Liz Davies

Honestly, I was all on board with this one. From the beginning with the wobbly bit discussion straight through to the oh-so-good-despite-the-circumstances ending, Candice and I were like THAT. No, I'm not her age, which for some people really jangles their bells especially in Chick-Lit type novels, but you can't tell me there's not a woman out there that hasn't had self-doubt, a passing curiosity about WHAT IF, the desire for reinvention, and the unexpected discovery of love when it was least expected. They are LIFE concepts, and the fact that our book loving leading lady has had some life experience under her belt, only made the happiness she found in everything "new" that much sweeter...at least for this reader.

So yes, I was rooting for Candice all the way as she was bolstered by the new attention, found her way through the makeover jungle, and welcomed the changes in her life that SHE wanted for herself, and no one else. When love seemed to be on the table again, my heart sang for her, or rather them...and when grasses were no longer viewed as green enough, I couldn't help myself from humming the old school En Vogue song "Never Gonna Get It" WITH RELISH! There's happiness and sadness, times of triumph and confusion, but you know what...that's life...and Candice does a rather fine job of finding not only her own way through it, but herself, once again.


**ebook received for review; opinions are my own… (altro)

The story is split between two viewpoints...that of Esther, and that of Kit. Honestly, I was SO MUCH closer with Esther's story, I was having a very hard time initially connecting with Kit. I think because his chapters were so few and far between with seemingly no connection to Esther at all...at least, until there was a tenuous thread spun, a tiny seed of potential planted, and the rains of change started pouring down making what lay mostly dormant, truly blossom. Now don't go getting all googoo eyed and sighing because there are more chances to laugh, more chances to feel bad for, and more chances to cross your fingers at, than there are moments to swoon. After all, Esther is dealing with the a**hat ex boyfriend, or rather NOT dealing with him and yet refuses to fully cut the connection, and Kit has his own set of issues he's dealing with, so no one is really in a place to seek true romance...at least yet...and as the heart wants what it wants, eventually they just might make it to the same place at the same time emotionally AND physically.

So, in short, an interesting novel with heart that has a meet cute you definitely haven't seen, and a HEA that may seem a step off center, but totally works. It will also seriously have you wondering just what "big brother"-esque avenues you travel in your daily life...but I mean, really...if that's all someone has to look forward to in their daily life, though not inviting the attention, I suppose I feel sorrier for them than anything else. The message...love waits for no one, nor does life, so get out there and live it!


**ebook received for review; opinions are my own… (altro)

Honestly, I wasn't sure if I was going to be fully on board with this one at the start. I seemed as though it was simply going through the motions of what one might think pregnancy is versus the reality of it all and not having been there done that, I felt a little outside the learning curve. However, once the story line took a bigger curve than her baby bump, once a potential love twist was introduced, once her plans swerved like the tides of her mood swings, and her hormones caught up to her new found obstacles, I was back in the passenger seat and enjoying the ride. It was great to see a character wanting to take the reins on her journey, unafraid to face it head on by herself (though she did have help from some unexpected places). It was heart warming to see a male lead not shy away from the entire situation (including the actual midwife crisis!), letting love's potential guide him come what may. I laughed with them. I felt their sadness and confusion. I even felt the joy Cynthia experiences when she REALLY comes to terms with her new situation.

In the end, it was a tender journey taken by a worldly woman on a mission...who discovers that just because you CAN do it alone, doesn't mean you have to, and that some of the BEST things in life come as TOTAL SURPRISES!


**ebook received for review; opinions are my own… (altro)

It was actually quite unusual, at least according to my own reading history, because the leading character we're living through...is a man! Okay, so I guess now that I think about it I've read quite a few Contemporary Romances or Romantic Comedies that guide us through the story from a male viewpoint, but it's also usually balanced out by a woman's perspective with alternating chapters. Here, it's just you and Theo...but you know what? It TOTALLY works!

He's a rather self deprecating gentleman who doesn't have all that much experience with the ladies, isn't NOT content with his life (exactly), both loves and loathes his job (Maths teacher), and was SO the last person you'd ever expect to be a dog owner. So when Poppy is quite literally dropped into his arms, you could only cringe at the potential disaster about to unfold. The thing is...Poppy isn't just a cute little ball of fur. She's a learning moment, a loving moment, a reminder that there are other things in life besides obligations, and beauty to be found in even the smallest things. Of course, she IS a puppy, so she's also a great reminder of how to clean the floor (and often), dinner should be served at a table (preferably not pupper height), play time is not something that can be done without (unless you want a wide awake pup at midnight), and the learning curve between new unexpected friend and beloved companion...but hey, they bring so much joy into our lives, what's a little inconvenience now and then? That's exactly what Theo is about to find out and then some...

I loved how the author wrote the lead character. I love that he was unusual and against the grain without it being a show or to make a point. He was funny and fun, but always himself, even in his most awkward moments. It was great fun watching him fall in love and all the antics described regarding Poppy are totally relateable for dog owners. I can't tell you the number of times I knew what was coming because, yeah, I'm a dog owner, so been there, done that, but it was heart warming, charming, and smile inducing. In the end, his journey may not have taken years, but he made great strides in his life and in love, and I couldn't have been happier to be there for every step.


**ecopy received for review; opinions are my own… (altro)