Soul City Salvation by Jonathan LaPoma REVIEW

Soul City Salvation

by Jonathan LaPoma

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Synopsis:

Ten months--that's how long twenty-six-year-old writer and aspiring actor Jay Sakovsky decides to stay and teach in the bohemian beach town of Soul City, California, to save up cash and overcome his anxiety before moving on to Hollywood.

But after several “friendly chats” with the vice principal about hangover sweats and black eyes from barroom brawls, Jay sees a therapist who helps him connect his self-destructive tendencies and artistic blocks to his undiagnosed OCD, setting him on a ten-year healing journey that drives him to near madness as he explores the limits of his heart, creativity, and psyche.

A surreal, darkly comic, and psychologically epic novel, The Soul City Salvation explores mental illness, friendship, aging, masculinity, modern love, the creative process, spiritual awakening, and fighting for respect in an uncaring world.

*The Soul City Salvation is the fifth book in a loosely-linked series, with Hammond, The Summer of Crud, Understanding the Alacrán, and Developing Minds: An American Ghost Story as books one-four. Each novel can be read independently of the others.

Purchase Links:

Amazon US - https://www.amazon.com/Soul-City-Salvation-Jonathan-LaPoma-ebook/dp/B083VSPGN4

Amazon CA - https://www.amazon.ca/Soul-City-Salvation-Jonathan-LaPoma-ebook/dp/B083VSPGN4

Kobo - https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-soul-city-salvation

Barnes & Noble - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-soul-city-salvation-jonathan-lapoma/1136272363

Apple Books - https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-soul-city-salvation/id1496746195

Google Play - https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Jonathan_LaPoma_The_Soul_City_Salvation?id=JxHMDwAAQBAJ&hl=en

Review:

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

In Soul City Salvation we watch Jay Sakovsky as he works as a teacher while dealing with his mental illness. Jay has decided it's best if he can save up some money and try to calm his anxiety a bit before he chases his dreams of fame and fortune. While at first this seems like a great plan, Jay soon realizes maybe things will be a bit harder than he thought.

For me, Jay was a good main character. I was able to personally relate to him in a way that doesn't happen very often for me. He was very frantic, from his compulsions to making sure every door and window was locked several times to his over dramatic fear of asking his neighbor to turn their music down. We see Jay emphasize every aspect of day to day living. It isn't easy to read, and I'm sure some might find it over dramatized as mental illness can be hard to understand, however I thought it was wonderfully done.

The story itself was well told, and the writing was incredible. One of my favorite things about LaPoma's writing is how he creates these moments that connect with you on such a deep level. This is the second book of his I have read and both books have had moments that completely haulted me in that moment. His work is definitely not for the faint of heart; it is grungy, blunt, crude, dirty and anything but pretty. Yet, it's so freaking beautiful.

Through Dust And Dreams by Roxana Valea EXTRACT

Through Dust and Dreams

by Roxana Valea

Synopsis:

At a crossroads in her life, Roxana decides to take a ten-day safari trip to Africa. In Namibia, she meets a local guide who talks about “the courage to become who you are” and tells her that “the world belongs to those who dream”.

Her holiday over, Roxana still carries the spell of his words within her soul. Six months later she quits her job and searches for a way to fulfil an old dream: crossing Africa from north to south. Teaming up with Richard and Peter, two total strangers she meets over the Internet, Roxana starts a journey that will take her and her companions from Morocco to Namibia, crossing deserts and war-torn countries and surviving threats from corrupt officials and tensions within their own group.

Through Dust and Dreams is the story of their journey: a story of courage and friendship, of daring to ask questions and search for answers, and of self-discovery on a long, dusty road south.

Purchase Links:

US - https://www.amazon.com/Through-Dust-Dreams-African-Adventure-ebook/dp/B00QZDP394/

CA - https://www.amazon.ca/Through-Dust-Dreams-African-Adventure-ebook/dp/B00QZDP394/

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Through-Dust-Dreams-African-Adventure-ebook/dp/B00QZDP394/

Extract:

On their way south, Roxana and her travel mates cross Chad and have a less pleasant but nevertheless humorous encounter with police officer.

When we hit the tarmac at the end of a heavy drive along the feche road, we knew we were very close to the capital. A soldier, again judging by his gun, waved at the car to stop. I slowed down.

“What are you doing?” Peter looked at me.

“I’m stopping. He waved me to stop.”

“So what? He just wants a bribe. Just drive on.”

We were coming closer to the guy now. I was in doubt, but the memory of the other guy who stopped us just as we got out of Boll was still fresh. Maybe Peter was right.

“Do you think I should just drive on?”

“Yeah.”

This was coming from both of them and I felt they were right. I hit the accelerator. From the corner of my eye, I could see the surprised look of the soldier as we drove past and then I could see the rest in my back mirror: he suddenly swung around, pulled his gun off his shoulder and pointed it at us. I hit the brakes that very second. The whole car shook, and then eventually came to a stop in a few metres.

He was quite angry judging from the amount of yelling that came from the lower part of his face, hidden somewhere under the huge shawl that wrapped his head. He was yelling at us – surprisingly – in French, and demanded to see our documents. We gave him everything: passports, driving licences, insurance, the carnet1... everything.

“What were you doing? Why did you not stop? I know you saw me, I saw you looking at me!” he shouted at me.

What could I tell him? That I didn’t stop because I knew he would ask for a bribe?

“I wanted to stop,” I told him in the most docile voice I could find. “Only that…”

“Only that what?” he yelled back.

“Only that I hit the accelerator instead of the brake. I don’t know how it happened, I’m sorry. I did not mean to cause offence.”

I tried hard not to smile. To my right, Peter must have thought I had gone insane.

But I knew that this was a winning tactic. Playing the fragile woman who admits her incapacity always works in front of a macho type. The soldier seemed to swallow my explanation.

He was now busy going through our passports, and my travel mates got a sermon about why the UK should not have helped Bush invade Iraq. He then moved on to clarifying the next issue on his mind.

“Why are you driving?”

I knew what he meant but I couldn’t be bothered to think of an explanation.

He then asked my travel mates:

“You two in there, and a woman is driving? How did you let this happen?”

To him, this was as an insult to the manliness of my travel mates. Peter decided to serve him the full explanation.

“Because we’re on a very long journey, we all drive. We rotate. One of us drives every day. Today it is her turn to drive.”

It was beyond his understanding and obviously he did not get it. Peter gave up.

“Look at you, two men in this car, letting a woman drive. Who can understand…”

He went on for a while, but he didn’t get any more explanations so he turned to another subject, his main subject in fact, and the one that he had left until the end:

“You need to pay me 5000 CFA.”

It was useless to ask why. It was a bribe, just because he happened to be there, or just because he had a gun, or just because he held all our documents.

“No.”

This was in fact three “nos” combined into one. He asked again. We refused again. Then some mumbo jumbo started and Peter told him about our friend the Governor and our other friend the ambassador and somehow he believed us. Or maybe just didn’t know what to do with three white tourists who refused to pay a bribe.

As we drove on, I checked my back mirror again. His gun was pointing down this time. I couldn’t see his face, all wrapped up in his many layers, but I bet he had a doubtful expression. He might have learned two new things today: it was possible not to receive a bribe when you asked for one, and yes, women could drive. I wasn’t sure which one he found more puzzling.

As for us, we had just learned rule number three of surviving in Chad: when a man with a gun waves at you, you stop. Immediately.

1 The Carnet de Passages en Douane is a customs document that identifies a driver's motor vehicle. It is required in order to take a vehicle into a significant number of countries in Africa.

Author Bio

Roxana Valea was born in Romania and lived in Italy, Switzerland, England and Argentina before settling in Spain. She has a BA in journalism and an MBA degree. She spent more than twenty years in the business world as an entrepreneur, manager and management consultant working for top companies like Apple, eBay, and Sony. She is also a Reiki Master and shamanic energy medicine practitioner.

As an author, Roxana writes books inspired by real events. Her memoir Through Dust and Dreams is a faithful account of a trip she took at the age of twenty-eight across Africa by car in the company of two strangers she met over the internet. Her following book, Personal Power: Mindfulness Techniques for the Corporate World is a nonfiction book filled with personal anecdotes from her consulting years. The Polo Diaries series is inspired by her experiences as a female polo player--traveling to Argentina, falling in love, and surviving the highs and lows of this dangerous sport.

Roxana lives with her husband in Mallorca, Spain, where she writes, coaches, and does energy therapies, but her first passion remains writing.

Social Media Links:

Website: https://www.roxanavaleaauthor.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/roxana_valea

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roxanavalea_author/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoxanaValeaAuthor/

The Poor Relation by Susanna Bavin REVIEW

The Poor Relation

by Susanna Bavin

🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑

Synopsis:

1908, Manchester. Mary Maitland is an attractive and intelligent young woman determined to strike out on her own and earn a living. Finding work at a women’s employment agency, her creative talent is soon noticed and Mary begins writing articles for newspapers and magazines.

But being of independent and progressive mind are troublesome traits when those you hold dear must constantly live up to the expectations of the well-to-do family to which they are linked. With increasing pressures from the powers that be, can Mary find the fine line between honouring her family and honouring herself?

Purchase Links:

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07G4N4RNG

US - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07G4N4RNG

CAN - https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07G4N4RNG

Review:

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Poor Relation is a historical fantasy that I simply couldn't wait to sink my teeth into. Unfortunately, I found it difficult to get into and was just under halfway through before I became genuinely interested in the story. Once I hit that point, however, I just became so hooked and was unable to put the book down. I really liked Mary as a main character once I got into the story. For the time that she lived in, she was so bold and outspoken. The rest of the characters were completely fine, however, none of them really stood out above the rest. Overall, the ending saved the story as it put a nice little wrap up on certain misfortunes. 

All things considered, this would be good for someone who enjoys historical fiction and doesn't mind a slow start.

Author Bio

Susanna Bavin has worked as a librarian, an infant school teacher, a carer and a cook. She lives on the beautiful North Wales coast, but her writing is inspired by her Mancunian roots. She also writes as Polly Heron.

Social Media Links

Website: http://www.susannabavin.co.uk/

Art and Soul by Claire Huston PROMO

Art & Soul

by Claire Huston

Synopsis:

There’s no problem Becky Watson can’t fix. Except her own love life…

Struggling single mother Becky Watson longs to revive her career as a life-fixer, working miracles to solve her clients’ problems, no matter how big or small. Since the birth of her two-year-old son she has been stuck preventing wedding fiascos for the richest and rudest residents of the Comptons, a charming, leafy area of southern England known for its artistic heritage.

So when semi-reclusive local artist Charlie Handren reluctantly hires Becky to fix his six-year creative slump, she’s delighted to set him up with a come-back exhibition and Rachel Stone, the woman of his dreams.

Though they get off to a rocky start, Becky and Charlie soon become close. But as the beautiful Rachel becomes Charlie’s muse, Becky is forced to wonder: will giving Charlie everything he wants mean giving up her own happily ever after?

A heart-warming, uplifting romance served with a generous slice of cake. Perfect for fans of Jill Mansell, Katie Fforde and Cathy Kelly.
Purchase Link: http://getbook.at/ClaireHustonAandS

Author Bio

Claire Huston lives in Warwickshire with her husband and two children. Art and Soul is her first novel.

A keen amateur baker, she enjoys making cakes, biscuits and brownies almost as much as eating them. You can find recipes for all the cakes mentioned in Art and Soul at www.clairehuston.co.uk along with over 100 other recipes. This is also where she talks about and reviews books.

Social Media Links:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClaraVal

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clairehustonauthor/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/claire_huston/

In Over Her Head: Lights, Camera, Anxiety by Krysten Lindsay Hager

In Over Her Head: Lights, Camera, Anxiety

by Krysten Lindsay Hager

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Synopsis:

Cecily wants a big life, but can she handle it?

Cecily Taylor Damone feels like she has it all: great best friends, the beginnings of a career as a model/actress, and she's dating her favorite singer, Andrew Holiday. Just when it seems like all her dreams are coming true, everything comes crashing down when a photo of Andrew with another girl appears online. He swears nothing happened, but Cecily is crushed. She feels like she lost two of the people closest to her.

Was her perfect relationship real, or was she in over her head?

Purchase Links:

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07VRYS65N

US - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VRYS65N

CAN - https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07VRYS65N

Review:

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. 

This is the second book in the Cecily Taylor Series. In this installment we pick up right where the first book, Can Dreams Come True? finishes. In this book we get to experience more of Cecily's relationships with Andrew, her friends and even her family members.

Once again, Krysten delivers us an innocent and sweet read as we continue on in the life of Cecily Taylor. I really enjoyed how we focus not only on Cecily and Andrew's relationship but also on the relationships with her friends. The characters were fine. My favorite character though, would have to be Cecily's dad. To me he seemed like the perfect father type for this story. He was funny and caring and I just loved him. I feel like this book could be read as a standalone. However, reading the first book would allow you to really get to know the characters better especially some that are more supporting characters in this book than the first one.

I was pleasantly surprised to find how much more I enjoyed this book in comparison to the first book. However, I found myself being concerned about the unhealthy relationship aspects it portrayed.

Overall, this was a good sequel. I recommend this to anyone looking for a sweet, innocent YA read. I think teenagers who want to read something that still has the cute boy but leaves out the sex would enjoy this series.

Author Bio

Krysten Lindsay Hager writes about friendship, self-esteem, fitting in, frenemies, crushes, fame, first loves, and values. She is the author of True Colors, Best Friends...Forever?, Next Door to a Star, Landry in Like, Competing with the Star, Dating the It Guy, Can Dreams Come True, and In Over Her Head: Lights, Camera, Anxiety . True Colors won the Readers Favorite award for best preteen book as well as the Dayton Book Expo Bestseller Award for children/teens. Best Friends…Forever won the Readers’ Favorite Silver Medal. Competing with the Star is a Readers' Favorite Book Award Finalist. Landry in Like is a Literary Classics Gold Medal recipient.

Krysten's work has been featured in USA Today, The Flint Journal, the Grand Haven Tribune, the Beavercreek Current, the Bellbrook Times, Springfield News-Sun, Grand Blanc View, Dayton Daily News and on the talk show Living Dayton.

Follow Krysten Lindsay Hager
Website: http://www.krystenlindsay.com/
Sign up for my newsletter: https://krystenlindsay.us8.list-manage.com/subscribe

Can Dreams Come True? by Krysten Lindsay Hagar

Can Dreams Come True?

by Krysten Lindsay Hager

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Synopsis:

Cecily has always had a huge crush on singer Andrew Holiday and she wants to be an actress, so she tags along when her friend auditions for his new video. However, the director isn’t looking for an actress, but rather the girl next door—and so is Andrew. Cecily gets a part in the video and all of Andrew’s attention on the set. Her friend begins to see red and Cecily’s boyfriend is seeing green—as in major jealousy. A misunderstanding leaves Cecily and her boyfriend on the outs and Andrew hopes to pick up the pieces as he’s looking for someone more stable in his life than the models he’s dated. Soon Cecily begins to realize Andrew understands her more than her small-town boyfriend—but can her perfect love match really be her favorite rock star?

Purchase Links:

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B079S3KJSH
US - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079S3KJSH

CAN - https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B079S3KJSH

Review:

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Every young girl has that one celebrity that they crush on more than all the others. For Cecily that crush is Andrew Holiday, the sweet and sensitive pop star. When Cecily unexpectedly gets a part in Andrew's new video as an extra, it seems as though she will have a chance to meet her ultimate crush. This makes her boyfriend Zach jealous but there's no need because nothing could ever happen between Cecily and her ultimate crush.. could it?

This was such an innocent read. It's perfect for the young high school girls who want to read about a sweet romance. Our entire story takes place during High School giving off feelings of nostalgia and freedom. The characters are typical high school students with typical high school problems and relationships. The romance between Cecily and Andrew was sweet. The romance between Cecily and Zach was not cute. The way Zach displays a "my feelings matter and yours don't" way of thinking is a bit of concern. I get that these are high school students and things are different in high school, but I was glad when Cecily decided to stay away from that mess. 

Overall, this book is a sweet, innocent romance. If you're into that type of story I recommend this book. I think any high school girl would connect with this story, the characters and the situations they find themselves in.

Author Bio

Krysten Lindsay Hager writes about friendship, self-esteem, fitting in, frenemies, crushes, fame, first loves, and values. She is the author of True Colors, Best Friends...Forever?, Next Door to a Star, Landry in Like, Competing with the Star, Dating the It Guy, Can Dreams Come True, and In Over Her Head: Lights, Camera, Anxiety . True Colors won the Readers Favorite award for best preteen book as well as the Dayton Book Expo Bestseller Award for children/teens. Best Friends…Forever won the Readers’ Favorite Silver Medal. Competing with the Star is a Readers' Favorite Book Award Finalist. Landry in Like is a Literary Classics Gold Medal recipient.

Krysten's work has been featured in USA Today, The Flint Journal, the Grand Haven Tribune, the Beavercreek Current, the Bellbrook Times, Springfield News-Sun, Grand Blanc View, Dayton Daily News and on the talk show Living Dayton.

Follow Krysten Lindsay Hager
Website: http://www.krystenlindsay.com/
Sign up for my newsletter: https://krystenlindsay.us8.list-manage.com/subscribe

The One by John Marrs REVIEW

The One

by John Marrs

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Synopsis:

How far would you go to find The One?

A simple DNA test is all it takes. Just a quick mouth swab and soon you’ll be matched with your perfect partner—the one you’re genetically made for.

That’s the promise made by Match Your DNA. A decade ago, the company announced that they had found the gene that pairs each of us with our soul mate. Since then, millions of people around the world have been matched. But the discovery has its downsides: test results have led to the breakup of countless relationships and upended the traditional ideas of dating, romance and love.

Now five very different people have received the notification that they’ve been “Matched.” They’re each about to meet their one true love. But “happily ever after” isn’t guaranteed for everyone. Because even soul mates have secrets. And some are more shocking than others…

A word-of-mouth hit in the United Kingdom, The One is a fascinating novel that shows how even the simplest discoveries can have complicated consequences.

Review:

What would you do if taking one DNA sample could show you the one person you're genetically designed to fall in love with? In The One we follow 5 people who decided to take the test and find their match. Each case is truly different, each case has their own ups and downs and each case will leave you wanting more.

I can't even begin to explain how much I enjoyed this book. The writing was fantastic. I was completely drawn into the story from the first chapter to the last. There are a few shocks and twists that were played out really well. I love how this book was fast paced but made you wait at the same time. Let me explain, there are 5 storylines in this book. Yes, FIVE! This made me hesitate to read at first because it sounds confusing and I just wanted to enjoy a thriller.  However, the storylines are easy to follow and each one is equally interesting yet completely unique from the rest. I won't say anything else about it because I've tried and each time it comes out more spoiler-y than the last. So I'm just going to say you should totally read this and leave it there.

Obviously this was a 5 Moon read for me. If you like sci-fi thrillers, or even if you just like thrillers, I totally recommend this book. I will be reading more books by this author very soon.

Purchase Links:

CAN - https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B075CQSTGT
US - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075CQSTGT
UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B075CQSTGT

The Gift of Cockleberry Bay by Nicola May EXTRACT

The Gift of Cockleberry Bay

by Nicola May

Synopsis:

From the author of the #1 BESTSELLING The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay

All of our favourite characters from Cockleberry Bay are back in this final, heart warming story in the series. Including Hot, Rosa Smith's adorable dachshund and his new-born puppies.

Now successfully running the Cockleberry Café and wishing to start a family herself, Rosa feels the time is right to let her inherited Corner Shop go. However, her benefactor left one important legal proviso: that the shop cannot be sold, only passed on to somebody who really deserves it.

Rosa is torn. How can she make such a huge decision? And will it be the right one? Once the news gets out and goes public, untrustworthy newcomers appear in the Bay . . . their motives uncertain. With the revelation of more secrets from Rosa's family heritage, a new journey of unpredictable and life-changing events begins to unfold.

The Gift of Cockleberry Bay concludes this phenomenally successful series in typically brisk and bolshy style and will delight the many thousands of Rosa's fans

Purchase Links: 

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gift-Cockleberry-Bay-Third-loved-ebook/dp/B081S7JWRS
US: https://www.amazon.com/Gift-Cockleberry-Bay-Third-loved-ebook/dp/B081S7JWRS

CAN: https://www.amazon.ca/Gift-Cockleberry-Bay-Third-loved-ebook/dp/B081S7JWRS

Extract:

Extract from The Gift of Cockleberry Bay where you learn that somebody is about to seriously betray Rosa…

‘So, run that by me again?’ The Managing Director of Costsmart Supermarkets noticed a dirty mark on his desk phone and started rubbing it off with his finger. ‘I’ve got the newspaper in front of me now.’

The voice on the other end of the phone replied: ‘I put in the bid for you as an independent purchaser. We make up some schmaltzy words, pick a charity involving animals and suggest a big donation – and if we also say we want to keep it as a pet store or similar, I reckon she will buy that.’

‘This all sounds great, but this Rosa Smith tart is no fool and she will know that we are a small but growing independent supermarket chain and she’ll tell us where to go.’

‘No, you’ve misunderstood me. What happens is that I take it on from the start when it’s all signed, sealed and delivered – then you buy it straight off me, for the amount I mentioned earlier. Plus you donate the charity money – although you can probably get away with not doing so, because I know that silly girl wouldn’t dream that anyone would not fulfil their promise.’ The caller sniggered derisively. ‘It’s a win, win.’

‘Now we’re talking business.’ The Costsmart man blew out a big noisy breath. ‘The locals won’t like it, mind.’

‘The locals will just have to get used to it. It’s the holidaymakers who bring in most of the money down here anyway, and you can just add some more bespoke farm-shop-type produce, so that you are not competing directly with the Co-op.’

‘I knew I met you in that bar for a reason.’ The supermarket boss went to take a sip of his coffee, but finding it cold, he put down his cup. ‘You didn’t mention that you’d run shops before though.’

‘That’s not the requirement, is it? But I’ve taken a few calculated risks in my time.’

‘OK. I need to do a bit of research and have a think. Let’s meet in a couple of weeks. Sorry, remind me, what was your name again?’

Author Bio

Nicola May lives in the UK, five miles from the Queen’s castle in Windsor, with her black-and-white rescue cat, Stan. Her hobbies include watching films that involve a lot of swooning, crabbing in South Devon and devouring cream teas.

Her bestselling The Corner Shop in Cockleberry, the 1st book in the Cockleberry Bay series, went to #1 on Amazon and stayed there for an unprecedented 6 weeks.

She classes her novels as ‘chicklit with a kick,’ writing about love, life and friendships in a real, not fluffy kind of way. She likes burgers, mince pies, clocks, birds, bubble baths and facials - but is not so keen on aubergines.

Social Media Links:

Website: www.nicolamay.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NicolaMayAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicolamay1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_nicola/

Giveaway:

Giveaway to Win a signed copy of The Gift of Cockleberry Bay (Open INT)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Trust In You by Julia Firlotte REVIEW

Trust In You

by Julia Firlotte

🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

Synopsis:

From the moment she met him, Ella Peterson had questions. As always, though, she’s too shy to ask.

Older and sexy as hell, mysterious Adam Brook soon sweeps sheltered Ella off her feet; but is he as perfect as he appears to be, or is there more to him than he’s telling her?

Ella’s world has already turned upside down after moving from England to rural Kansas. She and her sisters were hoping for a more secure future, but instead find that life can be tough when jobs are scarce and the stakes often higher than anticipated.

When events spiral out of Ella’s control, she learns the person she needs to rely on most is herself and her instincts on who to trust in the future.

It’s just that her instincts are screaming at her to trust Adam; it’s what he tells her that makes that a problem.

Purchase Links:

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trust-You-romance-intrigue-Falling/dp/1916167012
US - https://www.amazon.com/Trust-You-romance-intrigue-Falling/dp/1916167012

CAN - https://www.amazon.ca/Trust-You-romance-intrigue-Falling/dp/1916167012

Review:

Ella is an extremely sheltered and innocent nineteen year old. She has no experience with men, especially men on the wrong side of the tracks. After moving to Kansas with her family, Ella meets the sexy Adam and is instantly attracted to his sculpted body and dreamy eyes. Interestingly enough, Adam is attracted to Ella as well especially when he learns she's an innocent good girl. It doesn't take long for things to take off but when they do secrets and lies are uncovered leaving Ella with some big decisions to make.

So to be completely honest, I didn't like these characters at all. I found Ella's juvenile nature to be annoying and I thought Adam was aggressive and a little scary. He kind of reminded me of Christian Grey without the violence. With that said, I loved their story. These characters were so complimentary to each other and it just worked so well. They had a chemistry that excited me. I was completely enthralled reading about these two and I loved every minute of it. The story itself was exciting. Trust In You is proof of how two unlikable characters can come together to create a delicious romance. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to find out was going to happen next. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

Next book please!

Author Bio

Julia is an avid reader of all things romance, and she has read hundreds of books across a variety of sub-genres and began writing her own novels in 2018. Four books are currently in various stages of editing and completion, the first of which is finished and will be on sale in spring 2020.

Julia has always been passionate about languages and fiction and has a degree in Languages And Trade and an A-Level in English Literature. When Julia is not writing or editing her own novels, she usually has her nose in books by other authors and is otherwise kept busy caring for her family, going to the gym and carrying out her day job. Julia lives on the South Coast of England with her two children, husband and cats.

Media Links:

Author Website: www.juliafirlotteauthor.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/JuliaFirlotteAuthor/
Facebook Group: Romance Chit Chat https://www.facebook.com/groups/501897750557397/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/juliafirlotte
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19484358.Julia_Christine_Firlotte
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliafirlotte/

The Warrior Knight and the Widow by Ella Matthews REVIEW

The Warrior Knight and the Widow

by Ella Matthews

🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

Synopsis:

Protected by The Beast

Undone by the man

Racing cross-country pursued by danger, widow Lady Ellena Swein isn’t pleased to be taken back to her father’s castle. But with his knight Sir Braedan Leofric, also known as The Beast, as her captor, she has little choice! Ellena is surprised by his honourable and protective nature, even if she shouldn’t trust him. And when all seems to conspire against them, Braedan’s secret could either extinguish the spark between them or make it burn brighter.

Purchase Link: https://tinyurl.com/u57z936

Review:

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Lady Swein is successfully running her castle, the only problem is now that her husband had died her father is demanding she go back to his castle to remarry. So far no one has been successful at getting her to return until The Beast convinces her that she can bargain with her father for her freedom. What The Beast doesn't tell her is of his ultimate betrayal. 

This book is absolutely delicious! The plot is really good and the execution is fabulous. Matthews takes us on a journey that is filled with thrills and adventure from start to finish. The chemistry between Lady Swein and The Beast is hot and thick. Their relationship is a juicy whirlwind of emotions. It's dramatic and will make your heart race with hope and expectation.

The first couple days I started this book I barely had a chance to read it, then on the third day I completely devoured just under 300 pages. Putting it down was torture! It was so engaging and exciting I couldn't help but just get completely lost in it. 

This is the perfect guilty pleasure read. It has all the drama and steaminess to satisfy any lover of smutty romance. I loved it!

Author Bio

Ella Matthews lives and works in beautiful South Wales. When not thinking about handsome heroes she can be found walking along the coast with her husband and their two children (probably still thinking about heroes but at least pretending to be interested in everyone else).

Social Media Links:

Twitter @ellamattauthor

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ellamattauthor/

Giveaway:

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