Review: Nicole by Sarah Monzon

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Who has time to date when she’s trying to raise a miniature human by herself AND save the planet from its irresponsible inhabitants? Not to mention my winning personality (snort) and my curves-have-curves figure (eyeroll) don’t exactly attract the opposite sex. Unfortunately, none of these reasons have stopped my best friends and SoCal sewing sisters from taking on the archaic role of matchmakers, and they’re not beneath a little bribery if that’s what it takes to get my cooperation. Let’s just say everyone has their weak spot, and donations to my favorite charities is mine.

If I were to consider a romantic relationship, my dream guy certainly wouldn’t be immature, everything-is-a-game Dr. Drew Bauer. The man raises my body temperature faster than global warming does the Earth’s! But life seems determined to keep throwing us together, especially now that one of my SoCal sewing sisters is engaged to his best friend, in which case there can only be one of two outcomes:

1. I kill him in a fit of annoyance.

2. My common sense escapes me, and I fall in love with him.

Honestly, I'm not sure which would be worse.

My Review

Such a fun story! I absolutely loved Drew and his teasing nature. He sure knew how to rile Nicole up. They develop some sweet chemistry after Nicole lets down her guard and begins to acknowledge that there's more to Drew than she gave him credit for. It was nice to see her realize with each layer she uncovers how great of a guy he is, even if his car isn't electric ;) 

 

The only reason I didn't rate this book five stars was how difficult it was for me to connect with Nicole. She's passionate about the environment and social issues, which is great, but her attitude of superiority was a pretty big turn off. Chapter three is full of preachy "woke" perspective disguised as normal conversation, which would have made me ditch the book if it wasn't one I'd signed up to review. Drew helps soften Nicole's rough edges over time and she begins to relax, but then she made comments in her narration toward the end of the book that still showed that same attitude of condescension, which made me roll my eyes. I think it helped that the author included Nicole's crazy mom to show the influences that affected her upbringing, but it made me wonder why Nicole embraced her mother's philosophies when she resented her and recognized how unhealthy it was. The biggest favor Drew did for Nicole was point out how she was doing the exact same thing to her own daughter Sierra.

 

Overall, I enjoyed the romance and Drew's personality, but felt that Nicole would have been a more relatable character if she was portrayed as an advocate without the elitism.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Don't miss the other books in the Sewing in SoCal series . . .

Review: Honor in the Mountain Refuge by Misty M. Beller

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

This epic journey is his last chance to start a new life.

After being cast out of his Blackfoot village for his kindness to the Nez Perce captives, Chogan travels west in search of meaning for his life. Meaning that doesn’t require killing or torturing innocent people. Though the lovely face of Telípe, a Nez Perce woman, is imprinted on his heart, he avoids her village. She deserves a happy life with her husband and coming child.

With her husband dead and the birth of her babe imminent, Telípe’s reality looks nothing like she planned. She’s been forced to return to the village where she grew up and the chaos of her family’s lodge—with all her boisterous younger brothers. She desperately desires to start a new life for herself and the babe growing within her, but she can’t seem to climb above the mire of her past. When she stumbles into the brave who’d shown her kindness during her captivity, something ignites within her—a new hope.

Chogan’s determination to stay and help Telípe is thwarted by her people’s fear and hatred for his tribe—especially since he was among last winter’s kidnappers. It doesn’t matter that he did everything he could to keep her and her unborn child safe and comfortable during that awful event. But as a new predator threatens the safety of the village, Chogan determines to take down the massive wildcat that’s already injured several children—including one of Telípe’s younger brothers. When the danger escalates, Chogan is faced with an impossible choice. No matter which option he chooses, his life will never be the same—nor that of the woman he’s come to love.

My Review

I love the unlikely friendship that blossoms between Telípe and Chogan! She realized his kind and compassionate nature when he cared for her and protected her when she had been kidnapped by the Blackfoot warriors in a previous book in the series. With Chogan outcast from his tribe for rejecting violence, we learn about his struggles with his father and his search for purpose which unexpectedly leads him to reunite with Telípe. Their curiosity about each other lead to meeting in secret, and they develop a sweet connection. Chogan's protectiveness is endearing and his service to Telípe's village helps him find a level of acceptance as he continues to seek God's will for his future. I enjoyed the growing faith of both Chogan and Telípe as they embrace Christianity with help from the group of friends that have been traveling throughout the series but are beginning to settle down with new families starting. 

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Book Tour & Review: The Valet's Secret by Josi S. Kilpack

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

A passionate kiss from a handsome valet becomes a Regency Cinderella story when he is revealed to be the heir to the earldom.

York, England, 1819

As a once happily married woman, Rebecca Parker had a good life, but now widowed, working for a living, and her only child grown, she feels invisible, tired, and lonely. That is until the day a valet speeding by on a horse nearly runs her off the road. Mr. Malcolm Henry is apologetic, gentle, and handsome. She’s instantly drawn to him, which is why, rather than stopping him from kissing her, she kisses him back, reigniting a nearly forgotten passion. But love at first sight only happens in fairy tales—never to an ordinary woman like her.

She sees Mr. Henry again and feels the possibilities growing until, while working in the kitchens during a dinner party, she sees the valet she kissed sitting at the right hand of the baroness. Mr. Henry is not the earl’s valet; he is the heir to the earldom—Kenneth Winterton.

Heartbroken, angry, and betrayed, Rebecca does not trust Lord Winterton and refuses to accept his apology. But when Lord Winterton proves he is as kind and gentle as “Mr. Henry” was, she finds herself willing to give him a second chance. But will he take a chance on her? He needs a wife to help him in his place in society, and nothing about Rebecca’s life does that . . . except how he feels when she is with him.

Trust, love, loneliness, and passion collide in this story about a man who will risk it all to fight for the woman he loves and a woman who does not believe in fairy tales—until she finds herself living in one.

My Review

I have to admit that I did not read the synopsis before reading this book- all I knew about the plot was that it was a Regency, there was a valet, and he had a secret. It was quite fun to get to know the characters, as the author is skilled at bringing them to life with depth and qualities that are easy to admire. Rebecca and Kenneth (Lord Winterton) are each at a crossroads in their lives, transitioning to new circumstances that are not comfortable but unavoidable. I loved their serendipitous moment of connection that impacts them each so greatly that it affects their choices about their futures. The undeniable chemistry between them influences their priorities, making their stolen moments together that much sweeter. I didn't make the Cinderella connection until the end of the book, and I thought the tie-in was subtle and clever. I was glad that I didn't suspect that it was a retelling, which shows how the author made it her own unique story while incorporating nods to the fairy tale. (I feel like most Cinderella retellings I've read echo the original too closely and I find them predictable and boring). The Valet's Secret is a refreshing Regency romance with characters that are mature in more ways than age, yet have all the possibilities of life and love before them, especially with the support of some rather likeable supporting characters. Highly recommend!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Advance Praise

"Ebullient Regency romance...a classic case of mistaken identity inspires love between the heir to an earldom and a widow. Rebecca’s funny, chaste fantasies and worries about her humble stature mix with Kenneth’s discomfort about his subterfuge. Introspective passages reveal what each of them makes of the other. The novel is moved along by their fascinating hidden desires and aches, all of which are magnified by unspoken moments and meaningful gestures. There are nice period embellishments...The book is lighthearted about reimagining Cinderella’s tale, too. Uplifting themes about second chances in middle age come in as well. Reticence and propriety dictate Kenneth and Rebecca’s interactions; both are sensitive about social classes. The conclusion is joyous. Sweet and intense, The Valet’s Secret is an enchanting romance in which a like-minded couple faces odds that seem insurmountable, but remains passionate."

—Foreword Reviews

About the Author

Josi S. Kilpack is the author of several novels and one cookbook and a participant in several coauthored projects and anthologies. She is a four-time Whitney Award winner—including Lord Fenton’s Folly (2015) for Best Romance and Best Novel of the Year—and a Utah Best in State winner for fiction. She is the mother of four children and lives in northern Utah.

You can find more information about Josi and her writing at josiskilpack.com

Book Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: Secrets of Their Past by Allie Pleiter

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Secrets of Their Past

(Wander Canyon #5)

By Allie Pleiter

Contemporary, Inspirational Romance

Paperback & ebook, 224 Pages

February 22, 2022 by Love Inspired

Facing the past could change his future. 

 

Veterinarian Neal Rodgers is in Wander Canyon seeking the truth about his past—not to rescue a litter of kittens under his next-door neighbor’s porch. But persistent single-mom Tessa Kennedy is impossible to ignore—especially when she uncovers a family secret of her own. Discovering the hidden facts of their histories could be the key to unlocking everything in this small town.

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Excerpt

Neal came out of his garage with a tool kit in one hand and a box of cans and towels in the other. After a short wave to Tessa, he set down the items and popped the hood on his snazzy blue convertible. A month off and a fancy car to tinker with—the man’s life couldn’t be more different from her daily scramble. Her life was a boring, used-SUV existence.

Tessa hoped Mari didn’t take too much notice of the way Neal filled out the dark shirt he wore, or the don’t even realize how good I look way he moved around the vehicle.

“You need to make sure you have something fun to do on Greg’s birthday. You know, a distraction?” Mari waggled her eyes on the last word, nodding in Neal’s direction. “And I don’t mean kittens.”

Tessa had to admit, her new neighbor was a distraction. And a rather nice one at that. She’d sincerely meant her offer to help him find his birth mother—it seemed like such a compelling puzzle to solve. Tessa was warming to the idea that it was no accident this man in search of information moved in next to a woman whose favorite thing to do was to find things out. “I hadn’t thought about it. I just sort of planned to muddle through. Maybe with a pint of ice cream and a sappy movie.” The words sounded embarrassingly pathetic as she said them aloud. She’d once been known as a woman with admirable spunk. Where was all that spunk now?

Excerpted from Secrets of Their Past by Allie Pleiter, Copyright © 2022 by Allie Pleiter. Published by Love Inspired.

Other Books in the Series

About the Author

An avid knitter, coffee junkie and firm believer that “pie makes everything better,” Allie Pleiter writes both fiction and non-fiction working on as many as four novels at a time. The bestselling author of over fifty books, Allie has enjoyed a twenty-year career with over 1.5 million books sold. In addition to writing, Allie maintains an active writing productivity coaching practice and speaks regularly on the creative process, publishing, and her very favorite topic—The Chunky Method of time management for writers. Visit her website at www.alliepleiter.com to learn more.

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Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway

One winner will receive a signed True Large Print copy of Secrets of Their Past by Allie Pleiter, a wool shawl hand-knit by the author, and a 3oz bottle of Apple Harvest body lotion (US only)
 

One winner will receive an ebook of Secrets of Their Past by Allie Pleiter (International)
 

Ends March 9, 2022

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