Tag Archives: Contemporary

Christmas in Silver Springs by Brenda Novak

January 1, 2021Book ReviewBrenda Novak, Christmas, Contemporary, Contemporary romanceskyebjenner

Christmas in Silver Springs : Silver Springs - Brenda Novak

Title: Christmas in Silver Springs
Author: Brenda Novak
Series: Silver Springs #6
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Dates read: 15th December 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Mira
Year: 2019
5th sentence, 74th page: Why wash silverware?

Come home to Silver Springs for the holidays, where broken hearts learn to love again…together.

So much for forever. When Harper Devlin’s rocks tar husband ditches her on his way to the top, she takes her two daughters to her sister’s place in Silver Springs for the holidays, hoping family can heal her broken heart. But comfort comes in unexpected places when she crosses paths with local Tobias Richardson.

The moment Tobias spots Harper, he recognizes a sadness he knows all too well. After spending thirteen years in prison paying for his regretful past, Tobias is ready to make amends, and maybe helping Harper is the way to do it. But offering her a shoulder to cry on ignites a powerful attraction and a desire neither saw coming.

Fearing her reaction, Tobias doesn’t reveal his checkered past. He’s falling hard, and if Harper finds out, he’ll lose her for good, especially because her famous ex is now trying to win her back. Secrets have a way of coming out, but maybe this Christmas will bring Tobias the forgiveness – and the love he deserves.

Over December, I have been in a bit of a reading slump. And completely uninterested in Christmas if I’m being honest. So it felt right to just pick up a Christmas romance and try to sink into the festive season and out of my reading slump. I didn’t quite get all that festive after reading this, but I most certainly left my reading slump behind. It was just a brilliant, light, easy and fun read.

Harper has such a sad backstory. I can’t imagine putting your everything into a person, into their life, just to be told one day to pack your bags. And the fact that you then try to keep things together for your two children… from the very first moment, my heart definitely reached out to her. Everything about Harper, in fact had you feeling love, sympathy and a certain level of pride and acknowledgement.

Partner Harper with Tobias, and this was a perfect recipe for a great romance. After all, he’s not quite the typical male lead, so you get a few unexpected twists and turns with him. And, like Harper, he has a bit of a tragic backstory going on. One that makes you hope against hope that they find their happily ever after. And every time it feels like its going to be taken away… well, yeah. My heart most definitely skipped a beat and thrust up into my throat.

Christmas in Silver Springs is a great, wonderful and seriously fun little romance. Not only does it take place around Christmas, but it is just… fun. The exact story I needed to get me feeling a little less like a grinch, and to pull me out of the reading slump I found myself in.

<- Unforgettable You

A California Christmas ->

Image source: Booktopia

Begin, End, Begin edited by Danielle Binks

December 29, 2020Book ReviewAlice Pung, Amie Kaufman, Australian Authors, Begin End Begin, Contemporary, Danielle Binks, Ellie Marney, Gabrielle Tozer, Jaclyn Moriarty, Lili Wilkinson, Melissa Keil, Michael Pryor, Short Story Collections, Will Kostakis, Young Adultskyebjenner

Image result for begin, end, begin book cover

Title: Begin, End, Begin
Author: Danielle Binks, Amie Kaufman, Will Kostakis, Alice Pung, Michael Pryor, Melissa Keil, Ellie Marney, Lili Wilkinson, Gabrielle Tozer & Jaclyn Moriarty
In: Begin, End, Begin (Danielle Binks)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Contemporary, Short story collections, Young adult
Dates read: 30th June – 26th November 2020
Pace: Slow
Format: Anthology
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Year: 2017
5th sentence, 74th page: I couldn’t imagine what they’d think of Diamond Rose Fashions.

Bestsellers. Award-winners. Superstars. This anthology has them all.

With brilliantly entertaining short stories from beloved young adult authors Amie Kaufman, Melissa Keil, Will Kostakis, Ellie Marney, Jaclyn Moriarty, Michael Pryor, Alice Pung, Gabrielle Tozer, Lili Wilkinson and Danielle Binks, this all-new collection will show the world eactly how much there is to love about Aussie YA.

This is a fantastic collection, one that I wish was around when I was finishing high school. It’s all about those moments on the cusp of adulthood when the world is stretched before you and you’re suddenly responsible for yourself. It’s kind of a huge, pivotal point in someone’s life, so a collection on this was completely fantastic. And although I’m not exactly that young anymore, this was still a great journey that reminded me of the decisions we make in life.

I love that #LoveOzYA has come up with a collection of Aussie YA authors. This, and Kindred have introduced me to so many new and wonderful authors to fill my shelves with. Something that I’m always looking for. And the fact that they’re homegrown and often write about the areas that I’m more familiar with? It’s very, very much appreciated. I hope that they come out with a new collection soon!

I didn’t know any of the authors in this collection, other than Melissa Keil when I bought it. Now I have a handful of amazing new Australian authors to add to my wish list. Some that will challenge me, some to enthral, and some just to leave a giant smile on my face.

<- Competition Entry #349

One Small Step… –>

Image source: Harper Collins Australia

Competition Entry #349 by Jaclyn Moriarty

December 28, 2020Book ReviewAustralian Authors, Begin End Begin, Contemporary, Jaclyn Moriarty, Young Adultskyebjenner

Title: Competition Entry #349
Author: Jaclyn Moriarty
In: Begin, End, Begin (Danielle Binks)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Contemporary, Young adult
Dates read: 26th November 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Year: 2017
5th sentence, 74th page: Well done, she said to me.

It’s a competition to win five time travel trips of ten minutes each. Explain why you should win in 25 words or less…

This is an incredibly meandering and very funny short story. It honestly sounds exactly like a teenager refusing to get to the point and basically telling their life story. Actually, it reminded me a lot of my sister when she was a preteen… she’d start the story at a. Then take about a thousand detours and end up at 10. I was never entirely sure where we were going with a story, or what the point was, but it was always fun.

The format for Competition Entry #349 was completely unique. I have never read a story that is supposed to be a competition entry. It was kind of amazing how Moriarty managed to tell a whole story in a piece that was a competition entry. She got so much history and detail into just a few short pages. You also got to know the character very well in an incredibly short space of time.

Just thinking about this story, the day after I read it to write this review has left a huge smile on my face. It was so light, funny and just downright cute. I am completely intrigued to see if I can find anymore books / stories by Jaclyn Moriarty now…

<- Last Night at the Mount Solemn Observatory

Begin, End, Begin ->

Image source: Harper Collins Australia

Last Night at the Mount Solemn Observatory by Danielle Binks

December 23, 2020Book ReviewAustralian Authors, Begin End Begin, Contemporary, Danielle Binks, Young Adultskyebjenner

Title: Last Night at the Mount Solemn Observatory
Author: Danielle Binks
In: Begin, End, Begin (Danielle Binks)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Contemporary, Young adult
Dates read: 22nd November 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Year: 2017
5th sentence, 74th page: Tonight is no different; Em’s legs are in Adelaide’s lap and she’s sitting up to talk to her, their faces so close together that Ravi has to lean round the back to hear, one hand on Em’s shoulder for balance.

It’s her big brothers last night in town, and she doesn’t know when he’ll be back. Sometimes it’s important to say goodbye.

As an older sister, I’ve never considered what it was like for my younger sister when I left home. And I didn’t move that far away. This was a great story that actually made me stop and think about what that moment was like for her. I can’t imagine that it would have been easy, and I almost wish we had’ve done something special together in that last night that we lived together.

Last Night at the Mount Solemn Observatory sparked all kinds of nostalgia for me. It was a great ode to sibling relationships and the love you can feel for people. It was also a fantastic way to highlight the feeling of loss, but empowerment when you finally leave the place that you know is pulling you down. It’s most definitely a difficult feeling. But it’s also one that we must all go through.

Lastly, the thing that I probably loved most about this story was that it featured someone who has a disability. In the case of this tale, the older brother is deaf. I would personally love to learn Australian Sign Language and this was really a reminder why. It’s always great when a story, any kind of story, features somebody from a diverse background.

<- The Feeling From Over Here

Competition Entry #349 ->

Image source: Harper Collins Australia

The Feeling From Over Here by Gabrielle Tozer

December 20, 2020Book ReviewAustralian Authors, Begin End Begin, Contemporary, Gabrielle Tozer, Young Adultskyebjenner

Title: The Feeling From Over Here
Author: Gabrielle Tozer
In: Begin, End, Begin (Danielle Binks)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Contemporary, Young adult
Dates read: 18th November 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Year: 2017
5th sentence, 74th page: That night he’d drafted a text, scribbled a letter, started Facebook message, but he didn’t follow through with any of them.

Lucy Faris is stuck on a bus to Melbourne. Which would be bad enough, if it wasn’t for the fact that the boy she thought she liked, and then decided she hated didn’t just get on and sit down next to her…

This short story has an amazing pace to it. It’s not necessarily quick, and it’s most certainly not all that typical. But it worked. I love that each little segment was split into the time at which it happened. Sometimes large gaps of time, sometimes smaller. It was an absolute pleasure to proceed through this journey, one step at a time.

I love that Lucy is a completely kick ass year twelve. She has definitely got a bit of attitude, and plenty of gumption to herself. She’s fun and a little bit quirky. The messages that she is constantly sending to her friends just help to top off her great characterization. Then, flipping her point of view with Cam’s to show why he has acted in certain ways… well, it helped me to bond with both characters in a very short amount of time.

I imagine that a year from the ending of this story, Lucy and Cam totally got together. And had some kind of happily ever after. Because I’m a sap who totally believes in love stories.

<- Oona Underground

Last Night at the Mount Solemn Observatory ->

Image source: Harper Collins Australia

More Than Words: Volume 6 by Joan Johnston, Robyn Carr, Christina Skye, Rochelle Alers & Maureen Child

December 16, 2020Book ReviewChristina Skye, Contemporary, Contemporary romance, Joan Johnston, Maureen Child, More Than Words Volume Six, Robyn Carr, Rochelle Alers, Short Story Collectionsskyebjenner

More Than Words, Volume 6 (Virgin River, #10.1) by Joan Johnston

Title: More Than Words: Volume 6
Author: Joan Johnston, Robyn Carr, Christina Skye, Rochelle Alers & Maureen Child
In: More Than Words: Volume 6 (Joan Johnston, Robyn Carr, Christina Skye, Rochelle Alers & Maureen Child)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance, Short story collections
Dates read: 22nd October – 14th November 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Anthology
Publisher: Harlequin
Year: 2010
5th sentence, 74th page: “That’s why I thought of you.”

Presenting… the sixth annual More Than Words anthology

Five bestselling authors
Five real-life heroines

Little by little, one person at a time, we can make our world a better place. The five dedicated women selected as this year’s recipients of Harlequin’s More Than Words award have done just that, by discovering a seed of compassion, and nurturing it to effect real change in their communities. To celebrate their accomplishments, five bestselling authors have honored the winners by writing short stories inspired by these real-life heroines.

We hope More Than Words inspires you to look into your heart and find the heroine who lives within.

I bought this anthology with no idea what to expect. I only knew that there was a Virgin River novella in it somewhere. And now I want to get my hands on all of the More Than Words books that I can find. I love that not only are they gorgeous little romances. But they also incorporate charities and amazing activities which are run by some incredibly awe-inspiring women. What a fantastic collection!

I found the idea of creating an anthology around five charities and women who have created them to be seriously unique. And brilliant. Hence, the fact that I want to buy the rest of these books. I mean, how cool is it that this book not only is an amazingly fun and beautiful read, but also a way to promote some great causes. It also manages to place a face to those who would most benefit from funding going to such charities.

This was a fantastic collection that not only had me feeling happy and all dopey and lovey (which is honestly why I read romances), but also hopeful about the world. After all, every one of these stories had a happily ever after. And the horrible things in the world aren’t necessarily always horrible. Or at least, in these hopeful stories, there are still happily ever afters…

<- The Princess Shoes

Almost Lost ->

Image source: Goodreads

Oona Underground by Lili Wilkinson

December 16, 2020Book ReviewAustralian Authors, Begin End Begin, Contemporary, LGBTQI, Lili Wilkinsonskyebjenner

Title: Oona Underground
Author: Lili Wilkinson
In: Begin, End, Begin (Danielle Binks)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Contemporary, LGBTQI
Dates read: 14th November 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Year: 2017
5th sentence, 74th page: I desperately want to know what Oona is thinking, how she feels about what happened.

She’ll follow Oona anywhere. Including underground to the Witch’s Ball and the answers that they may or may not find there.

What a cute, adorable and beautiful love story. Two girls who are best friends and both want something more, journeying to a Witch to find out their fate. It’s a little teenager-y and in some moments, frustrating. But it’s also really well written and interesting. Plus, it’s incredibly sweet and left me with a happy, content smile on my lips after I turned the final page.

I honestly don’t know if I could love like the girl who follows Oona in this story. I mean, I feel like I would follow my SO anywhere, but I really can’t guarantee that that would be the case. And it’s a depth of faith and commitment that just seems unfathomable. A terrifying depth of faith and commitment that I just can’t quite fathom…

This whole short story felt very fae and dreamlike. It had this incredibly ethereal quality that left me drifting along with the words. Content and happy to experience Oona Underground.

<- Missing Persons

The Feeling From Over Here ->

Image source: Harper Collins Australia

The Princess Shoes by Maureen Child

December 14, 2020Book ReviewContemporary, Contemporary romance, Maureen Child, More Than Words Volume Sixskyebjenner

Title: The Princess Shoes
Author: Maureen Child
In: More Than Words: Volume 6 (Joan Johnston, Robyn Carr, Christina Skye, Rochelle Alers & Maureen Child)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Dates read: 14th November 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Publisher: Harlequin
Year: 2010
5th sentence, 74th page: The organization’s story started with another little boy at a school in Pomona, California, found crying on the playground and saying his feet hurt.

USA Today bestselling author Maureen Child reminds us of the happiness and purpose that even a youngster can find by putting her best foot forward in a story inspired by Roni Lomeli, Executive Director of Shoes That Fit.

This story did a great job of highlighting how big a difference a pair of shoes can make in someone’s life. It’s cute and sweet, beautiful and just a little bit heart-wrenching. I was lucky – and this novella really reminded me of all of the things in my life that I am lucky for. Add to that the fact that there is a romance in this story and just a whole heap of sweetness…

This probably wasn’t my favourite novella in the collection. Yet, it was probably featuring one of my favourite charities / causes. Whilst they’re all good, I love the simplicity and strength that giving a child a new pair of shoes can provide. I think that I didn’t enjoy it quite as much simply because the romance was not quite as intense and didn’t draw me in as much as the others did. It was still a brilliant novella. Just not one that had me thinking about it for long afterwards.

This was a wonderful novella. Not only did it show how important it can be for children to feel comfortable and hopeful for the future. It also featured a man who had experienced the foster system himself. It was a reminder that sometimes the smallest act can have the greatest impact. And it was a wonderful, positive note upon which to end this collection.

<- No Limits

More Than Words: Volume 6 ->

Image source: Goodreads

No Limits by Rochelle Alers

December 9, 2020Book ReviewContemporary, Contemporary romance, More Than Words Volume Six, Rochelle Alersskyebjenner

Title: No Limits
Author: Rochelle Alers
In: More Than Words: Volume 6 (Joan Johnston, Robyn Carr, Christina Skye, Rochelle Alers & Maureen Child)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Dates read: 10th November 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Publisher: Harlequin
Year: 2010
5th sentence, 74th page: “What’s the matter?”

National bestselling author Rochelle Alers demonstrates that passion and the courage to step outside the box can accomplish the impossible for under-resourced students on Chicago’s south side in her tribute to Lara Tavares, founder of Sky’s the Limit.

I loved this novella. But I seriously, deeply, truly can’t imagine the trauma of losing a child. And to read a novella that is both a romance, and a beacon of hope for a charity, but also about recovering from that loss. It was pretty powerful. Yet even though it deals with something that is really sad, depressing and dark. It also has this wonderful sense of hope.

Something about this story, about starting a non-profit in which disadvantaged teens are able to get computers, makes me want to start my own non-profit. I’m not ever going to be able to. I get way too easily distracted. But, still, this story shows how such amazing charities are begun. And it is seriously inspiring and wonderful.

The fact that this is ultimately a reconciliation story helps to make everything about this even more… heart warming and beautiful. Finding a way past the past is probably one of the most difficult things I think anyone has to do. I love this story. It goes from strength to strength. And I would most definitely read this again and again.

<– Safely Home

The Princess Shoes ->

Image source: Goodreads

Missing Persons by Ellie Marney

December 9, 2020Book ReviewAustralian Authors, Begin End Begin, Contemporary, Ellie Marney, Young Adultskyebjenner

Title: Missing Persons
Author: Ellie Marney
In: Begin, End, Begin (Danielle Binks)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Contemporary, Young adult
Dates read: 9th November 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Year: 2017
5th sentence, 74th page: ‘I don’t think you should – ‘

Rachel is about to start high school in Melbourne, the Big Smoke, for the first time. It’s very different from the rolling plains and open spaces of her family’s farm. It’ll take a little bit of getting used to…

I can completely, totally, and utterly understand the feeling of not quite fitting into a city. That hatred of living in an area where you struggle to see the wide, open skies. I know it’s why I chose to live in the country as soon as I was able to realistically do so. Although, to be fair, my version of country is nowhere near as open as Rachel’s.

This is a typical fish-out-of-water story. But it’s also a great coming of age tale. After all, Rachel is not only trying to figure out how to fit in with a whole new, terrifying world, but she’s also a teenager who has a whole slew of other issues to contend with. And I love that the Mad Scientist, Mycroft, seems to be the main person who is likely to help her do so. He’s completely off kilter and odd. The perfect person to help you try to figure out your way in a new world.

Although Rachel feels like a “missing person” in this story and still hasn’t quite come to terms with her new life, there is still a ray of hope at the end. This feeling that things will all turn out for the best, and eventually Rachel will find her own place in this new world she’s been thrust into.

<- Sundays

Oona Underground ->

Image source: Harper Collins Australia

Earth and Skye

The ramblings of a bibliophile.

Tag Archives: Contemporary

Christmas in Silver Springs by Brenda Novak

Begin, End, Begin edited by Danielle Binks

Competition Entry #349 by Jaclyn Moriarty

Last Night at the Mount Solemn Observatory by Danielle Binks

The Feeling From Over Here by Gabrielle Tozer

More Than Words: Volume 6 by Joan Johnston, Robyn Carr, Christina Skye, Rochelle Alers & Maureen Child

Oona Underground by Lili Wilkinson

The Princess Shoes by Maureen Child

No Limits by Rochelle Alers

Missing Persons by Ellie Marney