From Thailand with Love - Camilla Isley (Blog Tour)

Date of Reading: 25/02/2020

Author: Camilla Isley

Publisher: Pink Bloom Press

Publication Date: February 25, 2020

Rating: 3.5/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Rachel's Random Resources)

About the book:

All Logan has to do is to get the gold and get the girl. Easy, right?

Travel photographer Winter Knowles and archaeology professor Logan Spencer dislike each other at first sight. Stuck together into the wild, these two unwilling teammates will bicker and banter their way through a laugh-packed treasure hunt.

After years of searching, a new mapping technology has given Logan a clue to the location of the legendary Lost City of Gold. A discovery that could make his career. So the last thing he needs on this life-changing expedition is for his team to get distracted by a pair of long legs.

When Winter accepted the assignment on a tropical island she didn’t sign up for a brooding team leader who’d clearly prefer to run a boys-only club. Never one to back down from a challenge, Winter is ready to show him she’s no damsel in distress.

But when a treasure like no other is uncovered and ruthless enemies will want to keep it for themselves, it’ll be up to the two of them to save the day. Left alone to fight in the jungle, they will soon discover their lives might not be the only thing at stake—their hearts could be too.

Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime.

An enemies to lovers romance packed with danger, action, and comedy.

Review:

        Wow! this was a surprise. When I imagined an enemies-to-lovers romance packed with adventure, I was not expecting it to be a life and death situation. Yes, that is how I found myself hunched up over my kindle with a heart about to burst . . . on a work night. Phew!

       To be honest, the chemistry between Winter and Logan was not convincing enough for me at the beginning, probably because of the amount of time both spent secretly ogling each other's body. Infatuation at first sight? Definitely. Not a fan of those. But everything changed once the secret city is found and thus began a compelling and exhilarating story bound to keep us on our toes. 

      Looks like Winter is not only a good shot with a camera, but also smart with a gun. Attagirl! I should have expected that considering the stand she took against her evil twin in the last story. The girl is not lacking guts. Logan is not bad either considering his hilarious bargaining skills with the monkey . . . ha! I cannot end this review without mentioning Archie, our golden boy. Each time you make an appearance, there comes the laugh. Can't wait to read your story in the next book.

      If you are in the mood for a thrilling romance to spike your adrenaline levels, go ahead and grab a copy. You won't be disappointed!

Meet the author:

Camilla is an engineer turned writer after she quit her job to follow her husband on an adventure abroad.

She’s a cat lover, coffee addict, and shoe hoarder. Besides writing, she loves reading—duh!—cooking, watching bad TV, and going to the movies—popcorn, please. She’s a bit of a foodie, nothing too serious. A keen traveller, Camilla knows mosquitoes play a role in the ecosystem, and she doesn’t want to starve all those frog princes out there, but she could really live without them.

The Unspoken Name - A. K. Larkwood

Date of Reading: 25/01/2020

Author: A. K. Larkwood

Publisher: Tor Books

Publication Date: February 11, 2020

Source: NetGalley 

Rating: 4.5/5

About the book:

What if you knew how and when you will die?

Csorwe does — she will climb the mountain, enter the Shrine of the Unspoken, and gain the most honoured title: sacrifice.

But on the day of her foretold death, a powerful mage offers her a new fate. Leave with him, and live. Turn away from her destiny and her god to become a thief, a spy, an assassin—the wizard's loyal sword. Topple an empire, and help him reclaim his seat of power.

But Csorwe will soon learn – gods remember, and if you live long enough, all debts come due. 

Review:

      Once I saw that stunning cover, I didn't think twice of requesting it. Anything inside such a poignant wrap should be nothing short of amazing. And how right I am! As an emerging genre, LGBT literature is surely in need of classical works like these.
      If you love that blurb, then let me tell you, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Spanning more than four hundred pages, the novel covers multiple universes with impeccable skill and even after the last page, I wished for more. There is one more book on the way since it is part of a duology and before you ask, no, this doesn't end in a cliffhanger. 
     Narrated mainly through Csorwe's perspective, the story follows her life from a sacrificial bride to a warrior. Indebted to Sethennai for her new life she is bent on procuring the Reliquary of Pentravesse, the most renowned mage who had somehow achieved a union with his deity. What follows is a tale of adventure where new love blossoms, destinies rewritten and some secrets are revealed.
      What keeps us constantly at the edge is the way good and bad fluctuates constantly as each character, especially Csorwe, Oranna and Shuthmili, make their own choices, altering their fates. Well, that almost summarises the crux of this story; our life is our own to live and shape. We definitely have a choice, but whether we are brave enough to grab it at the opportune moment seals our destinies. Highly recommended!

Meet the author:

A K Larkwood is a science fiction and fantasy writer and enthusiast. She studied English at St John's College, Cambridge. She has worked in higher education & media relations and is now studying law. She lives in Oxford, England, with her wife and a cat.

Dreaming of Verona - T. A. Williams (Blog Tour)

Date of Reading: 02/02/2020

Author: T. A. Williams

Publisher: Canelo

Publication Date: February 3, 2020

Source: NetGalley 

Rating: 3.5/5

 

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Rachel's Random Resources)

 

About the book:

 

 Verona is the City of Love. But will Suzie find romance there or, like Romeo and Juliet, will it all end in tears?

  When Suzie is hired to accompany spoiled, abrasive Lady Alexandra Tedburn on an all-expenses-paid holiday to Italy, she fears the trip will be a disaster.

But she soon discovers there’s more to Alex than shopping and tantrums, and she’s determined to help her realise her potential – against Alex’s authoritarian father’s wishes.

As they settle in Verona, Suzie can’t stop thinking about local artist Michael, who is still mourning the tragic death of his wife. With Suzie’s future uncertain, and Michael’s past holding him back, it seems there’s no hope for romance in the city of star-crossed lovers…or is there?

A gorgeously uplifting and moving story, Dreaming of Verona is the perfect read for fans of Holly Martin, Tilly Tennant and Jenny Oliver.

Review:

      When it comes to T. A. Williams' books, it is safe to say that we have a love and hate relationship. Fortunately, this one comes under the former category. Surely, it's not going to top 'Dreaming of Christmas' which is my absolute favourite but comes really close. Putting aside some dull moments in between, this novel on Verona is gripping, inspiring and is full of colours just like the city.
       The author has taken great care to maintain a Shakespearean spirit throughout. The fact that Suzie is a PhD holder in this topic must have helped it. I do love her theory of Shakespeare being a woman; who knows, one day we may get some proof regarding this conjecture. Besides the frequent quotes, the Tedburns family drama provides ample material for a Shakespearean play. Luckily, not all love should share the fate of Romeo and Juliet.
     As for the relationship between Suzie and Michael, I was in a dilemma. In my perspective, it didn't really go beyond infatuation so the way she waits was kind of perplexing. Same goes with James and Alexandra. If you look upon your best friend like a brother, could the feelings be changed to that of a lover? Well, I will leave that to the experts. 
      Yup, the story did give me enough to munch on. So grab a copy and join the discussion. Happy reading everyone!

Meet the author:

I’m a man. And a pretty old man as well. I did languages at university a long time ago and then lived and worked in France and Switzerland before going to Italy for seven years as a teacher of English. My Italian wife and I then came back to the UK with our little daughter (now long-since grown-up) where I ran a big English language school for many years. We now live in a sleepy little village in Devonshire. I’ve been writing almost all my life but it was only seven years ago that I finally managed to find a publisher who liked my work enough to offer me my first contract.

The fact that I am now writing romantic comedy is something I still find hard to explain. My early books were thrillers and historical novels. Maybe it’s because there are so many horrible things happening in the world today that I feel I need to do my best to provide something to cheer my readers up. My books provide escapism to some gorgeous locations and, as a writer, I obviously have to go there in person and check them out first. I love my job…

Mad About You - Anna Premoli

Date of Reading: 1/2/2020

Author: Anna Premoli

Publisher: Aria

Publication Date: November 14, 2019

Source: NetGalley 

Rating: 4/5

 

About the book:

 

Giada Borghi has always known exactly what she wants. Graduating with honours? Check. An internship at a prestigious consulting company in Milan? Check! Ariberto Castelli, with his pretty face and unironically monogrammed shirts? Definitely not.

Sure, they may have shared a kiss in a nightclub once upon a time – that doesn't change anything! Boys like Ariberto and girls like Giada just don't belong together. But working so closely with a handsome Italian is bound to turn any girl's head, especially as she realises there's more to Ariberto than meets the eye.

The summer days are long and hot... can Giada make it through with her head – and heart – intact? 

 

Review:

 

      It is hard to let go of a book written by Anna Premoli. Undoubtedly, she is one of my favourite romance authors and this humorous and enlightening story has just confirmed my trust in her. Set in Milan, we get to see a hate-to-love story -- well, it might be one-sided -- and as always the humour and the funny banter between our couple bear Premoli's trademark style. 

      Giada and Ariberto meet first at a bar and  Giada hates him at the very first sight. Reason: a boyfriend like him will be surely approved by her mother and she cannot let that happen. Yup, we have got a weird heroine (or should I say she is nuts?) who hasn't outgrown her teenage tantrums. I do have my own quirks, so no judging her in this aspect. Who is perfect anyway? . . . except for Ariberto. He should be recommended for sainthood; really guys, I don't think this man is real.

      One of the disadvantages of the first-person narrative is that it is hard to make a fair judgement. Ariberto could be a possessive man, but through the love hazed narrative, it is difficult to ascertain. But the patience and stubbornness he has shown in wooing the lady is nothing but remarkable. I know he is too good to be true, but can't help but wish him to be real.

     If you are looking for a sweet rom-com for the weekend, then search no further. This will surely fill your day with laughter and may lengthen you life span for a good measure too. Happy reading!

 

Meet the author:

 

Anna Premoli is a bestselling author in Italy. She began writing to relieve stress while working as a financial consultant for a private bank. Her novel, Love to Hate You won the Bancarella prize in 2013.