See You In Scotland

 

About the Book

When Eve Fenley’s dream research trip to Scotland is almost ruined by her brother’s dirt bike accident, she makes the terrifying choice to travel solo for the sake of her budding writing career. She has to prove to herself that she is brave enough, not only to be a traveler but also to be an author. On the plane she comes face-to-face with Jordan MacLeod—her brother’s best friend who she’s sworn to hate since his teasing made her stop writing in high school. The upended trip goes from bad to worse as she realizes her brother insisted that Jordan take his place on their trek through the Highlands. Her lifelong dream of Scotland has suddenly turned into a nightmare.

Fired, dumped, and forced to move home, Jordan is scrounging for any scrap of good in his seemingly worthless life. His guilt over the dirt bike accident pushes him to accept his friend’s offer of a free trip to the UK to chaperone the little sister who hates Jordan’s guts for some unknown reason. Anyone could see this would be an epic disaster, but he’s survived worse. As Jordan tries to tease his way through Eve’s unyielding defenses, the magic of Scotland turns everything upside down. Somewhere along the winding Highland roads and craggy peaks they discover that maybe that missing piece of their lives has been sitting right beside them, if only they can be brave enough to reach for it. (Goodreads)

Buy Here

My Thoughts

This is a fun read set in a place I so dearly want to visit. This story is based on a lot of the author's personal adventures so it was really fun to read the silly scenes and it was all realistic and hilarious. The romance is sweet and I enjoyed it for the most part, I think it added to the plot. Near the end of the story I struggled a bit because I really don't like the non communication trope and it just was a bit absurd how a lot of it played out. I don't need a third act breakup in a love story. It is just often so unrealistic or over the top. So I did struggle with that. BUT I still enjoyed this book and I have thought of the funny scenes a few times since I finished reading it! I recommend if you want to go on a road trip to Scotland from your couch! 

Four Stars. 

"I received a complimentary copy from the author. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."

Books That Live in My Head Rent-Free

 Happy Top Ten Tuesday!

There are lots of books that I think on often but as soon as I read the prompt for this week I had a hard time remembering them all! So here are some I thought of that definitely have stuck in my mind and pop up often. 

The Princess List by Hannah Currie. A recent read that I really enjoyed. 

Don't Upstage the Body by Naomi Stephens I enjoyed so much!

A Bride of Fallen Stars by Victoria McCombs because it ends on a major cliffhanger and I need to know what happens!!

Yours is the Night by Amanda Dykes is one of the best books I have read and I need to read it again. 

The Long March Home by Marcus Brotherton and Tosca Lee was a really hard book to read and one I won't forget about the Bataan Death March.

Under the Java Moon by Heather B. Moore was such an eye opening book to a part of history I had no knowledge on until reading this story. 

Miss Newbury's List by Megan Walker is so fun and unique that it often pops into my mind. 

The Heart of the King by J.J. Fischer is a great series and the second book left the reading on a cliff hanger. 

City of Serpents by Christina Baehr was such a unique book in this series that it stands out. I also really loved this series as it was a truly cozy adventurous escape. I wish I could go back and read it again for the first time. 

Echoes of a Silent Song by Amanda Wen has been a story that stuck in my mind LONG after reading. It is truly a good heart wrenching book. 

When You Rescued Me

About the Book

 From best-selling historical romance author Sian Ann Bessey comes romance and suspense in the heart of eighteenth-century London—a story of redemption and forbidden love.

London, 1776

It’s been twelve years since Hannah Dennington looked into the gray eyes of Samuel Ross, their depths as bleak as sadness itself. That childhood memory—the day she accused him of hiding a stolen pocket watch and sent him to appear before Sir John Fielding, the renowned blind London magistrate—still haunts her.

Young Samuel was certain he was bound for the gallows. Instead, the Blind Beak saw a soul worth saving and sent the orphaned pickpocket to serve in the Royal Navy—until a wartime injury returns a grown and changed Samuel to London, and Sir John grants him a trial post as a Bow Street officer. Determined to prove himself, Samuel uses his knowledge of London’s criminal element to apprehend felons.

When highwaymen hold up Hannah’s coach, it is Samuel who comes to her rescue. Almost instantly, he recognizes her as the girl who once betrayed him. But she’s now a woman whose beauty is matched only by her intellect and stubborn independence.

After a series of suspicious fires culminate with a blaze at the London wharf that threatens Hannah’s father’s warehouse, Sir John suspects an arsonist with a vendetta. Drawn into the investigation, Samuel and Hannah must navigate the danger and their unspoken past.

To catch the culprit, they’ll have to trust each other. To claim a future together, they’ll have to risk their hearts. (Goodreads)

Pre-Order HERE. October 6th Release Date!

My Thoughts

The first part of this story had me totally hooked. I loved the characters and was so curious what in the world was going to happen. I loved the initial backstory at the very start of the book. About half way through reading I really struggled with Hannah's character. She is so stiff and seems to change somehow in the second half. The plot drags on just a bit in the second half and I wasn't so invested. I really wanted to be into this story and completely love it but unfortunately it is not my favorite. It very well could have just been the mood I was in at the time but things seemed to veer off at the end and land a little flat. BUT I know many will love this, it just wasn't for me. 

Three Stars. 

"I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley. All opinions are my own."

Falling Into Us

About the Book

She only meant to drop off a letter. She found a family instead.

Gabby Donaldson's late mother left her with one final deliver a letter to her estranged mother. Once Gabby fulfills her mom's deathbed promise, she'll leave behind the grandmother she never knew and return to her carefully constructed life in the city. With a fulfilling career as a jewelry designer, she's convinced she doesn't need roots to feel whole.

But locating Rosemary proves more complicated than expected. And when journalist--and single dad--Mason Morrison offers help in exchange for telling her story, Gabby agrees. The arrangement seems simple he gets the human-interest piece that could be his big break, and she gets to fulfill her mother's final wish.

What neither anticipates is how quickly professional boundaries blur. As Gabby is drawn into Mason's world--and the life he's built with his precocious twelve-year-old daughter--Gibson begins to feel less like a stopover and more like home.

Yet the past has a way of complicating the present. If Gabby uncovers the truth about her family, will it free her to move forward--or make leaving impossible? And when the story is finally written, will she return to the life she planned . . . or risk falling into one she never saw coming?(Goodreads)

Pre-Order HERE.

My Thoughts

I went into this book with pretty high hopes. This story reads very much like a Hallmark movie and it is fairly predictable and at times cheesy. Which I know these types of books are often like that but for some reason this one fell a little flat for me. I didn't ever feel fully invested in the characters and the romance is sweet but at times felt a little artificial. Overall, I didn't love this book and I think it came down to not loving the characters and not feeling invested in finding the grandmother. I know many will love this story but it is just okay for me personally. 

Three Stars. 

"I received a complimentary from NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."