BLOG TOUR: Take My Husband by Ellen Meister

I'm excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Take My Husband by Ellen Meister! I received a free electronic copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to MIRA and Ellen Meister for letting me be a part of this tour!

 

 

Title: Take My Husband

Author: Ellen Meister

Published by: MIRA

Released: August 30, 2022

Source: Electronic Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Goodreads      Amazon

 

Synopsis: Only one thing stands in the way of Laurel Applebaum's happiness…Doug Applebaum.

In this darkly comic novel about a wife whose rope is so frayed it's about to snap, Laurel gets a call that her husband has been in an accident. She imagines the worst. But as she is on the way to the ER, another emotion seizes her. Relief. Doug's death could solve all her problems. No more catering to his incessant demands. Then there's the insurance money. Laurel's dreams seem so close. There's just one problem: Doug is very much alive. Now Laurel has to decide if she is going to do something about it.

Subversive, irreverent and surprisingly poignant, Take My Husband probes the deep corners of a marriage and emerges to find the light. For anyone who's spent a little too much time with a significant other and thought, One of us has got to go. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: That synopsis really grabbed me when I first heard about this book. It got me enough to want to read it. This was definitely a wild ride. It was a dark comedy. I couldn't look away from it. Laurel has some dark thoughts.

I enjoyed this one. Dark humor is something that I tend to enjoy. While I think Laurel definitely has some problems with her decisions, I still find her entertaining.

I think you have to know what you're getting into with this book. It's not a thriller. It actually feels like a true crime kind of thing. There are so many cases where someone murders their husband or wife for insurance money.

I liked this. It was shocking and fun.

 

Forthcoming from HarperCollins, Ellen Meister's newest novel, TAKE MY HUSBAND, is a darkly comic take on a modern suburban marriage. It follows her other critically acclaimed books, including THE ROOFTOP PARTY, which was called  "wickedly entertaining" by BookReporter and was selected by Long Island Woman Magazine as Summer Pick of the year, as well as LOVE SOLD SEPARATELY (Mira 2020), DOROTHY PARKER DRANK HERE (Putnam 2015), FAREWELL, DOROTHY PARKER (Putnam 2013), THE OTHER LIFE (Putnam 2011), THE SMART ONE (HarperCollins 2008) and SECRET CONFESSIONS OF THE APPLEWOOD PTA (HarperCollins 2006). She is also the author of SPARKS: 500 Writing Prompts to Ignite Your Imagination. In addition to being a novelist, Ellen is an editor, screenwriter, book coach, creative writing instructor, and ghostwriter. For more information visit ellenmeister.com.

Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for Take My Husband by Ellen Meister. Thank you to MIRA and Ellen Meister for letting me be a part of the tour. This is a fun one that I'd definitely recommend checking out.

BLOG TOUR: Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood

I am really excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood! I received a free electronic copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Berkley Books and Ali Hazelwood for letting me be a part of the tour!

 

 

Title: Love on the Brain

Author: Ali Hazelwood

Published by: Berkley Books

Released: August 23, 2022

Source: Electronic Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Goodreads      Amazon

 

Synopsis: A STEMinist rom-com in which a scientist is forced to work on a project with her nemesis--with explosive results.

Like an avenging, purple-haired Jedi bringing balance to the mansplained universe, Bee Königswasser lives by a simple code: What would Marie Curie do? If NASA offered her the lead on a neuroengineering project--a literal dream come true after years scraping by on the crumbs of academia--Marie would accept without hesitation. Duh. But the mother of modern physics never had to co-lead with Levi Ward.

Sure, Levi is attractive in a tall, dark, and piercing-eyes kind of way. And sure, he caught her in his powerfully corded arms like a romance novel hero when she accidentally damseled in distress on her first day in the lab. But Levi made his feelings toward Bee very clear in grad school--archenemies work best employed in their own galaxies far, far away.

Now, her equipment is missing, the staff is ignoring her, and Bee finds her floundering career in somewhat of a pickle. Perhaps it's her occipital cortex playing tricks on her, but Bee could swear she can see Levi softening into an ally, backing her plays, seconding her ideas...devouring her with those eyes. And the possibilities have all her neurons firing. But when it comes time to actually make a move and put her heart on the line, there's only one question that matters: What will Bee Königswasser do? (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: This is a book that I've had on my want-to-read list as soon as I heard about it. I was so excited to get to read an early electronic copy. It did not disappoint me. It was exactly what I wanted. This story was so fun. It had a lot of funny bits in it, which I really enjoyed.

I loved reading about Bee and Levi. The tension was fantastic. So good.

There is a lot of hype surrounding this book, and it definitely lives up to it. It's a good time, and I recommend giving it a read.

 

Ali Hazelwood is the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis, as well as a writer of peer-reviewed articles about brain science, in which no one makes out and the ever after is not always happy. Originally from Italy, she lived in Germany and Japan before moving to the U.S. to pursue a Ph.D. in neuroscience. She recently became a professor, which absolutely terrifies her. When Ali is not at work, she can be found running, eating cake pops, or watching sci-fi movies with her two feline overlords (and her slightly-less-feline husband).

Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood! Thank you to Berkley Books and Ali Hazelwood for letting me be a part of the tour. This is one you definitely have to pick up.

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: The Book of Delights: Essays by Ross Gay

 I am excited to Spotlight The Book of Delights: Essays by Ross Gay! I received a free electronic copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Algonquin Books and Ross Gay for letting me be a part of it!

Title: The Book of Delights: Essays

Author: Ross Gay

Published by: Algonquin Books

Released: August 16, 2022 (Paperback Release)

Source: Electronic Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Goodreads      Amazon

 

Synopsis:  The winner of the NBCC Award for Poetry offers up a spirited collection of short lyrical essays, written daily over a tumultuous year, reminding us of the purpose and pleasure of praising, extolling, and celebrating ordinary wonders.

In The Book of Delights, one of today’s most original literary voices offers up a genre-defying volume of lyric essays written over one tumultuous year. The first nonfiction book from award-winning poet Ross Gay is a record of the small joys we often overlook in our busy lives. Among Gay’s funny, poetic, philosophical delights: a friend’s unabashed use of air quotes, cradling a tomato seedling aboard an airplane, the silent nod of acknowledgment between the only two black people in a room. But Gay never dismisses the complexities, even the terrors, of living in America as a black man or the ecological and psychic violence of our consumer culture or the loss of those he loves. More than anything else, though, Gay celebrates the beauty of the natural world–his garden, the flowers peeking out of the sidewalk, the hypnotic movements of a praying mantis.

The Book of Delights is about our shared bonds, and the rewards that come from a life closely observed. These remarkable pieces serve as a powerful and necessary reminder that we can, and should, stake out a space in our lives for delight. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

In addition to The Book of Delights: Essays, Ross Gay is the author of three books of poetry, including Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude, winner of the 2015 National Book Critics Circle Award and the 2016 Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award. Catalog was also a finalist for the 2015 National Book Award in Poetry, the Ohioana Book Award, the Balcones Poetry Prize, the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, and was nominated for an NAACP Image Award. He is a founding editor, with Karissa Chen and Patrick Rosal, of the online sports magazine Some Call It Ballin’ and founding board member of the Bloomington Community Orchard, a nonprofit, free-fruit-for-all food justice and joy project. Gay has received fellowships from the Cave Canem Foundation, the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, and the Guggenheim Foundation. He teaches at Indiana University.

BLOG TOUR: Would You Rather by Allison Ashley

I'm excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Would You Rather by Allison Ashley! I received a free electronic copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to MIRA and Allison Ashley for letting me be a part of the tour!

 

 

Title: Would You Rather

Author: Allison Ashley

Published by: MIRA

Released: August 23, 2022

Source: Electronic Review Copy Provided by Publisher

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Synopsis: Noah and Mia have always been best friends, and their friendship is the most important thing to them. Life is going great for Noah and he’s up for a promotion in a job he loves. But Mia’s life is on hold as she awaits a kidney transplant. She’s stuck in a dead-end job and, never wanting to be a burden, has sworn off all romance. So when the chance of a lifetime comes to go back to school and pursue her dream, it’s especially painful to pass up. She can’t quit her job or she’ll lose the medical insurance she so desperately needs.

To support her, Noah suggests they get married—in name only—so she can study full-time and still keep the insurance. It’s a risk to both of them, with jobs, health and hearts on the line, and they’ll need to convince suspicious coworkers and nosy roommates that they’re the real deal. But if they can let go of all the baggage holding them back, they might realize that they would rather be together forever. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: A really sweet friends to lovers, with a marriage of convenience. I really enjoy all of those things and I really enjoyed this story. Mia is also struggling with her health, which has put her life on hold. She needs a new kidney.

I just thought this was a really cute story. It had all the stuff I love from forced proximity and marriage of convenience. I really loved that they had been friends for so long, that it just seemed so natural for it to morph into something more.

This is an easy one to recommend. I think a lot of people will like it.

 

Allison Ashley is a science geek who enjoys coffee, craft beer, baking, and love stories. When she's not working at her day job as a clinical oncology pharmacist, she pens contemporary romances, usually with a medical twist. She lives in Oklahoma with her family and beloved rescue dog.

Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for Would You Rather by Allison Ashley. Thank you to MIRA and Allison Ashley for letting me be a part of the tour. This is one you should definitely check out.

BLOG TOUR: The Witches of Moonshyne Manor by Bianca Marais

I am really excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for The Witches of Moonshyne Manor by Bianca Marais! I received a free electronic copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to MIRA and Bianca Marais for letting me be a part of this fun tour. I was in as soon as they said witches.

 

 

Title: The Witches of Moonshyne Manor

Author: Bianca Marais

Published by: MIRA

Released: August 23, 2022

Source: Electronic Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Goodreads      Amazon

 

Synopsis: A coven of modern-day witches. A magical heist-gone-wrong. A looming threat. 

Five octogenarian witches gather as an angry mob threatens to demolish Moonshyne Manor. All eyes turn to the witch in charge, Queenie, who confesses they’ve fallen far behind on their mortgage payments. Still, there’s hope, since the imminent return of Ruby—one of the sisterhood who’s been gone for thirty-three years—will surely be their salvation.

But the mob is only the start of their troubles. One man is hellbent on avenging his family for the theft of a legacy he claims was rightfully his. In an act of desperation, Queenie makes a bargain with an evil far more powerful than anything they’ve ever faced. Then things take a turn for the worse when Ruby’s homecoming reveals a seemingly insurmountable obstacle instead of the solution to all their problems.

The witches are determined to save their home and themselves, but their aging powers are no match for increasingly malicious threats. Thankfully, they get a bit of help from Persephone, a feisty TikToker eager to smash the patriarchy. As the deadline to save the manor approaches, fractures among the sisterhood are revealed, and long-held secrets are exposed, culminating in a fiery confrontation with their enemies.

Funny, tender and uplifting, the novel explores the formidable power that can be discovered in aging, found family and unlikely friendships. Marais’ clever prose offers as much laughter as insight, delving deeply into feminism, identity and power dynamics while stirring up intrigue and drama through secrets, lies and sex. Heartbreaking and heart-mending, it will make you grateful for the amazing women in your life. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: This was so much fun! As soon as I saw that it was about witches, I knew I wanted to read it. Not only are they witches, but they are senior citizen witches, which just added an extra layer of fun.

These ladies are having to deal with some tough human stuff. The mob. The threat of losing their house. They have to come together in order to fix everything.

I just had a good time reading this. I loved the family aspect, especially how it's a found family. I liked seeing them all come and work together. It was a treat.

 

Bianca Marais cohosts the popular podcast The Sh*t No One Tells You About Writing, aimed at emerging writers. She was named the winner of the Excellence in Teaching Award for Creative Writing at the University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies in 2021. She is the author of two novels, Hum If You Don’t Know the Words and If You Want to Make God Laugh, as well as the Audible Original The Prynne Viper. She lives in Toronto with her husband and fur babies.

Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for The Witches of Moonshyne Manor by Bianca Marais! Thank you to MIRA and Bianca Marais for letting me be a part of the tour. This is one you should definitely pick up.

BLOG TOUR: Addicted to You by Krista and Becca Ritchie

 I'm excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Addicted To You by Krista and Becca Ritchie! I received a free electronic copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks to Berkley Books and Krista and Becca Ritchie for letting me be a part of the tour! This is special because it's actually a re-release of Addicted to You with exclusive bonus content.

Title: Addicted to You (#1)

Authors: Krista and Becca Ritchie

Published by: Berkley Books

Released: August 16, 2022 (for the re-release)

Source: Electronic Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Goodreads      Amazon

 

Synopsis: She's addicted to sex. He's addicted to booze... the only way out is rock bottom.

No one would suspect shy Lily Calloway's biggest secret. While everyone is dancing at college bars, Lily stays in the bathroom. To get laid. Her compulsion leads her to one-night stands, steamy hookups, and events she shamefully regrets. The only person who knows her secret happens to have one of his own.

Loren Hale's best friend is his bottle of bourbon. Lily comes at a close second. For three years, they've pretended to be in a real relationship, hiding their addictions from their families. They've mastered the art of concealing flasks and random guys that filter in and out of their apartment.

But as they sink beneath the weight of their addictions, they cling harder to their destructive relationship and wonder if a life together, for real, is better than a lie. Strangers and family begin to infiltrate their guarded lives, and with new challenges, they realize they may not just be addicted to alcohol and sex.

Their real vice may be each other. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: I'm really excited that this is getting re-released with bonus content. It's giving the chance for more readers to discover it.

This is a romance between two people with some baggage, some issues. Lily and Loren are both struggling with addictions, while trying to pretend that everything is normal. It's definitely not one of those cute romances, but it was definitely satisfying.

This is an addictive book and I can't wait to read more of this series. It definitely has some dark bits, but I'm hooked.

Krista and Becca Ritchie are New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors and identical twins—one a science nerd, the other a comic book geek—but with their shared passion for writing, they combined their mental powers as kids and have never stopped telling stories. They love superheroes, flawed characters, and soul mate love.

Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for Addicted to You by Krista and Becca Ritchie! Thank you to Berkley Books and Krista and Becca Ritchie for letting me be a part of the tour. If you like romance, you should definitely pick this one up.

BLOG TOUR: Sophie Go's Lonely Hearts Club by Roselle Lim

 I'm excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Sophie Go's Lonely Hearts Club by Roselle Lim! I received a free electronic copy for honest review from the publisher. As soon as I saw this cute cover, I knew I had to read it. The book covers, they get me. Thanks so much to Berkley and Roselle Lim for letting me be a part of the tour!

Title: Sophie Go's Lonely Hearts Club

Author: Roselle Lim

Published b

y: Berkley

Released: August 16, 2022

Source: Electronic Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Goodreads      Amazon

 

Synopsis: A new heartfelt novel about the power of loneliness and the strength of love that overcomes it by critically acclaimed author Roselle Lim.

Newly minted professional matchmaker Sophie Go has returned to Toronto, her hometown, after spending three years in Shanghai. Her job is made quite difficult, however, when she is revealed as a fraud—she never actually graduated from matchmaking school. In a competitive market like Toronto, no one wants to take a chance on an inexperienced and unaccredited matchmaker, and soon Sophie becomes an outcast.

In dire search of clients, Sophie stumbles upon a secret club within her condo complex: the Old Ducks, seven septuagenarian Chinese bachelors who never found love. Somehow, she convinces them to hire her, but her matchmaking skills are put to the test as she learns the depths of loneliness, heartbreak, and love by attempting to make the hardest matches of her life. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: This was very cute and I had a great time reading it. The synopsis really sold it for me. I also loved that the ducks on the cover had significance to the story. I feel like Sophie Go, in her desperation to prove herself as a matchmaker, took on a very hard job. These Old Ducks had been by themselves for a long, long time, and that can make people very set in their ways. I thought it was sweet the lengths she went to to find matches.

Sophie's mother is very unpleasant, and I really felt for Sophie having to put up with that kind of attitude.

This was just a lot of fun to read. It's cute and light. This is an easy book to recommend to people.

Roselle Lim is the critically acclaimed author of Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune, Vanessa Yu’s Magical Paris Tea Shop, and Sophie Go’s Lonely Hearts Club. She lives on the north shore of Lake Erie and always has an artistic project on the go.

Thank you for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for Sophie Go's Lonely Hearts Club by Roselle Lim! Thanks so much to Berkley and Roselle Lim for letting me be a part of the tour! I'd definitely grab this one and give it a read.

Reading Right Now! (340)

 I have reappeared with a Reading Right Now! post.

I have been very lazy when it has come to doing anything on the computer when I get home from work. All the things have been suffering because of it.

So, what I've just finished and what I'm Reading Right Now! is...

Just Finished

 The Duke Undone (#1) by Joanna Lowell - This was my first read for the Orilium Magical Readathon, which I'm so excited is back. I also got a review copy of this through Netgalley and read a physical copy from my library.

I liked this, but I don't think I was ever smitten by the couple. I just don't think they had the strongest chemistry. I really liked the writing and the backstory for both characters. Duke Weston's story takes more of a center stage than Lucy's. I would have liked more of Lucy's art world stuff. I did enjoy the story a lot, and I'd plan on reading more from the series. The Duke sounded like a very attractive man, so there's that.

 

Currently Reading

 All These Bodies by Kendare Blake - I've been wanting to read this one since I first heard about it, but every time I tried to get it in the library, it wasn't available. I finally saw it one the shelf and grabbed it. I really enjoy Kendare Blake's writing and stories. I've read about half of Blake's books, and I definitely plan on reading the rest.

I'm really enjoying this one so far. It's set in 1958 and a series of murders has been plaguing the Midwest. At the last murder, a strange girl is found covered head to toe in blood. The sheriff's son wants to be a journalist and gets involved in this case. 

It's all told from the point of view of the Sheriff's son and you can tell he's telling it from sometime in the future.

I'm interested and I can't wait to read more of it.

 

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

BLOG TOUR: Luck and Last Resorts by Sarah Grunder Ruiz

 I'm excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Luck and Last Resorts by Sarah Grunder Ruiz! I received a free electronic copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Berkley and Sarah Grunder Ruiz for letting me be a part of the tour!

Title: Luck and Last Resorts (Love, Lists and Fancy Ships #2)

Author: Sarah Grunder Ruiz

Published by: Berkley

Released: August 9, 2022

Source: Electronic Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Goodreads      Amazon

 

Synopsis: They have a second chance at love, but there are some rough seas ahead in the new contemporary romance from the acclaimed author of Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships.

Commitment-phobe Nina Lejeune lives by two rules:
1. Always have fun.
2. Don’t rely on anyone but yourself.
The first rule is easy; the second, she’s only broken once.
Ten years after fleeing home, Nina is the chief stewardess on the super yacht Serendipity, single by choice, and perfectly content with how life has turned out.
But Nina’s ex-coworker and old flame, Irish chef Ollie Dunne, isn’t so happy with the status quo. One year after leaving yachting, he’s returned as the Serendipity’s chef with an ultimatum: if Nina continues to deny she’s in love with him by the end of this charter season, he’ll go back to Ireland for good.
Nina and Ollie’s shared secret from their past threatens to shipwreck not only their relationship, but the entire boat. But as their connection grows amidst chaotic guests and crew drama, could there be smooth sailing in their future? (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: I absolutely love the cover for this book! It's so cute and summer-y. I am often tempted by covers. 

This was a great read for me! It had so many romance tropes that I really enjoy. I just loved reading about Nina and Ollie. I loved it all. Nina and Ollie's relationship goes through a lot, not all of it is sunshine and rainbows. They can banter like the best of them, but they also do a really good job of supporting each other, working through things.

I also loved the setting of this, a yacht. So fun. This was just a great contemporary romance to read in the summer time. I definitely recommend picking it up.

Sarah Grunder Ruiz is a writer, educator, and karaoke enthusiast. Originally from South Florida, she now lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, with her husband and two children. She holds an MFA in creative writing from North Carolina State University, where she now teaches first-year writing.

Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for Luck and Last Resorts by Sarah Grunder Ruiz! Thank you to Berkley and Sarah Grunder Ruiz for letting me be a part of the tour. I'd definitely recommend giving this one a read.

BLOG TOUR: The Secret of Bow Lane by Jennifer Ashley

 I'm really excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for The Secret of Bow Lane by Jennifer Ashley! I received a free electronic copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Berkley and Jennifer Ashley for letting me be a part of this tour!

Title: The Secret of Bow Lane (Kat Holloway Mysteries #6)

Author: Jennifer Ashley

Published by: Berkley

Released: August 2, 2022

Source: Electronic Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Goodreads      Amazon

 

Synopsis: A stranger who appears on Kat's doorstep turns out to be one Charlotte Bristow, legal wife of Joe Bristow, the man Kat once believed herself married to—who she thought died at sea twelve years ago. Kat is jolted by Charlotte’s claims that not only was Joe murdered, but he had amassed a small fortune before he died. Charlotte makes the cook an offer she cannot refuse—if Kat can discover the identity of Joe's murderer, Charlotte will give her a share of the fortune Joe left behind. 

With the help of Daniel McAdam, her attractive and charismatic confidante, Kat plunges into her own past to investigate. When it becomes apparent that the case of Joe’s death goes far deeper than simple, opportunistic theft, Kat and Daniel's relationship is put to the test, and Kat herself comes under scrutiny as her connection to Joe is uncovered. She must race to catch the real killer before she loses her job and possibly her life. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: I like this one. The mystery of the synopsis is what first caught my eye, as well as the cover. Before reading this book, I had no idea it was a series. I didn't have any trouble jumping into the middle of Kat's adventures. I do think I'll go back and check out the others.

This is an intriguing little mystery. Kat finds out that a man she thought she was once married to, had been married to someone else. She now must find out who killed him with the help of Daniel McAdam.

I really enjoyed the cast of characters in this. Kat and Daniel play off each other very well. I also am always up for some historical mystery.

All in all, this book was a win for me. I can definitely see myself checking out more from this series. I had fun with it.

(Author Photo from
Berkley Prime Crime (TR) 2022)

 

Jennifer Ashley is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Below Stairs Mysteries, the Shifters Unbound paranormal romances, and the Mackenzies historical romances. She also writes as USA Today bestselling mystery author Ashley Gardner.

Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for The Secret of Bow Lane by Jennifer Ashley. Thank you to Berkley and Jennifer Ashley for letting me be a part of the tour. This is one I'd definitely recommend adding to your TBR pile. You won't regret it.