My romantic side enjoyed the story for what it was: a celebration of love!
924235
An epistolary novel spanning WW1 and WW2, Letters from Skye highlights the romantic entanglements of a Scottish published author of poetry and the American fan who corresponded with her first from the US and then from the battlefields.

1913: Elspeth has never left the island of Skye. A fisherman's daughter, she finds the inspiration for her beautiful poetry in her native surroundings and she is quite surprised to hear her little book of poems made it all the way to David in the US, a gift from a friend at Oxford.

For years Elspeth and David share everyday little events in their lives across the ocean but when their friendly correspondence leads to a love affair, Elspeth must come to term with reality: her husband Ian is reported MIA on the battlefield. The young woman is powerfully drawn to the American and she feels guilty.
And when David volunteers as an ambulance driver during the conflict, she fears she might lose him as well.

1940: England has been at war for over a year and Elspeth's daughter Margaret helps relocating evacuees whilst Paul, her best friend is serving God and Country in the R.A.F.
Theirs is a sweet love story, and when Margaret wonders about her mother's past and her father's identity, Paul is always there for her!

When a bomb explodes nearby her mother's home, old letters addressed to someone named 'Sue' and signed 'Davey' are strewn about and inevitably the past comes to revisit.

Elspeth has never forgotten David and determined to find out his whereabouts, she disappears. Left alone, Margaret decides to search for her mother's past and after finding a single clue in a book goes to Skye where she finds a whole family she never knew.

There is enough elements in this sweeping novel to make any single soul content enough with its plot line which includes even a faerie tale or two.
Bear in mind this is first of all a love story, whose narrative is comprised of letters exchanged at a time when adrenaline ran high... The world was after all in a major conflict!

I will not say there was not a moment or two where I doubted Letters From Skye's plot was wholly believable. I markedly groused at the clock work in their correspondence. In such time of conflict, the post office is not always reliable!
But in the end, my romantic side enjoyed the story for what it was: a celebration of love!

I give it 4 stars!

Note to Readers: I was not asked to review this novel so please bear in mind, this review reflects ONLY my opinion!
2402910
This little love story was a real delight to read! I loved getting to know both of the main characters better, and could empathise with them both with their hopes and fears. It was lovely to get glimpses of favourite characters from previous books in this series too!
920844
Posted originally on my blog: https://thewritersinkwell.wordpress.com/

This was an adorable start to what looks like a fun romantic series. From the beginning, as Erin and Matthew find themselves stranded in a Chicago airport due to snow, I was intrigued by their budding relationship. It didn't matter to me how obvious it was that clearly, Erin, a professional bridesmaid, was going to wind up working the very same wedding that Matthew was so intent on stopping. Why? Because the author did a great job at making these characters likable. Not only that, she was able to establish real chemistry from the beginning. Thats saying a lot from someone like me who is not fond of the whole concept of falling in love at first sight. And what works with this story is, that Im not convinced they instantly fell in love. It was an intense attraction, which given the right circumstances, was allowed to grow into something more.

I only have two real criticisms about the story. One, there were a few moments where it was clear that the chapter wasn't written at the same time of as some of the earlier ones. This is fine, it happens a lot with writing. But it caused a few pieces of information about Erins past and Matthews failed marriage to be displayed as if they were being introduced for the first time, even though it was already explained a few chapters before. Its not a big deal, but sometimes if you keep repeating the same few details, it can become really redundant. Two, is actually that I wanted more. I felt saddened to see so little time was actually dedicated to Matthews plot to sabotage his brothers wedding and for Erin to actually work. This is strictly a personal preference. I just could see in my mind, as I was reading, how it would play out in a movie and there could be some humor/drama to Matthew stirring up trouble and Erin trying to cover it up. But the story wasn't lacking without. I just thought that would have taken it that one step further. Especially since the book is focused so much on their budding relationship and the wedding/Matthews re-connection with his family really seemed to take a backseat, when it could have been brought more into the front and only helped to enhance their story.

But what the heck do I know? Im a cynic at heart and I can tell you one thing, this is a great start to what looks like a very promising series. Its not something I would have picked up off the shelf, because I don't enjoy romance as much as I enjoy other genres. But Im really happy I was given the opportunity to read it and I look forward to reading the next one, later on this week. I recommend this to anyone who likes fast paced, lighthearted romance novels, but also to those like me who may not be the biggest romance lover, but still has a bit of a romantic side left in them.

Reviewer's note: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
3912953
I'm not a fan of insta-love and I love stories that show what happens after the couple ride off into the sunset together, so I really appreciated this one. Cary and Antonio get to know each other a bit before falling in love, and once they do there's still quite a bit of story left to see what their life together looks like. That really worked for me.

The world of classical music and professional musicians was beautifully drawn, making me feel I was right there, living it with Cary. I appreciated the opportunity to be immersed in another world for a while, and to experience Cary's journey along with him. I loved (and ached for) the significance of the title.

I ached for Cary and his belief that his only worth was his musical ability. It was understandable With his family background, but there were also a few moments at the beginning that seemed to contradict that, moments when he'd say or do something suggesting he knew he was worth more than that. That made getting a clear sense of his character a bit tricky at first, but once the story and I got into the groove, all was well.

Cary started out so damaged, and the "meet cute" was when Antonio rescued him from a mugging, so right from the beginning Antonio was clearly the knight in shining armor. I liked him, but I thought he was maybe a little too perfect, with his patience, understanding, awesome family, and so much more. Even though Antonio was arguably less than perfect with his lack of musical or artistic ability, I thought that was part of what made him a good complement to Cary and it helped me better appreciate why he was so drawn to Cary.

There was one thing about Antonio that confused me, a seemingly trivial detail but one that - once mentioned - required an explanation that never came: why was he circumcised? Because it's so unusual for Italians to be cut, and because we were so explicitly told that he was, I expected that we would get an explanation which would offer some new insight into Antonio and/or his family; it never came, so it just endlessly niggled at me.

I also felt like there was some lack of resolution with Cary's brother, who I had hoped and expected to see him visit. Family was such an issue for Cary, and I loved that he got a second chance at understanding both of his parents. It was a big deal for him to finally realize they both loved him, each in their own ways. Some of the storyline with his father felt a little unnecessarily over-dramatic, like a plot device to create tension in his relationship with Antonio. But aside from that, I loved the opportunity it provided for him to heal a bit, and thus make his HEA with Antonio all the more believable.

This was an engrossing story that I was able to enjoy greatly without having read the first in the Blue Notes series. Whether I might have enjoyed it more if I'd read the other first is, of course, impossible to say. But the claim that it stands alone is one I can happily vouch. Recommended.

Note: This review was originally posted at Reviews by Jessewave, where I received the book for free in exchange for an honest review.
3165122
This whole genre of book theme is new for me. I picked this book up because it was highly rated on my of my favorite blog sites, and I've always loved ballet, so I gave it a try. I previously read the 50 Shades trilogy, so I had some exposure to the whole BDSM lifestyle. What I didn't expect was the good story behind the characters in the read; I liked Ashleigh, and truly felt for her struggles with her difficult childhood. Liam was a gentleman and a real sweetheart, although he didn't want to admit it, and Rubio brought in some comic relief and friendly tension. I don't consider myself a prude, but I have to admit that I was a bit taken aback by the whole threesome concept; I don't know if this is a norm in the whole BDSM dynamic, but I can't relate to it at all, yet what only seemed to be bothersome to Liam was the kiss (image that!!). Like I said, I don't have a lot of exposure to this BDSM concept, so maybe my reaction to this element of the "scene" is nave on my part, but I guess to each his own. All that aside, the plot and "love" of the story was intriguing and genuine, and I appreciated the sensitive manner in which the abusive past of these characters was handled. I do think that I will read Rubio's love story, as it will be interesting to see how the author brings his story to life.
326569
Melody Carlson is an author I normally don't read much of. I prefer either historical or mystery but this one looked to good to pass up. And I am glad I requested it! This was a heartwarming romantic story that I enjoyed as a break from my preferred genre.

Anna is a small town girl who had dreams of being management in some fancy posh hotel. But instead she stayed with her grandmother to help out and is now managing this rinky dink motel. When a friend comes back to town and gives her the push she so needed, Anna spreads her wings and takes off to New York City in hopes of being hired at a boutique hotel. What she doesn't expect is the appearance of her childhood crush, Sean. And while things don't go as planned in her job search, she is hired as the head of housekeeping while Sean is hired for the management position, she feels unexpected freedom of doing what she has always dreamed of.

I totally fell in love with Sean and his too big to be true demeanor. Of course, I have always had a soft spot in my heart for Irishmen and though he doesn't have the brogue, I loved him. The only worry I had with this book was that everything in her dreams came true. I am always fearful when a story plays out with everything turning right, the road is nice and easy, etc. It isn't that way in real life after all. Anna really has no hardships and she gets her job, her new life in the big city and a romance to boot. But if I look at it as being fiction, keeping things in perspective, it helps a lot. The characters in this one really drew me and even the secondary people were fun to read about. And seeing New York City through the eyes of the character is fun. I have been there and seen many of the same buildings and tourist attractions that Anna does in the book. Lots of fun to read and a great summer novel!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are 100% mine.
1668229
THE VIP DOUBLES DOWN is pure pleasure to read! Nancy Herkness gives readers a soulful, breathtaking story about love, family, the importance of friendship and the value of trust in a relationship.

Gavin, an author experiencing writer's block, and Allie, a divorced, unemployed physical therapist are drawn together and begin a journey fraught with trials, tribulations, misunderstandings, snark, sass and loads of hot, steamy moments. Gavin and Allie navigate their journey, sometimes on a slippery slope, but manage to withstand the obstacles thrown in their way. Both emerge better and stronger because of the influence of the other.

I enjoyed how the author kept me engaged with the story right to the very end. When the end did come, I experienced a wonderful, satisfying, warm feeling that kept a smile on my face for hours.

Without a doubt, THE VIP DOUBLES DOWN is a captivating story; one readers will be pleased to have in their hands!

Thank you, Nancy Herkness!
426217
The story was very touching. Sometimes it was heartbreaking, but other times I was laughing so hard I was crying. I was thrilled to read a romantic story that wasn't as petty and poorly written as most. I will definitely read more from this author!
3240393
If you're looking for a story that is fun, romantic, and has a lot of heart, this is your book. Dont worry if youve not read the previous books in the series, either. Youll enjoy this one no matter what. It tells its own story, complete with charming characters, settings, and even animals.

I always melt for the stories of best friends who fall in love. I enjoyed how the story showed us a glimpse of our main characters growing up. Their past is really the foundation for their special connection and its interesting to watch these two work through that after several years and tragedies have occurred.

The only thing that saddened me was that I didn't quite bond with Jake and Lyndie as much I expected to. They were likable and I was rooting for them, don't get me wrong. But somewhere along the way, I missed connecting to them on a deeper level. I understood their goals and obstacles on the surface, but I was left wanting a bit more.

With that being said, I appreciated the novels fresh approach. It broke a certain mold, a sort of stereotype, in my eyes. There were issues of infertility. The strong faith of some characters balanced out those who were struggling. And the dating scene and relationships within kept it interesting and unique as well. It felt like real life. You don't always get that in many novels and I appreciated that.

Even though there were some sad and surprising moments, overall it was a lighthearted read for me. This is one author you can always trust to deliver a good story! Readers shouldnt take that for granted. ;) It really is a gift.

Thank you to Bethany House Publishing and the author for providing a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
1228971
I was pleasantly surprised at how good this was! I picked it up ages ago because it was free, and I only just now got around to actually reading it. Thank you for the heartwarming, feel-good romance. :)
2492443
An appealing story of two delightful people who deserved to find love and happiness!  Catherine Bybee has written a charming romance featuring Jessie as a strong single mom sacrificing for her son and sister, who meets sexy as hell Jack who wants to be loved for himself! Not your "formula" rich man, poor woman tale. While we expect a happy ending (in more ways than one), the path is paved with conflicting emotional self-protection and insecurity.
2843075
I must admit, I was a bit turned off at the very beginning by the 'beautiful people' premise.  I don't easily buy into the whole 'oh poor me, I'm so beautiful' argument.  But I'm glad I continued because unlike 'Love at First Flight', I really could believe this story (for the most part).

The book revolves around two love stories and I can't tell you which one I liked more.  I pleasant read with a feel good ending - isn't that what romance books are all about?

Well worth the bargain price.
543649
I enjoyed reading this well written romantic story as it made me feel like I am living its incidents reacting with the characters of the story just if you are in real world or watching a movie. Although I am not a big fan of romantic stories but I though this one deserve a try and I did read it in a day and I loved it and sympathized with the characters Claire and Patrick.
3763485
There are just so many things I love about this story! There were kisses that made me smile, touches that made me tremble, starry nights that gave me goosebumps, and confessions that made me want to weep! From the first page to the last, I was swept up into this delightful, romantic, sexy story, and "Doubt not, my lady, I shall return!" for more of the Castles Ever After series!!

A copy of this story was provided by Avon Books, and in return I gave them an honest review.
551214
It was a wonderful read that was dynamic in offering more layers to the story then a one dimensional love story. As someone who does not frequently read love novels, I found it an easy and pleasurable read that I easily could picture the characters and their surroundings through the vivid and imaginative details!
3754123
I LOVED this story!

It's the perfect short, sweet, romantic story.

The story is well written, with just the right amount of character development, fun, and romance thrown in.
It's easy to relate with the characters and the story, and I appreciate that Lisa handles some deeper issues in a balanced, positive, and realistic way.

I highly recommend this story as a quick, fun, light, romantic, VERY feel-good read...maybe even inspiring. :)
1602755
I flipping loved it.  At first I have to confess that I thought what a bonkers idea it was for a book, but it worked, it really did! It was a cleverly written, very intense love story between Izzy and Ethan with lots of hilarity thrown in right from the start.  Deep down they were two lost souls who were both scared to fall in love but who were desperately in love with each other.  Ethan sounded completely gorgeous and divine! I must remember to ask Amelia who she would cast as Ethan and Izzy.  I have my own ideas but would love to compare!

I took this book with me when I went to the doctors and actually tweeted Amelia from the doctors surgery to tell her about the funny looks I had when I snorted with laughter at one particular point and had to disguise it as part of my lurgy and the reason for me being there in the first place.  The book is full of funny episodes that will have you snorting, hopefully not as embarrassingly as it was for me, and lots of entertaining escapades.  It was positively steamy in parts and thoroughly readable.

There was a very strong family bond which I thought was lovely to see in this book.  A mom who was protecting her sons heart, a love between brothers and all of them putting guilt and hurt they had experienced in the past behind them and building a future.

A completely, entertaining, enjoyable fun read that might just want you finding an Ethan of your own! Not that I did  obviously!