Book Review: Best Man and the Runaway Bride by Kandy Shepherd (M&B)

Best Man and the Runaway Bride is written by Kandy Shepherd and is part of the revamped/ renamed Cherish now True Love collection.   

Assisted by the best man, Max Conway, the bride, Nikki Lucas, after discovering that her intended was cheating on her,  flees her own high society wedding.  She then bumps into him six months later when she is working at her friend' B&B on Bali. Max is a high profile tennis player who has injured himself and so has had to retire from the game.  He doesn't want to be recognised as he has come to Bali to recover, regroup and plan his future.  There is an instant attraction between the pair but is  Nikki looking for more than Max can offer. Is he prepared to move the goal posts and enter in to a long term relationship which is Nikki's goal (I couldn't think of any tennis analogies but it is the World Cup at the moment). 

I enjoyed this book.  It wasn't full of angst, flouncing or disaster, but was full of lovely flowing duscriptions of Bali, the food, culture, sea and clothing.  

I received this book via Netgalley and Mills and Boon in exchange for a honest review. I am a #MillsAndBoonInsider #netgalley

Available from:

Mills & Boon

Amazon UK

Book Review: A Lady Becomes A Governess by Diane Gaston (M&B Historical)

The first in governess swap mini series, A Lady Becomes A Governess is written by Diane Gaston and published by Mills & Boon Historical. Set in 1816,  Lady Rebecca Pierce travels across the Irish Sea to marry a man she loathes, Lord Stonecroft.  Her half brother, Lord of Gleneagle has virtually blackmailed her into this marriage by making it clear he will cut off her allowance and disown her if she does not marry him. Rebecca meets her mirror image on the boat - Miss Claire Tilson who is to be employed by Viscount Garret Brookmore as Governess to his two orphaned nieces at his estate in the Lake District.   

Tragically the ship is caught in a storm and many lives are lost.  Rebecca is one of the few that is saved, and as she believes Claire to have perished, washed over the side of the ship, she takes her identity and becomes Governess to Pamela and Ellen in the Lake District. Garret who had been the second son, had been in the army until his brother and wife died and had not expected to become Viscount.  He is now engaged to Lady Agnes who does her best to discredit Rebecca/Claire. She manages to track down Claire's old employer, Lord  Orin Foley from whom she fled in Ireland. His wife has died under suspicious circumstances and he is desperate to take her back to Ireland with him (although he does not realise she is a completely different person)!  Garret realises he loves Claire but must marry within his social class.  When Rebecca admits her deception he is furious and she agrees to leave the estate.  

Orin kidnaps the girls and she rushes to the rescue,will Garret find them in time and make her his wife?

I think this is my favourite read of the year. Diane combines romance, intrigue, deception and villainous characters seamlessly in a well written and well thought out novel.  

I received this book via Netgalley and Mills and Boon in exchange for a honest review. I am a #MillsAndBoonInsider #netgalley

Available from:
Amazon UK
Mills & Boon

Pippa Small Jewellery: Khusha Ring

I have bought and reviewed several pieces of Pippa Small Jewellery.  I have reviewed Lapis studs from the Turquoise Mountain intituative, the lapis bracelet sold on eBay UK in aid of Children in Crisis and reviewed and given away a Monsoon/PippaSmall  aquamarine pendant. I love the charitable/ giving back element that forms the basis that drives Pippa Small to design and make beautiful, unusual and unique pieces of jewellery that helps others in parts of the world that desperately need it.

I purchased this Khusha ring size J via Amazon UK (RRP £160 but it was reduced to £35.54).  It came in a colourful little silk bag, which is also made by local artisans, and I love it.  The ring is made of gold vermeil and there is an intricate inlayed star design across it.  The inlay is jasper and Turquoise.  The length of the star design is 2.8cm. He ring band is a comfortable size but as the gold circle slightly overlaps the finger at either side I would not wear it as an every day ring but keep it for special occasions as I have a habit of scratching my eye and scratching the lense when I wear larger statement rings! The ring is currently available in size R and the matching earrings are too (£160).

I purchased this item myself and the thoughts expressed in this blog are my own.

There is currently a ring in size R available from

Amazon UK

Book Review: No Strings by Cara Lockwood (M&B Dare)

No Strings is written by Cara Lockwood and is part of the Mills & Boon Dare collection.  Emma Allaire is a writer who is persuaded to use the NOST (No Strings Attached) dating app to improve/ spice up her sex life.  The creator of the app, Xavier Pena doesn't believe in love but enjoys the philosophy of no strings attached sex and then move on.  They meet on the app, then in real life, have great chemistry and great sex.  Will Xavier see that love can and does exist.  The novel also has a more serious angle- namely internet safety and the potential danger of dating apps.  Emma is stalked by another app user and Xavier has to intervene. 

This is a very modern romance, hook up on a dating app, have lots of hot sex everywhere and ... fall in love! The book also reveals not only the pros but also the cons of these apps. A side storyline had Emma being stalked by a deranged app user.  Lots of chemistry, interesting, up to date storyline which I enjoyed reading.

I received this book via Netgalley and Mills and Boon in exchange for a honest review. I am a #MillsAndBoonInsider #netgalley

Available from:
Amazon UK

Mills & Boon

Book Review: Burn Me Once By Clare Connelly (M&B Dare)

Burn Me Once is written by Clare Connelly and is part of Mills and Boon's Dare series.  Set in New York Ally Douglas made a deal with Ethan Ash the famous rock star: "you, me, Sex. It's easy". Both of them are open to a no strings sexual relationship as they have both been burnt and hurt in the past.  Only  he changes his mind about the no strings, it's of hot sex rule   as he wants more!

This novel is the first person. Ally narrates most of the book whilst sometimes it is written from Ethan's perspective/voice. There is a lot of chemistry between the characters and the storyline is good, I just don't particularly enjoy books written in the first person whatever the genre. 

I received this book via Netgalley and Mills and Boon in exchange for a honest review. I am a #MillsAndBoonInsider #netgalley

Book Review: Unlocking the Italian Doc's Heart by Kate Hardy (M&B)

Unlocking the Italian Doc's Heart is written by Kate Hardy and published by Mills & Boon Medical. Dr Lorenzo Conti has just found out that his toddler daughter, Florence, is not biologically his daughter and his wife has left him.  He has moved to a new hospital, Muswell Hill Memorial Hospotal,  in order to rebuild his life where upon he meets Jenna Harris, who is also a paediatrician. She has just taken a year out to act as a surrogate for her sister and has also split with her long term boyfriend who did not want her to give up a year of her life, slow down her caterer and have a baby for someone else. Jenna is bubbly and fun, but has trust issues, as does Renzo.  Will she be able to help him get over the pain of losing his family and rebuild his life with her?

I enjoyed, but did not love this book.  The trip to Verona didn't really fit with the rest of the book, although I did enjoy the detailed descriptions of the food and scenery.  It is a pleasant, gentle read. Not much drama or sex.  The ending is the only time there is a hint of angst but all ends well.


I received this book via Netgalley and Mills and Boon in exchange for a honest review. I am a #MillsAndBoonInsider #netgalley

Available from:
Amazon UK 
Mills & Boon 

Book Review: One Night with Dr Nikolaides by Annie O'Neil (M&B Medical)

One Night with Dr Nikolaides is written by Annie O'Neil and published by Mills & Boon Medical.  The first novel in the Hot Greek Docs mini series, One Night with Dr Nikolaides Cailey Tomaras, a nurse who has returned home to the Greek island of Mythelios to visit her family,  encounters  Dr Theo Nikolaides, a GP who works in the island's clinic during an earthquake.  They both work tirelessly to help the injured.  Theo and Cailey knew each other when they were teenagers living on the island.  Theo's overbearing (rich) father resent/ed that his son wanted to go into medicine rather than business and also did not want his son to associate with Cailey.  Theo and his father came to an arrangement which allowed him to train to be a GO whilst Theo's father's machinations meant Cailey went to the UK to study to become a nurse, hence he broke them up! After one night of passion she realises there will be life long consequences in the shape of a baby. Now all she has to do is persuade Theo that he will make a great dad.




I received this book via Netgalley and Mills and Boon in exchange for a honest review. I am a #MillsAndBoonInsider #Netgalley #onenightwithdrnikolaides

Available from:
Amazon UK
Mills & Boon

Book Review: The Love Islands Collection (M&B)

The Love Islands Collection is published by Mills and Boon and contains 6 seductive island romances.  All have been published before as single books but M&B Collections are a great and cost effective way to be introduced to new authors that you otherwise would scroll past!

Bought to Carry His Heir by Jane Porter - Georgia Nielsen is paid to be a surrogate for billionaire Nokia Panos. Trapped on his island, will love flourish? I enjoyed rereading this book, I read it when it was first released as part of the Modern imprint. The characters are both strong willed and there is a humourous interplay between them. 

The Doctor she Left Behind by Scarlet Wilson - burnt out after sever years working for Doctors Without Borders, Nathan Banks goes to work at Whitsundays. His new colleague is his ex, Rachel Johnson. They are forced to face their past before they can maybe build a future together.  This book is well written. I either love or hate Medical romances but this one was enjoyable.

A Miracle for the Baby Doctor by Meredith Weber - Fran Hawthorne, an embryologist is offered the chance to go and work on a Pacific island for a month. She grabs the chance as it offers her an escape from the humiliation of having her ex husband cheat on her. On the island she meets Dr Steve Ramsome. After years trying to conceive a baby with her ex, Fran and Steve manage to during one night of passion! Will they make a family or remain a temporary fling? Again I enjoyed this book, it is well written and the characters with their past angsts, hope and fears appear realistic to the reader.

His Accidental Heir by Joanne Rock - part of the Desire range, Cameron ONeil goes under cover at his top class property to root out problems first hand. He meets his employee, Maresa Delphine who is his concierge.  She is struggling to combine her job and care for her baby niece.   Cameron sees her and her niece as the solution to the stipulations on his grandfather's will. She is overwhelmed when he reveals his true identity and proposes, but will she accept? I enjoyed this book, Maresa doesn't come across as the traditional heroine in need of saving by the the big strong hero, she is plodding determinedly through life, taking everything that is thrown at her.

Claiming his Wedding Night by Joanne Fuller - Addie Farrell and Malachi Kings' marriage lasted  exactly one day then she realised her marriage was just a sham, that he didn't really love her. Now she is in need of his help to secure funding for her children's music charity.  Malachi sees her financial problems as a way of exacting revenge for the humiliating way she dumped him. He will give her the money if she will give him the wedding Night he missed out on.  I should have enjoyed this. For the most part I normally enjoy the Moden collection novels. This time I found Addie to be a bit of a wimp, allowing herself to be manipulated into bed for financial gain, even if it is for charity.

Still So Hot by Serena Ball - dating coach Elisa Henderson flies in to St Barts with her brand new client. He deserts her and she bumps into her ex best friend, Brett Jordan. Elisa tries to ignore the obvious  mutual attraction they have for one another as a red hot affair would ruin her reputation as a dating coach.  Will they give in to this or will her reputation be more important to her? Part of the Blaze collection which I find tries and sometimes fails to fit in between the M&B Modern collection and the Black Lace genre. This book was okay but I just do not enjoy the Blaze range.

This is a great collection of seductive summer reading. It is a great introduction to the different styles (Modern, Medical, Desire and Blaze) that M&B have to offer potential readers. I didn't love all the books, but the fact that I had downloaded them onto my kindle persuaded me to read ranges (Blaze and Medical) that I would normally dismiss out of hand when choosing my summer or any selection. 

I received this book via Netgalley and Mills and Boon in exchange for a honest review. I am a #MillsAndBoonInsider #netgalley #theloveislandcollection

Available from: 
Amazon UK

Mills & Boon

#Win Dior Gift Set & Tatty Devine Swallow Earrings

This month I am giving away a Dior GWP mini pink embossed faux leather  pouch and a 2ml Dior Addict lip maximiser plus a  001 pink 2ml Dior Addict Ultra gloss 765 ultradior. plus some Tatty Devine swallow earrings worth £25.

To enter just follow the Rafflecopter instructions.
Open internationally.
Opens 14 June closes 2 July 2018 12 AM GMT.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: Marooned With The Millionaire by Nina Milne

Marooned with the Millionaire is written by Nina Milne and published by Mills & Boon  True Love.  As mentioned in a previous blog post the heroines are independent, relatable and strong characters whilst the heros are reliable, dependable and worthy of the heroine's love.

April Fotherington is a journalist who has been commissioned to shadow and write an article about  royal chief adviser, Marcus Alrikson. Stranded on a candlelit thunderstruck desert island the sparks fly, but will the relationship continue when they are back to normality?

Marooned is a bit of a stretch as they were only on the deserted island for one list filled night.  There was so much more Milne could have done with the characters, filling in the gaps. The characters didn't really seem to know or connect with each other before they fell in to bed.  Both characters have made choices that adversely affect others and as a consequence neither Marcus nor April feel worthy of being in "love". Milne skims over this when these details could have added depth to the storyline.  She has built the skeleton of a good read but it needs to be taken one step further to make it a great read. It is an okay read but I wouldn't rush to reread it.

I received this book via Netgalley and Mills and Boon in exchange for a honest review. I am a #MillsAndBoonInsider #netgalley #maroonedwiththemillionaire 

Available:

Mills & Boon

Amazon UK

Beaks & Claws: Pixi Shea Butter Lip Balm in Pixi Pink

Although I love my new my new Dior Addict Lip Glow Balm it is very pricey to use as an every day  apply and throw in your purse item. The Pixi Beauty Shea Butter Lip Balm, from Pixi Beauty, is tinted and comes in 6 shades.  RRP is £8 for 4g.

I chose Pixi Pink and it is contained in a little twist up plastic tube with a secure lid.  The colour is really pretty and vibrant.  It feels and looks more like a creamy sheer/satin lipstick rather than a tinted lipbalm.  It is really moisturising, it contains vitamin E and shea butter,  but I can feel it on my lips.  The intensity of the colour means I wouldn't apply it without a mirror in case I miss my lipline.  The balm is round so it took a few goes for me to achieve a precise, crisp line - my hand eye coordination problems mean I would probably  use a lip brush for ease of application in the future.

I do like this lip balm. The packaging isn't luxurious and feels rather plasticky and the tube of lip balm wobbles a bit as it is applied to the lips,  but for £8 it moisturised and adds a nice  hint of colour.

I purchased this item myself and the views expressed in this blog post are my own.  Pixi Beauty items are available from their online shop and in store and selected retailers such as m&s etc.

Acdria Tiger Butterfly Stud Earrings

                 


 Acdria were established in 2012 in Liverpool, their first jewellery design was the Tiger butterfly.  They have expanded their designs to encompass not only different types of butterflies but also fans, leaves, flowers  and peacock feathers. Their products are vegan, cruelty free and designed and made  handmade in the UK. They have their own Etsy shop, Web shop and are stocked in select independent gift shops such as Podarok. The jewellery is described as "see through" and is made from resin. The butterfly posts are made from stainless steel, so unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. All items arrive well packaged and in a branded gift box.

I chose the orange Tiger butterfly stud earrings in orange (£12 plus £2 p&p), they also come in blue, purple, dark blue and red, as I get lots of these butterflies in my garden and love photographing them.  The earrings are very realistic, dainty and delicate. They measure 3cmx1.2.cm. they lie completely flat against the ear, so less likely to get snagged, if like me, you wear glasses and fiddle with them.  I really like them, they are eye catching, unusual, don't look twee and would make great bridesmaid/bridal gifts.  There is a whole range of butterfly jewellery to choose from, I especially like the Tiger butterfly hair pin (£28), as so few companies make hair ornaments any more.

I purchased this item myself and the views expressed in this blog are my own.