Crazy In Love

Synopsis

Love on the rocks, with a twist.

Flynn Daly’s a screwup. She knows it, but worse, her property tycoon dad knows it, and that’s why he sends her off to Scheintown, NY—aka, the dead center of nowhere—to manage the beautiful countryside inn the family has just inherited while he figures out what to do with it. Being a part of the family business would be bad enough, but Flynn has to deal with an insecure staff, a sexy bartender with his own agenda, and regular ghostly visits from her nutty—and very dead—Great Aunt Esther.

Crazy is as crazy loves.

Can Flynn finally get it together and do something right? Can she uncover the mysteries that lurk behind the outward charm of the Goodhouse Arms? Or are the ghostly visits, and her undeniable attraction to the one man she should not be falling for, a sign that her life is spiraling out of control forever?

Don't miss this wry and heartwarming romantic comedy from master storyteller Lani Diane Rich.

Rainwater Kisses

Rainwater Kisses

The older sister of Emma LaRue wasn't looking for love. In fact, the last thing Kaylee LaRue thought as she attended her sister's Caribbean wedding was that she would meet a man as confident as Owen Parker. The suave businessman oozed charm, and when that charm was directed at Kaylee, it gave her pause. She couldn't be sure if the man was actually interested in her or just interested in a good time.

In reality, Owen Parker had never met anyone like Kaylee LaRue. The quiet girl from Iowa made him forget to breathe the first time he saw her. When he tried to work his magic, her wit proved to be a match for his, and his charms had no effect. He knew what it looked like- she probably thought that he wanted to have a vacation tryst with her just as Jack Saunders had with Emma. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Kaylee tried hard not to yield to his advances, but their last night in the Caribbean was simply magical. After a passionate night spent in the arms of Owen, Kaylee ruefully observed that there was no fake wedding to keep the two of them together. As she flew home, she thought it'd be back to the same old life for her. She never expected Owen to show up at her door.

However, this small town girl wasn't sure she was ready to change for this city boy. When Kaylee tried to fit into Owen's world, everything came crashing down. In the blink of an eye, what seemed like a strong foundation suddenly found itself built on a pillar of sand. Would their relationship blossom like Jack and Emma's, or would the two of them forever be haunted by the memories of rainwater kisses?

Purchase

Review: Olive Branches Don't Grow on Tress

Review 

The story of a 23 year old woman’s journey to bring peace to her feuding family, filled with humor, insight and lovable characters.


Review
Poignant, sweet and addictive, Olive Branches Don't Grow on Tress is well written book about the dynamics of an Italian family. Olive Branches Don't Grow on Tress is a about a family ripped apart by alcoholism. It based around Silvia who tries to bring the family together.  She is a great character, fresh out of university and in need of reassurance from the world. She is like most graduates unsure of how her life got so boring and inconsistent with her dreams. I found her story and her worries true and realistic.Grace Mattioli is a fantastic story teller, she captures the somber mood creating a sense of sadness that carries through the entire book.

She deals with alcoholism without being too dramatic. Her realistic view of alcoholism works in that she doesn't build a caricature of an alcoholic with the said alcoholic falling in a ditch somewhere unaware of his surroundings. She shows the true nature of alcoholism, Frank, Silvia's father is an alcoholic who can function in society.

This book is credit to the author. It shows that she can handle delicate matters without

There are other themes for example the author compares the hopes and dreams of the young against the tired old sums of the old. Silvia is dreaming of moving to another city, she contemplates this and like most graduates she has it in her mind that this place will provide her with more opportunities.  I found this need to escape realistic and truthful.  This book makes you realize two things: Grace Mattioli can write and 2) families are extremely chaotic institutions.

This is a great read. Grace Mattioli understand families. I would recommend this book wholeheartedly.

Must Read: Moody Not Broody

Emma is a newly-wed looking forward to some blissful years with her new husband, but everyone else expects her to have children. They think that because she is a teacher, she MUST want children. However, Emma has never wanted children and has to convince her husband, her family and her friends that she's not cut out for motherhood. 

Emma would much rather pursue her career in teaching and work with children with Special Educational Needs, but then her plans are thwarted and she has to make a choice which will affect her and her husband, Mike, forever.

This 'gripping, funny and light-hearted book' is a must read for every woman because, at some point, every woman has struggled to get their voice heard.

Purchase

Kate Perry: Laurel Heights Novels

All For You

Anna Godwin likes it spicy. 

At least she used to. Somewhere between law school and real life, she lost her sparkle. Now she wears boring business suits to boring dates in her boring life. 

The last time Anna remembers feeling that sizzle was with the one man who's all cayenne and passion: Max Corazao, the one who got away. 

Except Max still sees Anna as a woman full of spice. And Anna intends to do whatever she can to be that woman again—with his (unknowing) help...

Mad About You

Julie Miller wants one thing, and she wants it now: a trophy.

Not just any trophy: the First Prize Trophy for the San Francisco Flower Competition. She may not have the classical training of her nemesis, who's won the last five titles, but this is her year and she's taking no prisoners. Only when a sexy man walks right up to her and kisses the breath out of her, Julie wonders if there's a spark inside for more than just rose petals.

The men in Scott Wright's family always know their true love by her kiss... and Scott's kissed a lot of women. Most only want him for his money and status—until Julie. Only she's so focused on winning her trophy that he's afraid she's going to miss the true prize: love.

Sweet On You

Sugar and spice and everything…naughty?

Pastry-chef-to-the-stars Daniela Rossi wants one thing: the abandoned building South of Market. Turning it into a soup kitchen for the homeless is the only thing that's excited her in months. And Daniella needs to feel again. Until she finds herself feeling too much - for the man who's competition for the property.

Ruthless entrepreneur Nico Cruz wants one thing: the abandoned SOMA building he grew up in, where his brother was killed. Destroying it is the only thing that will set his brother's soul at peace. And Nico always gets what he wants. But Daniela's sweet temptation makes him question what it will take to soothe his own soul.

Fortunately, in this bidding war, all's fair...

Purchase

Quick Review: Shoe Strings

Synopsis

After being hounded by her estranged father just as her boutique shoe business is taking off, Atlanta’s Angelita Barros heads for the mountains of North Carolina where she couldn’t be a bigger fish out of water. The cabin she rents is perfect, but one look at the owner’s son and Angelita’s in lust big time. She finds resisting the charming Jesse Bloodworth as difficult as maneuvering small town life in her custom made stilettos. 

Jesse has spent years rebuilding his relationship with his teenaged son and ex-wife after running out on them eleven years ago. But his dad’s not so quick to forgive and forget. The water under the bridge becomes mighty choppy when beautiful Angelita walks into their lives. 

Jesse’s ex, Kerri Ann, is a far cry from where she thought she’d be in life. Even before she got pregnant with Ty, things between her and Jesse had faltered, and there was only one person to blame: Bryce Jenson. Kerri Ann never expected her long-ago crush to settle back into Sequoyah Falls to practice law. Hell, no one did.

Bryce had his reasons for returning home and Kerri Ann was at the very top. They seem destined to remain just friends, until Angelita comes to town and stirs everything up.

As Angelita and Jesse embark on a relationship, her father’s demands become threats and she’s forced back to Atlanta. Jesse’s attempt to save her uncovers more of her past than he bargained for. Will Angelita’s prince charming come to her rescue or does Jesse’s love come with Shoe Strings attached?

Purchase

Review 

Angelita is shoe designer in a strange city. She is beautiful and successful. I read this book because I'm a big fan of Christy Hayes and this is a great read. This is a romantic easy read. It's funny, charming and can be consumed in one sitting.

Guilty Pleasures and a little more.

I was asked to review Fifty Shades of Grey by a friend of mine and at first I refused because there's no much to review. That was a year a go when the book was at its peak where reviews were flying around like headless horsemen in a gruesome battles. But I refused because there really isn't much to review. Every single person by now knows of Christian Grey, the charismatic billionaire with domineering tendencies. This is a highly addictive book about sex.

E.L James is not the worst author I've had the discomfort of reading but she isn't the best. Fifty Shades is often repetitive and busting to the seems with unnecessary nudity and sex.  I was put off by this, E.L James doesn't develop the love between Grey and Steel. Steel is a character feminists would burn on the cross or pelt with pebbles. Overall it was over exposed erotica that didn't live up to expectation. 

However having said all this, Fifty Shades had an influence on our perceptions of Erotica as a genre.I may not be the biggest fan of Fifty Shades but even I can appreciate that it is a genre that needs to be given more credit. When done right, sex can be an instrumental part of any book. It's a symbol of love and all that malarkey hence why we decided to dedicate a whole page on celebrating those wonderful books filled a little naughtiness. Enjoy (Guilty Pleasures) 

Must Read: The Humans

It's hardest to belong when you're closest to home . . .

One wet Friday evening, Professor Andrew Martin of Cambridge University solves the world's greatest mathematical riddle. Then he disappears.

When he is found walking naked along the motorway, Professor Martin seems different. Besides the lack of clothes, he now finds normal life pointless. His loving wife and teenage son seem repulsive to him. In fact, he hates everyone on the planet. Everyone, that is, except Newton. And he's a dog.

Can a bit of Debussy and Emily Dickinson keep him from murder? Can the species which invented cheap white wine and peanut butter sandwiches be all that bad? And what is the warm feeling he gets when he looks into his wife's eyes? Purchase

Kind of a Skipper

Have you ever a read a book that just doesn't get better? Do you give up and pick up another or do you keep going because there's no such thing as giving up on a book? Recently I've been trying and failing to read this one book that is well written and has some of the elements that should make a great read however I can't seem to get past the page 23. This book isn't getting any better, it is well written but lacks emotion and understanding.

Admittedly I'm a skipper, if a book is so awful, I skip chapters and hope for the best. This rarely happens but when it does, I doubt my love of books.So I'm not sure what to do, do I keep reading and hopefully the book might pick up or do I give because frankly life's too short. This isn't the first time I've been defeated by a book,  these are the top three books that I've read and wished I hadn't.

Firstly To The Lighthouse because at 13 years I struggled with the language and Virginia Woolf's style of writing. Second on my list is Fifty Shades of Grey because once I finished the series I felt like I had lost a couple of brain cells. And finally Moby Dick because "call me Ishmael" is the best part of this book.

Better Together

Synopsis

Jess is nearly 40 when she meets Dan Harris at a party. She is single, sorted, happy – with a great job and a buzzy social and sex-life. All of this is threatened when she falls deeply in love with Dan, who is only 23. 

Jess, being older, recognises this as the real, precious thing – but in his immaturity, Dan does not. Unable to cope with the stigma of being with an older woman, he eventually leaves her.  Ten years pass…

Jess, who is still gorgeous at 50, is married now, with a child of her own.They meet again. The years fall away.
This time, Dan understands – but is it too late?

Purchase

Indulgence: HIM

Sarah Miller hasn’t been home in seven years. She thought she could stay away forever. If it wasn’t for her big brother's wedding, that is. Part of her even feels silly for staying away this long. It's not like anyone even knew what happened. Well, except for him.

That guy. The one she compared all others to. The one who set the bar so high no other guy after him could even compete. The one who made her feel like anything was possible. The one she thought she would never be good enough for. The one she spent the last seven years trying to forget.
All she needs to do is make it through the next week without running into him.

Purchase

Perfect Summer Read: Summer Loving

Saskia Lucas is on yet another luxury summer holiday in an exotic location. This time it’s in the Algarve, in the south of Portugal.  She’s with Franklin, the man that she likes to refer to as her ‘provider’. Or as some might say, her Sugar Daddy. 

A wealthy businessman, and close on forty years older than her, Franklin and Saskia have little in common. Apart from a taste for the finer things in life.

Two years into the relationship, Saskia has expensive clothes, the latest handbags, lots of shoes, perfect blonde hair... and new boobs. 

Everything she ever wanted. Except for love. Unknown to Franklin, Saskia is still nursing a broken heart from a relationship she had when she was only nineteen with a surfer named Kirstan. 

And when Franklin abandons Saskia for a couple of days to play golf she decides to book some surfing lessons. But she is in for a shock.  One that will change her life forever. Will Saskia get her happily ever after and realise there may be more to life than money and shoes?  Or is loving sometimes just for the summer?

Purchase

Today's Kindle Freebies

Geoducks Are For Lovers

Food writer Maggie Marrion is just getting back on her feet after  a horrible year, or two, or three. With their twentieth reunion approaching, she invites four of her closest friends from college for a weekend at her beach cabin on Whidbey Island. What she doesn't expect is her best friends, artist Quinn Dayton and part-time erotica novelist, Selah Elmore, to play matchmaker. The two plot a surprise that will make the weekend, and her life, a lot more interesting.

Gil Morrow, former grunge musician turned history professor, joins them as Selah's date for the weekend. After coming face to face with the one who got away, he decides he's waited long enough to get the girl. With the support of old friends, a few wishing rocks, the world's largest burrowing clam, and a hot lumberjack thrown into the mix, Gil reminds Maggie that forty-something isn't too old for second chances.

Can we learn to love the life we have and let go of who we expected to be? What happens when the generation from The Breakfast Club and Reality Bites meets The Big Chill? Come spend a weekend with these Generation X-ers as they share laughter, tears, life's ups and downs, old stories, and new beginnings.

Purchase

For Nick

What would you do for love?

Zachary Drake had love in his life—and tragically lost it. He knows it won’t come his way again. Andie Parker would do anything for the love of her life.

Even marry a total stranger.

In spite of the unorthodox manner in which Zach and Andie come together, there is no denying that things are unexpectedly good between them, taking them both by surprise.

However, when secrets come between them—and trust does not—Andie soon finds herself vowing to never make the same mistake again. But, she’d do it again in a heartbeat and she knows it. She’d marry a hundred strangers if it helped Nick. She’d do anything for Nick . . . anything.

Purchase