Audio: Crowbones by Anne Bishop

By: Anne Bishop

Narrated by: Alexandra Harris

Series: The World of the Others, Book 3

Length: 11 hrs and 17 mins

Release date: 03-08-22

Urban fantasy/own

Re-listen!!! And now I am done with the series and spinoffs. I love this world, and Alexandra Harris is a master at narrating it. I feel everything.

Great characters, great story. Great everything. You all need to listen to these

And I want more! Please give us more! I need more.

Crowbones will gitcha if you don't watch out!

Deep in the territory controlled by the Others-shape-shifters, vampires, and even deadlier paranormal beings-Vicki DeVine has made a new life for herself running The Jumble, a rustic resort. When she decides to host a gathering of friends and guests for Trickster Night, at first everything is going well between the humans and the Others.

But then someone arrives dressed as Crowbones, the Crowgard bogeyman. When the impostor is killed along with a shape-shifting Crow, and the deaths are clearly connected, everyone fears that the real Crowbones may have come to The Jumble-and that could mean serious trouble.

To "encourage" humans to help them find some answers, the Elders and Elementals close all the roads, locking in suspects and victims alike. Now Vicki, human police chief Grimshaw, vampire lawyer Ilya Sanguinati, and the rest of their friends have to figure out who is manipulating events designed to pit humans against Others-and who may have put Vicki DeVine in the crosshairs of a powerful hunter--

Audio: Wolf in the shadows by Maria Vale

By: Maria Vale

Narrated by: Senn Annis, Julio Maxwell

Series: Legend of All Wolves, Book 5

Length: 11 hrs and 7 mins

Release date: 03-21-23

PNR/UF/to review

The last book. I definitely recommend reading the previous ones. Like why Julia is a shifter, but Arthur who can shift to a wolf is something else. He is more wolf than human and Julia is more human than wolf.

Oh and a lot of stuff went down in the last one. Her uncle being killed, shifters trying to kill wolves, her being locked up among the shifters. Her the spoiled little princess finding out that maybe these wolves know how to run wild and be free.

Julia went from spoiled to learning about her true self. Along the way she meets Arthur, who is at the bottom of his pack. They fall for each other, and there is also the big drama that finally comes to a conclusion. Can shifters and these "wolves" live in peace again?

There was this one disturbing thing at one point, it was not handled very well and had to do with Julia and Arthur. Was it meant to show us something? Now it just made her out to be evil

But I enjoyed this last one. The first book is still my favorite. It had the realness to it. I did like that we finally came to an ending. They just wanted to live in peace, from humans and shifters. And now they possibly can. Hopefully.

Good narration between two narrators. They worked well with each others characters too. The story flowed well.

A wolf shifter hero with a haunted past

A shifter heroine with a lot to learn about being part of the Pack

Dark secrets that could destroy everything they love

Fantasy-level world building and epic romance-the new werewolf standard

Shifter Julia Martel has been spoiled and pampered by all the alpha males around her whose urge to protect her have left her uninformed and vulnerable. Now the Great North Pack has relegated Julia to the care of the wolf at the very bottom of the Pack hierarchy, Arthur Graysson. Julia wants nothing to do with the Pack, except to escape back to her life of luxury and idleness, but the more time she spends with Arthur, the more she learns about the Pack, the dark secrets Arthur carries with him, and the fierceness within herself that could save them all...

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.

3/28/2023 What is your ideal book/audiobook length?

Ideal audiobook length. Well I do get happy when I see that it´s like 8 hours long. That feels short and pleasant. But still long enough for things to happen.

Book length, this depends. Romance is good at 350. Fantasy, well that is good at 500 least. It all depends.

4/4/2023 What are some of your favourite indie/small pub authors/books? 

4/11/2023 How long do you stick with a series you loved, if you start not enjoying the books? 

4/18/2023 What were your expectations when you started blogging?

4/25/2023 If you could go back and change one thing about your life, what would it be?

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. Serendipity

Author: Louise Shaffer

Title: Serendipity

Genre: Historical Fiction, Chick Lit, Romance

Format: Paperback

Pages: 341

Published: January 1, 2009

Where I Got It: My shelf (Used Book store)

Summary: 

A child of theatrical royalty, Carrie Manning is having a hard time getting her own act together. Thirty-seven, aimless, and having just buried a famous mother she never understood, she is desperate to uncover her family’s mysterious past in the hopes that it will help her understand herself.

Carrie’s search reveals the fascinating life stories of her estranged grandmother Lu, a glamorous Broadway star whose dreams came with a price; her great grandmother Mifalda, who gave up everything to come to America as a sixteen-year-old Italian bride; and her father, Bobby, the charismatic Broadway genius who wrote some of Lu’s greatest musicals and died tragically young. At the heart of Carrie’s discoveries lies the reason for her mother’s complicated life, and a dark secret that has been buried for thirty years.

Review:

Picking this one had a couple of reasons. 1) Needed something for book club and this seemed like we could have some good convos and 2) it's been collecting dust on my shelf for yearsssss so it is part of a TBR Pile reading challenge. 

Carrie Manning has had a hard time getting her act together. She is 37 and aimless. And now even more so after having to bury her famous mother. Now, Carrie is desperate to understand her mother and uncover her family's mysterious past and secrets. Maybe she will finally understand herself! Her search reveals a fascinating past of her mother, grandmother, and even her great-grandmother. She will also uncover some dark secrets that have been buried for a long, long time. 

So this started out slow for me. It took me a couple of chapters to really get into it. I did step away for a couple of days to finish up a different book. When I picked this backup.......I could NOT stop reading. I literally finished this in a day. 

Where do I even begin? 

Each woman is complex and different but similar to their daughter. Honestly, I would love to learn more about the great-great grandma now too! It seems that these women have complicated relationships with their daughters. Hopefully, if Carrie has a daughter one day, she can break the cycle. There are so many hurt feelings and trauma with these women. If they all just sat down and tried to be understanding of each other MAYBE, JUST MAYBE there wouldn't be such bad blood and the whole "I'll never be like my mother!!!!!". But we wouldn't have this story and Carrie trying to find her way ;)

I really adored this book. TBH it could be a good contender for best of the year. I don't want to give any spoilers, but I kept finding myself surprised at each turn of the page. I literally ate this book up. 

So many lessons could be learned from this story. 

I can't wait to talk about this at book club! It is unaliving me not to be able to spoil this for ya'lls ;) 

But yes. Great stories. Great characters. There are times you just want to scream, "TALK TO EACH OTHER!!!!!!" But you know the generational trauma continues until Carrie. 5 stars 100% 

Challenge(s):

- #4 TBR Pile Reading

The sweetheart fix by Miranda Liasson

By: Miranda Liasson

Narrated by: Virginia Rose

Series: Blossom Glen, Book 2

Length: 9 hrs and 26 mins

Release date: 03-07-23 by Tantor Audio

Contemporary romance /own

A sweet romance. It works well as a stand alone even if in a series. In the previous one her sister found her Mr Right.

Juliet has broken engagements behind her, and people gossip. Not to mention when you help people with their marriages then maybe that is not the best thing. So one thing leads to another and suddenly she will help the town with their problems with the mayor at their side.

Jack suddenly has the town´s sweetheart to help him with whatever problem is brought before him. They work well together, after a few funny hick ups. And they grow closer. Obvi. She is single, he is single. Sparks fly.

But she do have some issues to work through first. And he has some issues with his gran´s land. And then they lived happily ever after.

A cute story that worked out well. I like when the drama can be worked through quickly,

Good narration. Easy to follow along too, and I do have my preferred high speed as everyone sounds best then.

Juliet Montgomery absolutely loves her small town of Blossom Glen, Indiana, and everyone loves her. Except for the fact that she’s a couples counselor who suffered a very public breakup that no one can forget. And now her boss asks her to take a step back…which is exactly when the town’s good-lookin’ and unusually gruff mayor offers her an unexpected job.

Jack Monroe absolutely loves being the mayor of his small town. Except when he actually has to talk to people. Can’t he just fix the community problems in peace? Like right now, he’s mediating the silliest dispute two neighbors could possibly have. When the town sweetheart steps up and solves everyone’s problems in five minutes flat, Jack realizes what this town really needs…is a therapist.

Juliet is able to soothe anyone—other than the surly mayor, it seems. But there’s a reason they say opposites attract, because all of their verbal sparring leads to some serious attraction. Only, just like with fireworks, the view might appear beautiful—but she’s already had one public explosion that’s nearly ruined everything…how can she risk her heart again?

Audio: A hate like this

By: Whitney Dineen, Melanie Summers

Narrated by: Lila Winters, Jason Keller

Series: Gamble on Love Mom Com Series, Book 2

Length: 7 hrs and 24 mins

Release date: 03-07-23 by Tantor Audio

Contemporary romance/ to review

Moira has 3 kids, is a single mum, owns a diner, and just living her life in Alaska. In comes Ethan, who she has met before. A lawyer from LA who wants to write a book.

Whatever they feel at first is quickly swept away by a budding lust. And wondering where they can take this. Two very different lives.

I liked Moira, she felt real and the only support network she had was here in Alaska.

Ethan falls hard, he was a really nice guy who wanted to give her the world.

The drama, oh these two. Moira needed to see it from his point too. But it all works out and they live happily ever after.

Good narration by two narrators switching chapters. They made the voices work well at their own chapters and it felt easy listening

Single mother Moira Bishop hates when her family interferes in her love life. If life as a young widow isn't hard enough, just add three boys, a slew of unruly pets, and ownership of Gamble Alaska's only diner. The last thing she needs is a man to look after too.

Entertainment lawyer to the stars Ethan Caplan hates his clients. There's only so much coddling and placating a man can do in a lifetime. He's finally decided he's had enough, so he escapes to the tiny no-horse town of Gamble to work on the novel he's always wanted to write.

Positive that Alaska will be distraction-free, Ethan's sure he can pen a bestselling legal novel. That is until he lays his eyes on Moira Bishop. Suddenly he finds himself having five meals a day at the diner, just so he can talk to her for a few minutes.

When Moira's son wins tickets to a Dodgers' game in L.A., Ethan jumps at the chance to play host to the family. He's sure he can win her over by showing her how glamorous life could be with him. With the help of his friends, he plans the date to end all dates, hoping one incredible night will change her mind about giving love a second chance.

Will Moira open her heart to Ethan? Will Ethan do what it takes to prove that he can be the man Moira and her boys need in their lives?

Audio: Lake Silence

By: Anne Bishop

Narrated by: Alexandra Harris

Series: The World of the Others, Book 1, The Others (Bishop), Book 6

Length: 13 hrs and 38 mins

Release date: 03-06-18

Urban fantasy /own

Relisten time!!!! Only one left to go now.

Loooooove this world! Vicki was cool and I wanted to hug her for her trauma that caused so much issues. 'Damn that ex of hers.

The others were such sweethearts...and also bloodthirsty dangerous and more.

Human laws do not apply in the territory controlled by the Others--vampires, shapeshifters, and paranormal beings even more deadly. And this is a fact that humans should never, ever forget . . .

After her divorce, Vicki DeVine took over a rustic resort near Lake Silence--in a human town that is not human controlled. Towns like Vicki's have no distance from the Others, the dominant predators that rule most of the land and all of the water throughout the world. And when a place has no boundaries, you never really know what's out there watching you.

Vicki was hoping to find a new career and a new life. But when her lodger, Aggie Crowe--one of the shapeshifting Others--discovers a dead body, Vicki finds trouble instead. The detectives want to pin the man's death on her, despite the evidence that nothing human could have killed the victim. As Vicki and her friends search for answers, things get dangerous--and it'll take everything they have to stay alive.

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.

3/21/2023 Tell us about some famous author from your city/state/country

From my city?! That is known like outside Finland??!? That would be none. At best I can mention J.L.Runeberg who wrote the poem that would be out national anthem, he went to school here.

As for authors from Finland....Tove Jansson? I guess she is our most famous one. The mother of Moomin. 

We do not really have famous authors that are famous outside the Nordic countries, or at best Europe.

3/28/2023 What is your ideal book/audiobook length?

4/4/2023 What are some of your favourite indie/small pub authors/books? 

4/11/2023 How long do you stick with a series you loved, if you start not enjoying the books? 

4/18/2023 What were your expectations when you started blogging?

4/25/2023 If you could go back and change one thing about your life, what would it be?

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: Magic gifts

 

Author: Ilona Andrews

Title: Magic Gifts

Series: Kate Daniels #5.5

Genre: UF, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Novella

Format: ebook

Pages: 146 

Published:  December 24, 2011

Where I Got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

It isn’t often that Kate Daniels and the Beast Lord Curran get to take a break from protecting their pack and enjoy some time for themselves. So when Curran offers Kate a romantic dinner in town, there’s no way she’s going to pass.

But their quiet night doesn’t stay quiet for long. The trouble starts with a necromancer dying at a nearby table, continues with bloodthirsty vampires crashing though the windows, and ends with more blood on the walls than any dining establishment needs.

Pulled into a deadly game neither wants to play, Kate and Curran find themselves dealing with the vile undead and tolerating a clan of maniacal, hard partying Vikings while desperately trying to save the life of an innocent child...

Review:

Been itching to read this one!! Finally was able to get it from my library. No audio...which bummer....but beggars can't be picky ;)

Kate and her love, Curran, finally are getting a break from protecting their pack. They are taking some time for themselves. When Curran offers to take Kate on a romantic dinner in town...there is NO way she is going to pass. However, the quiet night is ruined when a necromancer dying at a nearby table chaos ensues. They are pulled into a deadly game that they do not want to play. In order to save the life an innocent child, they will have to deal with undead, Vikings, and something unspeakable.

Kate and Curran need a day off...no a week! NO a year! Nooooo 5 years. However, it is their role of leaders and the pack and innocent folks need them. 

I really, really enjoyed this one. It was quick, but not too quick. Honestly, I would've been fine with this being a full length novel! But it worked at the length it was. 

Loved the blend of Viking and Cherokee lore! That was one bad monster. Curious to see if they will need to knock on that door later on. Feels like there are things unfinished with that monster!!

The real baddie was terrible. I'm glad karma found its way to that character. Terrible person. HOW COULD YOU DO THAT?! No spoilers....but grrr to that person. 

I enjoyed this one and I want to see more Vikings and that monster. 

5 stars from me. Super fun novella for the series!!

Normal people by Sally Rooney

266 pages, Hardcover

Published: August 28, 2018 by Faber & Faber

Fiction /library

This book was messy, these people who wanted to be normal were flawed and real.

Marianne and Connell meet in school. He is popular, she is not. She is rich, he is not. They start something in secret.

They meet again and now she is popular and he is the one not fitting in. They are in and out of each other´s lives and being idiots.

But so much else is going on. She has some trauma she really should work through and admit. The same with him. They are flawed. And there are some really disturbing things going on. Srsly, work through that trauma.

The end was a bit open, I like closure and I really need that. But I enjoyed the book and binged it

At school Connell and Marianne pretend not to know each other. He's popular and well-adjusted, star of the school football team, while she is lonely, proud, and intensely private. But when Connell comes to pick his mother up from her job at Marianne's house, a strange and indelible connection grows between the two teenagers--one they are determined to conceal.

A year later, they're both studying at Trinity College in Dublin. Marianne has found her feet in a new social world while Connell hangs at the sidelines, shy and uncertain. Throughout their years at university, Marianne and Connell circle one another, straying toward other people and possibilities but always magnetically, irresistibly drawn back together. And as she veers into self-destruction and he begins to search for meaning elsewhere, each must confront how far they are willing to go to

Miranda in Milan by Katharine Duckett

204 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 26, 2019 by TOR

Historical/fantasy/own

I needed something for bookclub and found this, and it was a novella!!!

Temptest`? Yeah, I do not know a lot about it actually, I have not read it. I know the big scope, but not the details. Anyway Miranda and Prospero are back in Milan. Rveryone is acting strange around her, she understands her dad is an ass. And she meets her new handmaiden who she is swept away by. Ok so it was a novella and now I did not feel the love, or even lust between Miranda and her maiden.

A short fast read. I liked it, but yeah not much had time to happen

After the tempest, after the reunion, after her father drowned his books, Miranda was meant to enter a brave new world. Naples awaited her, and Ferdinand, and a throne. Instead she finds herself in Milan, in her father’s castle, surrounded by hostile servants who treat her like a ghost. Whispers cling to her like spiderwebs, whispers that carry her dead mother’s name. And though he promised to give away his power, Milan is once again contorting around Prospero’s dark arts.

With only Dorothea, her sole companion and confidant to aid her, Miranda must cut through the mystery and find the truth about her father, her mother, and herself.

Over the woodward wall by A.Deborah Baker

Narrated by: Heath Miller

Series: The Up-and-Under, Book 1

Length: 5 hrs and 31 mins

Release date: 10-06-20

Fantasy/ Mg?

It was short so I gave it another go, but it was rather dull.

The story is mentioned in her book Middlegame, another one I dnfed. Her style either works really well for me, or not at all.

This was two kids lost in Wonderland, and blah blah. More books coming. But it could be a fun MG adventure for some

Good narration, but not a story to hold me

Avery is an exceptional child. Everything he does is precise, from the way he washes his face in the morning to the way he completes his homework - without complaint, without fuss, without prompt.

Zib is also an exceptional child, because all children are, in their own way. But where everything Avery does and is can be measured, nothing Zib does can possibly be predicted, except for the fact that she can always be relied upon to be unpredictable.

They live on the same street. They live in different worlds.

On an unplanned detour from home to school one morning, Avery and Zib find themselves climbing over a stone wall into the Up and Under - an impossible land filled with mystery, adventure and the strangest creatures.

And they must find themselves and each other if they are to also find their way out and back to their own lives.

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.

3/14/2023 How do you measure blogging success? Followers, page views, interactions, etc.

I remember in the early days and it was SO important on how many views you had, followers etc. But then I started noticing those big blogs with so many followers, but no interactions, and it hit me how boring that is. Writing to the abyss. So I stopped caring. All that mattered was that I enjoyed it and could talk to other book bloggers.

Success is enjoying what you do

3/14/2023 How do you measure blogging success? Followers, page views, interactions, etc.

3/21/2023 Tell us about some famous author from your city/state/country

3/28/2023 What is your ideal book/audiobook length?

4/4/2023 What are some of your favourite indie/small pub authors/books? 

4/11/2023 How long do you stick with a series you loved, if you start not enjoying the books? 

4/18/2023 What were your expectations when you started blogging?

4/25/2023 If you could go back and change one thing about your life, what would it be?

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 Movie Monday

Title: Jumanji - Welcome to the Jungle

Length:  1h 59m

Released: 2017

Genre:  Action/Adventure, Comedy, & Fantasy
Rating: PG-13
Where I Got It: Hulu

SUMMARY:

Four teenagers are sucked into a magical video game, and the only way they can escape is to work together to finish the game.

Click here for the trailer

REVIEW:

Been meaning to watch this for an eon....but just never got around to it. It popped up as recommended on Hulu SO I decided it was time......and I ended up watching it twice. 

The movie takes place after the end of the original. The Jumanji game washed up on shore...in the sand. It is picked up and it is a little bit different. Instead of the classic board game, it is now a video game. Four teenagers decide to try it out and get sucked into this magical video game. The only way to escape is to work together and save Jumanji. 

This was SOOOOO much fun. I loved it!!!!!!!!!!! Like I said earlier I watched it twice. Once...alone. The second time I made Hubby watch it with me. We both love video games and the original so it was nice to get all the jokes. Even if you don't play video games, it is still funny. 

Great cast! Couldn't pick anyone better. They are so fun together. 

We had some nice nods to the original which was nice. One I didn't even catch until Hubby pointed it out. *chef kiss* Beautifully done. 

This was fun, funny, heartwarming, action-filled, and just plain entertaining. 

I do plan on watching the sequel. It's not on Hulu like this one....so there will be a delay for sure. 

In the end....5 stars. LOVED it. 

Cytonic by Brandonn Sanderson

409 pages, Paperback

Series: Skyward (#3)

Published: October 11, 2022 by Gollancz

Scifi/YA/own

Is it me? Am I over books? Can I only do audi0? Or was this book just boring? I think it might be the latter. it was really dull, nothing happened. Everyone was boring, everything was boring. I want to skim, and it was so bad that nope, I will not get book 4. it is over. It is sad, but it is over

She proved herself one of the best starfighters in the human enclave of Detritus and she saved her people from extermination at the hands of the Krell – the enigmatic alien species that has been holding them captive for decades. What’s more, she travelled light-years from home as a spy to infiltrate the Superiority, where she learned of the galaxy beyond her small, desolate planet home. Now, the Superiority – the governing galactic alliance bent on dominating all human life – has started a galaxy-wide war. And Spensa has seen the weapons they plan to use to end it: the Delvers. Ancient, mysterious alien forces that can wipe out entire planetary systems in an instant.

Spensa knows that no matter how many pilots the DDF has, there is no defeating this predator.

Except that Spensa is Cytonic. She faced down a Delver and saw something eerily familiar about it. And maybe, if she’s able to figure out what she is, she could be more than just another pilot in this unfolding war. She could save the galaxy. The only way she can discover what she really is, though, is to leave behind all she knows and enter the Nowhere. A place from which few ever return.

The Earl next door by Amelia Grey

294 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 28, 2019 by St. Martin's Press

Series: First Comes Love (#1)

Historical romance /own

Adeline is a widow who has a school for girls in her backyard. Well, she will soon have a school.

Her first meeting with Lyon was hilarious, and tsk Lyon, Lyon. The neighborhood was gossiping what on earth was going on in her backyard.

She is a happy widow, and Lyon gets on her nerves. There is banter, there is being annoyed, there is attraction building. But she does not want another bad marriage, and he wants someone to love. Not to love for a moment.

Cute story, they get their hea.

When Adeline, Dowager Countess of Wake, learns of her husband’s sudden death, she realizes she’s free. At last, she can do, go, and be as she pleases. Finally, she can have the life she has always dreamed of. She doesn’t need, or want, to remarry. Especially not the supremely dashing future Marquis of Marksworth, who makes Adeline yearn for his desire. . .

Lord Lyonwood, son of a philandering marquis, will not be like his father. He wants to run his estates and watch them flourish―and find a wife who brings love to his life. When he meets spirited and self-reliant Adeline in a case of near-scandalous mistaken identity, Lyon feels he’s met his match. But Adeline isn’t interested in a marriage proposal. She will only accept becoming his lover―and Lyon finds it hard to refuse. Unless the fire of his passion can melt Adeline’s resolve. . .

Early review: Text and confused

 

By: Whitney Dineen, Melanie Summers

Narrated by: Avery Reid, Alexander Cendese

Series: An Accidentally in Love Story, Book 6

Length: 6 hrs and 20 mins

Release date: 03-14-23

Contemporary romance /to review

This was a cute one. Toni wants a change in her dating life, so she disses the cute working man (too handsome, too everything), and instead opts for the boring white collar guy. But life is never that easy and she gets the wrong number. She wants to take it slow so they start to text each other, and both are falling in love. Awww what could be better!? Well, she was texting the wrong guy.

Toni was a bit prejudiced against Connor. Not his fault he is handsome, and seemingly like the other guys that did not want to settle down. She got to know him through texts and should have realised he is perfect.

Sumner was an ahole who ghosted her and she still gave him a chance. Also listening to one POV and believing that POV...wait, is this Pride and Prejudice? Yes, dang Sumner is Wickham!

But everyone gets their stories straight and live happily ever after. A cute romance with some twists. Connor was the best

Good narration by this pair. It worked well and they got the voices done in a manner that fitted them. It flowed well and was easy listening to. They worked well together.

I'm Toni Capella and I'm a bad-man-o-holic. (Hi, Toni!). But it's a new year and for the first time in my twenty-nine years I'm determined to attract Mr. Right. So when super-hot contractor Cooper Flint walks into my office, I immediately put him on my "no way" list. Besides, my eye is on another new coworker, Sumner Livingston. Handsome, well-heeled, and professional, Sumner is nothing like my usual type, which I assume makes him perfect for me.

I insist Sumner and I keep our budding relationship separate from work. I even suggest we do our initial courting via text while we get to know each other better. Things are going beautifully and just when I'm starting to think he's "the one," I find out there's been a horrible mix-up. My boss accidentally gave me Cooper's number, not Sumner's, and I'm falling for Mr. Wrong, again.

Unfortunately, after I break it off with Cooper, I discover that Sumner isn't the good guy he portrays himself to be. When Cooper rescues me from a compromising situation, I belatedly realize I might be been missing out on the man of my dreams. Have I lost my chance at true happiness or is there some way I can convince Cooper I'm the woman he needs?

TMST: Travel

 

 

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.

3/7/2023 Travel: are you getting out? Where have you been?

Travel? What is that? No srsly, what is that? I am SUCH a homebody, I would love to go places, but at the same time...I do not want to travel anywhere.

The furthest I have ever been is Prague. That was our high school trip, a quick stop in Berlin on the way down, then also visiting historic sights near Prague

Other than that, well Sweden. Last summer we took the ship over, stood on Swedish ground and went back. haha. Ok that sounds weird, but the ship itself was the exciting part for the kids.

I am happy with just visiting inside our country. Lots to see, last summer we saw a viking ship in stone, an enormous mushroom, and the tallest boulder in Finland. It was huge

3/14/2023 How do you measure blogging success? Followers, page views, interactions, etc.

3/21/2023 Tell us about some famous author from your city/state/country

3/28/2023 What is your ideal book/audiobook length?

4/4/2023 What are some of your favourite indie/small pub authors/books? 

4/11/2023 How long do you stick with a series you loved, if you start not enjoying the books? 

4/18/2023 What were your expectations when you started blogging?

4/25/2023 If you could go back and change one thing about your life, what would it be?

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.

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Carole´s Monday: The 7 deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

Author: Stuart Turton

Narrator: James Cameron Stewart

Title: The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Fantasy, & Historical Fiction

Format: Audiobook

Published: February 8, 2018

Where I got It: Audible

Summary: 

Aiden Bishop knows the rules. Evelyn Hardcastle will die every day until he can identify her killer and break the cycle. But every time the day begins again, Aiden wakes up in the body of a different guest at Blackheath Manor. And some of his hosts are more helpful than others. With a locked-room mystery that Agatha Christie would envy, Stuart Turton unfurls a breakneck novel of intrigue and suspense.

Review:

Gotta love book club. I had my eye on this one but never gave it a chance until this was picked to read in my book club.

Here we follow Aiden who knows the rules to the game. Evelyn Hardcastle will die every day until he can figure out who the killer will be and break the cycle. He wakes up in the body of a different guest at Blackheath Manor. He has 8 hosts to try to solve it or the loop begins again and his memories are wiped clean. 

What a cool concept. Mixture of Agatha Christie-esque mystery and 'Groundhog Day'. So cool and def a great book to spark conversation. 

Now...I will say I struggled hardcore at the beginning. It was slow and slightly confusing. WHICH you are supposed to be confused-ish. This is Aiden's narrative. You only know as much as he knows. Very, very slow to get the story off the ground. I do think some parts could have been trimmed down a wee bit. 

Once you get past the first couple of chapters things start speeding up and you can see that there is more to the story and characters. Aiden has a mountain to climb for sure. I don't want to give away any spoilers.....but he has a full plate and not everything is as it seems. 

I go back and forth about Anna. Not sure what I would do in Aiden's place. A part of me would want to save her too, BUUUUUUUT after a big reveal....mmmm. 

The ending was good. Def has a slight open-ended feel to it which I liked. 

OOOO and that one BIG, BIG twist???? Oof. That got me good. I didn't see it coming. There were a lot of twists that tied in but it was so good. 

The narrator was okay. The voice is familiar but I can't remember where I had heard it before. The female voices were subpar. They all sounded alike (minus the old lady who was more distinct). The guy voices were good. 

This was a tough review to write ;) I didn't want to give anything away. 

But yes, pretty good especially for a book club. I can't wait to discuss this with the gals! 

Lots of mystery. A slowwwww beginning and some parts could've been slimmed down a wee bit, but once you get into the thick of things you won't want to stop until you figure out what the heck is going on. I enjoyed this. 4 stars. 

Challenge(s):
- #12 for Audiobook challenge