Tuesday, July 23, 2024

New Book Release 7/23/24

 Happy book birthday to these new releases!


Fated to the Feral Wolf by. April L. Moon


Book synopsis from Goodreads:

I never would have seen him coming, not in a million years. Feral. Growling. Terrifying. Until my wolf claimed him as hers. ShayI'm a lot of things; a loyal best friend, music lover, introvert. All labels I'd happily claim as mine. Survivor of abuse, I'll claim because it's true, and I'm a survivor. But fated mate? That one feels like an ill-fitting glove. Especially when said mate has been feral for years, and nobody knows what sent him over the edge, let alone how to get him back. But there's no denying my wolf, and she wants him. So what's a girl to do? Bathe the stinky wolf if he's going to sneak into my bed and then play him Mozart until dawn. Obviously. But a fated mate connection is a once in a lifetime bond. And if he can't turn back into a man . . . will I be alone forever, even with him at my side? DirgeI've been on the run for so many years, I don't remember how to be a man, not really. But Shay calls to that part of me, the part I hid away so long ago. She's everything a man could want. Gorgeous, intelligent, and funny, all wrapped into a stunning, shyly sweet package. There's nothing under the moon I want more than to hold her in my arms. That's the problem, though; if I give into the urge, if I change back and take her as mine . . . I sign her death warrant. The fates have foretold it, and the only way I can save her is to never go back, no matter how badly it hurts. To save her, I have to stay a wolf.

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A Thousand Broken Pieces by. Tillie Cole


Book synopsis from Goodreads:


Can two broken hearts make a whole. . . ?

After losing her beloved sister three years ago, Savanna Litchfield has been living half a life. When Savannah's therapist suggests joining a trip around the world for grieving teens she agrees to go clutching tightly to the unread journal her sister left behind.

Seventeen-year-old Cael Woods is angry. One year after losing his older brother his life has spiraled. Once the most promising hockey player in the junior league, Cael can no longer step onto the ice. When his parents sign him up for a trip abroad no part of him wants to go.

As Cael and Savannah embark on a journey they begin to find solace in each other. As they start to heal piece by broken piece, could this be the start of a love they never thought they'd feel again?

A Thousand Broken Pieces is a beautiful and life-affirming novel about grief, love and friendship.

Sunday, July 21, 2024

What Am I Reading Now? 7/21/24

 Hi Friends!  I am reading bunch of books right now.  I'm trying to work through library loaned books and arcs from NetGalley and there is a lot of reading going on!


Here is what I am reading right now:


Nothing Like the Movies by. Lynn Painter


Book synopsis from Goodreads:

In this highly anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestselling Better than the Movies, Wes and Liz struggle to balance their feelings for each other with the growing pains of being a college student.

For a few beautiful months, Wes had his dream girl: strong-willed girl-next-door Liz. But right as the two were about to set off to UCLA to start their freshman year together, tragedy struck. Wes was left dealing with the fallout, which ultimately meant losing Liz in the process.

Flash forward months and months later and Wes and Liz find themselves in college, together. In a healthier place now, Wes knows he broke Liz’s heart when he ended things, but he is determined to make her fall back in love with him.

Wes knows Liz better than anyone, and he has a foolproof plan to win her back with the rom-com worthy big gestures she loves. Only…Liz will have none of it. Wes has to scheme like a rom-com hero to figure out how to see her. Even worse, Liz has a new friend…a guy friend.

Still, Wes won’t give up, adapting his clever plans and going hard to get Liz’s attention and win back her affection. But after his best efforts get him nowhere, Wes is left wondering if their relationship is really over for good.

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Shadows of Perl by. J. Elle


Book synopsis from Goodreads:

The dazzling romantic fantasy world of House of Marionne continues in this dark and deadly sequel full of forbidden magic, devastating lies, and broken hearts. A must read for fans of Stephanie Garber, Leigh Bardugo, and Alex Aster.

Unleash the darkness. Claim your power.

Quell Marionne’s explosive final Rite of Induction to House Marionne sent shockwaves through the magical world, unearthing long buried secrets and her own deadly power. But she paid a steep her family and her love. Fleeing Chateau Soleil for House of Perl, for once Quell is celebrated instead of shunned. She has finally found somewhere to belong. But secrets lurk in every House, and Quell’s quest to find her mom threatens to lead her deeper into the shadows.

Assassin Jordan Wexton, second-in command of the Dragun brotherhood, must protect the source of all magic, the Sphere. Yet the biggest threat to the Sphere is Quell Marionne—the girl he loved, until she claimed the deadly, outlawed toushana. As the Sphere cracks and war brews among the Houses, can the only way to save the world be to kill his own heart?

Now, these two lovers-turned enemies must confront their competing ambitions and conflicting loyalties. Or die. The future of magic hangs on their decision.

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Can't Help Falling in Love by. Sophie Sullivan


Book synopsis from Goodreads:

A struggling waitress and the heir to a major Seattle company stumble into a high-profile fake engagement while simultaneously trying to keep up with their own love lives in this flirty fall rom-com!

Lexi Danby is looking for some no-strings, fall fun. Once a college track star, she was forced to drop out when her father passed away. Now she’s trying to make ends meet while putting herself through school and caring for her grieving mother. When her comically bad waitressing lands her directly in the path of a handsome, charming stranger named Will, Lexi may just have found the distraction she’s been looking for. Their first date looks promising until a misunderstanding at a party thrusts Lexi and Will into a fake engagement they can’t talk themselves out of. And Will turns out to be a member of Seattle royalty.

Will Grand is heir to a major company, and Seattle’s most eligible bachelor. But he’s been placed in charge of an important merger with a company that values family above all else, and needs to show them that he’s settled down. While a fake engagement is advantageous from a business standpoint, it’s not so great for a budding relationship with a woman who’s wary of commitment. With a woman who Will is beginning to care about much more than he could have anticipated.

As Lexi gets a taste of Will’s glamorous world and the pair keeps up the pretense of their fake engagement for the press, they decide to see where a more casual relationship takes them out of the spotlight. And amid apple picking in comfy flannels, outdoor breweries in the crisp air, and fun Halloween preparations, Lexi starts to realize the scariest part of the season might just be taking a chance on love.

"Sophie Sullivan consistently crafts romances to root for." -Courtney Kae, author of In the Event of Love and In the Case of Heartbreak

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Book synopsis from Goodreads:

When a Mexican heiress defies Victorian society to protect her country a British war hero makes it his new mission to protect her…

Isabel Luna Valdés has long since resigned herself to being the “forgotten” Luna sister. But thanks to familial connections to the Mexican ambassador in London, wallflower Isabel is poised to unearth any British intelligence hidden by the ton that might aid Mexico during the French Occupation. Though she slips easily from crowded ballrooms into libraries and private studies, Isabel’s search is hampered by trysting couples and prowling rogues—including the rakish Captain Sirius Dawson.

As a covert agent for the British Home Office, Sirius makes a game of earning the aristocracy’s confidence. He spends his days befriending foolish politicians and seducing well-born ladies in order to learn their secrets. But after he spies a certain sharp-tongued Luna sister lurking in the shadows where no proper debutante should venture, it’s clear Sirius is outmatched, outwitted, and soon to be outmaneuvered by the one woman he can’t resist.

Their mutual attraction is undeniable, but when Isabel discovers private correspondence that could turn the tide of political turmoil in Mexico, she’s willing to do whatever it takes to protect her country—even if this means ignoring her heart and courting danger...

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Will you be reading any of these books?

Saturday, July 20, 2024

Mini Book Reviews | 7/20/24

 I read two more books I read this week and here are some mini reviews:



The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A marriage of convenience? Rich people problems?  This one is the perfect summer read!  It is set on an island near Singapore, and two people who married for convenience have to attend a wedding and convince everyone they are a happily married couple, even though they hadn't seen one another in a few years.  This one was funny, steamy, filled with rich family drama and a lot of romance! 


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Birding with Benefits by. Sarah T. Dubb ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Who knew birding could be so sexy?  In this opposites attract romance, Celeste who is 42, divorced and soon to be an empty-nester is trying a year of saying "yes" to everything!  Including partnering up with a stranger who is competing in a bird watching competition.  She's there to learn and to help her partner, John, with some fake-dating also.  I thought this was a fun and steamy read and another fun summer read.


Friday, July 19, 2024

Mini Book Reviews | 7/19/24

 Hi everyone! 

Here are the books I read and reviewed this week.



All Roads Lead to Rome by. Sabrina Fedel - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed this young adult romance about two people who get into a fake dating situation but fall for each other in the process.  One of my favorite things about the story was the setting of Rome, Italy!  It's definitely a wonderful book for a summer read!


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The Mist Thief by. L.J. Andrews (The Ever Seas, #3) - ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This is book three in The Ever Seas series and I really loved the first two books.  This one is about Livia's best friend Jonas, and the elven princess she met in captivity, Skadi.  Skadi was a very mysterious character in book two and yes she does open up in this story and I like how she and Jonas compliment one another but I wasn't as invested in their story as I was in Erik and Livia.  Still it was pretty good because Skadi has found a family and man who appreciates her and Jonas learns to love.  I can't wait to read Mira and Tait's story!

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Are you planning on reading any of these books?



Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Can't Wait Wednesday...I can't wait for The Grandest Game | 7/17/24

 Welcome to Can't Wait Wednesday!


"Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine." - Wishful Endings


I can't wait for...




Book synopsis from Goodreads:

Get caught up in the puzzles, games, danger, romance, and riches of this lush new chapter in the #1 bestselling Inheritance Games saga.

Seven tickets. An island of dreams. The chance of a lifetime.

Welcome to the Grandest Game, an annual competition run by billionaire Avery Grambs and the four infamous Hawthorne brothers, whose family fortune she inherited. Designed to give anyone a shot at fame and fortune, this year’s game requires one of seven golden tickets to enter. With millions on the line, those seven players will do whatever it takes to win.

Some of the players are in it for the money. Some for power. Some for reasons all their own. Every single one of them has secrets. Amidst it all is Grayson Hawthorne, tasked with a vital role in this year’s game. But as tensions rise and the mind-bending challenges push the players to their limits—physically, mentally, and emotionally—it soon becomes clear that not everyone is playing by the rules.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Lynn Barnes delivers a brand-new series in the world of The Inheritance Games, where fan-favorite and new characters collide in a game you’ll never forget.

Do you have what it takes to play?


New Book Release 7/17/24

 Here's another book release today!



Title: A Court of Wicked Fae (Kingdom of Blighted Thorns, #2)

Author: Alaya Wells

Pages: 550

Book synopsis from Goodreads:

A woman determined to destroy a conniving king. A fae lord who will sacrifice himself to shield her from harm. Can their love survive the upcoming battle?

A thorny band around my neck controls my every move and betrayal haunts me, but I’m still determined to seek vengeance for the death of my brother. I’ll do it with or without Vexxion’s help. But when he calls in his favor, I’m given no choice. If I don’t make another deal with this secretive fae man I still can’t resist, I’m doomed to fail.

Do I dare trust him again?

Vexxion continues to train my elusive magic. I do my best to evade those trying to kill me while working to free my friends from the realm where their souls wander. In between, I sneak into the castle aerie and work with the dragons, plus serve as lady in waiting to the king’s fiancé. She doesn’t realize how close her death looms.

But our time is running out. To win this deadly game, I may be forced to sacrifice everyone I love.

In the court of the wicked fae, the weak are exploited, secrets abound, and only the ruthless survive.

A Court of Wicked Fae is Book 2 in the Kingdom of Blighted Thorns trilogy and told in dual point of view. Expect plenty of spice, suspense, a ruthless, determined woman, and a fae lord with shocking secrets who will stop at nothing to claim her as his own.



Tuesday, July 16, 2024

Top 5 Tuesday - Top 5 books set in a big city 7/16/24

Top 5 Tuesday is a weekly meme created by Bionic Bookworm, now hosted by Meeghan Reads. If you’re interested in participating, check out their blog to get the details and the prompts for each week. 




This week's topic: top 5 books set in a big city


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features a few big cities

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Hollywood in the 1950's

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Seoul, Korea

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Washington, D.C., USA & London, England


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2 July: Top 5 anticipated reads for Q3 2024

It’s time to talk about all the shiny new books coming out in July, August and September 2024. What are the books you can’t wait to hold in your hands the most?

9 July: Top 5 books with small town vibes

Not sure about you, but I have a fondness for books set in small villages. Doesn’t matter if it’s a crossroad town in the mid-west, or a small fishing village in Norway. If the population is so small a stranger sticks out like a sore thumb, that’s the vibe we are going for.

16 July: Top 5 books set in a big city

In the total opposite to the week before, we are now aiming for a big city setting. Give me all of those big city feels where a person could get lost in the foot traffic walking down the street.

23 July: Top 5 books with international travel

Whether it’s a fictional land or ours, let’s share all of those travels across countries, whether by sea, air, or land. You could even find a book where the characters jump over a border!

30 July: Top 5 books with time travel

Ahh, the most outrageous travel of all  and the most unreal. Tell us about your fave books where the characters skip through time (or space). If you can’t think of any, a book that spans multiple eras will also do the trick.





New Book Releases 7/16/24

 Happy book release day to all these books!




Beautiful Villain by. Rebecca Kenney

Book synopsis from Goodreads:

Seven years ago, I lost him for good. Now he's back, but is he still the Jay Gatsby I used to know…or is he something more? Something…darker.

Daisy Finnegan is looking forward to the endless golden freedom of summer. She doesn't want to think about life after college, or the newly awakened power of her voice, which has a way of making people do frightening things. But when her cousin goes missing at an exclusive house party, Daisy confronts the mysterious host…only to discover the wealthy recluse is Jay Gatsby, her childhood sweetheart―now sinfully hot and impossible to deny.

It isn't long before Daisy becomes entangled in a web of dizzying wealth and lies and obsession darker than she could have dreamed―culminating in a shocking act of violence that shatters the summer haze and threatens to drown them all.

But it isn't until Gatsby is shot through the heart―and survives―that Daisy discovers the truth of how Gatsby clawed his way up in the world by selling the secret of immortality to the highest bidder. Now with her friends' lives at stake, her own untested power still volatile, and an unimaginable threat closing in, Daisy will have to face an impossible choice: side with the man who claimed her body and soul…or with the monsters who would see him lost to her forever.

An addictive and truly original spicy New Adult retelling of The Great Gatsby with a magical twist.

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The Black Bird Oracle by. Deborah Harkness

Book synopsis from Goodreads:

Diana Bishop journeys to the darkest places within herself—and her family history—in the highly anticipated fifth novel of the beloved #1 New York Times bestselling All Souls series.

Deborah Harkness first introduced the world to Diana Bishop, Oxford scholar and witch, and vampire geneticist Matthew de Clairmont in A Discovery of Witches. Drawn to each other despite long-standing taboos, these two otherworldly beings found themselves at the center of a battle for a lost, enchanted manuscript known as Ashmole 782. Since then, they have fallen in love, traveled to Elizabethan England, dissolved the Covenant between the three species, and awoken the dark powers within Diana’s family line.

Now, Diana and Matthew receive a formal demand from the Congregation: They must test the magic of their seven-year-old twins, Pip and Rebecca. Concerned with their safety and desperate to avoid the same fate that led her parents to spellbind her, Diana decides to forge a different path for her family’s future and answers a message from a great-aunt she never knew existed, Gwyneth Proctor, whose invitation simply reads: It’s time you came home, Diana.

On the hallowed ground of Ravenswood, the Proctor family home, and under the tutelage of Gwyneth, a talented witch grounded in higher magic, a new era begins for Diana: a confrontation with her family’s dark past, and a reckoning for her own desire for even greater power—if she can let go, finally, of her fear of wielding it.

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Book synopsis from Goodreads:

Two string players fight their attraction for each other as they compete for center stage in this spicy and emotional romance.

Gwen Jackson and Xander Thorne are both musical prodigies, but each has had very different paths to success. Xander was born into classical music royalty, while Gwen had a natural ear for music that was nurtured by a kind shop owner.

After Gwen performs at his friend’s wedding, she’s mortified when she realizes Xander has no clue who she is—despite having worked together for a year at the Pops Orchestra. But she’s more furious that he arrogantly critiques her performance.

When Gwen is offered the role of First Chair of the orchestra, something Xander had secretly coveted for years, their existing hostility goes up a notch. But their respect for each other's music is undeniable, and their onstage chemistry off the scale. As they begin to explore their feelings for one another, suddenly they're box office dynamite and the fragile romance that's growing between them is in danger of being crushed beneath a publicity stunt...

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Book synopsis from Goodreads:

Her self-absorbed news anchor ex-husband careening back into her life was not on this amateur psychic detective’s bingo card.Not only does Griffin Gentry show up unexpectedly at Riley Thorn’s door—the real shock is that he’s begging her for help. Riley’s hot private investigator boyfriend Nick Santiago refusing to take the job is…well, less of a surprise.Too bad for Nick that his octogenarian business partner overrules him and takes the lead on Griffin’s case. But when a dead body makes it clear someone really is out to get Riley’s ex, the mile-long suspect list means all hands on deck at Santiago Investigations. Even the wrinkly, retired ones.It’s only a matter of time before Griffin brings the danger directly to their doorstep. And with Riley and Nick busy interviewing suspects, that leaves their elderly roommates to wreak havoc in the surveillance department. Can Riley block out the chaos to focus her psychic visions long enough to narrow down the list of suspects? Or will Griffin Gentry’s bad karma be the downfall of them all?

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Are you getting any new books this week?