Second Chance in Paradise by Jennifer Peel {Review}

Second Chance in Paradise (A Destined for Love Romance) by Jennifer Peel
Source: I received a copy, which did not influence my opinion in any way

 

A first love that deserves a second chance.

Doctoral student Holland Reeves may have aced every class she’s ever taken, but when it comes to life outside her lab, she finds she has more meaningful relationships with test tubes and pipettes than she does with people. That all changes when a surprise wedding invitation arrives, forcing her to return to the small coastal town of Paradise and the Clairborne Resort, where she left her first dream of being Mrs. Clairborne to begin the dream of becoming Dr. Reeves. There she must face her past and, to her surprise, the only man she ever loved, Porter Clairborne, the prodigal son who has unexpectedly returned.

Together, Holland and Porter must decide if their love deserves a second chance, and if Paradise will finally live up to its name or forever remain a town of broken dreams.
Also part of the Destined for Love: Resorts collection:
— Matched by Design by Lindzee Armstrong
— Keep Me At Christmas by Lucinda Whitney
— Second Chance in Paradise by Jennifer Peel
— The Trust of a Billionaire by Michelle Pennington
— Marrying an Athlete by Anne-Marie Meyer
— Her Big Fat Dreamy Billionaire Ex by Victorine E. Lieske
— If the Suit Fits by Sally Johnson
— Kings Crossed Lovers by Donna K. Weaver 

My Review: 5 Stars

Jennifer Peel always delivers a beautifully emotional story with perfectly imperfect characters. I loved Holland and Porter's story, which is a Cinderella tale, of sorts.

Growing up, Holland didn't have much of a family and never really felt that much-needed love. Working at an Alabama resort gave her Porter, the owner's son, but she lost him. If anyone deserves a second chance at love, it's this couple.

Holland is very hesitant, with good reason, and she's a lot like a pineapple--a little prickly on the outside, but very sweet once you get past that outer layer. I loved watching those layers peel away, revealing her true, sweet self. Porter is a charmer, for sure. It's all his fault that they broke up the first time, yet he comes waltzing back into Holland's life like nothing ever happened. It doesn't take long to throw all of those bad feelings right out the window though. Porter's family is the best and I loved them all!

The Cinderella story really develops as the sparks fly and the romance progresses and this book is a fairy tale come true. I was swept away and completely caught up into this captivating love story, which made my heart sing and my soul smile. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more about this wonderful family.

Content: mild romance (kissing, some innuendo); mild language

Love Unexpected by G.G. Vandagriff {Blog Tour Review and Giveaway}

Love Unexpected by G. G. Vandagriff

Kindle Edition, 238 pages

Published April 3rd 2018 by Orson Whitney Press 

Source: I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

 

When the widowed Lady Marianne Deveridge is invited to spend the season in London with her friend Lady Penelope Wellingham, she has no idea that Penny and Beau have another guest: Captain Ernest Saunders, Beau’s brother. Matchmaking is definitely afoot. However, after having been married to wandering explorer, Marianne has no intention of becoming involved with a wandering sea captain.
Her first sight of Captain Saunders in all his robust masculinity brings every one of her senses to attention. She knows then that her resolve will be difficult to keep.
Almost immediately upon making the captain’s acquaintance, Marianne becomes the focus of a mysterious villain who is devising a horse racing fraud. What has she seen to endanger a deadly felon? She has no idea.
Captain Saunders makes it his business to keep Marianne safe, and the two of them are brought closer by their investigation into the dark side of horse racing. Still, she thinks she is managing to resist his charms.
It is not until her very survival is at stake that she realizes how interwoven their lives have become. Will her heart ever recover once she watches another ship put out to sea?  

 

My Review: 3.5 Stars

 

This is Book 1 in the series, but I felt a little lost, especially at first. I felt like I should know the characters and the backstory, but didn't and was wondering if I came into this book mid-series. Some of the backstory is filled in as the book progresses and it was okay once I kind of got the hang of it.

 

Marianne is a widow and has 12 year old twins. Gweet, the girl, is a handful, but is also darling at the same time and she stole the show, in my opinion. Captain Saunders is freshly back from sea after a long, long time and is also a guest at the house where Marianne and Gweet are staying. There is a simmering attraction between Marianne and Captain Saunders, but it felt like a very slow burn. 

There is an element of danger and mystery that enshrouds a horse race and Marianne's life is in danger because of it. She becomes the victim of a lot of different incidents, trying to warn her away from the races, but the big mystery is who wants to keep her away and why.

I enjoy a clean Regency romance with the mysterious suspenseful twists and this one was fun and entertaining, but didn't completely sweep me away.

Content: mild romance, mild violence

 

Links:

 

Website: http://www.ggvandagriff.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/568772.G_G_Vandagriff

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ggvandagriff

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/G.-G.-Vandagriff/e/B001JP3P34/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/g-g-vandagriff

Buy link: http://a.co/32STpYz 

Tour Schedule:

 

April 30th - Peggy Urry / Bookworm Lisa

May 1st - Min Reads and Reviews / Literary Time Out (spotlights)

May 2nd - LDS and Lovin’ It

May 3rd - Singing Librarian Books / Wishful Endings

May 4th - The Bibliophile Files / Katie’s Clean Book Collection

Giveaway:

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Everything She Wants by Sarah Alva {Blog Tour Review and Giveaway}

Everything She Wants by Sarah Alva

Paperback, 224 pages

Published April 2nd 2018 by Covenant Communications, Inc 

Source: I received a copy, which did not affect my opinion in any way

 

Lucy Kappal can't figure out why she doesn't want to marry her sometimes-boyfriend, Charles. After all, he's perfect on paper: a returned missionary, elders quorum president, a professor at BYU. Instead of giving Charles an answer to his unexpected marriage proposal, she boards the next flight to London only to fall at the feet of the handsome pilot. The encounter leaves her heart pounding in a way it never has with Charles, and she becomes even more smitten when she sees the pilot again at her hotel.

Emerson James is in London to deposit the last of his mother's ashes in Kensington Gardens. And after a fifteen-year absence, he is attempting to return to the Church as a way to find peace with his mother's death. But the Church's culture feels foreign, and he's about to give up on ever becoming a "good Mormon" when he meets Lucy in the hotel lobby.

Lucy and Emerson's new friendship opens their worlds to new possibilities and leaves them wanting more. But Lucy is torn over her feelings for Charles, and Emerson isn't sure how committed he can be to the Church, even knowing how important it is to Lucy. Inevitably, the realities of life force them apart. If given a second chance, will they have the courage to risk everything for a once-in-a-lifetime love?

My Review: 5 Stars

I have to admit that sometimes I'm a little hesitant in reading these types of books because they can come off as preachy, but I loved the way that Sarah Alva incorporates the quirks of being an "older" LDS single into this delightful book. Everyone has a story and a past and she addresses the judgy attitudes in a way that is light, yet real, and oh, so adorable.

It was kind of hilarious that I started this book just as I was boarding a Delta flight home from a vacation and I wanted to take a peak at my pilot to see if he was anything like Emerson, who is a pilot. I fell head-over-heels with these characters and loved the way things kept lining up in serendipitous ways. I really should have been sleeping, but I could not put it down. As with most romances, the outcomes can be a bit predictable, but the road to get there never is and I had to know how things were going to turn out. I was shocked when I looked down and saw that I only had 7% of the book left to read.

Lucy has my dream job--she works with ice cream, discovering new flavors. The descriptions are amazing and made my mouth water.

I'm not kidding when I say the characters are fantastic. There are some to love, some to hate, some to roll your eyes at, and everything in between, but they are written in a life-like way that made them jump right off of the pages. The romance had me fanning the butterflies in my stomach. So, so cute!
Honestly, I'm surprised this is a debut novel and I've got my eye on this author. I can't wait for more!

Content: mild, swoony romance; mild innuendo

Schedule:

 

*April 30^th: https://www.rockinbookreviews.com, http://mybookaday.com

*May 1^st: https://brightlystreet.com/category/book-reviews/, http://empowermoms.net

*May 2^nd: http://www.wishfulendings.com, http://www.iamareader.com

*May 3^rd: https://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com, https://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com, http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com, http://thethingsilovemost.com

*May 4^th: http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com, http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com

Giveaway:
 
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Miss Wilton's Waltz by Josi S. Kilpack {Blog Tour Review}

Miss Wilton's Waltz by Josi S. Kilpack

Paperback, 352 pages

Published May 1st 2018 by Shadow Mountain 

Source: I received a complimentary copy, which did not affect my opinions

 

A follow-up to Josi S. Kilpack's bestselling Proper Romance title The Vicar's Daughter.

Lenora Wilton has spent her life hiding behind the keys of her beloved pianoforte and the vibrancy of her younger sister, Cassie. But Lenora is ready for a change and travels to Bath to live with her Aunt Gwen and teach music at an all-girls’ boarding school. She is different in Bath—more comfortable with herself—and enjoys the freedom and independence of her new life there.

When Lenora meets Aiden Asher, she finds herself attracted to him, but her unexpected feelings become more complicated when she learns that Catherine—Lenora’s newest and most troublesome student in the school—is Mr. Asher’s niece. Catherine is a difficult student, and Lenora works hard to make progress with the girl.

When the chemistry between Lenora and Aiden increases, they share a passionate kiss by the River Avon, and Lenora feels it is the beginning of a new forever—until she learns that Aiden has withheld an important detail about his life that changes everything.

Lenora closes her heart to him, and Aiden, caught between his obligation and his heart, must do what he can to make amends. And Lenora, after years of hiding from everyone and everything, faces a decision only she can make.

My Review: 5 Stars

I have a greater appreciation for Lenore, having seen what she went through in The Vicar's Daughter. You don't have to read that one first, necessarily, but it really helped me to know Lenore's background and I admire and love her so much!

Lenore hasn't had an easy road in life, yet she's making the best of her situation. Her temperament and personality really resonated with me, especially as she's deeper than she seems. Throw in Aiden and I was in heaven. There's something to be said about good, solid, decent characters, striving to create the best for themselves and their loved ones.

The first meeting was intense and hilarious, at the same time, if that even makes sense. Throughout this tough and gradual journey, I grew to immensely adore these characters, even the unlovable ones. Josi Kilpack has a way of taking uncommon traits and unspoken conditions and writing them into tales that pierce the heart and soul. Each book I read becomes a new favorite that I just don't want to come to an end.

This isn't your traditional Regency romance, but it's every bit enjoyable (and I daresay more so) as the typical stories and I'm eagerly awaiting what she writes next (no pressure).

Content: very mild romance; mild romance

Everywhere You Want to Be by Christina June {Release Blitz and Giveaway}

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Release Blitz for

Everywhere You Want to Be

By Christina June

We're excited about this new release! Check out the interview with the

author, the author's playlist, and enter to win a copy of your own below...

Author Interview

What inspired you to write EVERYWHERE YOU WANT TO BE?

EVERYWHERE YOU WANT TO BE is about a girl who believes she has exactly one final chance to make her vision come true. Inspired by Little Red Riding Hood, Matilda Castillo, or Tilly, finds herself in the “wilds” of New York City the summer after she graduates from high school. A dancer who spent all of senior year injured, she secretly dreams of joining a professional company and vows not to let anything—or anyone—take away her shot. I really wanted to do a New York book and having written Tilly as a dancer in IT STARTED WITH GOODBYE, the set up was too perfect.

Would you tell us a little more about your main characters?

I like Tilly because she’s focused and determined. She’s a list-maker and works hard, no matter what she’s aiming for. And, I love that along the way, she realizes that she can’t reach her target alone. In New York, she rooms with Charlotte, also a dancer, who is fun and funny and pushes Tilly out of her little safe bubble. They’re dancing for Sage, a choreographer who Tilly relates to because they’ve both had life-changing injuries, and working with a troupe of girls, including one who targets Tilly as her main competition. And then there’s Paolo, the guy Tilly pushed away but who has shown back up unexpectedly. He’s a little bit of wish fulfillment—the boyfriend teen-me thought she wanted.

What is your favorite part of the book?

There’s a scene near the beginning where Tilly is on the Highline, which is an elevated park repurposed from old train tracks. I won’t spoil it, but the focus is on forgiveness and being vulnerable. I was able to weave in historical facts about the Highline, which I learned on an amazing walking tour as I was doing research for the book. I also really liked writing Tilly’s mother, Belén, who appeared in IT STARTED WITH GOODBYE as the “evil stepmonster.” It was really eye-opening to draw her through a different lens.

What do you hope readers will take with them once they’ve finished reading it?

I hope that readers will connect with Tilly’s journey to overcome a setback and choose her own path, and also identify with the power of having a support network. Just as I was finishing up this book, I lost not one, but two very dear high school friends. It really hit home for me how influential and special those friendships in our teen years can be. How ironic was it that I’d just completed a story where the protagonist discovers the beauty of allies at the same time my own allies were taken. The silver lining of these tragedies was rediscovering that those friendships—separated by age and distance—don’t fade or fizzle, but can be joyfully resumed as if no time had passed.

If you could sum the book up in one sentence, what would you say?

A girl fights for her future while dancing in New York City the summer after graduation.

What is something unique about you? Any writing quirks or favorite snack foods?

Probably my biggest writing quirk is that I marinate on the plot and characters for a long, long time, before I ever write anything down. I heard another author say once that she writes the entire first draft in her head before typing a word and I definitely relate to that. I like to have everything worked out in advance, which makes for pretty quick and clean drafting. When I’m writing, I like coffee or tea, sometimes munching on popcorn. When revising, I get so involved, I rarely stop to eat or drink anything.

What are you working on next?

I am working on editing my third book, which comes out in 2019. This one is also a companion, loosely inspired by Hansel & Gretl. It follows Ashlyn, who appears in IT STARTED WITH GOODBYE, and was arrested along with Tatum in the beginning of the book. This story takes place a year later as Ashlyn, finishing up a year at boarding school, learns her father is going to jail, her mom is going to rehab, and she’s being shipped off to work at a wilderness retreat center with her estranged cousin. Ashlyn is definitely the most complicated character I’ve written, so it’s been a challenge—but a good one! I’m excited to send her out into the world.

Everywhere You Want to Be

By Christina June

Young Adult Contemporary

Paperback & ebook, 288 Pages

May 1st 2018 by Blink

From author Christina June comes Everywhere You Want to Be, a modern tale inspired by the classic Red Riding Hood.



Matilda Castillo has always done what she was told, but when she gets injured senior years, she watches her dreams of becoming a contemporary dancer slip away. So when Tilly gets a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend the summer with a New York dance troupe, nothing can stop her from saying yes--not her mother, not her fears of the big city, and not the commitment she made to Georgetown. Tilly's mother allows her to go on two conditions: one, Tilly will regularly visit her abuela in New Jersey, and two, after the summer, she'll give up dancing and go off to college.



Armed with her red vintage sunglasses and her pros and cons lists, Tilly strikes out, determined to turn a summer job into a career. Along the way she meets new friends ... and new enemies. Tilly isn't the only one desperate to dance, and fellow troupe member Sabrina Wolfrik intends to succeed at any cost. But despite dodging sabotage and blackmail attempts from Sabrina, Tilly can't help but fall in love with the city, especially since Paolo, a handsome musician from her past, is also calling New York home for the summer.



As the weeks wind down and the competition with Sabrina heats up, Tilly's future is on the line. She must decide whether to follow her mother's path to Georgetown or leap into the unknown to pursue her own dreams.

Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Book Depository│Kobo

Playlist

In EVERYWHERE YOU WANT TO BE, Tilly and her fellow dancers are preparing for a performance at the end of the summer. There’s a lot at stake, both for the dancers and the choreographer, Sage. The piece is about fighting your demons, both external and internal, so the music I listened to while writing often reflected that, in the artist’s life, their lyrics, or the mood of the song.



“And each of you is going to do a little self-reflection while you’re here.” A collective groan echoed softly through the room. Sage chuckled. “Nothing you can’t handle. The theme I want you all to remember while you’re dancing is ‘slaying the dragon.’ That could mean an actual dragon, like in a fairy tale. It could mean defeating an enemy in a war, like Joan of Arc. It could mean something within yourself. But you need to do some thinking on what, or who, inspires you to keep going. Get a book. Watch a movie. Observe the people in your life.” Sage’s voice grew quieter. “Some of my favorites are the ones who battled and lost. For example, I’ve often used the music of Amy Winehouse and Janis Joplin in my pieces because you can hear them wrestling with their emotions when they sing.”



Here’s my playlist on Spotify.



Other Books in the Series

It Started with Goodbye

By Christina June

Young Adult Contemporary

Paperback & ebook, 304 Pages

May 9th 2017 by Blink



Sixteen-year-old Tatum Elsea is bracing for the worst summer of her life. After being falsely accused of a crime, she’s stuck under stepmother-imposed house arrest and her BFF’s gone ghost. Tatum fills her newfound free time with community service by day and working at her covert graphic design business at night (which includes trading emails with a cute cello-playing client). When Tatum discovers she’s not the only one in the house keeping secrets, she finds she has the chance to make amends with her family and friends. Equipped with a new perspective, and assisted by her feisty step-abuela-slash-fairy-godmother, Tatum is ready to start fresh and maybe even get her happy ending along the way.

Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Book Depository│Kobo

About the Author

Christina June writes young adult contemporary fiction when she’s not writing college recommendation letters during her day job as a school counselor. She loves the little moments in life that help someone discover who they’re meant to become – whether it’s her students or her characters. Christina is a voracious reader, loves to travel, and hopes to one day be bicoastal – the east coast of the US and the east coast of Scotland. She lives in Virginia with her husband and daughter. Christina is the author of IT STARTED WITH GOODBYE, EVERYWHERE YOU WANT TO BE, and the forthcoming NO PLACE LIKE HERE.

Website│Goodreads│Facebook│Twitter│Instagram│Blink

Release Blitz Giveaway

- 1 winner will receive an ebook of IT STARTED WITH GOODBYE and EVERWHERE YOU WANT TO BE

- Open internationally

- Ends May 5th



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The Glamorous Life of a Mediocre Housewife by Crissy Sharp {Blog Tour Review}

The Glamorous Life of a Mediocre Housewife
(A Strawberry Lake Estates Mystery)
by Crissy Sharp

Kindle Edition, 244 pages

Publication: May 1st 2018 

Source: I received a copy, which did not influence my thoughts and opinions

 

 

 

Lotty Brooks’ days consist of avoiding thoughts of her failing marriage, changing diapers, and trying not to eat chocolate brioche for breakfast and lunch. However, everything changes when her perfect, lakeside Montana neighborhood begins bustling with crime and she seems to be the target.

Jason Brooks wants to know what happened to the woman he married. Lotty’s a mere shell of her former self. When she becomes the focal point of neighborhood threats, and the town seems to question her innocence, he must decide how well he knows his wife.

As Jason and Lotty try to get to the bottom of the threats and find those responsible, they’ll need to remember what they once loved about each other. Otherwise, they may lose everything and everyone they care about.

 

My Review: 5 Stars

 

Being a mom isn't as glamorous as you might expect, especially when you're struggling with your marriage and life in general. The first part of this story focuses on Lotty and her obvious depression and it can be a bit of a downer, but it also really helped me to connect with her. I think it's safe to say that most moms feel pretty blah towards life at some point and we all just want to be loved and appreciated.

 

Everyone has friends and neighbors we can count on; we all have insecurities and struggles; we all have ups and downs. I absolutely adored these characters and couldn't get enough of them, but I must admit there were a few times when I wanted to yell at them to just communicate. Although I read to escape life, and this book deals with mom life, I was completely caught up in the story, especially once the mystery began. 

 

I think I'm a harder critic of contemporary fiction because it IS easier to picture myself in the story and if it feels way too unrealistic, even if it is fiction, I don't buy it. Crissy Sharp tells this tale in a way that made it easy to find myself fitting right into this small Montana neighborhood, while delivering a highly entertaining and (hopefully) unrealistic mystery. I was guessing until the end and on edge, right along with the characters. Add to that a very tender and heartwarming journey of rediscovering love, trust, and self-worth, and this one is a winner in my mind. 

 

Content: mild romance; mild+ violence 

Swoon Worthy Spotlights

Welcome to Swoon Worthy Spotlights,

hosted by Bookworm Nation, Katie's Clean Book Collection and KJ's Book Nook! 

Swoon Worthy Spotlights features 1-3 of our favorite books that we have read during the month.

We will share the cover(s), our review(s)

and a link to each other's posts

so you can check out which books we have all chosen!

 

  I read some fun ones this month!

What are some books that made you swoon?

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Be sure to check out some other choices from

KJ's Book Nook

and

Bookworm Nation

 
Happy Reading!!