Sunday, November 28, 2021

The Christmas Promise

Richelle and Michelle were identical twins. Inseparable as young girls, they let their personalities and imaginations soar. At three years old their mother left home and the girls were raised by their ever loving and sentimental father. Growing up seemed to push the pair further and further apart. Richelle became the perfect, overachieving student and rule follower while Michelle ran wild, barely graduating. Things came to an abrupt ending when Richelle and her fiancĂ©’s dramatic breakup featured her sister at the center of the chaos. Years later Richelle, now a Pediatric nurse taking care of the sickest children, finds herself alone and lonely. With few close friends she focuses on her work and pours her heart into writing. It is at her weekly writer’s group that Richelle meets Justin and her world is turned upside down. Extremely handsome, kind and intelligent Richelle is quickly drawn into his open arms. Almost too good to be true, there are things Justin admittedly hasn’t shared. His mysterious weekend disappearances to Texas and unlikely text messages begin to poke holes in the story Richelle would like to believe. Terrified of having her heart broken again and of losing this amazing new love Richelle must face her own past and put the daily life lessons she has learned to the test. Sweet and beautiful holiday story. The simplicity about forgiveness will most certainly warm your heart. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Saturday, November 27, 2021

The Startup Wife

Asha was the nerdy computer geek all through high school. Way out of her league, she assumed cool, sexy-cute Cyrus Jones didn’t know she was alive. Years later the two unexpectedly cross paths. Now Asha is a hot shot in her PhD program at MIT, ready to take over the world of artificial intelligence. Cyrus is an brilliant, creative and more handsome than ever. A nomad who hasn’t quite decided what he wants to be when he grows up. The two become inseparable. Cyrus’s allure is contagious to Asha and anyone else who crosses his path. Cyrus and Asha marry and soon after, along with best friend Jules, join Utopia an workshop incubator for new ideas. The trio creates a social platform called WAI (pronounced Why) meaning We Are Infinite. With charming Cyrus as the face and Asha coding her heart out their start up explodes taking over social media and the internet. Swiftly attaining both success and fortune - millions flock to obtain guidance from the man called the new Messiah. But as Cyrus’s popularity soars Asha feels disconnected, their passionate romance seems to have vanished. Running the company from behind the scenes Asha is well aware of the problems they face. As she struggles to make sense of it all she does not know if she can save both the company and her marriage. Fast paced tech story of love, friendship and the sometimes scary look at the not too distant future. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tuesday, November 23, 2021

Wish You Were Here

Diana and Finn have a plan. She will climb the corporate ladder at Sotheby’s while he finishes his surgical residency. They will marry, have 2.5 kids, a dog and a white picket fence outside of the city. Spending countless hours looking at homes online they can only dream about - their bucket list grows. The first check box is soon to be filled as the young couple prepares to leave for an exciting and much needed two week vacation to the Galapagos. Coronavirus is splattered intermittently through the news but Finn is confident with so few cases in the city, it will not affect their plans. As the trip approaches it is apparent how very wrong he was. When his program director nixes his time off, Finn encourages Diana to continue on with their nonrefundable travel plans. Diana sets off on the arduous journey and while in the air NYC spontaneously combusts with Covid cases. Minutes after her arrival on the small idyllic island of Isabela, it too goes into lockdown. Diana has few choices and even less wifi connection. With little communication and her luggage vanished she climbs out of her comfort zone befriending a local family. Beatriz a young girl desperate for a friend, her handsome intelligent father Gabriel and their nurturing Abuela. As weeks turn into months Diana reevaluates her career choices and tumultuous relationship with a famous mother she barely knew. When she returns home it’s as if she is entering an entirely new world. It has been a while since I have read one of my favorite author’s, Jodi Picoult. Written from the heart she explores the rollercoaster we have experienced the last two years through the eyes of unforgettable characters whom you will be thinking of long after the last page. Absolutely unputdownable. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Friday, November 12, 2021

A Season for Second Chances

When Annie Sharpe catches her husband in flagrant delicto with their newest waitress at the restaurant, it is the end of one life and the beginning of another. Having forgiven Max way too many times throughout their marriage, this 44 year old chef is ready to begin again. With her children grown and flown, Annie realizes that their marriage had been over for a long time. She finds an opportunity to care for an historic home by the sea and the best part is the price; rent free. Having gotten pregnant and married at 17, Annie worked hard her entire adult life side by side with Max. Now, for the first time, she has a chance to dig deep and figure out what she wants her future to look like. Annie falls instantly in love with the beauty and warmth of Willow Bay. As the holidays approach she makes friends, starts a book club and to everyones surprise, successfully reopens the tiny cafe downstairs. Naturally, the “evil” nephew of the owner turns out to be a handsome, charming man who simultaneously sweeps her off her feet while arranging to sell the home she has quickly grown quite attached to. With Christmas approaching Annie can no longer ignore their striking chemistry and creative spirit. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend this delicious, funny and thoughtful holiday story of second chances. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thursday, November 11, 2021

All Together Now

Eccentric billionaire Robbie Malcolm runs one of the most successful companies in the world. This mathematical genius extraordinaire has built an empire at 35 years old. But now he finds himself reflecting on life. Alone. Dying. Robbie has just been diagnosed with a terminal cancer. Rethinking all of his future plans he organizes a weekend for his dearest and lifelong friends from high school. Once upon a time Robbie, Blair, Cat and Wade were known as the Baltimore Prep Rejects as they were all expelled from the iconic institution. Blair, the beautiful artist is now unhappily married with twins. Wade managed a one hit wonder but finds himself as a drifting writer without a publisher. And Cat, whose married girlfriend has broken her heart is desperate to find true love and have a baby while she can. Robbie is going to fix everything. A weekend at his beach mansion on Fenwick Island is arranged and the ragtag group reminisces the good times and the bad discovering the depth and truth of their friendships. Fast paced, very Big Chill-ish, I thoroughly enjoyed this thoughtful, surprisingly witty story of old friends that truly know you best. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Friday, November 5, 2021

Mistletoe in Paradise

As kids, Hannah, James and Jason were the best of friends. Their holiday sailing adventures with their families was the highlight of their year. Daring each other to do things they wouldn’t normally dream of, Hannah would literally jump off a cliff (and did!) for the brothers she adored. But they are not children anymore. Hannah’s mother on the brink of divorce has sent her to deliver the heartbreaking news (and paperwork) to her dad and James is determined to not get his heart broken again by the only girl he ever loved. No-one ever dreamed that Jason wouldn’t be there to join them. The weather is perfect and the sunset as beautiful as ever. They each accept their fate and are determined to make amends. As this bittersweet Christmas journey sets sail through the Caribbean they must find a way to forgive and open their hearts to love again. Don’t miss this perfect holiday novella. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Holiday Swap

Charlie Goodwin has an unexpected accident on the set of her hit reality baking show filmed in Los Angeles. As she is battling her handsome nemesis for next season’s coveted spot, this is not the ideal time for a chef to lose both smell and taste. Identical sister Cass is a few hours away in their hometown running the iconic family bakery. With Charlie in the spotlight it has been easy for Cass to ignore her personal desires and fill the shoes of devoted daughter. As the critical ending of the baking competition draws near, the girls decide to switch places, a la The Parent Trap, to seal the deal on Charlie’s future. Taking over each others lives proves way more complicated than expected. Naturally, they can handle the baking logistics but neither anticipated falling in love. The sweet physicians assistant Miguel that follows up with Charlie’s injury falls head over heels for Cass - and Charlie kindles her own flames with hot local firefighter Jake Greenman. Find out if it’s a recipe for disaster or happily ever after as the twins navigate this holiday season. Whip up some eggnog while enjoying this adorable romantic comedy! Yuletide tidbit: Double the authors, double the fun! Maggie Knox is actually  the pseudonym for beloved authors Karma Brown & Marissa Stapley. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tuesday, November 2, 2021

The Matzah Ball

Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt has a secret life. Having grown up on Long Island with her prominent father and perfect mother, expectations soared throughout her childhood. Life as the Rabbi’s daughter held the responsibility as role model for all the other children. Rachel’s diagnosis of a chronic illness in college changed her life forever. For the last decade Rachel has given up on the possibility of romance and love even though she has become an expert through her own words. Rachel is a successful closet Christmas romance novelist. She writes under a pseudonym and it may not be kosher but no-one except her very best friend knows the truth. The home office where she writes her happily-ever-afters is filled with Christmas decorations that would make her family plotz. Even though her shelves hold awards and dozens of bestsellers, the publishers have demanded their very first Hanukah romance. Oy Vey! As much as she adores her family and heritage, Rachel does not see Hanukah in a romantic light, eight candles or not. That is, until Jacob Greenberg, her camp nemesis and first kiss waltzes back into town to throw the Matzah Ball. Rachel must find a way to snag an invite to his highly anticipated sold out event. Rachel spins the Hanukah dreidel and learns that against all odds there is little she can do to avoid their fate. Highly recommend this adorable, funny, trailblazing Hanukah romance by Jean Meltzer. It is easy to become obsessed with the sparkling lights and beauty of the holiday season. I can’t say I’m ready to come out of my Christmas closet but I would love to see more romcoms like this join the fun! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️