Audio: The Warlord´s lady by Eve Langlais

Narrated by: Kasha Kensington

Series: Magic and Kings, Book 4

Length: 8 hrs and 17 mins

Release date: 09-24-24 by Tantor Audio

Fantasy romance/to review

I have read and enjoyed the previous books in the series so I dove right into this one.

Monsters are roaming and something is lurking in the mists of Kormac´s kingdom. Something horrible that kills and possesses people. His kingdom thinks a good witch is a dead witch, but he he still calls for one.

Fionna is a witch. Now she must go to a barbarian kingdom who does not know how to treat women or her. Oh and rumours are flying.

Sparks fly...after a while. Because first she must get over that he is so arghhh, and he has to overcome that she is so independent.

Together they save the day and fall in love, awww.

Good book that had danger romance and monsters. Also, I do wonder if Lomar is getting his own book. I hope so

Good narration. She kept the flow going and it was never a dull moment. She was good with different voices and kept it entertaining.

Something evil is lurking in the mountains and Kormac doesn’t know how to fight an enemy that can’t be seen or touched.

While a warlord hates asking for aid, he can’t allow his pride to get in the way. He requests assistance from the witch queen—in secret, of course, because magic isn’t real. Or wasn’t in his corner of the world, until now.

Fionna, the witch who arrives to evaluate the situation, is unlike anyone he’s ever met. Bold. Fearless. Beautiful…

He didn’t count on how much she would test his patience—and his control.

As they work to squash the danger spreading from the mountains, and she impresses him with her skill and courage, he starts to wonder if she’s the lady he’s been waiting for. His mother certainly doesn’t think so, but Kormac didn’t become warlord by allowing others to make decisions for him.

However, taking her as his wife will depend on them surviving the machinations of the evil entity that’s returned to take its vengeance.

Carole´s Wednesday: Before we were yours

 

Author: Lisa Wingate

Title: Before We Were Yours

Genre: Historical Fiction

Format: paperback

Pages: 342

Published: June 6, 2017

Where I Got It: My shelf (Gift)

Summary: 

Memphis, 1939. Twelve-year-old Rill Foss and her four younger siblings live a magical life aboard their family’s Mississippi River shantyboat. But when their father must rush their mother to the hospital one stormy night, Rill is left in charge—until strangers arrive in force. Wrenched from all that is familiar and thrown into a Tennessee Children’s Home Society orphanage, the Foss children are assured that they will soon be returned to their parents—but they quickly realize the dark truth. At the mercy of the facility’s cruel director, Rill fights to keep her sisters and brother together in a world of danger and uncertainty.

Aiken, South Carolina, present day. Born into wealth and privilege, Avery Stafford seems to have it all: a successful career as a federal prosecutor, a handsome fiancé, and a lavish wedding on the horizon. But when Avery returns home to help her father weather a health crisis, a chance encounter leaves her with uncomfortable questions and compels her to take a journey through her family’s long-hidden history, on a path that will ultimately lead either to devastation or to redemption.

Based on one of America’s most notorious real-life scandals—in which Georgia Tann, director of a Memphis-based adoption organization, kidnapped and sold poor children to wealthy families all over the country—Lisa Wingate’s riveting, wrenching, and ultimately uplifting tale reminds us how, even though the paths we take can lead to many places, the heart never forgets where we belong.

Review:

My hubby's granny gave me this book after she finished it. She said it was really good and she thought I would like it. 

Here we follow Rill and Avery. Two different people in different times, but connected by secrets and tragedy. In 1939, Rill and her siblings seem to have a great life. They are poor but they are happy being on the river. One night her mother is rushed to the hospital with a difficult birth. While being left in charge, strangers come and kidnap them. They are taken to the Tennessee Children’s Home Society orphanage. Rill fights to keep them all together until they can escape or be saved by their parents. Years later, we have Avery who was born into wealth and privilege. She seems to have it all, but she returns home to help her father weather a health crisis. A chance encounter will leave Avery with uncomfortable questions and a feeling there are secrets she needs to uncover and set to rights. 

This was all based on one of America's most notorious real-life scandals....Georgia Tann was the director of the Memphis-based adoption agency. Thousands of kids were taken from poor families and sold to rich. Some might have gotten there legally, but so many were the products of kidnapping and tricking the biological families. I never knew of this and it breaks my heart. So many of the kids were sold like cattle, abused, and some met worse fates. I for sure did some digging while reading and after finishing the book. Wild. And it angers me Georgia Tann died before any justice could find her. 

This story will suck you in like the high tide. I didn't want to stop reading. I needed to know. I needed to see who was who and who was found. 

This was all so tragic and I for sure cried. Yes, these characters are fake BUT they mirror true stories of real victims. Those poor kids....those poor families....ugh. 

I loved both Rill's side and Avery's side. I kept finding myself upset when we would switch, but then I would get sucked in and then switching back I would be upset. I loved both POVs and I'm glad we got to read both. 

The ending left me breathless. I didn't want the story to end. I was so hopeful. It was bittersweet and a beautiful way to end the book. I'm NOT crying...YOU ARE *sniff*

This for sure has landed on the nominees for best book of the year. I honestly could re-read this. 

All-in-all, this was a wonderful book and I may have book club read this in the future. I'm bursting at the seems to talk about it!! So much to discuss. So much to digest. It was great. Yes, it will make you feel ALL the feelings. I had joy, sadness, ANGER....all of them. 5 stars for sure. 

ONE WORD SUMMARY: Captivating 

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.

9/24/2024 Do you have a series you've been meaning to finish but haven't? Which one/s and why?

Most are ones in a series that are not finished yet, so that makes it quite a few. Like a million ones that I am in the middle of.  It is more that the author needs to finish those

10/1/2024 What were your favorite surprise books of the year? 

10/8/2024 Tell us about your favorite fall comfort foods.

10/15/2024 Who is your ideal book boyfriend/girlfriend?

10/22/2024 What are the top three items on your bucket list?

10/29/2024 How do you like to be scared? Horror or thriller?

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.

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.

9/17/2024 Do you have a go-to comfort book/read?

Omg, I can finally say YES!

I love the Hearstrikers series by Rachel Aaaron. And I love re¨listening to them. They are such a comfort read.

Another comfort read is The others by Anne Bishop. Another audioseries I love re-listening to

9/24/2024 Do you have a series you've been meaning to finish but haven't? Which one/s and why?

10/1/2024 What were your favorite surprise books of the year? 

10/8/2024 Tell us about your favorite fall comfort foods.

10/15/2024 Who is your ideal book boyfriend/girlfriend?

10/22/2024 What are the top three items on your bucket list?

10/29/2024 How do you like to be scared? Horror or thriller?

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: Coming home

Author: Kennedy Ryan

Narrator: Wesleigh Siobhan & Jakobi Diem

Title: Coming Home

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Novella

Format: Audiobook

Published: February 9, 2023

Where I got It: Audible

Summary: 

They got everything they wanted...but never had each other.

Touré Wallace and Niomi Spencer were close friends at Finley College, the prestigious HBCU they attended. The attraction that simmered between them every semester was a question they never got to ask or answer before soaring ambitions launched them to opposite corners of the world. Both chased their dreams of grit and glamor as high-profile journalists. They got it all...except a shot at being more than friends.

Years later, Touré is an award-winning investigative journalist and Niomi is America's most popular morning-show host, but they both feel like something’s missing. When their alma mater recruits its most famous alums for an interview during homecoming, every look, every touch is electric. The air hums with what could have been, and they're tempted by what they could have right now, if only for one weekend. Have they traveled the world, chasing something special, when all it took was coming home?

Featuring Southern University’s marching band, Human Jukebox!

Review:

I'm for sure in the Fall spirit. I seen this and HAD to read it. 

Toure and Niomi were close friends in college, but time and careers tore them apart. For years they always wondered...what IF. Years later Toure is an awad-wining investigative journalist and Niomi is America's most popular morning-show host. They are recruited to come back to their college during homecoming and they are instantly drawn together. 

I really enjoyed this one. There was no big drama that happened between these two. They were friends but always liked each other. However, they were never on the same wave-length...and then Toure went to France and came back with a girlfriend and a baby. They never got to have that chance to be more than friends. 

The side characters were adorable and I want their stories next!!!!!

This was fun and I liked it a lot. It could've been longer, but I felt the length was just right I think. 

The narrators were a lot of fun. They were perfect and I would listen to more by them! I honestly gobbled this up in two sittings. I couldn't stop and didn't want to!!

All-in-all, this was a perfect romance for the beginning of Fall. It even made me regret not going to a big college! 5 out of 5 from me. 

ONE WORD SUMMARY: Wonderful

Challenge(s):

- Audiobook #42

 Romance Reading Challenge #23 (Single parent)

A grave robbery by Deanna Raybourn

Series: Veronica Speedwell (#9)

Format: 326 pages, Hardcover

Published: March 12, 2024 by Berkley

Historical mystery/Library

Another murder, another adventure. Veronica and Stoker has made up again and life is good. Until they get a wax figure, who is not wax but an embalmed woman. Creepy.

Veronica and Stoker are not really pulling their weight here. They have help from a cop and a journalist and those do most of the work. They even say so at the end.

Who is the woman? How was she killed? How has she been like this for 15 years? There is some mad science behind this. A nice mystery.

I do still like these, but like with all long running series, I would like to see an end one day.

I really do not have much to say. Good book.

Lord Rosemorran has purchased a wax figure of a beautiful reclining woman and asks Stoker to incorporate a clockwork mechanism to give the Rosemorran Collection its own Sleeping Beauty in the style of Madame Tussaud’s. But when Stoker goes to cut the mannequin open to insert the mechanism, he makes a gruesome discovery: this is no wax figure. The mannequin is the beautifully preserved body of a young woman who was once very much alive. But who would do such a dreadful thing, and why?

Sleuthing out the answer to this question sets Veronica and Stoker on their wildest adventure yet. From the underground laboratories of scientists experimenting with electricity to resurrect the dead in the vein of Frankenstein to the traveling show where Stoker once toured as an attraction, the gaslit atmosphere of London in October is the perfect setting for this investigation into the unknown. Through it all, the intrepid pair is always one step behind the latest villain—a man who has killed once and will stop at nothing to recover the body of the woman he loved. Will they unmask him in time to save his next victim? Or will they become the latest figures to be immortalized in his collection of horrors?

Timeless by Alice Oseman

 

By: Alice Oseman

Narrated by: Billie Fulford-Brown, Elizabeth Schenk, Imogen Church

Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins

Release date: 03-01-22 by Scholastic

YA fiction/audiosync

I have actually never read Osman. I did see the tvseries, and I really should read Heartstopper. But this is my first Osman.

Georgia starts uni and wonders what is wrong with her. Why hasn´t she kissed anyone? Why does it make her want to throw up? With her she has her two best friends, Jason and Pip. Jason got some space here, but not much. Pip did get some more space and drama as she navigates uni being gay. Georgia also gets a roommate named Rooney who has her own troubles.

Classes, friendship drama, the search for love and romance, and slowly finding out why she is different, and why that is perfectly fine. She is aromantic and asexual. She has no real clues what that is, and even as the tries to comprehend it will take some time. But I loved the message in the book, how friendships are important and should be treasured. True friends are gold.

Good book and good narration. 

From the marvelous author of Heartstopper comes an exceptional YA novel about discovering that it's okay if you don't have sexual or romantic feelings for anyone . . . since there are plenty of other ways to find love and connection. This is the funny, honest, messy, completely relatable story of Georgia, who doesn't understand why she can't crush and kiss and make out like her friends do. She's surrounded by the narrative that dating + sex = love. It's not until she gets to college that she discovers the A range of the LGBTQIA+ spectrum -- coming to understand herself as asexual/aromantic. Disrupting the narrative that she's been told since birth isn't easy -- there are many mistakes along the way to inviting people into a newly found articulation of an always-known part of your identity. But Georgia's determined to get her life right, with the help of (and despite the major drama of) her friends.

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.

9/10/2024 What day in your life would you like to relive?

None? In a way maybe when my daughter was born, just skip to the no pain part and you know not falling asleep and enjoying the moment. And eating that damn breakfast they gave us at 3 am. Oh well.

Or relive as doing something else? Dunno there either

9/17/2024 Do you have a go-to comfort book/read?

9/24/2024 Do you have a series you've been meaning to finish but haven't? Which one/s and why?

10/1/2024 What were your favorite surprise books of the year? 

10/8/2024 Tell us about your favorite fall comfort foods.

10/15/2024 Who is your ideal book boyfriend/girlfriend?

10/22/2024 What are the top three items on your bucket list?

10/29/2024 How do you like to be scared? Horror or thriller?

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 haunted homecoming

Author: Angie Fox

Narrator: Tavia Gilbert

Title: The Haunted Homecoming

Series: Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries #10

Genre: Paranormal, Mystery, Romance, Cozy Mystery

Format: Audiobook

Published: August 17, 2021

Where I got It: My shelf (Audible)

Summary: 

Apple cider, bonfires, football, and—ghosts.

It’s homecoming weekend in Sugarland, Tennessee and ghost hunter Verity Long is tickled to see so many souls—living and dead—back in town to celebrate. But not all reunions are happy ones, and when Verity stumbles upon a dead body by the football field, it appears someone has already evened the score.

Review:

Been holding onto this lil nugget until Fall time! It's September...it works ;)

We continue our journey with Verity Long. It's homecoming weekend and the whole town is in celebration mode! They are even unburying a time capsule. It's a little early, but they need to build stuff. When it is opened they uncover a body of a young woman from the 1980s everyone thought ran off with a mystery man. It will be up to Verity to solve the murder. 

All the Fall feels. The weather is going back and forth here, but in my heart it is Fall. This was the perfect book to kick off Fall reads. 

Lots of drama and fun and comedy. Lots of red herrings in this one. I really had no idea. There are a few people who for sure would have good motive for murder. I wasn't sure and then the real murderer shocked me. THAT WAS A TWIST!!!!

It was certainly a twist-y twist, but it made sense thinking back on it. Nice job. 

I'm so glad we got a break from the MIL drama. She needs to stay away for a while. But we did get to meet Verity's mom more and learn more about that. It was nice to see them start working on their own issues. 

There is a the blossoming of a romance with two side characters I did NOT see that coming. I know Verity isn't amused, but....I'm excited for them. I'm curious to see where it goes. 

All-in-all, this was really, really good. I enjoyed it so much. Loved it really. I could see myself relistening to this one. It was perfect to kick off Fall!!

5 stars from me. 

ONE WORD SUMMARY: Great

 

Challenge(s):

- Audiobook #41

Roomies by Christina Lauren

By: Christina Lauren

Narrated by: K. C. Sheridan

Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins

Release date: 12-05-17 by Simon&Schuster audio

Romance

I was kind of bored a lot of the time. And was this like romantic fiction, because I did not get contemporary romance from it. No feels at all.

Holland watched a street artist from afar. She has the biggest crush. To make a long story short. They marry because he needs a green card. Ok so that went fast in a way, but so slow too. And I never felt that these two fell in love at all, they fell in lust. They had fights because they were idiots who did not actually talk at all.

I do not know, I had no other audiobooks so I just continued because I have wanted to try her books. But after this one I am feeling very meh.

Nothing wrong with the narration. She tried her best with the story she had

Marriages of convenience are so…inconvenient.

Rescued by Calvin McLoughlin from a would-be subway attacker, Holland Bakker pays the brilliant musician back by pulling some of her errand-girl strings and getting him an audition with a big-time musical director. When the tryout goes better than even Holland could have imagined, Calvin is set for a great entry into Broadway—until he admits his student visa has expired and he’s in the country illegally.

Holland impulsively offers to wed the Irishman to keep him in New York, her growing infatuation a secret only to him. As their relationship evolves from awkward roommates to besotted lovers, Calvin becomes the darling of Broadway. In the middle of the theatrics and the acting-not-acting, what will it take for Holland and Calvin to realise that they both stopped pretending a long time ago?

Carole´s Wednesday: Of Swine and Roses

 

Author: Ilona Andrews

Narrator: Hillary Huber 

Title: Of Swine and Roses

Series: World of Kate Daniels

Genre: Short Story, UF, Paranormal Romance, YA, Novella

Format: Audiobook

Published: August 13, 2009

Where I got It: My shelf (Audible)

Summary: 

A young adult short story about a girl, a pig, some magic, and the worst date ever.

Chad Thurman is a thug, who carries brass knuckles in both pockets and lays magic traps for intruders into “his” neighborhood. The last thing Alena Kornov wants to do is to go on the date with him. But when her family pressures her, she can’t say no. Now the ice-cream is absent, the pig is running for its life, and we won’t even mention the dead guy…

Review:

That title!!!! I snorted like a piggie. I was excited to get started on this one. 

We have poor Alena who is being forced to go on a date with a dude named Chad (you know it's going to go bad based on the name alone). He is a thug and his morals are questionable. After a crappy movie and no ice cream...she finds herself trying to save a pig that Chad is out to murder. 

This was rough in the beginning. I get you don't want to upset a local family, but forcing her to go on a date with Chad? Ew. Bad parenting right there. 

The date was crappy and I was so worried she was going to fall head over heels in love with this punk. Bleh. Spoiler....she doesn't. Yayy!

Things got better but the beginning was rough because I was so worried about our girl. 

The narrator did a great job. Perfect for everyone. 

This was cute. Not my favorites of the shorts, but I loved the ending. 

3 stars. 

ONE WORD SUMMARY: Cute

 

Author: Ilona Andrews

Narrator: Michael Glenn

Title: Retribution Clause

Series: World of Kate Daniels #6.7

Genre: UF, Short Stories, Paranormal Romance, Novella

Format: Audiobook

Published: June 5, 2012

Where I got It: My shelf (Audible)

Summary: 

Saiman's cousin, Adam—a frost giant and also an insurance adjuster—and his enigmatic partner, Siroun, set out on an impossible mission to enforce a client's Retribution Clause; that is, to kill the person who killed her.

Review:

Chipping away at all the shorts from the Kate Daniels series!! I came across this one next. Slightly worried because they are new characters.

We have Adam who is Saiman's cousin. He's a frost giant and also an insurance adjuster. His partner is Siroun. They are set out on an impossible mission to enforce a client's Retribution Clause....kill the person who killed her. 

How fun!!!! Adam was cool and I liked Siroun. I hope there are more of their stories out there! 

What a cool concept. I guess even in worlds like this we need insurance adjusters ;) 

Loved every moment of this story. 

The narrator was wonderful and brought everyone to life. 

All-in-all this was cool and fun. Slightly different, but in a refreshing way. 5 outta 5. 

ONE WORD SUMMARY: Lively

Challenge(s):

- Audiobook #39 & 40

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.

9/3/2024 How do you keep up with your favorite blogs?

These days I use feedly. It´s great :) Not much more to say. The important thing is putting blogs I like there so that I remember to check in

9/10/2024 What day in your life would you like to relive?

9/17/2024 Do you have a go-to comfort book/read?

9/24/2024 Do you have a series you've been meaning to finish but haven't? Which one/s and why?

10/1/2024 What were your favorite surprise books of the year? 

10/8/2024 Tell us about your favorite fall comfort foods.

10/15/2024 Who is your ideal book boyfriend/girlfriend?

10/22/2024 What are the top three items on your bucket list?

10/29/2024 How do you like to be scared? Horror or thriller?

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.

Best of August

Here are our bests from August!!!! 

Best Book of the Month:

Blodeuedd -  Daughters of Olympus by Hannah Lynn

"Best cover and it can get best book too!"

Carole -  Magic Triumphs by Ilona Andrews

"This was just too good to NOT give it best book."

Best Movie of the Month:

Carole - Nadda this month. Nothing stood out over 3 stars. 

Blodeuedd - No movie stood out. 

Best TV show of the Month:

Blodeuedd - Solar Opposites, Geek Girl, Monk, Love is Blind UK, & Umbrella Academy

"I watched a lot of tv in August. Solar Opposites because fun. Geek Girl because it was new. Finally finished Monk. Love is blind uk for drama and the final season of Umbrella Academy."

Carole - Schitt's Creek

"Hubby wanted to watch so I'm re-watching! SOOO good."

Best Cover of the Month:

B's favorite

C's favorite

Just a cowboy and his baby by Carolyn Brown

396 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

Series: Spikes & Spurs (#6)

Format: 396 pages, Kindle Edition

Published: August 6, 2024 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

Contemporary romance/western romance/netgalley

So this was actually by mistake, I saw it on Netgalley (and I am never there), and I went for it. Half way through I realised that I had actually read it 10 years ago. Ooops.

Gemma and Trace are doing the rodeo circuit and they are head to head. But only one person can win. Sure, I was rooting for Gemma, girl power and all that. Sorry Trace. They are in competition, but slowly something grows there and they start spending time together in private too.

I liked their families and the whole rodeo thing. The drama comes rather late and is quickly resolved because omg they talk about it and are there for each other.

I enjoyed it

Gemma O'Donnell was incensed when she wasn't the first woman to win the PRCA (Professional Rodeo Championship Association) buckle for bronc riding. This year, she heads out on the PRCA ProRodeo Tour burning to be the second.

First stop is Cody, Wyoming where her stiffest competition is Trace Coleman, who already has a jump on her. A tall, dark-haired cowboy with a sexy grin and a swagger, he doesn't really give a damn about the trophy belt buckle—he wants the purse to buy a ranch he has his eye on. He damn sure doesn't have time for a sassy bit of Irish baggage who can evidently ride anything with four legs and make anything with two legs want to take her to bed.

Gemma wins a few; Trace wins a few. In the end they both qualify for the final cut in Las Vegas. But when it comes down to the wire, only one can win the bronc-riding competition and take home one helluva prize. But in this competition, it just might be loser takes all...