Blind Date - Wendy Clarke

 When Mel is set up on a blind date by her best friends Chris and Simon, she’s as anxious as any woman would be. Her divorce came as such a shock and she’d been feeling lost and lonely, but that didn’t mean she was desperate to date again. It was a terrible day at work that made her say yes: it could be a bit of fun, a distraction at least. What did she have to lose?

When Mel meets Malik, she knows instantly that they could have more than just a fling. She tells him her deepest, darkest secrets and it doesn’t make him run away. He makes her feel wanted for the first time in years, and when she wakes up in his bed in the early hours she feels completely content.

Until she notices that he’s no longer lying beside her.

She’s tangled up in his sheets alone in his bedroom and she can’t remember how she got there.

And then she hears the metallic scrape of a key in the door and realises that Malik has locked her in. Is her dream man going to turn into her worst nightmare?

Thrilling and gripping until the final page, Blind Date is a dark and unsettling story about deception and how much we can trust the people we love. For fans of Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train and anything by Lisa Jewell.

Author Bio:

Wendy Clarke was a teacher until the small primary school where she worked closed down. Now she is a writer of psychological suspense but is also well known for her short stories and serials which regularly appear in national women’s magazines.

Wendy has two children and three step-children and lives with her husband, cat and step-dog in Sussex. When not writing, she is usually indulging in her passion for dancing, singing or watching any programme that involves food!

https://wendyswritingnow.blogspot.com/

https://www.facebook.com/WendyClarkeAuthor/

https://www.instagram.com/wendyclarke99/

https://twitter.com/WendyClarke99

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My Review

Blind Date by Wendy Clarke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you are looking for a thrilling read that will keep you n the edge of your seat, with plenty of twists and turns, then you won't go far wrong with Blind Date. It tells the story of Mel, a recent divorcee who suddenly finds that her career is also on the line.
She gets shifted from the radio breakfast show (you know, those relentlessly cheerful and "funny" radio shows that you get on local radio) to the graveyard shift. The show is very different and it's not long before Mel starts to get drawn into the lives of some of the callers that contact her. When she meets a man that her friends have set her up with, who seems to be quite mysterious, even though she can't avoid the draw to him, everything starts to blur together and Mel finds herself at a loss to know who to trust.
There are plenty of twists and turns in this book. Some of them I saw coming and I did know who was behind the various things that Mel was facing. It wasn't that they were overly obvious, but there were certainly some hints if you were looking for them.
This was a gripping read and one that I was reluctant to put down. Interestingly, not all of the questions were answered, but that didn't really detract from the storyline, if anything it added to the interest and enjoyment of the read.
Overall this was a great book and one that I would recommend.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

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The Little Christmas House - Tracy Rees

 In gorgeous Hopley Village twinkly lights are going up, snow is falling and the delicious smell of gingerbread is in the air. Will two broken hearts find their happily-ever-after this Christmas?

The most wonderful time of the year is approaching but thirty-year-old Holly Hanwell doesn’t really feel like celebrating… not after the bombshell news that her boyfriend was leaving her to have a baby with someone else. But she still has her adorable little house in Hopley Village with its bright yellow front door and her job teaching at the village school. And she’s planned a cosy, quiet Christmas, focusing on the little things in life that she loves.

Until she bumps into Edward, the handsome single father of her newest pupil. He’s moved to Christmas House, at the edge of pretty Hopley, to give his eight-year-old daughter Eliza a fresh start. Sheltering from the snowy weather in the warm village café, Holly and Edward start to bond over delicious mugs of hot chocolate, topped with cream and sprinkles.

Despite the spark between them, Holly knows she needs to protect her already fragile heart and she’s determined NOT to fall in love this Christmas. But holiday magic works in mysterious ways when a festive crisis at Christmas House brings them together. Yet just as Holly starts to realise her feelings are growing for kind but complicated Edward she discovers a secret from his past which makes her question everything she thought she knew…

Will Holly and Edward’s December romance be over before it’s begun? Or will this be a Christmas to remember?

Curl up with this magical, feel-good Christmas read! Perfect for fans of Trisha Ashley, Sarah Morgan and Carole Matthews.

Author Bio:

Tracy Rees was the winner of the Richard and Judy 'Search for a Bestseller' Competition and her books are paperback, ebook and audio bestsellers. A Cambridge graduate, she had a successful eight-year career in nonfiction publishing and a second career practising and teaching humanistic counselling before becoming a writer. She lives in Wales.

https://twitter.com/AuthorTracyRees

Buy Link: 

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3AAZbTM

My Review

The Little Christmas House by Tracy Rees
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Who doesn't love a good Christmas story? The Little Christmas House (as you may guess from the title) is a lovely tale set in the run-up to Christmas in the village of Hopley in southern England. It tells the story of Edward, his daughter Eliza and her teacher Holly. Holly has recently found herself single, meanwhile, Edward and Eliza have recently moved to the area after Eliza struggled with bullying at her old school after her famous mother left her behind.
This is a feel-good story and perfect to get you in the Christmassy mood. Of course, our characters have to get through a few difficulties to get to their perfect Christmas though. Edward and Eliza need to make their home in Christmas House, setting up home as a single-parent family. Holly has to come to terms with the loss of the life she expected to lead and find a new dream to follow.
I really enjoyed this book. It was lovely to see Eliza come out of her shell with Holly's help and Edward muddle his way through being a single parent with a house to renovate. If you're looking for a Christmas read that isn't just about Christmas, then this may well be exactly what you are looking for.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Find me in the Dark - Dea Poirier

 She’d been running for so long, it felt like her legs were on fire. Her heart was pounding so hard, she was sure it would give out. Around her, the snow was falling, casting an eerie silence over the
town. A crack behind her, a foot snapping a branch, it warned her that he was still coming. She whipped around and saw the knife gleaming in his hand…

As the snow begins to melt across Plattsburgh, New York, the body of a young woman is found buried in a snowbank. When Detective Harlow Durant arrives at the scene she discovers that the victim has lain there for months: her arresting beauty, brightly-coloured nails and a distinctive gold bracelet perfectly preserved in the ice.

Searching missing person reports, Harlow soon identifies the victim as college student Alyssa Trent. Her grieving family describe her as someone who had no enemies and was a dedicated student. But Alyssa’s tutor has a different view: they claim Alyssa had another life that she kept hidden. But who would want her dead?

Harlow knows all about secret lives. She has spent years running from her past and from her father, a convicted serial killer. As the only female detective at the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Harlow has vowed to bring killers to justice. Now she needs to find justice for Alyssa.

When another female student is found in the thawing snow, Harlow knows that she is hunting a twisted killer. The victims knew each other but what dark secret connects them? With the small-town reeling in shock and more snow coming, Harlow knows she needs to stop a killer dead in their tracks before another innocent life is lost.

From the bestselling author of Next Girl To Die comes an addictive crime thriller perfect for fans of Melinda Leigh, Kendra Elliot and Robert Dugoni’s Tracy Crosswhite series.

Author Bio:

Author Dea (D.H) Poirier is the author of NEXT GIRL TO DIE, which hit #1 in the Amazon charts. She was raised in Edmond, Oklahoma, where she got her start writing in creative writing courses. She attended The University of Central Oklahoma for Computer Science and Political Science. Later, she spent time living on both coasts, and traveling the United States, before finally putting down roots in Central Florida. She now resides somewhere between Disney and the swamp. She spends her days at her day job as a President of Digital Marketing, and her nights writing manuscripts.

https://www.dhpoirier.com/

https://www.facebook.com/dhpoirier/

https://www.instagram.com/deapoirier/

https://twitter.com/deapoirierbooks

Buy Link:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ax5vki

My Review

Find Me in the Dark by Dea Poirier
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I do enjoy a crime novel with a strong female lead. Detective Harlow Durant is certainly that. She has plenty of baggage to deal with too and I'm sure that's what has led her to be so strong and capable. As the story unfolds and we learn more about the crime that she and partner Lucas are dealing with, we also learn more about Harlow's past. Some chapters are dedicated entirely to Harlow's past and what happened with her father.
This wasn't a mystery that could really be solved by the reader. We are given some clues and more information about everything, but there wasn't an obvious trail to follow and when we did find out who was behind it all, I wasn't completely sure who this person was. That didn't matter though. It was still a gripping read, following the characters as they attempted to get to the bottom of what had happened.
It's clear that there is much more to come for Harlow and I also wonder if we are going to get more of Lucas' back story as things unfold. They both have a past that still affects them and is something that they might want to address. As it is, the book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, although the mystery that makes up most of this book does seem to have been addressed. I'm looking forward to seeing where everything is going to go.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.



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A Body at the Altar - Dee MacDonald

 Jilted grooms, sudden deaths, broken hearts and threatening letters. All in a day’s work for super sleuth Kate Palmer!

Nurse Kate Palmer thought the pretty Cornish village of Tinworthy would be the perfect place for a peaceful retirement. She couldn’t have been more wrong! But even she is shocked when she attends a beautiful wedding at St. Pirin’s Church and the handsome groom drops dead in front of her very eyes.

While the rest of the wedding party panics, Kate notices the strange behaviour of the not-so-blushing bride and the posh mother-in-law – and vows to find out the truth behind the poor young man’s sudden demise. Especially when the new detective Charlotte Martin makes it known that she doesn’t want Kate involved – and also shows an interest in Woody Forrest, Kate’s partner in crime-solving.

Undeterred, Kate discovers this isn’t the only wedding to have been sabotaged. A series of peculiar letters contain the clues Kate needs to get to the heart of the matter. But is the mystery letter writer behind the unusual deaths? Or is more than one person responsible for the strange goings on in the seaside village…

As Kate digs deeper, she adds more suspects to her growing list: the world-weary vicar, the unlucky-in-
love cleaner and the bride’s former flame. But, as a pair of boots bring Kate closer to the killer, it becomes clear their investigation has placed Woody in danger.

Can Kate solve the murder and save the man she loves at the same time?

If you love cozy crime mysteries by Agatha Christie, Faith Martin or Joy Ellis, this page-turning novel will have you reading late into the night!

Author Bio:

Aged 18, Dee arrived in London from Scotland and typed her way round the West End for a couple of years before joining BOAC (forerunner of British Airways) in Passenger Services for 2 years and then as a stewardess for 8 years.

She has worked in Market Research, Sales and at the Thames TV Studios when they had the franchise.

Dee has since relocated to Cornwall, where she spent 10 years running B&Bs, and only began writing when she was over 70!

Married twice, she has one son and two grandsons.

https://twitter.com/dmacdonaldauth

Buy Link:

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3mJXoXy

My Review

A Body at the Altar by Dee MacDonald
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The fourth book in the Kate Palmer series finds her present for another murder. Kate seems to have the worst luck when it comes to finder herself involved in these mysteries, but they do make entertaining stories for us. This time she is present for the death of a bridegroom at his wedding, dropping dead before his wife to be even makes it down the altar. Despite her best intentions, Kate soon finds herself drawn into investigating the mystery, putting herself in danger again.
I do enjoy these murder mysteries. They fall into what I'd describe as a classic British mystery style. There are plenty of clues along the way, as well as the classic red herrings to throw you off the scent. I thought I'd got this one solved a couple of times before the end. Although, I had figured it out eventually.
I don't know what's next for Kate, she's promised her significant other, Woody, that she won't get involved in another murder, but I can't help but think that she might not have much choice in that when it comes to it.
If you're a fan of the classic who done it style of murder mystery, then I think you'll love this latest instalment from Dee MacDonald.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

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When the Nightgale Sings - Suzanne Kelman

 1937, Europe and America. Based on a true story, this powerful novel about wartime courage and
extraordinary friendship, tells how two women changed the fate of the Second World War and the course of history.

When an impossibly shy young woman named Judy Morgan finishes her studies in Physics at Cambridge University, it is with dreams of changing the world for the better.

Meanwhile, a beautiful, young Jewish woman decides to flee her beloved Austria, changing her name to Hedy Lamarr, and risking everything to get to America, as far away from the Nazi threat as possible.

A powerful friendship is formed when the two women meet in pre-war London—with Judy’s passion for science a perfect match for Hedy’s brilliant talent for invention. So when the world is gripped by a war that nobody could have imagined in their worst nightmares, both Hedy and Judy know they must act now.

As their lives repeatedly collide, in Cambridge, California, Pearl Harbor and beyond—throwing both their lives into danger and tragedy—Judy and Hedy both find themselves seeking ways to end the war.

But neither of them will know that one of them is on a path of tragedy. A path that could change the outcome of the war, but also threaten their friendship forever…

Fans of The Ragged Edge of Night, My Name is Eva and Beneath a Scarlet Sky, will love this unforgettable story about love, courage and devastation set in World War Two Britain, Hollywood and Pearl Harbor. Based on two true stories of amazing ‘hidden women’ who changed the world, this novel shows the power of friendship in the darkest hours of history.

Author Bio:

Suzanne Kelman is a 2015 Academy of Motion Pictures Nicholl Finalist, Multi-Award-Winning Screenwriter and a Film Producer. As well as working in film she is also an International Amazon Bestselling Fiction Author of the Southlea Bay Series – The Rejected Writers’ Book Club, Rejected Writers Take the Stage and The Rejected Writers’ Christmas Wedding. Born in the United Kingdom, she now resides in Washington State.

https://www.suzannekelmanauthor.com/

https://www.facebook.com/suzkelman

https://twitter.com/suzkelman

Buy Links:

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My Review

When the Nightingale Sings by Suzanne Kelman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**Content Warning** This book does deal with pregnancy loss and traumatic miscarriages.

I have to admit that before reading this book I knew nothing about Hedy Lamarr. I had heard her name and knew vaguely that she was a film star a long time ago, but that was as far as it went. I certainly knew nothing of her inventions or had any idea that she was much more than a celebrated beauty. I also knew nothing of Joan Curran, a Welsh physicist who played a key role in some of the advancements that helped the allies during the second world war. In this book, Suzanne Kelman takes Hedy Lamarr and reimagines Joan Curran as Judy Jenkins and tells a story of them becoming friends and struggling against the male-dominated society that dismisses their brains and achievements. At one point (and forgive me here for not having taken an exact quotation at the time) Judy thinks that one of the men treats her achievement like praising her for having baked a cake. It really sums up the what that they are dismissed and diminished well.
I always love reading about women who have achieved so much but that we have forgotten about. Of course, I'd much prefer that we hadn't forgotten, but it is good to rediscover people. Judy's achievements in this book mirror Joan's at least until the end of the war. Her personal life is fiction though because, unlike Hedy, she didn't live in the spotlight, so there is more room for things to be imagined. Both women have much to deal with in their lives. As if living in wartime wasn't hard enough. While their brains and talents may be the scaffolding of this story, it's the fact that they are very much women and women with the same worries and concerns as the rest of us that really gives it life.
There is a little bit of a tendency to tell rather than show for some of the book which does slow it down a little. With so much to cover in terms of the work that Judy in particular does, I'm not sure that this could have been avoided.
This was a fascinating read which had me googling Joan Curran and Hedy Lamarr as soon as I had finished it. If you enjoy historical fiction, particularly women's fiction, then I think that you will love this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

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Twelve Days to Save Christmas - Elizabeth Neep

 On the first day of Christmas, my true love… dumped me.

Poppy loves Christmas and always goes all out to make this magical time of the year extra special for her boyfriend George. But George is strangely not in the Yuletide spirit this year. As Poppy wrestles him into her Christmas jumper built for two for a holiday snapshot, she finds out why.

He’s leaving her. With only twelve days to spend together until Christmas.

Poppy is heartbroken. George is the love of her life, and what would Christmas be without kisses under the mistletoe, his mum’s delicious homemade gingerbread or their super-competitive games of Pictionary?

She’s determined to win George back. So, anxious to prove to him she can be spontaneous, she signs up as a Christmas volunteer at the local community centre. What she doesn’t know is that there’s a festive surprise coming her way…

As Poppy throws herself into her new role – mulling vats of hot cider and hanging fairy lights off everything within reach – she discovers an inner strength she never knew she had. And there’s also Theo. Her new boss. Grumpy and opinionated, he’s everything she doesn’t want.

But as the snow starts to fall, she begins to notice other things about him – like his twinkling green eyes, how he makes her laugh, and how much he cares about the people he’s trying to help.

As the twelfth day approaches, Poppy might be about to discover that the most perfect Christmas might be the one that she didn’t plan at all…

Fans of One Day in December, Beth O’Leary and Mhairi McFarlane will be completely enchanted by this witty and warm festive story about friendship, love and finding yourself.

Author Bio:

Elizabeth Neep was born in 1990 in Derbyshire and now lives in London Bridge. After studying Law at the University of Nottingham and the University of New South Wales, she worked in magazine journalism, most noticeably writing for Dazed and Confused and PETRIe. Elizabeth now works as a non-fiction Senior Commissioning Editor and writes and paints in her spare time.

https://www.elizabethneep.com/

https://www.instagram.com/elizabeth_neep/?hl=en

https://twitter.com/elizabeth_neep

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My Review

Twelve Days to Save Christmas by Elizabeth Neep
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Twelve Days to Save Christmas is a story about finding your place and accepting who you are, not just at Christmas, but all the year-round. I think that it's sold as a comedy (the cover certainly is similar to other romantic comedy books) and while there are moments that are amusing, I don't really think that this counts as a fun and light-hearted read.
When Poppy's boyfriend dumps her a month before Christmas, she decides to try and win him back and show him what he would be missing. As she gets involved in more and more things, Poppy begins to discover that there's actually more to life than George, her ex-boyfriend and perhaps the life that she's been dreaming of and chasing for the last five years isn't the one that she wants.
The reason that I don't say that this is a romantic comedy is that firstly, ex-boyfriend Geroge is a complete arse. Poppy goes on about how lovely he is, but I honestly couldn't see it. How anyone could justify treating someone that they supposedly loved, like that, I don't know. Even the way that he goes about breaking up with her is cruel. There is the hint of more romance for Poppy, but that isn't really what this story is about. Secondly, Poppy has had a lot to deal with in her life and really, as much as I love bittersweet comedy, that isn't really what this is. It is a good read though and one that I really enjoyed.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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The Silent Mother - Liz Lawler

 The phone rings. It’s the call every parent dreads. My beautiful son is dead.

He’d been the centre of my world from the moment he was born. Now my perfect life is shattered. In the midst of my grief, I receive an anonymous letter telling me that Tom’s death was not an accident.

So I’ve come to the apartment where my only child lived to find out what really happened. Tom was newly qualified as a doctor, he had a bright future ahead of him. Nothing about the day he died makes sense.

As I get to know the medical staff Tom worked with and his friends living nearby, I’m drawn into a tangled web of lies. Whispers and rumours circulate along the hospital corridors and I start to question how well I really knew my precious boy.

But a mother knows when things don’t add up.

His girlfriend has been keeping her pregnancy secret.
His best friend betrayed him in the weeks before Tom’s death.
His neighbours all have something to hide.

Which one of them would kill? As I get closer to the truth, the stakes become more dangerous. And I realise I could be next on their list…

Author Bio:

Liz Lawler grew up sharing pants, socks, occasionally a toothbrush, sleeping four to a bed. Born in Chatham and partly raised in Dublin, she is one of fourteen children. She spent over twenty years as a nurse and has since fitted in working as a flight attendant, a general manager of a five star hotel, and is now working with trains. She became an author in 2017 when her debut novel Don’t Wake Up was published by Twenty7.

https://www.facebook.com/liz.lawler.90

https://twitter.com/authorlizlawler?lang=en

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The Silent Mother by Liz Lawler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

You know that you've got a good thriller on your hands when you just can't put it down. The silent mother sucked me in from the moment that I started it and I couldn't resist the urge to keep reading until I had discovered everything that happened.
The Silent Mother tells the story of Ruth who sets out to find out the truth about her son. He was due to appear in court to face charges of stealing drugs from the hospital that he worked as a doctor, but he was found dead, apparently from suicide, the morning he was due to appear. Ruth is sure that he must be innocent and is determined to get to the bottom of what happened.
There are many twists and turns in this story and I'll admit that I suspected almost every character of being involved one way or another at some point. I did manage to work everything out long before Ruth though, who seemed to be spectacularly slow as we neared the end.
This was a gripping read and one that I didn't want to put down. The only reason that it's not a five star read for me, is that there were one or two little things that just didn't seem to make sense. Too much interest in something the police find that just didn't ring true for me and I wasn't convinced by some of Tom, the son's, actions. These were only minor niggles though and overall this was a great read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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His Loving Wife - Miranda Smith

 I would do anything to protect my family. It’s my fault they’re in danger…

Our vacation house is beautiful. With its pastel-blue walls, the swimming pool outside, the boardwalk stretching down to the shore. My children play in the waves and my husband grills burgers on the deck. It is so peaceful.

But I can’t relax. When I drive to the store, or stroll down the beach, I am always looking over my shoulder, my heart racing. I am looking for him.

The man who nearly destroyed everything, a year ago, because of the secrets I kept.

I swear I didn’t do anything wrong. But no matter how hard my husband tries to pretend, we both know it’s not over.

This vacation was meant to be a chance to heal. Instead, I think it might break us. Because my husband still doesn’t trust me… and I’m not sure I can trust myself.

An absolutely compelling psychological thriller that will make you question how well you know those around you—and how safe you ever are. Fans of The Girl on the Train, Behind Closed Doors and Gillian Flynn will be completely hooked by His Loving Wife.

Author Bio:

Miranda Smith writes psychological and domestic suspense. She is drawn to stories about ordinary people in extraordinary situations. Before completing her first novel, she worked as a newspaper staff writer and a secondary English teacher. She lives in East Tennessee with her husband and three young children.

https://mirandasmithwriter.com/

https://www.facebook.com/MirandaSmithAuthor/

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https://twitter.com/msmithbooks

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My Review

His Loving Wife by Miranda Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

His Loving Wife was a gripping read. From the first page, we're thrown into the drama of Kate's family facing an intruder in her house. The book takes part both in the past as they deal with the aftermath of this attack and while on holiday a year later, trying to rebuild the family.
As the story unfolds we learn what happened and why it took place, along with how this has impacted all members of the family. It also becomes clear that although the initial attack is over, there is still much that the family has to deal with.
I enjoyed this book immensely. I did struggle slightly with a couple of Kate's decisions or the way that she reacted to things. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but there is an incident that takes place that particularly impacts their son Noah and Kate herself. Personally, after something like that there's no chance that I would be repeating the activity or allowing any family members to do so. At least not in the near future. Kate does seem to be a little slow in picking up some of the signs as to what is going on. That might be understandable when you are so close to it all, but it left me wanting to reach into the book and give her a shake, surely she could see all wasn't well!
This was a great read and one that I would highly recommend.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Timeless - Kaylene Winters

Timeless
Kaylene Winter
(A Less Than Zero Rockstar Romance)
Publication date: September 29th 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

I vowed nothing would keep us apart…
Fiona Reynolds is my other half.
It’s been that way from the day I was born.
I’ve dedicated my life to keep my promise.
Fate just laughs in our face.
She’s always out of reach, this time for good.
I’ll do anything to prove she’s my destiny.
If only she’d trust me one more time.

After what I’ve done, how can I deserve him?
Zane Rocks is my everything.
There’s no one I love or trust more than him.
It wasn’t his fault when he left me.
I always knew he’d find his way back.
Fear overwhelmed me, and I broke his heart.
Will most celebrated musician on the planet.
Really give me another chance?

When a rash decision changes their lives forever, hope for their future is all but shattered.
Stakes are high.
But Zane’s determined to prove a love this pure is timeless.

Goodreads / Amazon

Author Bio:

When she was only 15, Kaylene Winter wrote her first rocker romance novel starring a fictionalized version of herself, her friends and their gorgeous rocker boyfriends. After living her own rockstar life as a band manager, music promoter and mover and shaker in Seattle during the early 1990's, Kaylene became a digital media legal strategist helping bring movies, television and music online. Throughout her busy career, Kaylene lost herself in romance novels across all genres inspiring her to realize her life-long dream to be a published author. She lives in Seattle with her amazing husband and dog. She loves to travel, throw lavish dinner parties and support charitable causes supporting arts and animals.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

My Review 

In all of the previous Less than Zero books, Fiona has been an almost shadowy figure. We see glimpses of her and there were hints that there might be something between her and Zane, but that's all they were, hints. I wasn't sure if I was going to take to her as a character, simply because I'd seen so little of her. When it came to Fiona and Zane's story though, that didn't matter, it was clear that they were going to be together one way or another and that was the way that it was supposed to be.

Zane and Fiona are best friends from when they are small children. Although they always remain close, the pressures that their parents put them under, due to their own mistakes and issues mean that for much of the time they are kept apart. It seems throughout their life, things are working against them to stop them from being together. Perhaps all that really means is that they stay apart until they are truly ready to be together properly, but it all takes a toll on them as people and individually.

This is a love story and so you can expect that they get their happy ending and it is a satisfying one. Having said that, there was one element that I wasn't happy with. Fiona's mother is emotionally abusive. Once she is old enough Fiona leaves her, but later in the story, there is a reconciliation of sorts. I just don't think that her mother deserved that in any way. I certainly wouldn't be allowing my children to have a relationship with someone like that and I was disappointed that it all seemed to be explained away and accepted that she was just being a protective parent. 

Overall this was a great read and a fantastic way to wrap up the Less Than Zero series. I believe that we've got some spinoffs to come and I'm looking forward to reading them. 

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