Her Best Friends Secret by Anna Mansell {Book Blog Tour with Review}

Series:	Standalone
Genre:	Fiction
Publication Date:	January 4th 2019
Format:	Digital
Published By:	Amazon Digital Services
Goodreads:	Her Best Friend's Secret on Goodreads
My Review Copy:	Thanks to Bookouture for my review copy

Where to get:

Your best friend deserves the truth. But it will ruin her life. What would you do?


In summer, the small Cornish village of Gorran Haven fills with tourists, but in the colder months its pretty narrow streets are blissfully quiet, the bell on the village shop door rings only for locals, the beach is unspoilt, empty and safe.

It’s been over twenty years since four very different teenage girls sat on that beach, and swore to be best friends forever. Their lives went different ways after Emily left. But each remembered that promise. And none truly found friendship like it again.

Now, Emily’s back, with a secret she can’t face. She tries to hide away, take time to heal and make some difficult choices, but she runs into one of her old friends, and soon the four are reunited. Lolly, warm as ever, is a successful physiotherapist, married with kids. Yet smart, strong Amanda, who cherishes her teenage daughter, is alone and seemingly stuck in a dead-end job. And creative Jess is so much quieter than Emily remembers.

The bond is still there, and Emily realizes their friendship might keep her together, but there are reasons why the women fell out of touch. Secrets that have lain dormant for decades start to surface, and then one of the women discovers a betrayal so big, it could turn each of their lives upside down.

It’s always those we’re closest to who have the power to tear us apart. Can friendship give Emily and her friends the strength to survive a devastating shock, or are some things unforgivable?

Full of truths about friendship, marriage, and the relationships that define us, Her Best Friend’s Secret is a powerful, relatable and emotionally gripping novel for fans of Jojo Moyes, Diane Chamberlain, and The Silent Wife.

                                    

I’m often drawn to a book that focuses on female friendships and this one did not disappoint. Her Best Friend’s Secret gives us four friends that reunite after 20 years, written alternating between each of their points of view. Emily, Jess, Lolly and Amanda are four fiercely independent, likable and relatable characters. 

When four once inseparable school friends arrange to reunite after over twenty years of absence, they all nervously prepare themselves for their reunion. They had once been the very best of friends, but how would they react to each other after so long was the question that concerned them most.

Emily is newly back home living in the childhood seaside village of Gorran Haven in Cornwall after living in the States for what seemed a lifetime of living the celebrity lifestyle. She has decided it is a false life for her and her agent/partner, and wants to live a completely new life surrounded by peace and tranquility instead of hustle and bustle of a large, loud city. But she arrives alone and is stunned about the latest turn of events in her once busy life.

Lolly leads a busy life as a hospital physiotherapist, working wife and mother of two young boys. Her life is almost complete except for the fact that she desperately wants another baby. She yearns for the mother/daughter relationship she missed out on when her mother died prematurely, but which her older sister remembers fondly. The trouble is her husband is not that keen and has only reluctantly agreed to a third child in the family.

Amanda is a single working parent after her husband left her and their young daughter never to be seen again…….until recently. She is estranged from her daughter who has left her to live with her father, leaving Amanda wondering if she will ever be able to build bridges with her cherished daughter and get back to being a solid loving twosome, a relationship she once enjoyed in abundance.

All of the girls remembered the fourth member of the group Jess as friendly and outgoing but she had changed so much and had become quiet and lacking in self-confidence for no apparent reason.

I really enjoyed reading about all these women and couldn't wait to see everything tied up at the end. I thought the author did a great job seamlessly putting all the stories together and giving the reader a well deserved ending. I would highly recommend this book to any reader who enjoy women fiction and the complex relationship between woman. 

About the Author

Anna had a brush with 'fame' as a magician's assistant back in 1977. She later decided that being sawed in half by her magical performing father, at barely 6 months old, was too submissive a role. She vowed to channel the trauma in to something much more pro-actively creative. Having failed at acting, singing and professional murder mystery parties (she was Always the one to die!), she fell to something much more solitary: writing. She has written three novels, published by Bookouture, her fourth - HER BEST FRIEND'S SECRET - comes out on April 1st, 2019. Anna lives on a dairy farm in Cornwall with her two children, her husband, and her ex-racing greyhound, Olive Dog.

Author Social Media Links:

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Sunkissed Days by Samantha Chase {Book Blog Tour}

We are so excited about the release of SUNKISSED DAYS by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Samantha Chase. SUNKISSED DAYS kicks of the brand new Magnolia Sound series and it's a story you don't want to miss!

 

About SUNKISSED DAYS

Mallory Westbrook is ready to make her move on Jake Summerford, the boy – now man – she’s been crushing on for years. Coming back to Magnolia Sound to celebrate her great-grandfather’s birthday provides the perfect opportunity to show Jake that she’s no longer a child.

The last thing Jake expected to do at his mentor’s birthday party was to find himself kissing Mallory under the moonlight. Though he’s known her for years, the thought of kissing her never crossed his mind. But the shy tomboy he once knew is gone, and in her place is a woman he can’t resist. They have one summer before they go their separate ways. Insecurity wars with the possibility of a future together, but it could all come to an end before it even has a chance to start.

Add SUNKISSED DAYS to your Goodreads TBR!

Get your copy of SUNKISSED DAYS today! Amazon | Apple Books | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | GooglePlay | Audible

Sunkissed Days by Samantha Chase is the prequel to the A Magnolia Sound series. A brand new series by this talented writer. I wa quite piqued to find out what the new series will be like. I was not disappointed. 

Samantha Chase still brought that dash of humor, lust, heat, passion, and emotional tug of war like she did for her previous series. A young couple featuring one totally in love with the other one and the other being completely blind to it for years. This plot was a bit similar to the Shaughnessy Brother Series. But it held a whole new level of appeal. New characters, new places, and new twists made this plot hook me from the beginning.


Told from dual third person perspectives (Mallory and Jake) SUNKISSED DAYS takes the reader back in time, six years earlier, where we are privy to the summer time relationship between twenty-four year old construction worker Jake Summerford, and twenty year old college student Mallory Westbrook. 

Home for the summer in Magnolia Grove, to celebrate her great-grandfather’s ninetieth birthday, Mallory comes face to face with Jake Summerford, four years her senior, and the young man on whom she has crushed for most of her life. Taking the first steps towards getting the man that she wants, Mallory makes the first move in what would prove to be a summer fling that will end in misunderstanding and broken hearts. What ensues is the quick building romance and relationship between Jake and Mallory, and the fall-out as their time together comes to an end as each heads in a different direction towards personal and professional goals.

Looking for a fast paced, sweet romance read? You've found it! This book grabs you from the beginning. The attraction between Jake and Mallory is undeniable and their lust for each other heats up rather quickly. I couldn't believe the cliffhanger of an ending and am so psyched to get the next book in Samantha Chase's new series. This author writes on point every time and leaves her readers always wanting more! 

   

Don't miss all the Magnolia Sound stories coming in 2019!

Sunkissed Days | Remind Me | A Girl Like You | In Case You Didn't Know

 

About SAMANTHA CHASE

Samantha Chase is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of contemporary romance. She released her debut novel in 2011 and currently has more than forty titles under her belt! When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook, wearing a tiara while playing with her sassy pug Maylene…oh, and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina. Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Newsletter | BookBub

Stacking the Shelves {Physical copies and eBooks}

This is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews and Reading Reality. Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! I've never participated before, but I'm always stalking other book blogs to see what they are stacking their shelves with so I thought this week I'd give it a go. 

Netgalley Haul 

I requested this one because of my love for historical fiction, and I kept hearing so many good things about it from friends who got early copies. 

Description:

It’s July 1921, “flickers” are all the rage, and Irene Van Beck has just declared her own independence by jumping off a moving train to escape her fate in a traveling burlesque show. When her friends, fellow dancer Millie Martin, and comedian Henry Weiss, leap after her, the trio finds their way to the bright lights of Hollywood with hopes of making it big in the burgeoning silent film industry.
At first glance, Hollywood in the 1920s is like no other place on earth—iridescent, scandalous, and utterly exhilarating—and the three friends yearn for a life they could only have dreamed of before. But despite the glamour and seduction of Tinseltown, success doesn’t come easy, and nothing can prepare Irene, Millie, and Henry for the poverty, temptation, and heartbreak that lie ahead. With their ambitions challenged by both the men above them and the prejudice surrounding them, their friendship is the only constant through desperate times, as each struggles to find their true calling in an uncertain world. What begins as a quest for fame and fortune soon becomes a collective search for love, acceptance, and fulfillment as they navigate the backlots and stage sets where the illusions of the silver screen are brought to life.


I was invited to read this next one from St Martin's Press. I was over-joyed when I got the email because I adore Mary Kay Andrews. She writes such lighthearted and sweet romances. 

Description:
Pull up a lounge chair and have a cocktail at Sunset Beach – it comes with a twist.
Drue Campbell’s life is adrift. Out of a job and down on her luck, life doesn’t seem to be getting any better when her estranged father, Brice Campbell, a flamboyant personal injury attorney, shows up at her mother’s funeral after a twenty-year absence. Worse, he’s remarried – to Drue’eighth-grade frenemy, Wendy, now his office manager. And they’re offering her a job.
It seems like the job from hell, but the offer is sweetened by the news of her inheritance – her grandparents’ beach bungalow in the sleepy town of Sunset Beach, a charming but storm-damaged eyesore now surrounded by waterfront McMansions.
With no other prospects, Drue begrudgingly joins the firm, spending her days screening out the grifters whose phone calls flood the law office. Working with Wendy is no picnic either. But when a suspicious death at an exclusive beach resort nearby exposes possible corruption at her father’s firm, she goes from unwilling cubicle rat to unwitting investigator, and is drawn into a case that may – or may not – involve her father. With an office romance building, a decades-old missing persons case re-opened, and a cottage in rehab, one thing is for sure at Sunset Beach: there’s a storm on the horizon.


I read JP Delaney's last book "The Girl Before" and was completely mesmerized by her storytelling abilities. I was shocked at the ending. So when I got invited to view and read this new title, I quickly jumped at the chance. 

Description: A missing woman receives a second chance at life, thanks to her billionaire husband--but the consequences are deadly in this gripping psychological thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Before.
Abbie awakens in a daze with no memory of who she is or how she landed in this unsettling condition. The man by her side claims to be her husband. He's an icon of the tech world, the founder of a lucrative robotics company. He tells Abbie that she is a gifted artist, an avid surfer, a loving mother to their young son, and the perfect wife. He says she had a terrible accident five years ago, and that, through a huge technological breakthrough, she has been brought back from the abyss. She is a miracle of science.

But as Abbie pieces together memories of her marriage, she begins questioning her husband's motives--and his version of events. Can she trust him when he says he wants them to be together forever? And what really happened to Abbie half a decade ago?

Kindle Haul

These are the books I found while browsing the internet. I just love to pick up books on my kindle. Although, they definitely make it way too easy to buy ebooks. Click, click, and it is yours. Yeah, I have a kindle buying problem. 

Description:

Ian Bradley is the definition of a Wall Street hotshot: seven-figure salary, designer suits, and a corner office. His drive off the floor is just as potent. Every woman who knows him has felt the rush. But now he’s met his match in Lara McKenzie—a woman with the power to bring Ian to his knees.

An ambitious, whip-smart daughter of FBI agents, Lara is a rising star in fighting white-collar crime. Her latest case—the investigation of Ian Bradley for insider trading—could make her career. She knows a scoundrel when she sees one. Ian fits the bill: a cocky, ridiculously handsome bad boy with a slick swagger.

She’ll do anything to prove he’s guilty. He’ll do anything to prove he’s not. But it’s only a matter of time before their fierce battle of wits gets oh so hot and personal. Now, taking down Ian has become more than business for Lara. It’s become a pleasure—and there’s more at risk than she ever dreamed.

Physical copies

These are the books I couldn't resist picking up at Barnes and Noble or that I got sent from the publisher. Although I often read on my kindle, I still love the feed of a book in my hands. I don't think there is a better way to read than a mug of coffee and a paperback in your hands. Pure Bliss. 

Description: Although beautiful young widow Phoebe, Lady Clare, has never met West Ravenel, she knows one thing for certain: he’s a mean, rotten bully. Back in boarding school, he made her late husband’s life a misery, and she’ll never forgive him for it. But when Phoebe attends a family wedding, she encounters a dashing and impossibly charming stranger who sends a fire-and-ice jolt of attraction through her. And then he introduces himself... like none other than West Ravenel.

West is a man with a tarnished past. No apologies, no excuses. However, from the moment he meets Phoebe, West is consumed by irresistible desire...not to mention the bitter awareness that a woman like her is far out of his reach. What West doesn’t bargain on is that Phoebe is no straitlaced aristocratic lady. She’s the daughter of a strong-willed wallflower who long ago eloped with Sebastian, Lord St. Vincent—the most devilishly wicked rake in England.

Before long, Phoebe sets out to seduce the man who has awakened her fiery nature and shown her unimaginable pleasure. Will their overwhelming passion be enough to overcome the obstacles of the past?

Only the devil’s daughter knows…

Description: The California sunshine’s not quite so bright for three sisters
who get dumped in the same week…

Finola, a popular LA morning-show host, is famously upbeat until she’s blindsided on live TV by the news that her husband is sleeping with a young pop sensation who has set their affair to music. While avoiding the tabloids and pretending she’s just fine, she’s crumbling inside, desperate for him to come to his senses and for life to go back to normal.

Zennie’s breakup is no big loss. Although the world insists she pair up, she’d rather be surfing. So agreeing to be the surrogate for her best friend is a no-brainer—after all, she has an available womb and no other attachments to worry about. Except…when everyone else, including her big sister, thinks she’s making a huge mistake, being pregnant is a lot lonelier—and more complicated—than she imagined.

Never the tallest, thinnest or prettiest sister, Ali is used to being overlooked, but when her fiancé sends his disapproving brother to call off the wedding, it’s a new low. And yet Daniel continues to turn up “for support,” making Ali wonder if maybe—for once—someone sees her in a way no one ever has.

But side by side by side, these sisters will start over and rebuild their lives with all the affection, charm and laugh-out-loud humor that is classic Susan Mallery.

What are you Stacking the Shelves with this week? Did you enjoy this post? Would you like to see it more often on the blog? Comment below and let me know. 

If You're Not the One by Laura Briggs {Book Blog Tour with Bookouture}

Series:	Standalone
Genre:	Fiction
Publication Date:	February 6th 2019
Format:	Digital
Published By:	Bookouture
Goodreads:	If You're Not the One on Goodreads
My Review Copy:	Thanks to Bookouture for my review copy

Where to get:

A heartwarming, escapist romantic novel for fans of Elin Hilderbrand, Nora Roberts and Nancy Thayer.

Natalie isn’t a romantic. She doesn’t believe in true love, or destiny. She thinks that people are just plain lucky if they happen to find someone. It’s coincidence and nothing more.

As a wedding dress designer though, she knows she has to keep these feelings under wraps. Even if she’s suspicious that Harper, the bride she’s working with, might secretly agree with her. Because if Harper admitted she wasn’t sure about love, it might also mean giving up on a millionaire husband-to-be and the lavish island wedding of her dreams.

But, for Natalie, as her feelings develop for both her on-off boyfriend Chad, and for the boy-next-door Brayden, she starts to fear that her heart might not be as immune to love as she claims…

Could love have been there all along? And as the wedding approaches, who will find a happy-ever-after, who will find their way to themselves, and who will get left behind?

                                

Natalie is dating Chad. Brayden has been in love with Natalie since they were kids. The problem? Natalie doesn't believe in love. She doesn't go gaga over romance. She doesn't think that there is a perfect someone for her and she certainly doesn't think that her life would be better with a man in it. Honestly she is only dating Chad because they both want their families off their backs about marriage and romance. So they decide to tell their respective families they are serious and engaged over the holidays. The plan works so good that they decide to wait a bit to break up. After all, things are going well and they have a lot in common. Why stop now?

Our protagonist didn't pick the best career as a wedding dress designer to not believe in love buy hey she is really good at faking it. That is until she starts to question her attachment to Chad and her developing feelings for Brayden. What is happening to her?

This novel just blew me away with the authors quick wit and humorous writing style. I loved all the secondary characters in the story like Hayley one of Natalie's brides to be. She also wasn't sure about love but didn't want to lose the rich man and wedding of her dreams.

Get some coffee and curl up with this break out hit. I just know you'll love it as much as I did. 

About the Author

Laura Briggs is the author of several lighthearted romance novels and novellas, including the bestselling Amazon UK series A Wedding in Cornwall. She has a fondness for vintage-style dresses (especially ones with polka dots) and reads everything from Jane Austen to modern day mysteries. When she's not writing, she enjoys spending time with family, caring for her pets, going to movies and plays, and trying new restaurants.

Author Social Media Links:

 Facebook  | Twitter  |  Website  | 

 

Playing For Keeps by Jill Shavis {Book Blog Tour and Giveaway}

Series:	Standalone
Genre:	Fiction
Publication Date:	January 22nd, 2019
Format:	Paperback
Published By:	Avon Books
Goodreads:	Playing for Keeps t on Goodreads
My Review Copy:	Thanks to the publisher for my review copy

Where to get:

If you’re planning on falling in love…
When it comes to the confident, charismatic Caleb Parker, Sadie Lane feels the spark—the kind that comes from rubbing each other the wrong way. She’s a tattoo artist, he’s a straight-laced mogul. But after they accidentally co-rescue an abandoned dog from a storm, Sadie sees a vulnerable side to the seemingly invincible hottie.

You’d better be sure…
Caleb doesn’t do emotions. Growing up the underdog, he’s learned the hard way to build up an impenetrable wall. Perfect for business. Disastrous for relationships. He’s never worried about it before—not until he finally gets behind Sadie’s armor and begins to fall.

… someone is there to catch you.

Both guarded and vulnerable, Sadie and Caleb are complete opposites. Or are they? Shocked at their undeniable connection, can they ever admit to wanting more? That all depends on what they’re each willing to risk.

                                

Caleb Parker is a confident, charming, charismatic, gorgeous man living in San Francisco. He's a hugely successful, well-known venture capitalist who seems to have the Midas touch in business. He's driven when it comes to his career but never has put much effort into his personal life. He doesn't date much or do relationships. Then one evening he rescues an abandoned dog with a beautiful woman named Sadie Lane, and everything changes. They have mutual friends in common, so they occasionally ran into each other. Every time they crossed paths they seemed to rub each other the wrong way. She always was too busy judging him to really see him, but he'd been fascinated with her since they met. She was temptation walking. A ridiculously sexy, edgy tattoo artist who was also opinionated, sarcastic, and stubborn. They were polar opposites, but he still wanted to get to know her better.


Sadie Lane is a fiercely independent, incredibly private woman who rarely lets anyone get too close. She works two jobs, and had long ago given up on men, and was working on herself. Sadie tried to keep her dark parts hidden and built up a tough outer shell to protect her heart. Then she suddenly finds herself co-parenting a dog with a know it all, buttoned-up suit named Caleb Parker. He was everything she wasn't, and completely out of her league. He was heartbreakingly beautiful and disarmingly sexy. Then to top it all off, he was also a dog whisperer. She hated how attracted she was to him. She had all these preconceived ideas about him that were wrong. He was actually a great guy, and super kind, and shockingly could handle her sass without blinking an eye.

I really enjoyed this story and love this series. I've read 24 books by Jill Shalvis, and the Heartbreaker Bay series is one of my favorites! I have been so looking forward to getting Caleb's book, and he didn't disappoint. It was everything I wanted and more. A delicious billionaire with a beautiful heart. Just loved it! 

1 lucky winner will receive a paperback copy of Playing For Keeps. The US Only 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit http://www.jillshalvis.com for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

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Book Blitz: Work in Progress by Staci Hart

Her fake husband is a Work In Progress…

Work in Progress, an all-new romantic comedy from Staci Hart, is available now!

I never thought my first kiss would be on my wedding day.

But here I stand, clutching a bouquet of pale pink roses behind the doors of a Las Vegas chapel, and at the end of the aisle is the absolute last man I imagined would be waiting for me.

Handle with Care by Helena Hunting {Cover Reveal and Excerpt}

I’m startled out of my thoughts when my brother jumps up and shouts a bunch of profane nonsense, hands flailing like he’s trying to swim on land, or approximate the chicken dance while on an LSD trip.

“You can’t do this! It’s absolute bullshit!” Armstrong yells.

I look around the table, trying to piece together what I missed.

“I’m sorry, Armstrong. I know this is a shock, but we feel it’s in the company’s best interest to put Lincoln at the helm during this transitional stage,” G-mom says firmly.

At the helm? I look to G-mom who’s busy not looking at me.

Armstrong jabs at finger at himself. “But I’m the one who’s put in all the time here! I deserve to run the company! Lincoln doesn’t know the first thing about Moorehead. All he knows how to do is dig wells and forage for food in the wilderness. How are those valuable assets here?” He turns his attention to our mother. “Did you know about this? How can you let this happen? Look at him. How can that be the face of our company? He looks like he crawled out of a gutter and mugged a twenty-year-old college kid on a bender. How is this better for our bottom line?”

My mother clasps her hands in front of her. “I’m sorry, Armstrong, but this decision wasn’t mine to make. I know this is hard for you, but your grandmother and fath—”

Armstrong stomps his foot, exactly as a toddler would. “The company is mine! Lincoln can’t have it!”

I raise a hand, half to quiet my brother and also to find out what the freaking deal is. “Whoa, let’s back this bus up. Can someone explain what’s going on?”

“You’ve been appointed as the CEO of Moorehead Media, according to the will,” Christophe—no R, because that would make it far too pedestrian a name—my father’s lawyer says.

I’m working on trying to remain calm as I address my grandmother. “You didn’t say anything about me being CEO. You said you needed my help.”

“Running the company, yes,” she says through a practiced, stiff smile.

It’s her warning face, but seriously, when she said she needed my help for a few months I figured it meant I’d be keeping Armstrong in line while she sorted out who was going to take over the company, which I realize now was a stupid assumption.

“I didn’t think that meant CEO. How am I going to run a company with this dickhead on staff?” I motion to my brother.

“The name calling is unnecessary,” G-mom replies.

“Lincoln’s not even part of this family! He hasn’t attended one event in the past five years except for Dad’s funeral. He didn’t bother coming to my wedding and now he’s going to run the company? How is that fair?”

I snort. “Your wedding was an expensive joke.”

He crosses his arms over his chest. “I was set up. Amalie had cold feet and made me out to look like the bad guy.”

The woman beside him shoots him disgusted look.

Armstrong clears his throat and tugs at his collar. “My wedding is not the real issue. The point is that you’ve never involved yourself in any part of this family and now you think you can come in and take over. I will not stand by and let this happen!” He keeps jabbing his finger at me, as if he’s engaged in a finger sword fight.

I lean back in my chair and lace my fingers behind my neck. Armstrong has always been reactive. And self-absorbed. For a while it seemed like he finally had it together—back when he was engaged. But ever since that fiasco of a wedding he seems to have come completely unglued. Again. But worse this time. “Someone needs a timeout.” 
Buy Links 

AMAZON-BARNES & NOBLE-GOOGLE PAY-IBOOKS

About the Author

New York Times  and USA Today bestselling author of PUCKED, Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She's writes contemporary romance ranging from new adult angst to romantic sports comedy.

Social Media Links:

• Author Web Site
• Facebook
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