Tag Archives: romance

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**RELEASE BLITZ** Tequila & Teabags by Laura Barnard

Sent to live with her cousin Elsie in
the Yorkshire countryside, Rose has only one thing on her mind; joining her
friends as a club rep in Mexico.
 
When she hears about a council
incentive offering the promise of free flights to the person who clocks the
most volunteering hours at the local care home, she’s got her plan set.
 
But she doesn’t plan on bonding with
the old ladies, going after the village bad boy and trying to persuade Elsie
not to become a Nun.
 
Soon she’s questioning who her real
friends are and whether her old life is one she wants to return to.
Can the village win her over and will
she win the chance to leave it behind? Will she even want to?

 

 

Goodreads
 
Amazon
Meet
Laura

My name is Laura Barnard and I am an
author from Hertfordshire, UK. My first chick-lit novel, The Debt & the
Doormat was an Amazon number 1 best-seller and won Best Laugh Out Loud Book of
2013. It is available via Amazon, Smashwords, iBooks. Barnes and Noble, The
Book Depository and many more.

 
In my spare time I enjoy drinking my
body weight in tea, indulging in cupcakes the size of my face, drooling over
hunks like Jamie Dornan, Ryan Gosling and Leo Dicaprio…oh and my husband of
course! I like wearing yoga clothes and reading fitness magazines while I sit
on the sofa and eat chocolate. I’m a real fan of the power nap and of course,
READING!
 
I write not to get rich or famous, but
because I LOVE writing. Even if one person tells me they enjoyed my book it
makes the midnight typing worth it!
Follow
Laura
Facebook or Add me as a
friend
Twitter Website  Goodreads

 

 

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**REVIEW** The Love of Marisol by Christos Toulouras

TheLoveofMarisol_WP2014

The Love of Marisol is a beautiful short story that publishers, Wattle Publishing, brought to our attention. It is a short story of love, loss and the possibility of a new love, that will truly eat away at you.

Synopsis: When Leo’s marriage ends, he falls into the depths of depression. He decides to escape the loss and the heartbreak with a trip to the other side of the world – Lima, Peru. In some ways, his journey becomes an unexpected salvation as his passions are reignited by the local food and people, the climate and the beautiful and alluring Marisol. The Love of Marisol is a poignant and passionate journey of heartbreak, loss but most of all self-discovery… it reminds us that at the end of one love story, there is always the possibility of a new one…

REVIEW

The Love of Marisol is a profoundly emotive read, exploring the effects of romance, love and divorce on the main character, Leo. Initially, Leo is in great pain and has a deep sense of loss that leaves him feeling empty and lonely, and even small, in this big wide world.

Leo is hurt so much that he feels he will never love again or experience love again. And, another factor for Leo is his 3yr old son. This has a detrimental effect on his thoughts even more, as he knows that his ex-wife will one day meet a new love and over time this new love may also be living with her and his son. His son will have a new father figure and where will that leave Leo?

The beautiful description, from the author of these emotions and reactions that Leo has, really pulls the reader in. It is a story many can relate to and it is written very much in a realistic tone, almost biographical, where the main character opens his mind, questions his thoughts and others’ actions of love and their views.

Not only this, but The Love of Marisol is also an adventurous, travelling story. Leo questions why he is travelling but knows no matter where he goes the heavy feeling and slow, short breathing will follow him. He is taking a trip to Lima to meet with his cousin. Although the reader senses how lost he is, he knows he needs to get up and do something, go somewhere, and this might be just what he needs.

During his stay in Peru, Leo speaks with his cousin, Dom, meets Dom’s friends and beautiful women. He hears Dom’s, and his friend’s, stories of their love experiences. All of the opinions and experiences make him ponder over his situation. But it is the beautiful, Marisol, that helps him to open his mind and begin contemplating other possibilities for his future, than the dark, lonely path he believed he would take a few days ago.

The reader is left contemplating many of the views expressed by Leo and the people he encounters. Who is right? Is it different for everyone? Reading this narrative certainly made me dig deep to seek my true feelings and beliefs on love, as well as the long-lasting relationships we have.

The Love of Marisol is extremely touching, beautifully written, and realistic. It will reach out to your soul and make you explore your thoughts, remind you of past loves and experiences. It may even open your heart!

A copy of The Love of Marisol was provided by Wattle Publishing for the purpose of an honest and fair review.

The Love of Marisol by Christos Toulouras is available at Amazon UK and Amazon US.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

 

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Sue’s Seduction by Saylor Storm *BLOG TOUR with Author Interview & GIVEAWAY*

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000026_00017]Sue’s Seduction

By Saylor Storm

Genre: Mystery/Romance Contemporary

Middle aged, overweight, depressed and lonely, Susan Kent, becomes part of an anti-aging clinical trial and is offered a lease on life. She swiftly transforms into a budding beauty. Her new found tender age brings opportunities, lovers and tragedy. Sue’s youthful path takes her on a journey that she never could have imagined and catastrophe brings sobering consequences. Sophisticated attorney, Roger Grayson, enters her life and saves the day. In the end does Susan choose youth or the promise of love?

INTERVIEW

Hi Saylor,

Welcome to A Reader’s Review Blog!

I love the synopsis for Sue’s Seduction. What were your main influences for the story/character?

My first thought was to take a real life anti-aging product that I had heard about and researched and combine it with who I saw as the average, depressed, middle-aged woman who blames everyone else for her misery. I wanted my character, Sue, to evolve into a better, more likable person as the story unfolds.

Have you based any characters or scenes from your own or your friend’s experiences?

Most of the time I do base my characters and scenes from real life experiences, but not so in the case of Sue’s Seduction. The only reality-based part of the story is the anti-aging product.

Who is your favourite character, and why?

Even though we don’t care for Susan Kent much in the beginning, we can’t help but grow to love her as she learns what is truly important in life.

Were there any particular scenes that you found either more difficult or easier to write?

It was fun and challenging to write about lesbian love scenes as a straight woman. In the end I interviewed men about their first time with a woman; what were their first thoughts and impressions, what was it like for them and used that as Sue’s point of reference for the book.

What inspired you to write Sue’s Seduction?

I was inspired to write Sue’s Seduction when I learned about a real life anti-aging product that is currently on the market. I took this piece of reality and turned it into a reverse aging product that my character, Susan Kent, consumes during as a participant in a clinical trial. I imagined all the positive changes that might occur from reverse aging 35 years as well as the negative ones. In my mind, there would be plenty of both!

Do you have a favourite author/book? If so, who/what and why?

I grew up reading John D. MacDonald’s books and loved the fact that they were quick reads offering a temporary escape from reality.

When you are not writing, what do you like to do?

I love to hike in the Sierras near my home in Lake Tahoe.

For those who have not read your work, how would you describe your writing style?

My writing is style is clean, straightforward, and imaginative.

What’s next for Saylor Storm?

We have a book of love trivia and fun facts coming out next month, a compilation of my daily posts on Facebook for the past couple of years. My first romance thriller called, Basking in the Light, will be coming out in March.

Thank you for your time! We will look forward to hosting you as part of the blog tour! All the best for Sue’s Seduction and in the future!

About Saylor Storm

Saylor Storm smileSaylor Storm takes something from real life and turns it into something fun, and perhaps a bit twisted. Reality becomes fantasy, or is that imagination turns into real life experience? Her stories include places where she has lived or visited from the beaches of Malibu to Islands of Fiji and destinations in between. Love and passion are at the root of her novels; after all isn’t that what life is all about? Storm is a long-time resident of beautiful Lake Tahoe. Saylor is currently working on several new books and loves to hear from her readers! Visit her at http://saylorstorm.com and see her interview me, Caroline, on her site in regard to book blogging!

Saylor Storm trailer –  http://youtu.be/HlbwporBScE

Twitter: @SaylorStorm

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saylor.storm

Sue’s Seduction is available at Amazon US and Amazon UK OR Enter below for your chance to WIN a copy of Sue’s Seduction!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/8c7fd74d1/

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**REVIEW** Captured (True Alpha #4) by Alisa Woods

Captured (True Alpha 4)

Strong, dark, scary and intense!

Blurb: Shifters live in the shadows of Seattle, just under the skin of the alpha male, dot-com entrepreneurs who are building a new Silicon Valley in the Emerald City.

Lucas and Mia’s story continues as she tries to free Jupiter from the Red pack and he tries to save them both.

Captured (True Alpha 4) is 70 pages or 17,000 words. It’s the fourth of six episodes in the True Alpha serial.

Adult content. Ages 18+.

Review

This series keeps on growing stronger and stronger. You can see from the recommended reading age, 18ys+, that this episode, Captured, is going to be darker than the previous, scarier than the previous and so intense! Mia really is in trouble now as she is being held by the Red pack and it doesn’t seem like there is much she or Lucas can do to save both herself and her friend, Jupiter.

With every passing moment the reader fears for her safety just as much as Lucas does. Not only has she been captured and held against her will, but an alpha from the Red pack, Mace, is quite keen to do more to her than simply hold her hostage. He wants Mia for himself, wants her submission – but just how far will he take his threat?

Lucas, meanwhile, is no fool. He is aware of the tendencies that members of the Red pack will have for Mia. Especially Mace’s! Lucas’ rage really comes to the fore, especially when he is willing to fight with his own pack members for Mia. He knows he can’t rush in and do anything stupid, putting Mia’s safety at greater risk (if that’s possible). But he wants his father’s and pack’s support and be able to go in strong to rescue her.

Another battle they both have in their minds is that they both blame themselves for what has happened. Lucas should never have gave in to his feelings and brought them to the fore, just to shut her out immediately after. And if Mia is truly what his inner self/wolf wants then maybe he should have given himself whole heartedly without messing her around. On the other hand, was Mia being too childish when she drove away in his car and left him naked in the woods?!

Alisa Woods has created brilliant suspense throughout and Captured really tops it for me. I simply can’t wait to read the final two episodes, Sacrificed and Claimed. Paranormal and shifter fans will love this series. The heat is turned up a little higher as each one is read. Now for Sacrificed……

Captured (True Alpha #4) was provided by the author, Alisa Woods, in return for an honest and fair review.

Check out my previous reviews for Desired (True Alpha #1), Guarded (True Alpha #2) and Hunted (True Alpha #3)!

Captured (True Alpha #4) is available on Amazon UK and Amazon US. (Currently books 1-5 can all be bought from Amazon for a small price. Book 6, Claimed, will be released on Tuesday 21st October 2014. However, if you would like all books together in one set – this will be released on Tuesday 28th October, again for a small price. Book 6 and the boxset are available to pre-order in the time being.)

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

 

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For November: A Crime Thriller or an Emotional Adventurous Romance Novel?

Hi readers, we are already thinking ahead into November, and once we have all been zombied out, witched out and spooked out over Halloween we are thinking maybe you would like to relax a little with either a crime thriller or an adventurous and emotional romantic journey!

We have two reviews scheduled for next month that just may be what you are looking for. Two great reads from Wattle Publishing: crime thriller, Entropy, by Robert Raker and contemporary romance, The Love of Marisol by Christos Toulouras! Please scroll down for blurbs and author bios.

Happy reading!

Caroline & Tina 🙂

Entropy_WP2014Book title:  Entropy
Author:  Robert Raker

RRP:   PB: £8.99 | Kindle & eBook: £5.99

Synopsis:

When a series of child abductions and murders disrupt the life of an economically blighted community, the consequences have far-reaching implications. The brutal crimes take a different toll on a disparate group of individuals; the scuba diver who retrieves the children’s bodies; the disfigured cellist who thinks he knows who’s responsible; the undercover federal agent; and the mother of one of the victim’s.
United in a situation not of their choosing, they are forced to take a deep, introspective look into their intersected, yet isolated lives.

Author biography:
Robert Raker graduated with a degree in Journalism from the University of Pittsburgh. He currently resides in Philadelphia where he enjoys art, music, literature and live theater. He is currently working on his next novel.

Link to retailers: http://wattlepublishing.com/catalogue/entropy/

Twitter:  @RobertRaker1
Facebook:  Entropy by Robert Raker

TheLoveofMarisol_WP2014Book title:  The Love of Marisol
Author:  Christos Toulouras

RRP:   PB: £6.99 | Kindle & eBook: £5.99

Synopsis:

When Leo’s marriage ends, he falls into the depths of depression. He decides to escape the loss and the heartbreak with a trip to the other side of the world – Lima, Peru. In some ways, his journey becomes an unexpected salvation as his passions are reignited by the local food and people, the climate and the beautiful and alluring Marisol. The Love of Marisol is a poignant and passionate journey of heartbreak, loss but most of all self-discovery… it reminds us that at the end of one love story, there is always the possibility of a new one…

Author bio:
Christos Toulouras was born in Cyprus. He has lived in South Africa and Cyprus. He studied Tourist administration in Thessaloniki. He continued his studies in the UK at Leicester University where he received his MBA. He currently lives in Cyprus.

Link to retailers: http://wattlepublishing.com/catalogue/love-marisol/

Twitter:  @wattlepub
Facebook:  Wattle Publishing

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**REVIEW** By the Sea (novelette) by Katherine McIntyre

By the Sea

A short, light and refreshing romance with fantasy and paranormal elements!

Most kids had imaginary friends, but most weren’t like Megan’s friend Niall. There were rules: only at night and only by the sea. She could’ve sworn he was real, but when someone vanishes without a trace, what else can you believe?

All that was seven years ago, buried in the past until Niall shows up in town with his tight swimmer’s body and easy smile. For Megan, just the sight of him is enough to tear open a scar that never fully healed. However, their reunion only elicits more questions. Niall’s keeping secrets, unbelievable ones, and as Megan delves into the supernatural depths of who he really is, she’s sure he’ll vanish again.

Megan’s not stupid—she knows how bad it’ll hurt if she gets involved. The first time Niall disappeared, she never thought she’d recover. But the moment they lock eyes, it’s too late—because Megan will go to any length to see that boy smile.

REVIEW

By the Sea is a great novelette that reads as a short, fun, contemporary romance from the onset. However, as it opens up and the reader begins to settle into the story, the fantasy paranormal elements emerge.

Megan had been through so much to be rid of the delusions of her imaginary friend, Niall. And yet here is the new boy in town, Mason, with so many likenesses to her long gone friend. Megan wants to lead a normal life and decides not to let Mason in too much. She cannot go down that path and be left hurt and confused again. And yet despite this, her feelings of the past have not disappeared and have re-ignited with Mason.

As well as the romance current running gently throughout the story, later we realise that Niall is also on a mission to seek something that has been taken from him. Not only that but it could also bring a little paranormal trouble to Megan. These scenes I found exciting and left wanting more.

Being a short story doesn’t always allow much build up to prepare the reader, and I found this to be the case, only ever so slightly, with the supernatural element of the story. Once I had accepted the idea of what Niall was I was able to delve further and empathise with Megan’s character – the confusion and re-surfacing of her past feelings.

By the Sea is a nice story with something to offer the contemporary romance reader and the fantasy paranormal fans. I would recommend that it is suitable for Young Adults and over, and there is a coming-of-age feel in regards to the young characters of the book.

A copy of By the Sea was provided by the author in return for an honest and fair review.

By the Sea by Katherine McIntyre is available at Amazon UK and Amazon US.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

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Guarded (True Alpha #2) (short story) by Alisa Woods **REVIEW**

Guarded (True Alpha 2)New Adult Paranormal Romance serial

THIS IS THE SECOND EPISODE OF SIX in the True Alpha serial.

Blurb: Shifters live in the shadows of Seattle, just under the skin of the alpha male, dot-com entrepreneurs who are building a new Silicon Valley in the Emerald City.

As Lucas fights his instinctual attraction to Mia, focusing instead on guarding her and keeping her safe from the Red pack, Mia tries to discover the truth about Lucas’s dead mate.

Guarded (True Alpha 2) is 70 pages or 17,000 words. It’s the second of six episodes in the True Alpha serial. 

REVIEW

Whereas book one was a very intense and hot read, Guarded (True Alpha #2) focuses on the emotional tension between Mia and Lucas. After a passionate night with Lucas, Mia’s inner wolf knows that he is right for her and that she belongs with him but Lucas is still in a great deal of heartache and pain from the death of his mate. The reader remains gripped to these characters and will question whether Mia will ever be able to help him come to terms with his deceased mate and allow her to belong with him.

Lucas battles his feelings for Mia, knowing that he can’t go there again. He can never be as close to anyone as he was with his mate. And, as much as he will protect and guard Mia from the Red Pack, he will not take her again or even come close. Guarded actually breaks down these two great characters where the reader will see Lucas’ more darker, serious side, his sorrow and pain, as well as his desire to keep Mia from this.

As a result he puts his defences up and distances himself. This makes him a little cold and impersonal with her at times, although it is also clear that he doesn’t want her to think bad of him. This in turn makes it more difficult for Mia to be with him and know how to respond. Book 2 certainly holds more emotional tension as opposed to sexual tension.

The reader can certainly empathise with both characters, making it unpredictable on the outcome of these two. There are twists and turns, a strong attraction, and danger from the Red Pack, as they will do anything to keep business going their way. (The Red Pack own a rival company to that of Lucas’, and threatening Mia may seem like a good idea to them – especially as they sense the connection between Mia and Lucas and his need to protect her.)

Mia’s character is strong as she feels that if she can help Lucas to open up and face what happened then she is in with a chance. She has much to understand about packs, mates as she has never been raised by one. At times this can make her seem a little naïve to Lucas. This makes the reader just long for Lucas to take Mia under his wing and teach her all he knows, guard her, protect her and love her! But will it all be too much for Lucas to bear?

Lucas’ dad has a strong impact on Mia as he is accepting, gentle and protective – all the things that a father should be that she has missed out on not having her own around. This scene was relatively small and yet had such a deep meaning, especially for Mia. I would like to read a little more about these two in the subsequent books.

The reader doesn’t miss a thing as Guarded (True Alpha #2) picks up where we left off in Desired (True Alpha #1). There are reminders of what happened previously, allowing the reader to easily remember and continue the story without having to keep checking back to the last episode. I cannot wait for the third instalment, Hunted. This series is a strong one for many a paranormal fan to follow. You will not be disappointed with the power and depth that these short stories provide!

Guarded (True Alpha #2) was provided by the author in return for an honest and fair review.

Guarded (True Alpha #2) is available at Amazon UK and Amazon US.

You can also check out our review of Desired (True Alpha #1) (short story) by Alisa Woods here.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

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The Voice in My Ear by Ken Newman *SPOTLIGHT*

The Voice in My EarWe are proud to bring to your attention a great new urban fantasy novel, The Voice in My Ear. The Voice in My Ear is a twisted supernatural adventure, full of romance, action, and humour.

Author: Ken Newman

Publisher: Sunbury Press, Inc

Published Date: August 18th 2014

Layla is the kind of girl who can get under a guy’s skin…literally.

 Mere moments from a gruesome death, Zack Cole makes a deal with a mysterious stranger. To live, Zack reluctantly becomes the guardian of Layla, an exotic woman struggling under a terrible curse.

The spirit of a 4,000-year-old witch, Layla exists as a living tattoo, unable to survive without a willing host.  Despite a rocky start, Layla discovers an intimacy and passion with the cocky, womanizing Zack that transcends her dreadful curse. Determined that Zack will be hers, Layla uses her vast power to help him solve the mysteries surrounding his attempted murder, unaware that Zack is the target of a vicious band of outcasts on a deadly mission for God.

A Reader’s Review Blog will be posting a review of The Voice in My Ear at a later date. But if you’re already tempted here are the Amazon links:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Author contact links:

www.newkman.com

Twitter: @newkman61

Facebook.com/newkman61

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REVIEW of *Primary Fault* ~ Book #1 in The Schattenreich Series, by Sharon Kae Reamer

A Suspenseful Blend of Science, Romance and the Supernatural!

PP Cover.3838236-Primary Fault CVR UBC-ps4NEWBCT-FIN-12X18-06141Book Blurb

Caitlin Schwarzbach has left home. For good.

Separated from her beloved brother Gus at age seven, Caitlin exchanges small-town Texas for Cologne, Germany to be with him. But upon her arrival, a man resembling her brother attempts to kidnap her.

At a university reception, Caitlin feels intimidated by one of her brother’s former colleagues, only to have the conversation interrupted by a dangerously attractive man, Hagen von der Lahn. She learns her seismologist brother Gus has included her in a research project with the amateur archeologist and stylish aristocrat. When Gus is called away to his institute by an earthquake, the deranged Gus doppelgänger again tries to drag her away. Hagen rescues Caitlin and secures her in his castle near the Rhine.

Gus vanishes, sought by the Cologne police for multiple sexual assaults. As Hagen and Caitlin begin the investigation into her brother’s disappearance, her feelings for Hagen grow. But before she can follow up on a promising lead, a blow to the head lands Caitlin in the hospital. An unwanted visitor appears by her bed; someone she feared since childhood, the being she thinks of as Death. His appearance can only mean one thing: her brother is in mortal danger.

A novel of supernatural suspense, Primary Fault is a delightful mixture of science meets magic set amidst a backdrop of Celto-Germanic Otherworld.

My Review

Absorbing and Original Fantasy Romance

I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this clever and original read which merges mythology and magic with a heady mixture of romance, science and suspense. It is full of mystery and secrets with a complex plot and superbly well drawn characters, which drew me inform the off. Primary Fault (awarded a B.R.A.G. medallion*) is book #1 in the Schattenreich Series by Sharon Kae Reamer. Other books in the series include Shaky Ground #2, Double Couple #3 and Shadow Zone #4 is to be released soon.

After her life in the USA turns sour following the death of her mother, her own long recovery after a road accident and being dumped by her boyfriend, Caitlin Schwazbach travels to Germany, where she hopes to make a permanent home alongside her brother Gus, a renowned seismologist. Rather than the peace she craves, Caitlin walks into a nightmare scenario: she herself is assaulted by a mysterious man, who bears a striking resemblance to Gus and Gus disappears, suspected of a series of heinous crimes, deeds she knows that the brother she loved would never commit.

Caitlin’s own life is full of danger as she seeks to find Gus and prove his innocence. At the same time she falls for the handsome and mysterious Hagen, a business partner of her brother and a rich and renowned aristocratic playboy, whose actions towards her blow hot and cold. Her problems do not stop there as she experiences strange dizzy spells and visions which seem to be increasing in intensity. She is particularly terrified by the appearance of the figure she refers to as Death. Caitlin must unearth who is out to discredit/destroy her brother whilst protecting both her heart and her sanity.

We are treated to many forays into the Schattenreich, the shadowy ‘otherworld,’ where the author draws on a rich combination of both Celtic and Germanic mythology. I found this aspect of the novel truly fascinating as it added dark and mysterious depths to an already thrilling and suspenseful read.

Caitlin is mature enough to be a confident woman, not afraid to act on her own despite the possible dangers and she also has an air of vulnerability about her. I found that I was rooting for her from the off. I applauded her determination to get to the bottom of finding out who is trying to discredit her brother and why and above all secure his safety. The power struggles at her brother’s institute mask something far darker and dangerous than she can ever begin to understand. Caitlin finds that she has to rely on the help of Hagen, whom she feels is well out of her league. Hagen, a character whom I adored,  is a strong, sexy and powerful hero with a mysterious past and a connection to Caitlin which this instalment only hints at. I cannot wait to find out more!

There are many characters in this book aside from the main ones, some who straddle both the human world and the world beyond into which the book increasingly refers. They all have an important role to play in the evolving tale, and a number of different players are pulling different strings for reasons that we only begin to comprehend in this book. In terms of the romance the book ends on a Happy For Now but there are still many unanswered questions and I am impatient to read the next book in the series, Shaky Ground.

I recommend this book to readers who like strong heroines and heroes, with lashings of suspense and a plot which draws on myth and magic.

A copy of this book was given to me by the author for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

* Book Readers Appreciation Group

Purchase Links

Amazon UK  Amazon US  Amazon CA  Amazon AU

Kobo  B&N  iTunes  All Romance

Connect with the Author

Author’s Blog

Facebook

 

 

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**REVIEW** After Wimbledon by Jennifer Gilby Roberts

After-Wimbledon_Cover_SmallAfter Wimbledon is a light, refreshing romance mixed with a dash of quirky and fun instances. Lucy Bennett’s career and love life could be falling down around her or she could be starting a new life with the man of her dreams. She has the whole duration of the Tennis World Championships to find out how she really feels towards her tennis career and her current boyfriend. But how will it all end?

The story follows British tennis player, Lucy Bennett, as she considers this year to be her last professional year at Wimbledon. She feels that she has reached as far as she can at the age of 28. She begins thinking of her future and longs to settle down and have a family of her own. The only problem Lucy faces is that her current boyfriend, American tennis ace Joe Harker, doesn’t share her desires but preferring to stay in the game. Oh, and her parents (especially her mother) feels that she will be throwing her career away far too early and her mum possibly longs to relive her own tennis dreams through her daughter!

I’m sure many of us have felt the need to go down our own path, even when against our parents’ wishes. At this point you tend to question whether what you are doing is right or wrong and at times there is a lingering pang of guilt. But you must do what feels right for you and this is exactly where Lucy is at.

As After Wimbledon focuses mostly on Lucy, the reader can understand her actions and empathise with her emotions, thus making Lucy a realistic and likeable character. Lucy is like any of us with her indecisiveness and at times she does ‘put her foot in it’ and has the potential to cause a scene. However, she also has guts and after much deliberation at times she does begin to stand up to those around her. Needless to say that I do love Lucy’s character!

To mash Lucy’s thoughts around even more are the unexpected encounters she has with Joe’s tennis rival, New Zealander Sam Pennington. Sam is the No. 1 and hopes to win it for England this time round. Lucy has always had a crush on him and admired him from afar and so when she meets him by chance at her parents’ tennis club they begin talking and Lucy lets slip some of her thoughts. Sam is patient, caring and honourable as well as being a great listener. After accidentally meeting up with Sam a number of times it becomes clear that these two certainly have chemistry, but then Lucy also has Joe!

Joe had initially dismissed Lucy’s idea of settling down, not really believing it. As time goes on he realises she meant it and his attitude towards her becomes increasingly arrogant and threatening, especially when he sees her support for Sam – with Sam playing for Britain and all, as well as a closeness between Lucy and Sam is reported in the media. Is Joe’s reaction an insight into his true nature or is he jealous and hopes to keep Lucy for himself?!

There is a great build up of momentum and suspense during both Lucy’s love life and action on the courts. Not being a huge tennis follower I was surprised how Roberts had written the on court scenes in a manner that was so easy to follow and gave the reader the chance to feel the excitement and tension. There were also intimate moments that were quite descriptive, making it feel more real, although towards the end I found myself wanting more deeper scenes like there previously had been.

With action on the courts, two boyfriends to choose from, pressure from the media, helping her parents sort out their lives and finally deciding whether or not to stay in professional tennis Lucy really has her mind buzzing! But which way will she finally go? With many more years still left she could make the most of her career before retiring from tennis! And is it worth losing the man she’s had for years to settle with someone new when it may not work out? She would surely be alone then. And so After Wimbledon explores Lucy’s options and maybe you can decide whether or not she chooses the right one!!

A copy of After Wimbledon was provided by the author in return for an honest and fair review.

To read an author post (with links to the author) and an extract from After Wimbledon please click here. (Please take note that the giveaway mentioned is now closed.)

After Wimbledon is available at Amazon UK and Amazon US. (Prices currently at 99p and $1.65 – bargain!! But please be aware prices are subject to change.)

Reviewed by Caroline Barker