Tag: Charming

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Hidden Secrets at the Little Village Church (Rees)-BoT-Fiction-Available Now

I was completely taken by this book from start to finish. I thought that the plot was interesting, the characters were engaging, and the overall story was unique.

I mean, honestly, who would think that a story hinging on the fundraising for a church roof could be so entertaining? Not to mention the unlikeliest pairing of characters I’ve seen in a long time.

There were parts of it that were a little predictable – Gwen was an odd bird who had suffered a great loss and was forced to live with a mean old aunt. It was no surprise that she would embrace a project such as the one tasked by Vicar Dave.

Jarvis was less obvious. He ended up being more complex than I thought he would be. At the beginning, he was a typical screwup (although a tad old for it), and it took me a while to figure out what his game was (because he obviously had one).

Okay, to be honest, I didn’t figure it out until it was revealed.

And what a surprise it was, because it totally changed the perspective I had of Jarvis. I’m sure that was intentioned, and it was very well done.

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I could totally see myself getting wrapped up in a project such as Gwen and Jarvis undertook. I would thrive on something like that. So, I was just as avid as they were to continue the research in the guest book.

I don’t want to say a lot more, because I truly enjoyed not knowing what was coming next.

I will say that in addition to the great story, I really enjoyed watching (reading?) Gwen and Jarvis both grow. It felt good to see two people bring out unique aspects of each other while also recognizing their own strengths.

I guess that’s a good lesson out of this – never let other people define your self-worth. Gwen did with her Aunt Mary and Jarvis did with, well…the whole town. But they got past that to re-discover their strengths.

This was definitely a feel-good novel that I enjoyed from beginning to end.

Twitter: @AuthorTracyRees
https://www.tracyrees.com

Author Bio:
Tracy Rees was the winner of the Richard and Judy ‘Search for a Bestseller’ Competition and her books are paperback, ebook and audio bestsellers. A Cambridge graduate, she had a successful eight-year career in nonfiction publishing and a second career practising and teaching humanistic counselling before becoming a writer. She lives in Wales.

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New Girl in Little Cove (Monaghan)-Blog Tour-Fiction-Available May 11

I learned a lot of things from this book. including delightful new words and phrases.

I learned that small towns are the same whether they are in Newfoundland or the US or UK, and also that teenagers can be obnoxious regardless of country of residence.

That is what made this book so enjoyable to me. Even though I have never traveled to Newfoundland, I found the attitudes of the townspeople to be similar to a small upstate NY town we used to live in. As a former teacher, I felt the teenage characters were familiar as well.

Rachel was therefore relatable on a couple of different levels. I remember my first day of teaching high school like it was yesterday. That was one of my favorite scenes in the book.

She also handled everything the best she could. She wasn’t perfect and she made mistakes, but she came across as someone genuine who just wanted to fit in and do a good job.

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I especially liked how the author wrote phonetically or in the vernacular. I know that’s often a bone of contention when dealing with accents in a book.

But I prefer it because I read those parts out loud (yes, it probably seemed as if I was talking to myself) and it definitely gave me a better feel for the cadence and lilt of the townies’ language. I was also struck by how much it had in common with Irish inflections and contractions.

I really enjoyed all of the characters – quirky doesn’t begin to describe some of them.

But back to the teaching part, I thought the way Rachel figured out how to reach the students was accurately portrayed. Sometimes it’s all about just catching their attention in the smallest way – then you can expand on it to bring them further around.  

I guess if there was a phrase to sum up this book it would be “don’t judge a book by its cover.” The townies got to know Rachel instead of judging her as a mainlander and she got to know the students in spite of being warned about them by others.

This was a charming book and I would recommend it for a light, easy, relaxing read.

Social Links:
Author Website
Twitter: @Downith
Instagram: @Downith1
Facebook: @AuthorDMonaghan
Goodreads

DAMHNAIT MONAGHAN was once a mainlander who taught in a small fishing village in Newfoundland. A former teacher and lawyer, Monaghan has almost sixty publication credits, including flash fiction, creative non-fiction, and short stories. Her short prose has won or placed in various writing competitions and has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize, Best Small Fictions, and Best Microfictions. New Girl in Little Cove placed in the top six from more than 350 entries in the 2019 International Caledonia Novel Award.

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The Friendship List by Susan Mallery- Blog Tour (Review)

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, but what I got was a heartwarming and honest look at friendships and how nobody has to navigate life on their own. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this book.

I thought the differences between Ellen and Unity, friends since childhood, were unique, but also led them to be in the same boat in a small town. Ellen had a teenage pregnancy and ended up a single mom while Unity married her first boyfriend who she subsequently lost at an early age. Both women have become stuck in their ways.

One day, after some particularly challenging news for each of them, they sit down and write out a list of challenges designed to alter the paths their lives are taking. Sort of a bucket list for 30-year-olds.

I really enjoyed the author’s writing style. It was realistic and natural and just flowed. The inner dialogues were as crisp as what the characters said to each other, so there was no lag in the action. There were several times I found myself thinking, “Yep, that’s what I would have said.”

The author also tackled some fairly serious issues (teen pregnancy, single parenting, grief, allowing the past to control the present, aging) with a keen eye but also with a sense of humor. It was serious when it needed to be, but never got preachy.

The secondary characters were just as enjoyable as Ellen and Unity and each of them brought something fun to the story. I could see where the romantic interests for each of the woman were going right away, but the journey with them was enjoyable.

The only thing that stuck out to me, and probably only because I am a teacher by trade, was the college bus trip that Ellen and Keith took to Southern California with the high school students. I did a similar trip when I was in high school, but it was a totally different world then.

There’s no way that only two adults would take the group of teens on a two-week bus trip. And some of the events that happen on the bus trip would absolutely never occur. In fact, there were a few times that the adults were extremely irresponsible, and that bothered me a bit, because their actions didn’t really fit in with the rest of the book.

But I still think it was an excellent read and would highly recommend picking it up. There are some good lessons to be learned along the way.

BUY LINKS

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

SUSAN MALLERY is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of novels about the relationships that define women’s lives—family, friendship and romance. Library Journal says, “Mallery is the master of blending emotionally believable characters in realistic situations,” and readers seem to agree—forty million copies of her books have been sold worldwide. Her warm, humorous stories make the world a happier place to live.

Susan grew up in California and now lives in Seattle with her husband. She’s passionate about animal welfare, especially that of the two Ragdoll cats and adorable poodle who think of her as Mom.

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Books On Tour (Review): Death at the Dance by Verity Bright

Right from the start, I felt like I was reading a movie.

Let me explain.

I’m a big fan of the screwball comedies of the early talkies. “It Happened One Night” with Clark Gable  and Claudette Colbert is one of my favorites.

As soon as I started reading this book, I felt like I was dropped right into the middle of one of those. From the character and clothing descriptions to the dialogue, it all was true to the time. In a strange way, there were also times that I was reminded of Downton Abbey (another favorite).

Amazon: https://bit.ly/2YIyEEf

Honestly, this book had everything that makes a cozy mystery so much fun. The colorful characters, the rich detail, and (of course) the murder and ensuing investigation all made for a delightfully light and breezy read.

I liked Lady Eleanor as the sleuth because she was feisty but shrewd at times. I also really enjoyed Clifford. He was a butler, but so much more. In some ways, it felt like he was the Watson to Eleanor’s Sherlock. I’m not going to give away the plot of the mystery, but it’s a good (and fitting) one.

I mentioned detail, and I think this where the author really succeeded. From the descriptions of the fabrics and settings to the names of the characters, there was no part of the book that didn’t fit perfectly in the time period.

I think that’s what I liked most. The world created by the author enabled me to escape and enjoy a mystery romp in the 20s.

In times like these, that kind of talent is invaluable. I can’t wait to visit with Lady Eleanor on her next venture.

Author Bio:
Verity Bright is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing partnership that has spanned a quarter of a century. Starting out writing high-end travel articles and books, they published everything from self-improvement to humour, before embarking on their first historical mystery. They are the authors of the fabulous Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery series, set in the 1920s. 

Twitter: @BrightVerity
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Books On Tour (Review): Daughters of Wild Rose Bay by Susanne O’Leary

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, but I can safely say that it wasn’t a purple-haired Irish mother on a raw food diet who is into yoga and meditating. And that’s just one reason I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

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It is filled with quirky characters, some of whom may be familiar to readers of this series (it’s the fourth out of five books). As I am new to the series, I found joy in each new introduction from Sally to Mad Brendan and all of the other inhabitants of Sandy Cove. And yes, Aiden is an absolutely swoon-worthy Irish suitor. 🙂

I thought that the author painted a lovely picture of an Irish seaside town. Her writing is almost lyrical at times, effortless to read, and it drew me in, nearly lulling me the way lapping waves on a beach would. I know that might sound a little corny, but I had that same feeling of contentment as I read.

I also like Jasmine as the “heroine.” I thought her background was unique, and I enjoyed her journey. I also appreciated how the author didn’t hit the reader with a great big sob story from the start. That sometimes seems manipulative, like we’re being forced to feel pity for the character.

But Ms. O’Leary allows us to get to know Jasmine gradually so that when her reasons for leaving France are revealed, we have a greater understanding of her and, therefore, my reactions and feelings towards Jasmine were more real and heartfelt.

As I mentioned, this is the fourth book in the Sandy Cove series. If Daughters of Wild Rose Bay is any indication, I will absolutely be going back and grabbing the first four to catch up while I wait for the fifth one. This is a place I will be happy to revisit.

Author Bio

Susanne O’Leary is the bestselling author of more than twenty novels, mainly in the romantic fiction genre. She has also written three crime novels and two in the historical fiction genre. She has been the wife of a diplomat (still is), a fitness teacher and a translator. She now writes full-time from either of two locations, a ramshackle house in County Tipperary, Ireland or a little cottage overlooking the Atlantic in Dingle, County Kerry. When she is not scaling the mountains of said counties, or keeping fit in the local gym, she keeps writing, producing a book every six months.

Visit Susanne at her website, http://www.susanne-oleary.co.uk  or her blog, http://bit.ly/11F4e4S 
Find her on Facebook, http://on.fb.me/1A2NAbr and on Twitter, http://bit.ly/1rH67dK
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Blog Tour (w/Review): The Little Bookshop on the Seine by Rebecca Raisin

What a charming novel! I am so grateful I had the opportunity to read it through the Harlequin Trade Publishing Romance and Women’s Fiction Winter Blog Tour

The author got right to the point – there was not a lot of pretense or beating around the bush. Sarah and Sophie swap bookshops, with Sarah arguably getting the better end of the deal because she gets to go to Paris (although Sophie has her reasons for wanting to trade places as well).

I loved how Sarah approached books, and the author’s personification of the books (Sarah could hear them sighing, felt that they whispered secrets, etc.) was relatable. Anyone who is a book lover knows that dog-earing pages and cracking spines physically hurts the book. (Not really, but book lovers understand what I mean).

I thought the author did an excellent job of charting Sarah’s relationship with Ridge, her mostly absent boyfriend. I don’t want to give anything away, but the arc was unique and did not go in the direction I thought that it would (and I was glad it didn’t).

I liked all of the secondary characters as well. I saw through Beatrice from the get-go but would love to have Oceane as a friend and guide in Paris. She was the epitome of Paris-chic.

This book read as a love letter to Paris as much as it did to books. The author took great care in describing the sights and the people of Paris, both in the narrative and through Sarah’s eyes. I particularly liked the moments where Oceane or Luiz let Sarah in on a “secret” café or boutique that had specific “rules” for entry (especially loved the antique shop).

I was in Paris with my family two summers ago. It was a brief visit, but it was enough to get a taste of the charm that is so well described in this book. I loved reading the descriptions of the alleyways and arrondissements as they brought back memories of our strolls through the streets. This was a delightful book with likable characters and a spectacular backdrop, and it shouldn’t be missed.

Buy Links

Author Website
Twitter: @JaxandWillsMum
Facebook: @RebeccaRaisinAuthor
Instagram: @RebeccaRaisinWrites
Goodreads

Author Bio: Rebecca Raisin is the author of several novels, including the beloved Little Paris series and the Gingerbread Café trilogy, and her short stories have been published in various anthologies and fiction magazines. You can follow Rebecca on Facebook, and at www.rebeccaraisin.com

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