Marnie’s Plan by JM Davies

Publisher & Release: Self-published, December 2, 2016

Time and setting:  Present Day, New England

Genre: Women's Fiction/Romnatic Elements

Book Length: 238 pages

Heat Level: 1 Sweetheart

Rating: 4.25 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

Marnie Fairchild is a planner, but when life throws one too many curve balls, the drive to bounce back evaporates. Empty after caring for her beloved Grams, who had Alzheimer’s, and betrayed by her fiancé, Marnie spirals into depression. Enter her warrior friends, led by Hilary, a life coach. Voilà, “Marnie’s Plan” is born. She agrees to all the seven points on the plan, except the last one: to fall in love. Rebuilding her life in Rockport, a quaint town on the North Shore, takes time and money. Needing a job, she responds to an ad for a housekeeper’s position, but fate intervenes, and instead she becomes a live-in nanny for rambunctious three-year-old Emily. Her brusque father, Nathan Hunt, a mystery writer, is desperate for help with his daughter. With one look at Emily, Marnie’s heart melts. Is there a future for Nate and Emily in Marnie’s Plan?

Buy Link:

https://smile.amazon.com/Marnies-Plan-Diamonds-Rough-Book-ebook/dp/B01N58XMZF

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33244346-marnie-s-plan

Vikki’s Musings

I'm not normally into women's fiction, but Marnie's Plan was a thoroughly enjoyable read. It's a story of family, friendship and love. I particularly enjoyed Marnie's relationship with her gramms. Her willingness to sacrifice so much for her was amazing. Ms. Davies gives the reader an incredible picture of what it must be like to care for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease. It is truly heart-breaking and a dreadful end for many individuals.

Marnie’s character is twenty years old at the start of this book and is twenty-three by the end. Her character goes through a lot of ups and downs, and her true indomitable spirit comes through. Her loyalty to her friends touched my heart, and her unconditional love for Emily is lovely.

I liked the romance between Nate and Marnie, and I fell in love with his little girl Emily. I'm not an advocate of love triangles and would have liked to see more development on the love arc for Nate and Marnie. I don't feel the part with Lucas added to the story. Although, he is a likable character. I'd love to see Ms. Davies give him his love story.

This is a highly enjoyable story, and I liked Marnie's friends and look forward to reading their stories. If you're looking for a solid women's fiction that will have you sighing and wiping a few tears away, then you will love this book as much as I did. Happy reading!

Book Review: Bad Case of Lovin' You by Anita Louise

Bad Case of Lovin’ You by Anita Louise

Publisher & Release: Candlelite Publishing, November 30, 2015

Time and setting:  Present Day, Boulder, Colorado

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Book Length: 326 pages

Heat Level: 2 Flames

Rating: 3.5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

Zack Carter works long hours as an emergency room physician in Boulder, and he has no time for romance. Besides, he doesn’t trust women. His engagement to his high school sweetheart ended when he found her in bed with another man. He knows better than to open himself up again. But the first time he sees Brooke Adler, she practically takes his breath away.

When Brooke Adler’s mother ends up in the hospital, the last thing in the world Brooke expects to find is love. But when Dr. Zackary Carter walks into the cafeteria, she thinks she might have found her own personal Doctor McDreamy.

Zack and Brooke meet again in the popular Pearl Street Mall in downtown Boulder and sparks fly. Now he can’t seem to stop thinking about her. But Brooke can’t seem to get past the fact that males have been choosing her flamboyant twin over her since they were six years old. Can she expect anything different from the handsome doctor?

Intended for mature audiences 18 years of age and older.

Buy Link:

https://smile.amazon.com/Bad-Case-Lovin-You-Brooke-ebook/dp/B018TA6RR2

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28086504-bad-case-of-lovin-you

Vikki’s Musings

I received an ARC from the author for a chance to read and review for an honest review. The book description appealed to me, so I accepted. Bad Case of Lovin’ You is a novel of family, love and friendship.

Brooke Adler is a middle school teacher and the last thing she expects is to run into Zack Carter, the doctor she met when her mother ended up in the hospital. The attraction is so strong neither can deny it.

Both have issues from their past that makes it difficult to trust each other, but when situations keep bringing them together, the sparks fly and they can no longer stay away from each other. Can they learn to trust that their feelings are real and find an ever-lasting love?

I enjoyed the romance between Zack and Brooke, both are likable characters. I also enjoyed the sub-plot involving Shelly and Mary Ann. I did expect that one to go in a different direction and was more interested in it than the actual romance.

Brooke’s character has quite a few insecurities because her twin always gained the attention of the males whenever they were together. She lost more than one man because of this. She’s afraid that Zack will do the same thing, and it takes some time for her to accept he is different and truly wants her and no other.

Zack’s character caught his ex-fiancé in bed with another man, so he gave up on love and devoted his life to his career until he meets Brooke. I enjoyed finding out how he moved beyond his doubts and allowed himself to fall in love with Brooke. He shows a lot of patience with her.

For much of the book, I thought it would be a 5 Gold Crown review, but there were a few things that happened in the second half of the book that affected my rating. I was not fond of the way Ms. Louise left the Nathan character’s situation. While yes, he does end up getting in trouble with the law, I felt there was a plot hole with the situation with his daughter, Mary Ann. He deserved to be punished directly for his actions, not because of his bad choices after the fact.

I also did not enjoy some of the sexual scenes very much. I don’t believe the erotic nature of some of their encounters did not fit the sweet nature of their romance and felt they were out of character.

Nonetheless, I enjoyed the sparkling dialogue and the family unity between the Adlers and Zack’s caring relationship with his mother and brother. That alone made it a worthwhile read. I will probably read the next book in the series. Happy reading!

Book Review: Can't Stop Loving You by Miranda Liaison

Can’t Stop Loving You by Miranda Liasson

Publisher & Release: Montlake Romance, December 6, 2016

Time and setting:  Present Day, Mirror Lake

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Book Length: 286 pages

Heat Level: 2 Flames

Rating: 4 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

When it comes to her heart, Arabella D’Angelo has moved on—even though she still lives in Mirror Lake, Connecticut, a little tourist town with a long memory for mistakes. Ever the dutiful daughter of a cantankerous widower who holds grudges, Bella has spent the past twelve years raising her younger brother and making a name for herself as a successful psychologist. Now, when she isn’t counseling a lonely-hearts club for senior women, she’s humoring her matchmaking girlfriends. Bella resists the romancing of their blind dates, yet her friends hope she’ll fall for a local and scrap plans for a fresh start in Chicago.

Then, just before Bella’s thirtieth birthday, her first love, Roman Spikonos, returns to Mirror Lake. When he moves next door to her family’s garden-center business to run his grandparents’ orchard, it stirs up gossip—and a tempest of passions—just in time for pumpkin harvest. As Roman and Bella once again get caught up in a swirl of desire and heartache, not to mention her overprotective father’s fury, Mirror Lake will soon find out whether the Italian hometown beauty and her unforgettable Greek god can stand a second chance.

Buy Link:

https://smile.amazon.com/Cant-Stop-Loving-Miranda-Liasson-ebook/dp/B01H3RO2R4

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31583773-can-t-stop-loving-you

Vikki’s Musings

I have read several books in Miranda Liasson’s Mirror Lake series, so when I received an invitation from the publisher via Net-Galley to read and review this book, I eagerly accepted an ARC. My review is honest and not biased in anyway. Can’t Stop Loving You is another great addition to this series.

Bella and Roman met and fell in love as teenagers. When she ends up pregnant, they make plans to marry, but those plans go astray when she loses the baby. They break up and Roman moves away.

Just before Bella’s thirtieth birthday, Roman returns and the attraction is as strong as it was their senior year, but neither want to experience the heartache again. They try to stay away, but their desire for each other will not be denied.

Can these two high school sweethearts move past the hurts of the past and rekindle the love they used to have for one another?

Can’t Stop Loving You has a nice steady pace. The romance between Bella and Roman is very believable, so the feelings they experience are realistic. I truly wanted them to find their happy ending.

Bella is an interesting, and at times, complex character. While she fights for independence, she has never fully shaken off her father’s domination. She wants to hide her new relationship with Roman from him rather than face her cantankerous parent. That was the only thing I did not care for in her character.

Roman is a fantastic hero. He an all-around-good guy. Oh, and wow, is he good looking. I think that the reason why I found him such an awesome character was because he is much more than his appearance. He’s even better on the inside. He is a loyal brother, and he truly loves Bella. My heart ached for him when he discovers the truth of why Bella broke up with him after she lost the baby.

If you’re looking for a great contemporary with good substance and flawed characters who overcome their insecurities, then you will love Can’t Stop Loving You as much as I did. Happy reading!