We Are Made Of Stars: a season of change is in the air as guests gather at an inn

We Are Made Of Stars by Rochelle B. Weinstein is a story of secrets, lies and second chances at an inn nestled in picturesque mountains. At the Via Ta Vie, owners Jean-Paul and Renee De La Rue are going through a season of change and for their guests as well. Hollywood celebrity couple, Leo and Penny, are celebrating their twenty-fifth anniversary while on the cusp of divorce. Lucy, a practical minded therapist, and her husband, Henry, an astronomer with his head in the stars, are also struggling with their marriage and divorce seems to be in the future. Their friends, Adam, a charismatic sports agent, and his former lawyer and current stay at home mom wife, Sienna, are desperate to find the cracks in their perfect facade. Adding to the group is Cassidy, a self-absorbed single mother and Rosalie, her sullen fifteen year old daughter. As the week progresses, betrayals, regrets and shocking truths are revealed where a heart can be broken or healed. 

I was so excited for this book as the title is absolutely beautiful and the opening chapter started off well. However, the story drags as each chapter changes point of views to one of the many characters. The only character I cared for was Rosalie. She is tired of being the responsible adult to her immature mother, and takes matters in her own hands to find the truth her mother has been hiding. I wish I could have reached through the pages and knocked some sense in the adults. The drama was a bit lackluster and the twist/secret reveal was a bit obvious and wasn’t as much of a surprise to me. Overall, I did not enjoy this story. This story was my second book by Ms Weinstein and the second one I didn’t care for, so it is obvious to me that her books aren’t for me. However, if you enjoy Ms Weinstein’s previous books, you may enjoy We Are Made Of Stars. 

We Are Made Of Stars is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Broken Harbor: a hockey player, a single mom with great banter and romance

Broken Harbor is the third book in the Sparrow Falls series by Catherine Cowles. After leaving a dangerous situation involving her ex-husband, Sutton Holland came to Sparrow Falls with her young son and started rebuilding her life. She finds happiness in her business, The Mix Up cafe and seeing her son, happy, healthy and safe. She never thought they would find that safety in Copeland “Cope” Colson, a hockey player. She quickly learns there is so much more to Cope than the dominant hockey player. Sutton is surprised by the gentle way he is concerned for their safety, the playful way he plays with her son, and the way he seems to truly see her. As they spend time together, Sutton finds herself falling for him. Cope and Sutton both have secrets and when their pasts come roaring back, they now must fight for their newfound happiness. 

The Sparrow Falls series is an emotional roller coaster of romance, suspense and the fighting, resilient human spirit. There are a few spicy scenes. The suspense was great and took me by surprise with the reveal. I loved this story! Cope and Sutton are great together. They butted heads with great banter and when they fell, they fell hard. I loved the macho bravado of Cope which hid a very wounded heart and it was Sutton to help him heal. Sutton is a strong woman who wants to stand on her own two feet for her son. Her son is completely adorable and added to the humor in the story. I also loved the Colson family and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series. If you haven’t started this series, I highly recommend it. I highly, highly recommend Broken Harbor. 

Broken Harbor is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook, and audiobook

A Firefighter's Christmas Gift: a small town Christmas romance

A Firefighter’s Christmas Gift is the first book in the Holidays in Heart Falls series by Vivian Arend. Bradley Ford is the new fire chief in the small town of Heart Falls . He returned to help his father, Patrick, after an accident and what he didn’t expect is to have Hanna Lane catch his eye and his heart. Hanna is a single mom and her only concern is taking care of her eight year old daughter. She is looking to date but something about Brad keeps drawing her in. When a fire destroys their home, Hanna and Crissy are left  homeless weeks before Christmas. Brad offers them shelter on his family’s homestead under the guise that he needs help with his injured father. As they settle into their routines, Brad and Hanna find themselves drawn more and more together. There is no denying their chemistry but can Brad convince Hanna they have a future? 

A Firefighter’s Christmas Gift is a sweet Christmas romance with a happy ending. The chemistry and interaction between Brad and Hanna was sweet. Especially Brad as he seems to understand that she is gun shy and hesitant for a relationship. He is determined to show her he wants a future, not just a fling. There isn’t much drama or tension in the story other than Hanna’s own self doubt. My main issue with the story was Hanna’s daughter, Crissy, is supposed to be eight years old; however, I feel she behaves and speaks more like a six year old. It was a bit distracting. Overall, it is a nice Christmas romance. It was a quick and entertaining read. However, I felt no real connection to the characters and I probably will not be continuing the series. If you love small town Christmas romance, I recommend A Firefighter’s Christmas Gift. 

A Firefighter’s Christmas Gift is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

Fine Tuned: a single mom, a football and a fake dating deal

Fine Tuned by Annmarie Boyle is a Storyhill Musicians novella. Single mom Jessica McWilliams has spent her life uncertain until now. She has devised a plan to secure a future for herself and her son. First, she will finish her degree and two, prove to her boss that she is ready to be promoted to her dream job. Nashville Knights star football player Mick Lanuola lives by a simple rule: if it’s worth doing, do it well. When a chance meeting between Jessica and Mick leads to a viral photo, they agree to a strange proposition: fake date for several weeks and they can get closer to their goals. As they begin the dinner dates and charity events, soon their fake flirty moments turn very real. 

Fine Tuned is my introduction to the author and her series, the Storyhill Musicians. I like fake dating romances and the main hero is a football star. Sounds right up my alley. Unfortunately, from the start, I did not care for Jessica. She is annoying and abrasive. She constantly berates herself for her past, despite all she had accomplished so far. Mick was a sweetheart and I enjoyed his character. I also enjoyed Jessica’s sister, Amy-Lynn who has her own full length story in the series. Overall, I did not enjoy Fine Tuned; however, I am intrigued by the series. I will check them out in the future. If you enjoy fake dating with sports athletes, you may enjoy Fine Tuned. 

Fine Tuned is available in paperback and eBook

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler: a disappointing book

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harms is the story of Amy Byler, an overworked and underappreciated single mom who desperately needs a break. After three years, her guilt-ridden husband reappears and offers to take care of their kids for the summer. She reluctantly accepts his offer and escapes to New York City for a “momspringa.” The usually grounded, mild mannered and property Amy lets her hair down. With a little push from her friends, Amy discovers life filled with culture, sophistication and a few blind dates. One man in particular finds his way into her way and she risks losing herself in an unexpected escape. As the summer comes to a close, she realizes that she must make the impossible choice. Does she stay in the new exciting New York City? Or does she return to her life in rural Pennsylvania? 

The New York Journal of Books called The Overdue Life of Amy Byler, a “laugh-out-loud funny, pitch-perfect novel that will have readers rooting for this unlikely, relatable, and totally lovable heroine... the ultimate escape—and will leave moms everywhere questioning whether it isn’t time for a #momspringa of their own.” However, I did not laugh once. In fact, I rolled my eyes at the moments that I was supposed to laugh and cheer Amy on. The story was boring, humorless and very cringey. A lot of pop culture references that seem to be there to help the readers understand and relate to Amy. At one point, Amy illustrates how tired she was, saying she often fell in bed too tired to fantasize about Outlander’s Jamie Fraser and reach for her vibrator. Seriously? Give me a break! I did not like or relate to Amy at all. I’m sure I am not the audience for this book. If you think this could be the book for you, try it out. But for me, I do not recommend The Overdue Life of Amy Byler. 

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook.