Thursday 30 September 2021

My Daughter's Mistake - Kate Hewitt

 I look at my daughter. My darling girl. I remember her tiny hand in mine, her first smile. I recall her
tears when she’d tumble over, healed instantly with a band-aid and a little kiss. I have to keep her safe. Even if it means someone else gets hurt…


In the pretty, privileged college town of Milford, New Hampshire, everyone is friendly, everything is safe. And on this cold autumn day, as red and yellow leaves begin to fall from the trees, and everyone wraps up for the first time, it would be easy to believe nothing bad could ever happen here.

Until a screech of tires is heard, a thud, a child’s scream. The crash that sees Jenna’s six-year-old daughter Amy Rose being hit by a car driven by seventeen-year-old Maddie.

Maddie’s mother, Ellen—a college professor with a warm, approachable reputation—insists it must have been an accident. Her daughter is always safe on the road—and she’s vulnerable herself.

But as Amy Rose lies unconscious in hospital, the town begins to take sides. With Ellen, who just wants to defend her daughter. Or with Jenna, a single mother with a past, whose child hovers between life and death…

The truth is that both mothers have secrets they’re trying to keep. And, with Amy Rose’s life hanging in the balance, one of them will stop at nothing to protect the person she loves—her daughter.

An incredible, powerfully emotional and heartbreaking read, with a dilemma that will make everyone wonder what they would do, in either mother’s shoes. Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Jojo Moyes and Diane Chamberlain.

Author Bio:

Kate Hewitt is the author of many romance and women’s fiction novels. A former New Yorker and now an American ex-pat, she lives in a small town on the Welsh border with her husband, five children, and their overly affectionate Golden Retriever. Whatever the genre, she enjoys telling stories that tackle real issues and touch people’s lives. 


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My Review 

My Daughter's Mistake is told from the point of view of two mothers. Ellen, whose daughter has crashed her car and run a young girl over in the process and Jenna, whose daughter is the young girl who has been hurt. As the story unfolds it becomes clear that for both women, this isn't a straightforward accident and both sides seem to be hiding things. The more that we learn about Jenna and Ellen's lives we see that everything is far from perfect for either of them.
While this is a story about an accident and the aftermath, it's also about the lives people lead and the things that they do to try and protect themselves and the ones that they love. Jenna has spent her life keeping people distant, which is hardly surprising when we learn of all that she has faced as she grew up. For Ellen, it's been about the differences between the life she knew growing up in an academic environment and the world that her husband grew up in.
Parts of this book are horrifying. The idea that you might have to move to a different hospital because your insurance won't cover the treatment, or worry about being sued is just unimaginable. The idea of dealing with a child that might not recover from such a serious accident and be worrying about how you might pay for their treatment.
This was a gripping read and although I had an idea of what had happened at the accident (which I was right about) I still couldn't put it down until I'd read it all.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own



Wednesday 29 September 2021

First Light - Isabel Jolie

First Light
Isabel Jolie
Publication date: September 28th 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

He could be my savior…or my downfall…

I was living a lie.

No one knew who I really was. Letting someone in could’ve been devastating for my family.

For the most part, isolation wasn’t a hardship. It’s not like I was looking for love or any kind of serious relationship.

But then I met Logan.

I tried to keep my distance. He wouldn’t let me.

Logan is gentle, kind, and loving. Everything I never knew I needed in my life.

He’s also a cop—exactly the kind of man who’d never understand my truth.

So, while he shared his deepest, darkest secrets, I kept mine hidden.

Too bad I couldn’t keep my heart locked away, too.

Because now, I’m falling for a man who can never be mine. Not truly, anyway.

How can I ask him to be my future when I can’t even let him help me survive my present?

First Light, book three in the Haven Island series, is a lightly angsty, sometimes suspenseful, small town, military contemporary romance featuring a grumpy protective, over hero and the heroine who steals his heart. All of the books in the series are standalone contemporary romance novels and can be read in any order.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play


Author Bio:

Isabel Jolie, or Izzy to her friends, is an Amazon bestselling indie author with an unquenchable thirst for a good, sexy love story. Izzy’s heart pumps faster for stories with strong heroines, down-to-earth realism, and an unexpected twist.

When she’s not writing or reading, she can often be found with a glass of wine in hand relaxing with her husband, daughters, and good friends lakeside.

Izzy fills her Instagram feed with funnies, inspirational “brain candy”, and anything that meshes with her mood of the day. #mood.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram


My Review

First Light is the third book set on Haven Island. Although previous characters are mentioned in each book and they are set in the same place, each one is very different and can easily be read as a standalone novel. This book deals with Cali and Logan. Logan has moved to the island after a messy divorce. He doesn't see his role as head of the police (which aren't even called police over there, there's so little crime) as a permanent position, but it's ideal for the time being. When he meets fellow divorcee Cali, he begins to hope that perhaps their growing relationship might be more than a simple rebound. The only problem is, that Cali isn't all she appears to be.
I really enjoyed the dynamic between Logan and Cali. They work really well together as a couple. Cali is lying to Logan, but it's not something that she's doing willingly or easily. Instead, she's found herself in a situation that she can't find her way out of. This is a romance and there's plenty of that, but it's also a story about hacking and cybercrime. This book only touches on that really, but I suspect with a book to follow this one, that will deal with at least one of the other characters that we briefly met, there's more of this to come.
Like all of Isabel Jolie's books that I've read so far, this is more than a light romance, it touches on darker and deeper themes. I'm really enjoying these books and would recommend them if you're looking for a little more than a light romance. First Light certainly gives you more than that. 

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Tuesday 7 September 2021

Renovated - Nikki Kiley

Renovated: A Workplace Romance
Nikki Kiley
Publication date: August 5th 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

They’ve been hired to remodel a mansion. Will they end up getting a room?

Marisa Sanchez has grand designs for her future. After taking over her grandfather’s construction firm, the successful vlogger and civil engineer is about to take the next step with a new show on the Home Design Network. But she’s not pleased to find out she can only have the lucrative gig if she agrees to work with a handsome rival.

Levi Chance takes the responsibility of providing for his brothers seriously. So when his biggest client asks him to come into the spotlight to co-host a new program, he reluctantly accepts. But he fears the pretty, camera-loving partner he’s been assigned might bring his top-notch reputation tumbling down if she can’t deliver the goods.

Discovering her teammate is quite capable, Marisa battles her attraction to him as she ambitiously turns the project upside down. And the more Levi works with the smart Latina, the more he worries he’s about to push the “no sex” morality clause in their contract into forbidden territory.

Will Marisa and Levi’s fixer-upper turn into a happily together forever?

Renovated is the charming first book in the moving Chance Brothers contemporary romance series. If you like sparkling attractions, comedic moments, and steamy action, then you’ll love Nikki Kiley’s well-built romp.

Goodreads / Amazon


Author Bio:

Nikki Kiley is an aspiring author of Contemporary Romance. Since she was a young girl, she dreamt of writing stories that would entertain and move her readers, like she was and still is, by talented authors.

When not working the day job running a medical office, she spends hours crafting and writing stories about heroes and heroines earning their chance at love. She makes her home in Puerto Rico with her husband, two young adult children, and a gentle giant, the bull mastiff, Kira.

She loves the beach, her Nespresso maker, and cupcakes (S’more in particular).

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

My Review

Renovated is a fun forbidden love romance. Levi and Marisa are working together and have signed contracts to say that they won't get involved in any way. Unfortunately, their chemistry is so strong that they just can't seem to resist one another. Marisa had a troubled childhood and she struggles to trust anyone or let them in. Levi knows what they have is real and isn't ready to let Marisa go without a fight.
Levi and Marisa work really well together as a couple, and I enjoyed reading about their relationship's growth. When Marisa's childhood comes to light, there are quite a few big issues dealt with and it works well within the storyline. I did find when this happens though, the other reasons that they can't be together are almost forgotten about and don't really seem to be an issue to anyone anymore, which was a little odd.
I enjoyed this read and it was a good start to what seems to be the start of a series. I'd be interested to read the rest of the books when they come out and spend some more time with the Chase family. 

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