Enchanted in Time by Nikki Lynn Barrett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book made me think of some good times in my life. It was a quick read yet entertaining. I was hooked from the beginning. I love how the author makes you want more and more while reading. The characters felt so relatable. There was so much emotion in this book. I highly recommend it.
This Time Around by Jane Suen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This time around is a novel about second chances. This is probably my second favorite trope to read. Katie and Chase were high school sweethearts. I absolutely loved Chase. I loved their backstory, loved their chemistry in the book. The meetup after several years was great! I also loved Katie’s turn around. Characters are well developed even the secondary ones. I did struggle to connect with Katie. I didn’t understand her choices of breaking it off with Chase like she did or not coming to see her dad. It just didn’t feel explained enough I guess. I also felt like Chase needed more of an explanation of why she did it. I also felt like I went from intimately knowing characters thoughts to just being an acquaintance close to the end of the book. Ending felt rushed. Overall, a great story and great character development. Looking forward to more from this author.
This Time Around by Jane Suen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a fantastic read. This is a great second time around romance. Katie breaks up with her high school sweetheart Chase they can both pursue thier respective dreams. Thinking she did the best thing for everyone she soon realizes what she gave up. Suddenly she lands her dream however there a demanding boss soon causes her love for this dream job. Arriving back at her home hometown for a friend’s wedding she takes a break from working none stop. Chase’s brother and sister-in-law are killed in a tragic car accident due to this he’s given custody of his nephew. Finding each other again at this wedding they find they still care about each other. Will they be able to figure out a way to make their relationship work?
Saved by Love by Toni Aleo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Whew! That was an emotional journey! Mental Health is a subject that can be touchy. This author did a wonderful job pulling me into the characters which then immersed me into their story. I enjoyed learning about the angst and stress these characters lived under and tried to overcome. Meeting the families add all the fun into the story but then as families do they add pressure and different stress to the main characters.
Overall there are many reasons to like and enjoy this story. I loved the two main characters and all they overcome. Saved by Love is the perfect title for this book. Give it a shot and prepare to be shocked and surprised.
•*•❥☆ BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE ☆❥•*••*•❥☆
They call me the quiet one—but I’m just as brutal, dark, and broken.
No woman has ever breached the walls of my heart, and I’m content with who I am. Until Mia Tucci seeks me out.
The New York Mafia princess is an enemy, a fantasy with midnight hair, violet eyes, and a body that promises hours of sin—and she needs my help. But helping her will cost me.
When she barters information that could take down her family’s operation, I’m too intrigued to turn her away. And as we get to know one another, my defenses fracture, tempting me to give her my trust.
But no one in the Mafia is innocent.
My only hope is that intertwining our futures to protect her from her family will not be at the price of mine.
Triggers: violence
Amy McKinley is the USA Today bestselling author of the romantic suspense thriller Gray Ghost Novels, Deadly Isles Special Ops, Covert Recruits, Mafia Elite, Moonlit Destination series, Five Fates paranormal romance series, and several stand-alone titles. Her edge-of-your-seat books are filled with surprising twists and just the right amount of heat and danger. She lives in Illinois with her husband, two daughters, two sons, and three mischievous cats. You can find her at www.AmyMcKinley.com
Taylor’s Law by Jennifer Raines
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Page turning contemporary romance. Ella and Jake are both very passionate about protecting those they love. This book was a first for me by this author and I do recommend this book. Great story, and the chemistry between the two main characters is off the charts. The way Jake pays attention to the little things and notices details as well as asks about Tessa is fantastic.
This Time Around by Jane Suen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Katie and chase are high school sweethearts. She had a dream and wanted to leave her home town. But she couldn’t take him with her. Chase was devastated and they go their separate ways. 10 years later they get set up together for a date for a wedding. Reconnecting and bringing back all those emotions right along with it. She was in love with the boy and 10 years later she falls in love with the same person but as a man! I love seeing 2 people rekindle after all those years. And chase has been super busy the last 10 years taking care of his nephew! It’s cute seeing their relationship! Super quick and cute read! I wish it was longer! First book by Jane and I’m going to check out a few of her others!
This Time Around by Jane Suen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
After getting home from a long stressful vacation, I was looking for a short love story to read. Man did I ever pick the right one. This Time Around by Jane Suen was everything I was looking for; I wasn’t able to put it down once I started. This is a heartfelt second chance first love romance. It was refreshing to see a female MC be the heartbreaker, even if she was heartbroken for doing it. If you are looking for a quick read I definitely cannot recommend this enough!
This Time Around by Jane Suen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This Time Around
I have had the pleasure of reading a few books by this author. I love that she hasn’t pigeon holed herself into one genre and is good at writing each of them.
Katie and Chase’s second chance love story was very sweet and definitely realistic when it comes to getting too caught up with working and not living. I type this after working almost twelve hours before vacation.
They way they reconnected after so many years was sweet sort of. Chase experienced more changes than Katie but they both had their share.
Looking forward to the next book, no matter the genre by her.
This Time Around by Jane Suen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Katie broke up with Chase, her high school boyfriend to give him space to grow and become the man he was meant to be. Did she regret the words she used to push him away? Of course. Did this mean she didn’t love him? Not exactly, it just meant she wanted to grow up and find her way in the world and wanted the same for him.
When Katie travels back to her hometown, she finds herself connected to Chase again due to the bride putting them together as each other’s plus one! Will this bring them back together as a couple or end in more sadness? I’ll let you finish the story.
I enjoyed reading this book. I connected to Katie’s character on many levels having moved away from family after college. I could feel her sadness and joy from different timeframes of her life with and without Chase as high school sweethearts. I would recommend this book to friends.
This Time Around by Jane Suen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Kate has earned everything she has wanted in life at any expense necessary. She’s made it in the big city and couldn’t ask for more. Except an enjoyable life and her family.
Chase was forced into a fatherly role and wears it well. He has almost everything he’s ever wanted. Except the girl who broke his heart a decade ago.
When Kate and Chase are finally in the same town again they have the chance to fix what was broken in the past. Happily ever after is possible, but not without sacrifice.
Jane Suen did a great job developing her characters in this feel-good read. It’s the perfect light read to enjoy on a night in. This is the stuff Hallmark movies are made of.
Bake Happy by Cori Cooper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Bake Happy is the final instalment of the Bake Believe trilogy, bringing the series to a satisfying conclusion with a captivating story of fate, wishes and grumpy teenagers.
If you’re new to this series, I would recommend reading the books in order. It’s a wonderful series for teen readers full of magic and delicious food. It would make a great holiday read as every chapter is accompanied by a recipe for a delicious treat that appears in the story – it will definitely provide days of entertainment!
I particularly liked the extent to which Bake Happy addresses the moral implications of Cat’s family’s gift/curse. They are, for the most part, careful when they bake emotions into things to only do happiness. But what if people don’t want to be happy?
I also really liked getting to spend a bit more time with Maurice, and hear his story. It’s great that this series brings together several generations of family members who share their ideas, experiences and baked goods with each other.
Definitely 5 stars from me! I’d recommend it to teen and pre-teen readers who love baking and magic (and have already read the first two books – if not, do that first!)
This Time Around by Jane Suen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
If you are looking for a short, face paced romance by a talented author, look no further.
When I stumble across ANYTHING written by this author, it is a must read. This was no exception. This was such a believable storyline that felt unique… something impressive with how second chances are such a popular romance trope. I loved the main character and she was someone I feel a lot
of women (or people) could relate to. How many times have people chosen a career over a “life”.
This was the perfect late night read as it was short and I never wanted to put it down. I can’t wait to read more from this author.
Thief by Leslie Georgeson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Oh boy this book has it all, suspense, chemistry, secrets, opposites attract and everything in between. I could not put it down and I loved it all. These two were complete opposites and it worked for them because just being in the same room they were on fire. The cover is what pulled me into reading this book but the story is what made me love this book, I enjoyed everything about it from beginning to end.
This Time Around by Jane Suen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Such a sweet second chance romance. It brought all kinds of smiles to my face. This Time Around was short, sweet, and worth the read.
Chase and Katie were high school sweethearts, but when it came to leaving for college Katie broke Chase’s heart. 10 years later and now they are back in their hometown attending a wedding as each other’s plus one. Katie has been living the last 10 years with guilt and regret over what she said and did to Chase. While Chase has been dealing with resentment and hurt.
Has 10 years been just what they needed?
Will the past always be in the way?
Maybe it’s that love has never died and they both need to embrace it. Who knows?
What I do know is I feel for Chase. He dealt with the harder end of the deal and persevered. Also made me dislike Katie, but part of me wonders if the author implied the reason for the breakup as selfish or self-sacrificing. Selfish because she didn’t want to even try to make the long distance work. Self-sacrificing because Katie refused to let Chase give up his scholarship to follow her and her dreams vs going after his own. You know what else I know, I know what I read and recommend that you read it too! The author put together a well written love story that should be enjoyed by all who love the genre’!
Taylor’s Law by Jennifer Raines
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Ella is struggling to deal with the loss of her sister Chrissy after an intense two year battle with cancer when she receives a summons from Taylor’s Law office to come in for an inquiry. Ella feels blindsided that she is having her ability to care for her niece put into question. Once letters surface there written by her sister, things get a little uglier for the time being.
Jake Taylor is doing all he can to put his law office back on the maps with the right reputation after his last partner pretty much ruined everything for him. Then his aunt and uncle ask for his help in a family matter, when he doesn’t even practice family law. At what lengths can he help his family?
This book was set in Sydney, Australia and was a fun little romantic read. There were a few times when I felt the writing was a little bit choppy but overall this is an enjoyable story. I would hope that no one I know would ever have to endure what Ella has had to endure in keeping her family together!!
Murder Most Pemberley by Jessica Berg
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The moment I saw Pemberley in the title I knew I had to read this book! I am always a bit nervous about adaptations, but this one knocks it out of the park! The story is about the descendants of the original characters and our main character Eliza, was named after our gal Elizabeth. Her father had moved to America years ago and now she is returning back to England for a family reunion filled with descendants from the rest of the sisters! I loved how she also brought in other familiar names from other Jane Austen stories, it just made the whole book feel like a fun and cozy friend! The characters are fun and he book is filled with all sorts of mysteries and danger for the heroine for uncover, all while trying to get along with her family, learn the British phrases, attempt to not annoy the local detective too much, and get to know the very hot guy she met on the plane, who also happens to be a guest at the mansion. Eliza has her hands full, but just like her namesake, she will be able to navigate it all with a great sense of humor! I am so excited to read the next books in the series and see what happens next!
Let It Be Love: A Mustang Prairie Romance by N.D. Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I just fell in love with the cover and even more to with what’s between the covers ! ❣️📕
I wish I had read the other books in the series , it’s not that I felt lost or anything but the people of Mustang Prairie is the kind of place you go to each time and feel like you’re home ❣️
So the mayor of Mustang Prairie, Eric , is dating music starlet Kiki and a normal relationship is difficult enough but add in crazy thing like paparazzi, fans , crazed manager and who knows what else and I think one might be ready to head for the hills but love will always prevail ❣️
This Time Around by Jane Suen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This Time Around by Jane Suen – Review by Maryn Belling
The literary equivalent of homemade custard pie, This Time Around lives up to its promises. Especially well-suited for fans of Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, or Harry Stiles the story hits all the idyllic notes of small town America and the bumps along the way from high school to late-20something-ness.
Not as wild as Aurora Teagarden’s escapades by Charlaine Harris or the adventures of Mojo Sheepshanks by Linda Lael Miller or the audacity of Charlie Davidson’s work by Darynda Jones , This Time Around brings a gentler approach. While her boss isn’t quite the Miranda Priestly we all met in Devil Wears Prada, Katie isn’t far from our beloved Andrea Sachs. Life has its ups and downs for all the folks we meet in Katie’s unnamed hometown.
You’re sure to enjoy this book if you’re a fan of homemade custard pie and a mug of diner coffee. Unsure about custard pie? If walking through a small town gives you warm fuzzies & doesn’t make you think of Pretty Little Liars or The Stand, this book is for you.
CWs for widows, orphans, survivors, and elder-care-givers.
This Time Around, Jane Suen, Review, Itsy Bitsy Book Bits, Sweet Romance,
Key To His Heart by Kristina Beck
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
When I first started reading it, I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about some of the unrealistic elements of the story, but I ended up loving it! A romance with a twist was enjoyable, but what I liked the most was actually the characters. The characters felt alive and I became invested. I felt like I knew them like I know my own friends, and I would love it if there were other books about some of the extended family members or even the future of TJ, Kat, and Toby. I will definitely be looking into some of her other books as this was the first one that I have read by this author.
This Time Around by Jane Suen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Katie and Chase were high school sweet hearts. They planned to go off to college together, but when they each get accepted into different colleges plans changed. Katie breaks it off as Chase is proposing and leaves town. Now ten years have gone by and they haven’t spoken a word to each other. Katie has come home for a friend’s wedding and the bride-to-be has put her foot down about couples only. The bride sets her up to be another single’s plus one and it just so happens to be Chase! Talk about freak out! Now his plus one, to his cousin’s wedding, she’ll have to finally face him and all the past drama they never resolved. They have both moved on and built their lives. Katie rising up the cooperate ladder and Chase fathering an orphaned nephew. But now there worlds are colliding weather they like it or not! Will they be able to put the past behind them? Can they reconcile after ten years of hurt and moving on? This book read surprisingly fast. I sunk into it and finished it in a few hours. If you like small towns, romance, and a bit of drama this is a great book for all the above.
Reviewed by @jaimie0459
Caged Fire by L.M. Preston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5 stars!
Wow! What a ride! This story is so much fun. I wasn’t sure where life was going to take EmVee after the first book. I had a feeling her and Kayson would find each other again, I can understand why she is so hesitant to get to close to him after their past and Silas, but by the end of this book I was happy with how far they have come together. I can’t stand Megan, she is cunning and evil the way she treats people to get what she wants. I can’t wait to see where the next book leads, and to read more about EmVee and Kayson, see if anything happens to Megan and find out what happened to EmVee’s family.
Sword of Darkness by L.M. Preston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5 stars!
I am loving this series! I was happy that this book was all about Reece. He irritated me so much chasing after Zamina, and I still am not fully convinced that she was in love with him like she claims, but I understand, he was is in love and can’t help it. I am glad he has a friend in Hook to help him out with his situation, and that he could go to his father’s friend Jeb for help when it all went down with Zamina. I am sad for him and how lost and disgusted he is with hisself for hurting his twin sister. I have read these books out of order, this book could be read as a standalone but it is best to read them in order to get back story on many of the characters that come up. I can’t wait to see what happens next!
Katie was asked to go to her friend’s wedding. Laurie said that Katie had to have a date to the wedding but Katie didn’t have a date so Laurie picked a date for Katie . The date that Laurie picked was Katie’s ex boyfriend. Katie went to the wedding and danced with her ex boyfriend. Katie’s mom got hurt and had hip surgery so she asked her boss if she could take some time off to take care of her mom. Her boss said no so Katie quit her job. She met up with her ex-boyfriend and they started dating again. I’m gonna leave the ending up to you to read the book to find out what happens in the end.
This Time Around by Jane Suen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed This Time Around. It is a quick, cute story about second chances at love. Katie has gone home for, what she thought, was a quick get away for a friend’s wedding. However, plans quickly changed within those 2 days and led her in a different direction. I liked that the story was mostly told about Katie but with little blurbs to show Chase’s side of things. The ending tho, come on! The author had quite a few loose ends, then threw a wrench in things, starting a new story like then bam. The end. Thank goodness for the epilogue…for a little closure to us readers.
Reviewed by @way2gosmartguy
This Time Around by Jane Suen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This author is one that never fails to impress. I never hesitate to start reading a book she has written because they are all so good, and this is just another one to add to that list. I loved the story between the main characters. They were exactly what each of them needed and I loved the way they developed.
The story was emotional and well written. I was fully invested in what the author had written. I always enjoy how varied her work is. No two books are ever the same which is why I think I like them so much. This is another great story by an author who should be on every ones one click list.
Something About Aimee by S.E. Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
What I loved the most about this book is that the characters really are worlds apart from each other. Their situations couldn’t be any more different and yet somehow it worked – without either having to make great changes to their personality in the process. I enjoyed this because I connected with the characters right from the start and would have hated for them to have completely changed by the end of the story.
The storyline was pretty good too. I was caught up in what was happening, and the emotions that ran through the book. I thought the author did a great job of making you, as the reader, become invested in what was happening. Overall, I thought this was a highly enjoyable story and I look forward to exploring more of this authors work.
Something About Aimee by S.E. Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
There’s something about Aimee was a story that had me on the edge of my seat. There was so many unexpected twists and turns. It was a little more heated than I prefer, but overall it was a great story. I love Aimee and her character. She is a total kick butt girl, who can hold her own and is brilliant. I kept wishing we knew more about her past, and then my wishes were granted. The author did a great job of building the characters slowly. It had kind of a 50 shades feel to it, as I look back. Rich powerful male, inexperienced young girl (altho homeless was a nice twist) but it makes for a good story.
Qadir was a character I didn’t like at first but he grew on me. I love his brother Tarek and his dad, and hope they make it into further stories. To be honest, the names was hard to pronounce, which I always hate, but I guess they are middle eastern so it’s to be expected… overall, it was a good book. The epilogue was a good wrap up and made me love Qadir.
Reviewed by @way2gosmartguy
Key To His Heart by Kristina Beck
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Katrina has finally settled in and is enjoying her new start in life. All of that changes when she hears “his voice”. It’s the voice from her past that has comforted her in the tough times. How can she be hearing it now? As she gets to know “him”, she wonders how many more of her visions are going to keep happening. This was an intriguing book that kept my interest piqued. Great story that I highly recommend.
Review by Terri Jo McAllister
This Time Around by Jane Suen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This time around was an ok read for. I thought the book was rushed and way to fast paced. Katie left Chase behind and went to start her life. She broke his heart in the process. Katie returns to her hometown for a wedding for a friend who happens to be the cousin of Chase who refuses to have singles at her wedding so pairs people up. Well guess who got paired up together?!?! It just seems odd how after 10 years, yes it may be uncomfortable but the characters act like it’s been maybe a year or 2.
Just thought the book moved way to fast before I had a chance to get into the book or root for the couple, it was done.
review by @xchellex