When Life Gives You Lemons, Drink Coffee! by Deanna Martinez-Bey - Review

Janine is a smart and sassy southern girl from Triple Creek, North Carolina, who knows what she wants and fearlessly goes after it. Janine's goal of making a life for herself and marrying the man of her dreams finally became a reality. She was a newlywed, married to a successful business man named Tom Whitfield and owned her own bakery. Their life seemed perfect and all was well in Janine's world until her faith is rocked through a course of events that would challenge her own beliefs and change her fate forever.

Tom is unexpectedly promoted to a new job that requires change for both he and Janine. Leaving her life in Triple Creek to support her husband's career took a leap of faith for Janine and was a risk so early in the marriage. But the bigger threat comes when Janine discovers some of Tom's darkest secrets and learns valuable lessons while she was there.

Janine makes new friends in New York, but she still misses her family and friends in North Carolina. She discovers that love is not always predictable when faced with new challenges. Can love truly conquer all? Or are some things best left behind? After seeing things that shock her, Janine feels betrayed by people who she thought she could trust.

This is the second installment written by author, Deanna Martinez-Bey, and focuses on Janine, a character we met in her first book, Twinkle, Twinkle Christmas Star. Told from the perspective of Janine and her funny southern humor, this story will move you while you share in this journey of discovery, love, betrayal, and the realization that you can make anything you like out of what life gives you.


My Review:

An inspiring faith based story about letting go and finding true happiness. 

Janine had a good life.  She was newly married to a wonderful man and had great friends and family.  She owned her own bakery and was fully involved with her church.  But when her husband accepts a job in New York and Janine is forced to leave her home town and everything that was familiar to her, she has no idea what she is in store for.  She loves the B&B Tom bought for her, but something is still missing.  When Janine tells Tom she has decided to go back to North Carolina for a visit her family, it angers him to the point he won’t even talk to her.  Soon Janine starts to put the pieces of the puzzle together and makes a surprise visit to Tom.  What she finds shakes her world and has her questioning her faith and wondering why this would happen. 

Janine is now faced with starting her life all over again and she finds love and happiness where she never expected to find it.

Of course the first thing that caught my attention to this book was a character with the same name as mine.  But once I started reading, I was fully engaged in the story.  It’s personal and heartbreaking at first, but it but it wraps up with a very good message.  Everything happens for a reason.   You may not realize it as the time, but it makes sense in the end.    

 

A Teaspoon of Trouble (Bachelor Bake-Off #1) by Shirley Jump - Review

Type-A chef Carolyn Henderson has walked away from her job at a trendy NYC restaurant after an abrupt family tragedy. Now, as a guardian to her four-year-old niece, Emma, and a very disobedient mutt – kids and dogs are so not her skill set – moving back to Marietta, Montana seems the best temporary option. But when confronted by her parents’ declining health, Carolyn has to face reality. And she’s going to need some serious help. So who better to ask than Matthew West, a blast from her high school past… and as hunky and helpful as ever.

Vet – and very eligible, if reluctant, Bachelor – Matthew West can’t believe his luck when his high school crush stumbles through his door. Dogs, kids, and gorgeous damsels in distress. Carolyn needs help with the pup, and he needs help whipping up delicious concoctions for the Bachelor Bake-Off. So she wants to make a deal: dog obedience lessons for cooking tips… but Matthew wants to broker quite a bit more…


My Review:

A sweet light hearted romance.

Carolyn and Matt dated in high school, but once they graduated, Carolyn left Marietta and never looked back.  She had bigger plans and her little hometown just couldn't fill them.  She had been living her life in New York City for the last ten years and working as a sous chef.

Carolyn is back in Marietta temporarily with her niece Emma who she was given guardianship after he sister and husband were killed in a car accident.  Carolyn doesn't know anything about raising children.  Emma also has a dog, Roscoe and she can't bear to part with.  Roscoe is in serious need of training. When he ends up sick, Carolyn takes him to the vet and to her surprise, the vet is no other than her high school boyfriend, Matt.

Matt was surprised to see Carolyn in his clinic.  He never forgot her and now that she was back in town, he will do anything to convince her to stay.  When Carolyn finds out Matt has signed up for the Bachelor Bake-Off and doesn’t know how to cook, she offers to teach him in exchange for obedience training for Roscoe.  They soon find themselves rekindling what they once had.  But Carolyn insists she is heading back to New York soon, so they can't get to serious.  How will Matt convince Carolyn to stay in Marietta and give their relationship a second chance?
 
This was a really sweet story and a wonderful start to a new series.  It is a well written and enjoyable novella.  Sometimes I find novellas can feel a bit rushed, but this one has enough details to make a great story without anything feeling like it was left out.  It is a perfect book for when you don't have a lot of time, but want a fulfilling story.

Hotel Hookup: San Francisco by Annabelle Snow - Review

Molly Roxbury travels to San Francisco for her company’s annual sales meeting, knowing she’ll feel right at home: a great city, personable coworkers, and plenty of planned events. Spending a week in Union Square and living in a hotel is going to be like returning to a posh adult summer camp.

And like all good camp memories, hers from one year ago involve Derek, her equal from another district with whom she shared some heavy flirting. This year, though, Derek is the one doing the talking. One morning of fun gives way to another. Molly's not sure if she’s willing to get involved…But Derek can be very persuasive.

Will they risk their professional lives to fulfill their personal one behind closed doors?

The Hotel Hookup series
Book 1: Hotel Hookup: Austin
Book 2: Hotel Hookup: San Francisco
Book 3: Hotel Hookup: Chicago

Book 4: Hotel Hookup: Miami

My Review: 

A passionate hookup between two workers at the company's annual sales conference in San Fransisco.

Molly Roxbury and Derek Watson met the previous year when they both attended their company conference and shared the honor of Rookie of the Year.  Molly was attracted to Derek, but knew he was married, so she settled for a friendship only.  This year Derek arrives and shares the news with Molly that he recently divorced.  There is no holding back when they share their free time getting to know each other intimately.  But in the end they both go their separate ways.

This is a quick read with a lot of sexual content.  The author did a good job bringing the characters to life and telling their stories.  I liked how Molly referred to the sales conference as summer camp for adults and says “what happens at summer camp, stays at summer camp”. 

 

Free New Release and Giveaway: The Truth About Love by Anna Bloom

Anna Bloom's The Truth About Love is out now!

Eve Harris has always had a point to prove: where you come from doesn't matter, it's what you aim for that counts. She has it all planned; find the perfect teaching job, live with her best friend, Cherry, and never get dragged back into the destructive world of her youth.

The last thing she expects is to bump into millionaire heir Cameron Wallis on her last day on campus. Nor is she expecting to discover that when she gives him a chance to win her over he's nothing like the playboy the newspapers paint him to be.

Will Eve be able to let go of her judgements and embrace a spontaneous affair with Cam that isn't part of her plan? Or will the constraints from both their families prevent Cam and Eve from discovering The Truth About Love?

The Truth About Love Vol.I is the first novella in a serial About finding love even when you're least expecting it.



The Truth About Love is free on Amazon.com myBook.to/TruthAboutLove

Goodreads Link https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33983628-the-truth-about-love?from_search=true



Anna is also hosting a GIVEAWAY on her author page to win an ebook and signed paperback of your choice  https://www.facebook.com/AnnaBloomBooks/

 

Kitty Smile

The Valentine Quest (Love at the Chocolate Shop Book 5) by Melissa McClone - Review

Keep your competition close…and your heart even closer.

When Nevada Parker travels to Marietta, Montana, she anticipates enough peace and quiet to finish her PhD dissertation. Cupidville turns out to be anything but quiet. In fact, it looks like Valentine’s Day—her least favorite holiday—exploded all over the small town.

Among the sea of red hearts, “Be Mine” signs, and pink, pink, pink, Nevada spots a flyer for a multi-day race called The Valentine Quest. The grand prize—a luxury tropical vacation—would be the perfect welcome-home gift for her brother who’s leaving the military.

Dustin Decker sure could use a break from giving city slickers sleigh rides. Even with a bum knee from his bull-riding days, the race’s grand prize is as good as his—until he realizes he needs a partner if he wants to win.

He makes a strategic pact with the prim, bookish Nevada. But with a kiss, their unlikely alliance turns into something more…and soon, racing isn’t the only thing on their minds. As the finish line nears, they must decide if the grand prize is worth more than what they’ve found together…or if one of them will walk away empty handed—and brokenhearted.

The Love at the Chocolate Shop series
Book 1: Melt My Heart, Cowboy by CJ Carmichael
Book 2: A Thankful Heart by Melissa McClone
Book 3: Montana Secret Santa by Debra Salonen
Book 4: The Chocolate Cure by Roxanne Snopek
Book 5: The Valentine Quest by Melissa McClone
Book 6: Charmed by Chocolate by Steena Holmes
More books coming soon

My Review: 

We have all heard the saying "you often find love when you have stop looking" and in Nevada Parker and Dustin Decker's case, this happens to be true.  Neither wanted anything serious.  They just wanted partner up in order win the Valentine Quest, and then go one their separate ways.

Nevada had been hurt by a guy when she was in college and didn't care about meeting or dating men.  She was focused on teaching and finishing school.  Former rodeo champion, Dustin was just a fun time guy and never serious about any girls he met or hung out with.  But when Nevada and Dustin decide to join the Valentine Quest as a team, they start to realize they not only make a good team, they just might make a good couple.

I really enjoyed this book.  The characters' backgrounds were well thought out and the story moved along at a good pace.  The scenes were easy to visualize too.  If you are looking for a heartfelt romance, this is the book for you.

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Plan Cee by Hilary Grossman

Would you abandon your present for a second chance at your past?

Cecelia Reynolds has spent most of her life trying to forget the commitment-phobic man who broke her heart. It wasn’t easy, but eventually she did it, or so she thought…

As Cecelia and her husband gather for a friend’s wedding, her perfect world is thrown into complete turmoil. Even though it’s been twenty years since she last laid eyes on Keith Emerson, all it takes is one glance for her to feel emotions she thought were long gone. When Keith ends up officiating the ceremony, she quickly realizes his message of love is directed at her, not the happy couple. But can she believe him?

We live our entire lives thinking we know ourselves. But do we ever really?

As secrets and lies cause Cecelia’s world to spin completely out of control, she is forced to seek advice from the most unlikely ally. In the process, she must confront the demons of her past and the events that shaped her into the woman she is now. Will she finally learn the real meaning of love, friendship, and family?

While this book is a sequel to Plan Bea, it also reads as a standalone.

Preorder your copy of Plan Cee today: getBook.at/PlanCee

About Hilary:

 

By day, Hilary Grossman works in the booze biz. By night she hangs out with her "characters." She has an unhealthy addiction to denim and high heel shoes. She's been known to walk into walls and fall up stairs. She only eats spicy foods and is obsessed with her cat, Lucy. She loves to find humor in everyday life. She likens life to a game of dodge ball - she tries to keep many balls in the air before they smack her in the face. She lives on Long Island.

Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/HilaryGrossmanAuthor 

Twitter https://twitter.com/feelingbeachie 

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hilary_grossman/

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