Tuesday, December 13, 2022

BLOG TOUR - In It to Win It

Title:   In It to Win It
Author:  Sharon C. Cooper
Publisher:  Berkley Books
Genre:   Romance
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:  336
Date of Publication:   December 13, 2022
My Rating: 5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

Two entrepreneurs compete for a property, but secure the biggest win of all—each other—in this second chance romantic comedy by USA Today bestselling author Sharon C. Cooper.

Spoiled, fickle, and flighty are only a few adjectives that have been used to describe Morgan Redford. She’s never had to worry about money, but she’s determined to build a career on her own and do something meaningful with her life—by helping children who are aging out of the foster care system. She has her eyes on a property that a family friend is selling, which is perfect for these young adults to live in, but her competition is someone she never expected…

When Los Angeles real estate developer Drake Faulkner learns that his eccentric mentor is selling property that is perfect for his portfolio, he jumps at the chance to buy it. But he soon learns the billionaire has other ideas: buyers must compete in an Iron Man competition of sorts for the property. Drake refuses to play along with this ridiculous demand…until he finds out Morgan, his ex who left him years ago without a word, is one of the potential buyers. No way is he letting her—Little Miss Self-Absorbed—win the property he wants. Bitter? Yes. Petty? Probably. But as the gauntlet of games heats up and forces them to face the past, they are met with a pull that feels all too familiar.

Now, if they could only keep their eyes on the prize and off each other—but who’s to say they can’t do both?


MY THOUGHTS:
 
Morgan Redford and Drake Faulkner are vying for the same property. They are not the only candidates that are trying to win this property, and they must agree to enter into a competition in order to even qualify. While most of the people that are after the property are complete strangers, that is certainly not the case with Morgan and Drake. In fact they were together in college together and we’re desperately in love. At the time, Drake had recently been left custody to his twin siblings who were toddlers at the time. More than that, Drake could see the full picture with Morgan, marriage, family, and more. That proved to be too much for Morgan and she flew the coop, literally. 

Not only did Morgan leave Drake, she left college, and she left the country. Now it is years later and they are now competitors. Those years seem like a blink of an eye to Morgan and Drake when it comes to the powerful connection they both still share. Now it is business first, feelings second. Can they do that? What about the fact that Morgan didn’t feel that she was mother material while they were in college and Drake will always put the twins first in his life?

The competition to win the property will not be easy. In fact it will be an Iron Man competition, something that is completely out of Morgan’s wheelhouse. While they decide to train together, neither one of them is prepared for the barrage of emotions that pass between them, forcing them to consider their past all while trying to navigate their present and also their future.

What an enjoyable and sensitive story by Sharon C. Cooper. In fact, when starting this book I remembered reading Business Not As Usual last year. Although these books are not part of a series, there is some continuity when it comes to some of the characters. One strong factor in this book, In It to Win It, is that attention is drawn to the plight of many teens who age out of the foster care system with nowhere to go. I love that our character, Morgan, fought for these kids. This second chance romance is definitely a winner. 

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

Please enjoy the following YouTube video review - 




ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Award-winning and USA Today bestselling author, Sharon C. Cooper, loves anything that involves romance with a happily-ever-after, whether in books, movies, or real life. Sharon writes contemporary romance, as well as romantic suspense and enjoys rainy days, carpet picnics, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. She’s been nominated for numerous awards and is the recipient of an Emma Award for Romantic Suspense of the Year 2015 (Truth or Consequences), Emma Award - Interracial Romance of the Year 2015 (All You’ll Ever Need), and BRAB (book club) Award -Breakout Author of the Year 2014. When Sharon is not writing or working, she’s hanging out with her amazing husband, doing volunteer work or reading a good book (a romance of course). To read more about Sharon and her novels, visit www.sharoncooper.net

Connect with Sharon Online:
Join Sharon’s mailing list: http://bit.ly/1Sih6ol
Subscribe to her blog: http://sharonccooper.wordpress.com/

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Monday, December 12, 2022

BLOG TOUR - The Spice Master at Bistro Exotique

Title:   The Spice Master at Bistro Exotique 
Author:  Samantha Vérant
Publisher:  Berkley Books
Genre:   Romance
Format:  Kindle ARC 
No. of Pages:   352
Date of Publication:   December 6, 2022
My Rating:   4 Stars 

DESCRIPTION:

A talented chef discovers how spices and scents can transport her--and, more importantly, how self-confidence can unlock the greatest magic of all: love--in this perfectly seasoned new novel by Samantha Vérant.

Kate Jenkins doesn't believe in fate. She believes in a clear vision, meticulous planning, and hard work in order to achieve her culinary dreams. On the cusp of opening her own Parisian restaurant, Bistro Exotique, she isn't even concerned when her standoffish--and annoyingly sexy--neighbor dismisses her as a crazy American tourist or when she meets the wildly eccentric Garrance, the self-proclaimed Spice Master of Paris, who ominously warns her of the previous owner's failures.

Confident and optimistic, Kate keeps calm and cooks on. Until a series of unfortunate events derail her plans and her entire staff quits.

Kate is about to throw in the kitchen towel on her lifelong dream when Garrance offers to use her mastery of scents and spices to help her, but it comes at a price: Kate must work with Garrance's son, Charles, a world-class chef and total jerk. After Kate hesitantly concedes to the deal, she slowly learns to open her heart and mind to new concepts, not quite sure if the magic she's experiencing comes from Garrance's spices, from within herself, or from the growing chemistry with Charles. One thing is certain, though: her kitchen is getting increasingly hot.


MY THOUGHTS:
 
Kate Jenkins is finding herself quite distracted. She is about to open her own Parisian restaurant and she experiences problems from the very beginning. For one thing, running into her new neighbor is frustrating from the start. Then an accident almost ruins her restaurant’s opening. But, there is light at the end of the tunnel. She strikes a deal with fellow business owner and another new neighbor Garrance. Garrance assures Kate that if she uses some of her exotic spices, her restaurant will be a sure success. The deal that Kate agrees to? Working with Garrance‘s son. Before Kate understands the implications of their agreement, she is bombarded with images and sensations that overwhelm her when gets any whiff of the exotic spices Garrance has to offer. 

The other neighbor Kate disliked on site? None other than Garrance‘s son Charles. Kate might feel cornered, but she knows the reputation that Charles has when it comes to his cooking talents. Despite the friction that Kate and Charles have at the beginning, the pair begin to realize how drawn they are to each other. Could what is now happening between her and Charles have anything to do with those exotic spices of Garrance’s?

In this whimsical story by Samantha Vérant, chemistry is everything. Not only does the enemies-to lovers trope work will with this book, I love the humor in the story, especially when all Kate could ever call the gorgeous Charles was “Anti-Keanu”. She might be forced to work with him but she doesn’t have to like him. However, that seems to be completely out of her hands the more time they spend together.

A great setting, great food descriptions, enjoyable characters, including Kate’s delightful mother Cri-Cri, drama and chemistry all work well together to make this book quite a lovely read. 

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

Please enjoy my YouTube video review - 



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Samantha Vérant is a travel addict, a self-professed oenophile, and a determined, if occasionally unconventional, at-home French chef. Over the years, she’s visited many different countries, lived in many places, and worked many jobs— always on the search for the one thing that truly excited her. Then, one day, she found everything she’s been looking for: a passion for the written word and true love. Writing not only enabled her to open her heart, it led her to southwestern France, where she’s now married to a sexy French rocket scientist she met over twenty years ago, a stepmom to two incredible kids, and the adoptive mother to one ridiculously adorable Charteux cat. When she’s not trekking from Provence to the Pyrénées, tasting wine in American-sized glasses, or embracing her inner Julia Child while deliberating what constitutes the perfect boeuf bourguignon, Samantha is making her best effort to relearn those dreaded conjugations.


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BLOG TOUR - The Innocent Wife


DESCRIPTION:

Candles are lit and their rich vanilla scent twists its way through the cabin. The table is set for a romantic anniversary dinner with fresh roses dropping crimson petals on crisp white linen. But the woman seated at the table is cold to the touch, and there’s blood trickling down her neck…

When Denton’s most loved TV presenter returns home to find his wife dead at the dining table, it shatters the close-knit community. Beautiful and absolutely besotted with each other, Beau and Claudia Collins were idolized for being the perfect couple. But the devastating scene Detective Josie Quinn finds in their remote hideaway has her asking what dark secrets lurk beneath the surface of this seemingly flawless marriage?

Beau is grief-stricken by the loss of his kind-hearted wife who gave so much to others as a therapist, but Josie needs to know the significance of the small wooden puzzle box found clutched in Claudia’s hand. A prop in a popular game Beau played with his viewers to test the strength of their relationships, is it a twisted calling card, or a challenge from the killer?

The broken body of one of Beau and Claudia’s assistants is found the next day, a matching little box left in the dirt beside her. It’s clear that if Beau doesn’t start telling the truth about the flaws in his marriage, those dearest to him will die.

Caught in a cat and mouse chase with disturbing revelations and a mounting body count at every turn, Josie and her team work night and day to keep Beau’s loved ones safe. What kind of calculating monster would do this? A faded newspaper article about a tragic accident is the break Josie desperately needs. But she may already be too late, an innocent child is in danger…

An absolutely gripping rollercoaster of a crime thriller from an Amazon, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. Guaranteed to have you sleeping with the lights on and shouting from the rooftops about the twists, it’s perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni and Rachel Caine. 


BUY LINKS:

Title:   The Innocent Wife
Author:  Lisa Regan
Series:   Detective Josie Quinn #16
Publisher:   Bookouture 
Genre:   Mystery & Thrillers
Format:  Kindle ARC 
No. of Pages:   394
Date of Publication:   December 12, 2022
My Rating:   5 Stars

Claudia Collins has been found dead by her husband Beau. For anybody looking in they were the perfect couple, yet Claudia was murdered and the murder was a violent one. More than that, as Detective Josie Quinn and her husband Lieutenant Noah Fraley begin their investigation one of the first things they realize is that Claudia is found holding a small wooden puzzle box in her hand. 

Other murders take place in quick succession and those victims also are holding a similar wooden puzzle box in their hands as well. Will Josie and Noah be able to put these puzzle pieces together in order to solve these murders?

As the husband is always considered a suspect in a case like this, Josie had a lot of questions for Beau. This case is a bit different because Claudia and Beau were marriage counselors as well as television personalities. Could their brand of marital counseling be behind Claudia’s murder? In fact, while Josie is working hard on this investigation, personal trauma from her past tries to force its way through. To further cause Josie stress, hert former fiancé Luke joins the investigation and his presence opens another window into Josie‘s past.

Sixteen books in with this amazing series by Lisa Regan! With revenge being the backdrop for this installment, with more than one viable suspect and lies at every turn, this was an intense read from beginning to end. For a book that simply cannot be put down, look no further. The twists were intriguing and I was pulled in from the very start, and the intensity never let up. Factor in a sharp personal edge, and The Innocent Wife was a compelling read.

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



Please enjoy my YouTube video review - 




ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lisa Regan is the USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Detective Josie Quinn series. Lisa is a member of Sisters In Crime, International Thriller Writers, and Mystery Writers of America. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Master of Education Degree from Bloomsburg University. She lives near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the U.S. with her husband, daughter, and Boston Terrier named Mr. Phillip. Find out more at her website: www.lisaregan.com

 

Author Social Media Links:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Lisa-Regan-189735444395923/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/Lisalregan

WEBSITE: www.lisaregan.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6443334.Lisa_Regan

Bookouture Email Sign Up: https://www.bookouture.com/lisa-regan 


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Sunday, December 11, 2022

BLOG TOUR - Her First Child


DESCRIPTION:

A perfect mother. A loving daughter. A secret that could destroy them both.

New mother Eve is overwhelmed with love for her baby son, Kai. As she swaddles him in a fluffy white blanket, she shudders at a memory of her own childhood. She hasn’t seen her heartless mother Lydia in years, and she hasn’t told a soul about what really happened the night her baby brother died in the squalid little house she grew up in…

When the phone rings in the dead of night, Eve’s heart pounds as she hears the voice at the other end. ‘Hello Mother’, she replies, an ice-cold chill creeping down her spine. She grips her son’s tiny frame close to her trembling chest as she reluctantly agrees to let her mother visit.

But when Eve has to make an emergency call from Kai’s bedroom early one morning, she curses herself for allowing her mother back into her perfect little family.

‘Kai was fine when I checked on him a few hours ago.’ Her mother says, breathlessly as she watches her daughter’s face change from fear to rage.

Why was Lydia in Kai’s bedroom during the night? And as Lydia pleads her innocence, could it be that she’s not the most dangerous mother in this family?

Fans of The Girl on the Train, Gone Girl and The Wife, will absolutely love this gripping and addictive thriller. Her First Child will have you hooked from the very first page!


BUY LINKS:
Amazon: https://geni.us/B0BJVG79H1social
Apple: http://ow.ly/VRSm50LS5vP Kobo: http://ow.ly/AcJv50LS5vR Google: http://ow.ly/efqM50LS5vQ

Audio:
UK: zpr.io/SR78fXqEpaXr
US: zpr.io/PmNhacxXMDpi

Listen to a sample here:
https://soundcloud.com/bookouture/her-first-child-by-sheryl-browne-narrated-by-tamsin-kennard

You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you'll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo


MY THOUGHTS:

Title:   Her First Child
Author:  Sheryl Browne
Publisher:  Bookouture
Genre:   Psychological Thriller
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:  369
Date of Publication:   December 8, 2022
My Rating:   5 Stars 

Sheryl Browne is one of my favorite Bookouture authors. Her First Child is the tenth book I have had the privilege of reading by this talented author. No matter the setting, Sheryl Browne has always delivered. That proved to be just the case with her latest offering. 

In this thrilling read, we see Eve as a mother to baby Kai. Eve cannot forget tragic memories of her past, especially when her mother Lydia insists on coming back into her life. Eve and Lydia’s relationship had never been very good, and was made virtually nonexistent when Eve lost her baby brother Jacob years ago. She can’t help but wonder if her son Kai will suffer the same tragic fate as Jacob with Lydia now back in the picture.

Jacob’s sad little life plays over and over for Eve. Any changes, any irregularities make Eve worry about Kai. This fear increases when Lydia comes for a visit. As this is a psychological thriller, there are different facets to this story. Not only do we have the fear Eve is experiencing, there are also issues involving sickness, mental illness, abuse and more, even Munchausen by proxy. 

Despite Eve’s tragic childhood past, she has become a successful doctor, is in a strong marriage, and is now a happy young mother. There are secrets of the past, and the question is whether or not her past will clash with her present. In fact, this is when Eve becomes what is known some readers as an unreliable narrator. Perhaps she started off as someone that we would be rooting for, but with skill and talent, Sheryl Browne takes readers down a different path. 

What a fabulous read. This is a book that should come with a warning. This book will be impossible to put down. Putting the pieces of this story together, blending the past with the present, then factor in deceit, lies, secrets and sensitive issues, all resulting in a powerful conclusion. Her First Child is a completely satisfying read. 

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

Please enjoy my YouTube video review - 



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Bestselling Author, Sheryl Browne, writes taut, twisty psychological thriller. A member of the Crime Writers’ Association and the Romantic Novelists’ Association, Sheryl has several books published and two short stories in Birmingham City University anthologies where she completed her MA in Creative Writing. Sheryl has also obtained a Certificate of Achievement in Forensic Science and – according to readers – she makes an excellent psychopath. Sheryl’s latest psychological thriller DO I REALLY KNOW YOU? comes to you from BOOKOUTURE. Her previous works include the DI Matthew Adams Crime Thriller series, along with contemporary fiction novels, The Rest of My Life and Learning to Love.

 

To find out more about Sheryl. go to www.sherylbrowne.com

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Sheryl Browne here: https://www.bookouture.com/sheryl-browne

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Saturday, December 10, 2022

BLOG TOUR - Death at Beresford Hall


DESCRIPTION:


Francesca Eve, chef, caterer, and baker extraordinaire, has never desired the limelight. But when she’s accepted onto the country’s favourite cooking competition, she can’t help but wonder – what would it be like to win? The one thing she’d never imagined, though, was sharing the kitchen with a killer…


When Francesca Eve arrives for the Christmas special of the country’s most popular baking competition, she knows she’s out of her depth. For not only is she there undercover, reluctantly investigating strange threats to Miranda Appleby, the famous presenter-come-chef, but she swiftly gets roped into competing herself when another contestant can’t cut the mustard and quits.


Cooking may be bread and butter to Fran, but under the bright lights her cranberry sauce won’t set and her mince pies burn. When the real reason she’s there ends in total failure and Miranda is found with a cake slice through the heart - ‘lights, camera, cook’ becomes ‘lights, camera, murder…’


Miranda may have looked like butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth, but looks can be deceiving… From her harassed PA to the rakish producer and even the disappointed contestants, everyone on set seemingly had reason enough to want to bump her off. But who would be nuts enough to cook Miranda’s goose in such an obvious way?


As the police arrive to take over the investigation, Fran can’t help but continue her own lines of enquiry. She’s come to know the crew and contestants and can’t believe that any one of them would be guilty. But Fran must harden her heart to her new friends and focus her mind.


Someone may have thought Miranda was justifiably given her just desserts, but what Fran uncovers takes things to a whole new tier. Can Fran uncover the truth before another death occurs, and before the spirit of Christmas (cake) is ruined forever?


An utterly gripping cozy crime mystery set at a Christmas cooking competition. This is perfect for fans of Faith Martin, M.C. Beaton and The Thursday Murder Club.


MY THOUGHTS:

Title:   Death at Beresford Hall
Author:  Emma Davies
Series:  Adam and Eve Mystery #4
Publisher:  Bookouture
Genre:   Cozy Mystery
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   292
Date of Publication:   December 7, 2022
My Rating:   4 Stars

Francesca Eve and Adam have worked well together in the past. They met while Fran was catering a luncheon for his mother. Not only does Adam now lend a hand with the various catering jobs Fran accepts, the pair are proving to be more than adept when it comes to solving murders. Being called to her latest job is mainly due to Fran’s reputation. Currently, a popular baking competition is being filmed for the holidays. A famous chef named Miranda Appleby has been receiving dangerous threats and she hopes that Fran can get to the bottom of things. 

Before Fran and Adam can discover what is happening, one of the competitors quits, and Fran is thrust even further into everything going on. She is pressured to being one of the show’s contestants. Them Miranda is found dead, thus leaving credence to the threats she had been receiving. However…the show must go on. With Fran still cooking for the competition, Adam takes more of a role as amateur sleuth in the midst of everything going on around them. As a lover of this series, it was a real treat to watch Adam as he steps up. He was a shy young man who had been living a quiet life of solitude. Now, his tech savvy skills really come into play, as well as his sharp intuition. Fran and Adam make an excellent team, no matter who appears in charge. 

While this story offers a behind-the-scenes look at cooking shows, I certainly hope that it is just pure fiction, as these shows are one of my guilty pleasures. With this book and setting, lies, secrets, backstabbing and betrayal apparently underscore everything happening on and off screen. Then, with Miranda’s murder having taken place, the tension never once lets up. This latest installment in this delightful series by Emma Davies was really an excellent read. 

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

Please enjoy my YouTube video review - 



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

After a varied career, Emma Davies once worked for a design studio where she was asked to provide a fun and humorous (and not necessarily true) anecdote for their website. She wrote the following: 'I am a bestselling novelist currently masquerading as a thirty something mother of three.' Well the job in the design studio didn't work out but she's now a forty something mother of three and is happy to report the rest of her dream came true.

After many years as a finance manager she now writes full time, and is far happier playing with words than numbers. She lives with her husband, three children, and two guinea pigs in rural Shropshire where she writes in all the gaps in between real life. It's a county she adores, her love of its beautiful people and landscapes providing endless inspiration for her books, and in fact the only thing that would make Shropshire more idyllic is if it were by the sea.

Pop over to her website www.emmadaviesauthor.com where, amongst other things, you can read about her passion for Pringles and singing loudly in the car. You can also wave to her on twitter @EmDaviesAuthor or find her on Facebook (a little too often than is good for her).

Social Media
Bookouture Email Sign-up: https://www.bookouture.com/emma-davies

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