About the Book:
All his life, twelve-year-old Ben Grishop has been practically nonexistent. Hardly anyone knows who he is, he’s not good at anything no matter how hard he tries, and he blends into all chairs and benches. But when he and his friends Joe and Dana are abducted by aliens one fateful summer night, they have the chance to become famous for saving the universe. That is, if they can survive a planet full of giant, man-eating, French-speaking crabs, a pair of tuxedoed, gibberish-spouting men with handlebar mustaches, and the mysterious “immensely powerful, evil force from The Realm Beyond.”
Jampacked with action, humor, and heart, How We Became Intergalactic Superheroes will have middle-schoolers and the young at heart alike hopping the closest spaceship to their own next cosmic adventure.
My Thoughts:
How We Became Intergalactic Superheroes is a quick, fun read for middle-schoolers that will keep them on their toes as they try to find out what happens next. Getting abducted by aliens is one thing, but having to interact with them and outsmart them is a whole different experience.
This is what happens to Ben, Joe, and Dana, three friends who are generally considered normal and boring, but who end up on an unexpected adventure. Though a little confusing at times, there are definitely moments of laughter in the story. Through this, readers will learn simple lessons of friendship, leadership, getting over one’s fears and even standing up for oneself.
I enjoyed reading this book and exploring the galaxies with Ben and his friends! I hope you all do too!
About the Book:
Renata is a determined woman: she’s left her abusive fiancé, Damien, moved back to her hometown, and is determined to be the writer she once was and that she’d promised her father she would be before he died. To accomplish this, she’s signed up for a writing conference out of town and gotten a new job at a local café with the friendly Fern, upbeat Caroline, and observant Chad, who welcome her into their friendship group.
Things become complicated, however, when Renata discovers that Chad returns her affection and they begin dating, even as she weaves in lies about her past. As their relationship develops, and she gets closer to finding the words that used to come so freely to her, Renata realizes she can’t continue to let Chad believe things that aren’t true, even if that means the end of their relationship. Despite her concerns, however, coming clean only creates a stronger bond between them.
But that bond will be tested when Damien returns unexpectedly, determined that Renata will leave Chad for him. Will Chad and Renata be able to weather the ways in which Damien’s appearance shakes the foundations of their life together? Or will echoes of Renata’s past irreparably damage their future?
My Thoughts:
I am grateful to NetGalley, Josha Publishing and author Katherine Turner for approving my request to read the eARC of this book.
Trigger warnings: physical and sexual violence in a domestic setting.
This is a story of survival, learning to love yourself and standing up for yourself. Renata has finally moved out of an abusive relationship and is determined to start over in the town where she grew up and has fond memories with her father. On her own, she is focused on trying to get back into the career she loved while finding a job to support herself. The people she meets along the way add to her journey of healing and provide an understanding and loving circle.
I fell in love with the characters, one by one, as they were introduced. This story is very character centric and the connections between the characters and their bonds drive this story forward. The story will take the reader on an emotional journey as we unravel everything Renata has dealt with, how the past is affecting her present, how she sees herself and how she works towards healing herself. Everything Renata has been through will resonate with the reader, but I believe that her journey after shows her strength and determination, proving that she is not a victim but a survivor.
This was indeed an emotional read for me, but I enjoyed every page and every moment spent with the characters. Caroline was a delight and I loved how she drew Renata out of her shell, supporting her but being quite candid in her opinions and advice. The best part of this story is the bond among the characters and the found family that Renata gains as a result. This is the best support she has and it helps to build her back up. Her second chance at love also adds to the story and is pivotal to helping her find herself. Chad is a wonderful character and indeed someone we would love to read about.
The style of writing ensures that the reader is hooked and invested in Renata’s journey. There is also a lot to learn from this journey and some messages for the reader that are delivered in a simple manner through the character interactions and journey. Overall I really enjoyed reading this book and the way in which it was written and strongly recommend it to all who enjoy a good romance read!
About the Book:
Kitty Underhay is dancing… with death.
Winter 1934. Kitty Underhay is enjoying a night off from wedding planning as she attends a charity ball at the home of Lady Eliza Foxley. She’s excited to see her father, roguish Edgar Underhay, who is also a guest in the house. But the evening of cocktails and waltzing turns into a dance macabre when Edgar finds their lively, fun-loving hostess dead, strangled by her own silk stocking.
Who has made this uncharitable donation to the evening’s entertainments? When suspicion falls on Edgar and he is arrested for murder, Kitty has to act fast if she doesn’t want her father walking her down the aisle in shackles. Together with her fiancé Matthew, they vow to clear Edgar’s name and discover who used hosiery to commit homicide.
Lady Eliza’s widowed sister is the main beneficiary of her will, but before Kitty and Matt can question her, she is struck down by a severe case of poisoning. Time is running out for Kitty to solve this case and make it to the church on time. But with a devious killer on the loose, will she end up leaving as a newlywed, or newly dead…?
My Thoughts:
I have previously read a few of the books in the series and have quite enjoyed them. I love the setting of the book and Kitty Underhay is an inspired character. I am grateful to Bookouture, NetGalley and the author for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
In this new book, Kitty Underhay is on the verge of getting married, in the midst of wedding planning and is thrown into a mystery once again. What was supposed to be a pleasant evening, filled with fun and time spent with her father ends in the most unexpected way. This story is fun to read as Kitty and her fiancé Matt work together to find the murderer and save her father upon whom suspicion has fallen.
I like the author’s style of writing and how she has shaped the characters involved in this book and series. Most of the books in the series can be read as standalone mysteries and enjoyed all the same. Kitty is a strong-willed woman who has a mind of her own and opinions on just about everything. However, the wonderful thing about her is that she knows just when to show it and when to stay silent and demure. Her relationship with Matt has developed over the series and I quite enjoyed reading about them and seeing how they have grown in this book.
The mystery is intriguing and with so many different characters in the mix, it proves to be an adventure for the reader as we follow the characters and the investigation. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading about more of Kitty’s adventures and investigations. This book and series is for those who enjoy cozy mysteries, historical fiction with a splash of romance.
Check out my recommendations of books that I read and loved this year which were published or are about to be published this year!
Hello dear bookish friends and welcome to the WEEKEND!! It’s Saturday. Time to take things down a gear and look forward to spending some quality time in a good book. What’s that you say? You don’t have a good book on the go at the moment? Well, you’ve come to the right place as it’s day 19 of #R3COMM3ND3D2022 and we’ve got lots of brilliant books just for you!
Joining me to talk about all things #R3COMM3ND3D2022 today is a fabulous blogger who I absolutely insist you follow if you don’t already, it’s the brilliant Namrata Ganti of redpillows blog. Namrata’s blog is a must read for all book lovers so make sure you check it out!
So, what is #R3COMM3ND3D2022? It’s about sharing the book love. It’s a chance for authors, book bloggers, reviewers and bookstagrammers to shout about three (yes, *only* three) books they love. They can…
View original post 613 more words
About the Book:
A not-so-fairy-tale romance!
They say opposites attract, but when Yuvarajkumari Jayshree Singh, Princess of Devgarh, and Dr Aryan Sharma meet, it’s more like opposites combust.
He thinks she is a bratty and entitled princess, while she thinks he is an uptight pain-in-the-ass, who needs to have the stick surgically removed from his rather delectable posterior.
When Aryan’s sister gets engaged to Jessie’s brother, they are forced to declare a reluctant ceasefire.
But the hostilities don’t cease. Instead, they erupt in an unexpected and unlikely gush of desire and longing.
With their families set to merge, Aryan and Jessie need to decide if his prejudice and her pride can be set aside long enough for the love they feel to blossom. Or will they spend eternity wondering if they’d missed their chance at happiness?
My Thoughts:
Princess and Prejudice by author Alicia Kay is the second book in the series. I haven’t read the first one but that did not affect the flow of this book. This can indeed be read as a standalone and enough of the back story for the characters is present for the reader to catch on to the plot.
The story focuses on Princess Jayshree better known as Jessie and Dr. Aryan. They have known each other for a long time and Jessie is best friends with Aryan’s sister. This is a typical love story where the characters try to run from each other, fight a lot and take time to accept that they have feelings for the other. Written in the style of the original pride and prejudice, the story reminds me of the romance between Elizabeth and Darcy.
Jessie is a strong character and though a princess, she is quite grounded. I liked how she handled things and even made an effort to be independent. She navigates a world of entitlement and power in a very simple manner. I think the author has handled her interactions with all the other characters in the story very well and brought out the essence of each character.
This is a quick read and I loved how the story developed. Even though it is a cliché, I enjoyed every moment including the rapport and banter between the characters. The story flows well and is quite well written. I enjoyed the story and am sure fans of romance will love this story as much as I did. This is indeed a fairytale romance that will appeal to all fans of the genre and of the Jane Austen classic Pride and Prejudice.
Genre: Romantic Suspense, Paranormal Romance, Mystery
Publisher: eXtasy Books
Publication Date: 2021-09-03
Book Blurb:
It was the Great Lie, and it could destroy the Vampire Nation.
In First, We Kill All the Lawyers, vampire lawyer Donovan Trait survived repeated attacks by a serial killer. Now, after violating a marital agreement with the Vampire Coalition, and several ancient Vampire Laws, Donovan, and his newly-turned vampire bride are on the run. You see, in exchange for permitting a pure-blood vampire to marry a turned human, the Traits agreed to allow vampire scientists to monitor the conception and birth of their children. When Judge Shirley Magnusen Trait turns up accidentally pregnant on her wedding day, the fury of the Coalition is unleashed. The tribunal recommends unacceptable punitive action and the Traits are forced to flee to a mysterious island of vampire nuns. The Traits are, by profession, seekers of the truth. But this time, the truth may not set them free. In fact, it could start a revolution. Will the Traits escape the clutches of the Coalition and keep their babies safe? Or will their family be…eliminated?
Book Links:
Goodreads * eXtasy Books
A Quick Interview with Seelie Kay
Why do you write romance?
Because I am fascinated by the games people play to find and secure a lasting relationship, which is not always love. There’s the chase, the courtship, the falling, the surrender. That’s what I try to capture in my stories.
Do you prefer a certain type of romantic hero?
I adore smart, dashing gentlemen who aren’t afraid to live on the edge. They can be a bad boy, a billionaire, a prince, or a secret agent. That hint of danger just hooks me! However, I they have to be paired with strong, independent women who aren’t afraid to fight for what they want, even love.
Why did you write “Ye Gods! The Law is an Ass?”
Donovan Trait is a vampire lawyer. In the human world, a very respected lawyer. I wanted to give him the opportunity to shine in the vampire world. So I created a scenario where his turned vampire bride Shirley is unfairly punished for an unintentionally violating their marital agreement, as well as other outdated, outrageous, and outright discriminatory laws—she unintentionally To survive and protect their unborn child, they must not only fight back, but also rebel. In this instance, human history provides them with the path. That gave me the opportunity to draw parallels between the fight for human rights and the rights of vampires who aren’t purebloods. It also allowed me to poke at the continued need of both societies to embrace social change. Perhaps surprisingly, the vampires lag far behind the humans in terms of equality and individual freedoms. However, in the end, the message is clear: Whether human or vampire, an individual is entitled to certain rights and liberties. And no human or vampire has a right to deny them.
About Seelie Kay:
Award-winning author Seelie Kay writes about lawyers in love, sometimes with a dash of kink.
Writing under a nom de plume, the former lawyer and journalist draws her stories from more than 30 years in the legal world. Seelie’s wicked pen has resulted in nineteen works of fiction, including the new paranormal romance series Donovan Trait, as well the erotic romance Kinky Briefs series and The Feisty Lawyers romantic suspense series. She also authored The Last Christmas, The Garage Dweller, A Touchdown to Remember, The President’s Wife, The President’s Daughter, Seizing Hope, The White House Wedding, and participated in the romance anthology Pieces of Us.
When not spinning romantic tales, Seelie ghostwrites nonfiction for lawyers and other professionals. Currently, she resides in a bucolic exurb outside Milwaukee, WI, where she enjoys opera, the Green Bay Packers, gourmet cooking, organic gardening, and an occasional bottle of red wine.
Seelie is an MS warrior and ruthlessly battles the disease on a daily basis. Her message to those diagnosed with MS: Never give up. You define MS, it does not define you!
Seelie on the Web:
Website * Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Instagram * Author’s Amazon Page
About the Book:
I’m not supposed to be sacrificed to the wolves, that fate belongs to my sister.
As the eldest daughter, she’ll join our village’s claimed girls when she turns eighteen. Together, they will go to the wolf shifter city, never to return.
But a terrible tragedy strikes our family, requiring me to go in her stead.
I never trained for what comes next—a glittering world of beautiful people and pretty dresses, a wolf pack entirely made of men, and a dark underbelly sustaining it all.
In the Carolina pack, breaking the rules equals death and competition rules it all.
Twenty girls.
Five men.
The winners get husbands. The losers go to the mating houses. And as for me? I fall for the wrong man.
I’m soon faced with an impossible choice: fight for survival or fight for love.
Introducing Night of the Wolf Moon, by USA Today bestselling author Nina Walker and International bestseller Kimberly Loth. The New World Shifters series is perfect for fans of shifters, rejected mates, and dark paranormal romance. One click today!
My Thoughts:
First off I have to reiterate that I am a huge fan of Nina Walker’s books. I have also been closely following her recent posts and information regarding her upcoming books. So, it was natural that when she posted about this book written in collaboration with author Kimberly Loth, I jumped at the chance to join the ARC team.
This is the first book in a series in the fantasy fiction genre focusing on shifters, mates and all things paranormal. This book also falls into the romance genre which is perfect for those looking for these combinations. The story follows Poppy as she joins the claimed in place of her murdered sister. As she struggles to fit in and not get into trouble with the shifters, she catches the eye of the Alpha. There is something special about Poppy and I love how she does not hesitate to stand up for herself (whenever she can!). She also starts to make friends and enemies among the others while also showing a protective streak in herself.
The authors are quite brutal in their depictions of the shifters, their mannerisms and who they are. Nothing is sugarcoated, but somehow this just adds to the allure of the book. The characters are an interesting mix and they add to the mystery surrounding most of the story. The authors take us on an emotional roller-coaster ride, dragging us to hell and back along with Poppy and the other girls. We fall in love with the characters, we learn to hate some of them and we even want to kill some (trust me, the authors have done a great job with the descriptions!). The setting is also well described and the concept of this story is quite different from those in the same genre that I have read!
Overall, I love this book and story and cannot wait to read the next book.
About the Book:
One last twin swap. What could go wrong?
Twenty-six-year-old Dani’s identical twin sister calls her out of the blue with a colossal problem. Sophie needs to jet off to Mexico to save her friend from a botched tummy tuck but her boss won’t let her take any PTO. Dani, eager to repair their strained relationship, leaves her glamorous LA life behind as a top social media influencer to save the day. Dani’s dang good at pretending to be her sister, but good enough to teach high school kids in rural Oklahoma?
When Sophie gets stuck in Mexico for an entire month, Dani not only has to teach Economics and Life Skills, but she has to direct the school musical. And that boss Sophie hates so much? Yeah, it turns out Principal Beck is entirely too good-looking and single for Dani to ignore.
Rushed high school musicals, fiery school board politics, and cozying up to Sophie’s boss, definitely weren’t on her sister’s pre-approved syllabus, but Dani never was one for sticking to the plan.
From USA Today Bestseller of YA Fantasy Nina Walker and YA Contemporary Romance Bestseller M.F. Lorson, comes a brand new Romantic Comedy pen name––Grace Costello. This dynamic duo combines laugh-out-loud comedy with emotional feel-good romance that will keep you flying through the pages.
My Thoughts:
This book is written together by Nina Walker and M.F. Lorson. This is a feel good romance that can be read in one sitting and enjoyed thoroughly.
Think of the movie The Parent Trap, and then dive into this story. What sets this story apart are it’s twists. Twins Dani and Sophie have drifted apart but when Sophie asks for one last twin swap, Dani thinks of this as a way to mend bridges. Sophie is a teacher in a high school while Dani is a social media influencer. As Dani steps into her sister’s shoes, she finds herself out of depth and taking decisions that might cause problems for Sophie later on. Honestly, what can go wrong when you suddenly take over another person’s life (without knowing the current situation) and start to work on it. This is a recipe for disaster that may be good or bad in the end (I hope! I cannot reveal this)
As the story develops, there is a budding romance, sibling rivalry and bonds to be mended, and finally, kids to be taught. There are misunderstandings, a musical, teenagers and finally sisters who really need to talk to one another. This last part is the most important and acts as the guiding force in changing Dani’s direction in life. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and even found some parts of it to be quite funny. This is a light and pleasant read that will ensure that the readers have a great time connecting with these delightful characters and learning a lesson or two along the way! This is indeed a must read!
About the Book:
Lady Annabelle Trask is missing. Unfortunately, MISix doesn’t know if they’re looking for a woman, a cow, or something in between!
Is it real or is it fantasy? That’s the question MISix Agent Mathilda Honoria Spencer struggles with on her latest assignment. Tasked with discovering the whereabouts of Lady Annabelle Trask, Tillie is thrust into the world of Hucows and other human animals. It’s a world that raises serious questions about sexual fetishes, intentional physical enhancements, and even pornography, but in the end, Tillie has only one mission—to rescue and return Lady Annabelle to the Queen. However, as she and her partner, Agent Abdul Ali, attempt to find Lady Annabelle and keep her out of the clutches of terrorists bent on destroying the monarchy, they must also wrestle with their feelings for each other. Can they draw the line between their duty to the Crown and their relationship with one another? Or must they embark on separate paths to continue to serve the Queen?
Book Links:
Goodreads * XtasyBooks
Read an Excerpt from Bovine Tricks
Tillie’s face reddened. Suddenly, she felt quite queasy. She started to speak, but her superior held up his hand.
“There’s more. This is a human-animal auction. It is not limited to Hucows. There will be Hupigs, Huhorses, and maybe even, Husheep. Fortunately, you are to focus on the cows. That is where we believe Lady Annabelle will be found.”
Tillie gazed at him. “What if she isn’t there? What if she has changed…er, species?”
“I suggest you cross that bridge when you come to it.”
“And what am I to do if I find Lady Annabelle? How do I extract her?”
“You purchase her at the auction. You have been given sufficient funds to bid up to one million Euros.”
Tillie’s eyes grew wide. “Criminy. That much?”
Lord Ryder nodded. “These cows are well-trained and well-treated. The females are pampered—weekly manicures, hair treatments, and such. A happy cow is a happy milker, as they say.”
Tillie’s eyes widened. “Lady Annabelle could be there willingly? She is not necessarily a captive, forced be a Hucow?”
“Exactly. And that is our dilemma. While the Queen hopes that she is there willingly, several factors are at play. Lady Annabelle may have freely joined a farm to become a Hucow, or she may just have danced on the wild side and somehow wound up at auction. In the alternative, she may have been kidnapped and forced to become a Hucow, or she may have been forced and now enjoys the lifestyle. There are all sorts of reasons she could be there and all sorts of reasons she prefers to stay. Our only mission is to get her out.”
Tillie frowned. “Why would they put her up for auction? Isn’t that a way to get rid of unproductive or uncooperative cows?”
“Not necessarily. Some farms simply raise and train Hucows, then sell them. Given their going rate, it is a lucrative business. A great way to supplement the income from a regular farm. Human cows bring much more lucre than actual farm-raised cows.”
Tillie sighed. “For just one day, I would like to forget that there is a whole lot of people engaged in activities that far surpass my imagination.”
Lord Ryder’s mouth curved up into a wry smile. “Then we would be out of a job.”
Tillie tapped her jaw, considering. “You know, this might be a better job for the Yanks. They are a kinky bunch. I believe there was a recent study that found them to be the kinkiest country in the world.”
Lord Ryder snorted. “If you were the Queen, would you want that bunch of kinksters to know your relatives are participating in like behavior? Why their intelligence services would find a way to use it against us for decades.” He shook his head. “No. This we do alone.”
About Seelie Kay:
Award-winning author Seelie Kay writes about lawyers in love, sometimes with a dash of kink.
Writing under a nom de plume, the former lawyer and journalist draws her stories from more than 30 years in the legal world. Seelie’s wicked pen has resulted in nineteen works of fiction, including the new paranormal romance series Donovan Trait, as well the erotic romance Kinky Briefs series and The Feisty Lawyers romantic suspense series. She also authored The Last Christmas, The Garage Dweller, A Touchdown to Remember, The President’s Wife, The President’s Daughter, Seizing Hope, The White House Wedding, and participated in the romance anthology Pieces of Us.
When not spinning romantic tales, Seelie ghostwrites nonfiction for lawyers and other professionals. Currently, she resides in a bucolic exurb outside Milwaukee, WI, where she enjoys opera, the Green Bay Packers, gourmet cooking, organic gardening, and an occasional bottle of red wine.
Seelie is an MS warrior and ruthlessly battles the disease on a daily basis. Her message to those diagnosed with MS: Never give up. You define MS, it does not define you!
Seelie on the Web:
Website * Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Instagram * Author’s Amazon Page
This is a fun weekly meme hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words.
All you need to do is answer the following three questions:
What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?
Also, do follow the host and other bloggers who participate!
It is wonderful to know what everyone is reading and recommendations are always welcome!
——————————————————————————————————————
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?
There are too many books on the TBR. This is my usual statement, but I am planning to see where my mood takes me! I will pick my next reads based on that! 😀
——————————————————————————————————————
Do stop by to share your thoughts or posts!