I have read a few of Sarah Morgan's books and I always eagerly await a new one to be published and this one was well worth the wait. It had me hooked from the start, the characters are well developed, the story line is well written and I can not wait for book 2 in this series. This story is about friendship, trust, loyalty, attraction, romance, under currents, friends to lovers and realising what you want.
The story starts with Paige thinking she is getting a promotion and she ends up losing the job she loves. So she has a big decisions to make along with her friends Eva and Frankie. The night of losing their jobs, Matt (Paiges brother) and Jake (an entrepreneur) their mutual friend come round thinking they are going to celebrate a promotion to find out that Paige lost the job. Matt and Jake commiserate with the girls but during the night Jake passes comment on why the three of them can not start their own business- an events company and this plants the seed in Paige's mind. Matt then mentions that maybe Jake could help Paige with the planning as he is whizz with business.
However Paige does not want to ask for help and starts the business and finds herself struggling so she then goes to Jake and asks him for his help. It took Paige awhile to ask Jake because Paige had a major crush on him when they were younger and is still embarrassed by it.
This leads to them spending more time together and things develop, chemistry explodes between them but Jake is not a forever type of guy and Paige knows this so she asks Jake to keep their relationship to themselves, so when its over they can just carry on being friends with no awkwardness from any of their friends.
All in all there is love, laughter and tears with this book. All the characters are different and interact brilliantly with each other, so I hope we get at least a couple of more books with these characters involved.
I give this books a definite 5 stars. Congratulations Sarah on another fabulous book.
Skylar Tempest has never understood Alec Hunter’s appeal. So what if he’s a world-renowned historian? He’s also cynical, aloof and determined to think the worst of her. So when a twist of fate finds her spending the lead-up to Christmas with Alec and his family, she’s not expecting the season to be either merry or bright.
Alec has learned the hard way not to trust beautiful women—and Skylar is the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen. But as he watches her throw herself into his family’s festive chaos, Alec realises there is far more to this blonde bombshell than meets the eye.
With Christmas around the corner, Alec and Skylar return to Puffin Island, a tentative bond forged between them. Neither intends to fall in love but as the nights become darker, and the fire between them grows hotter, could this be the chance for Alec and Skylar to find their own happy ending?
MY REVIEW
Puffin Island - I wish it where real and I would love to live or visit there with Skylar, Emily and Brittany because Sarah Morgan brings the place to life in her books.
Skylar Tempest is an artist who's family think she is doing the wrong thing with her life and do not encourage or support her in anyway. Alec Hunter is a historian who came to fame with shipwrecks and he is known as the Shipwreck Hunter with thousand of female fans and a family who support him in anything he wants to do.
The story start with Skylar having a London show of her jewellry and art and her boyfriend Richard (a Politician) and Alec showing up. During the evening Richard shows his true colours and Alec comes to Skylar's rescue. Sky and Alec relationship before this night had always been difficult to say the least, Sky thought Alec was aloof, cynical and he always seemed to think the worst of her. Alec thought she was a princess and did not want to give her the time of day because his ex-wife had scarred him against beautiful women. So when Alec would not leave her on her own after an accident she starts to see him in a new light.
Because of Sky's head injury Alec insists that she goes with him to his family home and this is where Sky has her first proper family pre Christmas with strangers and she realises what she has been missing all these years. When leaving Alec's parents home, Alec issues an invitation for Sky to accompany him back to his home on Puffin Island with a no strings attached rule - Sky accepts and hopes she can keep to the no strings attached rule as she can see a new side to Alec Hunter that he keeps hidden - the kind, considerate and loving man that he is.
This is story full of friendship, humour, chemistry, love and a lovely island community that help each other. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I was unable to put it down. This is another book I would definitely say is A MUST READ.
Sarah lives near London, and when she isn't reading or writing she loves being outdoors, preferably on vacation so she can forget the house needs tidying.
GOOGLE BOOKS: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=VGvVBgAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=christmas+ever+after&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=christmas%20ever%20after&f=false
Francesca Rossi might be the youngest in a long line of badass siblings, but this computer whiz would rather hack a database than pack a pistol for the family business in Barefoot Bay. When an assignment forces her out of her comfort zone and into the field, Chessie decides to amp up the excitement quotient and has her first one night stand with a smokin’ hot stranger she’ll never see again.
Former CIA agent Malcolm Harris is fresh out of prison for a crime he didn’t commit, and knows the government is watching his every move, waiting for him to slip up. But the only mistake he makes is to assume the sexy, sassy woman he seduces on the way to Barefoot Bay is a spy. He learns too late that the beauty he’s bedded is really his best friend’s sister…and his undercover partner on a risky mission.
Chessie and Mal have to stay one step ahead of the CIA, navigate their way through a perilous country, and fight the insane chemistry that sizzles between them. It doesn’t take long for this hacker and spy to discover the power of their unplanned partnership…and learn that falling in love might be the riskiest business of all.
AUTHOR BIO
Roxanne St. Claire is a bestselling author of nearly thirty novels of romance and suspense. A six-time nominee and one time winner of the prestigious RITA Award for outstanding romantic fiction, her books have also won the National Reader’s Choice Award for best romantic suspense for two consecutive years, as well as the Daphne du Maurier Award, the HOLT Medallion, the Maggie, Booksellers Best, Book Buyers Best, five Awards of Excellence, the Aspen Gold and many others
Prior to launching a full time career as a novelist in 2003, Roxanne spent most of her professional life as a marketing executive and public relations consultant. She is a graduate of UCLA, an active member of several national writing organizations, and a lecturer on a wide range of writing-related topics. She lives in Satellite Beach, Florida with her husband and their two teenagers, and if you know her, you call her Rocki.
I was lucky to receive an advanced readers copy of Barefoot with a Stranger by Roxanne St Claire, and I can honestly say that this is one awesome romantic suspense novel that kept me gripped in its pages.
Francesca (Chessie) Rossi is on her way to Barefoot Bay to help her brother Gabe, when a stranger offers her a seat at the airport when her plane is delayed Chessie is instantly attracted to the stranger who's name is Malcolm Harris and when he asks her to go do a drink with him - she accepts.
Mal Harris has just been released from prison for supposedly stealing half a million dollars from the government and knows that he will be being followed but he is instantly attracted to the woman he thinks they have sent to watch him, one thing leads to another until Mal realises his mistake and leaves Chessie in his hotel room.
Chessie is upset that Mal just left and decides to hire a car and drive to her brother though the night instead of waiting for her flight, on arriving at Gabe's home she is shocked that a few minutes after arriving, Mal Harris turns up and turns out to be Gabe's friend. The reason why Mal and Chessie are in Barefoot Bay are to go to Cuba to find Gabe's son that he has recently found out existed, he needs the help of Mal, who knows his way around Cuba and the ways of the Cuban people and Gabe trusts him to protect his little sister.
This story is about attraction, alpha men, misunderstandings, deception, second chances, romance and love. I loved how Roxanne managed to drop hints into the storyline that will now lead onto Gabriel Rossi's book. I can not wait for the next instalment of the Barefoot Bay books, I hope I don't have to wait to long. . This is a DEFINITE MUST READ.
After her mother’s tragic death, Dani Wilde had no choice but to abandon her dreams. She left Columbia University and returned to her family’s Montana cherry farm, intent on being a maternal figure to her brothers. Now the kids are grown, and it’s finally her time to fly. Her sights are on New York City, and nothing will stop her—not even an old flame with gorgeous green eyes.
Celebrity photographer Ben Denton hasn’t seen Montana in years—and hasn’t spoken to Dani since "that night" so long ago. When he discovers he’s a dad to a four-year-old—and the child’s mother refuses to care for her—Montana and the Wilde farm spring to mind. The orchard is the only place that’s ever felt like home, but will the warmth of the Wilde family be enough to help Ben figure out how to be a father?
As the Wilde family gathers for the yearly cherry harvest and Dani struggles to figure out what she really wants in life, she discovers the shocking truth about her own mother—and learns that following her heart may lead her to her dreams after all.
Dani Wilde is in college when her mum dies and she has to return home to look after her brothers, now years later the boys have grown up and Dani has decided to get on with her life and move to New York and do what she has always wanted to do - live and work in a big city, while her brothers take over the running of their family cherry farm - or that is what she thought would happen.
Ben Denton a now famous photographer and an old friend to the Wilde family, when finding out that he has a four year old he knew nothing about, when the mother hands his daughter over to him and leaves, decides to return to Montana and goes to the Wilde family to see if he can get his life in order and to try to bond with his daughter.
Dani and Ben have a history of friendship and 'one night' together 10 years ago and they have not seen each other since then so when Ben returns to the farm, she is shocked to still feel the same for him that she did all those years ago and she decides that she will not go there again!! but she is also determined that his returning will not stop her from finally leaving her home.
No other woman has ever stood out more than Dani to Ben, he knows that she is leaving after the cherry harvest but he can not seem to stay away from her, she helps him to see what he needs to do to become a father to his daughter and slowly he falls in love once again with her. Now he has to try and win her once again, but winning her may mean that she has to give up her dream once again or winning her and then losing her again may be his only option but will he survive a second time?
Dani has made a life looking after her brothers and the cherry farm, she has opened a shop in town and made a success of it but something in the back of her mind tells her she is missing something vital but she can not put her finger on it, memories flash up that she can not remember but leave her sad but she can not remember it all. When the sadness takes over Dani escapes either for a walk thru the farm or she sits on the dock to try and process what is going on, this is where Ben finds her and they fall back into their friendship and when Dani's world falls apart, he is there to help her through it.
This is a story that deals with mental illness with grace and dignity, old friendships, love, family bonds, and a family growing to learn to trust and love once again. The background story of Dani's family and the cherry farm all add to this fantastic story, I know I will be reading this book again as Kim draws you into the story and keeps you there with wanting to know what will happen next. I definitely call this a MUST READ and I hope that we get to read about the other characters in this book as I hope their story gets told too.
KIM LAW
BIO:
As a child, award-winning author Kim Law cultivated a love for chocolate, anything purple, and creative writing. She penned her debut work, "The Gigantic Talking Raisin," in the sixth grade and got hooked on the delights of creating stories. Before settling into the writing life, however, she earned a college degree in mathematics and then worked as a computer programmer. Now she’s living out her lifelong dream of writing romance novels. She’s won the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart Award, has been a finalist for the prestigious RWA RITA Award, and has served in varied positions for her local RWA chapter. A native of Kentucky, Kim lives with her husband and an assortment of animals in Middle Tennessee.
I love Roxanne St Claire's Barefoot Bay and could not wait for this, the first book in the new series to be released and I can honestly say I was not disappointed and it was well worth the wait. Once again you are kept turning the pages as you are drawn into the story.
Gabe Rossi has started a new business protecting people the witness protection can not help, he helps these people fall off the radar for a while, whilst whoever is threatening them can be found. He has the help of his grandpa Nino, who is a very lovable old man, who needs to be needed and Poppy the head cleaner - who sees and hears everything.
Gabe's first clients are Kate Kingston, who's father is a judge and he is receiving threats about his daughter and Alec Petrov, a man who is wanted by the mob, so needs a new identity.
Kate is now a very strong willed woman, after coming out of a bad divorce from a controlling ex husband she just wants to come to the island to be alone and study for her Bar exam, she knows someone is threatening her but not the extent of the threats so when she arrives at her villa and finds Alec there- her bodyguard, she is very unhappy and does not want to stay, certain things are explained to her that she is Alec's cover as well and she agrees to the arrangement.
Gabe's rules are that they are not allowed to tell each other anything personal about each other, they even don't know each others real names, on the island they are Ben and Tilly Carlson - newlyweds on their honeymoon, because knowing certain information can put them in danger. But Kate is not very good at following rules and seeing as she is learning to be a lawyer she interrogates Alec and he ends up letting his first name slip - now she knows how to get the info she wants to know.
Alec is a mixed martial arts trainer who's soul is battered and bruised, and even though he is attracted to Kate he feels not worthy of her, so he is unable to hold eye contact with Kate for long as he thinks all she sees is a beast. Kate thinks Alec is beautiful and she is hurt that he can not look at her so the misunderstandings that happen because of this just makes it great to watch these two characters fight their attraction and fall in love.
I loved everything about this story, the setting, the characters, and the background stories. The interaction between Nino and Poppy made me laugh, as they are both strong characters and the twist in the story line kept me hooked till the end. Congrats Roxanne St Claire on another page turning, must read.
I would recommend before reading this book that you read Barefoot Bound, which is the prequel to Barefoot with a Bodyguard, in this you learn how Gabe ends up in Barefoot Bay and his new operation.
ABOUT ROXANNE
Roxanne St. Claire is a bestselling author of nearly thirty novels of romance and suspense. A six-time nominee and one time winner of the prestigious RITA Award for outstanding romantic fiction, her books have also won the National Reader’s Choice Award for best romantic suspense for two consecutive years, as well as the Daphne du Maurier Award, the HOLT Medallion, the Maggie, Booksellers Best, Book Buyers Best, five Awards of Excellence, the Aspen Gold and many others
Prior to launching a full time career as a novelist in 2003, Roxanne spent most of her professional life as a marketing executive and public relations consultant. She is a graduate of UCLA, an active member of several national writing organizations, and a lecturer on a wide range of writing-related topics. She lives in Satellite Beach, Florida with her husband and their two teenagers, and if you know her, you call her Rocki.
I give this book a most definite well earned 5 stars ( I would give it more if I could)
SYNOPSIS
Paranormal investigator Kerry Baker has seen it all. But nothing in her work with the Phantoms team prepares her for the most terrifying ghost of all?seeing her doppelganger. Rumored to be a foreshadowing of one's death, the spectre shakes Kerry to the core...sending her into the arms of her best friend and fellow Phantom cast member, Paul Leake, for comfort.
Until a kiss changes everything.
Paul has been in love with Kerry for ages, unwilling to compromise their friendship. As their investigation in a ghost town grows more intense, however, so does the chemistry between Paul and Kerry. With her life in danger and their jobs on the line, giving into their attraction couldn't be a worse idea?and yet they can't bring themselves to stop it. Even if it kills her...
MY REVIEW
How do we start this review - Phantomasmic, in other word it is a Phantom Fantastic book that I could not put down.
Kelly Moran grabs you at the start in her new novel Give Up the Ghost, so much so that I read this book in one sitting and said hello to 3 am before I finished it.
Give Up the Ghost is the 2nd book in the Entangled Covet series, the first one being Ghost of a Promise ( 5 star fantastic read also) and now I can not wait for the 3rd in the series.
You meet the main characters in the first book and you learn about parts of their friendship there but its great that Paul and Kerry have their own story.
It all starts at Kerry's apartment, Kerry is an empath and suffers from migraines and after getting her medication she walks to her front window and sees herself out in the front yard, in the snow, looking back at her, this really freaks her out so she calls her best friend and team mate Paul, who unbeknown to her has been in love with her for six years, Paul is really worried about the incoherent way Kerry was and runs round to her apartment to check on her, as fast as he could.
Paul has never seen Kerry looking so shook up, even with the job she does nothing as left her as incoherent as this event but with no footprints in the snow he wonders what has taken place so he stays till Kerry has settled and then returns home as they have a big meeting the next day with a new team member.
Cain is a psychologist and the new team member and while waiting to board the plane to the Arizona Ghost Town he over hears Paul and Kerry talking about her seeing her dead self so he asks Kerry questions and when they arrive at the hotel he tells her what he has found out - she has seen her Doppelganger - these are known as the harbingers of death - they give warning of either premonition of danger, serious illness or death.
This sends Paul into a frenzy as he does not know what to do, as he does not want to lose the women he loves. So he watches Kerry as best he can, in order to protect her. While at the location they are investigating, her doppelganger appears again and Kerry shortly after has an 'accident' on location, Kerry ends up sleeping in Paul's bed so he can protect and settle her.
This story keeps you gripped in its pages, wanting to know what happens next or who may get hurt next. I don't want to spoil the plot but this is an awesome love story with a great story along side it.
Congrats Kelly Moran and please keep these stories coming.
About Kelly Moran
Kelly's been known to say that she gets her ideas from everyone and everything around her and there's always a book playing out in her head. No one who knows her, bats an eyelash when she talks to herself.
Kelly is the winner of the 2013 Catherine Award, is a RT Magazine Finalist in the Readers Choice,and earned one of the 10 Best Reads of 2013 by USA TODAY's HEA. She is a proud Romance Writers of America member. One of her Indie backlist books was a Finalist in the 2008 Best Book Awards, and another one was a Finalist in the 2009 Indie Excellence Awards.
Kelly's interests include: sappy movies, MLB, NFL, driving others insane, and sleeping when she can. She is a closet caffeine junkie and chocoholic, but don't tell anyone. She resides in Wisconsin with her husband, three sons, and her black lab. Most of her family lives in the Carolinas, so she spends a lot of time there as well.
Paranormal investigator Kerry Baker has seen it all. But nothing in her work with the Phantoms team prepares her for the most terrifying ghost of all?seeing her doppelganger. Rumored to be a foreshadowing of one's death, the spectre shakes Kerry to the core...sending her into the arms of her best friend and fellow Phantom cast member, Paul Leake, for comfort.
Until a kiss changes everything.
Paul has been in love with Kerry for ages, unwilling to compromise their friendship. As their investigation in a ghost town grows more intense, however, so does the chemistry between Paul and Kerry. With her life in danger and their jobs on the line, giving into their attraction couldn't be a worse idea?and yet they can't bring themselves to stop it. Even if it kills her...
About Kelly Moran
Kelly's been known to say that she gets her ideas from everyone and everything around her and there's always a book playing out in her head. No one who knows her, bats an eyelash when she talks to herself.
Kelly is the winner of the 2013 Catherine Award, is a RT Magazine Finalist in the Readers Choice,and earned one of the 10 Best Reads of 2013 by USA TODAY's HEA. She is a proud Romance Writers of America member. One of her Indie backlist books was a Finalist in the 2008 Best Book Awards, and another one was a Finalist in the 2009 Indie Excellence Awards.
Kelly's interests include: sappy movies, MLB, NFL, driving others insane, and sleeping when she can. She is a closet caffeine junkie and chocoholic, but don't tell anyone. She resides in Wisconsin with her husband, three sons, and her black lab. Most of her family lives in the Carolinas, so she spends a lot of time there as well.
