What I've Been Reading (Playing Catchup Edition #2)

 

Before She Disappeared by Lisa Gardner 

Summary from Goodreads:

"From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Gardner, a propulsive thriller featuring an ordinary woman who will stop at nothing to find the missing people that the rest of the world has forgotten"

My Thoughts:

Gardner is one of my favorite mystery authors because I love her D.D. Warren series so much!  I started smack dab in the middle of that one and haven't looked back since.  So I jumped at the opportunity to read this one as soon as I heard about it.  Let me just say that this is an author who writes books that are not to be missed if you are a mystery reader!  From the very beginning, I found myself pulled into this new story with new characters.  Frankie Elkin is one of those characters that I couldn't help but root for despite all of her perceived flaws.  She is a recovering alcoholic who searches for women who have been gone missing for so long that no one is really looking for them any longer.  As the reader, you know that she has more of a darker history that hasn't yet been shared with us.  It just made her feel so darn real to me!  The book was one that I just flew through the pages of.  I couldn't put it down because I was so sucked into the story.  And honestly I just really loved this book.  I was so excited to hear after finishing this one that it is now going to be the first book in a new series.  I cannot wait to read more about Frankie and see what types of trouble she finds herself in next.

Overall, this is a book and author that you definitely to check out if you are a mystery reader!  I cannot recommend her D.D. Warren series enough - start with Find Her like I did and you will be in for a treat especially if you like darker mysteries.  Now, I can also highly recommend this book for those readers who want to start at the beginning of a series because this one is really just as good.  This book will easily be on my top reads list of the year and Gardner has become a must read author for me.  Highly recommended!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley.  I ended up reading a print copy from my local library.

Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert

Summary from Goodreads:

"Talia Hibbert returns with another charming romantic comedy about a young woman who agrees to fake date her friend after a video of him “rescuing” her from their office building goes viral..."

My Thoughts:

I was in the mood for a good romance when I picked this book up and had high expectations after loving the first book in this trilogy titled Get a Life, Chloe Brown.  Happily enough, this book far exceeded those high expectations.  I truly adored this book and both Zaf and Dani.  There was just something about the two of them that had me instantly both invested in their relationship and rooting for them as a couple.  Plus, this book was just funny - I found myself laughing out loud a couple of times at it.  It was just one of those delightful reads that I picked up at the perfect time and fit my reading mood perfectly.  There's nothing better than when this happens in my opinion!  There is a reason this trilogy is so popular and I won't be waiting too much longer before I pick up the final book in this series.  

Overall, I enjoyed my time with this book immensely.  It was just a fun read with a couple that I adored.  I turned the pages as fast as I could because I needed to see them get their happy ever after.  Talia Hibbert has become a go to romance author for me - I'll be working my way through her backlist and reading everything/anything that she writes.  Pick this book up (and you don't have to read the books in order) if you enjoy a steamy romance, are looking for relatable characters that will make you laugh, or just want a book that you can't put down.  Another book that I can highly recommend!

Bottom Line:  A romance that makes me smile just thinking about it!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley.  I also ended up reading a print copy courtesy of my local library.

Mini Reviews (Jill Shalvis, Ellison Cooper)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Brynn Turner desperately wishes she had it together, but her personal life is like a ping-pong match that’s left her scared and hurt after so many attempts to get it right. In search of a place to lick her wounds and get a fresh start, she heads back home to Wildstone.

And then there’s Kinsey Davis, who after battling serious health issues her entire twenty-nine years of life, is tired of hoping for . . . well, anything. She's fierce, tough, and pretty much the opposite of Brynn except for one thing: they're half-sisters. Kinsey is keeping this bombshell, and a few others as well. Long time frenemies from summer camp, there’s no way she’s going to tell Brynn they’re related.

But then Brynn runs into Kinsey's lifelong best friend, Eli, renewing a childhood crush. He’s still easy-going and funny and sexy as hell. When he gets her to agree to a summer-time deal to trust him to do right by her, no matter what, she never dreams it’ll result in finding a piece of herself she didn’t even know was missing. She could have a sister, love, and a future―if she can only learn to let go of the past.

As the long days of summer wind down, the three of them must discover if forgiveness is enough to grasp the unconditional love that’s right in front of them."

My Thoughts:

It kind of feels strange to be writing my thoughts on The Summer Deal when there is snow on the ground but that's what happens when you fall behind on reviews.  I started the year off reading and enjoying Almost Just Friends which is the 4th book in the Wildstone series by Jill Shalvis (this is book five).  I really enjoyed that one so was excited to pick this one up - and it was just as delightful as I had hoped.  This is one of those books where I just loved each and every one of the characters (even when they acted in ways that frustrated me).  They all just felt so real with their worries, imperfections, and hopes.  There is a lot going on in this book which made for a fast paced read.  I was constantly wondering when and how Brynn would find out that she had a half sister - and that it was Kinsey (not a spoiler - it's in the summary of the book).  I also adored Brynn's two moms.  The parts of this book where they were involved had me grinning the entire time.  I loved the romance and chemistry that was building between Brynn and Eli.  But what I really loved the most about this book was Kinsey and her not a relationship with Dek (it's been a few months so correct me if I'm misremembering his name).  I LOVED these two together so much, and all I wanted was for them to figure out their relationship and for Kinsey to finally let him into her life all of the way.  Ugh!  It was just so good and despite the fact that Brynn and Eli were both really great - these other two were the ones I was rooting for the most.  There were a lot of serious moments in this one so make sure you check out the content warnings.  My one and only complaint was the lack of communication at times between the characters kind of made me crazy at points.  That being said, I really enjoyed this one overall and cannot wait to read more of the books in this series.  I believe there is a new one coming out in January and I will be all over it!

Overall, this is a series and book that I couldn't help but enjoy.  It was the perfect change of pace between the mysteries and thrillers that I normally pick up.  There is just something about the way that Jill Shalvis writes characters that I cannot seem to get enough of.  I love watching the characters work through their issues and find love with one another.  It's delightful!  I would recommend this book to fans of romance (especially contemporary romance) and also those readers who enjoy women's fiction.  Recommended!

Bottom Line:  A delightful read with characters that I still haven't forgotten about months later!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley.  Honest thoughts are my own.

CW: Organ failure, illness, abusive relationships

Summary from Goodreads:

"After grieving the death of her fiancé and almost losing her job, Agent Sayer Altair is finally starting to rebuild her life. Her research into the minds of psychopaths is breaking new ground and her strange little family is thriving. But Sayer’s newfound happiness is threatened when she is called in to investigate a girl’s body left inside a circle of animal figurines below a cryptic message written in blood. When they discover that the dead girl is one of twenty-four missing high school students, Sayer quickly realizes that nothing in this case is what it seems.

As the investigation draws her in to a tangled web of fake identities and false leads, the trail soon begins to point directly to her own life. Now, Sayer must confront her painful past to uncover her connection to the deranged killer if she hopes to save the missing teens and protect everything that she loves."

My Thoughts:

This series is one of my absolute favorites!  It's also the 3rd book in the series so it is definitely going to be a bit difficult to talk about without sharing spoilers.  I had been looking forward to this book for months and it was completely worth the wait!  The things about all of the books in this series is that they are just so hard to put down!  The premise of this one had me hooked from the very beginning.  Twenty-four missing high school students that were supposed to be on a school trip - it was a suspenseful setup.  But what I didn't expect (but loved) was how much this book tied in elements from her two previous books.  I won't say any more because I don't want to spoil anything but WOW.  Does this author know how to pull the rug from under you or what?  And then the way this book ended....PLEASE tell me that we will be getting a 4th book in the new year because I NEED it!  Need it.  I flew through the pages of this book just as I have done with the previous two books.  My favorite of the series so far still remains as Caged but all three of these books were standout reads for me.  If you haven't checked this series out yet, then what are you waiting for?!?  It's SO good - you won't regret reading these.  I do suggest reading them in order because there are things that happen in each book that carry over into the other books.  

Overall, I cannot say enough good things about this series or really even this book!  We got a lot more than I expected with this one which I really enjoyed.  I'm itching to get my hands on book four - it's going to be a long wait for that one but I will be first in line to read it.  If you enjoy police procedurals (this is FBI so not quite the same) and darker mysteries, I definitely would say to give this series a try.  This author is on my must read list where I will read anything/everything that she writes.  Highly recommended!

Bottom Line:  Another really great addition to one of my very favorite mystery series!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and Netgalley. I ended up reading a copy courtesy of my local library.  Honest thoughts are my own.

CW: Violence, Harm to teenagers, kidnapping, child's death.

 

The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"There is a book for everything . . . 

Somewhere in the vast Library of the Universe, as Natalie thought of it, there was a book that embodied exactly the things she was worrying about.

In the wake of a shocking tragedy, Natalie Harper inherits her mother’s charming but financially strapped bookshop in San Francisco. She also becomes caretaker for her ailing grandfather Andrew, her only living relative—not counting her scoundrel father.

But the gruff, deeply kind Andrew has begun displaying signs of decline. Natalie thinks it’s best to move him to an assisted living facility to ensure the care he needs. To pay for it, she plans to close the bookstore and sell the derelict but valuable building on historic Perdita Street, which is in need of constant fixing. There’s only one problem–Grandpa Andrew owns the building and refuses to sell. Natalie adores her grandfather; she’ll do whatever it takes to make his final years happy. Besides, she loves the store and its books provide welcome solace for her overwhelming grief.

After she moves into the small studio apartment above the shop, Natalie carries out her grandfather’s request and hires contractor Peach Gallagher to do the necessary and ongoing repairs. His young daughter, Dorothy, also becomes a regular at the store, and she and Natalie begin reading together while Peach works.

To Natalie’s surprise, her sorrow begins to dissipate as her life becomes an unexpected journey of new connections, discoveries and revelations, from unearthing artifacts hidden in the bookshop’s walls, to discovering the truth about her family, her future, and her own heart."

My Thoughts:

The Lost and Found Bookshop is one of those books that is just meant for book lovers!  I mean, I can't be the only one who would love to inherit a bookshop (although I would definitely take a hard pass on how she inherits the bookshop - let's be honest).  This book deals very openly with grief and loss - and the struggles that come from it which I feel like needs to be said because it might hit too close to home for some readers.  The bookshop itself though just was such a bright spot for me and all I wanted was for Natalie to understand that as well.  I loved all of the characters in this book but especially her grandfather!  He was just so sweet and I just wanted everything to work out for the both of them.  I also really, really enjoyed the chemistry between Natalie and Peach.  The two of them just worked so well together which meant that I couldn't help but want them to find their happy ever after.  My one complaint with this book is that it took them so long to figure out their feelings/what they wanted.....I just wanted the opportunity to see their relationship develop a little more is the best way to put it.  That being said, I was totally behind their relationship because they were just perfect together!  And anyone could see that even if they didn't see it themselves until later on.  This book felt like just the perfect summer read!  It had its heavier moments as Natalie tried to navigate her grief over the unexpected loss of her mother.  But it also had just enough lightness to it that meant I was able to breeze through it!

Overall, I enjoyed this book and getting to know these characters!  This is my 2nd book by this author and she is definitely going to be one of my go to's authors for this type of book.  It felt like the perfect blend of romance and women's fiction all combined into one really good book.  I think that readers that enjoy books featuring bookshops, those who enjoy a slow building romance, and those who enjoy women's fiction will really enjoy this book!  I'm looking forward to diving more into this author's backlist after enjoying this one so much.  Recommended!

Bottom Line:  A really great summer read for book lovers!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley.  Honest thoughts are my own.

Almost Just Friends by Jill Shalvis (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Piper Manning’s about as tough as they come, she’s had to be. She raised her siblings and they’ve thankfully flown the coop. All she has to do is finish fixing up the lake house her grandparents left her, sell it, and then she’s free.

When a massive storm hits, she runs into a tall, dark and brooding stranger, Camden Reid. There’s a spark there, one that shocks her. Surprising her further, her sister and brother return, each of them holding their own secrets. The smart move would be for Piper to ignore them all but Cam unleashes emotions deep inside of her that she can’t deny, making her yearn for something she doesn’t understand. And her siblings…well, they need each other.

Only when the secrets come out, it changes everything Piper thinks she knows about her family, herself…and Cam. Can she find a way to outrun the demons? The answer is closer than she thinks—just as the new life she craves may have already begun."

My Thoughts:

Almost Just Friends was a fun way to begin my reading year in 2020!  I enjoy reading contemporary romances although I can't say that I read a ton of them.  I honestly think I would read more of them though if they were like this one.  This book was just fun to read at times.  It had me grinning at the book and laughing out loud.  What made this book that much more remarkable is that this book also took on some heavier issues like addiction within its pages.  So not only was it absolutely adorable at times but it also was heavier and more serious at others.  I really appreciated the fact that the author wasn't afraid to take these more serious issues and include them with what could have been a much lighter story otherwise.  I also really enjoyed all of the different characters in this book.  The author brought them all to life for me so that I couldn't help but care about each and every one of them.  I especially had a soft spot for Cam's father Emmitt.  His character always seemed to crack me up especially when they threw him a surprise birthday party (readers who have already read this book will understand what I mean here).  I also really enjoyed the relationship that developed between Piper and Cam.  Piper was such an independent character who definitely didn't want to acknowledge her feelings for Cam.  Cam, on the other hand, was much more open to what he was feeling and the relationship that was developing between him and Piper. It made for a fun reading experience to see how their relationship would develop while also watching Piper try to navigate the relationships she has with her brother and sister.  I spent the entire book rooting for her to figure it out all out so that she and Cam could find their happy ever after together.  It was just such an enjoyable read and the perfect way to start 2020 off!

Overall, this was just a feel good romance that I couldn't help but enjoy. I loved that it took on some heavier issues and really dealt with them rather than just pushing them to the side.  I also loved that this book still had a lighter feel at times that I couldn't help but enjoy.  I've read other books by Shalvis but have to say that I think this one is my favorite.  This is actually book four in the Wildstone series so I'm excited that I can go back and read the earlier books soon.  I would recommend this book to fans of romance (specifically contemporary romance), women's fiction readers, and just fiction readers in general who don't mind a little romance in their books.  It was really enjoyable and easy to recommend!

Bottom Line: A book that kept me grinning the entire time I was reading it!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher.  Honest thoughts are my own.

Fierce Justice by Piper J. Drake (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"As a K9 handler on the Search and Protect team, Arin Siri needs to be where the action is--and right now that's investigating a trafficking operation in Hawaii. When an enemy from her past shows up bleeding, she's torn between the desire to patch Jason up or put more holes in him. Then again, the hotshot mercenary could be the person she needs to bust open her case.

Jason Landon's team had always been about taking the contract, getting paid, and not asking questions. But after his last mission went south, he started to get curious. His questions quickly drove him out of his mercenary group and off the grid. Now, the only people he can think of to help him are the Search and Protect team -- and the dark beauty who is as ready to kill him as she is to bed him. And he's totally ready to risk the former for the chance at the latter. But he isn't the only person with a target on his back. Arin's in danger too, and he'll do everything he can to keep her safe."

My Thoughts:

Fierce Justice is a book that I read earlier this year and then just never shared my thoughts on it.  I'm going to work on catching up on reviews before the end of the year so wanted to finally write up my thoughts on this one.  I knew I wanted to read this book based off of that cover alone.  Our family has a German Shepherd that we love and adore so any book with one on the cover is one that is bound to draw my interest!  I'm also always on the hunt for good romantic suspense series to follow so I couldn't resist giving this book a try.  I started this series completely out of order as it looks like this is book five but it didn't effect my enjoyment of this book at all.  I do think I missed out on some details as I believe that Jason and Arin met in a previous book.  The author did a good job of filling in the details though so I didn't feel lost at all.  One of things that I really enjoyed about this book was the setting.  I haven't read many books set in Hawaii and I thought that the Hawaiian setting really added to this book.  I also really liked the suspense portion of this book.  The suspense portion was what kept me turning the pages the entire time.  I will be honest and say that the romance portion of this book wasn't really what drew me into it.  I liked Arin and Jason together but their relationship just felt like it almost took a backseat to everything else that was going on.  Which is almost more realistic if you think about it - when someone is in the midst of a dangerous situation I feel like the last thing that they are going to be focused on is falling deeply in love.  I liked that the author gave their relationship a more realistic feel (I don't want to say more because spoilers).  I'm also hoping that we will get to see more of them in future books!  

Overall, I enjoyed my time with this book and plan on reading more from this series.  I think that I will try and go back to the beginning with the first book.  If you enjoy suspenseful reads, then I definitely think that this book is one to check out (and you don't need to read this series in order which is always a positive in my opinion).  I would recommend this book to romantic suspense fans and romance readers.  It's an enjoyable read!  

Bottom Line:  An enjoyable romantic suspense!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review.  Honest thoughts are my own. 

The Cost of Honor by Diana Muñoz Stewart (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"He gave up everything to escape his family

The only male to be adopted into the notorious Parish family, Tony Parish always did right by his vigilante sisters. But when an attempt to protect one of them went horribly wrong, he had to fake his own death to escape his fanatical family. Tony set sail and ended up in Dominica—face to face with the woman of his dreams...

Now he must give up Honor to save her

After the death of her mother, Honor Silva moved to Dominica, where her family could help her heal and move on. But her activist mother left her more than money, she left her proof that could take down one of the richest and most powerful men in the world.

Tony gave up everything he thought he knew when he fled his family. But when a threat too dangerous for Tony and Honor to fight on their own closes in, he has no choice but to go to them for help. Problem is, they'll demand something in return—something that could cost Tony not just Honor, but also the love that changed him forever."

My Thoughts:

I am officially hooked on this series!  A few months ago I read (and really enjoyed) the second book in this series The Price of Grace.  It left me completely excited about this book and happily it was just as good as I had hoped!  What a page turner this book was!  I swear I was 100 pages into this one and then all of a sudden I hit this point and knew that I wasn't going to be able to stop reading until I finished.  It was just that good and I HAD to see how everything was going to turn out.  One of the things that I really liked about this book was that there were two separate threats that Tony and Honor are facing.  One is an unknown threat to Honor's business that Tony is attempting to help her with.  The second one is the threat that Tony's family will find him and wipe his memories. These two things added a lot of suspense and tension to this book.  It also helped for me to really understand and get behind the relationship that developed between these two.  I'm not usually one for relationships that develop super fast - I prefer the building up of a relationship the majority of the time.  Not in this case though because I was completely behind their relationship and the why's that they were diving into it so fast.  They knew that there time was limited together so they weren't going to waste one second of the time that they did have.  They had the perfect blend of chemistry and heat which had me rooting for their happy ever after the entire time.  I really, really liked this book so I'm eager to see if there are going to be more books in this series.  In the meantime, I need to go back and finally read that first book that started this series.  I do recommend reading these books in order if possible.  I didn't feel like it hurt my enjoyment in the second book at all (not having read the first) but by the time that you get to this one, I'm sure there are too many spoilers otherwise.  Also, things that happened in that second book definitely carry over into this one so that's another reason to read them in order if at all possible.  Plus, the two that I've read were so good so definitely worth your time!

Overall, I really enjoyed my time with this book and this series in general so far.  I'm really, really hoping that we get more books featuring the Parish family because I'm not ready for it to be done.  This book had the perfect blend of heat and suspense - this is romantic suspense at its best in my opinion!  I would recommend this book and series to fans of romantic suspense, romance, and even suspense readers in general.  Read it in order if you can or start with The Price of Grace like I did!  An easy book to recommend!

Bottom Line:  The perfect blend of romance and suspense - what more do you need?

Disclosure:   I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher as part of a TLC book tour.  Honest thoughts are my own.

The Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"It's 1875, and Alva Webster has perfected her stiff upper lip after three years of being pilloried in the presses of two continents over fleeing her abusive husband. Now his sudden death allows her to return to New York to make a fresh start, restoring Liefdehuis, a dilapidated Hyde Park mansion, and hopefully her reputation at the same time. However, fresh starts aren't as easy as they seem, as Alva discovers when stories of a haunting at Liefdehuis begin to reach her. But Alva doesn't believe in ghosts. So when the eccentric and brilliant professor, Samuel Moore, appears and informs her that he can get to the bottom of the mystery that surrounds Liefdehuis, she turns him down flat. She doesn't need any more complications in her life―especially not a handsome, convention-flouting, scandal-raising one like Sam. 

Unfortunately, though Alva is loath to admit it, Sam, a pioneer in electric lighting and a member of the nationally-adored Moore family of scientists, is the only one who can help. Together, the two delve into the tragic secrets wreathing Alva's new home while Sam attempts to unlock Alva's history―and her heart.

Set during the Gilded Age in New York City, The Widow of Rose House is a gorgeous debut by Diana Biller, with a darkly Victorian Gothic flair and an intrepid and resilient American heroine guaranteed to delight readers."

My Thoughts:

The Widow of Rose House was everything that I love in a gothic romance!  Why are authors not writing more books like this?  I've always enjoyed books like this but they are from older authors like Barbara Michaels or Mary Stewart.  I'm sure you can imagine my delight when I read this description and saw the words Victorian Gothic included....I've never hit the request button on NetGalley so fast!  This book was everything that I hoped it would be and so much more!  One of the things that made this book stand out for me was Samuel's character.  I didn't even realize that I would love his character so much until I did.  The way that his mind worked just was so fascinating to read about, and I couldn't help but adore him.  The romance between Sam and Alva was also just so very delightful to read about.  Alva has had a hard time in her life - her marriage was horrible and her parents aren't much better.  On the other hand, Samuel's family was absolutely the best (please, please tell me that we are going to get more books featuring some of his siblings) so they had very different experiences.  The struggles that Alva faced with trust and love all came from her past and previous experiences.  It made the romance that was developing between her and Samuel all the sweeter though because of it.  I was fully behind these two working through everything so that they could find their happy ever after together.  I also really, really enjoyed the haunted house that Alva was trying to renovate.  I'm a sucker for a haunted house especially when there are ghosts in the mix.  I was so intrigued by those portions of the book and what exactly was going on.  Fair warning though, this book was unexpectedly darker than I thought it would be at times.  There are a few trigger warnings in here that readers may want to be made aware of (just leave me a comment or email if you want more details).  The ending of this book was absolute perfection - I cannot get over the fact that this book is this author's debut!  

Overall, I enjoyed my time with this book so much and cannot recommend this book highly enough!  I NEED more authors to dip their toes in the gothic romance waters for sure. I also need Diana Biller to keep writing books just like this because it was both amazing and delightful.  This is honestly one of the top romances that I've read so far this year and I've already read some really great ones.  Fans of Barbara Michaels and Mary Stewart - take note of this author and book!  I would recommend this one to fans of romance, historical romance, and anyone who loves a great gothic read like I do.  I will be just sitting over here impatiently waiting for whatever this author writes next now!  Highly recommended!

Bottom Line:  This book is everything that I wanted in a gothic romance without me even knowing it!  Such a delight!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.  Honest thoughts are my own.

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Chloe Brown is a chronically ill computer geek with a goal, a plan, and a list. After almost—but not quite—dying, she’s come up with seven directives to help her “Get a Life”, and she’s already completed the first: finally moving out of her glamourous family’s mansion. The next items?


Enjoy a drunken night out.
Ride a motorcycle.
Go camping.
Have meaningless but thoroughly enjoyable sex.
Travel the world with nothing but hand luggage.
And... do something bad.
But it’s not easy being bad, even when you’ve written step-by-step guidelines on how to do it correctly. What Chloe needs is a teacher, and she knows just the man for the job.

Redford ‘Red’ Morgan is a handyman with tattoos, a motorcycle, and more sex appeal than ten-thousand Hollywood heartthrobs. He’s also an artist who paints at night and hides his work in the light of day, which Chloe knows because she spies on him occasionally. Just the teeniest, tiniest bit.

But when she enlists Red in her mission to rebel, she learns things about him that no spy session could teach her. Like why he clearly resents Chloe’s wealthy background. And why he never shows his art to anyone. And what really lies beneath his rough exterior…"

My Thoughts:

This may be one of the most adorable books that I've read in a really long time!  I enjoyed it so much that I found myself grinning at my e-reader at times.  Because I'm that person apparently and this book was also that good.  Let's start off by talking about Chloe and how much of an enjoyable character she was.  Because you just don't see (in my experience at least) main characters that are not only diverse but also that have a chronic illness which isn't glossed over.  Let me be the first person to say that I cannot speak to any of the above as I'm neither of these two things.  I cannot speak to the accuracy but I can speak to how this book made me feel - and it made me feel so good!  It was a nice change of pace to read a book where the chronic illness wasn't the point of the story but it was an important factor and was acknowledged throughout the entire book.  Chloe has good days and she has bad days with her illness and this felt real to me.  I'm sure that her experiences and symptoms are not the same as everyone that has fibromyalgia and that's okay.  I just feel like this book helped to shine a light (however big or small) on what life is like for individuals living with chronic illnesses.  And then we had a character like Red who was just perfection as well.  Red's got some major relationship issues thanks to a past relationship but that doesn't stop him from being just about the most adorable love interest that I've ever had the pleasure of reading about.  And the chemistry between these two was just complete perfection!  Okay, I'm going to get slightly spoiler-ey here so if you aren't here for that move on to next paragraph.  I do have to also say here how much I enjoyed the fact that the relationship between Chloe and Red developed naturally without any huge misunderstandings or angst.  Yes, there is a few blips here and there but they were minor looking back which just really fit my reading mood perfectly.  I enjoy an angsty romance when I'm in the right mood but I didn't feel like this book was that which I really appreciated (because apparently that is NOT what I wanted without even knowing it).

Overall, I read this one with a smile on my face which should tell you everything that you need to know.  I even found myself highlighting passages on my e-reader (which I hardly ever do) because the writing was just perfection.  It was the perfect blend of humor and adorableness all rolled into one really great book!  I'm really excited that this is my first book by Talia Hibbert because it won't be my last!  I actually already have one of her other books on my e-reader but then when I finished this one I realized that it was beginning a series.  AND I AM HERE FOR ALL OF THE BOOKS in this series!  Like seriously!  I cannot wait to see what else she comes up with next!  I would recommend this book to fans of romance, contemporary romance, rom com readers, and just those that enjoy a really adorable book with a nice steam factor.  An easy book for me to recommend!

Bottom Line:  A really great book that I couldn't help but enjoy from the very first page!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley.  Honest thoughts are my own.

Nothing to Fear by Juno Rushdan (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Fearsome Gray Box operative Gideon Stone is devoted to his work and his team. He's never given reason to doubt his loyalty...until he's tasked with investigating Willow Harper, a beguiling cryptologist suspected of selling deadly bio-agents on the black market.

He knows she's innocent. He knows she's being framed. And he knows that without him, Willow will be dead before sunrise.

Thrust into the crossfire of an insidious international conspiracy, Gideon will do anything to keep Willow safe...even if that means waging war against his own. With time running out, an unlikely bond pushes limits―and forges loyalties. Every move they make counts. And the real traitor is always watching..."

My Thoughts:

Let me tell you how much I enjoy romantic suspense when it is done like this!  Books like this are why I enjoy this genre so much.  This book was the perfect blend of suspense and romance.  I was turning the pages as fast as I could the majority of this book while reading, but also just loving the developing relationship between Willow and Gideon.  And can we just shout out the fact that Willow is on the spectrum and the amazing way that the author writes her character.  She is who she is and we got to the struggles that she faces from being "different" (for lack of better word here) as well as the strengths that she has from it.  It isn't something that is glossed over at all in this book but is instead such an integral part of her character.  I cannot honestly say that I've ever read a romantic suspense book featuring a character like this until now which is a shame. How lucky am I though that I have another book in this series to catch up on after enjoying this one so much?  The chemistry between Gideon and Willow was HOT!  I enjoyed that they each had their own issues that they needed to work through before they were ready to even think about being in a relationship.  And I also have to say how much I appreciated that their romance came together during reasonable times - and not when they were literally in the middle of being chased by the bad guys like it does sometime in other books of this genre.  The feelings that grew between the two of them felt natural and I was completely here for it all.  I have a copy of the first book but didn't get the chance to read it before this one and it didn't affect my enjoyment in the slightest.  I'm super excited though to go back to that first book after enjoying this one so much!

Overall, I really enjoyed my time with this book immensely!  It was the perfect mix of suspense and romance with characters that I just couldn't get enough of.  I'm so glad that I have now found this author and series because this book was that good!  I don't want to say too much more as I don't want to spoil anything.  If you enjoy action-packed, suspenseful books with romance mixed in, check this one out.  I would highly recommend it and am really looking forward to seeing what other readers think of it!

Bottom Line:  A book that has me just itching for more books just like it!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher as part of a TLC book tour.  Honest thoughts are my own.

The Price of Grace by Diana Muñoz Stewart (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Gracie Parish knows the true cost of trust. Rescued as a child by the infamous Parish family, she became a member of their covert sisterhood of vigilantes. Gracie saw her most precious relationships destroyed by secrecy. She learned long ago to protect her heart as well as her family's secrets.

Special Agent Leif "Dusty" McAllister will do anything to uncover the truth about the Parish family's covert operations. Dusty knows Gracie is his ticket in. He'll use everything he's got—fair, unfair, and just plain wrong—to break through her defenses. But the more he gets to know Gracie and her family's mission, the harder he starts to fall. Neither one is sure they'll get out of this with their lives—or their hearts—intact."

My Thoughts:

This is the kind of romantic suspense read that I could not help but enjoy!  It was fast paced and unexpected throughout the entire book which I couldn't help but love!  This is actually the second book in the series but I decided to start with it first (and now will soon be going back to the first book to catch up on what I've missed).  One of the main things that made this book stand out for me was Gracie's family and the things that she has given up to protect her family.  I don't want to spoil anything for readers so I'll just leave it at that.  As the book goes along, we get to see that she is struggling with the things she has given up and is wanting to make changes to her life.  At the same time, she is dealing with Dusty's arrival back into her life after other certain events.  Grace knows that Dusty is investigating her family for the FBI but she just can't seem to keep away from him herself.  The chemistry between these two is definitely hot!  Before I go any further, I have to tell you my one small gripe with this book.  It starts off when these two first meet and there was such a huge case of insta-lust that I was immediately thrown off especially with the dangerous situation that they were in.  I'm only telling you this because I think that there are other readers like myself that aren't quite as huge fans of insta-love or lust and might feel similarly.  I'm super glad that those opening scenes didn't stop me from continuing because the rest of the book wasn't like that at all.  Yes, they are still attracted to each other from the beginning but they both understand why a relationship between the two of them is a bad idea and probably wouldn't work.  Gracie fights her attraction to Dusty which just made the moments when they finally came together (not a spoiler - this IS a romance) that much sweeter.  I actually really adored both of their characters so I was rooting for them to find their happy ever after. The suspense portion was very well done and was why I just couldn't seem to set this book down!  The way this book ended left me very curious to see what will happen next in book three.  To make the wait seem shorter though, I definitely plan on going back to the first book I Am Justice!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and flew through the pages of it!  One of the things that I'm most excited about with reading more books in this series is learning more about Gracie's family.  They have me so intrigued so I can't wait to read more about them all.  This book was also another really great reminder of why I enjoy romantic suspense so much!  There is just something about a book with a romance and a mystery mixed together that I can't get enough of!  It's like the best of both worlds when it is done right and this book definitely was!  I would recommend this book to readers of romance and romantic suspense easily!  You definitely don't have to read this series in order (I didn't).  I didn't feel like I was missing out whatsoever.  That being said, this book and series has me wanting to go back to that first book which should tell you all that you need to know!

Bottom Line:  A romantic suspense that reminded me exactly why I love this genre so much!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher as part of a TLC book tour.  Honest thoughts are my own.

Summer on Mirror Lake by JoAnn Ross (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Summertime is the best time to lose yourself in the romance of Honeymoon Harbor…

When he lands in the emergency room after collapsing at the funeral of a colleague and friend, Wall Street hotshot Gabriel Mannion initially rejects the diagnosis of an anxiety attack. But when warned that if he doesn’t change his adrenaline-fueled, workaholic lifestyle he could end up like his friend, Gabe reluctantly returns to his hometown of Honeymoon Harbor to regroup.

As he adjusts to the sight of mountains instead of skyscrapers, Gabe discovers advantages to this small Pacific Northwest town he once couldn’t wait to escape. But it’s irresistible librarian Chelsea Prescott who, along with the two foster children she’s taken under her wing, makes slowing down seem like the best prescription ever.

Over the course of their summer romance, Gabe gets a taste of the life he might have had if he’d taken a different path. But with his return to New York City looming on the horizon, he’ll have to choose between the success he’s worked tirelessly for and a ready-made family who offers a very different, richly rewarding future…if he’ll only take the risk."

My Thoughts:

Summer on Mirror Lake felt like the perfect read to start off my summer reading!  I don't read nearly enough contemporary romances or small town romances - books like this always leave me wondering why.  There is just something so comforting about them and it almost reminds me of the feeling I get with the cozy mysteries I read.  I love the small town vibe, getting to know all of the characters, and the descriptions of the town itself.  I always feel like with books like this that these towns feel like real places that I could actually go and visit which is fun in itself!  In this book, Chelsea is the head librarian in the town's library and is just focused on living up to her mentor and former head librarian's expectations.  Gabe has come back to his hometown from the summer needing a break from the stress of his job.  These two meet and the sparks fly almost instantly.  I usually don't care for romances that happen super fast but it was different with this book.  Gabe and Chelsea decide to have a summer fling rather than a committed relationship and I think that worked for me.  It felt more like a fun thing than the insta-love that I cannot seem to get behind.  My favorite part of this book though were the two young foster girls that Chelsea becomes caught up with.  There was just something about these two girls that tugged at my heartstrings.  I was almost more focused on them getting their happy ever after compared to Chelsea and Gabe.  I do say almost there because really isn't it all tied up into one thing in the end?  My one and only complaint with this book was that I had a hard time keeping track of all of the characters.  I'm thinking that this is my fault though as I didn't realize that this was the third book in a series.  Looks like I've got a few books to catch up on now!  I did finally get a hang of the who's who by midway through the book which helped.  And overall, I was satisfied by the way that things played out in the end.  It was exactly what I was hoping for which left me feeling content and happy when the book was finished.

Overall, I enjoyed my time with this book and am looking forward to reading the previous books in this series.  This book has a summer vibe to it that I couldn't help but appreciate.  I feel like this book would be the perfect binge read while spent on a hot day at the beach.  Or curled up with during a late night baseball game on a summer evening like I did!  That definitely worked as well.  I think that fans of contemporary romance and just romance in general would enjoy this book.  You don't have to read these books in order necessarily (I sure didn't) but it may help you keep track of the characters better if you do.  And books like this are just the perfect type of read for this time of year in my opinion!  Recommended!

Bottom Line:  A great summer read and romance!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley as part of a TLC book tour.  Thoughts are my own.

Passion on Park Avenue by Lauren Layne (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"For as long as she can remember, Bronx-born Naomi Powell has had one goal: to prove her worth among the Upper East Side elite—the same people for which her mom worked as a housekeeper. Now, as the strongminded, sassy CEO of one of the biggest jewelry empires in the country, Naomi finally has exactly what she wants—but it’s going to take more than just the right address to make Manhattan’s upper class stop treating her like an outsider.

The worst offender is her new neighbor, Oliver Cunningham—the grown son of the very family Naomi’s mother used to work for. Oliver used to torment Naomi when they were children, and as a ridiculously attractive adult, he’s tormenting her in entirely different ways. Now they find themselves engaged in a battle-of-wills that will either consume or destroy them…"

My Thoughts:

This was such a fun and enjoyable read for me!  I don't read a ton of contemporary romances but this book has me reconsidering that.  One of my absolute favorite tropes in romance is the (I'm not sure what this is exactly called but this is what I'm calling it) hate to love romance.  I adore when the main characters despise each other but ultimately can't fight their attraction to one another!  It's my favorite so it was a sure fire thing that I was going to enjoy this book with that kind of set up.  I think one of the reasons that I enjoy this type of trope so much is that it usually means that there isn't any kind of insta-love which is my least favorite romance trope. The romance between Naomi and Oliver was a slow burn of the best kind in my opinion.  Also, just to let other readers know - this is a book that I've been recommending to readers who want a romance without the steamy scenes.  I just wanted to throw that out there for any other readers who are looking for that kind of romance!  In this book, Naomi remembers Oliver instantly from her childhood when they meet for the first time but Oliver doesn't remember her.  This leads to some humorous moments as Oliver can't figure out why Naomi seems to despise him on sight.  Especially as he is as attracted to her as he is annoyed with her for the way she is treating him.  The chemistry between these two was just absolute perfection so I couldn't get enough of reading it.  I also really enjoyed the friendship that Naomi had between two other ladies which is the kind of setup of this trilogy.  I don't want to give too many details on how they become friends, but I'm now eager to read both of their books so I can see them get their happy ever after as well.  This was just a fun read for me even though there were some serious aspects to it.  Oliver's father has Alzheimer's disease which plays a prominent part in this book.  The disease isn't glossed over and it is something that Oliver is constantly dealing with throughout the book.  I really liked the end of this book and am eager to get my hands on the next book in this trilogy.  

Overall, I enjoyed my time with this book and am looking forward to reading more by this author.  This is actually the second book that I've read by Lauren Layne - the other book that I read was Cuff Me which had more of a suspense vibe to it than this book did.  Two very different books but both books that I enjoyed immensely.  Looks like I have another author whose backlist I need to catch up on!  Also, I can't believe that I haven't mentioned this before but how gorgeous is that cover?  I love it!  It was almost a shame that I read this book on my e-reader so couldn't experience that cover in its' full glory.  Ha!  I would recommend this book to fans of romance but also to readers who are starting to get on board with the new wave of romantic comedies that are becoming so popular as of late.  This book was just a plain fun read at times and I think that there are many other readers who will enjoy it as well.  An easy book for me to recommend!

Bottom Line:  A fun and enjoyable read that has me excited for the next book!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher.  Thoughts are my own.

One Summer in Paris by Sarah Morgan (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"To celebrate their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, Grace has planned the surprise of a lifetime for her husband—a romantic getaway to Paris. But she never expected he’d have a surprise of his own: he wants a divorce. Reeling from the shock but refusing to be broken, a devastated Grace makes the bold decision to go to Paris alone.

Audrey, a young woman from London, has left behind a heartache of her own when she arrives in Paris. A job in a bookshop is her ticket to freedom, but with no money and no knowledge of the French language, suddenly a summer spent wandering the cobbled streets alone seems much more likely…until she meets Grace, and everything changes.

Grace can’t believe how daring Audrey is. Audrey can’t believe how cautious newly single Grace is. Living in neighboring apartments above the bookshop, this unlikely pair offer each other just what they’ve both been missing. They came to Paris to find themselves, but finding this unbreakable friendship might be the best thing that’s ever happened to them…"

My Thoughts:

Let me just start off by saying that I adored this book!  I feel like whenever I have this strong of feelings on a book that I have a tendency to ramble and gush so heads up that's probably what you are getting here.  The thing I loved most about this book though is how easily I connected to it and the way it made me feel.  Let's start at the beginning here though.  This book is told from two different points of view - Grace, who is a middle-aged woman whose husband has recently told her he wants a divorce, and from Audrey, a young girl with a really crappy home life.  Now for the record I'm happily married so that's not actually why I connected to Grace so easily (although it was sadly easy to imagine/understand what she was going through).  I connected to Grace's character because she had so many similarities to me in other ways.  Before her life completely changed, she was comfortable with her life.  I say comfortable in a way that isn't necessarily a good thing.  It's easy as a woman and mother when you've been with someone for so long to maybe not try like you used to.  I fully admit to throwing my hair back into a ponytail almost every single day just because I'm tired of it being in my face.  I work from home so there are days where I don't even put on makeup or think about it.  And maybe none of these things are exactly like Grace but they add up to the same thing.  You forget sometimes to take care of yourself.  To do things just for you and not your children or even your husband.  Sometimes you lose a piece of yourself without even realizing it....and this all just hit home for me so much.  I'm very grateful that I don't have Grace's experiences but this book was a reminder to take care of me too.  So much emphasis at times is to take care of your children's needs, your husband's, and everything else in life but who is there to remind you to take care of you?  I'm rambling now but ugh - this book just was so spot on with real life!  I absolutely could not care more about these two women and the problems that they were facing.  I just immersed myself within their lives and within the pages of this book.  I loved everything about this book and even the things that I didn't expect to.  The author took chances where in other books I might not usually have liked the decisions the characters were making but it worked in this book.  And worked perfectly if I do say so myself!  

Overall, I enjoyed this book so much that I actually wasn't ready for it to end.  I'm so curious to see other reader's thoughts and reactions to this one.  I understand why I enjoyed this one so much but am eager to see if others feel the same!  This is only my second book by Sarah Morgan but it certainly won't be my last.  I kind of want to read everything and anything that she has written now after loving this one so much!  Gah!  It was just so perfect for me and gave me all of the emotions.  This is a book that I think I would easily reread a few years down the road.  If I connected to this one now, I can only imagine how I would feel in a few years when my kids are getting closer to the age of going to college and moving out.  I obviously cannot say enough good things but I highly recommend this book. This isn't just a romance book but I'm sure romance readers would enjoy it.  I think that readers who enjoy women's fiction or just fiction in general should give this one a shot.  Also, someday I simply must go to Paris to experience it all for myself!  This was SO good!

Bottom Line:  A reading experience that I won't be forgetting any time soon!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher as part of a Goodread's giveaway.  Thoughts are my own.