Sophie PembrokeRecensioni

Very good book. Rowan and her sister, Willow, are identical twins. They were modeling sensations when they were younger. Willow still lives the glamorous life of a supermodel, while Rowan walked away several years ago. She now lives quietly in a small Cornish village where she designs clothes. When Willow shows up at Rowan's house asking for a favor, Rowan can't say no. Willow has parted ways with her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Ben, and has discovered she's pregnant. She needs a quiet place to work out what she wants to do and asks Rowan to take her place in the city and pretend to be her. This way, no one knows that Willow is gone.

When Rowan arrives at Willow's apartment in New York, she finds a strange man there, which triggers a panic attack. Eli, who is Ben's brother, helps her through the episode. Eli is surprised by Rowan (who he believes is Willow). She is not what he expected, which creates a conflict within him. He is attracted to her, but she is his brother's ex and, therefore, off-limits.

I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Rowan and Eli. Because Eli had never met Willow, it is easier for Rowan to portray her sister while retaining some of her own personality. I liked Rowan's interest in Eli's charity and how she got involved. Spending time together working on his project brings them closer together, but Rowan feels guilty about not telling him the truth. Meanwhile, Eli senses that she is hiding something. Both have issues stemming from their pasts that affect the way they see themselves and their relationships.

I liked seeing the changes that being together brought about. Rowan looks at her current life and must decide if she has been living the life she wants or has simply been hiding. Eli faces his doubts about his place in the family and his relationship with Ben. I liked the ending and seeing them face their fears. Rowan finds that she is stronger than she thought, and Eli discovers that there is a place for him after all.

I'm looking forward to reading Willow's story. I can't wait to see if Ben redeems himself or remains as big a jerk as he was in this book.

#netgalley

3.5*

3.5*

3.5*

As soon as I saw a dog on the cover of this book, I knew I needed to read it. I adore dogs. And as i have read Sophie's work before, i just knew it would be well written too.
This was a wonderful heartwarming tale of this cheeky little dog, it had my old chuckle muscles working overtime with all of the antics. The Characters in the book are very likeable and all in all this is a lovely Sunday on the Snuggly Sofa kind of book. I adored it.
Thank you to the publishers and netgalley xx

As soon as I saw a dog on the cover of this book, I knew I needed to read it. I adore dogs. And as i have read Sophie's work before, i just knew it would be well written too.
This was a wonderful heartwarming tale of this cheeky little dog, it had my old chuckle muscles working overtime with all of the antics. The Characters in the book are very likeable and all in all this is a lovely Sunday on the Snuggly Sofa kind of book. I adored it.
Thank you to the publishers and netgalley xx

The pretty cover caught
my eye first so Thank you @UKCarina for allowing me to review this gorgeous looking book written by @Sophie_Pembroke, while I loitered over on @NetGalley.

This book had me intrigued as soon as I turned the first page, it was one of those stories where one really didn’t know what would happen. There was humour too, I do love humour. Actually this book had it all.
Romance, Mystery, Intrigue, Family Matters, as I said, it had it all. This book had me transfixed until the very end.
This is a compelling summer read which should be on everyone’s ” to read” list

Una storia carina e pure ben scritta con uno sviluppo anche piuttosto coerente ma che, purtroppo, si perde completamente nella parte conclusiva tanto che questa sembra quasi essere stata scritta da un’altra persona.
Peccato perché date le premesse e lo sviluppo della vicenda mi aspettavo un finale coinvolgente che, invece, è mancata del tutto.

The Kiss Before Midnight by: Sophie Pembroke
FAVORITE NEW AUTHOR. CUTE STORY. Couldn't put it down.

Dory was a fun person to read about. She was in over her head and she never stopped swimming, and she cracked jokes, set boundaries, and kicked ass while she did it.

When Dory's boss Tyler gets exposed as dating a mysterious woman his family wants him to bring that woman home to meet them over Christmas. There's no way he's going to do that so he bribes Dory with a plane ticket home to visit her family if she'll pretend to be his girlfriend. Dory's "what the hell" attitude has her agreeing instantly. Then she meets Tyler's brother Lucas and starts wondering how soon she can break-up with her fake boyfriend and if their parents will think it odd she dated both brothers.

(Provided by publisher)

This is a really cute story about a French bulldog, Claude, who inadvertently gets left behind by the family to which he belongs, as they head off to spend the holidays with grandparents in France. The family does not realize Claude has been left at home until they are on the ferry between England and France. Once this happens, they spend many frantic hours trying to find a way to get back to their house and hopefully be reunited with Claude. Claude, meanwhile, begins an adventure extraordinaire in his own neighborhood, managing to befriend the community people and pets, while bringing home the true meaning and spirit of the holiday season. The book takes the reader through many twist and turns, from Claude’s point of view in most cases, as he tries to figure out what has happened and how to right this grievous wrong while managing to survive on his own. This book is definitely, as one reviewer stated, the stuff that wonderful holiday movies are made of, and I sincerely hope this one ends up a holiday movie soon. There is a little bit of everything in the story for everyone, and will definitely get any reader into a solid holiday spirit. Face it, it is only early October and the temps are hovering around 85 degrees here in Florida, and I am already dreaming of snowy winter scenes the holiday and holiday movies often bring. The characters and writing throughout are very well done and allowed me to escape my busy days to become part of the little community where Claude lives. A secondary romantic plot also only enhanced the reading. This is a great book to curl up with any time, even if not the holiday season. It is definitely one for dog lovers. I highly recommend it. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

This is an enchanting, easy and gentle read. I love stories which revolve around houses, books and family secrets and this one fits the bill exactly in my opinion. There are some great characters and there is a good storyline with a hint of mystery and the supernatural! Although the tale does have a sprinkling of fairy dust, there is quite a serious thread running through the narrative and it also points out that there is sometimes truth behind the fiction.

The Last Days of Summer is an engaging book and one which I very much enjoyed.

Reviewed for Netgalley and the publishers.

"3 out of 5 stars, Helena hopes stepping in as the bride, after her sister takes off, will finally redeem herself in her father eyes to make up for her big mistake. Flynn hopes that this marriage will grow into a lasting relationship while also proving to everyone that he is the right man to take over his family's business. Together they try to come to a mutual understanding and make the most out of their marriage. However, when Helena's past mistake comes to Flynn's attention will everything they've been working toward fall apart, or will it bring them closer?

In truth, I liked the beginning and the ending but everything in the middle was hard to enjoy."

Read more of this review and a TEASER here: http://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2015/04/made-grade-his-very-convenient...

This novel is Pembroke's first Harlequin, after a few romances for a smaller press. It started out promisingly. Lucinda (Luce) is a university lecturer who runs into an old acquaintance from college when she's attending a conference in Chester. The hotel has lost her reservation, but Ben is providentially standing by when it happens. This is providential because Ben's company owns the hotel, and he just happens to be booked into a suite with two bedrooms. He offers, she accepts, and they spend a chaste night together, and he gives Luce a lift to her home in Cardiff the next day. But a snowstorm requires them to divert to Ben's cozy cottage in the Brecon Beacons.

Luce is academic, uptight, and the rock of her family. Ben is carefree, never spends two nights together with a woman, and does his hotel job well but it's just a job. Opposites attract indeed. But Pembroke's writing is smooth and she does the familiar with just enough individual touches to make it a good read.

I was really enjoying this until the last quarter. The academic parts didn't ring quite true, but they were close enough that it wasn't a big deal. Luce and Ben's will-they-won't-they was augmented with plenty of scenes that brought them to life as individuals. I enjoyed when they finally got together (mostly fade to black, since the book is in Harlequin's Sweet line), and I was glad Luce made it home to make a slapdash but well-received Christmas Eve dinner for her family.

And then there was a plot development that made me stop reading. Completely. Luce is a committed researcher. She's good at her job. She's single and always has been. Ben has participated in many a short-term encounter. But we're supposed to believe that not only did Luce not care about contraceptives, she was unfazed by the outcome of not caring.

Not buying it. Not buying it at all. This is 2015. Career women are not stupid about contraception. I don't care if it's a fantasy category romance. That plot point jerked me right out of the fantasy.

I DNF'd at that point. I am so, so annoyed. Reading romance has been touch and go for me lately as it is. Categories are my comfort reads. I guess I should expect this kind of plot twist in a Harlequin, but come ON. Don't give me chapters about how much Luce cares about her book and its subject, to the extent of visiting an important site, and then tell me she's fine with something that completely upends her life. Maybe she works it all out, maybe it gives her a concrete deadline (that's certainly happened). But I just couldn't reconcile the sudden change with what had gone before. I didn't believe it.

*I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Christmas is fast approaching and Molly Mackenzie is short on time to meet all her New Year’s resolutions. Moving to London and getting a 9 to 5 job were relatively easy to achieve, but there is still her last resolution to achieve: to sleep with Jake...

Jake has always been like an older brother, having practically been adopted by Molly’s family when his parents died, until last New Year’s Eve when he suddenly kissed her. And from that moment on, Molly never thought of him as a brother again... And since he’ll also be spending the Holidays at her family’s home in Liverpool, Molly is determined to spend one night with him and getting him off her system once and for all.

When they meet again is obvious the attraction between them is still very strong. But Jake is not easily convinced, because he doesn't want to risk losing the only family he has. And, truth be told, he wanted more than just one night, but he knows Molly’s life is now in London and he doesn't want to be the one responsible for crushing her dreams.

But are those really Molly’s dreams? Or is being with Jake more important than everything else? With Christmas magic and a little help from the family, will Molly be able to finally figure out what she wants for her life and, who knows, maybe make a new New Year’s Eve resolution?

I really liked this story. The characters are fantastic and I love stories with united families. And I like them even better when they take place at Christmas. I don’t think I could have picked a better story to finish the year!

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With her New York dream in tatters Dory faces Christmas alone, enter her boss Tyler who is clearly attracted, not to mention wholly dependent on her. Tyler is a public relations disaster and Dory is the only one who can save him from his mother's wrath. So rather than spending Christmas with her family in England, she finds herself at Tyler's soulless family gathering, where she feels like a specimen under a microscope.
Hardly the stuff of a Christmas romance but against this unlikely setting Dory meets Lucas, Tyler's older, sexier and single brother. There is simmering chemistry between Dory and Lucas but too many secrets threaten their romance. This novella has some key supporting characters, which illustrate the snobbery and prejudice of Tyler's family perfectly. The story has plenty of humour and a lovely romantic ending.

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If you're looking for a romantic Christmas story, 'The Kiss Before Midnight' is a must read. This is the second festive story by Sophie Pembroke that I have read this week and this one is definitely my favourite. Molly and Jake have known each other forever but after last New Year's Eve, Molly can no longer see Jake, only as her older brother's best friend.

Molly is a curious mix of confidence and insecurity. During the Christmas festivities, she questions her motives for leaving the city and job she loves and whether she should pursue her last New Year's resolution.

Jake, is Molly's parents' surrogate son and he is reluctant to jeopardise this by pursuing Molly in the way he would like to. I loved Jake. In many ways he was like a small boy pressing his nose against the window of family life; A voyeur rather than a participant. Gradually he realises these feeling are internal rather than external barriers to his happiness.

The sensual heat between Jake and Molly is warmer than the mulled wine that flows so freely and leads to some humorous moments. When they finally give in to their attraction it leads to more misunderstanding and heartache for the couple.

The romance is sweet and the ending perfectly crafted. The setting is a perfect Christmas, English style, which I enjoyed.

I received a copy of this book from Harper Impulse via NetGalley in return for an honest review

If you are looking for a quick, festive, enjoyable read over the holiday period then this one will tick the boxes. The Kiss Before Christmas was the first book I have read by this author and I really liked her style. I'll definitely be looking at her other books.

Dory was a spunky character, a Brit in New York, working for a douche of a boss, who bribes her with the promise of a ticket home to see her family, if she pretends to be his girlfriend in front of his family for 3 days. When Dory meets Lucas, Tyler's brother, she realises that this plan may not be as easy as she first thought.

Dory was someone you could easily relate to and I admired the way she stood up to Tyler and also how she coped with his parents and their trappings. Lucas was so different from his brother and I really fell for Lucas from the beginning. There was just something about him that made you feel drawn to him. He was easy-going and charming, personable and alluring. I loved how the romance of their relationship developed, a slow burn, smoldering amongst lies and family drama.

Even though this was a short novella, I didn't want to put it down. I found that I easily slotted into the characters story and was able to form opinions about the characters straight away. At no time did I feel rushed and we were given enough about the characters for the story to flow easily and effortlessly. The story was well written and I really liked how the author tied everything up at the end. It was perfect for me and I would love to read a sequel to see where these characters went next. Sometimes novellas can seem like a sampler but I didn't ever get this feeling. I was engaged from start to finish.

copy kindly provided by Netgalley and the publisher

I received Stranded with the Tycoon as part of a Goodreads giveaway.

Due to a scheduling mishap at an academic conference the week before Christmas, historian Luce finds herself literally without a room at the inn. A fortuitous meeting with the hotel's co-owner (who also happens to be the former boyfriend of her college roommate) Ben leads to the offer of his suite for the night. Desperate to get home the following day but hampered by an unexpected snowstorm, Luce convinces Ben to drive her to her home in Cardiff. Mother Nature gets the best of the two, ultimately stranding them at Ben's cottage. There, they begin to reconsider their earlier impressions of one another--Ben as a carefree, careless rich boy and Luce as a buttoned up, cool academic.

When it comes to romance, I usually read historicals, so this was a nice change of pace. The two main characters were well-drawn without resorting to alpha-male/innocent virgin stereotypes and the pacing was good. All in all, an enjoyable plot, very light in terms of explicit sexual content.

The characterization of Luce's family seemed to develop fairly late. You heard a lot about how she was put upon, but without any examples. When you finally "met" them, they were a bit too over-the-top for my taste, seemingly a bit like caricatures. The development of Luce's sister Dolly as a major part of the book at the end also seemed to come out of left field--she was only mentioned by name, no identifying details--in the first 75% of the book.

All in all, I'd probably rate SwtT as a 2.5/5. A nice, sweet holiday romance.