The Book

Release Date: 25 October 2024

Goodreads Link

My life could have been ripped straight from a Hallmark movie. 

My name is Caroline "Candy" Cane, I own a country inn, date a man who runs a Christmas tree farm, and my mom's peppermint fudge wins first place at the Reindeer Corners' festival every year. Basically, I'm living every romance-loving girlie's small town dream.

Until a last minute trip to New York City leads to catching my boyfriend banging a Rockette (in full elf costume).

So, when I'm offered a chance to star in a hospitality-themed reality show, I jump at the chance to serve hot cocoa in roller skates on national television.

The only problem? The smoking hot, broody, perfectly bossy producer, Leo...

He's everything I've ever wanted in a man, but he's also my new boss and completely off-limits.

And that's before we realize our lives--and our pasts--are more intimately intertwined than we could have imagined.

Do I dare make holiday magic with the one man I now know I should never kiss under the mistletoe?

My Review     5 STARS

**My thanks to the author for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**

This is a great book to get you into the holiday spirit with a woman who lives in Reindeer Falls and who's name is Candy.

Candy runs a holiday inn with her best friend who is more like a sister.

With a case of the grumps stoping her from her usual happy self, her friend sends her to New York, but once there she finds that her boyfriend is not the man she thought he was.

There she meets Leo, a man who lights her up, however his past interlines with hers and he is off limits until both of them realise how they are connected and Leo tells his truths,

These truths free Candy for a while and she agrees to go on his  reality show, but can they keep their hands off each other?

As with all of the authors lighter books there is comedy placed within a pesky but loveable animal, in this case a ginger tom cat.

The book certainly helps with the holiday feeling, a happy ending and you find yourself smiling to yourself whilst laughing out loud at times.

REVIEW - The Ruin of Eros by Maya Gryffin

The Book

Release Date: 7 October 2024

Goodreads Link

The world of the gods is merciless… and so is the world of men.

We grew up with stories of the gods. We know how cruel they can be. But I’ve spent my whole life playing by the rules, trying not to stand out. I know what happened to my mother—standing out was what got her into trouble.

But now, because of the king’s vanity, the goddess Aphrodite is out for blood... mine. Even my father, one of the king's councilors, can’t save me. Nor can my sister, or my fiancé. But I'm determined I will not let them see me tremble, even when the king’s men leave me shackled on the great rock they call Aphrodite’s Pillow.

When I see the shadowed figure emerging from the mist—black cloak, hidden face, a hunter’s stride—I know he must be my executioner. But then, instead of death, the cloaked stranger offers me a bargain. He’ll save my life… in exchange for my freedom.

It's an impossible choice—bind myself to a monster, or suffer divine vengeance. It's a choice with only one answer, if I want to live. But waking in a palace in a new, strange realm, I still wonder if I chose wrong. What is a mortal woman to do in a world where everything has been taken from her? Fight back. And guard her heart. I’ve lost my family, I’ve lost my freedom, and I may yet lose my life. But I will not lose my heart. No matter what it says it wants…

A Beauty and the Beast romance set in the epic world of Greek mythology, The Ruin of Eros is a captivating romantasy must read, with a fantastic storyline full of tension and a strong female character as its heroine. The perfect choice for fans of fantasy romance or books like The Games Gods Play, The Song of Achilles, The Shadow Bound Queen or Lore Olympus!

My Review    5 STARS

**My thanks to the author for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**

This is a brilliantly put together book for those of us that love books with the Gods and other mythological creatures.

Psyche is a very beautiful woman and the youngest of two daughters of her widowed father.  She is good at hunting as her father had her taught well with her studies along with riding a horse and since he is a decorated member of the army knows how to defend herself.

However when the town around her on a festival state that she is so very beautiful, possibly even more beautiful than Aphrodite, not that she wants the acclaim, it causes the goddess to be angered.

This is where the fun starts to happen.  When she is left by the cliffs by the town for tribute, a figure emerges from the dark when the town has left giving her a choice.  Die or go with him with conditions in place.

I loved the world building, the strong characters and the familial ties woven into the story.  Psyche proves to the reader she is a strong character.  She has the chance to escape when her new world cracks, but when she finds out who the man who rescued her is she goes to save him, knowing that her has been captured.  

She overcomes both physical and mental obstacles and he in turn looks after her.

The book finishes with lots of unfinished endings and I really cannot wait to read the next book in the series.  I read this book a while ago and its one of the few books this year that has stayed with me after.