book review – Page 7 – Hey Candi! What are you reading???

#BookReview: The Road Leads Back by Marci Bolden

Synopsis

Kara Martinson and Harry Canton weren’t exactly high school sweethearts, but they did share one night neither will ever forget. Twenty-seven years later, Harry surprises Kara at an art gallery opening and discovers he left her with more than just memories when he went away to college. Desperate to connect with the family he never knew existed, Harry convinces his son to move to Stonehill—and pleads with Kara to come, too.

Kara hasn’t stepped foot in their hometown since the day she was sent away to a home for unwed mothers. Now Harry’s back in her life and as they put together the pieces of his parents’ betrayal, old heartaches start to feel anew. She wants to be near her family, but returning to Iowa means facing some things…and some people…she isn’t quite ready to.

Can Harry convince her to forgive those who betrayed her so they can embrace the future they were robbed of so long ago? Or will the pain of the past be too much for Kara to overcome?

My Review:

Wow! This book spoke to the very core of me. I empathized with Kara on a very personal level, I cried, I laughed. I think it’s because I too am a single mom. Kara sacrificed her life to give her son the best she could and also to make sure that they always had fun. Not knowing the real reason behind Harry (baby daddy) not being in their lives, Kara is not very welcoming when finally after 27 years Harry makes an appearance in their lives. Harry wants a life with his family which includes Kara, but this means that they will all have to move to Iowa where Kara and Harry both grew up. Kara isn’t very happy about this decision, but will do anything for Philip her son and his happiness and agrees to go back to the place that caused her so much pain.

Back in Iowa, Harry and Kara start working on their relationship and give into their feelings for one another and work on being a family.

And as stories usually goes… they lived happily ever after. This is definitely a recommendation from my side.

Rating: 5/5

#BookReview: The Woman I was Before by Kerry Fisher

So JUNE started off with a page-turner!

**The perfect picture hides the darkest lies.**

Synopsis:

A new home can be a happy ending. Or a fresh start. Or a hiding place…

Kate Jones is running away. She has left her old life behind, changing both her own name and her daughter’s. No-one must ever connect Kate with the mistake that destroyed her life.

Starting afresh on Parkview Road – a brand new street full of newly built houses – Kate looks at the other women on the street with envy. They seem to have it all: Gisela with her busy life, full house and successful children, Sally with her exciting spontaneous marriage, her glamorous holidays, her high-flying career. The pictures that Kate’s new friends post online confirm their seemingly perfect existence, whilst Kate hides from the world at all costs.

Until one day, everything changes. Kate is called to the scene of a devastating accident, which is about to test everything the women thought they knew about each other, and themselves.

My Review:

This is a story about Kate, Gisela & Sally. Three strangers who move into the same road on the same day. As they get comfortable with their new lives, twists unravel and we are left wondering what is going on. They post their lives on Facebook, portraying how perfect life is, but behind closed doors, life gets the better of them.

This book was a page turner for me. I loved the characters of Gisela and Kate. Sally I wasn’t really into, she seemed way too pretentious and judgemental for me. All three woman has secrets, until, one day, it all comes spilling out and they learn to face whatever lies ahead with the help of each other.

A story of friendship, struggles and second chances.

If you’re a fan of Big Little Lies, you’ll enjoy this book.

Rating: 5/5

Book Review: The Other Woman by Sandie Jones

Synopsis:

When Emily falls in love, she finds out the hard way that there’s one other woman in her boyfriend’s life who isn’t ready to let go of him… his mother!

Review:

Emily has finally met the one, but as her relationship with Adam strengthens, she is stuck fighting a battle with the other woman in his life who will not go down without a fight.

It started like all other “romance novels”. Girl meets boy and they fall in love. Then suddenly, you know that something is amiss when she meets his mother, Pammie. Pammie goes out of her way to break them up, but plot after plot, she fails. Throughout the book you wonder when and how Emily will expose Pammie for everything she has done, but Pammie is always one step ahead.

When Emily tells Adam that his mother is trying to destroy them, does he believe her? Where does his loyalties lie? Sure with the love of his life? Emily struggles to keep her relationship alive.

Sandie Jones outdid herself with this book. The plot twists were unexpected especially in the end. This book did not disappoint!

Rating: 5/5

Review: The Accident by Gail Schimmel

Introducing The Accident:

When Julia was a child, her parents were involved in an accident that would cast a long shadow over Julia’s life. Now that Julia is an adult, facing her own challenges, it might be time for her and her mother to unravel the demons that they have lived with since the accident. The Accident is told from four points of view: Julia; her mother, Catherine; her lover, Daniel, and Daniel’s wife, Claire.

Review:

This book! It’s the first time I read a novel by Gail Schimmel and I enjoyed it. The characters I wanted slap most times, but I had my favourite one who made me laugh and feel the way she was feeling. The ending was a little predictable – just a little – but all in all it a lovely book and I would recommend it to a book club because you need to have someone to talk to about these characters

Rating:

5/5

Review: On the Rocks by Sawyer Bennett

Book 1 in the Last Call Series: Hunter’s Story

About the Author:
Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, “Off Sides” in January 2013, Sawyer Bennett has written more than thirty books and has been featured on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists. A reformed trial lawyer, Sawyer uses real life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that range from New Adult to erotic contemporary romance. Sawyer also writes general and women¿s fiction under the pen name S. Bennett and sweet romance under the name Juliette Poe.

Synopsis:

Hunter Markham left home to travel the world for fame and glory, finding it as a top ranked professional surfer. Now he’s returned home to the sand and salty breeze of the North Carolina Outer Banks so he can open The Last Call, a beach bar nestled among the dunes of the Atlantic.

Five years ago, Gabby Ward drunkenly threw herself at her best friend’s brother, only to have her young heart crushed. Hunter is back but Gabby is content to stay far away from him and his dangerously charming ways.

Gabby’s well-schemed plans to ignore Hunter go up in flames when he presents her an offer she simply can’t refuse. Working together day in and day out proves problematic for two reasons—Gabby realizes her feelings for Hunter are still very much alive, while Hunter struggles to break through to Gabby’s cold heart. What starts out as a mutual business arrangement soon turns into a passion that neither can deny.

But when the pro surfing tour comes knocking and Hunter has a chance to reclaim his former glory, hard choices lie ahead for both of them.

Choices that could destroy what they have built or take them further than they could ever dare to hope in their second chance at romance

My Review:

I loved this book! I was hooked from the beginning. Finished it in one sitting. Although it was a little predictable, but that’s probably because I read too many romance novels, however it did keep me turning the pages.

Hunter and Gabby grew up together, Gabby being Hunter’s sister Casey’s best friend. They hide their feelings for one another pretty well, until, one night when a drunken Gabby kisses Hunter, who returns the kiss and breaks her heart. Five years later, Hunter returns home from traveling around the globe, to his family and Casey’s best friend Gabby, who is still pretty pissed at him for breaking her heart. While Hunter vows to get Gabby into his bed, she plays hard to get, until one day when she cannot resist and reciprocate’s a kiss and things start to steam up between them, leaving them both unsure of how they feel, if they should be honest with each other, and what to do next apart from just sleeping together. As they work on their relationship, some curve balls get thrown their way as relationships often goes. In the end they end up together (because it has to be that way, how else would we want it to go) and as the saying goes, they live happily ever after.

My Rating:

I rated this book 4/5 because I loved it and couldn’t put it down. As I said in the beginning I was hooked from the very beginning. I had predicted two endings and as it happened, I didn’t get the ending I was hoping for, but was happy none the less.

Would I recommend this book?

Yes, definitely, if you’re into steamy romance. I can’t wait to get my copy of book 2 in the series. The book may be read a stand alone, but I think you probably would want to read book 2 if you enjoy this one as much as I have.

Thank you for reading my review

XOXO,

Candice