by Hester Fox

In a small coastal town, a widow is a recluse and the townspeople call her a witch, accuse her of murdering her husband, and tell the new minister to avoid her. The new minister is not really a minister, but in homage to his dead wife, took an opportunity to fill the shoes of the man who was supposed to be the new minister but died in transit. Of course after all the warnings, he goes straight up to visit the reclusive widow.

It doesn't take long before an attraction forms between him and the widow, portending the romantic nature of the tale ahead, but it is also a mystery with various parts of the widow's history coming out in drips and drabs and reports of her by her staff that conflict with what the townspeople have to say.

I have to admit that this story balances between Romance and Mystery genres. I'm not a big fan of Romance for exactly many of the elements included in the plot, especially the sudden reveals at the end that had no real foreshadowing and the absolute stupidity of some of the choices the main characters make.

From a Mystery point of view, it has some strong merits, especially in that guessing who the culprit is could keep a Mystery reader's mind busy, as the whole town hates the widow and it could literally be anyone. There's also a secondary mystery about what exactly happened to the widow's husband. The reader gets a lot of teasers about this before it is finally revealed.

There was a lot to like about this story, but it lacked subtlety in both the romance and mystery aspects. The detailed clues were too sparse and the blossoming romance feels rather contrived. The connections at the end reminded me of an American soap opera, where suddenly you learn things that had no build up of any kind.

Having said that, it was easy to be sympathetic with the characters and there was good pacing to the plot and some drama at the end which while fairly predictable, kept my interest.

Reckless at Heart by Zoe York

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


It's been a while since I've visited Pearl Harbour, yet it seems like no time has passed at all. I guess once emotions are invested there is no turning back. York dishes up a handful of heartache and a heart full of wisdom with Reckless at Heart. Owen and Kerry are about to learn a few valuable lessons that by now each should have known by heart. When a surprise pregnancy rocks his world, single dad, Owen is about to get a crash course in what it means to love and forgive. So grab a few tissues and hold on to your heart, because if your not careful Zoe York could steal it right out of your chest.

Are you planning to go to Rose Bay kayak and have fun on the watersin New South Wales Australia? To enjoy a lot of happy returns after your kayaking adventures, follow the following simple guidelines.

Are you planning to go to Rose Bay kayak and have fun on the watersin New South Wales Australia? Before you step out your doorstep, you should understand that paddling off without taking some precautions is very dangerous. If you would like to enjoy a lot of happy returns after your kayaking adventures, follow the following simple guidelines.

Plan a kayaking trip within your capabilities

If you want to test your skills do it in a class and not on an unguided kayaking trip. You don’t have to be experts but everyone should be strong enough paddler to be able to handle the return distance with ease. If you are using a sit-in kayak then you need to know how to do a wet exit. You should have at least one person who knows how to do a T-rescue and a self-rescue. When you are new to kayaking, it is smart to reduce the possible complications when choosing your destination. Some of the attributes to look at when planning includes flat water, calm water, small water bodies, popular with other paddlers, not popular with powerboats, destinations where there is a tailwind on the way home and routes that keep you close to the shore.

Carry essential safety gear

You should ensure that you try everything so you know how to use it all. Some of the safety gear is simple to use while others are complicated. Some of the essential safety gear to carry to your Rose Bay kayak tours in New South Wales Australia include a whistle, PFD, communication device, bilge pump, spare paddle, paddle float, towline and headlamp. These are just the minimum safety gear that is recommended. Your tour guide will give you a more comprehensive list.

Dress for immersion

Remember you will be surrounded by water so hypothermia should be taken seriously. You need to know the temperature of the water and dress accordingly. If the water will be below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, you should wear a dry suit or a wet suit. When the temperature of the water is above 60 degrees Fahrenheit, you can still wear a wetsuit. The rule of thumb is that you should only leave the wetsuit at home when the combined water and air temperature is above 120 degrees.

Do not go solo

If you are an experienced kayaker, you can go it alone. However, you will still be reducing your margin of error if you take a friend along with you. A friend rescue is faster than a self-rescue. If you are hurt, you will not be able to rescue yourself. It is also more fun to share the kayaking experience with a friend. If you are going in a group, keep your group close. It will not be helpful to have friends and stretch out into a series of solo kayakers.

Rose Bay kayak tour experts in New South Wales Australia in Australia recommend everyone to be within earshot of another kayaker at all times. You should create and share a float plan together with your teammates. A float plan should include the name of every group member, where you are going, when you are going and what is to be done if you are out past the expected time.

It wouldn't be so hard if Evie and Caine weren't also fighting their attraction to each other. The first wish brings Caine into close proximity to Evie daily which allows the both of them to get to know each other better. The more they find out about each other the more they like each other until they both give in to the attraction and fall in love. Caine's Grandmother is not an easy woman and she is dead set on ruining the Gallaghers and if she has to scare away Evie to move things along she will.

Overall, this was a great story this is one of my favorites. What am I going to do without this series?