Romance – The Spine View

All That Glitters by John Anthony Miller

Rating: 5 Stars Pub Date: 13-Mar-2023

This WWII thriller, by John Anthony Miller, is an edge of your seat kind of story about a female spy, working for French Intelligence, who is given a near impossible task. I immediately fell into this one and was captivated by the outstanding story telling of the author.

Camille is the heroine of the story. She along with her partner, Roger, in this operation are tasked with stealing industrial grade diamonds from a vault in Belgium. There is one catch, the Germany army has already invaded Belgium and the town in which the vault is located will shortly be overrun by Germans. These diamonds are not only highly valuable, but of the highest importance to the war effort since they are being used for advanced technologies. It will be a race to see who can get there first.

Camille and Roger beat the Germans to the vault, but only barely. They know that the German army is already in the city and hear them getting closer. It will not be long before they reach their location. They work quickly to open the vault and remove the diamonds. As they are making their escape the Germans arrive and Roger is killed. Fortunately, Camille is able to get away with the diamonds; however, her escape car is damaged by the gun fire and she is forced to abandon it along the roadside in a rural part of Belgium.

She must now find another way to get out of Belgium and to England, the final destination of the diamonds. To do so she needs to contact her handler, Nichols, in Paris. Fate seems to be smiling on her when she runs into Dr. Lucien Bouchard, a physician that once saved her life. With his assistance and the help of others in the French Resistance, she heads for Paris where the diamonds will be rerouted to England. However, there are others nefarious players, i. e. the Gestapo and a German spy who is married a high ranking French Official, who also want desperately to have the diamonds.

The plot is full of surprises and unexpected players. In addition, two other things are worth mentioning about the plot. First, is the complexity., There were lots of moving parts and everything had to work just right for Camille to achieve her goal. Also, the romantic development between Camille and Lucien added a lot of depth to the plot, and characters, that made the story realistic which, in turn, caused me to become further invested in the outcome.

Then the danger of what she, and later Lucien, were attempting took my breath away at times. I felt like at any moment some little something, or twist of fate could happen, and all would have been for nothing. This made the tension almost unbearable at times. Whether you call it “nail biting” or an “edge of your seat” suspense, this expertly executed story is one that will stay with me for a long time.

In summary, All That Glitters is much more than your average thriller. It also a story about love and redemption among other things. It will appeal not only to lovers of Thrillers, Historical Fiction, and Romance, but also to a more general audience that enjoys a complex plot and memorable characters. I highly recommend this to everyone.

I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

Last Time We Loved by Christine Miles

Rating: 4 Stars Pub. Date: 28-Sep-2021

There are so many good things about this story, Last Time We Loved by Christine Miles, that stuck with me after I finished reading. Written with great plot tension and solid characters, it is one of my favorite stories in this genre I have read recently. Mostly because the story went well beyond the second chance troupe. Definitely much more than your usual fluffy romance and well worth the reading.

Ten years ago, David’s parents were killed in a tragic car accident that left his younger sister paralyzed and in a wheelchair. At the time, he was in college devoting all his energy to music and his girlfriend, Alyson. He abandoned all of that, including Alyson, and became an architect to be able to support his sister Rebecca.

Alyson has tried to move on since David and has become a successful businesswoman with a florist shop that specializes in weddings and parties. The only man in her life currently is her dog and she likes it that way. That is until David, the only man that ever mattered to her, walks right back into her life.

This is definitely a slow burn story. The tension between David and Alyson was palpable. I get that both David and Alyson were traumatized, in different ways of course, after the accident and while I didn’t always agree with their actions, especially David, I could at least see their side of the story. Therefore, there was a lot of hurt that Alyson had to work through before she could forgive David.

The plot was fast paced and the subplots really helped move things along. I thought the drama about Alyson’s floral business and David’s decision of a career path change added to the story. In real life things don’t happen one at a time. In my experience, changes always seem to come in waves and the fact that multiple things were happening at once gave the story creditability.

I liked all the characters in this story. I had a lot of empathy for them, especially David and Rebecca. The tragedy they suffered was so heart wrenching. The author did an outstanding job showing the reader the emotions of the characters and this added a lot of depth to them. The minor characters, though not as fleshed out, also worked well and were an enhancement to the story. The author put a lot of thought behind the characters and it showed. All the characters had a purpose to the story and it all appeared seamless.

Not only is the book a great second chance story, it is also about being able to forgive and the, sometimes necessary, sacrifices one makes in life and ultimately being true to oneself. I recommend this book to those readers who love a complex and thoughtful second chance story. In addition, this would make a great book club choice because of all the themes this book touches on.

I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

His Christmas Bride by Lara Van Hulzen

His Christmas Bride, by Lara Van Hulzen, is a feel good second chance romance story set in the picturesque town of Marietta, Montana. It has all the necessary ingredients of a magical love story.

Lucas has always loved the town of Marietta and has fond memories of his visits there. He feels it would be the perfect place to get married. He and his fiancée, Vanessa, come back to the town looking for the ideal spot to have a dream wedding. Vanessa finds this ideal setting in the Tanner ranch.

Erin Tanner, and her father, run the ranch. It has not been easy and there are bills piling up and repairs that need to be done. Despite that she has loved Lucas since her teenage years and it is breaking her heart to watch Lucas get married to someone else, Erin puts her feelings aside for the financial benefit of the ranch.

As the wedding plans proceed forward and Lucas has to interact with Erin more and more. He discovers that he has feelings for her. To complicate matters, Vanessa is starting to show another side of herself and Lucas is questioning his choices.

Even though this is the third book in the series, it works well as a stand-alone and I was able to jump right in. The plot was executed nicely and there was enough excitement to keep my interest. I especially liked that the story, while fiction, was totally believable.

Another aspect that made me enjoy this story is the characters. As with the plot, they were believable and well rounded. I was able to quickly identify with the characters, especially Erin, and I became invested in her story and wanted to see everything work out for her.

This is the prefer book for those readers that love a holiday romance with a HEA. It has all the feels and I am hoping to read the other books in this series soon.

I received a free electronic copy in exchange for my honest review.

Not Your Ex’s Hexes by April Asher

There is not much better than a good romance except maybe one involving a witch and Not Your Ex’s Hexes by April Asher was filled with all the witchy goodness I could want. The second book in the Supernatural Singles series, this book was funny, flirty, and oh so good.

Rose is one of the Maxwell triplet witches. She was trained to be the next Prima on the Council until recently when she stepped down. Now trying to find a new life for herself, she runs afoul of Damian Adams, a sexy half-demon veterinarian, when she attempts to steal a horse she thinks is being abused. Her punishment? Community service hours at the aforementioned vet’s animal rescue.

Soon sparks are flying between these two and they agree to be F-buddies. Yeap, friends-with-benefits, no strings attached and no commitment because the hunky half demon vet has been hexed by his Ex. But, as we all know, the heart wants what the heart wants.

This book has a solid plot with a few twists that keep my interest. So good, it only took me a couple of days to read this one. I loved the banter between the two main characters and Rose’s names for Damian, like Mr. McGrumpy Pants, had me laughing out loud. As an animal lover, the fact that part of the story involved animals was an unforeseen bonus.

The character development was solid and I loved learning more about Rose and getting enough of Damian’s history that I understood his actions and why he was a grumpasaurs. Even the minor characters, such as Damian’s brother Julius, were well thought out and added to the story.

The only negative thing is, I have to wait to read the next book! I hope the author does not make me wait long. This was delicious and I need more soon!

I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good romance with a bit more edge to it and it works well as a stand-alone. Also a great choice for that summer vacation reading list.

I received a free copy, via Net Galley, in exchange for my honest review.

The Minister’s Wife by John Anthony Miller

I was first drawn to The Minister’s Wife, by John Anthony Miller, because I was intrigued by the idea of a woman spy during the Revolutionary War. I love books that highlight strong women in unusual circumstances and this book delivered. I need more books like this!

Abigail, the minister’s wife, has just returned to Philadelphia from New York with her new husband. She comes home to find, in her absence, the city has been captured by the English and the redcoats are everywhere she looks.

However, some things have not changed. Ian Blaine, her former lover, still lives in the city and when he is accused of being a traitor to the crown old feelings begin to rise in her. Though he is able to prove he is innocence, the English are watching him closely, especially the English Commander Duncan.

Soon it becomes obvious that Ian still loves Abigail and he just can’t stay away from her. As Abigail is pulled into the web of patriot spies, there are lies and deceit that abound that will threaten both her and Ian.

This story is full of twists and turns you will not see coming. The plot is fast paced and the suspense was almost unbearable at times. I was on the edge of my seat with worry about Ian and Abigail being caught. They took far too many chances, in my opinion, and it made my heart skip a beat every time they took an unnecessary risk. Then the dramatic ending just sealed my love of this story.

Not only did I got caught up in the drama of the story early on, but it was also the character of Abigail that made me really love this book. She was so brave. She knew she was taking big risks; yet, she found the courage to do what she thought was right.

The type of suspense, and the characters, in this book are what I feel makes a good story great. Perfect book for fans of Historical Thrillers. I also think it will appeal to those Romance readers who enjoy a story that is not all fluff and has a bit of bite to it.

I received a free copy in exchange for by honest review.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

This book was a joy to read. The prose was hauntingly eloquent. At its heart, this is a coming-of-age story that will touch you in unexpected ways. Hands down the best book I read so far this year.

For a brief period of time, in their grade school years, Sam and Sadie are best friends. They connect over their love of video games and then have a falling out. Years later, a chance meeting when they are in college reunites them. They, along with Sam’s college roommate, form a software company and a friendship that will be the most rewarding thing and the most hurtful thing in their entire lives.

It has been a long time since a book touched me this deeply. I felt like I was peeling away layer upon layer of text to reach the core of these characters that I fell in love with. This is not one of those books that you can read quickly and then jump right into the next. Definitely no fluff here. The story is subtle and yet also complex. It is life and the characters felt as real as any I have ever encountered.

This is the perfect book for fans of A Gentleman in Moscow and A Man Called Ove. I have already recommended this one to my friends and a highly recommend it to you!

I received a free copy from the published, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

Captive Wilderness by J. E. McDonald

I should have had this book read, and the review written, several months ago. I am trying not to beat myself up because life does sometimes get in the way. The simple fact is the book is so good, I wished I had read it sooner. I ended up reading it in just two sittings. It is everything I love in a paranormal romance and has two great characters that are meant for each other even if they don’t know it yet.

Brooke and her sister are both Bobcat shifter. They have been kidnapped by unknown people, a collar placed on them that they can’t remove, and they can no longer shift into their animal form. When they both regain consciousness, they are on a cargo plane headed to an unknown destination.

While Brooke manages to get free and parashoots to safely, she is forced to leave her sister behind. Landing in a remote wilderness, Brooke stumbles across a primitive cabin that is inhabited by Kane, a mute bear shifter. Brooke wants nothing more than to leave and find out where her sister was taken and rescue her. However, without the ability to shift, she will never be able to survive in the wild in her human form. The only way out is the next supply plane, which will not arrive for another two weeks.

It will be a long two weeks before she can start looking for her sister. Unfortunately, her abductors are not about to lose their prize. Will the growing connection between her and Kane end up being a good thing or a determent to them both?

I enjoyed the plot, nothing overly new, but there were a few new ways of looking at shifters that I thought brought some new life to the plot. I especially liked the setting and the descriptive prose that I felt was better than most books in this genre. In addition, the character development was really good. I especially liked that we got a fair amount of backstory on both Kane and Brooke. I really connected with the characters and wanted everything to work in their favor.

I know this type of book is fluff; but it is great fluff. Highly entertaining! If you love paranormal romance with a good side of steaminess, this is the book to read.

I received a free copy, via Library Thing’s early reviewer program, in exchange for my honest review.

Christmas Collusion by K. L. McLoughlin

After an overload of Christmas themed books during the holidays, I put this book off way too long. When I finally did pick it up, I wished I had read it sooner because it has great characters and a plot I enjoyed.

There are two stories here that merge and become entwined. First, we have Greg and Patty who meet in a coffee shop by accident… literally. The accident occurring when Patty bumps into Greg and spills her coffee on him. They get to talking and Greg asks her if she would go on a fake date because he needs to appease his meddling daughter Mandy.

Second, we have Justin and Mandy (the meddling daughter). Justin is the new person at the office and Mandy feels a strong attraction to him. It turns out that Justin is none other than Patty’s nephew. What are the chances! But there is more going here and as the relationships get more involved and these four people’s lives become more entwined there is more than just hurt feelings at steak. There are some miscommunications and other twists that happen that make this story interesting (sorry no spoilers). And as you can imagine, with the way these four get tangled up together, some humorous moments.

As I stated at the beginning, I think the characters are well done. I liked how the author presented them as sincere but fallible. We all are guilty of jumping to conclusions and the author used this to great advantage in the story, especially with Mandy. I kind of felt sorry for her. I couldn’t help but laugh at her. Not a mean laugh, but one that says I get it, I have been in your shoes before.

The plot was good. Believable, which always is a plus for me with fiction. Then there is just the right amount of suspense to keep you interested in the outcome. As the reader, and therefore being in the know, yet having to wait see how everything worked out when all the cards where on the table was half the fun of this book.

This is actually book one of a new series and I am looking forward to reading more from this author. I can easily recommend this to Romance readers and Contemporary Fiction readers. There is more than just a Christmas story here and this book would make the perfect beach read.

I received a free copy from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Impossible Us by Sarah Lotz

If you are tired of the same old drab Rom-Com stories, be sure to check out The Impossible Us by Sarah Lotz. It is quirky, fun and a breath of fresh air in a tried-and-true genre.

Neither Nick nor Bee considers themselves good at relationships. Bee was involved in a disastrous relationship years ago and now prefers only one-night stands. However, recently that also has not been the best experience and she is thinking that it is time to swear off men altogether. Then there is Nick, the self-proclaimed failed writer who appears stuck in a marriage that is unfulfilling and disappointing for both himself and his wife.

Then it all changes when a misdirected email sent by Nick ends up in Bee’s Inbox. They start a lively back and forth banter that they both look forward to because they know they will never have to meet. However, they did not plan for the ease in which they can “talk”. It is like they have known each other all their lives and they just get each other. Maybe they are the perfect match.

Putting their doubts aside, they decide to meet at the train station. Call it a twist of fate but they never meet up because it is “impossible”. IKR!?! How can it be impossible??? I hate spoilers and I refuse to do them. Therefore, you will need to read the book to find out the impossible. BTW, don’t read the book blurb because that has the spoiler I am trying to avoid.

Obviously, I loved the originality of the story. Just when I thought there could be nothing all that new and fresh in this genre, someone comes along and just blows it out of the water. For this reason alone, you should read this book!

Another reason to read this book is the great characters. They were both so very imperfect, yet that endeared them to me. Yeap, I totally fell in love with them and wanted everything to work out. So much so, that I kept imagining ways that their relationship would work.

Throw in a fast-moving plot and a few twists and you have the reasons for my five-star rating. This story took me be surprise, not only in the inventiveness, but in the quality of plot and character development. I need to add this author to my must-read list.

I loved this book and am looking forward to reading more by this author. Great pick for Rom-Com and Contemporary Fiction readers. Be sure to check out this little gem!

I received a free copy from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review. For more of my reviews, and author interviews, see my book blog at www.TheSpineView.com.

Immortal Rising by Lynsay Sands

Being book #35 in the Argeneau series, by Lindsay Sands, you can imagine how popular the author’s books are. This is Stephanie and Thorne’s story. Both of these characters have appeared in earlier books, and it is nice to finally get them together as the stars of their own story.

Stephanie was introduced as a teenager early on in the series. Now she is an adult and living the life of a recluse because she has the unique ability to hear other people’s thoughts. While that is good when hunting rogues, the crush of so many thoughts can be unbearable at times. Thus, her necessary rural and reclusive life that helps keep the noise to a minimum.

Thorne, also introduced in earlier books, is the result of genetic experiments conducted by his father Dr. Dressler. He is a mix of human and various animal DNA. As a result, he has wings and is not entirely mortal. Currently he is in Canada and staying at the compound that also contains Stephanie’s home while he awaits the possible removal of his wings.

When Thorne and Stephanie meet there is an instant attraction. When by chance their skin grazes the others, they both feel the electricity between them. Stephanie knows this can only be one thing, Thorne is her life mate. But will Thorne want her when he finds out her past and what will happen when Dressler comes looking for them both.

This book just further proves that this series is my go-to for vampire goodness. Enjoyed every moment of this story. I like how diverse Sands characters are and her imagination seems to know no bounds. She manages to keep delivering great story after great story and somehow keeps them fresh and exciting even after all this time.

Another thing I like about these books is that there is always some kind of tension and/or drama to keep the reader interested and invested in the outcome. The character development is good, and I was especially drawn to these two characters. I think it is because both of these characters have been through so much already and yet they still retain a positive outlook on life. Therefore, I really wanted them to have their happy ending.

I have read most of the books in this series and this one is in the top 5 for me. If you haven’t read any of these books, I strongly urge you to read this one or any of the others in the series for that matter. Sands always gives you enough background to read each book as a stand-alone.

I received a free copy, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.