Book Review: Aunt Ivy's Cottage by Kristin Harper

 

Paperback, 320 pages
Published January 25th 2022 by Forever


Kindle Edition, 294 pages
Published December 7th 2020 by Bookouture

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All Zoey’s happiest childhood memories are of her great-aunt Ivy’s rickety cottage on Dune Island, snuggling up with hot chocolate and hearing Ivy’s stories about being married to a sea captain. Now, heartbroken from a breakup, Zoey escapes back to the island, but is shocked to find her elderly aunt’s spark fading. Worse, her cousin—next in line to inherit the house—is pushing Ivy to move into a nursing home.

With the family clashing over what’s best for Ivy, Zoey is surprised when Nick, a local carpenter and Ivy’s neighbor, takes her side. As Zoey finds comfort in his sea-blue eyes and warm laugh, the two grow close. Together, they make a discovery in the attic that links the family to the mysterious and reclusive local lighthouse keeper…

Now Zoey has a heartbreaking choice to make. Nick’s urging her to share the discovery, which could keep Ivy in the house she’s loved her whole life… but when Zoey learns that Nick and her cousin go way back, she questions if the man she‘s starting to have feelings for really has Ivy’s best interests at heart. Will dredging up this old secret destroy the peace and happiness of Ivy’s final years—and tear this family apart for good?

                                                     MY REVIEW:

Aunt Ivy's Cottage by Kristin Harper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The first part of the description of the book is very wrong. Zoey did not find the journal in a trunk in the attic so don't believe that part. And Nick did not know about what was in the diary.  Also this book is published by Forever and Bookouture and so I can say I reviewed it for both publishing companies since I received it from both.
Zoey lost her job and her boyfriend and goes to Dune Island to take care of her Aunt Ivy. While there she also finds out that her niece needs to come live with her for a short time.
While Zoey is taking care of her Aunt we meet Zoey's cousin, Mark who is a POS from the beginning. I had to stop reading at one point because his character made me so mad that I wasn't sure I could finish the book. He is the one inheriting the house and is already trying to make plans to restore it . He also keeps trying to put Ivy down and saying she can't live alone, her mental and physical well being is bad and she needs to go into an assisted living place.
Meanwhile Nick is the one doing renovations and Zoey thinks he is friends with Mark and doing all his bidding instead of what Aunt Ivy wants.
Secrets do have a way of coming out though and a diary is found in a weird way that will clear everything up.
Thanks to Forever, Bookouture and NetGalley for the books to review.

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Kristin Harper

Born The United States
Website
https://www.kristinharperauthor.com
Genre
Fiction, Romance, Contemporary


Website: kristinharperauthor.com
Twitter: @KHarperAuthor

Blog Tour: The Ex Husband by Karen Hamilton

 

The Ex-Husband
Author: Karen Hamilton
ISBN: 9781525811609
Publication Date: January 18, 2022
Publisher: Graydon House




Buy Links:
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Book Summary:

It’s an offer she can’t refuse…and can’t escape.

True: Charlotte has an unsavory past. She married the wrong man, got caught up in his con artist games, took what wasn’t hers. She got out, though: divorced Sam, started fresh.

False: She left him before things went too far. Nothing bad happened.

True: Sam is missing, and before he disappeared, he left cryptic messages about someone threatening him—someone who has been threatening Charlotte, too.

True: She’s on the straight and narrow, has accepted a job as a personal assistant for an engagement party on board a private luxury cruise ship, the Cleobella.

False: No one on board knows about her past, and she’s far away from anyone who means her harm.

As the Cleobella sails through its glittering destinations—the Bahamas, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago—increasingly sinister events haunt the guests, and the turquoise waves and sun-drenched beaches give way to something darker. Someone knows what Charlotte did. Is it the blushing bride? The seemingly placid mother-in-law? Or the mysterious heiress?

Someone knows, and someone wants revenge—before the ship reaches its final port.

                                                        MY REVIEW:

The Ex-Husband by Karen Hamilton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I liked the story but it didn't wow me. This is a story about 2 con artists.
Charlotte Wilson didn't choose a life of crime. It chose her. Once introduced to the world of wealthy clients and easy money by her ex-husband on board cruise ships, Charlotte was hooked. However, complacency and greed led to a slip-up with devastating consequences. Her ex winds up dead and Charlotte is threatened with exposure.
Charlotte and Sam seem to have a great relationship at first. Then we get to know Sam from the past. The story is the present and goes to the past all throughout the book.
Charlotte works at a wedding,on a yacht. She is trying to find out who sent her messages to her phone. She also thinks Sam is not dead and it may be him sending the messages. Things start happening to her and her life seems to be in danger.
My thoughts, I didn't like Sam from the beginning and felt that Charlotte should have run far away. we do know at the beginning that they are not together anymore and she doesn't scam people anymore.
Thanks to Wildfire and NetGalley for the book to review.

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Author Bio:
Karen Hamilton spent her childhood in Angola, Zimbabwe, Belgium and Italy and worked as a flight attendant for many years. She has now put down roots in the UK to raise her three children with her husband and she also writes full time. Her books include The Perfect Girlfriend, The Last Wife, and The Ex-Husband, out January 2022.




Social Links:

Author Website

Twitter: @KJHAuthor

Facebook: @karenhamiltonwriter

Instagram: @karenhamiltonauthor

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