NetGalley Reviewer nix21230

Title: Build Back Better - The First 100 Days of the Biden Administration, and Beyond Author: Kelly Hyman An interesting brief insight into the first 100 days of the Biden administration.  Kelly Hyman is a former actress and attorney who is often seen in American media in the role of political commentator and strategist.  The books starts with a short summary of Hyman's background to, I'm guessing, set the scene for the information and political outlook presented in the book.  The next 40 pages include a short summary of promises made by the Biden team on the campaign trail. This is followed by Hyman's narrative around a selected number of policy areas, including Covid-19, infrastructure and the economy, healthcare, environment, foreign policy, immigration, gun safety, equity for everyone, democracy, liberty and justice. Each section is divided into the promises made for that policy area, followed by the accomplishments and next steps. After these dives into the various k...

This is not your typical quilting club! Title: The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club Author: Wanda E Brunstetter Quick and easy read with some heartwarming sections; all in all a feel-good, easy read. Emma (an Amish widow) decides to start a quilting club to earn some extra money to support herself, rather than getting re-married or relying on her children to take care of her.   Joining her quilt club is an unlikely mixture of people from outside the Amish community; young Star is holding a grudge against her mother at the same time as trying to cope with her beloved grandma’s recent passing; on the surface Ruby Lee is well put together but underneath not everything is as it seems; Pam and Stuart have been married for a while but has started to grow apart; biker Jan is covered in tattoos and on parole from prison when his parole officer suggests he tries something creative; finally we have Paul who is trying to build a life after his wife passed away and left him with the...

Title: Looking for the Durrells  Author: Melanie Hewitt People focused, inspiring and uplifting expose of Corfu through the eyes of Penny, a solo traveller inspired by the stories written by Gerald and Margaret Durrell*, and turned into a TV series by ITV.  Despair, hope and happiness lovely intermingle in this exquisite tale of the places mentioned in the original books written by the Durrells, bringing them and Corfu to life in an amazing story where it feels like one ought to look up and be right with Penny, Tess, Theo, Guy and the other strong characters portrayed in the book, rather than at home in a drab Blighty. Spurred on by the death of her father and a broken engagement, Penny sets off to Corfu with her sketch pad and a lonely heart. During her stay, and with the help of the people she meets and gets inspired by, she slowly finds joy in her life again.  An excellent read to allow us to dream of foreign holidays, soul searching, friendships and a relaxed lifestyl...

Title: You're Kind of a Big Deal: Level Up by Unlocking Your Audacity  Author: Erin King  This is a pep-talk book extra-extraordinaire with über enthusiastic coach Erin King. Mixing humour and real-life examples she's on a mission getting women to unlock their audacity and take their rightful place in today's (still) male dominated world.    Quote from the book: "This book is about preparing, evaluating, and daring to make the decision to turn up your volume, your truth, your bravery, your conviction, your drive, or whatever it is you need in that moment." The book is full of little nuggets of wisdom to help women be more sure of themselves, take more space, go for what they want. Instead of being beautiful, kind and compassionate (the top three positive traits for women according to a study cited by King) they should be allowed to be a leader, ambitious and strong, just like the top traits for a man in the same study.  Some of Erin King's crackin...

Title: The Sewing Machine  Author: Natalie Fergie Linked by a sewing machine we meet the three main characters Jean, Connie and Fred in this sweet Scottish story mixing some historic facts with family life, romance and kindness.  Jean's story takes place at the beginning of the last century when she's one of the pioneer strikers working at the Singer factory in Clydebank. Connie is an amazing seamstress with a very large heart living in Edinburgh at the middle of the century.  Finally, we have Fred's side of the story which takes place just a few years ago.  Taken together the various stories create a beautiful tale spun around an old, still working, sewing machine.  Get your copy from Amazon - LINK TO BUY

Title: Bound (#1 in Blood Brothers) Author:  Samantha Wilde Samatha Wilde (Keith) has skilfully created a combined mafia, enemies to lovers, and romantic thriller with her amazing writing, great pace, lots of suspense and scorching hot chemistry.  Alexis Ivanov is on a quest to take out the Lionsgate Kinship, the organisation responsible for starting a fire to wipe out her whole family. To succeed she needs to find a ledger which is kept by Nash Holmes.  Nash is one of the enforcers of the Lionsgate Kinship and one of the most dangerous men in the country. He has the ledger safely locked away, or so he thought.  Nash was adopted by Conrad, the head of the organisation, and he has always looked up to him as a fair and measured father figure.  After having been duped and roofied by Alexis, Nash is now struggling with what seems to be rather solid facts that Conrad's business has a well-kept darker, secret side. This title will be available on 14 July 2021. I'm loo...

Sometimes the only way to find your strength is to see how much you can surrender Title: Fearless (Black Brothers  Book 1)  Author: Brynley Blake (Bush) This book will suck you in; strong characters and a strong storyline that's easy to identify with. Recommend for mature readers only due to sexual (BDSM) content.  Emmaline is a divorcee with a child and what seems like a rather useless ex. In the story, Blake is showing Emmaline as a very strong woman who's had enough of pleasing everyone else. The new her is going for FEARLESS. When accepting a job to write the memoirs of the renowned Dr Black (senior), she gets Dr Black Junior, or Beckett as part of the deal. Although perhaps Beckett was the deal and the father's memoirs just a bonus? Anyway, Beckett is the ultimate alpha, with strands of BDSM added to the storyline, but always in a 'soft way', where he lets Emmaline set the pace.  As one reader put it: "forget the Fifty Shades and Crossfire series, this is ...

Title: Fail To Fight (Unrequited Love Series Book 1) Author: Maci Dillon A fast-paced, gripping and thoroughly amazing second chance romance with lots of emotions; be prepared to be laughing out loud and some ugly crying too.  Chloe and Will were destined to live happily ever after until Will knocked her right out, sending her to hospital. A two year restraining order prohibits Will from making contact with Chloe. They both get on with their lives and on the surface everything seems to be fine, but the reality is different. As so many times in life, communication is key and ten years later they finally have their chance to talk... ... and some steamy sex. Book two in the series will be published at the end of July.   PS. Please note that this full length book is being released on 16 June 2021, but it was originally published as a novella in 2016. It has been extended to a full length novel with a new HEA.  Book 1: Fail to Fight - Link to Amazon Book 2: Fail to Love -...

Title: The Guesthouse at Lobster Bay Author: Annie Robertson Great pace, loveable characters and a few twists; a perfect, happy and romantic read for the summer (and any other time!).  A bomb going off in London is the wake-up call Emma has been waiting for. She reevaluates her life and spring into action. Handing in her notice by email and buying a large house without seeing it, may not be the most thought through decisions she's ever made, but Emma is soooo ready for her next adventure.  Arriving in Lobster Bay Emma takes in the new scenery, the locals and her new home. She's in for quite a few surprises! Not being a local, she doesn't always have the full picture and misunderstandings happen.  The book has a happy ending with no cliffhanger, but as the characters are so well developed there is plenty more to look forward to and the second book in the series, Christmas at Lobster Bay , is scheduled to be published at the end of October 2021; an early Christmas present....

Title: Imperfect - Unwavering Love Series Author: Ari Reavis Available 5 July 2021 - click to pre-order now   A beautiful stand-alone love story offering so much more than the usual boy meets girl, falls in love and live happily ever after. The synopsis published online for this book is a great teaser, but the story offers so much more. Reavis is skilfully mixing love, suspense and criminal injustice. The characters, especially Damir and Mariah, but also Damir's parents, Mariah's brother and Terry the lawyer, are well developed and I was cheering for them all, whilst at the same time hoping Miller and Higgins would rot in jail. I am looking forward to the next book in the Unwavering Love series.  #Imperfect #NetGalley

Title: Female preferred  Author: Monty C Floyd A room mates to lovers story, with a temptation in the shape of the 'most eligible bachelor in town' and some friends thrown in.  The story is created around Brigette who needs to find a room mate after her boyfriend leaves her for someone else and Connor who finds out that the woman he thought he had a long distance relationship with is no longer interested in him hence he can not move in with her when arriving in New York City. Floyd has created some great characters and it's an enjoyable enough romance story, but it could have been so much better if he had allowed them all to shine. I hope the author is working on some new books to create the stories from the perspectives of Broderick, Tory, Kristie, Richard, Lynn, Thomas, Marc and Elliot. Amazon - Goodreads #FemalePreferred #NetGalley

Raw and powerful language to ensure we never forget the horrors endured by so many Title: The Seamstress: A Memoir of Survival   Author: Sara Tuvel Bernstein Not the easiest book to read, but necessary.  Never forget!

Title: Become Inspired : Next Steps : A Simple but Powerful Guide to Shifting Your Mindset, Sparking Inspiration, and Reaching your Goals in Only 11 Weeks By: Jay Styles In my view, this is an entry-level book for those looking to become inspired and develop habits to ensure a fulfilling life.  Styles has an easy-going way of sharing his own setbacks and challenges, as well as those of his guests in the Become Inspired series on Amazon Prime.  The hands-on exercises, provided at the end of each chapter, are clear and easy to follow.  Short and sweet book providing a great introduction. Available to pre-order on Amazon now; release date is 9 August 2021 - LINK TO ORDER #becomeinspiredyournextsteps #netgalley

Title: Play for me - book 1 in the Balefire series Author: Tam DeRudder Jackson I thoroughly enjoyed reading this second chance romance with a rockstar theme and I'm thrilled that book 2 in the series is due out in the next few months. Only child Clio has been a disappointment to her controlling parents ever since she was born a girl. When she starts dating and going to the prom with Jack, who according to her parents Meredith and Harrison have got the wrong surname and heritage, they quickly step in to put an end to the relationship. Harrison tricks Jack into signing a contract to go on tour with a rock band which in the small print stipulates that he must immediately sever all ties with Clio or risk the success of Jack's father's construction business. Clio and Jack are both struggling emotionally during the years that follow; but as in all good romance stories there is a happy ending; after quite a few twists and turns.  #PlayForMe #NetGalley

Title: An Italian Affair ( link to Amazon ) Author: Evie Baxter This is Italy in a pre-Covid world, with dark handsome men, family bonds and intrigues, amazing food and a non-touristy side to Venice - Baxter has created a lovely story building on her previous experience working onboard cruise ships.    Ella thought she had found a perfect man in Alex, her Staff Captain onboard the cruise ship where she's working as a Shore Excursion Manager, but her hopes are scattered when he returns from his holiday with a fiancée in tow! Somehow he 'forgot' to mention that he was already in a relationship when he was pursuing Ella whilst at sea. Sandro is enjoying a quiet meal in his hometown Venice when he spots a lovely woman eating alone. The attraction is immediate and strong, but he's preoccupied with planning how he can sort out the mess his father has dumped in his lap, and does not approach her. ' An Italian affair ' is the third book by Evie Baxter. Previous books in...

Title: Sugar baby ( link to Amazon ) Author: Evie Baxter She's done it again! Baxter's second book is as charming and lovely as her first ( review here ). Surviving lockdown with no financial help from any of the many furlough schemes, Sam is forced to find another way of covering her costs. Bored and feeling lonely during the many days of working from home, Ryan is looking for some company, someone to distract him from work. With trepidation and some desperation Sam creates a profile to try to find a Sugar Daddy; for Ryan to find her profile and send her a message. A real feel-good story, set in the weird 2020 when travel restrictions, and home working became the norm.