Tuesday, September 26, 2023

The Witches of Bone Hill Ava Morgyn

 

Cordelia Bone's meticulously crafted life and career in Dallas are crashing down around her thanks to a philandering husband with criminal debts.

When her older, carefree sister, Eustace—a cannabis grower in Boulder, calls to inform her the great aunt they never met has died and they must travel to a small town in Connecticut to deal with the estate, she sees an opportunity to unload the house and save herself.

But once there, the sisters learn they are getting much more than they bargained for. The Victorian mansion they stand to inherit is bound in a dynasty trust controlled by their late aunt's aging attorney who insists they inhabit the house and retain it but keeps them in the dark about the peculiar rituals of their ancestors. Not to mention a sexy, tattooed groundskeeper with a shrouded past who refuses to leave the carriage house and a crypt full of dead relatives looming at the property line.

As both women grapple with their current predicament, they come face to face with a haunting family secret, the truth of what happened to their mother, and the enemy that's been stalking them from the shadows for generations. In a twisting torrent of terror and blood, the sisters must uncover the power within them to heal their fractured relationship, reverse their mysteriously declining health, and claim the lineage they wanted to escape but now must embrace if they are to survive at Bone Hill.

Thursday, September 21, 2023

Instacrush (Rookie Rebels, #2)

Instacrush (Rookie Rebels, #2)Instacrush by Kate Meader
 Four Stars!

finally! diving in
I'm not a fan of inst-lust but this book... tugging at my heartstrings... <3 br="">Theo and Ella... such a beautiful love story!
Love this series so much!

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Instacrush by Kate Meader

Instacrush (Rookie Rebels, #2)Instacrush by Kate Meader


finally! diving in
I'm not a fan of inst-lust but this book... tugging at my heartstrings... <3

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Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Current read/ listen: Instacrush by Kate Meader

Instacrush (Rookie Rebels, #2)Instacrush by Kate Meader


finally! diving in

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The Duchess Hunt by Lorraine Heath

The Duchess Hunt (Once Upon a Dukedom, #2)The Duchess Hunt by Lorraine Heath
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

ok, none stop ruminations and then at the 70% part some twists.
overall, ok. Not my favorite LH.
The ending was great... personally I think that if all the topics spread out at the end were evenly distributed throughout the story it would have been better. But overall, enjoyable.

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Monday, September 18, 2023

The Earl Takes All by Lorraine Heath My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Earl Takes All (The Hellions of Havisham, #2)The Earl Takes All by Lorraine Heath
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lorraine Heath is an automatic read for me. She is one of my absolute favorite writers. I’ve read the first book in “The Hellions of Havisham” which I liked. The tension between Lady Julia Kenney and her brother –in-law was very notable in the previous book so I could not wait to see how Heath unraveled the story between Edward and Julia.

The background of this story is very important. First, Edward is a twin. His brother, Albert, the Earl of Greyling is the first born and has everything going for him. He has a beautiful wife, Julia and they are both madly in love. Julia and Edward have not gotten along. Julia thinks Edward is irresponsible, womanizer, drinks too much, gambles all the time-which is all true. Edward has always been in love with Julia and one night she stole a kiss from her, when she thought he was Albert. When Julia becomes pregnant Albert and Edward go on a trip to India to have a last hurrah. An unfortunate event occurs and Albert dies. He makes Edward promise to pass himself off as Albert for fear that Julia would lose their baby. Edward feels guilt ridden for his past and because he suggested the trip so he agrees.

When Edward passing himself off as Albert returns it’s very tense. Julia is pregnant and she notices a difference in “Albert” she attributes it to just mourning and tries to be supportive of her husband. Edward for his part feels very uncomfortable as he tries to portray his brother and mimic his mannerisms but at the same time fights his own feelings as he mourns for his brother and fights his feelings for Julia.

Although I love Lorraine Heath, for me, this story felt very uncomfortable. The funeral scene that they held for “Edward” was so sad and heartbreaking. Edwards own discomfort felt real. These can be seen as attributes for a fantastic writer-which Heath is- but I had to put the book down several times and come back to it. As can be expected Julia immediately wanted to continue their marital relations and Edward has to make the decision, does he make love to his brother’s wife under the guise of Albert or keep putting her off and add a strain to the already strenuous situation. If he tells her the truth he breaks his promise to Albert and risks losing his heir. For me, I would have loved it if Edward just came back as himself and the story unraveled from there. It would have been easier for me to accept. As can be expected the truth does come out and it’s not just a mere confession and it’s not just Julia’s wrath that he has to face.

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Never Trust a Pirate by Valerie Bowman My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Never Trust a Pirate (Playful Brides, #7)Never Trust a Pirate by Valerie Bowman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have said it before and I will repeat it a hundred times, Valerie Bowman and her Playful Brides series never disappoints! Since I discovered this series I am always impatiently waiting for the next book in the series. For the record the next one after this one is “The Right Kind of Rogue” #8 which is Meg and Harts’ story. I am restless with anticipation about it! But not to be overshadowed, “Never Trust a Pirate” follows many of the same exciting and addicting elements as “The Irresistible Rogue: # 4 which is Daphne and Captain Rafe Cavendish’s story. In that story we discover that Rafe has a twin brother- Cade. Very unlike his twin brother, Cade is the exact opposite of his very chivalrous and honorable brother.

When we begin the story, we are immediately hooked with the task of trying to discover who is the mysterious Black Fox. Bowman uses this as a thread to the rest of the story. Is Cade the Black Fox? Is he after he Black Fox? Aside from these very interesting questions we also are introduced to a wonderful heroine- Miss Danielle LaCrosse. Danielle is as multi-layered as Cade. She is serving as a lady’s maid to Daphne. But without giving too much away, Danielle is very much more than a lady’s maid. Because of the proximity she shares with Cade both Cade and Danielle can’t help but be drawn not only to each other but also to their deep secrets, and both not only carry them but both are also eager to uncover the others.

Personally, I love how Bowman portrayed Cade. As a reader I was experiencing the same peeling away of layers as the characters did-which I loved. &He was interesting and at the same time a little puzzling because he had so many secrets. I loved how evenly matched Danielle and Cade were. They were both worthy of one another. Aside from the mystery and intrigue, I loved Danielle’s very deep vulnerability and her very sweet and almost fragile desire to communicate and form a bond with those around her. Although I think that this story and “The Irresistible Rogue” are a part of the “Playful Brides” series their distinguishing aspect is all the adventure and mystery that run through them. Bowman is such a great author! She is fun, here characters are so complex and deep that I never want the story to end and yet I can’t wait to read the next one in the series. Finally, I loved the contrast between Cade and Rafe. In this story there weren’t too many differences between the brothers after all. For me, this was another wonderful and gratifying read by Bowman and I remain a big fan!

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Wilde Child by Eloisa James

Wilde Child (The Wildes of Lindow Castle, #6)Wilde Child by Eloisa James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Classic Eloisa James: )
cute chemistry but there is so much angst and back and forth :) not much happens except thoughts and feelings.
Similar to "The Duke Gets Desperate" the theme of goats:)
I liked both the hero and heroine. It was a cute story. The series is very sweet.

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Monday, September 4, 2023

Hello Beautiful by Ann Naplitano

 

Five stars!

What a gifted writer! The characters are so memorable! Although it's about four sisters, the main focus is on Julia, Sylvie and William. Later Alice becomes a main focus. The last 20 pages was a tear-fest! I really liked it and thought it a memorable story. 

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

The Debutante Dilemma by Valerie Bowman

 I have been a fan of Valerie for many books now:) I especially love her series! I really enjoy the way she drops characters in her series and then we cannot wait to see how their story unfolds.  Page 1 had me hooked on Jessica and Adrien's story. I really liked both characters. I loved the way their friendship unfolded. I also loved her twin sister, Eliza's subplot. I personally think that Bowman is a master at subplots. I was hooked on Jessica and Adrien when I read "Marques Moves". Now I am anticipating Eliza's story, but that does not mean that I was not rooting for Jessica and Adrien. I really loved their banter. I loved their enemy to friends storyline. This is a perfect summer read! thank you to the author for allowing me to dive in and read this delightful and sweet story!


Wednesday, June 28, 2023

The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The Bridges of Madison CountyThe Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Cute story. Very melancholy

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Never Rescue a Rogue by Virginia Heath My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Never Rescue a Rogue (The Merriwell Sisters, #2)Never Rescue a Rogue by Virginia Heath
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

this was a cute story!
For the record. 3 stars is a great rating!
This was fun, funny, sweet, charming and had a great plot.
I could have done without the dump at the end where everyone shows up and the ends are all tightly tied. But really fun and cute! Great read and can't wait for V's story:)

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Thursday, June 22, 2023

Carrie Soto Is BackCarrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Carrie Soto Is BackCarrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just amazing... I knew TJR was going to tear out my heart... I knew it.
Loved carrie, loved her strength. Loved her relationship with her dad. Loved how the author developed Carrie, Chan and Bowe. Loved the shout out to Daisy Jones and the Six. Just an overall, great book!

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Wednesday, June 21, 2023

The Countess by Sophie Jordan My rating: 1 of 5 stars

The Countess (The Scandalous Ladies of London, #1)The Countess by Sophie Jordan
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

This was a DNF for me... I LOVE SPOPHIE JORDAN and love her books...but this one I could not get into. THe story and plot felt very scattered and like there was TOO much going on... I plan and can't wait to read the next book in the series... but this one did not do it for me.

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Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo

Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai UndercityBehind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

the insults are everything... :)
this is by no means a summer read. The material is very heavy. There are very serious and sad events. I would classify this under " The Four Winds" books that are informational and good to know about but not a re-read. I really enjoyed learning about the rich culture and stoicism of the people in this book.  This book has been on my rader FOREVER, so glad  I finally got to read it. 

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Monday, June 19, 2023

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

We Were LiarsWe Were Liars by E. Lockhart
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

this book is painful...
when does it end?
shocking twist at the end but very mundane

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Overkill by Sandra Brown

OverkillOverkill by Sandra Brown
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

great plot! SB is a perfect author to read in the summer. Great narrator

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The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon

The Story of Beautiful GirlThe Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

LOVING it so far!
I started this book years ago... and it stayed in my mind. I finally found it in the library and finally finished it. Cute and sweet but not a big page-turner

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Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Lessons in ChemistryLessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

this book is painful. I have heard nothing but great reviews about this book and I put it on hold at the library. I dove right in when I got it and I want to dive back out.
TOO MUCH. Everything is over the top and just too much...
this is a DNF for me... No, just no
I would like to file this under the "books everyone raves about... and I hate"

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The Summer Skies by Jenny Colgan

The Summer SkiesThe Summer Skies by Jenny Colgan
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I had to skim this book. It was painful...all over the place. There were details that I just didnt understand ...why are we getting this information? Into page 100 and something she meets this Gregor person... They had very flat chemistry...
Then... why even include the storyline for Hayden?
I did enjoy reading about Scotland which is on my to visit list.

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Wednesday, June 14, 2023

Monday, May 22, 2023

Spare by Prince Harry

 it's a treat to hear The Duke of Sussex read his memoir- highly recommended.

I loved his thoughts and insights... a times a little too much detail (how do people keep track of these small details? )

Bottom line for me is that he was impacted and will be impacted by the death of his mother - as any human would be. He did what was mentally and physically best for his family. At the end of the day you cannot be angry at someone when they try to live their truth which is my biggest take away from this...

I think another great title for this book would have been gilded cage-which is what I see is more accurate for royal members .

Also, Interesting tidbit at who the press goes after and who it doesn't... I am looking at you Camila. 

Overall, wonderful memoir.


Thursday, May 18, 2023

Love, Pamela: A Memoir of Prose, Poetry, and Truth (Kindle Edition) by Pamela Anderson

 " life's biggest challenge is to be enough for oneself"

I thought this was a very interesting memoir. I appreciated her own self reflections and insightfulness. 

There was no big "tell-all" . The prose was very beautiful and sweet.

From her own words, she loves animals and is depeely passionate about the environment.

she is artistic and feels a very deep appreciation for art.




Monday, May 15, 2023

Current read

 Tell Me Everything: A Memoir

by Minka Kelly
Powerful!! Minka's story! Her words insight... so touching, thoughtful and fierce. I enjoyed this book and took lots of notes!
This memoir flew for me. I loved Minka's insights, her raw truths, her still ever present growth! No one has it all figured out!
I highlighted many parts of her book because there was so much wisdom.
At the 80 percent mark I had to have the tissue box next to me!

Friday, May 5, 2023

Finding Me by Viola Davis

 Really... any time a book leaves me in tears ... it's getting five stars.

"what were his hopes? He only had a fift grade education" p. 249
My dad, who only had a fifth-grade education, didn't make it into history books except min, had a turned- out homegoing" p. 253
Loved this autobiography so much. Loved her honesty, sincerity, the grit...
I give away books once I finish them, but this one I am keeping:)


Five stars
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My Last Innocent Year by Daisy Alpert Florin

 I went back and forth on this book.

But I finally decided... this was a great read! I would have given this a five star except , I wanted a HEA for Isabel.
I was so captivated with the characters. Even the secondary characters. I thought the last plot twist with the "kidnapping" was fantastic.
Its definitely a coming of age story. I wish that in her "later life" Isabel had overcome her history. But really once I started reading I could not put it down. I also loved her friendship with Kelsey and Debra.
Great read

Four Stars




Friday, April 28, 2023

The Marquess Move (The Whitmorelands #2) by Valerie Bowman

 Such a perfect read! 

I really enjoyed the hero , Lord Justin Whitmoreland, Marquess of Whitmore. He captured my attention and I could not wait to read his happily-ever-after.  The heroine, Miss Madeline Atwood , was equally enjoyable! I loved their chemistry and how the story unfolded. 

Bowman always writes such fun and interesting characters. I am looking forward to the next book in the series. 


Sunday, January 1, 2023

The Duke Deal (The Whitmorelands Book 1)

 Four Stars


It's like seeing an old friend... I always enjoy Valarie Bowman books:) now I'm counting down until Justin's book.

Thank you to the author for allowing me this read. 

The Witches of Bone Hill Ava Morgyn

  Cordelia Bone's meticulously crafted life and career in Dallas are crashing down around her thanks to a philandering husband with crim...