So book number 3 in 2018 is Turned Up by Erin Nicholas.

Dillon Alexander has been Kit Derby’s nemesis since third grade, when he beat her in the school spelling bee. They’ve been competing ever since, driving each other to be the best at everything from science fairs to bake sales. While working together one night during their senior year, they stopped bickering long enough to share an emotionally charged kiss. But a tragedy that same night left them both racked with guilt, driving Dillon out of town and leaving Kit determined to keep her distance.

Now an emergency room physician, Dillon has returned to their hometown of Chance, Nebraska. Soon he and Kit fall back into old habits, sparring in public while trying to stay out of each other’s arms. But when a blizzard traps them overnight at Kit’s grandmother’s farmhouse, the real competition begins: Who will be the first to give in to the feelings they’ve denied for a decade? (Thanks Amazon)

Turned Up is the third book in the Taking Chances trilogy by Erin Nicholas.  I’ve been meaning to read this for a while as I really enjoyed the first two so was very pleased when I finally got to it in my TBR pile!

Dillon and Kit both appeared in the previous two novels, so it was like coming back to old friends.  It was nice to finally learn a little more about the pair of them, and the reasons why they have been forced apart for so long.  What I really enjoy about trilogies such as this one is the fact that you get to revisit settings and characters – I loved catching up with Avery and Bree too.  I also liked coming back to Chance, a small, all-American town where the inhabitants all look out for each other.  As you all know, small town American romances are a favourite of mine and this one certainly fit the bill.

Dillon and Kit have undeniable chemistry, and its obvious from the outset that they each struggle to contain their feelings when they are around each other.  It was therefore nice to follow their story as they each learned that letting go of their past might not be such a bad thing after all.

If you want to read a light, easy romance then this is the book for you.  Whilst you don’t need to have read the first two in order to enjoy this, I definitely recommend that you do.  Happy Reading!

Rating: 📖 📖 📖 📖

So my latest book review, and second of 2018 is It Started With A Tweet by Anna Bell.

Daisy Hobson lives her whole life online. But when her social media obsession causes her to make a catastrophic mistake at work, Daisy finds her life going into free-fall . . .
Her sister Rosie thinks she has the answer to all of Daisy’s problems – a digital detox in a remote cottage in Cumbria. Soon, too, Daisy meets a welcome distraction there in Jack, the rugged man-next-door.
But can Daisy, a London girl, ever really settle into life in a tiny, isolated village?
And, more importantly, can she survive without her phone? (Thanks Netgalley)

So at a time when social media is everything – I get my childrens school updates, keep in touch with friends, and find new recipes all via social media – this novel is really rather fitting.  Can you cope without your smartphone?

Daisy Hobson cannot cope without her smartphone.  She lives her life via social media, so when she makes one mistake, one catastrophic mistake, she is forced off-line to fulfil an enforced digital detox with her sister.  Having lost her job and potentially her career, Daisy finds herself hidden away in a remote spot in Cumbria living a life she has never dreamed about and has certainly never wanted.  Her smartphone forcibly removed, she finds herself with no internet access and no idea what is going on beyond the outskirts of the small Cumbrian village.  Instead, Daisy has to look up and pay attention to what is going on around her.  She begins to make friends in the local village, including a certain neighbour, but she also starts to see whats happening within her own family.

This novel really does provide a few home truths when it comes to our usage of smartphones, tablets and laptops.  I know not only what my family are up to, but also almost every celebrity on the planet, at any time of day or night.  The question is: do we need to know? Also, is this knowledge stopping us having conversations?  Daisy’s journey from social media queen to a remote villager really highlights these issues.  She knows next to nothing of her sisters life prior to her enforced stay with her, yet she knows all about the lives of random strangers she’s never met.

Daisy and Rosie’s story is a journey, a journey that may become ever more common as all of our realities become more virtual.  I really enjoyed following their story, as they learned to be a part of each others lives again.  It raised some concerns for me, but ultimately I enjoyed the family element, the self-discovery that Daisy is forced to follow and the added fun of a little romance! It was an entertaining, often funny read that I really enjoyed! I definitely recommend!

Sometimes you just need to sit up and look at what is actually around you, rather than just exploring the ever increasing virtual world we all find ourselves in.

Rating: 📖 📖 📖 📖

Thanks to Netgalley and Bonnier Zaffre for a copy of this novel in return for my honest review.