Tag: New books

Book of the Week, books

Book of the Week: The Lost Summers of Newport

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As I mentioned yesterday, I read both of the physical books that I took with me on holiday this time – and today’s pick was one of them. To be fair, I did pick what I was taking quite carefully and this was one I’d been looking forward to reading.

The Lost Summers of Newport is a three-stranded story about a Gilded Age Mansion in Newport, Rhode Island. Set in three different points in the mansion’s life, each is connected to the other, and you move between the three. In 1899, Ellen is just started a job as a music teacher at Sprague Hall, to help an heiress snag an Italian prince. In 1959, Lucky is living at Sprague Hall with her husband Sty, who she married when she and her grandmother fled Mussolini’s Italy. Her husband is a womaniser and an alcoholic but she’s worried what a divorce would do to her young daughter. In 2019, Andie is working on a TV home makeover show that’s featuring Sprague House as its latest project. She wants the programme to focus on the history of the house and restoring it – but the network higher ups have different ideas. On top of that, the house’s reclusive owner has two conditions to filming – don’t talk to her, and don’t go near the boathouse. And she has two grandchildren who don’t want the TV crew there at all.

This was a really good book to read on the beach or by the pool. Because you’re switching between timelines it comes in nice sections so you can read a bit, go for a swim, read a bit more while you dry off, go for an ice cream, read a bit more – you get the idea. And in case you didn’t get it from the description, this has got some Gilded Age Rich People problems stuff going on. And there are Vanderbilts and society rivalries here galore in the two plots in the past. My enjoyment of books set in periods like this is well known – whether it’s novels or non-fiction – and so that worked well for me, particularly with the element of high society rubbing up against the seamier side of life. The different story lines gives more scope to layer secrets and see characters at different stages of their lives.

But of course the downside of having three plot strands to a book is that you can often wish that you got more time with each strand – or with one strand in particular. And there is a little bit of that with this, but it actually works together really well, especially when you consider that the book has three authors – and that each author writes one storyline (or at least that’s what the readers guide at the end says).

I read Beatriz Williams‘ and Lauren Willig‘s solo novels – and have written posts featuring some of them – although I haven’t read any of Karen White’s other books. This is the second of their joint efforts that I’ve read and I liked it more than I remember liking the first one. If you’ve read Beatriz Williams other novels you’ll spot some of the same families popping up here, which is a nice Easter Egg.

The paperback of this came out in July – and I had it preordered and so I’ve actually got to it quite quickly in the grand scheme of things – but it’s also available in Kindle and Kobo as well as in an audiobook with a different narrator for each strand.

Happy Reading!

Book of the Week, books, new releases

Book of the Week: We Could Be So Good

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This week’s BotW is one of the books that I picked up on my buying spree while writing last week’s Kindle Offers and that I couldn’t help but read pretty much straightaway (within a week counts as straightaway for me) because it has a pretty cover and it was sitting there on my Kindle and Cat Sebastian is just so reliably good.

This is set in the world of newspapers in New York in the late 1950s. Nick is from the rough end of Brooklyn and has gone into journalism despite the disapproval of his family. Andy’s dad owns the paper and has sent him to work in the newsroom as part of the process of finding out how the business works. The two of them shouldn’t get on, and yet they do and soon they’re friends. Except that Nick really wishes it wasn’t just friends, but he knows that that’s all that’s possible. Isn’t it?

This is a very sweet slow burn love story. But its also low on angst and despite the 1950s setting you don’t need to worry too much about Bad Things Happening to characters because they’re gay. And you can argue about whether or not that is realistic or not, but I chose to believe that happy endings were possible and I think Cat Sebastian has done a really good job of figuring out a scenario where Nick and Alex can have one. I spent most of my time reading this with a big soppy smile on my face and really that’s what I needed. It’s sweet and romantic and it has a couple at the centre of it who get each other and want to make each others lives better in little ways and big ones. They’re both just happier when the other person is around them, preferably around them and happy. And there’s a really cute bit with a Cat. Perfect reading when you need a happy ending to make your day better.

I can see some people on Goodreads complaining about the fact that it’s written in the third person present, but honestly that bothered me so little that I didn’t even notice before I saw the reviews mentioning it. But to be honest, it’s very rare that the Point of View of a book bothers me – unless it’s second person, or the POV is inconsistent in some way. I can’t help that I’m not fussy like that!

As I mentioned at the top, I bought my copy on Kindle because it’s on offer at the moment for 99p, and the good news is it’s on offer on Kobo too. You’re welcome. I’m super pleased it’s on offer at the moment because it only came out in June and my experience with Cat Sebastian is that it’s unusual for her books to be at discount this quickly. So snap it up while you can and thank me later.

Happy Reading!

books, new releases, reviews

Bonus review: Codename Charming

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The paperback comes out in the UK this very day so I’m taking the opportunity to actually write about Lucy Parker’s latest which I read as soon as it came out in Kindle in August.

Pet is the personal assistant to the newest member of the Royal Family. Johnny is and Princess Rose are perfect together – but as a working royal he is far from perfect as wherever he goes, chaos follows and Pet often gets caught up in its wake. Matthias is Johnny’s long suffering principle personal protection officer. He’s a former soldier and brilliant at his job – but Johnny is a challenge even for his skills. When a dodgy photo starts the tabloids speculating that Pet and Johnny are in a relationship, the royal PR team decide the way to scotch the rumours is for Pet and Matthias to stage a fake relationship. He’s grumpy, she’s sunshine, it’s never going to be more than a ruse… or is it?

Oh you know it totally is going to turn into something else. And I should also say that yes, this the second book in a series that started with Battle Royal, but you really don’t need to have read that to enjoy this. Yes, you do get to see Sylvie and Dominic again in this, but all the back story you need is set out in this. But of course if you have read it already it works that much better.

And it does work really well. You know I love a fake romance novel and grumpy sunshine romance novels are rapidly rising up my list of favourite tropes – when they’re done right. And this is done so right I forgive it for the bit where it’s a teeny tiny heroine and a Great Big Giant hero. But only because it’s loosely a Beauty and the Beast retelling (or at least I think it is!) so of course that’s what you have to do.

The paperback is out today – and I’m expecting it will be in the stores – and not just the giant romance section at Waterstones Piccadilly because I can see it on click and collect for a tonne of other branches of Waterstones! And of course the Kindle and Kobo are already out there.

Have a great Thursday everyone.

Book of the Week, books, new releases

Book of the Week: Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other

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Say hello to a BotW that’s actually featuring on its publication day! Make a note, it doesn’t happen very often!

Brynn is just finishing her first week in a prime new breakfast TV job when a hot mic moment threatens to derail everything she has worked for. The small town girl persona that she and the network have crafted for her is derailed when she disparages her home town to her cohost – not knowing that the ad break is over. Her only route to redemption is to head back to that small town and try and make amends. Her host in Adelaide Springs is newcomer (well it’s all relative) Sebastian, a former superstar reporter who disappeared from the journalistic world in mysterious circumstances. Not that Brynn knows that. It’s hate at first sight. Or is it?

The fact that the cover says “A Love Story” on it should give you the clue that it’s not, and it’s a full on grumpy-sunshine enemies to lovers sort of thing. I read it in about 36 hours and although the journalist in me had a few issues with it, they mostly didn’t bother me at the time! I also love a small town romance – especially when they feature someone returning after a long period away so if any of that floats your boat usually then this might be a good one to try. I haven’t read any of Bethany Turner’s previous novels but based on this I would happily read more if they came my way.

My copy of Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other came via NetGalley, but it’s out now in all the usual formats – Kindle, Kobo and hard copy. As it’s only out today, I have no idea how easy it will be to find in stores, but you know me well enough to know that I’ll report back if I spot it!

Happy Reading!

Book of the Week

Book of the Week: Forget Me Not

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The romance run is back – this time it’s another contemporary featuring the wedding industry. It’s not perfect, but it’s the best one I’ve read recently (and I think this is the fourth in the last few months alone)

Ama is a wedding planner who doesn’t believe in happily ever afters. She started planning weddings for her mum – who has been married more than a dozen times – and therein is the reason for AMA’s lack of faith in true love. Her business is going well – and she’s just been booked to organise the wedding of an Instagram star and her fiancée. The only trouble is it means working with Elliot. Ama broke Elliot’s heart two years ago and they haven’t spoken since. But how difficult can it be to get through one wedding together without kissing or killing each other?

Well the answer is obviously very, because it’s a romance novel. This also has split point of view with Ama in the present and Elliot doing the before of their relationship. I bought this off the back of reading the sample, but for me it didn’t deliver on everything I was hoping – mostly because I’m not sure this had quite decided if it was romance or chick lit and so for me it fell in between two stools. But the wedding planning part of it is great – I could absolutely see the influencer wedding that Ama was organising. And given that I read it in about 36 hours flat it is pretty readable too.

My copy was on Kindle but it’s also on Kobo and there’s also a paperback – although I haven’t seen it in stores yet. It only came out in early July and it’s Julie Soto’s debut so we’ll have to wait a while for another but I would definitely give it a read when it appears.

Happy Reading!

Book previews, new releases, reviews, romance, romantic comedy

Out today: The Boyfriend Candidate

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A bonus review for you today, because I was miraculously beforehand with the world and read it last week – and as it was one of several good books I read last week I’ve taken the opportunity to write about more than one of them! The heroine of Ashley Winstead’s The Boyfriend Candidate is shy school librarian Alexis, who decides to step out of her comfort zone after being dumped and try a one night stand. Her plan seems to be going well when gorgeous but sweary Logan rescues her from the attentions of someone she’s not interested in at the bar, and the two of them end up heading for a hotel room. But before they can hook up, the hotel catches fire and in getting out Alexis is photographed in Logan’s arms – and he promptly runs away. The reason for his flight becomes clear when the pictures hit the internet – he’s standing to be the governor of Texas. His candidature has already suffered from claims that he’s a playboy, so his campaign recruits Alexis to pretend that she really is his girlfriend for the two months until election day. As the blurb says: what could possibly go wrong.

I read this across the space of 24 hours and ate it up with a spoon. It rattles you along while it’s happening and is an enjoyable ride, although I had a few issues at the back of my mind when I was reading it and I just wanted to give them a mention too. Firstly Alexis somewhat oblivious to Logan’s feelings for her. This is told entirely from her point of view – and even with that it’s very, very clear that Logan is catching feelings for her and it’s a touch irritating that she doesn’t pick up on it. If you’d had his PoV too it would have been unbearable.* On top of that she’s somewhat lacking in common sense in other aspects of the fake relationship that I can’t explain without giving more spoilers than I ought to. It was also a little surprising that Alexis went from super shy and retiring to being able to give speeches in public happily and comfortably with no in between stage. I know politics in romance novels is also a controversial issue – and the fact that it’s set in Texas might have you wondering what you’re going to get here – so a heads up for those who are interested: Logan is a progressive Democrat. I was also a bit worried about how they were going to be able to sort the whole fake relationship situation out in a satisfactory manner, but it actually surprised me on that front.

Anyway – if you like a fake relationship romance, and don’t mind politics being very much front and centre in the plot then this is worth a look. My copy was from NetGalley, but it’s out today on Kindle and Kobo and apparently also in paperback.

*There is a trend toward The Most Oblivious Heroines That Ever Failed To Notice A Guy Is Into Them at the moment and I do not like it. A bit of not noticing is fine. Not noticing when he’s making heart eyes at you and picking you over everyone else all the time is not fine (Sarah Adams I’m looking at you)

books, Recommendsday

Recommendsday: July Quick Reviews

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The Bodyguard by Katherine Centre

I’d been waiting a while for this one to come out in the UK so I was excited to read it – it’s another famous person and normal person type romance, this time the hero is a film star and the heroine is a personal protection agent aka a bodyguard. She’s hired to protect him from a potential stalker and finds herself in Texas after he goes back to his family ranch to see his sick mum. I wasn’t quite sure what Jack saw in Hannah – and vice versa, but I’ve had that issue with a couple of books recently – so it may be that I’ve just been spoilt by so many really good romances. Anyway, I know that lots of other people have loved this and I liked it enough that I’m still going to be looking out for Center’s latest book, which also just came out here!

My Turn to Make Tea by Monica Dickens

This follows the trials and tribulations of a junior reporter at a local paper in the late 19040s and early 1950s. Poppy’s main issue is not her inexperience but her gender. Her colleagues in the office don’t really think women belong in the newsroom, and her landlady views her with suspicion as well. This is based on Monica Dicken’s own experiences at a provincial newspaper and it has some really witty moments and it is interesting to see how life has changed but – probably because it’s semi autobiographical – not a lot actually happens in terms of an overarching plot. Nice but not spectacular.

You with a View by Jessica Joyce*

This is a new release from this month – and while I didn’t love it, I’m giving it a quick mention because I know that road trip romances are really popular and although I’ve read better ones recently (Mrs Nash’s Ashes for example) if they’re your favourite trope, you’ll probably want to read this. Our heroine is Noelle who has recently lost her grandmother, who she was very close to. In her gran’s paperwork she finds some letters that suggest her grandma had a love affair before her grandfather. Noelle sets out to find out what happened by posting a video including a photo of her gran and the mystery man on Tiktok. And it turns out the man is Paul – still around and who offers to take her on the roadtrip he and her grandma had planned to take together as their honeymoon. Only trouble is Paul wants his grandson to come too – and that grandson turns out to be Noelle’s high school nemesis. I loved this as a premise – but didn’t love the execution. I don’t think there was enough insight into the heroine to understand her properly and their super competitive relationship didn’t feel like a great basis for something long term. But I know that competitive relationships are something that don’t really work for me very well – see also pranking as a love language – but are something that other people really love.

And that’s your lot from me this month. It’s been a very publishing-set books heavy month – with three Books of the Week being romances set in the industry (The Seven Year Slip, Business or Pleasure and The Neighbor Favor) plus a recommendsday. The other BotWs were Acts of Violet and Come as You Are, and I also finally wrote that Marriages of Convenience post I’ve been threatening for actual years!

Happy Humpday everyone.

Book of the Week, books, books on offer, new releases, romance

Book of the Week: The Seven Year Slip

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Back to summer romances this week – and for the second week in a row, it’s a new release!

In Ashley Piston’s last book, The Dead Romantics (also a BotW) she was doing a spin on a romance with a ghost. This time it’s a romance with a time travel-y element. What do I mean by that? Well, here’s the plot: Clementine is trying to get through the aftermath of the worst day of her life and try and rebuild in a way that means she can’t get hurt again. She’s living in her late aunt’s apartment and trying to keep her working life as a book publicist on track. But one day she comes home and finds a stranger in her kitchen. Her aunt warned her that the apartment was a pinch in time and it turns out he’s from seven years in the past. Ian is charming and he cooks and they get on really well – but how can they ever get around that time thing?

I read this in less than 24 hours and really enjoyed it. I have a few minor quibbles – putting them in the least spoiler-y way possible it basically boils down to: I’m not sure that Clementine and Iwan actually spent enough time together across the course of the book. If it’s a romance I needed more of them together, and if it’s more woman’s fiction I needed a better resolution to Clementine’s own life dilemma/crossroads. BUT this only started to bother me once the book was over and I started thinking about it to review it. While I was actually reading it I was completely swept along by it. So on that basis it’s a really enjoyable read – and makes sort-of-time-travel really work for me. I would happily have read another 100 pages if it meant my issues above got more closure. And I liked the little glimpses of some old friends from Dead Romantics too. Another one that is great for the beach/sun lounger.

I got my copy via NetGalley – but you can definitely get it in the shows because I saw it in Foyles:

And if you’re not going into a bookstore it’s also on Kindle and Kobo.

Happy Reading!

Book of the Week, new releases, romance

Book of the Week: Business or Pleasure

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The summer release romance theme continues after last week’s Recommendsday with today’s BotW – the new novel from Rachel Lynn Soloman which is actually out this very day in the UK.

As ever, lets start with the plot. Chandler is a ghostwriter and after a disappointing experience at a signing for a book that she has ghosted for an influencer, she ends up having a one night stand with a hot guy she meets in the bookshop cafe. Sadly the sex is not as hot as the man and she chalks it up to experience and forget it as fast as possible. She moves on to her next gig – ghost writing the memoir of Finn Walsh – one of the stars of a cult classic teen werewolf show. It should be a step up for her – except that it turns out that Finn is her awful one night stand. Obviously Chandler’s determined to keep it all very professional but when Finn finds out that their night wasn’t as mind blowing for her as he thought it was, she agrees to help him out. As they write the book together they realise that they get on really well – but Finn is famous and Chandler is not, so is there any chance of a future for them?

Oh yes. This is a Sex Lessons but definitely no feelings/emotions book and I was absolutely here for it, because of course I am. Most of the book takes place as Chandler accompanies Finn on the fan convention circuit so there’s also a fair bit of forced proximity going on with this too, which again is something I love (see also Mrs Nash’s Ashes). This is another of The Summer of Famous Heroes but I really liked the Finn is terrible in bed twist to this one. And of course this does mean that the steam level in this books is H-I-G-H because of course what would be the point of doing this closed door. And having read Rachel Lynn Solomon’s other books I would say this is steamier than they are – which is not a problem for me, but I mention it for those who like their romances slightly more closed door. But I guess if you see a plot that is basically Sex Lessons for Reasons you should be expecting a fair bit of bedroom action.

And alongside all of that, Chandler herself is figuring out what she wants from life – with a bit of help from Finn. Before her one night stand with Finn, she was rejected as a romantic prospect by a friend that she’s had a crush on for years and she’s also very scarred from being laid off from her journalism job – which is what led her to ghost-writing in the first place. So along with the romance you also get to watch her figure out what she really wants and to build up the courage to go for it. And I do like it when the heroine has more going on than just a romance – and when thinks work out for her not because of the romance. And I hope that makes sense and isn’t too much of a spoiler. I did rewrite this whole paragraph because the first attempt gave too much away!

Anyway, I got my copy of Business or Pleasure via NetGalley, but it is out today on Kindle and Kobo and out on Thursday in paperback. I’m not entirely sure how easy it will be to get hold of – I don’t remember seeing Weather Girl or The Ex Talk that often in stores, but I think I have seen it in the Big Foyles and maybe also in Waterstones Gower Street. I will report back…

Happy Reading!

books, new releases, reviews

New release: Role Playing

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You may remember a couple of weeks ago, I had a really good week in reading and said I had come up with a plan to write about more than one of the books I had read. Well delaying the stats, here is part of that plan, because Cathy Yardley’s new book Role Playing – which I read as part of Amazon’s First Reads offer – is out today!

Since Maggie’s son left for college she has embraced her inner grump and her naturally introverted state and basically hibernated at home. But she’s worried that her son isn’t making friends at college – so he makes a deal: he’ll be more sociable more if she is too. And that is why she joins a new online gaming guild led by a healer called Otter. Just so no one gets the wrong idea, she calls herself Bogwitch, but Otter is friendly and his guild seems to be refreshingly untoxic. Otter is Aiden. He’s not the teenager Bogwitch thinks he is – but a fifty year old who moved back to town to look after his (ungrateful) parents and who is using the guild as an outlet for his frustration from his family drama. He thinks Bogwitch is a little old lady, so when they meet it’s a bit of a shock. It turns out they get on really well, although everything is easier online. But will their pasts end up keeping them apart?

I really like that we’re seeing more romances with older protagonists. Maggie and Aiden make a great duo and I thought the online gaming identity confusion worked really well as a device. They’ve both got totally valid reasons for being wary of relationships and also a sensible amount of baggage for their age. It’s lovely watching them get together but also seeing them come into their own because of the confidence they gain. I read this in less than twenty four hours – and if I hadn’t had to work it would have been faster. And then I went and found some more Cathy Yardley books to read – luckily Past Verity had already bought a few…

Role Playing seems to be exclusive to Kindle on the ebook front, but it does list a paperback, although given the Kindle Exclusive situation I don’t know if you’ll be able to get it in stores, but I’ll be watching out for it.

Happy Reading!