Review: Last Night

Last Night by Mhairi McFarlane
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Eve, Sophie, Justin and Ed have been friends since they were eighteen years old, they may have parted ways when they went to university but they are still close and participate in the weekly quiz at their local pub on a Thursday night. They like to think of themselves as a British version of the characters in the film The Breakfast Club, albeit Justin says he is a gay version of Judd Nelson.

Just before they left for university Ed and Eve had a moment, but, as is often the way, things went awry, and Ed met Hester. Now the gang are in their early thirties, with careers and their own homes, but Eve is still in love with Ed, sometimes they share a moment or a glance and Eve wonders if he still thinks of her like that, but when Hester proposes things are about to change. Eve just didn't realise just how much things would change that night, but tragedy strikes and Eve learns that everything she thought she knew about her friends is no longer true.

There's so much to unpack in this book, growing older doesn't necessarily mean growing up, your best friend may have your back but they aren't always a reliable narrator, good guys can also do bad things, and sometimes your first kiss can be the one!

It sounds odd to say that a book based on a tragedy is a feel good, uplifting romance but it really is. Eve is such a great character, funny, honest, loyal, and genuine. And in their own ways, so are her friends.

Another cracker from a master of contemporary romance.

I was offered a free copy of this book by the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

View all my reviews

Review: Three Weddings and a Proposal

Three Weddings and a Proposal by Sheila O'Flanagan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Three and a half stars.

Delphie is living her best life, executive assistant to one of Ireland's wealthiest men she travels the world doing everything from buying an antique bracelet for his girlfriend to reviewing business plans and managing the company's charitable foundation. She's single with her own beautiful cottage by the sea but the rest of her large Irish family won't stop feeling sorry for her just because she's alone. The last straw comes when she is being harangued from all sides because she hasn't named a plus one for her brother's imminent wedding (because they need to write the placecards for the reception FFS). Then a quick trip to Mallorca to hand over said bracelet to her boss brings great news, he wants to appoint her to the Board. Then on the flight home she sits next to her ex, Ed, who left her to work in Dubai.

Then tragedy strikes and Delphie's wonderful life collapses around her shoulders. Could reconnecting with the only boyfriend she ever really loved change everything?

I did really enjoy this story although I felt that the two major plot lines were too obviously telegraphed, or maybe I'm just that good at reading people, or maybe I've just read a scary number of contemporary romances? It was nice to have a 'career woman' who genuinely loves her career and doesn't suddenly decide to settle for something slower-paced, or using a softer, more feminine skill (like opening a cup-cake shop). I liked Delphie and I wanted to be her friend. I don't think I've read any other books by Sheila O'Flanagan but i like her writing and will definitely look out for more from her.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

View all my reviews

Review: The House Swap

The House Swap by Jo Lovett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Four and a half stars.

Cassie is a Glaswegian writer who relocated to a small island in Maine several years ago when her children's books became successful. Her wonderful, but pushy, agent wants her to set a new series of her books in London, a city that Cassie has rarely visited. She loves her quaint island with its patchy Wi-Fi and quirky neighbours.

James is a very successful venture capitalist. Determinedly single he is blind-sided when his half-hearted relationship with his girlfriend becomes conflated into an expected marriage proposal and then she won't take no for an answer.

The answer for James and Cassie is Swapbnb, James will swap his swanky flat in Central London for Cassie's rambling house in Maine and vice versa. Cassie and James couldn't be more different if they tried, she is desperate for a baby and intends to try IVF while she is in London, James never wants children. Cassie is sociable and friends with everyone she meets, while James doesn't even know his neighbours. Cassie left pages and pages of notes about her home, her animals, the locals and things to do in the local area, she even bought new bedding and filled the freezer with home-made food for James. James stripped his flat of towels, bedding and food ready for Cassie.

Although their interactions are prickly at first, 'why didn't you tell me there was only Wi-Fi at 3am?', 'why didn't you leave me any sheets or a pint of milk?' type of thing, they tentatively begin a long-distance friendship.

What I really liked about this novel was the maturity of the characters (both late 30s) and the way in which there was nothing forced about the romance. James comes back to the UK for his godson's christening but whereas in a rom-com he would have invited Cassie as his plus-one and the romance would have taken off like a rocket, in this book they meet briefly and chat then he returns to the US. It all feels very organic and grown-up. There's no teenage angst-fest, that's not to say that there isn't tension and 'reasons' but it all feels very real and unfolds over several months.

Just loved it!

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

View all my reviews

Review: Family and Honor

Family and Honor by Kristen Banet
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jacky Leon was changed into a werecat a decade ago after a horrific car crash which killed her fiancé. After falling out with her sire Hasan over this issue she lives in the wilds of Texas running a small dive bar and pretty much keeping to herself. Then, in the first book she is drawn into the supernatural world when the human daughter of the Dallas werewolf Alpha Heath calls on her for protection after an attempted coup. The repercussions from those events have led to the Alpha retiring and moving with his werewolf son and human daughter to Jacky's territory.

Two werecats have now gone missing in Washington state and Jacky's werecat older brother Jabari is investigating on behalf of Hasan and the supernatural council, the fear is that they have been killed by werewolves. Then Jabari goes missing and Jacky is the only family member close enough to investigate. She asks Heath to perform the necessary introductions to the local werewolf Alpha to smooth her way, only for them to discover that four werewolves have also gone missing. This situation has the potential to create a new war between the werecats and werewolves if Jacky and Heath don't find out the truth, and fast!

Another fast-paced book in this series, as with the first book, my only gripe is that to me it was obvious what had happened. But the way in which the story unfolded and the tension was maintained was good.

View all my reviews

Review: The Moment I Met You: The unmissable, romantic and heartbreaking new novel for 2021 from the million-copy bestselling author

The Moment I Met You: The unmissable, romantic and heartbreaking new novel for 2021 from the million-copy bestselling author by Debbie Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Three and a half stars.

Elena Godwin was on holiday in Mexico with her long-term boyfriend, after two weeks away she has come to the conclusion that they are no longer in love and don't have very much in common. An innocent conversation with a fellow tourist at a tour stop creates a frisson of excitement and a hint of something more, when a tragedy changes her life forever. Ten years later, her life changed irrevocably, Elena is approached to take part in a documentary about the events that took place. As Elena recalls the events of that day, she also uncovers a number of secrets that lead her to question the choices she made.

I've been deliberately vague so as not to spoil the story which unfolds through flashbacks and interviews. However, it reminded me strongly of the film Cousins and TBH I pretty much guessed all of the 'reveals' pretty early on. I have a feeling that I've read something similar before but I've looked and can't find the book(s) I'm thinking of.

Anyway, it's Debbie Johnson so the writing was good and the story drew me in, but I wouldn't say it was heart-breaking. I think Elena was just too perfect for me to truly relate, not a doormat precisely but just too nice, too good, too uncomplaining.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

View all my reviews

Review: Ten Things I Hate About the Duke

Ten Things I Hate About the Duke by Loretta Chase
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A Victorian re-imagining of The Taming of the Shrew.

Cassandra Pomfret is an ardent feminist and follower of the works of Mary Wollenscraft, the daughter of a Member of Parliament she has strong views and has spoken up, against male speakers, at various public events. Her latest outburst has so incensed her father that he has threatened to send her younger sister home to the country, foregoing her London season, if. Cassandra doesn't curb her tongue.

Lucius Beckinham, sixth Duke of Ashmont, and his friends live a life of dissolution (drinking, gambling etc) and excel at practical jokes such as smuggling a goat into the snootiest ball and letting it loose. Apparently in the first book in this series Ashmont's fiance ran off with one of his best friends which led to a duel.

Cassandra and Lucius knew each other as children, albeit Lucius was much older than Cassandra, and she hero-worshipped him, perhaps even loved him, for years, until his ridiculous behaviour and lack of moral fibre turned her love into disgust.

Lucius and Cassandra encounter each other again when Lucius fires a gun to disperse a fight which spooks Cassandra's carriage horses and causes an accident. Stuck alone in a country inn, with no chaperone and forced to stay and look after her groom, Cassandra will be ruined. But she would rather be ruined than marry a waste of space like Lucius.

Lucius is impressed by Cassandra's spit and fire, even if it is directed at him. He soon comes to realise that she is unfairly denigrated for speaking her mind, just because she's a woman, called names like Medusa and Gorgon just because she doesn't suffer fools. The more he sees of her, the more he comes to admire, but can he make himself someone she could love?

I enjoyed reading this at the time but I must confess the story has been done and redone so many times it is difficult for an author to bring something new to the story and a week after reading the book I struggled to distinguish this from another historical romance I read in the same period.

View all my reviews

Review: Oath Sworn

Oath Sworn by Kristen Banet
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jacky Leon is a werecat, turned only a decade ago after a terrible car accident she has claimed a tract of woodland a couple of hours outside Dallas Fort Worth where she owns and runs a small bar. Werecats are solitary creatures and in this reality only werewolves have 'come out' to the humans. Jacky has a difficult relationship with her 'sire' Hasan, who is believed to be the oldest living werecat and over two thousand years old. As a living legend Hasan carries a lot of baggage and so Jacky has never told anyone that he is her father.

Jacky gets dragged into the leadership battle for head of the Dallas Fort Worth werewolf pack when the Alpha's eleven year old human daughter claims Jacky's protection under the Duty she owes to the supernatural community under an ancient treaty which created peace between the species around 800 years ago. Under the Laws werecats are sworn to protect humans who claim protection, even if Jacky wasn't already primed to help a small scared young girl.

Chased from pillar to post by gangs of rebel werewolves, desperate to kidnap the Alpha's daughter (which goes against all supernatural rules of engagement), Jacky is in the fight for her very life. But what everyone seems to have forgotten is that werecats are more vicious and faster than werewolves, there's a reason why it takes a hunting pack of at least wolves to take down a werecat.

I liked this, it was a little predictable, I guessed at the individuals behind the coup quite quickly but I also read a lot of PNR/urban fantasy so I have seen lots of permutations of this type of story, but the story was fast moving and very easy to read. I will definitely read the next book in the series.

View all my reviews

Review: Behind Closed Doors

Behind Closed Doors by Catherine Alliott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lucy Palmer had it all. A successful career writing cosy mysteries, a theatre-critic husband, a large house in a desirable area of London and two well-adjusted children. But behind the facade lies something sinister, jealousy, controlling behaviour, multiple affairs, psychological abuse, threats and fear.

Lucy's 80+ parents are no longer coping alone, drinking too much and not looking after themselves properly, something needs to be done.

Then Lucy's husband Michael dies suddenly and everything changes.

I fear I have made this sound gloomy, and it really isn't. Sure, some glimpses into Lucy's life feel a little close to the bone, but despite everything Lucy has a loving sister, parents, children, and friends.Her husband and his snobby friends might have looked down on her novels but they paid the bills on the house Michael bought with an inheritance.

I really enjoyed this, I didn't realise I had read and enjoyed another of Catherine Alliott's books before, that book was very different, albeit those characters also seemed to live in lovely, lovely houses LOL.

Thoroughly enjoyable and I could have carried on reading for 100s of pages more.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

View all my reviews

Review: My Perfect Ex-Boyfriend

My Perfect Ex-Boyfriend by Annabelle Costa
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Three and a half stars.

Bailey is a divorced single mother, working as a social worker and barely making ends meet as her ex continues to believe that his band will one day make it big. Then her widowed father announces that he is getting married and he wants Bailey and her daughter Lily to spend the half-term week with him and his bride-to-be at her son's lake cottage.

All is great until Bailey arrives at the cottage to find that her father's fiancé is the mother of her college ex-boyfriend, and the cottage belongs to said ex-boyfriend Noah. No-one made the connection until it was too late, now Noah loathes Bailey and can't stop making snide comments, he even deliberately burns her burger! Bailey can't believe it, Noah is now a successful ER doctor with a swanky car, home in the city, boat and a lake-side cottage while she is sharing a bedroom with her six-year old daughter.

Told through flashbacks we learn how Bailey and Noah met, why they split and why Noah can't forgive her.

This was an enjoyable read, I guess it was a massive coincidence that Bailey's father and Noah's mother meet and fall in love but I thought the set up for why Noah hates Bailey (and why she acted the way she did) was pretty believable.

View all my reviews

Review: Home on Folly Farm: The perfect uplifting romantic comedy for 2021

Home on Folly Farm: The perfect uplifting romantic comedy for 2021 by Jane Lovering
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Pan(dora) left her home and family in Streatham to run her grandfather's rare sheep breed farm in the Yorkshire Dales. She might be alone and barely making ends meet but she's happy. Well, until her younger sister Cass(andra), her son Haw(thor)ne and his tutor Nat arrive for an extended stay. Dora and Cass are very different, while Dora works 24/7 on the farm Cass has been cosseted by their parents, she's barely held down a job but somehow affords manicures, fake tans and the latest clothes. Dora might have inherited the farm but she has to share any profits 50/50 with Cass which causes friction between the sisters.

Thor is a 12 going on 30 year old with a vlog and over 1,000 followers. Although at first he is appalled at the farm and the lack of modern technology, he and Nat soon start to use the farm as a teaching aid. But there's something very familiar about Nat, he reminds Dora vividly of someone she knew a decade ago, someone she once loved fiercely.

As the farming year progresses the sisters come to live in a sort of equilibrium, Cass is redecorating the old farmhouse while Dora looks after the farm, but will the farm bring them together or tear them apart once and for all?

I really enjoy Jane Lovering's novels. They are quirky, varied and have interesting characters. Unlike many authors, I never know quite where her books are going and this was no exception.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review.

View all my reviews

Review: The Knockout Rule

The Knockout Rule by Kelly Siskind
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Isla Slade is a physiotherapist, she works with athletes but has a hard rule - no boxers. Her father, Graham, was a famous boxer now trainer, and watching his fights gave Isla panic attacks, particularly after her mother left them. Graham has suffered his diagnosis for two years and never told a soul. He is paranoid about his illness and swears Isla to secrecy. He also refuses to talk about it.

But now Daddy-dearest has put Isla in a terrible position, he has Parkinson's and needs her to come to Las Vegas with him to work on a new boxer Brick 'Smash' Kramarov, Isla would be there working but also covering up if her father is unwell. Brick is everything that Isla hates about boxing, a huge Neanderthal with a violent persona and a catchphrase 'Brick Smash'. But the reality is somewhat different. Brick's real name is Eric and he is a sensitive man trying to look after his family who really wants to be a linguist, helping immigrants to gain access to justice and medical support.

Brick's agent, Preston, is a smooth-talking, nicely dressed man who wants to date Isla but she keeps turning him down, so he enlists Brick's help as a modern-day Cyrano de Bergerac to teach him how to woo a woman who likes poetry.

TBH, I'm not sure why I requested this novel because I don't have a good track record with stories involving boxing/MMA, especially those involving medical professionals. While Isla and Brick lasted longer than most before jumping into bed together they still broke that 'I must not sleep with my clients' rule. Also, I found Isla and Brick's habit of quoting poetry at each other was a bit NA/YA and cringe-worthy.

My other gripe was that everything had to be neatly resolved by the end. Graham's refusal to speak about his illness (which may have been caused by all the blows to the head that he suffered as a boxer), the reasons why Brick needed to fight, the conditions in his contract, all just pfff blown away.

So, better than many other books I have read of a similar genre but there were too many clichés to make it any more than a three star review.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review.

View all my reviews