  For me, the story started slow, and I wasn’t sure that this book was going to be a god addition to Michelle M. Pillow’s series.  I was wrong!  The story got more and more interesting. and I wanted to see how the women would be able to help Nina.  The story is well written, with Nina and Jacob well fleshed-out.  This is a complete story, but ties into the series Order of Magic.  I am ready to read the next book now!  I received an ARC of The Seventh Key from the author through BookSprout and this is my honest opinion.

Pride and Puppies by Lizzie Shane

5 Stars

Only barely like “Pride and Prejudice”

The heroine of this book is Dr. Charlotte Rodriguez, who is a huge fan of Jane Austen, especially of Pride and Prejudice.  So much so that nearly everything she says is either from the book, or about the book, or comparing to the book.  Which means when she dates, she compares the man to Fitzwilliam Darcy.  And no man has come close to being “her” Mr. Darcy.  Working with Charlotte in the same medical center in the small town of Pine Hollow, Vermont is George Leneghan, a physical therapist who is originally from Colorado.  He’s moved to this small town to start over, leaving his home and his sisters behind.  All he has is his dog Duke for support.  He is a giver and has had a crush on Charlotte since he arrived 2 years ago.  This is a very sweet story, with a lot of moving parts.  It is well-written, with well-developed characters and plot line.  One small thing that bothered me during my read was that Charlotte, who is a medical doctor, comes across as someone who isn’t sure of herself, which I find hard to believe in a profession that requires such a large amount of confidence.  George is the nicest person, doing things for everyone else but himself.  Those two bits made the story seem to go on and on…. sometimes less can be more.  But Lizzie Shane writes a great story, and overall, the story is very well done.  I did not realize that this is part of a series, so I will be reading the other books; this can be read as a standalone with no problem.  I received an ARC of the book from NetGalley, and this is my honest opinion. 

Dashing Mr. Snow by Alexis Winter

5 Stars

Office romance

What a fun holiday book!  We meet Sadie Emmert first, about 3 years ago as she is starting a new job out of college.  The group of new hires is attending a new hire orientation, and the CEO sees her and decides to speak to the group.  Alex Snow is about in his early 30s, and is considered unfriendly and intimidating.  Sadie settles into her job, enjoying work, but not so much her personal life.  Now, 3 years into her career, she’s asked to take paperwork to the CEO for signatures that his assistant forgot in the assistant’s rush to leave for the weekend.  And this is where the story takes off and becomes a fun read.  I enjoyed reading about the increasing friendship between the two, and how Alex Snow is such an un-typical boss.  Alexis Winter has written a well though-out story, with no errors.  The characters are both fun and detailed.  A great holiday read!  I was given an ARC of this book from the author through BookSprout and this is my honest opinion.