Tash's Book of the Month
Welcome to Tash's Book of the Month, the fabulous fiesta where I dive into a new read each month and spill the juicy deets with my no-holds-barred review! But here’s the scoop: if a book and I didn’t click, I’m not shoving it in your face. I totally respect the blood, sweat, and tears that go into crafting (and actually finishing!) a book. Just because it wasn’t my cup of tea doesn’t mean it won’t dazzle someone else! So, buckle up for a sunny spot dedicated to celebrating literary treasures and must-read masterpieces!
MARCH
THE SMART GIRL'S GUIDE TO REVENGE By Jessica May Harper
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I wish I’d written this book!
If you enjoyed The Gentlemen, you will bloody love this. Ironically, or perhaps on purpose, the audio is read by Kaya Scodelario and she is magnificent. Truly.
The writer of this book, it kept me on my toes all the way through. Honestly, before I’d got to the halfway mark of the first chapter, I was in, hook, line and sinker and couldn’t stop listening.
Jess and her husband Jimmy are con-artists, a world he dragged her into after meeting a vulnerable and alone Jess after losing her parents and eviction from where she was living.
Jess truly loved Jimmy and the couple decide on ‘one last con’ before embarking on a normal life, including starting a family. But Jimmy has other plans and delivers a blow that lands Jess in jail.
After serving her time, alongside her soon to be lifelong friend Avril, Jess is finally released and with only one thing on her mind.
Revenge.
But our Jess is pure class. Killing would be too easy and there’s no satisfaction in that. Jess might hate Jimmy but does the love she has in her heart threaten to derail her plans?
On release from prison, a reformed Jess wants to balance her karma by righting the wrongs from the couples previous cons, Jess might be broke but she knows somebody who has plenty of money; Jimmy. Tracking him down isn’t going to be easy and Jess has another problem, namely the insurance man who is also hell-bent on getting back the money Jimmy owes them. But can she trust him?
Jess begins her campaign of good deeds but taking directly from Jimmy, even though his is totally unaware and you can’t help but root for her.
Will Jess finally make Jimmy pay for his crimes?
This was so cleverly written; it was darkly funny in places, fast paced, exciting, and tense.
I’m not saying anything else. It’s hugely enjoyable and once again, I have another book in the library that I’ll happily listen to again.
I wish I could have given it 10 stars.
NOTE: this book is currently only available on Audible.
BLURB
‘till death do us part.
She meant every word.
He didn’t mean one.
Now she’s coming for revenge.
Fresh out of prison, after taking the fall for their insurance fraud scheme, Jessica has only one thing on her mind.
As she masterminds her elaborate plan for justice, Jessica must come face to face with the ghosts of her past.
But while some people are beyond redemption, there is only one person who can satisfy her revenge.
Tash's BOTM: After dark
Any recommendation here are intended for an 'adult audience'. If you don't like spice (some are going to be so spicy you might even spontaneously combust) so reading will be at your own discretion and therefore, I won't be taking the blame is you are shocked/offended/or unprepared.
For those not of a nervous nature....enjoy....but only after dark!
MARCH
THE STOPOVER by TL Swan
Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
Said it before and I’ll say it again; I bloody love the Grumpy / Sunshine trope and the banter between our MFC Emily Foster and MMC Jameson Miles is brilliant. Pure class. One of the things I love about this particular trope is that the woman is always the strong one, the one who takes no sh*t.
Emily is sitting in her upgraded first-class seat (why does this never happen to me?) when she meets fellow passenger Jameson, or Jim, as he introduces himself. And so, starts their playful flirting. Their flight from London to New York is diverted due to weather, and although not in Emily’s normal repertoire, they enjoy a night of rather ‘unbridled passion’. But the following morning, as Jim leaves first, he doesn’t ask for Emily’s number, much to her disappointment.
Fast forward a year later, and Emily is on her first day of her new job working for the newsgroup of her dreams. But her happiness comes to a skidding halt when introduced to the top man at the company, CEO, Jameson Miles. Jim.
Jameson makes it clear that he is interested in ‘catching up’ with her but Emily, not wanting to jeopardize her long fought for position, makes it clear she isn’t interested.
Someone is trying to take Miles Media down. And it might seem a bit odd that a newcomer is given such trust, but something happens on Emily’s first story and after bringing it to the attention of Jameson and his brother Tristan, they enlist her to help discover who is behind it.
Whilst The Stopover is a romance, it does have a strong and enjoyable storyline. Chuck in an ex who just won’t get the hint, a villain and a massive misunderstanding, you have a great book.
If you read romance, you will be familiar with the ‘3rd-act break-up’. I hate them. They drive me nuts and because they are ALWAYS so predictable, and for me, it takes the shine off a story for me.
Now the break-up storyline in The Stopover was beyond obvious and regardless of how I usually feel, the story redeemed itself with the grovelling. I actually hate that word. Let’s just say that Jameson realises his mistake and sets about winning our Em back and he was so spectacularly sorry that I couldn’t help feeling sorry for him.
And because our FMC is no pushover and despite her obvious strong feelings for him, she didn’t make it easy and yeah, I enjoyed that. Perhaps a little too much.
A great book, so enjoyable and when the spice hits, it HITS!
BLURB
I was upgraded to first class on a flight from London to New York.
The food, champagne, and service were impeccable.
The blue-eyed man sitting next to me, even better.
He was suave and intelligent.
We talked and laughed, and something clicked.
Fate took over and the plane was grounded, and we had an unexpected stopover for the night.
With no plans, we made our own.
We danced and laughed our way around Boston and had a night of crazy passion that no woman would ever forget.
That was twelve months ago, and I haven’t heard from him—until today.
I started a new job and met the CEO. You can imagine my surprise to see those naughty blue eyes dance with delight when he saw me across the mahogany desk.
But I’m not that carefree girl anymore. My life has changed, I have responsibilities.
I just got an email.
He wants to see me in his office for a private meeting at 8:00 a.m.
Naughty blue eyes have no place in the workplace.
What kind of private meeting does he have in mind?
Tash's own book
Secrets and Lies
Just in case you are interested in reading my book, you can order via the link on Amazon. It’s available in paperback, kindle e-book and KU (if you know, you know!). I’m told it’s good… but you can always find out for yourself. Please do consider leaving a review as for newbie authors’ it’s a really great way of getting our books out there.
So what’s it about?
Lucie
I was happy being lost; it was, after all, on my terms. Meeting Jack was not part of my plan. Nor was falling in love with him. But when the unexpected happens, will he pull out all the stops to find me?
Jack
Months after living out of the country, I was tired. I wanted to rest. Who knew the girl in the coffee shop would have me chasing her down the street? But it turns out, Lucie turned out to be the love of my life and now I find myself travelling across Europe to save her.
Lucie is happily living her new life; hiding in anonymity from her family’s criminality and still grieving the death of her mother, when she meets Jack. Jack who is firmly on the right side of the law.
When Lucie receives a coded message in the middle of the night telling her to return home, she slips from Jack’s bed and his life.
But fate has other ideas for Lucie and Jack. A tearful reunion becomes a nightmare when Lucie is kidnapped. Secrets and lies are revealed and it’s a race against time for Jack to find her.
You think this is just another love story. You’re wrong. It’s a story of deliberately being lost but having no control when it happens again.
It’s a story of betrayal and paying the price for the mistakes made by those closest to you.
It’s a story of a race against time to find the one you love.
