When my favorite romance writer writes a novel, I request it. But not only do I request the ARC (thank you Berkely and NetGalley!) I also preordered tWhen my favorite romance writer writes a novel, I request it. But not only do I request the ARC (thank you Berkely and NetGalley!) I also preordered the e-book and preordered my signed physical copy from her local bookstore too.
Why? because I like to have all of it. If Kristan Higgins writes it, I buy it.
Although I mentioned earlier that she is my favorite romance novelist, in the last few years, she has transitioned to women's fiction. Do I mind? not in the least! Why? because her stories are always interesting and they leave me with a smile.
In Out of the Clear Blue Sky, we meet two very different women.
One is our main protagonist, Lillie Silva. She is of Portuguese descent and loves her family, cooking, her little town on Cape Cod, and her job as a nurse-midwife. She feels like she has it all. She is perfectly happy although sad that her son is leaving for college in Montana. Soon to be an empty-nester, Lillie is planning to surprise her husband with a trip when he tells her that he wants a divorce and he is in love with another woman. He wants to have joy back in his life. This statement hits Lillie like a ton of bricks. She had no clue her marriage was dying. She never knew he was unhappy. Worst, he decides to tell her this when her son is leaving her too.
Then, Kristan Higgins throws me a curveball. The other woman's POV is Melissa's. The woman responsible (in part since we can't forget the douche ex-husband) for upending Lillie's life as she knows it.
At first, it was so easy to root for Lillie. She was a nice person who loved her family and was helpful to others. Definitely, someone, who deserved better than the hand she got played. What shocked me is how I learned to like Melissa too. Yes, she had been manipulative and superfluous but as the story progresses, we get to see another side of her. We get to know her motivations for the way she behaved. Not that it excused what she did but she didn't do it alone.
The one constant in this book is how much of a moron the ex-husband was. I had zero sympathies for him. Talk about selfish and egotistical. Good riddance!
As always, Kristan Higgins can make me smile and cry on the same page. Lillie had me laughing with her antics. I adored Zeus (her dog) and liked the other secondary characters including Beth, Hannah, her dad, and of course, Ben.
Even though this book was awesome, I wouldn't have minded seeing more of Ben on page....just saying (romantic at heart-point finger towards herself).
Now, I just have to wait for my next Kristan Higgins fix in 2023.
Cliffhanger: No
5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I LOVED this one. My romantic heart was so happy with it. Perfect for this month of February!
Olivia Marshall has a reputation. She finds herself in weI LOVED this one. My romantic heart was so happy with it. Perfect for this month of February!
Olivia Marshall has a reputation. She finds herself in weird situations like the last one that has ended her up without a home. She was burning the love letters from her ex-boyfriend when her apartment went up in smoke. Not having a place to live, she moves into her brother's condo.
Her brother shares a room with his best friend Colin Beck, Olivia's nemesis. Olivia had a HUGE crush on Colin since she first met him as a teenager but after a while, it turned into hate. In her mind, he has nothing but behaved as douche to her over the years. Yes, he is still sexy or maybe even better looking now but who is looking at his abs? To her shock, she starts noticing nice things about him when he is not teasing her any longer.
But Olivia is in a conundrum. She is starting to like Colin as a person but she has created this friendship over text with a stranger, Mr. Wrong Number. Their textship begins when he sends her a text meant for someone else. Over the next few weeks, they are happy to interact this way. Olivia starts relying on Mr. Wrong Number while they bounced back ideas about life and plans for the future.
Who would Olivia pick? Colin or Mr. Wrong Number???
Did I crush on Colin?
Absolutely!!
In truth, I loved both characters. Oliva's "luck" was cringe-worthy and I felt sorry for her. I also was laughing while reading Mr. Wrong Number many many times. I thought it was delightful! I read the book in one sitting and the pages just flew away.
I also recommend not reading the blurb which in my opinion gives way too much information. I didn't read it, so I was extra happy.
Thank you, Berkley and NetGalley, for my free copy in exchange for my honest review.
Sabrina Monroe is trying to rebuild her life. She lost her last job and she had to go back home to her parents. She has found a job locally 3.5 Fangs
Sabrina Monroe is trying to rebuild her life. She lost her last job and she had to go back home to her parents. She has found a job locally but the mean girl from her high school is now her boss and she is not any nicer than when she was back in school.
Sabrina can't wait to leave Wisconsin Dells behind. She had a tough childhood due to a very singular situation. She can see dead people!! Moreover, the dead people seek her to have their last will accomplished before they "puff" out. Her romantic life is nonexistent since sharing her real self and what she and her mother can do, has never gone well for her. Then she meets Ray.
Ray is the new owner of a restaurant. He was a very successful real estate agent with his family business but after visiting his uncle in Dells, he decided that the small-town life fits him just well. Ray keeps on bumping into Sabrina and believes there is a reason for this and the connection he feels with her.
I enjoyed this romance. The supernatural aspect made it more enjoyable since I absolutely loved Molly.
I had some issues with Sabrina avoiding her responsibility with the gift she was given. Of course, she saw it more like a curse. She also pushed Ray away too many times which annoyed me. On the other hand, Ray was really sweet and supportive.
Cliffhanger: No
3.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
As a fan of her Tracers series, I always welcome a book by Laura Griffin.
In Flight we get to know two new characters: Miranda Rhoads and Joel Breda.
ThAs a fan of her Tracers series, I always welcome a book by Laura Griffin.
In Flight we get to know two new characters: Miranda Rhoads and Joel Breda.
The novel begins with Miranda, a photographer, taking pictures of birds at sunrise. After her perfect shot is done, she encounters two dead bodies arranged on a boat. The coupled looked staged. A feather is found at the crime scene. Miranda, who is a CSI on a break, calls the cops after taking pictures of the bodies to preserve the scene since rain is on its way.
Joel Breda is the lead detective of the small town of Lost Beach. He’s in charge of finding the killer. He knows that Miranda can be of help, Her expertise could be invaluable to the investigation. He will do anything to convince her to join his team.
But the closer they get to the answers, the clearer it is that Miranda’s life is in danger.
Who is trying to hurt her?
Laura Griffith writes great romantic suspense. I’m always ready to jump into the story because I know I will relish it.
The Flight was no different. Enjoyable characters that I wanted to learn more about. Of course, there are always secondary characters that make you think: I want to read about them next!
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Berkely via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
As a lover of Beach Read, I could not stop myself from requesting this book.
Meet Poppy, the protagonist. When she was a teenager she was bullied and wAs a lover of Beach Read, I could not stop myself from requesting this book.
Meet Poppy, the protagonist. When she was a teenager she was bullied and when she was old enough she never stopped running. She left Ohio not wanting to ever return except to see her parents. As an adult, she is daring, adventurous, humorous, and with a desire to travel all over the world. At first, during her college years at the cheapest way she could afford it and currently in a much more plush way thanks to her current job.
In college, she meets Alex. At first glance, they had nothing in common and they disregard each other without a backward glance.
The second time they meet, they are forced to take a car ride together and during their time alone they share many pieces of themselves and a friendship ensues.
Poppy has always wanted to travel the world and having a friend like Alex is a blessing. They start taking trips together every year. They call it their Summer Trip.
Their friendship is a good one despite the people who come into their lives. For Alex there is Sarah. A woman who is in and out of his life. While for Poppy, she has a few serious male candidates.
Then the Croatia trip happens. After it, they won't really see each other for two years until Poppy realizes she wants to fix things with Alex. A trip to Palm Springs might be the antidote she is looking for their dying friendship.
I like Poppy she was full of life but she also had her pretty big insecurities. Alex was the serious one. A book-lover (yay), khaki-wearing guy. He was ready to settle down in a small town and have a family.
There were some parts of this book that tugged at my heartstrings. During those, I found myself smiling or crying depending on the scenario.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Berkely via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
After a divorce, grieving the loss of her baby, and a series of bad romanI’m sorry but this didn’t work for me.
What a frustrating story and character!
After a divorce, grieving the loss of her baby, and a series of bad romantic relationships, Sera doesn't have the desire to pick herself up and find a new job. Her sole obsession is to listen to a podcast by a woman named Rachel. Her podcasts are all about women who have disappeared.
Sera has learned everything about Rachel from her social media and from the episodes of her podcast. So when Rachel disappears, no new podcasts are coming out and her social media goes silent, Sera decides to go looking for her.
When Sera arrives at Rachel's parents' ranch in California, she immediately asks about Rachel. Rachel's mother tells her she thinks Rachel is dead. The townspeople think she has finally left the ranch but Sera is sure she can help find her. She has a list of suspects and she wants to follow the few leads she has.
I couldn’t get into this one. Sera sounded unstable. Her incessant obsession with the podcast and Rachel was borderline psychotic. The ending was so out there that I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes.
I’m in the minority, most other reviewers seem to love it so take my input as what it is, a personal preference.
Cliffhanger: No
2/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
When I saw an email from Berkley with an early copy of Hidden, I couldn't jump fast enough to request it. Laura' Griffin is one of my favor
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When I saw an email from Berkley with an early copy of Hidden, I couldn't jump fast enough to request it. Laura' Griffin is one of my favorite writers. I'm a fan for sure but I wasn't aware she was beginning a new series. Imagine my happiness at learning this fact!
The Texas Murder Files first book is Hidden. It stars a young journalist, Bailey Rhoads and a detective, Jacob Merritt. Usually, this combo doesn't mix well in real life but Laura makes it work in spades in this romantic suspense.
The story begins with a woman jogging in a park and then getting stabbed to death. The problem is that Dana Smith doesn't really exist. She has no friends, no family, and her employer, a doctor who hired her as a nanny, doesn't know anything more about her than what the cops do.
Hidden is an interesting novel with great characterization. I loved Bailey. She was smart, resourceful and stubborn- in a good way. She knew the murder had to have another angle and she was willing to dig and put herself on the line to find it. She wouldn't let go of the story and she wanted to bring justice to the dead woman.
Jacob was the perfect complement to Bailey. He was strong, dedicated and he cared for the victims. Also, he was as stubborn as Bailey in not letting go of the case as she was. He wanted the person responsible for Dana's death behind bars.
Jacob's partner, detective Kendra Porter was very cool too. She was essential to the investigation and when she could've been catty, she wasn't. She piqued my interest and I want to learn more about her.
Lastly, John Colt's character. He was so mysterious about himself which only made me want to know everything about him. I hope this is not the end of John. He deserves his own story.
As a whole, I was pleased with the way Hidden developed. I'm already pumped to read her next work in this series but really any book by Laura Griffin is a winner in my book.
Cliffhanger: No
5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Why is this series still standing? Because Seanan McGuire created an amazing world we don't want to part ways from. I'll probably cry when
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Why is this series still standing? Because Seanan McGuire created an amazing world we don't want to part ways from. I'll probably cry when it does.
We are now on book 13 and I don't want this to end. I love Toby. She's a strong female character with a great heart and a knack for getting into trouble. Being "hero" of the realm comes with its drawbacks.
I'm glad at the beginning of the book, Toby is enjoying a nice night with her family before the Luidaeg's comes to visit. It was nice to see all of the kids, Jaz, and Tybalt all relaxed for a change.
The Luidaeg is coming for payment. Toby owes her a lot and it's time to settle her debts. As payment, Toby and friends will accompany the Luidwaeg to the sea and travel to the Duchy of Ships to have the Selkies pay their own debts. Of course, nothing is simple when Toby is around.
I love seeing Tybalt and Toby together. He's so Shakesperean and he always delivers perfect lines that make me laugh or swoon. Quentin has grown so much as a character. He's now a man, almost ready to leave his blind fosterage. Dean is also becoming his own person and ruler which Marsha is making sure he does. Marsha is an intriguing character. I wonder if she will have a more important role in the next few books. She certainly did in this one. Pete was a nice addition and a surprise. I hope to see her again but probably not. I love to see Deanda again. She's another favorite of mine. The addition of the Merrow's conflict made the plotline more interesting too.
What can I say about the Luidaeg? She's probably my favorite character after Toby and Tybalt. She can be funny. She has helped Toby so many times. She loves Quentin. She has been in terrible pain for so many years thanks to her own sister. I hope after this book, she achieves some type of peace.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley Publishing Group -DAW via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
In the near future, people are using self-driving cars. One day, eight passengers are taken hostages by
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What a dark and possible nightmare!
In the near future, people are using self-driving cars. One day, eight passengers are taken hostages by a mysterious voice. Their routes are modified and they are told they are in a collision course to their death. Social media and a group of selected people are all in charge of selecting the sole survivor.
Who would you pick?
The pregnant female? The husband or wife? The abused wife? Or the man you met once and had a connection with?
The hacker has placed cameras inside each of the cars. He also has cameras inside the Vehicle Inquest Jury, where Libby Dixon is a Juror. Each of the passengers will have a chance to defend their lives as the sole survivor. The only problem is that each of them is hiding a terrible secret and the man behind their abduction seems to know their deepest secret. A secret so terrible that death could be a better choice.
What made The Passengers so exciting and scary is that it could become a possibility in the near future. The idea of self-driving cars is not outrageous any longer. I for one, hate driving, and I'm not sure I wouldn't love a self-driving car. Although, after reading this book, I'd think about it twice. Maybe I'd chose a level 3 and not a 5.
John Marrs does a wonderful job with The Passengers. He gives us great characters, a fantastic plot and at least two very good twists.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
Thank you, Loren Jaggers, Berkley and Netgalley for my complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
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One of my favorite debut romance novels this year!
Well Met by Jean Deluca surprised me with its originality and charm. I was taken by the c
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One of my favorite debut romance novels this year!
Well Met by Jean Deluca surprised me with its originality and charm. I was taken by the characters early on. I was invested in their relationship and my wish was for a happy ending.
Things I enjoyed:
Enemies to lovers story: ✔ A love between a Pirate and a Wench: ✔ Good secondary characters: ✔ A Renaissance Faire: ✔ Hot guys fighting: ✔ A Kilt and Leather Pants: ✔
Emily moves to Willow Creek, a small town in Maryland to help her sister and her niece. Emily's sister, April was involved in a car accident and she's still recuperating. Emily is taking care of all the chores and driving her niece, Caitlin to school and April to the doctor's appointments and physical therapy.
Emily was able to be there for April because her own life had imploded. Her boyfriend of many years, Jake, had dumped her without a second thought. Without a home or a relationship, Emily takes the opportunity to forget about her problems by helping others, and hopefully, come up with a plan for her future too.
When Emily takes Caitlin to sign up to play a part in the Renaissance Faire, the last thing she thought was that she needed to sign up herself or Caitlin couldn't join it. Next thing she knows, Emily is going to be playing one of the tavern wenches.
"That was what I was there for. Be the cool aunt. Do the fun stuff. Distract her."
Emily likes the small-town people feel. Emily is enjoying making new friendships and the feeling of being accepted by everyone. Well, maybe not everyone. The English teacher is not too keen on her. Simon never appears happy to see her and he keeps on looking at her with disapproval. He's the Renaissance Faire organizer and wants everything done to perfection.
"I knew which of these two guys I was looking forward to getting to know better this summer, and it wasn’t the Ren Faire Killjoy."
However, when Emily turns into Emma, the local tavern wench and Simon Graham turns into a pirate, Captain Blackthorne, everything is different. Simon becomes flirtations, easy-going, and has a smile on his face. A smile that makes Emily forget about her first impressions of him.
“Well, love. I’d be fighting for you.”
Well Met was sweet, charming and left me with a smile on my face. I would love to read another book by Jen DeLuca set in the same town. Maybe one with Mitch and April.
"But then you came along, Emily, and you weren’t a should. You were a want."
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Not the Girl You Marry is supposed to be a re-telling of the movie How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. So, of course, I wanted to read it. Sadly,
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Not the Girl You Marry is supposed to be a re-telling of the movie How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. So, of course, I wanted to read it. Sadly, I don't think it met my expectations. There were parts I really liked and others were I thought: what was the author thinking!
Not the Girl You Marry's two main characters are Hannah Mayfield and Jack Nolan.
Hannah Mayfield is successful in her work but not in her love life. She has been hurt before. She has fallen in love before to later realized she's the type of girl a guy doesn't want to marry. Her last boyfriend didn't think she was good enough to walk down the aisle together. So when at work, she needs to play nice and as an event planner, organize the wedding of the year, she has to show that she understands love and romance. She must pretend to have a boyfriend who loves her in front of her boss.
Who wouldn't wish to have a world where more Jack Nolans are possible. Jack is super cute, nice and he has always tried to keep his girlfriends happy. Of course, due to a work situation and in hopes of a promotion, he will have to do the unthinkable. He would have to pretend to be a bastard and hurt his next girlfriend.
As a premise, I thought I was going to love it but despite me liking both characters, the situations they got themselves into were too far fetched for me.
Things that I liked included Hannah's self-discovery of her identity as a biracial woman. I liked that she realized she was worthy and a man didn't complete her. Other things I like about Hannah was her determination and loyalty to her friends. Jack's family was also an interesting one. I kept wondering if another family member could be the protagonist of another book.
A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley Romancia via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Patricia Briggs never ceases to amaze me. Her world-building is extraordinary. She keeps on bringing new spectacu
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What are you?”
“Chaos,”
Patricia Briggs never ceases to amaze me. Her world-building is extraordinary. She keeps on bringing new spectacular characters into the fold.
In Smoke Bitten, there are a few things that are going wrong in the Mercyverse.
For starters:
-A new being is trying to kill Mercy (nothing new there, right?).
-A pack of werewolves is trying to take over Adam's territory.
-Wulfe decides to tell Mercy something she doesn't want to hear.
-Last but not least, Adam and Mercy's mate bond has gone silent.
How can anything go wrong with these events happening simultaneously? I mean, Mercy is right when she says she's Chaos. She should advertise it with neon lights. Of course, Coyote is part to blame.
From the moment I opened the first page, I knew it was going to be a rollercoaster of events. There is non-stop action and poor Mercy is always in the middle of it. She has to deal with Fae, Underhill, Vampire and Werewolf politics to mention a few.
From the above, the one that annoyed me the most was the Pack issues.
For how long are they going to question her motives and when are they going to completely accept her?
Hasn't she proven her loyalty and love for Adam?
I wanted to give some of these werewolves a big slap on the face. I'm getting tired of their attitude. I almost got mad with Adam too until I understood what was going on with him.
One passage in Smoke Bitten made me wonder what might happen in the next book. I'm not sure it was intentional or I'm just reading too much into it. I guess I could only hope. If it happens, that could be explosive all way around.
(view spoiler)[“I wonder if Hannah’s granny’s fae blood is the reason that Kelly and Hannah have so many kids,” Adam mused. “Though it seems like the fae blood should work against them, because the fae have more trouble reproducing than werewolves do.”
“Maybe it’s Hannah’s granny’s secret ingredient,” I told him. “Take one sip before bedtime as needed for conception.” (hide spoiler)]
I love Mercy, Adam, Ben, Jesse, Stephan and so many more. I'm not sure what I'll do when Patricia Briggs decides to stop writing these characters. It will be a sad, sad day.
Cliffhanger: No
5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Ace via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
“The girls! My girls. Your girls. The new Cosmo reader is a young, vibrant, single woman. She’s career minded and driven. She’s sexy and fun spirited. Even a bit naughty. And I know her better than anyone because I was that girl.”
What an interesting story Renee Rosen brings to life! It's a piece of historical fiction who has Helen Gurley Brown as the protagonist. For most of us, she's a name we have heard before but we might not have realized how important she became to the women in the sixties.
In 1965, Helen Gurley Brown becomes the new Editor-in-Chief of Cosmopolitan. Helen the author of Sex and the Single Girl novel has already created quite a stir but when she lands the position at the had-seen-better-days-magazine, many people are unhappy. Multiple employees (men for the most part) quit instantly and some others over the next few weeks after she takes over. From the novel, we learn that Helen was working with a skeleton crew and a very tight budget. Everyone was sure she was going to fail and plenty of leaks were dispersed about what she had in the works for the July and August edition of Cosmo that year. The Hearst executives didn't support her. She was too progressive for them. She wanted to speak to young women through the magazine.
“Helen Gurley Brown is all for a woman having a career.”
In order to tell us Helen's story, Renee Rosen brings us, Alice Weiss. A young woman who has moved from Ohio to NYC. Her mother used to live in NYC when she was alive. Alice wants to feel closer to her mother and she knows that in NYC she can be. Alice has the dream of becoming a photographer.
Thanks to a friend of her mother's, Elaine Sloan, Alice lands the job as Helen's secretary. Alice might disagree with some of the things Helen says but for the most part, Alice believes in her boss. A woman who for the most part is underestimated by many.
At work, Alice meets Erik Masterson and then, later on, she meets Christopher Mack, a photographer who has an eye for things and who wants to help Alice achieve her dreams. Alice realizes that both men are quite different and she's attracted to both. What does a girl do?
What I like the most about the book is the clear portrayal of Helen. She was a thin woman who ate very little. She broke pencils when she was under stress. A woman who loved to cry as an outlet and who asked for the support of her husband, David Brown, the famous producer of many movies like The Sting, Jaws, Driving Miss Daisy, Cocoon and Chocolat (to name a few), whenever she felt down.
“Get me David.”
She was also a pioneer in fighting for "her girls". This is what she called the women she wanted the magazine to target. "My Girls" were women who were independent, women who were interested in their own careers, their own value and their sexuality. Women who might marry someday but who were enjoying the single life for now. In a world where women in their twenties were considered old or not marriage material, Helen was telling them, their life was just beginning.
“She’s smart, independent, always striving for more,” “She’s bold and daring. She loves men and she loves sex.”
I appreciate Mrs. Rosen's portrayal of Helen's life. Very interesting indeed. After finishing, I went to look for pictures of the July's cover with the model Renata. I also looked at pictures of Helen and Helen with David. They seem to have lived a long and loving life together.
"She truly cared about her girls."
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
"Red was going to be the final girl, the sole survivor of a massacre, just like in horror movies."
In this new post-apocalyptic world, there are three evils. The Cough who's wiping up millions, the unknown monster and the evil Humans. Or more specifically the evil male humans who would do anything to get a hold of women and children.
Our protagonist goes by the name of Red. Her real name is Cordelia and her mom calls her Delia. Yet, she only responds to Red. As you can guess, she wears a red hoodie. When Red was eight, a car hit her and she lost her leg. She wears a prosthetic leg but she doesn't have time to wallow in self-pity. The accident made her stronger. She becomes a survivor. Her love for horror movies and biology help with her self-preservation.
A new plague has come over the world. It started with a simple cough. Whoever gets infected, won't survive the virus. Red's plan is to move from their home to the safety of her grandmother's house. She's packed and ready to go. She just needs to convince her parents and her brother Adam to hurry. She knows they are running out of time.
The road to her grandmother's house is full of dangers. Evil men are lurking everywhere. Red won't trust anyone. She's ready to defend herself at any cost. Yet, a greater danger is out there. She can feel it.
The Girl is Red is the retelling of Red Riding Hood. We all know there is a wolf somewhere out there. Red is desperate to seek the comfort of her grandmother's home. Red was not your typical heroine. She knows all the dumb mistakes characters make in the horror movies she has watched and she won't make any of them. Stay together, be patient, avoid the highways, pack the right survival kit, defend yourself ask questions later, don't trust anyone, trust your instincts, all things Red follows are what differentiates her from the rest. Yes, she has weaknesses but not the dumb ones.
As secondary characters go, Sirois is an intriguing one. I wish I had seen more of him. I hope there is a second book to learn more about him. There are so many things that were not explained in The Girl in Red that a sequel is worth it. Even the end felt anticlimactic. Anyway, I hope there is more.
"Good luck to you then, Red Riding Hood."
Cliffhanger: No
3/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Wild Country was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!! It was as good as reading a Meg and Simon's book! It had all the right elements to hook
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Now we are talking!
Wild Country was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!! It was as good as reading a Meg and Simon's book! It had all the right elements to hook me from the very first chapter.
The timeline of Wild Country is around the time Crispin's brother shows up to the Lakeside Courtyard on Etched in Bone. We get to meet new characters and get to know more of the old ones too.
Jessie and Tobias Walker (mother and son) are Intuits. Jessie gets a "feel" for people while Tobias gets a "feel" for animals. They are both from Prairie Gold but are helping Tolya Sanguinatti, the Vampire who's in charge of Bennett. All humans from Bennett were killed by the Elders after the Human First and Last Movement attacked the Others and Tolya is in charge of repopulating it with the right kind of humans.
Jana Paniccia is hired to work with Bennett's sheriff, Virgil Wolfgard. Virgil has all the right reasons to hate the humans but he understands why they might need Jana. His idea of dealing with women is to put them in jail under a "me time" space.
Barb Debeny is in charge of the pets and the relocation of them to new homes. She has a happy personality and is very friendly, traits which can be confusing to the terra indigene especially to Virgil.
Wild Country was fabulous! I couldn't be happier that we are able to learn more about these characters. I love to read what was going through Tolya's head. Virgil and Jana's interaction with the puppy had me laughing at loud. I like the idea of Jana and Tobias together too. Jessi had so many important interactions, one I didn't see it coming. I wonder what will happen next with this mixed community of terra indigene and humans and who else shows up.
Wild Country was engaging, fast-paced, funny and sad at times. Definitely a winner!!
5/5 Fangs
Thank you Ace and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
Kristan Higgins is my favorite author. I own all of her books in digital, paperback and hardcover forms. I think she's an amazing writer and she seems to be an awesome human being too.
When I received a copy of Life and Other Inconveniences, I was ecstatic! As a book lover, nothing feels as great as getting a book by your favorite author. Then, something happened. I didn't want to read it. Why? because she writes a book a year and if I started it too soon, I was going to have to wait a long time for her next one. Finally, this weekend, I couldn't postpone it any longer. So I prepared for my weekend. I asked my husband to take care of the puppies, breakfast and household chores while I took the morning off to read. No interruptions, no breaks.
Life and Other Inconveniences is narrated in multiple points of views. The main three characters are:
Emma, a single mother who has abandonment issues. When she was very little, her mother committed suicide and her father Clark, left her with her grandmother and never looked back. When Emma meets the first boy/man who shows her some love, she dates him for three years and just before she graduates high school, she learns she's pregnant. Her grandmother, Genevieve is not happy and pretty much kicks her out. Emma goes to live with her maternal grandfather. Years later, she's starting her career as a psychologist and her daughter, Riley is a teenager.
Genevieve London had a perfect marriage. She loved her husband, Garrison with all of her heart. She also had two boys, Sheppard and Clark. She loved Sheppard, her oldest and when he goes missing at a very young age, she loses part of her heart. Then, Garrison dies too and when he dies, Genevieve loses the ability to love. She's never the mother that she should be to Clark (her youngest son) and when years later, he delivers his daughter, Emma to her doorstep, she thinks this is her chance to make amends. Yet, When Emma gets pregnant, she can't be flexible.
Last, we have Riley. Emma's daughter and Genevieve's granddaughter. A smart young woman with a good heart. Riley's having problems at school and when Genevieve's invitation to spend the summer with her is given, Emma and Riley agree it could be a good time to leave town.
Life and Other Inconveniences felt different than her prior novels. I had a hard time concentrating on the story. I felt there was too much inner dialogue by Emma and Genevieve. I missed the humor I've come to expect from KH. I missed the embarrassing moments, I've come to feel for the characters. I missed the romance, I've come to adore.
I like to clarify that ANY time there was a dialogue, I was 100% immersed in it. Even though, the dialogue was so scattered, when it was there, I craved it.
These are my opinions but I hope this doesn't deter you from reading this book.
Cliffhanger: No
3.5/5Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I just have one question. What did Coyote mean at the end of Storm Cursed?
Arg, I wish I understood him. He's such a mystery. He's powerful,
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I just have one question. What did Coyote mean at the end of Storm Cursed?
Arg, I wish I understood him. He's such a mystery. He's powerful, a trickster, very smart and he loves his daughter, Mercy, even though he has a weird way of showing it.
The Mercyverse is one of my favorite places to go back to. I adore Mercy and Adam. After this many years, Patricia Briggs has demonstrated that a couple can be together and still attract readers without the need for an unnecessary love triangle. To this day, Iron Kissed is still one of my favorite books.
Also, I love the side characters like Stephan, Zee, Sherwood Post, Tad, Joel, Ben, Wulfe, Larry (Goblin King), etc. I wish we could spend more time with each of them. They are fantastic! Mercy keeps on bringing on strays that make her life so much more interesting (and deadly..LOL).
When I start a new Mercy book, I always wonder where Mrs. Briggs is going to take her this time. Yes, Mercy has been hurt and almost killed so many times but she's fast, resourceful and she has learned to trust her mate and friends to help her out. She continues to grow as a character. She's my girl crush.
Storm Cursed is mostly about witches. Bad witches. Black Magic witches. Mercy is not a fan. She knows they are trouble and she must intervene. She must do it. Her job is to help the humans and the Fae meet without the witches killing them all.
I hated those Bad. Bad. Witches.
Storm Cursed is full of action, intrigue, suspense, and amazing characters. Unputtable down. The stories are only getting better.
Cliffhanger: no
4.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Ace via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Going back to the world of our dear Toby is always a pleasure. I have come to love this series. How can I not when Tybalt makes me want to
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Going back to the world of our dear Toby is always a pleasure. I have come to love this series. How can I not when Tybalt makes me want to swoon when he says things from his heart. Le Sigh....
After the events which occurred in The Brightest Fell, Toby is trying to avoid discussing what is troubling her, her relationship with Tybalt. She loves the King of Cats and she's not sure how they're going to move forward after what Amandine did to him. Her friends are worried about her and Tybalt but she rather not think about it.
Then, her ex-human boyfriend, Cliff comes knocking on her door. He's looking for their daughter, Gillian. She has gone missing (again!). Toby can't believe someone has taken her. She loved Gillian so much that when Gillian chose to be human and stay with Cliff, Toby walked away believing she would be safe in the human world. But, too many people remember that Toby had Gillian and she's sure a fae is involved in her disappearance.
With the help of her squire and her fetch Mae, she will go looking for Gillian. The search takes her to places where as you can guess, Toby has to fight for her life and she will end up being covered in her own blood. Nothing new there, right? That's mostly why she wears black anyway. There are many close calls and at the same time, I could feel that time was running out for her.
There's a huge plot changer. The reveal is a WOW moment where I wasn't sure if I read it right and I had to go back and reread it. Holy amazing Batman! I just couldn't wrap my head around it. Yet, it makes perfect sense. Not vague enough for you? I guess you're just going to need to read it.
The ending is perfect is an imperfect way. It leaves you with so many open questions and without a way to know the answers.
For all Tybalt fans, the man does make a good entrance. Perfect timing too. It broke my heart to see how hard everything is for him right now. I truly hate Amandine for what she did to him. Despite everything, every heartfelt spoken word by him is beautiful in its deliverance.
I really can't wait to see what happens next. I truly hope to see more of Gillian in the next book.
As always the Luidaeg is amazing in a terrifying way. One of my favorite characters in this series.
I can't finish my review without saying how amazing Seanan McGuire's writing is. It's almost poetic. Her characters are brought to life full of light and darkness.
Cliffhanger: No
5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by DAW Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Berkley Romance and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary copy of The Proposal in exchange for an honest review.
Let me start by saying, I didn't read The Wedding Date (but I wanted too). The Proposal should be counted as a novel written within the same world. I will call it book #2. The couple from the first story is mentioned or appeared quite a few times through it.
The Proposal begins with an embarrassing situation. Nikole Paterson is at the Dodgers game when her boyfriend, a guy whom she has only dated five months, proposes to her using the scoreboard. To her dismay, everyone is watching her as she tells him no in the most subtle way. He storms out, leaving her behind.
Carlos Ibarra and her sister are a few rows behind watching the events unfold. They decide to help Nikole by taking her away from the stadium and dropping her to meet her friends. When asked to join them, they agree. Carlos and Nikole share a spark and they will start communicating through texts and phone calls in the days to come.
Nikole thinks that Carlos will be a nice rebound hookup since she doesn't want anything serious. Carlos feels the same way. Yet, the more time they are around each other, the more difficult this arrangement becomes.
The Proposal is a fast and easy story. I liked that the author was inclusive of different races and body types but I had a hard time relating to Nikole. She said she was hurt before and that's why she didn't want to be in a relationship but we never get to experience her past. It's only mentioned. I would've liked to see more of what the other boyfriend did to make her skittish of relationships.
Carlos was very likable and so was his family. He was devoted to them. He was a good friend too. The only time I didn't approve of him was when he felt rejected. He was quite mean then. Otherwise, he was a good guy.
Intercepted was the perfect book to read over the weekend. It was fun, light and with plenty of hilarious situations. I would have finished
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Intercepted was the perfect book to read over the weekend. It was fun, light and with plenty of hilarious situations. I would have finished it earlier but I have a new ten-week-old puppy. #NoTimeToReadAnymore or I should say: #NoTimeForAnything
Anyway, Intercepted has a funny heroine, Marlee Harper. Marlee is the girlfriend of Chris Alexander, a pro football player. Her only boyfriend has been Chris. She did have a one-night stand four years ago while they were on a break but she tries to avoid thinking about that night.
Marlee loves marketing but it has been hard to do what she wants to do because she has dedicated herself to Chris. She even attends the Lady Mustangs meetings which usually only football players wives can attend and she's continuously attacked by Courtney, the QB's wife. Chris is nothing but self-involved and when she finds out he's cheating, she breaks their ten-year-old relationship and moves out.
Things get heated when Gavin Pope joins the team as the new QB. He's good at his job, he's hot and it turns out he's Marlee's one night stand! At first, Marlee tries to avoid him because she's with Chris and later on because she doesn't want to date another football player. But, Gavin is unrelenting. He makes it impossible for Marlee not to try to be with him.
As I said earlier, this book is quick, funny and light. It had the perfect combination to entertain you. I love how Marlee defended herself from the mean WAGs. I like how she did have a true friend within the meanies. I like how she went through life using hashtags. I like how her relationship developed with Gavin. Gavin was just perfect except when he did something which was completely out of character for him. I guess, we needed some drama and that was the only way to create it. Even with his misstep, I still ended up liking him.
I'm looking forward to Fumbled, the next in this series.
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley Romance via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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