Sunday 23 May 2021

Book of Love (Sweetness and Light #2) by Erin Satie (2021)

 



She’s trying to make ends meet. He’s out for a bit of fun.

Cordelia is busy, focused, worried about the future of her fledgling bookbinding business. When a handsome man stops her on the street to pester her with questions, she gives him the consideration he deserves: none.

That handsome man happens to be the Duke of Stroud, and he finds Cordelia’s hostility hilarious. He gives chase, if only for the pleasure of provoking her again.

He thinks life is a game. She doesn’t play around.

Within days of meeting Cordelia, Stroud sets a marching band on a matchmaking mama, defaces a local monument, and ropes Cordelia into a round of his favorite game.

In that same time, Cordelia stitches together the complete works of Mary Wollstonecraft, enthusiastically devotes herself to a petition demanding expanded legal rights for married women, and beats Stroud at his own game.

She defies all expectations. So does he.

Most people dismiss Stroud as a fool—himself included. When Cordelia sees past his lighthearted facade, he’s terrified and also... in love?

Stroud barges into Cordelia’s life, offering her all the material and sensual temptations she’s learned to do without. She usually has willpower to spare, but turning him down takes all of it, and then some. He’s oddly irresistible.

Or maybe they’re perfect for one another.


I smiled and laughed quite a lot while reading this. Stroud is such a charming and fun character. The author did a brilliant job of mixing romance and humour with the more serious theme of the fight for social reforms for women that were being debated at the time. It was so interesting to read about this.
I wasn't aware that this book was part of a series but, it's easily enjoyed as a standalone.

Book of Love is out now.

Tuesday 18 May 2021

Finding It All by Stacey Komosinski

 


Finding It All - a contemporary romance is now live with Amazon and Wide Retailers!
Visit this link to pick up your copy today. Paperback or eBook.

Welcome to the Finding Happiness in Harmony series’ first journey celebrating the bonds of friendship, love, and life. This feel-good story of first love and best friends will have you believing you too can find it all. Will they both find the courage to let each other in and experience the joys and pains of love, life, and happiness to find it all?

Tuesday 4 May 2021

Shooting Star by Teresa Greco (2021)

 



This is the ‘tale’ of the famous model, Drake Sullivan.
The story of a star that shines on the outside while burning on the inside.


Hair stylist Vivienne Foster seems destined for success. In a family of professionals where failure is not an option, she is determined to follow her own dreams. Ambitious and talented, yet desperately shy, she relies on a support system of colleagues and friends, who surround her with love and affection.
With a salon in the heart of Manhattan and a career in high fashion, the only thing missing from her life is the classic Fairy Tale love story.
Until Drake Sullivan, the bad boy of the New York fashion scene, strides into her life, turning it upside down.
He has made a career out of behaving badly and is no one’s idea of a Prince Charming.
Will Vivienne be able to tame Drake’s wild ways?
Will Drake be able convince her family and friends that he has her best interests at heart?
As they face family drama and personal tragedy together, the big question, however, is will Vivienne’s love be enough to quench Drake’s thirst for revenge?


Drake and Vivienne are hot together and their romance is fraught with tension, secrets, and family drama.
In the beginning, I didn't see what the big attraction was for Vivienne to Drake. Beyond his good looks he wasn't a very nice person; arrogant, an alcoholic and rude. Slowly we see his character evolve and I found myself sympathising with him the more he revealed about his traumatic past. 
The first three-quarters of the book is told from Vivienne's perspective. I felt that it dragged here as the story moved quite slowly. However, it quickly gathered pace once it came to Drake's chapters. The final quarter of the book was very exciting, tense, and dark. I couldn't put it down!
It left me with a few questions wondering what's going to happen in part two. Is Richard really dead or will he come back to exact his own revenge? Will things work out happily for Drake and Vivienne?
I will have to keep an eye out for book 2 to find out...