Review: Bookish and the Beast by Ashley Poston

A tale as old as time is made new in Ashley Poston's fresh, geeky retelling of Beauty and the Beast.

 

Rosie Thorne is feeling stuck—on her college application essays, in her small town, and on that mysterious General Sond cosplayer she met at ExcelsiCon. Most of all, she’s stuck in her grief over her mother’s death. Her only solace was her late mother’s library of rare Starfield novels, but even that disappeared when they sold it to pay off hospital bills.

 

On the other hand, Vance Reigns has been Hollywood royalty for as long as he can remember—with all the privilege and scrutiny that entails. When a tabloid scandal catches up to him, he's forced to hide out somewhere the paparazzi would never expect to find him: Small Town USA. At least there’s a library in the house. Too bad he doesn’t read.

 

When Rosie and Vance’s paths collide and a rare book is accidentally destroyed, Rosie finds herself working to repay the debt. And while most Starfield superfans would jump at the chance to work in close proximity to the Vance Reigns, Rosie has discovered something about Vance: he’s a jerk, and she can’t stand him. The feeling is mutual. 

 

But as Vance and Rosie begrudgingly get to know each other, their careful masks come off—and they may just find that there’s more risk in shutting each other out than in opening their hearts.

Review: Out of all 3 Once Upon a Con books this one might be the one that sticks closest to the book that is is based upon. This is straight up revamped retelling of Beauty and the beast with some modern characters in a modern setting but don't worry we still have bookish goodness and of course all the geekiness of the Geekerella world we have come to know and love. 

I loved getting to know Rosie, she really is very like Belle in many ways apart from the fact that she does actually do a bit more of herself, she is a modern woman and she has an amazing group of friends to prove it. She is living that high school life but also living that geek life and I totally feel for her in this novel. 

Vance really is the kind of guy you love to hate, but we as readers get a little more insight than most into why he is the way he is. He does make some very poor decisions in life in general but especially with Rosie. Those can be disastrous and frustrating but they can also be very funny and I really was rooting for him the whole way through to show his 'true colours'. 

This being an Ashley Poston novel, we have a great big dollop of geekiness and also plenty of diversity to go around so if you are looking for characters who reflect your own group of friends and what you have going on in your own life, you will find it here. 

I would love to reread this novel having read the other two books in the series. I think they would read really well as a sit down and read the whole trilogy kind of thing and I really hope that we get more books set in this world!

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Guest Review: Suddenly Last Summer by Sarah Morgan

Fiery French chef Élise Philippe is having a seriously bad day. Not only have the grand opening plans for her beloved café fallen apart, but Sean O'Neil is back in town and looking more delectable than ever. Memories of the electrifying night they shared last summer leave Élise very tempted, but she knows all too well that eventually Sean will be leaving…again. 

Being back in Vermont—even temporarily—is surgeon Sean O'Neil's worst nightmare. Returning home to the Snow Crystal Resort means confronting the guilt he feels about rejecting his family's lifestyle years ago. But discovering that Élise is still in Vermont and still sets his blood racing is a very welcome distraction! Remembering last summer and how good they were together is going to make walking away more difficult than he could imagine….

Review: This is book 2 in the Snow Crystal trilogy. Having read book 1 (Sleigh Bells in the Snow), I was eager to read this story and catch up with the characters I had met there. Book 2 did not disappoint; I was engrossed from page 1. The only thing lacking was the snow. Although it is part of a series, this book could easily be read as a standalone. All the main characters, the setting and relationships become clear as the story progresses. 

In this tale, the 2 central characters are Sean O'Neil (part of the family running the Snow Crystal Resort in Vermont) and Elise (the French chef in charge of the popular restaurant and catering in general at the resort). Although Sean has not followed in the footsteps of his brothers, Jackson and Tyler, in living at the resort with the rest of the family and taking part in its operation, he keeps an eye on things there while continuing his job as an orthopaedic surgeon in Boston. He is not a frequent visitor to Snow Crystal due to friction between himself and his grandfather, Walter. However, when a family emergency calls him home, will the memory of a romantic evening he shared with Elise the previous summer make him want to stay?

I found this yet another compelling and extremely romantic story from Sarah Morgan. Although set in summer, the Snow Crystal resort still shines through as a lovely place to spend a vacation, with its marvellous scenery and comfortable lodges. The food prepared by Elise sounds delicious as well. I loved the main characters featured in this story and the romantic tension between them. Sean is a workaholic unable to make a lasting relationship, while Elise finds it difficult to make a commitment due to a disastrous incident in her past. I was rooting for them to get together but was kept guessing right to the end. Great story telling. 

This would be a great book to enjoy on holiday, in any season. As I have said, it stands alone nicely, but I think reading the trilogy as a whole would be very enjoyable too. 

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Guest Review: Confetti at the Cornish Cafe by Phillipa Ashley

Cal and Demi are preparing to launch their beloved Kilhallon Resort as a wedding venue. Cakes are baking, Cornish flowers are blooming, and fairy lights are twinkling. With the cliff-top setting and coastal views, it's the perfect place for a magical marriage ceremony.

But their first clients are no ordinary couple. The bride and groom are internationally famous actors Lily Craig and Ben Trevone. Kilhallon is about to host a celebrity wedding . . .

With the pressure on, Demi and Cal are doing all they can to keep their guests happy and avoid any wedding disasters. But is the unpredictable weather the only thing standing in the way of the Big Day?

As secrets surface and truths are told, can Demi and Cal ensure that Kilhallon's first wedding is a success? One thing’s for sure, this will be a Cornish celebration to remember . . .

Review: This is the third book in The Cornish Cafe Series from Phillipa Ashley. When I picked up the first book in the series, Summer at the Cornish Cafe, I had no idea how I would be drawn into the story and the lives of the characters therein. All of these books have proved compelling reading, and I have been aching to read this final chapter since I read the last word of the previous 'instalment'. Fortunately, Phillipa had the foresight to provide a helpful prologue to remind readers of what had gone on before, or to inform anyone who had missed the first two books of relevant history. That and reminders within the text as the story progresses make this book easy to read as a standalone. 

In this third part of the story, we continue to follow the ups and downs of the main characters, Cal and Demi, as they work together to return Cal's family home and holiday complex of Kilhallon to their former glory. As part of the renovations, an old barn has been converted into a cafe that sounds a lovely, cosy location in which to enjoy a refreshment and soak up the spectacular view. As in previous parts of this series, we are treated to wonderful Cornish scenery, cream teas and other mouthwatering goodies in addition to the rest of the action. The problems and triumphs that the central characters meet along the way this time include staging a celebrity wedding ceremony to eclipse all that have gone before. Can everything be ready in time to the exacting requirements of the bride and groom? At the end of the book, Phillipa has added a few recipes to enjoy, including some delicious sounding cocktails and desserts. 

I have found all of these stories really enjoyable. They are full of absolutely believable characters, most of them lovely, but a couple of them purely evil. The Cornish coastal setting is, of course, quite magical, and so well described that I could almost imagine myself swimming in a beautiful Cornish cove. This book would make lovely summer reading, but I would recommend reading all three in the trilogy. I know I am going to miss Cal and Demi.

To order your copy now, click here!

Guest Review: A Night In With Grace Kelly by Lucy Holliday

Fate has got it in for Libby Lomax. She realised, far too late, that her best friend Olly, is the actual Love of Her Life. Now he’s in love with the so-nice-it-hurts, Tash, and it looks like her happy ending is completely out of reach.

Things start looking up when she, quite literally, runs into the completely gorgeous Joel. Libby discovers that there is more to Joel than his six-pack, not least, the incredible fact that he honestly believes he has found his fairy tale princess in her.

And if this wasn’t enough, an unwanted guest shows up on Libby’s enchanted sofa; Grace Kelly, wearing her iconic wedding dress and convinced that Libby is figment of her imagination. But Grace also believes that if you want something, then you’ve got to make it happen; words which give Libby hope that happy endings aren’t just for fairy tale princesses…

Review: This is the final part of a trilogy by Lucy Holliday, following on from A Night In With Audrey Hepburn and A Night In With Marilyn Monroe. The question with trilogies is always whether each part can be read as a standalone. In this case, I would suggest that it would be best to read all three in order, as there is a central story running through them; but then I would suggest that you should read them all just because they are so good. They are without doubt some of the funniest books I have read. It does help if you can suspend belief a bit, as magic forms the basis of the stories. 

The central character in all three stories is Libby Lomax, a lovely girl with a dreadful overpowering mother and an equally awful sister. It's just as well she has long time best friend Olly to look after her and keep her grounded. Having found somewhere to live, he is the one who helped her find some furniture, including a sofa which turns out to have some strange powers and play a big part in the story.  In this book, Libby, as the title suggests, has a  surprise meeting with long dead actress Grace Kelly, dressed in her fabulous and iconic wedding gown. As in previous parts of this series, Libby is given very good advice by her actor friend in an attempt to help her sort out both her love life and her future in general. 

I really loved this story and would highly recommend it to anyone. Libby Lomax is such an endearing character, persevering through all that befalls her. Her friend Olly is also lovely; you can't help feeling that they belong together. As I said at the beginning, the book is really funny; a cleverly written combination of romance and comedy with a little sprinkle of magic. 

To get your fabulous copy now, click here!

Guest Trilogy Review: Manhattan With Love by Sarah Morgan. Warning: Contains Some Spoilers!

What if the person who broke your heart, is the only one who can help you find your future?

Great friends. Amazing Apartment. An incredible job. Paige has ticked off every box on perfect New York life checklist. Until disaster strikes and instead of shimming further up the career ladder, Paige is packing up her desk.

Her brother’s best friend Jake might be the only person who can help her put her life back together. He also happens to be the boy she spent her teen years pining after, and Paige is determined not repeat her past mistakes. But the more time she spends with Jake, the more Paige realises the one thing that was missing from her world all along. The perfect New York love story…

Review:  These three titles represent Books 1, 2 and 3 of the From Manhattan With Love trilogy by Sarah Morgan. I hope that she won't mind me reviewing them all at the same time. They do each stand alone, but really deserve to be read in sequence. Also, the stories are quite intertwined, so it is difficult to write about them without giving away plot points, so apologies for any spoilers. 

The books deal with the lives and loves of three girls from the same small island community who have moved to live in New York and work for the same events company. The girls, Paige, Frankie and Eva, live in a rather magnificent sounding Brooklyn brownstone owned by Paige's brother, Matt. A landscape designer, he has created a rooftop terrace where they and their friends can relax and share the view. It sounds an idyllic place to spend summer evenings. 

Each book centres on a different girl. In the first, Paige is on the way to work expecting to be told of her promotion, but instead all 3 girls find themselves out of work and wondering what to do. A way in which they can continue to use all the skills they have learned and contacts made over the years occurs to them and forms the basis of their professional activities in this and subsequent books. Whilst working hard to build a successful business, each of the girls is looking for romance; often it comes from unexpected directions. 

I very much enjoyed these books. Sarah Morgan really brought everything to life with her skilful writing and clever descriptions. The last title was a lovely festive read. As I said, each book could be read in isolation, but I would definitely recommend the whole trilogy. The books are easy to read, and you find yourself quickly immersed in life in Manhattan. 

To get your copy just click the image of the book that you want!

Review: The Supreme Macaroni Company by Adriana Trigiani

In The Supreme Macaroni Company, Adriana Trigiani transports readers from the cobblestone streets of Greenwich Village to lush New Orleans to Italy and back again while exploring the tricky dynamics between Old World craftsmanship and New World ambition, all amid a passionate love affair that fuels one woman's determination to have it all.

For over a hundred years, the Angelini Shoe Company in Greenwich Village has relied on the leather produced by Vechiarelli & Son in Tuscany. This ancient business partnership provides the twist of fate for Valentine Roncalli, the schoolteacher turned shoemaker, to fall in love with Gianluca Vechiarelli, a tanner with a complex past . . . and a secret.

But after the wedding celebrations are over, Valentine wakes up to the hard reality of juggling the demands of a new business and the needs of her new family. Confronted with painful choices, Valentine remembers the wise words that inspired her in the early days of her beloved Angelini Shoe Company: "A person who can build a pair of shoes can do just about anything." Now the proud, passionate Valentine is going to fight for everything she wants and savor all she deserves—the bitter and the sweet of life itself.

Romantic and poignant, told with humor and warmth, and bursting with a cast of endearing characters, The Supreme Macaroni Company is a sumptuous feast of delights: an unforgettable narrative about family, work, romance, and the unexpected turns of life and fate.

Review: I'm a massive fan of this author's writing and so I don't know why it took me so long to get round to reading the third in Trigiani's Valentine series. I love Valentine as a character and she is as feisty as ever in this latest instalment. Valentine is an independent woman who knows what she wants. She is loyal to the family business and will do everything in her power to make that succeed, values which i have loved to read about. However, things are really called into question in this novel and so her character is challenged and she really has tro come into her own to cope with events as they take place throughout the book. 

The other characters in the series are wonderful as well and i hear all their Italian American, and just plain Italian, accents in my head as i read because this author makes the characters come to life so successfulkly! Valentine's mother is a fore to be reckoned with and she turns into the one supporting her daughter in this novel which was a real delight to see and something which has very much been the other way around in previous novels,. I love the relationship between Valentine and her father and for me, it totally trumps the relationship that Valentine has with her husband, Gianlucca. Gianlucca is definitely a book boyfreind for me, i love the sound of the older gentleman who will do everything he can to care for Valentine and thwart everyutng that life throws at them. For me he is perhaps a little too old fashioned in his values but he has the most gorgeous Italian house so who am I to argue?

The setting, yes. This book again is split between Italy and the US. The American part of the book predominantly features New York which is one of my favourite settings for a novel. I love the descripiopn of Greenwich Village and the hustle and bustle of the city. The Hudson river is almost like another character in the book-wonderful! The descriptions of Italy rival those of New York strongly though and so i defy anyone not to envy Valentine's life as the book goes on!

The descriptions of the food and the shoes in these books are just as good as the descriptions of the settings so a warning-this book will make you hungry! This book takes place over a couple of Christmases as well so double the trouble when it comes to the food description! Overall this was a wonderful book and a real comfort read. My only issue that I have is one of the events towards the end of the book.. For me it was a good twist in the tail but I really didn't see it coming and I didn't want it to happenbut that's really the only part i disliked. I don't want to give anything away though. This book is heartwarming, funny and full of delicious description-a great read!

Review! SECRET Revealed by L. Marie Adeline

The only thing that Cassie Robichaud has ever really wanted is Will Foret, the love of her life. But when Will discovers that Cassie is part of S.E.C.R.E.T., an underground group devoted to helping women experience their deepest sexual fantasies, Will breaks it off. Heartbroken, Cassie dries her tears and focuses on her work with helping the latest S.E.C.R.E.T. recruit, Solange Faraday. Cassie also reignites her relationship with sexy bad-boy Jesse, even though she knows he can never love her as deeply as Will did. 

     Meanwhile, beautiful, brilliant Solange, a local news anchor and divorced mom, has a great career but a wilting love life. She rekindles long-lost passions, going deeper and hotter than any other S.E.C.R.E.T. candidates before her. Can Solange find what her heart most desires? And when Will realizes he's made a tragic mistake, will Cassie be able to forgive him? 

     S.E.C.R.E.T. Revealed is the explosive, sexually-charged finale to the phenomenal S.E.C.R.E.T. trilogy.

(I've included both the UK and the US covers as they're equally lush and gorgeous so you can feast your eyes on them at the same time-woo!)

Review: this was a fitting end to this wonderful trilogy! I was a little apprehensive that, being the last book in the trilogy, this book would be a bit of a let down, but it wasn't! It tied up all of the loose ends and was a good solid ending to what has been a great story! I actually didn't realise how much I was waiting for this final book but because the storyline for this series is so compelling and you always always find yourself rooting for Cassie and wanting the best things to happen for her, you too will be waiting for this final installment! 

The storyline is very much the same as in the other books except featuring a few more characters and not focusing as much on Cassie and her sex life as in the other novels. It focuses on her romantic relationships and friendships a lot more this time, and her involvement with SECRET is not as much as in the regions novels. Don't worry though, there is still plenty of SECRET action and plenty of hot and steamy sex scenes. One of the best things about these novels is that women are really and truly empowered, they get to take charge of their destiny and it is women helping each other that lead to all the fun and happy things in these novels. Although people may poo poo novels like this because of the high sex content, they really are putting a good message out there about women empowering themselves and supporting other women. 

This is the final book in a trilogy and you really do need to have read the other books in the series to enjoy this one. It's a brilliant book in its own right but to understand Cassie, her relationships and indeed, SECRET itself, you need to have read the first two in the series. Not like this is a hardship though and the whole trilogy is a brilliant read and is so compelling you won't be able to out it down until you've finished the whole thing. Solange is a great addition to the cast list and the men in the novels really come into their own in this book. I honestly can't fault this, it was a fun read with just the right pace, just the right amount of sex and the just the right aww factor at the end!