Paris Time Capsule by Ella Carey ~ Review

Paris Time Capsule by Ella Carey ~ Review

Paris Time Capsule by Ella Carey

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Three reasons you should read this Contemporary Fiction:

  • Paris Time Capsule by Ella Carey is a great mix of historical mystery with a dash of contemporary romance. 
  • Watching Cat unravel the mysteries of the past kept me fully engaged in the mystery for every single page.
  • The romance is done in a lighter, more natural hand, that fits incredibly well with the atmosphere of timelessness.

About Paris Time Capsule by Ella Carey

Title: Paris Time Capsule
Author: Ella Carey
Series: Secrets of Paris #1
Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Paris Time Capsule by Ella Carey

The parcel arrived on an ordinary morning in the mailbox of her New York apartment, postmarked Paris. It was wrapped in brown paper and tied with a silk ribbon. Little did she know that the old brass key and letter it contained were about to turn her life upside down…

1940, Paris. Life is getting desperate for young Isabelle de Florian. Alone with her best friend in her Paris apartment, Isabelle knows that they must seek safety or die. For months she has been playing a dangerous game of secrets with the Nazis, trying to keep the people she loves safe. At last, she secures passage out of the city, packs her best jewels into a small suitcase and steps into the treacherous night…

New York, 2015. Photographer Cat Jordan is shocked when she receives a letter informing her that she is the sole heir of the estate of Isabelle de Florian. She was a friend of Cat’s enigmatic grandmother, who both lived in France until the Nazi occupation forced them to flee. The letter offers few details but is clear on one point: Cat must come to Paris in person.

When she arrives, Cat is enchanted by Isabelle’s beautiful apartment. But why did she leave it to a stranger? Determined to find the truth, Cat investigates her grandmother and Isabelle’s escape from Paris, and discovers that Isabelle was hunted by the Nazis in 1940. But as Cat searches through the dusty letters in the apartment, will the secret she finds change everything she knows about Isabelle and herself?

My Review of Paris Time Capsule:

Paris Time Capsule by Ella Carey was beautifully written. Cat’s unexpected inheritance takes her on a journey deep into her family’s past and exposes secrets hidden away for a lifetime.

It all begins with a letter. Although I wonder if anyone today would jump on a plane to Paris to claim an estate from someone they didn’t know existed, it played to my imagination of long-lost heirs. Cat has inherited a lavish apartment that seems to have been untouched since 1940. Full of antiques and treasures, and covered in dust and dirt, Cat falls deeper into the mystery.

But there’s always more than we first expect. Isabelle has a family – and she never told them about the apartment. No one understands why – and I didn’t understand why they were so set on not claiming it once they found out about it. While I found it nice they wanted to follow Isabelle’s last wishes, I don’t quite understand why they didn’t take the estate when Cat said she didn’t want it. But I guess then we wouldn’t have had a story.
Cat digs deep into history, uncovering more and more strange information on Isabelle and her past. She was a fascinating woman that lived through a lot during the war. Fleeing from the Nazi occupation, there isn’t much of a paper trail to follow.

I was quite surprised when Cat found the last clue and solved the mystery. All the loose ends were tied up nicely in a way that was a little larger than life, but still very believable. It maintained the slight fairy tale atmosphere without going too far. And the bit of a love story along the way sure didn’t hurt.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

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The Magic Ingredient by Lindy Miller ~ Excerpt

The Magic Ingredient by Lindy Miller ~ Excerpt

The Magic Ingredient by Lindy Miller

About The Magic Ingredient by Lindy Miller

Title: The Magic Ingredient
Author: Lindy Miller
Series: A Bar Harbor Holiday #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance

The Magic Ingredient by Lindy Miller

The end of summer is approaching, but even at the height of Bar Harbor’s tourist season, Eve Silver is having a hard time keeping enough dough in the bank to sustain the family bakery. Her only hope of paying past due bills is to win the catering bid for the town’s upcoming Harvest Happening festival. Otherwise, it’ll be lights out for Mount Desserts by Christmas.

Widower Jeff Perry is moving with his twelve-year-old daughter, Candy, from Manhattan to Maine with one goal: starting over. When sparks fly between Jeff and Eve as the town readies for the annual harvest festival, Candy wishes she had a love potion to help her dad fall in love again.

Will Eve be able to save Mount Desserts—and open her heart to Jeff—by the most bewitching night of the year?
It’ll take a lot of love, a little bit of luck … and just a pinch of magic.

Excerpt from The Magic Ingredient by Lindy Miller

© 2020
Lindy Miller

Part of eating a cupcake was the experience, and in Eve’s opinion, a little extra frosting on your face made it all the more gratifying. Her mouth filled with the taste of vanilla, chocolate, and marshmallow, all of the flavors intermingling just as she’d planned. Still, something seemed off. It wasn’t enough to toss the batch out, but in Eve’s opinion, the recipe hadn’t quite reached perfection.

Eve swallowed, wiping away the frosting from her nose. “It’s not perfect.”

“It’s incredible,” Jeff countered before he shoved the rest of the cupcake into his mouth.

He had a dollop of frosting on his nose, which made Eve smile despite her frustration at the recipe. “I don’t know if I believe your verdict, but at least you didn’t call it glitzy.”

Jeff mumbled something that sounded like idtellinguidperfek around the mouthful of pastry.

“Something is missing. Something small, a flavor that isn’t quite there. It’s not major, but enough that I notice.” Eve wiped her hands on a dishcloth and leaned against the counter, crossing her arms over her chest in frustration. “I don’t know why I can’t get it right. Maybe I’m not as great a baker as I think I am. It shouldn’t take so many tries to get a recipe correct. Not if you know what you’re doing.”

Jeff wiped his face and leveled his gaze at Eve as he stepped closer. “I don’t think that’s true at all. You’re a fantastic baker. You’re a fantastic lot of things.”

He was so close now Eve could smell his scent—musky and warm, with notes of pine and sandalwood. An inviting smell. Eve wondered how she’d never noticed it before. Then again, the more she felt drawn to Jeff the more she’d tried to keep her distance, kind of like reaching her goal—one step forward, two back.

“Really?” she asked, hoping she sounded interested and not incredulous. She didn’t want to offend someone offering her a compliment, even if she didn’t believe it. “I try so hard and I feel like I come up short.”

“Doing everything on your own isn’t easy, and I can see how you might think that you’re failing, but you’re looking at the situation the wrong way.”

Eve shook her head and kept her eyes downcast, even when Jeff’s hand found her shoulder, sliding down to cup her upper arm. His touch sent a tingle down her flesh and she resisted the urge to look up.

“Is there another way?”

“Instead of focusing on what you’re not doing well, think of all the things you are amazing at. Try to see yourself as …”

He paused.

Eve wondered if he’d changed his mind about whatever it was he was going to say.

Jeff cleared his throat and started over. “Try to see yourself the way I see you. Like Candy does, and Doris and Annie. And Bapo, for what it’s worth.”

Eve snickered, despite herself. “You’re never going to get tired of ribbing him, are you?”

“Never.” Jeff’s hand slid further down her arm to rest on her elbow. “My point remains.”

The place where Jeff’s hand rested on her arm pulsed. “How do you all see me?”

“We see someone who works hard every single day, around the clock, never taking any time for herself. Who gives her all to everything she does, even when it seems impossible, and who makes everyone feel needed and wanted when she’s around simply by being there.” Jeff stepped in closer. His heat brushed up against her chest. “It isn’t about finding the perfect recipe for a new confection or keeping the family business around for another generation, Eve. It’s about you. You make Mount Desserts worth saving. And I believe in you. We all do, even if you don’t believe in yourself.”

When Eve finally looked up, she found herself staring into Jeff’s eyes. They were warmer and sweeter than any chocolate ganache she’d ever made.

His free hand found its way to her other elbow and she allowed herself to be drawn from the counter. Jeff pulled her into his embrace, his hands releasing her elbows to slide around the small of her back, holding her close.

There was no denying the butterflies now.

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About Lindy Miller

Lindy Miller is an author of feel-good love stories that are full of sweet moments and happy endings. She believes the best time to fall in love is during the holidays, preferably over a cup of warm tea or a delicious vegan pastry – two things she can’t get enough of.

A free spirit, Lindy loves to travel and has a soft spot for Bar Harbor, Maine though she grew up at home in the South. She is married to her childhood sweetheart and bakes as often as she can for her husband, son, and pets – especially her golden retriever, Finn, who has a tendency to show up in her stories (and her Instagram!)

Lindy is represented by Gandolfo Helin & Fountain Literary Management and supported by Smith Publicity.

Member Romantic Novelist Association (RNA).

Lindy Miller

Connect with Lindy Miller online

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Snowball’s Christmas by Kristen McKanagh ~Excerpt

Snowball’s Christmas by Kristen McKanagh ~Excerpt

Snowball's Christmas by Kristen McKanagh

As an affiliate at retail sites, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. See my disclaimer for more details.

About Snowball’s Christmas by Kristen McKanagh

Title: Snowball’s Christmas
Author: Kristen McKanagh
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Christmas Romance

Snowball's Christmas by Kristen McKanagh

The Purrfect holiday awaits…

Snowball–an aptly named bundle of feline fluff–is thankful to be spending her first Christmas in the comfort of Weber Haus, the Victorian B&B run by Miss Tilly. Emily Diemer, who cooks for the guests, dotes on Snowball, but she’s not thrilled about another new arrival at the B&B: Miss Tilly’s nephew, Lukas. Which is odd, because Snowball’s animal instincts tell her that Lukas and Emily should definitely be friends.

Everything Emily needs is in this quaint community–including, she hopes, the chance to open her own bakery one day. She doesn’t think much of Lukas for leaving his aging aunt to struggle while he jets around the world taking photographs. But now that he’s here, helping to spruce up the property and getting mixed up in Snowball’s antics, she begins to soften a little. Until she learns what he has planned…

Lukas is going to sell Weber Haus so that Miss Tilly can retire. But Snowball is certain that this B&B, and these people, are supposed to be her forever home. Somehow she has to get these stubborn humans to see things through the wisdom of a cat’s eye and a kitten’s loyal, loving heart…

Excerpt from Snowball’s Christmas by Kristen McKanagh

© 2020
Kristen McKanagh

Snowball

I pause in my purring to peer closer at Emily’s face. I know something is wrong because she’s squeezing me tighter. A little too tight.

I give a mewl of protest, and she blinks, her frown morphing to vague confusion as she glances down at me. Emily blinks again, then loosens her grip.

Did she forget she was holding me?

That’s strange. I look over to see what she was frowning at. Only it’s not a what. It’s a who.

That man from the place with all the white stuff and the kids laughing loudly. The one who found me in her purse. I cock my head, studying him. Why is Emily mad at him? Other than ratting me out—such an appropriate phrase I learned recently—he seems like a nice person.

The man reaches out and runs a gentle hand over my fur. I snuggle into his touch and start my motor back up. You can tell a lot from how a person pets. I like him already.

About then, Miss Tilly bustles into the room. “Excellent. You’ve met,” she says.

“Not formally,” the man says. I like his voice, too. There’s kindness and something comforting in the deep tones. I’d like to snuggle under his chin and take a nap.

“Oh,” Miss Tilly says in that floaty way she has sometimes. “Emily, I’d like you to meet my nephew, Lukas.” Tilly is glowing with pride.

I tip my head and stare at the man. This is the Lukas person she’s been talking about?

“Lukas,” Tilly continues. “This is Emily Diemer. Emily helps me run Weber Haus and is a fine baker.”

The Lukas man smiles. He has a nice smile, I decide. It reaches all the way to his eyes.

“A pleasure to formally meet you. Tilly’s told me a lot . . .” He trails off.

I glance up at Emily because she’s squeezing me again.

You’re Tilly’s nephew?”

Her voice does not sound very pleased. What did this guy do to her? I’m the one he outed by telling her I was in her purse.

Lukas must be thinking the same thing, because his eyebrows scrunch up all funny. “Is that a bad thing?”

Emily opens her mouth, then her gaze strays to Miss Tilly. She seems to rethink her words. “I’m sure Tilly is thrilled to have you home. She’s talked of nothing and no one else for weeks,” she says. Only her smile doesn’t reach her eyes. “How long are you staying? She wasn’t sure.”

Now she sounds too sweet. Not at all Emily-like. Emily is a lovely human, always quick to pet, but she’s also straightforward. At least, that’s what Miss Tilly calls her. Sweet sounds all wrong from her mouth—like too much cream, smothering her words.

I wiggle in her grasp, and she lowers me to the floor. I have instincts for humans. Maybe if I show her Lukas is a nice one, she’ll stop acting so . . . strange. I scoot over to him and wind myself around his ankles. Lukas chuckles. A deep sound that makes me happy. I like it even better when he bends over and runs a hand over my back. I arch up into his touch.

See, Emily. He’s nice.

I glance over to make sure she’s getting the message, only Emily is watching me with her lips pushing forward, kind of pinched.

“Traitor,” she mouths at me.

A snort from Lukas tells both Emily and me that he caught that. Her cheeks go red.

“If you’ll excuse me, I need to get the rest of the groceries before I get started on lunch.”

Emily hurries out of the room, the screen door closing behind her with a bang that makes me jump. Lukas straightens and watches her go, the corners of his mouth lifting.

Is it just me? Or is there something going on between these two? Like a low hum in the air. Two humans I like should like each other, I decide. Maybe they need a little help to figure it out.

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About Kristen McKanagh

Sweet contemporary and Amish romance author Kristen McKanagh grew up consuming books and exploring the world through her writing. She attempted to find a practical career by earning a degree in English Rhetoric (Technical Writing) and an MBA. However, she swiftly discovered that writing without imagination is not nearly as fun as writing with it. Kristen also writes award-winning steamy contemporary romance as Kadie Scott, and award-winning paranormal and YA fantasy romance as Abigail Owen. No matter the genre, she loves to write happily-ever-afters that shine with home, heart, and humor. Kristen currently resides in Austin, Texas, with her own swoon-worthy hero husband and their two children, who are growing up way too fast.

Kristen McKanagh

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