Kirsty runs a little wine shop in the seaside town of Sandy Cove. She meets Ginger, a recently divorced woman who is starting over. When they run into Hollywood movie star Saffron Oliver, Kirsty can’t believe she is Ginger’s sister but she is quickly thrown into spending a lot of time with Saffron as they plan a party to celebrate Ginger’s new life. Kirsty and Saffron realise they are attracted to one another but before they can even develop anything further Saffron’s career threatens to stand between them. It is down to Saffron to make the decision, will she give up everything in trade for a life and love she has always dreamed of, with Kirsty.
This was the cutest, angstyiest most brilliant summer celebrity romance. I loved the setting, the characters, the moments, the awkwardness and all that angst. Just brilliant! Clare Lydon and T.B. Markinson have successfully created an emotional and moving romance for the summer with characters you can’t help but love, in an amazing place, and who are destined for so much happiness from the simple things in life. It was also refreshing that Saffron wasn’t the typical celebrity found in these types of romances.
There was an age gap between Kirsty and Saffron but because of the way their characters had been created, sometimes I forgot about it which was lovely. At times it was obvious, but I liked that it wasn’t the glaring factor between them and the fact that other characters didn’t spend a lot of time pointing it out to them. They were big girls, they knew what they were getting into!
The story was brilliant though, the way it all came together and the moments shared between Kirsty and Saffron. They were equally as vulnerable as a result of their past relationships, and in Saffron’s case also her career and childhood. This just gave them an extra level of connection and made them even more special. They really understood each other, even when they were getting their wires crossed you just knew they’d be alright because they had a great team surrounding them that were going to bang their heads together if they didn’t figure it out themselves.
A brilliant summer romance with everything you could want to get swept away in a whirlwind and fall in love with. I look forward to future collaborations from Clare and T.B. and highly recommend this story as it was just amazing!
Dani is back, fresh out of prison and finds the gritty London underworld in a mess in which she did not leave it. We once again join her as she attempts to restore some normality to their world, protect those she loves, and herself before it all gets out of control. She has to work hard to rebuild her reputation and to do this she has to consider everything from her friends to her relationship. Dani faces many challenges in this sequel but she is determined to come out back on top, and not make any mistakes that could lead to devastating consequences for all.
Another real roller-coaster of a story with Dani. It was interesting to see just how much had changed in Dani’s world since she had been in prison, and exploring with her how she was going to handle everything. Of course, typical Dani, that isn’t going to be overly well but there would be no fun to be had if Dani didn’t go fumbling about. She certainly isn’t one for helping herself and her temper and mood are often her biggest downfall but make her character completely believable and realistic.
It was another very fast paced story, where the situation could literally change at the turn of the page which kept it exciting. You just couldn’t work out what was going to happen or what all the fallout might be. Dani has some brilliantly intense but violent and dangerous encounters, and I can’t help wondering what will happen in her complicated world next.
I really enjoyed reading more of Dani’s story and found it very easy to read. If you haven’t read the first book in the series, you should before delving into the sequel as it will give you a bit of perspective where Dani is concerned, but you could equally enjoy this story as standalone story. What the future has in store for Dani, well only time will tell!
Margo is back but is in trouble and having to keep herself in check. Filling her quota of spirits should be her only priority but she just can’t help herself. Whilst trying to keep herself out of any further trouble with Corporate, she is taking risks to venture in relations within the Fae lands and it could all have devastating consequences. Margo is wary that if she gets caught it could end her career, but as she finds out more about her people and all they stand for she discovers their intentions aren’t exactly as she had first perceived them to be.
I absolutely love this series, and the second instalment was just as brilliant. I really love the series and am more excited than ever to see what will lie in store for Margo in future. It was great to get some of Margo’s origin story, and also see her interacting with other characters for her own personal relations, rather than just work. There is an amazing chemistry between her and Jackie, and it opened up Margo’s character to show us that although she is quite emotionally disconnected at times she can be vulnerable.
It is brilliant how Jodi Hutchins combines love and death so beautifully into one story, and although this second story in the series is more complex, it has only heightened the intrigue for more. I just love the concept and it works so well. The introduction of other worlds and beings also crossed it further over into the paranormal and fantasy genres and has given scope for some interesting story development in the future. The sequel has explained some of the things that weren’t as clear from the first book, and given more depth to the organisation that is Corporate. As you discover all the mystery and secrets with Margo, you really realise just how much danger she could be in if her secrets got out.
I really enjoyed the sequel and if you liked the first book, you’ll like this one too. It has very much left me excited for more, and I can’t help put recommend this as it is a truly unique paranormal fantasy romance!
Sisters, Sarah and Annie discover they stand to lose everything if they don’t work out who is running around the town causing heartache and attacking the people. With Noble by their side, they have to decipher the clues, protect those that are threatened by attack. Together they have to endure some harrowing things and make difficult decisions to save friends and loved ones without highlighting that they are different. When things take a devastating turn for a friend, they have to step in to save her life, and finally when Annie’s life is threatened daring actions have to be taken.
Sarah and Noble are back with her sister Annie in another exciting adventure about love, monsters, and mystery. The first book in the series set the story up for the sequel quite nicely, and if you haven’t read it you would benefit from doing so before delving into this story. I adored being back in the exciting world of music and mayhem that surrounds this supernatural couple and their family. If vampires and werewolves are your thing, then this will be a real treat for you as it has everything you could ever want, romance and mystery.
I didn’t know what to expect from a sequel in this series but I was pleasantly surprised to find it had a great balance between all of the main characters again, and it kept true to its paranormal roots. There was no whirlwind romance getting in the way of the mystery surrounding the dangers presented to all the characters. The romances featured very much sit in line with the main story as an underlying arc that helps to drive the story forward, but the main story focuses on the threats to their happiness and futures, and it’s a long one that they face.
I thoroughly enjoyed returning to their story and uncovering the clues with them. There were emotional times, happy times, and proper rock out moments that built a fascinating and interesting story which has also left room for more in the future, so I hope we will see them all again soon!
Alice heads off on holiday at the insistence of her business partner and best friend Miranda. When Miranda calls Alice to ask if it is acceptable for her daughter, Joy to join Alice on her holiday, Alice is apprehensive but can’t refuse. Joy breezes in with confidence that leaves Alice stunned. When Joy acts without a care in the world and doesn’t hide the fact she is quite attracted to Alice, the two of them embark on a holiday romance. They know the consequences they could face, but when their feelings for one another develop into something more than attraction, they have to decide if they should take the risks involved in being happy.
Ever wished a book could be your life? Yes, that is what this book did to me and it also held a few parallels that I could personally relate to that emotional swept me away and left me unable to put it down. This had everything I could want and was the perfect age gap romance. It was hot, romantic, angsty and filled with all the drama you could possibly desire. It was wildly energetic and I thoroughly found myself lost in the story.
Joy and Alice have this brilliant relationship, and its Alice’s hesitance and insecurities that really made the story as it was from her point of view. I could easily put myself in her shoes, understood the situation perfectly and could see all angles but I was rooting for her and Joy’s happiness the whole time. I love the subject of age gaps, they are so dividing of opinions and can cause complications, which Harper perfectly captures in this story, but most important message of all, really age is just a number.
This book was everything and then more! In some respects I hope there will be more from Joy and Alice in future, and in others this story alone is an epitome of perfect as it is, I am so conflicted that I don’t know what I want! I highly recommend it and it is definitely going down as one of my all time favourite age gap romances. It was such a highly emotive read and I loved every second of it.
In 1959 Nancy is lucky to be gifted a piano by her Uncle upon her family moving to Stevenage. As she grows up, the piano moves to a new home at a woman’s crisis centre, where it is a vital fixture in helping women find comfort but when the centre outgrows the premises the piano is sold one again. Tim, who buys the piano finds himself caught up in the politically changing world of 1997 thanks to the young woman he has bought the piano from and finally it finds itself dusty school practice room, abandoned. It quickly becomes the centre of an art project for two girls who bring it back to life for the community.
This was such a beautiful story. It isn’t what you’d call predominately a women loving woman book but it held representation of such relationships throughout the four separate stories it is made up of, and they were predominant in most of the stories. It very much had a ‘If These Walls Could Talk’ feel but with the piano being the linking factor. It was most interesting to experience a story like this. One where an object, just like people will have many experiences throughout its existence. And it wasn’t the only linking factor between the stories!
I was completely intrigued by this story, and after hearing about it at a book event where Sally was explaining the book I just knew that I had to read it one day. I learned a lot from it, about times, feelings, thoughts, emotions and music. It had a most clever plot, and a lovely sentiment between the stories that make up the story of the life of one piano. To each of the lives of the people met throughout the story, the piano holds different meaning and each is emotional and touching in its own way. I felt very emotionally connected to all the beautiful lives and stories told. Each character was unique and in their own little story had an important role to play, but the most important role played was most definitely by this piano.
I can’t explain how wonderful it felt to read this story (I also have the urge to want to play the piano and wish I could!). It was such an experience I would highly recommend picking it up and delving straight in. Although it is all linked, you could literally read this as separate stories and it was lovely how in a way they all came together, most intriguing. I absolutely adored this, and I really can’t recommend this enough! It is easily Sally’s strongest work, and one I am most in awe of. How so very beautiful and brilliant it is. Definitely a little gem that won’t disappoint!
Susan is delving into the fun of being involved with surviving through the decades of the 70s, 80s and 90s with all the typical experiences of college, finding freedom as young woman in the world of liberation and the gay bar scene, and all the joys of dating. She has many experiences during these times that are vividly recounted in this memoir.
This was great, following on from Kiss Your Elbow a previous memoir it was great to get to be back with Susan and having wonderful memories of her time in the decades covered in this sequel. She certainly had a lot of fun, but some more awkward and cringe worthy moments too all loving shared. It’s lovely to read what are typically very realistic, quirky and maybe only slightly embellished tales from Susan’s colourful life. She has had some amazing experiences that are detailed in this sequel and offer much insight into what the times were like back then very realistically.
I really like the way Susan has written these in first person, typical of memoir style, and how they contain everything from emotions to bits and pieces that are intimate and personal to the experiences she had. It gives real insight for a reader to understand how someone living through the times and in particular circumstances must have experienced life and is a vital importance for recording history. And not only this but giving glimpses of affairs of the heart, the experiences they gave, impacts they had and how they affect someone emotionally. Thanks again for sharing your memoirs with us Susan!
I enjoy these memoirs, and hope Susan will regale us with more wonderful adventures and tales in future.
