Review: Pieces of Me by Kate McLaughlin

Pieces of Me by Kate McLaughlin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netfalley, all opinions are my own.

This follows Dylan after waking up in a strange place and not being able to remember the last few days.  She has lost time before, but never days at a time.  Dylan has always struggled with her mental health, but she thought she had it under control.  She stopped drinking and the people she was with over the weekend assure her she wasn't drunk, so what happened that made her forget and why does she hear voices inside her head?   Fortunately for Dylan she has the support of her mom and best friend to help her navigate things as they try to get a diagnosis from a neurologist and therapist.  Eventually they pursue DID or Dissociative Identity Disorder, which Dylan has many of the markers for and it seems to fit all of the strange behaviors she has exhibited throughout her life.  Dylan has to embark on a journey to not only uncover  the trauma that caused her to dissociate but get to know each of her alters and learn how each of them functions within the larger system,

I enjoyed this.   I know DID is still a questionable diagnosis in the mental health community and it is hard to get diagnosed with it.  This has some tough moments as Dylan has to face her trauma and there are some content warnings that the reader should be aware of before undertaking this read (attempted suicide, sexual abuse of a child, mental illness).  Learning about her different alters and how all of them work together was insightful.

I did think that it came together in a nice neat package, but that comes with being YA I find.  Dylan suffered a terrible trauma as a child, but her diagnosis came fairly easily and everyone around her accepted it.  Her relationship with Connor fell into place pretty easily as well, and he is a little too perfect sometimes.   

Overall, this was an enjoyable and quick read.  I read this in a few hours and found it hard to put down.  

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Review: Battle of the Bands

Battle of the Bands by Lauren Gibaldi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an audio ARC via Netgalley, all opinions expressed are my own.

This was a really great complation of stories. I really enjoyed some of them and while all of them are well written, I don't think I am the target audience for this particular set of stories. Sometimes I had a hard time connecting with the characters and I think that is because my high school days are long past. I do wish I had books like this 20+ years ago, and I know this will be a smash hit with today's young readers.

I highly recommend this for young readers (older middle grade, teens, and young adults), especially those who are still figuring out who they are. As a music lover myself, I really loved how the battle of the bands connected all of the stories together in some way and some of them had overlapping characters. I also appreciated that this had a really diverse cast of characters, which is why I think this is really suited for a younger audience.

Each story is written by a different author and narrated by a different narrator. I liked that after each story there was a rock jingle to signal the start of the next story in the collection. Each narrator did a wonderful job narrating the stories and giving them life. I really enjoyed this compilation and highly recommend it!

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Review: Fault Lines by Emily Itami

Fault Lines by Emily Itami
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley and the publishers. All opinions are my own. I saw this as an early read opportunity in The Book Club Girls group on Facebook and thought it sounded really interesting and relatable. It isn't the type of book I normally go for, but the synopsis sounded a bit like my life and where I"m at so I thought I would give it a try.

Much like the blurb promises, this is completely relatable to mom's out there who are getting through it day in and day out and lose a bit of the carefree spirits we all had in our teens and twenties. I can totally relate to some of Mizuki's midlife crisis struggles as a mom and wife and not necessarily getting to live out the career she thought she had. I still don't think I know what I want to be when I grow up. While there are alot of cultural differences between us, being a working mom is thankless most days and your kids always need something and when they are little they are always having a tantrum and people are always judging you about how you did this or that with your kids. Or atleast you feel like they are.

I enjoyed learning about the Japanese culture and roaming around Tokyo with Mizuki. The writing was straightforward and honest with bits of humor throughout. I struggle with the choices she made and the ending. Overall, I did enjoy the book.

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Review: The Castle School by Alyssa B. Sheinmel

The Castle School by Alyssa B. Sheinmel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This book wasn't what I was expecting. Based on the description I was expecting something darker and more of a thriller, however this is a hard hitting YA contemporary. As someone who reads alot of thrillers, this is not a thriller at all. While there are secrets that main character Moira uncovers, they aren't dark, sinister, mysterious, or fantastical. This book deals with grief, mental health, friendship, and recovery. I probably would have never read this had I not been mislead by the description. This isn't normally the type of book I gravitate towards, but I still enjoyed it.

The main character Moira is shipped off to The Castle School after her parents decide they can't deal with her troublesome behavior any longer. Moira feels like she is being sent away as a punishment for not living up to her mother's expectations. Moira finds herself surrounded by 11 other girls who each have their own story and their own path to recovery at the Castle. We do get a few pages about each of the girls and how they ended up at the Castle School, but for the most part the character development is focused mainly on Moira and not on the other 11 girls in the book. I did feel it was a nice touch that we got their backstories so we understood them each a bit better.

Moira is determined that Dr. Prince can't help her, and she thinks his methods and rules are all stupid. After all she is being punished right? So when she hears music coming from somewhere and finds the lock on her window broken she of course has to investigate. This is the part where you expect the thriller/mystery aspect to take off, but what she finds is an identical school full of boys, they don't have the same rules as the girls so of course Moira thinks they have it better. It is a "the grass is always greener" kind of situation. As Moira progresses through her therapy, she also learns that the grass isn't always greener as she gets to know more about the boys at "fun castle" and the girls at her own castle.

Overall, I thought this book was well written and I did enjoy it. I do feel that the synopsis could have been more clearly written and this should have been clearly marketed as a heavy hitting contemporary.

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Blog Tour: Totally Folked by Penny Reid

Totally Folked, the all-new folking delightful and bestselling small town contemporary romance from New York Times bestselling author Penny Reid, is available now!

One unforgettable night leads to an unlikely shared connection, and unlikely connections never go unnoticed by the good folks in Green Valley, Tennessee. . .

Jackson James follows the rules. He has to. He’s a sheriff’s deputy in a super small town with a super big personality. However, strict adherence to the law during the day has been enjoyably balanced by rakish rules at night. Jackson, typically happy to protect and serve (and serve, and serve), starts questioning the value of wayward evenings when they begin to feel more like being waylaid rather than getting laid. Could it be that Green Valley's most eligible—and notorious—bachelor longs for something (and someone) real?

Mega movie star Raquel Ezra follows only one rule: always leave them wanting more. Strict adherence to this single rule has served her well. Studio execs, reporters, audiences, fans, lovers—no one can get enough of the smart, savvy, and sexy bombshell. But when “generous offers” begin to feel more like excessive demands, years of always leaving has the elusive starlet longing for something (and perhaps someone) lasting.

When Raquel abruptly returns to the quirky Tennessee hamlet, her path crosses with the delectable deputy with whom she spent one unforgettable night. Unfortunately, scandal and intrigue soon follow. Raquel and Jackson must decide which is more important: following their rules? Or, at long last, finding something real.

TOTALLY FOLKED is a standalone, contemporary romantic comedy novel and book #1 in the Good Folk: Modern Folktales series.

To see what I thought you can check out my review here

Fall in love today!
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To celebrate the release of Totally Folked Penny has an incredible GIVEAWAY!

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Excerpt

“Rae. It’s late.”

“I know, but—”

“Rae,” he ground out, using my hold on his hand to bring us back to a stop. I faced him, my stomach erupting in uncertainty butterflies as I encountered the stern line of his jaw and the glittering, frustrated spark behind his eyes. “We need everyone to believe we’re just friends, right? And if we go inside the house, I don’t think I’m a good enough actor to pull that off.”

My mouth formed an O, and I released him, folding my arms over my chest while I wrestled with a strange combination of disappointment and pleasure at his words. I wanted to spend time with him, talk to him, get to know this mystery of a man so I could understand my feelings better.

But . . . I conceded his point.

We couldn’t seem to be around each other without kissing. Bringing him inside a dark, empty house in the middle of the night was something better left to my fantasies.

For now.

Oh really, inner voice? Now you’re impudent? Now?

He exhaled a short breath, it also sounded frustrated, but his tone was soft as he said, “Hey.”

I placed a tight smile on my face, it was the best I could manage. “Hey.”

Jackson seemed to be considering me, debating what to do next. He didn’t take too long. “Do you want to go for a drive?”

“Yes,” I said immediately. “Yes, I do. Let me grab a jacket.”

“Okay. I’ll wait here.” He shifted his weight to his back foot and hooked his thumbs in his jeans pockets.

I wanted to take a picture of him like this, all handsome reluctance and sexy self-control. This man, he just did something to me. I couldn’t explain it.

But maybe if we took this drive and spent some time together talking—just talking—I’d start to figure it out.

Meet Penny Reid
Penny Reid is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Best Selling Author of the Winston Brothers, Knitting in the City, Rugby, and Hypothesis series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she just writes books. She’s also a full time mom to three diminutive adults, wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought ninja.

Connect with Penny
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PennyReidWriter/
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2lakzsD
Twitter: @ReidRomance
Mailing List: http://pennyreid.ninja/newsletter/
Website: www.pennyreid.ninja

Review: Totally Folked by Penny Reid

Totally Folked by Penny Reid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was the Jackson James story long time fans of The Winston Brothers series have been waiting for! We’ve gotten to know Jackson through out Penny’s previous books and he has always been an enigma. We’ve hated him, not hated him, and now we finally understand him and get a chance to love him along with all of the other heroes of Green Valley. If you’ve read the Winston books you will understand what I mean and have probably gone on the same emotional roller coaster. If this is your first foray into the Green Valley world have no fear, this book reads as a complete standalone. The author gives the reader all of the relevant background information needed from any previous books for this to make sense. It is one of the things I love most about her writing, her books may all be connected but they stand on their own. You don’t need to read the previous books, but you will want to because they are awesome!

Rae and Jackson were great together. She is a Hollywood starlet who loves making movies but is tired of acting all day long and Jackson is trying to clean up his image and make everyone happy. What they find in each other is the comfort of each other’s company and the ease of being themselves. They are completely comfortable just being themselves and don’t have to put on a show to please one another, but they do have to learn to trust each other and themselves. Their romance was unexpectedly slow burn, but it was 100% worth every second. There was so much development between the characters and when they finally got together it was explosive!

I loved that we finally got a Jackson story and that we got to revisit with some favorite characters from previous books. This was a fantastic book with fantastic characters!

I was provided an arc via the author, all opinion are my own.

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Release Blitz: Totally Folked by Penny Reid

One unforgettable night leads to an unlikely shared connection, and unlikely connections never go unnoticed by the good folks in Green Valley, Tennessee. . .

Totally Folked an all-new small town romantic comedy filled with humor and heart from New York Times bestselling author Penny Reid is available now!

Jackson James follows the rules. He has to. He’s a sheriff’s deputy in a super small town with a super big personality. However, strict adherence to the law during the day has been enjoyably balanced by rakish rules at night. Jackson, typically happy to protect and serve (and serve, and serve), starts questioning the value of wayward evenings when they begin to feel more like being waylaid rather than getting laid. Could it be that Green Valley's most eligible—and notorious—bachelor longs for something (and someone) real?

Mega movie star Raquel Ezra follows only one rule: always leave them wanting more. Strict adherence to this single rule has served her well. Studio execs, reporters, audiences, fans, lovers—no one can get enough of the smart, savvy, and sexy bombshell. But when “generous offers” begin to feel more like excessive demands, years of always leaving has the elusive starlet longing for something (and perhaps someone) lasting.

When Raquel abruptly returns to the quirky Tennessee hamlet, her path crosses with the delectable deputy with whom she spent one unforgettable night. Unfortunately, scandal and intrigue soon follow. Raquel and Jackson must decide which is more important: following their rules? Or, at long last, finding something real.

TOTALLY FOLKED is a standalone, contemporary romantic comedy novel and book #1 in the Good Folk: Modern Folktales series.

Fall in love today!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3mlffDE
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/TotallyFolked
Nook: https://bit.ly/3sOrkTX
Apple Books: https://apple.co/3sShLDy
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2OkmO0L
Google Play: https://bit.ly/39G9JpY
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/36KBgo6
Barnes and Noble Paperback: Coming Soon

Add Totally Folked to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3tFSo8w

Meet Penny Reid
Penny Reid is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Best Selling Author of the Winston Brothers, Knitting in the City, Rugby, and Hypothesis series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she just writes books. She’s also a full time mom to three diminutive adults, wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought ninja.

Connect with Penny
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PennyReidWriter/
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2lakzsD
Twitter: @ReidRomance
Mailing List: http://pennyreid.ninja/newsletter/
Website: www.pennyreid.ninja

Review: A Chorus Rises by Bethany C. Morrow

A Chorus Rises by Bethany C. Morrow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved A Song Below Water, and was ecstatic to find out there was going to be a sequel. While this book focuses on Naema in the aftermath of what happened in book 1 and her own self discovery journey I would highly recommend reading A Song Below Water first. You could probably read this as a standalone, but you will likely be confused about the events that are mentioned and who the characters are as they are already established going into this book. Much like the first book this is full of social commentary, had great character development, a magical fantasy element, and so much more. I will say that this is more contemporary than the first book. While it does have a fantasy/magic element, it is not the main focus nor as prominent as it was in the first book. I felt Naema's character development and the social justice element were at the forefront, with the fantasy element being a nice compliment.

Naema was a bit of a villain in book 1. As an Eloko, she is beloved because of her magical abilities and put on a pedestal by her parents and the people of Portland where she lives. Naturally she's a bit of a spoiled brat. It took me quite a while to warm up to her in this. Stick with her though, she is on a journey. When she is cast in a poor light after exposing Tavia as a siren last year at prom, she has to deal with the blow back on her social media platform. She has to deal with the trauma she experienced that night, and how the story is being told without her input. Determined to set the record straight, Naema wants to tell people what really happened that night at prom. There are 2 sides to every story and Naema's side is either twisted or left out. In the mean time, a social media group dedicated to Naema is forming and wants to protect her, especially from sirens. This loyal group, turns out to be a radical group targeting African American girls and women they suspect of being sirens in Naema's name. Clearly she is not OK with that when she realizes their intentions, and has to put aside her differences with Tavia to use her power, privilege and influence for good and to protect the innocent.

Naema leaves Portland to connect with family and discovers that there is more to being Eloko than her melody and social media following. She realizes that there is more to Naema than being an Eloko, she is more than one thing she has to figure out who she is. Race is at the forefront of her mind as she spends time with her non-magical family, especially when she experiences racial profiling first hand. Her status as an Eloko has protected her from the prejudice her family experiences regularly. I thought her cousin Courtney was a great side character who called her out for some of her self-centered actions and was a good sounding board for her. He was a huge part of her development. I really enjoyed her development as a character.

I thought that the narration of the audiobook was really well done. The narrator was able to give the different characters unique voices so I was able to distinguish who was speaking. I also thought the mixed media aspect of the book was interesting as there were several chapters told in chat room format, interviews, etc. and that wasn't lost in the audio format. It also wasn't awkward to listen to nor did I find it confusing.

I was provided an audio ARC via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

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Blog Tour: Pretending by Holly Bourne with Review and Excerpt

hank you to Mira books an imprint of Harlequin books for providing me an ARC of Pretending by Holly Bourne and including me on the blog tour.  Pretending was released on November 17th and is available at retailers everywhere.  Included in this post you will find the synopsis, purchase links, an excerpt, my honest review, and a Q&A with the author.  

About the Book: 

Pretending : A Novel 

Holly Bourne

On Sale Date: November 17, 2020

9780778331506, 0778331504

Trade Paperback

$17.99 USD

416 pages

ABOUT THE BOOK:

In this hilarious and heartbreaking debut novel perfect for fans of Fleabag, a woman struggling to move on after a traumatic relationship pretends to be “the perfect girl” in an act of vengeance that goes awry when she finds herself emotionally compromised.

He said he was looking for a 'partner in crime' which everyone knows is shorthand for 'a woman who isn't real'.

April is kind, pretty, and relatively normal - yet she can't seem to get past date five. Every time she thinks she's found someone to trust, they reveal themselves to be awful, leaving her heartbroken. And angry. Until she realizes that what men are really looking for is Gretel.

Gretel is perfect - beautiful but low maintenance, sweet but never clingy, sexy but not a slut. She's a Regular Everyday Manic Pixie Dream Girl Next Door With No Problems.

When April starts pretending to be Gretel, dating becomes much more fun - especially once she reels in the unsuspecting Joshua. Finally, April is the one in control, but can she control her own feelings? And as she and Joshua grow closer, how long will she be able to keep pretending? 

BUY LINKS:

Barnes & Noble

Amazon

Apple Books

Kobo

Google Books

Bookshop.org

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

 

Holly Bourne is a bestselling UK-based YA and Adult Fiction author and is an Ambassador for Women’s Aid. In 2019, she was an Author of the Day at the London Book Fair, and was named by Elle Magazine’s weekly podcast as one of “Six Female Authors Changing the Conversation in 2019”. Pretending is her US debut. 

SOCIAL LINKS: 

Author website: https://hollybourne.co.uk/ 

Twitter: @holly_bourneYA 

Instagram: @hollybourneya 

Facebook: @Holly.BourneYA

Excerpt:

I hate men.

There, I’ve said it. I know you’re not supposed to say it. We all pretend we don’t hate them; we all tell ourselves we don’t hate them. But I’m calling it. I’m standing here on this soapbox, and I’m saying it.

I. Hate. Men.

I mean, think about it. They’re just awful. I hate how selfish they are. How they take up so much space, assuming it’s always theirs to take. How they spread out their legs on public transport, like their balls need regular airing to stop them developing damp. I hate how they basically scent mark anywhere they enter to make it work for them. Putting on the music they want to listen to the moment they arrive at any house party, and always taking the nicest chair. How they touch your stuff instead of just looking; even tweak the furniture arrangement to make it most comfortable for them. All without asking first—never asking first.

I hate how they think their interests are more important than yours—even though twice a week all most of them do is watch a bunch of strangers kick a circle around a piece of lawn and sulk if the circle doesn’t go in the right place. And how bored they look if you ever try to introduce them to a film, a band, or even a freaking YouTube clip, before you’ve even pressed Play.

I hate their endless arrogance. I hate how they interrupt you and then apologize for it but carry on talking anyway. How they ask you a question but then check your answer afterward. I hate how they can never do one piece of housework without telling you about it. I hate how they literally cannot handle being driven in a car by a woman, even if they’re terrible drivers themselves. I hate how they all think they’re fucking incredible at grilling meat on barbecues. The sun comes out and man must light fire and not let woman anywhere near the meat. Dumping blackened bits of chicken onto our plates along with the whiff of a burp from their beer breath, acting all caveman, like we’re supposed to find it cute that we may now get salmonella and that we’re going to have to do all the washing up.

I hate how I’m quite scared of them. I hate the collective noise of them when they’re in a big group. The tribal wahey-ing, like they all swap their IQs for extra testosterone when they swarm together. How, if you’re sitting alone on an empty train, they always come and deliberately sit next to you en masse, and talk extra loudly about macho nonsense, apparently to impress you. I hate the way they look at you when you walk past—automatically judging your screwability the moment they see you. Telling you to smile if you dare look anything other than delighted about living with stuff like this constantly fucking happening to you. 

I hate how hard they are to love. How many of them actually, truly, think the way to your heart is sending you a selfie of them tugging themselves, hairy ball sack very much still in shot. I hate how they have sex. How they shove their fingers into you, thinking it’s going to achieve anything. Jabbing their unwashed hands into your dry vagina, prodding about like they’re checking for prostate cancer, then wondering why you now have BV and you still haven’t come. Have none of them read a sex manual? Seriously? None of them? And I hate how they hate you a little just after they’ve finished. How even the nice ones lie there with cold eyes, pretending to cuddle, but clearly desperate to get as far away from you as possible.

I hate how it’s never equal. How they expect you to do all the emotional labor and then get upset when you’re the more stressed-out one. I hate how they never understand you, no matter how hard they try, although, let’s be honest here, they never actually try that hard. And I hate how you’re always exhausting yourself trying to explain even the most basic of your rational emotional responses to their bored face.

I hate how every single last one of them has issues with their father.

And do you know what I hate most of all?

That despite this, despite all this disdain, I still fancy men. And I still want them to fancy me, to want me, to love me. I hate myself for how much I want them. Why do I still fancy men so much? What’s wrong with me? Why are they all so broken? Am I broken for still wanting to be with one, even after everything? I should be alone. That’s the only healthy way to be. BUT I DON’T WANT TO BE ALONE. I hate men, that’s the problem. GOD I HATE THEM SO MUCH—they’re so entitled and broken and lazy and wrong and…and…

Hang on…

My phone.

HE MESSAGED BACK!!!

WITH A KISS ON THE END!

Never mind.

Forget I said anything. It’s all good.

Excerpted from Pretending by Holly Bourne, Copyright © 2020 by Holly Bourne. Published by MIRA Books. 

Review:

Pretending by Holly Bourne

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I keep grappling with how to review this book. There were some really great things about this book and some things that I wish were handled differently. If you are at all triggered by mentions of sexual assault and mental health, I'd skip this one. This has some great messages and tackles a very sensitive subject. I'm not sure this hits the mark with the execution though.

April has been unlucky in love and in life. She unrealistically thinks that men want Gretel, the manic-pixie-dream-girl she has created in her head. Gretel is perfect and has no problems or emotional baggage, she is low maintenance, and does everything right with men. The catch, Gretel is not real. After another failed attempt in dating, April creates a fake profile on a dating app as Gretel and pretends to be her on a date. As a one time thing this pretending would have been fine, but she decides to carry on a relationship with him which is quite frankly weird. As things progress with nice guy Joshua, she realizes that maybe there are some nice guys out there and Josh might be one of them. Unfortunately she quickly finds that keeping up her Gretel persona is quite problematic for lots of reasons, especially if she wants to have an honest relationship with Joshua. She finds her mental health is slipping because of her lies and the stress associated with her job.

April hates men for a good reason. She had an abusive ex who committed the most heinous crime he could have against her. Rightfully so, April has some unpacked baggage that she while she thinks she has dealt with, she really hasn't. April works for a charity that deals with assault victims, yet not once was she counseled about her own trauma or given resources to help her deal with the aftermath of her own assault. I take issue with this. As a former sexual assault victim advocate, that is the first thing you offer to a victim of this kind of trauma.  I find it unrealistic that she would or could work for said charity organization without having had any sort of help or being required to have had help.  I'm not sure about in the UK, but in the US there are tons of free resources for victims to talk to someone and get treatment for the PTSD that comes with this kind of assault. Now eventually, the counselor at her job suggests that she take a boxing class to help with some of the aggression she's feeling but she's been working at her job for some time before this comes up. Now I will say that in the end I liked the way that things were handled and that she eventually got the support she needed to begin the mental healing process. I feel like it took far too long for someone to mention to April that she needed therapy, her so called friends just let her fumble around until she figured it out on her own after quite a bit of destructive behavior I found this unrealistic and a bit cruel. In real life you can’t make people do anything they don’t want to do, especially when it comes to situations like this, but the advocate in me is irritated that not one person who knew her situation and was supposed to care about her ever suggested resources to help her deal with her trauma for years afterwards.

I do wish this had focused more on April finding her voice and being able to say what she wanted like saying no in situations she was uncomfortable with instead of just letting things happen. The whole point of her being Gretel was to take power back in her life but she never said "No" or "I like this or that" in any situation versus pretending to be what she thinks other people want. Other than hurting Joshua when he finds out she’s not really Gretel, I don’t really see how she gained the upper hand at all.

Many of the women are portrayed as needing to have men in their lives to be fulfilled and being unhappy in their relationships when they find one. Most of their unhappiness stems around a lack of communication. Even in April’s case when she tells people things they are uncomfortable with she feels like it is her problem not theirs. Instead of having open communication the women are deemed crazy. I’m not OK with this portrayal of women, and maybe that is the narrative the author is trying to bring to light and change. I would have liked to see healthy relationships portrayed as the likely audience of this book is women. Women should feel empowered to speak their minds as April was to Neil about their not being a spectrum of sexual assault. This was an excellent scene and I would have liked more like it in the book, there were far too few of them. They should also feel inclined to talk to their partners about what they need and what is acceptable in a relationship. Healthy relationships take work on both sides and that wasn’t really presented as a scenario here.

Overall I applaud the author for tackling this sensitive subject and feminist message, but the execution just didn’t work for me. I think this book will be a really important read for some and it will fall flat for others.


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Review: Even If We Break by Marieke Nijkamp

Even If We Break by Marieke Nijkamp
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was provided a copy of this book via the Sourcebooks Early Reads program in exchange for an honest review.  I listened to the first half on audio and completed the book in print.

I was really looking forward to this as I'm a huge thriller fan.  I've never read Nijkamp's work before and this sounded like a promising book based on the synopsis.  Plus the cover is super creepy (which I really love) with the masks.  Unfortunately, the masks don't play into the actual plot, they are more symbolic, and this really fell flat for me as a thriller.  The thriller element is secondary to the personal demons the characters deal with and the personal discovery the characters are forced to go through because of the situation they find themselves in.

We follow 5 friends as they head off to a remote cabin for one final weekend to play a role playing game (RPG) that is reminiscent of Dungeons and Dragons.  This final weekend is supposed to reconnect them before everyone graduates high school and goes their separate ways.  They've all become distant from one another for various reasons, some are explained really well while some are muddled.  The story is told from the perspective of each of the friends, but the main voices are Finn and Ever.  Ever is the game master, and the one who ultimately created the game and the world that the friends once bonded over.  The game is a fantasy based murder mystery game, they each have a persona with skills and costumes, and while each of the friends is different, they have all found common ground in the game.  As the friends begin to play their final game, weird things start to happen and the teens find one of their friends is missing and another has been murdered.  Each of them is quickly being targeted and called out on their deepest darkest flaws.  The remaining three have to solve this murder and get to safety before they fall next.

I do appreciate that this had a diverse cast of characters.  Unfortunately their backstories like the plot felt really jumbled and confusing.  What we do know about them is repeated several times, and the information I wanted explained is never given.  I never felt like I really got to know the characters or connected with them.  

Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me.  I think it was trying to be too many things at once.  As far as thrillers go, this just didn't work for me.  

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Review: The Not-Outcast by Tijan

The Not-Outcast by Tijan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via the author in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this!  This is the kind of book that you read in 1 day because can't put down and stay up late to finish.  If you are at all triggered by the mention of mental health issues, emotional abuse, or drug use I might skip this one.  I feel like the mental illness was handled respectfully and tastefully in this book.  There are probably alot of people out there just like Cheyenne who are treated just as badly if not worse because of where they came from or how they act because people don't get to know them or understand them.  Unfortunately, there are probably alot of people like Cheyenne who don't get help or have a support network like she does either.  I love that Tijan wrote a character that so amazing despite her circumstances.  I also love that she wrote a male lead who is humble despite his.  Cut while having come from a privileged background and having made it as a pro athlete hasn't let it go to his head.  He's still a decent guy.

I was a little worried that I wasn't going to like this book because the first couple of chapters were a little confusing, but that speaks to the way our main character Cheyenne processes the world.  As we get to know her, her background, what's she's been through, and how she operates things become clear and I really came to love her.  

Initially Cut and Cheyenne's relationship is very instalove/instalust driven.  They do eventually settle into an actual relationship, taking things slow and getting to know one another.  I did appreciate that as it was very important that Cut see all of Cheyenne's highs and lows.  She was conditioned at an early age that people would abandon her and run when she wasn't at her best, and she wasn't sure how to handle things when Cut was willing to stay and be supportive when she was having a rough time.  He wanted to learn about her and understand what she needed in a bad moment and how he could support her even if it meant leaving her alone until she was in a better state of mind.  He was also willing to give up his best friend who was not willing to understand that Cheyenne did not come from a good family situation, and that she was not her mother.  Instead of having empathy, Cheyenne's father, stepmother, and stepbrother all basically treated her like a criminal and threw her to the wolves to fend for herself as a teen and never looked back.  They never got to know her or treat her like a human.  

This has amazing side characters!  Cheyenne's two best friends Melanie and Sasha are supportive and hilarious.  The bring a bit of comic relief to the seriousness of dealing with the mental health issues.  Hunter is amazing as well.  The younger half brother to Cheyenne, their silly text and email conversations are light-hearted, and show how big Cheyenne's heart is.  I also love Cut's mom, Alice.  I really relate to her being the loudest mom at all the games.  I'm not violent with my cheering (my kids don't play hockey) but I'm still the loudest fan and mom in the gym!  

This is so great!  Fans of Tijan's in general are going to devour this book!  If you love her other sports romances you are not going to be disappointed and won't be able to put it down.  It is light on the hockey, and I would have liked to see a bit more of the game in the book just because I like hockey.  I do feel that would have taken away from the mental health aspects of the book and it wouldn't have been the same.  I think Tijan made the right choice to keep her focus on Cheyenne and not the hockey.    The romance is spot on and the steam factor is through the roof.  Cut and Cheyenne have amazing chemistry!  This book will take you on a rollercoaster ride through every emotion but it is worth every minute.  

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COVER REVEAL: I Promise You by Ilsa Madden-Mills

 

I Promise You, an all-new swoony sports romance from Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills is coming October 12th, and we have the hot, hot, hot cover!

Dillon McQueen: Babe. I promise. You want me.
Serena Jensen: Um, who are you?

There’s a legend at Waylon University: the first girl you kiss freshman year at the bonfire party is the one you’ll never forget. She’ll crawl under your skin and never leave. She’ll spark a passion so fierce you’ll burn the world down to possess her.

You might even put a ring on it.

As in all things with fate, timing is everything. That kiss can go horribly wrong. She might run in the opposite direction. And boy, did Serena run.

Dillon is Waylon’s hotshot quarterback with something to prove. All he wants is to graduate and make it to the NFL. What he doesn’t need is to finally meet the mystery girl he kissed at the bonfire freshman year. Isn’t it enough that she’s haunted his dreams for more than a thousand nights?

Fate laughs in his face when he runs into the quirky girl at the Piggly Wiggly. Surrounded by his entourage, he’s got all the Oreos in his cart; she gets revenge by buying every six-pack of his favorite beer.

Obviously, that legend is a curse. She’s not his type and hates him. Worst of all, how can she not remember him when she left a Serena-shaped hole in his heart for the past three years?

So why can’t he stop trying to win her?

Will this quarterback score the girl or make the biggest fumble of his life?

Add I PROMISE YOU to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3hRezT9

Cover Designer: RBA Designs
Photographer: Wander Aguiar
Model: Kaz

About Ilsa Madden-Mills

Wall Street Journal, New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Ilsa Madden-Mills is best known for her angsty new adult romances and romantic comedies.

Eight of her eleven novels have placed in the Amazon Top 10 Best-seller List: Dirty English #1; Fake Fiancée and I Dare You #2; I Bet You, Filthy English, and Very Bad Things #6; Boyfriend Bargain #8; The Last Guy, her collaboration with Tia Louise, #4.

A former high school English teacher, she adores all things Pride and Prejudice, and of course, Mr. Darcy is her ultimate hero.

She's addicted to frothy coffee beverages, cheesy magnets, and any book featuring unicorns and sword-wielding females. Feel free to stalk her online.

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Blog Tour: Stranger Ranger by Daisy Prescott

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Stranger Ranger, an all-new standalone contemporary romance from USA Today bestselling author Daisy Prescott, is now available in Kindle Unlimited!

New park ranger Daphne Baum is a reformed good girl. Breaking free from her overbearing family as soon as she turned eighteen, she’s been on her own ever since. The life of a park ranger, moving from park to park, suits her just fine. Though still a rule follower, she’s okay with a little sin in her life.

Every generation of Hill men has its black sheep. The general consensus among the family is that Odin Hill is the lucky bastard this go around. At seventeen, he blew out of town like an angry tornado only to return fifteen years later withdrawn and secretive. Living like a recluse in the hollows in the Smoky Mountains, he’s happy to keep to himself and is content to let locals believe he’s the town weirdo. Odin prefers the company of his pet pig to the nosy citizens of Green Valley.

When Daphne discovers Odin might be committing nefarious deeds on park land, she vows to find out the truth behind the handsome, yet chaotic, loner. Will the stranger help the ranger discover the difference between being good and doing the right thing? Or will they find themselves on opposite sides of love?

‘Stranger Ranger’ is a full-length contemporary romance, can be read as a standalone, and is book #2 in the Park Ranger series, Green Valley World, Penny Reid Book Universe.

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Check out Happy Trail, book 1 in the Park Ranger series of standalones, FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

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Excerpt

By early afternoon, the crowd at the farmers’ market fades, leaving only stragglers, bargainers, and tourists sampling the charms of small town life. I’ve had enough people for the week I’m looking forward to the quiet of my own company. All the talking and friendly chatter exhaust me. You’d think vegetables would sell themselves given they’re pretty self-explanatory. Yet folks wanna hear a story about a carrot being grown from the guy who pulled it out of the dirt himself. So I play my part of the happy farmer at the stand. It’s my bad luck I’ve always been charming. Part of my DNA. My family has lived in the mountains surrounding Green Valley longer than anyone around here can remember. Before there was a National Park or even a Cades Cove, the Hills had established a homestead in the Smokies straddling Tennessee and North Carolina. Because our last name is Hill, some people like to joke we put the hill in hillbilly. Jethro Winston for example. He’s hysterical. Some people think they have a sense of humor when they’re just being mean-spirited. As my Nannie Ida always says, glass houses provide good views, but then again, so do mirrors. This is why I prefer the company of Patsy over most folks. She’s smart, a good listener, tidy, and doesn’t give a damn about my family and reputation. She has more class than a lot of the gossips and Sunday church-goers around here. After I consolidate the remaining produce into crates and load up the van, I fold the tables and collapse my tent. While I work, the face of the brunette ranger floats through my mind. She looked familiar but I didn’t recognize her name. It isn’t likely our paths have crossed. I don’t get out much and I’m not hanging around the bars or the visitor center in Cades Cove. Normally, one of my cousins covers the stand at the weekly farmers’ market and I can avoid the crowds. This is what happens when I let my guard down and am forced to engage with the public. I get iceberg and Bible quotes. I’ve never been a fan of either. Bothered I’m still thinking about her, I close and lock up the van. “Come on Patsy, let’s go for a walk.” She gives a happy snort and steps closer to where her leash hangs on the top rail of her pen. When the two of us stroll through town, folks stare. It’s worse when they insist on sharing a comment, tell the same old joke, and, in general, make a fuss. Honestly, I assume at this point people seeing the two of us together would be old news around here. Guess some folks don’t have enough going on in their lives that they need to make commentary about people minding their own damn business. I don’t understand what the big deal is about a man walking his pig. Patsy’s excellent on a leash. Doesn’t pull. Has never instigated fights with dogs. Hasn’t bit anyone. Doesn’t do her business in the middle of the sidewalk. In my mind, she’s much better mannered than any old hound dog. She’s pretty darn perfect in every conceivable way. Except the one time she trampled Mrs. MacClure’s flower bed. Even that was my fault for not paying closer attention to where we were walking. If I had to find fault with her, Patsy thinks she’s in charge. And she’s a little more than spoiled. I only have myself to blame. “Clarice, please tell me you see that man walking his pig.” A woman shouts to her friend and points from about three feet away. “I’m not invisible,” I tell her with a flat smile. “Oh dear.” Her companion rolls her eyes. “You’re a tall drink of cool water, aren’t you?” The question is rhetorical. Being compared to a refreshing beverage doesn’t require a response, so I remain quiet. Patsy tugs on her leash and releases a frustrated snort that we’ve stopped walking. “You two have a nice day, m‘kay.” I step off the sidewalk to pass them. I’d like to say their behavior is atypical. If I hear “You’re like the Jolly Green Giant. Only less green” one more time … For the record, I am not jolly. There must be something in the well water around here. We grow ‘em tall in Green Valley. Does a pig need to be walked on leash for health and exercise? No. I’m the only weirdo in all of Green Valley who likes to take my daily constitutional accompanied by a sow. Not even Cletus Winston is as much of an oddball as I am. And that’s saying something. He’s only interested in pigs and boar in terms of sausage. In my opinion, he’s missing out. If we were friends, or even friendly acquaintances, I might suggest we partner up. Truffle salami can be incredible. Or so I remember. I don’t eat pork anymore. Not since I’ve had Patsy. I’d be offended if she ate human body parts around me. Hogs will eat pretty much anything you give them. A few years ago a pig farmer went missing. Wife said he ran off with his mistress. Everyone believed her until his gold tooth turned up in the muck and mud of their hog pens. Macabre, but true. I don’t eat pork and Patsy doesn’t eat me. It’s an unspoken pact between us. Not that she’s some sort of demon pig crazed with bloodlust. Not at all. She’s the best pig in eastern Tennessee. Don’t need a blue ribbon from the state fair to make it true. This leisurely stroll around town is all part of my ruse. If someone sees us ambling someplace we don’t belong, they’ll leave us alone, which is the entire point. There’s freedom in being a weirdo. Folks keep their distance. Sure, there are the asinine comments, but for the most part they assume I’m dim-witted or crazy. Fine by me. With or without my porcine sidekick, I’ve always been different. I learned early on that people like to form and hold onto their own opinions. Pointless to try to change someone's mind. What they think of me is their problem, not mine.

About Daisy Prescott

Born and raised in San Diego, Daisy currently lives in a real life Stars Hollow in the Boston suburbs with her husband, their rescue dog, Mulder, and an imaginary house goat. When not writing about herself in the third person, Daisy can be found traveling, gardening, baking, or lost in a good book.

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Review: Hot Mess by Emma Hart

Hot Mess by Emma Hart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review.  This was released on May 19, 2020.  I'm a bit behind on my reading and reviewing, but I  really liked this.

This was really fun and sweet.  Elle was hilarious and her banter with Theo was excellent.  I really appreciated that this dealt with a very real topic of the dangers of social media.  Not only does Elle have to deal with the adult version of social media drama and backlash, but she has a very real conversation about real life versus what influencers post for you to see with Theo's daughter.  I really loved that part and have similar conversations with my kids about reality vs social media all the time.  

Speaking of Theo's daughter, Ari is one of the awesome side characters in this book.  This books has some charming side characters, and Ari is one of them.  She one of Elle's superfans and has her dad wrapped around her little finger.  She is full of energy and like any little girl, she is full of energy and always into something.  She pretty funny and provides Elle with friendship and a distraction as she navigates her precarious internet fame situation.  

This was a little different than Emma's previous books as the romance is a little slower burn and sweet.  Most of her books are heavy on the romance and steam, but this one is alot sweeter and the characters take their time to get to know each other before taking things too far.  I really liked the way their relationship progressed as it didn't feel like insta-love and overly lustful.  Their relationship felt realistic and respectful.  I really loved this and highly recommend it if you are a fan of rom-coms but want one that is a bit less explicit.

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Release Blitz: Love in Deed by L.B. Dunbar

Love in Deed, an all-new standalone contemporary romance from L.B. Dunbar, is LIVE!

Sometimes it takes an outsider to force us to see who we are. The real struggle is accepting what we learn. For Beverly Townsen, nothing could be closer to the truth. Virtually a shut-in, Beverly has pulled back from Green Valley’s community, preferring the isolation of her farmhouse and her daily routine of viewing home improvement television shows. When the opportunity arises for her own home improvement and a personal re-assessment, she’s not so excited about the reality of real life versus DIY programs.

Jedd Flemming understands physical pain and personal loss, but it’s never stopped him from bucking forward in life. A former military man and rodeo star, his life as a nomad comes to an end with false accusations and a family matter back in the Valley. It’s been a long journey to find his way home and once there, there’s nothing he wants more than to reclaim what he’s lost…and maybe the elusive female reclusive who holds a sliver of his past.

With an unprecedented proposition, Beverly finds a stranger living in her barn, raising horses on borrowed pastures, and plowing his way into her vacant heart. Old hurts linger, but sometimes love in deed is louder than words.

‘Love in Deed’ is a full-length contemporary romance, can be read as a standalone, and is book #6 in the Green Valley Library series, Green Valley World, Penny Reid Book Universe.

Download your copy TODAY!

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Coming to Kindle Unlimited on May 18th!

About L.B. Dunbar

L.B. Dunbar has an overactive imagination. To her benefit, such creativity has led to over thirty romance novels, including those offering a second chance at love over 40. Her signature works include the #sexysilverfoxes collection of mature males and feisty vixens ready for romance in their prime years. She’s also written stories of small-town romance (Heart Collection), rockstar mayhem (The Legendary Rock Stars Series), and a twist on intrigue and redemption (Redemption Island Duet). She’s had several alter egos including elda lore, a writer of romantic magical realism through mythological retellings (Modern Descendants). In another life, she wanted to be an anthropologist and journalist. Instead, she was a middle school language arts teacher. The greatest story in her life is with the one and only, and their four grown children. Learn more about L.B. Dunbar by joining her reader group on Facebook (Loving L.B.) or subscribing to her newsletter (Love Notes).

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