It Had To Be You by Jill Shalvis

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Lucky Harbor #7
Publication Date: 28th May 2013
Pages: 352
Book Source: Grand Central Publishing & NetGalley

Synopsis: Ali Winters is not having a good day. Her boyfriend left her, everyone in town thinks she's a thief, and now she's about to be kicked out of her home. Her only shot at keeping a roof over her head and clearing her name is to beg for help from a police detective who's as sexy as he is stern.... 

After a high-profile case goes wrong, Luke Hanover returns to his hometown for some peace and quiet. Instead he finds a bombshell brunette in a heap of trouble. As he helps Ali put her world back together, the pieces of Luke's own life finally seem to fall into place. Is this the start of a sizzling fling? Or are Luke and Ali on the brink of something big in a little town called Lucky Harbor?

Karen's Thoughts:

This instalment in the Lucky Harbor series didn't knock me clean off my feet like Ms. Shalvis usually does, but even though it doesn't top my list as a favourite ... it's still fabulous.

It Had To Be You seemed too short, it's jam packed and I was turning the last page before I knew it. Maybe it’s because I get so excited having a new Shalvis book to read; I end up reading like there’s no tomorrow.

There’s always moments that I like to refer to as typical Shalvis hilarity … the drunken high jinx on the pontoon had me laughing out loud. Bits like this …

“What’s up?” gaze from heavy-lidded eyes-his bedroom eyes. 

“I’ve been thinking,” she said.  “I bet Bree hid the money at Teddy’s place.” 

“You’ve been thinking?  When?  When could you have been thinking?” 

“Earlier.  But it makes sense, don’t you think?” she pressed.  “If her goal was to frame him, she’d want to-“

“Earlier?  You mean earlier when I was buried so deep inside you that I could feel your tonsils as you screamed my name and-“

oh yeah…she writes sexy stuff!

If you haven’t read anything by Jill Shalvis, pick something up, anything … I recommend her entire backlist so you really can't go wrong.

Guest review by Karen Barr

Connect with Jill Shalvis 

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It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

A weekly event hosted by Sheila from Book Journey to discuss your reading week ~ the books you've read and those you plan on reading in the coming week. I love this meme, it helps me stay on track ... well, most of the time. Thanks Sheila!

I had a lovely time at scrapbook retreat with friends Alaine, Karen (who reviews on my blog) and the rest of the Daisy girls. I only did a couple of layouts but it was really relaxing just making a pile of cards. More photos next week :)

 My boys Callum (left) and Anthony

 this one is for my friends wedding which was back in March 

(oops, better late than never lol)

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Giveaways:

Winner of ROSES HAVE THORNS by Sandra Byrd ~ Congratulations Lily B

Winner of WITH ALL MY SOUL by Rachel Vincent ~ Congratulations Mary Preston

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I posted reviews for: (click on title)

DARK HORSE by Honey Brown ~ OMG this blew my mind

SAVING GRACE by Fiona McCallum ~ disappointing

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Finished last week:

oh dear, not a thing but I'm almost finished The 5th Wave, it's really good :)

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This Week's Reading List: 

THE 5TH WAVE by Rick Yancey ~ page 350

HALF MOON BAY by Helene Young

THE SCORCH TRIALS by James Dashner (audiobook) ~ creepy good

SPARTACUS: REBELLION (Spartacus #2) by Ben Kane 

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Reviews Coming:

SCARLET by Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles #2) ~ *Squee*  review Tue

IT HAD TO BE YOU by Jill Shalvis (Lucky Harbor #7) ~ guest review by Karen Barr

Dark Horse by Honey Brown

Genre: Pyschological Thriller
Publication Date: 24th April 2013
Pages: 288
Book Source: Penguin Aust & NetGalley

Synopsis: It's Christmas morning on the edge of the rugged Mortimer Ranges. Sarah Barnard saddles Tansy, her black mare. She is heading for the bush, escaping the reality of her broken marriage and her bankrupted trail-riding business.

Sarah seeks solace in the ranges. When a flash flood traps her on Devil Mountain, she heads to higher ground, taking shelter in Hangman's Hut.

She settles in to wait out Christmas.

A man, a lone bushwalker, arrives. Heath is charming, capable, handsome. But his story doesn't ring true. Why is he deep in the wilderness without any gear? Where is his vehicle? What's driving his resistance towards rescue? The closer they become the more her suspicions grow.

But to get off Devil Mountain alive, Sarah must engage in this secretive stranger's dangerous game of intimacy.

My Thoughts: 

I must have been living under a rock? How have I not read Honey Brown before this .... Dark Horse blew my mind. 

It's intense, edgy and tight. Dread creeps - pulse quickens - adrenalin pumps - heart sits in throat and you read til 3am because there's just no way you can sleep not knowing and when you figure out where it's going ... sucker punch right in the guts. 

The disintegration of her marriage and business hasn't put Sarah in the mood for celebrating, rather than face Christmas Day with her parents she heads into the rugged Mortimer Ranges with her beloved mare Tansy. As mother nature rages, flash flooding traps Sarah and Tansy on Devil Mountain but she's not the only one battling the elements. 

Heath's arrival adds a new level of tension to the already ominous undercurrent. Days of isolation in the old bushranger's hut fuels an intense attraction between the two but Heath's evasive and secretive behaviour feeds Sarah's distrust. 

Brown explores dark territory; primal instincts, betrayals, lies, secrets. The weather is a character in itself making Dark Horse an intensely atmospheric read, eerily beautiful - raising goosebumps and a deep sense of foreboding. 

Hand on heart, Dark Horse is the best psychological suspense I've read in years. I'd love nothing more than to pick it up and start again, and I never do that. It's a 2013 favourite and I can't wait to get my hands on Honey Brown's backlist.

Recommend: Hell YES

PS: If my review hasn't sold you the trailer will ... it's brilliant!

Connect with Honey Brown 
Facebook

Purchase Dark Horse

@Amazon Kindle  @Penguin Books Aust @iTunes

Saving Grace by Fiona McCallum

Genre: Women's Fiction
Series: Button Jar #1
Publication Date: 1st April 2013
Pages: 400
Book Source: Harlequin Mira

Synopsis: When Emily Oliphant married John Stratten, she thought it was the beginning of an exciting new adventure, imagining herself standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the most eligible farmer in the district, mucking in to build a thriving agricultural business. Three years later, however, Emily sees her marriage for what it is — a loveless tie to a callous man, her advice heeded only when it pertains to her husband’s dinner.

The last straw comes when John threatens to harm her new puppy, and Emily is forced to brave her husband’s wrath, and her mother’s glaring disapproval, and move out. With the encouragement of her new friend Barbara, Emily moves into an abandoned property, taking on the mammoth task of making the unloved house into a home. As she begins to work on the property, she discovers a new side of her father, meets some new friends and finds an inner strength she never knew she had.

Emily’s fragile confidence is soon tested, though, when the owners of the property make her a tempting offer. Will she risk everything and invest in the ramshackle house that has finally given her a sense of purpose? Or will Emily listen to the views of the community, and the voice of her mother, and go back to her sensible, but meaningless, life with John?

My Thoughts:

I wanted to love Saving Grace, I really did, the cover is gorgeous and I thought Sarah would be someone I identified with ... not so.   

I've been where Sarah's been so I was positive I'd feel empathy for this woman and her situation, be rooting for her. Don't get me wrong I understood her fears, the courage it took to finally leave her abusive, controlling husband, the erosion of self esteem and the self doubt but not the self pity and bitterness or the whiny, poor me attitude. Sarah just wasn't very likeable and in my experience the attitude of women in abusive relationships is often quite the opposite of Sarah's. For me, the circumstances surrounding Sarah's leaving didn't ring true, once again and this is just from my own experience, controlling abusive husbands do not go away quietly or quickly.  

The saving grace in this book (pardon the pun) was Sarah's good friend, Barbara, their friendship is forged after Sarah buys a puppy (Grace) from Barbara. I enjoyed Barbara's wisdom, encouragement and tough love and I also enjoyed the rekindled relationship between Sarah and her father. 

I'm sorry to say, the stilted unnatural dialogue made Saving Grace a hard slog. It would be nice to know that Sarah figures out the secrets within her Grandmother's button jar, sees her dreams to fruition and finds happiness but I'm just not sure I care enough to read the sequel. 

Cover: love it

It's Monday After Mother's Day! What Are You Reading?

A weekly event hosted by Sheila from Book Journey to discuss your reading week ~ the books you've read and those you plan on reading in the coming week. I love this meme, it helps me stay on track ... well, most of the time. Thanks Sheila!

Happy Mothers Day to all my bloggy friends. I felt very blessed to have both my sons home, spending time together is the best gift ever and we had a lovely day playing board games, laughing and eating. Hope you also got to spend time with those you love. How cool is the fish eye and macro lense for my iPhone & the candle set was a beautiful surprise :)

 

This week will be crazy, I've got appointments, book reviews, planning & packing for scrapbook retreat this coming weekend and my Dad will be here for a few days. 

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Giveaways:

ROSES HAVE THORNS by Sandra Byrd ~ International. Enter here

WITH ALL MY SOUL by Rachel Vincent ~ International. Enter here. LAST DAYS

Winner of Three Sisters by Susan Mallery: Congratulations Amy Logg. Email is on its way :)

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I posted reviews for: (click on title)

THE WILD GIRL by Kate Forsyth ~ haunting, breathtaking, evocative

ROSES HAVE THORNS by Sandra Byrd ~ review & giveaway

EXILE by Rebecca Lim (Mercy #2) 

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Finished last week:

SAVING GRACE by Fiona McCallum ~ just ok (review Tue)

DARK HORSE by Honey Brown ~ OMG this blew my mind - (review Thurs)

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This Week's Reading List: 

THE 5TH WAVE by Rick Yancey ~ page 50

HALF MOON BAY by Helene Young

THE SCORCH TRIALS by James Dashner (audiobook) ~ creepy good

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Reviews Coming:

SCARLET by Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles #2) ~ *Squee* 

The Wild Girl by Kate Forsyth

Genre: Historical Fiction
Publication Date: 18th March 2013
Pages: 538
Book Source: Book win from Kate Forsyth :)

Synopsis: Dortchen Wild fell in love with Wilhelm Grimm the first time she saw him.

Growing up in the small German kingdom of Hessen-Cassel in early Nineteenth century, Dortchen Wild is irresistibly drawn to the boy next door, the young and handsome fairy tale scholar Wilhelm Grimm. 

It is a time of War, tyranny and terror. Napoleon Bonaparte wants to conquer all of Europe, and Hessen-Cassel is one of the first kingdoms to fall. Forced to live under oppressive French rule, the Grimm brothers decide to save old tales that had once been told by the firesides of houses grand and small all over the land.

Dortchen knows many beautiful old stories, such as 'Hansel and Gretel', 'The Frog King' and 'Six Swans'. As she tells them to Wilhelm, their love blossoms. Yet the Grimm family is desperately poor, and Dortchen's father has other plans for his daughter. Marriage is an impossible dream.

Dortchen can only hope that happy endings are not just the stuff of fairy tales.

My Thoughts:

I'm kicking myself for waiting so long to read a novel by Australian author Kate Forsyth. I purchased Bitter Greens in 2012 after reading a number of glowing reviews but *shame face* it's still unread ... I won't be stupid twice ;) 

The Wild Girl is an exquisite package, an epic tale of love, war and fairytales, impeccably researched, deftly layered and beautifully wrought. Kate, you hoped I'd be enchanted ... I truly was.

My copies of the Grimm Brothers fairytales from childhood are well loved and enjoyed still but I've never actually read anything about Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm nor Henriette Dorothea (Dortchen) Wild, the girl who lived next door to the Grimm family, so for me this was a uniquely special experience. Age old fairytales, some familiar, some not, are seamlessly blended with the narrative, contributing authenticity, poignancy and magic.

Haunting, breathtaking, evocative The Wild Girl has a dark beauty that left me speechless and in tears more than once, in turn entranced, outraged, horrified and saddened. 

Kate Forsyth captures the complexities of the human spirit with raw sensitivity ... frailties, cruelties on one hand, courage, selflessness and goodness on the other. Dortchen's father gave me nightmares, whilst I loved the detailed apothecary descriptions I was secretly hoping Dortchen would use her vast herbal knowledge and give her father a much needed dose of something lethal ... and painful!

Dortchen Wild fell in love with Wilhelm Grimm the first time she saw him. She was only twelve years old, but love has never been something that can be constrained by age. It happened in the way of old tales, in an instant, changing everything forever. It was a fork in the path, the turn of a key, the kindling of a lantern.

Through the Napoleonic Wars, poverty, sickness, abuse, Dortchen's love for Wilhelm is steadfast, her spirit crushed over the years by the oppressive control of her father, hope and longing remain palpable. 

... the end came all too soon but weeks later I sigh as I remember the beauty. 

The Wild Girl is a gift of storytelling about storytelling, it deserves to enter the exalted realm of classics. 

Recommend: An emphatic YES

Connect with Kate:

Website

Facebook 

Twitter

Roses Have Thorns by Sandra Byrd ~ Review & Giveaway

Genre: Historical Fiction
Series: Ladies in Waiting #3
Publication Date: 9th April 2013
Pages: 336
Book Source: Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours

Synopsis: From the acclaimed author of To Die For comes a stirring novel told that sheds new light on Elizabeth I and her court. Sandra Byrd has attracted countless fans for evoking the complexity, grandeur, and brutality of the Tudor period. In her latest tour de force, she poses the question: What happens when serving a queen may cost you your marriage—or your life?

In 1565, seventeen-year-old Elin von Snakenborg leaves Sweden on a treacherous journey to England. Her fiance has fallen in love with her sister and her dowry money has been gambled away, but ahead of her lies an adventure that will take her to the dizzying heights of Tudor power. Transformed through marriage into Helena, the Marchioness of Northampton, she becomes the highest-ranking woman in Elizabeth’s circle. But in a court that is surrounded by Catholic enemies who plot the queen’s downfall, Helena is forced to choose between an unyielding monarch and the husband she’s not sure she can trust—a choice that will provoke catastrophic consequences.

Vividly conjuring the years leading up to the beheading of Mary Queen of Scots, Roses Have Thorns is a brilliant exploration of treason, both to the realm and to the heart.

My Thoughts:

I loved The Secret Keeper: A novel of Kateryn Parr and was excited when the opportunity arose to read the final book in the Ladies in Waiting series and be part of The Roses Have Thorns book tour. 

Everyone knows I'm huge fan of Tudor history, I never tire of it, but it's also refreshing to view this period in history; the monarchs, court life, the intrigue, religious turmoil, duplicity and plots through the eyes of someone lesser known at court. 

Swedish born Elin von Snakenborg, Helena as she is now known in England is one of Queen Elizabeth I's ladies. Helena's an endearing narrator; with loyalty, honesty, courage and kindness she moves through the ranks, eventually becoming friend and intimate to Elizabeth. 

I loved Sandra's portrayal of Elizabeth, her strength, sternness and many sacrifices but also her warmth and kindness. I enjoyed seeing the very real difficulties for a lady in waiting, all-encompassing loyalty to the Queen is not often conducive to personal happiness but Helena's courage and determination see her happy in her marriages. I must say I'm surprised not to have read anything of Helena, Marchioness of Northampton before this. 

Recommend: absolutely - for history lovers, for lovers of Tudor history wanting a fresh view and for those 'over' Tudor, try this series.

Cover: Sumptuous

Want to know more about Sandra Bryd and her work? Visit her Website, or connect on Facebook or Twitter.

Follow the Tour Schedule
Twitter Hashtag: #RosesHaveThornsVirtualTour
 

Giveaway:

I'm thrilled to offer readers the chance to win a copy of ROSES HAVE THORNS. Just leave a relevant comment or question along with your email address. The giveaway is for one paperback copy and it's International!!

Extra Entries: 

+ 2 tweet giveaway and leave a link

Giveaway ends 18th May and winner will be announced on my blog. Good luck everyone!