Spotlight: Someone by Kendra Danielle

/
Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

I think I think this book might be my favorite romantic comedy-esque book of the year. It was funny, entertaining, and an all-around good time.  

Someone is novella about Colton and Whitney. Colton is the newly appointment CEO of Rivers Digital Solutions, and Whitney is one of the company’s most value developers. Colton has a huge crush on Whitney and goes out of his way to see her. Unfortunately, for him she’s leaving the company. This results in his using a new app to woo her back.

From the very first chapter, I was hooked.  The chemistry with Colton and Whitney was off the charts and they had great banter. And even though some aspects of their relationship might be too much of a coincidence, I liked it.

In addition to having an amazing romance, I really enjoyed the characters. They brought a smile to my face.

Colton is trying very hard to not be like his father and unfortunately, he’s trying too hard. And in the first chapter, there is a moment where he asks someone about how their relative’s birthday party was. And that employee answers that it wasn’t a birthday, but something else. It was a real embarrassing moment for him. But it sold me on the book.  Although, a small moment, it really showed that he’s trying and it made me like him. Both him and Whitney had layers and I really enjoyed them both.

Final Thoughts

Someone is a great romantic book with fantastic leads and an addicting plot. 

Review: Christmas Ever After by Karen Schaler

/

Summary

From Karen Schaler, the writer of the Netflix phenomenon A Christmas Prince and Hallmark’s Christmas Camp comes this new heartwarming holiday romance. Mamma Mia meets The Bachelorette in Christmas Ever After…

While promoting her next novel, a Christmas love story, author Riley Reynolds is caught off guard when she’s asked during a live national television interview how she can write about romance when she still hasn’t found “the one” herself. Scrambling for an answer, she quickly answers that she has had great love in her past and that love inspired her novels. Little does she know that this one offhanded remark will turn her world upside down. Three of her ex-boyfriends see the interview, and each, believing she’s talking about him, shows up for her Christmas Camp book event at the Christmas Lake Lodge, determined to rewrite his happily-ever-after with her! Over the festive weekend, Riley’s old boyfriends compete to win her heart, pulling out all the stops while planning the most romantic Christmas dates on the planet. 

Despite herself, Riley starts falling for each guy- again-but for different reasons. As Riley revisits each relationship and discovers more about herself, she embraces the magic of Christmas and finally finds true love and her own Christmas ever after…

Review

I really hope this book becomes a Hallmark movie. There are no words to describe how much I loved this book. If the holidays get you down and you’ve given up on love, then this will definitely jump start and open your heart to believe anything is possible if you believe.

This book just made my heart smile. I loved everything about it. When you get to know Ryan, you will understand why she feels the way she does and fall in love with her. She becomes such a lovable character that you can’t help to root for. The evolution of her perseverance to save her career and opening her heart made me fall in love with her journey. There were some fun curveballs thrown into the plot that made it fun and page turn worthy. I loved the traditions, the setting of the Christmas Lake Lodge really inspired a warm festive, magical atmosphere. Let me not leave out how book boyfriend worthy Luke is. His charm and chivalry really warmed up the pages. If you are a pet lover, than you will love his dog, Comet. What a sweet addition to the plot he brings. Their backstories brought heart and soul to the plot and that just makes you want to know more about them. There is so much to love about this book and I recommend you adding this to your tbr. 

Review: Murder in the Piazza: A Maggie White Mystery by Jen Collins Moore

/

Summary

Maggie White, a downsized American executive stuck in Rome on her husband’s expat assignment, is finding the dolce vita isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. She’s taken a job offering painting instruction to well-heeled travelers on a luxury tour and her boss—a rather unpleasant English lord—has turned up dead in his penthouse. Maggie’s left with a palazzo full of suspicious guests, a valuable painting her boss might have stolen, and a policeman who’s decided she’s the prime suspect. Now Maggie must keep the tour up and running while she tracks the killer and works to clear her name.

Review

This definitely lives up to the cozy mystery theme. I enjoyed the setting of Rome and experiencing the culture and getting to know the city. I’m not sure what I was expecting but it took a little bit for me to warm up to the plot. The potential was there just not that spark that I wanted to experience from the start. Mainly because I was lukewarm to Maggie. The plot definitely grew on me as the book progressed but I’m conflicted in my thoughts about Maggie being so aggressive telling the inspector how to do his job. She had many ideas about the whodunit that didn’t pan out. Maybe experiencing the moments and her discovering things to put them together like a puzzle would’ve been a little more interesting. Then there was a shift when the case was to be closed that sparked a shift in her character and the plot that then piqued my interest. The ending made up for any indifference I felt halfway through. Overall, I feel uncertain but the ending was good. I’m curious to see how this character develops. I’d be willing to give the next book a chance.

Review: Sisters of War by Lana Kortchik

/

Summary

Can their bond survive under the shadow of occupation?

For fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz and The German Midwife comes this unforgettable tale of love, loss, family, and the power of hope.

Kiev, 1941: Watching the Red Army withdraw from Ukraine in the face of Hitler’s relentless advance, sisters Natasha and Lisa Smirnova realise their lives are about to change forever.

As the German army occupies their beloved city, the sisters are tested in ways they never thought possible. Lisa’s fiancé Alexei is taken by the invading army, whilst Natasha falls in love with Mark – a Hungarian soldier, enlisted against all his principles on the side of the Nazis.

But as Natasha and Lisa fight to protect the friends and family they hold dear, they must face up to the dark horrors of war and the pain of betrayal. Will they be strong enough to overcome the forces which threaten to tear their family apart? 

Review

This was one of the gems that you get swept into and just absorb the narrative. This is such a sensitive time period in history and I often cringe reading about HItler, the Nazis and what they did to harm so many people. Despite that being an underlying theme, we get swept away with two sisters and their family trying to survive love, loss and the test of faith through insurmountable circumstances.

The setting of the book is in Kiev. We experience the occupation from the Germans through the perspective of these two sisters, Natasha and Lisa. We experience their family’s plight through the worst they could possibly experience.Through heartache and loss we see a family fight to hold on to what they know and love through the uncertainty of what faces them in the future. 

The magnitude of the occupation and how it affected them truly at moments grab at heart and break it.The historical detail captures the depths of their suffering and translates that into a book that I couldn’t book down.The author creates a narrative that in the worst of circumstances, brings these characters from the dark into the light. You experience the angst, fear, love and loss that brings their storylines together. 

Overall, I thought this was well written and the historical detail was wonderful.The storylines within the book really appeal to your heart and you will find yourself emotionally invested in. Not only the sisters but the familial bond despite their suffering was heartwarming seeing them not give up. If you get a chance, check this one out.

Review: Unlocking: A Memoir of Family and Art by Nancy L. Pressly

/

Unlocking is a beautiful memoir transitioning the life of the author in three parts. Inspired by family mementos from her attic, she slowly embraces her repressed memories of her childhood to recreate a family narrative before her history is lost. Her book transitions her family life as a child through becoming an adult. Embracing health obstacles, sharing internal and outer struggles with being a mother and caretaker, marriage and the evolution of her coming into her own to carve a life for herself that truly brought joy and a sense of purpose.

I found inspiration and beauty in her life journey because her perspective was so insightful and inspiring. As a young girl struggling to find her self worth, transitioning into being a young woman in the 50s and 60s, coming into her own was a wonderful narrative. Seeing her growth and her determination really speaks to women who have had similar experiences, especially professionally. She gave me a renewed passion for art.

One thing that made the book special for me was the incorporation of her family photos. They just made my heart smile. The pictures of her family brought something special to the book for me because when she talks about her family, especially her husband and son, you truly feel the love. What they went through will really pull at your heart.

It’s always a wonderful read to get a glimpse of the life of someone else. If you have a chance, check out this was a wonderful read.

Review: Lost One by Grey Huffington

/
Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

I bought this book after seeing the cover and without reading what it was about. I only judged the title and assumed that it was about losing one as in someone passing. I was incorrect.

Lost One is about losing the one. Dodge and Fate had had a rocky relationship for years. And one day, he ends up in jail, and Fate is without him for years. She wrote him every day for a year, and he didn’t respond. So, she thought that he hadn’t chosen her. That is until he ends up at her house, wanting another chance. It’s about a second chance romance.

I enjoyed how this book was written. I thought the descriptions were beautiful and everything was detailed. But not too detailed where it felt overwhelming. The pacing felt right at first. I enjoyed seeing the causal build up between Dodge and Fate as he tried to earn her trust back. And I enjoyed how their past was perfectly woven in. And how Fate found that maybe she didn’t have the situation right at first.

The pacing felt a little rocky at the end and it felt like it was put in hyper speed. I would have like a little more build up before that time jump ending.

Final Thoughts

Lost One had a beautiful and almost rhythmic pace in the beginning, but unfortunately at the end it felt rushed.