tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21490262943255774592024-03-18T18:09:32.052-05:00Must Read Books or DieA Book Review Blog dedicated to the love of reading between two friends. Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08164599906143532850noreply@blogger.comBlogger3501125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149026294325577459.post-45336705890545784172024-03-18T18:09:00.000-05:002024-03-18T18:09:00.139-05:00REVIEW: The Stranger I Wed by Harper St. George<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/W/MEDIAX_792452-T2/images/I/912UpOMsMAL._SY466_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="302" height="466" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/W/MEDIAX_792452-T2/images/I/912UpOMsMAL._SY466_.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>OUR REVIEW:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>The Stranger I Wed</i> is the first book in <i>The Doves of New York Series</i>; a series about three sisters and their mother going to London to try to change their lives, due to manipulations of the 'patriarch' of their family. This first book introduces us to the entire Dove family but focuses on Cora, the oldest sister, and the one who instigates their move to London, after confronting her father and discovering conditions on her inheritance. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When they arrive in London, the sisters begin scouting their prospects and on one such scouting exhibition, Cora meets her future spouse, the Earl of Devonworth when he accidentally runs her over while playing football. As one might expect, they both find the other fascinating and because of the nature of him needing money and her needing a title, they end up marrying fairly quickly after that meeting. Initially the marriage is one of convenience--he needs the cash and she needs the security his title offers; he doesn't want to risk his heart and she most definitely doesn't want that either. What she does want, however, is independence and freedom. As they get to know each other, their resolve to not <i>know</i> each other disappears and with that respect and love blooms. Before you know it, they're writing together, laughing together, and seem like a team--something neither of them anticipated. Of course, because this is a romance, there's that hesitation about whether this development in their marriage is something that they want. With a little conflict and reflection and resolution, these two find their happily ever after and now we get to see Eliza's journey from single New Yorker to the newest belle of London. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>BUY IT: <a href="https://amzn.to/3RYWTd0" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3RYWTd0</a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">SYNOPSIS:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700; text-align: start;">New to wealth and to London high society, American heiress Cora Dove discovers that with the right man, marriage might not be such an inconvenience after all. . . .</span></div><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; text-align: start;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div style="text-align: left;">Cora Dove and her sisters’ questionable legitimacy has been the lifelong subject of New York’s gossipmongers and a continual stain on their father’s reputation. So when the girls each receive a generous, guilt-induced dowry from their dying grandmother, the sly Mr. Hathaway vows to release their funds only if Cora and her sisters can procure suitable husbands—far from New York. For Cora, England is a fresh start. She has no delusions of love, but a husband who will respect her independence? That’s an earl worth fighting for.</div></span><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div style="text-align: left;">Enter: Leopold Brendon, Earl of Devonworth, a no-nonsense member of Parliament whose plan to pass a Public Health bill that would provide clean water to the working class requires the backing of a wealthy wife. He just never expected to crave Cora’s touch or yearn to hear her thoughts on his campaign—or to discover that his seemingly perfect bride protects so many secrets...</div></span><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div style="text-align: left;">But secrets have a way of bubbling to the surface, and Devonworth has a few of his own. With their pasts laid bare and Cora’s budding passion for women’s rights taking a dangerous turn, they’ll learn the true cost of losing their heart to a stranger—and that love is worth any price.</div></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p></p>Must Read Books or Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07391475688531648678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149026294325577459.post-44889273829799060012024-03-11T18:39:00.001-05:002024-03-11T18:39:00.133-05:00REVIEW: Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/W/MEDIAX_792452-T2/images/I/41TMY-+H5mL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="293" height="445" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/W/MEDIAX_792452-T2/images/I/41TMY-+H5mL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" width="293" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>OUR REVIEW:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">I ended up enjoying this novel so much that I'm still thinking about it days later....and I honestly didn't expect that at all. As a matter of fact, at the very beginning of this novel, I wasn't sure how I felt about these characters. Josephine seemed <i>too</i> fangirl-y and Wells seemed <i>too</i> cantankerous, but once I actually spent some time with these two, I found them to be fun to get to know and read. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Josephine almost seems too good to be true--she's loyal and kind and wise...as maybe a smidge stubborn. She's self-aware and also aware of what she's walking into when she agrees to work with Wells. Wells, while definitely cantankerous, is actually a huge softie when given the chance to be. He's got some serious trust issues but once he feels the full force of Josephine (and her family), he comes to know and understand what it feels like to be treated with respect and love, which causes him to be less of an asshat and more of the good guy he really is.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">The banter, the chemistry, the backstory, and the love story all captured my attention, gave me the giggles, and had me missing these two when it was all over--if that's not the sign of a good read, I don't know what is. </span></div><br /> <span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>BUY IT: https://amzn.to/3vgHA6x</b></span><p></p><p><b>SYNOPSIS:<br /><br /></b></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">1 </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">New York Times</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;"> bestselling author Tessa Bailey launches a super sexy sports romance duology with a rom-com about a bad boy professional athlete who falls for his biggest fan...</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Wells Whitaker was once golf’s hottest rising star, but lately, all he has to show for his “promising” career is a killer hangover, a collection of broken clubs, and one remaining supporter. No matter how bad he plays, the beautiful, sunny redhead is always on the sidelines. He curses, she cheers. He scowls, she smiles. But when Wells quits in a blaze of glory and his fangirl finally goes home, he knows he made the greatest mistake of his life.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Josephine Doyle believed in the gorgeous, grumpy golfer, even when he didn’t believe in himself. Yet after he throws in the towel, she begins to wonder if her faith was misplaced. Then a determined Wells shows up at her door with a wild proposal: be his new caddy, help him turn his game around, and split the prize money. And considering Josephine’s professional and personal life is in shambles, she could really use the cash…</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">As they travel together, spending days on the green and nights in neighboring hotel rooms, sparks fly. Before long, they’re inseparable, Wells starts winning again, and Josephine is surprised to find a sweet, thoughtful guy underneath his gruff, growly exterior. This hot man wants to brush her hair, feed her snacks, and take bubble baths together? Is this real life? But Wells is technically her boss and an athlete falling for his fangirl would be ridiculous… right?</span></p>Must Read Books or Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07391475688531648678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149026294325577459.post-75735882730868864102024-03-09T23:00:00.002-06:002024-03-09T23:00:25.888-06:00REVIEW: Heartbreaker Handoff by Lex Martin<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81doUk0nchL._SY466_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="311" height="466" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81doUk0nchL._SY466_.jpg" width="311" /></a></div><br /><b>OUR REIVIEW:</b><p></p><p>I CanNOT <i>BELIEVE </i>HE JUST SAID THAT....is something you will find yourself applying to many of the men in this book, at many times in the book. Sometimes you'll think it in an amusing way and sometimes you'll be so pissed you'll want to rage throw the book. Putting that aside, I enjoyed Roxy and Billy's story. These two were secondary characters in previous books in the series and, of course, I've been curious about them and who they'd end up with. </p><p>Between Billy and Roxy, you couldn't have two nicer characters. They are genuinely good people who care about the people around them and try to do their best by them, which includes helping each other out. She needs a fake boyfriend and he needs to appear to be settled down and so why not each other? It doesn't hurt that they're both attracted to each other, like each other, and would actually like to date. As they get to know each other and fall for each other, their story gets sweeter and sweeter. Of course there are moments (see my first sentence), but honestly, the angsty bits were not too torturous and made their HEA that much sweeter. </p><p><br /></p><p>As I've said all along, this series is like catnip for me--this single parent/surprise pregnancy trope is, for some crazy reason, my jam and I can't stop won't stop.</p><p>BUY IT: <a href="https://amzn.to/3Tq7QVz" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3Tq7QVz</a></p><p><br /></p><p>SYNOPSIS<br /><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">Billy’s not my baby daddy, but he doesn’t mind pretending to be…</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">I’m a Division 1 cheerleader with hopes of becoming a sports broadcaster. None of my plans for college include getting knocked up by a cheating ex who just got engaged to another girl.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">When my father finds out I’m pregnant, he goes ballistic. That’s when my BFF, bad boy Billy Babcock, comes to my rescue and agrees to “take responsibility.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Billy and I solidify our contract on a napkin—he’ll pretend to be my baby’s father, and I’ll help him clean up his image. The only problem is my father, the football coach, hates Billy. He warned me off dating players a long time ago, and he thinks Billy’s the biggest </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important;">player</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> out there.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Now that we’re in a “relationship,” Billy thinks we should spend some quality naked time together, but I’m worried about crossing that line. Because athletic guys with big muscles, intricate tattoos, and sexy smirks are my biggest weakness, and Billy ticks off all those boxes.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">Can my football player “boyfriend” walk the straight and narrow for me? Or did I just get handed off from one heartbreaker to another?</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">* * *</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">Heartbreaker Handoff is an angsty, friends-to-lovers, forbidden romance featuring a sassy cheerleader, who’s about to be a single mother, and a criminally charming football player determined to prove he’s the man for her, one sizzling kiss at a time. Heartbreaker Handoff is a dual POV standalone in the </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">USA Today</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">-bestselling series Varsity Dads.</span></p>Must Read Books or Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07391475688531648678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149026294325577459.post-65598235085657465692024-03-05T18:03:00.001-06:002024-03-05T18:03:00.126-06:00REVIEW: This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/W/MEDIAX_792452-T2/images/I/51hW2oDKdtL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="297" height="445" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/W/MEDIAX_792452-T2/images/I/51hW2oDKdtL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>OUR REVIEW:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>This Could Be Us</i> has to be one of the most anticipated new releases of 2024, with good reason. Kennedy Ryan is a force, as evidenced by everything she's ever written; her novels immediately suck you in and hold you in their thrall until the very last word, and even at that last word, you find yourself hoping for more words, more pages, more chapters, more everything because you aren't quite ready to leave the world she's created. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the case of <i>This Could Be Us</i>, we get the story of Soledad and Judah--two people who would seem to never work, if for no other reason than how they find themselves entangled, but work so very well. But before we even get to know that, we get to know them...and that's one of the many reasons why I love Kennedy Ryan's novels. We get to really know Soledad and Judah; we get to see them develop, to see what they like and don't, to see how they work as themselves, by themselves, before we ever see them working together. By the time we see them <i>together</i> together, we love them and are dying for them to be together. DYING. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So what's so special about these two? Judah is the most amazing father, ex-husband/co-parent you can imagine. He's very involved in the care and loving of his children, considerate of the needs of others, and gives zero effs when it comes to things like the opinions of people who don't mean anything to him. He's strong and compassionate and just a completely evolved human being. I can't think of one thing I don't love about him. Likewise, Soledad is also an amazing mother; she's willing to do what it takes to secure normalcy and continuity for her daughters (after her scum of the earth husband/ex-husband does them dirty), while also treating them like humans--not shielding them from all the hard things, but not tainting them with ugliness either. She knows when to give and when to take. She listens and explores and ponders and takes the time to really know who she is and what she wants. She's strong and loving and empathetic and wonderful. She and Judah are really the perfect counterparts and I have no idea how Kennedy Ryan does this--she keeps creating the most perfectly imperfect, and therefore believable and loveable, characters. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In addition to all of the wonderfulness that is Soledad and Judah, we get to check in on the characters we met in <i>Before I Let Go</i>, which is always a treat. We get to imagine the awesomeness that will be Hendrix's story while also reveling in the updates of the characters we got to know in the first book of the <i>Skyland</i> <i>Series</i>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And of course, Kennedy Ryan is always so well researched and knowledgeable about the representation in her novels. While I have only tangential experiences in real life with some of the backgrounds and experiences of that of her fictional characters, I appreciate how she continues to give us characters from all sorts of backgrounds and experiences and strives to write them realistically; Ryan's novels are truly the epitome of literature being a mirror or window and I love having the reading journey I do when I pick up her novels. She's also masterful at leaving us wanting more and I can tell you right now, you're going to want her next novel in you hands as soon as you finish <i>The Could Be Us</i>. </div><p><i>Before I Let Go</i> is a five start read and I cannot wait for everyone to read it. </p><p><br /></p><p><b>BUY IT: <a href="https://amzn.to/48DrUJ3" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/48DrUJ3</a></b></p><p><br /></p><p>SYNOPSIS:<br /><br /></p><p><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Soledad Barnes has her life all planned out. Because, of course, she does. She plans everything. She designs everything. She </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic !important;">fixes</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> everything. She’s a domestic goddess who's never met a party she couldn't host or a charge she couldn't lead. The one with all the answers and the perfect vinaigrette for that summer salad. But none of her varied talents can save her when catastrophe strikes, and the life she built with the man who was supposed to be her forever, goes </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic !important;">poof</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> in a cloud of betrayal and disillusion.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></p><br /> <span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">But there is no time to pout or sulk, or even grieve the life she lost. She's too busy keeping a roof over her daughters' heads and food on the table. And in the process of saving them all, Soledad rediscovers herself. From the ashes of a life burned to the ground, something bold and new can rise.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /> <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />But then an unlikely man enters the picture—the forbidden one, the one she shouldn't want but can't seem to resist. She's lost it all before and refuses to repeat her mistakes. Can she trust him? Can she trust </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic !important;">herself</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /> <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />After all she's lost . . .and found . . .can she be brave enough to make room for what could be?</span><p></p>Must Read Books or Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07391475688531648678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149026294325577459.post-8699217854539501092024-03-04T18:29:00.010-06:002024-03-04T18:29:00.129-06:00REVIEW: Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71LbbmdxsGL._SY466_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="304" height="466" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71LbbmdxsGL._SY466_.jpg" width="304" /></a></div><p><br /></p><b>OUR REVIEW:</b><p></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif, EmojiFont, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", NotoColorEmoji, "Segoe UI Symbol", "Android Emoji", EmojiSymbols; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i>Expiration Dates</i> is the third novel I've read of Rebecca Serle and one thing that I've come to learn about her works is that she doesn't repeat tropes or build on ideas/characters/content from previous novels--so I never know what, exactly, I'm going to get. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif, EmojiFont, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", NotoColorEmoji, "Segoe UI Symbol", "Android Emoji", EmojiSymbols; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif, EmojiFont, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", NotoColorEmoji, "Segoe UI Symbol", "Android Emoji", EmojiSymbols; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i>Expiration Dates</i> is unlike any other romance that I've read. It's based on the main character, Daphne, and that she gets these mysterious notes that tell her how long a relationship with a certain man will last. Because of that, she never really fully opens herself to the possibilities of that relationship because she knows there's an end date. While she finds pleasure in her relationships and sometimes, even, allows herself to be more of herself with some of her partners, it's really only 2 partners that we see her begin to fully be herself. And it's because of all of this that for the first half of the novel, I felt disconnected...because she felt disconnected. Everything up to the halfway mark felt so matter of fact and didn't really back an emotional punch--it was more of a retelling of her past relationships than an emotional unfolding of her story. Then we learn more about her and why she does certain things or seems so matter of fact and that's when I became more invested in what was happening with Daphne and Jake.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif, EmojiFont, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", NotoColorEmoji, "Segoe UI Symbol", "Android Emoji", EmojiSymbols; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif, EmojiFont, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", NotoColorEmoji, "Segoe UI Symbol", "Android Emoji", EmojiSymbols; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i>Expiration Dates</i> has a unique take on fate and love and while it wasn't what I was expecting, it was still an interesting read.</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> BUY IT: <a href="https://amzn.to/3QlYxU0" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3QlYxU0</a></span></p><p>SYNOPSIS:</p><p><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Daphne Bell believes the universe has a plan for her. Every time she meets a new man</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;">, </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">she receives a slip of paper with his name and a number on it—the exact amount of time they will be together. The papers told her she’d spend three days with Martin in Paris; five weeks with Noah in San Francisco; and three months with Hugo, her ex-boyfriend turned best friend. Daphne has been receiving the numbered papers for over twenty years, always wondering when there might be one without an expiration. Finally, the night of a blind date at her favorite Los Angeles restaurant, there’s only a name: Jake.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />But as Jake and Daphne’s story unfolds, Daphne finds herself doubting the paper’s prediction, and wrestling with what it means to be both committed and truthful. Because Daphne knows things Jake doesn’t, information that—if he found out—would break his heart.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Told with her signature warmth and insight into matters of the heart, Rebecca Serle has finally set her sights on romantic love. The result is a gripping, emotional, passionate, and (yes) heartbreaking novel about what it means to be single, what it means to find love, and ultimately how we define each of them for ourselves. </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic !important;">Expiration Dates </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">is the one fans have been waiting for.</span></p>Must Read Books or Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07391475688531648678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149026294325577459.post-11580400786271730032024-02-26T06:00:00.047-06:002024-02-26T06:00:00.141-06:00REVIEW: The Graham Effect by Elle Kennedy<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/W/MEDIAX_792452-T2/images/I/71Kj0XAebjL._SY466_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="315" height="466" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/W/MEDIAX_792452-T2/images/I/71Kj0XAebjL._SY466_.jpg" width="315" /></a></div><br /><b>OUR REVIEW:</b><p></p><p> I haven't read all of the <i>Briar U</i> or <i>Off Campus</i> books but that didn't stop me from enjoying <i>The Graham Effect</i>. I'm sure I missed some of the references to past stories and characters, ultimately I didn't need to know all of these to have fun with Gigi and Ryder. I loved that this romance featured two hockey players--I'm not sure I've read a romance where both athletes play the same sport and therefore understand each other on a whole other level because of it. I enjoyed how strong both of these characters were and that their conflict wasn't really with each other at all, though they enjoyed snarking at each other for a while, and that the conflicts that existed seemed appropriately tense but not over the top. Gigi had a strong sense of herself and her goals and that allowed her to be the lead in how to 'do' this relationship. She showed Ryder how to open up and feel...to be there in ways he hadn't really been able to be there for others. And Ryder's trusting her gave her something she didn't know she needed either.</p><p><br /></p><p>While <i>The Graham Effect</i> started a smidge slow for me, by the time I was hooked, I was hooked. I was laughing at some of the foolishness happening with Ryder's roommates and teammates and turning the pages, knowing that their happily ever after would be so good. It was. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series, while grabbing the backlist of these older series to catch up with the first generation of these characters.</p><p><b>BUY IT: <a href="https://amzn.to/4atcHfm" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/4atcHfm</a></b></p><p><br /></p><p>SYNOPSIS:</p><p><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;">The first book in the delicious, icy-hot Campus Diaries series, a spinoff of BookTok sensations Off-Campus and Briar U, by </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">New York Times</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;"> bestselling author Elle Kennedy.</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Gigi Graham has exactly three goals: qualify for the women’s national hockey team, win Olympic gold, and step out of her famous father’s shadow. So far, so good, except for two little things. Fine–a little thing and a big, grumpy thing. She needs to improve her game behind the net, and she needs help from Luke Ryder.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Ryder is six-foot five, built, opinionated, rude…and sexy as hell. But he’s still the enemy.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Briar’s new hockey co-captain has his reasons, though. The men’s team just merged with a rival program, leaving Ryder with an angry roster where everyone hates one another’s guts. To make matters worse, the summer coaching spot he’s angling for with the legendary Garrett Graham is out of reach after he makes the worst possible first impression on his hero. So, really, this compromise with Gigi is win-win. He helps her make the national team, she puts in a good word<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />with her dad.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The only potential snag? This bone-deep, body-numbing, mind-spinning chemistry they’re trying to ignore. It’s a dangerous game they’re playing, but the risks just might be worth it.</span></p>Must Read Books or Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07391475688531648678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149026294325577459.post-49798028183687750832024-02-19T06:00:00.000-06:002024-02-19T06:00:00.142-06:00REVIEW: Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/W/MEDIAX_792452-T2/images/I/61CrGbiVSnL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="296" height="445" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/W/MEDIAX_792452-T2/images/I/61CrGbiVSnL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" width="296" /></a></div><p>OUR REVIEW:</p><p>This series is going to be the death of me...the wait alone is for book 3 may end me. The way that book two ends ...I just.... ugh. I can't wait for Court to finish it so we can both speculate on all the things. In the meantime....Violet and Xaden's story picks up right where we left off in <i>Fourth Wing</i>. We get more answers about Brennan. We get more intrigue. More history. More evil. More romance. And the beauty of it is that we get all of that from the comfort of knowing these characters, so you get to settle in and just enjoy the interactions, while deepening knowledge of who they are, which means that when new characters are introduced, it's not overwhelming because you already feel so comfortable with the characters from book 1. </p><p><br /></p><p>Violet seems stronger than ever and Xaden seems more human and their relationship? More complicated than ever. Each of them contribute to the complexity and it's kind of infuriating, even though there are times when you get why they're each dug into their positions.</p><p><br /></p><p>I'm loving getting to know the secondary characters, too. They add humor and conflict and tension and relief and enrich and already engaging read--you can't help but root for all of them. And don't even get me started on the dragons--their snark and commentary is perfect.</p><p><br /></p><p>This review kinda sucks but I'm realizing how hard it is to write without spoiling too much (but I will say that I accidentally happened on some HUGE spoilers for this book and it didn't take away from my enjoyment of reading, at all), so I'll just end with a huge, gushing READ THIS SERIES. IT'S SO GOOD.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>BUY IT: https://amzn.to/41qsur7</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p>SYNOPSIS:</p><p><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College—Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Now the </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic !important;">real</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> training begins, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll get through. It’s not just that it’s grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it’s designed to stretch the riders’ capacity for pain beyond endurance. It’s the new vice commandant, who’s made it his personal mission to teach Violet </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic !important;">exactly</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> how powerless she is–unless she betrays the man she loves.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Although Violet’s body might be weaker and frailer than everyone else’s, she still has her wits—and a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has taught her: </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic !important;">Dragon riders make their own rules</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />But a determination to survive won’t be enough this year.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Because Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College—and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The Empyrean series is best enjoyed in order.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Reading Order:<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Book #1 Fourth Wing<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Book #2 Iron Flame</span></p><br /> <p></p>Must Read Books or Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07391475688531648678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149026294325577459.post-27887089247571653172024-02-12T08:00:00.001-06:002024-02-12T08:00:00.140-06:00REVIEW: Wildfire by Hannah Grace<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71FKJlzloRL._SY466_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="300" height="466" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71FKJlzloRL._SY466_.jpg" width="300" /></a> </div><p></p><p><b>OUR REVIEW:</b></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">The next novel in the <i>Maple Hills Series, Wildfire, </i>features Russ ("muffin") and Aurora and since we didn't learn too much about them in <i>Icebreaker</i>, the first part of the novel gives us a deep dive into their histories, flaws, and their strengths. Russ is battling some serious self confidence issues, brought on by a craptastic family issues. Aurora, too, has some crummy family issues and has allowed that to fuel some impulsive, self destructive choices. Together these two should be a disaster-their first hook up made it seemed like it would be-but they're actually good for each other and to each other. Aurora provides space for Russ to be vulnerable and honest about his upbringing and he returns the favor by being a good listener as she reveals her fears and desires to change. All of this is happening while they work as camp counselors at a summer camp, where it's strictly forbidden to hook up with each other. While they try hard to abide by that rule, it's inevitable that they can't resist each other...and the forbidden nature of it makes it that much more fun. </span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Hannah Grace makes it easy to get sucked in to the world she creates and when you finish you can't help but want to read her next thing...which I know we're all hoping will be Henry or JJ or having met Xander, Xander. So many options and future reads. Can't wait. </span></p><p><br /></p><p><b>BUY IT: <a href="https://amzn.to/3Rkt9XO" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3Rkt9XO</a></b></p><p>SYNOPSIS:<br /><br /></p><p><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;">The latest in the TikTok sensation and deliciously “swoonworthy” (Elena Armas, </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">New York Times </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;">bestselling author) Maple Hills series follows two summer camp counselors who reconnect after a sizzling one-night stand.</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Maple Hills students Russ Callaghan and Aurora Roberts cross paths at a party celebrating the end of the academic year, where a drinking game results in them having a passionate one-night stand. Never one to overstay her welcome (or expect much from a man), Aurora slips away before Russ even has the chance to ask for her full name.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Imagine their surprise when they bump into each other on the first day of the summer camp where they are both counselors, hoping to escape their complicated home lives by spending the summer working. Russ hopes if he gets far enough away from Maple Hills, he can avoid dealing with the repercussions of his father’s gambling addiction, while Aurora is tired of craving attention from everyone around her, and wants to go back to the last place she truly felt at home.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Russ knows breaking the camp’s strict “no staff fraternizing” rule will have him heading back to Maple Hills before the summer is over, but unfortunately for him, Aurora has never been very good at caring about the rules. Will the two learn to peacefully coexist? Or did their one night together start a fire they can’t put out?</span></p>Must Read Books or Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07391475688531648678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149026294325577459.post-16675334509208934092024-02-05T23:11:00.005-06:002024-02-05T23:11:00.156-06:00REVIEW: Rainfall by Alison Rhymes<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81IWL13xpRL._SY466_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="291" height="466" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81IWL13xpRL._SY466_.jpg" width="291" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">OUR REVIEW:</span></b></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Admittedly, I'm very out of the loop in the current book world. Between work and teenage daughters and chemo brainfog, I have been just snagging books when I see them being posted online by someone else...not even knowing to anticipate them because I'm just in a different realm of my life many days. All that to say that when I saw Alison Rhyme's had a new novel that looked like the beginnings of a new series, I quickly grabbed it and dug in.</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i>Rainfall</i> is the beginnings of a new series, I think? It features all new characters and a new sport, hockey. It also features one of my favorite tropes--the secret baby trope. I should also forewarn you, as I can see that many reviewers have a *thing* about cheating, that there's definitely that too. In the case of Isla and Cillian, they meet because he's a player in her father's junior hockey league, they fall in love as teenagers, and when he eventually gets drafted into the NHL, things go wrong. There's long distance, a shady girl situation, and then a shut down of communication when things go terribly terribly wrong. Fast forward to several years later and Cillian has been moved to Isla's dad's professional NHL team and that's when all the secrets and lies are revealed.</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">I know that the tropes, the decisions and consequences, and overall not great choices are not everyone's cup of tea and I get it. I think for me it was how they went about fixing things that I found interesting and laudable. I don't that I could be as forgiving as either of them, given the situation...but then again I can hold a grudge like it's my job, when I really feel like it. If all of this sounds appealing, grab <i>Rainfall</i> and get to know these characters. I found it to be entertaining and an escape from all the things that trouble me in the world and I'm looking forward to what she does next with this series and these characters. </span></p><p><br /></p><p><b>BUY IT: <a href=" https://amzn.to/3QR6WPr" target="_blank"> https://amzn.to/3QR6WPr</a></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>SYNOPSIS:</b></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">I met the love of my life at ten years old.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">At sixteen, I gave him my heart.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Three years later he was drafted to the NHL and moved across the country.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Five years after, he’s back. And he’s meeting his daughter for the first time.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">I still hate him.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Even if my heart says that’s a lie.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">***</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">At ten years old, she changed my life.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">At sixteen, I told her I loved her.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Three years after, I left and broke her heart.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Five years later, I’m coming back home to the surprise of my life.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">I hate her for it.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Even though my brain says this is all my fault.</span></p>Must Read Books or Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07391475688531648678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149026294325577459.post-44412662473734106222024-02-02T15:28:00.003-06:002024-02-02T15:28:40.168-06:00REVIEW: Through the Glen by Samantha Young<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 177px; overflow: hidden; width: 480px;"><img height="177" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/2GPrh01Qg_Th17VxpBx4kRZX-wt_0LMeRL1Ak2c-VMZxi2KG72FaVoqJPhJkMRCs98ZQLr6GE7dlO8IOJrIFtc1sbm8YfVk-vlE97ESqqadripXhnB0fwqS7UJCHiCAYg-75VS5c7PXmhANMLGnUIw" style="margin-left: -7.652461230754852px; margin-top: 0px;" width="495.30492782592773" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 646px; overflow: hidden; width: 430px;"><img height="646" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/xWBW8mK6bY3N64j6zPQ9vYU6guq0ZGJsMnW7sK046xp6_FB35Zuw7C6R5Eyfpr5rJcJHmiJA418l3q7-akZsQP9wd7Jj0YtlloDFfFLJ0TDT2fU_NGE16JIyvVoat8k3usfnaT5X7RhXPfq74Gso5A" style="margin-left: -0.33161066588945687px; margin-top: 0px;" width="430.66320180892944" /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-73a2bf95-7fff-f100-7874-0ba7f4ed530f"><br />OUR REVIEW:</b></span></p><p> <span style="color: #2b00fe;">The hardest thing about reading this series by Samantha Young is trying to write a review without saying the same thing that you always say because while these characters are distinctive from previous ones, the main thing I know is that I love being in this world she's created and I fly through every book she's written on these characters. But to be more specific about <i>Through the Glen, </i>I've been really curious about what makes Theo tick (ie why can he be such a dick) and what makes Sarah so shy. We definitely get the answers to those questions as they get to know each other and what I learned, I really liked...or at least understood and it worked. Learning about why Theo seems so distant and rude and cold helped me to like him and see him as the protector and good guy that he is. And watching Sarah bloom into a more confident introvert and seeing the love that she had for those she cared for made it clear that these two were meant for each other. I enjoyed how quickly they got thrown together, how that went down, and what developed because of it. Their love story was easy to read, easy to love, and you have to know that I'm hoping that Sarah's brother gets the Samantha Young treatment next. </span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">A great weekend read that you won't want to put down until the end...and when you get there, you'll be so happy that you read it. </span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Through the Glen by Samantha Young is now live! </span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">He’s a cynical, world-weary Londoner. She’s a shy Scot. They might seem like opposites, but a few weeks in the Highlands will bring them together in ways they can’t imagine…</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Theo Cavendish is the second son of a British viscount, and he’s spent years running from the aristocratic world he grew up in. Betrayal and loss taught him lessons he’s not quick to forget. As an award-winning screenwriter and creator, Theo prefers to throw himself into the world of film and television. He moves from one project to another, never really letting anyone truly know him.</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">As a housekeeper at the exclusive Ardnoch Estate, shy Sarah McCulloch feels invisible most days. No one really knows her, and they definitely don’t know she’s a bestselling crime writer. She dreams of seeing her series on screen and believes only one person can develop it for television. On the day she quits the estate for good, she shares her secret with club member, Theo, and asks him to consider her books.</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Sarah never expected him to say yes or to show up on her doorstep ready to write with her. Or that weeks spent locked up in her cottage would lead them to form an intense but undeniable connection. A bond that Theo is not sure he’s ready to accept, even though he can’t bear to be without her.</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">However, when they finally venture out of their bubble, Theo finds he’ll have to battle more than his own demons to protect Sarah from hurt. For he has another fan, one intent on bringing the darkest elements of his most famous script to life. And unless he can figure out this real-life antagonist’s next move, Theo could be in danger of losing Sarah forever.</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Amazon: </span><a href="https://bit.ly/3LpelDC" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">https://bit.ly/3LpelDC</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Amazon Worldwide: </span><a href="https://mybook.to/ThroughtheGlen" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">https://mybook.to/ThroughtheGlen</span></a></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Add to Goodreads: </span><a href="https://bit.ly/3LoYogU" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">https://bit.ly/3LoYogU</span></a></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.38464; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Meet Samantha</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.3846399999999996; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 291px; overflow: hidden; width: 291px;"><img height="291" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/1PHHStTT0bT1ykYn7jb37o7MVRIxL_PsXV4x628_7LJ-szBt1h6hHuhoGb-r41mxpbSoTODLczB-CPmean0HueHXjVMn-A8Sxb1quTAXICiOWl3RG5UJcGvRN4wzmg_bgpp9M0TUWFAvQ01jJoJchQ" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="291" /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Samantha Young is a </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">New York Times, USA Today </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Wall Street Journal</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> bestselling author. She's been nominated for several Goodreads Choice Awards. Samantha writes adult contemporary and paranormal romance, YA urban fantasy and YA contemporary fiction and is currently published in 31 countries.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">She resides in Scotland.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.38464; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.38464; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Connect with Samantha</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.38464; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Website:</span><a href="http://authorsamanthayoung.com" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">http://authorsamanthayoung.com</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.38464; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Goodreads:</span><a href="http://bit.ly/2FWgYdn" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">http://bit.ly/2FWgYdn</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.38464; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Amazon:</span><a href="http://amzn.to/2H47kEP" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">http://amzn.to/2H47kEP</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.38464; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Facebook:</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSamanthaYoung/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSamanthaYoung/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.38464; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Facebook Group:</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1520019958258238/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">https://www.facebook.com/groups/1520019958258238/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.38464; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Instagram:</span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/authorsamanthayoung/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; 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font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Verve:</span><a href="https://ververomance.com/app/authorsamanthayoung" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">https://ververomance.com/app/authorsamanthayoung</span></a></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></p>Must Read Books or Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07391475688531648678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149026294325577459.post-1770609888377787782024-01-31T08:30:00.001-06:002024-01-31T08:30:00.318-06:00REVIEW: Rock Chick Reawakening by Kristen Ashley<p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1466096667i/30633337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="500" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1466096667i/30633337.jpg" width="333" /></a></span></div><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></span></p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>OUR REVIEW:</b></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><br /></b> Within one chapter I was texting Courtney to tell her that I now wanted to reread the entire <i>Rock Chick</i> <i>Series</i> because being in that world for just one chapter reminded me of how much I absolutely ADORE this series and these characters. In <i>Rock Chick Reawakening</i> we finally get the story of Darius and his love, Malia. We get to see flashbacks to them in high school all the way up to modern day and I loved their story. I felt like I finally understood Darius better and to see how much he sacrificed to protect and take care of those he loved made me love him. Malia was equally wonderful and strong and hilarious and was a fantastic addition to the lady loves of the Hot Bunch. </span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">This newest addition to the series was something I didn't know I needed and am so glad was written. I'm a complete and utter sucker for the Rock Chicks and cannot wait to start rereading the series for the umpteenth time. </span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">LOVED IT!</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>BUY IT: https://amzn.to/42eyh3t</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>SYNOPSIS:</b></span></p><p><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">A flashback in Kristen’s Rock Chick series, Rock Chick Reawakening shares the tale of the devastating event that nearly broke Daisy, an event that set Marcus Sloan—one of Denver’s most respected businessmen and one of the Denver underground’s most feared crime bosses—into finally making his move to win the heart of the woman who stole his. Book 9 of the Rock Chick Series is a story that travels back in time to share the story of beloved character, Daisy and her honey bunches of love, Marcus…</span></p><p><br /></p>Must Read Books or Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07391475688531648678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149026294325577459.post-86529768082471204802024-01-30T05:30:00.001-06:002024-01-30T05:30:00.130-06:00REVIEW: The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard by Natasha Lester<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/512kyZx4ZAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="334" height="500" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/512kyZx4ZAL.jpg" width="334" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>REVIEW:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">I love everything about this book. I love the story of three generations of women fighting their damnedest to live their dreams. I love reading about their passions and their upbringing and what made them the flawed and amazing women they are. I love coming to understand their choices better and I love the men who truly loved them, even when it seemed more to the Bricard women felt that it hurt them. I especially loved the social commentary woven throughout and that Natasha Lester clearly did a deep dive into the world of these women. All aspects of this novel held me in its thrall and I didn't come up for air until I was finished. I will be recommending this to all of my reading friends. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">BUY IT: <a href="https://amzn.to/3Ra2kpg" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3Ra2kpg</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">SYNOPSIS:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;">In 1973, fashion icon Astrid Bricard disappeared at the legendary Versailles designer show-down. All that remained was a scrap of fabric...and a family unraveled.</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Everyone remembers her daringly short, silver lamé dress. An iconic photo capturing an electric moment , where emerging American designer Astrid Bricard is young, uninhibited, and on the cusp of fashion and feminism’s changing landscape. She and fellow designer Hawk Jones are all over Vogue and the disco scene. Yet she can't escape the legacy of being the daughter of Mizza Bricard, infamous "muse" for Christian Dior. Astrid would give anything to take her place among the great houses of couture—on her own terms. </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic !important;">I won’t inspire it when I can create it.</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />But then Astrid disappeared…<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Now Astrid's daughter, Blythe, holds what remains of her mother and grandmother's legacies. Of all the Bricard women, she can gather the torn, shredded, and painfully beautiful fabrics of three generations of grief, heartbreak, and abandonment to create something that will shake the foundations of fashion. The only piece that's missing is the one question that no one's been able to answer: What really happened to Astrid?</span></div><br /><p></p>Must Read Books or Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07391475688531648678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149026294325577459.post-80718487821779280242024-01-22T12:16:00.048-06:002024-01-22T12:16:00.271-06:00REVIEW: The Break Up Tour by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81E6-tT4cdL._SY466_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="302" height="466" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81E6-tT4cdL._SY466_.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">OUR REVIEW<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">If you're a Taylor Swift fan, I *think* you may find glimpses of what these authors envisioned her life may be like-ish. <i>The Break Up Tour</i> is about Riley, a singer songwriter who has just hit mega stardom, and Max, her former lover, fellow musician, who is currently running his parents' business-a retirement home. These two have been estranged for a decade, when Max decided to skip the 'tour' Riley planned so that he could help with the family business. Once she left, they didn't reconnect until now. She's coming off a break up and on impulse, tracks Max down to see if he'd come play the song she wrote about him when she goes on tour. He reluctantly agrees and the push/pull that these two always have flourishes as they tour, despite both of them being hesitant to indulge in whatever this thing is. There's drama and feelings and love and forgiveness which all adds up to their HEA. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">To be honest, the first half of the novel felt like it was trying really hard to be poetic and lyrical and interesting and it was distracting. But, as things became more interesting between Max and Riley, the novel seemed to settle down and it became easier to read. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">BUY IT: <a href="https://amzn.to/48UT5zK" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/48UT5zK</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">SYNOPSIS: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">A rising-star musician has a second chance at love with an old flame she remembers all too well in this swoony romance from the acclaimed authors of</span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;"> The Roughest Draft</span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">.</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Riley Wynn went from a promising singer-songwriter to a superstar overnight, thanks to her breakup song concept album and its unforgettable lead single. When Riley’s ex-husband claims the hit song is about him, she does something she hasn’t in ten years and calls Max Harcourt, her college boyfriend and the real inspiration for the song of the summer.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Max hasn’t spoken to Riley since their relationship ended. He’s content with managing the retirement home his family owns, but it’s not the life filled with music he dreamed of. When Riley asks him to go public as her songwriting muse, he agrees on one condition: he’ll join her band on tour.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />As they perform across the country, Max and Riley start to realize that while they hit some wrong notes in the past, their future could hold incredible things.</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">And their rekindled relationship will either last forever or go down in flames.</span></div><br /> <p></p>Must Read Books or Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07391475688531648678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149026294325577459.post-23733663103239760662024-01-18T20:12:00.000-06:002024-01-18T20:12:03.691-06:00REVIEW: Wayward Son by Jay Crownover<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1704920452i/205169455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="500" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1704920452i/205169455.jpg" width="333" /></a></div>OUR REVIEW:<p></p><p>I've really enjoyed this series of the second generation of the <i>Marked Men</i> series. The children of our favorite couples have made things interesting and I know these aren't making Jay Crownover a ton of money, I am sad that there won't be more, even though I understand why she's doing what she's doing. </p><p><br /></p><p>In <i>Wayward Son</i>, we get the love story of Aston and Zowen and maybe I'm an idiot, but I definitely did not anticipate their story going to way it did. It starts off with something completely unexpected and then the rest of the novel really centers on that. Rather than focus on that incident, let's focus on what makes this one so highly rated. In my opinion, it's how quickly these two figure things out (so not too much angsty waiting for them to make moves) and then how the rest of the novel allows for them to explore this new version of their relationship as the adults they've grown into. Of course, as with all of these novels, there's an impending doom type situation that puts some added tension and pressure on things but Zowen and Aston really work through it. Instead of allowing things to create chaos on their relationship, they work together to problem solve and help each other through the things that are plaguing them. </p><p>Something about this novel just grabbed my attention from the first chapter and held it. Maybe it was how much they each longed for the other. Or maybe it was how they didn't let stupid stuff mess things up. Or perhaps it was their chemistry or how they felt like true partners. Maybe it was how they had each other's backs or knew when to push things a little. It was definitely all of this and I flew through the pages, completely satisfied with their story and very sad to see this series end. </p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space-collapse: preserve;">🖤NOW AVAILABLE🖤</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-3b35d398-7fff-1dae-d70b-2d8c1a06d8f0"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">𝐖𝐚𝐲𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐧 </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">by NY Times & USA Today bestselling author Jay Crownover is LIVE!!! This is the final book in The Forever Marked series and can be read as a stand alone.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">1-CLICK Your Copy Now! </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CS17QV46" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CS17QV46</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Universal: </span><a href="https://books2read.com/u/bPzBDY" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">https://books2read.com/u/bPzBDY</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Add to your GR TBR: </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/205169455-wayward-son" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/205169455-wayward-son</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What to expect:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">✔️Forced Proximity </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">✔️Racer</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">✔️Opposites Attract</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">✔️Friends like Family </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">✔️Second Chance </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">✔️Angst</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">✔️Happy Ever After</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Blurb:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">She’s the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">only </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">girl he’s ever loved.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -14pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Zowen Archer has been in love with Aston Wheeler for as long as he can remember.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -14pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">She’s perfect, except for the glaring fact that she fell in love with his best friend instead of him. For years, he loved her from afar with zero expectation. He told himself that as long as Aston was happy, his feelings for her didn’t matter.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -14pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">However, Aston isn’t nearly as happy as she seems. And by the time Zowen figures things out, his life takes a drastic turn for the worse.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -14pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Now that Aston is single and laser-focused on making up for the lost time between the two of them, Zowen is doing everything in his power to avoid her. He’s convinced that if she never wanted him when he was at his very best, there is no chance in hell she could care about him now that he’s at his absolute worst.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -14pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">He’s the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">only </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">boy she’s willing to wait for.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -14pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Time has never been on Aston Wheeler’s side.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -14pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">She spent too long pretending to be someone she was not. She lost herself in a first love that everyone, except her, thought was perfect. She wasted a lot of time trying to convince herself that she should be happy when she was anything but. She watched for years as the one person who made her feel like her true self drifted further and further away.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -14pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Finally, when she’s ready to reach out and grab the one-of-a-kind love that Zowen Archer has always silently promised her, it’s too late. Zowen is taken away, and when he reappears in her life, he makes it clear there’s no going back to whatever they might have been.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -14pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Good thing for Zowen that Aston is patient and doesn’t mind waiting for him to have a change of heart. It’s the least she can do after all the time he spent waiting for her.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #202124; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Find more books by Jay Crownover here: </span><a href="https://www.jaycrownover.com" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">https://www.jaycrownover.com</span></a></p><div><br /></div></span>Must Read Books or Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07391475688531648678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149026294325577459.post-83153400532254882502024-01-15T22:57:00.000-06:002024-01-15T22:57:00.414-06:00REVIEW: Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51BBhjkjT5L._SY445_SX342_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="296" height="445" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51BBhjkjT5L._SY445_SX342_.jpg" width="296" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>OUR REVIEW:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Ali Hazelwood's seem to always be a good time so when I saw <i>Check & Mate</i> on my library's Libby app (I highly recommend using this app, by the way), I immediately requested it. Because I was so quick to request it, I didn't have to wait long to get it and then I immediately consumed it in the matter of 24 hours. I'm sure the person next in line to get it was happy to see it was ready to read and will probably also read it quickly. You really can't help it; the characters of Nolan and Mallory and the conflicts they find themselves in are so dang readable. I don't think I've ever been as interested in chess as I was watching <i>The Queen's Gambit</i> and this novel came along and reignited my admiration for those who play it. Playing chess is way beyond my attention span and ability to think so far ahead about my moves and someone else's. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Anyway. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Mallory and Nolan make an interesting pair. She's in full denial and he's in full acceptance of ...well, so many things. Mallory is so busy taking care of her family and trying to make amends for something she feels personally responsible for that she's forsaken everything that makes her happy and who she is. Nolan seems to have come to terms about the uncomfortable truths in his life and is now living a life that makes him happy. So polar opposite, right? Right. But as they get to know each other, spend time with each other, and fall for each other, his knowing himself so well, ends up sparking an evolution in Mallory, even if that wasn't his intention or her desire. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">While this is listed as a YA novel, it seems more NA to me? But no matter how it's categorized, it's a fun, sweet, sexy, and interesting romance that will be hard to put down until you get to the end. As a matter of fact, I'm still thinking about these two and wondering how they're doing, hours after I finished their love story. Definitely an enjoyable read.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">BUY IT: <a href="https://amzn.to/3MWj3JM" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3MWj3JM</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">SYNOPSIS:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;">n this clever and swoonworthy YA debut from the </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">New York Times</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;"> bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">The Love Hypothesis</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;">, life’s moving pieces bring rival chess players together in a match for the heart.</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Mallory Greenleaf is </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic !important;">done</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> with chess. Every move counts nowadays; after the sport led to the destruction of her family four years earlier, Mallory’s focus is on her mom, her sisters, and the dead-end job that keeps the lights on. That is, until she begrudgingly agrees to play in one last charity tournament and inadvertently wipes the board with notorious “Kingkiller” Nolan Sawyer: current world champion and reigning Bad Boy of chess.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Nolan’s loss to an unknown rook-ie shocks everyone. What’s even more confusing? His desire to cross pawns again. What kind of gambit is Nolan playing? The smart move would be to walk away. Resign. Game over. But Mallory’s victory opens the door to sorely needed cash-prizes and despite everything, she can’t help feeling drawn to the enigmatic strategist....<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />As she rockets up the ranks, Mallory struggles to keep her family safely separated from the game that wrecked it in the first place. And as her love for the sport she so desperately wanted to hate begins to rekindle, Mallory quickly realizes that the games aren’t only on the board, the spotlight is brighter than she imagined, and the competition can be fierce (-ly attractive. And intelligent…and infuriating…)</span></div><br /><p></p>Must Read Books or Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07391475688531648678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149026294325577459.post-40125022065930095542024-01-08T09:30:00.002-06:002024-01-08T09:30:00.143-06:00REVIEW: Burn For You by J.T. Geissinger<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91YOhRIOD-L._SY466_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="311" height="466" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91YOhRIOD-L._SY466_.jpg" width="311" /></a></div><p><br /></p><b>OUR REVIEW:</b><p></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">It's been a while since I've read a J.T. Geissinger novel and after reading <i>Burn For You, </i>I'm asking myself why. This novel, a fun take on <i>Beauty and the Beast</i>, is based in New Orleans (you know I love that!), has lots of humorous banter and inner monologues, and an obvious chemistry between the two main characters. </span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Because it was so entertaining, I flew through the pages in a matter of hours. I remember looking down at one point being surprised at how far along I was. I happened to be reading a much heavier, psychological novel at the same time as I was reading this and <i>Burn For You</i> provided a much needed reprieve from the heart heavy novel that I was also reading. That's not to say that <i>Burn For You</i> didn't have it's more serious moments, because it did and they worked well within the framework of what was happening, but overall the sheer grumpy sunshine of it all really shined. </span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">BUY IT: <a href="https://amzn.to/3sEnlP2" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3sEnlP2</a></span></p><p>SYNOPSIS:</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Jackson “The Beast” Boudreaux is rich, gorgeous, and unbelievably rude to the staff at Chef Bianca Hardwick’s New Orleans restaurant. Bianca would sooner douse herself in hot sauce than cook for Jackson again, but when he asks her to cater his fund-raiser, Bianca can’t refuse, knowing the cash will help pay her mother’s medical bills. Then Jackson makes another outrageous request: </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">Marry me.</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> The unconventional offer includes an enormous sum—money Bianca desperately needs, even if it does come with a contract—and a stunning ring.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The heir to a family bourbon dynasty, Jackson knows the rumors swirling around him. The truth is even darker. Still, he needs a wife to secure his inheritance, and free-spirited, sassy Bianca would play the part beautifully. Soon, though, their simple business deal evolves into an emotional intimacy he’s built walls to avoid.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">As the passion heats up between them, Bianca and Jackson struggle to define which feelings are real and which are for show. Is falling for your fake fiancé the best happy ending…or a recipe for disaster?</span></p>Must Read Books or Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07391475688531648678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149026294325577459.post-12347005616407589982024-01-01T06:00:00.001-06:002024-01-01T06:00:00.128-06:00REVIEW: Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81HE6uwjpgL._SY466_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="304" height="466" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81HE6uwjpgL._SY466_.jpg" width="304" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>OUR REVIEW:</b></div><br /><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Beautifully written and unrelenting. I have no idea how Jesmyn Ward inhabited the headspace of Annis for as long as she must have in order to write this novel; it must have been excruciating at times. I found that I could only read a few chapters at a time before my heart needed a break because the story of Annis, her mother, and grandmother, as well as the women she shared space with was filled with deep love, horror, and devastation. It was only at the end that there was a sense of hope and hints of happier days to come. </span><p></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">This will be a hard read for anyone who picks it up and I'm still suggesting it to anyone who will listen. Poetic, heart wrenching, beautiful, and wise--I hope this novel wins all the prizes. </span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">BUY IT: <a href="https://amzn.to/49D9GbS" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/49D9GbS</a></span></p><p>SYNOPSIS:</p><p><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;">OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB PICK • Instant </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">New York Times </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;">Bestseller • From Jesmyn Ward—the two-time National Book Award winner, youngest winner of the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction, and MacArthur Fellow—comes a haunting masterpiece, sure to be an instant classic, about an enslaved girl in the years before the Civil War.</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />“‘Let us descend,’ the poet now began, ‘and enter this blind world.’” —</span><span class="a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic !important;">Inferno</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">, Dante Alighieri<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /> <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic !important;">Let Us Descend</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> is a reimagining of American slavery, as beautifully rendered as it is heart-wrenching. Searching, harrowing, replete with transcendent love, the novel is a journey from the rice fields of the Carolinas to the slave markets of New Orleans and into the fearsome heart of a Louisiana sugar plantation.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /> <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Annis, sold south by the white enslaver who fathered her, is the reader’s guide through this hellscape. As she struggles through the miles-long march, Annis turns inward, seeking comfort from memories of her mother and stories of her African warrior grandmother. Throughout, she opens herself to a world beyond this world, one teeming with spirits: of earth and water, of myth and history; spirits who nurture and give, and those who manipulate and take. While Ward leads readers through the descent, this, her fourth novel, is ultimately a story of rebirth and reclamation.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /> <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />From one of the most singularly brilliant and beloved writers of her generation, this miracle of a novel inscribes Black American grief and joy into the very land—the rich but unforgiving forests, swamps, and rivers of the American South. </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic !important;">Let Us Descend</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> is Jesmyn Ward’s most magnificent novel yet, a masterwork for the ages.</span></p>Must Read Books or Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07391475688531648678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149026294325577459.post-7777012300973505192023-12-26T19:58:00.054-06:002023-12-26T19:58:00.134-06:00REVIEW: Too Good to be True by Kristen Ashley<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81dJBst7ynL._SY466_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="310" height="466" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81dJBst7ynL._SY466_.jpg" width="310" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>OUR REVIEW:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">I love it when the writers I adore do something a little unexpected and while I know this isn't KA's first go around with the supernatural, this is the first of her supernatural works I've read. And truth be told, it isn't all that supernatural as it is alarming that such strange things are happening in this remote estate house in England.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Daphne and her stepmother have been invited to Duncroft to meet Daphne's sister's new beau. We quickly learn that Daphne and her sister, Portia, have a sometimes antagonistic relationship because of the way their father has set up their trust funds. We also learn that Lou, the stepmom, is also not a favorite of Daphne's sister and so before they've even arrived to Duncroft, we're primed for some tense and/or awkward moments. And sure enough, from the second they arrive, it's realllll uncomfortable. Portia's boyfriend's parents are distant and cold, the boyfriend is flighty, and there seems to be something off about the house (other than the rumors of it being haunted).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">As the story progresses, we meet Daphne's soon to be love interest, Ian, get to know more about the ancestors who have come to some terrible endings (and some who have some epic love stories). We get to know Ian, Mr. Hottie, and we get to see the one dimensional characters who are his parents turn into more nuanced people than originally portrayed.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">There are suspicious activities that abound and the closer we get to answers, the more intense things become between the characters. Things around the house are mysterious and cause tension, just as Ian and Daphne are becoming more intimate...learning who they are, what they like, and how they handle things when things go awry. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Fun read that will have you flipping pages to get to the bottom of what, exactly, is going on.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">BUY IT: <a href="https://amzn.to/47ob3cf" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/47ob3cf</a></span></div><br /><p></p><p>SYNOPSIS:<br /><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Heiress Daphne Ryan is uncertain about spending a week at the sprawling country estate of the family of her sister’s boyfriend. For starters, she doesn’t get along with her sister. Then there’s the fact his family is old, wealthy aristocracy, and Daphne’s from brash, new American money.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Mostly, it’s that everyone knows Duncroft House is haunted by the ghost of a 1920s film star who died there. Deemed an accident, for nearly a century, people are sure it was murder.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Daphne doesn’t like scary things, say…haunted houses. She likes it less when strange things start happening to her when she arrives.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">But she finds she has a surprising ally.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Ian Alcott, the heir to the earldom, is rich, gorgeous and just as concerned about the frightening things that keep befalling Daphne at his ancestral family home. As he moves to protect her, Daphne finds he’s also funny, kind and sexy as hell.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Indeed, he just might be too good to be true.</span></p>Must Read Books or Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07391475688531648678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149026294325577459.post-81012692268303332822023-12-20T06:30:00.013-06:002023-12-20T06:30:00.132-06:00REVIEW: Wreck the Halls by Tessa Bailey<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/810iqurdoHL._SY466_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="311" height="466" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/810iqurdoHL._SY466_.jpg" width="311" /></a></div><b>OUR REVIEW:</b><p></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i>Wreck the Halls</i> by Tessa Bailey is absolutely a fun read for the holiday season. I can't think of one thing I didn't enjoy about it. This novel features two children of former rockstars (who now despise each other), Melody and Beat. From the very first time these two meet (as teens), you can sense the connection between these two. Then, fast forward years later and when confronted with an opportunity to reunite their mothers and make money that would each help them out of a situation, they reconnect and the sparks fly immediately. There's absolutely zero chance these two are going to be just friends, and I loved every second of their romance.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Bailey created two characters who just worked for me. Melody is hilarious and honest and unique. Beat is protective and kind and down to earth. The two of them together are an odd but perfect pairing. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Despite some rough patches relating to trust, these two find their happily ever after and I truly was happy for that and yet sad for it to be over. This novel was funny and fun and sexy and a wonderful way to spend a weekend close to the winter holidays.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">BUY IT: <a href="https://amzn.to/3u1Z2uH" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3u1Z2uH</a></p><p> SYNOPSIS:</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Melody Gallard may be the daughter of music royalty, but her world is far from glamorous. She spends her days restoring old books and avoiding the limelight (one awkward tabloid photo was enough, thanks). But when a producer offers her </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important;">a lot</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> of money to reunite her mother’s band on live tv, Mel begins to wonder if it’s time to rattle the cage, shake up her quiet life… and see </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important;">him</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> again. The only other person who could wrangle the rock and roll divas.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Beat Dawkins, the lead singer’s son, is Melody’s opposite—the camera loves him, he could charm the pants off anyone, and his mom is </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important;">not</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> a potential cult leader. Still, they might have been best friends if not for the legendary feud that broke up the band. When they met as teenagers, Mel felt an instant spark, but it’s nothing compared to the wild, intense attraction that builds as they embark on a madcap mission to convince their mothers to perform one last show. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">While dealing with rock star shenanigans, a 24-hour film crew, brawling Santas, and mobs of adoring fans, Mel starts to step out of her comfort zone. With Beat by her side, cheering her on, she’s never felt so understood. But Christmas Eve is fast approaching, and a decades-old scandal is poised to wreck everything—the Steel Birds reunion, their relationships with their mothers, and their newfound love. </span></p>Must Read Books or Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07391475688531648678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149026294325577459.post-53821824739782651342023-12-18T12:44:00.050-06:002023-12-18T12:44:00.139-06:00REVIEW: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51fMaH1tRyL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="295" height="445" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51fMaH1tRyL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" width="295" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>OUR REVIEW:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Honestly, when I first heard about this book I didn't think it was something I'd like. An octopus as one of the main characters?! Nope--it's just a road too far. But as more and more people I know read it and raved about it, I decided that I should give it a shot. So, I checked it out of the library and jumped in. Surprising to no one, my friends were correct: this is an excellent read.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">The story follows Tova, an elderly woman who has experienced a lot of grief and loss and has internalized it all, making her seem a little closed off and cold. It also has sections where Marcellus, the octopus, opines on the things he observes from his tank at the aquarium Tova cleans every night, as well as sections with Cameron, a thirty year old lost soul, and Ethan, the grocery store own who has a huge crush on Tova. These four narrate the story of love and loss and family. Each of their stories are tinged with a little melancholy and a little hope. And it's this combination that really works to feel for them, even when you want to shake them and wake them up to who and what's going on around them. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">If you're like me and thinking this isn't the book for you, I'll tell you that I'm so glad I read it. It leaves you happy and smiling at the end. Definitely try it--don't let the idea of an octopus being a main character scare you off. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">BUY IT: <a href="https://amzn.to/3LYT2sW" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3LYT2sW</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">SYNOPSIS: <span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;">For fans of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">A Man Called Ove</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;">, a charming, witty and compulsively readable exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope that traces a widow's unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus</span></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she’s been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors—until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel is a gentle reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.</span></p><p><br /> </p>Must Read Books or Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07391475688531648678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149026294325577459.post-8256477296165304592023-12-11T12:32:00.046-06:002023-12-11T12:32:00.139-06:00REVIEW: Things We Left Behind by Lucy Score<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81vH6kaT1jL._SY466_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="311" height="466" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81vH6kaT1jL._SY466_.jpg" width="311" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>OUR REVIEW:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">I came to this series at the very end, with this novel, and while it can be read as a stand alone, I'm definitely kicking myself for not picking up the first novel and starting there because I'm certain that those two couples in those books had a fun time hating each other before loving each other, if <i>Things We Left Behind</i> is any indication. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">In this novel, Sloane and Lucian are currently mortal enemies but only after they were close friends in their younger years. As the novel progresses, their backstory is woven in and you come to understand why they're both so resistant to tolerating the other, despite the fact that their mutual friends adore them both, and Sloane's family sees him as nothing short of wonderful. Their current day selves are busy detesting the other and being successful as a head librarian (Sloane) and a businessman (Lucian). And as the bad guys --ones most likely first introduced at the beginning of the series-- insist on doing bad things, Sloane and Lucian find themselves thrown together a lot. Their banter and sexual tension are hilarious and cause the pages to turn quickly. As they spend more time together, they begrudgingly put aside <i>some</i> of their differences to scratch an itch they've had for quite a while; and though they'd love to keep it secret, that, of course, is impossible. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Things escalate with the bad guys and with Sloane and Lucian and before you know it, they've find themselves bring down the baddies while falling in love. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Yet another fun read by Lucy Score....one that just makes me look forward to what she's writing ne</span>xt. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">BUY IT: <a href="https://amzn.to/45xJCeK" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/45xJCeK</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">SYNOPSIS: <span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">There was only one woman who could set me free. But I would rather set myself on fire than ask Sloane Walton for anything.</span></div><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Lucian Rollins is a lean, mean vengeance-seeking mogul. On a quest to erase his father’s mark on the family name, he spends every waking minute pulling strings and building an indestructible empire. The more money and power he amasses, the safer he is from threats.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Except when it comes to the feisty small-town librarian that keeps him up at night…<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Sloane Walton is a spitfire determined to carry on her father’s quest for justice. She’ll do that just as soon as she figures out exactly what the man she hates did to—or for—her family. Bonded by an old, dark secret from the past and the dislike they now share for each other, Sloane trusts Lucian about as far as she can throw his designer-suited body.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />When bickering accidentally turns to foreplay, these two find themselves not quite regretting their steamy one-night stand. Once those flames are fanned, it seems impossible to put them out again. But with Sloane ready to start a family and Lucian refusing to even consider the idea of marriage and kids, these enemies-to-lovers are stuck at an impasse.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Broken men break women. It’s what Lucian believes, what he’s witnessed, and he’s not going to take that chance with Sloane. He’d rather live a life of solitude than put her in danger. But he learns the hard way that leaving her means leaving her unprotected from other threats.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />It’s the second time he’s ruthlessly cut her out of his life. There’s no way she’s going to give him a third chance. He’s just going to have to make one for himself.</span><br /> <p></p>Must Read Books or Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07391475688531648678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149026294325577459.post-16440458556745665682023-12-05T09:00:00.001-06:002023-12-05T09:00:00.133-06:00REVIEW: Among the Heather by Samantha Young<p style="text-align: center;"> <img height="177" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/Z-6IWPo-mHD8cMd1tD6-WCMMdXniF9tGYQ881WDfEkgyQPqdCMXpE3R8huT1gi_in4AUd1QScd06Ys7dQt7Z4U0Jf3DVpa6pfdyepN6f_gcaL4KYklkN23fzEPebn9WY7QvN3NgM2mO9DK0LmXDv4Q" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;" width="480" /></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-be59f11d-7fff-e9d9-caa6-c79cbf887ea7"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 646px; overflow: hidden; width: 430px;"><img height="646" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/0gG48Ixd7xRg-Eefho8HAZ0bSBLFz5_c3WiX6gquA9_KVvTTb7h5L-rP7QnRNQn8ib2z_MqXIuWLl4t3ADf9CBuPkbOOq5yktnnuKsWF9BDodkNVQkSq3Lb3V5raNTBFTCniTnvX9CLopRg-NB4ADA" style="margin-left: -0.33161066588945687px; margin-top: 0px;" width="430.66320180892944" /></span></span></p><br /><b>OUR REVIEW:</b></span><div><span><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;">I'm really enjoying this <i>Adair Family</i> spin off series; it has the same feel with new characters who are connected to the Ardnoch Estate and the Adairs. And like the previous series, there's always a threat or conflict or attack from an outsider that adds additional tension to the inevitable romantic conflict(s) the two main characters have. </span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;">In the case of <i>Among the Heather</i>, we are falling for Aria, the estate manager, and North, an actor in hiding, while they're falling for each other. Both Aria and North put up a good fight and try really hard to resist their chemistry and the innate draw they seem to have each other but despite the walls they throw up and the insults they exchange, they absolutely capitulate to all the things--the emotions, the chemistry, the everything. It doesn't mean that it was always easy--Aria has some serious trust issues--but they make it, thank goodness. </span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;">While the question of who is behind the threats or whether or not they'll love each other is not a puzzling mystery, I didn't need it to be. The characters and their backstories, the way they connect, and the evolution of their relationship kept me invested and just in it until the very end. </span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Looking forward to the next one, <i>Through the Glen</i>.</span><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Among the Heather by Samantha Young is now live! </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">He’s a disgraced actor. She’s the daughter of Hollywood royalty. Both are hiding in the Scottish Highlands, but despite their antagonistic attraction, they can’t seem to hide from each other…</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">North Hunter has worked hard to step out of the shadows of his orphaned upbringing into the limelight of Hollywood. He never imagined a dark moment from his childhood returning to destroy everything he’d built. Devastated, he finds comfort in the isolation of an exclusive members-only club in the Scottish Highlands, even if the club comes with a prickly estate manager who sets his blood on fire.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">As the eldest daughter of a Hollywood legend, Aria Howard has learned the hard way that people will use her to get to her father. When her last relationship ended badly, Aria fled to Scotland. Running Ardnoch Estate provides distance from a life that has never fit comfortably. But when defamed Scottish actor North Hunter disrupts her sanctuary, Aria is on the defense. The cocky actor is the last thing she needs, and despite their searing attraction, Aria is determined to dislike him.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But one night of drunken forced proximity with North leads Aria to share insecurities seeded by her horrible ex. When North offers to prove her ex wrong by taking Aria to his bed for a no-strings distraction, they begin an affair neither expected. However, their fiery liaison leads to a deep emotional connection that unsettles them both, and North will have to break down more than Aria’s trust issues if they’re ever to have a future together. He’ll need to protect her from a past that just doesn’t want to stay buried… or lose something far more essential to his existence than his career.</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Amazon:</span><a href="https://bit.ly/3zkGEg9" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">https://bit.ly/3zkGEg9</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Amazon Worldwide:</span><a href="https://mybook.to/AmongTheHeather" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">https://mybook.to/AmongTheHeather</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Add to Goodreads:</span><a href="http://bit.ly/40BrOy0" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">http://bit.ly/40BrOy0</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 410px; overflow: hidden; width: 410px;"><img height="410" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/11qtNthS8G6cAYECh4p-V2-fWEqfTiP_e--0rybGOcFr2ufA-41dkUvbSEMnccFmBt8G6QPpovWh7wW3U7uoAjbg5au4ejTJjmg7o5k2mJBsBD-rFmw_7YBRKztiLCllMwBmMGObteJyPcxMtLMpKA" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="410" /></span></span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.38464; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Meet Samantha</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.3846399999999996; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 291px; overflow: hidden; width: 291px;"><img height="291" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/eQKMPVPvS0Xe4MB3QTBGA8LBXyad3xvSzHKygdlMmlSwu4UlZuHfRLmcqHD0wTTJdl28mkxlUSir0dar37tTsH7l8f3qkFJaQfCk_fmelLwNv6M7JEdf5jPQvzzD_VimXwKjpK6g_DWW9jLmK7wxQQ" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="291" /></span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.38464; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Samantha Young is a </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">New York Times, USA Today </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">and </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Wall Street Journal</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> bestselling author. She's been nominated for several Goodreads Choice Awards. Samantha writes adult contemporary and paranormal romance, YA urban fantasy and YA contemporary fiction and is currently published in 31 countries.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.38464; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">She resides in Scotland.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.38464; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.38464; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Connect with Samantha</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.38464; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Website:</span><a href="http://authorsamanthayoung.com" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">http://authorsamanthayoung.com</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.38464; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Goodreads:</span><a href="http://bit.ly/2FWgYdn" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">http://bit.ly/2FWgYdn</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.38464; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Amazon:</span><a href="http://amzn.to/2H47kEP" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">http://amzn.to/2H47kEP</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.38464; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Facebook:</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSamanthaYoung/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSamanthaYoung/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.38464; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Facebook Group:</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1520019958258238/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; 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font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Verve:</span><a href="https://ververomance.com/app/authorsamanthayoung" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">https://ververomance.com/app/authorsamanthayoung</span></a></p><br /><br /></div>Must Read Books or Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07391475688531648678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149026294325577459.post-34998623936000031692023-12-04T04:30:00.046-06:002023-12-04T04:30:00.146-06:00REVIEW: My Darling Bride by Ilsa Madden-Mills<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51IB2EL9sVL._SY346_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="224" height="346" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51IB2EL9sVL._SY346_.jpg" width="224" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">OUR REVIEW:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="color: #2b00fe;">This series had been so much fun. In <i>My Darling Bride</i> Graham needs a bride and he finds the perfect prospect in the girl who stole his car, Emmy. She had a good reason, I promise! Anyway, these two end up together because he needs a bride to receive his family trust (so that he can help his brother...) and she feels a little guilty (because of that theft incident) and a little hopeful about what she gets in the bargain. </span><p></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">They start off trying to make it a business arrangement, friends only...but we all know how that goes and the fact that they're attracted to each other and actually like each other as humans means that there is no way that they're going to keep it business only. Of course the problem is that one of them decides to let go and fall in love and one of them tries desperately to not be open to the vulnerabilities of love. Sandwiched in between all of this is some family conflict, history of abuse, a stalker-ish ex, the fear of CTE, and some serious debt. Fortunately all of this is resolved in a funny, love-filled ending that will have me continuing to return to this series until there isn't another book to read. (I seriously can't wait for Jasper to meet his match...I have some guesses as to whom that might be).</span></p><p> BUY IT: <a href="https://amzn.to/3RiYvOy" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3RiYvOy</a></p><p>SYNOPSIS:</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">In a sizzling romance that sparkles with wit and depth, two wounded souls meet by chance in the desert and agree to get married, and their lives will never be the same.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">On a normal day, Emmaline Darling isn’t a car thief. She’s just a simple girl who runs a bookstore and adores cats. But when she’s stranded in the desert and needs to get away from her dangerous ex-boyfriend, she picks her only option: swiping the keys to a famous football player’s Lamborghini and speeding away.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Football star Graham Harlan is in chaos. First he took a hit on the field that left him with a near-death experience, and now he’s promised his brother he’ll get married to secure the family inheritance. Trouble is he isn’t even seeing anyone.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Then a mystery woman steals his car. With his usual stubbornness, he tracks her all the way to Manhattan and gives her an ultimatum: marry me or I’ll press charges.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Her choice is obvious, only neither of them expect the sparks that ignite between them.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">As the end of their arrangement looms, will Graham take a chance on love or let his darling walk away forever?</span></p>Must Read Books or Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07391475688531648678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149026294325577459.post-29866916380052851272023-12-01T21:29:00.016-06:002023-12-01T21:29:00.153-06:00REVIEW: The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71k0Z4lUh2L._SY466_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="302" height="466" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71k0Z4lUh2L._SY466_.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><p><br /></p><b>OUR REVIEW:</b><p></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Having read Lana Ferguson's first novel, T<i>he Nanny</i>, I knew that I had to try <i>The Fake Mate</i>, even if it wasn't something I'd usually try. If you're also a fan of her but uncertain if this would be something you like, I can bet that you most likely will. While there are some shifter events and episodes that aren't in your typical non-fantasy romance, for the most part <i>The Fake Mate</i> does have all of the elements of a 'typical' romance, plus the fun that Ferguson brings to the novel. There are moments of hilarity, deeply felt emotional turmoil, and just overall fun. You'll find <i>The Fake Mate</i> to be a fun and sexy quick read.</span></p><div><br /></div><p> BUY IT: <a href="https://amzn.to/46SHFeD" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/46SHFeD</a></p><p>SYNOPSIS:<br /><br /></p><p><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Mackenzie Carter has had some </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic !important;">very</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> bad dates lately. Model train experts, mansplainers, guys weirdly obsessed with her tail—she hasn’t had a successful date in months. Only a year out of residency, her grandmother’s obsession with Mackenzie finding the perfect mate to settle down with threatens to drive Mackenzie barking mad. Out of options, it feels like a small thing to tell her grandmother that she’s met someone. That is, until she blurts out the name of the first man she sees and the last man she would ever date: Noah Taylor, the big bad wolf of Denver General.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /> <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Noah Taylor, interventional cardiologist and all around grump, has spent his entire life hiding what he is. With outdated stigmas surrounding unmated alphas that have people wondering if they still howl at the moon, Noah has been careful to keep his designation under wraps. It’s worked for years, until an anonymous tip has everything coming to light. Noah is left with two options: come clean to the board and risk his career—or find himself a mate. The chatty, overly friendly ER doctor asking him to be her fake boyfriend on the </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic !important;">same</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> day he’s called to meet the board has to be kismet, right?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /> <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Mackenzie will keep her grandmother off her back, and Noah will get a chance to prove he can continue to work without a real mate—a mutually beneficial business transaction, they both rationalize. But when the fake-mate act turns into a very real friends-with-benefits arrangement, lines start to blur, and they quickly realize love is a whole different kind of animal.</span></p>Must Read Books or Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07391475688531648678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149026294325577459.post-46948957612799365982023-11-27T19:49:00.037-06:002023-11-27T19:49:00.150-06:00REVIEW: Knockout: A Hell's Belles Novel by Sarah MacLean<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81SMKn4KI3L._SY466_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="294" height="466" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81SMKn4KI3L._SY466_.jpg" width="294" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b>OUR REVIEW:</b></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Oh how I adore the Hell's Belles. They're nothing but a delight to read and even though I want to stretch out the reading, I know that I'm going to speed through because I just can't help myself. I've been waiting and waiting for Imogen and Tommy's story for a long time and it was just as fun as I hoped it would be. She's sleuthing and exploding and he's sleuthing and brooding at how she seems to beat him to every case he's investigating, which means that there's lots of banter and fun happening between these two. While they're both racing to figure out who is destroying businesses, Imogen is secretly pining for Tommy and Tommy is busy denying that they could ever be a thing. When will the men get with the program and capitulate? Probably never, which makes all of these love stories so much fun to read. The push and pull, the insecurities, the falling in love....all of it makes for an entertaining 5 out of 5 stars read. </span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Sarah MacLean being the queen of my historical romance heart has me dying for the next book in this series and once you read the last few pages of this novel, you'll see why. </span></p><p><br /></p><p>BUY IT: <a href="https://amzn.to/3ZnWdQs" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3ZnWdQs</a></p><p>SYNOPSIS:<br /><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">New York Times</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;"> bestselling author Sarah MacLean returns with the next Hell’s Belles novel about a chaotic bluestocking and the buttoned-up detective enlisted to keep her out of trouble (spoiler: She </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">is </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">the trouble).</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">With her headful of wild curls and wilder ideas and an unabashed love of experiments and explosives, society has labeled Lady Imogen Loveless </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important;">peculiar</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">…and doesn’t know she’s one of the Hell’s Belles—a group of vigilantes operating outside the notice of most of London.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Thomas Peck is not most of London. The brilliant detective fought his way off the streets and into a promising career through sheer force of will and a keen ability to see things others miss, like the fact that Imogen isn’t peculiar…she’s </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important;">pandemonium.</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> If you ask him, she requires a keeper. When her powerful family discovers her late-night activities, they couldn’t agree more…and they know just the man for the task.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Thomas wants nothing to do with guarding Imogen. He is a grown man with a proper job and no time for the lady’s incendiary chaos, no matter how lushly it is packaged. But some assignments are too explosive to pass up, and the gruff detective is soon caught up in Imogen’s world, full of her bold smiles and burning secrets…and a fiery passion that threatens to consume them both.</span></p>Must Read Books or Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07391475688531648678noreply@blogger.com0