Book Review - Not OK, Cupid by Anna Kaling

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Amazon UK

Title: Not OK, Cupid

Author: Anna Kaling

Format reviewed: Paperback

Source: Publisher supplied copy

Publisher: Headline Eternal

Publication Date: 4th February 2020

Rating: 5 Stars

Love doesn't always follow the rules...

Ally Rivers has three jobs, a disastrous dating record, and her gran won't stop talking about sex with eighty-year-old Melvin. Now her best friend Sam confesses his whole family think they're engaged. The longest relationship she's ever been in is fabricated, and her intended is gay.

Playing Sam's besotted lover at a family party, Ally discovers the hot gardener she's been flirting with is Sam's dad, Marcus. She even sucks at fake relationships. But Marcus is on to them and embroils Ally in another scheme - encouraging Sam to come out.

Scheming is not Ally's forte and, worse, she and Marcus are falling for each other. After years in an unhappy marriage, he's not letting Ally go without a fight, but she's torn between the best friend she'll ever have and the only man she's ever been in love with. Either choice will leave two broken hearts, and Gran will still have a more successful love life than her...

I would have loved to be a fly on the wall, inside Anna Kaling's brain when she came up with this most convoluted, original and brilliant of story lines.   

I don't think I've ever read a book where there the situation between the various characters becomes that confusing, and when the big secrets are finally revealed in spectacular fashion to loved ones, well Ally's head wasn't the only one unsure who to believe about what.  I won't say more on that but the book builds to a fabulous crescendo. 

Before that we have Ally, who initially came across as the sort of character that really bugs me in books, until we get to know her more at which point I really started to like her and feel sorry for herself. 

There is Sam, her best friend, who's gay, but not out of the closet with family, who has been pretending to his parents that has in a 3 year strong relationship with Ally.   

But when Ally meet's Marcus, Sam's dad for the first time, there is clearly lust although she has know idea who he is instantly, and yet there is a pull between Marcus and Ally, and that is where thins start go get messy. 

Well messy, full of sexual tension, morally dubious decisions, and all manner of great scenes, this is a great book.    I loved the chemistry between Ally and Marcus, and this is an author that knows her way around a hot sex scene. 

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and it really is a story that shows you just can't help who you fall in love with, no matter how "wrong" or inconvenient it may seem!! 

Thank you to Emily Patience at Headline Eternal for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - The Royal Bodyguard by Lindsay Emory - #HolidayReading Mexico

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Amazon UK

Title: The Royal Bodyguard

Author: Lindsay Emory

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Headline Eternal

Publication Date: 12th November 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

Let Lindsay Emory whisk you away on another romantic, glamorous and royal adventure in The Royal Bodyguard!

Filled with all the intrigue, romance and mystery that made readers fall in love with The Royal Runaway, this is perfect for fans of The Princess Diaries and The Royal We with a splash of James Bond and The Bourne Identity. Now optioned for film!

When Princess Caroline of Drieden of the Royal House Laurent eloped with a race car driver, she forfeited her royal title and her family.

Now a widow and exiled from Drieden, Caroline is working as a journalist, writing exposes under a pen name. When, one day, she catches sight of her sister Thea's ex-fiancé, she's stunned - Christian is supposed to be dead. Here could be the scoop of the century.

But Caroline's plans to uncover Christian's deception are foiled by the arrival of Hugh Konnor - her former bodyguard and Caroline's first - unrequited - love. When Hugh stubbornly refuses to leave her side, Caroline can't deny they make a good team.

As they unravel a web of deception that could bring down the House of Laurent, Caroline must decide how far she's willing to go to protect a family she feels deserted her - and whether the man who swore to guard her body can safely hold her heart.

As a massive fan of The Royal Runaway, I was incredibly excited to read this new Royal book, and it did not disappoint one bit. 

I just wish I'd read them closer together as some of it may have been easier to catch up with, but other than that this could easily be read as a standalone.

This time its Caroline in the spotlight, and we see just what a disgraced Princess of Drieden really gets up to. 

I loved the continuation of a story-line from the first book, while also giving this book a slightly different feel and perspective, given this is not your typical dutiful princess. 

And since she has been living in exile, a whole bunch of familiar faces suddenly arriving in town is not what she wanted, much less when the plot thickens and all manner of lives may be at risk. 

I enjoyed her interactions with the troublesome bodyguard that she propositioned many years ago, and it was fun to see how that bit of the story played out. 

I really did love every last second of this book, that is fast paced, and keeps you on your toes, while you try to work out just who may or may not be double crossing each other. 

It was also interesting to see more of the family from the non royal side of the family, and I loved the references to American women wanting to marry their own Prince, a clear nod to Harry and Meghan. 

Thoroughly enjoyable and I'm sure this isn't the last we have seen of Drieden or this particular royal family.  Just please don't make us wait as long for the next book. 

Thank you to Headline Eternal and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Marriage on Madison Avenue by Lauren Layne

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Amazon UK

Title: Marriage on Madison Avenue

Author: Lauren Layne

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Headline Eternal

Publication Date: 28th January 2020

Rating: 5 Stars

Can guys and girls ever be just friends? According to Audrey Tate and Clarke West, absolutely. After all, they've been best friends since childhood without a single romantic entanglement. Clarke is the charming playboy Audrey can always count on and, knowing that the ever-loyal Audrey will never not play along with his strategy for dodging his matchmaking mother, announces he's already engaged...to Audrey.

But what starts out as a playful game between two best friends turns into something infinitely more complicated, as just-for-show kisses begin to stir up forbidden feelings. As the faux wedding date looms closer, Audrey and Clarke realize that they can never go back to the way things were, but deep down, do they really want to?

Filled with charm and heart and plenty of heart and wit, this entertaining series will hook you from the very first page. Look out for the other two titles, Passion on Park Avenue and Love on Lexington Avenue

Want more fun, fresh, flirty and very sexy rom-com? Check out Lauren's Oxford series and don't miss her warm, witty and sexy Wedding Belles series and the I Do, I Don't series, as well as the romantic standalones in the Love, Unexpectedly series.

What a unique opening to a book. Certainly not the circumstances I'd normally expect a female friendship to form in.  I was hooked from that point on and it was early in chapter 1 when I realised that perhaps not reading the others in the series was a mistake as I worked have loved to know their stories. 

That being said Audrey and Clarke's story is pretty much perfect,  taking the fake boyfriend trope to a whole new level. 

I loved their reasons for the fake relationship and as best friends they were always going to have each other's best interests at heart.  But equally I think I'm not alone in hoping that the story progressed in the way it did.

I loved the scene in the lingerie shop, it was hilarious. And all interactions between Audrey and Clarke were fabulous. 

This is the first book I've read by this author and it definitely wont be the last.  I loved every minute of it. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Headline Eternal for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Love You, Love You Not by Jo Watson - #HolidayReading Madeira

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Amazon UK

Title: Love You, Love You Not

Author: Jo Watson

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Headline Eternal

Publication Date: 14th May 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

 There's a fine line between love and hate...

Poppy Peterson is about to be evicted if she doesn't pay her rent. She used to be an actress on a telenovela until her character, Ramona Gonzalez, Executive Administrative Assistant to the CEO, was killed off. Unfortunately, dead characters can't pay the bills.

Ryan Stark is a tough boss - especially if you're his assistant. He's been through five in the last two months and now no one wants to work for him. He needs an assistant who can meet his demands. And he can be very demanding.

Poppy's been an assistant before - well, on screen anyway. It can't be that hard to do in real life, right?

Two things are for sure. Poppy is about to play the role of a lifetime. And Ryan is about to learn a whole new lesson about what's really important in life.

I do love a Jo Watson book and this was no exception. Completely brilliant story between Poppy and Ryan, two very different people but there is just something about each other that connects them. 

They seem to drive each other mad, I'm not sure how many times Poppy seems to lose her job, but at other times she is incredibly hilarious, 

I loved Ryan's personal situation, and as you get to know him, you see a completely different side to the man that is CEO of his own company, and used to terrifying his staff. 

Poppy is complex, she is though completely not cut out for corporate life but she doesn't want to be she just wants to be able to pay some bills, if only she didn't seem to create drama wherever she goes. 

The chemistry between them is very believable and I loved  seeing them fight a rather obvious attraction. 

I love reading this author on holiday and this to me is another fabulously escapist story, perfect for poolside or beach reading!

Thank you to Headline Eternal on Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily, 

Book Review - You, Me, Forever by Jo Watson - Blog Tour

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Amazon UK

Title: You, Me, Forever

Author: Jo Watson

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Headline Eternal

Publication Date: 3rd December 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

It all started with faulty elevator - and a love letter...

Writer Becca Thorne needs an idea - fast! She might have a huge bestseller to her name but, with the deadline for book two approaching, Becca knows she's in danger of losing the career she cares so much about. But Fate has other plans for her when she almost plummets to her death with two strangers in a faulty elevator.

Although Becca emerges in one piece, her precious vintage handbag doesn't, and that's when she realises that inspiration has been with her alll along. Hidden inside the bag's now-torn lining is a set of beautiful love letters.

It might not be her story, yet Becca can't seem to get the romantic words out of her head and feels compelled to discover who wrote the letters. But there's more waiting for Becca than the tale of a romance from long ago - it might be the chance to live her own love story and follow the path Fate has always intended her to...

Don't miss Jo's laugh-out-loud rom-coms, Love You, Love You Not, Love to Hate You, Burning Moon, Almost A Bride, Finding You, After the Rain and The Great Ex-scape.

Sitting her open mouthed in disbelief at just how wonderful this book is.  It has all of Jo Watson's trademark humour, but also a secondary love story that is just beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. 

I loved the chatting style the story was written in, as though Becca was talking directly to you as she tells you her story. She explains that she is in trouble and about the various forks in her life that have led her to this point.  We get in great detail the terrifying moment where there is a near death experience that ultimately is the catalyst for her changing her life. 

And from the moment she visits a small town many hours away from Jo'burg, we see just what a disaster zone she really is. At times it felt like a complete comedy of errors and the local hunky policeman is just the person to witness everything, even if he is despairing of her at the same time. 

I loved the interactions between Mike and Becca, but also well actually just everything about this story. I don't want to give too much away, but there is so much more to this book than first meets the eye and I relished reading every last word of it. 

In some respects this felt like a subtle change of direction for my favourite South African author, but equally there is so much familiarity in the absurdity of some it that that comes across so believable  that it really is only a slight change, as everything I've always enjoyed about Jo Watson is still there in spades! 

A truly fabulous story, one that I fear may have given me a book hangover, as I've no idea how whatever I read next will even remotely stand a chance in my affections!! 

Thank you to Headline Eternal and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and  voluntarily, 

Please do follow along with the rest of the blog tour too. 

Book Review - What Happens in Vegas by Shana Gray - #HolidayReading Thailand

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Amazon UK

Title: What Happens in Vegas

Author: Shana Gray

Format reviewed: Paperback

Source: Secret Santa Gift

Publisher: Headline Eternal

Publication Date: 24th July 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

When the cop...

Tough-as-nails detective Bonni Connolly is on a girls' getaway in Vegas with her friends, when Lady Luck shines on her. Seizing the chance to treat them all, Bonni splurges on a little luxury including a VIP booth in an exclusive club. That's when she sees him.

Meets the gambler...

Professional poker player Quinn Bryant is in town for one of the largest tournaments of the year. Fortune smiles on him when he spots Bonni across the dance floor. But what starts as a holiday fling soon turns into something more, as Bonni learns to see the man behind the poker face.

The stakes have never been higher.

Even though Bonni's trip has an end date and there is another tournament calling Quinn's name, their strong connection surprises them both. And by the end of the weekend they start to wonder if what happens in Vegas doesn't have to stay there...

I loved every second of this fun little book, its quick to read, its got sizzling chemistry, some wonderful scenes and the writing flows really well. 

I loved reading about Bonni and her friends, and it sounded like a dream long weekend in Vegas for all of them. 

Bonni even meets a gorgeous sexy man, but who would have thought that the fraud squad cop and the professional poker player would be so attracted to each other, after finding out what they each did!

It is pure escapist fiction at its best, which i thoroughly enjoyed reading in the almost hedonistic area of Phuket - Patong Beach! I couldn't have chosen this holiday read better if I tried. 

Book Review - The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory - #HolidayReading Mexico

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Amazon UK

Title: The Proposal

Author: Jasmine Guillory

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Headline Eternal

Publication Date: 30th October 2018

Rating: 4 Stars

When freelance writer Nikole Paterson goes to a Dodgers game in LA with her actor boyfriend, the last thing she expects is a scoreboard proposal. Saying no isn't difficult - they've only been dating for five months, and he can't even spell her name correctly. The hard part is having to face a stadium full of disappointed fans...

At the game with his sister, Carlos Ibarra comes to Nik's rescue and rushes her away from a camera crew. He's even there for her when the video goes viral and Nik's social media goes crazy. Believing that neither of them are looking for anything serious, Nik embarks on an epic rebound with the handsome doctor, filled with food, fun, and fantastic sex. But when their glorified hookups start breaking the rules, will they be brave enough to admit what they're really feeling?

Any book that starts with a proposal on a jumbotron at a baseball game,  that is turned down that leads to the meeting of a news gorgeous guy,  is a good book for me. 

Nik is not a fan of "I love yous" or commitment,  but she is a very loyal friend,  feisty heroine and all around fabulous main character. 

Alongside her two best friends there is plenty of fun,  cupcakes and with the new man good food and drama too. 

I loved the chemistry between Nik and Carlos and generally enjoyed the whole book a lot. 

It may be the first book I've read from the author but I'm positive it won't be the last. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Headline Eternal for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily,. 

Book Review - The Royal Runaway by Lindsay Emory - #HolidayReading Mexico

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Amazon UK

Title: The Royal Runaway

Author: Lindsay Emory

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Headline Eternal

Publication Date: 9th October 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

Filled with intrigue, romance and mystery, Lindsay Emory's The Royal Runaway will whisk you away on a romantic, glamorous and royal adventure. For fans of The Princess Diaries and The Royal We with a splash of James Bond and The Bourne Identity.

Princess Theodora Isabella Victoria of Drieden of the Royal House of Laurent is so over this princess thing.

After her fiance jilted her on their wedding day, she's back home, having spent four months in exile. Aka it's back to putting on a show for the Driedish nation as the perfect princess they expect her to be. But Thea's sick of duty, so when she sneaks out of the palace and meets a sexy Scot named Nick in a local bar, she relishes the chance to be a normal woman for a change.

But just as she thinks she's found her Prince Charming, he reveals his intentions are less than honourable: he's a spy and he's not above blackmail. As they join forces to find out what happened the day her fiance disappeared, together they discover a secret that could change life as they know it.

Funny, fast-paced, and full of more twists and turns than the castle Thea lives in, The Royal Runaway is a fresh romantic comedy that will leave you cheering for the modern-day royal who chucks the rulebook aside to create her own happily-ever-after.

I had been anticipating a light hearted romance, full of heat and not too much more.   What I read however was so much more than that. 

Set in a small kingdom, the book tells the story of a jilted Royal princess, and her determination to discover just what happened to the man she was meant to marry. 

What becomes incredibly apparent is that she can't really trust anyone. 

There is so much action, and plot in this book its tricky at times to keep track, but once you get to grips with who everyone is and whose side they may be in, its a pleasure to read. 

I found myself turning the pages at the rate of knots, to discover what would happen next.  

As you would expect from a Headline Eternal book, there is some sizzling chemistry between the leads, but how much its acted on... well you will need to read to find out! 

Thank you to Netgalley and Headline Eternal for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - The Great Ex-Scape by Jo Watson - #HolidayReading Mexico

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Amazon UK

Title: The Great Ex-Scape

Author: Jo Watson

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Headline Eternal

Publication Date: 24th January 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

On the scale of one to worst idea ever, agreeing to give the toast at her best friend's engagement party when she's been in love with him for three years was not Val's finest decision. Nor was accidentally confessing her love to him in front of all their guests, including his fiancee.

Boarding a plane that will take her literally anywhere to get away from the humiliation, Val is pleasantly surprised to find herself on the dazzlingly beautiful island of Reunion where she hopes she can heal her wounded pride, broken heart and bruised knees.

When a painful face mask experiment leads her to a fellow broken-hearted traveller, Alex, they decide to give each other a helping hand and follow a foolproof ten-step plan to get over their respective exes. And so begins their crazy adventure. What could possibly go wrong?

For more laugh-out-loud, swoon-worthy hijinks, don't miss Jo's other rom-coms, Love to Hate You, Burning Moon, Almost A Bride, Finding You and After the Rain.

A pure joy to read, full of many laugh out load moments and memorable scenes, 

There is the yacht trip that doesn't go quiet according to plan, the speech at an engagement party that kicks everything off, and even the whole airport scene ending up on a flight to somewhere Val has never heard of. 

So many highlights, and so much fun.  It is a bit of shame we don't see so much of her friends as we have in the other books in this series, but its due to that reason that its easily readable as a standalone. 

The main setting is Reunion Island, and was a fabulous location it is.  I could really picture Val and Alex's adventures as they together work through a 10 things list from a magazine, about getting over the love of your life. 

I can easily say that Jo Watson is getting better with every book, and coming up with even more amusing ideas for her characters,  This is easily one of my favourites in the series, and I can't wait to see what she writes next. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Headline Eternal for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - After The Rain by Jo Watson - #HolidayReading Book 28

Book 28 of 28 read on my holiday to Cyprus in June 2018.

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Amazon UK

Title:  After The Rain

Author: Jo Watson

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Headline Eternal

Publication Date: 6th September 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

Some opposites attract; some rip each other's clothes off.

Stormy-Rain and Marcus could not be more different: she's a free-spirited, rainbow-haired hippie; he wears a suit and over-shines his already too-shiny shoes. She believes in auras; he's governed by logic and doesn't believe in Fate. But Fate believes in them...

So what happens when their worlds collide - and they are forced to embark on an epic road trip to catch a plane to a wedding on the other side of the world?

The clock is ticking...and they're seriously ticking each other off. But Stormy and Marcus are about to discover just how thin the line between love and hate really is.

Having read all of Jo Watson's books so far, I have always been intrigued by Stormy Rain who is one of the bigger friendship group, and has struck me as wacky!   Now in After The Rain I get to know her a whole lot better and she is quirky but so so loveable.  She has so many endearing qualities to her, which not everyone can see. 

And Marcus, is a lawyer and about as opposite from Stormy Rain as you can get, and he has promised that he will accompany Stormy to Prague for the wedding they both need to attend. Only Stormy is petrified of flying and things are never as simple as they should be. 

In fact I should warn you don't read the first 15% of this while you are on a plane,  I did and I'm a confident flier but even I was getting a bit worried partly as I hit turbulence at the same point as certain happenings in the early chapters. 

Simmering away beneath Stormy Rain and Marcus' hilarious banter is some explosive sexual chemistry and wow those were some fabulous scenes.  The sex in this book is fabulous and then there is the scene in the helicopter that is so clever.  

I love all the unexpected turns this trip took when one simple journey turned into something a lot different.   

This is another fabulous story from this author, who I am continually excited to hear about new books from! 

Thank you to Headline Eternal and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Love To Hate You by Jo Watson

Amazon UK

Title:  Love To Hate You

Author: Jo Watson

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Headline Eternal

Publication Date: 6th February 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

Sera is usually a good girl. (Except for one wild night in the backseat of a stranger's car!) But what happens when that bad boy turns out to be her new boss? And what happens when he wants more than one night...and he can be very persuasive...

I have managed to read Love To Hate You at just the right point in my life, where I couldn't work out what I was really in the mood to read but knew I needed to get lost in a story. 

Well I got utterly hooked on Sera and Ben, to the extent that I am 100% in lust with a fictional character. I would love him to be real, and I'm sure I would appreciate him far more than Sera will! 

The level of heat coming off this book is insane, the chemistry between Sera and Ben is sizzling,  and I was loving the double entendres, the innuendos, every single exchange between the two leads. I was sitting there as  a fly on the wall as such, wishing that I was Sera. Yet there aren't a huge amount of sex scenes, its all suggestive comments, dialogue, the hints at what is possible between them, that actually makes the book feel even sexier than you would think. 

Ok not her background, that sounds tough, but then again Ben hasn't been entirely upfront to start with either, and when you eventually get to know them, there is an extra dimension added to both characters. 

Love to Hate You starts in hilarious fashion and doesn't let up, it is pure escapist fun and I couldn't get enough of any of the characters.   I especially love Sera's pseudo family, JJ and Bruce who she lives with. They are simply fabulous. 

If you are looking for a way to leave behind your troubles, delve into a potential new relationship that will have you needing a cold shower yourself, then Love To Hate You is certainly a book for you. I was already a fan of Jo Watson's writing from her previous three books and although this certainly had a slightly different feel to it, it was amazing, it was hilarious and I already know I will be first in line for future releases. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Headline Eternal for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Almost A Bride by Jo Watson

Amazon UK

Title: Almost A Bride

Author: Jo Watson

Format reviewed: Paperback

Source: Bookbridgr

Publisher: Headline Eternal

Publication Date: 4th May 2017

Rating: 5 Stars

That moment you catch your boyfriend in bed with another woman and then mistakenly get arrested. #awks

Annie doesn't want to dwell on the fact that she walked in on her bf wearing nipple clamps on the day he was meant to propose to her. She just wants to move on - cue escaping to a tropical paradise.

Life is dreamy on the beaches of Mauritius, until the nightmarish appearance of her ex and the 'other woman'. Faced with the enemy, Annie refuses to look like the sad, lonely single she actually is. She needs a decoy - and fast. Enter Chris, a sexy screenwriter who agrees to play her pretend boyfriend.

But as a battle of the exes commences, the white sand, tropical heat and a pina colada (or five) might just be the cocktail for a real romance - and the adventure of a lifetime.

Hilarious from start to finish, In a book that feels like it could be on the big screen as a great rom-com in its own right.  Well it does feature a sexy man who is like the hero of your average rom-coms and the whole book just had the feel to it. I would love to see this made into a film. 

The prologue really sets the scene for the pacing and humour of this story, and had me grinning from ear to ear, as I had my first feel for Annie’s character. 

Of course what was attracting me to the book besides the beautiful cover is the knowledge that it was predominately set in Mauritius, given I’m a huge fan of travel, and enjoyed my holiday there many years ago. 

What I wasn’t expecting was just how much I was going to enjoy this book as much as I did. For after a disastrous break up with her ex (who she thought was going to propose to her), Annie and her friends head off on holiday to Mauritius for a girls holiday. 

Only Annie ends up away for the first few days by herself, bumps into her ex and his new woman, and American Chris offers to become Annie’s fake Australian boyfriend Boyden! Unfortunately the ex is so determined that Annie is faking with Boyden, and determine to prove it there is a huge amount of competition between the men, and in fact the two couples, with highly amusing outcomes. 

Chris was by far my favourite character from his attempts at Aussie slang, to his job as a rom-com writer, to the clear chemistry there is between Annie and Chris, even as friends to start you can tell they are really in tune with each other. 

It is an engaging story that was fun and quick to read, and is a perfect beach read, where you just want to escape for a while into a good book. Having read all 3 of Jo Watson’s Destination Love books, I can safely say this is my favourite of them all. 

Thank you to Bookbridgr for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Finding You by Jo Watson

Amazon UK

Title: Finding You

Author: Jo Watson

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Headline Eternal (UK) / Grand Central Publishing (USA)

Publication Date: 2nd May 2017

Rating: 5 Stars

When you go to Greece to meet your family but end up snogging your smokin' hot tour guide #sorrynotsorry

Jane is fed up of being the odd one out in her adoptive family. So in a very un-Jane-like move she books a last-minute ticket to find her birth father - and the real Jane. Armed with the knowledge that he was a tour guide called Dimitri, and multiple boxes of condoms from her mother (#cringe), she sets off.

It turns out that everyone in Greece is called Dimitri, including her very own sexy tour guide, who strikes her a deal. He'll help if she goes on an adventure with him. The old Jane would have never have risked a holiday romance, but the new Jane has other ideas. As the search for her father commences, she might just find something else entirely...

Fantastic story of finding yourself, finding your true love and learning about your heritage all set to a magnificent back drop of Santorini in Greece. 

Some of how Jane is feeling at the start of the book, the feelings of not really fitting in with her adoptive family, reminded me of how the main character in My Big Fat Greek Wedding felt initially. Not really sure of her looks, and doesn't feel quite connected with the rest of the family.  

Completely out of character for Jane she out of the blue decides to hop on a plane and find her birth father. All she knows is he is from Greece, used to work a tour guide and his name is Dimitri. If you have ever been to Greece you will know that Dimitri is a reasonably common name, and tour guides are rather plentiful too, just to give some idea of the task ahead of her. 

The first greek man she meets is a Dimitri and also a tour guide/model and a ridiculously hot greek guy and from here her hormones and womanly impulses are slightly out of control.  I loved how whenever Jane was nervous she would either start churning out various scientific facts, or occasionally would start rambling lots of odd things that afterwards she would be embarrassed by, but in the meantime amused me greatly. 

The descriptions of Santorini match the pictures I've seen of the place, and some of the slightly more touristy things that Jane and Dimitri do, have given me some ideas for my own day on the island later this summer, when I visit on a cruise. I loved meeting Dimitri's big family, and also how he was trying his hardest to make Jane embrace her long dormant inner Greek! 

Watching Jane grow in the time she is in Santorini was really enjoyable to see, and I just thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this story. This is the second of the Destination Love books I have read and am really enjoying the series and Jo Watson's writing. 

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - The Trouble With Mistletoe by Jill Shalvis - #CuteChristmas - Back Catalogue Books

Amazon UK

Title:  The Trouble With Mistletoe

Author: Jill Shalvis

Format reviewed: Paperback

Source: Competition Win

Publisher: Headline Eternal

Publication Date: 27th September 2016

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Is it time to give him - and love - another chance?

Willa Davis is wrangling puppies when Keane Winters stalks into her pet shop, desperate to leave his great-aunt's Feline-from-Hell in someone else's capable hands. But, despite the fact that he's sure he's never seen the drop-dead-gorgeous pet-shop owner before, she definitely seems to be mad at him...

The last thing Willa is inclined to do is rescue a guy who doesn't even remember her. Still, she can't deny that Keane's changed since high school - but can she trust him not to break her heart again? Maybe all she can do is throw a coin in the fountain, make a Christmas wish - and let the mistletoe do its work...

Having just finished The Trouble with Mistletoe, I am sitting here trying to work out how it is I haven't ever read anything by Jill Shalvis before, and also how on earth I am every going to catch up with all of her back catalogue. Suffice to say I loved this book, and its the first romance I have read for ages where I was thoroughly hooked on the more intimate scenes and didn't just glance at them!

The last person Willa expected or wanted to see walk into her pet shop was Keane Winters. He stood her up for a Sadie Hawkins dance in high school, and she has never forgiven him. Keane however doesn't appear to remember her, or know why she is upset. Willa though is persuaded to look after his great aunt's cat for the day. 

Petunia (or Pita) is the sort of cat that seems to love Willa instantly, but is a devil cat for Keane, who is minding it for his great aunt.  A lot of the funniest moments are courtesy of not just Petunia but also a few of the other animals that are minded in the pet shop. 

In fact I loved Willa's workplace, and she has a great eye for business and making money from pet owners. I loved the ideas of 100+ guest doggy weddings, and also photo opportunities for pets with Santa. Willa is actually Christmas mad, and loves decorating, and wants to spread Christmas cheer everywhere, including to the most unexpected of people, which makes me love her more. 

The Trouble With Mistletoe was a really easy to read and fun story, where although you know what the overall outcome is likely to be, the journey to get there doesn't always go as you may thing. I loved everything about Willa, from her close group of friends, to her love of animals, I felt for her troubled childhood, and was rooting for her throughout. 

This was a highly enjoyable story that felt quite Christmassy, as well as having some wonderful sex scenes that were hot and steamy.