Book Review / Every Little Kiss by Susan Hatler

When Wendy Watts left Blue Moon Bay, she vowed never to return to the small coastal town where her parents had abandoned her and her brother. Now she’s a successful Realtor, and a workaholic who stays away from complicated emotions—until her grandmother dies, leaving Wendy the Inn at Blue Moon Bay and mandating that if Wendy sells it, she must put it on the market herself “in person.”

As soon as Wendy arrives in Blue Moon Bay, bad memories, the inn’s poor condition, and her brother’s pleas to keep the inn overwhelm her. Then she meets a sexy laid-back stranger on the beach, and Wendy does something she never does . . . she opens up and confides her problems to him. Since Max Huntington’s only in town for one night, Wendy spontaneously kisses him, hoping to be distracted from her troubles for just one evening.

But when Wendy begins the painstaking process of fixing up the inn in order to sell it, Max tells her he’s staying on longer. He’s enchanted by the charming inn and even more with the kisses they shared on the beach. He wants to help her with the repairs, and she reluctantly accepts his offer.

Although she’s determined to remain detached from the allure of her inn, Blue Moon Bay and Max, every repair, every stroll on the beach, and every moment spent with Max, draws her in and reminds her of the local legend she’d believed as a child: that being kissed by the bay under a blue moon will lead to love that lasts forever.

Published:     3rd Septmber 2015
Publisher:  Hatco Publishing
Goodreads :  Click here
Series or Stand-Alone:  Book 1, Kissed by the Bay
Source:  Review Copy
Rating:   3 out of 5

What I loved about this story...  I have really enjoyed Susan Hatler's writing for many years now and was so excited to read this book.  There's just something about Susan's writing that I find comedic and relaxing at the same time.  In this story, we are following Wendy Watts returning to Blue Moon Bay after the death of her Grandmother who has stipulated in her Will that the Inn that she ran was to be sold.  Wendy has to come back to the town that she left many years before to help her brother, who had been helping running the inn, get the inn ready to be sold.  What I liked the most was the progression of Wendy throughout the story.  When we first meet her she is a big shot realtor from the city.  She knows who she is and where she needs to be.  After arriving in Blue Moon Bay things change and she starts to look back into her past to discover things that she had long since forgotten.  Of course, it doesn't help that she meets a handsome guy who seems to like her too...

What I wasn't fond of with this story...  Honestly, there is some insta-love here which I felt was a bit rushed and could have slowed down a bit to make it feel more natural (not that insta love doesn't happen but it is just my particular reading preference that I don't like it). 

Book Review: My Last Blind Date by Susan Hatler

It’s Valentine’s Day and Rachel Price has a choice: Stay home and watch TV with her loveable doggy or let her best friend, Ellen, set her up on a blind date. What to do….

Ellen says the guy is a “10,” but the last guy she set her up with was a “–5.” Rachel’s been flirting with coworker Noah Peterson and she’s hoping he’s noticed. Then, she finds out Noah has big plans. Even worse, he advises Rachel to go on the blind date!

Should she play it safe and spend the Hallmark holiday with her loyal pooch, Chester, or risk another dating disaster by trying yet again for love?

Release Date:  4th February 2012
Source:  Copy Received from Author
Links:  Goodreads  /  Amazon.co.uk  /  Amazon.com  


My Review    10 out of 10

If you would like to see the video review, please see the end of this post.

I absolutely love love loved this short story from Susan Hatler.  Another delightful burst of uplifting romance that I could not put down. 

I immediately warmed to the main character, Rachel.  She is being set up on a blind date by her friend but is unsure whether she wants to go or not.  It isn't until she finds out that the guy she fancies at work has 'big plans' for Valentine's Day that she decides that she is not going to stay in.  

This short story has the perfect amount of romance and there were parts in this that made me giggle also...  

If you are after a short burst of romance and happiness, this is definately one to pick up...  Highly recommend it to all!



Best wishes

Debs :-)

Book Review - Shaken by Susan Hatler

(Mind Reader Series, Book One) High school junior, Kylie Bates, can suddenly read minds. When she touches people’s hands, she’s able to see their deepest thoughts. As if that’s not freaky enough, her dad sends her to help hottie detective, Sam Williams, track down a missing girl. Way too much pressure, especially for a girl who can’t watch Scream without getting nightmares.

Then, finding the missing girl leads to much more than Kylie’s prepared for. Like discovering that her dad has been lying to her. That she has a family she never knew about. That the girls have powers similar to hers. Oh yeah, and that someone is out to get her.

When the detective’s teenage wanna-be-cop cousin, Trip Williams, approaches Kylie at school insisting she help him solve the case, she discovers Trip might be the only one she can trust, and the only one to help her unravel the secrets behind her mysterious gift .


My Review:  9 out of 10

I really enjoyed reading this fast paced paranormal style story.  Kylie seemed to come into her powers really quickly and probably based on instinct knew what she had to do, which I enjoyed the most about that character Being able to see someone's deepest thoughts must be quite a scary thing to deal with, but Kylie takes it in her stride.  

I did have to feel sorry for her at some parts in the story as there is a guy at the school which she attends that she has a crush on and there goes her best friend flirting with him..   That is definitely not the kind of best friend I would want!  But Kylie has much more important things to focus on, especially when it comes to Trip Williams. 

Another powerful element to this story is Kylie's relationship with her mother, who unfortunately died when she was a young girl.  Kylie keeps a journal and writes letters to her mother telling her all about what is happening. 

There are a lot of elements to this story that keeps it fast paced until the very end - mind reading, secrets in the family, secrets surrounding the missing girl, secrets with other characters and so on.

If you like a bit of fast paced paranormal action, this is definitely one to pick up and place on your shelf.

Best wishes

Debs :-)

Book Review - The Boyfriend Bylaws by Susan Hatler

Melanie Porter has been dumped-again. When others accuse her of "being in love with being in love," she agrees to let her best friend, Patti, step in and direct her dating life with The Boyfriend Bylaws.

EXCERPT

Rule #1: No giving out your phone number until approved to do so.

Rule #2: Must obtain permission to accept any date invitation.

Rule #3: No bringing up marriage, kids or the future.

Rule #4: No going to first base without authorization.

Amended Rule #4: No going to first base, or any other base, without authorization.

Rule #5: No scribbling your first name with some guy's last name. Ever.

Rule #6: New rules may be added as Patti Hartley deems necessary.

Memorize it, live by it, and happy dating!

. . . .

"His name is Nick," I said. "He seems like a total gentleman, not to mention he's insanely gorgeous. Can I get permission to go on a date with him before he asks me out?"

Patti scoffed, stretched her leg out, and reached for her right foot. "No way."

Why did she have to be so difficult? I was playing by her rules. "What's the point of waiting until he asks me out, and then calling you? That's just stupid."

"Why should you wait? Let's see. Brad. Paul. Mike. Marcus. And don't think I didn't see the wink your co-worker, Matt, gave you at lunch today." 




What a great short story.  If you are ever in need of a quick burst of romance and happiness, this is definately a great story to pick up.

My two favourite characters are, of course, Mel and Matt.  Their friendly banter at the beginning of the story was so amazingly funny.  Its not only Mel and Matt who have the friendly banter, the characters who work and play in the gym are also so friendly towards each other it makes me want to work there.


The main character, Mel, is a person who is in love with being in love.  She has been on so many dates but has not yet found 'the one'.  When her friend Patti comes in and 'lay the law down' making Mel look deeper into what she really wants, watching what Mel does next was really enjoyable.  


The story was a bit predictable but this is a great romantic short story not to be missed.



My Review -  10 out of 10