Birds in the Nest

 Birds in the Nest

Wendy Hart

Reviewed by Helen

This is a fabulous debut, a story about the author’s family a story of tragedy, heartbreak and resilience we meet Minnie and travel with her from rural area outside Belfast to the vast lands of Queensland Australia.

When Minnie is two she lost her mother to tuberculosis which has been raging through Ireland, leaving her father to care for the farm and three young girls, with help he copes but soon he takes a new wife and Minnie has a stepmother, Charlotte and soon more sisters and a couple of brothers, but at eleven her Da passes to the terrible disease as well and then her half-brothers, Charlotte decides that they need to immigrate to Brisbane where her sister lives and get away from Ireland the religious troubles and the white plague that is taking so many lives.

Minnie arrives to this new land at the age of thirteen with her two sisters and three half-sisters to start a new life and it is very different from what she has known, the weather, the insects all very different, working in a sewing factory Minnie dreams of her own farm and at sixteen she takes off on her own to make her dreams come true.

She is soon married to Albert and at first working on a banana farm and with a couple of children soon her dream has come true they have a dairy farm and Minnie works hard more children arrive as does World War one times are hard and the Spanish flue arrives with devastating results, then there is a drought and then the terrible depression, Minnie shows her strength and keeps going, will she ever find the true happiness that she craves?

This story shows the hardships that they all went through in these very tough times and Minnie stood her ground no matter what was thrown in her path, this is a story that I do highly recommend to anyone who loves a good historical fiction based on true fact, getting to know Minnie and her family was emotional and my heart went out to them all. I would have liked to have known what happened to the other family members as well. I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

My thanks to the author for my digital copy to read and review.

4 stars

September 2, 2024 by Wendy Hart

The Paris Gown

 The Paris Gown

Christine Wells

Reviewed by Helen

This is a must read story, from start to finish I felt part of the story, I was pulled into the story of friendship, love and all things Paris, I loved it.

A gown

Three Woman

A story of true friendship through many ups and downs, three young woman meet in the early 1950’s in Paris and become the best if friends sharing their hopes and dreams and the love of Dior gowns as they look to their futures, they return to their lives and six years later they are together again in Paris.

Claire is French, her wish was to run her own three star restaurant, but life has bought her back to the family brassiere she is good at what she does but worries about her friends the letters have stopped and she wonders why.

Gina is a wealthy American and is going to be a journalist and author nothing is going to stop her from writing the best book ever but life changes for Gina and six years later she finds herself back in Paris.

Margot is a wealthy Australian and what she wants is family will she find love and happiness, the dreams she has but she too finds herself back in Paris six years later.

Is it fate that brings them back together whatever it is, it was meant to happen and when Claire is gifted a Dior gown and an apartment for them to share life changes they have all been through so much in the last six years, with hope for the future this gown will help all three of them at times when it is needed most, will their lives turn around, will they find love and happiness as they all deserve?

This is such a brilliant story, truly I cannot highly recommend it enough, the characters are awesome, the setting fabulous and the emotions that flow from the pages had me turning the them as fast as I could but not wanting this one to end, thank you Christine Wells for another fabulous story, one that will stay with me for a long time to come.

5 stars

August 20, 2024 by William Morrow Paperbacks

Wish Upon a Christmas Candle

 Wish Upon a Christmas Candle

Anne Gracie

Reviewed by Helen

I loved this one so very much, it had me crying lots of happy tears, if you are looking for a short story that is heartwarming and so very uplifting then this is the one to read, come along and meet widow Ellie and her beautiful four year old daughter Amy.

It is 1816 and nearly Christmas Ellie and Amy are struggling after being left destitute by her husband, Amy has traded eggs for a Christmas candle that she is convinced will bring her papa home, nothing seems to convince Amy that he will never return.

It is bitterly cold this night Ellie and Amy are preparing for bed when there is loud knocking at the door, who could it be? Upon opening the door Ellie finds a stranger collapsed on the door step he is freezing and hurt, she brings him in and helps him but when he awakens he has no memory of who he is but Ellie is worried for her and Amy, who is this person, are they in danger?

It is not long before both Ellie and Amy have lost their hearts to this man, but soon another stranger knocks on the door to collect him, what are his secrets and they are left in more dire circumstances, will they ever find happiness?

I love Anne Gracie’s stories and this one is just truly wonderful, I savoured every word, I loved the strength and courage Ellie showed and Amy is just a bright little button who was easy to love and as for the hero well what can I say other than I would have him any day. There were lots of smiles at the end of this one. I do love a Christmas story and if you do as well then this is one that I highly recommend.

My thanks to the author for my digital copy to read and review.

5 stars

September 15, 2024 by Anne Gracie

His Regency Goddess

 His Regency Goddess

Steffy Smith

Reviewed by Helen

Looking for a quick steamy and very sensual story then this is the one to pick up, it is sure to keep you turning the pages, come along and meet Sophie Westcott and Sinclair Montgomery.

Sophia has mourned her husband the required amount of time, it was an arranged marriage and he was caring but now Sophie wants to find passion and be herself with her hourglass figure, she has a new wardrobe made that suits her figure and she is in London staying with her best friend and her family not looking for another marriage but looking to find herself.

Sinclair has finally arrived back in London, the second son, now the heir it is time to step up to his responsibilities, when he meets up with his friend Daniel, and he spies two woman outside Daniel’s home he is smitten with the gorgeous redhead who reminds in of Venus and he wants to meet her as soon as possible.

Sophie feels the pull toward Sin as soon as their eyes meet but she is not looking for another marriage just yet she wants to live a little, Will Sin be able to convince Sophie that together they can reach the stars and that she really is his Goddess Venus as he starts bringing her the passion she so badly wants.

This is really is lovely story, it is part of steamy romance series, Curves and Cravats on body image it can be read as a standalone and I do recommend it to any lovers of historical romance who love a bit sensuality with fabulous characters.

My thanks to the author for my digital copy to read and review.

4 stars

September 18, 2024 by Steffy Smith Books

The Duke of Spice

 The Duke of Spice

The Kembal Family

Sasha Cottman

Reviewed by Helen

I do love a good historical and this one ticks all of the boxes, a Duke who is a little different from the usual Dukes and a feisty heroine who knows what she wants, will they ever be able to make a lasting relationship with secrets and maybe some scandals? Come along and meet Lady Victoria Kembal and Robert Tolley, The Duke of Saffron Walden for an exciting adventure.

With the Kembal family scandal hopefully behind Lady Victoria, her mother goes all out to find a husband for her, she accepts that this is what is needed for the family there are a few that have been selected and it is now time to meet them, Victoria is happier when she is checking out food reviews and reading cookbooks, food is her joy, when she meets The Duke of Spice at a dinner the sparks fly and chemistry ignites, Victoria then does something that she had never thought she would which lands her in the kitchen with The Duke of Spice and passion awakes.

Robert is not your conventional Duke he is determined to bring a company down anyway he can even stealing but when a young Lady Victoria does her best to have him sacked as food reviewer for the paper he goes after her as well, only that doesn’t work out the way he thought it would either, because after a very sensual time in his kitchen he now finds himself married to Lady Victoria Kembal and he must hide his secret before he is caught.

This book is an adventure and a half of pure sensual fun and drama as the East India Company agents come after The Duke of Spice and Victoria is there, will they both be safe, will they find love and happiness or will everything turn upside down, one thing is for sure their hearts are opening up to love if they can open up to each other.

I did love this one it is witty, steamy, sensual and a fabulous read, one that I highly recommend to any lover of historical romance, one with a difference, a must read.

My thanks to the author for my digital copy to read and review.

5 stars

August 22, 2024

The Heiress Masquerade

 The Heiress Masquerade

Dollar Princess #2

Maddison Michaels

Reviewed by Helen

I have been eagerly awaiting this one since I read book one and was not disappointed at all, I laughed, smiled and cheered Aimee and Harrison along in this awesome story, come along and meet them in this feisty, sensual and fabulous story.

Aimee Thornton-Jones is an American Heiress but she does not want marriage she wants to work with her father in running his company but of course in 1890 that is something that woman don’t do, but more determined than ever when Aimee and her cousin Evie are on their way to England with her mother hoping she will pick up a husband and title Aimee suggests a swap with Evie and now Aimee is doing a traineeship as a secretary at her father’s office in London, meeting the son her father always wanted Harrison Stone goes off with sparks shooting everywhere and guns out.

Harrison Stone was orphaned when he was a child and left to fend for himself in New York. Meeting up with Thomas Thornton-Jones changed him and made him into the man he is today and love will never play a part in it at all, but when his mentor’s niece arrives for a traineeship she is not what he expects at all she is not only beautiful but feisty and so head-strong, when she discovers anomalies in the books they are on a mission to discover what is going on and amid that the chemistry grows and before long they are spending some very passionate time together and now he knows who she is he must do the right thing.

I loved this one so much, it is witty, sensual, I loved Aimee so much she made me smile and laugh she is so head-strong and determined and she has found her match in the Adonis Harrison Stone, but can Harrison put his past and determination behind him and look to the future for love and happiness? They are a perfect match in my opinion but they do have a few hurdles that they need to cross to find that love, will they get there safely?

I do highly recommend this one, it is a fabulous story from start to finish thank my MS Michaels I loved it, a must read and I am looking forward to another one in the Dollar Princess series.

My thanks to Entangled Amara and Netgalley for my digital copy to read and review

5 stars

August 20, 2024 by Entangled: Amara

Nothing Without You

 Nothing Without You

Saltwater Romance #1

Rhonda Forrest

Reviewed by Helen

This is a heartfelt story of growing up, of teenage rebellion and finding yourself, how long it takes is the question, come along and meet Evie Romano it is 1977, she is fifteen and her life has just been turned upside down, her parents separation and she has left her boyfriend and all of her friends behind in Beaudesert to move to North Queensland where upheaval into sex, drugs and rock and roll takes place.

Moving to the rain forests of North Queensland opens up a whole new world for Evie, she puts behind her best friend Layla the holidays spend on Stradbroke Island where she was first kissed by her boyfriend Chris, determined to show her independence from her mother she makes friends with the kids from the commune and is soon enjoying a life filled with drugs, alcohol older men and sex school falls by the wayside when she had always been so good, dropping out and deciding that life with her much older boyfriend Bob in Yeppoon is what she wants but will it be what she hopes it will be?

This is a beautifully told story about first love and growing up in the 1970’s it shows the turmoil, confusion and drama of a teenage girl who has her life changed in an instant, who grows into adulthood in a world of hurt and struggle, how will Evie’s life end up will she find the happiness and love that she deserves after all she has been through?

You need to read this one, it is a story that will stay with me for a long time to come, I grew up in the 1970’s I loved the music and it too me back to the era so well, Rhonda Forrest has a beautiful voice for making things real for bring her characters and settings to life and I loved Evie, there were tears and smiles from me, throughout this story and I look forward to book two. I loved it and highly recommend it.

My thanks to the author for my copy to read and review.

5 Stars

August 20, 2024 by Valeena Press