Tag Archive: Crista McHugh


Loss, trauma and pain sometimes create the most beautiful of music and sometimes real life events and experiences give birth to some amazing stories of compassion, grit, will power along with the unconditional love and support of families and friends, as they stand behind their loved ones.

In the latest release of the Kelly Brothers Series, “A Seductive Melody”, Crista McHugh takes us on a journey with Ethan Kelly, the musician of the Kelly family. Ethan loses his best friend to drugs and his ability to make music, and as a last-ditch effort to save his life from the vice, goes into rehab. His journey of sobriety is not easy and he goes through pangs of pain and depravation. His only ally in this fight to stay alive is Rebecca Shores. Can he trust her with his second lease of life?

Rebecca Shores is a recovering addict, a far cry from the life of the socialite she had lived and was unsuccessful in pleasing her father. She works for a magazine waiting for that one chance to make a name for her. She ends up being Ethan’s sponsor. And right here she has the story of her career, to take her into the big leagues as she comes to know Ethan’s true identity. Can she betray Ethan’s trust?

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Together they go through the turbulent times of substance depravation, anonymous meetings and temptations that may take them over the ledge of no recovery. With Becca’s unrelenting support and will power, Ethan manages to stay away from cravings and slowly starts writing music on his own. Becca on the other hand with Ethan’s support, goes through the pain of dealing with her father and their past. Crista did a brilliant job of writing Ethan and Becca.

I loved how Crista incorporated her experiences through her profession in real life and what drug addicts go through. It not only changes their lives, but also the lives of the ones around them. She also gives us a glimpse of how the people react to addicts and recovering addicts, whether it is family or strangers. She teaches us that, it takes courage, will power and compassion to overcome addiction, and it takes a whole lot than just going to a few meetings.

Another impressive and inspiring story from Crista McHugh, a definite read!

Received a copy from Netgalley for an honest review.

Here comes another first for me – Anna Sullivan’s “Hideaway Cove”, second in her Windfall Island Series. Set off the coast of Maine, Windfall Island is a charming and lovable cove, of people who have lived there all their lives, of protecting their own townspeople, and of legacies and secrets.

Jessi Randal has lived her whole life on the island and she runs a charter plane service with her friend Maggie (Temptation Bay). Holden Abbot comes to the island in search of a missing heir of the Stanhope’s.

Left alone when she gets pregnant with Benjamin, Jessi has survived and created a whole new life around Benji. An excellent mother and a great friend, she sacrifices all her needs and desires to raise her son, and she does a fine job. When confronted with Benji’s father, loved the way she stands for herself and her son. The dialogue of a girl deserted, the pain of an unmarried mother raising her son alone amidst gossip, the strength and conviction of a woman who had managed to survive, was a brilliant read. I was never so proud of Jessi when she makes Lance’s entrance into their lives miserable.

Hold is the mesmerizing guy who falls for Jessi and loves her son unconditionally. As he continues to research and search for the missing heir, he breaks down the walls around Jessi. The possibility that Jessi and her son may be heirs bring out all the protective instincts in him. Love the way he goads Jessi into thinking of her needs and desires, and he was man enough to acknowledge that he is irrevocably in love with her. Their relationship was one roller-coaster ride of secrets, pain, stubbornness, love and finally trusting each other with their lives. What an enjoyable read!
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And the heir is still on the loose. Anna Sullivan maintains the intrigue and mystery surrounding the missing heir and the link to Windfall Island, leaving us wanting for more. Hideaway Cove can be read as a standalone, but for the uninitiated, it may be more pleasurable to start with her first book, “Temptation Bay” (Maggie and Dexter). I enjoyed reading it out of sequence, but “Temptation Bay” is alreayd in my list of TBR 🙂

A very charming, enthralling and captivating love story with a twist of mystery! Can’t wait to read the third in this series, “Secret Harbor”, and the mystery of the heir may just get a closure.

Received a copy courtesy Netgalley for an honest review.

Whatever happened at Comic-Con sure did not stay at Comic-Con……

The Heart’s Game is book 4 in the Kelly Brothers series by Crista McHugh and I loved it!!!! Crista keeps getting better and better as she progresses through the Kelly Brothers. There was so much more depth to her stories now and the characters are better defined. I love reading books with big families and their many ups and downs, yet they all come together when the need rises.

I totally loved Jenny Nguyen and her spunk. Coming from a typical conservative India family, I can totally relate to Jenny with her family and their reservations, customs and traditions. Families want the best of the western world, yet can’t let go of certain customs and let their children move forward. Despite these boundaries, I am so proud of Jenny when she decides to become a surrogate mother of her brother.

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Daniel Kelly is a sweetheart who loves his family including the many celebrities he’s related by blood. A well-known surgeon and kind at heart, he loves Jenny to the core and persistently woes her until she breaks down. And his whole family embraces Jenny with unconditional love and support. Dan is one heck of a guy with some much love, kindness and so very gentle with Jenny.

The doctor and the robotics engineer sure create some sizzling chemistry from the moment they meet at Comic-Con. They can’t stay out of each other’s life, even as they try to get past their insecurities, especially with Jenny’s family, and find themselves strong enough to weather the issues, they were thrown into. Lot of humorous banter among the family members, support and love from friends and siblings, and throw in the geeky relationship of Dan and Jenny, The Heart’s Game is a winner all the way.

Though the books can be read as standalone, I personally enjoyed reading them in sequence – The Sweetest Seduction, Breakaway Hearts and Falling For The Wingman (Books 1-3).

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