Cover Reveal Next to Never and The Next Flame by Penelope Douglass

NEXT TO NEVER is a digital novella that releases on January 17th and THE NEXT FLAME is the print edition of Next to Never, and the previously published novella, Aflame, into one book that releases on May 2nd. 

About NEXT TO NEVER

Under the close watch of the men in her family, Quinn Caruthers has found it nearly impossible to spread her wings—or even date—without her three older brothers, Jared, Madoc, and Jaxon, jumping in to hover. And when a family friend—several years older—from her childhood still holds her heart, she knows they’re going to be a problem. Lucas Morrow is a man, and knowing her brothers, he may as well be forbidden.

But years ago, Lucas left town and shows no signs of returning. Quinn knows she shouldn’t wait for him anymore.

Until a package turns up on her doorstep with no return address and its contents reveal family secrets that threaten to turn her world upside down. She’s never asked about the path of her parents’ romantic history, but she soon learns their happy marriage had a very rocky and passionate start.

As she starts to see things around her with new eyes, Quinn will have to make tough choices about whether she’ll keep waiting…or finally go after what she really wants.

Review: Beauty and the Mustache by Penny Ried

Beauty and the Mustache by Penny Reid
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I think this is my favorite of the Knitting in the City books to date. I loved getting to know the new characters. Ashley was always present in the other books, but she was never in the spotlight like Janie, Sandra, and Elizabeth. This is such a whimsical series, but this installment is a bit sad and sobering, but with a happy ending and a sweet romance.

The book starts out with Ashley, a spitfire of a character, giving who she thinks is one of her 6 brothers a "purple nurple" because they are revving a car engine early in the morning and she's only had a few hours of sleep. Much to her embarrassment, she's twisted the nipple of the attractive Federal Game Warden Drew who looks like a Viking marauder per Ashley's description. Ashley has flown home to Tennessee from Chicago to visit her ailing mother. Turns out her mother is terminally ill with cancer and only has a few weeks to live, and Drew has been entrusted with her mother's estate and medical care for several reasons that are revealed later in the book. This does not sit well with Ashley but she deals. Being a nurse practitioner and the only daughter, Ashely is determined to make every minute count with her mother.  Ashley is willing to sacrifice her personal wants and needs to ensure her mother's last minutes on earth are as comfortable and pleasant as possible.

Drew is determined to make every moment count with Ashley as he is instantly attracted to her, but has zero expectations of a relationship with her as he knows her life is in Chicago. He makes her shower, eat, have philosophical debates, sleep, and repair the damaged relationships with her brothers.  He has become like another son to Mrs. Winston and a brother to the rest of the boys. He's handsome, quiet, and broody, but full of deep feelings. He's one of the good ones and Ashely eventually figures that out. Their romance slowly takes shape and smoulders for quite a while. It almost took too long to develop and for them to admit that they were in love.

I loved the addition of the whimsical Winston Brothers, and now that I know there is a spinoff series with the bearded brood I can't wait to read about them and their antics. The book is filled with the comical appearances of the Chicago knitting group.

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Review: Garnet's Story

Garnet's Story by Amy Ewing
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a great novella and a nice addition to the series. I like novellas like this that keep me engaged in a series while I'm waiting for the next book or give me interesting information. I've always liked Garnet's character, but we don't know much about him other than he's kind of a rich, spoiled, playboy, who likes to annoy his mother the Duchess of the Lake. It turns out there is more to him and his life than partying and causing trouble. The House of the Lake is one of the original Royal Houses and his mother is cold and always scheming to be at the top of the food chain, Garney has suffered because of her wickedness. We get to know Garnet a little better in this book and learn about how he came to play the role he does in the series.

This novella takes place when the Duchess purchases Violet, a surrogate, and takes us through Garnet's side of the timeline. Garnet has done something stupid, and to clean up his mess Lucian, the Electress' (kind of like the queen) lady in waiting, offers to clean up his mess in exchange for keeping tabs on Violet. The timeline is a bit accelerated as it is a short story, but we come to understand how Garnet gets involved in the action that takes place later in the story. Ewing does a great job explaining how Garnet ties into the story without retelling the whole first book.

This was a pretty quick read and feel like it was a good addition to the series. I'm looking forward to the conclusion of the series.

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Review: Genesis Girl by Jennifer Bardsley

Genesis Girl by Jennifer Bardsley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. Let me first say from the description I wasn't really sure I'd like this book. I was intrigued though and took a chance, I'm glad I did. This was a very quick read and the story was very interesting.

Genesis Girl follows Blanca, a girl who has been cloistered from technology for her entire life. She lives at Tabula Rasa, an exlusive school for Vestal children. Vestals have been sheltered from social media for most if not their entire lives, no photos posted to the internet, they've never surfed the web, they are essentialy pure of technology and lead very private lives. For this reason they are sold to the highest bidder upon graduation to advertise whatever the newest product on the market at a major company because Vestals are trustworthy and free of the prejudice caused by social media. Vestals were created after cell phones, wi-fi, and bluetooth caused a brain cancer epidemic and a man named Barbelo Nemo decided to create a cult like environment with lead lined walls where the children would be free of such dangers. The rest of the world adapted to various forms of chip technology to get their tech fix.

In Blanca's case, a Virus or an internet junkie takes her picture the day before graduation ruining her internet purity. He posts her photo on his blog and instead of ruining her chances a good bid, she takes the top bid, however instead of going to work for a company to advertise its products she becomes personal companion or Geisha to Calum McNeal.  Blanca steals the show and is sold for the hightest price at her harvesting. Cal purchased Blanca to help heal the wounds between him and his son Seth, the very Virus that cause Blanca to take a less traditional route after graduation. Blasnca would normally never have anything to do with a Virus, but she must do as she is told.  Blanca begins to seduce Seth and begins to develop real feelings for him. As she gets to know Cal she discovers that he wants her to make her own decisions, which is not something she is accustomed or really permitted to do under Vestal guidlines, she is supposed to do what she is told and follow the rules. When asked to make her own decisions and do what makes her happy she has a complete mental breakdown. Cal and Seth try to break through to her but they are unsuccessful, they must give her instructions as a Vestal would expect. Enter Miss Lydia, a Vestal mentor, she cozies up to Cal and helps guide Cal and Blanca through the strangeness that is Vestal life and politics  She begins an advertising campaign for Cal's energy company and begins to "date" a Vestal boy.  She is the picture of Vestal perfection and happiness, until she begins to uncover that Lydia isn't what she seems though, then neither is Cal or Seth. Blanca soon learns that maybe making her own decisions might not be that bad and that the "outside" world might not be as bad as she's been led to believe.  In order to save her own life and the life of a friend, she must use the technology she was raised to never use and think for herself.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. I liked the original story and plot. I didn't like that Blanca was a brainwashed robot, but that was kind of the point. She overcomes that as she discovers that Vestal life isn't everything she was raised to believe. I'm interested to see what the next book in the story brings. This book stands on its own and closes off nicely. This kept me interested until the very end.

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