Review: The Fireside Inn (The Billionaire Bachelors #1) by Lily Everett

*I received a copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

They’re single, they’re rich, and now these billionaire bachelors are heading to Sanctuary Island in a new e-original novella series from Lily Everett! Fall in love with the island’s latest catch.

Leo, Zane, and Cooper made a pact to stay bachelors and enjoy the single life forever, and when they receive an invitation to their friend Miles’ wedding, they head down to Sanctuary Island determined to talk some sense into the errant groom before he makes a life-changing mistake. But Miles knows his own mind, and he makes a vow of his own: before he walks down the aisle, he’ll have Leo, Zane, and Cooper changing their tune about matrimony. Because Miles knows, better than anyone, that all it takes is a little Sanctuary Island magic to turn romantic cynics into true believers.

The Honorable Lord Leo Strathairn inherited his family’s money, his title, and his position in London society. When he meets Sanctuary Island’s funky young librarian, Serena Lightfoot, he’s determined to get a lot closer. Despite the simmering attraction between them, Serena isn’t at all interested in putting up with a pampered playboy. But as Leo ramps up his seduction attempts, Serena sees that he’s nothing like the empty-headed aristocrat she’d assumed.

Review:
It is time to face the truth, short stories are not my thing. Simply because, well, they are too short and everything always feels rushed.

Now I very much liked the characters, mostly Serena really. It's not often a librarian is able to catch the eye of a British Earl, but it seems miracles are happening on Sanctuary Islands.

There were other parts that were a bit too farfetched. Leo's secret is very much possible, though considering he is thirty-something that makes it impossible to have kept it a secret for so long. I mean, it really makes me wonder what he does all day.

If we skip that whole explanation and Leo's reasoning, we luckily still have the romance between our two lovebirds. I liked how Serena didn't let herself get too impressed with our billionaire and treated him like every other, except for the fact that she wants to rip his clothes off.

Like I said everything felt rushed, which happens very often with novellas and short stories. This all makes it less believable. Don't get me wrong. The Fireside Inn is very well written, the story just didn't really work for me.

I do like the author's other works as Louisa Edwards (love those foodie books). So I think I will give the Sanctuary Islands another chance with the full length novel Sanctuary Island.

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ReadWave: Running Home by Jack Durish

Before I give you Jack's story, I'll try to explain what ReadWave is. ReadWave's statement is "We believe that an amazing story can change your life - and that story can come from anyone - a well-known published author, or an unpublished and unknown writer. We created ReadWave to give all writers a place to share their stories and start building up a passionate readership." So ReadWave is a website where everyone can publish their stories, it's mostly short stories, but once in a while there are some novellas and novels.

Now every week they put one short story in the spotlight and if I like it, I will be posting it right here. I've put up the first part of this week's story and the rest you can read on the ReadWave website.

Running Home

THE BOY SKIPPED along the wooded lane, the dried leaves crunching under his feet, until he spotted the old man up ahead and increased his pace. In moments he caught up, took the old man's hand, and looked up with a smile bursting across his face. The old man stopped and looked down, bewilderment clouding his expression.

“How?” he asked, but the boy's smile was his only reply.

The old man looked around as though lost. He tried to find something familiar in the landscape. The boy waited patiently at his side. Once again, he met the boy's eyes and asked, “Where?”

The boy tipped his head to one side, his smile dissolving into a mask of concern. He raised his hand and pointed in the direction from which he had come. “There,” he said.

The old man peered back along the path the boy had run to catch up with him. It was the same one he had been walking, but he didn't recognize it. Again, he looked down at the boy and asked, “Why?”

The boy shrugged with one shoulder. His other was busy, locked to the arm and hand that joined him to the old man. “They're waiting for us,” he responded.

Straining his vision in the direction the boy had previously pointed to, the old man saw shapes that might have been people milling in a crowd. A few hands seemed to rise above the others and beckon to him. “When?” he asked.

The boy's smile spread across his face anew. “Now,” he said, “it's time.”

About Jack Durish

Jack was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1943. Growing up on the Chesapeake Bay exposed him to great storytellers and provided him with a warehouse of adventures to inspire his own stories. A soldier, a sailor, a husband, father, and grandfather, Jack now spins his tales in Southern California.

Connect with Jack Durish:

Website - Facebook - Twitter - ReadWave

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