Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Swoony Spotlights

Welcome to Swoony Worthy Spotlights, hosted by Bookworm NationKatie's Clean Book Collection and KJ's Book Nook! Swoon Worthy Spotlights features 1-3 of our favorite books that we have read during the month. We will share the cover(s), our review(s) and a link to each other's post so you can check out which books we have all chosen!

February was a great month, I was able to read a lot and found a few favorites that I look forward to reading again. I read so many good ones I ended up having a hard time narrowing it down this month.So, to make it a little easier I am sticking to just new releases, full-length novels, and I went with a favorite in Contemporary, Historical and YA. In random order:

The Thirteenth Chance by Amy Matayo
Contemporary Romance
 
This is a super cute opposites attract, fake relationship story. The characters have great chemistry and really bring out the best in each other. Lots of fun.

By Your Side by Kasie West
YA Contemporary Romance
 
This is such a fun young adult novel. I don't read a lot of these anymore, but I can never resist Ms. West's books. This had a super fun story with likable characters and a unique plot. Enjoyable for adults and YAs.

The Rise of Miss Notley by Rachael Anderson
Regency Historical
 
Sigh, I love a good regency romance. This one takes place at a charming country manor, with likable characters and a really fun plot. Great chemistry and a fun step back in time. Great read.
 
 
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And don't for get to check Kathy Jo's post here and Katie's post here!
 
Do you have a blog and want to join us for Swoon Worthy Spotlights? Then grab the picture and post with us! We will be posting on the last day of each month. Make sure you share your link with us so we can check out your favorite authors as well! If you don't have a blog, just leave a comment below. I'd love to hear which books we're your favorite for the month!

 

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a fun weekly meme, simply grab the book you're currently reading and open to a random page. Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page. Try and avoid spoilers. Share the Title, Author and page number. Leave your teaser/link in the comments section below.

My Teaser:

 
"Garret gave Larissa a curt nod, acknowledging her greeting, then dragged his gaze away from the woman who had once been the focus of his entire life and turned back to her uncle."

Homecoming Reunion by Carolyne Aarsen
Loc 113
Contemporary Romance, 2012

Friday, February 24, 2017

First Line Friday


Welcome to First Line Friday! This fun meme is easy to do, simply pick up the book you're currently reading and share the very first line! There are some really good first lines out there, they grab you and suck you right into the story. Make you want to keep reading. So, my selection for this week is:

The Thirteenth Chance by Amy Matayo
Contemporary Romance
 
Baseball star Will Vandergriff knows any number of women who would happily pretend to be his girlfriend. In a last-ditch effort to restore his good standing with his team’s higher-ups, he enlists the help of his neurotic, goody-goody neighbor. Schoolteacher Olivia Pratt might be a bit quirky and a bit of a loner, but she’s a lot more inviting than she knows. Will hopes that bringing her to his next game might revamp his reckless reputation and help get his career back on track. The only problem? The plan works a little too well. Not only do the higher-ups love Olivia, but Will plays his best game yet. Suddenly his losing streak is a thing of the past, and Olivia is his new good-luck charm. Will feels anything but lucky.
First Line:
 
"I am a fourth-grade teacher, but on days like today I'm not entirely sure why."

 

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

The Promise of Rayne by Nicole Deese

The Promise of RayneThe Promise of Rayne by Nicole Deese
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I always enjoy Ms. Deese's contemporary romances. They're always filled with complex characters, intriguing plots and swoony romance. I'm also a fan of the whole "forbidden love" troupe and thought it was handled really well here. There is quite the mystery surrounding these two families that have sworn to never have anything to do with each other. When desperate times call for desperate measures, Rayne finds herself turning to her enemy, Levi Harding for help. The one-time deal turns into something more and the two can't seem to stay away from each other. I liked Rayne and Levi, both are interesting characters and both are extremely loyal to their families.

I thought this was well written, kept me wanting to figure out what their feud was all about. I wish Rayne could have stood up for herself more, but I thought she was believable. Overall, this was an enjoyable read with a fun setting. I have a feeling we'll be returning to this small town in Idaho, at least I hope we get Gia's story.

If you enjoyed this one and are looking for something similar, give House Divided a try.

Content
Romance: Clean
Language: None
Violence: None
Religious: Mild, non-preachy

Source: Netgalley

View all my reviews

Can't Wait Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, which spotlights books we're looking forward to reading. Typically its books that have yet to be released, but can be any book you've been wanting to read.
 
High Fantasy is one of my very favorite genres, I love it! I was excited to hear that Sara Larson has a new fantasy series coming out, and it sounds like it's going to be great. I enjoyed her Defy series and I'm sure I'll enjoy this new series as well.

Dark Breaks the Dawn by Sara B Larson
Unititled Duology, Book One
YA High Fantasy
Release Date: May 30, 2017
 
On her eighteenth birthday, Princess Evelayn of Eadrolan, the Light Kingdom, can finally access the full range of her magical powers. The light looks brighter, the air is sharper, and the energy she can draw when fighting feels almost limitless. But while her mother, the queen, remains busy at the war front, in the Dark Kingdom of Dorjhalon, the corrupt king is plotting. King Bain wants control of both kingdoms, and his plan will fling Evelayn onto the throne much sooner than she expected. In order to defeat Bain and his sons, Evelayn will quickly have to come into her ability to shapeshift, and rely on the alluring Lord Tanvir. But not everyone is what they seem, and the balance between the Light and Dark comes at a steep price.

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a fun weekly meme, simply grab the book you're currently reading and open to a random page. Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page. Try and avoid spoilers. Share the Title, Author and page number. Leave your teaser/link in the comments section below.


My Teaser:


 "I feel as though I am in the middle of a delicious novel and someone is snatching it away."

The Rise of Miss Notley by Rachael Anderson
Loc 2641
Regency Romance
Tanglewood, Book Two

Monday, February 20, 2017

The Thirteenth Chance by Amy Matayo

The Thirteenth ChanceThe Thirteenth Chance by Amy Matayo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5

This was a super cute opposites attract story!

Olivia Pratt is OCD and proud of it. She likes things to be organize, clean and in her control. She loves her job as an elementary school teacher and of course her dear cat Perry. Will Vandergriff gets to play baseball for a living and if wasn't for his current loosing streak life would be just about perfect. Olivia was a fun character, it was nice to see her loosen up a little as the story progresses. She definitely has a certain way of doing things. Will is more easy going and relaxed. They butt-heads, but Olivia is able to hold her own with the baseball heartthrob.

I'm a sucker for the whole "fake relationship" storyline, of course there is a mutual attraction from the get-go and it's fun to see their relationship develop into something deeper. I especially liked seeing Will totally fall head over heels for Olivia. They have some fun banter and great chemistry and some funny moments. Things are all smooth sailing though and it's fun seeing them figure things out, you can't help rooting for them to find a way to make their fake relationship into something very real.

Overall, a fun contemporary romance, and one I'd quickly recommend to any romance fan! If you enjoyed this one and are looking for something similar, try The Catching Kind.

Content
Romance: Clean, kissing and pretty mild innuendo
Language: None-mild (can't remember any)
Violence: None

Source: Netgalley and Amazon Kindle

View all my reviews

Friday, February 17, 2017

The Rise of Miss Notley by Rachael Anderson

The Rise of Miss Notley (Tanglewood, #2)The Rise of Miss Notley by Rachael Anderson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved it!

While I love regencies that take place during the busy London season, I also adore the ones that take place away in the country. Gives us a whole new perspective of the time period and what their lives were like during that time. I also feel like the people become a bit more real, not so controlled by the rules of society and the upper ton.

Miss Coralynn Notley’s family has gained their riches through trade, something very much frowned upon by society. Her parents are eager to join the upper ton and have arranged a marriage between Cora and the first titled gentleman they could find. Always being strong and not allowing her parents to push her around, Cora flees her home and seeks her own path. Never feeling quite like she belongs and not knowing where else to turn, Cora seeks a position as a housekeeper at Tanglewood Manor.

I really loved Cora's character. Ms. Anderson has a way of not only writing characters I like, but characters that actually make me want to be a better person. That's what Cora was like for me, I loved her outlook on life and forgiveness. She's very kind and hardworking, but also fun and brings out the best in those around her. Mr. Jonathan Ludlow was also a very likable hero, a bit gruff at times, but has a very kind heart. Cora intrigues him from the start and he feels himself constantly drawn to her, despite her constantly messing up as his housekeeper. They have great chemistry and I kept wondering how they'd ever find a way to be together.

Filled with likable characters, an assortment of endearing supporting characters and a quaint country setting. The writing was well done, I was quickly drawn into the story and transported back in time to a charming regency world. It stands well on its own, but it was fun seeing Lord and Lady Drayson make an appearance and meeting Lady Harriet has me eagerly awaiting her book, which comes out this fall!

I'd definitely recommend to any regency fans, or just anyone who enjoys a sweet romance.

Content
Romance: Clean, swoony kisses
Language: None
Violence: None
Series: Tanglewood, Book Two - stands on its own

Source: Review copy (review 100% my own)


View all my reviews

First Line Friday


Welcome to First Line Friday! This fun meme is easy to do, simply pick up the book you're currently reading and share the very first line! There are some really good first lines out there, they grab you and suck you right into the story. Make you want to keep reading. So, my selection for this week is:
 
Falling for Maria by Heather B Moore
Contemporary Romance
Release Date: February 7, 2017
 
 
"Maria smoothed the striped skirt over her hips, wondering if the pattern was too bold for the employee meeting that morning."
 
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So, what's your pick for this week? If you want to participate grab the logo and post your own First Line Friday entry on your blog and then leave your link in the comments below. If you don't have a blog, just leave the title, author and first line in the comment section below. Happy Reading!


Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Breaking the Spine, which spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. My choice for this week is:

Hit and Run by Jennifer Peel
Magnolias and Moonshine Series
Contemporary Romance
Release Date: April 30, 2017
 
Synopsis: When it comes to life, Kallie Clemmons is on top of her game. A no-nonsense lawyer, with beauty and a kind heart to match. But when it comes to love, she runs the other way. That is until she runs, literally, into her old college boyfriend, Officer Harrison Monroe. This time around, Harrison isn’t going to let her do another hit and run. He’s determined to find out why she left him five years ago, without even a goodbye, and if at all possible, convince her to give up her running shoes.

What Harrison doesn’t know is that the key to their future hinges on her past and the secret she’s kept from him.

Will Harrison be able to unlock her secret and help her overcome her fears? Or will he have Kallie running scared?
 
 

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Valentine's Reads: Favorite Couples


Happy Valentine's Day!

I have always loved Valentine's Day, even the many times I was single, I still think its a great holiday. I like the idea of having a day where you let the people you love know how much they mean to you. Since the holiday really revolves around couples, I thought I'd write up a quick post with a few of my favorite book couples. As you may already have noticed, I love reading romance. I love seeing people fall in love, but there are always a few couples that stand out from the rest. So here are a few of my favorite book couples, chosen at random from my Favorite Couples Shelf on Goodreads.

 Weathered Too Young by Marcia McClure
Lark Lawrence and Slater Evans
 
These two have great chemistry! He's lived a rough life, but has a fun side underneath all his gruff. Lark is a sweetheart, always taking care of those around her. Her kindness and charm quickly endear her to Slater and he just can't help keeping her for himself.
 
Working it Out by Rachael Anderson
Grace Warren and Seth Tuttle
 
I love when our lead characters really help each other grow and bring out the best in each other. Grace and Seth have great chemistry and some fun moments together. You can't help rooting for them to end up together.
 
The Guise of a Gentleman by Donna Hatch
Elise Berkley and Jared Amesbury
 
Jared and Elise are total opposites, he's a swashbuckling pirate and she's a prim and proper English lady. There's more than what's meets the eye with these two though, and they simply can't resist each other. I loved these two! They may be opposites, but definitely work well together.

The Rejected Suitor by Teresa McCarthy
Emily Clearbrook and Jared Ashton
 
Lost love stories always add a delicious level of tension that I just can't get enough of. Emily can hold her own with alpha-male Jared. They have great chemistry and a lot of obstacles to overcome to get to their happily ever after. 

Pimpernel by Sheralyn Pratt
Claire Ramsey and Jack Cavanaugh
 
Oh boy! This is a fun adventure and Jack is quite charming! I thought they had fun chemistry and I liked that Jack just can't live without his Claire. I'm hoping that there will be more books in this series, because I want to see these characters again!
 
The Unflappable Miss Fairchild by Regina Scott
Anne Fairchild and Chas Prestwick
 
Okay, if you like a funny and lighthearted heroine giving a charming rake a run for his money, then read this book!  I really liked how there seemed to be a genuine friendship between Chas and Anne that naturally grew to love. This also happens to be one of my favorite regencies!
 
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It was really hard to narrow it down to just these few and in making this list it just reminded me of how much I love to read. I love meeting new characters, the trials they have to go through and the romance (of course). Reading really is the best pastime.
 
Hope you all have a very Happy Valentine's Day!


Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by A Daily Rhythm. It is open to anyone and is a fun way to get a taste of different books. The rules are simple and everyone is welcome to participate.

1. Grab your current read.
2. Open to a random page.
3. Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.
4. Be careful NOT to include spoilers (you don’t want to ruin the book for others.)
5. Share the title & author 6. After completing your post, return to A Daily Rhythm and add a link in their “comment” section.

My Teaser:

"I could feel my cheeks flush as the memory came rushing back. Enzo Ranalli. The gorgeous, tall, funny, ridiculously sexy man who'd dropped into my life like a hydrogen bomb. The man who had sat at my counter, who flirted with me and joked with me. The man who disappeared without a word along with my favorite hairbrush."
 
Royal Design by Sariah Wilson
Loc 54
Contemporary Romance
Royals of Monterra Novella

Monday, February 13, 2017

Rachel Laine by Jennifer Peel

Rachel Laine (The Women of Merryton #3)Rachel Laine by Jennifer Peel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Yay!

This was a fun read. I really enjoyed it, kept me up way too late reading. Which is always a good thing.

This definitely has a complicated plot. Rachel Laine adopted her twin sisters son after she died in childbirth, raising him as her own. For the past eight years Rachel Laine has done everything for her son, they are extremely close. Her world is turned upside down when Drew's father, the famous baseball star Andrew Turner, suddenly shows up. Andrew is wanting to kick off his political career and plans on running for office, before he does he is looking to tie-up any loose ends and wants to find out if Drew is really his son. His main goal is to get elected and didn't plan on falling so hard or so fast for the beautiful Rachel Laine and his adorable son Drew.

I love how Ms. Peel always has unique plots and interesting problems her characters have to work through. Definitely keeps you invested and wanting to know how things are going to turn out. This is probably one of my favorites of her books. I really enjoyed Rachel Laine, Andrew and Drew. I enjoyed their story and thought their relationship was believable and their problems very realistic. Rachel isn't awed by Andrew's celebrity and isn't afraid to put him in his place. I wanted to shake some sense into Andrew quite a few times, but his mistakes seemed realistic and true to character. I thought it was well written and the characters were well developed.

This is part of a series, but stands well on its own. You don't have to read them in order, which is always nice (my favorite kind of series are like this, where they're set in the same town with overlapping characters, but stand on their own.) Overall, this was a fun read. Lots of chemistry and romance, I loved the small-town charm and supporting characters. This is one I would read again!

Content:
Romance: Clean, some kissing. Some talk of Sydney (Drew's birth mom) sleeping around, etc
Language: None (might have been one curse word??)
Violence: None
Religious: None

Source: Kindle Unlimited

View all my reviews

Sunday, February 12, 2017

Author's Corner


Welcome to our newest Book Blog Meme hosted by Bookworm NationKatie's Clean Book Collection and KJ's Book Nook! Once a month Author's Corner will feature either a favorite author or new to us author. We will share the author's bio, one of our favorite books of theirs and a review. Each of us will be featuring a different author each month so there will also be links to each of our posts.

We love finding and sharing amazing authors with others, we thought this would be the perfect way to share the love not only with other bookworms but with the authors that we absolutely adore! So... without further adieu... Author's Corner!


For my first Author's Corner I am going to choose...

 
 
 
"Donna Hatch is the award-winning author of the best-selling “Rogue Hearts Series” and is published in sweet Regency romance and fantasy. Her professional memberships include Romance Writers of America (RWA)and American Night Writers Association (ANWA). A sought-after workshop presenter, she juggles freelance editing, multiple volunteer positions, not to mention her six children (seven, counting her husband), and still manages to make time to write. A native of Arizona who recently relocated to the Pacific Northwest, she and her husband of over twenty years are living proof that there really is a happily ever after."

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I started to read Regencies a little over ten years ago, and quickly became a fan. I was browsing on Amazon one day when one of Donna's books was recommended to me, The Guise of a Gentleman. The synopsis really caught my eye and I thought I'd give it a try. I loved this book! It was so much fun, I didn't realize at the time that it was the second book in a series and was excited to go back and read the first book, The Stranger She Married. Not only was I happy to find a new series to get into, I was so so excited to find an author who wrote clean regencies (which is hard to find). Donna quickly became a favorite author of mine, I love all her books and short stories. I've them all a few times. I'm looking forward to her new release coming in April, The Matchmaking Game. If you haven't read Donna's books before, I highly recommend them!

 
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And don't for get to check out Kathy Jo's post here and Katie's post here!


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Do you have a blog and want to join us for Author's Corner? Then grab the picture and post with us! We will be posting the 2nd Saturday of each month. Make sure you share your link with us so we can check out your favorite authors as well! 

Happy reading my fellow bookworms!
 

Friday, February 10, 2017

First Line Friday


Welcome to First Line Friday! This fun meme is easy to do, simply pick up the book you're currently reading and share the very first line! There are some really good first lines out there, they grab you and suck you right into the story. Make you want to keep reading. So, my selection for this week is:
 
A Cowboy to Keep by Karen Rock
Contemporary Mystery Romance
Release Date: February 7, 2017
 
First Line:
 
"Let go of me, freak."
 
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So, what's your pick for this week? If you want to participate grab the logo and post your own First Line Friday entry on your blog and then leave your link in the comments below. If you don't have a blog, just leave the title, author and first line in the comment section below. Happy Reading!

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Breaking the Spine, which spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. My choice for this week is:

Begin Again by Crystal Walton
Contemporary Romance
Home In You, Book Two
Release Date: February 8, 2017
 
Synopsis:
What happens when a free-spirited artist from big-city New York collides with an uptight business owner from small-town Ocracoke? Fireworks. The kind neither saw coming.

A single call is all it takes to drive artist Ti Russo into what she does best. Run. But hey, lying low in a beach town for a while isn’t so bad. Thanks to the distraction of playing consultant to a guy she’s determined to crack, she can almost forget about the past stalking her back home. But she never counted on the real danger being a picket-fenced life she has no business falling for.

Focus and self-preservation have gotten single dad Drew Anderson through the last nine years. With the threat of his shop’s foreclosure jeopardizing his daughter’s health care, the last thing he needs is a distracting hippie chick swooping in to shake up what he’s fought to protect. Including himself. The bank’s deadline adds enough pressure without re-risking feelings better left buried.

But as sparks flare and secrets escalate, the race against time propels Ti and Drew into a choice neither’s ready to make: Find the faith to surrender their past or forfeit their only chance to begin again.


Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by A Daily Rhythm. It is open to anyone and is a fun way to get a taste of different books. The rules are simple and everyone is welcome to participate.

1. Grab your current read.
2. Open to a random page.
3. Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.
4. Be careful NOT to include spoilers (you don’t want to ruin the book for others.)
5. Share the title & author 6. After completing your post, return to A Daily Rhythm and add a link in their “comment” section.

My Teaser:


"Oh, but the cherry on top was when she turned to see Cody. Laughter bubbled up before she could check herself. Oh, my. That had worked even better than she'd hoped."

When Fireflies Sing by Christene Houston
Loc 643
Contemporary Romance

Sunday, February 5, 2017

Blog Tour: A Cowboy to Keep by Karen Rock

On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

A Cowboy to Keep
by Karen Rock
Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 384 pages
February 7th 2017 by Harlequin

Can't stop running from the past

Dani Crawford has a secret…and if bounty hunter Jackson Cade finds out, he could ruin everything. The scarred yet handsome cowboy has tracked a dangerous criminal to the dude ranch Dani manages, and to get rid of Jack she'll have to help him catch his man. But the closer they get to cornering their quarry the more Dani wants Jack to stay. Spending time with him is making her long for things she can never have thanks to a past mistake. And if the truth comes out she may be spending her future behind bars rather than safe in her cowboy's arms…




My Review
I really enjoyed this one. I thought the plot and setting were a lot of fun. I also really enjoyed the characters of Dani and Jack. Both have troubling pasts that they're trying to get over and neither are looking for romance. They have great chemistry together, I enjoyed their playful teasing. I also loved how Dani was able to see past Jack's gruffness to the good mad underneath. I really enjoy contemporary westerns and this had an added mystery that kept things interesting. Overall, I thought this was a fun contemporary romance. I hear it's the start of a new series and I can't wait to read more!


About the Author


In a quest to provide her ELA students with quality reading material, educator Karen Rock read everything out there and couldn't wait to add her voice to the genre. In addition to her work as a Young Adult romance novelist, she's now an author for Harlequin's Heartwarming line and thrilled to pen stories that moms can share with their teenage daughters. She's loved Harlequin books since she spent summers going through her grandmother's Presents books that she passed along in paper grocery bags each year. As half of the writing duo J.K. Rock, Karen also pens young adult romance. When she's not busy writing, Karen enjoys scouring estate sales for vintage books, cooking her grandmother's family recipes, reinventing her gardens to suit her moods and occasionally rescuing local wildlife from neighborhood cats. She lives in the Adirondack Mountain region with her husband, her very appreciated beta-reader daughter, and two Cavalier King cocker spaniels, who have yet to understand the concept of "fetch" though they know a lot about love. For more information about Karen's upcoming books, check out her website.

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Tour Giveaway


- 1 winner will win the above Prize Pack: 7 Paperbacks & a $50 Amazon Gift Card (US only)
- 1 winner will their choice of an ebook of one of Karen's backlisted titles (open internationally)
- Ends February 14th

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