Beneath The Pepper Tree

Beneath The Pepper Tree

Belle Hamilton #3

Michelle Montebello



Reviewed by Helen

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series the three books are all real page turners, fast paced, moving the emotion flows off the pages and Belle is such a fabulous character with all that she has been through she gets her HEA and so beautifully, but of course not without some more adventure in this book, I had a fabulous trip to Tuscany and can highly recommend it.

Belle and Andre are living in the farmhouse in country Tuscany these days and planning their wedding but Belle has been through a tough time and still feels the need to stay away from big crowds after Paris, while spending time in the yard she notices the big pepper tree is not growing like it should and while digging discovers a box buried below the roots, this box opens up a Pandora’s box filled with mystery and Belle is determined to get to the bottom of it.

This box is linked to the disappearance of a child thirty five years ago at the medieval spring fair and it is just about time for the fair again, Belle does a lot of investigating with Riley’s help, along the way there are new friends to be made and suspects to investigate, all the time she should be doing things for her wedding. This does not sit well with Andre who worries so much about her, but as we have come to learn Belle can be stubborn and determined.

This is a beautifully written story one that will pull you in from the start, solving the mystery opens up a lot of pain for some people and this causes more worry, but this book finishes this series off so beautifully, this series is one that I highly recommend to anyone who loves a good story that has characters that come to life on the pages, fabulous settings that take the reader away and a book that will leave the reader very happy at the end. Thank MS Montebello for another fantastic story I loved it and this is one that will stay with me for a long time to come and I look forward to many mores books. 

5/5 stars for a fabulous story

Published June 2018

Holly's Heart

Holly's Heart

Outback Brides #4

Fiona McArthur



Reviewed by Helen

Firstly can I say how awesome this series is, I am loving these stories and this one is so very moving and heart-warming beautifully written, a heart that needs some mending and love and the perfect hero to do that and of course we are back in the town of Wirralong with all of the friends that we have made, this is another story that I just inhaled and it left me feeling so very good.

Holly Peterson grew up in Wirralong and always wanted to be a doctor she worked hard and got there then moved away to Sydney but has just lost her sister and is now mother to her six year old twin nephews and is not coping with working in the busy ER department of a hospital, the time has come for her to move back home and re-open her sister’s coffee shop in the now busy town and who should also have moved back to Wirralong none other than Dr Ben Brieley the boy she never forgot from school.

Ben has decided that it is time to move back home and open up a doctor’s office, the town has grown a lot since Wirra Station became a top wedding venue, and his grandmother is not getting any younger and the family farm Brieley Park needs some work to get it back to what it was. Ben is overjoyed that the girl that had meant so much to him in school has also moved back to town but given up being a doctor and he is determined to help her in any way he can and win her love.

This one is so very romantic and moving Holly is beautiful and so very caring but is also suffering after what she has been through, she loves her nephews Tom and Pat and is concentrating on making their world a better place, in walks Ben who goes out of his way to make her life happy and fill it with love and that spark that has been there since they were in school even though they spent years apart is still there now, more so. You are not going to want to miss this fabulous story so many beautiful emotions, such a beautiful romance in a fabulous setting thank you MS McArthur for sigh worthy story to melt my heart. I do hope there will be more books in this series because Serenity needs her story too 

5/5 stars for a fabulous story

Expected publication: July 12th 2018 by Tule Publishing

Elsa's Stand

Elsa's Stand

Outback Brides #3

Cathryn Hein



Reviewed by Helen

OMG this is such an awesome story, MS Hein has bought every emotion there is out in this one, it sparkles with love and caring and strength, it is one that I just literally inhaled and savoured, I am loving this series. My visit back to Wirralong brings us Elsa’s HEA with the gorgeous opal miner Jack Hargraves who has arrived back in the town he grew up and never felt at home in for his mother’s funeral, but a meeting at the local hairdressers with Elsa the best hairdresser in town and all round fabulous woman is about to turn his life upside down, sit back and enjoy this ride.

Jack has never felt comfortable in Wirralong and inherited his mother’s prospecting genes and took off as soon as he could for Lightning Ridge and opal mining, he is a loner and keeps to himself doesn’t see his father or brother much or keep in touch with them but he does with his mother eccentric Kate who is still living on the family farm trying to find her sapphires, Jack is devastated when her learns of her death and makes I home just in time for the funeral, but being a mess he first goes to the hairdresser for a haircut, where he meets Elsa and this first meeting is amazing.

Elsa has been working hard getting her hair salon off the ground and with the weddings being held at Wirra Station things are moving well, but when the gorgeous giant of a man walks into her hair salon caring Elsa picks up on his pain and allows him to cut his own hair, this starts a sensual pull that Elsa will not give up on no matter what anyone in the town says or Jack either and her sheer determination had me cheering her on as Jack does what he thinks his right for Elsa.

There were tears, there was laughter, and there were sighs and such joy reading this one, I loved Jack and Elsa and their very sensual journey to such a fabulous HEA, yes there were a few hurdles to jump over along the way, but that is happens when true love runs deep and Elsa what a heroine the strength that she shows to get her man and Jack the strong silent hero and when he walks back into that salon wow awesome, I highly recommend this story, and I am loving this series can’t wait for the next one. Thank you MS Hein for such an awesome story.

5/5 stars for a fabulous story

Expected publication: July 9th 2018 by Tule Publishing

Best man and the Runaway Bride

Best man and the Runaway Bride

Kandy Shepherd



Reviewed by Helen

MS Shepherd’s stories just get better with every book she writes, I have truly loved every one of them, they are moving, emotional and so very sensual and heart-warming and this one is of the charts fantastic. The setting is just amazing and the hero and heroine are just the best and so deserve each other, sit back and enjoy this one you are not going to want to put it down.

Nikki Lucas is all set to marry the man she loves, she is a very successful business woman, but she so very badly wants a family and is having a lovely society wedding, well she was until the last minute and she discovers some things about her fiancé that are not very good, and she needs to get away and fast in steps the best man Max Conway shocked as he is he gets her away and the media takes over with some not very flattering headlines. Nikki escapes and lies low for six months on the beautiful Island of Nusa Lembongan in Indonesia.

Max Conway is a top tennis player, but after an injury he has some decisions to make, but when a friend asks him to be his best man he is happy to step up, never realizing that he will end up helping the bride make a daring escape and that this will be the start of big changes in his life. Of course the drama of the best man helping the bride runaway brings the media down on his back again, him and the media do not get on well they have caused a lot of problems in his career.

I loved this story from page one, I felt so apart of the story and the amazing setting and fabulous characters, MS Shepherd brings to life her heroes and heroines, that you feel their happiness and of course their pain because true love never runs smoothly. When Max and Nikki meet up on the island unexpectedly the attraction is instant but they both are so afraid of media that it takes them a bit before they give into that very sensual pull and after a few ups and downs they have such a beautiful HEA, this one left me sighing and very happy it is such a delightful story. Thank you MS Shepherd for another keeper don’t miss this one, it is a must read.

5/5 stars for a fabulous story

Expected publication: July 3rd 2018 by Harlequin LP Romance

Belle's Secret

Belle's Secret

Outback Brides #2

Victoria Purman



Reviewed by Helen

I am loving this series, this is the second one and we have already met Isabella, Isabella is the marriage celebrant and is now working and living at Wirra Station, but she has a secret that she has kept for one year and now after marrying a couple that secret maybe about to come to life in the form of Harry Harrison gorgeous American a guest at the wedding, love at first sight, Vegas, a runaway bride and true love, a sensual pull that cannot be denied, this is a must read.

Isabella Martenson is an only child her mother flitted from one relationship to another, and eventually Isabella went out on her own in Melbourne met Maggie her best friend and is now doing wedding ceremonies on Wirra Station, but after a trip to Vegas one year before she has become the runaway bride meeting Harry in a bar was love at first sight but Bella is scared and runs before morning leaving Harry in the lurch. Her life is turned upside down but she gets on with it until Harry turns up at a wedding.

Harry Harrison winemaker from California meets the beautiful Bella in a bar in Vegas and he ends up marrying her in an Elvis wedding he has never felt so close and attracted to a woman before not only do they get on so well the sensual pull is amazing and the sex the best of his life, but morning she is gone with no clues to who she is, until he runs into her at a wedding, fate maybe and he wants a divorce, or does he.

MS Purman has ticked all of the boxes for this story wow it is so good, fabulous characters, so much emotion, a sensual pull that is off the charts as these two pulled back together as they should be, I mean who can fight love at first sight like this. I loved it. I am loving this town Wiralong and the people in it, I highly recommend this story and am really looking forward to the next one in the series woohoo.

5/5 stars for a fabulous story

Published June 25th 2018 by Tule Publishing

Maggie's Run

Maggie's Run

Outback Brides #1

Kelly Hunter



Reviewed by Helen

This is such a great story, a fabulous start to a series and MS Hunter you rock, I loved Maggie and Max, this story is filled with witty banter, humour and heart felt love and honesty. The setting country Victoria, a sheep station and a journey to the most beautiful HEA makes this a story that is not to be missed.

Maggie Walker has arrived back at Wirra Station after the death of her great Aunt Carmel although this has not felt like home to Maggie, it was while she wasn’t at boarding school after the tragic death of her parents in a car accident when she was eleven years old, she was never close to her Aunt and the station is in a bit of disrepair, this visit brings her back in contact with Max the person she will always feel a closeness to even if she finds it hard to be open about.

Max O’Connor the successful sheep-farmer and neighbour to Wirra Station but the man who will do anything to help Maggie, yes he wants the acres from Wirra and to restore it to its former glory but he also wants Maggie to stay and be happy and he will do what he can to make this happen, but he must tread carefully.

I truly loved Maggie and Max, both so strong and caring but with what had happened years before there was a lot that needed to be said, but the magical pull between them could not be denied, this is a beautifully written story, romantic, heart-warming, fantastic and so very sensual. The journey to love and happiness and bringing Wirra back to life and discovering secrets about the past, is one that I would highly recommend, it has left this reader so very delighted, I want to move to Wirra Station with Max . I look forward to the other books in this series.

5/5 stars for a fabulous story

Published 21st  June 2018

Tempted by the Brooding Surgeon

Tempted by the Brooding Surgeon

Robin Gianna



Reviewed by Helen

This is such a great story moving, fabulous setting, two caring loving Doctors always thinking of other people but often hurting themselves, but now it is time to be happy in love as well as what they do for so many people. Get yourself comfortable because once you pick this one up you are not going to want to put it down.

Annabelle Richards grew up in such horrid poverty but she wanted so much to be a Doctor and with the help of someone she did that and is now working hard as an anaesthesiologist travelling to Lima Peru to do mission work using her own time and making a difference, she has plans to help more poverty stricken people, giving back what was given to her. On this trip though she runs into another Doctor who has hurt her before and may do so this time if she can’t keep her feelings under control.

Daniel Ferrera is a cardiac surgeon and a good one, he chose this line of work for reasons that still have a way to cause pain and he has health issues that he keeps to himself finding love is not on the cards for him short affairs yes but nothing permanent, but when he meets Annabelle in the mission hospital sparks fly he is not happy that she is there as his anaesthesiologist having worked with her before. But when Daniel finds more out about her feelings change and the pull he has always had for her sparks up.

A sensual affair starts between the two of them but as Annabelle learns about Daniel’s past and his reasons for brooding she falls deeply for him and as for Daniel he cannot help but fall for the caring hard working Annabelle but can he afford to hurt her again? I loved this story MS Gianna has opened up the emotions of these characters so beautifully and taken me on a journey that is heart-warming, moving and left me feeling so delighted, thank you MS Gianna for another fabulous story this is one that I highly recommend.

5/5 stars for a fabulous story
Published April 17th 2018 by Harlequin Medical Romance Large Print

Beyond Today

Beyond Today

L Simpson



Reviewed by Helen

s is the first book I have read from this author and I do look forward to more, this one at the beginning had me a bit confused with all of the characters, but not for long and then I fell into it and didn’t want to put it down the hero and heroine were bought to life on the pages they are so real and MS Simpson has a fabulous voice for bringing the emotions out in her characters, throw in a nasty family and this is one that I definitely recommend.

Howard is tall gorgeous and rich and he is going to be best man at his best friend Dave’s wedding, but he keeps to himself and keeps a lot of secrets he really is damaged goods so to speak and having relationships is not easy for him, but then he meets his partner for the wedding Hannah and he feels a pull that he has never had before, but will he ever be able to be with someone like Hannah? He has a lot to overcome first.

Hannah has been hurt and burnt by her ex and is no way looking for a man but when she meets the best man Howard at her best friend Molly’s wedding well those thoughts might just be going out the window with the hot sensual pull she feels at their first meeting which is very foot in mouth, this meeting may just bring about a bit of a fling. Can Hannah dig deeper and see the real Howard?

I loved Howard he has been so abused throughout life but could still be so caring to others and Hannah wow what a caring loving heroine and fun, and yes she got to see the real Howard and why he was the way he is and to see them finally come together was just so beautiful, but of course there is often problems with true love and that would be Howards nasty family, but seeing Hannah stand up to them had me cheering her and Howard on. Love and caring bought them together in a very steamy, sensual and moving story to such a fabulous HEA woohoo go Howard and Hannah. Thank you MS Simpson for a great story I do hope that we get to see Annie and the lumberjack’s story.

4/5 stars for a great story

Published November 29th 2017

The Sweetest Secret

The Sweetest Secret

Brothers of the Vine #2

Jacquie Underdown



Reviewed by Helen

I have really been looking forward to this story since the first one in the series just about blew me away with the emotional journey between Tom and Amy, so this had to do the same and my verdict it did most defiantly, this reader has been left very, very happy after an emotional roller coaster ride, a journey of hurts and secrets of learning and love and opening up, don’t miss this one, these Matthews men are to die for.

Ellie has arrived in the beautiful country town Alpine Ridge to start a new life a talented florist who has a special bond with flowers but seems to always pick the wrong man in her life, she has travelled for nearly a year and now it is time to settle down. Opening her own shop is hard work for Ellie and meeting Amy the owner of the cupcake shop next door brings her also to meet Sam Matthews and she is left speechless at their first meeting but a business arrangement with flowers starts but it also starts a sensual relationship, but will it ever come to a HEA? They both have a lot to overcome.

Sam Matthews is part of the family that runs the vineyard in Alpine Ridge, he is kind of a loner, after having a relationship that burned him very badly he now is the love em and leave guy, he works hard on the vineyard and he also grows flowers in his glasshouse special flowers that mean a lot to him, he also has a lot of emotional issues that he keeps to himself, but when he meets the new florist Ellie sparks fly, he has never felt this way before but he is unsure of their future.

This story is beautiful there are so many emotional problems from both Sam and Ellie from their pasts it can be hard to think of them both making it through to a HEA their journey is a very rocky one, sensual one minute and too much thinking the next that cause them to hurt each other throw in some vandalism that is worrying and then a huge secret that rocks Sam to his foundations. The tears flowed a few times through this story being back in Alpine Ridge with Mitch and Sophie, and Tom and Amy was fabulous but to see Sam finally open up and ask for help and Ellie wow what a strong heroine, yes I loved this as much as the first one and now bring on Mitch’s story woohoo. Thank you MS Underwood I am taking a deep breathe another emotional, gorgeous story one that I highly recommend. I love that you have taken on issues that are a part of life and done so well with them.

5/5 stars for a fabulous story

Published June 4th 2018 by Escape Publishing

Inherited for the Royal Bed

Inherited for the Royal bed

Annie West

Reviewed by Helen

MS West really knows how to bring the sizzle and sensual pull out with the wonderful words she writes, this story again is just oozing with a physical attraction that will move onto a beautiful romance, when Sayid the new Emir of Halarq comes to realize that he can love not just lust for the woman that was sent to him four years ago the beautiful Lina, this is a story that you are not going to want to put down, I do love seeing a hero fall in love.

Sayid has just taken over the ruling of Halarq and he is determined to change things, make things better than they were when his uncle ruled, he has not had a lot of strong female influence over the years having lost his mother when he was young, yes he has had many woman but he is not interested in anything permanent yet. However when he discovers a young woman in his rooms he is stunned at her beauty but when he realizes why she is there and her age, being who he is he sends her away for her own good.

Lina has been with her aunt and uncle since losing her beloved mother and then her father and they have decided to gift her to the Emir and she always does as she is told but there has been a change in rulers and this Emir is not who she expected, Sayid is shocked and talks to her and learns what she wants and needs and in his kindness he sends her away to study and become a stronger person, four years later Lina is back and ready to repay her debt in helping anyway she can, even spending a week in is bed and those feelings she had four ago are even stronger now.

WOW, MS West has taken me on a journey that had me sighing and smiling, Sayid what can I say what a hero he really is caring and gorgeous but he is a ruler and used to getting his own way, and Lina the strength she shows when she returns the growing up she has done and the way she stands up to him like no other ever would, and the love that is growing when he asks her for a week in his bed, that will never be enough, I loved that Lina was no pushover. This story ticks all of the boxes for a fabulous romance, a story that had me turning the pages and loving this story, this is one that I highly recommend I am never disappointed by one of MS West’s stories, a fabulous story.

5/5 stars for a fabulous story

Expected publication: July 1st 2018 by Harlequin Presents