Summer at the Highland Coral Beach by Kiley Dunbar: A Perfect Escape From Reality

Summer at the Highland Coral Beach by Kiley Dunbar
Published: March 27th, 2020
Publisher: Hera Books
Genre: Contemporary romance
# of pages: 300
My rating: 4 stars
Acquired this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for honest consideration
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Beatrice Halliday needs a break from life. Booking a trip to the Highlands on a whim, Beatrice hopes learning Gaelic in a beautiful Scottish village might help her heal her grief after losing her baby, her husband and her much loved job in a space of months.

But Port Willow Bay isn’t exactly as the website promised. Instead of learning a new language, she’s booked in to learn the ancient skill of willow weaving, her hotel room is Princess and the Pea themed (with a stack of mattresses for her bed!) and worse still, her tutor is Atholl Fergusson, grumpy landlord of the hotel where Beatrice is staying – and she’s the only one doing the course.

But as Beatrice finds herself falling in love with Port Willow Bay and its people, and as she discovers the kind heart beneath Atholl’s stony exterior, can she really leave?

Scotland has been at the top of my travel wishlist for ages, so on the day of the cover reveal for Summer at the Highland Coral Beach, my first thought - before even seeing the cover or reading the synopsis - was ‘you had me at Scotland’. Then I saw the gorgeous cover and I knew I had to read this book. After reading Kiley’s sophomore novel, Christmas at Frozen Falls, I knew she had a knack for transporting the reader to the setting of the book, and Summer at the Highland Coral Beach was no different. I felt like I made the journey with Beatrice to Port Willow Bay with its coral beach, turquoise waters, and the charming Princess and the Pea Inn.

I really liked Beatrice. She’d been dealt a difficult hand between losing her mum, losing her job, a rocky patch in her marriage, finally getting pregnant and then losing the baby, and then her husband leaving her when he couldn’t handle how she was dealing with her grief. Desperately needing an escape, she booked a holiday to the Highlands on a whim. Port Willow Bay was beautiful, but the Princess and the Pea Inn didn’t exactly live up to what its website promised. Beatrice quickly realized her whim wasn’t the smartest idea and she decided to return home, but circumstances kept her in Port Willow, where she began falling in love with the inn, the charming town, and its people...especially one person in particular, a hot Scot named Atholl.

While this book packed an emotional punch with its talk of grief and loss, it was also funny, charming, and romantic. The characters were wonderfully quirky and the setting was gorgeous (my desire to visit the Highlands has increased exponentially). I enjoyed watching Beatrice’s growth and seeing her figure out you can’t outrun your problems - they go with you wherever you go and stay with you until you confront them head on. She learned how to begin the healing process after loss, and how to move on while still honouring the ones you loved and lost. I also really appreciated that Beatrice was older than your typical romance heroine (just about to turn 40).

Sweet, funny, and emotional, Summer at the Highland Coral Beach was the perfect escape.

Have you read Summer at the Highland Coral Beach? What's a setting you always love reading about? Have you read any books lately that have felt like wonderful escapes from reality?

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Snowflakes at the Little Christmas Tree Farm by Jaimie Admans: Heartwarming and hilarious

Snowflakes at the Little Christmas Tree Farm by Jaimie Admans
Published: October 9th, 2019 (ebook), December 12th, 2019 (paperback)
Publisher: HQ Digital
Genre: Romantic comedy
Tropes: Enemies to friends to more
Heat level: Sweet
# of pages: 300
My rating: 5 stars
Acquired this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for honest consideration, then bought a copy
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Buy now: Amazon Canada || Amazon US || Amazon UK

All she wants for Christmas…

Leah Griffiths has woken up after a few too many glasses of Prosecco with a hangover – and discovers she’s accidentally bought a little Christmas tree farm in Scotland!

At first she’s horrified, but perhaps it’s the perfect way to forget all about her cheating ex.

And when she meets grumpy (but ridiculously gorgeous) pumpkin farmer Noel underneath the mistletoe, Leah begins to believe that at Christmas time, anything can happen…

Jaimie Admans has done it again! I don’t know how each of her books is more amazing than the last, but they are. Snowflakes at the Little Christmas Tree Farm was charming, funny, and romantic - a total delight.

I loved Leah and Noel and found them both really relatable. I completely understood Leah’s desire to take a huge leap and change things up. I thought she was equal parts brave and crazy (in the best way possible!) for moving her entire life from London to Scotland to follow a dream that involved something she actually knew nothing about - Christmas tree farming. I have to admit grumpy heroes aren’t typically my thing, but I sensed right from the beginning there were deep layers beneath Noel’s initial attitude toward Leah. He proved himself again and again, and he ended up being the sweetest, most sensitive, squishiest cinnamon roll of a man underneath that grumpiness, and I absolutely adored him. I always love Jaimie’s men, but Noel might just be my new favourite!

Dear Hallmark, please get on making a movie of this wonderful book. It has all the ingredients of a holiday classic - strong main characters, hilarious and quirky side characters, a beautiful setting, a swoony romance, and even an adorable dog with lots of personality. I’d love to see these characters brought to life on the screen. Until then, they’ll live on in a special place in my heart, along with all the characters from Jaimie’s previous books.

Did you know Jaimie has another incredible Christmas romance, It's a Wonderful Night?

Read my review of It's a Wonderful Night, plus a discussion about mental health here

Buy It's a Wonderful Night:

Amazon Canada || Amazon US || Amazon UK

Have you read Snowflakes at the Little Christmas Tree Farm? Do you have a favourite Christmas romance? Is there one you've read that you'd like to see turned into a movie?

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Wanderlust Wednesday Review: The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E Smith

Check out my previous Wanderlust Wednesday posts

 
The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E Smith
Series: Standalone
Published: April 15th, 2014
Publisher: Poppy
337 pages (eARC)
Genre: Contemporary Young Adult
Acquired this book: Via NetGalley in exchange for honest consideration
Warning: May contain spoilers
{GoodReads || Buy this book: Amazon || Chapters/Indigo}

{Read my review of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight || Read my review of This is What Happy Looks Like}

Lucy and Owen meet somewhere between the tenth and eleventh floors of a New York City apartment building, on an elevator rendered useless by a citywide blackout. After they’re rescued, they spend a single night together, wandering the darkened streets and marveling at the rare appearance of stars above Manhattan. But once the power is restored, so is reality. Lucy soon moves to Edinburgh with her parents, while Owen heads out west with his father.

Lucy and Owen’s relationship plays out across the globe as they stay in touch through postcards, occasional e-mails, and—finally—a reunion in the city where they first met.

A carefully charted map of a long-distance relationship, Jennifer E. Smith’s new novel shows that the center of the world isn't necessarily a place. It can be a person, too.

Having read two of Jennifer E Smith’s previous books - The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight and This is What Happy Looks Like - I knew to expect one thing from The Geography of You and Me: Cuteness. Smith’s books are adorable and fluffy, with plenty of grin- and swoon-worthy scenes, a sweet romance, and an overall positive, hopeful message. Underneath the light tone, there’s always a good dose of feels, plus a fun and original story, making for well-rounded and well-written books. The Geography of You and Me was no exception.

The story starts with Lucy and Owen getting stuck in an elevator of their apartment building during a blackout. They distract each other from the darkness, the all-consuming heat, and the worry about being trapped indefinitely. They don’t know each other well, but they form the type of bond people tend to form when they’re thrust together in stressful situations. From there, even though they both move away and have sporadic contact, they’re never far from each other’s minds.

I’m going to assume Smith was inspired to write this story by the wide-swept blackout of 2003 that stretched from Canada down into the States. I remember that blackout well, and since I live in a high-rise apartment myself, it was easy to imagine what it would be like to get stuck in an elevator and experience the suffocating heat of the hallways, stairwells, and your own apartment. I loved Smith’s descriptions of the heat, the city, the stars, all of it. New York City became its own character, larger than life. The same happened wherever the characters went - each new city had a life of its own, stirring my ever-present wanderlust, especially when Lucy visited places I’ve fallen in love with firsthand, like London, Paris, and Rome. I connected with Lucy’s desire to travel, and was so happy when she finally started seeing the places she’d always dreamed of. Another thing I loved: the running inside jokes between the characters throughout the book.

There were great side characters in the book, too. I loved Owen’s relationship with his dad, and initially felt so bad for Lucy being left behind and seemingly forgotten by her parents. As the story unfolds, Lucy’s mom is surprisingly complex, and I really enjoyed seeing the bonding moments between the two.

My only small complaint about the book was the pacing. It started and ended strong, but parts of the middle dragged. That being said, when it did pick up again toward the end, I flew through the pages and even got teary a few times because it all came together in such a lovely way. I appreciated that things weren’t tied up in a neat little bow - it was a far more realistic ending than a lot of other YAs, and yet it was easy enough to believe that with all this pair had gone through, both separately and together, they’d find a way to make it work and get a happy ending one way or another.

If you’re looking for something light and sweet, with just the right amount of humour, swoons, feels, and romance, I highly recommend The Geography of You and Me.

Have you read The Geography of You and Me? What did you think? If you haven't read it, do you plan to? Have you read any of Smith's other books? Did you experience the big black-out of 2003?

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Review: Into the Dim by Janet B Taylor

Into the Dim by Janet B Taylor
Series: Into the Dim #1
Published: March 1st, 2016
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
432 pages (eARC)
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction
Acquired this book: Via NetGalley in exchange for honest consideration
Warning: May contain spoilers
{GoodReads || Buy this book: Amazon || Chapters/Indigo}

When fragile sixteen-year-old Hope Walton loses her mom to an earthquake overseas, her secluded world crumbles. Agreeing to spend the summer in Scotland, Hope discovers that her mother was more than a brilliant academic, but also a member of a secret society of time travelers. Trapped in the twelfth century in the age of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Hope has seventy-two hours to rescue her mother and get back to their own time. Along the way, her path collides with that of a mysterious boy who could be vital to her mission...or the key to Hope’s undoing. Addictive, romantic, and rich with historical detail, Into the Dim is an Outlander for teens.

When I first read the synopsis of Into the Dim, I remember my eyes getting bigger and bigger with excitement. Scotland. Secret society. Time travel. Eleanor of Aquitaine. All things that should make for a Marie Book. I went into it trying hard not to expect too much ‘just in case’, but ended up completely loving this book from beginning to end. It wove together elements of contemporary, science fiction, and historic fiction into a book that was nearly impossible to put down.

Hope has led a very sheltered life. Not only did her mother homeschool her, she also led Hope to believe she didn’t need anyone else in her life - no friends and few interactions with the outside world. Hope’s adopted father loved her, but his family was horrible to her, so Hope stayed away from them as much as possible. She developed a lot of phobias throughout her seclusion, plus she awkward and uncomfortable around other people. A few months after her mother’s death, Hope’s dad is already moving on, so when Hope’s mom’s family invites her to visit in Scotland, she goes. She’s not there long before she learns all kinds of fantastical things, including the fact her family is in a secret society of time travelers, and her mother isn’t actually dead - she’s trapped in London in the 1100s.

Hope was a great main character. She started out really timid and afraid of her own shadow, but she overcame so many obstacles - both mental and physical - along the way. She surprised me with her strength, and I ended up feeling proud of her for how strong, smart, and resourceful she was. I liked that the book started out like a contemporary, giving you time to get to know, like, and even understand Hope, and then BAM, not only does time travel exist, but she’s about to experience it. The book truly grabbed and held my attention once the characters travelled back in time. It all seemed so well thought out, and the plot was incredibly engaging. I’ve always been fascinated by Eleanor of Aquitaine (talk about a badass woman!), and I loved her part in the story. I also enjoyed the other characters and their side stories, and thought they were a great addition. It was obvious Taylor had done her research, and I appreciated that she touched on various aspects of what life was like then, from how horrifically common rape was to how a man essentially owned and controlled his wife to anti-Semitism and a bit of what life was like if you were Jewish. As a history nerd, I loved the little details and facts that were worked into the story, especially since I just visited London for the first time last year.

Overall, I loved Into the Dim. It was action packed, had great twists, plenty of intrigue, and a slow-building romance that kept me guessing and made me swoon. The vivid writing sucked me in - there were even a few times where I was breathless because the things that were happening seemed so real. I had high hopes for this book, and it exceeded my expectations. I can’t wait for the next book!

 

Have you read Into the Dim? What did you think? If you haven't read it, do you plan to? Do you have a favourite time travel book?

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Review: A Desperate Fortune by Susanna Kearsley

A Desperate Fortune by Susanna Kearsley  
Series: Standalone
Published: April 21st, 2015
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Canada
480 pages (ARC)
Genre: A mix of contemporary and historic fiction
Acquired this book: From the publisher in exchange for honest consideration
Warning: May contain spoilers
{GoodReads || Buy this book: Amazon || Chapters/Indigo}

 

{Read my review of The Winter Sea || Read my review of The Firebird}

For nearly 300 years, the mysterious journal of Jacobite exile Mary Dundas has lain unread — its secrets safe from prying eyes. Now, amateur codebreaker Sara Thomas has been hired by a once-famous historian to crack the journal's cipher. But when she arrives in Paris, Sara finds herself besieged by complications from all sides: the journal's reclusive owner, her charming Parisian neighbor, and Mary, whose journal doesn't hold the secrets Sara expects.

It turns out that Mary Dundas wasn’t keeping a record of everyday life, but a first-hand account of her part in a dangerous intrigue. In the first wintry months of 1732, with a scandal gaining steam in London, driving many into bankruptcy and ruin, the man accused of being at its center is concealed among the Jacobites in Paris, with Mary posing as his sister to aid his disguise.

When their location is betrayed, they’re forced to put a desperate plan in action, heading south along the road to Rome, protected by the enigmatic Highlander Hugh MacPherson.

As Mary's tale grows more and more dire, Sara, too, must carefully choose which turning to take...to find the road that will lead her safely home.

Susanna Kearsley earned a spot on my auto-read list after I read The Winter Sea and The Firebird. I fell in love with the stories, the characters, the settings, and Kearsley’s ability to move seamlessly between the present and the past and weave a story that’s full of romance, intrigue, and excitement. Her latest release, A Desperate Fortune, is no different.

This book started out quite slow. For about the first hundred pages or so it was hard to get interested or invested in either of the dual story lines. But I had faith in Ms Kearsley and was sure A Desperate Fortune would end up wowing me as her other books did. If it had been any other author, I would have set the book aside after that first night of reading, but by the next night when I picked it up again, the story picked up too, and I found it easy to get lost in the pages.

I liked Sara a lot, and found it fascinating how her mind worked. The portrayal of her life and struggles with Asperger’s was done really well. Her relationship with her cousin Jacqui, who was basically her champion, was also quite interesting. Jacqui understood how Sara’s mind worked and what her triggers were, and she wanted Sara to live as ‘normal’ a life as possible. She thought she knew what was best for Sara, and sometimes her idea of helping kept Sara sheltered and stifled, but it was obvious that it came from a place of love. You don’t see many close cousin relationships in books, and I enjoyed the dynamics between the two. I also really enjoyed the relationships Sara developed while she was working in France - Denise, Noah, and Claudine were all great characters and they each had something to teach Sara about life, love, and companionship. Then there was Luc. One of my favourite thing about all of Susanna Kearsley’s books is the romantic element. She sure knows how to write swoonworthy men! I loved how patient and understanding Luc was, and how he quietly made a place for himself in Sara’s life without pushing her. 

As with Ms Kearsley’s other books, it was the historic aspect of the story that grabbed my attention (and heartstrings) the most. Mary wanted more excitement in her life and she got it when she was asked to pose as the sister of someone King James had a special interest in. I loved how the story unravelled slowly, with the reader kept wondering about things as much as Mary was. Mary and her companions made a motley crew, and each of them had secrets to keep, partly for their own protection, partly for Mary’s, and sometimes just because that was their nature. The romance in the historic parts of The Winter Sea and The Firebird were amazing, so I was sure it would be no different in A Desperate Fortune, and I was right. It wasn’t what I was expecting at all, but once I realized what was happening, I fell in love right alongside Mary. I longed for more scenes with them together, and hoped everything would fall into place for them. As much as I loved Luc, it was Mary's love interest who really stole my heart. And just like with Sara and Luc, Mary's love interest quietly made a place for himself in her life. Their romance was slow and sweet and beautiful, and I could have continued reading about it forever.

Susanna Kearsley has written another incredible book. A Desperate Fortune is compelling, intriguing, romantic, and unique. There are so many little details in her stories that make you smile, touch your heart, and ultimately make her tales unforgettable.

Susanna Kearsley and Genevieve Graham are going on tour together from May 9th to 13th. If you'd like to meet these two fantastic authors, check out the Timeless Tour site for more information.

    

Have you read A Desperate Fortune? What did you think? If you haven't read it, do you plan to? Have you read any of Susanna's other books? Let's talk here or on Twitter!

  
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Review: The Trouble With Kilts by Kam McKellar

The Trouble With Kilts by Kam McKellar 
Series: A Balmorie Novella #3
Published: November 28th, 2013
Publisher: Self-published
65 pages (ebook)
Genre: Contemporary romance
Acquired this book: From the author in exchange for an honest review
Warning: May contain spoilers
{GoodReads || Buy this book: Amazon || Barnes & Noble}

{Read my review of Mad About Plaid || Read my review of A Scot Like You}

Riley Brooks’ life is in a tailspin. With divorce papers shoved into her suitcase, she takes off for Balmorie Estate to see her cousin Lucy wed Ian MacLaren. Love is in the air, but she wants none of it. Neither does Jamie MacLaren. The Scottish farmer is pissed off and bitter, and wants to be left alone. But when Riley’s ex-husband shows up at the castle to reopen old wounds, misery loves company, and Riley and Jamie join forces with a little Scottish whiskey to ease their hurts, and maybe open their hearts….

 

The Trouble With Kilts is the final book in the Balmorie novella series, and I’m sad to say goodbye to the MacLarens and the Walkers. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed their love stories and watching them come full-circle.

Riley and Jamie are both hurting. Riley’s marriage has fallen apart, and Jamie has returned from war with both physical and emotional wounds. Both Riley and Jamie are combative and bitter, but they find peace with each other and help each other heal.

I liked that this story was a bit different from the other two. All the stories were basically insta-love (they’re romance novellas, after all, you kind of expect the romance to happen fast), but this one followed a different formula from the first two, which I appreciated. It wasn’t love at first sight for Riley and Jamie - they barely wanted to be in the same room at first - and I loved watching them warm to each other and slowly realize that they would be perfect for each other.

Like Dev in A Scot Like You, Jamie had a vulnerable side, which I loved. He was this big, strong guy, a hard worker and someone who seemed really tough, so when he showed those cracks in his armour, it melted my heart and made me fall for him even more. I thought he and Riley were a great match for so many reasons. 

The Trouble With Kilts is funny, romantic, sexy, and sweet. Getting to see all the MacLarens and all the Walkers happy was really heartwarming. I don’t know how anyone could read this series and not fall in love with these swoony Scots.

  

Have you read any of the Balmorie novellas? What did you think? If you haven't read them, do you think you'll give them a shot?

 

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Review: A Scot Like You by Kam McKellar

A Scot Like You by Kam McKellar 
Series: A Balmorie Novella #2
Published: November 23rd, 2013
Publisher: Self-published
83 pages (ebook)
Genre: Contemporary romance
Acquired this book: From the author in exchange for an honest review
Warning: May contain spoilers
{GoodReads || Buy this book: Amazon || Barnes & Noble}

{Read my review of Mad About Plaid}

With Balmorie Guest House up and running, Devin MacLaren can finally focus on restoring the holiday cottages on the estate. Recently returned from war, all he wants is the peace and quiet only the Highlands can give him. With Kate's arrival, that peace goes right out the window. As much as he’d like to avoid the sexy troublemaker, he needs her animal expertise to help his retired military dog, Hildie.

Despite their failed first (and second) meeting, Kate can’t help but be attracted to the solitary Scot; there’s so much heat lurking behind those solemn eyes that she can’t seem to stay away. There’s more to Devin MacLaren than meets the eye. And while Hildie might need her help, it’s Devin who needs her heart.

I loved Mad About Plaid, the first in the Balmorie novella series, but I loved A Scot Like You even more. There was just something about Kate and Dev, separately and together, that really got to me.

loved Kate’s spunk and her fiery personality. I liked that she wasn’t easily embarrassed, especially since she got herself into some situations that would have made me want to crawl in a hole and never come out. Dev is quiet and solitary; he’s haunted by the things he saw and the things that happened during the war, and now all he wants is some peace and to get on with his life and the new family business. Kate streaks into his life (literally) and is exactly what he needs in so many ways. Dev was incredibly sexy - definitely my idea of a Scottish fantasy - but I loved that he was also vulnerable and willing to open himself up to love even when he originally thought he just wanted to be on his own and have time to heal.

Other things I really enjoyed about A Scot Like You: how the dogs were worked into the story. I learned new things about service dogs, and I liked that Kate was passionate about animals and learned new things about herself when she met Dev and his dog Hildie. I also loved Fran and Hamish (who we met in the first book), a couple who worked at the estate and were like family to the MacLarens. They were funny and sweet and added more depth to the story.

Funny, romantic, sexy, and touching, A Scot Like You is a definite must-read for fans of contemporary romance.

  

Have you read Mad About Plaid or A Scot Like You? What did you think? If you haven't read them, do you think you might?

 

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