An Affair of Spies: a spy mission with the utmost importance

An Affair of Spies by Richard H. Bolson is a spy mission to get a defector from Germany and prevent the Nazis from creating an atomic bomb. Nathan Silverman grew up in Berlin, the son of a theoretical physicist. His idyllic life was soon shattered by the increasing levels of hostilities toward the Jewish communities. He leaves for New York City in 1938 with only his mother’s wedding ring to sell for survival. He enlists in the Army with the desire to help fight the Nazi regime. He is quickly selected for special training and ordered to report to the Manhattan Project. As he learns that the Americans are racing to beat the Nazis in the nuclear arms, he discovers that an old friend of his father’s wishes to defect and it is his mission to get him safely out of Germany. He is joined by Dr. Allison Fisher, a brilliant young physicist, and together they embark on a dangerous mission deep in enemy territory. 

An Affair of Spies is described as “an action-packed tale of heroism and love in the face of unspeakable evil.” While it is a tale of heroism and love in the face of unspeakable evil, I would hardly call it action packed. As a man who has been trained as a spy, Nathan breaks every rule and makes bad decisions after bad decisions that I would hardly call him a hero. He often takes his own agenda ahead of his mission and forgets the importance of stealth and secrecy. While the explanations of the physics is appreciated, Mr. Balson tends to explain and reexplain repeatedly that it bogged down the flow of the story. Even the close calls and almost catches were melodramatic. The historical research is well done. Unfortunately, it was not the spy thriller novel I was expecting. It seems to be more about the budding relationship between Nathan and Allison than espionage. Overall, An Affair of Spies wasn’t bad but it wasn’t great either. 

An Affair of Spies is available in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook.

A Pinch of Commitment: a marriage of convenience or a recipe for love

A Pinch of Commitment is the second book in the Veils and Vows series by Jean Oram. Ethan Mattson is trying to sell his restaurant and catering business so he can devote his full time to his technical business. Lily Harper, his sister’s childhood friend, comes back to town with a proposition. They get married and after a year, they quickly divorce where she can take the restaurant and catering businesses off his hands while saving them both lots of money. He agrees, vowing not to love her as falling love is not a part of their deal. However, the girl he once knew is now a gorgeous woman who has a nasty ex that won’t leave her alone. Lily has had a crush on Ethan since he rescued her from a mud puddle and school bullies. But she is determined to be strictly business so she can finally have the restaurant of her dreams. Of course, she begins to fall in love. Can their arrangement be the recipe for love? 

A Pinch of Commitment is a sweet romance. Ethan is a broken man, both physically and spiritually. Lily is desperate to find a home and belong. Their marriage of convenience seems to be the perfect situation for them. Their sudden marriage raises some eyebrows to the residents of Blueberry Springs, of course, Ethan and Lily try their best to make it look legit. In the process, they begin to fall in love. I loved the character of Gramps as he seems to see through their deception. Overall, I enjoyed A Pinch of Commitment and look forward to reading the rest of the series. I read a lot of criticisms stating that this story isn’t real life, that the town is too perfect. Yes, some of the story elements are a bit far fetched. However, I read most romances for escape. If I wanted real life, I would find a book about real life. If you enjoy small town romances with a happily ever after ending, I recommend A Pinch of Commitment. 

A Pinch of Commitment is available in paperback and eBook. 

Seduced by Snowfall: a sweet, steamy opposites attract romance

Seduced by Snowfall is the third book in the Lost Harbor, Alaska series by Jennifer Bernard. Dr. Bethany Morrison is used to being the responsible one, the one everyone relies on. She certainly isn’t used to needing to be rescued. Every time she has needed help, sexy, lighthearted firefighter Nate Prudhoe has been there. When she needs a fake boyfriend to deter her father’s middling, It’s no wonder she turns to him. Nate knows he is seen as the fun loving guy but he hides a deeply wounded heart. But when he discovers a mysterious injured runaway hiding inside the firehouse, there is only one person he turns to. As winter closes in, the line in their fake relationship seems to be fading into forever. Will Nate realize that Bethany is exactly who he needs to help heal his wounded heart? Will Bethany recognize that the fun loving Nate is what she needs to balance out her life? 

Seduced by Snowfall is a sweet, steamy opposites attract romance. I love fun loving yet serious firefighter characters and Nate certainly fills that role. Bethany is the uptight doctor who is trying to be as far away from her middling father as she can. But she comes to love the little community that has welcomed her with open arms. Bethany and Nate are brought closer together as they help the mysterious teen, who Nate nicknames SG, and Bethany begins to see that she had Nate pegged all wrong. Their banter was fun and flirty. I enjoyed that SG’s story isn’t quite done yet. I look forward to reading more about her and her mysterious past. I loved Seduced by Snowfall and I look forward to reading the rest of the series. I loved Ms. Bernard’s description of Alaska that I would love to visit one day. If you love fun, steamy romances, I recommend Seduced by Snowfall. 

Seduced by Snowfall is available in paperback and eBook

A Limited Run: a TV family reunion with buried secrets

A Limited Run by Karen McQuestion is a story of five people connected by a beloved tv show that come together for a reunion of sorts. When billionaire and self proclaimed superfan, Felix Worthington invites the five cast members of the TV show A Little Slice of Haven to re-create their roles for ten days. By doing so, they would receive two million dollars. Recreate a show twenty five years later? The cast is skeptical but all in need of the money, one by one they agree. Unfortunately, the show was an experience best forgotten. Meri Wetzel, who played the loving wife and mother, has spent the last 25 years avoiding Jeff Greer, who played her TV husband. Even Dominick Ingrelli, Amanda and Lauren, who played the children, wish to keep the show in their past. Their only instruction is to stay all ten days and stay in character the entire time. Sounds like easy money, what really could go wrong?

Yes, what could go wrong? Plenty. From the opening chapter to the closing scene, there is more than the simple request from a superfan to recreate his beloved show. But they all have their reasons to recreate the show. The only holdout was Lauren but when she suddenly agreed to do it, my interest was heightened. Why would she suddenly agree? As they slip back into their characters, they are convinced that recreating the show would be much easier than they thought. However, with each passing day, something appears to be off as whispered comments and passed notes from one of the extras raise questions in their minds. I can’t go much into the events of the story but WOW! This story is gripping. It is compelling without being scary. While there was one reveal that I guessed, there was one reveal that I didn’t see coming! I loved Karen McQuestion’s books and A Limited Run is one of her best!

A Limited Run is available now in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Yours Since Yesterday: a second chance at one's first love

Yours Since Yesterday is the second book in the Lost Harbor, Alaska series by Jennifer Bernard. After being introduced in the first book, Zoe Bellini shines in her own love story. Fifteen years ago, Zoe and her best friend, Padric Jeffers were hiking in the forest near Lost Harbor when they kissed and their lives changed forever and not in a good way. Events known as The Scandal result in Padric being whisked away from Lost Harbor and leaving Zoe behind with a broken heart and shattered dreams. Padric Jeffers is now a world famous singer-songwriter and he never expected to return to Lost Harbor. However, when he receives a letter concerning Zoe, he postpones his tour and heads north. Zoe had never been far from his mind in the last fifteen years and when he sees the gorgeous woman she has become, he is determined to never leave her again. 

Of course, their reunion would be easier said than done as someone in Lost Harbor is not happy with Padric’s return. Yours Since Yesterday is a story of a second chance at one’s first love. It is filled with drama, sexy romance and deep emotional healing with a smidge of mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Zoe and Padric’s story. Their romance, which began innocently as teens, grew into a steamy and sexy attraction that they could not deny. I enjoyed their cynicism, especially Zoe’s as she had one bad relationship after another. She didn’t want to believe in love for it would break her heart again. I also enjoyed the introduction of new characters that will appear in future stories, especially Nate. His interaction with Padric had me laughing! I highly recommend Yours Since Yesterday. Although I wouldn’t recommend reading this story while hungry. The descriptions of Zoe’s pizzas are mouthwatering! 

Yours Since Yesterday is available in paperback and eBook. 

 

 

A Road Trip to Remember: one road trip can change someone's life

A Road Trip to Remember by Judith Keim is a story of a life-changing road trip. Agatha “Aggie” Robard talks her granddaughter, Blythe, into driving her from their home in Boston to Florida, to see old college friends along the way. One college friend in particular, Donovan Bailey, the man she was planning to marry after college but circumstances took them on different paths. Aggie hopes to show her serious granddaughter that life can be fun too. However, their trip needs to be a secret. While the rest of the family is in Hawaii on vacation, Aggie and Blythe set off. All goes well and it looked like they would be able to keep their secret. Until a series of accidents leads their lives on a path they never saw coming. Will this new path show them that there are new possibilities everywhere. 

I was expecting a story about an amazing road trip. However, the road trip takes place in the first third of the book and not much happens while on the road. It seems like the road trip was just to explain Aggie and Donovan’s history leading up to their reunion. Most of the events happen in Florida as Aggie and Donovan reunite. There was no real conflict with all the conflicts being resolved a bit too quickly. Everything is tied up in neat little bows with everyone happy and getting along. I didn't even feel a connection to any of the characters. The story was a bit too predictable and dragged in certain points. Overall, I liked the story and I enjoyed the premise that life is too short without some fun but it wasn’t the road trip story I expected. 

A Road Trip to Remember is available in paperback, eBook, and paperback

Mine Until Moonrise: romance in small town Alaska

Mine Until Moonrise is the first book in the Lost Harbor, Alaska series by Jennifer Bernard. Megan Miller desperately needed an escape as she was running from a tragedy she can’t forget. From the moment Megan set foot in Lost Harbor, Alaska, she has been at odds with Lucas Holt, a local boat captain. They are opposites in every way: city girl versus hometown boy, nature tours versus fishing charters. Lucas is arrogant, annoying and wildly attractive as Megan reluctantly admits. However, Lost Harbor is the perfect place for her and nothing and no one, especially hottie Lucas, was going to chase her away. Lucas Holt is only back on Lost Harbor to put his father’s affairs in order. But is there something or someone that could keep him there? He admits he loves feuding with Megan as arguing with her is the best foreplay he’s had in years. When a dangerous storm throws them together and further ignites their smoldering attraction, a feud turns into a passionate affair that could turn into a fiery love or leave them in ashes. 

Mine Until Moonrise is a fun, sweet, steamy enemies to lovers romance. Alaska is the final frontier of the American wilderness with its harsh winters and months of endless sunlight. It is the perfect location for feuds and romance. The feuding banter between Megan and Lucas was humorous and a hint at what was to come between these two characters. Megan has a tough exterior hiding a terrified interior as she struggles to find her footing in Lost Harbor, first as a nature tour guide and as an outsider in the harsh Alaskan atmosphere. Lucas is struggling with his father’s death which has been ruled as an accident. He had a feeling there’s more to the events of his death. As these two butt heads, the sparks fly! I enjoyed reading as they progressed from enemies to passionate lovers and settled into more. I hope they make appearances in the rest of the series. I hope If you love romances, I highly recommend Mine Until Moonrise. I thoroughly enjoyed it and looking forward to reading the rest of the love stories of this series. 

Mine Until Moonrise is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook