Blog Tour: Bad Sister by Sam Carrington @sam_carrington1 @AvonBooksUK

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Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK
Release date: October 5, 2017

Publisher: Avon

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Blurb:
The gripping new thriller from the bestselling author of Saving Sophie.


Then


When flames rip through their family home, only teenager Stephanie and her younger brother escape unhurt. Brett always liked to play with fire, but now their dad is dead and someone has to pay the price.


Now


Psychologist Connie Summers wants to help Stephanie rebuild her life. She has a new name, a young son and everything to live for. But when Stephanie receives a letter from someone she’d hoped would never find her, Connie is forced to question what really happened that night. But some truths are better left alone . . .


Gripping, tense and impossible to put down, Bad Sister will have fans of Sue Fortin, B.A. Paris and Linda Green hooked until the final page. 

I’m thrilled to be the stop on the blog tour for Bad Sister today!


Review:

I loved the premise and structure for Bad Sister, alternating timelines always appeal to me and multiple narrators that are done well are fun and Carrington nailed both aspects. This was an extremely fast paced and edge of your seat type of read from an author I’ll definitely be keeping my eye on.

This is told from the perspectives of Connie, DI Wade and an unknown narrator from the past. The blend of these three narratives made this read part police procedural and part psychological thriller with a dash of something sinister as well, I loved the merging of genres and it was executed seamlessly. DI Wade first made her appearance in Carrington’s debut, Saving Sophie and it was fantastic learning a bit more about her this time around. Connie was the type of character that you’re not quite sure about, her history is sketchy and I often wondered exactly how reliable she was which really kept me on my toes.

The pacing was fast and furious and almost every chapter ended on a mini cliffhanger making it downright impossible to put it down. There were twists and turns galore and more shocking moments and surprises than I can count but at no point did I have anything figured out, I always had more questions than answers. When things all came together in the end I was ultimately satisfied, this was a highly entertaining and exciting read!

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

About the Author:


Sam Carrington lives in Devon with her husband and three children. She worked for the NHS for fifteen years, during which time she qualified as a nurse. Following the completion of a psychology degree she went to work for the prison service as an Offending Behaviour Programme Facilitator. Her experiences within this field inspired her writing. She left the service to spend time with her family and to follow her dream of being a novelist. SAVING SOPHIE, her debut psychological thriller, published in September 2016. It became a Kindle eBook bestseller, with the paperback hitting The Bookseller Heatseeker chart at #8. Sam was named an Amazon Rising Star of 2016. Her next psychological thriller, BAD SISTER, publishes in October 2017 in ebook and December in paperback.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #imwayr

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly post to share what you recently finished reading, what you’re currently reading, and what you plan on reading this week. It’s hosted by Kathryn at Bookdate.

What I Read Last Week: 


Winter Solstice was the final book in a series that I just loved!

Murder Game was also the final book in a series and I really like Mitchell’s style.

Lilac Lane was a sweet, clean romance.

My TBT pick was Beartown, what an amazing, powerful book.


Christmas at the Falling-Down Guesthouse was a delightful holiday read.

The Boyfriend Swap was a hilarious and fun rom com.

Whiteout was another amazing addition to the Dark Iceland series.
Currently Reading: 


Up Next:



How was your week?!

Blog Tour: The Good Samaritan by John Marrs @johnmarrs1

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Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK
Release date: December 1, 2017

Publisher: Thomas and Mercer

Genre: Psychological Thriller 

Blurb: 

She’s a friendly voice on the phone. But can you trust her?


The people who call End of the Line need hope. They need reassurance that life is worth living. But some are unlucky enough to get through to Laura. Laura doesn’t want them to hope. She wants them to die.


Laura hasn’t had it easy: she’s survived sickness and a difficult marriage only to find herself heading for forty, unsettled and angry. She doesn’t love talking to people worse off than she is. She craves it.


But now someone’s on to her–Ryan, whose world falls apart when his pregnant wife ends her life, hand in hand with a stranger. Who was this man, and why did they choose to die together?


The sinister truth is within Ryan’s grasp, but he has no idea of the desperate lengths Laura will go to…


Because the best thing about being a Good Samaritan is that you can get away with murder.

I’m so excited to be one of the stops on the blog tour for The Good Samaritan today!


Review:

Oohh what a dark and oftentimes uncomfortable read this one was, but I really do love to be pushed to my limits while reading and I always appreciate reading about a new, fresh subject and The Good Samaritan most definitely provides all of the above. It’s also disturbing, dark and filled with characters that you will alternate between hating and even sympathizing with, but they are all highly complex and incredibly well drawn making for a truly enthralling read.

This is told via dual narratives, that of Laura a volunteer at a suicide hotline and Ryan, the husband of a woman who killed herself and who has his suspicions about Laura. The first half of the book is really laying the groundwork for what’s to come and while I was engaged, I wasn’t as drawn in as I ended up being later on. Then the second half begins and that’s when I was well and truly gripped, by this point I wasn’t putting my Kindle down for any reason as I just had to know how this dangerous game Laura was playing would end.

I don’t want to discuss the plot because this went in several directions that I wasn’t expecting and I don’t want to lead any future readers down a path too early, it’s best if you experience it all on your own. I do want to mention again that parts made me uneasy as reading about someone who actively encouraged others to kill themselves is not easy reading but it didn’t upset me to the point where I had to stop reading or anything, in fact it was quite the opposite and I was totally caught up in the twisty plot and finding out more about the deranged Laura and what motivated her. She simultaneously fascinated me and sickened me, I honestly couldn’t get enough of her! Fans of original stories about manipulation, obsession, lies and delusions will love this one!

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the author and Tracy Fenton for my review copy.

About the Author:


John Marrs is a freelance journalist based in London, England, who has spent the last 20 years interviewing celebrities from the world of television, film and music for national newspapers and magazines.

He has written for publications including The Guardian’s Guide and Guardian Online; OK! Magazine; Total Film; Empire; Q; GT; The Independent; Star; Reveal; Company; Daily Star and News of the World’s Sunday Magazine.
His debut novel The Wronged Sons, was released in 2013 and in May 2015, he released his second book, Welcome To Wherever You Are.
In May 2017 came his third book, The One. It was chosen as the book of the month for BBC Radio 2’s Book Club.
The Wronged Sons was re-edited and re-released in July 2017 under a new title, When You Disappeared.
And his fourth book, The Good Samaritan, is set for release in November 2017.

Blog Tour: Whiteout by Ragnar Jonasson @ragnarjo @orendabooks #Whiteout

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Goodreads|Amazon
Release date: November 1, 2017

Publisher: Orenda Books

Genre: Crime Fiction, Nordic Noir

Blurb:

Two days before Christmas, a young woman is found dead beneath the cliffs of the deserted village of Kálfshamarvík. Did she jump, or did something more sinister take place beneath the lighthouse and the abandoned old house on the remote rocky outcrop? With winter closing in and the snow falling relentlessly, Ari Thór Arason discovers that the victim’s mother and young sister also lost their lives in this same spot, twenty-five years earlier. As the dark history and its secrets of the village are unveiled, and the death toll begins to rise, the Siglufjordur detectives must race against the clock to find the killer, before another tragedy takes place.

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Whiteout!


Review:

I’ve become such a huge fan of this series though I haven’t read every book I did enjoy both Snowblind and Rupture. What makes these books different is that there’s a quiet quality to the mystery aspect, they don’t rely on cheap thrills and insane plot twists, rather they’re a classic whodunnit. That doesn’t mean that they’re predictable or boring at all, there is still an intensity to the story, it’s just more subtle and refined which always makes me feel like I’m reading a mature novel. 

It was a true pleasure to spend time with Ari again and there are things happening in his personal life that were very interesting and gave more insight into his character as well as that of his partner Kristin. The case him and Tomas are working is unusual and links back to years earlier and it also focuses on a group of people, some related to each other, some old friends. They live in an stark, isolated town with a very eerie feel that added so much tension. On top of that, it’s only a few days before Christmas and this added extra pressure to get the case solved quickly. There was a fairly small list of suspects but that didn’t stop me from being tricked, the outcome of the mystery definitely surprised me. 

No one does imagery as beautifully as Jonasson and Whiteout was no exception. There is always a strong sense of claustrophobia in his books and the weather always plays a huge role in the story taking on a life of its own. The writing is gorgeous, it’s hauntingly poetic and I always pause a few times while reading to let the words really sink in. This is my favorite in the series (that I’ve read) and I cannot wait to read more! 

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

About the Author:


Ragnar Jónasson is author of the international bestselling Dark Iceland series. His debut Snowblind went to number one in the kindle charts shortly after publication, and Nightblind, Blackout and Rupture soon followed suit, hitting the number one spot in five countries, and the series being sold in 18 countries and for TV. Ragnar was born in Reykjavik, Iceland, where he continues to work as a lawyer. From the age of 17, Ragnar translated 14 Agatha Christie novels into Icelandic. He has appeared on festival panels worldwide, and lives in Reykjavik with his wife and young daughters.

Review: The Boyfriend Swap by Meredith Schorr 

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Goodreads|Amazon|Author Website
Release date: November 7, 2017

Publisher: Henery Press

Genre: Chick Lit

Blurb:
Is Christmas really the most wonderful time of the year? New Yorkers Robyn Lane and Sidney Bellows aren’t so sure.


Robyn has always dated struggling creative types. For once, her parents would love her to bring someone with health insurance and a 401(k) to their Chrismukkah celebration. Her actor boyfriend doesn’t qualify. While across town, Sidney’s professional life already belongs to her parents. She’s an attorney at her father’s law firm and she works tirelessly to keep her love life private. If she brings her lawyer boyfriend to their annual Christmas extravaganza, her parents will have the wedding planned by New Year’s Eve. 


A mutual friend playfully suggests they trade boyfriends for the holidays. The women share a laugh, but after copious amounts of wine, decide The Boyfriend Swap could be the perfect solution. This way, Robyn can show off her stable attorney boyfriend and Sidney’s high-society family will take no interest in her flakey actor beau.


It’s a brilliant plan—in theory. In practice—not so much. When Will turns out to be the boy-next-door Robyn crushed on hard throughout her teenage years, and Sidney’s family fawns all over Perry like he’s an Oscar-winner rather than a D-list wannabe, one thing is certain: The Boyfriend Swap might just change their lives forever. 

Review: 

Do you ever read a book and just know it would be an awesome movie? The characters are larger than life and they’re screaming to be brought to life and you’re silently casting said movie in your head? That’s exactly what happened while I was reading this one, this would be the cutest romantic comedy movie, but it was also a super fun read.

As a reader, you know that the whole idea of swapping mates is a disaster waiting to happen, but that’s part of what made this so entertaining. Robyn was my favorite character, she kind of gets bulldozed by Sidney and just sort of goes along with her crazy scheme and after getting to know Sidney, it’s easy to see how she was manipulated. She is a lawyer after all AND she’s crafty and smart too boot, this is a woman used to getting her way. Sidney and Robyn are pretty different in terms of personality, Robyn is quirky and sweet to Sidney’s bold and brash and I really enjoyed getting to know both of these woman, Schorr created memorable, relatable characters that I think any woman would enjoy reading about. 

This was my first book by the author but it certainly won’t be my last, she’s a solid writer and this was a really funny book. The scenes that happened on Christmas Day were some of my favorite moments, and both Will and Perry were charming in their own right. Chick lit fans who haven’t had the pleasure of reading Schorr’s books should definitely pick this one up, it was adorable!

Overall rating: 4/5 

Thanks to the publisher and The Great Thoughts Ninja review team for my copy.

Q & A with Joy Norstrom author of Out of Play @norstrom_joy

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Goodreads|Amazon
Release date: October 27, 2016

Publisher: Crooked Cat

Genre: Chick Lit

Blurb:

Gillian Campbell is out of patience. 


Her husband is choosing his hobby over her. And the hobby in question? Live Action Role-Play, or ‘larp’. Larp involves dressing up as a character (be it medieval knight, banshee or centaur) and participating in imaginary battles for entire weekends. 


Gillian is not impressed. She seeks professional advice and is surprised when her therapist encourages her to try larp. Who knows? It may make you smile. It may make you laugh. It may even improve your sex life. How terrible could it be?


The advice seems super sketch to Gillian, but she decides to don a costume and give it a go. If larp doesn’t work a marital miracle, Gillian will be able to walk away knowing she tried absolutely everything before giving up.


Will going on her own role-play adventure heal Gillian’s marriage, or will the game shed light on everything that is wrong? 

Hey everyone, I hope your weekend is off to a fantastic start! I have an interview with Joy Norstrom to share today.


Q & A
 

Hello Amy! Thank you for hosting me on your Saturday Shout Out. I’m celebrating the one year anniversary of my book baby, Out of Play, and it seems a great time to think about my writing journey. What questions do you have for me?

 

Q: What’s a typical writing day for you look like? Describe your perfect writing environment.

 

A: My typical writing day is a few stolen hours when the kids are in bed or in swim practice or watching a movie. I think that’s a similar reality for writers who are trying to balance day jobs and young families with their creative processes.

 

The big exception are Mondays—my favourite day of the week! I don’t work on Mondays, the kids are at school and so that leaves just me and my lap top…and twitter and facebook and insta. Lol, there are still a lot of distractions but at least it’s quiet. Silence is definitely my preferred writing state. I know. I don’t sound fun at all, do I?

 

I also enjoy a warm beverage or two when I write. Coffee with cream in the morning. Bengal Spice tea in the afternoon. I’m also inspired by nature and like to write by a window with a view.

 

Q: How did you get started writing? Was it something you’ve always loved?

 

A: I’ve always been a storyteller. That’s probably a nice way to say ‘chatty.’ I grew up in a house of readers and most of us happened to be oral storytellers too (picture a group of chatty readers and you’ve got it). I was on my second maternity leave and my mom suggested I should write a children’s book. I was very quick to dismiss the idea. I didn’t think it was possible to get published and I doubted whether anyone would be interested in what I might come up with. And yet the seed was planted. I wasn’t able to shake the idea and I spent most of my thirties working on my writing craft.

 

What I love about storytelling is seeing an emotional reaction and I think that happens when readers (or listeners) feel a connection with the main character. How great is it to know you’ve helped people to feel something powerful? My two favourite reactions are laughter or empathy. Don’t you agree that life is better when there’s humour and a connection to other people’s lived experience?

 

Q: If writing wasn’t your career what would you be doing?

 

A: Writing is somewhere on the spectrum between ‘hobby’ and ‘career’ for me. It requires more time, energy and skill than an average pastime, and yet it’s not quite an occupation either. I work part-time as a registered social worker in community development. I actually love my job because I am passionate about social inclusion and get to have an integral role in building a more just society. Storytelling is also a powerful tool for building empathy and understanding, and so I find splitting my time between these two roles is a great way to keep my creative and grounded.

 

Q: What’s the best compliment you’ve received about your work?

 

A: When I receive a review where the reader says they both laughed and cried, I know I was able to reach my goal of writing a story that matters.

 

Q: Who are your favorite writers/inspirations?

 

A: I’ve been deeply inspired by two Canadian authors:

 

Miriam Toews. Can anyone not recommend Miriam Toews? Her voice is beautiful. She writes a great mix of humour and heartbreak and I basically think she’s amazing. The Flying Troutmans is one of my favourite books. It’s one of those books you keep sneaking back into your room to read, because you’ve got to find out how it ends.

 

Susin Nielsen. If you haven’t heard of her you should look her up. She writes younger YA but doesn’t shy away from tough topics. My ten year old likes her books and so do I. That’s like a (mumble, thirty, mumble) year audience span so quite impressive that Susin can engage such a wide span in audiences. My favourite Susin Nielsen book is The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen but perhaps a better title for a younger reader would be Dear George Clooney, Please Marry My Mother.

 

Both of these authors successfully weave humour and tragedy into their stories. I find it inspiring because it’s what I want to do with my own writing.

 

Q. Anything you can tell us about upcoming projects?

 

A. My current project is about a single mom who lives in a small sawmill town. Her son doesn’t fit into the fairly rigid gender norms in their community. With little income (and few choices) she crosses paths with a group of older women who want her to teach them about dating in the twenty-first century.  

 

I’m currently interviewing parents with children who identify outside mainstream gender norms as a way to better understand my character. If you’re reading this and are interested in sharing your experience with me, I would love to hear from you.  

 

Q: Preferred method for readers to contact you?

 

A: It’s great to chat on social media and I can also be contacted via my website.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/norstrom_joy

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joy.norstromauthor

Website: http://www.joynorstrom.ca

 

Review: Christmas at the Falling-down  Guesthouse by Lilly Bartlett @MicheleGormanUK

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Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK
Release date: October 25, 2017

Publisher: Notting Hill Press

Genre: Holiday, Romance 

Blurb: 

Put your feet up and tuck into the mince pies, because you won’t have to lift a finger to enjoy this Christmas!


Too bad the same can’t be said for single mother and extremely undomestic goddess, Lottie.


When her beloved Aunt Kate ends up in hospital just before Christmas, Lottie and her seven-year-old daughter rush to rural Wales to take over her B&B. A picky hotel reviewer and his mad family are coming to stay, and without the rating only he can give them, Aunt Kate will lose her livelihood.


But Lottie can barely run her own life, let alone a hotel. How will she manage to turn the falling-down guesthouse into the luxurious wonderland the reviewer expects? And could the mysterious taxi driver, Danny, who agrees to help her, turn out to be the real gift this season?


As the snow sparkles on the trees and hot chocolate steams in your hand, snuggle into the delicious magic of Christmas at the Falling-Down Guesthouse.


I’m so delighted to be the stop on the blog tour for Christmas at the Falling Down Guesthouse today! 


Review: 

This was such lovely little bite sized read, it’s a novella so it should definitely be read in one sitting, preferably under your Christmas tree with a fire burning brightly and a cozy blanket on your lap! Can you tell I’m ready for Christmas?! This put me in the most beautiful, festive mood and left me with a huge smile on my face.

Lottie and her daughter Mabel were the cutest characters, totally relatable and so much fun. Mabel is seven going on seventeen, the kind of kiddo who says some rather grown up things, which always makes me laugh as I have two daughters who both have the same endearing habit. I don’t want to discuss the plot because it’s such a short read and I’m afraid I’ll spoil it, but this is the perfect read to grab during the holidays when you need to escape the chaos of Christmas and embrace the magic of the season. It has the absolute best combination of humor and warmth with a dash of romance that left me feeling totally satisfied and more than ready to decorate my tree and turn on the Christmas music.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy. 

Throwback Thursday: Beartown by Fredrik Backman #TBT

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Goodreads|Amazon
Release date: April 25, 2017

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Genre: Contemporary Fiction 

Blurb: 

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove returns with a dazzling, profound novel about a small town with a big dream–and the price required to make it come true.


People say Beartown is finished. A tiny community nestled deep in the forest, it is slowly losing ground to the ever encroaching trees. But down by the lake stands an old ice rink, built generations ago by the working men who founded this town. And in that ice rink is the reason people in Beartown believe tomorrow will be better than today. Their junior ice hockey team is about to compete in the national semi-finals, and they actually have a shot at winning. All the hopes and dreams of this place now rest on the shoulders of a handful of teenage boys.


Being responsible for the hopes of an entire town is a heavy burden, and the semi-final match is the catalyst for a violent act that will leave a young girl traumatized and a town in turmoil. Accusations are made and, like ripples on a pond, they travel through all of Beartown, leaving no resident unaffected.


Beartown explores the hopes that bring a small community together, the secrets that tear it apart, and the courage it takes for an individual to go against the grain. In this story of a small forest town, Fredrik Backman has found the entire world. 

Review: 

I’m joining in again with Throwback Thursday which was created by my good friend Renee at It’s Book Talk. She started this weekly feature as a way to highlight old favorites and read books that have already been published. I have so many older books on my TBR that get ignored in favor of review copies and I figure participating in Throwback Thursday will help me to read at a least one older title a week!

I’m going to keep this fairly brief as I don’t think anything I can say will convey just how beautiful and special this book is. It is unlike anything I’ve ever read before and I was actually super hesitant even though all of my most trusted blog buddies raved about, I should’ve known they would never let me down! I was mainly nervous because I am not a sports fan at all, ironic because I’m married to one of the biggest sports fans on the planet, but I digress. I wasn’t sure a book based on a small towns obsession with hockey would work for me but boy was I wrong. It’s SO much more than that, it’s deep, profound and extremely moving, it’s subtle and gorgeous and the language is amazingly simple but haunting in spectacular way. I will never forget this book or its characters and I highly recommend this to any reader, I truly think everyone can learn something from this one or at the very least be touched by it in some way.

Overall rating: 5/5

October Wrap Up 

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We’ll Always Have Christmas was the ideal holiday read.


If There’s No Tomorrow was a powerful read.


The Deep Dark Descending was a fantastic atmospheric mystery.


I love Slater and The Mistake was a great psychological thriller.


My first TBT pick of the month was Until You’re Mine. I really liked this one!


Fifty Years of Fear is a highly unique read.


The Welcome Home Diner was women’s fiction with depth, it tackled several current issues.


Annie’s Christmas by the Sea was a really lovely and fun read.


Delaney is a great start to a new series, I really love Mullen’s style.


The Blackbird Season was a slow burning eerie read.


Snare was a highly original and tense read.


Snowflakes, Iced Cakes and Second Chances was a gorgeous and hilarious read.


Christmas at Butterfly Cove is the third and final book in an adorable series.


Her Last Secret was a character driven psychological thriller.


Seven Days of Us was a mixed bag for me.


If You Knew My Sister was a psychological thriller that was heavy on the psych aspect and low on thrills.


Under the Knife was an intense medical thriller.


The Little Village Christmas was a lovely read.


The Truth About Thea was a memorable psychological thriller.


Her Last Day was an exciting and fast paced thriller.


Silent Lies was a twisty thriller I loved it!

No-One Ever Has Sex on Christmas Day was a hilarious read.


The Memory Watcher was an addictive, entertaining psychological thriller.


The Lost Child was another fabulous read in a great series.


The Bitches of Suburbia was a sardonic read, like a cozy mystery with bite.


I adored Hilderbrand and Winter Solstice was the perfect ending to a wonderful series.


Murder Game was the conclusion to a fantastic series.
27 books total for October, not my best month but I’ll take it! Life is insanely busy and just keeps getter busier so we’ll see how it goes from here on out…

My favorite read this month was actually a TBT pick, The Memory Watcher but I also loved The Truth About Thea. 

How was your October?! Feel free to link me to your own wrap up. 

Review: Lilac Lane by Sherryl Woods 

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Goodreads|Amazon
Release date: October 17, 2017

Publisher: MIRA

Genre: Contemporary Romance 

Blurb: 

No one writes about friends, family and home better than Sherryl Woods. Told with warmth and humor, Lilac Lane is a brand-new story in her beloved Chesapeake Shores series, one readers all over the world have waited two years to read!


At the heart of Lilac Lane is Keira Malone, who raised her three children alone after her first marriage broke apart, and who, after years of guarding her heart, finally finds love again. But that love is short-lived when her fiancé suffers a fatal heart attack. Grieving and unsure of what’s next, Keira agrees to move from Dublin to Chesapeake Shores, Maryland, to spend time with her daughter, Moira, and her new granddaughter, Kate, as well as to help her son-in-law, Luke, with his Irish pub, O’Briens


Not wanting to live underfoot, she rents a charming cottage on Lilac Lane, replete with views of the ocean and her neighbor’s thriving garden–not to mention views of the neighbor himself. The neighbor is none other than Bryan Laramie, the brusque and moody chef at the pub, with whom Keira is constantly butting heads. But things get real when Bryan’s long-lost daughter, whom he hasn’t seen since she was a baby, shows up out of the blue. As Bryan and Keira each delve into their pasts, reopening wounds, the rest of the town is gearing up for the Fall Festival Irish Stew cook-off, and making no bones about whose side they’re on. It’s Kitchen Wars meets This is Your Life–a recipe for disaster…or a new take on love?


You won’t want to miss this epic return to Chesapeake Shores, a place we’re betting you’ll want to stay forever. 

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Lilac Lane. You can see the full schedule on TLC Book Tours.

Review: 

Right before I started reading this I realized that it’s the fourteenth book in a series so to say I was little apprehensive is fitting. That is a LONG history and I feared I would have trouble connecting with the characters or that I would be lost due to long running backstories. Thankfully, I had absolutely no issues at all and found myself immediately swept away to Chesapeake Shores and totally charmed by this quaint little town and it’s residents.

It looks like every book in this series follows a new couple, reminiscent of RaeAnne Thayne’s long running Haven Point series, and that made it extremely easy to follow along. Keira comes to town from Ireland at the urging of her daughter and helps out in the kitchen at Moira and Luke’s pub. Bryan is the head chef and him and Keira immediately have a love/hate relationship (mostly hate) but I love that cliched trope in a romance, the chemistry and the sparks flying is always hugely entertaining to me!

This was a sweet, clean romance heavy on the importance of strong family bonds and ties to a community. Slightly predictable but truly adorable I loved my time spent in Chesapeake Shores and I just realized there’s a TV series based on the books so guess what I’ll be bingeing ASAP?! If you like Nora Roberts or Fern Michaels you would love Woods. 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to TLC Book Tours for my review copy.

About the Author: 


With her roots firmly planted in the South, Sherryl Woods has written many of her more than 100 books in that distinctive setting, whether in her home state of Virginia, her adopted state, Florida, or her much-adored South Carolina. Sherryl is best known for her ability to creating endearing small town communities and families. She is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over 75 romances for Silhouette Desire and Special Edition.

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