Sophie Kinsella is a wonderfully talented author who has written some of the wittiest and most enjoyable books in contemporary romance today like her widely acclaimed “Shopaholic” series. This book is a standalone featuring Sylvie and Dan who have been together for ten years. They take a trip to the doctor and are told they they are so healthy that they could live to be very old and that would mean being married to each other for another 68 plus years! Dan and Sylvie freak out at the thought of being married that long. (Didn’t care for this plot line) Sylvie is afraid that Dan will want out of the marriage so she decides that they should implement “surprises” into their relationship! There are also a menagerie of likable characters in the story like Sylvie’s best friend, Tilda and her son, Toby. Sylvie’s mother was also a character but I really didn’t connect with her as she seemed to be out-of-touch and someone that I would never really care to be around. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE Sophie Kinsella’s books, this just was not one of my favorites. It was enjoyable but I really wanted more of her older style of stories like The Undomestic Goddess and Shopaholic books. I give this book 3.5 stars but still enjoyed reading it.

Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella will be available February 13, 2018 by The Dial Press, an imprint of Random House Publishing Group-Random House. An egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

This novella is the beginning of the new series, Alphaville. The genre of this book and series is paranormal shape-shifter romance. Dr. Annie Cryer (who is a wolf shifter) is a famous doctor who does research in shape-shifter genetics. She has been called to the town of Alphaville, Washington to help the bear shifters with a problem that may cause their extinction. She meets Jonas Browning who is a brown bear shifter and immediately sparks fly! I’ve got to stop here to explain that what I find so interesting in Christine Warren’s book is the in-depth thoughts and personality makeup of the shifters. She describes each shifter’s thoughts and feelings that have to do with the animal clan that they belong to. I really enjoyed these descriptions and actually was fascinated to read them. I never was “into” paranormal books but have found that these paranormal romance books are pretty good!

Something to Howl About by Christine Warren will be available by Swerve, an imprint of St. Martin’s Press. An egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

Quirky but beautifully-written, literary love story of Simi, Nirvaan & Zayaan, the Awesome Threesome who have been inseparable friends since they were teenagers. They have always shared mutual love and admiration throughout their lives. Now we find the threesome at thirty, together again in a strange situation. Simi and Nirvaan are married and Nirvaan is dying of cancer. He has decided to have Zayaan come to live with them so that they can enjoy the time that he has left. Nirvaan has definite plans and one of them is to get Simi and Zayaan together after he is gone. This is a well-written, heart-wrenching novel that is emotionally charged from beginning to end. Highly recommended !

My Last Love Story by Falguni Kothari will be available January 23, 2018 from Graydon House, an imprint of Harlequin-Graydon House Books. An egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

Scotland Street in Edinburgh, Scotland is a lovely place for all. If you visit number 44, you might meet Stuart and Irene Pollock with their children Bertie, the boy-genius, and Ulysses, the younger son. Perhaps you may even see Angus and his dog or Matthew and his wife,Elpsbeth, with their triplet toddlers! Don’t forget about Pat who works in Matthew’s art gallery. She desperately wants a man, but not just any man, she wants her ex, Bruce. You know Bruce, that brash, narcissistic man who thinks that is every woman’s dream!
You’ll get a glimpse into the lives of quite a few “characters ” in this delightful book. It is a virtual feast of Alexander McCall Smith’s witty prose that is so precisely constructed with insight on human nature that the reader marvels on the dialogue and descriptions that are usually in one’s mind and almost never spoken or written. Alexander McCall Smith is one of my favorite authors and I highly recommend this book and any of his others.

A Time of Love and Tartan: A 44 Scotland Street Novel by Alexander McCall Smith will be available February 6, 2018 from Anchor, an imprint of Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. An egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

Catherine Davenport is rescued by Rian Connor when she is found injured and dazed on the London docks. Catherine cannot recall who she is or anything that has happened to her. Rian takes her under his wing and lets her recuperate at this home. Liam, Rian’s brother, is about to be married to the lovely Felicity and they both help in Catherine’s recuperation. Isabel Howard, Rian’s past paramour, enters the picture and tries to come between Catherine and her protector. An ok read. Too slow and tedious!

Resolve by Carla Susan Smith will be available January 30, 2018 from Lyrical Press, an imprint of Kensington Books. An egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

Scotland Street in Edinburgh, Scotland is a lovely place for all. If you visit number 44, you might meet Stuart and Irene Pollock with their children Bertie, the boy-genius, and Ulysses, the younger son. Perhaps you may even see Angus and his dog or Matthew and his wife,Elpsbeth, with their triplet toddlers! Don’t forget about Pat who works in Matthew’s art gallery. She desperately wants a man, but not just any man, she wants her ex, Bruce. You know Bruce, that brash, narcissistic man who thinks that is every woman’s dream!
You’ll get a glimpse into the lives of quite a few “characters ” in this delightful book. It is a virtual feast of Alexander McCall Smith’s witty prose that is so precisely constructed with insight on human nature that the reader marvels on the dialogue and descriptions that are usually in one’s mind and almost never spoken or written. Alexander McCall Smith is one of my favorite authors and I highly recommend this book and any of his others.

A Time of Love and Tartan: A 44 Scotland Street Novel by Alexander McCall Smith will be available February 6, 2018 from Anchor, an imprint of Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. An egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

In 1861, Valentine March met the most notorious rake in all of England, Tristin Sinclair, Viscount St. Ashton. Valentine was a simple lady’s companion and heard nothing but terrible rumors about the handsome Tristin. Valentine is fired from her job and Tristin has just found out that his father will cut off his funds unless he settles down and moves to his country home. After the two meet, sparks are immediate as the two contemplate their futures. Good story but I did get a little bored in parts as their relationship got pushed aside for other story lines.

The Viscount and The Vicar’s Daughter by Mimi Matthews will be available January 23, 2018 from Perfectly Proper Press. An egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.