Book Review: Those Summer Nights

Sunshine, soft white sand and a sizzling hot millionaire – you don’t get trouble in paradise, right?

Imogen Charlton is sorted. Dead-beat husband? History. Dream job? Application sent. But then her impulsive brother, Harry, spends every last penny on a Greek restaurant in Corfu, and is determined to run it himself. It’s up to Imogen to bring him to his senses.

When sexy millionaire Panos Dimitriou offers to buy back his family taverna, Imogen wonders if all her prayers have been answered (and all her fantasies about to come true). But Harry won’t budge, and his enthusiasm is infectious.

Bright pink bougainvillea tumbling over whitewashed walls, endless blue skies, the sparkling Mediterranean; it’s hard not to fall for Corfu. And that’s not all Imogen is falling for…

As the sparks of passion fly between Imogen and Panos, is Imogen having second thoughts on selling the restaurant? And will she have to choose between love and a new dream?

Okay, I am trying to write a decent book review without gushing here.

‘Those Summer Nights’ is incredible. My second read by Mandy Baggot and it keeps getting better. I truly enjoyed it from beginning till the end.

Panos and Imogen are wonderful leads. They are realistic like every other character in the book. The sister-brother relation between Imogen and Harry is just so real which I could relate to and Elpida is a hilarious and cunning yiayia . The descriptions are written so well, it feels like you’re really there experiencing everything- Greece, the beach, the community market, the festival, the sizzle between Panos and Imogen, the Greek food. I can go on and on.

It definitely wanted me to go to Corfu.

Let’s not forget the cover. It’s so pretty!

I had been picturing David Gandy as Panos and when Mandy, herself does that TWICE, I couldn’t be happier.

I fell in love with everything in this book. The plot is engaging and lovely. The only thing I was a little disappointed about was the epilogue. I wanted a little more of Imogen and Panos in the epilogue.

This book is going to leave you smiling, laughing and even crying.

I would recommend this to anyone wanting a great summer read. You do not have to be laying on the beach or by the pool. ‘Those Summer Nights’ will make you happy.

4 STARS!

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Shanahan’s Revenge

What happens when you fall in love with your worst enemy?

When the CEO of one of New Zealand’s biggest companies steps down, heir apparent Kate McPherson and Australian outsider Sam Shanahan are left fighting for control of McPherson & Co.

But Sam hasn’t just travelled to New Zealand for business. He’s there to avenge the wrongs done to his mother three decades ago, and he’s determined that no one—especially not his beautiful arch rival—will get in his way.

Poised to take over the company from her father, Kate has fought hard for her success and will do anything to defeat the stranger who’s after her job—no matter how strong the chemistry between them.

Sam and Kate are driven apart by ambition and drawn together by fiery attraction. And between them sizzles a family secret that threatens to blow Kate’s world apart.

(Received this as an ARC from Netgalley and Escape Publishing.)

‘Shanahan’s Revenge’ belongs to feel good romance category.

I love how this book had something new to every new chapter which kept me on the edge till the end. Julie Mac has written it incredibly. The descriptions of nature are so well written you feel like you are actually there. Being only 150 pages, the story goes a little faster. I would have loved to know more of Kate and Sam’s relationship. The chemistry between them was sizzling from the very beginning and a little more depth on the relationship at the end would have been icing on the cake. I felt like the story was a little rushed at the end. I was not really emotionally invested in the book mainly because many things were rushed. A few scenarios could have been described better. The book does make you feel good as business rivals turn into lovers.

3.5 stars for Shanahan’s Revenge.

Book Review: Chained to You (Bounded)

Chained to You, A Dark Billionaires Series, is published in serialized volumes. This is the first volume of Chained to You.

CHAINED TO YOU: BOUNDED
James Maxwell

Dark. Powerful. Dangerous.
James Maxwell is one of the seven billionaire elites who rule Las Vegas City with an iron fist. This is his story.
* * * * *

You’re definitely worth two million, Mia. Think about it. Two million. Five years. Your brother will go free. It’s a contract.

These are the words of the gorgeous billionaire James Maxwell, the man who makes my heart race and my body tremble with longing. I want to refuse his proposal, but how can I? My brother owes him two million, and as dirt poor as we are, there’s no way we can find that much money to repay him. What’s worse, I think I’m falling in love with the man who thinks I’m just his mistress.

My name is Mia Donovan, a twenty-two-year-old, small town girl working as a kitchen hand to make ends meet. My world is changing—both for the better and worse. James Maxwell, a gorgeous billionaire with beautiful Prussian blue eyes, is the man behind this. He makes my heart flutter and my knees weak. When he kisses me, my world melts into a pool of exotic sensation. But his world is dark and dangerous, and being with him is a risk both to my life and my sanity.

This is our story.

*I received this book as an ARC from the author.*

I enjoyed reading ‘Bounded’ for James, sexual tension between the romantic leads, and James’ daughter Aria. The plot and a few characters do not make a lot of sense maybe because this book was the beginning. Mia for a twenty two year old is too childish and naive while James is swoon-worthy and hot. Mia didn’t have an easy life, being bullied and orphaned, she by twenty two should have turned smarter and stronger. Although her determination and love for her younger brother is something that I really liked.

Alexia Praks has done an amazing job in portraying the sexy sensual scenes. The best thing about the book is sparks between Mia and James. I loved the prologue.

This book apparently needs a little editing. There were times when I thought a certain situation could have been explained so much better.

‘Bounded’ was an enthralling read and the end of the story will leave you wanting more.

3.5 stars!

a damaged soul

she was now
a different chapter
with missing words
a different page
with curled corners
a different book
with uneven pages
she was messy
like the ink stains
on a clear blank page
she was broken
her pieces
all over the floor
she wasn’t the wind
but a storm
she could blow you away
or bring you down
with nothing to lose
and nothing to hide
she was called
a damaged soul

Book Review: Me Before You

Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.

What Lou doesn’t know is she’s about to lose her job or that knowing what’s coming is what keeps her sane.

Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he’s going to put a stop to that.

What Will doesn’t know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they’re going to change the other for all time.

Hands down the book was AMAZING.

I had read this book back in 2013 and had same emotions rushing through me. I am moved and I am crying.

There is going to be so much to think about life and love after you finish reading this book.

I am not going to go into the book one because everyone has heard about it already and two because I do not do spoilers.

I watched the movie trailer and immediately went back re-reading this book. I am glad I did. The trailer made me cry so I hope the movie doesn’t disappoint.

There is so much to love in ‘Me Before You.’ Lou and Will are wonderful and you fall in love with them easily. JoJo Moyes breaks your heart, makes you weep and also fixes it back with a cute bandage. The writing is extremely comfortable to read, no medical jargon. Will’s decision was acceptable according to me. Just out yourself in his shoes and you might understand. He would not be able to life a happy life no matter what. I did feel bad on Lou’s love not being enough for him to give a chance to his life.

‘After You’ the second book of the series is out but I have not read it and I do not think I will be reading it anytime soon.

I loved ‘Me Before You’ for how it is. I do not want to untie my emotional knots. I loved it and was completely satisfied with the ending.

Five Sparkling Stars!!

Also, there is a 2010 bollywood movie called Guzaarish which also talks about a man who has a paralyzing spinal-cord injury for 14 years. People who are interested can check it out.

She Changed.

after a thousand sunsets or more

she came back

to seize everything she owned

with a promise to write a story

dark and cold

a story that would

dull the stars and freeze the sun

all of a sudden

she had a new soul

ready to set everyone in flames

and destroy all the happy endings

her heart, full of rage

like the moon she changed

Overwhelm You

It’s one of those times when your feelings overwhelm you and you cry your heart out because you wish you could change a particular moment, the people around you and their thoughts, you realize that maybe washing out our eyes, our hearts is necessary so we could picture our lives clearly, learn the new dimensions and live like no pain, sorrows, negativity, selfishness ever existed.

Not Coming Back

It’s been a while
I remember, everything
strikingly alive
they haven’t faded out yet
they are still like the day they happened
fresh, clear, vivid
it had felt right but not anymore
You ask what happened
I realised, I realised my mistakes
that’s what happened
I was so stupid to trust you
to think that you were right
to believe that everything was going to work out someday
But, everything came crashing down
shattering me to pieces
It only made me feel gulity and wrong
Drowning in my own tears.
nothing else

I know what’s right now
it’s not being with you
because everythin you did has ruined me
I need to be me, I need to be free.

I can’t be manipulated and hypotized by you
You weren’t good enough and at least not for me

So, this is me bidding you goodbye
because being with you has only made me cry

I can’t take it anymore
I have moved on…or trying to
No,I’m not going back
back to hurting myself

back to hurting everyone

back to being helpless

back to being naive
back to being someone I’m not

I’m not coming back and you can’t make me

The Times When…

The times when water drips from your eye
You don’t have any idea why you cry

The times when you don’t know what you are thinking
You and your thoughts are probably shrinking

The times when you realize being hurt, hurts
And all you see are wet tee-shirts.

The times when people leave your side
You so want a place to go and hide

The times when you only see blurred images
And there is wetness all over the pages

The times when you sit down thinking you weren’t good enough
But the truth is all they know is how to bluff

The times when you are unwanted
Your thoughts are nothing but being haunted

The times when you know you aren’t part of the waves
You see how different everyone behaves

The times when you are drowning, nobody ready to lend you a hand
You know your wrist has a worthless friendship band

The times when you want oxygen to leave
Because you don’t find anything to truly believe.

You are terrify…

You are terrifying and strange and beautiful… Something not everyone knows how to love.
-Warsan Shire

To all the girls who think they are different and will find no one who will love them