For Lila, Forever by WInter Renshaw

REVIEWED BY

Monique Cashmere 

For Lila, Forever by Winter Renshaw
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The latest book from Winter Renshaw is a contemporary romance told in dual POV about a journey of a summer love to ten years later when they meet up again and all the ugly truths come out. Thayer and Lila meet on his family’s island where he holidays for the summer and she is there tending to their needs, being the granddaughter of the caretakers. He was infatuated from first sight and after she learnt to trust him, they started their forbidden relationship.

I read this book in one sitting, entranced by this couple. Thayer was very attentive and had a sense of optimism that was infectiously sweet. Even though Lila was the total opposite, she had a work ethic and strong personality that I admire. I enjoyed the layout of the book with the storyline alternating from past to present. It gave the novel a sense of anticipation and it was very easy to follow. I was swept along with the build-up of the rendezvous in the initial summer and how Thayer came about finding Lila again. What I did struggle with was the quickness to their reconciliation. I would have like to see them discover each other again, as people change a lot in ten years. We never did find out what Thayer’s tattoos were about, that still has me thinking. The epilogue gave me a conclusion that made sense and made me smile for all the outcomes.

** Reviewed by Monique for JoandIsaLoveBooks Blog.

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Emily Eternal by M.G. Wheaton

REVIEWED BY

Micky Barnard 

Emily Eternal by M.G. Wheaton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was an unpredictable sci-fi about a suddenly changing earth in the face of the sun turning red giant and an artificial consciousness, Emily. Emily is the protagonist and she’s spent a few years adjusting to humanity, trying to become as human and empathetic as she can.

Emily grew exponentially from a cog in a wheel, a team player in a university scientific department, to working independently for the good of humanity. Her decisions and actions were sometimes questionable and I never knew what was around the corner. The side characters were enjoyable elements, especially Jason and Nathan.

“I sweep across the world like the break of dawn.”
“In that regard, I suppose I understand the comparison to a god. What I am doing is, in fact, godlike.....except for one detail - shouldn’t a god be benevolent?”

This was a gripping story from the beginning with the occasional moment of craziness where I thought, where is this going? Then, the penny would drop, jigsaw pieces would fall into place and I’d have an ah-ha moment. It was a clever plot, most of which was reasonably easy to follow. There were some out there moments in the last 10% as the story reached its culmination, but overall this was a satisfying read that I would recommend to all sci-fi fans.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book from Hodderscape.

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The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves

REVIEWED BY

Melinda Lazar 

The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves

This book was a really special one, full of awkwardness and heart and utterly endearing characters.

Annika and Jonathan meet in college at chess club in 1991. While others look at Annika and see an oddity, Jonathan sees her in quite a different light and is one to appreciate her as she is. For reasons you’ll have to read about, there is a heartbreaking breakup and the two don’t see each other until ten years later in Chicago.

The book skips back and forth between the then and now, between 1991 and 2001 and is written so beautifully that we get to experience every feeling, uncertainty, anxiety Annika and Jonathan go through. Every heartache and every heartbreak. I don’t want to say too much but I will say that I adored this book and the characters - ALL of them. Annika captured my heart and Jonathan just stole and ran away with it.

*I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

**Reviewed by Melinda for Joandisalovebooks Blog.






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The Austen Playbook by Lucy Parker

REVIEWED BY

Micky Barnard 

The Austen Playbook by Lucy Parker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Delightful and witty with a great story to keep the reader fully engaged, THE AUSTEN PLAYBOOK continued the series with the same quality of writing and development of characters that I have come to expect from Lucy Parker.

Book four took the setting outside of London to Grumpy Griff’s (Ford-Griffen) country seat. Griff was a TV/stage critic whilst managing the failing finances of his family’s home. Griff had thrown a few review punches at Freddy, the quirky heroine, in the past. Freddy was a breath of positive fresh air with some vulnerabilities hidden behind the ‘everything will be okay’ facade. I took to her immediately.

“He was frequently rude, definitely a Slytherin, and clearly viewed her as a sort of irritating insect who kept buzzing around his space, but there was something very reassuring about his solid warmth when she hurt.”

There was an interwoven backstory behind the main story of a play in the country. Freddy and Griff were thrown into each other’s paths and there was a persistent, bubbling chemistry between them. I had all the feelings when they were interacting, either with looks or banter.

“It was more than physical; it was a building and layering of a bond that went much deeper than that.”

As well as the clever backstory (which Parker conveys with ease), there were a literal cast of side characters, brothers, mean girls, fathers, colleagues and sisters. There is something about the acting world on stage that Lucy Parker translates so well to the reader. The English setting was spot on as always with dialogue, colloquialisms and contexts. The banter and dialogue were engaging. My only little niggle was the unstated dual POV, I loved the dual POV but had ‘who is this’ moments, however I did settle into it.

I can’t recommend this series enough and the best thing is they standalone, you can dip your toe into any of them and read out of order if that’s how you roll. Go discover Lucy Parker and you won’t regret it.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

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Collision by Victor Dixen

REVIEWED BY

Micky Barnard 

Collision by Victor Dixen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you’ve been listening to me for the last 18 months, I’ve been enjoying Victor Dixen’s series immensely and highly anticipating COLLISION. I feel satisfied with the culmination but it was one crazy ride! I have felt angst, suspense and desperation for answers.

So many unexpected events occurred in COLLISION despite the cliff that DISTORTION left us with. I felt pretty shocked in particular, at the turns in some of the characters’ behaviours. Everything you think you knew about the couples and individuals were thrown up in the air and came down in a different way; I gasped. I didn’t care for the Marcus storyline as much as the others.

Leonor remained the most solid, reliable character and protagonist. Mozart grew on me more. Serena McBee, well she surpassed the scale of devious and evil with some revelations no one could see coming. I felt frustrated with Earth politics at times, wanting to get back to Mars. Andrew and Harmonie were at the forefront a lot which brought some exciting developments.

Victor Dixon knows how to keep readers on the edge of their seats and in some ways, I still am left in suspense with some elements left unanswered but acknowledged as such. This is a series that is memorable and I do hope he will write more in the world of sci-fi. Thank you, it’s been a ride!

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

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AMAZON UK

Time by Penny Reid

REVIEWED BY

Melinda Lazar 

Time by Penny Reid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Law of Physics Book 3: Time by Penny Reid
3.5*

Mona and Abram’s story continues in this final installment of this series. They continued to be the utterly delightful and endearing characters that they have been throughout and it’s been an overall enjoyable journey to take with them. While *we* get to spend time with Mona and Abram, they spend most of their time apart in this book as they navigate the world of long-distance relationships with many other commitments. I enjoyed this book and loved the slow-burn. However, I felt as though something was missing for me and I can’t place my finger on exactly what it was. Nonetheless, it was a conclusion that suited the characters and, missing elements aside, it’s a series I’ll be returning to down the track.

*I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

**Reviewed by Melinda for Joandisalovebooks Blog.

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The Rose by Tiffany Reisz

REVIEWED BY

Becky Cox 

The Rose by Tiffany Reisz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Tiffany has written a brilliant, naughty, clever story. Nobody writes a sex scene like Tiffany. She makes you feel like you are in the scene. (Fans self).

Mythological erotica, who knew?! Reisz is blazing a trail with her unique storylines yet again.

Erotic fantasy isn’t for everyone and I didn’t know it was for me until The Red. I’m a true believer now. ;-)

Lia’s story is a must read. Though grander and odder, the base of her troubles are basic hurdles we all experience. The need for love. The need for acceptance. The need to make our parents proud.

Speaking of parents, Lia’s are hysterical and make me think that would have been Nora’s life had she not met Soren.

It was a joy to read and I look forward to more from this amazingly talented author!

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