Sunlight over Crystal Sands - Holly Martin

 

Love is in the air on the sun kissed sands of the Cornish coast, where the sea sparkles and romance sizzles on golden beaches. This stunning new novel by Holly Martin, bestselling author of Ice Creams at Emerald Cove, is guaranteed to steal your heart this summer.

Lyra Thomas has dreamed of living on Jewel Island ever since she first visited its breath-taking shores. And now her dream has come true – she has her own little cottage and a brand new job. But when Lyra sets out for a bike ride to explore her new home, a mishap has her crash-landing at the feet of the very handsome Nix Sanchez.

A true gentleman, Nix comes to Lyra’s rescue. His face is so familiar and yet they are strangers. But the more they talk, Lyra feels as though she has known Nix forever. What follows is the most magical night of Lyra’s life… until the spell is broken when the next morning she finds Nix has gone.

Feeling foolish Lyra vows to be more careful with her heart from now on. She’ll pretend Nix never existed. But destiny has other ideas and in a perfect twist of fate Lyra will discover that Nix Sanchez is impossible to forget…

Escape to sun drenched Jewel Island this summer where love, laughter and the thrill of adventure await. This gorgeous, romantic, feel-good read is perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella, Jill Mansell and Sue Moorcroft.

My Review:

I adore this series and the fourth visit to Jewel Island is fantastic. Holly Martin has given us yet another heartwarming, entertaining read. My only wish? That I could spend my holidays on Jewel Island and meet all these wonderful sounding characters!

Lyra has dreamed of living and working on Jewel Island since being a small girl. Now she has her chance, moving into a cottage on the island and starting work at the hotel – she is eager to get started but has a little time to explore the island and reminisce.

During this little adventure, she falls for the divine Nix, quite literally and ends up having quite the unexpected evening. A connection is evident for both and the chemistry is undeniable but, after an interesting night Lyra discovers Nix is no where to be seen.

There’s a whole lot more in store for Lyra, and as is Jewel Island style, things aren’t always as straight forward as they could be.

There are ups and downs, laughs and shenanigans but there are more heart wrenching, emotional moments that see island residents facing their past before they can move on. Lyra has to learn to let go, follow the adventure and seek her treasure, whatever that may be, because she does deserve it and is more than entitled to seek her own happiness.

Holly Martin never fails to deliver a story that has me engrossed from start to finish, with each visit we get to see how the lives of our previous reads are progressing. You could read this as a standalone though, but I highly recommend the rest of the series too.

I’m already excited about our next book. 

Available to order - HERE

Blue Hawaiian - Carla Luna

 

The first rule of serving as the maid of honor at your perfect sister’s destination wedding?

No mistakes. The second rule? No drama.

For Jess Chavez, a week in Maui is hardly a dream vacation—not when her sister expects her to be the perfect maid of honor. Not only does Jess have to fake perfection, but she can’t let anyone know she’s unemployed and barely scraping by. Above all, she needs to steer clear of Connor Blackwood, the sexy groomsman who broke her heart five years ago.

A family wedding offers Connor the ideal opportunity to convince everyone he’s no longer an irresponsible playboy. If they see he’s changed, they might support his decision to leave the family winery and strike out on his own. With so much at stake, the last thing he needs is an alluring distraction like Jess.

When Jess and Connor end up together, exploring the island’s lush, tropical beauty, the sparks between them become impossible to ignore. Throwing caution to the wind, they decide to make their own rules.

Five days of passion. No strings. No tears. No promises.

What could possibly go wrong?

 

My Review:

A wonderful, tropical delight of a summer read. Fantastic setting, glorious characters and hot, sizzling romance that kept me hooked, reading it in pretty quick time. If you do get a break, this will be a perfect read.

This is a great rom com, with plenty of laughs and plenty of heart-stopping romance; my first read by this author, it looks set to be the start of a series and one to watch out for.

Jessica Chavez is determined to be the perfect maid of honor for her sister but flight delays mean she’s already not had a great start. Bumping into Connor Blackwood at Maui airport is a disaster she was hoping to avoid. Not wanting to confront what happened years ago, Jessica resolves to have nothing to do with him, but how easy is that going to be in this tropical paradise.

An enjoyable, quick read where you jump straight into the story and then the action never stops. I quite like Jessica and felt annoyed that she got herself into situation she didn’t need to be in. Connor sounds dreamy and a great guy, we all know nobody is perfect though but I think they make a cute couple really – shame nobody else seemed too.

Will the wedding of the year run smoothly? That’s to be seen but there are mishaps, fall outs and drama along the way.

A hot hot hot read, in more ways than one!

Purchase Links

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blue-Hawaiian-Blackwood-Cellars-Book-ebook/dp/B092KH7LB2/

US - https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Hawaiian-Blackwood-Cellars-Book-ebook/dp/B092KH7LB2/

Author Bio:

Carla Luna writes contemporary romance with a dollop of humor and a pinch of spice. A former archaeologist, she still dreams of traveling to far-off places and channels that wanderlust into the settings of her stories. When she’s not writing, she works in a spice emporium where she gets paid to discuss food and share her favorite recipes. Her passions include Broadway musicals, baking, whimsical office supplies, and pop culture podcasts. Though she has roots in Los Angeles and Victoria, B.C., she currently resides in Wisconsin with her family and her spoiled Siberian cat.

Social Media Links –

Website: www.carlalunabooks.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/casacullen

FB Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/CarlaLunaAuthor

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

Always And Forever At Glendale Hall - Victoria Walters

 

What if we’re all just searching for something?

Anna Stewart is lost. After barely surviving a car accident as a teenager, Anna is scared of settling. Flitting between jobs, boyfriends and homes whenever she gets bored, she has no idea what the future holds. Then her brother Brodie, minister of Glendale, suggests she moves to the beautiful Scottish village, lining up a housekeeper job for her at Glendale Hall.

Out of options, Anna agrees to the move, knowing that she can always run away again. Once at the hall, her culinary skills impress everyone, and she agrees to give Hilltop Farm’s new manager, Cameron, cooking lessons. Sparks fly between Anna and the handsome Scot, but Cameron is looking for love - something that Anna definitely isn’t.

But it's wedding season at Glendale Hall, and Anna is about to discover that her new home has a way of working its magic on even the coldest of hearts. Will she really be able to just walk away, or could Anna have finally found a place to belong?

It’s summertime in the beautiful Highlands village of Glendale – pack your bags and come on holiday with this gorgeously uplifting, romantic read. Fans of Milly Johnson, Heidi Swain and Holly Martin will love this charming romcom.

Purchase Links:

AMZ: https://amzn.to/31xhdY0

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3sCeDf8

Apple: https://apple.co/2PJNQi9

My Review:

This is one of my favourite series, and a definite go -to author for me. This is the fourth instalment in the Glendale Hall series and wow, what a smasher! The whole series of books are warm and cosy, returning feels like going back to old friends and being welcomed back in a big comfortable embrace. The books have a strong sense of community, friendship and looking out for those who need extra help or support. You can read this book as a standalone but I highly recommend you do catch up with the others too.

Each book focuses on a different ‘main’ character and this time we meet Anna. A traumatic event in her younger years has scarred her for life, mentally and she doesn’t feel worthy of anything good or that she can deserve a normal life. She is afraid to get close to people, pushing them away and keeping herself at a distance. When things go wrong, she is out of options so contacts her brother – a familiar face for those who have read the previous books – and soon finds herself heading to Glendale Hall to be the housekeeper. Although Anna is adamant this is only temporary, will being around family, a loving community and the connection with the quiet, equally distant Cameron change her perspective and her future plans?

A story about self discovery, self worth and allowing yourself to let go of the past. I adored this book, as I knew I would. Anna is an interesting character who did frustrate me as I could see the good in her, I understood why she felt that way but just wished she could see the potential. I was relieved when she started opening up and talking about things, it seemed that a weight had been lifted from her.

Cameron is a great character and so well suited to her, they both are injured souls but both can help the other.

Victoria writes so well, the story unfolds at a nice pace, and I enjoy that we get to catch up with the character we know and love. A cosy, heart warming read, great to spend a few hours in the sunshine and dreaming of being in Scotland.

I hope there is another visit, I can’t wait to see what more is in store!

Author Bio:

Victoria Walters writes up-lifting and inspiring stories. She's the author of three novels, THE SECOND LOVE OF MY LIFE, SUMMER AT THE KINDNESS CAFÉ, and COMING HOME TO GLENDALE HALL. She has been chosen for WHSmith Fresh Talent and shortlisted for an RNA award. Victoria was also picked as an Amazon Rising Star, and her books have won wide reader acclaim.

Victoria is a full-time author. She lives in Surrey with her cat Harry, and loves books, clothes, music, going out for tea and cake, and posting photos on Instagram.

Find out more about Victoria by following on Instagram at @vickyjwalters, on Twitter at @Vicky_Walters or by visiting her blog at:https://victoria-writes.com/.

Things are looking up - Maxine Morrey

 

What if what you really need is right there in front of you, if you just take a moment to look up?

Milly has been waiting for this moment forever and finally it’s just an hour away – an interview with Vogue magazine and the opportunity to get her Louboutin-clad foot in the door.  There’s just one problem – totally engrossed in her mobile phone, Milly doesn’t see the bus that is fast approaching – until it’s too late…

When Milly next opens her eyes, the consequences of her accident become clear. Everything she has worked for and dreamed of suddenly feels out of reach. But there is one bright spot on her horizon – the reappearance of her ex Jed, in all of his six-foot-four, broad-shouldered glory, with the most piercing ice blue eyes Milly ever saw.

Once used to working in a whirlwind, Milly now has the chance to reconsider how to live. Will she rush back to the treadmill, get her head down and back to business, or is there a whole other life waiting for her, if she’ll just look up to see it? 

‘Read yourself happy’ with Maxine Morrey’s latest uplifting, page-turning, heart-warming romance, guaranteed to brighten up your day.

Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/3aSlHxI

My Review:

Ever felt like you’ve been hit by a bus? In this fun, life-affirming read by Maxine Morrey we meet Milly who does get hit by a London bus and lives to tell the tale. This story is how she takes stock of her priorities, realises what she has been missing and learns to see the beauty around her instead of striving for some out of reach, and quite frankly superficial, position.

Milly, a workaholic, has spent years with her head in her phone, scrolling through the latest fashion and society news. In a rush and not focusing on the goings on around here, her life changes in the blink of an eye.

Coming round in hospital, she is greeted by loved ones, her brother, and his family. Devastated she has caused so much pain, she vows to make changes.  She is beside herself when she spots a familiar face by her side, and not one she welcomes – her ex, Jed. Hot, rich and wanting to help, Milly needs to get over herself and let him be a shoulder for her to lean on during her recovery.

Things are looking up gives a gorgeous tale of second chances. I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. It is full of interesting little moments that will take you by surprise, and the addition of Hector is a massive turning point.

Gently paced, I don’t feel anything is rushed nor strung out too long. I liked all of the characters (bar the one’s we are meant to dislike of course!) and Jed, well, he sounds far too good to be true but we can all dream can’t we!

I would love to see a return to Milly and Jed’s story, I feel like there could be more to explore. A highly enjoyable, fun read that’s perfect for summer.

Author Bio:

Maxine Morrey is a bestselling romantic comedy author with ten books to her name including Winter’s Fairytale and the top ten hit The Christmas Project. Her eleventh book is being released by Boldwood in 2021. She lives in West Sussex. Her first novel for Boldwood, #No Filter, was published in November 2019.

Social Media Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaxineMorreyAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Scribbler_Maxi

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

Newsletter Sign Up Link: http://bit.ly/MaxineMorreyNewsletter

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/maxine-morrey