Simona's Corner of Dreams: September 2017

Saturday, 30 September 2017

Music of my Childhood

Music has always been a big part of my life, so obviously I started singeng and enjoying music very early.

Playback shows were the best thing, I participated every single time! Baby One More Time was for sure one oft he songs. Then there were Don’t Speak, I Will Always Love You and many more.

My fave bands were The Backstreet Boys, Ace of Bace, The Spice Girls, NSYNC, Westlife and Atomic Kitten.

In 2000 I watched Popstars on German television. The five girls, who won formed No Angels and I was their biggest fan. According to myself anyway ;). I went to see them live in Zurich, I remember it being one of my first real live concerts. After them Bro’Sis (4 guys, 2 girls) won the contest a year after. The did pop music as well, but a bit mixed with R’n’B and rap. I went to see them in the Hallenstadion, the big concert hall in Zurich. As a supporting act there was a band called Tears (they won the Swiss version of Popstars and I liked them too).

The year after my two fave Popstars bands were formed: Preluders and Overground, the whole thing was called boys vs girls. Of course I went to their concert and there I discovered Vanilla Ninja, my absolute fave band ever. I’m still a big fan and actually sad that they are not singng together anymore.

Vanilla Ninja are from Estonia, a band of four women (three in the end), who played a mixture of pop and rock. They have incredible voices and write most of their songs themselves. I loved them so much and of course went to see them live again! The represented Switzerland in the Eurovision song contest in 2005, which was fabulous. Lenna is still very active and sings with different bands. It’s always great to hear her voice.

Other than that I really enjoyed Destiny’s Child, Avril Lavigne, The Black Eyed Peas, Green Day, Hoobastank, Shakria and Pink. I’m sure I’m forgetting many more.

Another highlight was always Kelly Clarkson, she is just fantastic and Gareth Gates, I really loved him.

After that my adult life started, I will write about that music in a different post.

Who were your favourite acts of your childhood?

Thursday, 28 September 2017

Moonlight over Manhattan – by Sarah Morgan

Original Cover

My own copy

The blurb:

She'll risk everything for her own Christmas miracle…

Determined to conquer a lifetime of shyness, Harriet Knight challenges herself to do one thing a day in December that scares her, including celebrating Christmas without her family. But when dog walker Harriet meets her newest client, exuberant spaniel Madi, she adds an extra challenge to her list—dealing with Madi's temporary dog sitter, gruff doctor Ethan Black, and their very unexpected chemistry.

Ethan thought he was used to chaos, until he met Madi—how can one tiny dog cause such mayhem? To Ethan, the solution is simple—he will pay Harriet to share his New York apartment and provide twenty-four-hour care. But there's nothing simple about how Harriet makes him feel.

Ethan's kisses make Harriet shine brighter than the stars over moonlit Manhattan. But when his dog-sitting duties are over and Harriet returns to her own home, will she dare to take the biggest challenge of all—letting Ethan know he has her heart for life, not just for Christmas?

My Opinion:

*Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Sarah Morgan is the queen of New York. I absolutely adore her From Manhattan With Love series and couldn’t wait for this book.

We know the main character Harriet already, because her twin Fliss and her brother Daniel were featured in previous books of the series. Having this connection transported me right into the heart of this story.

Harriet looks after her clients’ dogs. Her newest one is spaniel Madi. Madi has a temporary dog sitter: Ethan Black, a very gorgeous ER doctor.

Harriet and Ethan have a very special chemistry from the start, but it takes time for the two of them to warm up to each other. That was very interesting to read about. They fall for each other, but things are not easy. They both have a past…

I loved getting insides to Ethan’s work as a doctor and we got to know other characters through that. Susan is absolutely fabulous!!! I have read Sarah Morgan’s books for years, so it made made really happy to read about the O’Neil family again I loved them from the start, especially Jackson and Kayla. Hearing what they have been up to, was great!

Harriet is a great character. I saw a little bit of myself in her and that always makes it easy to relate to a character. Of course I would have made some different decisions, but it's Harriet and she stayed true to herself!

I’m not a dog person at all, but I really liked Madi ;).

As I already said, Sarah Morgan is the queen of New York, but also manages to create a unique festive atmosphere around Christmas.

The storyline flows beautifully and Sarah Morgan’s writing is wonderful.

Love, romance, passion, Christmas, New York, a sexy doctor, lovable characters… that’s all you need in a book! LOVE!!!

Rating:

Sarah Morgan on Twitter: @SarahMorgan_

Website: http://sarahmorgan.com

Goodreads - Amazon UK - Amazon US

Wednesday, 27 September 2017

Release Day Blitz and Excerpt - Playing Defense by Aven Ellis

Dallas Demons #5 - can be read as a standalone

238 pages

Publisher - Soul Mate Publishing, LLC

Release Date - 27th September 2017

Blurb

After a string of bad set-ups and boring dates, Reese Brannon is done with men. She’s focused on her job as a fitness model and blogger. Her life in the city is fun. She’s young. There’s no need to look for a man because she doesn’t want one. Especially when relationships usually end in heartbreak.

Jean-Pierre Rochat—known as JP— is done with women. All this Swiss hockey player has ever wanted is to fall in love, but his relationships never end with a happily ever after. Believing he’s always going to be dealt the friend card, JP is over it. If he’s going to be stuck in the friend zone, he’ll keep things casual for his new endgame.

But will one hot Dallas summer night change everything for Reese and JP?

Because when the two meet again when JP returns for hockey season, Reese finds her attraction to him hasn’t waned since their first meeting. Charming and intelligent, JP is different in all the right ways, but Reese realizes letting him in will make her vulnerable, something that terrifies her. JP never forgot Reese from their initial introduction last winter, and the sparks fly for him even more so the second time. But with Reese, his thoughts are anything but casual . . .

Can JP and Reese let their guards down to take a chance on love? Or will this simply be a game of playing defense?

Excerpt

“JP,” I say, heading over to it. “You got a piano?”

“Yeah. My special delivery came today,” JP says, following me over to it. The piano is set up in the corner of his living room, next to the large bank of windows overlooking the city. “I can finally play again, which I’ve been wanting to do.”

“I didn’t know you played,” I say in amazement. “How did I not know this?”

“I love music,” JP says, sitting down on the bench. He pauses for a moment, rolling up the sleeves of his shirt and revealing his powerful, tanned forearms and causing my pulse to burn in response.

I swear there is nothing sexier than powerful forearms.

“I have to keep some things for you to discover about me,” JP says. “I’d hate for you to lose interest.”

“I don’t think you have to worry about that.”

“Good,” JP says. “Here, have a seat. I learned something for you today.”

My heart is about to burst as I sit down next to him.

“What?” I ask, amazed.

“It’s a piece in your honor,” JP says, flipping some sheet music.

His fingers begin flying across the keys, and a familiar tune fills the air.

I lose my breath as I realize what it is.

It’s “Under the Sea” from the movie The Little Mermaid.

JP begins to sing the words, his deep baritone filling the air, and I know he learned this song for his mermaid.

Me.

I swallow down tears as I listen to him sing. He’s an accomplished pianist, his fingers moving effortlessly as he plays. JP is a brilliant, amazing man with many gifts to give.

And he’s giving me this song.

Links

Amazon UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B073SG76TY/ref=x_gr_w_bb?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_bb_uk-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738

Amazon US - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073SG76TY?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwgoodco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B073SG76TY&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35624713-playing-defense

About the Author

I live in the Dallas area with my family. I enjoy clipping out recipes I will never get around to trying, working out, and chatting with friends on social media. I’m a hockey nut (Go Stars!) and watch as much as humanly possible. I also love shopping and fashion and admit to being obsessed with whatever the Duchess of Cambridge is wearing. In addition to be obsessed with the Duchess, I’m equally obsessed with any show or cookbook featuring Gordon Ramsay.