Tag: romance

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

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The Wedding People is a serious, funny, seriously funny story with enough drama and comedy to keep you hanging on every word. The plot deals with love, death, life, connecting with strangers, happiness and depression and change. It truly is an uplifting tale which will have the reader rooting for all the wedding people as they traverse through their problems and try to discover the importance in their lives.

Phoebe Stone is a teacher, and she has decided to go to the famous Cornwall Inn wearing a beautiful dress to finish off her unbearably sad life. You see, she is divorced from the love of her life, also a teacher who cheated on her and ended up falling in love with someone else. As much as they tried, because of Phoebe, they had been unable to get pregnant something they both wanted desperately. She has not been able to finish writing her dissertation to get her PhD…for years, with everyone continually asking how it’s going. And finally, she comes home to her beloved cat Harry dead. And that is the final straw.

Now, as she stands in the lobby to check into the Inn, she realizes the others are checking in for a wedding that coming weekend. She overhears the conversations of some of the wedding people as to what the weekend will bring (with rolled eyes I might add). She discovers she is the only person at the Inn who is not one of the wedding people. Although dressed as such, no one knows.

When the bride to be Iris discovers she is at the Inn, she takes it upon herself, as Iris is quite the overbearing bridezilla, to go to Phoebe’s room to ask her to leave. When Phoebe explains she will not but will be out of her hair before the wedding, well, Iris basically blows a gasket!

As they sit and talk, something begins to happen. They begin to tell each other their deepest darkest fears and secrets. They start to bond over their similarly different ways of coping. And Phoebe begins to realize Iris and the wedding people may not be in a very good way, just as she too is feeling lost and lonely.

Iris invites Phoebe to one of the many, many wedding activities and Phoebe is introduced to the wedding people, the good, the bad, the drunk and the mother of the bride who is clearly Iris’s antagonist. You see, this wedding was supposed to happen before her father passed away. But he didn’t make it.

The more chaos the wedding people cause, the closer Phoebe and Iris become. But why? They are totally different people…or are they? And the closer Iris gets to her wedding, the closer Phoebe and Iris become to realizing certain things about themselves and each other. Are they now friends?

The Wedding People will break your heart, make you laugh, as you watch individuals learn about each other and grow, as they make life-changing choices and you will ponder the question, how on earth can two total strangers change each other’s lives as well as the wedding peoples for the better in just three days.

Thank you #NetGalley #HenryHoltandCo. #TheWeddingPeople #AlisonEspach for the advanced copy.

A Cup of Flour, a Pinch of Death by Valerie Burns

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A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death is just another charming, romantic comfort cozy murder mystery by the incredible Valerie Burns. It’s funny, there are murders to solve, interesting characters and an adorable English Mastiff named Baby. And if that isn’t enough, the main character owns a bakery, and one can almost taste and smell what they are baking!

Maddy’s new life as owner of Baby Cakes Bakery, the store her Aunt Octavia owned and which she inherited (along with her aunt’s dog…very big dog, named Baby) when she died under very mysterious circumstances.

Maddy’s life has finally settled down and she and Baby understand each other, sort of. Maddy has even been attempting to do some baking, as in her prior life she was a social influencer on social media. But when of all people, Brandy Denton, another social media influencer AND the woman who took her fiancé a doctor away from her visits this small town, Maddy goes ballistic on her. Unfortunately, the fight was caught on tape and put on social medial with many views. Of course this happens in Maddy’s bakery!

So, when Brandy shows us dead in the bakery, well unfortunately for Maddy, she becomes the prime suspect in her murder. Why does this keep happening to her? Her roommate, Sherriff April Johnson is taken off the case and the head honcho of the next town who Maddy has butt heads with in the past takes over and pressures her to confess. So does her own lawyer who keeps telling her he can work out a deal.

But, with a little help from her friends, her boyfriend Michael, the local veterinarian as well as the hardworking Baker Street Irregulars, friends of her beloved aunt and murder mystery buffs begin to collect clues.

But it doesn’t seem to be going well. Her ex-fiancé shows up as well as a mysterious stranger who informs Maddy that he has kept something her aunt gave him to give to her. But just as he is to meet her, something goes wrong.

With all this against Maddy, how will this end?

A Cup of Flour, a Pinch of Death will not disappoint. With so many moving parts, and a wonderful, surprising ending, which will excite Maddy and Baby fans, I suggest you sit and read this delightful story with a cup of coffee (or tea) with one of the recipes at the end of the book!

Thank you #NetGalley #Kensington #ValerieBurns #ACupofFlour,aPinchofDeath for the advanced copy.

On The Surface by Rachel McGuire

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On The Surface is a palpitating, what on earth happened, who did it with layers of mystery, psychologically flawed characters all cushioned around social influencers and how to up viewership and money. Are you ready?

Dani Fox and Sawyer Stone run a little YouTube channel called Sailing With The Foxes. They have been traveling by sailboat and documenting their experiences. Although viewership is low and slow, and they are running out of money, and getting a bit sick of each other, they keep trying to figure out ways of gaining attention. Because with more viewers comes more money.

But their dreams all stop when one night after going to a party on another boat, Dani disappears the next day and Sawyer doesn’t remember what happened the night before. While everyone seems concerned, Sawyer knows Dani. She has probably just gone off for some alone time.

Then the police receive some disturbing information which seems to indicate that Sawyer who seems to be an alcoholic and was becoming abusive towards Dani could have harmed her. When they find a bloodied dress hidden on the boat, well the Bahamian Police suspect he killed her.

While the investigation is going on, Dani’s disappearance is not only turned into a top news story, but podcaster, true crime followers and YouTubers all begin to focus on the mystery with tips and conspiracies. But still no Dani. What could have happened? Did Sawyer kill her or did she drown. One thing for sure, they begin to dig up information on Sawyer which makes his look even worse if that’s at all possible!

Unfortunately, Sawyer was not the only one who had secrets. So did Dani.

As the search continues and some of the unhinged true crime people descend upon the Island, Sawyer is now the center of attention. But all he can think of is…how can he make some money? Unfortunately, if he goes to jail, there will be no fortune.

On The Surface will keep you guessing as to what really happened as each twist is revealed and secrets exposed. But in the end, the likes, clicks and algorithms will be more important than any missing person. What would you do to keep your numbers up? Kill?

Thank you #NetGalley #CrookedLaneBooks #OnTheSurface #RachelMcGuire for the advanced copy.

What’s in a Kiss? by Lauren Kate

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What’s in a Kiss? is a captivating, funny enchanting story about a woman whose future was extremely promising, until it suddenly took a horrible turn. As she prepares to marry off her best friend since childhood and see the handsome crush she almost but did not kiss back in high school, who is now famous, she begins to feel she has nothing to show for her life since her promising high school years. For her, she’s never been able to get past the “what-if’s” and that kiss that never happened.

Liv is a Lyft driver who lives in the same place she grew up. She lives with the love of her life…her dog, Graham Parsons. Her best friend Masha is still the best friend she had when she was in kindergarten, and her mother is the love of her life. She feels content, well sort of.

The reality is during high school she had a promising future as an actress. She had been accepted to Julliard and was looking forward to the move to New York. Unfortunately, something devastating happened and that ended her dreams and she chose to stay with her mother and her best friend.

So although she is excited that her best friend is getting married and she is the maid of honor, she begins to relive her past as well as the crush she had on one Jake who is the best man in the same wedding, who is a famous podcaster and of course, dating a model. She’s not jealous! She always regrets that she had that one chance at prom to kiss him, but for some reason it never happened. But she still carries this with her even in the present.

So, when she picks up a fare and it’s Jake, their meeting does not go very well. She’s embarrassed and he’s just plain obnoxious. How she’s going to be able to put up with him in the next few days is beyond her.

But, something happens during the wedding ceremony which changes her life…literally…as Masha and her fiancé are about to say I Do, Liv catches Jake’s eye and her head begins to spin, and she thinks she’s going to faint. She comes out of this trance in a very different reality!

In this new reality, Liv is a popular actress, living in a mansion, Masha refuses to talk to her, her mother is not in her life and acts as if she hates her and oh, she married to Jake! As for Jake, he adores her and is the opposite of what he was in high school. He is so supportive, handsome and puts her career first. Clearly in this reality that prom kiss did happen…but what happened after that??

Although Liv enjoys being with Jake, she needs to go back. She wants Masha to be her best friend again and of course she wants her mother to love her again. But going back will mean she loses Jake.

What should she do?

What’s in a Kiss? is a hilarious, heartwarming and romantic story. Wouldn’t we all want a do-over about something from our past if we could?

Thank you #NetGalley #G.P.Putnam’sSons #LaurenKate #What’sinaKiss? for the advanced copy.

Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams

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Husbands & Lovers is an intriguing book which tells the stories of two women from different periods of time, both ironically dealing with similar issues. The book’s appeal is as the two stories begin to intertwine, the reader starts to understand the connections these two women have as well as the pain and suffering they have both been through which wonderfully creates two sadly beautiful stories in one.

Mallory Dunne is a single parent. Her son’s name is Sam. She has never, ever revealed who is his father. The year is 2022 and Mallory and Sam experience every parent’s nightmare. Something happens to Sam. It’s very bad.

Meanwhile, Hannah Ainsworth is in Cairo. The year 1955. Married to a wealthy man she dislikes, but having been born in Hungary and fled there, has no choice but to continue in the marriage. She meets and falls in love with the worker of the hotel they are staying, named Lucien. He’s very secretive but impossibly charming. He changes her life forever.

Mallory, who is barely making ends meet, decides to go on vacation with her sister Paige where they had spent many happy years. Never having told anybody who the father of Sam was, is shocked that he is actually there as well. He is a superstar musician now, and is there planning his wedding.

Hannah wants nothing more than to have a child, something she tells her lover Lucien. Before she fled Hungary, she had the perfect life and lost it all. When she gets pregnant, she tells her husband it is his. He doesn’t believe her and banishes her just as the city of Cairo is being burned down. Somehow Hannah must find her way out.

Mallory sees instantly that Monk knows he is Sam’s father and now must begin to make very difficult choices. Does he let him into Sam’s life? Does she answer his questions as to why she left so suddenly when they were so in love?

But the most wonderful mystery which is encompassed by both stories is a bracelet which was passed down from who? and left for Mallory’s mother and after she died was given to Mallory. But why Mallory? Her mother was closer to her sister. What does this bracelet have to do with their family?

As all the moving parts come together in Husbands & Lovers it will tell the wondrous story of hidden love, loss and privilege and so many secrets. Some of them lurk in the dark corners hoping to never be revealed while some look innocent but are more than one person care bear. The stories in the book are both spellbinding, and you will be amazed at the connections which these women and the men they have chosen to fall in love with.

Thank you #NetGalley #BallentineBooks #BeatrizWilliams #Husbands&Lovers for the advanced copy.

Lovers and Liars by Amanda Eyre Ward

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The truth shall set you free…or will it ruin the most wonderful love stories of their lives? Secrets are never meant to come out…or are they? The burden of the keeper, but also for the who in the dark. Does it matter that they were kept because they loved the person? These are the questions posed and answered in this wonderfully funny, rite of late-life passage story about secrets, lies and loves both lost and found Lovers and Liars.

Sylvie is getting married! After a world-wind romance with a wealthy Englishman named Simon Rampling, she had decided to take the plunge again. Her first husband died tragically in a car accident years ago, and Sylvie has never stopped missing him. Even now, she feels guilty as if she is doing something wrong. But they have so much in common with Sylvie being a librarian and Simon an avid reader. Is this too good to be true? Well, if you ask her sisters they would say absolutely yes!

Her sister Cleo, who lives in New York and is an upscale lawyer has her doubts as well as fears about the situation, although she would never tell her sister. She herself has the boyfriend of anyone’s dreams, and yet for some reason she doesn’t feel very close to him anymore. At least that’s what she tells her best friend of many years, a man who she feels the most comfortable with. When she receives the wedding invitation being held at Simon’s castle, Mumberton, in England, she decides to do a little digging into his life. As any good sister would do. Except Cleo has kept a terrible secret from Sylvie for years so how good a sister is she really?

Sylvie’s other sister Emma has a wonderful husband and two terrific children. She owns a perfume business but carries the burden of a deep secret even her husband does not know. Still living in the small town they grew up in, and unable to forget her miserable childhood as well as being the nearest to their narcissistic mother, puts such a burden on her that all she wants to do is get away from this life! She realizes at some point she cannot hide from her present but also in order to heal stop hiding from her past. This wedding is all too much for her in so many ways. Her secrets will threaten everyone she loves dearly. She’s not sure they can afford to go to the wedding for so many reasons…

As they all reach the final destination for the weekend which is supposed to be the start of Sylvie and Simon’s life, they know they are supposed to be a family, but unfortunately havoc prevails as each of the women’s lives begins to unravel, including Sylvie’s. She’s not sure she can marry Simon. Now seems unfortunately the best time to sort out their secrets and lies and hope all can be forgiven. Will there even be a wedding?

Come along for the most enjoyable ride as the group tries to sort their lives out and become a family. Lovers And Liars is funny, warm and uplifting. RIP Flaco…

Thank you #NetGalley #BallentineBooks #LoversAndLiars #AmandaEyreWard for the advanced copy.

Chloe Baker’s Lost Date by Katie Wicks

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You will thank me after you fall in love with Chloe Baker! She’s an independent woman living in New York making it on her own with a great job. One problem, she can’t seem to find a date. Yes, things could be worse, but boy, she’d love some male compansionship!

So, when her best friend sets her up with Jack, an IT guy and they are supposed to meet at a coffee shop and he’s at first late, then very late but finally breezes in with an apology, they proceed to have coffee and talk and decide to see each other again. Well, again happens sooner than later as they bump into each other immediately that day and end up spending it with each other. They soon realize they not only have a great deal in common, but there is something much deeper going on with them.

But sometimes things come to an end sooner rather than later. After this date which ended with a kiss, Jack just ghosts her. So, with the determination of someone who feels they have lost a soulmate, Chloe decides she must search for him and discover the truth.

She finally does find Jack, but he’s not really who she thought he was. This relationship or non-relationship brings up memories from her childhood and her parents which she had suppressed for quite a while. Of course, she has had insecurities her whole life but thanks to Jack she never knew why. Confusion sets in. And she realizes she has been lied to.

But can they get past their first date and everything which happened later? Is he real? Or is he just another man who enjoys breaking hearts.

Chloe Baker’s Lost Date is a wonderfully funny, uplifting story which will keep you enchanted as they both learn about each other, life and love. Is love at first sight real? Depends on the name…

Thank you #NetGalley #WbyWattpadBooks #KatieWicks #ChloeBaker’sLostLove for the advanced copy.

Love, Lies and Cherry Pie by Jackie Lau

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From the author of Donut Fall in Love, Jackie Lau has written another wonderful, creative love story which is funny, heartwarming, and mouthwatering!

All Emily Hung’s mother wants is for her over thirty daughter to settle down and finally get married. Forget that Emily is a writer with one published book under her belt. Yes, it perhaps undersold a bit, but still… she is a writer and is working on her second novel. She’s doing great all by herself!

So, when Mrs. Hung plays matchmaker at her sister’s wedding no less, Emily decides to make the meeting as unpleasant as possible.

Enter Mark Chan, the unsuspecting, groom-to-be who realizes fairly soon this was not something Emily had agreed to. They say their goodbyes at the end of the night, and both think they will never see each other again. But Mrs. Hung has other plans! She tortures Emily to go on one date with Mark. Emily agrees.

But, once again, Emily is not having it and comes up with an idea. They will fake date (with pictures) so her mother will think they are together, but in reality, they can live peacefully and continue on with their separate lives.

What ends up happening is that the more time they spend together “fake dating”, the more they discover there may actually be a spark between them, and they begin to fall in love for real. But without realizing it, Mrs. Hung opened a long-closed can of worms with secrets from years ago and misunderstandings in the Hung family.

Now Emily finds herself having to heal old wounds while trying to make Mark understand what she really wants as she learns the importance of family and the importance of finding the person of your dreams. Can you really have it all?

Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie is a delightful, fun story with wonderful characters and terrific messaging. Oh, and there IS Cherry Pie!

Thank you #NetGalley #Atria/EmilyBestlerBooks #JackieLau #Love,Lies,andCherryPie for the advanced copy.

Love You, Mean It by Jilly Gagnon

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Love You, Mean It is an adorable rom-com story with a wonderful plot, relatable characters and an inspiring ending which is, no spoilers… happy and satisfying!

Ellie Greco works at her family’s place of business, Greco’s Deli. This was never her plan. She had been going to college to become a clothing designer but felt obligated to abandon her dream when her dad died, and she had to come home to take over for him. So, she put her own ambitions aside to help her family navigate this sad situation.

But suddenly she discovers her family business could be in danger. A huge chain gourmet store called Mangia is trying to move into a building very close to the Greco Deli. If this does happen, they will never be able to compete with them. As they try to consider their next move, her sister mentions Theo Taylor, a boy her sister had dated back in college whose father owns the building. She suggests perhaps Ellie plead her case with him.

Enter Theo who Ellie takes a dislike to immediately. Theo comes from a very wealthy family whose father is not very liked. But he’s the property owner of the building and she will do anything to salvage their life’s work.

At Ellie and Theo’s first meeting which does not go very well, something occurs which leads Theo to end up in the hospital. Ellie feels terrible and decides she needs to stay with Theo in order to make sure he’s okay. She tells all the hospital personnel that she is his fiancé. Theo wakes up and for a while does actually believe she is his finance.

But, after his recovery, he and Ellie decide to continue the charade in hopes that Theo’s father, thinking they are getting married and will become part of the family will do the right thing and cancel the deal.

But, of course, that’s not what happens, and Ellie and Theo find themselves in this awkward situation of having to pretend. Or…gulp…are they pretending? Humorous chaos ensues and they will certainly discover more about each other than they ever imagined.

Love You, Mean It is a lighthearted, uplifting read with wonderful messages about how life can change in an instant, but perhaps by believing in yourself you never have to let your dreams die.

Thank you #NetGalley #Dell #LoveYou,MeanIt #JillyGagnon for the advanced copy.

The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl

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Ruth Reichl has had an amazing career in the food industry. The former editor of the late great Gourmet Magazine, and author of many non-fiction books, has now written a gloriously delightful story in The Paris Novel. It is uplifting, charming and magical and ripe for the picking!

When Stella’s mother Celia dies, she sadly is not very upset. Estranged from her and never having been pleased with her life choices, along with some terrible childhood memories, she barely has any feeling for the woman who raised her. Stella never knew who her father was and quite frankly was embarrassed by her mother’s lifestyle.

So, when Stella receives her inheritance from her mother, a one-way ticket to Paris, she immediately decides this is just Celia trying to control her from the grave. But when Stella’s boss convinces her to try and accept the ticket and maybe live outside of her very strict and routine oriented life, Stella agrees to go.

So as Stella arrives in France and is roaming the streets, she sees finds a vintage shop and sees a black Dior dress. She is somehow mesmerized by it. As she walks in the owner looks at her and say this dress has been waiting for you! And Stella does something she never would have ever done. She tries the dress on and buys it for an extraordinary amount of money. But…there’s something about this dress that makes her feel different.

And with that in mind, she goes to dinner with the dress on and has the most incredible experiences of her life eating oysters and enjoying a meal she never imagined existed. There, she meets an elderly gentleman named Jules who is a wealthy art collector who has lost his wife. He begins to tell her imaginative stories of his and his late wife’s lives. Stella is spellbound. They become friends and Jules begins taking her to place she never imagined going, eating at restaurants she had only heard about and looking at art she witnessed only in books.

Jules introduces her to the owner of a famous bookstore where writer’s and such work there, assist at the shop and sleep and eat for free. He calls then his “tumbleweeds”. There, she meets famous writers including some who knew her mother. She then begins to go down the rabbit whole of her mother’s life and even though she didn’t know she was really searching, discovers answers to questions she never even though about.

The Paris Novel is a one of kind extraordinary read. The reader is taken on a delicious journey of food, art, life and love. The backstory as to why Reichl wrote the book is just as incredible and heartwarming as the story itself.

Thank you #NetGalley #RandomHouse #RuthReichl #TheParisNovel for the advanced copy.