BLOG TOUR: The Lipstick Bureau by Michelle Gable

 I'm excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for The Lipstick Bureau by Michelle Gable! I received a free electronic copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Graydon House and Michelle Gable for letting me be a part of the tour!

Title: The Lipstick Bureau

Author: Michelle Gable

Published by: Graydon House

Released: December 27, 2022

Source: Electronic Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Goodreads          Amazon

 

Synopsis: Inspired by a real-life female spy, a WWII-set novel about a woman challenging convention and boundaries to help win a war, no matter the cost.

 

1944, Rome. Newlywed Niki Novotná is recruited by a new American spy agency to establish a secret branch in Italy's capital. One of the OSS's few female operatives abroad and multilingual, she's tasked with crafting fake stories and distributing propaganda to lower the morale of enemy soldiers.

Despite limited resources, Niki and a scrappy team of artists, forgers and others—now nicknamed The Lipstick Bureau—find success, forming a bond amid the cobblestoned streets and storied villas of the newly liberated city. But her work is also a way to escape devastating truths about the family she left behind in Czechoslovakia and a future with her controlling American husband.

As the war drags on and the pressure intensifies, Niki begins to question the rules she's been instructed to follow, and a colleague unexpectedly captures her heart. But one step out of line, one mistake, could mean life or death… (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: History is fascinating. There are so many stories that you're just not aware of. I really liked how The Lipstick Bureau was inspired by an actual person and life. The bravery and tenacity of people was just astounding.

I really liked reading this one. I was very interested in the story. It involved spies, WWII, and Rome. I kept turning pages, just waiting to see what was going to happen next.

I liked Gable's writing. It kept me invested.

Niki goes through a lot in this story. She faces challenges on so many fronts, but she was strong.

If you like WWII Historical Fiction, then I'd definitely add this one to your TBR pile.

 MICHELLE GABLE is the New York Times bestselling author of A Paris Apartment, I'll See You in Paris, The Book of Summer, and The Summer I Met Jack. She attended the College of William & Mary and spent twenty years working in finance before becoming a full-time writer. She grew up in San Diego and lives in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California. Find her on Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest, @mgablewriter.

Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for The Lipstick Bureau by Michelle Gable. Thank you to Graydon House and Michelle Gable for letting me be a part of the tour. If you're looking for a historical fiction to add to your reading this, you should put this one on it.

BLOG TOUR: Someone Had To Do It by Amber and Danielle Brown

I'm excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Someone Had To Do It by Amber Brown and Danielle Brown! I received a free electronic copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Graydon House and Amber and Danielle Brown for letting me be a part of the tour!

 

 

Title: Someone Had To Do It

Author: Amber Brown and Danielle Brown

Published by: Graydon House

Released: December 27, 2022

Source: Electronic Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Goodreads         Amazon

 

Synopsis: SOMEONE HAD TO MAKE HIM PAY. SOMEONE HAD TO TAKE HER DOWN.

Brandi Maxwell is living the dream as an intern at prestigious New York fashion house Simon Van Doren. Except “living the dream” looks more like scrubbing puke from couture dresses worn by hard-partying models and putting up with microaggressions from her white colleagues. Still, she can’t help but fangirl over Simon’s it-girl daughter, Taylor. Until one night, at a glamorous Van Doren party, when Brandi overhears something she shouldn’t have, and her fate becomes dangerously intertwined Taylor’s.

Model and influencer Taylor Van Doren has everything…and is this close to losing it all. Her fashion mogul father will donate her inheritance to charity if she fails her next drug test, and he’s about to marry someone nearly as young as Taylor, further threatening her stake in the family fortune. But Taylor deserves the money that’s rightfully hers. And she’ll go to any lengths to get it, even if that means sacrificing her famous father in the process.

All she needs is the perfect person to take the fall... (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: I really loved all the drama in this story. It was a lot of fun to read. It kept me turning pages. This story is a bouquet for the senses. Something is always happening, you just can't look away.

If you're looking for something fun and dramatic to read, I'd definitely recommend this one. It's fast-paced and entertaining. There is also some steam included.

 

Amber and Danielle Brown both graduated from Rider University where they studied Communications/Journalism and sat on the editorial staff for the On Fire!! literary journal. They then pursued a career in fashion and spent five years in NYC working their way up, eventually managing their own popular fashion and lifestyle blog. Amber is also a screenwriter, so they live in LA, which works out perfectly so Danielle can spoil her plant babies with copious amount of sunshine.

Thank you for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for Someone Had To Do It by Amber and Danielle Brown. Thanks so much to Graydon House and Amber and Danielle Brown for letting me be a part of the tour! It's a good one.

BLOG TOUR: A Small Affair by Flora Collins

 I'm excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for A Small Affair by Flora Collins! I received a free electronic copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to MIRA and Flora Collins for letting me be a part of the tour!

Title: A Small Affair

Author: Flora Collins

Published by: MIRA

Released: December 27, 2022

Source: Electronic Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Goodreads          Amazon

 

Synopsis: A young woman's life is torn apart when her wealthy ex-lover is found dead—along with his wife.

Vera is ruthlessly ambitious, beautiful, and knows how to get exactly what she wants—no matter who stands in the way. When she meets a wealthy older man on an exclusive dating app, she thinks nothing of the wife he tells her he’s separated from. But days later, when the man and his wife are found dead in their home, Vera is immediately blamed for their deaths and branded as good as a murderer.

A year later, she emerges from a cocoon of self-pity and tries to reenter the world, but the specter of scandal still clings to her. Then she’s invited to a memorial for the wife of her former lover. As she learns more about the family, and about the couple and their friends, she begins to suspect there was more to the story than an affair gone wrong. In a quest for redemption, Vera uncovers layers of lies and close-kept secrets held by an inner circle of filthy rich tech millionaires who will go to any lengths to protect their reputations. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: This was a fun one to read. It had a really interesting premise, and delivered it in small bursts that kept my interest. I enjoyed all the twists and turns it took. It's a thriller that takes its time to unravel, and I couldn't take my eyes off of it. 

The characters in this book aren't ones that you'll necessarily like. They can be selfish and make bad decisions, but I needed to see what was happening with them.

I really enjoyed this thriller. It kept me turning the pages, just waiting to see what was going to happen next.

Flora Collins was born and raised in New York City and has never left, except for a four-year stint at Vassar College. When she's not writing, she can be found watching reality shows that were canceled after one season or attempting to eat soft-serve ice cream in bed (sometimes simultaneously). Nanny Dearest is her first novel, and draws upon personal experiences from her own family history.

Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Post for A Small Affair by Flora Collins! Thank you to MIRA and Flora Collins for letting me be a part of the tour. This is one you should definitely add to your TBR.

SPOTLIGHT: In It to Win It by Sharon C. Cooper

 I am really excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for In It to Win It by Sharon C. Cooper! I received a free electronic copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Berkley and Sharon C. Cooper for letting me be a part of this tour!

Title: In It to Win It

Author: Sharon C. Cooper

Published by: Berkley

Released: December 13, 2022

Source: Electronic Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Goodreads         Amazon

 

Synopsis: Two entrepreneurs compete for a property, but secure the biggest win of all—each other—in this second chance romantic comedy by USA Today bestselling author Sharon C. Cooper.

Spoiled, fickle, and flighty are only a few adjectives that have been used to describe Morgan Redford. She’s never had to worry about money, but she’s determined to build a career on her own and do something meaningful with her life—by helping children who are aging out of the foster care system. She has her eyes on a property that a family friend is selling, which is perfect for these young adults to live in, but her competition is someone she never expected…

When Los Angeles real estate developer Drake Faulkner learns that his eccentric mentor is selling property that is perfect for his portfolio, he jumps at the chance to buy it. But he soon learns the billionaire has other ideas: buyers must compete in an Iron Man competition of sorts for the property. Drake refuses to play along with this ridiculous demand…until he finds out Morgan, his ex who left him years ago without a word, is one of the potential buyers. No way is he letting her—Little Miss Self-Absorbed—win the property he wants. Bitter? Yes. Petty? Probably. But as the gauntlet of games heats up and forces them to face the past, they are met with a pull that feels all too familiar.

Now, if they could only keep their eyes on the prize and off each other—but who’s to say they can’t do both? (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 USA Today bestselling author Sharon C. Cooper loves anything involving romance with a happily-ever-after, whether in books, movies, or real life. She writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense, as well as romantic comedy and enjoys rainy days, carpet picnics, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Sharon’s stories have won numerous awards over the years. Most recently, she’s won a Reading Warriors Choice Award - The Beverly Jenkins Author of the Year (2021) and The Rochelle Alers Best Series award for her Atlanta’s Finest (Romantic Suspense) series (2021 & 2022). When Sharon isn’t writing, she’s hanging out with her amazing husband, doing volunteer work, or reading a good book (a romance of course). To read more about Sharon and her novels, visit www.sharoncooper.net

Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Spotlight stop for In It to Win It by Sharon C. Cooper. Thank you to Berkley and Sharon C. Cooper for letting me be a part of the tour. This is definitely one to add to your TBR.

BLOG TOUR: Well Traveled by Jen DeLuca

 I'm excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Well Traveled by Jen DeLuca! I received a free electronic copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Berkley and Jen DeLuca for letting me be a part of the tour!

Title: Well Traveled (Well Met #4)

Author: Jen DeLuca

Published by: Berkley

Released: December 6, 2022

Source: Electronic Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Goodreads         Amazon

 

Synopsis: A high-powered attorney from a success-oriented family, Louisa "Lulu" Malone lives to work, and everything seems to be going right, until the day she realizes it’s all wrong. Lulu’s cousin Mitch introduced her to the world of Renaissance Faires, and when she spies one at a time just when she needs an escape, she leaps into the welcoming environment of turkey legs, taverns, and tarot readers. The only drawback? Dex MacLean: a guitarist with a killer smile, the Casanova of the Faire… and her traveling companion for the summer.

Dex has never had to work for much in his life, and why should he? Touring with his brothers as The Dueling Kilts is going great, and he always finds a woman at every Faire. But when Lulu proves indifferent to his many plaid charms and a shake-up threatens the fate of the band, Dex must confront something he never has before: his future.

Forced to spend days and nights together on the road, Lulu’s interest in the kilted bad boy grows as he shows her a side of himself no one else has seen. The stresses of her old lifestyle fade away as she learns to trust her intuition and follow her heart instead of her head. But when her time on the road is over, will Lulu go with her gut, or are she and Dex destined for separate paths? (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: I really enjoy this series. I love the Renaissance Faire settings, and the romances are always really cute. I loved that this was a road trip story. They are always really fun and I love the forced proximity.

I enjoyed both of the characters in this one. They have that opposites attract vibe. I enjoyed watching their romance develop.

I had a fun time with this one. I'm always excited to read a Jen DeLuca book.

 Jen DeLuca was born and raised near Richmond, Virginia, but now lives in Arizona with her husband and a houseful of rescue pets. She loves latte-flavored lattes, Hokies football, and the Oxford comma. Her novels, Well Met, Well Played, Well Matched, and Well Traveled were inspired by her time volunteering as a pub wench with her local Renaissance Faire.

Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for Well Traveled by Jen DeLuca. Thank you to Berkley and Jen DeLuca for letting me be a part of the tour. This is a really fun series and I'm always excited to read more of it.

BLOG TOUR: Pets of Park Avenue by Stefanie London

 I'm excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Pets of Park Avenue by Stefanie London! I received a free electronic copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to HQN and Stefanie London for letting me be a part of the tour!

Title: Pets of Park Avenue (Paws in the City #2)

Author: Stefanie London

Published by: HQN

Released: December 6, 2022

Source: Electronic Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Goodreads         Amazon

 

Synopsis: The perfect romcom for dog lovers! Pets of Park Avenue is the story of a self-confessed hot mess who learns that life is more fun when things don't go according to plan.

What do you do when The One is also the one who broke your heart?

Self-proclaimed hot mess Scout Myers is determined to prove she’s finally got her act together. Raised by grandparents who saw her as her wayward mother’s wayward daughter, Scout’s used to being written off. So when the opportunity for a promotion arises at Paws in the City, the talent agency where she works, Scout is desperate to rise to the occasion. With shared custody of her little sister also on the line, Scout can’t afford a single mistake…like suddenly needing a canine stand-in for an important photoshoot. Luckily (or not) she knows the owner of the perfect pup replacement: the estranged husband she walked out on years ago.

On the surface, it appears Lane Halliday’s life has been blissfully drama free without Scout, but she suspects her handsome-as-ever not-quite-ex-husband doth protest too much. Working together even feels like old times—except for all that lingering, unresolved tension. But Scout’s not sure she’s ready to confront the reasons she left Lane, and when their plans to finalize the divorce become very real, Scout starts to wonder whether second chances might be worth a little hot mess. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: Very, very cute! I love stories with animals in it. I love rom-coms. This book was just my kind of thing all the way through. It was a fun reading experience.

This one is a second chance romance that was very satisfying.

This also has some steam to it that you wouldn't expect if you just judged by the cover.

This was a good time, with a lot of feelings thrown into the mix. I'd definitely recommend adding this series to your TBR.

Stefanie London is a USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance.

Her books have been called "genuinely entertaining and memorable" by Booklist, and her writing praised as "elegant, descriptive and delectable" by RT Magazine.

Originally from Australia, she now lives in Toronto with her very own hero and is doing her best to travel the world. She frequently indulges her passions for lipstick, good coffee, books and anything zombie related.

Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for Pets of Park Avenue by Stefanie London! Thank you to HQN and Stefanie London for letting me be a part of the tour. This is an easy add to anyone's TBR.

BLOG TOUR: The Opportunist by Elyse Friedman

 I'm excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for The Opportunist by Elyse Friedman! I received a free electronic copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to MIRA and Elyse Friedman for letting me be a part of the tour!

Title: The Opportunist

Author: Elyse Friedman

Published by: MIRA

Released: December 6, 2022

Source: Electronic Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Goodreads          Amazon

 

Synopsis: A deliciously sly, compulsively readable tale about greed, power and the world’s most devious family.

When Alana Shropshire’s seventy-six-year-old father, Ed, starts dating Kelly, his twenty-eight-year-old nurse, a flurry of messages arrive from Alana’s brothers, urging her to help “protect Dad” from the young interloper. Alana knows that what Teddy and Martin really want to protect is their father’s fortune, and she tells them she couldn’t care less about the May–December romance. Long estranged from her privileged family, Alana, a hardworking single mom, has more important things to worry about.

But when Ed and Kelly’s wedding is announced, Teddy and Martin kick into hyperdrive and persuade Alana to fly to their father’s West Coast island retreat to perform one simple task in their plan to make the gold digger go away. Kelly, however, proves a lot more wily than expected, and Alana becomes entangled in an increasingly dangerous scheme full of secrets and surprises. Just how far will her siblings go to retain control?

Smart, entertaining and brimming with shocking twists and turns, The Opportunist is both a thrill ride of a story and a razor-sharp view of who wields power in the world. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: This was a really fun read that kept me on the edge of my seat. When I heard the synopsis for The Opportunist, I knew that I wanted to read it. Whenever I hear about these situations in real life, I always wonder what is going through the older kids minds. What would they do to save their parent's money from someone who is in all likelihood a gold digger? It's just a fascinating subject.

Most of the people in this story are not good people. I was definitely hooked, trying to see and guess just what was going to happen next. I really enjoyed all the twists and turns in this one.

I really enjoyed this and I think a lot of other people will like this too. I'd definitely recommend giving it a read.

Elyse Friedman is a critically acclaimed author, screenwriter, poet and playwright. Her work has been short-listed for the Trillium Book Award, Toronto Book Award, ReLit Award and Tom Hendry Award. She has also won a Foreword Book of the Year Award, as well as the 2019 TIFF-CBC Films Screenwriter Jury Prize and the 2020 TIFF-CBC Screenwriter Award. Elyse lives in Toronto.

Thank you for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for The Opportunist by Elyse Friedman. A big Thank you to MIRA and Elyse Friedman for letting me be a part of the tour. This is definitely one to add to your TBR.

BLOG TOUR: The Sunshine Girls by Molly Fader

 I'm excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for The Sunshine Girls by Molly Fader! I received a free electronic copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Graydon House and Molly Fader for letting me be a part of the tour!

Title: The Sunshine Girls

Author: Molly Fader

Published by: Graydon House

Released: December 6, 2022

Source: Electronic Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Goodreads          Amazon

 

Synopsis: A moment of great change sparks the friendship of a lifetime…

1967 Iowa. Nursing school roommates BettyKay and Kitty don’t have much in common. A farmer’s daughter, BettyKay has risked her family’s disapproval to make her dreams come true away from her small rural town. Cosmopolitan Kitty has always relied on her beauty and smarts to get by and to hide a devastating secret from the past that she can’t seem to outrun. Yet the two share a determination to prove themselves in a changing world, forging an unlikely, powerful bond on a campus unkind to women.

Before their first year is up, tragedy strikes, and the women’s paths are forced apart. But against all odds, a decades-long friendship forms, persevering through love, marriage, failure and death, from the jungles of Vietnam to the glamorous circles of Hollywood. Until one snowy night leads their relationship to the ultimate crossroads.

Fifty years later, two estranged sisters are shocked when a famous movie star shows up at their mother's funeral. Over one tumultuous weekend, the women must reckon with a dazzling truth about their family that will alter their lives forever… (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this story of friendship through the years. It was a very emotional story and I enjoyed the journey it took me on. Their friendship covers a lot of history, going through the Vietnam War.

I liked how BettyKay and Kitty don't seem like they should be friends, but they had a special bond that carried through the years. You always hope to find a friend and have a friendship like that.

I'd definitely recommend adding this to your To Read pile.

Molly Fader is the author of The McAvoy Sisters Book of Secrets, The Bitter and Sweet of Cherry Season and The Sunshine Girls. The Sunshine Girls is one of Library Reads and Amazon Editor's Ten Best Books of December. Under the name Molly O'Keefe she is the award-winning and USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance.

To find out more about Molly Fader follow here:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/molly.fader

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18435981.Molly_Fader

Twitter twitter.com/mollyokwrites

Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for The Sunshine Girls by Molly Fader. Thank you to Graydon House and Molly Fader for letting me be a part of the tour! You should definitely add this one to your TBR.

BLOG TOUR: City of Fortune by Victoria Thompson

 I'm excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for City Of Fortune (Counterfeit Lady #6) by Victoria Thompson! I received a free electronic copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Berkley and Victoria Thompson for letting me be a part of the tour!

Title: City of Fortune (Counterfeit Lady #6)

Author: Victoria Thompson

Published by: Berkley

Released: December 6, 2022

Source: Electronic Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Goodreads           Amazon

 

Synopsis: When a day at the races reveals sabotage and subterfuge, Elizabeth Miles must use every ounce of her craftiness to even the score in this all-new Counterfeit Lady novel from USA Today bestselling author Victoria Thompson.

Wealthy but uncouth Sebastian Nolan has invited his lawyer, Gideon Bates, and his lovely new wife, Elizabeth, to attend the famous Belmont Stakes. Nolan is anxious for Gideon and Elizabeth to help his daughter, Irene, acquire a bit of polish, now that his venture into thoroughbred racing has allowed them entry into society. He is also hoping to find her a rich potential suitor. Elizabeth is not exactly the society girl Nolan believes her to be, but she is eager to attend the races. Her con artist family has made a lot of money at racetracks, although not from betting on the horses, and she enjoys the excitement of the track.

Irene Nolan seems more interested in horses than husbands, and she jumps at the chance to show Elizabeth her horse, Trench, and introduce her to his rider, Cal Regan. Elizabeth soon realizes there is more than just a working relationship between Irene and Cal. But she also knows that Irene’s father would never allow his only daughter to marry a jockey. When Cal takes a terrible tumble injuring both himself and Irene’s beloved Trench, Elizabeth and Gideon learn that the mishap was not simply bad luck—the horse and rider are victims of sabotage.

It turns out that Sebastian Nolan has more than a few skeletons in his closet and someone is out to get their long sought-after revenge. Elizabeth knows that to help Irene and Cal, she is going to need some help in creating the quintessential con. With the ever honest Gideon at her side, she enlists those closest to her to come up with a scheme that will either ensure young Irene and Cal a first-place finish or have disastrous consequence... (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: It's off to the races! This was a lot of fun. I enjoyed Elizabeth's outing to the races and the solving of another incident.

I really enjoy this series. I like the historical time period that it's set in. I like Elizabeth as a character. It's just a lot of fun to read this series. I'd definitely recommend giving it a read.

Edgar® Nominated author Victoria Thompson writes the Edgar and Agatha Award nominated Gaslight Mystery Series, set in turn-of-the-century New York City and featuring midwife Sarah Brandt, and the Sue Grafton Award nominated Counterfeit Lady Series set in early twentieth century New York City and featuring con artist Elizabeth Miles. She also contributed to the award winning writing textbook MANY GENRES/ONE CRAFT. A popular speaker, Victoria teaches in the Seton Hill University master's program in writing popular fiction. She lives in the Chicago area with her husband and a very spoiled little dog.

Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for City of Fortune by Victoria Thompson. Thank you to Berkley and Victoria Thompson for letting me be a part of the tour! This series is a lot of fun, and it's an easy recommendation.

BLOG TOUR: Angels of the Resistance: A WWII Novel by Noelle Salazar

 I'm excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Angels of the Resistance by Noelle Salazar! I received a free electronic copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to MIRA and Noelle Salazar for letting me be a part of the tour!

Title: Angels of the Resistance

Author: Noelle Salazar

Published by: MIRA

Released: November 29, 2022

Source: Electronic Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Goodreads         Amazon

 

Synopsis: From the bestselling author of The Flight Girls comes a story inspired by true events, about courageous women who risked everything for country, for family, and for each other.

Netherlands, 1940

As bombs fall across Europe, fourteen-year-old Lien Vinke fears that the reality of war is inescapable. Though she lives a quiet life with her mother and older sister, Elif, in their small town of Haarlem, they are no strangers to heartache, having recently suffered an immeasurable loss. And when the Nazis invade the Netherlands, joining the Dutch resistance with Elif offers just the atonement Lien craves.

Trained to shoot by their late father, the sisters are deadly wolves in sheep’s clothing. They soon find themselves entrenched in the underground movement, forging friendships with the other young recruits, and Lien even discovers a kindred spirit in a boy named Charlie. But in wartime, emotional attachments are a liability she can’t afford, especially when a deeply personal mission jeopardizes everything she holds dear—her friendships, her family, and her one shot at redemption. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this story, and it was even more thrilling knowing that it was inspired by true events. I can't imagine living during such a time and having to make life and death decisions.

This was a very thrilling read. I liked our characters of Lien and Elif. I was very interested in seeing them join the resistance and go on missions. It was definitely a lot. These girls had to grow up fast.

I'm always a fan of historical fiction, so I liked reading this novel of WWII. It had a lot of grit and heart.

 Noelle Salazar was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, where she's been a Navy recruit, a medical assistant, an NFL cheerleader and always a storyteller. When she’s not writing, she can be found dodging raindrops and daydreaming of her next book. Noelle lives in Bothell, Washington, with her husband and two children. The Flight Girls is her first novel.

Thanks for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for Angels of the Resistance by Noelle Salazar. Thank you to MIRA and Noelle Salazar for letting me be a part of the tour. I'd grab this one and give it a read, especially if you like historical fiction.

SPOTLIGHT: Volunteers: Growing Up in the Forever War by Jerad W. Alexander

 I'm excited to share a Spotlight for Volunteers: Growing Up in the Forever War by Jerad W. Alexander! I received a free copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Algonquin Books and Jerad W. Alexander for letting me be a part of the tour!

Title: Volunteers: Growing Up in the Forever War

Author: Jerad W. Alexander

Published by: Algonquin Books

Released: November 8, 2022 (Paperback)

Source: Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Goodreads         Amazon

 

Synopsis: As a child, Jerad Alexander lay in bed listening to the fighter jets take off outside his window and was desperate to be airborne. As a teenager at an American base in Japan, he immersed himself in war games, war movies, and pulpy novels about Vietnam. Obsessed with all things military, he grew up playing with guns, joined the Civil Air Patrol for the uniform, and reveled in the closed and safe life “inside the castle,” within the embrace of the armed forces, the only world he knew or could imagine. Most of all, he dreamed of enlisting—like his mother, father, stepfather, and grandfather before him—and playing his part in the Great American War Story.

He joined the US Marines straight out of high school, eager for action. Once in Iraq, however, he came to realize he was fighting a lost cause, enmeshed in the ongoing War on Terror that was really just a fruitless display of American might. The myths of war, the stories of violence and masculinity and heroism, the legacy of his family—everything Alexander had planned his life around—was a mirage.

Alternating scenes from childhood with skirmishes in the Iraqi desert, this original, searing, and propulsive memoir introduces a powerful new voice in the literature of war. Jerad W. Alexander—not some elite warrior, but a simple volunteer—delivers a passionate and timely reckoning with the troubled and cyclical truths of the American war machine. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

Jerad W. Alexander has written for Esquire, Rolling Stone, The Nation, Narratively, and elsewhere. He holds an MFA in Literary Reportage from the New York University Arthur L. Carter School of Journalism. From 1998 to 2006, he served as a U.S. Marine, deploying to the Mediterranean, East Africa, and Iraq. He grew up on military bases, from the east coast of the United States to Japan. He currently lives in New York City, but calls Atlanta home.

Thanks so much for checking out my Spotlight Post for Volunteers: Growing Up in the Forever War by Jerad W. Alexander. Thank you to Algonquin Books and Jerad W. Alexander for letting me be a part of the tour. This is a book I'd definitely add to your TBR.

SPOTLIGHT: Carry the Dog by Stephanie Gangi - Paperback Release

 I'm excited to share a Spotlight for Carry the Dog by Stephanie Gangi! I received a free copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Algonquin Books and Stephanie Gangi for letting me be a part of the tour! This Spotlight is specifically for the new paperback version which was released November 1, 2022.

Title: Carry the Dog

Author: Stephanie Gangi

Published by: Algonquin Books

Released: Paperback Copy - November 1, 2022

Source: Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Goodreads         Amazon

 

Synopsis:  Bea Seger has spent a lifetime running from her childhood. The daughter of a famous photographer, she and her brothers were the subjects of an explosive series of images in the 1960s known as the Marx Nudes. Disturbing and provocative, the photographs shadowed the family long past the public outcry and media attention. Now, decades later, both the Museum of Modern Art and Hollywood have come calling, eager to cash in on Bea’s mother’s notoriety. Twice divorced from but still entangled with aging rock star Gary Going, Bea lives in Manhattan with her borrowed dog, Dory, and sort-of sister, Echo. After years of avoiding her past, Bea must make a choice: let the world in—and be compensated for the trauma of her childhood—or leave it all locked away in a storage unit forever.

Carry the Dog sweeps readers into Bea’s world as the little girl in the photographs and the woman in the mirror meet at the blurry intersection of memory and truth, vulnerability and resilience. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 Stephanie Gangi is a poet, essayist, and novelist. Her award-winning poem, “Four,” was published in the Hippocratic Prize Anthology. Her acclaimed debut novel, The Next, was a finalist in the Writers@Work Annual Writing Competition. Her essays have been published in Literary Hub, Catapult, The Woolfer, Bust, TueNight, and NextTribe. Gangi wrote the first draft of Carry the Dog at the Leopardi Writing Conference in Recanati, Italy, after winning the Jeannine Cooney Scholarship for Excellence in Fiction. She lives in New York City.

BLOG TOUR: Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail by Ashley Herring Blake

 I'm excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail by Ashley Herring Blake! I received a free electronic copy from the publisher for honest review. Thanks so much to Berkley Books and Ashley Herring Blake for letting me be a part of the tour!

Title: Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail (Bright Falls #2)

Author: Ashley Herring Blake

Published by: Berkley Books

Released: November 22, 2022

Source: Electronic Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Goodreads         Amazon

 

Synopsis: An interior designer learns to rebuild her love life from the ground up with zero blueprints in this new romantic comedy by Ashley Herring Blake, author of Delilah Green Doesn't Care.

For Astrid Parker, failure is unacceptable. Ever since she broke up with her fiancé a year ago, she’s been focused on her career—her friends might say she’s obsessed, but she’s just driven. When Pru Everwood asks her to be the designer for the Everwood Inn’s renovation that will be broadcasted on a popular home improvement show, Innside America, Astrid knows this is the answer to everything that is wrong with her life. It’ll be the perfect distraction from her failed love life, and her perpetually displeased mother might finally give her nod of approval.

However, Astrid never planned on Jordan Everwood, Pru’s granddaughter and lead carpenter for the inn’s renovation, who despises every modern design decision Astrid makes. Jordan is determined to preserve the history of her family’s inn, particularly as the rest of her life is in shambles. When that determination turns into a little light sabotage, ruffling Astrid’s perfect little feathers, the showrunners ask them to play up the tension. But somewhere along the way, their dislike for each other turns into something quite different, and Astrid must decide what success truly means. Is she going to pursue the life that she’s expected to lead, or the one she wants? (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: This was cute and I enjoyed it. I really liked the Home Renovation Show aspect. The romance was sweet.

There were parts of it that were a little slow, and the characters had a lot of stuff going on in their past.

I had a good time reading this. If you like the sound of it, you should definitely add it to your TBR.

Ashley Herring Blake is an award-winning author. She holds a master’s degree in teaching and loves coffee, arranging her books by color, and cold weather. She is the author of the romance novel Delilah Green Doesn’t Care, the young adult novels Suffer Love, How to Make a Wish, and Girl Made of Stars, and the middle grade novels Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World, The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James, and Hazel Bly and the Deep Blue Sea. She’s also a coeditor on the young adult romance anthology Fools in Love. She lives on a very tiny island off the coast of Georgia with her family.

Thank you for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail by Ashley Herring Blake. Thanks so much to Berkley Books and Ashley Herring Blake for letting me be a part of the tour. This is definitely one to add to your TBR.