Other people's houses - Abbi Waxman

Paperback 352 pages

Published April 3rd 2018 by Berkley

Fiction

Borrowed from friend

My Thoughts

The first 80 pages were good, but then it got even better. It's not like something changed, I just got really invested in these people. I am older, I live in suburbia, I have a kid, this one does hit closer to home than hot singles finding love in the city.

Frances is too nice and helpful. The other mums call her Saint Frances, ugh, I wanted to slap them. But through Frances we see all the silly mummies. Those who compete and wants to be best at everything, while Frances, if kind, scrapes by on the minimum.

Also her husband says the most romantic thing ever. Damn, he loves her, just as she is. And sure their marriage is not exciting. It is boring and smexless, but hey they are content.

Then there is Anne who cheats on her husband and Frances catches her in the act...the clock is ticking to meltdown.

Ben, well honestly he was not around much and I did not see why he had a little POV at all.

Iris, who wants another kid but her wife is busy being a actress.

Conclusion:

Suburbia. School runs. Family crisis. Something made me read and read and finish it quickly when it finally took off. I really enjoyed this one, more than the previous one.

Blurb

At any given moment in other people's houses, you can find...repressed hopes and dreams...moments of unexpected joy...someone making love on the floor to a man who is most definitely not her husband...

*record scratch*

As the longtime local carpool mom, Frances Bloom is sometimes an unwilling witness to her neighbors' private lives. She knows her cousin is hiding her desire for another baby from her spouse, Bill Horton's wife is mysteriously missing, and now this...

After the shock of seeing Anne Porter in all her extramarital glory, Frances vows to stay in her own lane. But that's a notion easier said than done when Anne's husband throws her out a couple of days later. The repercussions of the affair reverberate through the four carpool families--and Frances finds herself navigating a moral minefield that could make or break a marriage. (less)

Audio: The Curiosities - Susan Gloss

Narrated by: Karen White

Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release date: 02-05-19

Publisher: HarperAudio

Thank you Harper for this review copy

Fiction

My Thoughts

I think the cover is pretty, but it does not really show the book as it is. There is sadness, loss and other issues to be dealt with. The cover is more like I felt about the book at the end, hopeful.

Nell is having trouble in her marriage. They want a baby and she is spending so much money on IVF. So she gets a job at an artists colony. Nell is dealing with loss and trying to cope her own way. Some of  the things in her story really shook me at my core.

Then there are the artists. Annie, who was famous in the 70s for her part as a feminist. And who is trying something new, but everyone always remembers the past.

Paige, who is brilliant, but can not settle on a style. She wants it all and she wants to feel. I can't say I was a fan of Paige, but then Paige is not someone who lets anyone close and even through this yo felt that.

Odin, who works with metal, he too is dealing with loss. Odin was so sweet, I liked him.

But there is also Betsy, the woman who made this possible and who passed away. Her life was fascinating. She collected art from all over the world and all forms. She was a true collector and art lover. She should have her own book.

So yes there is a lot of loss and people trying to cope their own way. How art is created. And frankly how you deal with a house with artists all doing their own thing.

I liked it, but it was darker that I expected.

Narrator

I had trouble finding the right speed for her voice. And you know I like it fast. But she did male and female voices well and brought a sort of gravitas to it all.

Blurb

Nell Parker has a PhD in Art History, a loving husband named Josh, and a Craftsman bungalow in Madison, WI. But her last pregnancy ended later in the second trimester, and rather than pausing to grieve, she pushes harder for testing and fertility treatments. Urging Nell to apply for jobs, Josh believes his wife needs something else to focus on other than a baby that may never be.

Finding a job turns out to be difficult for an art historian . . . until Nell sees the ad seeking a director for a new nonprofit called the Mansion Hill Artists' Colony. The colony is the brainchild of the late, unconventional society dame Betsy Barrett, who left behind her vast fortune and a killer collection of modern art to establish an artist-in-residency program to be run out of her lakeside mansion. The executor of Betsy's estate simply hands Nell a set of house keys and wishes her luck.

Nell dives into the new role and discovers that while finding artists to fill the three residency slots is easy, managing their eccentric personalities is not. There's Odin, a young metal sculptor, who keeps the other residents awake with his late-night welding projects. And Annie, a dreadlocked granny known for her gritty photography, whom Nell is almost certain is dealing pot out of the basement studio. Lastly, Lois, an art student from the university, takes up residence in the third-floor turret, experimenting with new printing and design techniques, as well as leading a string of bad boyfriends upstairs when she stumbles home late at night.Despite all the drama, Nell finds something akin to a family among the members of the creative community that she's brought together. And when her attraction to Odin begins to heat up, Nell is forced to decide what will bring her greater joy-the creative, inspired world she's created, or the familiar but increasingly fragile one of her marriage. 

TMST

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post on Rainy Day Ramblings where Rainy discuss a wide range of topics from books to blogging. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog.

February 26th: How have you learned to keep your TBR pile in check, or how would you like to control your pile?

It depends on what you mean with this question. Some put all the books they wish they had in their TBR, but I do not do that. All those wishlist books are books I might, or might not ever want.

SO yes TBR are only those books I own. Oh and I do not count ebooks. Damn kindle books, I used to dl freebies, but I almost never do now. They annoy me. Since if I do want to read them I have to try and find the file wherever that is and convert it to epub so f that. Ugh kindle.

Right, the books. 4 years ago? I decided to PURGE, and I did. I read and read, I skimmed and skimmed, I dnef SO many. I mean I am not going to read boring books, or ok books. Eh, give away.

But lately, eeek, I have been on such a audio run that they have started to pile up again. But it was nothing like before when I had like 200 unread books.

Charmcaster - Sebastien de Castell

Paperback, 417 pages

Published October 4th 2018 by Hot Key Books (first published May 7th 2018)

Series: Spellslinger #3

YA / Fantasy

Own

My Thoughts.

I shall manage to make a review short! I shall!

Kellen is still running from his country and the price on his head. He meets an old friend. He goes with Ferius to a new country. They are still following the lead from the bad guys in the previous books.

More books are coming and to be honest, I want to know about the shadowblack! Is he gonna go bad? I wish we would get more about that.

Still they are light, amusing and short. Win win.

Conclusion:

Fun YA fantasy in an interesting world

Synopsis

Kellen has begun to master his spellslinging and the Argosi tricks for staying alive, and he and Reichis have found a career that suits them both: taking down mercenary mages who make people's lives miserable. But Ferius is concerned that Kellen is courting disaster . . .

Joint Discussion: The Jane Austen Project

Hello all! Carole and I will be discussing "The Jane Austen Project" by Kathleen A. Flynn. I am in red and Carole in orange.

Author: Kathleen A. Flynn

Title: The Jane Austen Project

Genre: Historical Fiction, SciFi, Time Travel, Romance, Fantasy

Pages: ebook

Published: May 2nd 2017 

Where I Got It: Library

London England, 1815: Two travelers—Rachel Katzman and Liam Finucane—arrive in a field, disheveled and weighed down with hidden money. They are not what they seem, but colleagues from a technologically advanced future, posing as a doctor and his spinster sister. While Rachel and Liam aren’t the first team of time travelers, their mission is the most audacious yet: meet, befriend, and steal from Jane Austen.

Carefully selected and rigorously trained by The Royal Institute for Special Topics in Physics, disaster-relief doctor Rachel and actor-turned-scholar Liam have little in common excerpt their extraordinary circumstances. Circumstances that call for Rachel to stifle her independent nature and let Liam take the lead as they infiltrate Austen’s circle via her favorite brother, Henry.

But diagnosing Jane’s fatal illness and obtaining an unpublished novel hinted at in her letters pose enough of a challenge without the convolutions of living a lie. While her friendship with Jane deepens and her relationship with Liam grows complicated, Rachel fights to reconcile her true self with the constrictions of 19th century society. As their portal to the future prepares to close, Rachel and Liam struggle with their directive to leave history as they found it…however heartbreaking that proves.

Ok, so this was different. Time travel where they are so prepared, so rich too for that matter. I liked that. No rambling through time being silly. These people knew their stuff.

Yes. I loved that aspect. They came there prepared with training and money and a mission. How intriguing!

Of course, going back to find a book is really silly lol

Someone rich probably paid for it and wanted those manuscripts. A huge JA fan! LOL I also think they were hoping for more info on her. The book was the cherry on top.

Probably. Cos to go back for a book, and to see why she died so young. When there are other things they could do! But then they wanted not to make a mark.

I love JA as much as the next person. But there are so many other things and people I would want to go check out and solve those mysteries first. And they had to expect they were changing history. Any sort of time travel would. Just buying something at a store could impact history. Just being a body there goes against history. I will say the ending did confuse me a bit. Time travel books always do. LOL

Yes, what if they buy that book that X was meant to buy to study and then X never studied and never invented Y. Butterfly effect or whatever.

The end end? I hope for happy.

The ending was confusing for me. LOL Especially when they were all talking about this version and that version. It boggled my mind which always happens when it comes to time travel and changes in timelines and the like. Oooo the Butterfly Effect. Draws me bananas. But I really think the author did a good job with the whole time travel aspect.

Ugh, yes, the whole timeline was whaat? How, I, what? But I hope for happy if you know what I mean. Just cos things change they do not change.

Yes, I liked how she did it. If only you know, if only.!

Time travel is a mess. If I were to do it I would want to be invisible. I would just want to be there and observe. Not messing up any timelines for me!

However, I would be tempted to want to meet Jane Austen. I am curious about what her real character is. If she was how she was in this book, I would have a hard time liking her. She seemed a little bipolar.

I was not a fan, but then she saw too much, and when you are a time traveler then other people should not see too much. She had that wit and she was dark, not someone I want to be friends with, but someone that I can appreciate.’

Yes. I really feel she did embody the artist role. So I think the author did well in showing Jane. She was dark and witty and her moments she just wanted to be left alone. The tortured artist and she probably hated the fact she couldn’t and wouldn’t publish under her own name. It would annoy me not to get the credit I deserved but during this time it was unseen for a woman to be a novelist.

Yes, I’d be angry, but then, she expected it too, but she would still resent it. Brooding artist fits well. Oh Jane.

I think the author did well at depicting her.

I was so bummed by Edward. He seemed soooo sweet and nice. But then he wasn’t. I was so sad! But I guess every story needs someone to play the villain ;)

I am sorry! I know you liked Edward when I opened my big mouth, oops! I liked Henry, even though at even at the end I was not sure about his feelings.

Not your fault about Edward. The scene in the library made me hate him. What a jerk! And what makes me even madder is the fact he was fake nice to them. SMH! Be a man and question them to their faces.

But fake nice was all the rage then.

Psst, we need to wrap it up, the pizza is done!

Ok, so we talked Jane, time travel aspect. What about the actual time travelers? U said you did not really care for Liam

True, true. But still. I guess I was deceived and I am hurt ;)

Oh dear! PIZZA!

I did not care for Liam. He got better near the end. But I think she deserved better. I can’t explain it, but he rubbed me the wrong way.

Yeah, I did not care for Liam that way. But Liam there, eh, sure that worked. I did like her, she tried to fit in.

I feel like her motives were pure and she actually really liked Jane and wanted to be her friend and try and save her. I do feel the romance between Liam and her felt forced.

It came out of nowhere. I was not a fan

I wasn’t either. It felt so forced and so dangerous especially since they are acting as brother and sister. Ummm...how in the world would you explain if someone caught you???? It was so awkward. Plus he has a fiance at home! Sure he wants to break it off with her, but still.

Yes fiance at home and omg if someone had caught them. Awkward as F! More than awkward. Run them out of town weird

That is a way to change history. You get caught making out with your “brother” (even tho he really isn’t) and you become a legend. LOL That would be in the gossip papers. SMH. Use your brain people!

Keep it in your pants people!

Idiots! Sighs.

Anything more to add? Sorry, I am ALL over the place today

LOL. I totally get it. While you were gone I started a load of laundry

But overall, I liked this book. I think it was a good choice. I didn’t have any major issues except for how slow it was. Slow narrative, but I get it. They are getting established and I feel like the author did it on purpose since all books by Jane Austen and the other old writers had a slow-moving plot. The end was okay...confused me with all the Butterfly talk mumbo jumbo. Not amazing, but I liked it.

Yes, it was very slow, but I liked it. Sure it took me a while to get to that enjoy part. Nothing happened, but then Henry came and Jane came and I wanted to know how it all would end.

Endings! Ha, but you know maybe she will write another one...maybe we should hope for that

I wouldn’t mind reading more! I do want to see what happened to them next. I also want to read the book that Jane Austen “wrote” about them. That would be a fun tale!

I hope she writes more then. I’d read it. SHe did talk about the Brontes

Yessss maybe that is a spoiler. Maybe the duo will go solve the issues of the Brontes ;) Change history again. I would read that for sure.

The end?

Yess, the end. I need to do chores ;)

About the Authors

Carole and Blodeuedd have been blogging a long while now. The last couple of years the epic duo have been discussing books, watching movies, and even wetting the pen and sharing their stories with the worldwide web. They both love cats, chocolate, and a good story.

Saturday Movie: Dumplin

Happy February!

We'll be discussing 'Dumplin'. I am in red and Carole in orange.

Title: Dumplin

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Musical

Running Time: 1 hr & 50 mins

Rating: PG-13

Released: 2018

Willowdean ('Dumplin'), the plus-size teenage daughter of a former beauty queen, signs up for her mom's Miss Teen Bluebonnet pageant as a protest that escalates when other contestants follow her footsteps, revolutionizing the pageant and their small Texas town.

TRAILER:

DISCUSSION: 

I can’t remember the author of the book this was based on, but yes I chose it because it was based on a book, as one does ;D

This was a really good pick. I’ve heard so many people like it, so I’m glad we decided on this one.

I am happy too! I did not know what to expect, and I did not expect this. I honestly do not know what I expected, but it felt more, I do not know, sweet? Ok not sweet, but ugh if I knew what I meant! Lol. It was just nicer. Omg like I imagined something dark. Blah, I am rambling!

Haha. I get what you’re saying. I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I was surprised I only cried the one time and that was because it was a beautiful scene and it made me want to shake Will! HE LOVES YOU DAMMIT! I loved Bo. He was so sweet. She deserved him.

I was a bit afraid for her, I mean I got her. She had doubts about him and I had ones too. I wanted to believe him, but at the same time, what if he was just being an ass!?

I will also say that I did not cry. But then it took me 3 times to watch this movie so I was not that invested in that scene as I should have. But that is the thing with all my movies these days

I get it too especially since I can relate with her and I get the body issues. I had my doubts when BF and I started dating. Like how can you love me!!?? Me of all people! So I get it, but his speech would’ve done me in if I was her. He was genuine and so sweet. I loved him. LOLLL

It took 2 sittings for me because of work. I have a hard time watching movies now. It takes a couple of sittings for me too. Not enough time in the day!

The car scene, yeah I got it there. But I get why she ran. But dang, that boy was sweet and well, yay for them then ;) And now I do not know what to say. Like what should we discuss? Her horrid mum? The pageant?  Ugh her mum, her mum it is! How can she spend that much time with other things than her kid? I know it brings them close in the end, but too little too late for me.

I get why she ran there too. I would’ve. How I knew he loved her was when he said she was beautiful and screw what people think and that screw those people who make her feel bad about her body.

Ugh. Her mother. She is so blind and living in the past. Maybe they wouldn’t be hard for cash if she wasn’t buying dresses and spending so much on hair and etc. SMH. I was done with her the moment she got mad at Will after she got suspended. You can’t get mad at Will for loving her aunt so much more than you! You love those skinny pageant girls more than your own daughter. Grr!

I forgot about the suspension! Go Will!

And yes her mum was still living her glory days, I mean come on! That was ages ago. And yes she loved those skinny perfect girls. Booo. But Aniston did do a great job with her!

I wish we had seen more of the aunt, she sounded so lovely.

Aniston did a good job. I was unsure of how I was going to take her as a character you’re not supposed to like right away because Aniston is so beloved and normally plays the Girl Next Door characters. But she did awesome.

Yes! I wished we could see more of the aunt. I adored her and so did everyone else. I loved the drag queens. They were fun and I loved how supportive they were of Will and her pals!

They were cool! And so supportive. The girls needed that. Awww yes, I liked that.

What did you think of the whole Dolly Parton influence of the story? The music, the drag queens, etc?

I honestly do not know a lot about her other than blonde and music so I can not really say. Good music

I do not know much either. I liked how that was a huge part of the story. Dolly Parton is all about love and friendship and loving yourself. I felt it fit very well! Plus her music isn’t bad for country ;)

Aha. That is more than what I knew!

Hahaha I only know that based on some of her quotes that have been thrown around here and there.

Sorry! Ooops, forgot the time. My parents came, S woke and SO messed up the pizza!

I wondered what happened! I thought you fell asleep or S destroyed the computer in baby rage ;)

I truly spaced and then I was all damn! I am writing with Carole!

Hahaha ‘tis okay! Did we want to wrap up? Final thoughts?

I did not feel it was amazing or anything, but I enjoyed it because it was light and fun, with some stronger things in it too. Good actors too. I wonder about that movie now

Yess. It was very good overall. Not amazing. Some unbelievable bits that would never work in real life. But this was a fun watch and I liked it a lot. It makes you laugh, feel, and it is a great people story. A unique spin on an age-old story of someone who is trying to make it in the world and love themselves. I liked Will and I loved Bo. The drag queens were amazing. I liked Will’s friends. The mom. UGH. Sure she gets better, but still. SMH.

The end?

Yes! The end. :D 

Audio: Polaris Rising - Jessie Mihalik

Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller

Length: 12 hrs and 41 mins

Release date: 02-05-19

Publisher: HarperAudio

Series: Consortium rebellion #1

Sci fi

Thank you Harper for this copy

My Thoughts:

OK so there were no shifters, but dang Marcus was all alpha. In my mind he was a wolf. All growly and possessive. I get that he has to play the tough part, but he also was really tough and scarred and scary.

Maybe I should start at the beginning.

Space. 3 rival houses that rule the universe. Ada, one of six children, ran away so not to be married to an idiot. She was tough before, and got tougher on the run. The Houses train their kids well.

Then she is caught and meets another prisoner. Yes, Marcus. Mr Growl. Hunted killer. A bountyhunters dream catch. I already said he is all alpha and grrrrrrrr. The man has the world on his angry shoulders.

Ada needs to get away. Marcus needs to get away. And the tension between these two are sizzling from page 1. True love? Eh. True lust. Always! I am sure they will live a very happily lustfilled life together.

The world was interesting. The houses. The Consortium. Politics and smiling at your enemy as you prepare to stab them in the back.

Conclusion:

I do want to listen to more from this Verse. A war is coming. I smell blood. And next up is Bianca!

Narrator Emily Woo Zeller

I like the emotions and tension she puts into her narration. I can really feel Ada about to burst. She puts her soul in it.

I liked her other characters too, well except for Ian. He did not sound hot at all, ha, poor Ian. I liked the differences between everyone.

Blurb

As the seventh of nine children, Ada von Hasenberg knows that her only value to House von Hasenberg is as a political pawn in an arranged marriage. But after watching two of her older sisters get auctioned off to horrible men, Ada refuses to play her part. She flees off-planet and disappears for two years.

Ada’s father, fed up with her rebellion, offers a bounty for her safe return. The universe is a big place, but mercs are everywhere, and Ada is caught. With the merc ship full, she’s forced to share a cell with Marcus Loch, the Devil of Fornax Zero. Rumor has it he murdered every commanding officer who issued orders during the Fornax Rebellion. All anyone knows for sure is that the Royal Consortium wants his head.

Ada has no trouble believing the muscled man chained in the back of her cell is a killer. But when their ship is attacked by forces from rival House Rockhurst, Ada must decide whether to trust him—because once you release the devil, you can’t put him back. And when the attack heralds the opening salvo of a much bigger war, Ada must determine where her loyalties truly lie.

Audio: Rogues Rush in

Narrated by: Justine Eyre

Length: 6 hrs and 59 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release date: 02-19-19

Language: English

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Historical romance

thank you Tantor!

My Thoughts:

His Bride for the Taking by Tessa Dare

I liked this one. It was very sweet. Sebastian has been in love with his best friend's sister forever and she who was older never noticed him. And then when she is left at the altar he marries her instead to save her reputation. I mean what a wonderful guy! Also what horrible times when it means being left at the altar ruins her rep cos people will think they did things before.

Most of the book takes place in a little cottage. Oh one part at the beginning made me snort. It was so funny. But they will get to know each other more and more *wink wink* They will have some hurdles to get over and some truths will be had. But it is a funny one. 

Oh I almost forgot...Ikea. That is all I am saying *snorts*

His Duchess for a Day by  Christi Caldwell 

I had a harder time with this heroine. She left her new husband and stayed away for 10 years. Was he an ogre you ask? No, he was her best friend. And then when he shows up she has the nerve to think ill of him cos she has seen his name in the scandal sheets. You left him, for 10 years! He did not know whether you were dead or alive!

Of course we do learn things further in that makes me forgive her a tiny bit, a tiny bit. He is still a great guy all way through. All men should be that steadfast. He loves her and he wants her back.

All in all:

Great Dukes!

Narration

The ever awesome Justine Eyre narrates and you might have notice that I do like her style. She can not do anything wrong

Blurb

Two scandalous brides...

Two rogues who won’t be denied...

His Bride for the Taking by New York Times Bestselling author Tessa Dare

It’s the first rule of friendship among gentlemen: Don’t even think about touching your best friend’s sister. But Sebastian, Lord Byrne, has never been one for rules. He’s thought about touching Mary Clayton—a lot—and struggled to resist temptation. But when Mary’s bridegroom leaves her waiting the altar, only Sebastian can save her from ruin. By marrying her himself. 

In eleven years, he’s never laid a finger on his best friend’s sister. Now he’s going to take her with both hands. To have, to hold...and to love.

His Duchess for a Day by USA Today Bestseller Christi Caldwell 

It was never meant to be…

That’s what Elizabeth Terry has told herself while trying to forget the man she married--her once best friend. Passing herself off as a widow, Elizabeth has since built a life for herself as an instructor at a finishing school, far away from that greatest of mistakes. But the past has a way of finding you, and now that her husband has found her, Elizabeth must face the man she’s tried to forget.

It was time to right a wrong…

Crispin Ferguson, the Duke of Huntington, has spent the past years living with regret. The young woman he married left without a by-your-leave, and his hasty elopement had devastating repercussions. Despite everything, Crispin never stopped thinking about Elizabeth. Now that he’s found her, he has one request—be his duchess, publicly, just for a day. 

Can spending time together as husband and wife rekindle the bond they once shared? Or will a shocking discovery tear them apart...this time, forever?

Audio: Birthday Suit - Lauren Blakely

Narrated by: Andi Arndt, Sebastian York, January Lavoy, Julia Whelan, R.C. Bray, Shane East, Joe Arden, Erin Mallon, Dion Graham, Savannah Peachwood, Jason Clarke, Robin Miles

Length: 7 hrs and 16 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release date: 01-14-19

Language: English

Publisher: Lauren Blakely Books

Category: Romance, Contemporary

Thank you Audible for this copy!

My Thoughts

Why do not books come with food? I mean omg the chocolate they were talking and drooling about. And then I am left with no choco at all! So cruel. So cruel.

Yes Leo, who is just wonderful, works for a chocolate company. His problem is that he has been in love with his best friend's wife for 10 years. But hey he is a good guy, he has never made any move. They all met at the same time, but hey only one can get the girl. So is problem is more that he wants more but he can not have it, even though said best friend is dead. But hey I get it.

Lulu makes chocolate, drool worthy chocolate. And then she meets Leo again, her great friend, the best man at her wedding. And I did like this, she never had a thought about him. He was just a good friend through out the years.

But yes of course they will fall for each other. And there will be chocolate. And friendship. And more chocolate.

Conclusion:

It was a fun and cute story.

Narrators

SO many narrators! But I never thought of how well a full cast can be. Everyone has a truly distinct voice. You are just swept away and feel more present than ever. I do love all forms of audiobook, and they all have their own charm. And this one sure did well as a full cast. The side characters gets to shine.

The two narrators of Leo and Lulu were great. I liked Leo's voice and I like Lulu, she made her sound fun.

Blurb

There is no rule in the Man Code as unbreakable as this: no matter how beautiful, smart, clever, and witty she is, do not—under any circumstances—fall in love with your best friend’s woman. 

Yeah. So there’s that. Look, it’s not like I didn’t know I screwed up by falling for her. 

Also, for the record, unrequited love sucks big time.

And, I might have cut myself some slack by now, given everything that went down in the last few years, but Lulu just walked back into my life in a big way.

***

There are three things I've never been able to resist—my friends, my family, and chocolate.

Leo Hennessy? He was nowhere on that list. He's been a true friend—a friend who walked through hell and back with me.

Now, I'm stepping into my new future. I didn't expect it to include a riddle-filled, race-against-the-clock scavenger hunt across New York City.

With Leo.

Suddenly, I'm looking at this man with new eyes...

But my life spun out because of a man once before, and I can’t risk my fresh start, no matter what the temptation. And Leo is most definitely a temptation of the sexiest, sweetest, and most dangerous variety. 

More irresistibly delicious than chocolate...

TMST: Pricing

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post on Rainy Day Ramblings where Rainy discuss a wide range of topics from books to blogging. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog.

February 19th: Book Pricing: Who much will you pay for an ebook? A hard copy? A paperback?

Hardback? Nope. I will wait that damn year to get print and I will rage against the sky, but I just can't pay that much for hardback when I know it will get cheaper.

Paperback, well sometimes they never get any cheaper. There is this Lisa Shearin that never gets under 15 euros and I am sure it will stay on my wishlist forever. If I do not give it as a suggestion for SO to buy me for xmas or something. But the cheaper ones come first. The 8 to 10 euros ones.

For me to actually buy it in a store, well it has to be under what an online store would charge and they never are so I never buy them.

Ebooks, ugh, why would I pay a lot for something that amazon could like steal back from me. Ebooks should be under 5 and that is still a lot. See, this is why I do not buy ebooks.

Author Interview: Kara Isaac

I have way too few guests over these days, so help me welcome author Kara Isaac to my blog today! :)

Welcome!

Thanks so much for having me, Linda!

1. First, tell me something about yourself.

I am a professional procrastinator. Hence why I'm answering these questions when I'm supposed to be writing (before this I also organized my youngest son's birthday party, cleared emails, checked Facebook, fell down a couple of internet rabbit holes and bought some birthday presents!) I live in gorgeous New Zealand, the best country in the world, and dream of one day being stranded on a dessert island with my teetering to-be-read pile. 

2. And since you are from NZ I really want to know, have you ever seen a Hobbit?

I spend my nights and weekends chasing three small hobbits if that counts! :)  

3. Tell me about your new book, One Thing I know.

I first dreamed up the concept for the book that became One Thing I Know way back in 2011. I was heavily pregnant with our eldest child, so pregnant that the bump made it had to reach my laptop keyboard! Since I couldn't really write I spent a lot of time conjuring "what if" scenarios and one of them was "What if a famous relationship coach was the front for someone who hadn't been on a date in years?" I dashed off the first 15 pages, entered it in a contest just to see what the judges thought of the concept and my to my surprise it semi-finaled. It was the book that landed me my agent, and it made it to publishing board at a few houses but it just wasn't the right time. So I'm thrilled that it finally is!

4. What is the best thing about writing about romance?

Knowing that you aren't going to get emails from angry readers because you killed off one of the main characters at the end :) Also knowing that even when you are making your poor characters absolutely miserable you will find a way to make things right in the end.

5. Describe Lucas and Rachel for us in a few words.

A little bit star-crossed! Independent, smart, fiercely loyal, protective. 

6. And last, what are you working at at the moment?

My next book picks up the story of Lacey, one of Rachel's best friends. The hero is a secondary character from my second book, Can't Help Falling so I'm having fun with new characters and a new story while bringing some old ones back for readers to catch up with! It's due to release in early 2020. 

Thank you so much Kara! :)

ABOUT ONE THING I KNOW:

She has the whole world fooled. But the one man who just may see through her holds not only the key to her success, but also her heart…

Rachel Somers is America’s #1 relationship coach—America just doesn’t know it. Rachel writes the books, but her Aunt Donna plays the face of the operation. Living in fear of their secret being exposed, Rachel has no choice but to keep up the charade or lose the big money required to care for her father. With the deadline for their next book closing in, Rachel finds herself out of inspiration and running out of time. The last thing she needs is her aunt and publicist concocting a harebrained scheme to join forces with some radio star in the hope it will help deliver the elusive next book idea.

Lucas Grant is a star of late night radio—though it’s come with an unexpected price of hoards of women who keep calling his sports show to ask him for relationship advice. They make his ratings look great, but they also mean he has to waste hours talking to people like Dr. Donna Somerville about feelings instead of his first love: football. When a big-time producer calls, it looks like his hard work is about to pay off. But the offer comes with a catch—the producer is convinced Dr. Donna is not what she seems and he wants Lucas to discover her secret. To do that, he needs to win over her tight-lipped assistant who holds the key to his success and—he begins to suspect—his heart. Can love find a way through the lies that force them apart?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

KARA ISAAC is the RITA® Award-winning writer of five novels. She lives in New Zealand (yes, it’s really as beautiful as it looks in the movies!) where she spends her time chasing three small people, writing horribly bad first drafts, and wishing you could get Double Stuf Oreos in the South Pacific. Find out more at KaraIsaac.com.

ONE THING I KNOW by Kara Isaac

Howard Books

On Sale: February 19, 2019; Paperback ISBN: 9781982103347; $16.00

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