The Wedding Favor - Sharon M.Peterson

 She needs a plus one for her ex’s wedding. He’s the perfect fake date.

Iris can’t believe she’s agreed to be her ex’s best woman at his wedding—as if the humiliation of still being hung up on him isn’t bad enough. If only she had a hot boyfriend to bring as her plus one…

So when her gorgeous neighbor, single dad Abe, offers to be her date in return for being his cute daughter’s nanny for the summer, she leaps at the deal. With his tattoos, ear piercings and thirteen years on her, Abe is the exact opposite of her ex. The idea of turning up with him is perfection.

Iris once swore off love for good. Never mind that being on Abe’s arm as they twirl around the dance floor starts to feel so right… and so does daydreaming about being a real family with Abe and his daughter, instead of playing fake.

Abe is settled in their small town. And Iris has no idea what her future holds.

But with her hand in his, and her cheek on his chest, Iris secretly wonders: what if this fake wedding date could turn into an oh-so-real love story?

A totally uplifting, heart-stealing age-gap single-dad romance full of true laugh-out-loud moments. Perfect for fans of Emily Henry, Sarah Adams and Abby Jimenez.

My Review

With a title like The Wedding Favor, you might be excused for thinking that this is a story that revolves around or culminates in a wedding. The wedding in question happens midway through the book and although it does form part of the plot, it really is quite a small bit. Instead this is a story of someone finding their way in life, other people not always knowing what's best for someone and most of all, Love.

I fell in love with the characters in this book. Iris herself was brilliant; she was feisty, fun but had such a good heart. Then there was Abe, how could you not fall for him? His daughter Hallie was such fun and best of all was old starlet Gloria. 

I loved every second of this fun romance; it might not have been the spiciest and it took Abe and Iris quite a while to find their way to one another and accept what was going on between them. I think that added to the enjoyment of this story. What a fantastic and satisfying read!

Readers are falling hard for The Wedding Favor:

“This book is pure sunshine… Melted me… Warm and slow-burn… Made me kick my feet… Adorable… How it made me feel: cozy, smitten, and a little weepy… Uplifting and swoony… Charming… Gave me a full-body grin… A hug in book form.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“I adored this… Made me cry (in all the right places). Laugh out loud, giggle with toe wiggles, and snort your soda laughter all happened.” kelsomath, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Ooft, this was GOOD! I *loved* this… Laugh-out-loud… The slowest burn romance… Witty, light and a pleasure to read.” selliereads, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“I absolutely loved… Captivating… Made me laugh… Heartwarming, and simply beautiful… Really special… Truly stole my heart from beginning to end… Such a sweet, entertaining, and heartwarming read.” mich.entrepag, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Made me laugh, cry, and feel all the feels… Their slow-burn chemistry was EVERYTHING… Full of heart… Had me laughing one minute and reaching for tissues the next… Beautiful!” NetGalley reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Omg I ADORED this!… Charming small-town romance, I loved it!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Brought out all the emotions—I laughed so much… I also cried big tears… Carries so much heart… Warmed my heart.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“I devoured this!… Had me laughing out loud, sobbing, and feeling all the feels… This book was just what I needed… I am obsessed… I am a fan for life.” nicolereadsalot96, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“SO sweet… Adorable… Made me happy… Sharon, THANK YOU… loved this!” readerrambling, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Oh my god this was soooooo hilarious and emotional!… I LOVE… Beautiful… Wholesome… I had such a good time.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Wow, wow, wow! I loved everything about this… I laughed, cried… Sweet… Such a great read.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Will put a big smile on your face, and maybe shed a tear or two… Funny and sassy… Will touch your heart.” Riffle Books, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“I can’t wait for this to come out and for y’all to lose your minds… I raced through it… Twisty, romantic… Deserves to be such a hit.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Oh my gosh… Absolutely adorable… A winning book!… Kept me laughing and crying.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Work Husband - Sophie Ranald

ou’re just friends that work together. Nothing more. Riiiiiiiiight?

When Georgia’s boyfriend Sam tells her he’s meeting up with his ex, she’s living every girlfriend’s worst nightmare. Because it’s not just any ex, it’s his first love – the relationship everyone thought would last forever. Convinced she’s one pinot-grigio-fuelled evening away from having to argue custody of their beloved cat, she turns to her work husband for help.

Jamie fixes all Georgia’s work crises (like that time she jammed the printer so badly it started smoking…) so when he suggests faking a romance to make Sam jealous, she’s all ears. After all, he’s already her work husband, how hard can it be to pretend he’s something more?

From flirty texts to a dangerous number of G&Ts in the local pub, Jamie’s declarations of love soon start to get out of hand. Suddenly, Georgia’s not sure her work husband was the best choice to help her keep hold of her (hopefully) future husband.

Georgia has watched enough romcoms to know office romances are not a good idea and, as she soon finds out, even fake ones can be dangerous… Is she prepared for what happens when fake dating turns out to be not so fake after all?

A warm and fabulous romantic comedy, perfect for anyone who has ever thought about crossing the line at work. Perfect for fans of Emily Henry, Sophie Kinsella and Mhairi McFarlane.

My review

It's no surprise that many of the reviews of this book are quite low; it's a hard book to review. From the title, blurb and cover, I was expecting something completely different. It's a bit of a shame, as I can see that might put off a lot of people, but if you put aside those first expectations, it is an enjoyable read. 

This isn't a fun romantic comedy between workmates. This is more about what makes a relationship, the trust that builds it and how sometimes a good relationship is less about the good times and more to do with how you handle the bad ones.

The main issue I have with this book is Georgia's boyfriend, Sam. I don't want to give away spoilers, but I found his behaviour to be so annoying and wrong, but that is never addressed. In all honesty, everyone seems to behave badly, one way or another, but there was something about it that felt a bit more real than most romances.

If you go into this wanting a fun romcom, then there's a good chance you'll be disappointed and not find what you're looking for. If you don't expect that and instead want to read a story of less-than-perfect people trying to find their way in a relationship, then you might get a bit more out of it.

The Candy Apple Café - Donna Ashcroft

 Falling in love can be sweet and spicy… 🍏 🍭🌶️🍏 🍭🌶️ A fun-loving baking queen with a heart of gold. Her gruff neighbour. A tiny Scottish town. Is this a recipe for love – or disaster? This is the utterly unputdownable spicy Autumn romance you’ve been waiting for! Seasonal spice + hot Scotsman = 🧡 🔥🌶️ When Izzi pulls up in her battered old car outside The Candy Apple Café, she takes a deep breath and channels her trademark optimism. She’s run away to Honey Haven to escape the mess her life is in right now. Only, she hasn’t bargained on a handsome, broad-shouldered Scotsman appearing out of nowhere and grilling her on why she’s parked there… it turns out the baking work she has lined up is in his gran’s café and he’s her new landlord… Cameron is immediately rubbed up the wrong way by Izzi’s upbeat vibes and yet, his eyes keep meeting hers across his gran’s cake display at The Candy Apple Café. Cameron’s heart beats a little faster every time she looks up at him through those long, dark lashes and there are only so many times Izzi can pretend she hasn’t noticed the way he towers over her, his dark brooding eyes failing to avoid hers… Then Izzi and Cameron find themselves thrown together to organise the town’s Autumn festival. Planning a spectacular cinnamon-scented event as a surprise his gran, they find themselves pressed up against each other as they work to turn a crumbling castle into the perfect haunted house filled with sweet treats… But he’s closed off his heart. And she’s only meant to be in town for a few weeks. Will the heat between grumpy Cameron and sunny Izzi dial up a notch? Or will their relationship turn as chilly as the Autumn air in Honey Haven? Snuggle up with a steamy hot drink and bed down with this spicy romance, filled with grumpy sunshine vibes and a dreamy HEA. Perfect for fans of Laurie Gilmore, Harper Graham, and Gilmore Girls! 🍏 🍭🌶️🍏 🍭🌶️ Tropes: Grumpy x Sunshine Small town Found family Spicy What readers are saying about The Candy Apple Café: ‘Packed with warmth, cinnamon, sugary treats and autumnal vibes!… A lovely cosy read that has me excited for October days celebrating halloween and drinking chai… Grumpy x sunshine was the icing on the cake! 🍄’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Each page makes you feel like you are walking amongst the cool Fall weather and can smell the delicious aromas coming out of Candy Apple Café!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Had me craving hot chocolate, pumpkin spice treats, and cosy evenings wrapped up with a good book… I had to stop myself from heading to the shop for snacks!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Hooked!… A twist that I did not expect. I could not put the book down and I finished in a day’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I absolutely adored this book! The nostalgic feel was incredible and I absolutely love the fall vibes. If a book has fall vibes, I’m here for it!… I cannot wait to read it again for book club!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Had me reading until the early hours, on my way to work, on my lunch break and on my way home… A page turner… I didn’t want to stop reading’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Pure comfort reading, wrapped up in cinnamon and small-town charm’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I loved this book!!… I wish Honey Haven were a real place!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Addictive, cozy, heartwarming small-town romance’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I loved the community of Honey Haven; rather wish I could live there!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I loved it! Totally here for the drama 🤐😍’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Falling in love can be sweet and spicy… 🍏 🍭🌶️🍏 🍭🌶️ A fun-loving baking queen with a heart of gold. Her gruff neighbour. A tiny Scottish town. Is this a recipe for love – or disaster? This is the utterly unputdownable spicy Autumn romance you’ve been waiting for! Seasonal spice + hot Scotsman = 🧡 🔥🌶️ When Izzi pulls up in her battered old car outside The Candy Apple Café, she takes a deep breath and channels her trademark optimism. She’s run away to Honey Haven to escape the mess her life is in right now. Only, she hasn’t bargained on a handsome, broad-shouldered Scotsman appearing out of nowhere and grilling her on why she’s parked there… it turns out the baking work she has lined up is in his gran’s café and he’s her new landlord… Cameron is immediately rubbed up the wrong way by Izzi’s upbeat vibes and yet, his eyes keep meeting hers across his gran’s cake display at The Candy Apple Café. Cameron’s heart beats a little faster every time she looks up at him through those long, dark lashes and there are only so many times Izzi can pretend she hasn’t noticed the way he towers over her, his dark brooding eyes failing to avoid hers… Then Izzi and Cameron find themselves thrown together to organise the town’s Autumn festival. Planning a spectacular cinnamon-scented event as a surprise his gran, they find themselves pressed up against each other as they work to turn a crumbling castle into the perfect haunted house filled with sweet treats… But he’s closed off his heart. And she’s only meant to be in town for a few weeks. Will the heat between grumpy Cameron and sunny Izzi dial up a notch? Or will their relationship turn as chilly as the Autumn air in Honey Haven? Snuggle up with a steamy hot drink and bed down with this spicy romance, filled with grumpy sunshine vibes and a dreamy HEA. Perfect for fans of Laurie Gilmore, Harper Graham, and Gilmore Girls! 🍏 🍭🌶️🍏 🍭🌶️ Tropes: Grumpy x Sunshine Small town Found family Spicy What readers are saying about The Candy Apple Café: ‘Packed with warmth, cinnamon, sugary treats and autumnal vibes!… A lovely cosy read that has me excited for October days celebrating halloween and drinking chai… Grumpy x sunshine was the icing on the cake! 🍄’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Each page makes you feel like you are walking amongst the cool Fall weather and can smell the delicious aromas coming out of Candy Apple Café!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Had me craving hot chocolate, pumpkin spice treats, and cosy evenings wrapped up with a good book… I had to stop myself from heading to the shop for snacks!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Hooked!… A twist that I did not expect. I could not put the book down and I finished in a day’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I absolutely adored this book! The nostalgic feel was incredible and I absolutely love the fall vibes. If a book has fall vibes, I’m here for it!… I cannot wait to read it again for book club!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Had me reading until the early hours, on my way to work, on my lunch break and on my way home… A page turner… I didn’t want to stop reading’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Pure comfort reading, wrapped up in cinnamon and small-town charm’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I loved this book!!… I wish Honey Haven were a real place!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Addictive, cozy, heartwarming small-town romance’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I loved the community of Honey Haven; rather wish I could live there!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I loved it! Totally here for the drama 🤐😍’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Donna Ashcroft

Donna has had sixteen books published in total. Four have been in the Amazon top 100 and one even made it to number seven in the UK and US Kindle charts, another made it to number one in the UK, US and AU free Kindle charts. She was also shortlisted for the RNA Debut Romantic Novel of the Year in 2019.

She lives in Hertfordshire, with her own romantic hero, two grown up kids who pop in occasionally and two grumpy cats. She loves a happy ending and is never happier than when she’s escaping into a romance novel or movie.

• Mailing List: https://bookouture.com/subscribe/donna-ashcroft
• Website: http://donna-writes.co.uk/
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• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Donnashc
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• Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17793043.Donna_Ashcroft

Revenge Puck - Sara Ney

 

When I catch my girl with my hockey teammate and best friend—scratch that, ex-best friend—I’m done playing nice.

Declan betrayed me. But I have the perfect way to get even: his sister.

Juliette is sweet, bookish, gorgeous… and completely off-limits.

Fake dating her should be easy. A little wining and dining, a little harmless flirting, and I’ll get revenge on the guy who wrecked my life.

But Juliette throws me completely off my game.

Beneath her button-up shirts and wide eyes is the sexiest and most fascinating woman I’ve ever met. All good-girl by day, lacy underwear by night.

She sees right through my bad attitude… and somehow likes me anyway.

Suddenly the one thing worse than losing my best friend, would be losing her.

I’m desperate for revenge. But hurting Juliette? That’s a penalty I just can’t take…

My Review

This is one of those books that you just can't help but 'greedy read'. I only started it yesterday, and by this morning I'd already got to the end. I loved the relationship between Aaron and Juliet. They seemed so good for one another, even though they are complete opposites. I didn't even mind the way they got together; obviously, it was all going to blow up in Aaron's face at some point, but he comes to realise how he feels about Juliet pretty quickly.

Having said all of that, this wasn't a perfect read. There were a few things that were introduced as though they might be a key plot point and then never mentioned again. Why did Bailey cheat on Aaron? What did Declan know that led to it all? Perhaps some of that will come out in the next book, because that features Declan and he's really going to have to do something special, as at this stage he's pretty unlikeable.

What really stopped this book from getting another star was the end. It seemed incredibly rushed, and although I could see we were heading towards a conclusion, the ending was sudden and didn't give you that nice tie-up of everything that you usually expect at the end of a romance like this. It's a bit of a shame, but I still really enjoyed the book overall.

The Campervan Detectives - Maeve Haran

 Fearless, feisty and at the wheel of her bright orange campervan, newly-single Sadie is about to enter a new era… as a detective?!

It’s never too late for a second chance, and when Sadie Sutton’s marriage implodes spectacularly, she jumps into her vintage VW campervan and heads for the twisty cobbled streets and sea views of her childhood in the little seaside town of Winching. But her fresh start comes to an abrupt stop when she trips over a dead body, turning an ordinary walk with her faithful dog Sam Spade into a murder investigation!

Having failed to stop a balaclava-wearing suspect disappearing from the scene into the night, Sadie can’t help but take matters into her own hands. The victim, retired headmistress Charlotte Woolf, was well known around Winching for her sharp tongue – rumours suggest she was particularly disliked by her own husband! But he swears he doesn’t even like killing snails by mistake…

With the enthusiastic help of three women at the campsite who have all embraced Van Life, Sadie starts sleuthing. Who was sending Charlotte anonymous bunches of flowers that had her rattled? Do the members of the local sea swimming club hold a vital clue? Sadie and her friends are on the right track… until their prime suspect ends up dead in his garden shed!

Can Sadie get to the root of the problem and stop the killer before the next person is buried? Or will her fresh new chapter end with her driving her campervan back the way she came?

First in a brilliant new series from bestselling author Maeve Haran, this warm, witty and absolutely unputdownable cosy crime novel is perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, The Thursday Murder Club and Robert Thorogood.

My Review

I love the idea of this murder mystery. After finding her husband and best friend in bed together, Sadie sells her car, buys a camper van and disappears off to the small town she used to visit when she was a child. Who wouldn't want to just give up on everything like that and escape? It all goes a bit wrong when she stumbles across a dead body on her first night there.

I loved the way that Sadie meets up with and befriends a group of women who all live in their campervans. Not only does she have a whole group of women she can rely on, but they work together to solve the mystery. I loved that. 

This is the first book in the series and I'm looking forward to seeing what's next for Sadie and her friends. 

Murder at the Cornish Book Club - Fliss Chester

 Join Maddie Penrose, scone baker, book lover and amateur sleuth, in her new home by the Cornish seaside. A member of her local book club has been murdered, and she’s on the case!

Maddie Penrose is settling into Cornish life with her fun and feisty grandmother, Nor. She throws herself into getting to know the locals, helping out at the village book club and enjoying the occasional G&T in the pub with handsome police officer DI Tom Trevelyan. But one sunny morning, her newfound peace is shattered when she spots Quentin, a member of the book club… dead, with a knife in his back.

To Maddie’s surprise, it transpires that almost all the other members of the book club have a motive to murder Quentin. Quentin’s own wife, a fellow reader, seems to be hiding something. The local romance author isn’t all sweetness and light, and another writer is keeping secrets. But is one of the book lovers in the sleepy seaside village really responsible for Quentin’s untimely death?

No sooner has the ink dried on the page of the first killing, another takes place – and the second victim is also a member of the book club! As Maddie frantically scrambles to get her clues down in black and white, she unearths a discovery connected to Nor. Is her gran the next victim on the list?

Can Maddie rescue Nor before her story ends in murder too? Or will the killer have the last word?

My Review

This may only be the second in the Maddie Penrose series, but I already feel as though we know Maddie, her gran and 'her' policeman quite well. This is a great series, set in beautiful Cornwall. Maddie herself is both intuitive and chaotic, and that adds to her charm and likability.

This time, Maddie finds herself thrown into another murder investigation after the discovery of a body at a dawn swim. It seems that many people have reason to want the dead man out of the way, but it's not immediately obvious if any of them would want it enough to actually commit murder.

I love Maddie's less-than-perfect approach to trying to figure out what happened. She scribbles notes in her grandmother's recipe books in a way that I'm sure only she might be able to make sense of them.

This is a great series, and I'm looking forward to finding out what might be next for this cook and amateur sleuth.

The Book Club Murders - Maggie Allswell

What Judy’s book club doesn’t know about murder mysteries isn’t worth writing about. Nothing beats cracking a fictional case over some wine and salt and vinegar crisps. But can they put their puzzle-solving skills to the test when the local librarian dies in a real-life murder?

For widower Judy, her murder book club is the highlight of the she gets to hear all the local gossip and even discuss a good fictitious poisoning or two. But when local librarian Wendy disappears, Judy follows in the footsteps of her fictional detective heroes only to find her dead in her home, clasping a copy of Romeo and Juliet…

The police rule it a tragic accident, but Judy knows that her friend hated Shakespeare, and suspects foul play. Gathering her fellow book lovers together, soon they discover that several townspeople had motive to want Wendy dead. Was it Nigel from the tavern, who may have been Wendy’s secret boyfriend? Or could it be Bryan, the local bookshop owner, tangled in a bitter rivalry with the library?

The plot thickens at a charity murder mystery night held at Nigel’s tavern. Suddenly more murders come to light, both real and very badly staged. And when Nigel makes an astonishing revelation, the book club agree it’s a plot twist no-one saw coming. Can Judy and her book club solve the mystery before they too fall victim to a killer plot?

My Review

Murder with a Side of Grits - Skylar Warren

Welcome to Honeybee’s diner, where the scent of butter and garlic wraps itself around you, thick and comforting. Jessie Haynes’ homestyle cooking feeds the hearts and souls of the good people of Willow Bluff. Until someone puts murder on the menu!

Y’all are invited to dig into a steamin’ plate of meatloaf. The diner’s well-worn red chairs have cradled folks from every corner of Willow Bluff—Jessie’s podcasting bestie, Tee, Old Mr Higgins, two mighty mischievous kittens, Biscuits and Gravy, and every tattling townsperson in between—so when the mayor turns blue after a bite of Jessie’s famous shrimp and grits, she finds herself in seriously hot water…

Suddenly, all eyes are swivelled toward Jessie. For fifty years her family has fed Willow Bluff, and Jessie won’t let one mouthful shatter the legacy of her grandmother’s secret recipes. The mayor’s peanut allergy was the talk of the town, so when traces are found in his food, Jessie must fight to clear her name.

An empty peanut packet in the diner’s pantry has Jessie and Tee hot on the heels of the murderer when another case of food tampering occurs at a nearby bakery. Someone is dishing out delicious death sentences—but how many locals will get served before Jessie can crack the case? Her investigation must be a recipe for success or Honeybee’s will be toast…

This unputdownable and addictive cozy mystery is full of Southern charm, a gripping whodunnit and a feisty amateur sleuth. It’s perfect for fans of Ellery Adams, R. L. Killmore and Joanne Fluke.

My Review

I've rounded this one up from 3 and a half stars. The main reason for this is that the book is very much a story of two halves. The first half drags. Nothing happens, or at least things do happen, but it gets buried in all of the filler. I was seriously considering giving up, but once I hit the 50% mark, the story picked up hugely, and things moved along at a much faster pace.

I think part of the slowness is down to the continual food references and descriptions. I think the only books I have read that come close to the amount of food talk would be the Famous Five with their lashings of ginger beer and picnics galore, partly excused by them being written at a time of rationing. Of course, not being familiar with the foods doesn't help. Grits? I'm not sure anything could sound less appetising, based on the name at least.

Once the sleuthing was properly underway, I enjoyed this cosy mystery. The reveal made sense, and I enjoyed that part of it. I think if I were to read another in the series, I'd need a little less padding and a bit faster pace.

Playing for Keeps - Bella North

It’s all fun and games until fake starts to feel like forever…

My life revolves around two things: football and family. Romance? Not so much. But my fans have other ideas. And they’ve turned my easy-going life into a nightmare with their campaign to find me a wife…

My childhood best friend Serena thinks it’s hilarious. She’s always wanted the big, swoony love story, but instead, she has a controlling ex she can’t shake breathing down her neck. And then the solution to both our problems hits me: a fake romance. ‘Settling down’ with Serena will get the fans off my back, and having a muscly football player on her arm should be enough to warn off her ex. Plus, we’re best friends, so what could go wrong?

Our first date is set for the city’s annual charity ball. I’m smug as I imagine how easy my life will be after tonight. Except, when my lips touch Serena’s in front of the flashing cameras, when I hear her soft sigh as I dip her lower, something like panic creeps through my chest. I’m not meant for love—letting people down runs in my genes. I can’t do that to Serena. I won’t.

As the story we’re spinning gets bigger, so do the feelings I’ve worked so hard to chase away. We want completely different things. But I can’t stop wondering: do we both want the one thing that counts—each other?

Playing for Keeps is a fun, steamy, friends-to-lovers sports romance, perfect for fans of Liz Tomforde, Stephanie Archer and Elsie Silver. The third in the Oakwood Ranch series, it can also be read as a standalone.

My Review

I love a good fake dating storyline. We all know where they're really going, and usually they are quite far-fetched, but they are still enormous fun. This time around, there was at least some reason behind the fake dating idea, and it worked really well. It probably helped that one of my other favourite romance genres is Friends to Lovers, and Playing for Keeps fits that as well.

Serena has been in love with Chase for years, but after he made it clear they were just friends, she's been determined not to step outside that role. When they start to fake date, her feelings all come rushing to the surface, and she's not the only one who is affected in that way.
This was a really fun read, and although there are some weighty issues for both Chase and Serena to deal with, it's still quite lighthearted and enjoyable. I really liked these two as a couple, and although they have been friends for years, best friends at that, there was still plenty to discover about one another.

I'm enjoying this Oakwood Ranch series. I'm hoping there's another one coming soon (I know who I think it might be about too), but we'll have to wait and see if that actually eventuates...

A Body at the Irish Book Club - Lucy Connelly

The Shamrock Cove Autumn Festival is filling the town with the delicious aroma of cinnamon-filled pastries, the cheerful sight of jaunty jack o’lanterns and… a body at the local book club

Mercy McCarthy is delighted to see old neighbors and new friends come to the bookstore to support her sister’s autumn book club. But as Mercy closes the chapter on the evening, she stumbles across local grandmother Eva, lifelessly slumped in a squashy armchair at the back of the store.

She recognizes Eva as one of the festival’s main organizers and though she looks to be at peace, the plot thickens when Mercy notices a suspicious mark on her neck. She knows this was no accident. With so many people in the store that night, any one of them could be the killer.

Just as Mercy reads a suspicious-sounding entry for the festival’s fiction-writing contest, another body turns up on the beach. Is someone in Shamrock Cove dying for a bestseller?

It’s up to Mercy and her crime-solving canine companion Mr. Poe to sniff out the suspects before another victim is taken. Could the murderer be the garden center owner who dabbles in chemistry? Eva’s ne’er-do-well grandson-in-law? Or the local busybody who has an opinion about everybody?

Mercy has to hit the books—and the streets of Shamrock Cove—to solve the mystery before the killer has the last word.

An utterly addictive Irish cozy mystery in a small town full of quirky neighbors, charming festivals and one unstoppable amateur detective. Fans of Agatha Christie, Carlene O’Connor and Faith Martin will love meeting Mercy McCarthy!

My Review

Of all the places you might think that you're unlikely to be murdered, I would think that a book club, in a book shop, would have to be up there. Of course, if it's the book shop that Mercy McCarthy and her sister run, then you might think differently, as she seems to have a habit of stumbling across the recently deceased. Fortunately, she also seems to have made a habit of solving the crimes and getting to the bottom of who might be behind the murders.

I think my solving rate is pretty hit and miss in this series. I had no clue this time, although I'm sure I've had better success in the past. There were plenty of clues and hints here, but I didn't manage to pick all of them up.

I really enjoy this series; there is a nice cast of supporting characters, and as Mercy starts to get even closer to local law enforcement and her sister even shows signs of having her broken heart mended, I'm enjoying the way that these stories develop. I'm sure it won't be long before we're back for another murder, and I, for one, am looking forward to reading all about it.

The Fatal Flotilla at Sea Oats Beach - Karen C.Whalen

 If you are looking for a quirky amateur sleuth with a knack for comedy, The Fatal Flotilla at Sea Oats Beach is right for you. This mystery is filled with laughs, twists, and an unforgettable lead character.

The dazzling lights of the Christmas Flotilla shimmer across Sea Oats Beach, transforming the December night into a twinkling wonderland. But for Breanna Hart, the brilliance dims when she discovers a gunshot fatality on an abandoned boat. The victim, known for his generosity in the animal welfare community, seems an unlikely target, making the suspicion cast upon one of Bree’s own neighbors all the more perplexing.

Driven by a connection to the victim’s love for animals and her own pursuit of truth, Bree begins a fact-finding mission. As an animal shelter volunteer, she sees a chance not only to solve the case but also to help a bloodhound named Tracker. If he can pick up overlooked clues, Bree hopes the police will train him as a K-9 detection dog and give him the forever home he deserves.

As Christmas Day approaches, Bree’s holiday plans compete with her investigation. Every question she asks edges her closer to a vicious killer who is definitely not feeling the holiday vibe.

My Review

Who doesn't love a good cosy mystery? The Fatal Flotilla certainly fits into that category. Our heroine, Bree, might not intend to be a sleuth, but when she finds a body on board a seemingly abandoned boat, she can't help but try to figure out what had happened.

One of the joys of this kind of story is trying to figure out whodunnit yourself. This time around I was completely barking up the wrong tree. I'd convinced myself that there were clues throughout the story that pointed to one particular person; to be fair, there were, but I just picked up the wrong clues and the wrong person. That didn't stop me from really enjoying this read, though.

This is the second book I've read in the Sea Oats Beach mystery series, and I'm sure that it won't be the last. I'm really enjoying them and look forward to reading more in the future.

A Country Meadow Murder - Katie Gayle

Julia loves donning her gardening gloves for the first blooms of spring. But when out working in the local wildflower meadow, she does not expect to find a dead body…!

Spring has come to Berrywick, and Julia Bird is determined to enjoy the fine weather. But not all life is in flower when she stumbles across the body of building expert Basil Crow next to a bright yellow digger. And Julia believes this is no accident.

Julia’s suspicions are confirmed when forensics report a brutal blow to the head. Julia soon learns from pie shop owner, and Basil’s first wife Delilah, that he was not widely liked and left behind three failed marriages. Could one of his ex-wives have wanted revenge? Julia’s friend Tabitha was in a neighbourly dispute with him after he blocked her car in her driveway. But is this motive enough to kill?

Then local choir singer Esmeralda is found dead in the woods. The police think the murders are unconnected. Unlike Basil, Esmeralda was a well-loved soul. Who would want her dead? Digging for clues, Julia realises that both victims had a link to the proposed redevelopment of the meadow Basil was found in. But would someone really kill to save it? Can Julia find the murderer before someone else is pushing up the daisies?

A page-turning and totally charming cozy mystery set in the English countryside. Fans of M.C. Beaton, Faith Martin and Betty Rowlands will love the Julia Bird Mysteries!

My Review

I can't believe that we're up to book nine in this series. You would think that by this stage it might have started to drag and get a bit same-y, but it hasn't. Yes, this is a classic style murder mystery, so you are always going to get a level of, not predictability exactly, but it does conform to the style. Still, each one is new in its own way and makes for a really enjoyable read.

This time, Julia finds yet another body, this one connected to the development of a nearby meadow, which is being dug up and turned into a shopping centre. It might seem obvious that some people might object to that, even going as far as murder, but there seems to be more to it than that.

I really enjoyed this latest instalment. I didn't quite manage to solve it before Julia, but I was heading in the right direction. I love this series and can't wait to return to Berrywick again soon.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.