Audio: The messy lives of book people by Phaeda Patrick

Imprint: Harlequin Audio

Narrated by: Katey Sobey

9 hours and 50 min

On Sale: 05/31/2022

Fiction

To review

Liv works as a cleaner, one of her clients is a famous writer. One that she has been reading for 30 years and loves. Liv is 40+, has two kids and her youngest is going to uni. Her life stands still in a way, her home life stands still, and she wonder if this is all she wants.

I liked her, she was normal, she was real.

And then the story takes a turn as Essie, the author dies, and tells Liv to finish her book. So Liv tries to write a book, and finds herself while doing it.

There is also a bit of a mystery. Liv wants the main character to find true love, and she starts to investigate who Essie truly loved.

I enjoyed this one. It had a lot to offer, a little bit of everything. 

Good narration. I was there with everyone. Good voices and distinction. It flowed well.

Listen to a sample

Mother of two Liv Green barely scrapes by as a maid to make ends meet, often finding escape in a good book while daydreaming of becoming a writer herself. So she can't believe her luck when she lands a job housekeeping for her personal hero, megabestselling author Essie Starling, a mysterious and intimidating recluse. The last thing Liv expected was to be the only person Essie talks to, which leads to a tenuous friendship.

But when Essie dies suddenly, a devastated Liv is astonished to learn of her last wish: for Liv to complete Essie's final novel. But to do so Liv will have to step into Essie’s shoes, and as Liv begins to write, she uncovers secrets from the past that reveal a surprising connection between the two women—one that will change Liv’s own story forever…

Carole's Saturday: Bad boys in kilts

 

Author: Donna Kauffman

Title: Bad Boys in Kilts

(Chisholm Brothers #1)

Genre: Anthologies, Short stories, Romance, Contemporary, & Chick Lit

Format: hardcover

Pages: 320 

Published: March 1st 2006

Where I Got It: My shelf (Flint Public Library Book Sale)

Summary: 

Mad. Bad. (Barely) in Plaid.

Bottoms UP

Rascal Brodie Chisholm has more charm than the law allows, which is a good thing given he's bailed out of university to run the local pub. Brodie loves everything about the pub life: the community, the darts, trading barbs with the lads, flirting outrageously with the lasses - except for Kat Henderson, of course. She'd probably kick his ass. But Kat's about to show Brodie that the woman of his dreams might just be the tomboy next door and that billiards tables can come in handy for games other than shooting pool...

On Tap

Reese Chisholm is a definite man, sure of his ideas and strong of opinion about running the family distillery - until American Daisy MacDonnell shows up. The red-headed beauty has a lot of fancy ideas about promoting his family's whiskey on the Web, singing their praises (very embarrassing) or something. Not that Reese can remember what she says when she's sitting in front of him. He's too busy fantasizing. Moors. Heather. Frolicking and rolling and moaning and....No. Reese Chisholm is all business. He knows what he wants. And what he wants is Daisy...

Night Watch

Tristan always felt he'd been born a century too late. He was a sheepherder, both by profession and desire, with a poet's heart and a need to share a deep, hungry passion with one special woman. Bestselling author Bree Sullivan has come to Scotland looking to escape the paparazzi. Now, a surprise rainstorm has her stuck in the middle of nowhere, rescued by the world's hunkiest sheepherder. And suddenly, being along is the last thing on her mind...

Go on...Tartan up your sex life..

Review:

Picked this up a while back. It's been collecting dust on my bookshelf. Decided to finally dive into this! This is an anthology with 3 stories. 

Bottoms UP

We follow Brodie and Kat. He runs the local pub and she works on cars. They have been friends forever, but Kat has loved him for years. 

This was such a cute friends-to-lovers story! You could tell that Brodie even had some sort of feelings for her, but he didn't even know. Men are blind.

I also loved how Tomboy-ish Kat is. She works on cars and loves it! She was adorable and they were perfect for each other. I thought it was a cute flip. Normally it is the girl who works the bar and the manly man who works on cars. Loved it! Screw gender roles. 

My favorite of the three for sure! 5 stars. 

On Tap

The next one follows Brodie's brother, Reese, and Daisy. Reese is a polished and proper businessman. He only cares about supporting his family and running the family's the distillery. Daisy is an American who just came to town. She wants to help local businesses like Reese get on the map and grow. 

Reese was too stiff. Sure, I get he has to be proper since he is the face of the company now, but still....relax man. I liked Daisy...she was perfect for him. She also has her own business, but she can be relaxed and fun. Just what he needs. He'll learn that life is about balance. 

I think this couple needed more time to get to know each other. They are so different on the outside and he is just too proper.

I enjoyed it, but it wasn't my favorite. 3 stars. 

Night Watch

Lastly, we follow Tristan and Bree. Tristan wants a quiet life...he just wants to herd his sheep with a poet and painter's heart. Bree is a newly famous author who wants to get away so she came to Scotland looking for that quiet. When Bree gets into an accident after a freak storm Tristan rescues her. They find they are so different, but oh so similar. 

This one was cute! Love how they really both want simple lives. Yes, Bree loves that her book is beloved, but the American paparazzi are insane and she wants to get away and just enjoy writing again. Tristan just wants a quiet life too with his paint and his sheep. They were perfect for each other. 

They fall pretty quickly, but it seemed to work for them. They get a lot of alone time and they talk a lot which was nice. No huge drama here. 

The epilogue has me wanting more!! There is a book 2, but I think that follows the last brother who just came home. I'll have to check it out. 

4 stars for this one. 

Overall

I enjoyed this and I am kicking myself that I waited so long to read it. It's been collecting dust on my shelf for years now. I do want to check out book 2 about the last boy. Sounds like he went the ringer and deserves a HEA. Plus I like this town and everyone. They are a good sort. Can I move there???????

I am a little miffed that there was no doggie in the story like the one on the cover...not one I remember that is. That pup is so dang cute! 

In the end, this was good. All three stories were cute. I wanted more for the 2nd one...I feel like the two didn't get much time and Reese was too proper. I'll give this 4 stars overall. For sure worth the read!

Challenge(s):

- TBR Reading Challenge (#4)

Best of May

 

Happy June everyone!

Here are our best for last month!

Best Book of the Month:

Blodeuedd - I can't seem to settle on a best book. Nothing had been epic. Instead I have had several good books, but I can't choose since they all have been really good.

Carole - How Y'all Doing?: Misadventures and Mischief from a Life Well Lived by Leslie Jordan

"This literally had everything. Humor, joy, sadness, thought-provoking parts, and motivation."

Best Movie of the Month:

Carole - Shoot...I really didn't watch any movies in May...how did that happen?

Blodeuedd - Senior Year (2022)

"Best movie. Funny."

Best TV show of the Month:

Blodeuedd - Around the World in 80 Days (2021)

"I liked this tv series."

Bling Empire (2021)

"Guilty pleasure bingewatching."

Carole - Candy

"I had to watch this twice! So dang good."

Best Cover of the Month:

Carole's pick: So cool!!

Blodeuedd's pick: Cute!

Audio review: Threads of magic

Narrated by: Jennifer M. Dixon

Series: Mr. Darcy's Magic, Book 2

Length: 9 hrs and 42 mins

Release date: 05-24-22

PP variation

To review

I do like PP variations, in every shape and form. And in this one there is magic! Darcy is a royal mage and they are a proud bunch. Lizzy coming in from another set of life is not so welcomed. But they married, they found that they are connected in magic, but they still have a long way to go. Darcy being Darcy.

And the French mages are attacking!

This book takes place on Netherfield where they are hiding out. Lizzy is looked at with suspicion. They royal mages are being such asshats!

Magic, danger, war. Something is not right. Who to trust, and how to make them trust her?! Also, Jane shows up in this one. Nice change of things.

I enjoyed it. It was very different from other ones and follows everything loosely.

Good narration, it felt very fitting

Elizabeth Bennet may be a heroine, but by defying some of the most powerful mages in England, she has made enemies who will stop at nothing to embroil her in scandal. So when she is accused of endangering the Royal Mages through her reckless actions, she no longer knows who to trust. Even the gentleman she loves is taking their side. It seems the only person who believes her is the captive French mage who is imprisoned in the cellar at Netherfield.

Meanwhile, Fitzwilliam Darcy is willing to fight to the death to defend Elizabeth, if only she would stop getting herself into trouble. Why does she always have to break the rules? And why does even her sister Jane cause him so many problems?

Join us in this magical Jane Austen Regency variation. Set mostly in Meryton, with familiar beloved characters from Pride and Prejudice, you will once again be captivated by Elizabeth and Darcy as they struggle to find true love against the backdrop of England’s war with Napoleon.