BLOG TOUR - His Secret Family

Today is my stop on the Blog Tour for His Secret Family by Ali Mercer.

DESCRIPTION:

It’s a beautiful day for a wedding. White roses scent the air and the summer sunlight streams in. A spoon chimes against a champagne flute and the room falls silent. And there he is – my husband – getting to his feet to propose a toast. He’s still handsome. His new wife is next to him, gazing upwards, oblivious. 

I’m not supposed to be here. All these years in the same town and I had no idea until I saw his name on the seating plan. He lived with me, once. Loved me. Small-town memories are long, but the people in this room don’t want to remember.

They say the healing is in letting go, but after what he did, he needs to know we haven’t gone away just because he’s shut his eyes.

So I take Daisy by the hand and step forward from the shadows. He notices us and his eyes widen. The champagne glass falls from his hand and smashes. Then he sags forward, making a terrible sound – a sort of strangled scream…

A powerfully emotional novel with a dark secret at its heart. This family drama will keep you hooked until the very last page. Perfect for fans of The Silent Wife, Kate Hewitt and Jodi Picoult. 

BUY LINKS:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B07T6SZKP1Social

Apple Books: https://apple.co/31EAfKM

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2XRMoJT

Googleplay: http://bit.ly/2Xik2LH

MY THOUGHTS:

Title:   His Secret Family
Author:  Ali Mercer

Genre:   Women's Fiction

Publisher:  Bookouture

Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   347

Date of Publication:  September 11, 2019
My Rating:  4.5 Stars

He simply walked away. After a few years of marriage to Paula, Mark had an affair with Jenny. However, he went back to Paula and they had a daughter named Daisy. However, as it was slowly revealed that Daisy was on the autism spectrum, it all became too much for Mark.

When Mark and Jenny originally had their affair, Jenny became pregnant with a daughter she named Ava. Jenny married another man, and even had another daughter named Ellie. When Ava was sixteen, Jenny and Mark began dating and soon married. Jenny had no idea that Mark had left his family, especially due to his not being able to cope with a disabled daughter.

This touching story by Ali Mercer is delivered in first-person from four points of view - Jenny, Paula, Ava and Ellie. Paula's entries are especially sad, as she was left to raise Daisy all alone. Jenny is thrilled, yet hesitant to have another chance with Mark, especially with two daughters that she has always put first in her life. Then Ava and Ellie have very different views on what is happening with their mother and the "new" man in her life. 

Mark's point of view is not shared. However, readers get enough ammunition to dislike him greatly. After all, how can anyone be drawn to a person that walks out on a wife and child, never mind the original affair? 

This was a difficult story to read at times. My heart bled for Paula and Daisy. Meanwhile, I hated to wonder whether or not Jenny would be hurt by letting Mark back into her life. However, it was these very issues that made this book such a compelling read. Ms. Mercer writes an affecting story, allowing readers to be drawn into the delicate lives of these characters, all the while hoping beyond hope that they would all find a happy future. With so many issues touched on: autism, cheating, divorce and more, this was a superb read. The author did a fine job leaving me satisfied with the conclusion.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ali decided she wanted to be a writer early on and wrote her first novel when she was at primary school. She did an English degree and spent her early twenties working in various jobs in journalism, including as a reporter for the showbusiness newspaper The Stage. She started writing fiction in earnest after getting married, moving out of London to the Oxfordshire market town of Abingdon and starting a family. She has two children, a daughter and a son who is autistic and was diagnosed when he was four years old. 

Ali is fascinated by families, their myths and secrets, and the forces that hold them together, split them up and (sometimes) bring them back together again. She always travels with tissues and a book and has been known to cry over a good story but is also a big fan of the hopeful ending. 

Author Social Media Links:

For updates and pictures, follow Ali on Twitter (@AlisonLMercer) or Instagram (@alimercerwriter), or on her Facebook page (AliMercerwriter)

Review - Drowning Tides

Title:   Drowning Tides

Author:  Karen Harper
Series:  South Shores #2

Genre:   Mystery/Thrillers

Publisher:  Mira

Format:  Audiobook
No. of Pages:   336
Date of Publication:  January 31, 2017

My Rating:  4.5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

Danger is never far off

When forensic psychologist Claire Britten started working with lawyer Nick Markwood on his South Shores project, she had no idea it would endanger her life - and the life of her daughter. But when the little girl goes missing from her South Florida home and Nick insists his longtime nemesis is to blame, Claire frantically follows the trail to the Cayman Islands, desperate to save her daughter before it's too late.

Nick always knew the man who staged his father's "suicide" was out to get him, but kidnapping the child of someone he cares about is despicable. Finding the billionaire criminal is one thing - meeting his demands in order to save Claire's daughter is quite another. What he wants threatens their professional and personal interests beyond imagination - but what choice do they have when a child's life is on the line?"

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

A shotgun wedding of modern proportions! At the end of the first book in the South Shore series by Karen Harper, Lexi was kidnapped. Boy was the ransom price high!

Although Claire’s daughter was kidnapped, it is lawyer Nick who was the target. The focus? Claire and Nick met previously when they testified against one another. Claire as a forensic psychologist and Nick as a high-powered attorney. After that case, Nick Markwood hired Claire Britton privately in a case that was possibly a murder. 

The pair worked feverishly then to free a woman of the charge. All the while, they became increasingly close, although never crossing the line. However, Nick has a powerful enemy who devised an incredible scheme. By kidnapping Claire’s daughter, with Nick and Claire marrying as the ransom, Clayton Ames - the man that Nick is certain killed his father control Nick for life. Nick was trapped. Her could never, ever allow anything to happen to Claire or four-year-old Lexi. 

They begin married life amidst all sort of trepidation, struggling to stay alive and to also find time to explore their connection. 

Meanwhile, Claire’s ex-husband Jace just will not let go. He wants his daughter, of course, as Claire, Nick and Lexi have fled. What’s more is he wants Claire back. 

What will happen? Will Nick and Claire find real love and solidify their marriage? Well, just as book one, Casing Shadows, ended in a cliffhanger, this one does the same. So, on to book 3, Falling Darkness.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Karen Harper is a former college English instructor (The Ohio State University) and high school literature and writing teacher. A lifelong Ohioan, Karen and her husband Don divide their time between the midwest and the southeast, both locations she has used in her books. Besides her American settings, Karen loves the British Isles, where her Scottish and English roots run deep, and where she has set many of her historical Tudor-era mysteries and her historical novels about real and dynamic British women. Karen's books have been published in many foreign languages and she won the Mary Higgins Clark Award for 2005. Karen has given numerous talks to readers and writers across the county. Her most recent books include THE SOUTH SHORES TRILOGY (CHASING SHADOWS, DROWNING TIDES and FALLING DARKNESS.) Her latest historical is THE ROYAL NANNY.

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BLOG TOUR - My Name is Eva

Today is my stop on the Blog Tour for My Name is Eva by Suzanne Goldring.

DESCRIPTION:

You can pay a terrible price for keeping a promise…

Evelyn Taylor-Clarke sits in her chair at Forest Lawns Care Home in the heart of the English countryside, surrounded by residents with minds not as sharp as hers. It would be easy to dismiss Evelyn as a muddled old woman, but her lipstick is applied perfectly, and her buttons done up correctly. Because Evelyn is a woman with secrets and Evelyn remembers everything. She can never forget the promise she made to the love of her life, to discover the truth about the mission that led to his death, no matter what it cost her…

When Evelyn’s niece Pat opens an old biscuit tin to find a photo of a small girl with a red ball entitled ‘Liese, 1951’ and a passport in another name, she has some questions for her aunt. And Evelyn is transported back to a place in Germany known as ‘The Forbidden Village,’ where a woman who called herself Eva went where no one else dared, amongst shivering prisoners, to find the man who gambled with her husband’s life…

A gripping, haunting and compelling read about love, courage and betrayal set in the war-battered landscape of Germany. Fans of The Letter, The Alice Network and The Nightingale will be hooked.   

BUY LINK

MY THOUGHTS:

Title:   My Name is Eva

Author:  Suzanne Goldring

Genre:   Historical Fiction; Women's Fiction

Publisher:  Bookouture

Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   348

Date of Publication:  September 11, 2019
My Rating:  4.5 Stars

She had many names. Evelyn Taylor-Clarke. Mrs. T-C to the caring home staff. Aunt Evelyn to her niece Pat, and Eva during her years of service during World War II. All of these names represent various sides to Evelyn that she manages to hide from many, during various stages of her life.

Presently, her niece Pat is helping her clear her home, as Evelyn is now in her nineties  and, after breaking a hip, is unlikely to ever live there again. Pat is continually bringing different items to her aunt because she has many questions. Some the things include a photo of a little girl from 1951, a cache of weapons and odd clothing.

It is the weapons found that drastically change things for Evelyn. Pat is soon often accompanied by a detective at the Care Home. He has many questions about the things that were found, and even about a man who when missing years previously. However, as far as Pat, the staff and now the detective are concerned, Evelyn is all but senile, and her memory is unreliable.

Evelyn has a secret. Actually she has many, many secrets. For starters, her mind is as sharp as a tack, and she is simply play-acting. Furthermore, the story is told in varying timelines and readers are clued in to Evelyn's duplicitous nature and some of the activities she was engaged in during and after the war.

What a tangled web she wove! Young or old, Evelyn set out a path. During the war she had an objective. She never, ever lost sight of it and carried out her plans with exact precision. This book was equally startling and compelling. Kudos to Suzanne Goldring for writing such an impressive debut novel.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Following an eventful career as a public relations consultant, specialising in business and travel, Suzanne Goldring turned to writing the kind of novels she likes to read, about the extraordinary lives of ordinary people. Two of her novels have been placed in the Winchester Writers' Conference First Three Pages of a Novel competition. Her novel The Way We Lied, can be read as a serial on her blog site, http://www.suzannegoldring.wordpress.com

She is currently working on a novel about delusion,deception and death, set in Corfu. 

Suzanne drew on her experiences of living in a timbered 14th century house, where she raised two daughters and a variety of livestock, to write Powerless. All her other novels are pure fiction and any resemblance to any persons living or dead is purely coincidental.  

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Review - Chasing Shadows

Title:   Chasing Shadows

Author:  Karen Harper
Series:  South Shores #1

Genre:   Mystery/Thrillers

Publisher:  Mira

Format:  Audiobook
No. of Pages:   364
Date of Publication:  November 29, 2016

My Rating:  4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

The dead still talk if you know how to listen… 

Every case that Claire Britten cracks is a win, not only professionally but personally. The forensic psychologist has spent a lifetime fighting a neurological disorder, and her ability to conquer it is a testament to her razor-sharp intuition.

Nick Markwood is used to winning in the courtroom, so when his latest case is overthrown by Claire's expert testimony, he can't help being impressed by her skill. He needs her on the team of his passion project—investigating unusual cases involving mysterious deaths. Her condition doesn't deter him, and neither does the attraction that sparks between them…even if it should.

As they join forces to investigate a murder in St. Augustine, Florida, Claire is thrust into a situation far more dangerous than she'd anticipated, pushing her disorder to a breaking point. Just when she fears she can't trust her own mind, she discovers Nick's personal connection to the case—and wonders whether she can trust anyone at all.

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

Claire Britten has just won a pivotal case. As a forensic psychologist, her word is highly valued. She squared off against Nick Markwood in the courtroom. Little does Claire realize that Nick will play a very important role in her immediate and long-term future. Upon leaving the courtroom, Claire faces a life and death situation. As Nick had a business proposition for her, he was able to get to her right away and all but saved her life.

When Nick outlines his proposal to Claire, she really would like to consider it. However, if she takes the case, she will have to be away from her four-year-old daughter for a bit. But, that is not what she really needs to convey to Nick. Claire has narcolepsy and catalepsy. She has fought these illnesses for years and has finally been able to manage them effectively.

Claire needs for Nick to understand and accept her limitations. Because she was not honest with her husband about these things, her marriage deteriorated and she is now divorced. Her ex, Jace, a co-pilot on an international airline, makes certain to continue to be a part of her life, much to her consternation.

As it stands, Claire takes Nick's job investigating a questionable suicide. The situation could possibly be murder and Nick is hoping that Claire can use her exceptional skills to investigate the situation, and this includes interviewing several people. Rather soon Claire discovers that Nick has a personal investment in the case. No doubt this will be quite stressful for Claire, and stress is the one thing that can set her symptoms off.

Chasing Shadows is the first book in the South Shores series. There are currently six books written and it is my hopes to read each and every one of them. This book has a great mystery, a creepy gothic feel and plenty of twists and turns. Furthermore, Jace just won't go away, and that adds a different spin to this story. The book evolves into one of romantic suspense, especially as Claire becomes more and more aware of Nick's strong attraction to her.

I look forward to reading the next book in the series soon, Drowning Tides. I have to do this post-haste because this story ends with a terrifying cliffhanger. I am glad that I have the opportunity to read the second book immediately. I feel bad for readers in this series when it started, because the cliffhanger is a zinger!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Karen Harper is a former college English instructor (The Ohio State University) and high school literature and writing teacher. A lifelong Ohioan, Karen and her husband Don divide their time between the midwest and the southeast, both locations she has used in her books. Besides her American settings, Karen loves the British Isles, where her Scottish and English roots run deep, and where she has set many of her historical Tudor-era mysteries and her historical novels about real and dynamic British women. Karen's books have been published in many foreign languages and she won the Mary Higgins Clark Award for 2005. Karen has given numerous talks to readers and writers across the county. Her most recent books include THE SOUTH SHORES TRILOGY (CHASING SHADOWS, DROWNING TIDES and FALLING DARKNESS.) Her latest historical is THE ROYAL NANNY.

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BLOG TOUR - Play Dead

Today is my stop on the Blog Tour for Play Dead by Anne Penketh.

DESCRIPTION:

A SLEEPY ENGLISH CITY IS ROCKED BY A SERIES OF MURDERS TARGETING MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL ORCHESTRA.

WHO IS KILLING OFF MUSICIANS WITH THEIR OWN INSTRUMENTS?

Detective Inspector Sam Clayton is called in to investigate three victims with ties to the Norfolk Festival Orchestra. 

Musician Kristina Manning is impaled by her cello spike. 

The disgraced conductor is found with his head stuffed into a piano. He’s on the brink of death. 

A trumpeter dies, poisoned by his mouthpiece.

Will Clayton’s new girlfriend, Melissa, a singer in the NFO, be next on the murderer’s list? 

Is there a serial killer with a musical edge on the loose? And what does the disappearance of former orchestra member Lauren Garner have to do with it?

A MYSTERY WITH A STUNNING TWIST AND A RACE AGAINST TIME TO STOP A MURDER SPREE

PLAY DEAD is the third in a new series of page-turning crime thrillers set in an atmospheric part of Norfolk. Perfect for fans of LJ Ross, Mel Sherratt, Colin Dexter, or Ruth Rendell.

What readers are saying about ANNE PENKETH

“Five out of five stars!” Michelle K

“I had a hard job putting this one down as it had me fully engaged and wanting more.” Dawn J

“This book was brilliant from start to finish, it was totally gripping from the first page. I read this book in one sitting, it was so good I didn't want to put it down.” Lynn G

“Great book to read on holiday with a satisfyingly twisting storyline.” CH

“A real page turner.” Barb D

“It had many twists which kept me guessing. I would never have worked out the ending.” Shamiela A

“Riveting read.” Penny B

“Sam Clayton is not your average hard-boiled detective. He has problems of his own as he sets out to find a serial killer.” Meg B

THE TEAM

Detective Inspector Sam Clayton leads the investigation into the North Norfolk murders, joined the police straight from school as a beat bobby in Manchester before rising through the ranks of the CID. He was transferred to Norwich after being promoted to DI following a high-profile case investigated by Lancashire Constabulary.

Detective Sergeant Julie Everett is an intuitive officer who was promoted to detective sergeant from her home town of Ipswich where she had a background in child protection. She is discreet about her personal life among colleagues, particularly about the tragedy which haunts her. She has to deal with a high-pressure job while raising her child who moved with her to Norwich.

ALSO BY ANNE PENKETH
THE DI SAM CLAYTON SERIES 
Book 1: MURDER ON THE MARSH
Book 2: THE BAD SISTER
Book 3: PLAY DEAD

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

Title:   Play Dead

Author:  Anne Penketh
Series:  DI Sam Clayton #3

Genre:   Mystery/Thrillers

Publisher:  Joffe Books

Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   384 Pages

Date of Publication:  September 5, 2019
My Rating:  4 Stars

Not one. Not two. But three victims. And all three are connected to the Norfolk Festival Orchestra. Despite the fact that the murders could be tied together, the method that lead to their untimely deaths was complete different for each one of them. The victims were a musician, a trumpeter and the orchestra's conductor.

Why did these three die? How is the murderer connected to all of the victims to the extent that they all had to die? While the police, namely DI Sam Clayton, begin the investigation, they discover one disturbing fact after another. For starters, there is a former member of the orchestra missing. Will that person turn up dead as well?

Sam indeed has his hands full. His team includes DS Julie Everett, and they soon discover that while they have a bevy of suspects, they have a shortage of clues. With the manners of death being so brutal, motive is difficult to ascertain. Things get way too close to home for Sam. His new girlfriend Melissa is also a member of the orchestra. Will she, too, become a victim?

Play Dead is the third book in the DI Sam Clayton series. The book does do well as a standalone, however, I didn't have the opportunity to read the previous titles. I would much rather have know more about Sam and his team, but I was able to jump right into the story nonetheless.

I found the drama and the intrigue to be equally compelling and I did enjoy the fact that I was left guessing. This really was a great read, and I was able to devour it in one sitting, in part, because I really wanted to know who the killer was. In addition to that, this was a very well-written and engaging story. I look forward to continuing this series as future titles are released.

Many thanks to Joffe Books, NetGalley and Books n All Promotions for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I’m a Lancashire lass but for most of my career, I’ve been a foreign correspondent. I’ve reported from all over the world on some of the most cataclysmic events of our time, including the Egyptian revolution and the collapse of the Berlin wall.

While in London I was diplomatic editor of The Independent, but these days I’m based in Paris and concentrating on fiction writing. The third in a series of crime novels featuring Detective Inspector Sam Clayton, Play Dead, is out now. My first novel, Food Fight, was published in 2015.

I’ve reported from Paris mainly for The Independent and The Guardian, but I also contributed to France24 television and Monocle radio.  As a freelancer, I’ve written for The New Zealand Herald and The National (Abu Dhabi), as well as the LA Times, the New York Times, the Radio Times, the Oldie, Monocle magazine, Quartz, and Spark News.

Between 2009 and 2012, I headed the Washington office of the British American Security Information Council (BASIC), a trans-Atlantic NGO focused on nuclear disarmament.
During my ten-year stint on The Independent I was one of the few journalists to report from Iran, North Korea and Saudi Arabia.

Earlier, I was a staff foreign correspondent with the French news agency, AFP, which posted me to Moscow during the incredible Gorbachev years. I also reported for AFP from France, and New York where I covered the United Nations.

I started my journalistic career in Canada, arriving with two suitcases to seek my fortune in Montreal, from where I reported for British newspapers before getting a job on the Montreal Gazette.

Before that, I was a postgraduate student at University College London whose French department nurtured my lifelong love of French literature and culture.

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Review - The Betrayed Wife

Title:   The Betrayed Wife

Author:  Kevin O'Brien

Genre:   Psychological Thriller

Publisher:  Pinnacle

Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   544

Date of Publication:  July 30, 2019
My Rating:  4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

THE PERFECT FAMILY Sheila O'Rourke has always known her husband isn't perfect. Who is? But things have been better since they moved to Seattle to make a fresh start. So much so that when sixteen-year-old Eden turns up, claiming to be Dylan's child by another woman, Sheila tries to be welcoming. CAN BECOME At first, Sheila feels sympathy for the girl. Eden's mother recently fell to her death in an incident with unsettling parallels to Sheila's past. Still, Eden is a difficult house guest, sowing discord among the family. Sheila has already been on edge for weeks, receiving anonymous texts, noticing odd noises coming from the house next door. And that's just the start. A PERFECT NIGHTMARE Sheila wants to trust Dylan. She wants to feel safe in her own home. But no one can hurt you more easily than the ones closest to you . . . the ones you keep believing until it's too late . . .

Link to purchase the book.

MY THOUGHTS:

Sheila O'Rourke behaves in a really kind manner. Her marriage was a bit rocky, but a recent move to Seattle smoothed things out a bit. However, when a teen girl shows up at her home, claiming to be the daughter of her mother, Sheila is perplexed. Shockingly, the girl's mother has just died from falling off a roof. Knowing she has no one else, Sheila invites the girl, Eden, to live with her husband and their two teen children.

Things begin to go awry rather quickly. Things such as anonymous texts, strange noises next door, and other odd things, make Sheila worry. She is not just worried that this might have something to do with Eden, but she begins to doubt her husband Dylan. Is there something that he is hiding from her?

This psychological thriller by Kevin O'Brien has no shortage of unlikable characters, most notably, Eden and Dylan. As Dylan's true nature is revealed, it is any wonder that Sheila stayed with him over the years. Then there is the weird and obnoxious neighbor that moves in next door. Also, there is Eden's boyfriend. Lastly, there is an unnamed narrator for part of the story. Therefore, there are lots of twists and turns throughout the many pages. I was rather impressed with Sheila's focus. Had it been me, I would have shriveled up and shut out the world.

The Betrayed Wife is the first book I have read by this author. I loved the style, the suspense and the shocking conclusion. This book did WOW me and I look forward to reading more from him in the future.

Many thanks to Pinnacle Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Before his thrillers landed him on the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller lists, Kevin O’Brien was a railroad inspector. The author of 20 internationally-published thrillers, he won the Spotted Owl Award for Best Pacific Northwest Mystery, and is a core member of Seattle 7 Writers. Press & Guide said: “If Alfred Hitchcock were alive today and writing novels, his name would be Kevin O’Brien.” Kevin’s latest nail-biter, THE BETRAYED WIFE, will be in bookstores this summer.

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BLOG TOUR - The Daddy Coach

Today we have the release blitz for Karen Muir’s THE DADDY COACH! Check it out and be sure to grab your copy today!

About The Daddy Coach:

Hoping to vindicate her brother, botanist Gina Dunn poses as a nanny to the man she believes framed him. Even though she grew up in a dysfunctional home, how hard can it be looking after twin four-year-old boys? If she can nurture rare orchids, surely she can handle this.   Instant fatherhood hits contractor Will Sinclair hard when his twin sons he didn't know existed come to live with him. The rebellious boys reject Will as their real dad, forcing him to turn to Gina, his new nanny, for her "expert" help.

Interacting with Will and his boys as a “daddy” coach, Gina starts to crave the family she's always longed to have. But Will's reaction when he learns of her deception isn’t her biggest fear––one of two men she loves is lying…

Get Your Copy:

Entangled | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Apple iBooks | Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS:

Title:   The Daddy Coach

Author:  Karen Muir

Genre:   Contemporary Romance

Publisher:  Entangled Publishing

Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   254

Date of Publication:  September 9, 2019
My Rating:  4 Stars

There is no way Gina Dunn's brother is a thief and she will go to any means necessary to prove it. In so doing, Gina takes on a job as a nanny to Will Sinclair's twin four-year-old sons, Harry and Ian. Will was Gina's brother's boss, and her brother repeatedly told Gina that Will was the actual thief.

Little did Gina realize that working with Harry and Ian would create problems on a bigger level. Gina never expected to fall head over heels in love with the boys. What is more is that it doesn't take Gina very long to see that Will is a good guy, through and through. For starters, Will never even knew he had children. His ex never told him and she has since died and here are the boys..

Will has no idea on how to be a father. So, hiring a nanny to teach him the ropes, Even though he makes his share of mistakes, he is a quick learner, and has a heart of gold. All the while, Will and Gina are drawn to one another. However,  on the one hand, they both strive to keep the boys first and foremost. Furthermore, Gina has own reasons for keeping Will at arms' length - her desire to prove him guilty and to free her brother of the charges.

What an adorable story! If not for the adorable little boys, the romance was just perfect. I love the time that it took to develop. The mystery of the very theft that brought them together was handled quite well. This story touched my heart and makes me look forward to reading more from Karen Muir in the future.

Many thanks to Entangled Publishing, NetGalley and InkSlinger PR for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Enter Karen’s Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

 

About Karen Muir:

A sense of humor was a must when Karen taught elementary grades and Head Start, and she's always loved books and movies that make her laugh. Karen's Fish Out of Water series from Entangled Publishing deals with heroines thrust outside their comfort zones. Their first meetings with their heroes tend to be quirky. An English Lit major at the University of Washington, Karen now reads mostly genre novels. Contemporary and historical romances and mysteries are my favorites. She loves camping--out in the wilds and close to nature--with all the comforts of our motor home. Sitting by a clear mountain stream with a good book to read is her idea of heaven.

Connect with Karen:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Review - Nobody But You

Title:   Nobody But You

Author:  Jill Shalvis
Series:  Cedar Ridge #3

Genre:   Romance

Publisher:  Grand Central Publishing

Format:  Kindle
No. of Pages:   368

Date of Publication:   March 29, 2016
My Rating:  4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

SOMETIMES YOU CAN GO HOME AGAIN…

After an overseas mission goes wrong, Army Special Forces officer Jacob Kincaid knows where he must go to make things right: back home to the tiny town of Cedar Ridge, Colorado. All he needs to scrub away his painful past is fresh mountain air, a lakeside cabin, and quiet solitude. But what he discovers is a gorgeous woman living on a boat at his dock.


Sophie Marren has nowhere else to go. She’s broke, intermittently seasick, and fighting a serious attraction to the brooding, dishy, I’m-too-sexy-for-myself guy who’s now claiming her dock. Something about Jacob’s dark intensity makes her want to tease—and tempt—him beyond measure. Neither one wants to give any ground . . . until they realize the only true home they have is with each other.

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

Sophie Marren has had enough with her ex. She left him, and took his boat. She is exhausted and incredibly seasick when she docks her boat. She is more than annoyed with she is told, more than once, to either get a permit or to move her boat. Jacob Kincaid is the man telling Sophie what to do. It is his dock in the town of Cedar Ridge and her boat does not belong there.

Jacob has just returned home after many years away. He did not leave on good terms. In fact, he and is twin brother Hudson never thought they'd speak again. Jacob is in the Army Special Forces and he has just experienced a difficult mission. Perhaps it is time for him to make matters right with his family.

One person he really must see is is mother. She has dementia and Jacob knows he needs to spend time with her. Also, Jacob has all but lost his once close bond to his twin and he is desperate to get that back. One thing Jacob does not have time for is his bone-deep attraction to this quiet, sexy woman who, for some reason, simply will not move her boat.

Nobody But You is the third book in the Cedar Ridge series by Jill Shalvis. I have fallen in love with the Kincaid family. Each story has been absolutely endearing and I love the conflicts they presented. In the case of Sophie and Jacob, they certainly had their challenges, but it was always clear that they were perfect for each other.

Although this is the first time in years I have read anything by this author, I love the "coming home" feeling that her books produce. She is extremely prolific and has written multiple series. I love keeping her books on my radar.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author JILL SHALVIS writes warm, funny, sexy contemporary romances and women’s fiction. An Amazon, BN & iBooks bestseller, she’s also a two-time RITA winner and has more than 15 million copies of her books sold worldwide.

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