Thursday, April 17, 2025

My Review for The Enemy by Sarah Adams, read by Connie Shabshab and Will Damon


When feuding becomes loving.

I listened to The Enemy immediately after finishing The Match, and enjoyed it almost as much - if only there had been another dog! Evie and Charlie do make the odd appearance, but this one is all about the enemies to lovers story of June and Ryan. After their last meeting, twelve years ago, June is convinced that she hates Ryan, but of course, deep down, she wants the one kiss they experienced together to make another appearance - twelve years later!

The back-and-forth bickering between the two is a fun narrative, there were lots of laugh-out-loud moments, and many more when I just wanted to bang their heads together and lock them in a room! The narrators did a great job with the two main characters, I just love a dual narration, and of course we get our happily ever after - did you expect anything else?

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and Libro FM for the opportunity to listen to and review The Enemy by Sarah Adams.

About the Book

Enemies should never get a second chance. But this one might...

It’s been twelve years since I’ve seen him. Twelve years since he won our war of wits by outsmarting me with a tactic I didn’t even know was allowed. But tonight…I resurrect the battle.

Ryan Henderson is back in town for our best friends’ wedding, and I plan on showing him exactly how much I don’t care about him—or the almost kiss he ruthlessly dangled over me after graduation. A lot has changed since our feuding days. I'm a successful bakery owner now, and I plan to rub every delicious detail of my life in his ugly face. Just one problem: his face is gorgeous. He wasn’t supposed to look like this or pursue me like a sexy guided missile. I must stay strong until the wedding is over and Ryan scurries back into whatever alternate universe he escaped from. His interest in me is nothing but a continuation of the games we played in high school...right?

But the longer he stays, the more I wonder if I’m wrong and his tender smile and heated attentions are genuine. Maybe it’s not a game. Ha! Who am I kidding? This is Ryan we’re talking about. Of course it’s a game. A game called war. And this time, I will win.



About Sarah

Born and raised in Nashville TN, Sarah Adams loves her family, warm days, and making people smile. 

Sarah has dreamed of being a writer since she was a girl, but finally wrote her first novel when her daughters were napping and she no longer had any excuses to put it off. 

Sarah is a coffee addict, a British history nerd, a mom of two daughters, married to her best friend, and an indecisive introvert. Her hope is to always write stories that make you laugh, maybe even cry; but always leave you happier than when you started reading.





Wednesday, April 16, 2025

My Review for How to Fix a Broken Heart by Nicola May

Loved, loved, loved this! 

As I turned the last page, I felt a warm glow, along with the Pretty Woman and Notting Hill vibes. 🥰 Once again I’ve fallen in love with a Nicola May book, and once again she’s blown me away with her sensitivity to a difficult subject. Gracie’s heartbreak is overwhelming at times, but I loved, that along with friends and family, she begins to comes to terms with what’s happened to her and finds away to help the local community with similar stories. 

Leo was awesome, I adored him, his kindness and generosity were just what Gracie needed at a time when her self-esteem was rock bottom and her feelings were all awry. 

There are some very heavy subjects covered in Nicola’s new book, so please, please check the trigger warnings. Personally, I felt that she managed to cover them in a lighthearted yet sympathetic and empathetic manner, whilst creating that hug in a book that the author is so good at. 

Thank you to Storm Publishing and Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review How to Fix a Broken Heart by Nicola May.

About the Book

Gracie Davies is at an all-time low. After a devastating loss, the last thing she needs is a colleague hinting over coffee that it’s time to lose her baby weight. Then her boyfriend betrays her, and her world totally falls apart.

Rebuilding her life from scratch – with the support of her free-spirited sister, an unorthodox therapist, and a feisty new friend – Gracie finally begins to get her mojo back. Add in a passionate fling with handsome landscaper Ed, a fairytale encounter with a Hollywood film star and the persistence of her adulterous ex, and life is anything but predictable…

Soon she finds that community, purpose, and perhaps even new love might be the perfect prescription for a broken heart.

But can a heart that’s been so utterly shattered ever trust again?

About Nicola

Nicola May is a bestselling author renowned for her heartwarming and humorous romantic comedies. With eighteen books to her name, her work has captured readers' hearts around the world, has been translated into fifteen languages and consistently ranks in the top 100 of Amazon's Kindle bestseller charts. As a self-published author, she achieved the remarkable feat of reaching number one on Amazon twice, and has been a strong advocate for indie authors, pushing for a dedicated chart for them in The Bookseller magazine. Now signed to Storm Publishing, Nicola continues to write heartfelt rom-coms with her signature blend of warmth and wit. 

When she’s not writing, she enjoys cream teas in her beloved Devon, hikes through nature, and occasionally places a bet on the horses.



















Tuesday, April 15, 2025

My Review for The Match by Sarah Adams, read by Rusty Mewha and Leanne Woodward


Gorgeous dogs and hot, single men!

I adored this book from beginning to end. Evie and Charlie together, wrapped me up in a big warm hug and then Sam and Daisy did it all over again. I loved that Evie was helping to train service dogs and to help others be able to keep their independence. 

It very definitely isn't love at first sight for Evie and Jacob, but slowly and surely they wear each other down, and with a little bit of cajoling from Sam, of course we get our happy ever after.

The audiobook narration was brilliant. Rusty Mewha and Leanne Woodward complemented each other well and an audiobook with great narrators makes for an even better story.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and Libro FM for the opportunity to listen to and review The Match by Sarah Adams.

About the Book

Sometimes love finds you when you least expect it.

Evie Jones has dedicated her life and very limited funds working for Southern Service Paws, the company that matched her with the love of her life: Charlie, a service dog trained to assist with her epilepsy. But it’s no secret that the company has been struggling to make ends meet. It’s up to her and her longtime mentor and boss to throw the fundraiser of the century to keep the doors open.

Then, Evie meets Jacob Broaden at a client consultation meeting. There are instant sparks—but not the good kind, because Jacob’s daughter set up the meeting without his knowledge. Ten-year-old Sam has been recently diagnosed with epilepsy and has wanted a service animal ever since. While he has hesitations at first, it doesn’t take long for Jacob to be convinced that a service dog and possibly Evie, with her magical, woodland-green eyes, might just be the best thing for him and his daughter.

As Evie spends more time with Jacob and helps Sam find her perfect match with a lovable golden retriever named Daisy, she starts longing for something she’s never had before—a loving family. For Jacob, falling in love with Evie is the last thing he should be doing, but love has a way of finding those who need it most.


About Sarah

Born and raised in Nashville TN, Sarah Adams loves her family, warm days, and making people smile. 

Sarah has dreamed of being a writer since she was a girl, but finally wrote her first novel when her daughters were napping and she no longer had any excuses to put it off. 

Sarah is a coffee addict, a British history nerd, a mom of two daughters, married to her best friend, and an indecisive introvert. Her hope is to always write stories that make you laugh, maybe even cry; but always leave you happier than when you started reading.




Monday, April 14, 2025

My Review for Deep End by Ali Hazelwood read by Therese Plummer and Ben Holtzmuller


Another first and another winner.

Once again, I'm late to the party and this is my first Ali Hazelwood book. Listening on a beautiful spring day, whilst pottering in the garden, I had no idea what to expect. I never read the blurb, I had no idea what level of spice 🌶 to expect, I just knew that lots of people love Ali Hazelwood and here was my opportunity to join them. 

I loved the diving side story, I'm in awe of watching divers on TV, they have so much skill, it's incredible. Listening to how Scarlett overcame her injury and her blocker on the dive that caused it had me hooked. Lukas was a very welcome addition to Scarlett's life and as she gradually opens up to him, and him to her, the whole relationship made me all gooey inside! 

This wasn't as spicy as I was expecting, after I'd listened to the disclaimer at the beginning, but it fitted into the story nicely, as both Scarlett and Lukas began to trust and support each other as time went on - both in and out of the bedroom.

I love an audiobook with different narrators for the male and female main characters, and both Therese and Ben did an awesome job with Scarlett and Lukas. I will definitely be adding more of Ali's book to my TBR, and any recommendations are welcome. 

Thank you to PRH Audio and Libro FM for the opportunity to listen to and review Deep End by Ali Hazelwood.


About the Book

Scarlett Vandermeer is swimming upstream. A Junior at Stanford and a student-athlete who specializes in platform diving, Scarlett prefers to keep her head down, concentrating on getting into med school and on recovering from the injury that almost ended her career. She has no time for relationships—at least, that’s what she tells herself.

Swim captain, world champion, all-around aquatics golden boy, Lukas Blomqvist thrives on discipline. It’s how he wins gold medals and breaks records: complete focus, with every stroke. On the surface, Lukas and Scarlett have nothing in common. Until a well-guarded secret slips out, and everything changes.

So they start an arrangement. And as the pressure leading to the Olympics heats up, so does their relationship. It was supposed to be just a temporary, mutually satisfying fling. But when staying away from Lukas becomes impossible, Scarlett realizes that her heart might be treading into dangerous water.


About Ali - by Ali

I’m originally from Italy, lived in Japan and Germany, and eventually moved to the US to pursue a Ph.D. in Neuroscience. I was a professor for about three years, but in 2022 I quit to write full time. When I’m not writing you can find me prowling around AO3, binge-watching shows with my three feline overlords (and my almost equally feline husband), crocheting, or eating candy.

(The name of the dog in the picture is Chica; she is not mine, but I wish she were. Love to Chandra Wicke for the photo, and to Barbara for introducing me to my new bestie.)








Wednesday, April 9, 2025

My Review for Truly, Madly, Magically by Hazel Beck, read by Natalie Duke

Who doesn't love a witchy book!

How did I not know until I came to write this review - ashamedly I listened to this at the end of September 2024, and I am only now just getting around to the review 🙈 - that it is number three in a series?! Never mind though, I think it can definitely be read as a standalone. I guess you would get the backstory of some of the other characters if you'd read the others, but it didn't take away my enjoyment of the story.

Ellowyn and Xander are the witches who are gonna kick ass, and whether they want to or not, overturning the Joywood coven is next on the list. I loved these two. I loved that they were sworn enemies for 364 days a year, but on just the one day, they get together to scratch the itch! 

This is full of witchy vibes, magic, and great characters. I am adding the others to my TBR right now and checking when the fourth book is out.

Thank you to Harlequin Audio and Libro FM for the opportunity to listen to and review Truly, Madly, Magically by Hazel Beck.


About the Book

A witch cursed to tell the truth, and the man who won’t let her lie to herself anymore… 

Cursed by her own mother to always tell the truth and one of the only half-witches around, Ellowyn Good has never considered herself an equal part of the Riverwood coven. But when the evil ruling coven of the witching world targets her directly, she begins to wonder why they want her gone. 

She’ll need to work with her newly formed coven to survive, which includes dealing with her first love, past wreckage and a whole new complication she didn’t see coming. With their fates in the balance, Ellowyn will have to learn to trust Zander again—or be doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past. Assuming they all survive the Joywood’s latest bid for absolute power over the witching world…


About Hazel

Hazel Beck is the USA TODAY bestselling magical partnership of a river witch and an earth witch. Together they have collected two husbands, three familiars, two children, five degrees, and written around 250 books. As one, their books will delight with breathtaking magic, emotional romance, and stories of witches you won’t soon forget.





Tuesday, April 8, 2025

My Review for Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey, read by Callie Dalton and Teddy Hamilton



A book of firsts for me...

My first ever Tessa Bailey book and my first ever hockey romance!

Teddy Hamilton, aka Xaden Riorson reads the part of Sig Gauthier in Dream Girl Drama, and no, I didn't know this before I started listening, but hey, who doesn't want a bit of Xaden's voice, even if this time he's a professional hockey player and there are absolutely no dragons involved!

I didn't like Chloe at the beginning, was I supposed to? I'm not sure. She grew on me, though. Just as the story progressed and Chloe learned how to be an adult, I began to like her more and more. She was hilarious, growing up, she lived a very privileged life and when she started to find her own way in the world and found out she needed to do her own laundry - that had me laughing out loud!

I enjoyed the air of mystery surrounding whether Sig and Chloe's relationship would be allowed to happen, and I was second-guessing what might happen to allow it to continue.

I'll definitely be reading more Tessa Bailey books. I'm off to add some to my TBR. 

Thank you to Harper Audio and Libro FM for the opportunity to listen to and review Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey.

About the Book

When professional hockey player Sig Gauthier’s car breaks down and his phone dies, he treks into a posh private country club to call a tow truck, where he encounters the alluring Chloe Clifford, the manic pixie dream girl who captivates him immediately with her sense of adventure and penchant for stealing champagne.

Sparks fly during a moonlight kiss and the enamored pair can’t wait to see each other again, but when Sig finally arrives to meet his dad’s new girlfriend over dinner, Chloe is confusingly also there. Turns out the girlfriend is Chloe’s mother. Oh, and they’re engaged.

Sig’s dream girl is his future stepsister.

Though the pair is now wary of being involved romantically, Chloe, a sheltered harp prodigy, yearns to escape her controlling mother. Sig promises to teach her the ins and outs of independence in Boston—but not inside his bedroom. They both know there can never be more than friendship between a famous hockey player and his high-society, soon-to-be stepsister. But keeping their relationship platonic grows harder amid the developing family drama, especially knowing they were meant for so much more…


About Tessa

New York Times Bestselling author Tessa Bailey can solve all problems except for her own, so she focuses those efforts on stubborn, fictional blue collar men and loyal, lovable heroines. She lives on Long Island avoiding the sun and social interactions, then wonders why no one has called. Dubbed the “Michelangelo of dirty talk,” by Entertainment Weekly, Tessa writes with spice, spirit, swoon and a guaranteed happily ever after. Catch her on TikTok at @authortessabailey or check out tessabailey.com for a complete list of books.





Monday, April 7, 2025

My Review for It's Getting Hot in Here by Jane Costello, read by Marisa Calin



So relatable to women of a certain age!

Lisa Darling has lists, and on these lists are things that just get postponed from day, to day, to day. I have lists, and on these lists are things that just get postponed from day, to day, to day! 🤣 I think it's a peri-menopause/menopause thing! We've only recently fallen down the Grey's Anatomy rabbit hole, so I smiled at the McDreamy references in relation to Zach!

I loved It's Getting Hot in Here by Jane Costello, it's full of humour, fun and sarcasm and the protagonist is a similar age to me. I didn't relate to some of the stuff Lisa was going through, but a lot of it I did. I laughed out loud every time she moved 'descale the kettle' to the next day! The whole book is a story of growth and self-development, for all the characters to be honest, but especially for Lisa and her eldest son Leo - the stroppy teenager! 

Marisa Calin as the narrator did an amazing job, reading the book, throwing her heart into the story and bringing the characters to life. 

Thank you to Zibby Publishing and Libro FM for the opportunity to listen to and review It's Getting Hot in Here by Jane Costello.

About the Book

HER HOT FLUSHES MUST BE THE PERI-MENOPAUSE. THEY SURELY COULDN'T BE ... LOVE? Lisa Darling - high-flying TV-exec and twice-divorced mother-of-two - has enough on her plate without having to deal with the handsome New Yorker parachuted in to her best friend's job at work.She's already navigating life with a grotty teenage son, organising a PTA cheese & wine event, supporting her oldest friend through breast cancer treatment and, since she hit 47, facing a new perimenopause symptom every day. It's no wonder she never has time for Pilates or that DIY panelling she keeps seeing on Instagram (though she'd be the first to admit she'd rather share a bottle of wine with her friends any day).So when Lisa starts feeling overheated every time she clashes with Zach Russo, she convinces herself it will pass. Maybe her HRT just needs adjusting. Until, that is, she finds herself in a sexy - and seriously ill-advised - clinch with him. And then another . .All of which leads to one these long-forgotten feelings couldn't be caused by something else entirely . . . could they? 


About Jane - by Jane

I write romantic comedy books that celebrate all that’s great about midlife - and make you laugh about anything that isn’t. 

I’m the Sunday Times bestselling author of 15 novels, five of which were published under the name ‘Catherine Isaac’. 

My new book, IT’S GETTING HOT IN HERE, is a spicy rom com about a 40-something TV exec and mum-of-two navigating perimenopause, a moody teenager, the to-do list from hell . . . and some delightfully steamy thoughts about a handsome new colleague at work.

My novels have been translated into 26 languages, selected by the Richard & Judy Book Club and I’ve been honoured to win a Romantic Novelists’ Award - twice! 

I was born in Liverpool, where I still live with my husband and three sons. When I’m not writing, you’ll usually find me on the tennis court, wishing I’d started to play about 25 years before I did.