Review: The Christmas Invitation by Trisha Ashley

5 stars for The Christmas Invitation by Trisha Ashley.

This is a lovely family Christmas story. It tells of Christmas being a magical time that starts with the Winter Solstice ceremony in late December, followed by community gatherings and family get-togethers.

The story centers around two main characters, Clara and Meg. It starts off with the reminiscing of the writing of a brief autobiographical note by professor-author Clara Mayhem Doome which then evolves into a first-person narrative by Meg, a 36-year-old portrait painter. Meg is down with pneumonia and been away from home for the last two months at the Farm convalescing. She receives a job offer from Clara to paint a portrait commission the moment she reaches home.

The story made an indelible impression on me. Not only is it written with a good dose of humor, but the descriptions are also cleverly put across to help readers in visualizing the scene such that the characters leap out of the pages, wholesome and vibrant. I love reading about the ancient tradition and roots, and the ceremony that takes place on the night of the Winter Solstice that involves participation of old local families and bonfire. It is not just a festive story about traditions, family Christmas and Christmas shopping - choosing a good Christmas tree, putting it up at home and decorating it with antique and vintage glass baubles - it is also a story about art and craft, of portrait painting, pots making, clay mixing, and firing kiln.

At the base of it all, The Christmas Invitation is a story about love lost and found. What I like most about this storytelling is that the author does not harp on the romance portion but spread good cheer on family relationships and traditions, and even throws in a family secret of epic proportion which feels like an added bonus.

It is not easy to find a Christmas-themed story and to enjoy reading it. I am glad to have this heartwarming and delightful story to keep me cozy during this Christmas season.

Review: Sleigh Rides and Silver Bells at the Christmas Fair (Wynbridge #5) by Heidi Swain

3 stars for Sleigh Rides and Silver Bells at the Christmas Fair (Wynbridge book 5) by Heidi Swain.

It is not my usual practice to skip books when they come in a series. Truth be told, before I start out my journey with Sleigh Rides and Silver Bells, I worry about being clueless since I have missed out the first four books. In the end, my concerns are unwarranted as this book proves itself to be somewhat of a standalone even though it is part of a series.

It is not easy to find a good Christmas story, especially one to my liking. Most Christmas themed books are filled with clichéd plot and clichéd characters. And one thing for sure, it always starts off bad and worsens progressively before it turns for the better and concludes with "all's well that ends well". Sleigh Rides and Silver Bells is no different; the story and plot is predictable to a fault. I enjoy the first half of the book where I masquerade as Anna trying to find a perfect place to spend a quiet, peaceful Christmas and ends up with the Connellys at Wynthorpe Hall. But the same cannot be said of the second half where I struggle to get through the family feud involving the three Connellys brothers to finally reach the happily ever after.

Sleigh Rides and Silver Bells is a heartwarming story of Christmas magic, healing and love. But I feel that the story is non too cliché a Christmas fiction for me. I hope my next Christmas read will be a different one. A vastly different one.

Well, overused story setting aside, there is one thing I do adore much about this book though. And that is the lovely book cover of a picture. Look at that!

Review: Christmas under a Cranberry Sky (Juniper Island #1) by Holly Martin

Did Not Finish Christmas under a Cranberry Sky (Juniper Island book 1) by Holly Martin.

If I am to rate this book, the few chapters that I have covered will have earned themselves a 4-star rating.

Christmas under a Cranberry Sky starts out remarkably well with an intense cozy feeling of Christmas in the air. The author brings out the festive mood really well by her association of all things Christmassy. There is mention of stone cottages, stone fireplaces, log cabins, log fires, real Christmas trees, mulled wine, pine cones, Christmas market and even tiny snowflakes dancing in the air.

The story is set in Stardust Lake Hotel, a winter resort on Juniper Island, the most northern island of the Scottish Isles. This hotel seems to be the perfect place to spend Christmas in with gorgeous Christmas trees bedecked in large gold ribbons, tiny fairy lights and red glass baubles. In short, the story setting is filled with Christmas spirit and the festive holiday feel.

However, as the story progresses, it slowly turns from a Christmas-themed story to one of long-lost romance. As it is, my patience for romance novel runs pretty short these days, especially for lengthy ones. So, with the change in tune, I decide to move on to my next Christmas story.

Review: The Little Village Bakery (Honeybourne #1) by Tilly Tennant

2.5 stars for The Little Village Bakery (Honeybourne book 1) by Tilly Tennant.

I thought it will be for a nice change to start reading Christmas-themed stories earlier this year instead of waiting it out until December. Well, that and it makes for a wonderful change from the horrors of my previous read.

As I scout for the book of my dreams, the two-book Honeybourne series grabs my attention and I decide to try out book 1.

The Little Village Bakery is a heartwarming story about second chance and kindred spirit.

The story starts out great and revolves around the heart of the sleepy village of Honeybourne and its old bakery of which the main character, Millie, plans to revamp and breathe life back into. However, I did not like the turn in events when the ghost of Millie's past makes an appearance and starts sprouting fibs about her.

There is much potential to be explored in this book where the magical and mystical aspects are concerned. Sadly, they are not well exploited and it disappoints me to no end when the truth is finally revealed.

All in all, it makes for a mediocre story of guy-girl relationships. That said, I am not sure if I should continue with book 2 Christmas at the Little Village Bakery or simply give it a miss.

Review: The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

4 stars for The Hating Game by Sally Thorne.

The Hating Game is a great exploration of workplace dynamics between two employees, Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman, who also happen to be mortal enemies. There is actually nothing hateful in The Hating Game, in fact, I more than welcome the change from my previous read, a dystopian crime fiction to this light-hearted, humor-packed romance novel.

Truth be told, this is my second try at reading. I am not sure why I did not manage to sneak past chapter one the first time round which is rather strange because the humor starts right away after the first couple of pages. I am just so glad not to have cast this book aside eternally but revisit it at some point in time when the stars are aligned.

Well, if you can agree to it that both love and hate are mirror versions of the same game, then you may be up for the challenge to play the Mirror Game, or the Staring Game, or the HR Game, or the Spying Game, or the Racing Game or even the Act Natural Game. The question is, are you game for The Hating Game?

Review: One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

3 stars for One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

One True Loves is about life changers, about a moment that splits life in two; the moment that creates a “before” and an “after”. It is about the sharp spike somewhere along the way on our timeline, an event - more so than the others - that changes us and our lives.

"I am finishing up dinner with my family and my fiancé when my husband calls."

Taken verbatim from the book, the story opens with a sentence that is so wrong on every account that I do a double-take. And find myself compelled to continue reading.

The story is good. The writing is polished. I cry reading it. I weep for the protagonist, Emma, when life deals her an unexpected blow. All in all, I find no fault in this novel except that it slows down way too much after the first half of the story that I have to speed read to find out Emma's one true love.

Review: After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid

5 stars for After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

After I Do is an amazingly, perfectly, wonderfully beautiful, yet achingly honest story. It is a timeless tale of relationships and the roles we play in making or breaking them.

• How is it possible to hate and love, miss and loathe each other all within the same breath?
• How does one handle and manage the conflicting feelings of never wanting to see each other again while never wanting to let go?
• Where does it leave us when to make things easier by bottling up feelings of unhappiness is actually making things more difficult and resentful in the long run?
• How can a marriage evolve and yet proof that the couple is still tied to each other?

As much as this seems to be a book for the ladies and wives, it is very much a story apt for the men and husbands. After all, it takes two wings to fly, two legs to walk, two hands to clap, and two hearts to love.

Falling in love with someone is easy. It is loving when the newness has worn off, when life gets tough, when things get in the way, that complicate matters of the heart. In a similar fashion, falling out of love with that same someone is easy too. But when you fall out of love, it does not mean that you stop loving said someone. They simply don't make your heart beat faster.

At the end of the day, all that really matters in a relationship is that you open your heart, give everything you have, and keep trying. That is so real, a practical lesson for everyone, yet easier said than done.

A highly recommended read.

Review: The Last Piece of My Heart by Paige Toon

4 stars for The Last Piece of My Heart by Paige Toon.

I am on cloud nine once I turn the page and see that it is the epilogue. I know without a doubt that this book will surely be conquered in 2017 and added to my list of books read. And the best part? There is still time enough for me to write my review and have it posted before the year runs out.

The Last Piece of My Heart is about a travel writer who is hired to continue the work of a bestselling author who unexpectedly leaves behind an unfinished sequel.

Set mainly in Cornwall, United Kingdom and to a small extent, Thailand, the story explores relationships - complicated relationships that involve complicated persons - and making serious life decisions.

There are a few things I like about this story.

The first is the parallels between the characters which lend an intriguing air to the overall plot.

The second is the simple yet breathtakingly heartwarming descriptions of the many places in which the story is set in. There is Cornwall, Lansallos beach, Lost Gardens of Heligan, Tintagel, Bodmin, Padstow, and the Camel trail to name a few. The one I like most of all is the narratives on caravan camping in the Padstow area which provides for watching sunset on a small hill, looking up into the sky on a clear night and watching the beautiful display of stars.

The third and most important of all, is the pace of the story. Though seemingly slow moving at times, the pace makes for a credible tale of love lost and found. It is certainly not a story where the characters jump each other within twenty-four hours of meeting but one where it grows on you over time.

By all means, The Last Piece of My Heart is my last entry for the year 2017. Nevertheless, it is not an end to my reading and review writing quest but the end of a beginning.

Review: The Color of a Christmas Miracle (The Color of Heaven #12 ) by Julianne MacLean

4 stars for The Color of a Christmas Miracle (The Color of Heaven book 12 ) by Julianne MacLean.

It has been three years and then some since I read book 1 of The Color of Heaven series. Having loved that story much, I decide to fast forward and read book 12 The Color of a Christmas Miracle this time. After all, what better way is there to get deep into the festive mood than be surrounded by Christmas-themed stories and Christmas miracles?

Heartwarming and inspiring, this is the story of a woman's journey to find happiness.

Much as the story is filled with frustration, anguish, pain, loneliness and heartbreak, it touches my heart in some way for the tale is equally packed full of hope, joy, faith, love and certainly, of Christmas miracles.

Well.. I will say that the ending is easily predictable with no surprises there, but still, I love the message that the story delivers across - love is not a race. Whatever's meant to be, will be.

Review: Awaken (Awaken #1) by Katie Kacvinsky

4 stars for Awaken (Awaken book 1) by Katie Kacvinsky.

What will life be like in 45 years’ time?

Remember the movie Back to the Future II, a 1989 American science-fiction adventure comedy film? It is the sequel to the 1985 film Back to the Future and the second instalment in the Back to the Future trilogy. After repairing the damage to history done by his previous time travel adventures, Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) and his friend Dr. Emmett "Doc" Brown (Christopher Lloyd) travel to 2015 to prevent McFly's future son from ending up imprisoned.

2015. We are now living it. Many of the futuristic things the movie makers put in 1989's Back to the Future, which at that time seem like impossible feats, have in fact turned into reality. So, life in 45 years’ time may well be what we envision it to be now. After all, are we not already living in the Information Age as characterized by the shift from traditional industry to an economy based on information computerization? So, at any rate, how hard is it to visualize the Computer Age in another four or five decades?

These bring me to the book at hand. I read it because I am deeply intrigued by the beautifully written – and touching – prologue on digital technology that changes the way of life.

Fast forward 45 years. It is now 2060. The world is changed; altered to give way to simplicity, convenience, hassle-free and instantaneous results. Gone are the days where real trees are grown in cities and paper books are made. Welcome to the new age world where synthetic trees are preferred to living ones and digital is the way to go where books are concerned and audio learning is supposedly a better way to attain and retain information.

Computers have turned living into a digital world and people are so used to the convenience of it all that they no longer mind losing that interpersonal touch. Friends are made around the world within the safe confines of homes, without ever stepping out the front doors. With equality in the virtual world, social status, wealth, looks, clothes and jobs no longer matter.

17-year old Madeline Freeman aka Maddie is used to living behind her avatars – self-created flawless digital façade – which have over the years transformed into protective walls to mask her insecurities. Then she gets to know Justin Solvi in a live chat room where students help one another on homework assignments.

Through their friendship, Maddie finds herself awaken to the truth of what it means to live. The questions start rolling. What is the use of having extensive digital friendship where there is no depth? Are the friends who are on her list of online contacts really her friends? Or are they there because she likes their online profiles and the way they advertise themselves via the layout, design and font? Does Maddie really know herself and the people around her anymore? Does she see them as who they really are or what they want her to see?

Interestingly, I like the story and even agree with the concepts that the author puts forth because it hits really close to home, to what currently is happening in our society, to what our lives are becoming with the influx of digital technology. It calls to mind memories from the past to compare against the present and possibly the future. Many of the digital issues cited in the story are real life concerns. In the years to come, what will become of us with the deeply embedded technology in our daily lives? Will there be a day when digital technology completely replaces the need for face-to-face communication? What of the people; will we become less humane and less compassionate?

Another thing I like much in the story is the way the author handles and presents conversations in Maddie's family. Though Maddie's parents, especially her father, seem controlling and demanding, they do not come across as unloving and unreasonable. In fact, I agree with the message that the author subtly puts across that there are always reasons behind the actions taken by a parent. Perhaps it is because Maddie's parents love their only daughter so much that they show their love for her in the wrong way, by making decisions for her: who she can be friends with and where she can go.

There is much maturity and depth in the writing and consequently, the characters even though this is a young adult novel. It is definitely not one of those stories where the more you read, the more juvenile and preposterous you find the plot becoming. My only grievance is, at the point in time of my reading, I am no longer a sweet eighteen; should I have been one, I will have loved the story – especially the forbidden romance – to bits.

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers; Reprint edition
Publication date: 17 Apr 2012

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Maddie lives in a world where everything is done on the computer. Whether it’s to go to school or on a date, people don’t venture out of their home. There’s really no need. For the most part, Maddie’s okay with the solitary, digital life—until she meets Justin. Justin likes being with people. He enjoys the physical closeness of face-to-face interactions. People aren’t meant to be alone, he tells her.

Suddenly, Maddie feels something awakening inside her—a feeling that maybe there is a different, better way to live. But with society and her parents telling her otherwise, Maddie is going to have to learn to stand up for herself if she wants to change the path her life is taking.

In this not-so-brave new world, two young people struggle to carve out their own space.

*Blurb from author's website*

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Review: The Violets of March by Sarah Jio

2.5 stars for The Violets of March by Sarah Jio.

It is never my intention to read stories written along the same line two in a row, one right after the other. But as fate has it, I have an affinity lately with tales involving departing husbands, resurfacing postcards and visiting great-aunts, and it is tough pushing away what comes on its own volition. The story outline is so startlingly similar that I cannot help but gasp at the familiarity of it all with the exception of one major difference: Lost Lake is written in third person point of view while The Violets of March is in first person account.

The Violets of March is narrated by Emily who happens to be a writer. For the past eight years, right after her best-selling novel, she has been hit with what her therapist terms as clinical writer's block. With a plan to write a story that grows out of her life and experiences, Emily pays a visit to her great-aunt Bee Larson who lives on Bainbridge Island, in Washington state.

Emily's decisiom to stay with her great-aunt Bee for the whole of March leads to discovery of events past in a small island town in the year 1943 and also that of the story of a mystery woman totally unknown to Emily.

Emily’s return to Bainbridge Island after ten years is like a walk down lane memory where sights and smells simply transport her back to the good old days. The author does a pretty good job describing the island as a marvellous place for healing. As good as it gets, unfortunately there are also the less enjoyable aspects to the story. It becomes increasingly frustrating reading on Bee drifting off and retreating into her memories and refusing to divulge further by way of her promise not to speak of past events when prompted repeatedly by Emily. While I understand the author’s intention to hold back secrets to keep the story intriguing, overdoing it is definitely a put off. This together with the occurrence of too many coincidences between the past and current generation make for a relatively fair story only.

Publisher: Plume; 1st edition
Publication date: 26 Apr 2011

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In her twenties, Emily Wilson was on top of the world: She had a bestselling novel, a husband plucked from the pages of GQ, and a one-way ticket to happily ever after. Ten years later, the tide has turned on Emily’s good fortune. So when her great-aunt Bee invites her to spend the month of March on Bainbridge Island in Washington State, Emily accepts, longing to be healed by the sea. Researching her next book, Emily discovers a red velvet diary, dated 1943, whose contents reveal startling connections to her own life. A mesmerizing debut with an idyllic setting and intriguing dual story line, The Violets of March announces Sarah Jio as a writer to watch.

*Blurb from author's website*

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Review: Nowhere but Here by Renée Carlino

3 stars for Nowhere but Here by Renée Carlino.

Nowhere but Here is a story about two lost and lonely souls who connect and find solace in each other's company.

26-year old Kate Corbin is a journalist at Chicago Crier, a Chicago newspaper and blog. One day, she is given an assignment by her editor, Jerry to conduct an exclusive interview with the well-known tech savvy prodigy Ryan Lawson aka R.J., a 30-year old bachelor who has all but disappeared from the limelight after selling off his share of the technology company he has cofounded years ago. He gains public interest once again when the winery he now owns in Napa Valley starts winning awards.

As far as Kate's her interview with R.J. goes, nothing seems out of the ordinary, but the trip to Napa Valley is truly a game-changer event for Kate's life is never the same thereafter.

The story flows well and the writing is polished. Though the plot is surprisingly predictable, the author compensates by matching it up with poignant memories from Kate on her past and her take on life such as being alone and not feeling lonely versus feeling lonely even when she is not alone.

I will say that all is quite well except where the hero is concerned. The male lead, Jamie is a character with too charming a personality to be true. Call me jaded or blasé, the too-good-to-be-true kind of Mr Nice Guy portrayed in Jamie is practically non-existent. As such, the story takes on a surreal quality with his appearance. Also, the way he worships Kate within a day or two of meeting her makes him shallow as if physical attraction is all that matters. On top of these, I find it hard to appreciate the scene where Kate plays hide-the-salami with Jamie barely four days into their acquaintance. It makes for a superficial union even though Kate keeps stressing that she is not out looking to have a fling.

Frankly, when I make the decision to read this book, I am looking very much forward to be filled with awe by both the writing and storyline. As it turns out, I am awed but sadly on the opposite end of the spectrum. For the most part, Nowhere but Here is nowhere as beautiful a story and intense as the author's debut novel Sweet Thing.

Publisher: Atria Books
Publication date: 5 May 2014

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A Chicago reporter in her mid-twenties unexpectedly finds love in Napa Valley when she’s assigned to spend a week with a famously reclusive genius.

Kate Corbin has lost her spark. From the outside, her life seems charmed. She has a handsome, long-term boyfriend and a budding journalism career at a popular Chicago newspaper. But in reality, her relationship is going nowhere, and she’s quickly losing motivation for what she once believed was her dream job. When her boyfriend dumps her unceremoniously, Kate loses all hope of finding love.

With no living family and few friends, Kate confides in her boss. Trusting that the hungry, ace reporter is buried somewhere deep inside, he gives Kate the opportunity to jumpstart her career. The assignment: to interview the famously reclusive R.J. Lawson, a wealthy tech genius who disappeared years ago but recently reemerged as a Napa Valley vintner. The week takes an unexpected turn, however, when Lawson refuses to divulge any information. Desperate for a lead, Kate turns to Jamie, a vineyard hand who shows her the romance of wine country—and stirs her aching heart. But his connection to Lawson is ambiguous, and when Jamie disappears before the end of the week, Kate is left to investigate another story: the truth behind the man who stole her heart.

*Blurb from author's website*

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Review: A Hopeless Romantic by Harriet Evans

4 stars for A Hopeless Romantic by Harriet Evans.

I choose to give this book a go because I like the book cover. Somehow, a lone girl tipping on the edge of the fountain with overhanging heart-shaped leaves just tug at my heartstrings. At the end of it all, I am glad to say it is a decision I do not regret because the story is worth my time reading.

As the title suggests, A Hopeless Romantic is about romance and the hopelessness of being one such person. Laura Foster, 28 years old, is a dreamer, a hopeless romantic who falls in love easily, too easily in fact and is as blind as a bat when things go haywire. She believes in meeting The One and every man she meets has the potential to be The One after the first five minutes as she drifts off to her Laura Land making fantasies about the man she has just met. However in place of meeting The One, she always fall in love with the Wrong One, and the most inconvenient person at that.

Laura never seems to wake up from her romantic fantasies. Instead of learning from past relationships gone bad, she fleets from one to another until her personal life goes into a downward spiral such that both her job and relationship with her bestie take a turn for the worse.

I am so glad when the author introduces Laura's grandmother for the wisdom of this elderly is priceless. As the author dictates, Mary Fielding is still very much beautiful as she has been 3 decades before and carries her age with an elegance that has nothing to do with branded clothes or fine airs. As I read on, this granny character brings to my mind the Chinese proverb "the older the ginger, the better the spice". Not only is Laura's Gran not judgemental, she has the acumen to break the situation down for Laura and dish out very insightful advice.

Having never met my grandmothers, both paternal and maternal who pass away before I am even born, I greatly envy the special relationship Laura has with her Gran. She is indeed very lucky to be able to talk with her Gran over anything that is on her mind, be it life, family, work, relationships and love. The conversations between Laura and her Gran are always heartwarming and filled with much love and concern.

The entire story is made up of 4 parts. Part 1 is about Laura and her life in London. Part 2 concentrates on Laura holidaying in Norfolk with her Gran and parents. Of the 4 parts, this is one I enjoy the least as the pace is very much slower in tandem with the holiday mood. Part 3 sees the return of Laura back in London again and her attempts to box up memories of the past. Part 4 transports Laura back to Norfolk to wrap up some unfinished business. It is a section that evolves around a thought-provoking topic: Do people fall in love with each other because they simply fall in love or because it is convenient?

All in all, A Hopeless Romantic is a good story about the cold hard facts of life, about how totally different the reality is and can be. It is a story on life, love, family ties and relationships intended for the soul. It also brings across the message that it is a blessing to be filled with the capacity to love and that one should be proud of this trait and use it wisely.

Publisher: Pocket Books
Publication date: 9 Oct 2007

*** Favourite quote ***

Every time was the last time. Every time was the first time.

~ A Hopeless Romantic
Harriet Evans

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Laura Foster is a hopeless romantic. It is her most endearing characteristic, yet consistently leads her into trouble. Friends and family look on with amused tolerance – until Laura’s inability to tell reality from romantic dreams causes betrayal and a …

*Blurb from author's website*

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Review: Just Once by Julianna Keyes

2 stars for Just Once by Julianna Keyes.

Just Once starts out promising in first person narration but fizzles out along the way. I manage to make it to the 50% mark before deciding to jump straight to the last chapter to see how the ending pans out. As it is, no surprises there and I do not think I have missed out much.

The story opens with our protagonist, a thirty-year old Katharine Burke aka Kate arriving at the Ponderosa Pines Ranch, a hundred-year-old lodge surrounded by mountains and trees, nature and freedom. As a travel writer, Kate has spent the better part of her ten years on travelling and writing, meeting people on the go and living the high life of the rich and famous. Sadly, these experiences are all but fleeting moments that leave Kate feeling old, tired and lonely at the end of the day.

Returning to the Dude Ranch ten years later as the kitchen/cabin manager, a wiser Kate not only wants to help out the ranch owners, a husband-and-wife tag team but also to seek the safety and comfort of the peace and calm from the simple solitude of the mountains. Soon, Kate realises that she is getting more than what she bargains for as her path crosses with that of Shane Maddox, a foreman of sorts at the ranch, a man who possesses the hands of a masseuse, the body of a lumberjack and the grudge holding stamina of a teenage girl.

For a debut novel, the story is smooth flowing and the writing is fairly decent. In fact, I quite like the idea of a ranch set among the mountains as backdrop to the story. Unfortunately, the story content is just so; it lacks a pull factor to engage the reader and a push factor to keep the pages turning. After a while, it comes to a point where I get really bored and just want to skip right to the ending to avoid the agony of reading through chunks of monotonous, predictable script.

Publisher: Omnific Publishing
Publication date: 29 Oct 2013

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Kate Burke is done making bad decisions. Thirty years old and belatedly determined to grow up, the successful travel writer and one-time party girl returns to work at the remote Ponderosa Pines Ranch to reassess her life.

Although her kitchen/cabin staff is lacking and the workload never relents, Kate's main challenge is Shane Maddox, the ruggedly handsome and doggedly stubborn ranch foreman. Instantly at odds, they battle over everything from ceiling fans to bothersome bats-studiously ignoring the sparks they generate with each confrontation.

They can't explain their explosive physical chemistry, but after a few frustrated weeks they can't deny it either. Their solution? Just once. They'll get past their inconvenient lust and move on.

Kate's been trying to think with her head instead of her hormones, but is this just another bad decision in a lifetime of careless choices? Has she really changed at all?

Set in the striking and serene hills of southern Colorado, Julianna Keyes' debut novel offers a sizzling and satisfying tale of unexpected chemistry and the power of second chances. Her characters will get under your skin and into your heart.

Just once may not be enough for you either.

*Blurb from author's website*

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Review: Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

4 stars for Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover.

It has been almost 8 months since I last read a New Adult contemporary romance. Since many of the New Adult novels come across very much like reading a young adult novel with characters that are very juvenile, I have a tendency to procrastinate reading this particular genre even after enthusiastically adding the book onto my list of to-be-read.

Reading Ugly Love does not feel like perusing a New Adult novel even though the main characters are in their early to mid twenties. Instead, I find myself burying deep into a world where the characters' well-reasoned actions not only speak for their behavior, but also tells of a painful past.

The female protagonist, Tate, a strong-headed 23-year old girl pursuing her master's degree in nursing to allow her to administer anesthesia, is doing whatever she can to avoid relationships. As it goes, fate has it that the man of her dreams is so not on the same page as Tate and there is pretty much nothing she can do to improve her position; she wants so much more than what he is giving her and he wants so much less than what she wants to give him. The situation is made worse when she is neither allowed to ask about his past nor to expect a future.

The story is smooth flowing and well written with a storyline that pulls at my heartstrings and stays with me for the rest of the day. The only grievance I have is that where the story is narrated by the man, the words are arranged in center text position, making it extremely reader unfriendly.

All in all, a beautiful heartbreaking story that centers around letting go of the past and learning to love all over again.

Publisher: Atria Books
Publication date: 5 Aug 2014

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When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she knows it isn’t love at first sight. They wouldn’t even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn’t want love, she doesn’t have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her.

Never ask about the past.
Don’t expect a future.

They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can’t handle it at all.

Hearts get infiltrated.
Promises get broken.
Rules get shattered.
Love gets ugly.

*Blurb from Goodreads*

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Review: Conditional Love by Cathy Bramley

2.5 stars for Conditional Love by Cathy Bramley.

To some extent, book covers do affect my decision to place a book high up as priority reading or simply add it to my ever growing list of to-be-read to be dealt with later. So with this cutesy picture of a book cover which I simply adore, Conditional Love has been upgraded to a read-now rather than later book.

This standalone novel starts out great with a strong focal point drawing upon a mysterious inheritance with specific condition to be met, but unfortunately fizzles out less than a quarter to the story. Don't misunderstand me, the plot is fine and the writing is fairly smooth flowing but I find it really draining to try liking the female protagonist, Sophie Stone, a girl who likes to daydream herself silly, makes inane assumptions and ignores well-intentioned sensible advice from friends. Perhaps the author is trying to construct a before and after distinction by creating a female lead who starts out with fluff brains so as to differentiate her from the later bettered version. If so, the plan undoubtedly backfires, at least the case for me. Though I can understand why the heroine is crafted as such initially, I find it difficult to appreciate a doormat who readily accepts what life throws at her and continually chooses to go with the flow just so to avoid responsibility, disappointment and failure. More so, I find it even harder to accept that Sophie practically swoons and worships the ground on which Marc, an incorrigible character of a man steps upon. To make matters worse, there is this really selfish mother of hers who is unbearable downright to the core.

So, you can imagine how relieved I am when finally the author decides to give Sophie a wake-up call in the second half of the story by making her face up to her future: take up the responsibilities, make her own decision, design her dream house, stand up to her unforthcoming selfish mother and most importantly, build her future on her own terms. Even so, the damage has already been done as first impression matters and it tends to stick. With that, I see the stars for my review rating of Conditional Love floating away one by one, or more accurately, half by half, slowly but surely as I read on.

Overall, this is a fairly ok story for a debut romance novel albeit tending on the long side. Due to lack of much surprises and monotony of the plot, I admit to being guilty of skimming through the story from third quarter of the book onwards.

Publisher: Cathy Bramley; 1 edition
Publication date: 26 Dec 2013

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Meet Sophie Stone, a thirty-something, serial-procrastinator. Tesco knickers, Take That, and tea with two sugars is about as exciting as it gets. But when her boyfriend dumps her on Valentine’s Day and a mysterious benefactor leaves her an inheritance, even Sophie has to accept that change is afoot.

There is a catch - a condition in the will that threatens the very foundations of Sophie’s world. What did the old lady want her to discover? Was there more to her parents’ break up than she was led to believe?

With a boss from hell, bickering flat mates, manipulative mother and sexy ex-boyfriend, Sophie has plenty to contend with without the brooding architect who puts his foot in it every time he opens his mouth. Sophie will have to face the past and learn some shocking home truths before she can finally get her own happy-ever-after.

*Blurb from author's website*

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