Take Me Back by Meghan March - Audio version

Take Me Back

by Meghan March

Audio Edition

☆☆☆☆☆



When a married couple finds themselves

drifting apart....

The love was so strong at the beginning,

they were so sure of it.

Over time, it was easier for her to

hide behind emotional walls.

Easier than clinging to her husband.

Her husband found it easier to let her.

Just let her hide her heart.

 

Can they recover their strong and

passionate love? Who is willing to

take the leap and try?

 Take Me Back is a romantic and

powerful audio romance story.

With some wonderful narration!

Zachary Webber and Andi Arndt.

Check them out.

 

Review by Lisa Hutson

 

 

Susan's Review of Sparks Fly in Good Hope by Cindy Kirk

Greer Chapin doesn’t do crazy things in the name of love. Yet when no one steps up to run for mayor of Good Hope, love for her hometown takes over. That smart, sensible Greer would make an excellent mayor is a given—as is the fact that she’ll win, because she’s running unopposed. Or so she thought. When another candidate throws his hat in the ring at the eleventh hour, Greer’s world is turned upside down.

Wyatt McConnell can’t believe how much his life has changed. Two months ago he was working long hours as a city manager in Chicago. Then he learned that a grandfather he never knew had died and named him as his sole heir. Faster than you can say ‘neighbors helping neighbors’ Wyatt moves to Good Hope and finds the home he’s always dreamed of. He might even have found the woman of his dreams too—if he can convince Greer not to hate him for running against her.

Falling for their opponent might be irrational, but Greer and Wyatt can’t resist each other. As election night nears, the reality of their situation is impossible to ignore: While there can only be one winner, both candidates are in danger of losing their hearts.

Greer Chapin and Wyatt McConnell are featured in Sparks Fly in Good Hope. I loved the pairing of introvert Greer with the self-assured new comer Wyatt in this novel. Sparks fly between this couple-and their attraction sizzles off the pages. Greer decides to run for mayor and her comfortable world is turned upside down when Wyatt runs against her!

Greer is known for her careful, sensible approach to situations. She runs the family’s bank and is a member of the Good Hope Giving Tree; a local community group dedicated to helping others. A visit from Marigold Rallis tests Greer’s problem solving abilities and her banking policies. Marigold has asked Greer to give her a $20,000 personal loan to cover the costs of IVF. Greer wants to help Marigold but, her first priority is what’s best for the bank. I loved that Greer thought out of the box and provided a solution to Marigold. This decision made me realize that Greer was becoming more confident in her decision making—she was making choices she felt comfortable with for her friends and community.

Wyatt McConnell arrived in Good hope to settle his grandfather’s estate. A former city planner in Chicago—he is not sure if living in a small community is right for him. He doesn’t have any ties to Good Hope or to his grandfather’s cherry orchards. He needs to decide if he should sell the business and cherry orchards. Wyatt speaks with his sister Trinity and she challenges him to get involved in the community and consider keeping the family run business. This conversation changed Wyatt’s thinking about Good Hope; he wanted to belong and he wanted to pursue Greer.

Loved that matchmakers Gladys, Ruby, Katherine and Oaklee decided that Greer and Wyatt were their next project! I just love how they bring couples together; the matchmakers play an important role in the novel—they arrange for Greer and Wyatt to spend time together with Greer’s family. Gladys and Oaklee’s conversations and antics make me laugh out loud and I look forward to reading about them.

Loved that the author wove the themes of Wyatt wanting to belong-to a family and a community-and Greer’s desire to help people in the community throughout the novel. I adored this opposites attract novel because Greer and Wyatt complement each other and bring out the best in each other.

Sparks Fly in Good Hope showcases community spirit-neighbors helping neighbors. The novel has all the feels- Gladys and Oaklee's antics provide humor; Ami, Jackie and Corey’s stories are relatable and Greer and Wyatt’s love story is passionate and very romantic. The epilogue is fabulous-it provides the election results and a surprsie or two! I enjoyed spending an afternoon in Good Hope & I know you will, too!

And…I am hoping Trinity and Ryder’s story is next!

Reviwed by Susan Gorman

ARC provided by the author

Susan's Review of Meet Me In Monaco -Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb

Set in the 1950s against the backdrop of Grace Kelly’s whirlwind romance and glamourous wedding to Prince Rainier of Monaco, New York Times bestselling author Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb take the reader on an evocative sun-drenched journey along the Côte d’Azur in this page-turning novel of passion, fate, and second-chances. 

Movie stars and paparazzi flock to Cannes for the glamorous film festival, but Grace Kelly, the biggest star of all, wants only to escape from the flash-bulbs. When struggling perfumer Sophie Duval shelters Miss Kelly in her boutique, fending off a persistent British press photographer, James Henderson, a bond is forged between the two women and sets in motion a chain of events that stretches across thirty years of friendship, love, and tragedy.

James Henderson cannot forget his brief encounter with Sophie Duval. Despite his guilt at being away from his daughter, he takes an assignment to cover the wedding of the century, sailing with Grace Kelly’s wedding party on the SS Constitution from New York. In Monaco, as wedding fever soars and passions and tempers escalate, James and Sophie—like Princess Grace—must ultimately decide what they are prepared to give up for love.

The 1955 Cannes Film festival provides the glamorous setting for Meet Me in Monaco. The fast paced courtship between movie star Grace Kelly and Prince Rainer and the slow burn attraction between photographer James Henderson and perfumer Sophie Duval captivated me and drew me into the story immediately.

Actress Grace Kelly is being chased by photographer James Henderson. Hoping to avoid him, she stops in Sophie’s store where she is offered refuge. James enters the store and asks about Grace—Sophie is amused by his poor French and is furious when he snaps a photo of her. Loved that Sophie’s kindness towards Grace was the beginning of their friendship.

Sophie is torn between honoring her father’s memory and competing with the other haute perfume houses. She feels pressure from her boyfriend and mother to sell their acreage. I loved that Sophie believed that she could create a special fragrance –one that would put her shop on solid ground. I enjoyed reading Sophie’s transformation from a dreamer-caught up in safe memories-to a confident, creative business woman.

James won me over when he gave Grace Sophie’s business card. I adored this charming man who loved his daughter and friends. James was the polar opposite of Lucien; Sophie’s smooth talking boyfriend. He truly adored his daughter and she was never far from his thoughts when he was on assignment. Loved, loved that he thought about his kiss with Sophie for months. Jim’s telegram asking Sophie to Meet Me in Monaco took the storyline to a new level. James decided to follow his heart’s desire and his choice endeared him to me.

Meet Me in Monaco provides the reader with a peek into the glamourous lifestyle of actress Grace Kelly. The friendship between Sophie and Grace anchors the storyline while Jim and Sophie’s romance kept me reading, I was invested in Sophie and Jim’s story and enjoyed reading each word of their journey.

In the 1950’s, people communicated by letters, not texts; travelled by train, not airplanes and movie stars evoked glamour, not scandal. Meet Me in Monaco provides the reader with a glimpse into the past—where things were simple. People wrote letters to express their feelings—they took a chance on love---the letters told their journeys.

I adored this novel by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb—it’s the perfect blend of history, filled with passion and a fairy tale romance. The descriptive writing allows the reader to smell the fragrances in Sophie’s shop, take in the breathtaking sights on the Cote d’Azur and witness the wedding of the century. Meet Me in Monaco has all the feels—it’s a touching story of friendship and love set during a magical time.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher and am voluntarily reviewing it.

Reviewed by Susan Gorman
Photos from Getty Images
Video from Hazel Gaynor's facebook page
Grace Kelly quote--from Meet Me in Monaco