BLOG TOUR: Stranger in the Lake by Kimberly Belle

I'm really excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Stranger in the Lake by Kimberly Belle. I love thrillers, so I jumped at the chance to read this one. I received a free electronic copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Park Row and Kimberly Belle for letting me be a part of this suspense filled tour.

Title: Stranger in the Lake

Author: Kimberly Belle

Published by: Park Row

Released: June 9, 2020

Source: Review Copy from Publisher

Goodreads   Amazon

Synopsis: When Charlotte married the wealthy widower Paul, it caused a ripple of gossip in their small lakeside town. They have a charmed life together, despite the cruel whispers about her humble past and his first marriage. But everything starts to unravel when she discovers a young woman’s body floating in the exact same spot where Paul’s first wife tragically drowned.

At first, it seems like a horrific coincidence, but the stranger in the lake is no stranger. Charlotte saw Paul talking to her the day before, even though Paul tells the police he’s never met the woman. His lie exposes cracks in their fragile new marriage, cracks Charlotte is determined to keep from breaking them in two.

As Charlotte uncovers dark mysteries about the man she married, she doesn’t know what to trust—her heart, which knows Paul to be a good man, or her growing suspicion that there’s something he’s hiding in the water. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

My Thoughts: I love thrillers, especially thrillers in the summer. I don't know what it is about the twists, turns, and mysteries that just say summer reading to me, but they do. Stranger in the Lake pretty much got me from page one. I was so curious as to what was going to happen next, I wanted to know allll the secrets.

This had some great twists and turns. Some things that really make me gasp out loud. It was really fun to read. It kept me entertained and guessing throughout the whole story.

When I was reading the synopsis, it gave me a little bit of that Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier vibe. That whole thing of young girl marries older man, first wife is a mystery. I love that whole plot.

Kimberly Belle did a great job of writing this crazy ride. Reading A Stranger in the Lake made for some suspenseful reading nights.

If you like thrillers, I'd definitely say give A Stranger in the Lake a try. I liked it, and I hope you do too.

Kimberly Belle is the USA Today and internationally bestselling author of six novels, including her forthcoming domestic suspense, Stranger in the Lake (June 2020). Her third novel, The Marriage Lie, was a semifinalist in the 2017 Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Mystery & Thriller, and a #1 e-book bestseller in the UK and Italy. She’s sold rights to her books in a dozen languages as well as film and television options. A graduate of Agnes Scott College, Belle divides her time between Atlanta and Amsterdam. 

Thanks so much for stopping by my Blog Tour Stop for Stranger in the Lake by Kimberly Belle. Thanks to Park Row and Kimberly Belle for letting me be a part of it. I can't wait for Kimberly's next thriller.

BLOG TOUR: More Than Neighbors (Blackberry Bay #1) by Shannon Stacey

I'm excited to be on the Blog Tour for More Than Neighbors, the first book in the Blackberry Bay Series by Shannon Stacey. I received a free copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Harlequin and Shannon Stacey for letting me a part of this tour.

Title: More Than Neighbors (Blackberry Bay #1)

Author: Shannon Stacey

Published by: Harlequin Special Edition

Released: July 1, 2020

Source: Review Copy from Publisher

Goodreads   Amazon

Synopsis: The only thing they have in common is a property line!

He’s trying to uncover his past.
She’s hoping for a brighter future.Cam Maguire is in Blackberry Bay to unravel a family secret. Meredith Price has moved next door with her daughter. He’s unattached. She’s a widowed single mom. He’s owned by a cat. She’s definitely team canine. All these neighbors have in common is a property line. One they cross…over and over. And Cam thought he knew what he wanted—until his family’s secret changes everything. (Synopsis from Goodreads )

My Thoughts: I love a neighbor love story. That trope will always get me. I also love a relationship that starts off with people who get on each others nerves, but then realize that there is a thin line between hate and love. The tension is everything. More Than Neighbors gave me both of these things and I appreciated it. Plus it has a dog, a cat, and a kid. It's just very sweet all around. Oh, and it also has a small town!

I enjoyed this. I thought it was really cute and sweet. It was just a fun book to read. I'm excited to see what other stories come from this little town.

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shannon Stacey lives with her husband and two sons in New England, where her favorite activities are writing romance and really random tweets when she’s not riding her ATV. She loves mud, books, football & watching way too much TV. 

Thanks so much for stopping by my Blog Tour Stop for More Than Neighbors by Shannon Stacey. Thanks so much to Harlequin and Shannon Stacey for letting me be a part of this cute tour.

BLOG TOUR: A Royal Kiss & Tell (A Royal Wedding #2) by Julia London

I'm really excited to be on the Blog Tour for A Royal Kiss & Tell, the second book in the Royal Wedding Series by Julia London. I received a free copy for honest review from the Publisher. Thanks so much to HQN and Julia London for giving me the opportunity to read this book and be on this fun tour.

Title: A Royal Kiss & Tell (A Royal Wedding #2)

Author: Julia London

Published by: HQN

Released: May 19, 2020

Source: Review Copy from the Publisher

Goodreads   Amazon

Synopsis: Every prince has his secrets. And she’s determined to unravel his…

Every dashing young man in London’s ton is vying for Lady Caroline Hawke’s hand—except one. Handsome, delectable roué Prince Leopold of Alucia can’t quite remember who Caroline is and the insult is not to be tolerated. So Caroline does what any clever, resourceful lady of means would do to make sure a prince remembers her: sees that amusingly risqué morsels about Leo’s reputation are printed in a ladies’ gossip gazette…all the while secretly setting her cap for the rakish royal.

Someone has been painting Leo as a blackguard, but who? Socially, it could ruin him. More important, it jeopardizes his investigation into a contemptible scheme that reaches the highest levels of government in London. Now Leo needs Lady Caroline’s help to regain access to society. But this charming prince is about to discover that enlisting the deceptively sweet and sexy Lady Caroline might just cost him his heart, his soul and both their reputations… (Synopsis from Goodreads)

My Thoughts: This was a very fun, sometimes ridiculous story. I really enjoyed it. Prince Leopold had no idea the chaos that was about to come into his life with Lady Caroline. Ignore her, and she'll get you back. I really enjoyed Lady Caroline's payback method. It was very amusing to read.

I liked the romance that happened between Caroline and Leo. It was fun. Caroline was determined to catch his eye.

I also enjoy the world of this story. It's historical fiction with a slight fantasy twist. It's original and different from other books in this genre.

I'm excited to read more books in this A Royal Wedding Series. Julia London crafts some fun and romantic stories and I'm excited to read more of them.

Julia London is the New York Times and USA Today best selling author of more than two dozen romantic fiction novels. She is the author of the popular historical romance series, the Cabot Sisters, including The Trouble with Honor, The Devil Takes a Bride, and The Scoundrel and the Debutante. She is also the author of several contemporary romances, including Homecoming Ranch, Return to Homecoming Ranch, and The Perfect Homecoming.

Julia is the recipient of the RT Bookclub Award for Best Historical Romance and a six-time finalist for the prestigious RITA award for excellence in romantic fiction. To keep up with all the Julia London news, please visithttp://www.julialondon.com. Follow her on Facebook athttp://www.facebook.com/julialondon 

Thanks so much for stopping by my Blog Tour Stop for A Royal Kiss & Tell (A Royal Wedding #2) by Julia London. Thanks so much to HQN and Julia London for letting me be a part of this tour. If you're looking for a fun romance to breeze through, I'd definitely recommend this one.

Reading Right Now! (258)

First off, I want to say that George Floyd should be alive today. What happened to him disgusts me. Those cops should not have worn the badge if that's how they view and treat people. It's brought up some really important thoughts and conversations. I hope that my country takes notice and changes. No one should be scared because of the color of their skin. 

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

Outpost (Donovan #1) by W. Michael Gear -- I'm almost 100 pages in and I'm enjoying this. It's a frontier sci-fi. When I read the synopsis, I wasn't sure just how much I was going to like it, because it sounded like a lot. It does go through different character perspectives, but so far, I can keep everyone straight. I'm liking it.

It almost has that feel of a western, and I do tend to enjoy those kind of books. I'm excited to read more of it.

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

BLOG TOUR: Red Sky Over Hawaii by Sara Ackerman

I'm very excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Red Sky Over Hawaii by Sara Ackerman. I received a free copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to MIRA and Sara Ackerman for letting me be a part of this tour!

Title: Red Sky Over Hawaii

Author: Sara Ackerman

Published by: MIRA

Released: June 9, 2020

Source: Review Copy from Publisher

Goodreads   Amazon

Synopsis: Inspired by real places and events of WWII, Red Sky Over Hawaii immerses the reader in a time of American history full of suspicion and peril in this lush and poignant tale about the indisputable power of doing the right thing against all odds.

The attack on Pearl Harbor changes everything for Lana Hitchcock. Arriving home on the Big Island too late to reconcile with her estranged father, she is left alone to untangle the clues of his legacy, which lead to a secret property tucked away in the remote rain forest of Kilauea volcano. When the government starts taking away her neighbors as suspected sympathizers, Lana shelters two young German girls, a Japanese fisherman and his son. As tensions escalate, they are forced into hiding—only to discover the hideaway house is not what they expected.

When a detainment camp is established nearby, Lana struggles to keep the secrets of those in her care. Trust could have dangerous consequences. As their lives weave together, Lana begins to understand the true meaning of family and how the bonds of love carry us through the worst times. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

My Thoughts: I definitely enjoyed this one. I'm always a sucker for a book set in Hawaii. I also loved the historical aspect to it. Sometimes, I try to imagine what it was like that awful day that Pearl Harbor was bombed. I could just imagine the confusion that would then turn to disbelief and fear. How a normal day could turn into something so horrific.

I loved the setting and scenery in this book. I read that the author was born and raised in Hawaii and I really think that makes it more vivid. Hawaii is such a beautiful place. I'd love to visit there one day.

I also enjoyed Lana's effort to do what is right. Her decision to take in these people who need help from the prejudice and fear taking over the island was a good decision. There was a lot of stress that went into it, but she tried helping how she could. And I also really liked the idea of a found family. I love books with that aspect to them.

There is some romance in this book, which at times can take away from the rest of the story. I didn't hate the romance, but it did feel a little unnecessary.

There were also times that the story veered too much into scenery and window dressing. I loved getting to see the landscape of Hawaii, but there was a lot of it.

I liked Red Sky Over Hawaii. It was a good book to just get lost in. I'd definitely say give it a read if you like historical fiction.

Sara writes books about love and life, and all of their messy and beautiful imperfections. Born and raised in Hawaii, she studied journalism and later earned graduate degrees in psychology and Chinese medicine. She is the USA Today bestselling author of The Lieutenant's Nurse and Island of Sweet Pies and Soldiers, with several more in the works. She blames Hawaii for her addiction to writing, and sees no end to its untapped stories. Sara lives on the Big Island with her boyfriend and a houseful of bossy animals.

Thank you for stopping by my Blog Tour Stop for Red Sky Over Hawaii by Sara Ackerman. Thanks so much to MIRA and Sara Ackerman for letting me be a part of this tour. It was a needed reading vacation.

BLOG TOUR: The Girl Next Door by Chelsea M. Cameron

I'm excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for The Girl Next Door by Chelsea M. Cameron. I received a free copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Carina Adores and Chelsea M. Cameron for letting me be a part of this tour.

Title: The Girl Next Door

Author: Chelsea M. Cameron

Published by: Carina Adores

Released: May 26, 2020

Source: Review Copy from Publisher

Goodreads   Amazon

Synopsis: The opposites-attract, sweet-and-sexy small-town romance you’ve been waiting for.

Iris Turner hightailed it out of Salty Cove, Maine, without so much as a backward glance. Which is why finding herself back in her hometown—in her childhood bedroom, no less—has the normally upbeat Iris feeling a bit down and out. Her spirits get a much-needed lift, though, at the sight of the sexy girl next door.
No one knows why Jude Wicks is back in Salty Cove, and that’s just how she likes it. Jude never imagined she’d be once again living in her parents’ house, never mind hauling lobster like a local. But the solitude is just what she needs—until Iris tempts her to open up.
A no-strings summer fling seems like the perfect distraction for both women. Jude rides a motorcycle, kisses hard and gives Iris the perfect distraction from her tangled mess of a life. But come September, Iris is still determined to get out of this zero-stoplight town.

That is, unless Jude can give her a reason to stay… (Synopsis from Goodreads)

My Thoughts: I enjoyed The Girl Next Door. I thought it was cute. I love a story set in a small town, and this one had that. I was a big fan of the setting and the feeling of this little town by the sea.

Iris and Jude's story is very cute, very sweet. It was nice seeing them form a connection and discover what they felt for each other. It was just a fun story to get lost in.

I liked the writing style. It pulled me in.

I'd definitely say read this if you're looking for a cute summer romance. It has a great setting of a town in Maine and a sweet story.

Chelsea M. Cameron is a New York Times/USA Today/Internationally Best Selling author from Maine who now lives and works in Boston. She's a red velvet cake enthusiast, obsessive tea drinker, vegetarian, former cheerleader, and world's worst video gamer. When not writing, she enjoys watching infomercials, getting brunch with her partner, tweeting, and playing fetch with her cat, Sassenach. She has a degree in journalism from the University of Maine, Orono that she promptly abandoned to write about the people in her own head. More often than not, these people turn out to be just as weird as she is.

Thank you for stopping by my Blog Tour Stop for The Girl Next Door by Chelsea M. Cameron. Thanks so much to Carina Adores and Chelsea M. Cameron for letting me be a part of the tour!

BLOG TOUR: Forbidden Lust (Dynasties: Seven Sins #2) by Karen Booth

I'm excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Forbidden Lust by Karen Booth. This is the second book in the Dynasties: Seven Sins Series. I received a free copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Harlequin Desire and Karen Booth for letting me be a part of this tour.

Title: Forbidden Lust (Dynasties: Seven Sins #2)

Author: Karen Booth

Published by: Harlequin Desire

Released: June 1, 2020

Source: Review Copy from Publisher

Goodreads   Amazon

Synopsis: Feel the drama and passion in the Dynasties: Seven Sins series!

Next stop, paradise—With the man of her forbidden fantasies?
Giving in to desire with her brother’s best friend…

A secluded island resort is the perfect romantic setting for the night of passionate abandon Allison Randall plans to share with Zane Patterson. Her elder brother’s best friend has always been off-limits…and Zane is determined to keep it that way. But when a storm strands them together, neither can hold back. Everything Allison dreamed of is finally in reach…until unwelcome revelations threaten a rude awakening! (Synopsis from Goodreads)

My Thoughts: Very fun and super steamy. Forbidden Lust is absolutely right for this story. Zane is not supposed to mess with Allison because of the best friend code. A best friend's little sister is off limits. Sure he's attracted to her, but he can't.

Allison wants Zane and will do anything and everything to get him. Codes mean nothing to her. Allison is pretty transparent with what she wants, she follows Zane around ready to jump him at any time.

There are some secrets in this book and some heartache. Zane is harboring some deep resentment and bad feelings toward some people.

I enjoyed this. I thought Forbidden Lust was fun. It's a super fast read. I liked the writing style. I'm interested in checking out more in this Seven Sins Series.

Karen Booth is a Midwestern girl transplanted in the South, raised on 80s music and repeated readings of Forever by Judy Blume. She writes steamy contemporary romance and women's fiction. When she isn't creating fictional hunky men and the women who test them, she's listening to music with her kids, honing her Southern cooking skills or sweet-talking her astoundingly supportive husband into whipping up a batch of cocktails.

Harlequin Desire: Luxury, scandal, desire—welcome to the lives of the American elite.

One man’s betrayal can destroy generations. Fifteen years ago, a hedge-fund hotshot vanished with billions, leaving the high-powered families of Falling Brook changed forever. Now seven heirs, shaped by his betrayal, must reckon with the sins of the past. Passion may be their only path to redemption. Experience all Seven Sins!

DYNASTIES: SEVEN SINS

Book 1: Ruthless Pride by Naima Simone
This CEO’s pride led him to give up his dreams for his family. Now he’s drawn to the woman who threatens everything…

Book 2: Forbidden Lust by Karen Booth
He’s always resisted his lust for his best friend’s sister—until they’re stranded together in paradise…

Book 3: Insatiable Hunger by Yahrah St. John
His unbridled appetite for his closest friend is unleashed when he believes she’s fallen for the wrong man…

Book 4: Hidden Ambition by Jules Bennett
Ambition has taken him far, but revenge could cost him his one chance at love…

Book 5: Reckless Envy by Joss Wood
When this shark in the boardroom meets the one woman he can’t have, envy takes over…

Book 6: Untamed Passion by Cat Schield
Will this black sheep’s self-destructive wrath flame out when he’s expecting an heir of his own?

Book 7: Slow Burn by Janice Maynard
If he’s really the idle playboy his family claims, will his inaction threaten a reunion with the woman who got away?

Thanks for stopping by my Blog Tour Stop for Forbidden Lust by Karen Booth. Thanks so much to Harlequin Desire and Karen Booth for letting me be a part of this tour.