My Reading - April 2020

Wow! This month, I read twelve books while also writing an entire manuscript of my own! I'm not sure if that's because I was feeling particularly motivated or whether it was because of Covid 19 lock down. I kept all my normal working hours, but I did write nearly every night. So either way, it was quite a successful month while I read many awesome stories. 

I've really enjoyed trying new romance writers this month, as well as some old favourites.

Reading Goals Achieved

Yearly total: 45/75 books read!
New authors: Kate Hardy, Rosanna Battigelli, Kandy Shepherd, Ellie Darkins, Natalia Gomes, Nina Milne
Category romance: definitely ploughing through them!

Books Read in April

One Night to Remember by Kate Hardy
My first Kate Hardy book! It was the premise of this story that drew me - accidental pregnancy mixed with amnesia. I really enjoyed this story with the beautiful London and Bath setting and interesting conflict. I also loved the archaeology thrown in there.

Caribbean Escape with the Tycoon by Rosanna Battigelli
This story was printed with One Night to Remember. It was also the first I've read by this author. I really enjoyed the cruise ship setting and Zodiac Cruises. However, I did find the 'Can I just explain?' conflict rather than just explaining a little frustrating. But in the end, I was glad when Chanelle and Vance got their happily ever after. It was a beautiful ending.

Outback Wife and Mother by Barbara Hannay
I picked this book because I realised it was Barbara's first, so I wanted to give it a go. It was interesting reading a Mills and Boon from 21 years ago! Wow. But I don't know whether it's a good or a bad thing to say I wouldn't have ever picked it as a 'first book'. I'm going to go with good, because that means she was always brilliant. 

One Night with her Millionaire Boss by Kandy Shepherd
This one came up as a border collie alert! So, I had to buy it. I really enjoyed this book, it was my first Kandy Shepherd, and loved Molly the old border collie. 

Second Chance with her Island Doc by Marion Lennox
I'm trying to get through some medicals, so I picked this up. I looooved the fictional setting in this book - a poverty stricken island in the Mediterranean that the hero and heroine try to save. Such a lovely concept and a great read. The more I read of Marion's, the more I love her. 

We Are Not Okay by Natalia Gomes
Borrowed this from the library because I was always intrigued and I finally picked it up (thank god for the extended loans now that the library is closed!) I'll admit, I was hooked...but soon felt it was a little over the top. I sure hope this isn't representative of what it's like to be a teenager these days. Jeez! A very good young adult novel though, which I hope passes on some good lessons.

Reunited by the Tycoon's Twins by Ellie Darkins
This was the story printed with the Kandy Shepherd one, so I continued on to read it. I find Mills and Boons fit best on my treadmill, so that's how I'm powering through them. This was a great story with cute twins and a veeeeery long middle chapter that made me keep walking. Lol.

The Long Road Home by Fiona McCallum
I finally picked this one up even though I bought it keen to read. But I'll admit, after indulging in so many Mills and Boons, looking at a big book feels like such an effort these days. But social-isolation doesn't leave for much else, so I got started and was hooked. I really enjoyed Alice's story in the beginning part, and then we switched over to Rick. His story was just as engaging and full of surprises!

The Venetian One-Night Baby by Melanie Milburne
I picked this one up at random on my Melanie shelf because, again, I needed a treadmill read (The Long Road Home just doesn't fit and is too big to hold). I picked a Melanie book because I like her softer alpha heroes and after going on a Melanie Milburne and Annie West hunt through the second hand shops, I now have lots to get through! I loved this story, even though I wanted to hit the hero if he told the pregnant heroine she needed to rest one more time. Grr...but still very fun!

The Aristocrat and the Single Mum by Michelle Douglas
Oh my God I loved this story! A reprint in this year's Mother's Day release, I was psyched to have a new Michelle read. I enjoyed the characters in this story and loved hanging out on the dolphin tour boat the heroine runs. But my favourite part was the rush to the airport ending. I love an emotionally satisfying ending, but this is one of the best I've read in a while!

Redemption of the Maverick Millionaire by Michelle Douglas
This is Michelle's latest book and I visited the shops a few times before I finally found it. I loved the beach setting and the hero in this story. Damon would stop at nothing to redeem himself in the eyes of Eve, who he'd betrayed to get ahead in his work a few years earlier. He was such a sweetheart and very easy to fall in love with, although Eve resisted for a while.

​Baby on the Tycoon's Doorstep by Nina Milne
The other story printed with Redemption of the Maverick Millionaire in Australia. I really enjoyed this story and the gorgeous setting in the Cotswolds, Oxford, and London. Jake and Isobel are reunited when they're asked to look after a mutual friend's baby, who is in a domestic violence situation. Baby Emily really helped bring these two back together and work out their issues. I'm reallly enjoying all the many different stories and voices among the Forever Romance line.