Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Susan's Review of The Bright Spot by Jill Shalvis--Sunrise Cove #5



Review of The Bright Spot by Jill Shalvis

New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis returns to Sunrise Cove with a heartwarming story about the choices we make and the love we let into our lives.

Luna Wright is a lot of things, but sweet and trusting isn’t on the list. However, she’s a sucker for the underdog and a hard-luck story. Adopted at birth, with scant knowledge of her biological family, she’s created her own inner circle, a motley crew which includes her bestie Willow, to help her run the struggling but charming Apple Ridge Farm. 

With a farm-to-table cafĂ© as well as a menagerie of rescued animals (complete with a baby goat who keeps escaping to the pantry to eat the secret stash of decidedly not organic potato chips), it’s the best home she’s ever known. But when the owner Silas, who they secretly call The Grinch, passes away, Luna discovers the farm is now under control of his investment manager, the enigmatic Jameson Hayes….and her. And that Silas had many, many secrets. 

Now Luna’s carefully controlled corner of the world is threatened and she—along with some help from her friends—has to dig deep to find true strength and the real meaning of love and family.



I thoroughly enjoyed The Bright Spot by Jill Shalvis. The novel is filled with quirky characters, a barn full of rescue animals, family secrets and the perfect slow burn romance!

The meet cute between Luna Wright and Suit aka Jameson Hayes wowed me—great banter mixed with lots of humor! Suit charmed Luna and their chemistry sizzled as they shared Hawaiian margaritas and sliders at the local bar.

Luna is surprised to discover that investment manager Jameson has been hired by Silas, the farm’s late owner, to work with her in an effort to get Apple Ridge Farm solvent. Luna is shocked to discover that Silas had many secrets—both personal and financial—and these secrets affected the farm and herself.

Although she might not be a numbers person, Luna understands how the farm runs, her community and her family members who are dedicated to preserving the farm. Jameson ditches his expensive suits for jeans and flannels and sets up an office—to work through piles of paperwork scattered all over Luna’s office. I loved that he understood that Apple Ridge was a working farm but, most importantly it was Luna’s home and the home to her family, friends and the rescue animals.

Luna and Jameson have issues to resolve. Jill Shalvis writes this piece of the couple’s journey with compassion, humor and adds the perfect amount of romance. I adored the romance between the couple, their conversations and late night meals. Loved that Jameson became a part of the Apple Ridge community and that Luna’s family of friends embraced him.

The Bright Spot is filled with fabulous secondary characters; Willow &Shayne, Stella, Chef, Milo and Ziggy the scene stealing goat AND had a entertaining secondary romance!

The Bright Spot is has all of the story elements that I adore: complex family relationships, fabulous secondary characters and a swoon worthy, feel good romance. Fans of Kristan Higgins, Robyn Carr and RaeAnne Thayne will adore this fantastic novel!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman





Multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is … mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning heartwarming and full of humor novels wherever books are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures. Her newest Sunrise Cove novel, THE BRIGHT SPOT, is out now, and THE SUMMER ESCAPE comes out in June!

Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning novels wherever books are sold. Visit http://www.jillshalvis.com for a complete book list and fun blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

Connect with Jill:


Sunday, October 29, 2023

Review of Deb Marlowe's A Killer in the Crystal Palace

 



A grand showcase for technology, art, design and . . . murder.

Welcome to book one in the thrilling new series titled The Kier and Levett Mystery series by USA Today Bestselling Author Deb Marlowe.

London, 1851, and the Great Exhibition is on. A soaring success despite months of dour predictions, it is the event of the year, on front pages and wagging tongues the world over—and Miss Kara Levett is thrilled to be in the middle of it. The daughter of a baron and an exhibitor herself, she happily demonstrates her elaborate automatons and case clocks to the crowds.

But her situation grows perilous when a man is murdered in the Crystal Palace and she becomes the prime suspect. With the unexpected aid of Mr. Niall Kier, a reserved Scottish blacksmith, artist and fellow exhibitioner with secrets of his own, Kara begins the work the Metropolitan Police show no inclination for—finding the true killer.

Together, Niall and Kara dig up international espionage schemes and sordid family secrets, and chase clues from Victorian high society to the London slums, all while trying to stay ahead of the villains who seek to make her the next victim.

Available Now!
The Kier and Levett Mystery series
Book 1 – A Killer in the Crystal Palace
Book 2 – Death from the Druid’s Grove
Book 3 – Murder on the Mirrored Lake





Deb Marlowe has always been one of my favorite authors and to say that I was thrilled that she was writing a historical mystery is an understatement. A Killer in the Crystal Palace. This is another book that I grabbed both the ebook and the audiobook. The audiobook is by narrated by Henrietta Meire who does a fantastic job.



A Killer in the Crystal Palace begins with a brutal murder during The Great Exhibition of 1851 where Miss Kara Levett is displaying her automaton works including a mechanical man. She soon finds herself implicated and embroiled in the murder as part of her display was used to commit the crime. She finds a staunch supporter in Mr. Niall Kier. Niall is also an exhibitor at the Great Exhibition displaying his intricate metal works. He met Kara briefly when they were both trying to become exhibitors at the prestigious and male dominated exhibition..

The story is clever and very entertaining. The chemistry between Kara and Niall is natural and draws you into the mysteries of both their pasts. This is a slow burn romance behind the mystery and the attraction between the characters is very believable. Niall is exactly the kind of hero that you want to show up when you are in trouble. He has many connections throughout the city and beyond. Kara is clever and has connections of her own, so she is not waiting around to be saved in the situation.  

Atmospheric, entertaining and clever A Killer in the Crystal Palace is a must read for Deb Marlowe fans and fans of historical mysteries as well. 

A Killer in the Crystal Palace a five star read and listen and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.  

Reviewed by Gayle

Reasons I enjoyed the book. 

#Witty # Entertaining # Action-packed #Wonderful characters  #Page-turner #Informatiove #Historical mystery





The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park for Grand International Exhibition of 1851
The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park for Grand International Exhibition of 1851

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Review of The Footman and I

How did I wait so long to read The Footman and I

Audiobook version

She thinks he’s a footman. He’s really an earl. Hijinks ensue.

Let the games begin . . .

Every fortune-hunting female in London is after the newly titled Earl of Kendall, but he’s intent on finding a wife whose heart is true. So, while drunkenly jesting with his friends in a pub one night, he has an idea—what if the ladies of the ton didn’t know he was a wealthy earl? All he has to do is pose as a servant at his friend’s summer country house party and make sure the guest list is full of beautiful, eligible debutantes. What could possibly go wrong?

May the best footman win.

Miss Frances Wharton is far more interested in fighting for the rights of the poor than in marriage, but her mother insists she attend a summer house party—and find herself a husband. Frances would rather wed a goat than the pompous man her mother has in mind, so in order to dissuade the would-be suitor, she vows to behave like a shrew. The only person she can be herself with is the kind, handsome footman she runs into at every turn. Their connection is undeniable, and the divide between them is no match for the passion they feel. But what will happen when Frances learns that the footman she adores is actually the earl she despises? In a game where everything is false, can they convince each other that their love is true?



How did I wait so long to read The Footman and I? The Footman and I is a charming story and first in the Footman's Club series by Valerie Bowman. The year is is 1814 and four gentleman are drinking in the Curious Goat Inn. Their lives are about to change based on a bet, some intrigue and the most interesting house party of their lives.
 
I really enjoyed this romance between Miss Frances Wharton and Lucas, the Earl of Kendall. The characters were believable, and the dialogue was entertaining. The situations the hero and heroine has humor and heart. The side characters and especially the Earl's friends, Worth, Bell and Clayton, are great characters and I'm really looking forward to reading their books. 

Without giving away too much, you will enjoy this book if you like secret identities, secret rendezvous and a house party romances. I really liked the peek into the politics and the social rules of the time. I listened to the audiobook, but I picked up the ebook version as well because The Footman and I is a feel-good romance that I plan on reading over and over again.
 
Reviewed by Gayle

Reasons I enjoyed this book:
#Happily Ever After #Witty #Wonderful characters #Romantic #Entertaining #Feel Good Romance