Book Review: The Virgin's Dance With The Devil, (The Martinelli Wedding Book 3) by Michelle Smart

The Virgin's Dance With The Devil is the third novel in The Martinelli Wedding Series written by Michelle Smart. I have read the first two novels through Kindle Unlimited (as can this book) but I was kindly gifted this novel by the author. 

Set in Italy, at Niccolo and Sienas’ wedding Marisa Rossellini (the virgin) and Federico Esposito were both in attendance as Rico was was the bride’s brother, Marisa’s sister’s husband the groom’s brother. At 25 Marisa is still a virgin, is a devout Catholic and lives at home helping her family take care of her father. Rico is the stereotypical Italian millionaire male. Women flock round him and he he is used to women saying yes. 

He and his brothers make a bet that he can sleep with Marisa, but during their 4 month romance they fall in love. Will the relationship and their HEA collapse when she finds out the truth? 

I liked that although this book can be read as a standalone novel, it also carried on storylines and included characters from the previous novels. There wasn’t just brief mentions of the characters, they weren’t just an afterthought to link the books but had definite parts to play in both their own and Rico and Marisas’ story. The novel also set the scene and introduced the characters for the final novel which I thought was an interesting way to get readers attention and preorder it (as I have done). The letters between Rico and Marisa was a nice touch.

Both characters are relatable and likeable. Marisa’s family has both financial and health issues  and she works a normal job whilst helping her mum care for her dad. She is a very strong character capable of saying no and walking away, which is unusual for a romance novel. Rico is the stereotypical Italian male who meets his match and loses as by the end it is Marisa that is in control of the narrative of how their storyline will end which again does not follow the formulaic storyline but makes the book more fresh and new.

Despite the lack of sex for the first half of the novel, there was off the scale chemistry between the two main characters. I also enjoyed that although Marisa was described as a devout “unicorn virgin” she is a very strong character, who by the end of the novel could have easily walked away. 

I was gifted this book but this does not affect my review. 

Review: LittleSilverHedgehog Silver Hedgehog Earrings

 

These silver hedgehog earrings became internet and TV famous last year when cheap copies appeared on Shein and Aliexpress Link. The copies don’t come anywhere close to the original but do have a gothic appeal, but only if you are willing to put something  through your ear without knowing what it is!  They have now been removed from sale and the originals can be found on LSH’s Etsy page. 

I selected the hedgehog earrings with pink cubic zirconia eyes (£55). The hedgehogs are sculpted by hand and are made from solid silver and measure 1.3x1cm. They hang from sterling silver wire hooks. There are matching items available. A portion of the profits goes to supporting Emma’s hedgehog rescue, so you are wearing a hedgehog to help save them! 

I love these earrings and would love to keep them for myself but unfortunately I have developed a silver allergy so cannot wear them. They would languish in my jewellery box and they deserve to be worn and admired so keep an eye on my X account- @susan1375 for a competition coming in July 2025.

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

Book Review: The Ruins in Which We Bleed: A Gripping Holocaust Novel Inspired by a Heartbreaking True Story (World War II Historical Fiction Book 3) By Steve N Lee

The Ruins in Which We Bleed is written by Steve N Lee and is the third novel in his Holocaust series - they are all inspired by true stories. 

In this novel, Helena (a 16 year old girl) and her mother are trapped in a Warsaw Jewish ghetto. during World War 2 and the invasion of Poland by the Nazis. Each page of the novel describes the suffering, starvation and fear that they go through on a daily basis. The ghetto is a hell hole and people struggle to survive. Helena’s story is heartbreaking as she has lost her teenage years, family, friends and neighbours just because as they are Jewish, the Nazi see them as lesser, worthless beings.

I can’t say I enjoyed this book because the storyline is so sad, showing how low humanity is prepared to go to “win”. Each page reveals the Nazi’s hatred and determination to wipe out fellow human beings whilst the ghetto residents are struggling just to survive whilst still maintaining their humanity and caring for others. 

I couldn’t read more than a chapter at a time as the storyline is relentless. The fact that that this is based on a true story made it even harder to get through. Helena’s devotion to Sparkle and the baby boy in the underground shelter, for example, showed on the one hand how the characters retained their humanity and caring selves but also how sometimes they had to do something they never imagined they would have to do in order to survive the nightmare that had become their life. 

The book is beautifully written. The author doesn’t focus on describing the blood and gore, he lets the reader think about it by, for example, only briefly mentioning someone falling from a roof when set alight. He focuses on the characters and how their characters are shaped as they struggle to survive. The characters aren’t relatable as none of us will (hopefully) ever go through anything as traumatic as living/ existing in a ghetto but they do draw the reader in to feel for them and hope that life gets better in the next few pages of the book. 

I didn’t “enjoy” this book or read it in one sitting but that is because the storyline, whilst perfectly paced and planned out, is just so heartbreakingly sad. There are no real winners in war, there is just death and destruction and even though Helena’s story is set (and the real life version took place) over 80 years ago, it still feels like I was reading about her life in real time and it was happening as I read the book. 

I was lucky enough to be gifted this novel but I will download the two other novels in the series to read over the summer (they are currently available on Kindle Unlimited).

I was gifted this book but this does not affect my review. 

Review: Hanging Heart for Ornaments & Mini Terrariums

 

These iron hanging hearts can be found on both eBay and Amazon and can be purchased as sets or just single items. The iron hook stand is easy to store. The bottom of the stand just twists off the the two pieces can be stores flat. The stand measures 23x22x12cm and is a matte black so won’t take away from the main feature which will be the hanging ornament. I like to use this stand when taking pictures of hanging ornaments as I can edited out the stand and just leave the ornament as the central visual element. 

I have an expensive Disney hanging ornament holder which is forever falling over and will not hold certain heavier ornaments. The heart design means that the ornament/terrarium hangs from the middle so balance is easier to maintain.  This design is sturdier,  more substantial and doesn’t tip over. The downside of the heart shape means that certain larger items don’t fit inside it. 

I like this stand for smaller Disney hanging ornaments. It is minimalistic and a pack of 5 on either Amazon or eBay is around £12.

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

Book Review: Destination Weddings And Other Disasters By M. C. Vaughan

Destination Weddings And Other Disasters is the second in M.C. Vaughan’s mini series- Belize Dreams. This is an Mills & Boon Afterglow novel, aimed at the under 35 year old reader with lots of spice and a diverse storyline as the characters find their best lives.

Michelle and Jim live in LA and are currently planning their wedding (Michelle is on her 4th). Carson Miller, Jim’s son, after a serious car accident which destroyed his sports career, runs a successful events planning business whilst Julia Stone, Michelle’s daughter is currently living in NYC after attending graduate school to study working in the hotel industry. Carson bullied Julia mercilessly during high school and she has gone out of her way to avoid him since their parents started dated, after all with 4 million men in LA how could her mum meet/date her high school nemesis’s father? She finally has to meet him and is surprised that he is truly sorry for everything he put her through in school. They establish a working relationship in order to plan their parents’ wedding and travel to Belize to ensure all is ready for the nuptials in 2 weeks time. 

As the heat of Belize gets hotter the chemistry between the pair increases. They visit waterfalls, have great meld with Julia’s sister and her fiancé but will their relationship survive the wedding? 

This novel was readable but not memorable and I wouldn’t rush to read the other books in the series. The storyline isn’t particularly spicy/ raunchy in fact it is quite tame in comparison to some of the M&B Modern novels I have read. The characters seemed nice individuals who learned and appreciated that they had made mistakes in their youth and wanted to fix them, I liked the secondary storyline of their parents and Carson “s father panicking that Michelle was too good for him, so the book isn’t a total flop it just doesn’t really fit into the Afterglow criteria apart from the fact they get their HEA which happens in all romance novels. 

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

 

Michelle Jim 

Carson Miller, Julia Stone 

Mills & Boon Afterglow Imprint

Gerald Mills and Charles Boon published their first Mills & Boon novel, Arrows from the Dark by Sophie Cole, in 1908. Mills & Boon have now been publishing romance novels for over 100 years, are the number one romance novel publishing company, selling 200 million novels a year worldwide. In 1971 they merged with Harlequin books and became an imprint. HarperCollins acquired Harlequin (and M&B£ in 2014.

M&B have ventured into many different themes and imprints, some more successful than others! The most recent venture being the Afterglow Books series. Launched in January 2024 the books are aimed at the under 35 readership. This imprint aims to:

“feature(s) authentic and relatable stories, characters you can’t help but fall in love with and plenty of spice!”

Certainly TikTok #booktok and #spicytok (which has well over 4.3 billion views) indicates there is a gap in the market for this type of book. At the moment 2 novels are published per month. 

“Lisa Milton, M.D. and Publisher said: ‘Everyone deserves a love story that’s true to who they are, and from showing up to glowing up, each book features characters who are on the path to leading their best lives and finding romance along the way. TikTok has encouraged a younger generation to read more diversely, and the community has built a new and exciting way to reach readers. Afterglow Books aims to reach these readers where they are and delivers all the tropes,characters and romance that they want!”.

I have finally found another Afterglow book that caught my interest (see my review in the next post. This  is the link to my first review). To be honest I don’t see how the series will last. The remit is so wide and the category seems to be so catchall and vague. I don’t see any afterglow in either of the novels I have read. The reason their existing imprints are successful is because they are cohesive and specific. If you want a medical romance - choose the medical imprint, a story about a billionaire finding love with a waitress- M&B Modern. The series’ covers, which look cheap, remind me of the huge amount of chic flicks that were stacked up at Bookworks years ago when they cost £3.99 for 3! Maybe I’m just getting old - I’m not the target audience anymore! 

The views expressed in this blog post are my own.

Mills & Boon Announces New Imprint, Afterglow Books:

https://corporate.harpercollins.co.uk/press-releases/mills-boon-announces-new-imprint-afterglow-books/

Review: XTI Black Espadrilles for Girls

Over the years I have seen the brand XTI when I have been in Barcelona and also here in the UK. I have small (35EU) feet but I need them to be wide fit. I have some Pisamona ones and they are fine until my feet swell and they aren’t black. I put black flat buckle espadrilles into Google and an online shop called Esdmarca  popped up. As they are in Madrid as I was concerned the postage would be expensive but it was only £5.49 tracked and my shoes were with me within 2 weeks. 

The espadrilles are vegan and PETA approved which as a vegetarian I love. The shoes are flat but have a lot of foot support and cushioning because the sole is thick. The black fabric is a knitted macramé material so it stretches as my feet swell, it feels like I am wearing comfortable slippers. The strap doesn’t dig in but it can be a pain to fasten as it is soft band. This is great but it makes it harder to get the buckle to go through and fasten. I am thrilled with these espadrilles. The jute on supporting the back of the heel is also soft and doesn’t rub/blister my heel. 

I am thrilled with is purchase, they are one of the most comfortable items I own. As I have neuropathic pain in my feet I am very picky about shoes. I have always wanted a black pair as most of my clothes are either black or a dark colour! They are so comfy and look smart to wear with long skirts and dresses.