Yes, it has been a bit since you have heard from me. I took a break… a much longer break than I ever expected, but still a much-needed break. After Ozzy gained his angel wings, I was completely lost. I tried, but going through the regular motions of life was painful… and I am not even talking about my health and the physical pain. Some days, I can’t even hold a book, by the time I get home. However, I hope to have progress on that front, come October. But anywho…
What have you all been reading? This past year, I have read slowly… very slow. Yet, I am still trying. Currently, I am reading The Last Commandment by Scott Shepherd. This hardback debut, came out last month. It is the first in the Austin Grant of Scotland Yard series. The serial killer seems to be helping the police, by carving Roman Numerals into the victims’ heads. Or is he carving another message?
Up next, is The Bloom Girls by Amy Pine. I love AJ Pine’s cowboy-themed books. This is her first, Women’s Fiction book, and it comes out on Tuesday. The author was inspired by the Gilmore Girls, and this Team Jess girl, can’t be more excited to dive into this paperback.
So tell me, have you been reading more or less this past year?
Robert is the current Duke of Rothhaven. However, his rise to dukedom was by far, not normal. Plagued with epilepsy, Robert leads a quite life, peculiar to that of a duke. He patiently waits for his secret to come out, and his competency challenged. What he doesn’t expect is running into Lady Constance Wentworth, a friend from his past, and a woman who he hopes will be an ally. Constance has her own buried secrets and works hard to stay in the shadows, but when she meets up with an old friend, she can’t help but dream of a happier life. Will these two be able to help one another, or will their pasts destroy them and their families?
Grace Burrowes worked magic with the story. Each of the characters were incredibly real and the scenes unfolded like a movie. The is the first time I have read her work, but it won’t be the last. I did not feel like I missed anything by not reading the previous books. The author gives insight into the medical treatments of epilepsy, as well as the courtroom legalities of mental competence. Readers will want to add this title to their must-read list.
Roman Steele returned from his last tour, missing a leg and with a hardened heart. He needs his quiet space to work out the stiff muscles, when he can’t sleep. But he enjoys working with his brothers, helping catch bad guys in Northern VA. Dr. Isabel Santiago loves working in the lab, hoping to find cures for deadly viruses. When people break into her lab and steal a deadly hemorrhagic virus, her world crashes into Roman. Will these two strong-willed people find a way to work together or will the sparks cause a more dangerous fire?
The author created an incredible premise, with some unique timing on the deadly virus. (Hello, 2020.) I enjoyed each of the characters, they were loveable and relatable. I did not like the fact that the f-word was on every page. (There are other curse words in the dictionary.) This is a spicy romantic suspense, where the suspense will keep you on the edge of your seat. It was not necessary to read the first two books, in order to understand the story. The writing was a tad repetitive, however I am intrigued to read more by this author.
Notes:
I signed up to honestly review this book. The publisher, Forever, sent me a copy.
To Order this book and support Indie Bookstores, click here. (This is an affiliate link, if you make a purchase, I receive a small fee to help keep this site running.)
Cover reveal! THE FOREST OF VANISHING STARS by New York Times bestselling author @Kristin Harmel (“a powerful and dazzling voice in historical fiction,” says NYT bestselling author Patti Callahan). Kristin’s evocative new coming-of-age World War II story will be in stores everywhere on July 6, 2021 from Gallery Books. Mark your calendars and start planning your summer reading early. Pre-order now! https://bit.ly/preorderTFOVS
SYNOPSIS: After being stolen from her wealthy German parents and raised in the unforgiving wilderness of eastern Europe, a young woman finds herself alone in 1941 after her kidnapper dies. Her solitary existence is interrupted, however, when she happens upon a group of Jews fleeing the Nazi terror. Stunned to learn what’s happening in the outside world, she vows to teach the group all she can about surviving in the forest—and in turn, they teach her some surprising lessons about opening her heart after years of isolation. But when she is betrayed and escapes into a German-occupied village, her past and present come together in a shocking collision that could change everything.
By: Carolyn Brown, Rochelle Alers, Hope Ramsay, A.J. Pine
“The Perfect Christmas” by Carolyn Brown
London Griffin is only temporarily helping out with the Longhorn Canyon Ranch. However, he has grown quite fond of the ranch and the nearby town, especially Dixie Boudreaux, and her daughter, Sally. Dixie has never had a good Christmas and she is forever grateful for the twist of fate that led her to Sunset, Texas. She enjoys spending time with London, but will this Christmas bring more than snow?
This is a very sweet story and I enjoyed the premise. It was too rushed, with some scenes being glazed over. It probably would have been better if I had read the rest of the series.
“A Christmas Cowboy at Heart” by A.J. Pine
What happens when your high school crush returns home, becomes mayor, and decides everything related to Christmas should be banished? Deputy Daniela Garcia is determined to make Peyton Cooper remember the importance of town traditions. She just prays he doesn’t remember her teenage embarrassment.
I absolutely loved this story. Every aspect of this novella felt full, and complete. The characters were relatable, the town was charming, and the ending wad satisfying. This is definitely a feel-good must read for the holiday season.
So my tablet died earlier this month. I spent several weeks trying to get it fixed only to learn it is a no go. I hope one day to get the info off it, especially the 4 years of photos and the ebooks. (Trust me, I have searched all the back up sites that I have and to no avail.)
Somehow in the midst of that chaos this month has completely flown by. Mom’s birthday was last week and today is Halloween, meanwhile I am still sitting here thinking the month just started. I haven’t done much reading, as any spare moment has been trying to reconfigure my phone and laptop to do most of my work. I do think I have a system worked out (this post is kind of a test, lol) and you will be seeing a TON of reviews during November, just in time to stock up for the winter.
Check out the social media pages for pics of all the book mail from this month. (Plus my I Voted sticker that I got yesterday.)
Tonight, I am reading Fatal Deception by April Hunt. Get this, it is about a stolen deadly virus… so yes, this romantic suspense book is a bit perfect for Halloween. What are you reading tonight?
Where do I begin…. this shall not be like my normal reviews, because well, this is not just a normal series for me.
12 years ago, on Sept 11th, I was diagnosed with a bleeding disorder. One that kept me at home for six months, not allowed to be alone for too long, not allowed to even blow my nose, for fear of bleeding out and dying. I was on so many meds that I couldn’t focus on anything. (Not being able to read, while being at home was torture.) Ozzy would manage, if I sat for a few minutes, to get me to breathe. But focusing was impossible. One of my friends gave my Mom some books, one day, to give to me, promising me they were amazing. Mom brought them home and I studied them.
I had heard a few girls at college talk about this series, but I was never into vampire books. Give me a murder mystery or a nature book, any day of the week. But vampires… whatever. However, I was desperate and I was willing to try anything, just to read again. I fell in love with the series. My boys would curl up with me in the recliner and I could read all day long. It was fantastic. I re-read the series, so many times, those forst few years, I lost count. If I needed a quick fix, I could go to my favorite chapter in Eclipse and just read that. Somehow, someway, bloodsucking vampires intertwined with my mixed-up platelet kind of life.
In a South Carolina small-town, two brutal murders rock everyone’s world. Even a decade later, the mystery and rumors, surrounding this brutal event, attract the attention of the media. Mitch Beam stumbled upon the news of these murders and quickly finds himself wrapped up in the intrigue. Will Mitch Beam be able to solve this cold case, or will his life be in danger, too?
Scuffletown is the debut novel by Tommy Cofield. This small town mystery grabs readers’ attention from the very first page. Filled with quirky characters and lots of nostalgia, fans of suspense and Southern lit, will definitely want to add this book to their wish lists.
You all know how much I love reading Kristy Woodson Harvey’s books. Earlier this year, Ozzy and I even participated in her virtual book tour launch. Today, I am excited to share the new cover for her book coming out in April 2021. I got my copy a couple of days ago and can’t wait to dive into it next weekend. Also, make sure to check out Facebook and Instagram, because Kristy is giving away three advanced copies, for those who share the cover and post with #underthesounthernsky Good luck to you all!
Look for this beautiful book in April 2021!
Lisa Wingate Blurb:
“Sometimes the key to new love lies hidden in old friendships. In Under the Southern Sky, Kristy Woodson Harvey stirs up a warm-hearted mix of hometown charm and the sort of thoroughly modern problems that bring us back to the people who know us best and the places that remind us of who we really are.” – Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Before We Were Yours and The Book of Lost Friends.
Back Cover Copy:
Two childhood friends discover that love–and family–can be found in unconventional ways in this timely, moving novel from the USA TODAY bestselling author of the “beautifully Southern, evocative Peachtree Bluff series” (Kristin Harmel, internationally bestselling author of The Winemaker’s Wife). Recently separated Amelia Buxton, a dedicated journalist, never expected that uncovering the biggest story of her career would become deeply personal. But when she discovers that a cluster of embryos belonging to her childhood friend Parker and his late wife Greer have been deemed “abandoned,” she’s put in the unenviable position of telling Parker–and dredging up old wounds in the process. Parker has been unable to move forward since the loss of his beloved wife three years ago. He has all but forgotten about the frozen embryos, but once Amelia reveals her discovery, he knows that if he ever wants to get a part of Greer back, he’ll need to accept his fate as a single father and find a surrogate. Each dealing with their own private griefs, Parker and Amelia slowly begin to find solace in one another as they navigate an uncertain future against the backdrop of the pristine waters of their childhood home, Buxton Beach. The journey of self-discovery leads them to an unforgettable and life-changing lesson: Family–the one you’re born into and the one you choose–is always closer than you think. From “the next major voice in Southern fiction” (Elin Hilderbrand, #1 New York Times bestselling author), Under the Southern Sky is a fresh and unforgettable exploration of love, friendship, and the unbreakable ties that bind.
To preorder through Bookshop, which helps Indie Bookstores, click here.
Have you noticed that the pandemic has affectes everything? Including how fast books are printed…
I’m thrilled to announce that, as of today, THE BOOK OF LOST NAMES (July 21; Gallery Books), the instant New York Times bestseller by Kristin Harmel, is back in stock everywhere! If you haven’t read this “heart-stopping tale of survival and heroism” (People magazine) yet, now’s your chance to snap it up! Order NOW! Shop local HERE: http://bit.ly/BOLNisBack
SYNOPSIS: Inspired by an astonishing true story from World War II, a young woman with a talent for forgery helps hundreds of Jewish children flee the Nazis in this unforgettable historical novel from the New York Times bestselling author of the “epic and heart-wrenching World War II tale” (Alyson Noel, #1 New York Times bestselling author) The Winemaker’s Wife. An engaging and evocative novel reminiscent of The Lost Girls of Paris and The Alice Network, The Book of Lost Names is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of bravery and love in the face of evil.
This book is breathtaking and you don’t want to miss out!
