#SRC2021 Audiobooks

As part of #SRC2021, BookSparks' Summer Reading Challenge, I received two audiobooks, along with several hard copy new releases. Personally, I don't usually listen to audiobooks. I know a lot of people love them because it allows them to have their "reading" time while multi-tasking, but ever since I was a kid I found it…

The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel

The Forest of Vanishing Stars hits shelves on July 6, 2021! <><><><><><><> We are all interconnected. Once fates intertwine, they are forever linked.The Forest of Vanishing Stars, Chapter Five <><><><><><><> My Two Cents: Main character Inge/Yona is kidnapped from her bed in the middle of the night just before her second birthday. Her kidnapper Jerusza…

The Family Plot by Megan Collins

The Family Plot hit shelves on Tuesday, August 17! The world is cruel, yes--my mother taught me that; my whole family did--but it's enormous, too. And there's got to be some space, some people in it, for me.The Family Plot, Chapter Twenty-Three <><><><><><><> My Two Cents: While I typically love psychological thrillers, I wasn’t sure…

#SRC2021 Part Two

It's been so good for my mental health to get back into reading after the insanity of 2020, and I'm having so much fun participating in BookSparks' Summer Reading Challenge (#SRC2021) this summer! Here are the books I received for the second round of reading: A Sitting in St. James by Rita Williams-Garcia Misfit In…

The Winemaker’s Wife by Kristin Harmel

<><><><><><><> A lady should find a way to solve her problems without complaint.-The Winemaker's Wife, Chapter Five - Liv <><><><><><><> My Two Cents Initially, I picked up this title for the sheer fact that it was about wine and winemaking. My dad makes wine and as a kid, I always loved watching and trying to…

The Wedding Night by Harriet Walker

<><><><><><><> There is no going back once your body, your hidden self, your sense of personal space has whooshed off to somebody else's phone, somebody else's memory card.The Wedding Night by Harriet Walker, Chapter 48 - Lizzie <><><><><><><> My Two Cents: I read Harriet Walker’s debut novel The New Girl and immediately fell in love…

#SRC2021

I am thrilled to have been selected by BookSparks to participate in this summer's Summer Reading Challenge (#SRC2021). I have been receiving some fantastic novels to read and I wanted to share a few with you! Here are three from the first round of books: The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba by Chanel Cleeton People…

Happy Literary Birthday

I'm not particularly crazy about my birthday, but I absolutely loved getting my literary horoscope from Penguin Random House this month and absolutely had to share! Greetings, Gemini! Gemini, 2021 will be a big year for expanding your world and, thus, the direction of your life. No doubt you will be learning, as you always…

The Atmospherians by Alex McElroy

The Atmospherians hits shelves on Tuesday, May 18! <><><><><><><> My Two Cents: The Atmospherians was a welcome reprieve from my usual historical fiction and psychological thrillers. The social media influencer turned summer camp cult leader description caught my eye because of how bizarre, yet timely, it seemed. In many ways, the story was semi-dystopian describing…

Spotlight: Black’s Innocence by Sylvia Hubbard

Get it on Amazon and add it to your Goodreads list! <><><><><><><> About the Author: Sylvia Hubbard <><><><><><><> Visit the Literary World of Sylvia Hubbard and find out more about Black’s Innocence: http://sylviahubbard.comhttp://MotownWriters.comhttp://MichiganLiteraryNetwork.comhttp://Hubbooks.bizhttp://aaeln.comhttp://loveablackwoman.comhttp://MichiganMurderandMayhem.com

The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel

<><><><><><><> "Hope was a dangerous thief, stealing her todays for a tomorrow that would never come."-Chapter Thirty, The Book of Lost Names <><><><><><><> My Two Cents: If you've been reading along with me for awhile, it's pretty obvious I love historical fiction. One of my most often visited places is France during World War II,…

The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins

<><><><><><><> That's what this had been, fucked up as it was. Love. Trying to save her from the outside world--and from herself.-Chapter Thirty-four, The Wife Upstairs <><><><><><><> My Two Cents: The Wife Upstairs centers around “Jane,” a runaway foster kid who aged out of the system and is now broke and hiding from her past.…

Cheers to 2021

I know I’m not alone in having struggled through 2020. Really, I am grateful because I had it easier than many. Too many lost loved ones or struggled to put food on the table. Many lost jobs or struggled with mental health. While my husband lost his job and was unable to work for the…

September 2020

For the first time in a long time, I have not been reading. It's been well over a week since I completed the last book and I just haven't had it in me to start the next one. August was an overwhelming roller-coaster to say the least ending with my husband and I deciding it…

Darkness Drops Again by Melissa Manning

I recently joined the Reedsy community, a creative hub for over 150,000 authors. I love helping new and up-and-coming authors as much as I can. I can't imagine the dedication and hard work (not to mention creativity) it takes to weave such compelling, powerful stories and make the characters come alive for readers like me.…

Paris Never Leaves You by Ellen Feldman

Paris Never Leaves You hits shelves on August 4th! <><><><><><><> My Two Cents: I read a lot of historical fiction, particularly based in France during WWII and there is a definite trend about Paris staying with you despite the years and attempts to move on. Following the story of Charlotte Foret, the book switches between…

TBR: August 2020

Honestly, July was a tough month for me and my flow of reading and reviewing was disrupted. Needless to say, I didn't make it to all of the July books that I had on deck. I have to admit that this "new normal" of essentially living in never-ending quarantine has worn me down (I've been…

The Wife Who Knew Too Much by Michele Campbell

The Wife Who Knew Too Much hits shelves July 28th! <><><><><><><> My Two Cents: The Wife Who Knew Too Much centered around the suspicious death of glamourous heiress Nina Levitt. Nina opens the first chapter writing in her diary to warn the police that if something should happen to her, she believes her husband killed…

The Vacation by T.M. Logan

<><><><><><><> "It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend."-William Blake-Epigraph, The Vacation by T.M. Logan <><><><><><><> My Two Cents: The Vacation was a powerful look at family versus friendships. Four college best friends plan a reunion trip for their 40th birthdays, each bringing their husband and kids (if applicable). Rowan is…

The Safe Place by Anna Downes

The Safe Place hits shelves on July 14 <><><><><><><> My Two Cents: I had no idea where The Safe Place was going to take me. The entire time reading this novel, I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. I knew, of course, that there was something wrong with Scott and his family, but…

What You Wish For by Katherine Center

Katherine Center did a beautiful job of tackling the more solemn themes within the story while keeping the tone light-hearted and fun.

TBR: July 2020

TBR = To Be Read/Reviewed and this July has some incredible thrillers! I have just started making a dent in this month's reading. Recently, I read The Safe Place and What You Wish For, which is my token rom-com of the month in a stack of suspenseful mysteries. Check out the titles coming out this…

The Dilemma by B.A. Paris

<><><><><><><> My Two Cents: A couple preparing for a much-anticipated party each carries a secret that they know will destroy the other. The entire novel alternates between the two perspectives to determine how and when to confront the truth that would ultimately shatter their family and friends. I immediately knew I’d enjoy reading this book…

The Legendary Shiver by J. H. MacAl

About The Legendary Shiver: Before Ruby became Shiver Magnata, she was just a tormented girl hoping superstardom would numb her pain. Will, her best friend, has always been her rock. What she doesn’t know is he’s in love with her. And like Ruby, he craves success, but in hopes that it’ll make him worthy of…

The Swap by Robyn Harding

<><><><><><><> My Two Cents: Centered around a small town Pacific Coast island village, an awkward teenager (Low) becomes enamored with a new celebrity couple that recently moved in (Freya and Max). When a new couple (Jamie and Brian) moves to the island and becomes friends with Freya, Low infiltrates herself into their lives and becomes increasingly…

Who Did You Tell? by Lesley Kara

<><><><><><><> My Two Cents: A recovering alcoholic is fumbling her way through small-town life since moving back in with her mom in this summer thriller. It's easy to relate to Astrid and her feelings of failure for being right back where she started from the beginning. No one leaves home as an adult planning on…

Spotlight: Black’s Innocence by Sylvia Hubbard

http://sylviahubbard.com/blacksinnocence About Black's Innocence: Thirty-one year old Lauren planned for the perfect life with lawyer, Dwight Knight, including saving herself for marriage. She also invested over two hundred and fifty thousand dollars from her savings, loans and trust to afford the lifestyle she wanted. Unfortunately after a miserable honeymoon night, Lauren wakes up to a…

What Unbreakable Looks Like by Kate McLaughlin

What Unbreakable Looks Like by Kate McLaughlin hits shelves on June 23 <><><><><><><> My Two Cents: This novel hit me hard in a lot of ways so this won't be a regular book review of what is an incredible book that everyone should read. Human trafficking is a cause that I've always felt passionately about.…

We Came Here to Shine by Susie Orman Schnall

<><><><><><><> My Two Cents: I was initially interested in We Came Here to Shine (and actually reactively received it from the publisher) because I previously read The Subway Girls and loved it! Author Susie Orman Schnall has a knack for finding little-known historic events and making them come alive so much so that readers like…

TBR: June 2020

TBR = To Be Reading/Reviewed and this June has some fantastic novels coming out. So far, I have read all of the below except The Dilemma by B.A. Paris which I just started reading this weekend. I will attempt to get a new book review up on the blog each Tuesday - starting tomorrow with…

The New Girl by Harriet Walker

<><><><><><><> My Two Cents: I am a sucker for a good thriller, but this one hit especially close to home. Having recently been on maternity leave for four months from a small PR agency, I immediately connected with Margot's character. Like Margot, I wasn't really worried that I would lose my job, but there's this…

Katheryn Howard, The Scandalous Queen by Alison Weir

Alison Weir, historian and author of the Sunday Times-bestselling Six Tudor Queens series, relates one of the most tragic stories in English history: Katheryn Howard, Henry VIII's fifth queen. <><><><><><><> My Two Cents: Historical fiction is a favorite genre, but I have always had a special interest in Henry VIII and his many wives. That…

Reading in Quarantine

Happy Friday and Happy May! Summer is right around the corner even if it may not feel like it… especially if, like me, you are still in some form of quarantined lockdown. It’s now been two months since I’ve been home – working from home, but still 100% at home. It’s a crazy situation and…

Meet the Author: Raquel Rich

Meet Raquel Rich Raquel Rich is a full-time sci-fi writer and occasional blogger. She loves to travel, suntan, walk her dog, and is obsessed with all things Beauty & the Beast. She despises cold weather, balloons, and writing about herself in the third person but noticed all the real authors do that. Born and raised…

Spotlight: Tweet Cute by Emma Lord

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord is out NOW! Get it here: https://read.macmillan.com/lp/tweet-cute/ Meet Pepper, swim team captain, chronic overachiever, and all-around perfectionist. Her family may be falling apart, but their massive fast-food chain is booming — mainly thanks to Pepper, who is barely managing to juggle real life while secretly running Big League Burger’s massive Twitter account.  Enter Jack,…

Book Review: “The Turn of the Key” by Ruth Ware

Book Description: When she stumbles across the ad, she’s looking for something else completely. But it seems like too good an opportunity to miss—a live-in nannying post, with a staggeringly generous salary. And when Rowan Caine arrives at Heatherbrae House, she is smitten—by the luxurious “smart” home fitted out with all modern conveniences, by the…

Book Review: “Bethlehem” by Karen Kelly

Book Description: With the writing chops of Ian McEwan and the story-craft of Lisa Wingate, Karen Kelly weaves a shattering debut about two intertwined families and the secrets that they buried during the gilded, glory days of Bethlehem, PA.A young woman arrives at the grand ancestral home of her husband’s family, hoping to fortify her…

Teaser Reveal: Royal Gentleman by Christy Pastore

ROYAL GENTLEMAN by Christy Pastore releases July 17th! Book Description: My crown was plastic. His was the real deal—jewels and all. I, Kerris Von Roy, lived among royalty. Until I didn’t. Crown Prince of Sardones, Ander Nicholas Gabriel Camran was my childhood best friend. Until he wasn’t. Ten years later, I have the opportunity of…

VDAY Spotlight: Marrying Mr. Valentine

The second standalone romantic comedy in the One Month Til I Do series. Not necessary to have read previous book (Adventurous Proposal). About Marrying Mr. Valentine: Nadine Roberts smiles for everyone, but beneath it she hides a heartbreaking past that only a few know about. Throwing herself into her new career; wedding planner at The Duck &…

New Release: Changed by You by Kristin Mayer

Changed By You by Kristin Mayer is LIVE! I'm in over my head, and Teale Delaney is the reason why. She's beautiful, sassy, and I can't stop thinking about her. If I let myself, I could fall in love. But I can’t. I won’t. It’s to protect her, not me. Someone out there wants vengeance.…

Teaser Reveal: Changed by You by Kristin Mayer

Releasing February 4th! I'm in over my head, and Teale Delaney is the reason why. She's beautiful, sassy, and I can't stop thinking about her. If I let myself, I could fall in love. But I can’t. I won’t. It’s to protect her, not me. Someone out there wants vengeance. If I allow them to…

New Year, New Books!

Happy New Year! A new year is so often the perfect time for a refresh – a chance to look at the past year’s accomplishments and an opportunity to re-evaluate what we want to get out of ourselves in the year ahead. With all of the regular weight loss and getting healthy goals, I always…

NEW RELEASE: Sean by Fiona Keane

SEAN by Fiona Keane Publisher: Limitless Publishing #OneClick today Amazon: https://amzn.to/2ThWd1X Amazon Universal: http://mybook.to/SeanBuy I have everything they said I would need. A degree, a job, an amazing group of friends—but there’s one thing missing... To him we’re nothing more than friends—good friends. To me he’s the one man who makes my heart beat faster.…

Summer Reading 2018

Books You Shouldn't Miss This Summer Summer reading isn't just for students making their way through a teacher-provided list -- at least it shouldn't be! With so many fantastic novels coming out all summer long and so much free time lying around on the beach, it's the perfect way to soak up the sun! Here…

Cover Reveal: ALLURE by CA Harms

ALLURE by bestselling author CA Harms Series: Brooklet Dreams, #1 Publisher: Limitless Publishing Release Date: May 22, 2018 Cover Photographer: FuriousFotog Cover Model: Chase Ketron Cover Designer: Deranged Doctor Designs   The next generation of the Southern Boys returns in a new spin-off series, Brooklet Dreams… She was supposed to be my forever... I’ll never…