Month: Nov 2019

The last place you expect to find love is in a storage room in a hotel but that’s exactly what happens for Lana and Christian. Lana is a teacher who has sneakily followed her boyfriend (who should be working) to the hotel and doesn’t watch television or films so has zero idea who Christian Slade, one of the worlds most famous actors is. The two have a connection but of course things are bound to go wrong once Lana finds out the truth about Christian.

This book is fantastic and I can’t believe this book is number four in the series – though this book I read as a standalone completely fine. However, after reading this book I’m extremely eager to read the other books in the series as I would love to get more history on the side characters in this book. The story is a simple concept of famous man meets a completely normal woman but it works so well. I found it funny, engaging and I loved it from start to finish. Even the moment from the first moment they met made me laugh and that continued throughout the book.

One of the reasons that I loved this book so much is due to the characters. Lana and Christian are both extremely likable and you’re routing from them both. Christian Slade despite being a very wealthy, famous celebrity is completely normal – or as normal as he can be! The best part, he does everything he possibly can for his loved ones which is way him trying to impress Lana is such a lovely read. She doesn’t care for lavish gifts, she wants to help the environment and make a difference in life. Lana doesn’t swoon at the thought of dating a celebrity and she has morals and sticks to them no matter what. However, at times her reluctance to change her beliefs did annoy me a little. I appreciate her beliefs are so strong but when for example, she makes a song and dance about getting into a not environmentally friendly car it starts to get annoying. Despite this I did really enjoy her character.

As I’ve briefly mentioned I loved the way the author writes. The book made me laugh out loud but it also was completely relatable and you’re completely kept you engaged throughout. I also liked the use of the story being told in dual perspectives, as a rule I tend not to like this but it really worked well in this story.

Overall, I loved this book. I read it in a matter of hours as it captured my attention and that’s sometimes exactly what you want. It’s a quick, cute read and I would highly recommend.

Synopsis –

When Hollywood’s sexiest bachelor meets the girl next door their relationship doesn’t follow the script…

On-screen, Christian Slade is America’s favourite heartthrob. Off-screen, letting romance into his life isn’t as easy. The women he dates all seem to want a piece of his glamourous life rather than his heart, and trust doesn’t come easy for him.

Then along comes Lana. A beautiful rocket scientist who’s also sweet, smart, sext, and has absolutely no idea who he is. But what will happen when she finds out?

Will their worlds prove too far apart or could love really be like in the movies?

Angel Green isn’t from a wealthy background so as the festive period is approaching all she is thinking about is studying for a scholarship exam. However, she finds herself involved in a project to raise money for a the local hospice where her mum works. Angel really wants to help raise as much money as possible but unfortunately she is paired up with Casper Johnson who although is good looking, very creative and fun to be around he is also extremely unreliable. The only thing that is managing to get Angel through the day is her Secret Santa who is buying her the most incredible, thoughtful gifts including a hand made advent calendar giving her tasks to complete everyday.  However, she quickly discovers that working with Casper isn’t as bad as she expects. The more she spends time with Casper the more she realises their is more to him than meets the eye.

I embarrassingly have to admit that this book took me longer to get into than most solely for the fact that I just didn’t like the names of the main characters. When I started reading I just couldn’t gel with Angel because of her name, I felt like characters were always using it as a pet name rather than her actual name. However, once I got past this I really enjoyed this book! Angel and Casper are both fantastic characters who really grow as people throughout the story. Angel despite her families financial situation, is determined to be a doctor but at the same time its interesting to see how her advent calendar really brings her out of her focussed I’m going to be a doctor comfort zone. Angel is also incredible selfless and does everything she can do to help people. I really enjoyed reading about Casper too. At many times during the book I thought that he was the worst kind of character as he kept on bailing on Angel but then he’d act incredibly sweet towards her and I liked him again. All is certainly forgiven though the more you read about him and by the end of the book you’re routing for him just as much as Angel.

I really enjoyed the storyline too. I found the concept of a Secret Santa gift exchange being woven in with ambitious characters, fundraising events and a dash of Christmas spirit to be a great one for a book. It’s the type of story I could see working as one of Netflix’s Christmas films which is definitely a good thing. My only issue with this book’s storyline was that it was incredibly predictable. For example, you as the reader figure out who Angel’s secret Santa is within the first few chapters so when Angel herself figures it out near the end of the book it is very unclimactic.

I think this book would be ideal for people who love books such as The Paper & Hearts Society by Lucy Powrie. Love, Secret Santa is targeted towards a similar age group and provides great characters who achieve things and I loved the story too. Would highly recommend this book for young adult book fans!

Synopsis –

All I want for Christmas is . . . you! A festive clean teen romance that could melt even Scrooge’s heart!

It’s nearly Christmas, but Angel Green isn’t celebrating – she’s too busy studying for a scholarship exam. On top of that, she’s organising her school’s charity fundraising campaign to help a local hospice. Unfortunately, her fundraising partner is Caspar Johnson: handsome, creative and fun, but TOTALLY unreliable.

Thank goodness for her Secret Santa who keeps leaving her amazing presents, including an intriguing hand-made advent calendar! Angel is dying to find out who her secret admirer is . . .

As they spend time together planning festive events, Angel realises that Caspar has hidden depths – and a secret that he’s hiding behind his easy-going facade. Her advent calendar encourages Angel to take risks and open her heart – but has she left it too late to tell Caspar how she really feels?

I feel like over the last couple of years you haven’t been able avoid the hype over the British Royal Family. I think the whole fascination over the royal family combined with a Disney Princess dream, makes a novel about royalty quite appealing.

Khara is the face of normal. She is a waitress in Las Vegas and she’s completely fine with that. The last thing she expected was her best friend to fall madly in love with a Prince and end up heading to Europe to be the maid of honour at the biggest wedding the country has seen. If being apart of such a high profile wedding and mingling with aristocracy wasn’t bad enough the best man, Adam, has taken it upon himself to show Khara the ropes. Adam is the stereotypical rich boy who has every woman he wants wrapped around his little finger, but as Khara gets to know him she realises he is not exactly what she thinks.

I had mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand I liked the storyline, the idea that Khara is thrown in the middle of a world that I feel so many people have thought at some point what it must be like to be a part of. You know those romantic, cheesy films Netflix release at Christmas? I could completely see this storyline working so well as one of those types of films.

However, the problem I had with the book is that I just didn’t like the characters. I found Khara quite irritating with her I’m poor so I don’t fit into the rich world attitude, for me her characters was very much her vs the world. Adam I wasn’t sure about either. At the beginning you find out why he has his playboy reputation but as the book continues he realises his mistakes and how his actions have to change for the future. He goes through real development and although I disliked him at the start, Adam did grow on me by the end. I feel like sadly my dislike of Khara made me not route for her and Adam to be in a relationship which for a romance novel I believe you have to have an interest in both the characters otherwise you just don’t care about the outcome.

At the end of the day it was a quick, easy to read book and that’s what I wanted from it. However, personally I didn’t like Khara and that ruined my enjoyment of the story. I really did like the storyline though and I would like to see this made as a film as I think it might be the saving of making Khara a half likeable character. I did enjoy reading about the world of a royal family and the protocols etc and as much as I disliked him at the start, I enjoyed reading Adam’s character progression. Yes, I disliked Khara but if you want a book which delves in the royal world then I would recommend this book.

Synopsis –

Cocktail waitress Khara Thomas never expected to trade the dazzling lights of Vegas for European aristocracy but as maid of honour in the royal wedding of the decade she’s forced into an unexpected spotlight when her best friend marries a prince.

Luckily for Khara, gorgeous but infuriating best man Adam Hatton is happy to show her the ropes. Khara knows Adam’s entitled rich guy type but as their connection grows she realises there’s more to this playboy than meets the eye. And when she learns his royal secret? She might just find that fairytales do come true…

I’ve been obsessed with Netflix’s new show The Politician lately, so it comes as now surprise that the book I’ve chosen to read is very centred around a man in politics.

Robert Davenport is the youngest man to be the Major of New York and not only that he’s also just been voted man of the year in a popular magazine which basically makes him America’s most eligible bachelor. Now, he’s decided to make his next move and become the governor. He needs a plan to win and the only way to do that is to get some dirt on the undefeated governor. Roberts team search and discover that the governors wild child daughter who disappeared from the face of the earth has changed her name and is now an event planner in New York. When Adeline is approached by Robert to plan his party she knows she shouldn’t get involved given her fathers position but who is she to turn down an offer to plan a party for the major. Planning the party wouldn’t have been an issue until she finds herself falling for the mayor.

Overall I liked this book, though for me it’s falls into the category of I liked it and I’m glad I read it but I probably wouldn’t read it again. It was a slow build romance which actually worked really very well in this story. I liked the characters both Robert and Adeline – though I wasn’t completely on board with Adelines level of forgiveness!

I like the storyline. I do think it’s quite interesting that Robert initial hires Adeline for his own personal gain but then ends up falling for her and not exploiting her. You see where his loyalties lie and I think that makes you really like him as a character. Adeline on the other hand is so fixated on the fact that Robert will find out who she really is that she leaves herself quite closed off at times. She seems to be having an identity crisis about the person she is today and erasing every part of her old life. Though once you are given her backstory you can completely understand why she does this. I am intrigued about if this story will get a sequel as it is perfectly laid out for a book two.

Overall this is a cute, quite, but rather predictable romantic read. I did enjoy reading this book and I am very glad I did but as mentioned earlier it isn’t a novel you can pick up to read time and time again. If you’re looking for something that’s a good story that you want to read quite quickly but you know you’ll enjoy then this is the book for you! This book is released in March 2020 so it’s perfect to pick up to keep to one side ready for your holiday reading!

Synopsis –

A political golden boy and the woman of his dreams take the risk of their lives in a sexy romantic comedy of strange bedfellows and second chances by New York Times bestselling author Lauren Layne.

Fresh off being named Citizen magazine’s Man of the Year, New York City’s youngest mayor, Robert Davenport, decides it’s time to strategize. Next move: a bid for the governor’s seat. In his way: an incumbent with a flawless reputation. He also has an Achilles’ heel: an estranged wild-child daughter with a past so scandalous it could be Robert’s ticket to victory. And a charm so irresistible it could be Robert’s downfall.

Rebellion is a thing of the past for Adeline Blake. As New York’s premier event planner, she’s all about reform and respectability. Then she’s approached by Robert to organize the party of the season. Curious, considering he’s her father’s most formidable opponent. And alarming, too. Because Addie can’t help but fall for the righteously popular candidate with the movie-star smile.

Now it’s Robert’s choice. Does he pursue a future that holds his legacy? Or the woman who holds his heart?