Snowflakes, Iced Cakes and Second Chances by Sue Watson (Book Beginnings & Friday 56)

This is the third book set in Appledore and it's every bit as heartbreaking and hopeful and lovely as the first two. It may be even more so since this one is set around Christmas which, in itself, tends to add a little extra something to your typical "feel-good" (when you aren't snotting all over your shirtsleeves) romance.

My only real problem with the book is the male lead. He rubbed me the wrong way and would never make it onto my list of book boyfriends ... but that could be because I've known too many like him on his worst days. Still, the book overall was so lovely that the most I could deduct because of Gianni is half of a star. Then, though, we add in how beautifully Chloe deals with him (and all of the snotty shirtsleeve moments), and that half of a star comes shooting right back on with a vengeance. 

Another 5 star book for me from Sue Watson. Now, can we PLEASE get Marco his own full story?

As always, Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice & Book Beginnings is at Rose City Reader.
This week my "56" comes from the 56% ebook mark.

from Amazon:

The Things We Learn When We're Dead by Charlie Laidlaw (Tuesday Intros & Teaser Tuesday)

"First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros" is from the first paragraph or two of a book being read now (or in the future) and is hosted by Bibliophile by the Sea. "Teaser Tuesday" at The Purple Booker asks for a random line or two from anywhere in the book currently being read.

from Amazon:

On the way home from a dinner party she didn't want to attend, Lorna Love steps into the path of an oncoming car. When she wakes up she is in what appears to be a hospital – but a hospital in which her nurse looks like a young Sean Connery, she is served wine for supper, and everyone avoids her questions. It soon transpires that she is in Heaven, or on HVN. Because HVN is a lost, dysfunctional spaceship, and God the aging hippy captain. She seems to be there by accident. Or does God have a higher purpose after all? At first Lorna can remember nothing. As her memories return – some good, some bad – she realizes that she has decisions to make and that she needs to find a way home… 

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Fatal Masquerade by Vivian Conroy (Tuesday Intro & Teaser Tuesday)

I am absolutely gobsmacked.

Really. 

I didn't think that there was really any way that Vivian Conroy could possibly make me love Jake Dubois anymore than I already did after the first three books in the Lady Alkmene series. I was so very wrong.

Fatal Masquerade sees Alkmene and Jake at a house party where they are to attend a masquerade ball. Of course, someone turns up dead. And, of course, our dynamic duo has to get in the middle of things to investigate. Sticking to the true Christie-esque fashion that I so love about Conroy's books, the details are rich, the intrigue is gripping, and the red herrings are plentiful. Even better? I'm not sure I've ever crushed as hard on any character as I crush on Jake ... except, perhaps, for Arthur Hastings. (Sorry, Oliver ... you're a close third.)

Do yourself a favor and start this series from the beginning. You really need to get to know Jake (and Alkmene, of course) from the beginning of their relationship. You can thank me later, but just remember that I claimed dibs first.

Fatal Masquerade is available TOMORROW (October 4th) at: Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Google Play

"First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros" is from the first paragraph or two of a book being read now (or in the future) and is hosted by Bibliophile by the Sea. "Teaser Tuesday" at The Purple Booker asks for a random line or two from anywhere in the book currently being read.