Thursday 31 May 2018

Date Like a Woman by Kai Nicole, (Flaimahmy Press 2017)






Publisher's Information
This is the dating book Millennial women have been waiting for. It offers a fresh non-sexist perspective on dating and gives women the strategies they need for dating success. This book will revolutionize dating for women everywhere.



Review

A great no nonsense guide to navigating the dating scene. It isn't a 'how to' get dates it is a guide on what to do once you are dating. It is full of sensible and thought provoking ideas about what to do and not do. Most of these guides are common sense such as don't write a shopping list for men, the perfect man doesn't exist, give the single men around you a chance. Listen. Be open. Let the man ask you out. Don't chase after men. Pay attention to the men who pay attention to you. Be happy in yourself. A miserable single person is still going to be miserable in a relationship. Men don't complete your life. 
Of course there are lots more wise words explained in more detail in the book.

I liked that the author tells me very early on in the book that this is not a guide to finding a husband it is a dating only guide. The book is a very quick read, quite humorous and down to earth. I can imagine sitting down with my girl friends and having them give me the exact same advice. It just makes sense, is very realistic and non-judgemental. The information is presented in a very straight forward manner. The author's main points are in short paragraphs, sometimes in bold writing and crystal clear. There is no clouding the issue with repetitive waffle simply to fill pages and increase the word count.
I found the advice about how to spot the red flags when it comes to men to be very interesting and I could actually see some of these red flags in the men I've dated or refused to date in the past.
There isn't actually anything brand new in the advice given but it is presented in such a way as to reaffirm my own feelings and attitude towards dating.
This is a book I will dip into again and again.

Buy Link Amazon

Thursday 3 May 2018

A Duke Like No Other by Valerie Bowman (2018)




Summary:
First comes love, then comes marriage. Unless it’s the other way around. . .

General Mark Grimaldi has sacrificed everything for his military career, working his way through the ranks without the benefit of a nobleman’s title. Now, his years of dedication are about to pay off—with an offer for a prestigious promotion to Home Secretary. There’s only one condition: Mark must be married. Aside from the small matter of not actually wanting to be wed, Mark faces another troubling problem: he already has a wife.

Nicole Huntington Grimaldi has spent ten contented years in France without her husband—and without regret. When Mark asks her to return to London and play the part of his beloved wife, she sees her chance. But neither of them is prepared for news that will throw Mark’s future into chaos…nor the undeniable desire they’ve rekindled. Maybe happily-ever-after can happen the second time around in A Duke Like No Other, the next Regency romance from Valerie Bowman.



Valerie Bowman’s Playful Brides novels are:

“Wholly satisfying.”—USA Today

“Smart and sensual…readers will be captivated.”—RT Book Reviews

"Smoldering.” —Booklist


Buy Links:


Social Links:
Twitter: @Valeriegbowman
Facebook @ValerieBowmanAuthor



Author Bio:
VALERIE BOWMAN grew up in Illinois with six sisters (she’s number seven) and a huge supply of historical romance novels. After a cold and snowy stint earning a degree in English with a minor in history at Smith College, she moved to Florida the first chance she got. Valerie now lives in Jacksonville with her family including her mini-schnauzer, Huckleberry. When she’s not writing, she keeps busy reading, travelling, or vacillating between watching crazy reality TV and PBS. She is the author of the Secret Brides and Playful Brides series.



REVIEW

My favourite genre- historical mystery romance.
Valerie Bowman delivers every time.
This is number nine in the series but the story feels as fresh and original as the first book.

In A Duke Like No Other we finally get the much anticipated story featuring Mark Grimaldi.
It is a tale of second chance romance between him and his wife Nicole. I thought it very daring that she would want to be involved in solving crime by helping the Bow Street Runners and the War Office. I really liked her but would have liked the couple to have been a bit more open with each other.
My enjoyment of the romance in this story was secondary to my enjoyment of the mystery and suspense. Good writing and a detailed plot ensured my desire to keep reading and find the solution. The murder mystery definitely kept me intrigued right to the end.

A fine ending to a great series.