Saturday 30 April 2016

Rae reads... How To Manage A Marquess by Sally MacKenzie

How To Manage A Marquess by Sally MacKenzie

When Anne is given a chance to live an independent life at Spinster House she desperately wants the opportunity. However her friend Cat is set to live there, can Anne see to it that Cat marries the Duke of Hart instead. 

The Duke's cousin Nate, Marquess of Haywood is determined to keep the Duke from marriage. A curse was placed on the Duke's family and the only way to stop it is to remain single. Will Anne get her wish to live at Spinster House or will Nate get in her way?



Both Anne and Nate are interesting characters they are strong willed and they have great chemistry. Sparks flew right from the start and all of their interactions were sizzling. I really liked the addition of Stephen and Edward to the story they helped bring some fun. They also helped Anne get some perspective on her situation. 

The story kept my interest especially in relation to the curse. I found the idea really engaging and I wondered how it would all play out. It was a nice touch for me as a reader to hear both characters thoughts and feelings rather than from a single perspective. The plot is easy to follow and understand and I liked how the story developed. 

Overall I would recommend How To Manage A Marquess it is a fun and romantic story. There is great chemistry between the two main characters which kept me wanting to read more. 

Four stars from me! 

Thank you to Kensington Books & Netgalley for my copy to read and review.






Thursday 28 April 2016

Rae reads... The Untamed Earl by Valerie Bowman

The Untamed Earl by Valerie Bowman

Lady Alexandra Hobbs has had her sights set on marrying Lord Owen Monroe since he came to the aid of her brother when they were younger. Unfortunately he is going to be betrothed to her spoiled older sister, Lavinia. Due to Lavinia's personality Owen needs all the help he can get so Alexandra offers to help. Is Alexandra really helping Owen or does she have an ulterior motive?


Both characters are really likeable and you could tell from the start they would be a perfect match. Their scenes together were sizzling and sparks flew whenever they were in the same room. I liked how both characters developed in this story especially Owen as he comes to realise that he can be a better man. Lavinia's behaviour at times made me want to scream I couldn't believe some of her actions. I also have to mention that the friends Alex made in this book were a great addition to the story. I will be definitely be looking at buying more of Valerie Bowman's books as I would love to read all their individual stories

The story was quite light hearted and I actually liked that I could just read and really enjoy the story without any major plot twists. I found the story interesting, charming and I really enjoyed reading about Alex and Owen. Especially when everyone got involved in their business and things got a little complicated.

Overall I really enjoyed reading The Untamed Earl the story kept my interest, especially near the end when I couldn't put it down! There are some comical moments and misunderstandings which help make it even more engaging. This book is perfect to unwind with and it left me smiling!

Four stars from me!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press & Netgalley for my copy to read and review.











Tuesday 26 April 2016

Rae reads... Truth or Date by Portia MacIntosh

Truth or Date by Portia MacIntosh

Ruby is content to keep on dating until the right man comes along. That is until she has a surprisingly red hot dream about her flatmate Nick. What does it mean? They don't even like each other, do they?


I think the character of Ruby is an interesting one, I wouldn’t say I loved her character from the start. However as I continued reading she really grew on me, some of the situations she ended up in were really funny. I really liked her friendship with Millsy, together they were so funny even if a little childish at times. Nick was a great contrast to Ruby and I found all of their interactions brilliant especially as Ruby could be a bit misguided.

The plot is pretty straightforward and easy to follow and I found at times I couldn’t put this book down. The story is really entertaining and I couldn’t wait to find out how it would all end. There were quite a few comical moments and I found myself smiling away whilst reading it. I became engrossed in the story and loved the humour throughout.

Overall Truth or Date is an enjoyable, light hearted and amusing story with some really fun characters. I really liked Portia MacIntosh’s writing style and I will definitely be looking to read more books by her. A perfect book to curl up with and forget your worries!

Four and a half stars from me!

Thank you to Carina UK & Netgalley for my copy to read & review.

Sunday 24 April 2016

Rae reads... Between You and Me by Lisa Hall

Between You and Me by Lisa Hall

Every marriage has its secrets but what happens if you are trapped in a dangerous situation. The person you love is the one person who is hurting you the most. How will it all end?


I liked that each chapter was told from either Sal or Charlie's point of view it really helped gain an insight into each character. The way they both defended their actions/reactions was interesting to read. The characters were developed well and I became immersed in their life and issues.

This story is different from the usual books I read and I found this to be quite refreshing. The plot flowed really well with no slow parts, I found myself thinking I'll just read one more chapter which of course turned into more and more. I don't really want to go into too much detail regarding the plot as it could ruin the story.

Overall I thought Between You and Me was a compelling book that kept my interest throughout. I liked how the book was written especially with the chapters alternating between the characters point of view. The characters were both flawed obviously one was much, much worse than the other but I think this made it more realistic. I will definitely be looking out for Lisa Hall's next book!

Four stars from me!

Thank you to Carina UK & Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

Saturday 23 April 2016

Rae reads... What Happens in the Alps by T. A. Williams

What Happens in the Alps by T. A. Williams

We follow Annie as she builds a new life for herself after losing her husband in a tragic climbing accident. Starting a new business isn’t easy but when old friend Matt arrives it definitely helps take the pressure off.  A chance meeting on the slopes with Alessandro gets Annie dating again. Will Annie get her life back on track?



I really took to the character of Annie, she had a lovely outlook on life even after such a horrible tragedy took place. I instantly wanted a happy ending for her and I couldn’t wait to find out how it would happen. The characters in this book were well written and I felt as if I got to know them pretty well. Even the minor characters added something to this story. A special mention has to go to Leo the dog he was a great addition to the book.

The plot was easy going and pretty much from the start I became immersed in the story. I think it helped that both myself and Annie have an aversion to cable cars! The thought of skiing or any kind of holiday with snow has always filled me with dread. However this book made it all seem so lovely I am almost tempted to book a holiday now!

Overall I loved the setting of this book and the characters it all came together to make a lovely story. This book has a real feel good factor to it that made me smile and left me feeling happy. I would definitely recommend this book especially if you would like a light, engaging and fun read. After reading What Happens in the Alps I will be looking at other books by T A Williams to add to my reading list.

Four stars from me! 

Thank you to Carina UK & Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

Thursday 14 April 2016

Rae reads... Finding Home by Lauren Westwood

Finding Home by Lauren Westwood

In a moment of madness Amy finds herself having to start her life from scratch. Through her new job she finds a new mission in life and that is to save Rosemont Hall.


I really liked how descriptive Lauren Westwood's writing was. I became immersed in the story and couldn't wait to read more. Even though there was plenty of detail it was the perfect amount, I didn't feel as if I was bombarded with information. When Amy arrives at Rosemont Hall I felt as if I was standing in that house myself.

The plot was easy to follow and kept my interest. The mystery running throughout the book was intriguing and I loved reading about the history of the house. The extracts from the letters were a nice touch and helped move the story along.

The character of Amy was very likeable she had a positive outlook even after everything that happens in the beginning of the book. I think it helped that I found it easy to relate to the character, she tried her best in every situation. There were also some comical moments I especially liked the scrabble game it was both embarrassing and funny all at the same time!

Overall I found this book to be a sweet, positive and uplifting story that left me with a smile on my face. I really enjoyed reading all about Amy, even the minor characters helped to bring this story to life. I also liked how quotes from classic novels were added at the start of a new chapter. I would definitely recommend Finding Home it has a lovely feel good factor to it.

Four and a half stars from me.

Thank you to Head Of Zeus (Aria) & Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

Sunday 10 April 2016

Rae reads... Someone Else's Skin by Sarah Hilary

I reviewed this book a while ago but saw it on my bookshelf yesterday and I thought I would share the review here.

Someone Else's Skin by Sarah Hilary

Right from the very first page Someone Else's Skin grabbed my attention. It starts off with the main character Marnie Rome at a murder scene which leaves her devastated. The story then goes back to the present day, where Marnie is now a Detective Inspector. Along with Detective Sergeant Noah Jake they are visiting a women's refuge to speak to someone who can assist them in a case. As soon as they arrive however they stumble across a man bleeding heavily from a stab wound.

This is the start of a rollercoaster of twists and turns that this book takes you on. I could hardly put the book down it kept my attention throughout and it never really had any dull moments. There is some violence in the book but I don't think it is too over the top.

Marnie Rome was one of the most interesting characters I have read in a long time. Her back story was a great one and it really added depth to the character. I liked the fact that she wasn't perfect and that even though she projected a confident and together exterior that wasn't totally accurate.

Overall this book was a great read, all of the characters brought something to the story. The ending was good and I was happy with how the story was concluded. I would love to read more books following Marnie Rome so I do hope that there will be a second in the series!

Five stars from me!

Thank you for my Goodreads First Reads copy.

Since I wrote this review there have been more books released in the series. If they are as compelling as this book they will be well worth a read!

Thursday 7 April 2016

Rae reads... It's In His Kiss by Eve Devon

It's In His Kiss by Eve Devon

Sephy King needs her lingerie business to succeed however she decides her marketing photos need to be something extra special. So what can she do – ask her best friend Luke to step in and help. Surely there wouldn’t be any harm posing for a few photos together half undressed.



This book had me hooked straight away mainly due to the characters of Sephy and Luke, their chemistry was sizzling hot and I couldn't wait to read more about them. The plot was pretty straightforward with no major twists and it was easy to follow. I never found myself bored whilst reading this book and I was eager to find out how things would work out.

The characters in this book had so much chemistry it felt at times the pages were almost on fire! I really took to Sephy she was tough but also had her insecurities it made her a really great main character. I almost fell in love with Luke myself he was very likeable with an attractive personality. The minor characters were also equally interesting I would love to read more about them in their own right.

Overall I enjoyed this book the story kept my interest and the characters in this book were engaging. I finished this book really quickly as I found I couldn’t put it down, definitely a page turner. I will be looking into reading more books by Eve Devon especially Nora and Jared’s stories. Well worth picking up a copy if you would like a fun, entertaining and sizzling read.

Four stars from me.

Thank you to HarperCollins UK, HarperImpulse & Netgalley for my copy to read and review.


Monday 4 April 2016

Rae reads... The Wedding Date by Jennifer Joyce

The Wedding Date by Jennifer Joyce

When Delilah finds out her ex boyfriend has moved on with his life. An invite to her friends wedding causes problems so she invents a boyfriend. The wedding is six months away so it's all go to find Mr Right for the wedding. With help from her BFFs can Delilah find the perfect person or will it all go horribly wrong.


The way you are introduced to Delilah is great, it's fun and you get a real insight into her character. You didn't instantly know everything about her from the first couple of pages which I quite liked. Her two best friends are also a good addition to the book. As I was reading I felt like I was drawn into their inner circle. I especially loved the text messages that were at start of every chapter they were always fun to read.

I thought the plot moved at a good pace there weren't really any slow parts to the story at all. There were some comical moments that were great but also slightly embarrassing for Delilah. The story isn't a complicated one so it is easy to follow with no confusing moments.

Overall I thought this book was full of charm and enjoyable, I was pulled into Delilah's world and was definitely entertained! The characters in this book were really fun and even though Delilah had her faults she really made this book an engaging read. There were just enough characters to make it interesting but not too many that you forgot who was who. I would recommend reading The Wedding Date if you are in need of a pick me up. It is a charming read that is fun, humorous and perfect for brightening up a dull day!

Four stars from me.

Thank you to Carina UK and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

Saturday 2 April 2016

Rae reads... The Trouble With Emma by Katie Oliver

The Trouble With Emma by Katie Oliver

Emma loves to play matchmaker, her friend and assistant is surely the perfect person to set up. With her family home falling into disrepair Emma asks for help from popular TV show Mind Your Manors. Is it all going to end in disaster and will meeting Mark help her to change her ways.


As a fan of Jane Austen this book sounded perfect for me, the book uses various names of characters from Austens books. However they are from multiple books so not just characters from Emma. I thought this was really fun even more so if you like Jane Austen. I found myself immersed in the story really quickly and the plot was easy to understand. This is the second book in a series but I didn't find this to be an issue. Characters from the first book are included in this story but I don't think you necessarily have to read the first book before this one. Although I think I will at some point read What Would Lizzy Bennet Do just because I would love to read more of Katie Olivers books.

The character of Emma was interesting just like in Jane Austens Emma, she is not the most likeable as she has her faults. However there is something about her that draws me in and I could never hate the character. The minor characters all work well together and I liked Mark even though he isn't perfect either. The interactions between Emma and Mark were great to read especially at the start when they first meet.

Overall I really enjoyed this book it was a really interesting take on the novel Emma. There were enough differences between the two books to make this book stand out. Perfect reading for a lazy weekend!

Four stars from me.

Thank you to Carina UK and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.