Audio: Playing for Keeps - Jill Shalvis

Narrated by: Vivienne Leheny

Series: Heartbreaker Bay, Book 7

Length: 10 hrs and 9 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release date: 01-22-19

Publisher: HarperAudio

Contemporary romance

My Thoughts:

These two had their issues, for good and for bad.

Caleb, oh he just wants to take care of everything and I absolutely love him for that. Seriously, loved him. I would let him take care of me any day...ok nothing dirty there, get your minds out of the gutter!

Sadie has her own issues and she really wants to stand on her own two feet. Oh girl, let someone be nice! But her issues lies very deep.

Now what on earth could make these two form a relationship. He is a suit, all money and suave. She is a tattoo artist down on her luck.

A dog! Yes everyone loves a dog and they both fall in love with one. Omg the dog was the sweetest, it even made me want a dog! Schhh, not really though, I am afraid. But hey in theory.

Obviously the issues will bring drama and they have to work through it. And then this family of 3 can live happily ever after.

Oh and yes it is book 7 in a series. There is talk of other couples that they meet on their own, but I did not feel like I had to read those books to get this one. This is their story after all

Conclusion

A sweet tale.

Narration

Good female and male voices. A good range. And her dog voice was the best!

Story

When it comes to the confident, charismatic Caleb Parker, Sadie Lane feels the spark—the kind that comes from rubbing each other the wrong way. She’s a tattoo artist, he’s a straight-laced mogul. But after they accidentally co-rescue an abandoned dog from a storm, Sadie sees a vulnerable side to the seemingly invincible hottie.

you’d better be sure… 

Caleb doesn’t do emotions. Growing up the underdog, he’s learned the hard way to build up an impenetrable wall. Perfect for business. Disastrous for relationships. He’s never worried about it before—not until he finally gets behind Sadie’s armor and begins to fall.

… someone is there to catch you. 

Both guarded and vulnerable, Sadie and Caleb are complete opposites. Or are they? Shocked at their undeniable connection, can they ever admit to wanting more? That all depends on what they’re each willing to risk. 

Audio: Once Ghosted, Twice Shy - Alyssa Cole

By: Alyssa Cole

Narrated by: Karen Chilton

Series: Reluctant Royals 2,5

Length: 3 hrs and 20 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release date: 01-08-19

Language: English

Publisher: HarperAudio

My Thoughts

I did feel like this one worked perfectly on its own. She works for a prince, check. I have the backstory, let it begin.

Likotsi had a brief loveaffair last she was in NYC and she has had a broken heart ever since. And by chance she meets her lover once again.

There are a few flashbacks to their whirlwind romance 8 months ago, and this novella takes place during a day when they just decide to have a talk, while walking around New York. SO I am not an expert, but I assume the things she mentions are real and it was fun seeing another side of the city.

Meet the guilty party. Fabiola, the woman who ended it back then. I kept wondering why she did that when she is obviously so keen on talking to Likotsi again. But it will all be revealed. And I got it.

It is a sweet story, they never fell out of love and they talk omg I know right, they talk to each other, they work things out. Sure, they should have done that last year but they do it now. And live happily ever after.

Conclusion:

A cute little novella. And yes of course,  I did get curious about the other books ;)

Narrator

I felt that she did a good job with both voices. But then one has an accent so that always makes it it easier to know who is who ;) But yes a really good job. She kept it light

Synopsis

While her boss the prince was busy wooing his betrothed, Likotsi had her own love affair after swiping right on a dating app. But her romance had ended in heartbreak, and now, back in NYC again, she’s determined to rediscover her joy - so, of course, she runs into the woman who broke her heart.

When Likotsi and Fabiola meet again on a stalled subway train months later, Fab asks for just one cup of tea. Likotsi, hoping to know why she was unceremoniously dumped, agrees. Tea and food soon leads to them exploring the city together, and their past, with Fab slowly revealing why she let Likotsi go, and both of them wondering if they can turn this second chance into a happily-ever-after.

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.

January 29th: What things turn you off in a book blurb (courtesy of Roberta@ Offbeat YA)

I really do not know. I read, I pass, I read, I want. What makes it so?

Well, last night I was looking at book and I only saw the word reverse harem in the book and was all nope!

Caught between two boys, ugh, YA, must you?!

If the main character sounds too evil, stupid, silly. If I want to hit someone in the blurb then that is way too early.

If the blurb tells you nothing.

If it is boring.

Wow this was hard!

Audio: 99 percent mine - Sally Thorne

Narrated by: Jayme Mattler

Length: 11 hrs and 24 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release date: 01-29-19

Language: English

Publisher: HarperAudio

Contemporary romance

My Thoughts:

I seem to have had the same problem as others had. Struggling, liking some parts and feeling utterly confused whether I liked the whole thing or not. Srsly I do not know!

Darcy is all edgy and thinks of herself as ugly. But every guy near her thinks she is hot and wants her, so those too do not go together since she is told it a lot. I know pretty people can have issues too, but it did not really make sense.

She drinks too much and all she eats is sugar. She also has a heart problem so..yeah.

The cover is not how I picture her. And it looks too cute.

Maybe it was the first person narrative. Always in that cramped head of hers. She gave up the thing she loved os of one bad review. Yes she effed up, but come on. And yes that twin thing too. 

She is constantly thinking of her twin and they had a fight and now they do not talk. I do not know if they even liked each other, and they are supposed to love each other.

These people talk too much. I thought that all the time. In the end I upped the speed to 2.4 cos I was so tired of the yapping.

The whole book is like 85% her talking to Tom. The whole freaking book.

Tom was a cutie. You have me there. I loved Tom. He was the best thing about the book.

So...maybe the book was just ok then, since I got so annoyed by them talking all the time and getting nowhere.

Narrator

She was good, it was not her voice I was tired of. It was the constant dialogue. The whole book was dialogue dialogue.

She might have made me continue

Cover

Nope. Ugly and does not fit

Synopsis

Darcy Barrett has undertaken a global survey of men. She’s travelled the world, and can categorically say that no one measures up to Tom Valeska, whose only flaw is that Darcy’s twin brother Jamie saw him first and claimed him forever as his best friend. Despite Darcy’s best efforts, Tom’s off limits and loyal to her brother, 99%. That’s the problem with finding her dream man at age eight and peaking in her photography career at age twenty—ever since, she’s had to learn to settle for good enough.

When Darcy and Jamie inherit a tumble-down cottage from their grandmother, they’re left with strict instructions to bring it back to its former glory and sell the property. Darcy plans to be in an aisle seat halfway across the ocean as soon as the renovations start, but before she can cut and run, she finds a familiar face on her porch: house-flipper extraordinaire Tom’s arrived, he’s bearing power tools, and he’s single for the first time in almost a decade.

Suddenly Darcy’s considering sticking around to make sure her twin doesn’t ruin the cottage’s inherent magic with his penchant for grey and chrome. She’s definitely not staying because of her new business partner’s tight t-shirts, or that perfect face that's inspiring her to pick up her camera again. Soon sparks are flying—and it’s not the faulty wiring. It turns out one percent of Tom’s heart might not be enough for Darcy anymore. This time around, she’s switching things up. She’s going to make Tom Valeska 99 percent hers. (less)

Joint Discussion: A court of Thorns and Roses

Hello all! Carole and I will be discussing "A Court of Thorns and Roses" by Sarah Maas. I am in pink and Carole in red.

*PLEASE NOTE - THERE ARE SOME SPOILERS IN THIS DISCUSSION*

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Title: A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses #1)

Genre: YA, Fantasy, Romance

Pages: ebook

Published: January 30th 2018 

Where I Got It: Library

Feyre's survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price ...

Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre's presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.

This was a disaster. I did not expect much since I found her other series so silly and cheesy, but this was something else. Ok Carole, if you are pretending to not like it it is ok, I will not think too badly of you if you are lying and loved it...too badly.

This was a first for me. I started off thinking “Okay...not horrible” but then things started falling apart. LOL. I wanted to like this. I kept on hoping but……...ya…….no. And I so do apologize. The cover was so pretty and the summary sounded soooo goood. Wah!

I thought, that hey maybe her writing is not as cheesy anymore, but here she tried to be like...older? I have no idea. With awkward sex and instalove and hey that is not even the worst parts. That was like nothing. That I could have forgiven. It just kept on going downhill for me.

Yes, I could’ve forgiven the instalove, but the characters really ruined the book honestly. They were so 2D and their motives made no sense. The main girl KILLED his friend and he kidnapped her and took care of her. WHAT?! No! That makes no sense!!

Omg yes I get that she did not know, but she thought it might be. SO she just killed someone innocent. Then she gets kidnapped and I am all wohoo, make her pay. No, she will live in luxury with servants, clothes and everything she could ever imagine. There I was all what is happening? And later, well it still makes no sense. It was silly. I could have thought a HUNDRED ways for that to go better. I still do not get it. She was a murderer. Tamlin was a murderer. She was perfect, so freaking perfect. And he had zero personality. I do not get it

That one review really marked her perfect. She is Bella Swan who is trying to act like Katniss Everdeen in this terrible world. That was the best description I ever heard and it fits so well!

That did nail it. Honestly everything boggles me now. Like her friends with benefits thing, was that supposed to make her edgy or something? It brought nothing to the story. And then we have her horrible family. They are starving and the first thing they think is that they need new clothes. People who have been starving would not do that. It was like the author made them evil for the sake of being evil and then, omg then there was that 180. SIGH

Nothing made sense. Why was she the only one responsible for getting money and food? Sure the dad is sickly and hurting, but he can try and help. The sisters are old enough to do something. But no...just sit all day at home and waste the money. Sighs. The other part that bugged me was the part with the painting. Wow. Like way to care about what happened to your sister. That is all you take from her story? >_>

Her family made no sense. It seems they will show up in other books. I am sure everyone will be all buddy buddy, I would have told them to f off.

Also, her stupid arrow. You starve and you keep that arrow? Just sell it. But one thing can kill a fairy, of course she had to have one. I mean how many people could possibly have one?

She is a murdering monster so she has to have the arrow just in case she needs to murder another Fairy.

 Horrible girl! Ok so then she comes to fairyland and she tries to escape at every turn. Which yes makes sense, but, she has been told that she could die the moment she steps outside. She does not know the way and omg that girl needed to die. What a mess she was, like some kind of brainless bimbo.

And of course every male is in love with her. Sure some of the females want her too. SMH. I just don’t get it. I wanted to like her, but my goodness. Brainless.

The fae are impossibly beautiful, but of course everyone lusts after the silly human. OF course they will. She IS Mary Sue. And she in turn lusts after the dick that kidnapped her. Because obviously.

Oh and they all wear masks. So they are ugly, no they are beautiful. Make your mind up author. What are we supposed to think?

I have no idea. I was confused and I was going to ask you. Maybe they are so beautiful it will hurt normal human eyes? Who knows. The author was all over the place. I still don’t understand the ending honestly. Sure I skimmed the last couple of chapters to just be done….so maybe I missed something? But yea...I was left shaking my head.

Oh the ending made me furious. First the lie she told even though she knows that the fae are wicked. Torture and death. TORTURE AND DEATH. You selfish little idiot. LIE YOU EFFING IDIOT. And then then more innocents are killed. I seriously think she is a psychopath.

I really do too. So many people died. And I bet a lot will die in the next books. I honestly do not plan on reading any of the next. I barely got through this one.

Oh let’s just put a big spoiler warning os I need to discuss Rhys more. Ok so this guy was evil but I got why he was evil. He was  THE whore. HE was angry. I liked him cos he had personality, but he was evi. The things he made her do! And then it seems that they will end up together? I am not 100 but it seems that way. She was madly in love with Tamlin and did things for him. But I guess she will forget and go for this other guy. He is Mr Grey. Totally. It is not a lovestory. Why is this a lovestory! IF she is gonna change guy in the next book and they are all creepy rapist murders.

The only logical thing I can think of is that Tamlin dies or something. However, with the knowledge that she is a dumb idiot, she prolly is tricked into thinking Tamlin is the evil one and Rhys is the good guy in all of this. Goodness knows. I liked Rhys a lot too, but he was evil. I do not consider this a romance so I’m not even going to call it one. LOL. It was a book about an idiot who likes to kill things and play the innocent.

It’s not like I mind death. But she is a murderer. That is a difference. I can not like her. I can not like Tamlin because of the things he did. I think the best ending would have been the evil person killing everyone and putting me out of my misery.

Same here. But she was made to be the heroine of the story. But she was just as bad as the others.

Yes! What is the difference between her and Main Evil person? They both do bad things. Of course Evil person owns her things. While our dear heroine just kills cos she is stupid. Ugh

I was highly disappointed. There are SO many good reviews out there and I feel like the minority of not liking it. The story wasn’t bad...the characters made it horrible. Rhys was the only decent character and he was the baddie.

Well something would obvi have to change in the story. The silly ones. But the bones were good. The characters were lifeless and made no sense.

Agreed. The idea is good, but everything else fell apart. I think she tried too hard.

So many adore the series and good for you, but every little thing made me cringe. Some reviewers seemed to give up after the “attack”, but hey I felt that was the least of the problem this book had. So many problems

I tried sooo hard to like it and give it a chance. Sure not all characters are going to be perfect, but my goodness.

Even with the rocky start for me I did think that maybe. But that thought was crushed when they reached his lands.

Yeah - the moment they got there and he didn’t punish her AT all put a sour taste in my mouth.

It was all meant to be, and I felt like the author made things up while writing

Probably! Just going along with it and making it up as she went along. Goodness knows what the next books are like.

Someone who liked them left me an ominous message, so I think weird things will happen in the next book that we would not like

Oh my. Yea - no plans on reading book 2

Yes. A big No. on that. I have better books to read and I could never ever forgive her for what she made happen to that other girl

Nope, nope. I wish I had read something else by the author. This was rough start for me.

Do not read more by her. DO not

Eeek!

I do not recommend this book to anyone. That is my last sentence :)

I do not recommend this either. Booo. I am sad.

The end?

ENDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

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.

Audio: The Unteachables - Gordon Korman

Narrated by: Sarah Beth Goer, Oliver Wyman, Josh Hurley, Tristan Morris, Chris Gebauer, Sean Welsh Brown, Pete Larkin, Fred Berman, Jennifer Nittoso

Length: 6 hrs

Unabridged Audiobook

Release date: 01-08-19

Publisher: HarperAudio 

MG Fiction

My Thoughts:

Oh I did not realise this was MG before reading the synopsis. I thought it was YA since they were 13. But hey it works for everyone!

This is THE class. The one everyone avoids and where the school puts the kids they do not know wht to do with, and forgets them.

Mr Kermit just wants to retire. The school really messed him up. A scandal destroyed his life and the school blamed him. And he had nothing do do with it. So now he hates teaching. Ok yes 27 years of not caring is hard to forgive, but I really liked him in the end. He is an amazing teacher that was forgotten about too.

And then there there kids. Parker who can not read, and has a driver's license. Eeek.

Kiara who wandered into the class and never left. And who is not even in this school.

Aldo who is always angry.

Barndoor who was the star of the school and then he broke his leg and forgotten about.

All with great personalities, and different problems. That all can be solved if someone just cares for two seconds.

There are also more. Rahim who falls asleep all the time. Elaine who everyone fears. And Matteo who is the biggest nerd and therefore the school finds him weird.

They will raise hell and at the end I wanted them to succeed. This is the class from hell and I cheered them on.

Really uplifting when I think about it! Yes it made me happy. It was fun, short and good.

Narrators

Ok so obvi there are  LOT. But it works well, every big person gets her or his POV. Lots of narrators for that. But they ll have their own chapters so no one has a special own voice

Story:

A hilarious new middle grade novel from beloved and bestselling author Gordan Korman about what happens when the worst class of kids in school is paired with the worst teacher--perfect for fans of Ms. Bixby's Last Day.

The Unteachables are a notorious class of misfits, delinquents, and academic train wrecks. Like Aldo, with anger management issues; Parker, who can't read; Kiana, who doesn't even belong in the class--or any class; and Elaine (rhymes with pain). The Unteachables have been removed from the student body and isolated in room 117.

Their teacher is Mr. Zachary Kermit, the most burned-out teacher in all of Greenwich. He was once a rising star, but his career was shattered by a cheating scandal that still haunts him. After years of phoning it in, he is finally one year away from early retirement. But the superintendent has his own plans to torpedo that idea--and it involves assigning Mr. Kermit to the Unteachables.

The Unteachables never thought they'd find a teacher who had a worse attitude than they did. And Mr. Kermit never thought he would actually care about teaching again. Over the course of a school year, though, room 117 will experience mayhem, destruction--and maybe even a shot at redemption.

Audio: The Only Woman in the Room - Marie Benedict

By: Marie Benedict

Narrated by: Suzanne Toren

Length: 8 hrs and 54 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release date: 01-08-19

Language: English

Publisher: Audible Studios

My Thoughts

The book is in two parts. Before Hollywood and Hollywood. I did like the before bits a lot more, Hollywood was good too, but the more I think about it, the more i think I know why. See this is a fictionalized story of Hedy Lamarr. The bones are there and the things we know, but not everything was known about her Austria days and I felt that the author embraced that more then and let her pen fly. And then when we came to Hollywood there was so much she wanted to talk about that we know happened. Like what a meat market Hollywood was which she surely wanted to talk about cos of MeToo. And how Hedy worries about war, and then war comes so she worries about Jews. And on top of that she is making so many movies and they are all mentioned. Plus her inventions. See, there was just so much going on there. Still good, but I really liked the drama of the first part.

Part one. Hedwig Kleiser, Jewish, even if she does not think of her that way, she is Austrian after all. Actress and now celebrated in the stage production of Sisi. She is 19 an a whirlwind. I liked her from page 1. Then then drama starts, a rich older man wants her and she obeys. This is Austria in the 30s after all. Her father knows trouble is coming and the third richest man in Austria might just protect her and them then. He is a controlling man who just wants pretty armcandy to show his friends.

And this part was exciting. A husband she grew to fear more and more. Tensions rising in Austria. Her husband being part of the Austrian political elite. It was this whole other life I did not know she had had.

Then comes Hollywood. I did feel she suffered a bit too much from survivors guilt. She went on and on how she could have saved the Jews of Austria. I think not. 

And the thrilling part how freaking smart she was. I wish the author had showed more of that in her earlier years. It was like she suddenly was a genius. I mean she invented something that now was a forerunner to bluetooth, wifi, gps (and the military swept that under the rug, aholes.)

Conclusion

That is why I really enjoyed this book. What a fascinating woman! Everyone should read it and see for themselves.

Narrator

I liked her narration because it felt like it was an older Hedy talking. It brought you really close into the story.

Synopsis

Hedy Kiesler is lucky. Her beauty leads to a starring role in a controversial film and marriage to a powerful Austrian arms dealer, allowing her to evade Nazi persecution despite her Jewish heritage. But Hedy is also intelligent. At lavish Vienna dinner parties, she overhears the Third Reich's plans. One night in 1937, desperate to escape her controlling husband and the rise of the Nazis, she disguises herself and flees her husband's castle.

She lands in Hollywood, where she becomes Hedy Lamarr, screen star. But Hedy is keeping a secret even more shocking than her Jewish heritage: she is a scientist. She has an idea that might help the country and that might ease her guilt for escaping alone -- if anyone will listen to her. A powerful novel based on the incredible true story of the glamour icon and scientist whose groundbreaking invention revolutionized modern communication, The Only Woman in the Room is a masterpiece.

Blood of Assassins - RJ Barker

Paperback, 434 pages

Published February 15th 2018 by Orbit

Series: The Wounded Kingdom #2

Fantasy

Own

My thoughts:

Make it short, make it short..ok I will try. I am pressed for time

SO 5 years have passed. Girton and his master comes back to these crappy hellforsaken lands (srsly why do anyone still live here! This place is hell). His old friend Rufra has been fighting with Thomas (FU Thomas), and Aydor all this time and they all claim the kingdom. Like this place could go to hell any more. Yes it can. Now there are maneating pigs too.

He meets Rufra again and is given a task.

That camp is another snake nest. Sometime is a spy, but who? Those dang witchhunters are there and ugh! But ok so I get why they need to find sorcerers, but they mostly kill innocents.

Girton has his job cut out for him.

I said short! I mean to finish this sentences ago!

Right, so this is a detective story in a way then. And war is looming, and there will be fighting. And Girton is trying to keep his magic under control. I fear for him, I really fear for him now. Either he will burn a hole in the country, be killed or no, I can not see a happy ending for him.

I really want book 3 now so that I can find out what happens next. All is good for now, but who knows what the years will bring

Synopsis:

The assassin Girton Club-foot and his master have returned to Maniyadoc in hope of finding sanctuary, but death, as always, dogs Girton's heels.

The place he knew no longer exists. War rages across Maniyadoc, with three kings claiming the same crown - and one of them is Girton's old friend Rufra. Girton finds himself hurrying to uncover a plot to murder Rufra on what should be the day of the king's greatest victory. But while Girton deals with threats inside and outside Rufra's war encampment, he can't help wondering if his greatest enemy hides beneath his own skin.

Bloodmage - Stephen Aryan

Paperback, 528 pages

Published April 12th 2016 by Orbit

Series: The Age of Darkness Trilogy #2

Fantasy

Own

My Thoughts:

The last book was all about war, while this one have spies, "cops" and criminals.

Byrne and Fray are guardians who are investigating horrible murders. I liked them and their hunt for the killer.

Choss is trying to find what happened at a recent fight and that brings us the underworld. I was not that keen on Choss or his investigations. The best part was when Butcher showed up

A character from book 1 is hanging about and I so wanted more about him, but alas.

Katja is a spy who is sent to infiltrate bad guys who are trying to assassinate two queens. I think I like what she did during the daytime more than her spying, her daytime was interesting. Everything these characters are doing will come together at the end one way or another.

I enjoy this series. It is light (in the way written!) I know I say that a lot and everyone thinks ohh light, no no, not the actual story. I mean people are butchered. But who it is written cos the story flows and I read it fast. And now I want book 3! Which again will be about new character! Arghh, I so want the Gods stuff! Please just give that to me.

Anyway, I guess I know what I am telling SO to give me for my birthday! Book 3 and the next series ;)

Conclusion:

Enjoyable and fun!

Synopsis

The people of Perizzi have survived the battlemage war, but their future is looking darker than ever.

BYRNE is a Guardian of the Peace, investigating a series of murders in which the corpse was drained entirely of life.

FRAY's expertise with magic is needed to catch the killer, but working with the Guardians destroyed his father, years before.

CHOSS is a champion fighter, trying to diffuse a war in the underworld that threatens to turn the streets red with rivers of blood.

KATJA is a spy from a foreign land, attempting to prevent a massacre that will topple two dynasties and destroy the fragile peace in the city for ever.

Guardians and spies, assassins and criminals will clash on the streets in this magic-fuelled adventure from the author of Battlemage.

Audio: All I want for Christmas is a Cowboy - Jessica Clare

Narrated by: Abby Craden

Length: 8 hrs and 2 mins

Release date: 01-22-19

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Contemporary romance

Thank you Tantor for this copy!

My Thoughts

Snowed in for Christmas, oh that makes for the perfect winter book!

Cass is an assistant (and oh my, she should quit, she can not see how much she is used, not to mention her boss' fiance keeps hitting on her, creep!) But she is a nice hardworking woman (that should take a chance). So she goes away for the holidays to be alone. Boom car accident, stuck int he mountains with a cowboy!

Eli was omg the sweetest. All he does is work work and no time for a woman. He is just too sweet and has let go of all of that. He might be a bit grumpy since he wanted alonetime too, but alas no.

They get to know each other. She is a complete mess at things. They start to fall in love and the snow keeps on piling up. 

There will be drama as she starts to remember things, and there she does something so silly. I mean just talk with him woman! But I guess we need drama. Still, talk to him!

And then they lie happily ever after! Awwww.

Sweet and a great book this winter.

Abby Craden: narration
I liked her Cass voice, it showed sweetness and innocence. While I totally saw the grumpy Eli before me too. She did well with setting the scene.

Synopsis

Christmas may be coming, but it's just another day at the ranch as far as Eli Pickett is concerned. Someone has to take care of the herd and that means no holiday vacation for him. But that's just the way he likes it--it’s not like he has a woman to spend time with anyways. Most women don't want the ranch life, or the surly, silent cowboy that comes with it. Fine with him. He'd rather have the quiet of a roaring fire and the company of his dogs.

Cassandra Horn is trying to make it to her parents' winter cabin in Wyoming before the blizzard hits. She desperately needs a vacation from the chaos of Manhattan...and her boss’s boyfriend, who is making her life miserable. But Cass never makes it to the cabin. 

A raging snowstorm causes her car to crash, where she's found unconscious by Eli. When Cass wakes, she has no memories of who she is. Eli takes one look at Cass's big blue eyes and dark curls, and like a Christmas miracle, falls head over heels in love. But while the attraction is mutual, can she give her heart to this cowboy if she’s not sure it’s hers to give?

Carole's Sunday Review: Lady of the Eternal City - Kate Quinn

Author: Kate Quinn

Narrator: Elizabeth Wiley

Title: Lady of the Eternal City (The Empress of Rome #4)

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: Audiobook

Published: March 3rd 2015

Where I Got It: My shelf (Audible)

Elegant, secretive Sabina may be Empress of Rome, but she still stands poised on a knife’s edge. She must keep the peace between two deadly enemies: her husband Hadrian, Rome’s brilliant and sinister Emperor; and battered warrior Vix, who is her first love. But Sabina is guardian of a deadly secret: Vix’s beautiful son Antinous has become the Emperor’s latest obsession.

Empress and Emperor, father and son will spin in a deadly dance of passion, betrayal, conspiracy, and war. As tragedy sends Hadrian spiraling into madness, Vix and Sabina form a last desperate pact to save the Empire. But ultimately, the fate of Rome lies with an untried girl, a spirited redhead who may just be the next Lady of the Eternal City . . . 

Oh no! The last book in the series. I have been dreading this day but also really excited to see everything come to a conclusion. 

Sabina and Vix are back. So much has happened. So many years. Sabina is now the empress and her husband, Hadrian, is not all sane. Smart and brilliant, but the man has a lot of demons. Especially after a certain event occurs. Vix just wants to live a simple life but his fate seems tied to the empress and emperor.  The fate of the empire may rest on the shoulders of a young girl. 

This was loooonnnnngggggg. Super long, but I didn't mind it really. I actually enjoyed it. I didn't want it to end tbh. I love Sabina and Vix. I also grew to adore Annia. There are even bits of me that like Hadrian. The man needed serious therapy. He is so smart, but he lacks normal human emotion. I do really encourage you to read the others of the series. I felt like they all built up to this one. I would at least read book 3 in order to really appreciate Vix and Sabina. 

The format was still a little odd for me. Everyone's POVs were in one format, but Vix was 1st person. I forgive this and understand it especially when we learn that Vix is writing his memoirs SOOO it does give a reason why the author did what she did. 

Other than that, I adored this book. I think it was one of my favorites of the series. It made me cry. It made me cheer. It gave me all the feels! 

I did listen to the audio of this and I really loved it. The narrator really did a good job. I think she was the same from the last book. But yes, I loved her voices. Every character (and mind you...there are a LOT of characters) had their own voices. Kuddos there. 

Overall, this was really good. It's hard not to give away some spoilers. But this made me feel! This ended perfectly and I can't wait to read more by this author. She is one of my favorites. She really knows how to get you hooked and absorbed. Worth the read. I'll give this 5 stars since the ending gave a good reason why the format was the way it was. 

Got it, thanks!Thanks, I'll check them out.Thank you!

Saturday Movie: A star is born

Happy 2019! 

We'll be discussing 'A Star is Born'

I am in red and Carole in black.

Title: A Star is Born
Genre: Drama, Music, Romance 
Running Time: 2 hr & 16 mins
Rating: R
Released: 2018

A musician helps a young singer find fame, even as age and alcoholism send his own career into a downward spiral.

TRAILER:

DISCUSSION: 

I went to watch this one and afterwards and sent Carole a message asking if she had seen it, and if not then she had to see it!

Yesss, I had been curious about it, but after what you told me I had no choice but to check it out. I dragged BF with me and he even liked it.

I do think BF would have liked it too since there was lots of music, now he have to watch it on his own! ;) I am sure we would have seen it anyway, but MIL wanted to go with me so I went with her.

I did like the music. I was a little unsure at the beginning. I like musicals and all that...but I felt like it was going to be cheesy (the first couple were), but I ended up enjoying it and tapping my foot along with the music.

Those riffs at the beginning and end, damn, they struck a cord on my soul. There was a lot of foot tapping going on. Truly awesome music, except for that which she does in the middle and end. That was meh.

I liked the song Jack wrote, but I prefer him singing it over her. I love the Gaga and she is an amazing singer, but the ending song would have been better if he just sung it. Just to give more of an emotional impact. Like if he recorded it for her and for her alone.

Oh yes she is amazing and when she sings her song with him, damn, they are great! But that last song of his, yes I would have wanted him to sing it too. I felt that that one did not have as much an impact on me. And that was the one that should have moved you the most.

I think if he sang it instead of her, I think it would’ve. That last couple lines he did sing made me cry. Ooooo Jackson. I loved him. Ally was okay too, but I really loved Jackson.

I adored Jackson! I went all I want to read a romance about a rockstar...minus the alcohol abuse and drug abuse and you know all the neg stuff ;)

Which I bet it is hard to find one without some of that stuff. Rockstars tend to be rough ones to date lol.

That’s sad :/ And omg this movie, ugh I sat there with tears streaming down my face. I noticed the corner of my eye how the stranger next to me was crying. I am pretty sure a lot of those there cried.

I cried too. I could see a couple tears on BF’s face too. I was worried this was going to be an overly happy romance movie. But it does showcase real issues especially in the Music world. There was a lot of love and happiness between the two, but there was also a lot of sadness. Like addiction and jealousy and so forth. I was upset that Ally did become more HipHop over the country of what made her famous. She sold out.

I felt that too. She became sugar pop. I do not know if we were supposed to be all oh he is just jealous. No, I felt he was right. He wanted her to be as he had seen her, and it was glorious. But she wanted stardom and this was the road she was given. So I felt with him and thought she sold out too. I liked her much more as she was first. But hey if it made her happy.

And yes it shows the real stuff and the darkness. That made it so good. It was just that great of a movie. Truly amazing work that moved me,

I think there was a touch of jealousy after he was told they just wanted him to play the guitar and not sing and then she won. I think that caused him to spiral out of country. He was losing it all. His stage, his voice, his hearing, and the wife he knew. Poor guy. He had so many issues. The actor did an amazing job. I think it helped because the actor used to be an alcoholic eons ago so he was able to portray that well.

Who wouldn’t be jelly then. Poor guy. Cooper did a great job with him, I was impressed. He made me feel so much. Ack, how it hurt.

I know. If I let myself think about it too much I get sad. Gaga did awesome too. I haven’t seen any of her previous acting gigs so I pleasantly surprised at how well she did. She was so awkward at the beginning and it was cute.

She was great too, and what a voice :D I am glad they picked her. She was perfect for the role. I loved all that nose stuff ;D

Me too! The nose bits were hilarious. It showed them being a real couple. He teases her but always ends up loving her nose. It was adorable. It hurt my little heart who cute they were.

They were perfect for each other! Yes this movie broke my heart and I demand that everyone go and watch it! I am sure it will be out on DVD any day soon too.

Or Netflix. I do want to rewatch it even though I know I will cry again and again. It was that good. The music, the acting...fantastic.

Yes maybe I will watch it with BF again and see if it can make me cry again. I think not, but we will see!Anything else you want to add?

Girl. You know that ONE scene will make you at least tear up. ;) It was just so sad and I wanted to scream and throw stuff at the screen. BF was so distressed too! Buuut I don’t think I have anything else. I do not want to give away any spoilers...mmm….I loved the drag queens. I wanted that manager dude to get hit by a truck. What a JERK!!!!!!

The manager needs to diiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiie!

And yes I might cry again, I want to see it again! There you go, everyone, listen now, go see it. I promise you that you will love it.

Yessss it worth the watch!!!!!!

The end