Duke most wicked by Lenora Bell

Narrated by: Beverley A. Crick

Series: Wallflowers vs. Rogues, Book 3

Length: 10 hrs and 8 mins

Release date: 09-27-22

Publisher: HarperAudio

Historical romance/to review

I remember him now from a previous book, what an ass I thought. But like all rakish Dukes this one also has to be reformed.

Viola is the music teacher to a Dukes younger sisters. She is great at het job and she loves music and composing. She is also fancies the very annoying Duke.

Brendan is a rake. I get that his childhood was rought, but gambling his sisters dowries away, and giving them all bad reps. Man up Brendan!

They both like each other, but she just works for him, and he needs an heiress. But we all know it works out in the end and they live happily ever after.

Fun romance. I do wonder if his sisters is getting a series too?

Good narration. I have listened to and enjoyed this narrator before.

Scarred by a dark secret, Brandan Delamar, Duke of Westbury, must concede his misdeeds have finally caught up with him. With five younger sisters to support, he must marry for money.

Sunny and steadfast, Viola Beaton is no heiress. As music instructor to the duke’s sisters, she’s developed a genuine affection for the bright young ladies. Unfortunately, she’s also developed a forbidden passion for her wildly attractive employer.

It must be the way he inspires her to compose sonatas about moonlight and kisses. Or how his gaze smolders and lingers on her skin. Or because he makes her heart whisper impossible things.

When Westbury decrees that he’ll choose not only a bride, but grooms for his sisters, Viola can’t allow him to curtail their freedom. She strikes a bargain: if he allows his sisters to attend the Season, Viola will chaperone them and keep them safe from scandal.

Only…what if Viola and the duke are the ones most likely to cause a scandal?

The love hypothesis

Format: 356 pages, Paperback

Published: September 14, 2021 by Berkley Books

Contemporary romance /Library

Finally a hyped book that was actually good! I am so scared of them cos hype books usually turn out to suck. But not this one (though wtf tiktok was talking about this one being smutty I do not know).

Olive is one busy woman and then well she needs a pretend boyfriend and her "victim" turns out the be the strict professor everyone is scared of. She is fun, sweet and I liked her.

Adam, well yes he is super grumpy, but also super sweet behind that facade. And him with her, oh I liked it from the start. They were perfect for each other, and the pretend relationship needed to be real!

Awww these two. A sweet book and I loved the stem world, I truly need to read more of her books...all of them!!

As a third-year Ph.D. candidate, Olive Smith doesn't believe in lasting romantic relationships--but her best friend does, and that's what got her into this situation. Convincing Anh that Olive is dating and well on her way to a happily ever after was always going to take more than hand-wavy Jedi mind tricks: Scientists require proof. So, like any self-respecting biologist, Olive panics and kisses the first man she sees.

That man is none other than Adam Carlsen, a young hotshot professor--and well-known ass. Which is why Olive is positively floored when Stanford's reigning lab tyrant agrees to keep her charade a secret and be her fake boyfriend. But when a big science conference goes haywire, putting Olive's career on the Bunsen burner, Adam surprises her again with his unyielding support and even more unyielding... six-pack abs.

Suddenly their little experiment feels dangerously close to combustion. And Olive discovers that the only thing more complicated than a hypothesis on love is putting her own heart under the microscope.

Children of the catastrophe by Sarah Shoemaker

Narrated by: Olivia Dowd

Length: 9 hrs and 8 mins

Release date: 09-06-22

Publisher: HarperAudio

Historical fiction / to review

I kept thinking when listening, this is gonna get ugly, this will end badly, omg is it happening now?! But Smyrna seemed to weather the storm...for a time.

All is well is Smyrna, well as well it can be as second class citizens in Turkey. Liana is a young woman ready for marriage, and it was quite interesting seeing how the Greeks did it in Smyrna. And she does get chosen, Vassili is a really good man ad they have a happy marriage.

But, world war 1 happens. The Spanish flu happens. The Armenian genocide happens. The genocide of Greeks in Turkey happens. And so far sort of good. Smyrna seemed to be a safe harbour. But I knew, I knew something bad was coming. The Greeco-Turk was happens. And living as a Greek in Turkey wont end happily.

I do warn you, any book with genocide, well you know people will die. Also wtf is wrong with humankind?! And we can't say oh that was a 100 years ago, it is happening right now. Soldiers raping, killing, mutilating. Humankind is evil, and soldiers turn into animals. But it is also a book that needs to be read, for example we all know which country that has not admitted to the genocide of Armenians.

But yes, a book about living in the shadows of bad thing, and continuing to the end.

And then, something bad did happen, and I cried and cried. It broke me.

A good book that should be listened to.

Excellent narration. She had this calm voice and it was like I was there. A haunting story.

It is 1908 and Smyrna is the most cosmopolitan city on the Mediterranean Sea. Though long a part of the Ottoman Empire, Smyrna has always been Greek, and its citizens honor the traditions of previous generations. The Demirigis and Melopoulos families are no different, and now Liana Demirigis will wed the only Melopoulos son, Vassili--a marriage arranged by her parents.

After the wedding, Liana and Vassili build an idyllic life for themselves and their children outside of the city, safe from rising political tensions roiling the region and the world. But less than a decade later, the growing divisions between the Greeks and Turks threaten to boil over. When each country chooses a different side with the outbreak of the Great War, a hunger to reclaim Izmir consumes Greece. Suddenly Liana and her family, like thousands of others like them, are thrust into danger . . . and many will not survive.

Children of the Catastrophe is a beautifully told story that unfolds through the experiences of the Melopoulos family--their loves and quarrels, their hopes and disappointments, played out against a world on fire. Sarah Shoemaker artfully draws us into her characters' rich lives and evocatively captures all that was lost as hostilities mount and innocent men, women, and children find themselves caught up in forces beyond their control.

TMST

 

 

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. 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. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

9/27/2022 Do you follow your favourite authors on social media? Do you interact with them?

Not really no, I might follow some by chance, but no I do not really go out of my way to find my favorite authors, or interact with them.  Only if I happen to see something. But I guess I just do not have the time

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. 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. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

If you are interested in participating in TMST or receiving periodic emails that list the upcoming TMST topics and questions,  please fill out this GOOGLE FORM.  Participation is optional and never required.

Carole's Monday: Cream caramel and murder

 

Author: K.E. O'Connor

Title: Cream Caramel and Murder

Series: Holly Holmes #1

Genre: Cozy mystery, Fiction

Format: ebook

Pages: 175

Published: July 25, 2019

Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon)

Summary: 

Holly Holmes loves her new job working in the kitchen at Audley Castle, home to the eccentric and wealthy Audley family.

With her faithful corgi cross, Meatball, by her side, she enjoys a quiet life full of baking, researching old recipes, and trying any fun fitness fad – weighted hula hoop, anyone?

When the bumbling, and cute, Lord Rupert Audley requests some of her scrumptious desserts for his school reunion, she happily gets baking.

Everything is going great until Meatball discovers a hand sticking out of the ground, Princess Alice faints, and Holly gets stuck in the spotlight for murder!

If Holly can’t clear her name, she’ll lose her amazing new life in the beautiful Audley St. Mary, Meatball will go back to the animal shelter, and her freedom will be history.

Review:

I grabbed this Amazon freebie a little bit ago because I love cozies, the cover is adorable, and the summary sounds like fun. Plus...PUPPY!

Holly loves her new job working in the kitchen at Audley Castle. Holly also loves her faithful corgi cross named Meatball. She loves to bake and trying new fun fitness fads. Everything seems perfect until Lord Rupert Audley requests her to bake some desserts for his school reunion. Everything seems normal, until the next day when she, Meatball, and Princess Alice find a hand sticking out of the ground. If Holly can't clear her name, she may lose this amazing life. 

I simply adored Holly and her puppers. Epic duo! They are so sweet and kind and just fun. I would love to be their besties. 

Alice and Rupert are fun too. Alice is sweet and Rupert is adorable. I do wonder why he is only a Lord while Alice is a princess, but they are brother and sister? I'm not quite sure. Maybe book 2 explains this more? Like he turned down his right to the throne? IDK. I'm not an expert and maybe I missed something...

The Duke and Duchess (Alice's and Rupert's uncle and aunt) were funny. So was the grandmother. A weird family, but they are endearing. 

Now, I did struggle with how the police let Campbell (the head of security) lead the investigation. Sure, I get these folks are royal, but it seems so unlikely and unrealistic. What if it was Campbell who did it??? He's not unbiased....he's being paid by the family....seems odd to me. 

But yes, this was a very cute and sweet cozy mystery. There are some questions I have and some parts that seem....off and far-fetched. Ignoring those things though this is a nice quick read for fall. Some fun characters and a cute puppy! Plus baking? Yum. 3 stars from me. 

Early Audio review: The Duke is back - Valerie Bowman

Narrated by: Mary Sarah

Series: The Footmen's Club, Book 6

Length: 6 hrs and 26 mins

Release date: 09-27-22

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Historical romance/to review

Philip suffers from severe ptsd, and on top of that his brother suddenly dies. Yes something is fishy and he wants the truth. S.o he comes out of hiding, since everyone thought he was dead too. Ok so I get why he had to hide, but all those poor people who thought he was dead!

And there is where the drama lies. Sophie loved him,he went to war, she thought he was dead. Her family pressured her to get engaged. To his cousin, oh the drama.

And she is pissed when he comes back. Like who wouldn't. What where you thinking Philip!?

He wants her, but he has issues. She does still love him, but so much is in the way.

There is a murderer to catch, and danger ahead of them. It was a short book, but it packed romance, danger and more. A nice story. They both deserved some happiness.

This was my second book with this narrator in a row, funny how that happened. It was fun listening to another one by her

Miss Sophie Payton might be engaged, but she’s not in love. The only man who ever captured her heart was Phillip Grayson—a soldier who was slain a year ago. But when her stepmother decrees that Sophie will marry Phillip’s cousin, the new Duke of Harlowe, Sophie’s in no position to refuse.

The ton thinks Phillip Grayson died a hero on the battlefields of Europe, but he’s very much alive. While he spent the last year recuperating from his grave injuries in secret at his friend’s estate, his brother was murdered, his cousin took over the title of duke, and the woman he loved—the one he dreamed of every night—apparently moved on without him.

Phillip has returned to London intent on reclaiming his brother’s title and making the people who killed him pay. He doesn’t understand how Sophie could have betrayed him; she can’t forgive him for letting her believe he was dead. And yet neither can deny that the attraction between them burns hotter than ever. Nothing is as it seems, but perhaps the truth can save them…if it doesn’t kill them first.

Audio review: The mistress of Longbourn

Narrated by: Mary Sarah

Length: 16 hrs and 5 mins

Release date: 09-13-22

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Pride and prejudice variation /to review

I do love pride and prejudice variations. This one starts out darker than most, sickness ravages the Bennet family and left standing is Lizzy and Kitty. Luckily Longbourn is not longer entailed so she becomes the mistress of Longbourn.

I liked this take on things. Lizzy was different, and when it was just her and Kitty things turned out differently too. For example she met Darcy and they did not clash. Something grew there instead.

The author also perfected the other characters. Yes I could totally see Bingley like that. Could Caroline be more of a bitch?! What, omg Mr Collins, yes yes. Wickham, grrr, he is totally that.

It gets really nailbiting at the end too, something is about to happen, and I was on the edge of my seat.

Fun, different take on Pride and prejudice. I just can't get enough.

Good narrator, I am not sure I have listened to her before, but I liked her style. It felt fitting with this universe

A change in the circumstances of the entail on Longbourn leaves Elizabeth Bennet as the mistress of Longbourn, beholden to no one. Though the tragedy which has left her with only one sister of her immediate family, Elizabeth heals, in time, and she takes up the affairs of the estate with a flair her father never quite possessed. But estate ownership has its own trials, for it makes Elizabeth the target of those who might otherwise have seen her for nothing than a pretty vivacious girl.

When the Netherfield party comes to the area, they find a small family at Longbourn, an Elizabeth who has been changed by the burdens of estate ownership, and with a younger sister who has grown much, but is young enough to be infatuated by a handsome face. To further muddy the waters, George Wickham always looking out for a way to live an easy life, and a country parson, offended that his father was passed up for the estate arrive to make Elizabeth’s life more difficult. It will take all her fortitude to withstand the men vying for her attention, hold to her principles, and marry only for love, now that she has the means.

But Elizabeth, knowing now that she does not have to marry, must also recognize that love when it finds her. For in this world, nothing is perfect, and looking for perfection might see true love pass her by.

TMST

 

 

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. 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. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

9/20/2022 For audiobook listeners: what hobby do you enjoy while listening?

I like to listen to audiobooks when out walking...and well that is it. No other hobby. My audiotime is walking, cleaning, I tried listening in my car, but that is hard since bad hearing in one ear. Cooking did not work cos my listening speed is so high. I need to be relaxed to follow along.

9/27/2022 Do you follow your favourite authors on social media? Do you interact with them?

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. 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. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

If you are interested in participating in TMST or receiving periodic emails that list the upcoming TMST topics and questions,  please fill out this GOOGLE FORM.  Participation is optional and never required.

Carole's Monday: The woman of the wall

Author: Robin Rivers

Title: Woman On The Wall

Series: The Sibylline Chronicles #1

Genre: Historical Fiction & Mystery

Format: paperbook

Pages: 392

Published: September 6, 2022

Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

Summary: 

For 500 years, the once powerful Order of the Sibylline has kept the identity of its future prophetess hidden in the most famous painting in the world. Amid the chaos of post-World War II France, one woman discovers their ancient secret and its ability to transform a fragmented world.

PARIS 1945

A BRILLIANT, DEVOTED, AND DRIVEN PALEOGRAPHER …

After 480 days as a Nazi political prisoner, Dr. Marie Guerrant returns to Paris to repatriate the Mona Lisa and find her daughter. When a British Colonel arrives claiming he needs her French Resistance connections to find the lost painting, which she helped hide seven years earlier, distrust is high. Tipped off about her daughter's involvement and the Colonel's obsessive belief that the Mona Lisa contains the identity of a modern-day Sibyl prophetess, Marie must risk her life to save her daughter and the masterpiece from men consumed by controlling destiny.

AMBOISE, FRANCE 1519

A BRAVE, BOLD, AND POTENT PROPHETESS …

On the eve of rising as the Sibyl of Amboise, Aesmeh de la Rose must rely on her visions to find Leonardo da Vinci after he and the Mona Lisa disappear from his workshop at Clos Lucé. The precious painting and its creator cannot be lost or the ancient Sibylline Order faces extermination after more than 1000 years of rebuilding their powerful matriarchy. Torn between duty and love, Aesmeh must tap into an ancient alchemy in a race to keep the Order safe. But, an unspeakable betrayal forces her to make an unfathomable choice to secure the future of the Sibylline.

This rich alternate history binds two women beyond time, each fighting to restore sight to a world blinded by the power and control of men. The fate of the world rests on their courage to reclaim the ancient feminine powers of the Sibylline. Woman on the Wall is a sweeping fantastical tale of intrigue and hope for humanity that fuels imagination and curiosity.

Review:

Couldn't resist this one! What a cool concept and I adore the cover. 

For 500 years, the once powerful Order of the Sibylline has kept the identity of its future prophetess hidden in the most famous painting in the world. One woman will discover their ancient secret. This woman is named Marie Guerrant. It is 1945 and she has survived being a prisoner by the Nazis. She returns to Paris and will risk her life to save her daughter and the masterpiece from men consumed by controlling destiny. In 1519, another woman will be putting her life on the line. Aesmeh de la Rose must rely on her visions to find Leonardo da Vinci and the Mona Lisa after they disappear from his workshop. The fate of the world rests on them.  

Immediately hooked! I literally didn't want to put this down. Grrrrr dumb work and dumb sleep time. 

We have two timelines being told at the same time. One is Aesmeh in 1519 and the other is Marie in 1945. It was so refreshing! Normally authors go the route of modern (21st century) and some other time in the past. It was interesting seeing two completely different time periods here and how they are tied together. 

I felt so bad for Marie. She gets out of one hell and is tossed into a mystery larger than herself. All she wants to do is have a normal life and find her daughter. Poor thing has gone through so much. And then there is Aesmeh. Felt bad for her too. She is on the eve of rising as the Sibyl of Amboise. She finds herself torn in two. But I applaud them and want to be them when I grow up! So brave and smart. I don't think I would want visions like Aesmeh....that seems like too much.

I honestly had no idea what was going to happen and how everything was going to be resolved. 

The ending was good. There was a tiny bit of a cliffhanger though. You can tell there will be more and I am excited about another one. There is for sure more story to tell. The author has left me wanting more!

In the end, I was hooked from page 1! This was certainly an adventure and I hope there will be a book 2 soon. There is more story to tell! Art, mystery, action, and magic. This was a lot of fun and I can see this being a good book club book. 5 stars from me. 

People we meet on vacation by Emily Henry

Format: 373 pages, Paperback

Published: May 11, 2021 by Berkley Books

Women's fiction / library

Another book I saw hyped on tiktok, and when I finally read it I felt really disappointed. It was nothing new or exciting. It was an ok read, but yeah not the greatness I expected. Hyped books are evil, if not for the hype I would not have felt so let down.

The way it was built did not work for me. It was NOW, it was 10 years ago, it was 8 years ago, it was NOW, it was confusing.

Can't say I cared for Axel or Poppy. Can't say I saw what they saw in each other. It took a bloody long time for them to get it on.

And SO long to finally see why they lost touch and I was all what?

Ugh hype, it killed it for me

Oh and I do not want to call it contemporary romance, cos hardly any romance at all, one boink and that is it

Poppy and Alex. Alex and Poppy. They have nothing in common. She’s a wild child; he wears khakis. She has insatiable wanderlust; he prefers to stay home with a book. And somehow, ever since a fateful car share home from college many years ago, they are the very best of friends. For most of the year they live far apart—she’s in New York City, and he’s in their small hometown—but every summer, for a decade, they have taken one glorious week of vacation together. Until two years ago, when they ruined everything. They haven’t spoken since.

Poppy has everything she should want, but she’s stuck in a rut. When someone asks when she was last truly happy, she knows, without a doubt, it was on that ill-fated, final trip with Alex. And so, she decides to convince her best friend to take one more vacation together—lay everything on the table, make it all right. Miraculously, he agrees. Now she has a week to fix everything. If only she can get around the one big truth that has always stood quietly in the middle of their seemingly perfect relationship. What could possibly go wrong?

Audio review: Marple Twelve new mysteries

By: Agatha Christie, Naomi Alderman, Leigh Bardugo, Alyssa Cole, Lucy Foley, Elly Griffiths, Natalie Haynes, Jean Kwok, Val McDermid, Karen M. McManus, Dreda Say Mitchell, Kate Mosse, Ruth Ware

Narrated by: Various

Length: 11 hrs and 29 mins

Release date: 09-15-22

Publisher: HarperCollins

Historical mystery / to review

Now when I think about it, have I ever read Marple? Tv/movies yes, but read? Poirot, yes. Huh. But it is never too late, and why not start with 12 novellas honoring Christie's Miss Marple.

Yes 12 novellas. They worked well here together, they took place in different places in time, in other countries too, and of course in her much murder infested little village. And I loved that they were novellas, audio novellas work so well for me. You get in and out pretty fast, and it is a fun listen and a quick solution to find a killer. Cos I sure never guess the right person.

This one I also had to get because of Elly Griffiths. I do love her books! In her story Marple is in Italy, and not even the main character. But she is there in the background, knowing everything as always.

And it did make me want to read Miss Marple too, that woman is so smart and sees it all

Murder, mayhem and Marple. All good things

Every story had a different narrator. I liked that, because it gave each story its own personality. And even with different authors and narrators the stories were connected like it really was different times in life we met her.

This collection of a dozen original short stories, all featuring Jane Marple, will introduce the character to a whole new generation. Each author reimagines Agatha Christie’s Marple through their own unique perspective while staying true to the hallmarks of a traditional mystery.

Miss Marple was first introduced to readers in a story Agatha Christie wrote for The Royal Magazine in 1927 and made her first appearance in a full-length novel in 1930’s The Murder at the Vicarage. It has been 45 years since Agatha Christie’s last Marple novel, Sleeping Murder, was published posthumously in 1976, and this collection of ingenious new stories by twelve Christie devotees will be a timely reminder why Jane Marple remains the most famous fictional female detective of all time.

Alex Kingston reads ‘Evil in Small Places’ by Lucy Foley;

Adrian Scarborough reads ‘the Second Murder at the Vicarage’ by Val McDermid;

Adjoa Andoh reads ‘Miss Marple Takes Manhattan’ by Alyssa Cole;

Imogen Stubbs reads ‘The Unravelling’ by Natalie Haynes;

Alison Steadman reads ‘Miss Marple’s Christmas’ by Ruth Ware;

Jodhi May reads ‘The Open Mind’ by Naomi Alderman;

Chipo Chung reads ‘The Jade Empress’ by Jean Kwok;

Cathy Tyson reads ‘A Deadly Wedding Day’ by Dreda Say Mitchell;

Ramon Tikaram reads ‘Murder at the Villa Rosa’ by Elly Griffiths;

Tanya Reynolds reads ‘The Murdering Sort’ by Karen M. McManus;

Celia Imrie reads ‘The Mystery of the Acid Soil’ by Kate Mosse;

Miriam Margolyes reads ‘The Disappearance’ by Leigh Bardugo.

Audio review: River of Shadows

Narrated by: Jo Raylan

Series: Underworld Gods, Book 1

Length: 9 hrs and 14 mins

Release date: 09-13-22

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Paranormal romance/to review

I have become bad at writing reviews at once. I wanted to review this one because it was about Finnish mythology (though I am still confused, is the Finnish underworld the underworld of the world because it was meant out to be that?)

Hanna comes back for her dad's funeral, but something is not wrong and she goes to the underworld to find her dad. She knows nothing. Totally lost. She trusts a shaman, who, yeah I know who he must be...

But the whole thing builds up to her meeting death. Him being an ass, and they then boinking like rabbits. At the end he seems very vulnerable and she, oh girl, yeah not a cool move. Now I do not root for you. But then again a bit Stockholm syndrome over the whole thing too. Also very Psyche and Eros vibe, beauty and the beast and so on.

Danger, smexing and a very dark place. Not somewhere I want to visit.

I listened to the audio and if you are from Finland you know, the intonation is not at the right places. She made Finnish words and names sound softer. But still a good narrator, Finnish is just hard

When 24-year old Hanna Heikkinen's estranged father dies, she reluctantly makes the trip to Northern Finland for his funeral. Being in the enchanting land of ice and snow feels miles away from Hanna's busy life back in Los Angeles, especially under the complicated circumstances.

But when Hanna discovers that her father's body is missing, that's when things really get weird. A mysterious man, Rasmus, tells Hanna the truth: her father was a powerful shaman who went into Tuonela, the Realm of the Dead, in order to barter for more life, and has been held captive by Tuoni, the God of Death. The only way her father can be freed is if she travels with Rasmus into the mythical underworld to rescue him.

Willing to do anything to have a second-chance with her father, Hanna accompanies Rasmus into the dark and bloody realm, traveling via the River of Shadows, stalked by dangerous creatures, monsters, and the living dead, until they finally come into the haunted kingdom ruled by Death and his family. Only for her to be captured and held prisoner by the God of Death himself. Turns out Death is intrigued by Hanna's beauty and fierceness and makes a bargain with her. If she marries him, and spends an eternity in the Realm of the Dead as his wife, he'll set her father free.

But even the most noble sacrifices come with hidden costs, and Hanna's might involve the most unexpected of all things: her heart.

TMST

 

 

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. 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. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

9/13/2022 Do you ever read out of your comfort zone? And if yes, does it work for you?

I try...sometimes. Mostly I fail because they are just not for me. But last year I tried Elly Griffiths. I am not a fan of modern detective stories, but this worked so well! Sadly I have yet to find anything else like it.

9/20/2022 For audiobook listeners: what hobby do you enjoy while listening?

9/27/2022 Do you follow your favourite authors on social media? Do you interact with them?

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. 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. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

If you are interested in participating in TMST or receiving periodic emails that list the upcoming TMST topics and questions,  please fill out this GOOGLE FORM.  Participation is optional and never required.

Carole's Monday: Wildfire in his arms

Author: Johanna Lindsey

Title: Wildfire In His Arms

Series: (Callahan-Warren #2)

Genre: Historical Romance

Format: ebook

Pages: 400

Published: June 16th 2015

Where I Got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

With his work in Montana completed now that the Callahan-Warren feud has ended in marriage rather than bloodshed, Degan Grant sets out for California because it is far away from the home he wants to forget—until the US Marshal who saved his life calls in a favor. All Degan has to do is apprehend three outlaws on the marshal’s list and turn them over to the law. Easy enough, he figures, for a man no one wants to tangle with.

But then a bold young woman crosses his path. Maxine grew up so pretty and attracted so much unwanted attention in her Texas hometown that events spiraled out of control. She will try anything to escape the handsome, enigmatic gunfighter who intends to turn her over to a corrupt sheriff who will hang her instead of putting her on trial.

Saddled with a sassy, spirited young woman who insists she is innocent, Degan must hunt down a vicious killer and keep an old enemy at bay. But forced into intimate proximity with his beguiling prisoner, he finds his desire sparking into a wildfire of passion, and he can no longer deny that it is time for them to risk confronting their pasts so he can have a chance at a future with her in his arms forever.

Review:

Been meaning to read book 2 for a minute, but kept forgetting to grab it from the library. 

Here we follow Degan and Maxine. Degan has finished his work when the Callahan-Warren fued ended with a happy marriage. He sets out for California until the US Marshal who saved his life calls in a favor. All Degan has to do is capture three outlaws and turn them in. But then a beautiful woman crosses his path. Maxine grew up pretty and was given unwanted attention in her hometown. An event will spiral things out of her control and she runs. Degan has to take her in and she will try anything to escape him. On top of dealing with her and her insisting she is innocent, he has to deal with a vicious killer and keep an old enemy at bay. 

This would do well as a standalone. There are few references to events from the last book. Degan was a gunslinger for one of the Feud families and once that feud was ended, he was allowed to go. 

I adore Degan. I liked Max too. They were for sure made for each other but they have a lot to weed through...like the main fact that Max is wanted and whatnot. That is a big wedge for love ;) Their dialogue was fun and they made me laugh. Max is a hoot.  

Now...I did enjoy our characters' cat-and-mouse game and them falling in love, but I hated the solution to all their issues and problems. It was...too easy. And it was for sure so unrealistic. 

Besides that, I really enjoyed watching these two muddle through. They really are perfect for each other. 

In the end, this was a fun romance. Yes, some unrealistic solutions, but fun. I'll give this 3 stars. 

 

Challenge(s):

- #23 for Romance Reading Challenge - Someone riding a horse on the cover

Random tv/movie post

This miniseries was fun, and weird. Recommended

Based on a YA book, pretty meh

This YA movie was better, it had some actual depth as the main character is schizophrenic 

Jen told me it was great ;) But yes the two first eps were rocky, but then one day I decided to try again and after ep 3 it did get good :D

This was fun! Oh and I cried at the end

And the last season of B99. Sad

And then there was this weird movie. Can't say I rec it, but I could watch it

Priest of Crowns by Peter McLean

400 pages, Paperback

First published August 4, 2022 by Jo Fletcher Books

Series: War for the Rose Throne (#4)

Format: 400 pages, Paperback

Own / fantasy

I have forgotten to write this review for days!

Dunno, it is just so sad it ended. I felt at a loss.

A lot of things have happened. Tomas went from gangster to nobleman and spy. And things are not ok. In the last book a lot blew up.

And in this one a neighboring country is still causing trouble. There is the whole spy thing and wtf is really going on.

Ok so a lot is going on, it is book 4 after all. And this is why I should not write a review a week later. My thoughts are all over the place.

But yes, I did not think the things that went down would happen. It really threw me for a loop. A very bittersweet ending. But a shocking one.

A good end to the series

Once, Tomas Piety looked after his men, body and soul, as best he could. Then those who ran his country decided his dark talents would better serve in the corridors of power. Crushed by the power of the Queen's Men and with the Skanian menace rising once more on the streets of Ellinburg, Tomas Piety is forced to turn to old friends, old debts and untrustworthy alliances.

Meanwhile in the capital city of Dannsburg, Dieter Vogel is beginning to wonder if the horror he has unleashed in the Martyr's Disciples might be getting out of control.

Audio review: One sexy mistake

Narrated by: Maxine Mitchell

Series: Chase Brothers (Ballance), Book 5

Length: 3 hrs and 7 mins

Release date: 09-13-22

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Contemporary romance / to review

Audio novellas are fun! And short! I like short. Dang, short is good. Srsly, I need to listen to more audio novellas.

So yes, short insta obviously cos it mostly takes places during two days. Olivia wants an easy hookup, Grady wants no strings attached. They do it. Boom, epic snowstorm, she is stranded with the guy she meant to do and leave.

Insert creepy looking cat, some drama with her last job, and some hot feelings. It is hard not to connect when you are stuck together inside an apartment.

Short and easy, and it still made me believe these two wanted and got a happily ever after.

Good narration. It is almost all these two characters, but she did well with those. I easily fell into the story

Olivia Patton's life just imploded. One night with sexy hacker Grady Donovan seems like the perfect, ego-soothing plan—until an epic snowstorm shuts down the city and thwarts her morning-after escape. Now the only walk-of-shame she'll be taking is right back to Grady's door.

Forced to actually talk, Grady and Olivia realize they can't stand each other. Forget another round in the bedroom—if it wasn't his apartment, she'd shove Grady outside to freeze. But with all the blistering sexual tension flying around, a second night with the hacker might be exactly what she needs...if they don't kill each other first.

TMST

 

 

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. 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. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

9/6/2022 Tell us about your library (photos welcomed) 

I meant to do this yesterday and now it is almost Wed, oops! I mean to take my own photos too!

For many years this was my main library, and since it is in a bigger town they have so many more English books! Now, sigh, I hardly ever go there *sobs*

Now this is my main library, though to be honest, km wise the first is actually closer. Not as many English books, I know sad, but this is the library I grew up with.

But now to the most important thing, which library do I visit the most? Actually none, I visit the book mobile every week! The driver knew who I was even if I had not been in for years and years. I grew up with that bookmobile, still the same driver. And now S and I visit every week when it comes to our village.

Yay bookmobile time :D I am so lazy so I reserve books from the library and pick them up in the bookmobile.

The library is good at listening too, it is smaller so they are friendly and listen to book recs. I got them to buy the Love Hypothesis this month cos I really want to try it

Of course living here the digital content for English books is like zero. 

9/13/2022 Do you ever read out of your comfort zone? And if yes, does it work for you?

9/20/2022 For audiobook listeners: what hobby do you enjoy while listening?

9/27/2022 Do you follow your favourite authors on social media? Do you interact with them?

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. 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. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

If you are interested in participating in TMST or receiving periodic emails that list the upcoming TMST topics and questions,  please fill out this GOOGLE FORM.  Participation is optional and never required.

Carole's Monday: A witch by chance

Author: Lori Connelly, Aileen Harkwood, Carmel Harrington, Lynn Marie Hulsman, Jane Lark, Sarah Lefebve, Kari Lemor, Teresa F. Morgan, Zara Stoneley 

Title: A Witch by Chance

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Short story

Format: ebook

Pages: 50

Published: October 13th 2014

Where I Got It: Amazon

Summary: 

What do you get when you combine a grimoire, a black cat, and a sexy stranger? Nine romance writers sitting round a virtual campfire have joined together to write a Halloween short story treat.

Ivy Mitchell’s life is changed forever after she follows her cat, Karma, into an old house, where she stumbles upon a strange book that not only unleashes her destiny, but attracts a smoking hot, mysterious stranger named Chance with wicked powers of his own. Ivy was born a witch, but an important decision awaits. Make the wrong choice and more than her powers are at risk.

A story in nine parts, each written by a different writer in her own individual style.

Review:

What a fun concept!! It was a freebie on Amazon so of course, I had to download it and check it out! 

This is a story told in 9 parts. Each part was written by a different author in the format of a fireside tale. Here we follow Ivy and her cat Karma. She stumbles upon a strange book that not only unleashes her destiny but a stranger by the name of Chance. Ivy was a born witch, but she has an important decision that could determine the fate of all.  

This was fun. You could tell each part was from a different author but it all flowed together nicely. That was the only thing I was worried about, but it worked well. 

Poor Ivy. LOL. She gets tossed into a crazzzzzzy situation. 

The ending was a surprise! Literally had zero ideas what was going to happen. That one twist? Dang.

My only issue was that a few things needed to be fleshed out. I feel like it needed a few extra pages. 

This was fun. I wish I had read it by a campfire...just to add to the feel of it ;) But yes, fun format, fun set of characters, a crazy situation, a nice twist at the end, and a character you like. For sure recommend this! I'll give it 4 stars.