Josie Riviera

Philip Wong isn't a love or marriage enthusiast, what with all the cases he's handled as a stellar divorce lawyer. Vanessa Lim was once obliged to give up her dream and is now a receptionist at a law office, where she isn't too keen on a certain divorce lawyer. But desperate times lead Philip and Vanessa to strike up a short-term, Christmastime dating contract in The Love Clause by author Liwen Y. Ho.

So, no, this isn't the first time I've read a romance by this author that includes a fake show more date during the holidays, but as I quite enjoyed one, I figured I could enjoy another.

I was pulled right into the first chapter, feeling like no stranger to Philip and his boss. Their funny interaction is an ideal setup for the tale that follows. Self-satisfied Philip is a pretty outrageous dude with a good dose of vulnerability under his self-satisfaction. It's cool how Vanessa can both empathize with him and stand up to him when she has to. Get it, girl!

Admittedly, the development of the story got a little odd to me after a while, and I wasn't sure if one or two of its points made the most sense. Also, considering where (and how) Philip and Vanessa are at the start, the distance they cover seems to be an unnatural stretch to get them to a certain point by the end of the story. I think the idea of the plot would have worked well even without so big a leap.

Still, it's a fun holiday read that I found both amusing and touching.
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I received a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review. show less

Following the unexpected death of her husband, Grace Hallowell leaves their ranch and retreats to her sister’s home to deal with her grief. Meanwhile, Cole Morrison is fulfilling a promise he made to his best friend. He has been running the ranch and its cattle while cutting back on his own veterinary practice for the last two years. Now the ranch is in jeopardy, with money scarce and problems galore. Grace returns to the ranch to try to save it even while others are trying to buy it from show more her. Cole and Grace work well together, scraping up the needed cash and working to save the birthing cattle and calves. What they didn’t foresee was how well they fit together. With like-minded goals and abilities, they have much in common. And their friendship begins to develop into something more. But neither can forget the man they both loved and who is now gone from their lives. Should love blossom between them? Or should they run from it? This sweet romance is sure to grab your interest from the very beginning. Everyone deals with grief differently, and that is lovingly illustrated in this beautiful story. The author deals well with the topic of grief and of second chances at love. There is hope for the young widow who lost her first love and for the cowboy who has felt abandoned by the people in his life. This well-written story is peopled by characters who come alive on the page, and it will touch your heart as they find hope for the future.

I was given an advance copy for free through BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. show less

Rosalind is a botanist, carrying on the work of her family. Her plants are grown to heal people. But other people want her conservatory, and they don’t want to continue Rosalind’s work in the manner she has done for years. Yet winter is never ceasing now. The plants are not flourishing, and she fears for their future and her own. Then a mysterious man appears, and winter fades and the plants again grow strong. Is Edmund responsible for this change? And is Rosalind ready for a change in show more her life, too? This lovely book will capture readers with its delightful and descriptive prose. The dedication to growing plants, the love for community, and pure joy of living is seamlessly woven with Christian values and beliefs. The pace of the book is slow at first, as we are introduced to the characters. Then as Rosalind and Edmund are introduced, the pace picks up. These two main protagonist are intriguing and complex people, and their connection lights up the story. It’s a well-written tale, illustrating that even in the darkest days of winter, spring will eventually come to bring light to the world. Included after the story is a fairy tale, “East of the Sun and West of the Moon,” now in public domain, and which influenced the writing of “A Season Out of Time.”

I was given an advance copy for free through BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. show less

This was a romantic fantasy that had an atmospheric setting in a conservatory. The descriptions were poetic and realistic. In New England in 1924, Rosalind Drew is a botanist who studies and propagates plants for the local community. Intrigue comes in many forms such as unusual plants, mysterious Edmund Winterborne, and people who want to take over the research and property that Rosalind has worked at for so long. There is also the phenomenon of a winter that lasted a constant three show more years.
The faith thread was believable and natural. The characters saw the wonder of God’s creation. “Faith gives purpose to science. I study plants to appreciate His creation, not merely to catalog it.”
This is the first book I have read by this author. I like her writing style and am curious about other offerings.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided through Book Sirens on behalf of the author. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.* show less