Prah, Constantine, and Baryeh Reviews: Truth or Beard (Winston Brothers #1) by Penny Reid

Happy March! 2019 is doing its best to fly by. I don’t have much else to say because I really want you to get to the review. I’m sure that tells you how excited I am to tell you about this book. After you read my review remember to head over to Constantine and Baryeh’s  blogs to see what they thought. I can’t wait.

The Blurb

Beards, brothers, and bikers! Oh my! 

Identical twins Beau and Duane Winston might share the same devastatingly handsome face, but where Beau is outgoing and sociable, Duane is broody and reserved. This is why Jessica James, recent college graduate and perpetual level-headed good girl, has been in naïve and unhealthy infatuation with Beau Winston for most of her life.

His friendly smiles make her tongue-tied and weak-kneed, and she’s never been able to move beyond her childhood crush. Whereas Duane and Jessica have always been adversaries. She can’t stand him, and she’s pretty sure he can’t stand the sight of her…

But after a case of mistaken identity, Jessica finds herself in a massive confusion kerfuffle. Jessica James has spent her whole life paralyzed by the fantasy of Beau and her assumptions of Duane’s disdain; therefore she’s unprepared for the reality that is Duane’s insatiable interest, as well as his hot hands and hot mouth and hotter looks. Not helping Jessica’s muddled mind and good girl sensibilities, Duane seems to have gotten himself in trouble with the local biker gang, the Iron Order.

Certainly, Beau’s magic spell is broken. Yet when Jessica finds herself drawn to the man who was always her adversary, now more dangerous than ever, how much of her level-head heart is she willing to risk?

My Review

This book was hilarious. The characters, especially the brothers, were just so well developed and individualistic.  They had such different personalities and yet were really close. I developed a crush on one of them (Billy), and wanted to hang out extensively with the others because they were just so cool, especially Cletus – that man was just too clever for his own good and knew it. I’m looking forward to reading each of their stories.

The romance between Duane, the dark brooding brother who took no nonsense from anyone  (one of my favorite Winstons) and Jessica, who was smart and had the best sense of humor, began with a jump start (no pun was initially intended, but I like the way it worked out). From the beginning of the book until the end I wanted these two together.

Ms. Reid understands how to pile on drama without making the story overdramatic. Just when I thought one issue had been settled, Bam! Another one worked its way into the plot, setting both the characters and myself off balance. It was brilliantly done.

This book definitely has my stamp of approval and I hope the others in the series are just as entertaining.

I give this book five Mustang (the car, not the horse) shaped chocolate bars.

I purchased my copy from AmazonUK

Prah, Constantine, and Baryeh Reviews: Can't Miss Christmas (Mirror Lake #3.5) by Miranda Liasson

Happy holidays fabulous readers. I’m pretty sure you’re all busy preparing for the Christmas season, but I hope you get some time to read a little, too. This month we kept it light and short with a Christmas novella.

Remember to stop by Constantine and Baryeh's blogs to see what they thought of the book.

Have a fantastic and safe holiday!

The Blurb

Here comes a charming standalone Christmas novella by Amazon bestselling author Miranda Liasson. Fans of both Mirror Lake series will recognize familiar elements and people along the way.

It’s two days before Christmas and bestselling children’s author Grace Alberts needs to fulfill a promise—to make it to a book signing for the kids at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the place that did so much for her during a very rough time. But the weather’s getting awful and all flights are cancelled out of Boston, where she’s wrapping up her book tour. Then in walks her annoying but extremely sexy ex-husband, who (as usual) thinks he’s got all the answers.

Graham Walker just stopped by to get a book signed for Grace’s biggest fan, his niece, and wish Grace a Merry Christmas—why not? But he soon finds himself troubleshooting her dilemma. He’s got a Range Rover that can plow through a hundred-year Nor’easter. He’s even headed home to Philly. Trouble is, Grace's and his past is a disaster, something he has no intention of reliving while driving through a winter storm, no matter how much he once loved her. And maybe still does.

Bad weather has a way of bringing out the best and the worst in people, and when a run in with some deer antlers leads them to a forced stop in Mirror Lake, Connecticut, anything can happen, naughty or nice. Maybe a bit of enforced alone time and some Christmas magic can be just what it takes for them to face their past—and each other—once and for all.

My Review

I’m not the biggest fan of second chance romances, but this novella had me rooting for the couple. The reasons they got divorced two years ago was understandable and forgivable on both sides. After the changes they went through during their lives apart, I’m pretty sure there will be a greater chance of them staying together the second time around. A lovely Christmas read.

I give this book four out of five book shaped chocolate bars.

I purchased this book from Amazon UK.

Prah, Constantine, and Baryeh Reviews: The Afterlife Coach by Susan E. Paul

Happy October! We're officially into autumn, for me one of the prettiest seasons of the year. Until everything dies. I’m leading into the book we chose for this month (aren’t I clever?). We stepped away from romance this month and for me it was a good venture. I’m curious to find out what Constantine and Baryeh thought about the book.

The Blurb

Imagine waking up to find Napoleon Bonaparte, Janis Joplin and Count Dracula in your kitchen eating Froot Loops. 

For Claire Anderson, this crosses the line. 

To make matters worse, they’re on the lam and can’t be returned to sender until In Between, the afterlife way station, can arrange transportation to pick them up. In the meantime, Claire tries to contain this motley crew, hoping to stave off an international incident. How do they manage to walk among us? Will Claire succeed in repatriating them? And at what cost? 

The Afterlife Coach is a humorous tale of second chances, self-awareness and, for those among us who make bad choices, demonstrates just how hard it is to die happily ever after. 

My Review

The simplicity of the cover and the engaging blurb roped me into reading the novel. An afterlife coach is a concept I have never hear of, until this book. Very interesting. Claire was very likeable and I felt sorry for her at the beginning of the book. I cheered her on as the book progressed. In the end I was glad she’d found the trio sitting at her kitchen table because she’d found, or rather re-found, her true calling and found peace.

I did find the story a little slow in the beginning, but then it picked up and the novel flew by. I don’t know anything about heaven or the afterlife, but I like the way Ms. Anderson described it and why people ended up back on earth. She definitely has a way with words and the images leapt from the page into my head as I laughed at the antics the crew got into.

I give this book four out five guitar shaped chocolate bars.

I purchased my book from AmazonUK

Remember to stop over at Constantine and Baryeh's blogs to see what they thought of the story.

Prah, Constantine, and Baryeh Reviews: Love Built to Last (Fireflies #1) by Lisa Ricard Claro

Welcome to another month of triple reviews. This book reminds me of a song by Leanne Rimes.

 Remember to stop by Constantine and Baryeh's blogs to see what they thought of the book.


The Blurb
She can’t let go of her dead husband . . .
Maddie Kinkaid believes her late husband, Jack, gives her advice on everything from ordering a pizza to hiring a carpenter, so when she finds Caleb Walker’s business card on Jack’s desk, she’s convinced that he’s the guy to remodel her kitchen.


He can’t decide if she’s worth the risk . . .


Caleb is a single father, and protecting his young son means avoiding romantic entanglements. But there’s heat in every kitchen, and sparks ignite between Caleb and Maddie—until disaster strikes.
As Jack goes silent and Maddie’s guilt consumes her, it looks like Caleb and Maddie will never find their happily-ever-after—at least, not without a little help from Jack . . .


My Review
From beginning to end this was a sweet story. Two people who had lost someone they loved deeply finding love in with each other. A second chance at true love is a miraculous thing.

Ms. Claro did a fantastic job at balancing the sadness if death with the joys found in life. When you put a kid and a dog in a story it is bound to be funny. Add a hot construction guy and a stubborn, spunky woman into the mix and you have the makings of a great romance.

The one thing I didn't appreciate was how hung up the heroine was on her late husband after four years had passed and how much she depended on his messages for so long. But when the reason behind it was revealed, I understood her better.

I give this book four out of five hammer shaped chocolate bars.

I purchased this book from Amazon.