Mistakes Were Made by Lucy Score

As a literary agent, Zoey Mood's career relied on her last client, her romance writing best friend, Hazel Hart.  Zoey had been relieved of her New York office and apartment while banned to Pennsylvania in a rural town where everyone knows everyone and everything about each other.

  

Her new landlord, Gage Bishop who's also an attorney and construction worker, made his upper apartment available for the attractive, yet entirely obnoxious newcomer.

Zoey had a mental list of things she needed to take care of including make enough money to survive, publicize Hazel's new book successfully, and not date any men.  Her taste in boyfriends always backfired.

Quite the opposite for Gage.  He has solid work and wants to settle down with the right type of woman.  

The best relationships can happen as a surprise, when you don't expect it.  All you need is two single people who don't really realize what is good for them.  

This is where Zoey's spontaneous and goofy nature collides with Gage's orderly and carefully planned life through funny and ridiculous events, which allow them to get to know each other.  They attempt to fight off the growing feelings because neither believes they are compatible.  But maybe the differences are more attractive and sustainable than they previously thought.

Many laughs will bring the results!

Happy reading,

Dawn    

 

A Kiss Is Just A Kiss by Melinda Curtis

When you need a quick shot of romance during the spring warmup, garden planting, and schedules for the new season, this is the best pick.  

Florida can be decorated for a beautiful wedding when the pockets are picked, and there aren't any second guesses.  

Here's the problem:  the second guess isn't from the bride or groom, but rather Kitty, the bride's close sister.

Kitty realizes a broken rung in the ladder of love at the door of the church wedding.  She has a few minutes to solve or ignore the issue.  Guess which avenue she picks.

Beck thinks he's got all the contracts and steps to a successful life planned and executed until Kitty gets in the way.  His wedding is in a few minutes to finalize the signature on the marriage license.

Wedding over, guests stranded, and unhappy family members depart.

Kitty is left with Grandma Dotty and no way get back to their home state.  At least G. Dotty has a way of making the worst seem funny.  Even when they take their only opportunity to ride with the (former) groom.  

Beck and Kitty start the ride home like oil and water.  Fortunately, with the right ingredients of information and knowledge the bumps in the ride smooth out.

They may even respect and like each other as the miles accumulate.  Who knows what will happen by the time they reach their destination.  There's never a set timeline for love!

Happy reading,

Dawn

In the by Isabel Allende

A blizzard in Brooklyn and a car accident is what is needed to bring three lives together and turn them around for the better.  

Richard owns a Brooklyn brownstone with a lower floor rented to Lucia.  Lucia stays in during the blizzard, but Richard forces himself to head for the store.  On his way, he rear-ends a Lexus that Evelyn is driving. 

This small accident creates the three to need more from each other than could be guessed until the story relays the details of their lives.

Richard obtained an academic position at NYU after his regrettable life in Chile.  In Chili, he started with a wife and two children.  Shortly after moving to the states, he no longer has children or a wife.  He sank into a rigid life of work and little socialization.

Lucia moves from Chile when Richard offers her a teaching job and a place to rent.  Her former life had also been full of family losses and humanitarian grievances.  She feels empty and alone.

Evelyn immigrates to the US from Guatemala seeking asylum and a job for a young woman barely speaking English.  

The accident proves more than just a fender bender.  Evelyn has her boss's car.  In the car is evidence of a horrible crime.  

Evelyn, Richard, and Lucia grouped together to plan how to hide someone else's crime to save Evelyn.

During their quest, each learn and begin to love one another. Richard and Lucia find a need to be together, and Evelyn becomes a pseudo daughter to them.   

Their fragile lives are reconstructed out of love.

Happy reading,

Dawn Kunda

Just Friends at the Doggy Spa by Elsie Woods

 Life is grand when you are a dog groomer.  Rita organizes most everything at the elite dog spa attached to the Chateau Rose where the filthy rich and not so humble vacation while dropping off their fury and loveable companions for spa days in England. 

Rita happily accepts the position of maid-of-honor in her best friend's wedding. Whenever I hear that, I know something will go wrong.  Maybe it will go right this time.

Joey, the groom's brother and best man, calls her Buddy.  That'll be a platonic evening, for sure.

Although, when chaos strikes things may work out much better.

And it begins.  A driver drops a boxer off at the entrance of the dog spa and speeds away.  Rita needs Joey to find the dog's owner and take care of the boxer while searching.  The next tragedy sets the stage.  The wedding is in two weeks.  The bride and groom have not made any plans as they claim they're busy.  No flowers, no cake, no invitations, no hall rented, and none of the rest.  

Bride and groom beg Rita and Joey to cover for them.  In other words, plan a wedding in two weeks.  

"Buddy" Rita and Joey are now inseparable.  This is when you really get to know just about everything about each other.  Take the odd with the great and figure out how well all the details fit together like a complete puzzle or one missing pieces.  

I bet all the pieces of the puzzle can somehow squeeze together an create a beautiful picture.

Happy reading,

Dawn Kunda

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

 Isolation can happen in a city, at work, or anywhere people gather.  Those are the same places that relationships grow.  

Forever a resident of Ireland, Eleanor Oliphant has no intentions of disrupting her strategic and purposeful regime of work and weekends of pizza and soothing vodka.  She has a respectable job, which many may consider boring, a subsidized place to call home, a weekly call to her mum, and her life is plain and simple.  

This is her life-long plan to keep the past from distracting the rest of her life.  

Her coworkers occasionally whisper or make jokes about her detachment, otherwise they ignore her for anything other than work.  The new IT worker, Raymond, is the exception.  

Eleanor's computer has an issue, and Raymond eventually gets to her desk.  She's not impressed with his careless dress and sloppy attitude.  It surprises her when he somehow inserts himself in small parts of her days until they help rescue an older man who's fallen on the sidewalk and needs an assist.  

Raymond is super friendly, ready to give a hand, and always open for a new friend.  Eleanor is the opposite, so she grudgingly responds on limited terms.  Besides, she recently decided to remake herself from the outside, to hide her ugly past, and find the perfect man she saw in an ad for a local concert. How hard can it be?

This is a lovely story of unassuming colleagues getting to know each other, while having no intentions.  As details of their lives are slowly exposed, their need and respect grow.  It's this that helps Eleanor realize what she has to do to be whole and happy and Raymond is a specific ingredient. 

Happy reading,

Dawn Kunda

 

Spies Don't Fall For Their Neighbors by Meg Easton

 How can a cozy-sounding town like Cipher Springs contain a company of spies and a plumber that need each other?  

Charlie typically spends her day at her computer directing spy operatives out of dangerous positions as they attempt to take out the illegal activities of criminals.  At night, she relaxes with a shower and a dinner with her BFF roommate.  The night her relaxation is interrupted with a wet floor and water spouting out of the wall of her townhome, she is forced to confront her new neighbor, Owen.

The wall in question is also Owen's wall of his temporary townhome.  It doesn't matter that Owen is a totally hot and maybe available man, but it does matter that he's a plumber and is proficient in construction.  

Forced into approaching Owen, Charlie confronts him about the leak in the shared wall.  

The first sparks fly when the wall needs to be taken out to expose and fix the leak.  Now, except for a plastic wall, they share a home.  

Getting to know each other and to diminish the uncomfortable closeness, Charlie leaves Owen small treats, notes, and gifts.  He reciprocates, which allows them to learn fun things about one another.  

Owen plans to be in town only until a historical building makeover is complete, so a relationship isn't welcome.  Charlie has a well-hidden job making it possibly dangerous to allow romance into her life.  The plumbing dilemma may change their minds.    

When the owner of the building Owen is working on appears on Charlie's work radar, things get complicated and their relationship gets closer.  We can only hope the closeness is amicable and tender feelings result versus it exploding like a leaky pipe.  

Happy reading,

Dawn

Beside the Long River by Louella Bryant

 A fictional view of the war between the English settlers and the Pequot Indians in 1636.  Thinking of wars is mostly about the fighting, death, and attainment of property.  Love does exist during war.

Sarah Lyman, a teenager, and her family is led by her father from England to the promise of Puritan freedom in America.  The land is rough and untamed.  Their dream of a productive farm isn't exactly as simple as portrayed.  Hard, physical work is a new life.  The family lands by boat at the Massachusetts Bay.  In short time, they travel on foot to a more promising and fertile property in Hartford, Connecticut.  

The Pequot Indians live on the land just outside the property Sarah's family chooses to farm.  Many settlers, out of fear, deem the Indians a threat.  With an open mind, Sarah befriends a young Pequot girl along with Ayaks, a Pequot who steals her heart.

Sarah continues her secret friendships until the pressure in the village turns into a plan to massacre the Pequot.  She does the only thing she can think of and joins the English Militia with the intent to save the Pequot Indians, specifically those she loves.

True to history, the war is a massacre, horrible to many and a victory for others.  

Sarah and her family survive, but she keeps her heart hidden as she watches for any indication that her girlfriend and the man who has her heart are still alive.  If or when Ayaks finds Sarah, she will stand up for herself to follow the one she fought for.  Love is stronger than war.

Happy reading,

Dawn

 

Unafraid by Nyssa Kathryn

 Amber Ridge is a quaint and cozy town.  Just where Aspen Davies can travel several states, room with a friend, and leave her ex and controlling mom behind.  She can find a nice cafe and continue to write her romance novels.

Jesse Hayes feels he's doing the right thing by letting a room to his friend, Aspen.  The long and unusual hours he works as a police officer will give her privacy while she familiarizes herself with the town.  He prefers to keep a distance between them.  After all, she is hurt from a breakup, and it is impossible not to be interested in her. 

For such a cute town, not a single restaurant or cafe serves good coffee.  Matter of fact, it is awful.  The English lady who owns a tea and coffee house makes the best pies but needs lessons on how to make a good brew.   It will be a great hangout for writing and a place to keep her away from gorgeous and wonderful Jesse.

Aspen begins receiving texts from her hard-to-handle mom.  After replying with her new address, her mom claims Luke, former boyfriend, needs to see Aspen.  That would not happen on her watch.  Why did Aspen give her mom the address?  Mistake number one.

Space in town is tight when her mom shows up.  Discovering that Luke has a criminal record, Jesse's hackles rise when Luke is also spotted.  Aspen pretends it's manageable, but her nerves are shivering, her writing is not happening, and doors and windows need to be locked. 

A hug and more attention are offered from Jesse, when the danger mounts.  It's okay, they're just friends.  Really good friends, which is a perfect way to start something more if they can both drop their guards at the same time. 

At the same time, Luke, with the help from another, plots to have or let no one else have Aspen. 

Increasing danger, Aspen's faltering confidence, and Jesse's badge make a combination of safety and an opening for romance.

Happy reading, 

Dawn

 

The Honey Pot Plot by Jennifer Cruise and Bob Mayer

 Rose is trying to settle in Rocky Start.  The difficult part is that she's a former assassin and so are many of the other residents.  Tough crowd.  Many are of the retirement age except for her daughter Poppy who is another worry on her mind as an unknown assassin has attempted to disrupt and kill the current crowd of retirees.

Rose's new and hopefully permanent mate, Max, is hiking the Appalachian Trail.  He's claiming to hike the treacherous snowy path for the exercise and beauty, but there's also the suspicion of a hidden treasure somewhere in the trees.

Poppy helps her mom with an incognito second-hand shop while a quiet newcomer, Marley, parks his truck in the alley behind Rose and Poppy's home for protection.  It takes a while for Poppy and Marley to trust each other.  It's a town that trust needs to be earned, yet each laugh, coffee, lasagna, and meeting advances the romance.

After several attempted murders on multiple residents, the "good" assassins collaborate and weed out the bad.  Just in time to allow social activities to resume in a semi-normal romantic venue.  Makes me believe romance can prevail in almost any situation!   

Happy reading,

Dawn

 

Saving the Lakeside Hotel by Melinda Huber

A double shot of fun and romance in the warmth of a summer in Switzerland.  This country always makes me think of winter, but they have summer, too.  

Stacy and Emily are gifted a week at the Lakeside Hotel, formerly an unaffordable location for a young nurse and teacher from England.  It's a great break they both need.

Stacy is engaged to a med-student and Emily is recovering from a knee injury.  Both have bigger problems than it sounds like.  

The grand hotel is nearly deserted when they arrive.  Quite peculiar with all its amenities.  

The son's owner, Rico, understands the financial distress of the business as Alan is a multi-tasker with the restaurant and lobby.  Alan becomes immediately fascinated with Emily and Rico holds back interest in Stacy.  He'll honor the engagement ring she wears.  

Stacy feels a rift with her fiancé.  Emily "isn't in the mood", but rather her mind is on a lot of pain and limited mobility.  

Things change on vacation, though.  The stunning scenery and traveling through mountains and forests lend to a feeling of comfort and new beginnings.  

Find out what relationships end and begin.  

Happy reading,

Dawn  

A Copenhagen Snowmance by Pernille Hughes

 Always check the weather before traveling, especially if your destination is undesirable during December.

A short flight from London to Copenhagen shouldn't be a problem.  Anna Lundhom figures a couple hours to pick up an eighteen month delayed project in Copenhagen is a doable plan.  The snowstorm chasing her plane into the airport proves otherwise.  All flights are cancelled.

Sure that the airport will be functioning in a few hours, Anna sets out to accomplish her mission.  

Hour after hour, the airport reports no progress on opening.  Hotels are already full.  She has friends, she has an apartment, and she has a former fiancé.  Although, she hasn't contacted her friends in the eighteen months, her apartment is rented to a man, and her fiancé is getting married to a former best friend.  

Jamie is wary when she knocks on his door.  He never met his landlord, and he wasn't looking for a roommate even for a short time.  With an uncomfortable beginning, Anna and Jamie spend time together during the storm along with repeated delays of planes.

In payment, Anna shows Jamie highlights of Copenhagen during this snowy and festive season.  She gives the reader a grand tour, also, of the customs, food and drink, and activities.  It's a magical arena, and the goodwill gets absorbed in romantic ways.

Happy reading,

Dawn

The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore

Hating Christmas is the best reason to read this story right now.  

Kira North hates Christmas and unbelievably buys a Christmas tree farm with a quaint farmhouse that needs a lot of work including heat.  It's a few weeks before the hated holiday, and people in Dream Harbor think she's open for business.

Her new house is falling apart, and she has no clue on how to cut and sell the fields of growing pine trees.  The townsfolk stop by to greet her without an invitation.  Bennett Ellis has the audacity to walk his (adorable) dogs in her fields.  If it weren't for the dogs sniffing, licking, and being cute, she probably would've shot him.

She doesn't have a gun, and her hands are too cold to aim anything, so a severe ousting is what Ben gets.  Pleasant and good looking isn't a pass to walk on her land.  

Ben is visiting his sister and looking for something to do or something to fix.  Sitting idle sends him outdoors where he meets Kira and soon realizes she needs heating, plumbing, and several other extreme fixes to live in her house in the winter.  

As Ben eases his way into her home and heart with acts of kindness along with the townspeople, Kira finds her icy heart thawing.  Her home becomes livable, her trees get cut, and people talk to her.  

Having a few friends could be nice.  Enjoying the hot cocoa, twinkly lights, farm fresh trees, and a spicy relationship may change Kira's mind on a lot of things.  Ben's invitation may not be written, but it certainly is open.

Happy reading,  

Dawn

A Very Irish Christmas by Debbie Johnson

 Cassie O' Hara is in a rut.  Keep lamenting the lost groom-to-be, as she is doing, or move on.  So far, this Christmas season she's chosen to keep reminding herself of her loss by watching her almost wedding video.  Right up to when her fiancé, at the altar of course, said he couldn't finish the nuptials.  

Worthless, that's how she feels.  Her sister and her mom aren't any help with their constant reminders of her uselessness.  Cassie comes up with a great idea, egged on by her BFF, and decides to skip the Manhattan Christmas.

With a small inheritance from her grandmother, Nora, she books a trip to England for a month with hopes of a vintage and magical Christmas.  Her reservation at Whimsy Cottage should do it.

Whimsy cottage is cold, dusty, and with sheets over the sparse furniture.  Now what?

The nearest pub should be warm and offer food.  If the dog stalking her on her trek down the street signifies the coming month in England, she might be in trouble.

A tall, gregarious, and handsome Irish man, Ryan, takes Cassie under his wing, advising her to contact Charles, Lord Bancroft, about a suitable room until the Whimsy Cottage is prepped.

Ryan is the local handyman, and Charles is the local lord.  They both have Cassie's well-being in hand.  She helps Ryan clean the cottage along with deep discussions over a pint or two of Guiness.  Charles offers his mansion during cleanup time including deep discussions and plentiful warmth and food.

Cassie hasn't had a legitimate date in three years, and now two eligible and fine men want her attention.  Who wins her heart and how does he triumph over the other?  Not to mention the country she must choose!  

Love is a wonderful experience surrounded by snow, lights, and decorations of an English Christmas.

Happy reading,

Dawn    

  

Good Elf Gone Wrong by Alina Jacobs

 The perfect story to start off the holiday season!  Atrociously funny and smirk-worthy retribution from the people-pleasing and loveable sister to the opposite sister.

Grace plans everything with an enviable skill, which includes her whole family, her friends', and her work cohorts' events.  She never says no and never fails to perfect all details involved.

Her favorite holiday is Christmas, so it's not a surprise that she plans her wedding for this special and glittery day.  The decorations, food, lighting, music, drinks will all engage the wonderful season, and there will never be too much sparkle.

 That's until Grace finds her sister panting under the Christmas tree with Grace's fiancé.  

Of course, it's Grace's fault.  Everything is her fault because she's the one setting up all activities and gatherings.  It' even her fault when her fiancé proposes to her sister.   

That's the final pinecone from the pine tree.  

Grace is excellent at planning, and the plan is now revenge.

She meets Hudson, the bad boy and not her type, on the bus.  How she got so lucky to hatch a revenge plan with him, she'll regretfully learn much later.  Right now, he's the perfect explosion for her sister, former fiancé, and even her love life.

With all the attributes of the boy who shouldn't meet your mom, Hudson plays the part all too well.  He arrives at Grace's family home dressed in black, uncouth actions, bad language, and cozying up to the sister.  It's all part of the plan.

What isn't part of the plan, is that Hudson likes Grace, yet he has a ghastly second mission that she won't like.  It wouldn't matter, but her heart and mind betray the plan by falling for the bad boy-man.

Now it's time to find out if Grace can get her revenge and if Hudson can fulfill his secondary mission without breaking too many hearts.  Including the melded hearts of the two schemers.

Happy reading,

Dawn

 

The Little Russian by Susan Sherman

 The Great War in the early 20th century was devastating and filled with heartache and brutality.  Regardless, there are things to be thankful for.

Berta Lorkis is a young, Ukrainian Jewish woman who's many attributes are exposed in the changes she encounters in life.  Initially, her self-centered and greedy heart overtakes her life goals as she is brought up with luxury of every kind all around.

She expects to marry a man that can keep up with her demands, even after she returns home to help with the family grocery store.  She figures the hard labor is temporary.

Her attention to a handsome merchant, Hershel Alshonsky, is rewarded with marriage and children.  Hershel is absent for months at a time, presumably selling and buying wheat.  Berta accepts this as long as she can buy anything and socialize to her standards.

It's when her life in Little Russia turns to wondering what she can sell to keep up appearances and food on the table that a new attribute of her is realized.  Hershel comes home less and less.  Berta doesn't believe he's only conducting business.  She becomes frustrated with her life being peeled away one piece of furniture or art and one bite of food at a time.  

WWI is at her doorstep, but Hershel isn't.  With the realization that it's up to her to survive on less and less, she endures the horrors of war, loss and deprivation.  She doesn't know if Hershel is alive or dead, thinking of her and the children, or if he left for a better life.

Years of hardship and rumors that Hershel is alive and searching for her have a small space in her heart.  A space she does not give up on until she fulfills her search, replenishing love.

Happy reading,

Dawn

The Hallmarked Man by Robert Galbraith

 I could not wait to flip the pages of Galbraith's (J.K. Rowling) eighth story in the Strike and Ellacott mystery/romance encounter.

It did not disappoint.

Taking on a controversial case attached to a dismembered body found in the vault of a silver shop, Cormoran Strike and his partner Robin Ellacott are investigating if the body belongs to the boyfriend of a rich client.  They don't necessarily need to know who it is, just whether it's the boyfriend or not.  

This narrow inquiry keeps them from overstepping the police's investigation.  That's the intention, anyway.

Strike's and Robin's probe leads off in many tangents, which includes their suppressed feelings.  Every time Strike or Robin considers revealing how they feel about one another, a roadblock appears.  Whether it's because they can't get together, their cases pull them in different directions, or more subtly they misread each other, their thoughts and feelings don't get expressed.  

More obviously, Robin's boyfriend appears to be a keeper and Strike's reputation doesn't help.

Strike tries to work closer with Robin to give him an advantage, which typically backfires.  He plans to lay his heart at her feet when he gets the chance, and he's incredibly frustrated that the chance hasn't happened yet.

Robin insists to herself that her boyfriend, Ryan, should be the one for her because he's a good guy.  She tries not to admit that might not be enough when thoughts of Strike bombard her.

The last chapter left me stunned.  A grand ending and a grand beginning for the next saga of Strike and Robin's story.  I can't wait.

Happy reading,

Dawn

 

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandannna

 Mika Moon.  You'd think her name gives her away as a witch.  

In the current day of England, there are a lot of rules to being a witch such as don't let anyone know, don't live with another witch, and don't breed.  How can it be any fun to have extraordinary powers if you can't use them?

Mika thinks she's outsmarting the system by starting a blog and giving hints online under an alias.  Her blog reveals tiny witchy secrets.  This helps her still feel like a witch without anyone knowing.  So she thinks.

A couple hours across the country exists a mansion, the Nowhere House, with a few caretakers, an archeologist, a protective librarian, and three young, orphaned witch sisters.  Jamie, the librarian, senses what Mika is hiding, so he sends her a message requesting her assistance in educating the girls.  

Moving frequently, Mika figures this is
an opportunity to do something useful.  Granted, this breaks a huge witch rule, yet she wants to do it.

Jamie, handsome as can be, has no intentions of getting along with Mika.  She's an intrusion to the "family's" carefully contained life.  

Mika's move-in comes with transitions to everyone's life.  Most of it smooth until the fact that now four witches, maybe more, are living together.  It gets worse when an evil source discovers the magic in the house.  

Then all evil breaks loose, and Mika needs to decide if she can risk the witch rules in order to save the family and home that she is very comfortable with.  An increasing and unexpected fondness, bordering on a romantic dalliance with Jaime gives her strength and courage to go all the way.  

As long as no one gets burned, melted, or vaporized, love and happiness will survive. 

Happy Halloween,

Dawn

  

What The Hex by Alexis Daria

 Isla Bruja is an island hosting the two largest Latina witch families and their union through a spectacular wedding.  

Catalina Cartagena takes a big breath and brooms herself from New York back to her family's island.  She had escaped the island many moons ago because she wanted to resist being a witch, but as her sister's maid of honor it is time to return.

Catalina's nemesis from high school, Diego Paz, is the best man.  Her luck doesn't seem to be changing.  Granted, nerd to super- sexy is an okay start when she spots him on the island.

Distracting her from Diego, she notices a strange vibe on the island.  Her intuition is confirmed after meeting the groom.  The groom's eyes are distant, which definitely indicates he's possessed by a demon along with most of the witches on the island.

Except Diego.

Time to overcome her negativity toward an old grudge.  Diego and she are the only ones who can exorcise the demon.  

Diego is handsome, smart, and incredibly nice.  What happened??  Catalina is amazed at how easy they get along, yet she remains leery of his approachability.  However, she needs to get over it and make a plan with him to save the families and the island.

After Diego reveals his secret, baring his soul, Catalina is shocked.  They bare more than their souls while fighting the island demon.  

Island magic won't dare miss out on another romance and happily-ever-after as long as Diego and Catalina let their hearts be heard.

Happy reading,

Dawn

Beachcomber by Karen Robards

 Leaving everything all behind is harder than you think, even if Christy Petrino moves to Ocracoke Island.  Small and peaceful, the residents and tourists think.  So, why doesn't it have the same atmosphere to her?

She left behind her job as an attorney at a large firm - mob owned-, a fiancé -mob family-, and her mother and sisters - mob controlled.  What could be worse?

It gets more perilous.  

The Beachcomber is hunting beautiful brunettes on the same beach Christy rented her cottage.  She looks like his typical target.  Adding to that, she might identify him because she saw him kill a girl.  It's dark during the murder, but any witness is a dead witness.

Luke, staked out next door, is quite an annoying tourist to Christy.  He shows up out of thin air on multiple scenarios.  If only she could know he works for the FBI and she's under surveillance.

That is partly bad (the surveillance) and fortuitous (he's always around).  

It's a cagey show between the hot and sexy man next door repeatedly saving her from being murdered, or whether his job to catch her in connection with the mob wins out.

Happy reading,

Dawn

Watermelon by Marian Keyes

 Doesn't matter what hospital you're in but as Claire Walsh gives birth to her new little angel in London, she is exhilarated.  For a few minutes until her husband, James, sits next to her bed with little interest in the swaddled baby.

He tells her he is leaving her for the woman downstairs from their apartment.

Now what?

On maternity leave, Claire packs up and ventures to her parents and sisters in Ireland.  

Claire doesn't have a problem voicing her opinion, and you certainly will get pagefuls of her contempt toward her husband along with her doubts of marriage, men, and what the hell will she do now.

On another page, she meets a gorgeous man, Adam, and has a night with him.  Loaded with his own baggage, Claire doesn't take the romance too seriously.

Besides, James flies over the pond to discuss how they can remain married.  According to him, it's all her fault and if she changes everything can be perfect.

Push the knife in, twist and pull.  

With a lot of mind-probing and heckling from her family, Claire tries all avenues until she finds the clear path to love and happiness.

Happy reading,

Dawn