Balancing the Books to 31st January – Jill’s Book Cafe

Well I’m back home now and attempting to get used to the cold again. It’s amazing how quickly you can become spoiled by some sun! As it’s the end of the month I did a trawl through the deals but didn’t actually add too many to the book mountain. However, throwing in the mix of freebies I picked up guaranteed that I bought more than I read – no surprise there.

What I finally managed to do this week was start on The Dreamland Billionaires series by Lauren Asher, though I didn’t anticipate that I’d manage the whole lot. I do like a linked series, in this case a trio of three brothers, all emotionally damaged by the death of their mother when they were young, and then brought up by an abusive, alcoholic father. The father is currently CEO of Dreamland (think Disneyland) but the brothers have the chance to overturn his position if they each adhere to the rules laid down in their late grandfather’s will. Essentially, it means they have to drop the A**hole attitudes, take a good look at themselves, their working practices and start to function as the decent human beings their mother taught them to be. Of course, these are romances so enter 3 normal, hard working, feisty women who bring them to their knees and bring about individual epiphanies that see them change their minds about love, life and turning into their father. A bit simplistic at times but nevertheless an enjoyable, romantic romp through all 1500 pages!

Books Purchased

Books Read

Books Purchased

Changing Spaces by Annie Dyer (free)

She said one night. He said more. She should’ve known better than to argue with a lawyer.
Ava Callaghan was never going to be just one night. She was going to be more, much more.
She just didn’t know it yet.

Hotshot lawyer Elijah Ward can’t be interested in his friends’ and colleagues’ little sister.
With his long-term relationship over, he isn’t looking for anyone, including off-limits Ava Callaghan with her long blonde hair and zest for life that eclipses everyone around her. She’s the daughter of his old boss and the sister of his new one – not a good career move.
She and Elijah can be for one steamy night only.

Settling down isn’t on Ava’s agenda: the only thing she’s planning on settling is the foundations to another refurbishment project. But one night is never going to be enough, not when Eli has as much mastery in the bedroom as the courtroom, and Ava has to decide whether it’s worth changing the space around her so there’s room for him.

A life-changing incident, family shenanigans and a persistent ex-girlfriend are enough to persuade anyone to close the door and walk away. But Eli isn’t the type to let what he wants walk off with his heart.
Eli Ward argues a good case for making their space a joint one.
The question is will she let him win?

White Knight by Annie Dyer (99p)

Sexy. Brave. The biggest pain in my workaholic ass. Killian O’Hara can never be mine.
I try not to notice how he’s broader, ripped or the way he still smiles. I try not to care when he has a date. I try not to remember when we were together and how I broke his heart.
And there are too many reasons why I can’t be his.
I’m married to my job as a lawyer. He’s still my brother’s best friend. And I have a secret. One I need to protect him from.
Ex-military, Killian’s now responsible for keeping me safe when a case I’m working on gets deadly.
But can I keep my heart safe from him?

Love on the Scottish Spring Isle by Beatrice Bradshaw (was free now £4.99)

She flees her own wedding. He never stays for breakfast. And it was only supposed to be a vacation fling.

Still rocking her wedding gown, April ditches her own ‘I do’s’ in Kansas City. She hops in a taxi straight to the airport and escapes to a tiny Scottish island. All she wants is to hide at the end of the world and lick her wounds. Until she meets Euan.

He is Saorsa’s biggest player and has the notches on his VW van’s bedframe to prove it. As the local surfing instructor and cocktail-slinging heartthrob, he’s all about no-strings-attached fun.

Or so he was.

Euan’s never met a woman like April. An American runaway bride with a serious wild streak, she’s turning this Scottish player’s laid-back life upside down. He has no idea how to handle her – or these strange feelings she brings out in him.

April wants her first one-night stand, Euan wants to make her coffee in the morning. But if he gives in to the mind-melting desire she awakens in him, he risks losing his beloved van. And if April admits that this hot Scot is the only man who makes her feel everything, she might get her heart broken like never before.

With their scorching hot chemistry threatening to set the entire isle ablaze, Euan needs to grapple with his past, while April must decide between playing it safe or letting her heart go wild.

Thye Highland Fling by Amy McGavin (was free now £3.99)

I’m done with men.

For the last eighteen months, I’ve thrived as a single woman, dedicating my time and energy to self-care and healing.

But at my best friend’s engagement party, I’m irresistibly drawn to Aidan Stewart, a handsome Scot with mesmerising sky-blue eyes, tousled dirty-blond hair, and a playboy reputation. I’ve heard all about his “one-and-done policy”.

Once I would have run from men like him, but I’m no longer seeking commitment either. So why not give in to the attraction?

Back in bustling London, I brush aside the memory of that night and push on with my life. Fate, however, has a surprise in store: a positive result on a pregnancy test.

The prospect of motherhood terrifies me but I summon the courage to embrace it. I’m a strong, independent woman who can raise this child on my own.

What baffles me is Aidan’s sudden interest in me. He’s not the type to cling to old-fashioned notions of “doing the right thing”. What is it he wants? And more importantly, what is it I want?

Off the Beaten Path by Madison Wright (was free now £4.74)

Wren Daniels is in over her head.

Between organizing a charity auction and trying to renovate a cabin she can’t afford, she’s barely keeping her head above water. The only bright spot is her new friend she met on an anonymous dating app four months ago. That is, until she discovers he’s the last person she would have expected—her grumpy neighbor who she’s never gotten along with.

Holden Blankenship likes his life just the way it is.

After his wife left him, he spent years putting his life back together. Now he’s got his daughter who is the light of his world, his family, and surprisingly, an anonymous friend. But when his anonymous friend turns out to be his neighbor who drives him crazy, he’s not sure what to make of it. Especially when her contractor backs out of her cabin renovation project and he finds himself offering to help her. Now Wren is getting under his skin in a completely different way and turning all his carefully laid plans upside down.

As Wren continues to show up for Holden and Holden keeps proving to Wren that he’s not really as standoffish as he seems, the lines between friendship and more start to blur.

Their relationship may have gotten off to an unusual start, but some of the best things in life are just a little off the beaten path.

Only in Your Dreams by Madison Wright (was free now £4.48)

Finley Blankenship is tired of always coming up short. When her long-time boyfriend dumps her because he isn’t ready to commit, only to announce his engagement to someone else months later, she’s had it. So when her now ex comes to her flower shop to check how she’s doing after hearing the news, she lies and tells him she’s moved on. Only for her brother’s best friend to walk in at the same time and get roped into her story. Committed to playing the part, she reluctantly agrees to pretend to be in a relationship with the one man in their small town that would never actually date her.

Grey Sutton has been in love with Finley for fifteen years, but he’s never thought he had a chance. After all, he’s an honorary member of the Blankenship family because his own is so dysfunctional. He has no idea how to give Finley what she wants. Especially since he was offered a job out of state, and Finley is as rooted in this town as the trees.

But as their relationship starts to feel less and less like a charade, it leaves them with more uncertainty than ever. Lines start to blur, and Grey and Finley have to decide if they’re willing to risk their hearts to have everything they’ve ever dreamed of.

The Hobby Shop on Barnaby Street by Jilliane Hamilton (free)

A forbidden wartime romance begins just as German planes fill the skies over London in 1940. A playful and heartfelt read perfect for fans of Dear Mrs. Bird, The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir, and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

When Maisie Beckett steps into her brother’s struggling London hobby shop during wartime, she’s confronted with two harsh realities: the looming threat of a Nazi invasion and the shop’s dire financial situation. Determined to prove herself to her parents and keep the shop afloat, Maisie moonlights as a pinup photographer, covertly boosting the shop’s earnings. In the midst of London’s nightly bombings, Maisie finds herself irresistibly drawn to the shop’s co-owner, Cal Woodbury, captivated by his quick wit and bashful smile—and his mysterious secret.

But Cal made a promise to his best friend and business partner, Roy—a promise that he would never pursue a romantic relationship with Maisie, Roy’s sweet and beautiful sister. As the German bombs rain down upon London, and as Cal’s bond with Maisie deepens, he discovers that some promises are impossible to keep. When Roy deserts the Navy and unexpectedly appears at Cal’s doorstep, Cal is forced to choose between his loyal friend and the woman he’s falling for.

While London goes to war around them, Maisie and Cal face their own battle—finding their courage and recognizing their worth.

Oar than Friends by Lulu Moore (99p)

She’s rowing for Cambridge. He’s rowing for Oxford. But they just can’t keep one another at oar’s length . . .

Arthur Osbourne-Cloud has his future mapped out for him – graduate Oxford and follow his dreadful father into politics. Except Arthur wants anything but that. He’d rather spend his days rowing for gold at the Olympics,.

And this year he has the Boat Race to win.

Kate Astley also has her future mapped out. Fly half-way across the world, and win a scholarship at Cambridge University to study medicine. Oh, and crew for the legendary Boat Race. Seems simple enough.

But then she meets Arthur.

For Arthur, this feisty American challenges everything he’s been taught to believe, while Kate battles between what she’s expected to do, and what she wants to do.

The bitter rivalry between their universities ought to destroy them. Or will it just be a matter of time before they surrender to the sizzling chemistry between them?

But In The Boat Race, there can only be one winner. Who will sink and who will swim?

About Face by Donna Leon (99p)

When Commissario Brunetti is visited by an investigator from the Carabinieri looking into the murder of a truck company owner, he is intrigued. Not long before his death, Stefano Ranzato had been caught hauling goods illegally for the Mafia, and was pressured into becoming an informant. The Carabinieri suspect that the Mafia killed Stefano to ensure his silence, but what did the man discover that cost him his life?

The stakes are high and the investigation complex as Brunetti is drawn into working with a rival Italian police department – and when another person connected to the case is murdered, Brunetti must race against time to uncover the truth before it happens again.

The King’s Witches by Kate Foster (99p)

The King’s Witches by Kate Foster is a compelling and beautiful historical novel that gives voices to the women at the heart of the real-life witch trials in sixteenth-century Scotland.

Edinburgh, 1589. Princess Anna of Denmark is to wed King James VI of Scotland. First, she must pass the trial period: one year of marriage to prove herself worthy. Under the watchful eye of her loyal lady-in-waiting, Kirsten, Anna resolves to be the perfect royal bride. Until she meets Lord Henry . . .

Meanwhile, young housemaid Jura has recently fled to the capital, seeking protection and anonymity. But her newfound safety is soon threatened when she is caught up in the witchcraft mania that has gripped the country – and the new queen.

Books Read

The Honeystone Village Diaries by Kate Forster

A mile outside the Cotswolds, everyone knows everyone in Honeystone, and for many years the villagers have lived quiet, steady lives. But a wind of change is here…

Anthea is the new owner of Spindle Hall. A renowned perfumer who lost her sense of smell, she’s not interested in making new friends. Yet somehow that seems impossible in this idyllic village.

Years ago, Peony left Honeystone with a broken heart, and now she has returned with it freshly bruised. Her single father, Robert, is struggling with slow business at the Hare and Thistle pub. Perhaps this time they can help each other?

Izzy has never known what she wants to do in life other than be at Raspberry Hill Farm and care for her little niece, Clover. But when a new doctor shows up in town, she starts to wonder…

The Fine Print by Lauren Asher

Rowan
I’m in the business of creating fairy tales.
Theme parks. Production companies. Five-star hotels.
Everything could be all mine if I renovated Dreamland.
My initial idea of hiring Zahra was good in theory, but then I kissed her.
Things spiraled out of control once I texted her using an alias.
By the time I realized where I went wrong, it was too late.
People like me don’t get happy endings.
Not when we’re destined to ruin them.

Zahra
After submitting a drunk proposal criticizing Dreamland’s most expensive ride, I should have been fired.
Instead, Rowan Kane offered me a dream job.
The catch? I had to work for the most difficult boss I’d ever met.
Rowan was rude and completely off-limits, but my heart didn’t care.
At least not until I discovered his secret.
It was time to teach the billionaire that money couldn’t fix everything.
Especially not us.

Terms and Conditions by Lauren Asher

Declan
I’m destined to become the next CEO of my family’s media empire.
The only problem? My grandfather’s inheritance clause.
Fulfilling his dying wish of getting married and having an heir seemed impossible until my assistant volunteered for the job.
Our marriage was supposed to be the perfect solution to my biggest problem.
But the more we act in love for the public, the more unsure I feel about our contract.
Caring about Iris was never part of the deal.
Especially not when breaking her heart is inevitable.

Iris
My plan to marry Declan was simple in theory.
Move in together. Throw a wedding. Have a baby.
We set rules to prevent any kind of issues.
Ones that were never meant to be broken, no matter how much Declan tempts me.
But what happens when our fake relationship bleeds into our real one?
Falling in love was never an option.
At least not for me.

Final Offer by Lauren Asher

Callahan
I’m the Kane brother everyone gossips about behind closed doors.
Trust fund brat. Washed-up athlete. High-functioning alcoholic.
No one knows the real me but her.
Lana Castillo—my childhood best friend and the only woman I ever loved.
When I broke her heart six years ago, I promised to never return to Lake Wisteria.
I kept my word until my grandfather’s will changed everything.
To receive my inheritance, I was tasked with spending a summer at the family lake house
before selling it.
The request was simple in theory until my entire plan blew up on the very first day.
Turns out Lana doesn’t just live at the house, but she claims to own it, too.

Alana
Falling in love with Callahan Kane was a mistake.
He told me so before destroying my heart and our friendship six summers ago.
When he promised never to come back, I foolishly believed him.
But then Cal showed up again, intending to sell his grandfather’s lake house.
The biggest flaw in his plan?
My name is on the deed.

Cooper by Lulu Moore

Thirteen years ago I fell for the wrong person and swore I’d never let another woman into my heart. Ever since, I’ve lived on a diet of bunnies and casual sex.
That was until Francesca Danvers walked into my life. The sister of my team Captain’s fiancée, her Maid of Honor to my Best Man.
She’s my match in every stubborn way. Boiling my blood during the day, lighting me on fire at night. It took her forty eight hours to get under my skin, but turned out she’d been there all along.
I never meant to fall in love. Just like I never meant to mess it all up.
Now I just have to convince her I’m in love for good and we’re playing for keeps.

The Verdict

Some cracking purchases (and freebies) with 4 really enjoyable reads. My expenditure was well within budget so very happy with the outcome this week.