BLOG TOUR: The Good Ones Are Taken by Taj McCoy

 I'm excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for The Good Ones Are Taken by Taj McCoy! I received a free electronic copy from the publisher for an honest review. Thanks so much to MIRA and Taj McCoy for letting me be a part of the tour!

Title: The Good Ones Are Taken

Author: Taj McCoy

Published by: MIRA

Released: April 23, 2024

Source: Electronic Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Goodreads          Amazon

 

Synopsis: When Maggie's best friend admits he's in love with her, she'll have to decide whether it's worth giving up something good for something that could be amazing in this laugh-out-loud friends-to-lovers rom-com.

After a bad breakup, Maggie wants to find her Prince Charming, but all she’s finding are frogs. When her best friends, Savvy and Joan, apply pressure and demand she find a date worthy of attending their respective weddings, she agrees to take her own advice and try online dating. Since she's the maid of honor for both weddings, her bridal party duties are massive, but both brides insist that Maggie prioritize finding a date. After an onslaught of maybes, noes, and hell noes, she’s close to giving up, when she meets a handsome doctor at the gym who just might be the one.

Meanwhile, her college bestie, Garrett, throws salt in everyone’s game. At every turn, he points out the red flags and tells Maggie to keep looking. Things come to a head when Maggie demands that Garrett be happy for her, and he finally admits that he can’t. Not when he’s not with her. When he blurts out his feelings, Maggie’s world is turned upside down. Now she must choose between the perfect guy and a friendship that is the foundation for everything she’s ever wanted. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

My Thoughts: This was cute and I really enjoyed it. I'm always game for a romance. Maggie had some hard decisions to make in this one. If you are a fan of the love triangle trope and friends to lovers, then this one is definitely for you!

Maggie has some great friends, they might have been one of the best parts of the story, but they definitely put some pressure on her to find a date. I really liked Maggie's journey in this. I won't say that I always agreed with everything she did, but I was always interested in what was going to happen for her next. 

I can see a lot of people enjoying this one. If you're craving a cute romance, I'd say read it.

 

Oakland-born law grad Taj McCoy is committed to championing stories that include Black and multiracial women of color, plus-size protagonists, Black love, Black joy, and strong senses of sisterhood and familial bonds. Taj started writing as a small child, enjoying her first publications in elementary school. When she's not writing, Taj may be on Twitter boosting other marginalized writers, practicing yoga, sharing recipes, or cooking private supper club meals for close friends.

Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for The Good Ones Are Taken by Taj McCoy! Thank you to MIRA and Taj McCoy for letting me be a part of the tour. If you're looking for something cute to read, you should definitely add this one to your list!

BLOG TOUR: The Book of Thorns by Hester Fox

 I'm excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for The Book of Thorns by Hester Fox! I received a free electronic copy for review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Graydon House and Hester Fox for letting me be a part of the tour!

Title: The Book of Thorns

Author: Hester Fox

Published by: Graydon House

Released: April 2, 2024

Source: Electronic Review Copy Provided by the Publisher

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Synopsis: In the midst of the Napoleonic Wars and the rise of the floriography craze in Europe, two sisters separated at birth are bound together by a secret language of flowers passed down to them by the mother they never knew. When Cornelia leaves her cruel uncle’s home to join Napoleon’s army as a traveling naturalist, her ability to heal any wound and bring soldiers back from the brink of death earns her praise from higher-ups—and exposes her to those who would exploit her powers for themselves.

Meanwhile, Lijsbeth lives in indentured servitude, her only respite her time spent flower arranging. When she meets a young English soldier and falls in love, Lisjbeth must decide whether to flee the clashing of two great armies at Waterloo or risk everything by staying. As the English and French armies collide in Waterloo, the sisters finally cross paths on opposite sides of the war.

With the sisters reunited on the battlefield, they must work together to solve the mystery of their mother’s death and their father’s disappearance, all while surviving the war raging around them. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: The very first thing that drew me to this book was the pretty cover. It got me. The synopsis also sounded interesting, so I added it to my reading list.

Books involving war can be hit or miss for me. I'd not read much about the Napoleonic Wars though, so that was interesting.

I enjoyed the story of the two sisters who were separated at birth. I liked seeing both of their lives apart and eventually together.

I also enjoyed the way that flowers played such a big part in their stories.

I enjoyed reading this story and I could see a lot of other people liking it too.

Hester Fox is a full-time writer and mother, with a background in museum work and historical archaeology. She lives in New England with her husband and their two children.

Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for The Book of Thorns by Hester Fox! Thank you to Graydon House and Hester Fox for letting me be a part of the tour. If this one sounds interesting to you, you should definitely give it a read.

BLOG TOUR: The Happiness Blueprint by Ally Zetterberg

I'm excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for The Happiness Blueprint by Ally Zetterberg! I received a free electronic copy for an honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to MIRA and Ally Zetterberg for letting me be a part of this tour!

 

 

Title: The Happiness Blueprint

Author: Ally Zetterberg

Published by: MIRA

Released: April 2, 2024

Source: Electronic Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Goodreads          Amazon

 

Synopsis: Klara and Alex are having trouble connecting, but at least their calendars are in sync.

Klara—who’s always thought of herself as a little different, a sneaker in a world full of kitten heels and polished boots—is feeling a disconnect these days. She has type 1 diabetes, currently works in a dead-end job, and is in desperate need of a change. When her dad falls ill, Klara begrudgingly agrees to help run his small construction company while he recovers, even though it means moving back home and pushing the boundaries of her comfort zone to the extreme.

Alex has been a shell of himself since his brother died in an accident. He’s unemployed, has bills piling up, and is distant from friends and family. His therapist is encouraging him to keep things manageable by setting up a calendar, checking off tasks each day, and looking for work to help get him back on his feet. When an ad pops up for a carpenter position at a small construction company, he jumps at the chance to take a step forward.

Klara's and Alex’s stories unfold through a series of miscommunications in this clever and witty novel from debut author Ally Zetterberg that’s about finding acceptance and even love in unexpected places. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: This was cute and I enjoyed it. It deals with some heavy topics, but it makes the characters feel more real for it.

Klara has Type 1 diabetes and some other personality quirks, which can make her feel very different. I enjoyed reading about a character who can struggle with fitting in. I think it's important to celebrate what makes you unique in this world and that it's never something to feel bad about.

Alex is dealing with a lot of grief, which also felt like very important to showcase in a book.

I liked how Klara and Alex helped each other, they were exactly what the other needed.

I also really enjoyed that this story was set in Sweden. The only real books I'd read set in Sweden before had all been books about mystery and murder, so it was nice reading a book about two people coming together.

This is a slower read, but it's definitely worth it.

I really enjoyed this one, and I think a lot of other people would enjoy it too.

 

Ally Zetterberg is a British-Swedish writer. She spent ten years working internationally as a fashion model before turning to writing. Being neurodivergent herself and the mother of a child with Type 1 Diabetes, she is passionate about creating relatable characters and representing those living with medical conditions in her work. She speaks four languages and does her best not to muddle them up.

 

Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for The Happiness Blueprint by Ally Zetterberg! Thank you to MIRA and Ally Zetterberg for letting me be a part of the tour. This is a cute one that should definitely be added to your TBR!

BLOG TOUR: Maya's Laws of Love by Alina Khawaja

 I'm excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Maya's Laws of Love by Alina Khawaja! I received a free electronic copy for a honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to MIRA and Alina Khawaja for letting me be a part of the tour!

Title: Maya's Laws of Love

Author: Alina Khawaja

Published by: MIRA

Released: March 26, 2024

Source: Electronic Review Copy Provided by the Publisher

Goodreads          Amazon

 

Synopsis: A bride-to-be convinced she’s cursed in romance finds her luck changing—at exactly the wrong time.

Maya Mirza is so convinced she’s unlucky in love that she’s come up with a list of laws to explain it. Most importantly…

But that’s about to change. Maya’s headed to Pakistan for an arranged marriage with a handsome, successful doctor who ticks all the right boxes. First comes marriage, then comes love—she’s sure of it. Except…

From the start, Maya's journey is riddled with disaster, and the cynical lawyer seated next to her on the plane isn’t helping. When a storm leaves them stranded in Switzerland, she and Sarfaraz become unlikely travel companions through bus breakdowns and missed connections.

And before long, Maya’s wondering whether she’s just experienced the ultimate in misfortune—finally meeting the right man a few days before she marries someone else. And Maya might just be the worst person to keep a secret.

But maybe, if she’s willing to bend some laws, this detour could take her somewhere totally—and wonderfully—unexpected. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: This was cute and I had a lot of fun reading it! This had a lot of tropes that I enjoy reading. I really just liked how Maya and Sarfaraz get stuck together through bad traveling luck.

The idea of an arranged marriage always peaks my interest, even if that's not the biggest part of the story.

I just love a meet cute, and I felt like this gave that to me.

I enjoyed it and I could see a lot of other people liking it too.

Alina Khawaja is a Canadian-Pakistani author. She is a graduate from the University of Toronto with a BA in English, History, and Creative Writing, and from Toronto Metropolitan University with an MA in the Literatures of Modernity. Alina lives in Ontario, Canada. When she's not writing, she's either reading or trying to keep up with her endless list of K-dramas.

Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for Maya's Laws of Love by Alina Khawaja! Thank you to MIRA and Alina Khawaja for letting me be a part of the tour. If you're looking for something cute to read, you should definitely pick up this one!

BLOG TOUR: Good Half Gone by Tarryn Fisher

 I'm excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Good Half Gone by Tarryn Fisher! I received a free electronic copy for a honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Graydon House and Tarryn Fisher for letting me be a part of the tour!

Title: Good Half Gone

Author: Tarryn Fisher

Published by: Graydon House

Released: March 19, 2024

Source: Electronic Review Copy Provided by the Publisher

Goodreads          Amazon

 

Synopsis: Iris Walsh saw her twin sister, Piper, get kidnapped—so why does no one believe her?

Iris narrowly escaped her pretty, popular twin sister’s fate as a teen: kidnapped, trafficked and long gone before the cops agreed to investigate. With no evidence to go on but a few scattered memories, the case quickly goes cold.

Now an adult, Iris wants one thing—proof. And if the police still won’t help, she’ll just have to find it her own way; by interning at the isolated Shoal Island Hospital for the criminally insane, where secrets lurk in the shadows and are kept under lock and key. But Iris soon realizes that something even more sinister is simmering beneath the surface of the Shoal, and that the patients aren’t the only ones being observed… (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: Twins and a hospital for the criminally insane, tell me more! The synopsis for this one really caught my attention. I love adding some thrills to my currently reading pile, and Good Half Gone did that for me. I had fun with this one. It kept me turning pages and wondering what was going to happen next.

This is a great book to read by the pool. It's very fast and kept me on the edge of my seat.

I had a lot of fun with the setting. It was definitely unsettling.

I can see a lot of people enjoying this one. 

 Tarryn Fisher is the #1 New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of fifteen novels. She is best known for her bestselling novels Never Never, The Wives and The Wrong Family. Born in South Africa, Tarryn now calls Seattle, Washington home, where she resides with her husband and children. She writes primarily in the romance, thriller, and new adult genres and specializes in writing villains.

Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for Good Half Gone by Tarryn Fisher! Thank you to Graydon House and Tarryn Fisher for letting me be a part of the tour. This will add some thrills to your TBR pile!

BLOG TOUR: The Day Tripper by James Goodhand

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

Title: The Day Tripper

Author: James Goodhand

Published by: MIRA

Released: March 19, 2024

Source: Electronic Review Copy Provided by the Publisher

Goodreads          Amazon

 

Synopsis: The right guy, the right place, the wrong time.

It’s 1995, and Alex Dean has a spot at Cambridge University next year, the love of an amazing woman named Holly and all the time in the world ahead of him. That is until a brutal encounter with a ghost from his past sees him beaten, battered and almost drowning in the Thames.

He wakes the next day to find he’s in a messy, derelict room he’s never seen before, in grimy clothes he doesn’t recognize, with no idea of how he got there. A glimpse in the mirror tells him he’s older—much older—and has been living a hard life, his features ravaged by time and poor decisions. He snatches a newspaper and finds it’s 2010—fifteen years since the fight.

After finally drifting off to sleep, Alex wakes the following morning to find it’s now 2019, another nine years later. But the next day, it’s 1999. Never knowing which day is coming, he begins to piece together what happens in his life after that fateful night by the river.

But what exactly is going on? Why does his life look nothing like he thought it would? What about Cambridge, and Holly? In this page-turning adventure, Alex must navigate his way through the years to learn that small actions have untold impact. And that might be all he needs to save the people he loves and, equally importantly, himself. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: I really enjoy books that play around with time, so when I read the synopsis for The Day Tripper, I was sold! 

This book has a lot to keep track of. It jumps around in time, from chapter to chapter, which can be confusing if you're not giving your full attention to the story. I managed to keep up pretty well. I was always interested in seeing what was going to happen next and why it was happening.

I had a good time following Alex's strange life. I enjoyed the time hopping and trying to find out what was going on. I can see a lot of other people enjoying this one too.

 

 James Goodhand has written two YA novels. His YA debut, Last Lesson, was called "a powerfully charged study in empathy," by the Financial Times. This is his adult debut. He lives in Englad with his wife and young son.

Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for The Day Tripper by James Goodhand! Thank you to MIRA and James Goodhand for letting me be a part of the tour. This one deserves a read!

BLOG TOUR: A Grave Robbery by Deanna Raybourn

 I'm excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for A Grave Robbery by Deanna Raybourn! I received a free electronic copy from the publisher for an honest review. Thanks so much to Berkley and Deanna Raybourn for letting me be a part of this tour!

Title: A Grave Robbery (Veronica Speedwell #9)

Author: Deanna Raybourn

Published by: Berkley

Released: March 12, 2024

Source: Electronic Review Copy Provided by the Publisher

Goodreads          Amazon

 

Synopsis: Veronica and Stoker discover that not all fairy tales have happy endings, and some end in murder, in this latest historical mystery from New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award–nominated author Deanna Raybourn.

Lord Rosemorran has purchased a wax figure of a beautiful reclining woman and asks Stoker to incorporate a clockwork mechanism to give the Rosemorran Collection its own Sleeping Beauty in the style of Madame Tussaud’s. But when Stoker goes to cut the mannequin open to insert the mechanism, he makes a gruesome discovery: this is no wax figure. The mannequin is the beautifully preserved body of a young woman who was once very much alive. But who would do such a dreadful thing, and why?

Sleuthing out the answer to this question sets Veronica and Stoker on their wildest adventure yet. From the underground laboratories of scientists experimenting with electricity to resurrect the dead in the vein of Frankenstein to the traveling show where Stoker once toured as an attraction, the gaslit atmosphere of London in October is the perfect setting for this investigation into the unknown. Through it all, the intrepid pair is always one step behind the latest villain—a man who has killed once and will stop at nothing to recover the body of the woman he loved. Will they unmask him in time to save his next victim? Or will they become the latest figures to be immortalized in his collection of horrors? (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: I love reading Veronica Speedwell's adventures. This series is just a lot of fun and I enjoy each and every book. A Grave Robbery is another great installment to the series.

I was hooked as soon as I read the synopsis for this one. A wax figure killer!! Tell me more.

This series works so well because of the partnership of Stoker and Veronica. They bicker and banter while solving crimes.

I enjoyed this mystery. It kept me on my toes, trying to figure out what was going on.

Fans of the series will definitely enjoy this newest installment. If you haven't started the Veronica Speedwell Series, you definitely should!

Deanna Raybourn is the New York Times bestselling and Edgar® Award–nominated author of the Veronica Speedwell Mysteries, the Lady Julia Grey series, and several stand-alone novels, including KILLERS OF A CERTAIN AGE. She lives in Virginia with her family.

Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for A Grave Robbery by Deanna Raybourn! Thank you to Berkley and Deanna Raybourn for letting me be a part of the tour. This is a really fun series that you should definitely add to your TBR!