Review: A Tempest of Desire

A Tempest of Desire by Lorraine Heath
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review 

He’d cried out for a woman and fate had seen fit to deliver to his shore London’s most infamous courtesan. 

A Tempest of Desire is fifth in the Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James series but you'd have no problem jumping in here. This was a more quiet book, it's character driven with the vast majority focused on these two alone and wanting to reach for each other. There were a couple flashback scenes in the beginning to show their, we have the tingles, first meeting one another, it's what can some times come off as insta-lust but Heath is a capital W-riter, so it's instant attraction; emotions and thoughts are there enough to be shown, explored, and felt. 

But then she’d never had to deal with anyone who bothered her as much as Langdon did, in ways she didn’t quite understand.

If you've read this series and the one it's a spin-off from, you'll know Langdon is the son of the Devil Earl, and he feels the responsibility of carrying some of that weight, he doesn't want to in anyway ruin his family's carefully built reputation. So, when he's in a railway accident and gets diagnosed with Railway Spine (A+ historical additive) that causes him to not understand numbers anymore, he sequesters himself to his family's private island. Men and their Drama King ways. While he's on the island, Marlowe, who he knows as one of his peer's courtesan, washes up on his shore unconscious. Turns out Marlowe is an aeronaut and her balloon crashed when she encountered a storm while flying. Langdon's number issue and Marlowe's glimpse at PTSD from her crash are, there, but this is really just about the feelings between the two. 

He thought he knew her. All of London thought they knew her but all they truly knew was what the ink in the gossip columns revealed and it was shaped by those who resented her. 

Over half of this book is the two on the island eyeing each other up and wanting one another. The bond over sharing their traumas and we get a good look at how and why Marlowe ended up a courtesan at the young age at nineteen, she's now twenty-two, help give layers to the characters. I liked the in-depth look at her and how it realized her character, we don't quite get as much from Langdon but he's fine for the role he's in. 

He spun her so her back was to him and he draped her hair over one shoulder before he began loosening the lacings on the gown. 

After some open-door bedroom antics, the second half moves us back to society and London. They have some separation as Marlowe is hurt that Langdon asks her to be his mistress when she wants more of a commitment from him, knowing that 1879 London society is not very forgiving regarding their current statuses. We get some mooning from both, Langdon trying to stay in her life by sending her gifts, as he works through the “remember this is why the story can't just wrap up in 100 pages” given impediment that he worries about ruining his family's reputation. 

He wouldn’t take what she wasn’t willingly offering. 

The ending, is of course, predictable but, you know what, I'm a sucker for when someone gathers the troops (Landgon's family and friends) and throws everything they have and puts it on the line for the one they love. The only thing I kind of missed (sort of get it with the epilogue) was more meaningful scenes with Marlowe and her mother, working out how her father's actions hurt them both. If you're looking for more of a quiet, focus on the characters, and wade through the emotions, then this would be one to pick-up.

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30%

Anyone remember Jenny and Slade from Silk and Shadows by Mary Jo Putney? The beginning dynamic and thinking Marlowe is going through regarding how Langdon is treating her, reminds of Jenny and Slade:

"But she had never known that a man could want a woman and not take her because he did care. There was something very fragile and precious in the idea, though she didn't really understand it. Maybe someday she would."

-Silk and Shadows

Marlowe thought Langdon wasn't/isn't attracted to her because he doesn't act on it. Sexual tension based around respect going on right now

Reading Update: Page 1

 

After the stimulating holidays, I'm ready to hermit up like our pal Viscount Langdon. Where's my private island?! 

Langdon survived a horrific railway accident and has retreated to his private island to recover. But our boy is starting to feel lonely, as he's crying up to the heavens for a woman, he looks down and lo and behold, an unconscious woman has washed ashore. 

Ask and ye' shall receive! 

Marlowe's a bold courtesan, but she's got secrets to protect, but can she resist the Tempest of Desire swirling between them? 

I've got my soup and drama, let's go! 

A Tempest of Desire by Lorraine Heath purchase link

Lemon Ginger Turmeric Chicken and Rice Soup recipe

Happy Holidays!

 

Happy Holidays! 

A little Christmas tree, toasty by the fireplace, some Blind Squirrel egg nog, and reading about Scotland. 

Whether you're physically traveling or snuggling in at home like me, I hope your holidays are full of good food, laughter, and love. 

Lochs and Legends by Andy the Highlander hardcover preorder (Jan. 21st) link

Review: Oceansong

Oceansong by C.W. Rose
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review 

When she was thirteen, she scuba dived to search for mermaids. Now, she was twenty-four and about to go diving for mermaids again. 

Angie's back in her small hometown in Alaska for the summer, working at her father's docks to earn money and get hours in for her graduate degree and towards a PhD to become a marine biologist. Back home though, she discovers that her village that sustains itself on fishing, is slowly starving as their fish have been mysteriously disappearing over the months. When mermaids are discovered to not only be real but the reason the fish are disappearing, Angie finds herself caught in the middle of family and friends on one side and falling in love with a mer-prince on the other. 

This is war. 

Oceansong had a slowly building beginning that introduced us to Angie and her small-town Alaska world. Angie lost her mother a few years ago, her mother had cancer but was thought to be lost to the sea when she disappeared. She's close with her Bàba, sister Mia, and her niece Rosie, but she has never gotten along with her brother-in-law Nick. When she learns about how in danger the town is of starving and how the problem is spreading up and down the Alaskan coast, she's just as scared as everyone else. However, when mermaids are found to be real, which everyone accepted extremely easily, she's the only one calling for calm and understanding. Her brother-in-law Nick wants to start killing the mermaids immediately and the rest of the townspeople are on board. At first, I liked how the author showed how desperation, survival, and protecting one's own could push people to extremes, along with bringing out the worst of people when they get a whiff of power, like sexism and racism. As the story went on though, there just wasn't a feeling of meshing the danger, falling in love, and somewhat of a realistic response to the extremes happening in Angie's world. 

And Kaden was the murderous mer's prince. 

When Angie and Kaden first meet, they both try to kill each other but both would rather talk first to try and understand before committing such a final act. Angie's twenty-four, with Kaden around the same age but this still had a little bit of young adult to it. They meet only a handful of times and not for very long, their love felt rooted in he's good-looking and insta-love. This was all told from Angie's point-of-view, I can't say I ever could really understand or feel where Kaden's feelings were coming from. While they have their occasional meet-ups, there's a very serious war going on between their worlds. We're talking slaughtering, the humans catching and torturing the mermaids and the mermaids drowning and snapping necks of the humans. It's a very serious, dangerous situation, where we're supposed to believe that the remoteness of this village doesn't allow for cell service for them to get the word out and the Coast Guard is helping bigger cities. Angie's seeing all this murdering and still thinks about how in a month she'll leave to go back to college so where could a relationship with Kaden go and upset when her father fires her because she won't get her hours in for school. The situation and Angie's responses just didn't work together for me. 

There was a war. Kaden was a merman. She lived on land; he lived in the sea. 

Angie spends most of the book saying she needs to do something and find a way to get the humans to stop killing mermaids to try and work out a truce, but she doesn't really do anything but talk. There was some interesting elements with the mermaids breath of life that can give humans the power to breath under water and understand their language for twenty-four hours and their underwater world but some cool elements didn't help the mismatched feelings of absolute murder happening on the pages and detached reality feeling from Angie. The ending gave us a final showdown and family drama with Angie's brother-in-law really leaning into his villain era (which we're talking domestic violence and then Angie's sister seems to be mourning him and bestowing honor by naming her baby after him???). A one year later epilogue gives a happily for now ending but obvious room for a continuing story. This had the romantic emotions of a YA couple that tried to make itself sound grown-up by leaning hard into one dimensional villains that thirsted to murder (and did!) with added alluding to rape. I could go along with keeping the existence of mermaids contained but the reality of such murderous carnage happening and Angie worried about hours to get into her PhD program, did not gel for me, ultimately making the story feel off and hard to connect with.

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Quickie Note: Mister O

Mister O by Lauren Blakely
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.7 stars 

Quick, cute, sweet, and sexy read all from the guy's pov, but you can get some idea about the FMC's feelings from his observations.

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Buddy Reading

 

Another notch added, really enjoyed this buddy read. This hit so good right now, probably haven't done a reread in over ten years, can still say remains an all time favorite and good example of trust building in a relationship. 

Johanna wasn't terrified now; she was determined. She had a sound plan. 

She had Gabriel. 

Shows believing in herself and using her own strength to act but bolstered by the emotions developed between her and Gabriel. 

He's not a crutch but added strength. 

Key romance relationship point! 

Her arms shook as she applied every bit of strength she possessed. And then she suddenly had the strength of twenty. Gabriel reached over her shoulders and placed his hand on top of hers. He waited for permission. She nodded. 

The punishment rod snapped in half. 

Maybe Top Ten romance scene I've read

Reading Update: Page 1

 

Snowy day calls for soup and, Mermaids?! 

Angie's an aspiring marine biologist whose hometown in Alaska is starting to starve due to the fish mysteriously disappearing 

Mer-Prince Kaden is leery of landwalkers but is willing to talk to try and stop the massacre of his people 

Angie and Kaden's worlds are clashing with them in the middle 

Oceansong by C.W. Rose purchase link

Shrimp and Corn Soup recipe

Review: False Evidence

False Evidence by Rachel Grant
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review 

She was in unimaginable trouble and couldn’t begin to understand why. 

False Evidence is the twelfth and final book in the romantic suspense series, Evidence. As I've not read any books in the series yet, it could definitely be argued that I had no business starting here, but it's December and this being set during the holiday time with me craving some romantic suspense, well, I jumped in. I can report that it is possible to just pick this up, there's flashbacks and world-setting history/dynamics/relationships to help newbies (and tempt! to go back and read previous books) acclimate to the world. I think it did hurt me a little that I was all new to the emotions regarding this couple's long history, Lex (Alexandra) may have a been a bit too forgiving to quickly for me, even when an apology was given. If you're a reader of the series, oooh boy would you probably love to experience and get this angsty couple's payoff. 

She loved him but didn’t have him. 

This starts off with in her forties single mom Lex leaving the house of her former roommate who committed suicide, having retrieved a hard drive that had old pictures on it and some personal items. Lex is pulled over by a cop and our suspense gets going when he is aggressive and physical right off the bat. Thinking she's fighting for her life, Lex wacks him in the head with the hard drive and hides in a ditch when a car is coming up the road, not knowing if it will be a cop who will shoot and ask questions later. When the car stops and someone gets out, only to walk over to the knocked out cop and shoot them, Lex knows she's in serious trouble, if not knowing why. This leads to Lex hiding out in her ex-fiance's, Jay (JT), cabin, where he eventually ends up himself, with her daughter, and we move more to the romance side with flashbacks to how Lex and Jay met and how it went so chemistry right for them, only to go so emotionally wrong. 

He’d never loved anyone more than Alexandra, and he’d never hurt anyone more either. 

With characters in their forties, these two have pretty much worked through their emotional baggage in the present time, Jay mentions how a therapist helped him. Jay had those Daddy Issues that had him taking his anger and insecurities out on Lex, leading to their first break-up and then another final one after an attempted reconciliation. Jay didn't think he was worth emotionally investing in and Lex struggled with not wanting to get lost in such a high powered man, he's extremely rich with political aspirations, and her wanting kids with Jay adamantly opposed. Lex met him when she was in grad school, she goes on to get her PhD and is a theoretical scientist who ends up teaching, and with the haven't worked through emotional baggage yet, the timing keeps these two from getting it right. Who knew all they needed was years of emotional work (duh) and Lex accused of murder with a statewide hunt for her going on (wild card)? 

Here she was, sixteen years later, and once again sleeping in his arms. 

In the present, Jay is pretty much all in with wanting Lex back, she puts up a little bit of a wall, she has an almost two year old daughter to worry for now. For as much as Jay was against kids, he falls pretty quickly for the daughter Gemma and going all in on a being a dad (him having a day alone to take care of Gemma lead to some cute/funny moments). You'll get more of their struggles in the flashbacks that span their sixteen year history. Around seventy percent the romance thread is mainly taken care of (there was some much appreciated grown-up feeling open door scenes) and we get the suspense plot coming in strong. I really liked how we get a pov from Lex's roommate, it humanized this character more, and readers see the pieces fall into place of how Lex is wrapped up in all this. It was a little rushed and a little messy with some of the relationship reveals and whys but, for the most part, worked. 

With appearances by past main couples and the payoff for who seemed to be that messy couple in the series, I can see readers emotionally enjoying this capstone book. For a new reader jumping in, I thought some things came a little too easily but I enjoyed the angsty emotional, with some danger, ride.

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Reading Update: Page 1

 

Under the Christmas tree read today, and it releases this Thursday! 

🎄📚 

Alexandra and JT haven't talked in seven years 

But Alexandra's in danger and on the run, and the place she can hide, is JT's remote cabin 

When JT learns who's currently a fugitive from police, he's going to step in to help the love of his life 

An emotional second chance romance as Alexandra and JT collide, struggling to find their way back to each other and escape danger 

False Evidence by Rachel Grant (Dec. 19th) purchase link

Review: When We Had Forever: An Emotional Romance with a Twisty Mystery, Uncover the Secrets of Love and Loss

When We Had Forever: An Emotional Romance with a Twisty Mystery, Uncover the Secrets of Love and Loss by Shaylin Gandhi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

2.7 stars 

I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review 

At what moment did I stop being a wife? 

When We Had Forever was a literary romance soap opera of a ride. I've been baptized in the waters of Harlequin Presents, so it's not really a brag when I say, within ten pages, I knew what was going on. Whether you immediately catch the clues like I did, or aren't aware until around seventy percent when the Big Secret is revealed, I think both avenues would offer different kinds of enjoyment. The story is told all from Mina's point-of-view and instead of divided into chapters, we get Before and After timeline switches. I know some struggle with flashbacks but the structure of the story being told this way really supports the plot and the ride of emotions you the reader are supposed to go on. 

Whatever happened between them that day, it was the spark that lit the fire of my husband changing. Which is why I hate Grayson and always will. 

The story opens up with After, Mina struggling emotionally six months after the death of her husband Michael. They were married for over a decade but in first person pov, we really get an in depth feel for Mina's emotions and it's clear right away that everything wasn't rosy in her marriage, especially when it's revealed that she had divorce papers printed out. The jump to Before gives us Mina and Michael meeting, we get a look at young Mina wanting to escape her hometown and travel but having to deal with a mother who is severely traumatized over the death of Mina's brother and a bestfriend of Mina's who also died overseas. Mina and Michael have an instant chemistry but it's clear that Michael is holding something back from her and also doesn't want to persuade her from making the jump to travel to Greece at the end of the month. As the story moves back and forth from After and Before we see how the two fell in love and how Mina is trying to work through how their marriage ended up in the emotional place it did before Michael died. 

“You were right before. You can never start over. But that doesn’t mean you can’t start new.” 

This had some of that overly descriptive literary writing feel and the vast majority of the story is more sedately paced as we spend it in Mina's head and swimming through her emotions. The second half, especially the latter part almost felt rushed as Mina learns Michael had an identical twin brother, Grayson, and he contacts her after Michael's death. When they meet face-to-face it all starts to move pretty quickly as secrets are revealed and Mina has whole new emotions to work through. While the writing was literary, the plot was soap opera flair and I can't help but feel Mina worked through and forgave a bit too much and a bit too quickly. I felt Mina, personally, got a happily ever after and more of a happily for now romantically but that HFN could easily read more HEA for people who buy into immediate no questions asked soulmates. If you're looking to wade around in some emotional angst, this would be a compelling debut to pick up.

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Reading Update: Page 1

 

Contemporary romance for this chilly Wednesday. 

Mina's husband died in a car crash six months ago, but if she's honest with herself, the marriage had been long over. 

Now, she's dealing with the haze of grief and a discovery in her husband's office. Enter Grayson, her husband's estranged brother, to complicate matters more. 

Feelings and secrets are stirring to life... 

When We Had Forever by Shaylin Gandhi purchase link 

Pesto Pasta Turkey Meatballs recipe

Review: The Secret of the Three Fates

The Secret of the Three Fates by Jess Armstrong
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

2.5 stars 

I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review 

The Three Fates, at Manhurst Castle for one night only. Join them to commune with the dead. 

After reading The Curse of Penryth Hall, I was chomping at the bit to see American heiress Ruby Vaughn and Cornish Pellar Ruan Kivell's story continue. I would suggest reading the first in the series as it would greatly improve your knowledge of character relationships and foundations. We left off with the murder solved in Cornwall and Ruby going back to live with Mr. Owens and things left uncertain with Ruan. The first introduced us to some magical elements, Ruan's Pellar status (a sort of witch) where he has healing powers and can hear Ruby's thoughts. It was hinted at that Ruby has her own status, Morvoren, but she's left not knowing what that really means. This starts off a couple weeks after the first in 1922 London. This time her friend, mentor, father figure, Mr. Owens, has maneuvered her to going with him to Scotland. 

“Murderer!” he shouted again, waggling a bony finger at Mr. Owen. 

The new setting of Scotland delivers much the same from the first, magical elements, séance and possibly ghostly activities, and, once again, a murder. Besides, Ruby, Mr. Owens, and Ruan who later shows up, it's a whole new cast of red-herrings. One of my favorite aspects of this was the atmosphere, it's spooky and descriptive. However, that new cast of characters, it got a bit overwhelming. In an effort to always keep the reader guessing, characters are delved into enough to tease just enough focus for finger pointing but the more sedate pace this had, made it tough to stay focused and remember all the reveals and connections. 

There is nowhere on earth you can hide from the dead… 

We get a good deal more on Mr. Owens' background here, his family life and how messy and fraught it was and is, it's mostly his drama that has created the mystery plot thread, along with a past shrouded gentleman's club. Ruby has her own background mess come up with a character from her past showing up but it was more about Ruby trying to solve the murder to keep an Inspector from blaming her and to save Mr. Owens. I was a little disappointed in how this seemed to be less Ruby figuring out clues and more-so overhearing what she needed to, to lead her to the guilty. I just think things could have moved at a quicker place in the later middle half as too many familial, friendship, and past relationship ties piled on. I also thought it was a bit ridiculous how Ruby questioned Mr. Owens' and Ruan's intentions, people she's very close with and knows way better, especially Mr. Owens, instead of solidly looking at who they were pointing at. Benefit of doubt and all but it felt more like dragging out the red-herring aspects. 

“You terrify me. I do not know what lives between us. I have seen more things in this world than I care to admit but I cannot explain what this is.” 

Ruby and Ruan shippers will like the pretty strong romantic element here, their obvious strong connection gets explored more and important discussions are had. Ruby still has her fear of her feelings and will probably make readers upset towards the end but a month later epilogue gives hope for these two and another adventure on the horizon (Howard Carter's discovery has just happened and Mr. Owens has gotten a call). Family drama, murder mystery, supernatural elements coming out to play, and romance, all lead to an atmospheric ride in Scotland this time.

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Reading Update: Page 1

 

Remember that book I was crying for to get a sequel last year (The Curse of Penryth Hall)? 

Guess what? 

Our American heiress Ruby Vaughn is back, baby! 

This time Mr. Owen has finagled Ruby into a séance. A séance that goes awry. 

Something you probably never want to go awry 

Ruby's suddenly got another murder to investigate and guess who she enlists for help? 

Ruan's also back, baby! 

The Secret of the Three Fates by Jess Armstrong purchase link

Pumpkin and Sausage Gnocchi recipe

As always, used turkey sausage. This was a seasonal delight!

Review: Better Than Friends

Better Than Friends by Jill Shalvis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

2.7 stars 

I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review 

She'd gotten really good at leaving over the years. 

Seventh in the Sunrise Cove series, each book is set in the small-town but can be easily read as standalones, Better Than Friends was a story about childhood friends who came close to being highschool sweethearts but an accident and emotional angst kept them apart for fourteen years. Olive came to live with her Gram in Sunrise Cove when she was fourteen, escaping not present parents who lived off-the-grid and were too much of free spirits for responsibility. She instantly bonded with Katie, a girl (a character who seems to present on the Autism spectrum) who was an outcast. Katie's twin brother Noah, popular good-looking guy who had an easier social time, became their protector, and Olive's crush. 

“Have you ever wondered what it'd be like between us now, as adults?” 

Olive's been away from Sunrise Cove for over a decade after leaving right after highschool graduation, but keeping in contact with Katie and sporadically visiting. She's started her own PR company in London but when Katie's husband Joe ends up in a coma after being injured on the job, she answers Katie's request for her to come back and help her get through it. Noah, who was also injured in the same accident as Joe, they both work for the Investigative Services Branch for the National Park Service, is off-duty while he heals and helping out at his sister's too. They've been careful to avoid each other over the years and readers feel the tension right away when they come face-to-face. 

He'd not trusted himself to push for a real conversation and reveal feelings he'd long ago buried. 

As we get to know the characters, it's both explicitly said, Olive somehow ended up running Noah over Senior year and damaging his leg enough that his baseball career was over before it even begun, and alluded to that there are other issues keeping these two apart. The story provides flashback scenes throughout the book that give us a look at these two in highschool and the events that have lead them to where they are today, which I thought helped give good context. As we get to know them, it's obvious that they both really like each other but Noah keeps saying he doesn't want to be tied down, which is given some foundation because of how he always he had to be perfect and take care of Katie because of pressure from his parents and how navigating society norms aren't as easy for Katie. Olive's stems from the background with her parents, not trusting love and hearing what Noah is saying and something that is alluded to happening between her and Noah five years ago. Once we got into the latter second half, I don't know, the two characters kept acting and saying things in ways that I started to get confused about what was really keeping them apart and it started to feel like the author, not the characters, was telling me they just couldn't be together, if that makes any sense. 

She didn't like regrets, but the truth was, she had plenty. 

The synopsis talked about some mystery, Olive hasn't been able to get in contact with her parents for a while, they missed their check-in call, and she starts to get really worried. It starts off a vague worry that finally comes into play but the utter and total non-climatic way it eventually got dealt with, well, it didn't need to be in the synopsis making me think there was some action mystery here. The storyline does work to deliver a storm and one bed scenario, so I guess. 

Secretly, she loved the fact that there was a side of him that was for her only, not shared with any of the outside world. 

This had a good set of characters that were nicely rounded out, three dimensional secondary characters but it kind of caused the romance to suffer a little, I think. The element keeping our two apart, felt pretty weak and it ended up making the ending feel dragged out for me. Still, Shalvis' writing is always smooth and if you're looking for a more sedate story that will occasionally ping with chemistry, take a visit to Sunrise Cove.

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Reading Update: Page 1

 

Time to snuggle in for some comfort reading 

We're back in Sunset Cove with Olive needing to turn to her ex to help find her missing parents 

Noah's been physically healing from an injury but never really healed emotionally from the breakup with Olive 

He's going to help Olive, but who's going to help him if he falls for her again? 

A little mystery and second chance romance! 

Better Than Friends by Jill Shalvis preorder (Jan. 21st) link

Sweet Chili Coconut Lime Grilled Chicken recipe 

Review: I'll Be Gone for Christmas

I'll Be Gone for Christmas by Georgia K. Boone
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

2.5 stars

I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review 

What did it mean to feel content? 

I'll Be Gone for Christmas was a story told in two alternating povs about can you be someone different in a different place. With some The Holiday movie feel, Bee and Clover switch homes for December. Bee lives in San Francisco and is feeling major burnout, she works with her high powered, feels like favored twin sister and has cost them two accounts over the last few months. She's a writer who can't seem to find any inspiration anymore for the copy edits she's supposed to write. Clover has had a rough year in her Ohio small-town, her mother died and she broke things off with her bestfriend since childhood, now, ex-fiancé. Bee wants to slow things down and thinks a farm in small town America will do it and Clover wants to test some boundaries after feeling completely shut-down by her mother before she died. 

This was more a women's fiction, finding yourself story to me than romance. While both women meet their eventual love interest as soon as they get to their destinations, that aspect kind of disappears as they do some soul searching about who they are and who they want to be. Bee is instantly attracted to Clover's ex-fiance, Knox, who works and lives on the farm but he seems to still be trying to get over Clover and Clover can't help but be attracted to Bee's twin sister Beth, but her mother's comment when Clover tried to come out to her, still rings loudly in her head. I liked how Clover's journey showed how representation matters, the environment and social circle she finds in San Francisco opens her eyes to possibilities and what is “normal”, helping her feel comfortable with her authentic self. There's a thread of Clover reuniting with an old friend and if you hadn't read the back synopsis, you'd be forgiven thinking that is going to be her love interest. It really wasn't until around 70% that Clover and Beth get romance genre going, leaving it to feel rushed and me not feeling a strong connection between them. 

Bee and Knox have some cute moments (a chopping wood scene!) but their romance also doesn't really start going until around 60% and even then there was still the hangover of Know still not completely moved on from Clover. I wouldn't go into this for the romance (closed door and some kisses), more of a finding yourself with some holiday vibes and start of relationships.

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Reading Update: 43%

Here was the problem with demonstrating East End ways in Mayfair: she couldn’t remember any lad who walked like St. Maur did. Nobody in the Green had the time to walk like this—a long, fluid sort of prowl that put her in mind of a hunting cat who’d had his fill to eat and now was just playing about for fun. Still, she’d set herself a task, and she would see it through. Rounding her eyes, she backed up toward the wall. “See? I’m being coy here.”

His mouth quirked. “So you are,” he said, and ran an appreciative look down her body. 

“Very good,” she said warmly. “Now you come on up and I’m going to pretend to ignore you until the very last—” But the words dropped right out of her brain as he stepped up and set a hand on the wall over her head. 

“Go on,” he said, too close for comfort. So close she could make out the strands of green and gold and gray in his eyes.

I'm Buddy Reading this on StoryGraph and I don't include rereads in my end of of year Best list, but know this scene would have made it. They're being playful with her teaching him how they flirt where she comes from and it ends up delivering on those sizzle feels. So good.

Reading Update: Page 1

 

Productivity this week:  reading 

Probably not going to get a lot more out of me

Bee and Clover need a break from their lives, so a la' The Holiday movie, they're switching homes

Bee needs out of the bustling San Francisco and into quiet and standstill countryside and Clover has had a year of losing her mother and leaving her fiance 

Bee's relaxing and getting charmed by an available ex-fiance and Clover can't seem to stop running into Bee's gorgeous sister 

A holiday house-swap with some bonus romance 

I'll Be Gone for Christmas by Georgia K. Boone purchase link

Jalapeño Peach Chicken recipe

Review: Cabinet of Curiosities: A Historical Tour of the Unbelievable, the Unsettling, and the Bizarre

Cabinet of Curiosities: A Historical Tour of the Unbelievable, the Unsettling, and the Bizarre by Aaron Mahnke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review 

A written British Museum Enlightenment Room, Cabinet of Curiosities would make a great addition to any home library or a fun coffee table book for guests. Numerous little short stories, under such categories as American History, Coincidences, Fantastic Beasts, Bizarre Events, More Than Human, Origin Stories, etc., gave delight and some gasps. Remember when Tennessee was Franklin, a nuke was dropped on a South Carolina playhouse, and a Napoleon officer's idea eventually lead to Braille? You'll learn about all that and more. 

Along with some learned knowledge tidbits, there were also some not so sure I should 100% believe all this, historical anecdotes that you're just going to have to take words for it, like a plumber who encountered ancient Romans. It was all in good fun though and I really enjoyed some of those, it will have you shining on trivia nights, stories, like how Wes Craven might have gotten the idea for Freddy Kruger and Locusta, who might have been one of the earliest hit-women. 

If you're like me, these quick short stories won't be enough and I loved how the back of the book had a Sources section that had me furthering my reading on some topics and going down rabbit holes. Fun and interesting with some more well known and more obscure tidbits.

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TBRChallenge Review: Courting Catherine

Courting Catherine by Nora Roberts
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

*This is a #TBRChallenge review, there will be spoilers, I don't spoil everything but enough, because I treat these reviews as a bookclub discussion. 

All he had to do was convince four sentimental women and their aunt to take the money and run. 

This month's TBRChallenge theme was “It came from the '90s!” and as that was the decade I came into reading romance, well, all I had to do was reach into a closet book box and see what I'd be reading. Courting Catherine is first in The Calhoun Women series by Nora Roberts, it's just shy of 200pgs and while, you know me, I have some grumbles about some aspects not being flushed out enough, there is something to be said for short, snappy contemporaries. 

This actually starts off with a Prologue in 1912 Bar Harbor, ME where a Mrs. Fergus Calhoun is out walking the cliffs with her children and comes upon an artist. There's zinging lust but, alas, she's married and with only a lingering glance back, she leaves the soulful eyed painter behind. For now. We then jump to Bar Harbor 1991 (extremely more current than 1912 could ever be, I can't bring myself to tag this historical, leave me alone) and are stranded with our main male character, Trenton St. James III as his BMW has broken down on the way to negotiate with four women and an aunt to convince them to sell their ancestral home so he can turn it into and fold it into his hotel business. The mechanic he tows his car to, C.C., turns out to be the youngest Calhoun sister Catherine, and she Does. Not. Want. To. Sell. 

She strode toward him until they were toe-to-toe and eye-to-eye. “I’m Catherine Colleen Calhoun. And I want you to keep your greedy hands off my house.”

I mentioned it in a reading update, but I love the clash of he's intrigued by her: “Get your butt back in your big, bad BMW and head back to Boston.” 

“A fascinating alliteration.” and she's annoyed by him: There was something arrogant about a maroon tie. Even his tie is getting under her skin! Classic. They're the oil and water big business rich boy and small-town mechanic in debt girl, but with that all important zing of attraction. I'm going to mention the page count again, it didn't lend itself to allowing too much filling out of Trent, we get that he's against marriage because his dad is on his fourth marriage, so he doesn't believe in all that love junk: Women were unstable, fickle creatures, and marriage was a bloodless kind of suicide. The ever present excuse, Daddy Drama. So while, he feels attraction, I mean, our boy was poetic waxing his butt off: He thought, foolishly, that he could feel the starlight on her skin, taste the moondust on her lips. He also gets scaredy pants when they're ready to get it on and C.C. lets it drop that not only is she a virgin, gasp!, she also LOVES him. The Horror. We get more of a complete character from C.C., having her family around, four sisters and aunt who raised them after their parents died, help to give different layers to her and I just felt like I ended up knowing her more.

Inside, Lilah smiled. “Why, he’s in love with her after all, but he’s too stupid to know it.” 

While these two are having some clash-offs, about to give into temptation, and then the running, there's also some of that trademark Roberts' paranormal. Remember 1912 Mrs. Calhoun? Apparently, she just casually haunts a tower in the house. As one does. Trenton St. James III finds himself attending a séance. As one does! During the séance, they feel a presence, specifically C.C. and Trenton, and an emerald and diamond necklace is brought up. They think it's hidden in the house somewhere, if it exists. This could save their money troubles, but, this is a series and we can't have all the answers in book one (there were also more flashbacks to 1912 to show a little more of the Mrs. and painter story progress but lingering questions there too). So with the necklace waiting in the wings somewhere, the sisters come to the conclusion that they are going to be forced to sell. Deciding that they should have a date before he leaves (a little ???), Trenton St. James III leaves himself open to the oldest attack in the book, The Revenge Dress. Our girl C.C. does not disappoint in a tight slinky red number slit up and plunged down to defeat the toughest of foes. Trenton St. James III has trouble breathing but Daddy Drama is also a tough force and he still ends up leaving. 

“You’re throwing away something—no, not throwing,” she corrected. “You’re politely handing back something you’ll never have again. What you’ve turned out of your life, Trent, would have been the best part of it.” 

A jump of three weeks and our waxing poet grows a heart of gold and comes up with a solution to the Calhoun women's woes (I feel like they should have thought this one up themselves?), he's going to front them the money to turn the west wing of the house into a hotel and have them live in the other part of the house. Trenton St. James III also breaks free from Daddy Drama and admits to himself that he loves C.C. and we get our I love yous and engagement. Like I said, there's something to be said for shorter and snappy and this hit the spot. Probably also because I liked the dynamic between the two, you could feel the attraction and ol' Trent was visibly the one struggling/a mess more, while C.C. put down her snarky fight first and accepted she loved him. Plus, we get some layered under the surface talk/scenes like this: 

“It’s warped.” She swallowed, hoping to smother the squeak in her voice.“Everything around here is warped or broken or about to disintegrate. I don’t know why you’d even consider buying it.” 

Her face was pale as water, Trent noted, making her eyes that much deeper. The panicked distress in them seemed more than a warped tower door warranted. “Doors can be repaired or replaced.” 

She's feeling for him but scared she's not good enough, so using the house in place, and he's all I got you. Sucker for such scenes, I tell you.

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#TBRChallenge Reading Update: 5%

I really am a sucker for the main character dynamic of he's intrigued "Get your butt back in your big, bad BMW and head back to Boston."

"A fascinating alliteration."

and he puts her back up, There was something arrogant about a maroon tie. I mean, this guy's tie is annoying her!😂

Reading Update: Page 1

 

Monday and a dreary day, let's get bizarre 

Based on the podcast, tales of astounding and bizarre people, places, and things throughout history. 

Time to learn some new icebreakers and/or have people think wtf after making small talk with me 

Cabinet of Curiosities by Aaron Mahnke purchase link

Coconut Gochujang Chicken Meatballs recipe

Gochujan is a new flavor for my household and my partner is now crazy for it, the only thing he'll dip chickie nuggies in now, lol. Smoky, spicy taste to it

2024 Reading Romance Challenge

I decided to add another challenge to my list this 2024 and  That's What I'm Talking About (Twimom227) posted about this on Mastodon, and I'm going for it! 

As it goes on all year, there is still time to signup (Sign-up Post). 

You all know I can't say no to a bingo game :)  Join us!

8th & 9th Bingo!

Still working towards my blackout!

Clicking on book title takes you to my review

STEM/Bluestocking - Principles of (E)motion by Sara Read

Animal on Cover - The Bright Spot by Jill Shalvis

Sports - Undecided by Julianna Keyes

TBR over 1 year - Gold Ring of Betrayal by Michelle Reid

SciFi/Fantasy - Lord of the Fading Lands by C.L. Wilson

Fake Relationship - Her Adventures in Temptation by Megan Frampton

Celebrity - When Grumpy Met Sunshine by Charlotte Stein

Blue Dress on Cover - The Blackest of Hearts by Emma V. Leech

Waterfront on Cover - The Summer Book Club by Susan Mallery

MC name starts with "S" - Pack Challenge by Shelly Laurenston

Witch/Warlock - Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli

Small town - Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer

LGBTQ - Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun

Medical Profession - After Hours by Cara McKenna

Necktie on Cover - You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian

Single Parent - Simple Jess by Pamela Morsi

Food on Cover - Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie by Jackie Lau

Royal MC - A Shadow in the Ember by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Non US/UK setting - Don't Look Back by Rachel Grant

Arranged/Marriage of Convenience - Viscount in Love by Eloisa James

Borrowed from Library - A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston

Romantic Suspense - Truth Hurts by A.R. O'Brien

XMas Setting - The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore

Review: Christmas with the Queen

Christmas with the Queen by Hazel Gaynor
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

2.5 stars 

I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review 

Jack had always been there, and yet, our timing had always been wrong. 

Taking place in 1952 England, Christmas with the Queen was the story of Olive, a single mother aspiring to work her way up to reporter in the BBC and Jack, an American who after WWII, left the Navy and stayed in London. The story starts off with a point-of-view from a young Queen Elizabeth II as she gets ready to spend her first Christmas in charge at Sandringham. There's a handful of povs from the Queen throughout the story and while I can see the attraction of having a real historical figure help ground a historical fiction story in time, it felt a little off to me to read a first person narrative from such a known figure to current generations. 

The two main povs are from Olive and Jack, switching off and on. Readers learn early on that Olive is lying about losing her husband in the war, she was never married but the times call for the lie. She lives at home with her parents helping her care for her daughter Lucy. Jack comes onto the pages happy with getting an opportunity to work in the royal kitchens at Sandringham, an opportunity his wife pushed him to take. Tragedy strikes early though and Jack finds himself a widow and reluctantly still taking the royal chef job. With a little luck and ambition, Olive gets the opportunity to cover the Christmas celebrations at Sandringham for the BBC and there she begins a yearly friendship with the queen and runs into Jack. We then get some flashback povs and learn these two knew each other seven years ago and that Olive is shaken up when she sees him again. 

If you're looking for a story with holiday feels, this has that as most of the story takes place in the month December, jumping to the month, spanning five years as Olive and Jack find themselves separated by circumstance, Olive trying to get promoted at the BBC, Jack busy as a chef and working towards his goal of opening his own restaurant, until they come together by luck each year at Sandringham and a royal Christmas tour. 

Around 35% a secret Olive is hiding (it's pretty obvious what it is) gets revealed to readers and I can see quite a few getting frustrated and irritated with Olive's inability and weakness at telling the person who needs to know. The authors tried to make it understandable why she delays so much, but, especially towards the end, she really had no excuse, and the relationship she tries to get going with a secondary character really did nothing for the story, for me anyway. This was more historical fiction with slice of life, the romance between Olive and Jack doesn't really get going until the last 20% and then we get a, very understandable, third act breakup with Jack having to get over his anger at Olive. 

A softer, there is some grief emotion with Jack learning to live with widowhood and Olive dealing with sexism in society and work, historical fiction that December hops for five years while Olive and Jack's lives bring them apart and together, with appearances by Queen Elizabeth II and some Easter egg characters from the authors' other books.

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Reading Update: Page 1

 

From festive contemporary romance to festive historical fiction 

December 1952 and Olive's an aspiring reporter getting ready to cover the royal Christmas at Sandringham House in Norfolk and her old friend Jack is going to surprisingly be there too. 

He's a chef and widowed, and I guess the story spans five years?? The synopsis mentions a big secret, so I'm instantly "Secret Baby!" But I'm not sure that makes sense, lol 

Christmas with the Queen by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb preorder  (Nov. 19th) link 

Pasta with Sausage and Asparagus recipe

I don't know, this one was a little blah to me

Review: The Christmas Tree Farm

The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

2.5 stars 

I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review 

Kira North hated Christmas. 

Kira's twin sister has married and left to live overseas, as someone that has always depended on her sister's more level-headed personality, Kira feels extremely adrift. After watching a bunch of homesteading videos, Kira gets it in her mind that what she needs to do is buy a farm and with a trust fund just sitting there, well, a Christmas Tree Farm is purchased. This is third in the Dream Harbour series but each book works as a standalone, the tying thread is the small-town and friend group that flutters in and out of whoever the main characters' book is at the time. I read a paperback copy of this and there was a map of the town, which was fun to see and imagine all the characters going to and fro shops and businesses. Kira gets paired up with Bennett, series readers will remember him as the brother to a past lead, he's in town for vacation and to get his dating life in order, no more fix-it women. So, we have a determined to make it her on her own for the first time in her life and a will explode if he doesn't help, couple. 

When she lifted her eyes to his, he was still looking at her like he had plenty of ideas on how to keep her warm. 

If you couldn't tell by the title, this works super well as a seasonal read, snowball fights, Christmas festivals, stroopwaffles!, you're probably going to want to lean into those feelings as the actual plot was a bit slow going. Kira and Bennett meet and have instant attraction right away but Kira's a grumpy gus who does not want to give into her attraction as she sees that as her going back to her old ways. Bennett has a bit of that as well, he was burned bad by an old girlfriend, he actually moved from the East to West coast for her only to be told, he was too boring for her and then to be used a periodic desperate grab when she got lonely. He's working to shore up his defense for women who only use him. He never builds up too tough of a wall against Kira but he does get his feelings hurt after they have some bedroom scenes (some spice heat to these scenes) and Kira still tells him she doesn't want him, for some later in the book angst. Kira, exhaustively, ping pongs hot for Ben and doesn't want to lean on anyone. 

Lumberjack fantasies that Kira didn't even know she had rushed into her head. 

This was pretty low angst but at over three hundred pages (to me, this easily should have been two-twenty-ish) there wasn't a lot to keep this going, the relationship issues were draaaaaaaaaaaaged out. There was also a little bit of mystery thread, the farm Kira bought is rumored to have treasure or a body!?, buried on the property, it's what first gets Bennett out there continuously, friends/townspeople pressure him to go search for the body so the new gal doesn't find it and get scared away. I don't know, this mystery thread gets brought up and then, just about, completely ignored for the majority of the book, only to be kind of brought in with some found letters and then secrets revealed in the epilogue. 

He wanted to confess that all he wanted for Christmas was her. 

The page count was way too long on this for me, making the story feel dragged out, Kira ping ponged too much, and the mystery thread wasn't invested in enough. It was fun to visit the town again, see past couples, and experience some festive vibes.

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