Okay, I’m going to be honest with you guys. This Bite Sized Books post has been in my drafts for going on six months and I don’t know why I’ve not posted it. I think I couldn’t be bothered to sort out images and links at the time so it’s never gotten onto my blog and ready to post. It’s sad and I loved these first two books by Emma Chase so that is a crying shame. I wanted to clarify that now before you all go accusing me of not reading these, I did and then didn’t tell you all about how great they were.
Published: 28th April 2015
Source: Bought
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
My Rating:
Emma Chase, New York Times bestselling author of the Tangled Series, returns with the first installment of the Legal Briefs Series.
As a DC defense attorney, Stanton Shaw keeps his head cool, his questions sharp, and his arguments irrefutable. They don’t call him the Jury Charmer for nothing – with his southern drawl, disarming smile and captivating green eyes – he’s a hard man to say no to. Men want to be him and women want to be thoroughly cross examined by him.
Stanton’s a man with a plan. And for a while, life was going according to that plan.
Until the day he receives an invitation to the wedding of his high school sweetheart and mother of his beloved ten-year old daughter. Jenny is getting married — to someone who isn’t him.
That's definitely not part of the plan.
***
Sofia Santos is a city raised, no-nonsense litigator who plans to become the most revered criminal defense attorney in the country. She doesn’t have time for relationships or distractions.
But when Stanton, her "friend with mind-blowing benefits" begs for help, she finds herself out of her element, out of her depth, and obviously out of her mind. Because she agrees to go with him – to The-Middle-Of-Nowhere, Mississippi – to do all she can to help Stanton win back the woman he loves.
Her head tells her she's crazy...and her heart says something else entirely.
***
What happens when you mix a one stop-light town, two professional arguers, a homecoming queen, four big brothers, some Jimmy Dean sausage and a gun-toting Nana?
The Bourbon flows, passions rise and even the best laid plans get overruled by the desires of the heart.
I loved this cute contemporary read and thank Smart Bitches, Trashy Books for putting this series on my radar from one of the podcasts (it was actually the second book mentioned but it’' feels like blasphemy to not start at the beginning of a series).
I had seen this book about a couple of times but I wrote it off because I am not a fan of romances where it goes from friends with benefits to more because that is not how life goes in reality. It might, but more often than not from my experience and what I’ve seen with friends it too often ends in disaster with one person having fun and the other wanting more. Life experience has taught me people suck. Anyway, I’d written off this book thinking I wouldn’t enjoy the romance and Stanton’s love for his ex and stringing Sofia along. Turns out I was wrong as I so often am.
This is a great romance and I think the reason it works is because Stanton is a sweet and charming southern guy you want to swoon over. He is completely likable and when he acts like a bit of a dick he seems to recognise it as well. You keep trying not to like him because of how he treats Sofia and how he acts with his ex he’s trying to get back, but you can’t.
More importantly, Sofia is a badass. She is ‘one of the guys’ which can be an annoying category for a beautiful woman to be in books because it seems ridiculous, but Chase managed to do it right with Sofia. It’s logical that she feels like one of the guys in her firm because she group with older brothers and you always end up being able to interact with guy talk a lot easier then. And it’s acknowledged she isn’t a tomboy, she is just capable of guy talk and understand guy logic a bit more. I really liked Sofia because she seemed really relatable and she did have little meltdowns in her head but she was strong and awesome and I loved it.
Basically, this is the contemporary read for you if you enjoy seeing to strong personalities who clash yet totally work as a team. It’s fun, there’s flirting, and you won’t be able to help to get absorbed. Also, who doesn’t like a nice southern gent in your romance reads?
Published:
Source: Bought
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
My Rating:
A knight in tarnished armor is still a knight.
When you’re a defense attorney in Washington, DC, you see firsthand how hard life can be, and that sometimes the only way to survive is to be harder. I, Jake Becker, have a reputation for being cold, callous, and intimidating—and that suits me just fine. In fact, it’s necessary when I’m breaking down a witness on the stand.
Complications don’t work for me—I’m a “need-to-know” type of man. If you’re my client, tell me the basic facts. If you’re my date, stick to what will turn you on. I’m not a therapist or Prince Charming—and I don’t pretend to be.
Then Chelsea McQuaid and her six orphaned nieces and nephews came along and complicated the ever-loving hell out of my life. Now I'm going to Mommy & Me classes, One Direction concerts, the emergency room, and arguing cases in the principal's office.
Chelsea’s too sweet, too innocent, and too gorgeous for her own good. She tries to be tough, but she’s not. She needs someone to help her, defend her…and the kids.
And that — that, I know how to do.
The second book in Emma Chase’s Legal Briefs series ended up being just as enjoyable as the first but in a different way. The first one turned a trope I am not a fan of into a really enjoyable basis for a book. Sustained turned a trope I roll my eyes out into one that I really liked as long as suspended a certain amount of disbelief.
Sustained is all about hardass Jake, the man of a hundred one night stands, who enjoys sex and is determined in his career. He was once a badboy who got put on the right path to follow the law. The book is told exclusively from his perspective, which is pretty unique for romance reads. Normally it’s from the female perspective or a duel perspective, never from the male perspective alone. I’ll be interested to see if the third is similar.
Our intrepid hero Jake ends up meeting Chelsea, a woman who has been dealt a tough hand with the death of her brother and his wife leaving her with six kids to raise (yes, six children!). Jake is returning one of her wayward wards home when he first meets her and he gets drawn into their lives and the lives of these kids when the last thing he wants is responsibilities and a relationship.
I really enjoyed this romance both because Jake turned out to be a softy with a squishy marshmallow centre of gooiness, but also because Jake was resistant to this whole thing. You often get guys who don’t want commitments in romance and you never see much of their perspective, or when you do in can come across that they are just a bit of knob. This isn’t the case with Jake, he has very legitimate reasons for wanting his independence and you can see it’s tearing him up trying to stop himself falling for Chelsea and all her kids. It’s not him acting like a complete knob (he is still a bit of one) but it’s him just being absolutely petrified and I liked reading that. It’s obviously a losing battle and I adored reading every step to his downfall.
This is another fun contemporary read this does involve you not rolling your eyes at the idea of a woman in her mid twenties taking on an army of children when her brother dies and not needing to work (she seriously didn’t seem to have any job, where was the money coming from?). Apart from the suspension of disbelief at the gaggle of children it really worked and those kids needed to be in there to provide the romantic obstacles necessary. It’s just a plain old fun read.
Have you read either of these books? What did you think? And can you recommend any other good contemporary reads, I have a craving.
This week has been… well… it’s been. I don’t know what to say. It began well with it being a bank holiday weekend (who doesn’t love those?) and so I really enjoyed relaxing. I didn’t even leave the house over the weekend I was relaxing that much. But then I had to go back to work and I know this month is going to be stressful so there was that slight feeling of dread. I like how busy we are as there is nothing better than having a bunch of work to focus on and plan to do but I really do just want a calm month. Just once this year.
A highlight of my week was the pub (I know, when is it not lately?) but it wasn’t so much the pub it was seeing my bestie and just having fun. We walked in and the place was empty! It was such a rarity to have it be empty. We had out pick of tables and chatted with the bargirl about a long distance race she has coming up and whether she plans to do it. We then sat catching up and ended the night crying with laughter over that faceapp thing you can get where you make yourself old or young or male or whatever as we had the best pictures. We ended up having to leave we were crying so much. Hers was great for being male as it randomly gave her one ear which stuck out a no facial hair whilst I just look like I should work in IT and possible be balding and have a paunch. My pictures are below. It’s a strangely fun app. Forgive my very unhappy original photo. Also, yes, I know female is weird when you are female but we wanted to see what it would do… it just gives you more obvious makeup.
Apart from hysterical laughter over nothing, it’s been a much calmer week than last week. I did find out my favourite bar which shut down has been taken over and reopened so yay! Hopefully, the new owners will be just as good as the last ones. It really was a fantastic bar and I can’t wait to go back.
What I’ve Been Reading
This week began with my DNF-ing one of my Last Chance Books. I gave it a fair shot. I got over 100 pages in and I was bored. I kept waiting for a hint of action or something interesting to happen but all there was was a girl in love with her husband who was cheating on her because he’s a dick. Not exactly fun reading. Luckily, I did begin reading The Winter King straight after and that is a good book. Brilliant even. I will be buying everything C.L. Wilson has ever written just so you know. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed The Forever House as well. I knew I’d like it after my last Veronica Henry book was such a hit but I didn’t anticipate how much I would enjoy it. Isn’t it great when a genre surprises you? I also began rereading The Dark Days Club this week as I have The Dark Days Pact on my shelf. I remembered the slow start but it isn’t as slow as I remember, that may be because I’m reading at a slower pace this time, though.
New To Me
For some reason, I always get more books at the beginning of a month than any other time. I think it may have something to do with those monthly Kindle sales but I don’t like to point fingers. There were two freebies in this haul, though. The Hundredth Queen is my Kindle First book of the month and The Pact was going free on Amazon and who can say no to free romance?
Just one new review copy this week. Black Tie Optional hooked me with the fake marriage angle also, the publisher posed it as being one for fans of rom-coms and the film The Proposal (oh Ryan Reynolds, how I love you so). Basically, there was no way I could say no.
And finally, I took a trip to the library. Some might say I don’t need library books with the number i have to read above… but I laugh in their face and ask where they get such farfetched ideas from. Library books are free so who cares how many I borrow? I had to go, anyway. I both need to read Becky Albertalli’s first book after loving Upside of Unrequited. But also, I found out that my library as the first book in the Captive Prince trilogy and I need those books in my life (if I love the first I’ll treat myself to Kindle copies of the other two). I just like books and I can’t wait to get reading.
And that is my week. A bit more sedate than last time but still perfectly enjoyable. I will go now and absorb myself in Sims playing (I’ve been inspired by Kristen… I may even reinstall Sims 3) when I should be replying to blog comments and catch up on reading for the past 5 days. Have a good week and tell me all the things below.
I have a nice collection of romance reads to look at in this post. I have been drifting back to more romance because I have missed it and so you may see a bit more romance around here lately… but then I might get stuck in a fantasy binge and you won’t. We’ll see.
It Happened on Love Street (Everland, Georgia #1) – Lia Riley
Published: 25th April 2017
Source: Netgalley
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
My Rating:
The most romantic place she never wanted to be . . .
Pepper Knight moved to Everland, Georgia, as step one in her plan for a successful legal career. But after this big-city gal's plans go awry, going home with her tail between her legs isn't an option. So when the town vet-and her sexy new neighbor-offers Pepper a temporary dog-walking job, she jumps at the chance. No one needs to know that man's best friend is her worst nightmare . . . or that Everland's hot animal whisperer leaves her panting.
The last thing Rhett Valentine wants is to be the center of small-town gossip. After his first love left him at the altar, he's been there, done that. These days, life is simple, just the way he likes it. But sultry southern nights get complicated once sparks fly between him and the knockout next door. When she proposes a sexy, secret fling-all the deliciousness and none of the prying neighbors-it seems too good to be true. And it is. Because Pepper's determined to leave Love Street, and when she goes, she just might take his heart with her . . .
Gah, I've mixed feelings. On the one hand, cute romance which makes me happy and makes me smile with adorable animals and cuteness. On the other hand, it didn't make me fall head over heels. It was cute and sweet and definitely and intriguing start to a new romance series but it left me reserving judgment. I will have to read a second book I. The series to really voice my opinion on things.
It's a strange feeling not loving a romance but instead liking. I normally dive head first into love and have no regrets but not so this time. I was left waiting to like Pepper and Rhett may have seemed swoon-worthy (really, a southern gent? Don't mind if I do) but he didn't make me swoon straight away. I think my reservations over these 2 characters are what made me a bit wary. I'm used to liking at least one of the MCs straight away and then the rest will fall into place but not so this time. They both had to work on me. Maybe it was Peppers fear of dogs which made me wary? Maybe Rhett's long-term single status and meddling town life made me wary? I don't know what but something left me uncertain.
I did really enjoy it though. Like I said, it's hella cute and it did make me smile with the crazy gossip of Everland. I think one of my favourite things was that Scrabble game at the start where Pepper was trying to hustle folk. I can easily confirm that as the moment I began to like Pepper. Got to respect a girl who is good with words.
If you're looking for a cute romance with some utterly adorable pets as secondary characters (they are though really) then this is the book for you. It's sweet and fun and I see the potential for the next book.
Published: 1st September 2016
Source: Library
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
My Rating:
Welcome to Hartwell, a quiet seaside escape where uncovering old secrets could lead one woman to discover the meaning of a love that lasts…
While Doctor Jessica Huntington engages with the inmates at the women’s correctional facility where she works, she’s always careful to avoid emotional attachments in her personal life. Loss and betrayal taught her that lesson long ago. But when she comes across a set of old love letters in the prison’s library and visits the picturesque town of Hartwell to deliver them to their intended recipient, she finds herself unable to resist the town’s charm—and her attraction to the sexy owner of a local bar proves equally hard to deny.
Since his divorce from his unfaithful ex-wife, Cooper Lawson has focused on what really matters: his family and the boardwalk pub they’ve owned for generations. But the first time Jessica steps into his bar, Cooper is beyond tempted to risk his heart on her. Yet as their attraction grows hotter and Jessica remains stubbornly closed off, he begins to realize it will take more than just passion to convince her there’s only one real thing in life worth fighting for…
I borrowed this from the library not long after reading a good review by Nick about the second book (I have a thing about order, ok) so I knew I needed to get reading this. It may have taken me 6 weeks to get around to reading it, but once I started I could hardly put it down.
This is the kind of romance read which is a bit angsty and dramatic (which could have been off-putting) but it was written so well that nothing could have put me off really. And the angsty and dramatic things were past events which stayed with Jess so really does that count as angst?
It was this brilliant read about Jess fighting past demons and finding love when all she was really looking for is what she wanted in life. I think I loved the strength of Jess. She was a brilliant character who seemed to get overly emotional about some letters she found but was still totally bad ass with making a decision and going with it. Sure, she was scared often but she was so brave and I loved her.
And Cooper! That man would make any girl swoon. I really loved his character and although I didn't totally believe he'd gone through a lot of women after his divorce I did believe he was a man who went for what he wanted and stuck with those he loved. I adored him, he was perfect for Jess and their path together was just brilliant. And the chemistry! Let me tell you, they have chemistry in buckets.
What really made the book was the town it was set in, though. Hartwell (or Hart's Boardwalk for some) was brilliant. Filled with plenty of folks I wanted to get to know better and who made this book so good. I wanted to know more about Cat, Cooper's sister who is a tad over protective, and about Iris and Ira and their daughter Ivy who doesn't even feature in the book but simply from the small amount mentioned of her I wanted more. And then there was Bailey who I loved her sexual tension with Vaughn. Don't even get me started on Jack who comes across as a bad guy but there is totally more story there. And how could I forget Emery. She has a whole heap of story too and I love that she's shy so she better get her own damn book because I can relate to blushing when you speak to people you don't know well (I do it all the time and I am not continually embarrassed) so yeah. I need her story.
Basically, it was love and I am making grabby hands for the second. I am glad I visited Hart's Boardwalk and you most definitely will too if you want a brilliant romance.
Never Trust A Pirate (Playful Brides #1) – Valerie Bowman
Published: 2nd May 2017
Source: Netgalley
Genre: Historical Romance
My Rating:
The rules of engagement were never so scandalous. . .A rumored pirate and the scurrilous black sheep of his well-to- do family, Cade Cavendish relishes his world of rebellion, deception, and seduction. Nothing and no one can hold him to be the duty-bound, honorable man he is expected to be. But when an unexpected run-in at his twin brother’s estate with a ravishing, raven-haired maid leads her to believe he’s actually a viscount, Cade’s renegade life is thrown wildly off-kilter. And even though a case of mistaken identity can be quickly set to rights, matters of the heart are quite different…Miss Danielle LaCrosse is startled to learn that the handsome gentleman who radiates sin and has the devil in his eyes is not her employer the Viscount, but rather his infamous brother. A former heiress, orphaned and left penniless, Danielle has more than a few secrets of her own. Cade may be skilled at coaxing even the most hidden desires out of Danielle but can he earn her trust—and win her heart—as they embark on an adventure to confront a dangerous enemy from both of their pasts . . . and uncover the identity of the so-called Black Fox along the way?Never Trust a Pirate is part of the Regency-set Playful Brides series by Valerie Bowman
This was an insanely fun book. It begins with a thief sneaking into a captain's cabin to steal the map to be used to help Napoleon escape his prison and then moves on to a rake living with his brother his brother's new wife meeting the new French ladies maid and it all goes a bit crazy from there.
This is not a book to be taken too seriously. It's meant to be a fun romance with adventure and intrigue and a little bit of mystery as well. I knew it was going to be a fun read as soon as I saw the word Pirate in the title. I mean, pirates are always fun. The great thing about this book is you're continually kept guessing about why people are doing what they're doing because there are pirates and spies and neither always tells the whole truth!
I thought I might not like this book, especially as when you first meet Danielle she's interviewing to be a ladies maid but you can tell she doesn't really know much about the job. I began to question why she was there (I was suspicious from the start) but she ends up being a really great character who was strong and her own motives for her slightly duplicitous behavior but you'll find that out as you read.
Then there was Cade, I'm still not fully convinced I 100% liked him. I mean, he was a great black sheep and rake and the perfect opposite to Rafe (his twin) but whilst his rake-ish ways are frequently mentioned I wasn't fully convinced he was the bad guy everyone believed him to be. The fact I didn't believe it meant I didn't like him as much as I might. That being said, he did have some fun banter with Danielle and them together was fun,
I did notice one of the later plot twists early on and the ending was a little rushed for my tastes but if you're looking for a romance which is a little ridiculous then this is the book for you.
And that is it for my romance reviews. Have you read any of these? And please give me some good historical romance recs because every time I read I remember how much I love that genre and need to read more.
Welcome to another dose of torture where I reveal all the books I’m excited to be released this month and try and not preorder them all (seriously, it’s a lesson in self-restraint) this month you may think I’m missing a couple of glaringly obvious new releases I should be making grabby hands at but I want to remind you all I go by UK release date whenever possible because those are the copies I want to get my hands on (no offense, US, but your editions are too expensive for my tastes). So, that means I’m not including Emery Lord’s new book or When Dimple Met Rishi as they are released on 1st June here. I just feel a need to put that disclaimer in now.
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Release Date: 2nd May 2017
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Genre: Contemporary, LGBTQ, Young Adult
Release Date: 9th May 2017
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Lara Jean’s letter-writing days aren’t over in this surprise follow-up to the New York Times bestselling To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and P.S. I Still Love You.
Lara Jean is having the best senior year a girl could ever hope for. She is head over heels in love with her boyfriend, Peter; her dad’s finally getting remarried to their next door neighbor, Ms. Rothschild; and Margot’s coming home for the summer just in time for the wedding. But change is looming on the horizon. And while Lara Jean is having fun and keeping busy helping plan her father’s wedding, she can’t ignore the big life decisions she has to make. Most pressingly, where she wants to go to college and what that means for her relationship with Peter. She watched her sister Margot go through these growing pains. Now Lara Jean’s the one who’ll be graduating high school and leaving for college and leaving her family—and possibly the boy she loves—behind. When your heart and your head are saying two different things, which one should you listen to? |
Ramona was only five years old when Hurricane Katrina changed her life forever.
Since then, it’s been Ramona and her family against the world. Standing over six feet tall with unmistakable blue hair, Ramona is sure of three things: she likes girls, she’s fiercely devoted to her family, and she knows she’s destined for something bigger than the trailer she calls home in Eulogy, Mississippi. But juggling multiple jobs, her flaky mom, and her well-meaning but ineffectual dad forces her to be the adult of the family. Now, with her sister, Hattie, pregnant, responsibility weighs more heavily than ever. The return of her childhood friend Freddie brings a welcome distraction. Ramona’s friendship with the former competitive swimmer picks up exactly where it left off, and soon he’s talked her into joining him for laps at the pool. But as Ramona falls in love with swimming, her feelings for Freddie begin to shift too, which is the last thing she expected. With her growing affection for Freddie making her question her sexual identity, Ramona begins to wonder if perhaps she likes girls and guys or if this new attraction is just a fluke. Either way, Ramona will discover that, for her, life and love are more fluid than they seem. |
Why Am I Excited?
I began reading this series because it was about a girl accidentally having love letters sent out and a fake relationship. I kept reading because of the cliffhanger. And now? Now, I’m just really in love with Peter and Lara Jean. They are the cutest couple and the covers on these books are stunning. Like, so stunning they are amazing. I would love to see all the outtakes of the photo shoots because they are amazing.
| Why Am I Excited?
I mean, I’ve not read any of Julie Murphy’s books but I have heard good things and this one sounds like it will be good and great exploration of a character discovering her own sexuality. It’s too easy to think you know exactly what your sexuality is at a young age when really being a teenager is the time for self-discovery. It’ll be interesting to see how this is all explored in the book.
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Genre: Fantasy, Historical, Young Adult
Release Date: 16th May 2017
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Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Release Date: 23rd May 2017
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From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Wrath and the Dawn, comes a sweeping, action-packed YA adventure set against the backdrop of Feudal Japan.
Mariko has always known that being a woman means she's not in control of her own fate. But Mariko is the daughter of a prominent samurai and a cunning alchemist in her own right, and she refuses to be ignored. When she is ambushed by a group of bandits known as the Black Clan enroute to a political marriage to Minamoto Raiden - the emperor's son - Mariko realises she has two choices: she can wait to be rescued... or she can take matters into her own hands, hunt down the clan and find the person who wants her dead.
Disguising herself as a peasant boy, Mariko infiltrates the Black Clan's hideout and befriends their leader, the rebel ronin Ranmaru, and his second-in-command, Okami. Ranmaru and Okami warm to Mariko, impressed by her intellect and ingenuity. But as Mariko gets closer to the Black Clan, she uncovers a dark history of secrets that will force her to question everything she's ever known.
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Caroline Kelly is excited to be spending her summer vacation working at the local amusement park with her best friend, exploring weird Ohio with her boyfriend, and attending soccer camp with the hope she’ll be her team’s captain in the fall.
But when Caroline’s mother is hired to open an eye clinic in Cairo, Egypt, Caroline’s plans are upended. Caroline is now expected to spend her summer and her senior year in a foreign country, away from her friends, her home, and everything she’s ever known. With this move, Caroline predicts she’ll spend her time navigating crowded streets, eating unfamiliar food, and having terrible bouts of homesickness. But when she finds instead is a culture that surprises her, a city that astounds her, and a charming, unpredictable boy who challenges everything she thought she knew about life, love, and privilege. |
Why Am I Excited?
I really enjoyed The Wrath and the Dawn so I am excited to see more writing from Ahdieh. I am always hesitant over books set in different cultures, like this one being set in Feudal Japan but I’m confident it will be written well with good research (please don’t disappoint).
| Why Am I Excited?
Okay, Egypt is a country which has never held much interest for me. I’ve never had a strong urge to visit and so I can totally relate to the MCs unhappiness at going so I am really interested in the idea of her warming to the country upon moving and discovering things she didn’t expect.
Also, I really love Trish Doller’s writing. I still haven’t read her last book (oops) but I am totally there for all she writes because she writes it well whatever she does!
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Genre: Romance, Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 30th May 2017
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Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Young Adult
Release Date: 30th May 2017
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Nevada Baylor has a unique and secret skill—she knows when people are lying—and she's used that magic (along with plain, hard work) to keep her colorful and close-knit family's detective agency afloat. But her new case pits her against the shadowy forces that almost destroyed the city of Houston once before, bringing Nevada back into contact with Connor "Mad" Rogan.
Rogan is a billionaire Prime—the highest rank of magic user—and as unreadable as ever, despite Nevada's "talent." But there's no hiding the sparks between them. Now that the stakes are even higher, both professionally and personally, and their foes are unimaginably powerful, Rogan and Nevada will find that nothing burns like ice . . . |
Desi Lee knows how carburetors work. She learned CPR at the age of five. As a high school senior, she has never missed a day of school and has never had a B in her entire life. She's for sure going to Stanford. But—she’s never had a boyfriend. In fact, she’s a disaster in romance, a clumsy, stammering humiliation-magnet whose botched attempts at flirting have become legendary with her friends. So when the hottest human specimen to have ever lived walks into her life one day, Desi decides to tackle her flirting failures with the same zest she’s applied to everything else in her life. She finds her answer in the Korean dramas her father has been obsessively watching for years—where the hapless heroine always seems to end up in the arms of her true love by episode ten. It's a simple formula, and Desi is a quick study. Armed with her “K Drama Rules for True Love,” Desi goes after the moody, elusive artist Luca Drakos—and boat rescues, love triangles, and fake car crashes ensue. But when the fun and games turn to true feels, Desi finds out that real love is about way more than just drama.
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Why Am I Excited?
I have been excited for this book since 2015! 2015!
That was back when I thought this book was going to be released not long after and I would get to read and then it was delayed. You would not believe how long I’ve been waiting for this book. I am going to devour it when it’s released. I am tempted to book a day off work to do just that but people would think it was weird.
Look, Burn For Me and White Hot and the next book, Wildfire, have terrible covers but they are so, so, sooooo good that you really need to read the first one if you haven’t already. I read it because of Danya (see, you’re recs often do work out but I didn’t expect this 10000 years of waiting business) and I have no regrets about reading. It is the best.
| Why Am I Excited?
I am a girl who loves me a good K-drama. I mean, they are seriously addictive with their crazy OTT storylines and swoony romances that get dragged out for more episodes than necessary but you can’t stop watching. You have the ridiculous storylines which would never work in real life but are crazy addictive to watch on TV and they would never be made into UK shows (or US ones really) but you wouldn’t want them to because they would lose all their charm and they wouldn’t work in the same way.
As such, when I saw there was a book about a Korean American who decides to follow the rules of K-drama in her love life I knew I had to read. I am so crazy excited I’m currently contemplating pre-ordering because I want to read this that bad.
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Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: 30th May 2017
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Genre: Contemorary, Romance, Romantic Suspense
Release Date: 30th May 2017
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While you were sleeping...
With her brother Thomas injured on the battlefront in the Colonies, orphaned Cecilia Harcourt has two unbearable choices: move in with a maiden aunt or marry a scheming cousin. Instead, she chooses option three and travels across the Atlantic, determined to nurse her brother back to health. But after a week of searching, she finds not her brother but his best friend, the handsome officer Edward Rokesby. He's unconscious and in desperate need of her care, and Cecilia vows that she will save this soldier's life, even if staying by his side means telling one little lie... I told everyone I was your wife When Edward comes to, he's more than a little confused. The blow to his head knocked out six months of his memory, but surely he would recall getting married. He knows who Cecilia Harcourt is—even if he does not recall her face—and with everyone calling her his wife, he decides it must be true, even though he'd always assumed he'd marry his neighbor back in England. If only it were true... Cecilia risks her entire future by giving herself—completely—to the man she loves. But when the truth comes out, Edward may have a few surprises of his own for the new Mrs. Rokesby. |
Love. Lies. Murder. A lot can happen... COME SUNDOWN
Bodine Longbow loves to rise with the dawn. As the manager of her family's resort in Western Montana, there just aren't enough hours in the day - for life, for work, for loved ones. She certainly doesn't have time for love, not even in the gorgeous shape of her childhood crush Callen Skinner, all grown up and returned to the ranch. Then again, maybe Callen can change her mind, given time...
But when a young woman's body is discovered on resort land, everything changes. Callen falls under the suspicion of a deputy sheriff with a grudge. And for Bodine's family, the murder is a shocking reminder of an old loss. Twenty-five years ago, Bodine's Aunt Alice vanished, never to be heard of again. Could this new tragedy be connected to Alice's mysterious disappearance?
As events take a dramatic and deadly turn, Bodine and Callen must race to uncover the truth - before the sun sets on their future together.
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Why Am I Excited?
I feel like the name Julia Quinn should be enough to be excited about this book. But if it’s not then it’s also for the whole fake married thing as well. I have been excited about this book ever since the buddy read I did with Danya and Kaja and hot damn I need to get on reading this (also, guys, we need another buddy read, they make even the worst book good).
| Why Am I Excited?
I have only ever read one Nora Roberts and it was fantastic. I got emailed about this book a while back and missed out on a physical ARC (damn my need to work stopping me from replying to emails) and I’ve been excited ever since. Luckily, I got approved on Netgalley for it and plan to read sharpish so either way, I get to enjoy.
I’ve not read much romantic suspense but it’s definitely one of those genres I know I’ll love because it’s my kind of genre. I like the mystery to go with my romance and it gives a bit more depth for when you’re fatigued by contemporary.
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Wow, there really are a lot of books coming out on the end of the month, aren’t there? It will be a busy day for me, I was joking but maybe I really should take a day off and read.
Anyway, have a missed off any important releases? Which books are you excited to get started with in May?
I know everyone says this every month but I really don’t know where the month has gone. I mean, I do, I spent it working like crazy and being exhausted, but I swear it was only a couple of weeks ago that I was drawing up my monthly layout in my bullet journal and trying to plan out some posts for the month and it’s gone and ended without me getting everything finished!
Can’t Stop Listening
Issues – Julia Michaels
Most Girls – Hailee Steinfeld
Something Just Like This – The Chainsmokers & Coldplay
Can’t Help Falling In Love – Twenty One Pilots (thanks Kristen for this song, I love it!)
April Reads
Romancing Mr Bridgerton // Faking It // Somebody’s Baby // Goodbye Days // The Rook // The Coldest Girl In Coldtown
738 Days // Going Too Far // It Happened on Love Street // The One Real Thing // Never Trust a Pirate // Labyrinth
April Posts
April Links
Stories On Stage | YA Character Doppelgangers
It Starts At Midnight | The Struggle Of Being A Genre Switcher // How To Go Bookishly Bankrupt
Nick & Nereyda’s Infinite Booklist | 10 Romantic YA Book Series That Are Great For A Binge-Reading Session
Sparkling Letters | Reviewing On Goodreads And On The Blog: Is There Any Difference?
Something Delicate | Do You Feel Hype Pressure? // My Never Ending TBR List
Ikram Reads A Lot | So Much Reading, So Little Time
Feed Your Fiction Addiction | Why Everything I’ve Ever Told You About Book Blogging Is Wrong (and Also Right)
We Live and Breathe Books | Book Confessions: I Prefer Ebooks To Physical Books
Paper Fury | 10 TBR Problems We Bookworms Face Valiantly (Because We’re Strong Inside) // 10 Things #Bookbloggers Should Absolutely Not Feel Guilty About
The Book Voyagers | Romance Reads 101: Where To Start? (I love this post and there are a few books on here I need to read) // Latinx & Caribbeans Representation in 2017
Fine Print | Book Recommendations Gone Wrong (sorry, Danya. Fingers crossed for the next book I read because of you)
Metaphors and Moonlight |Is Blogging A Creative Outlet?
Utopia State Of Mind | 5 Reasons I Don’t Like Star Ratings
Barnes & Noble | 20 Books For The New Fantasy Reader
Lost In My Library | What Makes A Good Review?
Resolution Catch Up
I’ve been meaning to feature my goals and challenges in my monthly wrap up post for forever… but I was a little scared to look and see how unsuccessful I’ve been. I can’t let the feel of failure stop me from challenging myself and turns out it’s not as bad as I thought.
- I want to cut my unread books – Guys…why do I make these promises to myself? My budget just didn’t happen and I’ve all these books and not enough hours in the day. I have given up on this one… I gave up around February. Let’s not discuss this again, shall we?
- I want to review more books on Goodreads – I have definitely been successful at posting reviews on Goodreads. It’s the first thing I do after finishing a book, writing my thoughts on Goodreads. I’ve been less good about Amazon, that happens in batches, but even so… I’m trying.
- I want to read 100 books – This was never even going to be hard… I’m on 75 currently, which includes rereads.
- Read more diverse books – I like to think I’m doing alright on this one. I’ve read and have books with POC as well as disabilities. They tend to be YA books where diversity is really being championed but I do have my eyes on a couple of romances which are diverse as well. Maybe I should keep count?
2017 Discussion Challenge:
I’ve been pretty successful on this one. Below are all my discussion posts from the beginning of the year which I’ll be adding on to each month. I wanted to manage a discussion post a month, with me hoping for 20+ if it was a really good year. I may not manage 20+ but I’ve definitely gotten up more than one a month.
Modern Mrs Darcy Reading Challenge
5/12 Categories
I am almost halfway through this one and whilst I don’t fully know what books I’m reading for all the categories I’ve got vague ideas and will almost certainly complete this before the end of the year. I have really enjoyed looking at the categories and finding boxes to tick. I’ll do this again next year (if it happens) but I’ll definitely be saying which books I’ll be reading for each category. Just to make certain I read a few books off of my shelf.
Shelf Love Challenge 2017
I’m not completely certain I’m doing well at this. I’ve read plenty of books from my shelves…. but I also keep adding to them. I’ve not done a great job of keeping track. And, although I set aside my Last Chance Books the other month I’ve not actually read any of them. I think I will try to read one a month and see how it goes. I did clear off about 50 books from my shelves during a clear out, though. That is a success if nothing else is.
My Last Chance books post did give me the idea to pick 12 books which have been on my shelf for a long time and try and read one a month. I may pick 12 physical and 12 digital. It’s a cool idea I will be implementing.
And that is my month (and my challenges finally). How has your April been? I’ve read a lot more than I thought and posted more than I thought so I’m happy. Fingers crossed May will be just as good.
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