Blue Moon Mystery Saloon

Coming Home to Silver Leaf Falls

Silver Leaf Falls Series, Book 1, by Meg Easton, Mountain Heights Publishing, August 2021.

* An e-ARC was provided by Booksprout and the author for an honest review.

Coming Home to Silver Leaf Falls by Meg Easton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

COMING HOME TO SILVER LEAF FALLS by Meg Easton is the first of six novellas in the new SILVER LEAF FALLS SERIES. It features 28-year-old Liz Jenkins, who spent most of her youth in Silver Leaf VT and returns as the new director of Silver Leaf Camp, and 29-year-old Noah Knight, life-long resident and principal of the town’s elementary school. They’ve both failed at love and think HEAs aren’t for them. Liz aims to improve the faltering camp in one year and leave it in great shape, before she runs to another town to take on another failing business. That’s what she does—moves from place to place, never setting down roots, never making strong friendships, always married to her job. Noah feels something’s missing in his life and thinks a move to another school in CT will fill that hole. He’s lived in the small town almost his whole life, got out of a relationship some months before, and thinks he’s out of dating options in Silver Leaf. Since friends are anxious to find dates for both of them and neither wants to go on dates, Liz and Noah decide to fake date each other. But what begins as a ploy to get people off their backs quickly turns into something more.

PROS:
1. Well-written characters who care a lot for friends and families, the town, and the town’s traditions. Liz is great with kids and has innovative ideas for how to improve the camp by integrating activities with the local schools. Noah enjoys his job and is loved by the school kids and their parents. I particularly like his pledge to sleep on the roof of the school to increase students’ reading minutes.
2. The good use of words, like when Noah compares Liz’s personality as “trying to fit a hurricane in a jar.”
3. Issues addressed: feeling worthy of love, difficulty facing fears, what makes a “home”, how to fill holes in your life.
4. The story is well paced with unique ideas, the main characters grow throughout the book, and it’s written in third person, past tense.

CONS:
It’s too short. I would’ve loved to read more about Liz and Noah’s story.

SUMMARY:
COMING HOME TO SILVER LEAF FALLS is a bright start to the new series SILVER LEAF FALLS. The main characters are so caring and fun, that I would’ve loved to have them in my childrens’ lives when they were younger. The town seems like a wonderful place to grow up and someplace I’d like to live. If you like character-driven stories or enjoy an upbeat, sweet romance, this is the perfect book for you.

If You Like This, You May Like:
Other books in the SILVER LEAF FALLS SERIES and the NESTLED HOLLOW ROMANCE SERIES by Meg Easton, FALLING INTO HAPPILY EVER AFTER ROM COM SERIES by Ellie Hall, ACCIDENTALLY IN LOVE SERIES by Whitney Dineen, THE WILD WESTS SERIES by Kathy Fawcett, ROMANCING HIS RIVAL and BEAUTY AND THE BRIT by Poppy St. James


View all my reviews

Beauty and the Brit

A Novel by Poppy St. James, August 2021.

* An e-ARC was provided by Booksprout and the author for an honest review.

Beauty and the Brit by Poppy St. James
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

BEAUTY AND THE BRIT by Poppy St. James is the story of Camryn Palmer and Sterling Quinn, characters first introduced in the author’s recent release, ROMANCING HIS RIVAL. Sterling just found out that his great-grandfather left him an inheritance of millions of dollars. The catch? He has to marry in six months or lose the money. As a family lawyer, he’s guided several clients through contentious divorces and has seen the distress caused when a marriage dissolves. And he remembers the sadness and stress he and his mom suffered when his dad left. But he needs the money so he can give his ailing mother a better life. His uncle decides to give him a push and hires a PR firm to help Sterling find a wife.

Camryn is the PR rep that will play matchmaker for Sterling. She’s the best friend and employee of Olivia, who is married to Noah, Sterling’s best friend. So she and Sterling already know each other. She’s not too excited about the assignment, especially since Sterling’s a player. But the bonus she’ll get if Sterling gets married in time will pay off the almost $10,000 her last boyfriend charged to her credit cards before leaving her high and dry and with all the bills.

PROS:
1. Though Camryn and Sterling are attracted to each other, the romance plays out over time.
2. Both main characters are imperfect, excel in their professions, and care about their actions.
3. The arranged marriage angle is a common trope, but the author has given it a unique spin.
4. All of the characters are well written.
5. The pacing is good with no lagging scenes.
6. Written in first person with chapters mostly alternating between H and h points of view.

CONS:
1. The ending is a little abrupt, with the H’s thoughts about the h’s actions being a bit rushed.
2. It’s written in present tense, which isn’t a favorite of mine, but the author writes it really well.

SUMMARY:
BEAUTY AND THE BRIT is a delightful, lighthearted story with well-written characters, good pacing, and a unique twist to arranged marriage romances. If you like character-driven stories or just want an enjoyable beach read, this is the perfect book for you.

If You Like This, You Might Like:
SECOND CHANCE SUMMER and ROMANCING HIS RIVAL by Poppy St. James, WEDDINGS IN THE CITY by Alina Jacobs, OXFORD NOVELS and THE CENTRAL PARK PACT SERIES by Lauren Layne, FBI/US ATTORNEY SERIES by Julie James, MATCH ME IF YOU CAN by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, THE HATING GAME and SECOND FIRST IMPRESSIONS by Sally Thorne


View all my reviews

The Perfect Bachelor

The Perfect Man Series, Book 4, by Lynn Dare, August 2021.

* An e-ARC of this book was provided by Booksprout and the author for an honest review.

The Perfect Bachelor by Lynn Dare
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

THE PERFECT BACHELOR by Lynn Dare is the fourth book in the lighthearted THE PERFECT MAN series. It follows the romance of committed bachelor and lawyer, Grey Amore (brother of Ellie from the series’ first book), and new Cape Kismet FL resident and paralegal, Sadie Wells. Grey is the only lawyer in town, and since his business is growing, he needs to hire an assistant. Sadie has just moved to town to provide a home for her gay 17-year-old brother after he's been kicked out of their parents’ home. She needs to find a decent job, pronto, and applies for the assistant position. The H and h originally meet at the local bookstore, where Grey tries to charm Sadie. She’s not interested, much to Grey's dismay, especially since he’s not used to being turned down. So they are surprised when she shows up to interview at Grey's office. Both are wary of the other, but through work, they begin to know and trust one another.

PROS:
1. Both Grey and Sophie are fun, well-written characters. They each have their faults, but they are caring individuals who grow throughout the book. Characters from the other books in the series show up here too and provide advice and some comic relief.
2. Most of the story's characters are people I'd like to know. They tease and support each other, and are overall good people.
3. The story is lighthearted but deals with some serious issues too, like responsibility for your actions (even for teenagers), believing in yourself, coming to terms with your past, and fear of commitment.
4. No instalove. Yay!

CONS:
None that I found.

SUMMARY: THE PERFECT BACHELOR is a fun, well-paced and lighthearted story dealing with some serious issues, and it’s a great addition to THE PERFECT MAN SERIES. The main characters leap off the page and are people you’d like to know, and the secondary characters are there to give support and sometimes questionable advice. If you like character-driven stories or books featuring small town romances, then you’ll definitely want to buy THE PERFECT BACHELOR.

If You Like This, You Might Like:
Other books in THE PERFECT MAN SERIES by Lynn Dare, HEART’S COVE HOTTIES SERIES by Lilian Monroe, LOVE IS A MYSTERY SERIES by Laura Burton, BLUE MOON SERIES and BOOTLEG SPRINGS SERIES by Lucy Score, THE EASTONS SERIES by Marina Adair, THE MILES FAMILY SERIES and THE BAILEY BROTHERS SERIES by Claire Kingsley, MEET ME AT THE ALTAR SERIES and SHAUGHNESSY BROTHERS SERIES by Samantha Chase, SECOND CHANCE SUMMER and BEAUTY AND THE BRIT by Poppy St. James


View all my reviews

Shooting Star

A Nikki Latrelle Mystery, Book 5, by Sasscer Hill, misterio press, July 2021

* An e-ARC was provided by the author for an honest review.

Shooting Star: A Nikki Latrelle Mystery, Book 5 by Sasscer Hill
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

SHOOTING STAR is the fifth story in the NIKKI LATRELLE MYSTERY SERIES by Sasscer Hill. And what a fine addition it is. Nikki is in her element as a jockey extra in “The Final Furlong,” a movie in production at Santa Anita Park in California. As the story begins, Nikki witnesses a murder of a cameraman and soon after becomes the female lead when the woman playing that part is critically injured while shooting a race scene.

With murders and injuries plaguing the production, Nikki is wary of everyone, except for Will Marshall, a former jockey and one-time love. He is also her boss, as she is now a subcontractor for the Thoroughbred Racing Protection Bureau (TRPB). He asks her to remain on the production to give him information and help catch the perpetrators, and he’s angry when Nikki starts lying to him. She does so to protect him, and while her feelings grow for her hot young co-star, Jamie, she tries not to think of her unresolved feelings about Will. No matter what happens in her love life, Nikki’s determined to solve the pieces of the puzzle that will eventually lead her to the murderer.

PROS:
- Characters are so well-written, one could imagine them walking right off the page. My particular favorite is Jamie, the suave male lead in the movie, and how he totally transforms into his on-screen persona, Dillon, a total jerk.
- Smells, sights, and textures draw the reader into the scene, almost as if you’re there.
- One of the things I like about the author’s books is the absence of grammatical errors —things that usually bring me out of the story.
- The story gives the reader a glimpse of how a movie and the sets are made.
- The book has good pacing and is action packed.

CONS:
None.

SUMMARY:
SHOOTING STAR is a fast-paced mystery with lots of action and well-written characters. It’s a great addition to the NIKKI LATRELLE MYSTERY SERIES and is a must read for horse racing fans and readers who like character-driven stories.

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MIGHT LIKE:
Other NIKKI LATRELLE MYSTERIES, FIA MCKEE MYSTERIES, and TRAVELS OF QUINN by Sasscer Hill, DICK FRANCIS NOVELS by Dick Francis, THE DIMITY HORSE MYSTERIES by Leanne Owens, THE SCAR RULE by Heidi Vanderbilt, LARK DAVIS MYSTERIES by Annabelle Hunter


View all my reviews