Novellas #2 Reviews & Giveaway: Castle Hill: A Joss & Braden Novella & Wanderlust

As I've stated before, I’m especially fond of novellas. They can provide a romance and wrap it up in just a small amount of pages providing you with the quick fix you crave if you’re short on time. Today I'm sharing a review of two that recently captured my heart: Castle Hill: A Joss and Braden Novella by Samantha Young and Wanderlust by Kitty French, and I'm giving away an e-Copy of both to one lucky reader!

Castle Hill: A Joss and Braden Novella (On Dublin Street #2.5) by Samantha Young

Publication Date: December 3rd 2013 by NAL Intermix

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About the book:

Braden Carmichael never imagined he’d fall as hard and as fast as he did for Jocelyn Butler. He also could not have anticipated how difficult it would be to convince her to give in to love. But now that he has her, he’s never letting go. He’s got it all planned—the passionate proposal, the dream wedding, the sexy Hawaiian honeymoon—even the perfect family they’ll start.
After trying to flee from her painful past, Joss is finally allowing herself to embrace the future. But when things start moving faster than she anticipated, she finds herself panicking over something Braden can’t understand. After everything they’ve been through, Joss is sure that their love can survive even her worst fears. But, this time, she may push Braden too far—and risk losing everything all over again…

My Thoughts:

Castle Hill was a perfect catch up with one of my favorite couples, Braden and Joss.  Getting to witness their most important moments filled me with joy.

On Dublin Street we were fast forwarded to Braden and Joss’ wedding and didn’t get to see the beautiful proposal or what happened after the wedding.  Seeing all of that in this novella brought back every reason why I loved this couple so much in the first place.  Their sizzling chemistry, intense passion and their desperate love that they share is addictive, and a sheer pleasure to witness.  As usual they can’t get enough of each other, but as with any normal couple, not everything is smooth sailing.  When you love someone so intensely they have the power to make you immensely happy, but also, hurt you deeply. 

Joss having lost all of her family makes her deathly afraid to lose anything precious in the future.  She’s been working through that fear and has come a long way as evidenced by letting Braden and Ellie in so thoroughly, but that doesn’t mean she’s all the way cured.  The idea of having children is something that sends her into a panic and this hurts Braden.  One misunderstanding leaves their hearts battered and bruised, but we know they’ll find a way to work things out!

With a little bit of angst to make their HEA all the more sweet, this novella was perfectly lovely! *sigh*

Favorite Quote:

“I love you, you love me, our family loves us and they’re right here beside us. Nothing else matters. So no fears for the future, no fear that you’ll f*ck it up beyond repair. Life isn’t perfect, we aren’t perfect, but I’m telling you now, Jocelyn, we’re indestructible. Stop shaking, and just marry me.”

4 Suns

Wanderlust A Holiday Story by Kitty French

Publication Date: November 5th 2013 by St. Martin's Press

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About the book:

Ruby has been in love with Ford since their university days, but she hasn't seen her former best friend in years--not since the one unforgettable kiss they shared right before he went off globe-trotting and she stayed behind. When he returns to town unexpectedly for their friends' New Year's Eve wedding, the sparks between them ignite, but can her wanderer ever settle down? Ford has never forgotten Ruby, or the kiss that changed everything between them, despite the many women he has tried to erase her with. His return to England for the wedding means a second chance with Ruby--but will one passion-filled evening with her be enough, or has he finally found his home?

My Thoughts:
Wanderlust was a short but oh-so-fulfilling romance!

Ruby is organizing and hosting her college friends wedding at the hotel/inn she manages. She doesn’t expect, Ford, her college best friend and unrequited love to come as he RSVP’d no. She’s surprised to find out that his plans changed, and he is indeed coming and staying at her inn! Ruby hasn’t seen Ford in eight years and now her heart is in a flutter! Before he left off to travel the globe, Ford planted a kiss to overshadow all other kisses on Ruby leaving her breathless, and then heartbroken when he left. Oh, Ruby! *sniff*

Ford meant to stay in touch with Ruby over the years but couldn’t bring himself to do it. He was secretly in love with Ruby all through college and the kiss he shared with her confirmed she was everything he dreamed of and more. But, Ford had wanted to travel and Ruby didn’t/couldn’t ask him to stay. Coming back to see her after all this time makes him eager and nervous at the same time. Has she moved on? Is she married to someone who loves her like she definitely deserves? He selfishly hopes not.

He might have travelled the world, but he’d been just as lonely as she had, because the one person who mattered wasn’t at his side.

This was short on pages but still a romance full of longing and hot chemistry! Unrequited love or second chance romances always give my heart a little jolt of pain at what’s been missed. Fear not, Ruby and Ford make up for the past in a short amount of time:

She was a woman consumed with molten lust for the man whose kiss had dissolved all of the good intentions she’d had of keeping things platonic. The fact that it had taken eight years to get over just one of Ford’s kisses didn’t matter once his mouth touched hers for a second time.

The history Ruby and Ford had made me root for them all the way, and Ms. French does not disappoint! The ending will leave you with your heart full of happiness! This is the way a novella should be done!

4 Suns

I’m giving away an e-Copy of each of these novellas to one reader through US Amazon or US Barnes & Noble only. I’ll end the giveaway the day of Castle Hill’s release: December 3^rd.  Simply fill out the rafflecopter below for a chance to win.  Thanks for visiting Waves of Fiction, and good luck! 

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