Review: The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark

The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via the publisher and Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This was originally supposed to release in April, however the publication date has moved to August. Not sure if that will impact the contents of the book, but I loved it! This novella is roughly 200 pages of action packed sci-fi/fantasy. Each one if Clark's books mixes a bit of steampunk, science fiction, and fantasy into a unique story that you don't want to put down. The world building is excellent, and even in a short time you come to love the characters!

Eveen is a member of The Dead Cat Tail Assassins', they are a guild of undead assassins governed by contracts and godling laws. When presented with what appears to be a proper contract, Eveen finds herself unable to fulfil the contract which could bring down the wrath of Aeril, the goddess her kind serves on not only herself bur her entire guild.

Eveen and her mark, set out on a mission to figure out how to undo the contract through time and space without destroying the entire city before the sun comes up. Eveen and Sky offset each other like night and day, while using everything at hand to figure out how to circumvent the contract and set things to rights. This had everything I would want from a great story, good humor, engaging plot, interesting characters, and it was a lot of fun!

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Review: Christmas Cupid by Ilsa Madden-Mills

Christmas Cupid by Ilsa Madden-Mills
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via the author and Grey’s Promotions, all opinions are my own.

This was such a cute holiday romance. It is a novella so if you are needing something short and sweet look no further!

This follows Iris, a super creative and successful designer who has been recently unlucky in love. Her meddling hockey player brother suggests she get away for a few days in a quaint mountain cabin to distress and reset before the holidays. What she doesn’t know is that he also gave the same advice to his best friend and teammate Kyler who is struggling with an injury and the rest of his season may be on the line. Kyler and Iris are complete opposites, but being forced to spend a few days together during a snowstorm might just be what they both needed.

I really enjoyed this. Kyler and Iris are truly opposites but they balance each other nicely. They start out as enemies but they quickly call a truce due to the forced proximity. She is a little bit of a brat and he’s a little bit of a jerk but they are both quick to call each other out on their respective nonsense. They had good banter and while I’m not usually a fan of an insta-love type story it works well here in the novella format and as the basis to see where things go. I appreciate that “I love yous“ weren’t thrown around after a few days together, instead a promise of let’s see what we can make of this connection is made.

If you are a fan of romances with forced proximity, enemies to lovers, meddling brothers, and the holidays this novella has it all. It is perfect for the upcoming holiday season when you need something cozy to read.

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Sneak Peek: Jonah Bennett by Tijan

 

Jonah Bennett, an all-new sexy and fast paced novella in the Bennett Mafia Universe from New York Times bestselling author Tijan and 1,001 Dark Nights is coming November 16th, and we have a sneak peek!

A screech of brakes. 

A horn blaring. 

That was the only warning we got. 

Melissa and I were traveling. We’d taken time off from our residencies, mine in surgery and hers in family practice. We were in different locations. The driving distance wasn’t that far, but this time together was special to me. 

I had decided. I didn’t want to wait anymore.

That was my last thought as we came to a quick stop in our rental car. The traffic had frozen, bumper to bumper. 

“What the hell is going on?” Melissa asked.

I looked over at her and smiled. She was beautiful, like always. Big doe eyes. Long brown hair that had a slight curl. We’d been together for the last year. When I switched to go to medical school in the States, she was in the same year as me. We dated on and off for that year and the year after, but it was on and off for a reason. 

Then school happened. 

We graduated. 

We went into our specialties, but we decided to try again. 

I was happy that we had. I was happy with her. 

I was just happy. 

She was gorgeous. She was kind. Smart. She liked to tease me with this little sparkle in her eyes. She was also competitive, always pushing to get the best marks on each test and exam. She pushed me to do better, and that was a novel experience for me. I was used to pushing myself. No one in my family was in the medical field. It wasn’t what they did, but me… That was not me. I was the first to venture outside our family business. 

It wasn’t that I didn’t have their support. I did. They wanted me to go, to do better, to be better, but that’s all they had to offer. So I was left in the role of pushing forward, forging a new path. Though not with Melissa. She motivated me, and that was one of the many reasons I’d fallen in love with her. 

Right now, however, I was mostly focused on the fact that we had six days left to celebrate before going back to our normal, hectic lives. I reached over and threaded my fingers with hers, staring at the sparkling ring on her finger. 

“We should call our families tonight,” I suggested. “Tell them about the engagement.” 

She’d been glaring out the window at the traffic, but when I dropped a kiss on our fingers, she relaxed. 

She turned to me, that sparkle in her eyes. “Oh, you mean I’ll actually get to meet your family? Your very reclusive family that you’ve always said isn’t in the States and out of phone reach?” She was teasing, but sort of not. 

She hadn’t met my family for a reason, but they knew about her. 

Kai had her investigated. And if Kai had any files on her, then I knew Tanner got them as well. He probably had done a couple passes, too. Meaning, that he saw her in physical proximity, he knew her, but she wouldn’t have known who he was. Brooke wasn’t one to be left out. She insisted to overhear a phone call I had with Melissa one time. It was her way of “meeting” her. 

That was my family. 

But it was time. If she was going to marry me, she needed to know what she was marrying into. It was only fair, but once she knew, I’d have to be prepared that she might decide not to be with me—or worse, that she’d say something to someone else. 

I leaned back and shot her a grin. “When you meet them, you’ll know why.” 

The traffic still wasn’t moving forward, and more horns had started to blare. 

I frowned. “You think it’s an accident up there? That’s why we’re stalled?” 

“Oh.” Her smile melted away. 

If someone was hurt, we were supposed to go help. 

Melissa reached for her seatbelt at the same time I did. 

“Open the trunk,” I called as we rounded to the rear of the car. 

She found the button to pop it open, and I saw a first aid kit pushed back in the corner. I grabbed it, shutting the trunk. 

As I did, a guy came walking toward us, past the truck in front of us. Tall. Broad shoulders. White. He was in cowboy boots and a cowboy hat, decked out like a stereotypical cowboy—probably Wrangler jeans and a shirt stolen from the set of an old Clint Eastwood movie. I catalogued all that out of habit. 

He saw me and stopped. 

He looked at Melissa. 

He turned back to me. “You’re Jonah Bennett?” 

I frowned. “Who’s asking?” 

“Do we know you?” Melissa stepped toward him, looking him over. The doctor in her came first, always. “Are you hurt? Is there a car accident back there where you came from—” 

She was concerned about him, concerned about others. 

That’s what she did, who she was, and why I loved her. 

He pulled a gun out and pointed it at her. 

She didn’t seem to register that. She was looking for blood on him when he pulled the trigger.

Synopsis

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Tijan comes a new story in her Bennett Mafia universe…

Jonah Bennett wasn’t like his family. The mafia business was firmly what his brothers did, not him.

That changed the day a rival family killed his fiancée.

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

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About Tijan
Tijan is a New York Times Bestselling author that writes suspenseful and unpredictable novels. Her characters are strong, intense, and gut-wrenchingly real with a little bit of sass on the side. Tijan began writing later in life and once she started, she was hooked. She’s written multi-bestsellers including the Carter Reed Series, the Fallen Crest Series, and the Broken and Screwed Series among others. She is currently writing a new series from north Minnesota where she lives with an English Cocker she adores.

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Release Blitz: HOPELESSLY DEVOTED by Piper Sheldon

Hopelessly Devoted, an all new forced proximity MM novella from Piper Sheldon, is LIVE in Kindle Unlimited!  

Skip has one goal: retrieve his romantically reckless best friend from Green Valley, Tennessee and get back to their normal life. Then Skip meets Jack. The handsome and caring stranger is just another distraction from his careful plans. 

Jack has dealt with more than his fair share of troubled men and is done with letting his guard down. When he meets walking red flag, Skip, he knows he should run the opposite direction and ignore their chaotic attraction.  

Only, fate seems to have other plans when they are stuck on a camping trip together. Jack and Skip are convinced they can put their attraction aside and focus on helping their friends. 

One quick trip, one shared tent, what could possibly go wrong? 

‘Hopelessly Devoted’ is a contemporary romance novella and can be read as a standalone. Book #3.5 in the Scorned Women’s Society series, Green Valley Chronicles, Penny Reid Book Universe. 

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The One That I Want

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About Piper Sheldon

Piper Sheldon writes Contemporary Romance and Paranormal Romance. Her books are a little funny, a lotta romantic, and with just a little twist of something more. She lives with her husband, toddler, and two needy dogs at home in the desert Southwest. She finds writing bios in the third person an extreme sport of awkwardness.

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Review: Hopelessly Devoted by Piper Sheldon

Hopelessly Devoted by Piper Sheldon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was really cute despite being pretty angsty. While it is a standalone novella, I would highly recommend reading The One That I Want first, and maybe My Bare Lady as well. This runs concurrently with events that happen in The One That I Want, and I feel like I would be really confused had I not read that already. You should also read The Treble With Men because it is my favorite book in the series and then you will know all of the women in Scorned Women Society up to this point. There are alot of mentions of previous characters and I feel it would be helpful to have a baseline knowledge of who they are and what they are talking about going into this novella. You can read it on it's own, but I think it would be helpful to have read the other books first.

If you have been keeping up with the books in the series you will recognize Jack as Ford's best friend, and Skip aka William as Sanders' best friend and business partner. Skip has come to Green Valley to rescue Sanders from yet another bad decision and help him clean up his mess. Both Skip and Sanders are grieving over the loss of Sanders' father, who was a father figure to Skip. Sanders isn't dealing with his emotions very well, which means their business is suffering from yet another rash decision. Skip gets roped into helping out with a youth group for troubled teens and ends up going camping with Jack. Normally his wouldn't be a big deal, but Skip had a panic attack all over Jack at a bar just a few nights ago and is feeling some sort of way about it. Both Jack and Skip are attracted to each other, but neither of them are ready to jump in head first into a relationship especially when there is a ton of baggage for them to sort through.

I really enjoyed the character development in this. William/Skip kind of starts out as a shy, gruff guy but he really blossoms when he's on the camping trip with the kids. There is a bit of kinship with them as they all come from rough homes and not the best circumstances. He gives them great advice and encourages them to be better men. The consent conversation was pretty great. That needs to be on a poster! We also get to see him connect with Jack as they both came from somewhat similar backgrounds and while they have some things to work on when it comes to their relationship the had good chemistry. While this is only a novella, it packs an emotional punch and has a good amount of steam.

I was provided and ARC, all opinions are my own.
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Review: 907 For Keeps Way by Adriana Locke

907 For Keeps Way by Adriana Locke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a novella in the Cherry Falls series. They are all standalone's with internonnected characters and set in the small town of Cherry Falls. If you've read 608 Alpha Avenue, also by Adriana Locke, you will recognize Kaylee as the best friend and local pizza shop owner from that installment. If you are a fan of Adriana's work, you should check it out. These novellas are quick feel good reads (under 100 pages), perfect for a busy evening when you want to read something but don't have a ton of time. This wasn't quite as NSFW as the previous one, but there was a good level of steam. Dane and Kaylee had good chemistry and their story was really sweet.

This follows Kaylee, local pizza shop owner, single mom, recent divorcee, and woman ready to reclaim identity. In an effort to find herself again she signs up for women's personal fitness classes at the local gym. Like many of us, Kaylee equates being thin and fit with being desirable and beautiful. Dane, owner of said local gym, offers to show Kaylee that getting fit doesn't mean running on a treadmill and lifting weights at the gym. He also likes her just the way she is, and wants her to be happy in her own skin not by the standards of anyone else. He shows her that feeling good through exercise can be fun, and he helps her work through some of her insecurites.

I really enjoyed this. I think Dane and Kaylee's story has the potential for a full length novel, but it was the perfect morsel of a novella. It has everything you want from a romance, two great main characters with good chemistry, a fun storyline, a good message, and just the right amount of steam when the time comes. I highly recommend this!

I was provided an advanced review of this novella by the author, all opinions are my own.  This will be released on October 4, 2021.

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Review: Treoir Dragon Chronicles of the Belador World: Book 8 by Dianna Love

Treoir Dragon Chronicles of the Belador World: Book 8 by Dianna Love
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Is there really only one book left?  It is hard to believe that there is only 1 more installment of this series!  Yet again this installment was fast paced and full of action.  Things are finally coming to a head as Daegan and Cashide and the rest of the Belador gang are racing towards the Imortiks taking over and the Tribunal's timeline to save the world from utter destruction.  At every step something inevitably goes wrong and stands in their way of making progress in finding the grimoires and saving the day.

As this is the 8th installment of a 9 book novella series, a lot of stuff happens in roughly 200 pages.  Fortunately we get some answers to questions that have been plaguing readers since book 1.  I won't spoil them for you here because half the fun in reading this series is finding out what happens.  We don't get all of the answers, but we do find out some major pieces of information and several others are promised in the final book.  In this installment Daegan and Cashide are on the hunt for the 2nd grimoire volume, but first they have to decide if they can truly trust each other and put aside all of the issues they've had in the past.  Quinn, Reese, Evalle and the rest of the gang are still fighting demons while looking for Adriana and Sen who were captured by the Imortik master and they have to deal with Reese's crazy demon father.  And as always Macha, Queen Maeve, and Cathbad are always up to something to thwart the good deeds of our Belador friends and cause nothing but trouble.

Overall, this is another amazing installment of this series.  I can't believe it is almost over and I'm not sure what to expect in the final installment.  I still have a ton of questions, and there are still so many things that need to happen.  Dianna hasn't let me down yet, and I trust her to give this series the ending it needs. 

I was provided an ARC via the author, all opinions expressed are my own.

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Review: 608 Alpha Avenue by Adriana Locke

608 Alpha Avenue by Adriana Locke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was really fun and totally NSFW! I was provided an ARC via the author, all opinions expressed are my own.

While this is part of the larger Cherry Falls Romance novella series, this reads as a standalone. I liked that the characters knew each other already, leaving out the insta-love aspect that we often find in these types of shorter stories. Grayson and Haley already knew one another, although not well, but they were already acquainted and attracted to one another so it didn't feel rushed or awkward when they finally get together.

Haley is an aspiring romance writer, and she is trying to figure out men. She doesn't understand them (who does) or why they are attracted to a certain type of woman. In exchange for some marketing materials for the local garage, she gets to interview her crush Grayson Blake for her book. Grayson is grumpy, standoffish, and secretly attracted to Haley. He is reluctant to spend any amount of time with her, but like a magnet he can't help but being pulled toward her.

This was a fairly quick read. It was also pretty steamy. There is actually a fair bit of character development in here despite it being a novella. You don't always get that in novellas because of the limited amount of pages, but Adriana did a good job with that here. Both Grayson and Haley have to figure out what they want and go after it. I really enjoyed this!

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Review: Her Top Dog by Katana Collins

Her Top Dog by Katana Collins
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a really a really cute, steamy novella.  

Love at first...soup...I mean sight is the name of the game between funny man Sam "Smurf" Murphy and executive producer and lawyer Nina Miller.  Nina was brought in to Silhouette Studios to help management stay out of lawsuits and cut shows that aren't doing well.  The Murphy's prank show does well in ratings, but could be cause for a lawsuit if they don't clean up their jokes which Nina has experience with firsthand.  When Sam comes to apologize for involving her in their show the tables are turned as neither of them can deny the attraction between them.  Both of them fall hard and fast for each other and the rest is history.

If you like apha dog romance stories, this is a fun one!  I'm really enjoying these novellas and can't wait to see what is in store for the other brothers.

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Review: Grateful for You: A Thanksgiving Small Town Romance Novella by Katana Collins

Grateful for You: A Thanksgiving Small Town Romance Novella Kindle Edition by Katana Collins
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a super sweet, super steamy novella set over the Thanksgiving holiday. Everything takes place in the course of about 72 hours, so naturally things move kind of fast. If you aren't a fan of characters instantly falling for each other, this might not be the story for you. If you don't mind that give this a read, it is a nice treat.

This follows small town sheriff Mason on a snowy Thanksgiving eve as he helps Piper from the scene of a car accident. Piper has just swerved off of the icy road to avoid a squirrel and now she is left stranded in Maple Grove with her dog, very little money, and no way to get to her sister's house in Vermont. Mason offers to let them stay with him and enjoy an "Orphan Thanksgiving" with him and his friends. Naturally Piper is wary of his offer after escaping a bad relationship and trusting the wrong man for too long. After settling in, Mason and Piper find it difficult to fight the attraction and growing lust between each other. They have both been hurt by people they loved but will this Thanksgiving finally heal those wounds?

This novella is a quick, feel good read, with a happily ever after. It is a standalone set in the small town of Maple Grove. I've only read Beefcakes so far, and I can tell you that you don't need to have read the rest of the books in the series to enjoy this. If you are a fan of Katana's writing, I think you will enjoy this! Fair warning there is mention of domestic abuse in this novella but I feel it is handled well and I do like the way that the character dealt with the situation and her future relationship with Mason.

I was provided an advanced copy of this novella by the author in exchange for an honest review.

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Blog Tour: Fallen Crest Campout by Tijan

"Tijan is the queen. Angst here, a twist there, and I’m always captivated ‘til the very end." ―Penelope Douglas, New York Times Bestselling Author

Fallen Crest Campout, an all-new must read Fallen Crest and The Crew series crossover novella by New York Times bestselling author Tijan, is out now!

Sam and Mason return to Fallen Crest for a camping trip.

They head north, meeting up with a few friends from Roussou and enjoy a night of booze, some leapfrogging, and there’s a small therapy session to air out some tension in the group.

Empty chair, anyone?

Enjoy a novella crossover between the Fallen Crest series and the Crew series!

Download your copy today or read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

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Fallen Crest High

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Crew
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MASON is now available on audio! Start listening today!
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Excerpt:

“I don’t like this.”

A hand went to the back of my chair, a head popped up between our two front seats, and that was announced. Mason was in the driver’s seat and I was in the passenger seat. Logan looked at each of us. He was wearing a distinct frown-smirk combo on his face as he said his piece.

Problem was, he’d been saying it since we left Boston, since we landed in California, and since we’d been in the rental and driving three hours past Fallen Crest.

It’d been said. It’d been heard.

We were now at the part where we wanted to murder my brother-in-law. Or, correction, where I wanted to murder my brother-in-law. Mason was stoic and driving. He was able to get in the zone and tune Logan out. Taylor was sitting in her chair, reading on her phone. She had the whole tuning-out thing too.

Not me. I was a mom, so somehow that meant I always had to be aware and alert, and now I was close to grinding my teeth and yelling for a Logan time-out.

Five minutes in the back, please.

Mason grunted. “Tough shit.”

Nice. Maybe he wasn’t so ‘tuned out.’

I looked at Taylor. “Can you keep him under control?”

She glanced up from her phone. “You know the answer to that question. You’ve known him longer.”

Touché.

“I’m not sleeping with him.”

Taylor just laughed. “Shouldn’t have said that. He’s probably refraining from twenty different inappropriate jokes as I’m talking.”

“Ahem.” Logan gave us both a look. “It’s because I love both of you—in different ways—and respect both of you that I’m not touching that. But Sam…” Logan leveled me with an aggrieved look, his eyebrows raised. “Can you watch what you say? Old Logan would’ve been all over that one, and can you imagine the innuendos?” He gestured to himself, his face tight. “But I’m here. Being polite—”

“Sorry. I thought since you’re older and in law school, you’d be more mature.”

“It’s like you don’t know me at all.” But he was grinning.

“Logan.” Insert some assertive tone here. I had to make my point. “We got a babysitter for the weekend. I got permission for a full weekend off from my training. Your brother is on a much-needed vacation before football training starts, and I have been needing Heather time even though I saw her a few weeks ago.”

I had a point. What was it? “So shut it, okay?”

That was my point.

“All I’m saying is that we were supposed to do the yacht. Nate and Matteo were up for it. Now suddenly we’re doing a camping thing. I’m not clear on the why?”

Mason glanced into the rearview mirror. “It was Nate’s idea. He said something about family research. What’s your issue? You like camping.”

“That’s when we were young. We did stupid shit back then like. We’re old now. If we go camping, I prefer it to be on things like yachts. Or we stay in a mega-mansion and our camping is napping by the pool. I like that type of camping.”

Taylor frowned at him. “Babe.”

He shot her a look, frowning slightly, but his face softened. He reached out, touching her leg. “It’s nothing. I’ll get over it.”

Good.

That was settled.

Two minutes later, it wasn’t.

About Tijan

Tijan is a New York Times Bestselling author that writes suspenseful and unpredictable novels. Her characters are strong, intense, and gut-wrenchingly real with a little bit of sass on the side. Tijan began writing later in life and once she started, she was hooked. She’s written multi-bestsellers including the Carter Reed Series, the Fallen Crest Series, and the Broken and Screwed Series among others. She is currently writing a new YA series along with so many more from north Minnesota where she lives with a man she couldn’t be without and an English Cocker she adores.

Connect with Tijan

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Release Blitz: Fallen Crest Campout by Tijan

SURPRISE!

Fallen Crest Campout, an all-new not-to-be-missed Fallen Crest and The Crew series crossover novella by New York Times bestselling author Tijan, is available now!

Sam and Mason return to Fallen Crest for a camping trip.

They head north, meeting up with a few friends from Roussou and enjoy a night of booze, some leapfrogging, and there’s a small therapy session to air out some tension in the group.

Empty chair, anyone?

Enjoy a novella crossover between the Fallen Crest series and the Crew series!

Download your copy today or read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3d1dEwV
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/fallencrestcampout
Amazon Paperback: http://mybook.to/fallecrestcampoutpb

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2VKiGrG

Start the Fallen Crest Series and The Crew Series for FREE, for a limited time only:

Fallen Crest High

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3eRyOyZ
Apple Books: https://apple.co/3eQlKKl
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/fallencresthigh
Nook: https://bit.ly/3bAVnpI
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2yMSnYI

Crew
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2VFpd75
Apple Books: https://apple.co/3bArl5v
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/crew
Nook: https://bit.ly/2zxC9mR
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2x78nnY

MASON is now available on audio! Start listening today!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2yH1MBk
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/masonaudio

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About Tijan

Tijan is a New York Times Bestselling author that writes suspenseful and unpredictable novels. Her characters are strong, intense, and gut-wrenchingly real with a little bit of sass on the side. Tijan began writing later in life and once she started, she was hooked. She’s written multi-bestsellers including the Carter Reed Series, the Fallen Crest Series, and the Broken and Screwed Series among others. She is currently writing a new YA series along with so many more from north Minnesota where she lives with a man she couldn’t be without and an English Cocker she adores.

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Review: In an Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire

In an Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

While still a good story, this was not my favorite of the series. It wasn't as whimsical as the others, it was far more serious with less action and adventure. This felt more character driven than plot driven which isn't my taste. This is still extremely imaginative and well written. It is still enjoyable and fits right in with the rest of the series. I recommend it for fans of the series and I'm looking forward to more books in the series. Unlike the other books in the series, this focuses on one character instead of visiting other characters at the school or somehow ending up back at the school with the other characters.

This is the backstory for Katherine Lundy, who if you recall is the child therapist at Eleanor West's school for wayward children who have gone through doors and can't quite adjust to their original lives. We learn about Lundy's experience in the Goblin Market and the choice she was faced regarding her door. Lundy grew up as a lonely young girl, but found her true identity in the world of the Market. As she traveled between the land of the Goblin Market and the "real world" she learned about fair value, trade, friendship, family, and love. In the end she must provide fair value in one world, but she must give up the other world completely because she can't provide fair value in both.

As always McGuire paints such a vivid picture of the characters and the world they are in. While I didn't love Lundy, I also don't think I was supposed to. She was detached and cold for much of the book only showing warmth to The Archivist and Moon, and then at the end to her little sister Diana. Her closed off demeanor is part of the reason why she ended up in the Goblin Market, she was lonely and detached from the world. I don't think you were supposed to love her. The rest of the characters aren't the focus of the story and they are well developed for the roles they play. The world building as always is great. I really love how Seanan McGuire tells a story.

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Review: The Test by Sylvain Neuvel

The Test by Sylvain Neuvel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a strange little novella. It packs a punch in such a short little book. I really enjoy Nuevel's writing and his imaginative plotlines. If you are expecting giant robots and aliens you won't find them here. This is more speculative/realistic fiction set in the future. I can actually see this happening in the not so distant future, but I hope this never comes to pass. Parts of this read like a psychological thriller. This book is the perfect length and the story is well developed. Because it is a novella and fairly short, I don't want to spoil too much.

The story follows Idir, a dentist from Iran, who wants a better life for his wife and two small kids. He is taking a citizenship test so they can move to the UK. He has to answer 25 questions on UK facts and history to see if he and his family will be granted citizenship. While his family is waiting, terrorists swarm the testing center and Idir is singled out by the ringleader. Idir is tasked with choosing who lives and who dies? As you read you find out if it is too much for him and if he can actually make the choice? All he wanted when he started his day was a better life for his family. I won't say more than that.

This book really makes you think. The things that happen in this book could actually happen in some form or fashion and in some ways they already do. I hope that what Idir went through never becomes a reality.

As far as the character development goes, Idir was great we get to know him very well. Some of the side characters were lacking, but I almost feel like that was by design as they weren't a major part of the story but they did drive what happened. Overall, this was a quick read that really made me think. It is a bit dark, but it was well worth the read.

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Review: Hold On by Samantha Young

Hold On by Samantha Young
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved this. This follows Autumn, younger sister of record exec Killian from Play On. If you haven't read As Dust Dances, I think you should because it is awesome, but you can still read this as a standalone. Samantha gives you enough context to work with that you won't feel like you are missing anything, and if nothing else you'll want to go back and read it when you are done with Hold On. If you've read As Dust Dances you know that Autumn is amazing. She is a great friend, and very sweet. She sees the best in people and wears her heart on her sleeve. Unfortunately, Autumn has been unlucky in love and while she has the means to live a fairly comfortable life, she wants to find a career that makes her happy. This is how she finds herself on a ski retreat with friends of hers in Montana. Her goal is to relax, connect with her friends, and find her purpose in life.

Autumn has the grace of a ballerina, but when it comes to ice and snow she is as clumsy as it gets. Determined to ski on her own, Autumn tries skiing out without an instructor. This leads her into a collision with the smouldering Grayson King. Grayson is a ski instructor/successful business owner who is immediately drawn to Autumn. Autumn focused on finding her purpose in life, not for a fling or to find a man. She is jaded by her past relationship failures and feeling vulnerable. Grayson is persistent and convinces her to give him a shot. They are instantly drawn to each other and when Autumn tells Grayson he supports her career ideas and helps her try a few of them on for size.

Samantha Young knows how to write a sexy, steamy scene and you get plenty of them here. She also writes good banter between characters and there are some great lines between these two. Unlike some of her other novels, there is no strife and struggle to be resolved between the characters, this is light hearted and sweet. When I was done reading it, I let out a big "Awww!" I loved that we got to see Killian and Skylar again. Killian is a great big brother, and while he is super over-protective, we see a glimpse bit of his softer side.

I really loved this, this is part of the Big Sky crossover series which I have not read. I've read a few of the 1001 Dark Night's books, and I'll definitely be checking out the other Kristen Proby and other authors' in the Big Sky series. It is a great way to get to know other authors.

I was provided an advanced copy by the author in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: Three Dark Crowns Novellas by Kendare Blake

I recently listened to On Dark Throne on audio and learned that there were two companion novellas that go with the series.  My library had them on ebook so I put them on hold and read them when they came in.  They are pretty short, so you could read them in a sitting or two depending on how much time you have to devote to reading.  I really enjoy this series and I'm looking forward to book three when it comes out.  These are nice companions to the series, not required, but fans of the series will appreciate what they have to tell and enjoy being back in the world.

I read these individually, but there is a bind up that includes both of them called Queens of Fennbirn.  I combined my review because they are fairly short and I don't want to spoil to much if you haven't read the first two full books or the novellas.

The Oracle Queen by Kendare Blake

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was really excited to read this as the Oracle Queen is mentioned several times in books 1 & 2. This is the true story of what happened to the Oracle Queen Elsabet. This was OK, but it wasn't everything I was expecting. We get the story, and it is full of the typical plotting and political aspirations of the various members of the Black Council. The Queen is the Queen, but everyone around her aspires to be in

charge and tell her what to do with her power.

I wanted more from this than I got. It has the potential to add so much to the series, but I'm left wanting. We do learn some new things, but I'm not sure if they will impact the story going forward or add anything to the series. Elsabet doesn't ever use her gift, she gets a dream but thats it. Thre is a ton of backstabbing and plotting which after reading the rest of the books in the series you should expect, but usually that is accompanied by fantasy elements and action. There isn't much action in this, just politics until the end when there is a flurry of action and then its all over.

This is a decent novella, I just wanted more from it. I'm glad I read it and learned what I did about the Oracle Queen, but I just feel like the execution could have been better.

The Young Queens by Kendare Blake

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a nice little companion novella to Three Dark Crowns and One Dark Throne. If you've read those this gives a glimpse into the Queens as young girls living at the Black Cottage. If you haven't read the other books this contains some spoilers, if you have it doesn't spoil anything you don't already know.

We get to know each of the girls a little as they are first split up from each other and taken to each of their foster families when they are 6. We learn a bit about each of the families and how the girls were treated as children. We know how they act and are treated as grown women about to fight for the crown, but they weren't always "part of the family".

This particular novella didn't really expand the world or any of the information from the first two novels. We do get some more information on the characters and some of the events that happen to the queens as children that mold them into the women they become when we meet them in Three Dark Crowns. It is a nice companion, as a fan of the series I really enjoyed it. It isn't required information to understand what is going on in the series, but it was a nice treat.

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Review: The Slow Regard of Silent Things

The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a delightful, pecular story about a strange character named Auri. We meet Auri in The Name of the Wind, and I found her fascinating. I loved getting to know her a little better. While we don't really get may details as to why she is doing what she is doing in The Underthing or how she came to be there, we get to see her interacting there and just doing her thing. Though I would love to get more of her origin story at some point, she is a truly unique character and I'd love to know more about her. It is an odd tale, but I found it to be beautifully written and I loved the narration by the author himself. It was very poetic.

This story is not plot based whatsoever. Honestly I don't even think there is a plot, it is purely character driven and we just follow Auri around as she goes about her business in her particular way. Each day has a purpose and each item she finds has a place. Sometimes she is driven by something that is going to happen or a thing she needs to put somewhere. Mostly she is just driven by her unique personality and drive to just be herself and do what she does to survive and keep herself occupied.

I really enjoyed that Patrick Rothfuss himself narrated the audio.  It really lent something to the listening experience.  I enjoy his writing style.

I will say that if you prefer plot based works with character development and world building, this might not be for you.  This is more poetic and nonsensical.  I enjoyed it, and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

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Review: Scenes from the Hallway by Penny Reid

Scenes from the Hallway by Penny Reid
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a cute place holder while waiting for Marriage of Inconvenience to release in a few weeks and a nice freebie book that Penny posted for Valentine's Day. It has 2 scenes I've read previously and 2 new ones that help us get to know Dan and Kat better, plus you get the first 3 chapters of their book. If you are caught up on the series like I am, this is a great transition to the next book because we know next to nothing about Kat. She is quiet and reserved. She speaks a bit more in Dating-Ish, but we don't really know her. Dan the Security Man, has been around since the beginning as Quinn's best friend, but again we don't really know him.

If you haven't read the Knitting in the City Series, what are you waiting for? This probably won't make any sense :).  Just kidding, all her books in the series are meant to be read as standalones, so go grab it and then get Marriage of Inconvenience when it comes out on March 6th.  I've already read it and its awesome.  Thank you for the ARC Penny and team at Social Butterfly PR.

This will only be around until March 17, 2018.  Grab it while you can.

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