Leaving the book without rating as I hated the narration so much that I could hardly wait to finish it. The story was kind of ok, I think, but I simplLeaving the book without rating as I hated the narration so much that I could hardly wait to finish it. The story was kind of ok, I think, but I simply could not detach it from the fake, breathy, high-pitched, saccharine voice that sounded like the narrator was speaking through her nose and that made me want to gauge my eyes out.
Trying to find sth positive about it: the cover is cute, it's currently included for free in the Audible(com) Plus catalogue....more
A Cinderella-retelling with some interesting twists, some boring tropes (clumsy-shy-teenage-girl & stuff) & a rather annoying ending. I can see that tA Cinderella-retelling with some interesting twists, some boring tropes (clumsy-shy-teenage-girl & stuff) & a rather annoying ending. I can see that the show goes on for another 2 books, but I'm not invested enough in the MCs to go on right away .... or ever. We shall see.
3,25 stars for this better-than-the-average & better-than-expected chick-lit/romance.
This was a kindle freebie which I downloaded & then promptly forg3,25 stars for this better-than-the-average & better-than-expected chick-lit/romance.
This was a kindle freebie which I downloaded & then promptly forgot about it until a few days ago.
I did not have great expectations, especially as I hadn't fared well with this genre for a while (growing old or what?) so I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book.
The story as you can see from the blurb, is rather trite: Chloe Cassidy, wedding planner, is jilted at the altar, on her BIG DAY. The bad news - which she, understandably, takes very badly- is delivered by the best man, who also has to bear her fury: "...a man who everyone thought she’d tried to disembowel with white roses, silver pine cones and a delicate but not overpowering smattering of heather." Of course this affects not only her personal life, but also her business. She's trying to get back on her feet and make something of the business which she runs with her mother and widowed younger sister, when the aforementioned best man gets back to town and they are thrown into each other's path again...
Despite the run-of-the-mill plot, this story has more humour and yet more depth to it than most, though sometimes it gets a bit more convoluted than strictly necessary. It is refreshingly down-to-earth with imperfect, but perfectly likeable characters and it handles some more serious topics -like loss of loved ones through death- with feeling & understanding but without dragging you down too much.
There are some steamy, explicit sex scenes involved, so not recommended for clean-romance fans....more
Can you drown in coziness & fluffiness? Apparently, you can. Maybe I am just getting too old for this chick-lit type of romance, but I found it repetitCan you drown in coziness & fluffiness? Apparently, you can. Maybe I am just getting too old for this chick-lit type of romance, but I found it repetitive & boring. Clearly, I am in the minority with my rating, but no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't like this book.
Full review to come.
ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review....more
YES, NAILED IT with the title. The book really tells us how we should avoid marrying dukes, or marrying anyone, I should say.
Major grievances shortly lYES, NAILED IT with the title. The book really tells us how we should avoid marrying dukes, or marrying anyone, I should say.
Major grievances shortly listed: - the MCs are totally unlikable, - Every character is a walking cliché - stuffed with overused, boring and/or annoying tropes.
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Major grievances in more details:
First of all, I am always highly suspicious of heroines that need to be surrounded by totally nasty characters in order to become amiable in the slightest. Because, let's face it, Gemma -all by herself- IS very unappealing, or rather, off-putting. She is petty, childish and judgmental. Her strong point should be that she is "ONE OF US", as she is from a working-class background. But being from any kind of background is neither a sin, nor a virtue: it's a state and it depends on you what you do with it. Gemma behaves the same way the Toffs, she so much seems to dislike, do: she thinks she is better because of her background. Her behaviour throughout the book is OTT tiring and as to what she does at the end (view spoiler)[hides the fact that she is pregnant from Ashford and then gives birth in secret because she thinks A. cheated on her! (hide spoiler)]I was like, OH PUR-LEASE, just grow up!
Ashford: well...what can I say. He should really grow a pair and start acting like a grown-up towards his mother and his wife as well.
Arc received from the Publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review....more
Colour me disappointed! I kept waiting for my inner Disney-princess to emerge on reading this, but only a cynical eyeroller surfaced who was not very Colour me disappointed! I kept waiting for my inner Disney-princess to emerge on reading this, but only a cynical eyeroller surfaced who was not very happy about having to finish this.
I like chick-lit: there's nothing more relaxing after a hard day/week that leaves you braindead than some rush of literary candy. However, there is a general benchmark for me in rating these books: the harder you have to work on suspending disbelief, the weaker the story/writing is.
I was ready to be entertained and swept up by this book and to disregard the fact that it felt very much like it was a quick hop on the royal-weddings-bandwagon, but instead of entertainment only boredom came.
It was like watching a low-budget romcom film on TV, where the actors were cutsey-ish, but kept repeating their lines without conviction or emotion and you just couldn't get into their stories because there was not much behind.
The awkward situations the MC constantly got into were more irritating than funny and her blatant naivety (a totally weak excuse to keep the story going) was very disturbing considering she was supposed to be a spot-on, intelligent journalist....more
ARC received by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Relaxing & laugh-out-loud 3,75 stars.
I did not quite like this book by Kat French as much aARC received by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Relaxing & laugh-out-loud 3,75 stars.
I did not quite like this book by Kat French as much as The Bed and Breakfast on the Beach, but it was still very entertaining and if you are looking for a light beach-read, this may be a great choice.
There were a few things I was dissatisfied with -like the insta-love and a rather abrupt ending with a few loose ends fluttering around- but the positive outweighs the negative issue nevertheless.
If you read the blurb, you won't be in for any big surprises, but this book is not a mystery after all even though it has a bit of a flirt with that genre, but in the end it just reverts back to where it belongs: romance/chick-lit.
Tilly Tennant displays her usual knack for characterisation, which goes deeper than you'd expect from the chick-lit genre. As in her earlier book, A Cosy Candlelit Christmas: A wonderfully festive feel good romance: Volume 2, I found her secondary characters much more interesting and vivid than the rather bland MCs. They were what kept me intrigued & reading on.
This is one of those instances, where I really wish GR introduced the half-star rating.
It is certainly better than 2 stars, but I feel it does not desThis is one of those instances, where I really wish GR introduced the half-star rating.
It is certainly better than 2 stars, but I feel it does not deserve a clean 3 stars for a rather pleasant and light, but all in all too banal story.
This was my first book by Sarah Bennett and I requested the ARC partly because a lot of my GR friends praised her "Butterfly Cove"-series and partly because of the cute cover/story setting. I mean: pretty, little seaside town, in serious need of a makeover?? Yess, totally my kind of story, bring it on!! However, I found the book rather underwhelming and the MC, Beth, seriously frustrating. It is one thing when the heroine starts out as a kind of doormat and self-doubting person in the beginning as long as there is some noticeable character development by the end. I did not really feel this happened here especially as almost before the very end we are delivered the possibly most hackneyed trope of chick-lit ever (view spoiler)[Beth bolts from town on the verge of finding her happy ending for totally stupid reasons (hide spoiler)] just to add extra pages and some fake drama. Overall it did not improve the stock-romance between a boy-and-girl-next door and left me with a feeling of annoyance.
I am not tempted to go on reading the upcoming book in the series.
ARC received from the Publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review....more
I usually fall for these cute covers & enjoy this kind of MC-leaves-everything-behind-to-start-afresh-in-the-country set-up, but this particular book I usually fall for these cute covers & enjoy this kind of MC-leaves-everything-behind-to-start-afresh-in-the-country set-up, but this particular book failed to appeal to me on any level.
The false mysteriousness of the MC, Caroline, was not only over the top ridiculous (clearly this was not going to be a Mata Hari/Poison Ivy kind of story), but also kept me totally disconnected from her.
The chemistry bw Caroline and her love interest was zero: there was a tired routine & monotonness to both their one-night stand attraction as well as their "HEA". So it was in total detachment I struggled through the pages and my only emotion was one of relief as I finally finished.
Arc provided by the Publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review....more
Although it is far from perfect - the constant rattle about the failed rel4 stars on my Grinch-O-Meter
A truly Christmassy, Comfy-Cosy, Feel-good Book
Although it is far from perfect - the constant rattle about the failed relationship of the heroine & her ex is as clichéd as you can get - but the enjoyment/satisfaction factor is so high that I am mostly willing to overlook it.
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I haven't got the faintest idea about knitting, but Alexandra Brown totally roped me in with this book. Also, I appreciate the fact that there IS a plot and it is not too romance-heavy (also, clean), but appropriately "Christmas-heavy" with all the tinsel, mulled-wine and mince pies you can desire. :)
It is literally about a close-knit community tied in with a heart-warming makeover story; a nic, understated romance, great characters and a perfect Christmas setting with all necessary ingredients like logfire, picture-postcard village, snow, Christmas pantomime, cakes, adorable dogs, rustic villagers ..... and what-have-you. ...more
Cover's pretty irresistible and so is the story with chocolate, Christmas, self-discovery and love.
Serena has been married to famous rock-star RitchieCover's pretty irresistible and so is the story with chocolate, Christmas, self-discovery and love.
Serena has been married to famous rock-star Ritchie for a decade and stuck to her marriage vows through thick and thin, but there just comes a time when she thinks she cannot take it any longer. It is not because Ritchie has cheated on her or treats her badly in any way, but because of the walls he created around himself: he wouldn't let anyone in there, not even his wife. He does not want children, he does not do family gatherings and does not want Serena to do anything but always be there for him. But in between the life of luxury and playing "Main Groupie" to her husband, Serena has lost herself and realises that as much as she loves Ritchie, she will suffocate if she continues this way. While Ritchie is away on tour, she ups and leaves their home in Malibu to go back to her home village in Devon, England.
So the pre-Christmas season and Ritchie -who is determined to take her back to the life he thinks she belongs- find Serena in her small, cosy chocolate-shop preparing for the Grand Opening in the small village.
Ritchie thinks Serena -as usual- will not be able to resist him and will jump into his arms immediately. Serena thinks Ritchie - as usual- is unable to change, to really listen to and to understand her. But guess what? Both are in for a surprise they did not see coming.
This story is as solid and rounded as it can get and with just very minor drawbacks, almost perfect. I liked how Serena and Ritchie are developing, both together and on their own. The plot was also enriched by such intriguing and entertaining secondary-characters as Serena's parents & other members of the village community & the cows, of course (they play a major role in the book, believe me). And it being Christmas-time, just makes it all the more alluring.
If you are looking for a cosy, feel-good Christmas-read, look no further.
Arc provided by the Publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review....more
A cosy comfort-read with a solid, well built-up story & almost the right amount of Christmas tinsel to satisfy my festive-standards. :)
There are peopA cosy comfort-read with a solid, well built-up story & almost the right amount of Christmas tinsel to satisfy my festive-standards. :)
There are people who don't like Christmas, or hate it, but at least shudder whenever they think of the season of supposed goodwill-to-all-men. Kirstie Harrison, celebrity TV presenter is one of them. She keeps these feelings mostly to herself, until she finds she vented her frustration and hatred of the season live, with Christmas practically round the corner. Not the best moment of her TV career, certainly. To save face, she needs to lie low, so she reluctantly agrees to go home to her village in Wiltshire and spend Christmas with her sister Olivia and her family in the pub called The Dancing Duck. This should be the last Christmas there anyway as Olivia and her husband are bound to sell the place. How bad could it get? But it gets... well not bad, but painful, as Kirstie has to bite the bullet and work alongside her ex, Josh, to help her sister out and also face some very painful memories. And maybe, just maybe, The Dancing Duck could be saved after all together with Kirstie's heart and her carreer.
The good stuff - Kirstie herself is a lovely protagonist - her friends: Rachel and Emma are great - Leon & Michel, the French chefs of the Dancing Duck - all the lovely Xmas food/desserts - the setting: I love the picture postcard village - the classic close-knit village community trope: very well done - the atmosphere: heart-warming and satisfies my christmas-craze
The not-so-good stuff - Josh, the love interest. I am sorry, but not matter how good-looking&supportive he is supposed to come off, he was pretty much meh for me. Actually his constant switching from bully to "angel" was as tiring as it was unconvincing. Not to put too fine a point upon it: he was an arse!
Arc received by the Publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review....more
4.5 stars rounded up. It could do with a bit more Christmas tinsel in general, but I found it a very compelling, substantial story with characterisati4.5 stars rounded up. It could do with a bit more Christmas tinsel in general, but I found it a very compelling, substantial story with characterisation pointing well beyond the chick-lit genre.
Isla McCoy, born of a Nigerian mother & Scottish father, has never had an easy life. Her parents' marriage broke up when she was 5 and her dad disappeared very early from her life. Her mum bought her up alone and made a lot of sacrifices to do so. She never lets Isla forget this or the fact that her dad was a complete bastard who destroyed both their lives. Needless to say, this has had a strong impression on Isla's life in general and on her love life in particular. She is prickly, distrustful and keeps most people at arms' length. She just turned 29 and is studying for a psychology degree, when a solicitor's letter reaches her out of the blue: her recently deceased Scottish grandmother left her something in her will. The mysterious inheritance has certain conditions though, and if Isla wants to find out all about it, she needs to travel to the French Alps, where his father is now living with his wife and his two other children. Isla is unwilling to go at first -and her mother throws every obstacle that emotional blackmail can achieve in her way- but thinks the better of it. She decides that meeting her father may give some kind of closure to the small girl inside her who never gave up hope on having her daddy return to her. So she travels to St. Martin-de-Belleville to find that her inheritance is a chalet if she manages to mend fences and keep up some sort of amicable relationship with her father.
While it costs her a lot of emotional struggle, she cannot distance herself from the charms of the place
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or the wish of knowing her dad better and find out why he abandoned her all those years ago. To complicate matters further, he meets hard-to-resist, handsome Justin -a relation of her father's wife- and Sebastian, a lovely, but awkward glaciologist.
While I enjoyed A Very Vintage Christmas, the first book in this series, by author Tilly Tennant, it did not leave a lasting impression. This one, however, blew me away completely.
Isla is such a wonderfully engaging character: she is fierce, passionate and yet logical, kind, though understandably finds it hard to let down her defenses. But most of all, she is loyal. Loyal to a mother, who -while she loves her daughter dearly- also foolishly and selfishly destroyed any hope for a proper relationship between father & daughter. And while Isla always knew -or suspected- deep down that her mum was to blame for having kept her & dad apart; still loves her, understands & accepts her and forgives all. This is wonderfully depicted throughout the book and had me in tears sometimes.
The book deals as much with Isla & her father's relationship as with the romance. I also liked that once Isla sorts out her feelings, she does not shy away from confronting the man who tries to manipulate her.
Netgalley Arc received by the Publisher in exchange for an honest review....more
Arc received from the Publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
3.75 stars
This has been my first book by author Sue Moorcroft and I fouArc received from the Publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
3.75 stars
This has been my first book by author Sue Moorcroft and I found it very enjoyable.
It offers readers a valid, realistic, but positive storyline without dumping too much sugar on us.
The main characters, Alexia and Ben are solid, likeable characters with good/bad traits and you can relate to them easily. What's more, contrary to the overused romantic tropes, they actually talk to each other and try to sort things out after the first misunderstanding or so and just I cannot tell you, how refreshing that is.
The motley crew of support characters is another strong point and I very much loved the "makeover" part of the book where the community join forces to renovate the dilapidated Victorian public house especially after the money set aside for this is stolen by conmen.
The story starts is more about events leading up to/culminating at Christmas than Christmas itself, but this is a minor issue. Loads of angelcakes/mince pies are eaten to honour the holidays. :)...more
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