May McGoldrick Borrowed Dreams: Pennington Family (Scottish Dream Trilogy Book 1)

 

 

 

  

Borrowed Dreams

 (Scottish Dream Trilogy Book 1)

by

 May McGoldrick

 

Blurb

 From the USA Best Selling Author The first Book In a New Trilogy (Scottish Dream Trilogy)  Winner of the Holt Medallion for Best Historical Romance  THE PROPOSAL Driven to undo the evil wrought by her dead husband, Millicent Wentworth must find a way to save her estate and free the innocent people he enslaves. Her only hope is a marriage—in name only—to the notorious widower the Earl of Aytoun. THE GROOM Devastated by the tragic accident that killed his wife and left him gravely wounded, Lyon Pennington, fourth Earl of Aytoun, is tormented by the accusations that blame him for the catastrophe. Filled with despair, he lets his mother lure him into a marriage of convenience—for the sake of a good-hearted woman on the verge of financial ruin. THE DESIRE Under Millicent’s gentle gaze, Lyon begins to regain his strength and his wounded heart begins to heal. And soon Millicent discovers that beneath his unruly beard and grim demeanor, Lyon just may be the most handsome—and caring—man she’s ever encountered. For the first time in her life, she realizes that she is alive—alive with a smoldering desire for the one man she’ll love forever… Winner of Holt Medallion for Best Historical Romance Winner of Romantic Times Award for Best British-Set Historical Romance

 

 Review

 

 I just realized the other day that even though this is one of my alltime favorites, I never wrote a review for this amazing book. This is one of the books that feel like Comfort food for the soul to me and I read and reread it very often.

I love the characters, both of them have suffered so much and still they dare hope. Seeing Lyon and Millicent fall for each other and help each other heal, is something special that always touches my heart.

Set in the Highlands at the time of the Clearings, were whole families were left homeless and forced to leave their native land, this beautiful passionate book tells a story of compassion and healing and the power of love.

Seeing Millicent heal and take a chance at love, see her change because of love after everything she endured, never fails to move me. Her compassion for the former slaves in her employ, her fight for their rights and happiness as well as her love and compassion for them, make her even more precious. And when Lyon enters her life and you can feel how she is drawn to him despite her fears and insecurities and when he slowly, upturned dish by upturned dish, shattered glass by shattered glass comes to appreciate her compassion, her fire and sees her as the beautiful and strong young woman that she is - it still gets me, every time I read it.

Their love for each other and those around them is palpable and I love to read their personal story and about their personal growth but I also love that this story highlights a time that you don't read about very often. There are the Clearings and the consequences for the people working the lands on the one hand and slavery and it's cruelty on the other hand.

Slavery is not yet banned in England at the time where this book is set. This book doesn't sugarcoat anything but shows slavery as the cruel disgrace that it was. You learn about it in the characters' memories and in a rather factual way though, compassionate but still factual.

There are so many wonderful multi-layered and complex characters in this book, you care for each and every one of them deeply and they stay with you for a long time after you have closed the book.
I can't say how often I've read this book by now but Millicent and Lyon and all the others ar

ound them are friends that I love to visit often.

 

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Knight (Fae Games Book 2) by Karen Lynch

 Knight (Fae Games Book 2) 

by

Karen Lynch

Blurb

Jesse's adventures in bounty hunting continue.
Will she discover why her parents were taken?
Will she ever forgive Lukas and his men?
New dangers and intrigues await her because the Fae games are far from over

 Review

 Oh my god, I absolutely love this book! I've read it a couple of times already, now I'm waiting patiently... okay, kidding... impatiently for the audiobook to be released.

I've read all the books in the Relentless series by the author numerous times, read them, listened to them, petted the paperbacks (and the gorgeous hardback) lovingly... you know, that kind of book love.
So, naturally, I was thrilled (and a bit worried) when I started to read Pawn, the first book in the Fae Games series. The expectations were high but - the book was even better than I could have hoped for. An instant favorite, read and listened to far too many times by now to remember how often and now - Knight.

You should have read Pawn before you start reading Knight because Knight continues where Pawn ended - and I loved every minute of this book. Once again it kept me glued to my reader and, well, l can't even start to say what I loved best. If you fell in love with Finch in Pawn, you will love to meet him (and others) again in Knight. I was  constantly awww-ing and smiling goofily when reading about him and.... oops.

The story itself was captivating and I loved to see the different characters unfold and, yep, some groveling and making up for stupid actions may have been involved as well, just in case you were wondering.

The imaginative narrative, the well-developed and captivating plot and the authentic multi-layered characters as well as the amazing writing make this book and this whole series once again so special. And now I'm anxiously and very impatiently waiting for Queen, the final book in the trilogy!

 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

 

Merry Christmas!

 

Beg, Borrow or Steal by Susie Tate

 

  Beg, Borrow or Steal by Susie Tate

Jamie is proud of everything he’s achieved. A consultant anaesthetist and the Medical Education Director – he’s a pretty big deal. So when one of his medical students falls asleep, right in the middle of a tutorial, he is furious. He’s a bloody good teacher, damn it!

Maybe he could have been a little more understanding. Maybe he didn’t have to try and humiliate her. But the shock of how beautiful this particular student was when she finally opened her eyes, and his inappropriate reaction, only fuelled his anger. He’s tired of lame excuses from wild party animals burning the candle at both ends, and he’s going to make an example of this one.

For Libby, pride is a luxury and beauty is currency. Pregnant at seventeen and an aspiring doctor, she couldn’t afford to be proud, so she cashed in on her looks instead. She will beg, borrow or steal to achieve her dreams and give her daughter the life she deserves, even if she has to forgo sleep – even if she has to leave her dignity behind. Only now that she’s not just sitting in lecture theatres like her first two years of medical school, now that she’s working in a real hospital, Libby is realizing that the thread she’s been hanging onto for so long may be about to snap. The last thing she needs is to have riled the gorgeous, judgmental Head of Medical Education. But there’s only so far you can push yourself, only so much pressure you can be under until you break. Libby’s been on that cliff edge for a while; her health may just tip her over.

A kick in the shin from a four-year-old girl and a confrontation with her tearful, exhausted mother soon forces Jamie to see what a bastard he’s been. Libby may not accept his help, but he’s relentless when he wants something, and it’s not long before he realizes that this mother and daughter belong with him. So when a stag night he’s on ends up in the best strip club in England and he sees who the main attraction is, his reaction is explosive.

Despite everything, Libby finds she still has some pride left. This man has made her feel small twice now. He won’t be getting a third shot. No matter how gorgeous he is, no matter how persistent …

This book is a full-length contemporary romance of approximately 90,000 words with no cliffhanger and its own HEA. 

 

 Review

My first book by Susie Tate and I fell in love with Jamie, Libby, and Rosie right from the start. Libby's stubbornness made me roll my eyes once or twice but I loved to see how they figured out their life together, how they learned to understand each other's choices, and, of course, the way they included everyone around them. Millie especially holds a very special place in my heart and Rosie made me snort and laugh out loud numerous times.

I really enjoyed reading this sweet and funny book and can't wait to learn more abouther best friend Kira in "Limits". 

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Hard Love by Sara Nwy

 

 Hard Love by Sara Ney

 

Blurb

  “HARD TO LOVE.”  

 

Hard head. Bad attitude. Terrible boyfriend. That’s what my exes have said about me—but I wasn’t serious about any of them, so what do I care what rumors they spread? What I need is to be left alone; by the press, by the paparazzi, and by women.  Too bad I’m about to be surrounded by them for the weekend. My obnoxious, matchmaking brother is getting married, and he’s doing his damndest to find me a wedding date… 

 

 “HARD TO FIND.”  

 

That’s what they say about good men—they’re hard to find. Not that when I find one, I’ll be the type he’s looking for; too nice, too ordinary, too boring.  My cousin is getting married, and her fiancé insists on throwing me at his brother. Cold, uncaring professional football player Tripp Wallace would never look twice at a woman like me. Too bad for both of us, I was wrong…

 

 

Review

I must admit that I had a hard time with this book. It got much better towards the end which saved it but for almost half of the book I really didn't like Tripp.

Sure, some of his antics made me smile but on the whole, he simply behaved like an a... Chandler was nice. And boring. And it took her some time to find her backbone and stand up for herself. So... Well.
She didn't impress me that much either.

All in all the book was fine but I Iike the first books in the series much better.

 🌟🌟🌟

 

Revved to the Maxx by Melanie Moreland

Revved to the Maxx

A new standalone from bestselling author 

Melanie Moreland 

Maxx Reynolds needs help.

His shop, house, and life are all in a state of disarray.

In desperation, he turns to the internet to hire a new employee, 

thinking it will make his life easier

What he expects is a fellow named Charly.

What he gets is a quirky, sassy, red-head named

Charlynn who runs circles around him.

And she’s all woman.

He can’t stand her.

He can’t keep his hands off her either.

Review

 Oh my gosh, this book was just what I needed! It's the "keep me up till early morning, grab again the moment you wake up" kind of book that leaves you with a feeling of complete and utter rightness.

"Grumpy" meets "sweet and capable" in this amazing story and I just couldn't stop reading because I absolutely had to know what happened next. I enjoyed the banter, the flirtations, the grumpiness and - oh, these sparks!

Reading on while Charly conquered Maxx and all those around her one wrench and list at a time while slowly worming her way into Maxx's heart no matter how much he fights it, I feel deeply in love with these characters and those around them. This is definitely a keeper that I'll love to read again and again. 

★★★★★

Audiobook / The Winter King (A Faeted Mates Omnibus) by Ariel Hunter

The Winter King (A Faeted Mates Omnibus) by Ariel Hunter

narrated by Amber Lee Connors and Kieran Flitton

A bounty hunter down on her luck.
A fae king looking for a reason to live.
A mate bond neither can deny.

Mara Wylde is a small-time bounty hunter who just can’t seem to catch a break no matter how hard she tries. Her rent’s two months overdue. Her antiques shop is failing. She’s eaten ramen five nights in a row now and is desperate for a way out of debt.

When Mara’s offered a hundred grand to nab a high fae right out of Faerie, she knows she can’t turn down the job no matter the risks.

Even if it means catching the eye of the elusive Winter King.

Tortured by his past and not-wanting to rule anymore, Vareck Blackthorne is ready to cede his crown and journey to the nether to escape his torment. Minutes from delivering this news to all of Faerie, he sees her—a fae woman with hair like the dawn and eyes that remind him of summer. A summer that has been gone for centuries.

After six hundred years of suffering he’s finally found her—his fated mate.

The only problem?

She has no idea.

THE WINTER KING is the first FAETED MATES Omnibus that includes the entirety of Mara and Vareck’s story. It was initially released in three installments, titled: Hunted by the Winter King, Taken from the Winter King, and Taming the Winter King. This is a fast-paced, hot paranormal romance series with dominant fae males and their sassy, spitfire women. Beware of cursing and steamy scenes. This is an ADULT series.

Review

Despite the good narration, it took me some time to finish listening to this book. On the whole, it was a good story and the narration was really well done. When I started to listen to it, it was interesting and captivated me but I felt myself getting distracted every now and then because the story lost a bit of its momentum.

There were some inconsistencies and some parts where I wanted to get to the heart of it and just get on with the action but all in all I enjoyed listening to these books.

The only thing really annoyed me though, ... Treating someone like THAT and justifying it with your feelings for her and that you just know that she is your mate...? Nope. That is unacceptable no matter how accepting the heroine is and how much the hero considers this behavior as normal. It's not normal in my book and I don't feel right about it.

Apart from that though, the books were nice and quick stories to listen to.

In this case, the audiobook gets four stars and the story itself 3 so...

★★★★