A Jersey Affair by Georgina Troy

Reviewed by Charlotte Lynn

Jersey Romance Series #2

Publish date April 2, 2014 by Green Shutter Books

Paige Bingham is jilted just days before her wedding.  She decides to go on her honeymoon to Sorrento all alone.  While in Sorrento she meets Sebastian Fielding.   Sebastian is mysterious and sexy.   When Paige returns to Jersey, she finds out Sebastian’s company is taking over the store where her shoe business is located.  Feeling lied to she refuses to acknowledge her growing feelings for Sebastian.   She must make decisions for her professional life and her personal life, can she overcome the feeling of being lied to?  

My Review:

I have not read the first book in this series and cannot say that I missed anything by not reading the first book.   When I started Jersey Affair I could not put it down.

 I loved almost all the characters in this story.   I did not love Paige’s sister, Clem.  I thought she was shallow and selfish.   First when she broke up with her boyfriend, Ollie, and refused to give him any explanation, even moving in next door to him and refusing to see him.  Second when she seemed to always be throwing Sebastian’s life in Paige’s face.  I felt like she added to the issues between Paige and Sebastian and was not the supportive sister that Paige deserved.  There were many times I wanted to tell her to move out of the cottage and get out of Paige and Sebastian’s way. 

The relationship between Paige and Sebastian was so complex.  There was the different lifestyles, difference in their incomes, and still there was a deep love.  Paige needed to trust Sebastian and that was the struggle in their relationship.   Watching her come to terms that Sebastian was not like her ex, that she could trust him, love him, and build a future with him was absolutely wonderful.  It was refreshing to see a man give the woman he loves the space to figure out what she wants and still fight for what he wants.   He was a little underhanded in the way he didn’t tell her who he was from the beginning, but I did understand why he had to keep that secret.   If he had told her from the beginning I believe she would have walked away before the feelings were strong enough to withstand the truth. 

Jersey Affair is absolutely a book that I will recommend to my friends.  It was a light and easy read.   I truly enjoyed the entire story from the beginning to the end.

Author Links

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THE FIVE W’S and HOW Of Kimberley Freeman

WHO? Who are you besides a writer? 
I'm a senior lecturer in writing at University of Queensland (what you'd call an Associate Professor in the States). I teach two courses a year in creative writing and editing, and research in the field of medieval studies.

WHAT? What do you enjoy doing other than writing in your spare time?
I am a mad keen cyclist, putting in about 7 hours a week of cycling. I also have two kids that keep me busy, and I like to hang out with friends. And of course I love to read.

WHEN? When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
From birth. I'm not even joking. I never wanted to be anything else.

WHERE? Where do you write? 
About 30% at my desk, and about 70% in bed on a laptop. Writing in bed is very relaxing, though not great for my back.

WHY? Why do you write?
Because it's still fun after all these years.

How? Has your writing success changed your life?
I get to meet awesome people who love books all the time. I get to spend all my time reading books, thinking and talking about books.

Kimberley Freeman has a new book out, Ember Island! I am personally very excited to read it and wanted to share. I will hopefully get reading it very soon and will share my review once it's done, until then here is a bit about it!

Ember Island: A Novel

by Kimberley Freeman

1890: Orphaned as a small child, Tilly Kirkland found a loving, safe home with her grandfather in Dorset. But nineteenth-century England is an unforgiving place for a young woman with limited means and as her grandfather's health fails, it seems perfect timing that she meets Jasper Dellafore. Yet her new husband is not all he seems. Alone in the Channel Islands, Tilly finds her dream of a loving marriage is turning into a nightmare.

2012: Bestselling novelist Nina Jones is struggling with writer's block and her disappointing personal life. Nothing is quite working. After a storm damages Starwater, her house on Ember Island, she decides to stay for a while and oversee the repairs: it s a perfect excuse to leave her problems behind her on the mainland. Then Nina discovers diary pages hidden in the walls of the old home. And a mystery unravels that she is determined to solve.

Though the two women are separated by years, Starwater House will alter the course of both their lives. Nina will find that secrets never stay buried and Tilly learns that what matters most is trusting your heart.

See, doesn't it sound amazing! I'm adding links so you can buy your copy!

A Novel Review of Ember Island by Kimberly Freeman

Ember Island: A Novel by Kimberley Freeman

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Week 15 of 52

Overview:

For single mom Shandi Pierce, life is a juggling act. She's finishing college, raising her delightful son Nathan, and keeping the peace between her eternally warring, long-divorced parents. She's got enough to deal with before she gets caught in the middle of a stickup in a gas station and falls in love with a man named William Ashe when he steps between the armed robber and her son to shield him from danger.

Shandi doesn't know that William has his own baggage. When he looked down the barrel of the gun in the gas station he believed it was destiny: it's been exactly one year since a tragic act of physics shattered his universe. But William doesn't define destiny the way other people do—to him destiny is about choice.

Now, William and Shandi are about to meet their so-called destinies head-on, making choices that will reveal unexpected truths about love, life, and the world they think they know.

Giveaway winners must be 18 years or older unless posted. 

Many of the giveaways are extended from publishers, we simply send them your information. If you do not receive your prize within 6-8 weeks please email us and we will contact the publisher. We can not guarantee delivery. 

If we are sending out the book, again we are not responsible if the post office doesn't deliver it or the package is damaged. 

We have never had any issues from giveaways, but as a reviewer I have not received books and have had packages opened. We love sharing great books with you and hope to never have any of the above issues :)

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Windows by Emily Minton

Coming Home Series #1

Publish September25, 2013

Lucas Beck and Melinda Jones have lived next door to each other forever.   Lucas is the popular football player while Melinda is the overweight girl that everyone makes fun of.   

Every night Lucas climbs through Melinda’s window and they share their deepest secrets.  Except for the biggest secret, they love each other.   When Melinda is humiliated she decides to start a new life without Lucas.  

After college Melinda moves back home and finds Lucas still there.    He wants to reconnect and apologize for the humiliation, she is not sure she can open her heart up like that again.

My Review:

The best friends to lovers story are always one I check out.  When I read the prologue I knew that I had to read Windows.  While Lucas is a jerk, throughout almost the entire book, and Melinda (aka Lindy) is too easy on him, I did enjoy reading the entire story.  Lucas’ first jerk moment was when he humiliated Lindy and then didn’t make amends until she returned from college.   He then continued with the thoughts of making it up to her, but really just pushing her for a more physical relationship.    The kicker was when he said that since he has a dick, he doesn’t have to clean or do dishes.   WHAT!   Lindy was too easy.  She forgave him too easily and let his jerk moments pass without consequence.   For her it was just easier to fall into bed with him than to confront him.   I did love the families of Lucas and Lindy.  The way they came to protect Lindy, no matter the time.  They rallied around her over and over. 

The Mirror Man was predictable.   I knew very early on who would be caught.   They were scary and if I lived alone and had any contact in the past with Lucas I would have been afraid.    

While I did enjoy the story, I did not love the story.   I felt there could have been so much more to it.

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Harvester by Rachel Russell

Expected Publication March 17. 2014 by Entranced Publishing

From Goodreads: 

Sixteen-year-old Catalina has never seen the sky. As a mage, it’s illegal for her to leave the underground city she lives in. The sun and moon are only fantastical stories of a land far away. So when Catalina stumbles upon a tunnel leading to the surface, she can’t resist the temptation to see the surface world.

But instead of enjoying a night beneath the stars for the first time, Catalina emerges upon the scene of a savage murderer harvesting faery body parts. She's nearly his next victim, but is rescued by a grim boy named Will who has a troubling connection to the killer.

Even more disquieting is Catalina’s criminal status upon returning home. Someone with political clout has framed her for the vicious slayings. Now on the run from the law, Catalina must uncover Will’s tie to the serial killing of faeries, as well as stop a bloodthirsty murderer to prove her innocence, or face a death sentence.

My Review:

I am finding that I like stories about faeries more and more.   The Harvester is no exception.  

From the beginning I loved the spunk of Catalina.   She is a sixteen year old who lives with her brother, Evan,  since both her parents are dead.   She never steps down from a fight, whether physical or mental, and manages to repeatedly save her friends and her own life.     When she met Will, while on the surface world, I was curious as to where their relationship could possibly go.

Will was sentenced to death by curse and very close to dying.   The immediate attraction and desire to protect Catalina endeared him to my heart.   He was the person that I was most intrigued with.  Will knew his death was coming, but yet lived life never really giving up the chance of living longer.  He also did not take the easy way out and become a Harvester, who is the one who commits murder to stay alive.  

This story was incredibly entertaining.  Rachel Russell wrote a short story that kept the reader entertained and enjoying her woven tale.  I will recommend this book to any paranormal reader.

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Love Illusions by Chineka Williams

Post by Charlotte Lynn

From Goodreads: 

Lucy is a confident PR professional, who is fearful of her troubled ex-boyfriend Charles. He is in denial about their breakup. With issues of alcoholism and abandonment, he spirals out of control.

Meanwhile, Lucy’s best friend Jade has found love and is about to get married. She is a loyal friend who is there for Lucy every step of the way.

Feeling trapped, Lucy is determined to fight back against Charles, but it won’t be without complication. After great debate, she optimistically accepts a new job offer miles away. Lucy soon embarks on an uncertain journey all connected to love.

My Review:

This was a fun read.   I enjoyed Lucy and her friendship with Jade the most.   There were true friends.  Through thick and thin they knew they had each other.   Jade’s story was a happy one, getting married and buying a house, while Lucy’s was not so happy, a stalking ex-boyfriend.  I enjoyed reading about them meeting for coffee and being able to talk about everything and anything.  They were entirely real people.

The story of Lucy’s ex was scary for me.   The fact that he took it so far was terrifying.  I understood the sleepless nights and the forever looking over her shoulder.   I was glad that she had Jade to give her the kind ear and to help her handle it all.   It was also great that Lucy didn’t just accept the problems and went to the police to make sure she was protected.

I did have a hard time connecting to the characters.  I am not sure if that was due to the point of view changes or the way the story was told.   I didn’t feel like I had a vested interest in making sure Charles did not get to Lucy or that Jade and her husband lived happily ever after.  Seth, Lucy’s friend, was a great character that added stability to Lucy’s life and I wish that more had been made of their friendship. 

Overall, I enjoyed reading Love Illusion.   If you are looking for an easy and fun ready I recommend it.

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