The Shade Under the Mango Tree

Blurb:

After two heartbreaking losses, Luna wants adventure. Something and somewhere very different from the affluent, sheltered home in California and Hawaii where she grew up. An adventure in which she can also make some difference. She travels to a foreign place where she gets more than she bargained for.

Lucien, a worldly, well-traveled young architect, finds a stranger’s journal at a café. He has qualms and pangs of guilt about reading it. But they don’t stop him. His decision to go on reading changes his life.

Months later, Luna and Lucien meet at a bookstore where Luna works and which Lucien frequents. Still hurting from her losses, Luna finds solace in Lucien’s company and his tales of world travel.

Inspired by Lucien, she goes to Cambodia. What she goes through in one of its rice-growing villages defies anything she could have imagined.

An epistolary tale of courage, love and loss, and the bonds that bring diverse people together.

Thoughts:

This book by Evy Journey is a romance and a YA novel rolled into one, with a feel of a memoir. It begins as a tender story, but later develops into a slightly more complex account as layers are added on.

Written in a daily journal or diary style, the book is engaging. It tells you about two strangers discover each other, interact, fall in love, and experience life together. It also portrays the deep family ties that the main protagonists have with their grandparents.

The first-person point of view of the central characters makes it an interesting read. Journey describes the thoughts, scenes, and settings, especially of Hawaii and Cambodia, rather well.

Coincidentally, I was watching a TV series based in Hawaii when I was reading this book, which made it quite easy for me to visualize the sights and smells in the descriptions.

Overall, it was as relaxing as sitting quietly on a bench under the shade of a mango tree!

Note:

I received an advanced reader copy of the book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Jeb's Wife

Blurb:

Patricia Johns’ sensitive storytelling brings depth and heart to this tender story of second chances, as an Amish woman embarks on marriage with the gruff farmer next door . . .

Once, Leah Riehl prayed for a husband. The man she loved chose another, wanting the children that Leah can’t provide. But she’s found a measure of peace, keeping house for her brother, Simon, and teaching in a nearby town. Now though, Simon’s debts to an Englisher gambling ring have left Leah with a desperate dilemma—and a surprising offer from her scarred, reclusive neighbor. Jebadiah King needs to marry in order to claim his family farm. A union, for appearances only, will help them both.

Jeb knows his scars make him a less than ideal husband, but he can be a useful one. It’s the least that Leah deserves. But despite the promises he made to himself, Jeb can’t help longing for his lovely, warmhearted new wife. His first marriage brought heartbreak, but Leah’s gentle smiles spark hope again. Are they willing to take the leap that love requires—and open themselves to all the challenges and joy a true marriage could bring?

Thoughts:

I had decided that this year I would read books that help me learn, think, and grow. I started off with books that I thought would do that.

Then life and work happened. While dealing with the stress associated with all that, I wanted a book as an escape. It had to be sweet, clean, and with a happily-ever-after ending.

Jeb’s wife was that book. I have no clue where I got it from, as in whether I was given a free copy in exchange for a review. It seemed perfect for my purpose – this was my escape read.

It is a clean romance that has its characters finding their place in the community, marrying for convenience, daring to love for a second time, getting another chance at love, and learning to trust people again.

Although it was supposed to help me escape, it made me think of what we hope for and expect from life and what we end up with. For example, I did not like that Leah thought of her life as having less meaning if she didn’t marry and have children.

However, I reasoned that maybe it was because she belonged to a community that values such things or because she longed to be needed and accepted. That was how I explained her attitude towards her lazy, immature brother.

I understood why Jeb was cautious in his interactions with others. He was burned physically and emotionally. He was then shunned because the community didn’t ever hear his side of things.

With such different attitudes and personalities, Jeb and Leah were certainly not an ideal match. I reckon, opposites probably attract or complement each other. As they got to know each other better, they fell in love despite the friction caused by others.

Johns writes well in that she turns an ordinary story into one of depth and meaning. I liked the fact that not only the hero and heroine but others in the community also changed as they realized that what they did was wrong.

Would I read Jeb's wife again? No.

Would I read other books by Johns? Maybe.

Finding Forever

Right after being publicly dumped by his girlfriend, Michael Coniglio also loses his office job. He goes to his parents’ house, where his father mocks him, saying that he will never amount to anything.
The thoroughly dejected Michael meets Elvira Vaughn, a chatty, artsy, naïve young woman with many quirks. Elvira has a troubled past herself. She ran away from an abusive home ans aspires to be a Broadway actress.
This book by Anthony Sciarratta is the story of how they fall in love and break up, and get back together again. I received a free copy of this book almost a year ago from the publicist Jennifer Musico in exchange for an honest review. I saved it in an external hard disk and completely forgot about it.
Hopefully, the copy I received is not the final product because it is in dire need of good editing. The writing style is simplistic. There is nothing wrong with simple writing but this feels as though there was not much planning in the development of characters.
Every other page has some new characteristics of either protagonist, which makes it difficult to assimilate. There is a lot of telling and very little showing too. Even as you forgive all that and trudge on to the end, there are mysterious occurrences, described as Jesus working in their lives.
Now, I believe in God and miracles. However, it was strange seeing a simple love story take on Christian undertones suddenly.
I dislike not finishing books, which is the only reason I continued reading it. The experience was similar to unwrapping a candy only to discover a sweety with sickening artificial flavor and garish color. 

Unloved

After Brynn Cadogan’s fiancé Jem is killed in a mass shooting, she almost cuts herself off from the world. One night, while looking through Jem’s things, she finds his phone. On it is his last message to her—just the words ‘Mount Katahdin’, which is Jem’s favorite mountain. Brynn interprets this as him telling her to climb this mountain, and she is determined to do so.

Cassidy Porter is the son of Paul Isaac Porter, who died in a fight while in prison for the brutal murder of 12 girls. Cassidy learns that his father is a serial killer when he is eight years old. He is ostracized for the sins of his father. His mother takes him to live off-grid at his grandfather's place on the Katahdin mountain.

His mother and grandfather fear that Cassidy might take after Paul. They instill the same fear in him. Although he is attracted to Brynn as soon as he sees her on the mountain, Cassidy follows her from afar. 

He intervenes when another man tries to harm Brynn and saves her life. He takes an unconscious Brynn to his cabin to recuperate from her injuries. He slowly nurses her back to health. 

They fall in love. Cassidy fears that he could someday turn into a killer like his father and denies his love for Brynn. Then comes the plot twist that ensures that they end up together.

The characters are well-crafted. Katy Regnery has used wonderful imagery and details that help readers understand them well. Great descriptions add to the setting of the story. Although it drags its feet at places, Unloved is a good read.

However, after training to be an editor and working for so long as one. I cannot keep my inner critic aside. I disliked the way the twist worked. What it does is reiterate that a child will turn into or follow their parents because he/she shares their DNA. Nature wins over nurture, no matter what?! I consider this a major flaw in the book.

Jezebel's Blues

Summary: When the Jezebel River overflows her banks and tries to swallow the small town of Gideon in East Texas, Celia Moon is alone and frightened in the farmhouse she inherited from her grandmother. When a mesmerizing and troubled drifter washes up on her porch, she has no choice but to take him in. As the river rises, the pair retreat to the attic to ride out the storm—and discover a compelling attraction.

The daughter of two artists who were besotted with each other, Celia has always felt the odd woman out. She yearns to find a place she can call her own, a family of her own, and a life that has some stability and meaning. Her grandmother’s farmhouse in Gideon has always represented that.

Eric fled his grim childhood in Gideon to find a life as an acclaimed blues guitarist, but that life has been taken from him, too, and he’s back in Gideon with a chip on his shoulder that hides the vast hunger he, too, feels to find his place, his home, his life. Waiting out the storm with sunny, optimistic Celia, he wonders if maybe there’s a place in Gideon for him after all, in the arms of a woman who might know more than she thinks about acceptance.

A novel as rich and deep as a river, Jezebel’s Blues is both a haunting love story and a tale of finding your way to accepting yourself.

My thoughts: I read the Kindle version of this book, not realising it is a Silhouette Romance. I was so mesmerised by the name of the book and was eager to read it because it was about a river.

Of course, there is the angsty love story between Celia and Eric. Celia was strong. Surprisingly so, because the second paragraph of the blurb made me think she was a needy, clingy woman. Eric's character was almost a cliché, with guilt colouring all his actions and standing in the way of happiness and love.

But for me, the highlight was the river, Jezebel. It reminded me of the gutsy rivers of my homeland. No pristine waters or round pebbles or beautiful banks there. Swollen with water, they flow roaring between muddy banks, full of tadpoles and earthworms, in the rainy season. With banks all dry and cracked, they fight for survival in large, dirty puddles, in the heat of the summer.

Jezebel, too, is one such river. All sassy and temperamental, who she is and what she does is as important as Celia and Eric's story in this book.

Overall, I liked the book. There's one point that irritated me, though. There is no explanation of what happened to Eric's sister Laura and her ex-husband during the time she went missing. Maybe that is the subject for another book? I have no clue.

I read the reviews later on and learnt two things: I had read the newly published Kindle version of a Silhouette Romance that first came out in 1992 and that the author, Barbara Samuel, writes also as Ruth Wind and Barbara O’Neal.

Note: I can't remember who sent it to me but whoever it was, thank you!

Treasure on Lilac Lane

Summary: Rick Sullivan is back after an honourable discharge from the Marines. He was one of Jewell Cove's star athletes and heartthrobs before he joined the Marines. Now he is far from the hometown hero everyone wants him to be; he is a raging alcoholic, who has lost an arm and has nightmares from his time in active service.

Jess Collins come from a large and loving family and owns a gift shop.  Although she seems to be doing great, she was once in an abusive relationship with another man from the same town. Jess fled him and started a new life with the help of her brother Josh, who warned him away from her.

Jess’ cousins and Josh are great friends of Rick, and she had crush for him when she was a teenager. However, because of her past, she cannot tolerate his drinking and always lashes out at him.

This book by Donna Alward is about how Jess and Rick come together, cope with their past and find that the spark between them is indeed true love.

My thoughts:  This story should have been written as a full-length, standalone novel, without being fettered to a series based on locality. The issues discussed here are far more complex than is suitable for a light, romantic read.

This could be just a quirk of mine - although I like the cover, I don't think it suits the story.  

Rick and Jess worked their way around their difficulties although at times I felt they were never going to do so. I wish the chemistry between Jess and Rick had been stronger.

I liked that Jess was sensitive about Rick’s disability. However, I did not like her scepticism when it came to his attempts at staying sober; her reaction was disproportionate to what she experienced in the past.

Despite the negatives mentioned above, I was predisposed to like the book maybe because she wrote Christmas at Seashell Cottage, which I had reviewed earlier. Donna has described the dynamics of a small town (in this book) just as well as she did in that book.

Note: The publishers, St. Martin's Paperbacks, gave this book to me in exchange for an honest review. I thank them for that.

Christmas at Waratah Bay

Summary: Sarah Carlton, a successful model, has come to Waratah Bay from New York to visit Harold Leishman who is in the hospital. She considers him her grandfather and wishes that he spends what could possibly be his last Christmas at his home.

Farming tycoon Max Ramsey bought Harold’s home and has been a friend to him ever since. He mistakes Sarah for one of Harold’s adopted daughters, who he knows are greedy just like their mother. Sarah does not correct him and carries on with her plan on taking Harold home.

Max worries about Harold’s health and invites them to celebrate Christmas at his house (Harold’s house that he bought). However, he still hopes to have a quiet and peaceful Christmas. 

Sarah goes all out with the decorations and food. She also welcomes Max’s sister and her family who land there because of an unforeseen situation.

This book by Marion Lennox is about how Sarah and Max, who are lonely people with past secrets, fall in love with each other amidst an unexpectedly hectic Christmas.

My thoughts: This is a sweet, emotional holiday story, which emphasizes the importance of family and friends rather than wealth and luxury.

Although Sarah is shown as a beautiful and strong woman who makes things happen, her cooking skills or the lack of them makes her more believable. Although Max seems grumpy and anti-social, he is a true friend to Harold and a great brother to his siblings.

I also liked Max's sister and her family almost as much as I liked Max, Sarah and Harold.

Marion’s description of the Christmas holidays with all the craziness of unexpected guests, dogs, and a stubbornly frozen turkey is wonderful.

Although this is the first book in the 'Christmas Around the World' series, it has a standalone story.

Note: The publishers, Tule Publishing, gave this book to me in exchange for an honest review. I thank them for that.

Snowbound in Montana

Summary: Eliza Bramble runs Bramble House, a bed-and-breakfast establishment. She writes a blog post on decorating for the holidays. It goes viral and she is interviewed on a live TV show. John Urban, her former boyfriend and famous country music star, phones in and books a room for Christmas on the spot.

Eliza signs up for a Christmas mountain ski adventure with a group of people to escape two-timing John. The guide for the tour is Marshall McKenzie, an avid outdoorsman who has a special touch with people. 

A blizzard traps the group in a mountain cabin, with limited supplies and power. Although Eliza is stuck with some bored and upset people, she does not complain and helps Marshall in coping with the situation.

This book by C.J. Carmichael is about how Eliza and Marshall overcome challenges and cope with insecurities to reach their happy ending.

My thoughts: This is not a usual romance story because there are not many so-called ‘romantic’ moments.   It conveys the message that Christmas, or for that matter life itself, need not be opulent or with all the trimming s to be enjoyed. It can be simple and meaningful if joy is shared.

This is also not a standalone story because there is no real background on Eliza and Marshall; there were only glimpses. I felt I was being chided for not reading the series to which some characters of this book belong.

I liked all the characters, the setting, the descriptions, the message and the plot.

I loved Eliza and Marshall because they face their problems with courage, cope with whatever they have, and do not complain. I just wish their story was written with a little more care.

Note: The publishers, Tule Publishing, gave this book to me in exchange for an honest review. I thank them for that.

The Viscount’s Christmas Temptation

Summary: Lady Amelia Pembroke has been managing her household ever since her father died and her younger brother became the duke. She is well-prepared and manages all problems with consummate ease.

Amelia is 30 years old and is worried that her brother depends too much on her and is putting off seeking a bride. So she intends to find a husband and leave him. She thinks the seventy-fifth Annual Sheffield Christmas Eve Ball is the perfect occasion to find a husband who matches all her selection criteria.

When she learns that the venue for the ball is burned down and that the ball has been cancelled, she goes to Viscount Benedict Sheffield’s house, introduces herself, and offers to arrange the ball.

Benedict lives by the clock: eight in the morning to eight at night is his time for duty and eight in the night to eight in the morning is his time for debauchery.He is intrigued by Amelia.

This book by Erica Ridley is about how Amelia and Benedict manage each other and also manage to fall in love with each other.

My thoughts: Although this book is meant for Christmas, it is not just a holiday read. It has a light-hearted story, with interesting characters and funny, charming banter.

It is a novella; so the happy and predictable ending seemed rushed.  There are no miscommunications or villainous characters. Needless to say, there is no unnecessary drama.

Amelia and Benedict are mischievous, quirky and strong characters. Similarly, Amelia’s long-suffering brother is also a great character. Their interaction is wonderful.

I laughed while reading this book. It reminded me of Georgette Heyer, whose books I love.

Note: The publishers, Intrepid Reads, gave this book to me in exchange for an honest review. I thank them for that.

At Bluebonnet Lake

Summary: Kate and her grandmother Sally arrive to a month at Rainbow’s End Lodge in Texas' Hill Country. Having spent time there 50 years ago, with her husband Larry, Sally remembers it as a wonderful Christian resort.

Kate is disappointed at the state of the resort. It has suffered several years of neglect and the new owners have turned away from the Christian aspect of it in a bid to bring in more visitors.

The only bright spots are Carmen, the excellent cook; Kevin, Olivia and Brandi (KOB), the teenagers doing summer jobs as helpers, Greg, the handyman; and some of the other visitors, especially Roy, a widower who has his meals at Rainbow’s End.

Slowly, Kate starts to see the potential in the resort and the locality helps some local businesses and falls in love with Greg, who is not what his appearance suggests. Similarly, Sally falls for Roy.

This book by Amanda Cabot is about how the lives of Kate, Sally, and Greg change as they spend time at Rainbow’s End.

My thoughts: I was enamoured by the title because I know bluebonnets are beautiful. I was happy reading Amanda’s descriptions of bluebonnets, Indian Paintbrush and the countryside.

I liked the cover; however, I wished it had bluebonnets in the background. The book is comforting and clean but slow and slightly longer than needed. 

Although it does not do so explicitly about it, this book hints at the idea of 'God’s plan'. All the main characters feel and think about how they were meant to come or lead to Rainbow’s End.

The main characters as well as Carmen, KOB, Drew, Samantha, Lauren and even people with slight negative shades, such as Drew, Angela and Tim, are interesting. All characters have troubles and overcome them; however, none of those seem exciting.

This is a feel-good story. So if you feel depressed and down, this is a perfect pick-me-up.

Note: The publishers, Revell (a division of Baker Publishing Group), gave this book to me in exchange for an honest review. I thank them for that.

Blame it on the Mistletoe

Summary: Brooke Abbott has to increase business or her small-town Missouri boutique Sweet Opal Studios will go under. She needs a miracle.

She has been staying in the apartment above the store to save money, without informing the landlord. One day finds a burglar lurking in the back room of her shop. She discovers that it is not a burglar but the landlord’s grandson, Alex Coleman, who is back for a visit and is planning to stay in the apartment.

Alex is Brooke’s brother Ryan’s best friend, and they are friends from childhood. He allows her to stay there and promises not to tell his grandmother about it.

This book by Nicole Michaels is about how they fall in love despite the troubles in their past and the misunderstandings in their present.

My thoughts: This is a quick read. It is cute, funny and light. 

The characters are well developed. There is good chemistry between Brooke and Alex.

As usual in such books, there is worry and misunderstanding because of miscommunication, which predictably clears up in the end.

Overall, this is a good book to relax with during the holidays.

Note: The publishers, St. Martin’s Press, gave this book to me in exchange for an honest review. I thank them for that.

Once Upon a Christmas Kiss

Summary: Sir Lucien Blakemore accepts the invitation to his cousin’s Christmas party because the woman he fancies, Miss Winifred Nightingale, is away from his neighbour’s house, where works as the governess. Winifred (Winnie) is visiting her sister Cordelia (Cordy), a schoolmistress, for Christmas.

Winnie and Cordy are invited to the same Christmas party as Lucien. Some guests at the party resent the sisters’ presence because although they do not belong to the ‘ton’, they have enough grace, beauty and talent to compensate for that.

When this resentment turns into threats against the sisters, particularly Winnie, she seeks the help of Lucien, who she counts as her friend. She asks him to pretend to be betrothed to her, much to his delight.

Lucien has been attracted to Winnie for quite some time. So he agrees on the condition that she would consider making the betrothal real when they find the culprit.

This book by Manda Collins is about how Lucien and Winifred find their happiness while searching for the person behind the threats.

My thoughts:  I did not know that this was a novella and that it was part of an on-going series until after I read a sizable portion of it. It did not matter. 

This is a quick read, with a good storyline and characters. The light mystery added to the charm of the book. Cordelia and Charles Beesley were well-suited and adorable.

This novella is refreshing compared to novels, whose plots are full of angst, misunderstandings and terrible stories from the past. Of course, Winnie has reservations about their class difference and there are the threats; however, there is nothing in their personalities that prevents them from falling in love.

Overall, this is a sweet romance, apt for the Christmas season.

Note: The publishers, St. Martin's Press, gave me this book in exchange for an honest review. I thank them for that.

Cover Story

Summary: Tobi Fletcher is a reporter at a Santa Fe newspaper, who is raring to write stories that will ‘Make A Difference’ and even win her Pulitzer Prizes. So when her editor wants her to drop the hot story of a scandal at the Senator’s office and investigate a series of gnomicides (the murder of garden gnomes), she is not amused.

She is intelligent, independent unlike her mother and sister, whose lives are focused on men, shopping and other frivolous pursuits.

She reluctantly interviews Simon, the man who reported the gnomicides, his four-year old daughter, and the other residents of the street. Each has their own theory about the incident, ranging from the slightly possible to the ludicrous. Tobi, repressing sneezes while battling her pollen allergy, writes the story.

Her editor loves it and demands more; interstate papers pick it up and reader feedback is overwhelming. So she finds herself returning to the street more times than she likes and facing her inexplicable attraction to Simon.

This book by Rachel Bailey is about how Tobi discovers many secrets about other people as well as herself and realizes that life can be quite enjoyable if she only lets go of her iron control over herself.

My thoughts: Having worked at a newspaper, it was easy for me to relate to Tobi's experiences at her job. 

Rachel seems to be comfortable writing about characters regardless of their age and disposition. She has described all the characters in the book well, from the four-year-old Anna to the teenager Davo to Anna’s grandfather Gerald and from the control freak Tobi to her frivolous, immature mother. 

Cover Story shows how fickle the world of news reporting can be and how randomly some stories become popular without any rhyme or reason. It also shows how the stories they report affect reporters and the people they cover.

Overall, this book was a good mix of the realistic, the outlandish, the funny, and the serious.

Note: The publisher, Momentum Books, gave this book to me in exchange for an honest review. I thank them for that.

Christmas with a Billionaire

Summary:

Billionaire under the Mistletoe
This is Sophie’s first Christmas since her mother’s death following a long illness. She overhears Max tell his PA, her cousin Sally, to have ‘Christmas Delivered’" for his visiting sister and niece. A horrified Sophie persuades Sally to let her be the deliverer and sets out to make a wonderful Christmas for Max and his family. She and Max do not get along well in the beginning. As they spend time together, Sophie finds out why Max avoids Christmas celebrations and Max understands why Sophie does not spend Christmas with her family and friends.
This story by Carole Mortimer is about how two sad souls help each other to reclaim joy during Christmas.

Snowed in with Her Boss
Luc Chevalier drags his PA, Amelia, along with him on a last-minute business trip to buy a property just before Christmas. He does not celebrate Christmas and is not close to his family because of his troubled past. Amelia is engaged to a man who has serious issues of his own. She continues with the farce of an engagement because she doesn’t want to disappoint her family.
The owner of the property thinks Amelia is engaged to Luc because he notices her engagement ring. Luc, who is attracted to Amelia, does not correct him and they are forced to spend time at close quarters when they are snowed in.
This story by Maisey Yates is about how Luc and Amelia help each other to realize what is really important in their lives.

A Diamond for Christmas
Riley and James Moreau, her best friend’s brother, were an item ten years ago. However, Riley’s father convinces her that at nineteen she was too young and inexperienced to be in a committed relationship. She is scared and runs. When she gets back, James is engaged to someone else.
She starts working for hium. Although his engagement doesn't last, Riley and James do not get back together. They sleep together a couple of tmes, which James tells her was a mistake. Riley is upset because she cannot continue like this. She wants to leave after Christmas.
This story by Joss Wood is about how Riley and James understand how much they mean to each other and resolve their issues.

My thoughts: I enjoyed the book.

All three stories were different and believable.They had great characters, good story lines, and were true to the Christmas theme.

Overall, a good festive anthology that delivers what it promises.

Note: The publishers, Harlequin, gave this book to me in exchange for an honest review. I thank them for that.

Home for Good

Summary: When Joelle Winslow was six, her parents divorced and her mother took her to San Francisco from her father’s ranch at Marietta, Montana. After two years of begging her mother, Joelle was allowed to return.

While she was away, her father, Clark, had adopted a boy. The parents of the boy, Matt, were Clark's friends, who were killed in an auto accident. Eight-year-old Joelle felt she had been replaced by Matt, the son her father always wanted.

She liked Matt. However, since she felt that her father preferred him over her, Joelle went to college in New York City and never returned until after her father's sudden death.

Upon learning that her father has split the ranch between herself and Matt, she is determined to sell her half to pursue her dream of starting her jewellery design business. Matt is devastated because the ranch is the only home he has known and he earns his livelihood from it.  He wants to find a way to change Joelle's mind and make her stay.

This book by Terri Reed is about how he does so without Joelle having to abandon her dream.

My thoughts: As in the case of some of the other books I’ve reviewed lately, this book is also about a second chance. The difference is that this is not about a second chance at love but at returning home.

When this book also mentioned Marietta, Montana after The Long Way Home, I was confused. Only after checking did I realise they were part of the same series (Montana Born Homecoming); it was a pleasant surprise. 

I liked the following aspects of the story:

• Joelle discovers that her father loved her. 
• She realises that she and Matt never really resented each other after all.
• Matt, Joelle, Clark and Ava are all great characters.
• It does not rush into a conclusion, as in Matt and Joelle falling for each other as soon as she returns.

While not original, this is an enjoyable, entertaining book about realizing that there is always 'my version, your version and what really happened.’

Note: Tule Publishing gave this book to me in exchange for an honest review. I thank them for that.

Coming Home to You

Summary: Zoë Trent’s world is turned upside down when her seemingly healthy fiancé, Paul, dies suddenly. Zoë is so depressed that she is unable to cope with even simple, day-to-day tasks.

Zoë’s family and friends are extremely supportive but after nine months they think she should move on. Zoë's best friends, Kate and Ray convince her to move out of her flat and help out Ray’s soldier friend Neil by house-sitting while he is away.

Zoë begins writing to Neil, who she has never seen. She does not send most of the letters, writing them in a journal.She leaves her job and starts her own business. 

By the time Neil returns, she finds another house and is well on the way to recovery. 

This story by Liesel Schmidt is about how Zoë returns back to normal life and the experiences and the people that help her to do so.

My thoughts: The author describes Zoë’s grief very well. The journal of letters she writes is a form of catharsis for her.

However, when she decides she hates her job and opens her store, I was disappointed that her act of strength and independence is not given enough emphasis. I would have liked to see how it all came about but the actual work she puts into her business is hardly mentioned.

The secrets that the male characters keep rather unnecessarily, especially from Zoë, annoyed me. If I start explaining them here, I will never finish this review. Let me give you one example: the secret that Ray kept from Neil regarding the house is rather ridiculous, whereas what he did to Zoë is extremely devastating. 

Although I loved the plot, I felt that it has not developed into a well-rounded story. That does not mean this is a bad book.

Every character feels joy, sadness, anger, disappointment and excitement, which is how it is in real life. They are all realistic and believable.

I expected Zoë to find love again, but where she finally finds it was a welcome surprise.

Although the story is about experiencing great tragedy and overcoming grief, which is a common theme, it has enough twists to sustain interest till the end.

Note: The publishers, Carina UK, gave this book to me in exchange for an honest review. I thank them for that.

The French for Christmas

Summary:  Evie is going through a rough period. Her marriage is on the rocks. She is mourning the loss of her daughter, who was stillborn. After her husband (and partner) left, her restaurant closed. He is getting a lot of media attention as his TV career takes off. He is seeing someone else. Evie's passion for food has deserted her.

Alarmed at the extent of her depression, Evie’s friends come up with a drastic solution. They send her to France, to a cottage in the middle of nowhere for Christmas. She gladly accepts, hoping to get past the holiday season without any celebrations. Armed with her French grandmother’s tattered notebook of recipes, she goes there to try to cope with the changes in her life and to revive her love of cooking.

The cottage is in a hamlet among the Bordeaux vines that is home to only three others: an older couple Mathieu and Eliane, and the village doctor, Didier. Evie soon realises that she isn’t the only one suffering from heartache.

This book by Fiona Valpy is about how friendship and a shared love of good food slowly heals Evie’s anger and depression and helps her find her way back to romance and life.

My thoughts: I love books about characters who get up, dust themselves down and stay upright after being knocked down flat. This is one of them.

Add wonderful descriptions of the countryside, food, vegetable gardens, friendship, unconditional love and wisdom to that and you have my version of a comforting book. This is one such book.

The book also deals with the serious issue of stillbirth or miscarriage in a compassionate, gentle manner. I also appreciate that Fiona will be donating 10% of all royalties from this novel to Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders).

It is not all emotion and tears. There is humour too; the 'pig' scene is an example.

This is a great heart-warming and uplifting Christmas story, with a wonderful mix of festivities, food, wine, friends and family, happiness and love. 

I am planning to read the two previous ‘French’ novels by Fiona. Her writing reminds me of Rosamunde Pilcher, one f my favourite writers.

Note: The publishers, Bookouture, gave me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I thank them for that.

The Love List

Summary: Nora King lives for the family company that has been bequeathed to her by her father. She suppresses all emotions, especially grief for the loss of her father, hiding behind the facade of a businesswoman. The only glimpse at the true Nora that she allows is indulging in shoes.

Ethan Love owns the luxury gym chain Love Leisure, which he uses to make money while he goes all over the world as part of a disaster relief and rescue team. He has some problems after his last assignment that he needs to resolve before going on another one. In the meantime, he is in town to help his brother Ryan, who happens to be Nora’s sister Sephy’s ex. He hopes to enlist Nora’s help to influence Sephy to help Ryan.

Nora and Ethan meet at her office on the morning she is due to make a presentation to a potential client. She accidentally super-glues her shoe to her hand and tries to hide it. Ethan comes to her rescue by taking over. He handles the presentation successfully and lands her the contract.

This book by Eve Devon is about how they handle their troubles and grief and eventually fall in love.

My thoughts: This romance story has an excellent mix of humour and angst.

The plot, romance, relationships are all believable. So are the characters.

Nora and Ethan have a lot in common than great chemistry. They run businesses; have issues with their parents; look out for their siblings; and are emotionally troubled. Their love story is tender.

All the above makes the book an enjoyable read.

Note: Harper Impulse gave me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I thank them for that.

The Long Way Home

Summary:  When she was 18, Abby Foster married Blaine Watts, an older man chosen for her by her father and left Marietta, although she loved 17-year-old Joe Carlyle. Eight years later, she comes back to find Joe and ask for forgiveness before she starts a new life. Her offer is a hot weekend to make up for all the pain she caused him.

Joe Carlyle, one part of the so-called Carlyle crazies, had fallen head over heels in love with Abby. When she chose Blaine, he said hurtful words to her, his world had crumpled and didn't want anything to do with her.

So when faced with Abby’s offer, Joe assumes that she only wants him to fill her bed at night, since she was staying in Marietta for only three days. It had taken Joe forever to get over Abby, and he knows that if he agrees to this weekend, he will fall for her again only to have to watch her leave again.

The people of Marietta think that Abby chose Blaine because of his wealth and she has come back after her divorce because she knows that Joe is now rich.

This book by Kathleen O’Brien is about how Abby and Joe get to know each other again as level-headed adults and what happens to them in the weekend that Abby stays at Marietta.

My thoughts:  This story is about reclaiming lost love.

The chemistry and emotions between Joe and Abby are portrayed well. It did not have unnecessary angst and angry revenge in the main characters that you normally see in such stories.

Although the story happens over a weekend, the years of history between the two makes it believable.
The secondary characters are also enjoyable. I particularly liked Joe’s mother, who is very protective of her boys, and his brother Rafe, who is going through his version of the ‘Carlyle crazies’.

This is a clean, quiet romance, with a nice family and community vibe.

Note: This book was given to me by Tule Publishing in exchange for an honest review. I thank them for that.

The Kissing Season

Summary: Hannah Elliot is known for making bad decisions. She has just returned home to Wildwood Point in Western Australia from a whirlwind marriage to an almost complete stranger in Las Vegas. The marriage has been annulled but she is pregnant.

She has not told her family because she knows they will be disappointed yet again. She is working at her family’s furniture shop and hopes to be responsible enough to raise a baby by herself.

Matteo Della Bosca (Matt) walks into the shop to purchase furniture for the house he bought for his mother, Sarah, who does cleaning for the Elliot family. He is of Italian descent. He has not been in town long because he lives in Melbourne and rarely visited his family home, knowing that his stepfather resented him.

He meets Hannah at the shop and there is instant chemistry between the two of them. Hannah does not want to confide in Matt about her past because she wants to tell her family first.

This book by Rachael Johns is about what happens between them and how they reach their happy ending.

My thoughts: The story idea is good and so is the way it progressed towards its end.

I do not like highly descriptive (and too many) sex scenes in romances. So the first meeting between Matt and Hannah did not sit well with me, especially since Hannah is supposedly trying to responsible and mature.

Once I got past that, I liked the story.

Matt is a great character and how he treated Hannah despite all her so-called flaws was wonderful. Matt’s mother Sarah was also a delightful character. She warns her own son not to mess with Hannah, out of loyalty towards the Elliot family and affection towards Hannah. Hannah’s family and friends also were enjoyable characters.

I appreciated that the secret of Hannah’s pregnancy was revealed to Matt and to her family and was not kept until the last causing unnecessary misunderstanding and heartache.

I also liked the parts about the town’s Christmas tree event. So, overall this was a sweet, fun, short read with a clear Christmas feel.

Note: This book was given to me by Harlequin Australia in exchange for an honest review. I thank them for that.