Murder Has a Motive

Murder has a Motive by Francis Duncan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The description of the book sounded a lot like one of Agatha Christie’s novels, and I’m a huge Mrs. Christie’s fan.

The story begins with a murder of a young woman in a small English village Dalmering. Private detective Mordecai Tremaine just happens to visit his this particular village for a holiday. What a coincidence, isn’t it? Well, the murderer is not very pleased with this particular “hiccup” in their plan. And one of the Scotland Yard’s detectives’ that works on the case is actually Mordecai’s friend. Can it get any worst? You bet it can! How about a second murder? Yes, that happens. And that’s when it starts to confuse me… two killings have nothing in common… well, not till you get to the last chapter. And on top of the murders, the village is working on a play, called “Murder Has a Motive”. One busy village I tell you.

The overall story was great. The motive for the murders was very amusing, I was surprised. A great explanation at the end. I do not like books that have many characters, however, this book is an exception. Every character is fully involved in the story, and everyone has a secret that is revealed in the end. Interesting book. Will definitely recommend it to any mystery/detective lover.

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From Paris With Love This Christmas

From Paris With Love This Christmas by Jules Wake

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was my first book by Jules Wake, however, I did not realize this was a part of the series. therefore this is second out of three books. And after reading this great novel, I added the other two to my TBR list and will read those very soon.

From Paris With Love this Christmas concentrates on Siena. From the first pages of the book, she is painted as a spoiled, rich brat who ran away from home (France). She meets grampy Jason, her older sister’s tenant who is renting/looking after Laurie’s estate. We have a typical beginning of the story. However chapter after chapter, we are starting to get to know our characters, and their stories are what makes this book so great!

Siena turns out to be pretty realistic with her goals. After her mother cancels all her credit cards and stops her allowance, she lands a door to door sales job, that does not end well. But after her first failure, Siena doesn’t run back to her family. She even does not asks her sister for a financial help. As soon as she is back on her feet, Siena gets another job, as a waitress. To my surprise, she never complains, not once!!

And Jason is also not your typical next door guy as he appears to be at the beginning. “Wall Street” guy turned out to be a pretty good beer brewer. He is successful in business but not in love. His last relationship ended terribly and he is doing his best to avoid that type of situation in the future.

Siena’s sudden unwelcome arrival and wish to stay in England longer than a weekend made Jason furious. But as the book goes on, they learn to live with each other, shared their secrets, built a great and warm friendship and felt in love… right on time for Christmas.

An incredible story of love, trust, friendship, and willpower. An astonishing set of characters that I am looking forward to learning more about in the next two books.

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Christmas In Paris

Christmas in Paris by Anita Hughes

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Christmas in Paris is a delightful and jolly Christmas theme novel!

What do you do when you break your engagement days before Christmas? An ambitious Philadelphia finance woman, Isabel Lawson decides to come to the city of light and love. And during her first night at the hotel, she meets her suite neighbor Alec, children’s illustrator, whose gorgeous fiance left him a week before their wedding.

Days go by and hopeless romantic Isabel and heartbroken Alec build a friendship. They explore Paris, attend museums, eat delicious French delicacies and during one of their walks Isabel meets a fortune teller. And funny enough, psychic’s predictions are starting to come true. Isabel escapes death, receives a charming present, and meets a French count. While Isabel is being swept off her feet by handsome count, Alec is struggling to meet his work deadline and stop his evil half-sister from evicting his mother from her late husband’s townhouse.

It’s Christmas time in Paris. And it’s a perfect time to fall in love… Despite all the differences Alec and Isabel find their way to their very own unexpected happy ending.

A heartwarming and fun Christmas novel. A perfect book to cuddle up with during cold winter evenings.

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The Christmas Secret

The Christmas Secret by Karen Swan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Christmas is not Christmas without Karen Swan’s books. And her new “The Christmas Secret” novel has become one of my favorite books by this wonderful writer.

Alex Hyde – a business coach is hired to “straighten out” CEO of Kentallen Distilleries, Lochlan Farqhuar. Both characters are determined and focused on their goals. That would be a huge benefit if their goals were not different. And lies that Alex was told from the beginning about Lochie didn’t help her built a successful partnership with him. An accidental fire at the distillery doesn’t help Alex’s progress either. However after Alex mistakenly hijacks Lochie’s weekend with his close friends, she learns the reasons behind stubborn CEO’s behavior. During this weekend dangerous sparks are flying between our two headstrong characters.

Time is running out, Christmas is around the corner and Alex must wrap up the deal she was hired to do. Sholto Farqhuar drives Lochlan out of family business using evidence Alex has found in family archives. Lochlan is devastated by her betrayal. The deal is done, she is financially rewarded, however, she is not at peace, Alex is angry that she was tricked by Farqhuar family. All she wants is to fix what she had broke, and when Alex Hyde sets the goal – she achieves it… well and gets her happy ending in the process.

It was an absolute delight to get lost in the pages of this marvelous novel. Karen Swan did it again!

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Christmas at Butterfly Cove

Christmas at Butterfly Cove by Sarah Bennett

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is my first book from Butterfly Cove series. In this book, the story concentrates more on Nee and Luke.

Luke and Nee got married in a spare moment. On the night of their wedding Nee receives an email from an art school she has applied months before. With a very intense push from a school’s famous artist Devin Rees, Nee leaves her husband in the morning and takes the next flight to NY. However, the life in New York did turn out the way Nee had hoped. Instead of learning from “most lauded artists”, she ended up fixing his work. One night, Nee was invited by Devin into his apartment, drugged and raped. Next morning, she was dismissed from her school. Weeks after an incident, Nee returns back to Butterfly Cove, however, everyone has noticed the change in her, and most importantly – she stops painting. However with a help of her “husband”, sisters and close friends, Nee is on a mission to “find” herself again. And the final step for new Nee is to make amends with her husband. During new years night, Luke and Nee renew their vows and start New Year as Mr.&Mrs. Spencer.

My advice – if you want to read this book, read the first two books of the series first. As I later discovered, there is more to the story of the characters that were presented in this book.

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One Christmas in Paris

One Christmas in Paris by Mandy Baggot

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’ve been waiting to read this book since I first found it last spring. However, I’ve decided to wait until Christmas time to get lost in its pages. And what a great decision I’ve made. A jolly story that takes place in the city of light and love… Paris.

Ava – successful realtor, who has a past in modeling, accidentally walks on her boyfriend Leo in bed with another woman. And it’s a week before Christmas! Ava’s mother Rhoda is planning a trip to a sunshine Goa. But behind this wonderful trip is Ava’s worse nightmare – her mom books her a modeling gig.

Debs – unemployed, single and ready to mingle entertainment article writer, books a trip to Paris, to get a scoop on Parisian single life. The goal of the trip is to write multiple articles that may help her land a job in a major magazine. However, Debs’ trip to Paris is not fully based on her research… She is on a mission to catch her stepdad, Gary, with his Parisian mistress.

Debs convinces Ava to join her on the trip, and now two single gals are on the way to a city of love. During their first night out, girls become acquaintances with two dashing Parisian men, Julien and Didier. During their short time in Paris, both girls manage to spy on Gary, find his secret, enjoy the delicious French cuisine, do enough research for Debs to write many many articles that help her land a job of her dreams, assist Julien in the organizing of a charity event for Red Cross, make amends with Rhoda, and… fall in love. Phew, I think I’ve covered everything here.

A fantastic rollercoaster of events followed by a delightfully happy ending. This was my first book written by a wonderful Mandy Baggot, and I assure you – it will not be last.

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A Cosy Candlelit Christmas

A Cosy Candlelit Christmas by Tilly Tennant

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sweet and jolly Christmas read.

Wishes do come true during this wonderful time of the year. Since she was a little girl, Isla had only one wish – reunion with her father, Ian McCoy. When Isla was six years old, her father walked out on her and her mom. Twenty four years later, Isla comes home to a very unexpected surprise – a letter. It informs Isla of an inheritance. However, the will has a very peculiar ultimatum, it requests Isla to go to French resort of St Martin-de-Belleville and have a face-to-face meeting with her estranged father. A trip is fully paid for, and despite her mother’s wishes – Isla is on her way to a French winter wonderland.

Upon her arrival, Isla accidentally bumps into a very handsome, English researcher Sebastian. Sparks are flying between the young people, however, Isla has no time for a romance.

During the family meeting, McCoy family learns about the details listed on Isla’s grandma’s will – in order for both parties to receive an inheritance, Isla and Ian must build a father/daughter relationship. Can Isla put her anger aside and build father/daughter bond with her estranged father? During her stay in a wonderful French town, Isla learns that there are two sides to each story. And she lets Ian tell her his.

A sweet story that contains a family reunion and a Christmas romance.

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Last Christmas in Paris

Last Christmas in Paris: A Novel of World War I by Heather Webb

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Paris is always a good idea. Especially at Christmas. – Evie Elliott

In this wonderfully written novel, I traveled back in time to 1914. England, Evie Elliott waives goodbye to her brother, Will Elliott, and their childhood friend, Thomas Archibald Harding, who have joined English army and now heading to France. As soon as the famous duo leaves Elliott’s estate, Evie runs to her brother’s desk and starts a very first letter and in our case a very first chapter of this wonderful book.

First letters are long, bright, happy, full of jokes and hopes that the war will be short lived and will end by Christmas, that they plan to spend in Paris. Little did they know that this horrific war will last four dreadful years.

As years go by, the amount of letters decreases, and so it’s content. Tom’s letters are full of horror stories of war and Evie’s – of encouragement and hopes for a better future. Both Evie and Tom loose close family members during this dreadful time. But life goes on, and so is war. People are looking for ways they can help each other and their army. Besides making new clothes for the soldiers, women are now taking over the jobs that were done by men before the war. Evie becomes village mailman, her friend Alice takes nursing training and goes to France to help their British army. In spare time, Evie starts to write a column for a newspaper that is owned by Tom’s family. During this time Evie also realizes that she has fallen in love with Tom, and Alice encourages Evie to write him a love letter. Evie follows her friend’s advice, but the letter gets lost. It will take long 2.5 years before it will find it’s way to Tom.

This is a wonderful love story that survived the Great War.

“Last Christmas in Paris” deserves more than 5 stars. This marvelous story is told primarily through letters and telegrams, has a splendid set of characters, and a fascinating plot that unfolds very quickly.

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The Woman in the Window

The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you’re a big suspense thriller fan – drop everything, turn off your cell phone, get a huge cup of coffee (tea, cocoa, whatever your favorite drink is), find a comfy reading spot and read this book ASAP. I could not put the book down. To me, this book has a lot in common with Hitchcock’s “Rear Window” film from 1954 and another thriller book from 2015 (and a movie) “The Girl on the Train” (I still think the book was so much better). But trust me, you will be glued to the pages of this book.

Anna Fox, ahem excuse me, Dr. Fox has not left her home in 10 months as she is suffering from Agoraphobia, fear of open spaces. Anna fills her life with chess games, online chat with people who share the same phobia, old suspense thriller movies, lots of Merlot and… spying on her neighbors. What else is there to do when you’re locked in Manhattan townhouse that you’re afraid to leave?! Anna knows her neighbors pretty well, by doing research on them online and by simply looking into their windows thru her very expensive camera lens. She is visited once a week by her physician and physical therapist, who she builds a friendship with and her tenant from the downstairs basement apartment. None of the neighbors visit Dr. Fox, none… except for Russells, a new family that recently moved in into the house across the street.

Every day (and night) goes by just like the previous one… and one night Anna hears a scream. She is aware that something is happening at the house across the street. But after phoning the Russells Anna is being told that she has imagined it all. The next night, thru her window Anna sees something even more horrific, a murder. In a panic, she calls 911, and despite her phobia – runs outside to Russell’s house to help her friend… but Anna collapses shortly after she leaves her door, and is being hospitalized. At the hospital, Anna meets a very kind Detective Little, who listens to her, and promises to look into the case. However, after the thorough investigation, Detective Little assures Anna that the incident has never happened, and it was a simple hallucination that was caused by the mixture of multiple medications and wine. “I know what I saw. It isn’t paranoia if it’s really happening…” or is it?

Phenomenal, astonishing and captivating story. This book deserves to be a bestseller.

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Christmas at Conwenna Cove

Christmas at Conwenna Cove by Darcie Boleyn

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was very happy to come upon this delightful Christmas Book.

An amazing thing happens during this time of the year. Oli’s wife passed away from cancer three years ago, leaving him broken-hearted with two adorable young kids. Oli has thrown himself into work and his kid’s lives, what else young widower can do, right? One day, on his way to a clinic, Oli sees a beautiful redheaded stranger in the coffee shop’s window. However the introduction of the two doesn’t go well, Oli comes off as a grumpy man. Grace was not moved by her first impression of a local veterinarian. But during their second “bump-in” in another cafe, both parties feel the spark. Little do they know that this is a beginning of a beautiful… “friendship”.

Neither Oli nor Grace are looking for anyone special in their lives. Grace’s brother passed away nine years ago from a long time illness and she saw the impact it took on her parents and left her devastated as well. Since then Grace decided to never marry nor have kids on her own. She has a great and sweet relationship with her parents, and when they decided to buy a cottage in Conwenna Cove – Grace supported her parents and helped them move in and settle there. But she never intended to stay in the village, more than that, she never expected to fall in love with Oli and his sweet and kind kids.

Conwenna Cove and Christmas make magic happen in this heartwarming book. Lovely and jolly read. Made me feel happy and warm.

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