Reading Right Now! (288)

TGIF!!! Wooooooo!

What I'm Reading Right Now! is... 

Ride Hard (Raven Riders #1) by Laura Kaye -- I told you all I was craving romance, so I picked up a romance. This is a MC Romance (MC= Motorcycle Club). It is also a spin off series to the Hard Ink Series, which I did not know when picking it up. I thought it was just the first book in a series and I could start from the beginning, but no, no, no. The first 100 pages of this references something that happened in another book, which I have no knowledge of, so it was kind of confusing.

I'm not sure how I feel about this one yet. There is noticeable age difference between our romantic leads. He's 37 and she's 22. Haven (our main girl) had a very mean father who kept her isolated, so she's very innocent and childish almost, which makes the age difference stand out even more for me. 

I also feel like their first smexy encounter was very ba-blam! It was just very sudden and I wasn't expecting it to go to that place right there. I didn't feel like they really knew each other that well yet. So, I don't know. Maybe this will grow on me, but I'm not in love with it yet.

The Ravens (#1) by Kass Morgan and Danielle Paige -- I'm enjoying this one. This seems like the kind of book that I can just fly through, if I don't distract myself with other things. This is a YA Witchy Coven book. Oddly, our characters are in college, but they don't really feel like they're in college. It almost feels like some kind of private/boarding school thing. But anyway, there's a sorority on campus that is really a witch coven. We have two perspectives: Vivi, a freshman who has no idea about her powers and is chosen as a pledge, and Scarlett who is a junior and member of the sorority who has big ambitions for herself.

I like this. It's giving me that feel of a LJ Smith book. The Nightworld Series, or The Secret Circle Series, does anyone remember those? When I was a younger teen, those books were what I loved. It had paranormal coolness and this whole soulmate thing that I just couldn't get enough of. Anyway, The Ravens is giving me that same feeling. 

And that's what I'm Reading Right Now! What are you reading?

BLOG TOUR: We Could Be Heroes by Mike Chen

 I am really excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for We Could Be Heroes by Mike Chen. I received a free electronic copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Mira Books and Mike Chen for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the tour!

Title: We Could Be Heroes

Author: Mike Chen

Published by: Mira Books

Released: January 26, 2021

Source: Electronic Review Copy from Publisher

Goodreads     Amazon

 

Synopsis: An extraordinary and emotional adventure about unlikely friends and the power of choosing who you want to be. 

Jamie woke up in an empty apartment with no memory and only a few clues to his identity, but with the ability to read and erase other people’s memories—a power he uses to hold up banks to buy coffee, cat food and books.

Zoe is also searching for her past, and using her abilities of speed and strength…to deliver fast food. And she’ll occasionally put on a cool suit and beat up bad guys, if she feels like it.

When the archrivals meet in a memory-loss support group, they realize the only way to reveal their hidden pasts might be through each other. As they uncover an ongoing threat, suddenly much more is at stake than their fragile friendship. With countless people at risk, Zoe and Jamie will have to recognize that sometimes being a hero starts with trusting someone else—and yourself. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: I'm a sucker for books that contain people with powers. I also love books of unlikely pairs teaming up. It's just always really fun to read. We Could Be Heroes was a really entertaining read, it had me flipping the pages. I liked our main characters of Jamie and Zoe. I enjoyed them trying to find out the mystery of their memory loss and the truth about themselves. I had a good time reading this.

Jamie and Zoe use their powers to benefit themselves sometimes. They tend to keep their heads down and try to make their money. Jamie uses his power to skirt the law. Zoe sometimes uses her power for good. Both of them have a lot of questions about their pasts though. They can't remember and they need to find out. I really enjoyed the journey of them figuring it out. I also love a good team up, and I feel like Zoe and Jamie were a good team up.

I enjoyed the writing. I was never bored with this story. It was a great way to pass the time. I'd definitely recommend giving it a read if it sounds like something you'd enjoy.

Mike Chen is a lifelong writer, from crafting fan fiction as a child to somehow getting paid for words as an adult. He has contributed to major geek websites (The Mary Sue, The Portalist, Tor) and covered the NHL for mainstream media outlets. A member of SFWA and Codex Writers, Mike lives in the Bay Area, where he can be found playing video games and watching Doctor Who with his wife, daughter, and rescue animals. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram: @mikechenwriter

Thank you for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for We Could Be Heroes by Mike Chen. Thanks so much to Mira Books and Mike Chen for letting me be a part of the tour. Use your super speed and get your hands on this one.

BLOG TOUR: If I Disappear by Eliza Jane Brazier

 I'm very excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for If I Disappear by Eliza Jane Brazier. As soon as I saw that cover, I knew I wanted to see what it was about. I received a free electronic copy from the publisher for honest review. Thanks so much to Berkley and Eliza Jane Brazier for letting me be a part of the tour.

Title: If I Disappear

Author: Eliza Jane Brazier

Published by: Berkley

Released: January 26, 2021

Source: Electronic Review Copy from Publisher

Goodreads     Amazon

 

Synopsis: When her favorite true crime podcast host goes missing, an adrift young woman plunges headfirst into the wild backcountry of Northern California and her own dangerous obsession. 

Sera loves true crime podcasts. They make her feel empowered in a world where women just like her disappear daily. She's sure they are preparing her for something. So when Rachel, her favorite podcast host, goes missing, Sera knows it's time to act. Rachel has always taught her to trust her instincts.

Sera follows the clues hidden in the episodes to an isolated ranch outside Rachel's small hometown to begin her search. She's convinced her investigation will make Rachel so proud. But the more Sera digs into this unfamiliar world, the more off things start to feel. Because Rachel is not the first woman to vanish from the ranch, and she won't be the last...

Rachel did try to warn her. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: Oooooh! I mean, I mean! I knew I had to read this book as soon as I read the synopsis and saw that cover. It is very enticing. I am a big fan of books with a podcast element, which this has, as well as a mystery and an adrift woman. I had a good time reading this. I can see a lot of other people having a good time reading this too.

This is told from second person point of view, which takes a little getting used to. I thought it was an interesting way to tell the story.

I just really enjoyed the whole what's going on? aspect of it. I love having a good mystery and suspense in what I'm reading. I was so curious as to what was happening in the story. It has a really intriguing plot which definitely kept me flipping the pages.

I thought this was a good debut. I really enjoyed the journey it took me on. I'd definitely say give it a try.

 

 

 

 

 Eliza Jane Brazier is an author, screenwriter and journalist. This is her adult debut. She currently lives in Los Angeles where she is developing If I Disappear for television.

 

 

 

 Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for If I Disappear by Eliza Jane Brazier. Thanks so much to Berkley and Eliza Jane Brazier for letting me be a part of the tour. I can't wait to see what kind of book Eliza writes next.

 

 

SPOTLIGHT: The Heiress Gets A Duke by Harper St. George

 I am really excited to be doing a Spotlight Post for The Heiress Gets A Duke by Harper St. George. I have been on such a romance kick, especially historical romance, ever since bingeing Bridgerton on Netflix. I've been wanting anything and everything romance.

When I got the email asking if I wanted to take part with a Spotlight, it was such an easy yes. I received a free electronic copy for honest review from the publisher and I can't wait to sink my teeth into it. Thanks so much to Berkley Books and Harper St. George for letting me be a part of it.

I'd definitely recommending getting your hands on this one, especially if you're in the romance mood.

Title: The Heiress Gets a Duke (The Gilded Age Heiresses #1)

Author: Harper St. George

Published by: Berkley Books

Released: January 26, 2021

Goodreads     Amazon

Synopsis: Even a fortune forged in railroads and steel can't buy entrance into the upper echelons of Victorian high society--for that you need a marriage of convenience.

American heiress August Crenshaw has aspirations. But unlike her peers, it isn't some stuffy British Lord she wants wrapped around her finger--it's Crenshaw Iron Works, the family business. When it's clear that August's outrageously progressive ways render her unsuitable for a respectable match, her parents offer up her younger sister to the highest entitled bidder instead. This simply will not do. August refuses to leave her sister to the mercy of a loveless marriage.

Evan Sterling, the Duke of Rothschild, has no intention of walking away from the marriage. He's recently inherited the title only to find his coffers empty, and with countless lives depending on him, he can't walk away from the fortune a Crenshaw heiress would bring him. But after meeting her fiery sister, he realizes Violet isn't the heiress he wants. He wants August, and he always gets what he wants.

But August won't go peacefully to her fate. She decides to show Rothschild that she's no typical London wallflower. Little does she realize that every stunt she pulls to make him call off the wedding only makes him like her even more.

Harper St. George was raised in the rural backwoods of Alabama and along the tranquil coast of northwest Florida. It was a setting filled with stories of the old days that instilled in her a love of history, romance, and adventure. By high school, she had discovered the historical romance novel, which combined all of those elements into one perfect package. She has been hooked ever since. She lives in the Atlanta area with her family and loves to hear from readers.

 

Reading Right Now! (287)

Do you remember that TBR Game I keep mentioning in a bunch of my current posts? Deck Of TBR? A game based on a deck of cards, book prompts, and a board I made myself and I got the idea from BooksWithMaddi on youtube? Well, I am pleased to say that I'm reading my last book that I picked in the January Edition of that game. I'm very pleased with myself, obviously, and I'm excited to see what I'll pick for February.

So, what I'm Reading Right Now! is...

 

Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty -- This is murder mystery in space with clones. We start off the story with all our crew waking up in newly cloned versions of themselves and discovering that a massacre took place, and someone killed them all. Everything has been wiped, including the last couple decades of their memories, so one of them has to be the killer, they just don't know who.

I've been wanting to read this book for a while because it just sounded so awesome and everything that I would love. I'm definitely enjoying it. I'm not sure if it's blowing me out of the water like I thought it would, but I might have just over hyped myself.

It has a lot of discussion about humans versus clones. All these people started out as humans, but by choosing the clone life, they no longer are human. Clones have different rules they have to live by. It's definitely an interesting rabbit hole to go down, but I'm not sure if I needed it. I would have been fine if it has just been a thrilling game of who's the killer in space. I mean, it is that, but it's sprinkled extra philosophical bits in.

But once I finish this, I will have finished every book I picked for my Deck of TBR January 2021 Edition! Yayy.

 

I don't know what exactly I want to read next, so I have options.

 

  I've kind of been craving romance after my binge of Bridgerton on Netflix, (We're getting a Season 2 Yayy!) so Ride Hard (Raven Riders #1) by Laura Kaye has been calling to me. Or I could go with another spacey sci-fi read with Architects of Memory (The Memory War #1) by Karen Osborne. Or I could go with some YA Witchy Goodness with The Ravens (The Ravens #1) by Kass Morgan and Danielle Paige. Or I could go with Night Song by Beverly Jenkins. There is a romance book club on Instagram called @HistoricalHellions and this is the first book they are reading. As I said, I've been craving romance.

 

So that's what I'm Reading Right Now! As for what I read next, I'm undecided, so you'll have to check back in next week to see. 

BLOG TOUR: Aftershock by Judy Melinek and T.J. Mitchell

I am very excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Aftershock by Judy Melinek and T.J. Mitchell. I was provided with a free electronic copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Hanover Square Press, Judy Melinek, and T.J. Mitchell for letting me be a part of this tour.

 

 

Title: Aftershock (Jessie Teska #2)

Authors: Judy Melinek and T.J. Mitchell

Published by: Hanover Square Press

Released: January 19, 2021

Source: Electronic Review Copy provided by Publisher

Goodreads     Amazon

 

Synopsis: When an earthquake strikes San Francisco, forensics expert Jessie Teska faces her biggest threat yet in this explosive new mystery from the New York Times bestselling duo 

There’s a body crushed under a load of pipes on a San Francisco construction site, and medical examiner Dr. Jessie Teska is on call. So it’s her job to figure out who it is—and her headache when the autopsy reveals that the death is a homicide staged as an accident.

Jessie is hot on the murderer’s trail, then an earthquake sends her and her whole city reeling. When the dust clears, her case has fallen apart and an innocent man is being framed. Jessie knows she’s the only one who can prove it, and she races to piece together the truth—before it gets buried and brings her down in the rubble.

With Melinek and Mitchell’s trademark blend of propulsive prose, deft plotting and mordant humor, this rollicking new installment in the Jessie Teska Mystery series will shake you up and leave you rattled. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: This book was just the thing I was craving. It gave me what I wanted, a thrilling mystery with some twists and surprises. One of the things that makes this book stand out from the mystery crowd is Judy Melinek's real world knowledge that she brings. Having an author that was a former assistant medical examiner and forensic pathologist just brings that air of authenticity. Even though the story is entirely made up, I will not question the medical knowledge. In ways, it gives me that Bones vibe.

As for the mystery itself, it was very thrilling and chaotic. Not only is there a dead body that has been staged to look like an accident, we then have an earthquake and an innocent man being framed. There's a lot going on with this mystery.

I definitely enjoyed this one. I'm glad I found another police procedural series to add to my list. If death investigations and mysteries are your thing, I'd say give it a read. This author duo does not disappoint.

 

 

 

 

Judy Melinek, M.D., is an author and former assistant medical examiner in San Francisco and former forensic pathologist in Oakland, California. Her training in forensics at the Office of Chief Medical Examiner of the City of New York is the subject of her first book, the memoir Working Stiff. Her fiction writing includes two novels in the Dr. Judy Teska mystery series.

T.J. MITCHELL is a writer with an English degree from Harvard, and worked in the film industry before becoming a full-time stay-at-home dad. He is the New York Times bestselling author of Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a Medical Examiner with his wife, Judy Melinek.

 

 

Thank you for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for Aftershock by Judy Melinek and T.J. Mitchell. Thanks so much to Hanover Square Press, Judy Melinek, and T.J. Mitchell for letting me be a part of the tour!

 

 

BLOG TOUR: At the Edge of the Haight by Katherine Seligman

 I am really excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for At the Edge of the Haight by Katherine Seligman. I received a copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Algonquin Books and Katherine Seligman for letting me be a part of this tour.

 

 

 

Title: At the Edge of the Haight

Author: Katherine Seligman

Published by: Algonquin Books

Released: January 19, 2021

Source: Review Copy provided by Publisher

Goodreads     Amazon

 

Synopsis: The Winner of the 2019 PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction 

 Maddy Donaldo, homeless at twenty, has made a family of sorts in the dangerous spaces of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. She knows whom to trust, where to eat, when to move locations, and how to take care of her dog. It’s the only home she has. When she unwittingly witnesses the murder of a young homeless boy and is seen by the perpetrator, her relatively stable life is upended. Suddenly, everyone from the police to the dead boys’ parents want to talk to Maddy about what she saw. As adults pressure her to give up her secrets and reunite with her own family before she meets a similar fate, Maddy must decide whether she wants to stay lost or be found. Against the backdrop of a radically changing San Francisco, a city which embraces a booming tech economy while struggling to maintain its culture of tolerance, At the Edge of the Haight follows the lives of those who depend on makeshift homes and communities. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: This was a really powerful and thought provoking book, and I'm glad I got to read it. It really brings attention to a segment of the population that tend to be ignored, we'd rather look away then confront the problem of homelessness. I think this book gives a solid first glance into some of those problems. It doesn't go as hard as it could, but it introduces the topic to new and younger eyes.

I also appreciated how it focused on San Francisco's problem with homelessness. San Francisco is one of the most expensive places to live (or so I've heard) and it's sad that so much wealth can be right alongside so much need. The San Francisco of yesteryear is not the San Francisco that exists today.

I liked how those bigger themes were thrown in to At the Edge of Haight. How it gives a glimpse of the problems while also focusing on the story of Maddy Donaldo, who witnesses a murder and is in danger because of it. Maddy is homeless which means her safety is not guaranteed. I definitely enjoyed the story.

I think this was a pretty good book. It brings some light to problems we have in our current world while also telling a thrilling tale. I'd recommend this easily.

 

 

 

  Katherine Seligman is a journalist and author who lives in San Francisco. She has been a writer at the San Francisco Chronicle Magazine, a reporter at the San Francisco Examiner and a correspondent at USA Today. Her work has appeared in Redbook, Life, Money, California Magazine, the anthology Fresh Takes and elsewhere.

 

 

 

 Thank you for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for At the Edge of Haight by Katherine Seligman. Thanks so much to Algonquin Books and Katherine Seligman for letting me be a part of the tour and giving me the chance to read this book.

 

BLOG TOUR: One of the Good Ones by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite

I am very excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for One of the Good Ones by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite. I was provided with a free electronic copy for honest review. Thanks so much to Inkyard Press and Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite for letting me be a part of this tour.

 

 

Title: One of the Good Ones

Authors: Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite

Published by: Inkyard Press

Released: January 5, 2021

Source: Electron Review Copy from Publisher

Goodreads     Amazon

 

Synopsis: The Hate U Give meets Get Out in this honest and powerful exploration of prejudice in the stunning novel from sister-writer duo Maika and Maritza Moulite, authors of Dear Haiti, Love Alaine. 

ISN'T BEING HUMAN ENOUGH? 

When teen social activist and history buff Kezi Smith is killed under mysterious circumstances after attending a social justice rally, her devastated sister Happi and their family are left reeling in the aftermath. As Kezi becomes another immortalized victim in the fight against police brutality, Happi begins to question the idealized way her sister is remembered. Perfect. Angelic.

One of the good ones.

Even as the phrase rings wrong in her mind—why are only certain people deemed worthy to be missed?—Happi and her sister Genny embark on a journey to honor Kezi in their own way, using an heirloom copy of The Negro Motorist Green Book as their guide. But there's a twist to Kezi's story that no one could've ever expected—one that will change everything all over again. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: This is a very powerful, impactful, and timely book and I'm glad I got to read it. It was captivating and really hit me hard while reading it. This book really did take me on a journey, and it was a journey that I needed.

I enjoyed the switching timelines, how well they were used in the story. It was a good choice.

I also liked how it brought up the question of who gets to be remembered, while others are faceless and nameless. It's an important question to ask. It makes me think of how I will be remembered when I'm gone. Will I do something important, or will I be just another name in a family tree.

I'd definitely recommend giving this book a read. It delivers a really important message in a very impactful way.

 

Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for One of the Good Ones by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite. It's definitely a book that I recommend giving a read. It will leave it's mark on you. Thank you so much to Inkyard Press and Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite for letting me have the opportunity to read it and for being a part of this tour.

BLOG TOUR: Find Me in Havana by Serena Burdick

I'm really excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Find Me in Havana by Serena Burdick. I received an electronic copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Park Row Books and Serena Burdick for letting me be a part of the tour.

 

 

Title: Find Me in Havana

Author: Serena Burdick

Published by: Park Row Books

Released: January 12, 2021

Source: Review Copy from Publisher

Goodreads     Amazon

 

Synopsis: The dazzling true story of one of Hollywood's most celebrated Hispanic actresses and her daughter's search for answers.  

Cuba, 1936: When Estelita Rodriguez sings in a hazy Havana nightclub for the very first time, she is nine years old. From then on, that spotlight of adoration--from Havana to New York's Copacabana and then Hollywood--becomes the one true accomplishment no one can take from her. Not the 1933 Cuban Revolution that drove her family into poverty. Not the revolving door of husbands and the fickle world of film. Not even the tragic devastation of Castro's revolution that rained down on her loved ones.

Thirty years later, her young adult daughter, Nina Rodriguez, is blindsided by her mother's mysterious, untimely death. Seeking answers no one else wants to hear, the grieving Nina navigates the troubling, opulent memories of their life together and discovers how much Estelita sacrificed to live the American dream on her own terms.

Based on true events and exclusive interviews with the real Nina Rodriguez, Find Me in Havana weaves two unforgettable voices into one extraordinary journey that explores the unbreakable bond between mother and child, and the ever-changing landscape of self-discovery. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

My Thoughts: This is the story of a mother, a daughter, and Cuba in the past and present. We explore Estelita Rodriguez's life, the highs and the lows, while living in a country that is going through turbulent times. We also follow Nina Rodriguez as she deals with the mystery and loss of her mother.

I found this book to be really interesting and immersive. I love books that have a real story behind them. It's always so fascinating to learn more about the real person behind the story. I think Serena Burdick did an awesome job of telling the story of Estelita. Even though it's a fictionalized version of a life, it's still fascinating.

I also really liked getting to learn about Cuba. I confess that I don't really know much about it, so everything I got to learn was very interesting.

I also liked reading Nina's journey as she discovers secrets and mysteries about her mother. She learned so much about her and just all she did for herself and her family.

I really liked Find Me in Havana and I'm glad I got to read it. It tells a fascinating story and explores some history of a place that is still kind of a mystery. If you like historical fiction, I'd definitely recommend giving this a read. It's good.

 

Serena Burdick Graduated from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in California before moving to New York City to pursue a degree in English Literature at Brooklyn College. Author of GIRL IN THE AFTERNOON, she lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband and two sons.

Thank you for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for Find Me in Havana by Serena Burdick. Thanks so much to Park Row Books and Serena Burdick for letting me be a part of it. If you're looking for a good historical fiction, I'd definitely recommend this one.

Reading Right Now! (286)

I can't believe I'm on post #286, that seems crazy. I've been doing pretty well so far with my reading in January and my Deck of TBR game (idea from BooksWithMaddi on youtube). I've got two more books on my original Deck of TBR pile and then I hope to add extra ones in. In 2020, I read 8 books in January, so if I want to be on track with that, I should read 8 books in January 2021. I want to read more books in 2021 then I did in 2020, but we'll see how it goes.

What I'm Reading Right Now! is...

 

Don't Say a Word (Hometown Antihero #2) by Amber Lynn Natusch -- This sequel takes off right after the events in the first book, so I would suggest reading them in close proximity to each other. I appreciate it though that it just jumps right back in. There's no events reminder wrap-up, it's just the continuation of Kylene's story. I definitely am enjoying the story, but I don't know if I like it as much as the first book. It just doesn't feel like there's a lot of progress being made in this one. 

I really like the way Amber Lynn Natusch writes. I think she can probably write a great adult book. She does very good sexual tension that can't be explored all the way in this because it's YA. I want to read some of her adult stuff.

Sometimes I find Kylene a little too smart mouthy, but I forgive her.

The thing I do feel is weird is the romantic tension (kind of sort of, I don't know) that goes on between Kylene and Agent Dawson. In this one he's working undercover at her school and pretending to be her boyfriend. She's 17, he's 23. Nothing has happened, but it just feels a little weird because she is technically not an adult. And there is another boy that I'm rooting for a little more and that's AJ. I could do with more AJ and Kylene.

I think this series is fun though. I don't think I'm going to be satisfied when I reach the end because I'll want to read the next one and according to her website, the publisher didn't buy any more books from her in this series, so she's going to have to self publish the third. She says it's going to come out in 2021 and I hope it all works out. I don't like being cut off in the middle of a series.

 

What I Would Like to Read Next:

 

Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty --  Sci-fi! Clones! Murder! I'm excited for it. I hope it doesn't let me down.

 

And that is what I'm Reading Right Now! What are you Reading?

BLOG TOUR: This Is Not the End by Sidney Bell

 I'm really excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for This Is Not the End by Sidney Bell. I received a free electronic copy for honest review. Thanks so much to Carina Press and Sidney Bell for letting me be a part of the tour!

Title: This Is Not the End

Author: Sidney Bell

Published by: Carina Press

Released: January 11, 2021

Source: Electronic Review Copy from Publisher

Goodreads     Amazon

 

Synopsis: A Polyamorous Love Story 

Zacary Trevor is the love of Anya Alexander’s life. Their sometimes tumultuous marriage has survived ups, downs, and all the in-betweens. With successful careers, a lovely home, and a beautiful child, domestic bliss is a hard-earned reality for two people whose hedonistic days are in the not-so-distant past. They’re happy. Enter Zac’s best friend, the deeply reserved Cal Keller. 

Zac’s friendship with Cal is the foundation of his career and—until Anya and their son came along—the most important relationship of his life. Cal’s a cipher, someone Anya can’t help but gravitate to, even if they don’t always get along. Even more, she’s drawn to the Zac she sees when he’s with Cal—a careful, cautious version of her husband, someone with hidden thoughts and desires kept secret even from her. Inviting Cal into their home, deeper into their life, is a risk. 

Zac should say no. He knows he should. But he doesn’t. From the first, the hint at the life the three of them could have together is exhilarating. And finding a new definition for family just might be worth the risk to every bond that exists between them. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: I don't normally read books like this, it was something different for me, but I did enjoy it. This book involves a polyamorous relationship with some pretty steamy scenes. It involves a married couple and the husband's best friend. It's definitely a different kind of relationship and a different kind of love story.

I really felt like I couldn't look away from this one. I liked the writing style and the story was always interesting. This is not the type of relationship I would choose for myself, but it works for Zac, Anya, and Cal.

I don't think this is going to be the kind of book for everybody, but if you're intrigued, I'd say give it a chance.

 

Sidney Bell lives in the drizzly Pacific Northwest with her amazingly supportive husband. She received her MFA degree in Creative Writing in 2010, considered aiming for the Great American Novel, and then promptly started writing fanfiction instead. More realistic grown-ups eventually convinced her to try writing something more fiscally responsible, though, which is how we ended up here. When she’s not writing, she’s playing violent video games, yelling at the television during hockey games, or supporting her local library by turning books in late.

Thanks for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for This Is Not the End by Sidney Bell. Thanks so much to Carina Press and Sidney Bell for letting me be a part of the tour.

BLOG TOUR: Her Texas New Year's Wish by Michelle Major

I'm really excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Her Texas New Year's Wish, the first book in The Fortunes of Texas Series by Michelle Major. I received a free electronic copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Harlequin Special Edition and Michelle Major for letting me be a part of the tour.

 

 

Title: Her Texas New Year's Wish (The Fortunes of Texas #1)

Author: Michelle Major

Published by: Harlequin Special Edition

Released: December 29, 2020

Source: Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Goodreads     Amazon

 

Synopsis: Can you fall head over heels
And land on your feet? When Grace Williams topples from the balcony at the soon-to-open Hotel Fortune, the last thing she expects is to find love with her new bosses’ brother. Wiley Fortune is visiting from Chicago, and the polished attorney has looks, money and charm to spare. But Grace’s past makes her wary of investing her heart—and risking her job. Do a small-town Texan and a city sophisticate really have a chance? (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: Howdy! Welcome to Rambling Rose, Texas and Hotel Fortune. Get ready for love <3

This is the start to a new romance series and I think it's going to be a fun one. I enjoyed my time at Hotel Fortune. I liked the story I got. Wiley sees Grace and falls hard, Grace is a little wary. This story does feature a big dose of instant attraction, but I didn't mind it.

Wiley, while born in Texas, has left it for a job in Chicago. He's only back to support his family and the opening of the new hotel. He spies Grace, and the rest is history.

I liked this one. I'd definitely say if you like romance, give it a shot. It looks to be a promising start to a new series. I'd read more of it.

 

 

 

 

 

USA Today bestselling author Michelle Major loves stories of new beginnings, second chances and always a happily ever after. An avid hiker and avoider of housework, she lives in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains with her husband, two teenagers and a menagerie of spoiled furbabies. Connect with her at www.michellemajor.com. 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for Her Texas New Year's Wish by Michelle Major. Thanks so much to Harlequin Special Edition and Michelle Major for letting me be a part of the tour. 

Everything is more fun with a little romance!

 

 

BLOG TOUR: Special Ops Seduction (Alaska Force #5) by Megan Crane

 I'm really excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Special Ops Seduction by Megan Crane. I received a free electronic copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Berkley and Megan Crane for letting me be a part of this tour.

Title: Special Ops Seduction (Alaska Force #5)

Author: Megan Crane

Published by: Berkley

Released: January 12, 2021

Source: Review Copy from Publisher

Goodreads    Amazon

 

Synopsis: She's the last woman he ever wanted to see again...  

After an official operation turned deadly, Jonas Crow began a new life in Grizzly Harbor with Alaska Force. But when fellow soldier Bethan Wilcox joins the group, she forces him to remember things he actively prefers to forget. That’s unforgivable enough. But now the two of them are forced together on a mission to uncover deadly secrets tied to their complicated past, and with the heat between them at a boil, forgiveness is the least of his worries... 

And the only woman he needs.  

Bethan Wilcox, one of the first women to make it through Army Ranger school, didn't join Alaska Force to deal with Jonas's foul temper. Or her own errant attraction to him. Thrown together in a race against the clock, they have to pretend to be a couple and play nice to throw the enemy off their scent. She knows better than to let their pretend love feel real...especially while time is running out. 

Jonas has always been good at saving the world. But it’s Bethan he needs to save this time around—if she doesn’t save him first. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: Excellent! What I really enjoyed about this is the forced proximity and the obvious attraction to each other. What I also really enjoyed is that Bethan is an agent too. She's a tough lady who isn't a wilting flower. She got through Army Ranger school on her own and so she's able to keep up with Jonas Crow just fine. So many stories are an agent and a woman he has to protect, but with this one we get a female agent who can take care of herself.

This is the fifth book in the Alaska Force series, but the first one of the series that I've read. I had no problems jumping right in. I'd definitely be interested in checking out the other titles, but I don't feel like I'm forced to.

This had great romance and suspense. It was just a really addicting book to read. So easy to fly through and get your mind off the world for awhile. If Romantic Suspense is a thing that you like, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a shot.

 

 

 

USA Today bestselling, RITA-nominated, and critically-acclaimed author Megan Crane has written more than 100 books – and counting. She’s won fans with her romance, women’s fiction, chick lit, and work-for-hire young adult novels as well as with the Harlequin Presents, Harlequin Dare, and contemporary cowboy books she writes as Caitlin Crews. She loves contemporary romance in all its forms, from cowboys to military heroes and beyond – including her take on futuristic Vikings, outlaw bikers, and fairy tale princes. She has a Masters and Ph.D. in English Literature, has taught creative writing classes in places like UCLA Extension’s prestigious Writers’ Program, and is always available to give workshops (or her opinion). She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her comic book artist husband, though, at any given time, she is likely to either be huddled in a coffee shop somewhere or off traveling the world. Preferably both. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for Special Ops Seduction by Megan Crane. Thanks so much to Berkley and Megan Crane for letting me be a part of the tour. It was just the kind of read I needed.