I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.
This is my first time reading from the author, but it certainly will not be my last! I love a good short story collection and this was a great introduction to the author's work. There are 11 stories if I counted correctly, ranging from a only a few pages and a few that are much longer. I don't think there was one that I didn't enjoy. I love a short story that makes me wish I had a full novel and most of these did just that, but all of them are complete and stand on their own.
I really enjoyed the variety of different types of stories included in this collection. I also appreciated the little blurb at the end explaining what inspired the story, if it was published elsewhere previously, or if it is connected to another work so you can check that out as well. While I really liked all of the stories some of the standouts were were Amaskan and Alive which follow the same woman, Peace Be With You Friend which is cool story about the end of the world and friendship, Ringers which is a dark and magical story set at Christmas time, and of course the title story Dragon Springs and Other Things about a tinkerer who builds a dragon.
This will be out in a few days on June 1, 2023 and there is another installment of short stories due out in July. This installment is more fantastical and magical while the next one is a little more sci-fi flavored. Sci-fi and Fantasy are my favorite genre and I loved the variety of the stories in this collection and I expect the next installment will be just as varied and interesting. I have an ARC of that collection as well and I'm every excited to get to it.
Smart Move, an all-new grumpy sunshine sweet romance by Amanda Pennington, is now available in Kindle Unlimited!
Ivy Lunden is Team Keep Things Casual…
I am Toby Azumah’s opposite in every way. I’m a pessimist; he’s an optimist. I’m into art; he’s into sports. Still, I’m highly entertained by our flirtationship.
When he finally talks me into a date, everything goes wrong. Chaos descends on my orderly life when my mother falls and needs nearly round-the-clock care. Add in my nosy neighbor, and my peace of mind has been turned inside out.
When Toby, Mr. Best-Case Scenario himself, offers to help, I’m skeptical. A relationship with him would only make things more chaotic, right? Or maybe Toby is the real deal, and giving him a chance is a smart move after all.
Toby Azumah is Team Happily Ever After…
I’ve wanted to take the mysterious, beautiful Ivy Lunden to dinner ever since we met, and I’m confident she just needs a little time to warm up to the idea of us. But nothing goes according to my daydreams.
Despite a no-show date, some flirty texts, and the fierce ways she protects herself and her mom, I see through the chaos and smoke to the real Ivy. The Ivy she rarely shows to the world.
How can I convince her I’m making the smart move and playing for keeps?
‘Smart Move’ is a full-length contemporary romance and can be read as a standalone. Book #7 in the Work For It series, Educated Romance World, Penny Reid Book Universe.
I glanced over to make sure Clarice, my lazy coworker who was never happier than when she was pointing out others’ mistakes, was on the other side of the room, sitting at her desk and staring at her phone. Then I let myself look at him.
As usual, he stepped close and leaned his elbows on the counter. His forearms edged the boundary of professionalism, the sleeves of his coat landing a few inches short of the middle of the counter. He always gave me just enough space to let me know that I was still the one in control of our flirtationship.
That’s right. I, Ivy Lunden, have a flirtationship with Toby Azumah, the man whose voice draws more colorful images in my head than any other sound ever has.
For the last few semesters, he leaned across the registrar counter, and he flirted with me, and I flirted back, and then we parted ways until the next time the university opened registration for physical therapy CEs.
Toby always came just after noon on opening day. Always.
Not that I kept track. And not that I wore my best red lipstick and sexy heels for the occasion.
This, whatever it was, was all just a game. My favorite kind of game.
“Hey.”
More bright splashes. More beautiful colors.
I smiled. “Hey.”
“How are you?”
From anyone else, this was a pat question expecting a pat answer. But not from Toby. This was all part of our routine, and it never bored me.
I pursed my lips and pretended to think, not missing when his eyes flicked to my mouth for a moment. Yep. Still got it. “I’m feeling about a seven right now.” I definitely felt worse than a seven, but our flirtationship was my escape, and I wanted to pretend for a few precious moments.
He nodded like this was the most interesting statement he’d heard all day—and his interest didn’t feel artificial. In a world of fake dating profiles and pretended sincerity, I reveled in his focused attention.
“What’ll it take to get to ten?” A grin teased the right corner of his lips.
My answer was instant. “A box of wine that lasts until I clock out at five.”
He laughed. “A whole box? Your day must be much worse than a seven.”
That kind of openness wasn’t part of my game, so I shrugged. “What can I say? I’m a simple woman.”
“I doubt it,” he whispered, and the sound put a delightful haze in my head.
“What about you?” Now I leaned across the counter, our forearms mere inches apart. “How’s your day?”
He pretended to think about it before saying, “Nine.”
Of course. He never rated his day any lower than an eight.
“Don’t you ever have a bad day?” I picked up the catalog from my desk, turning to the CE page.
“Never when you’re around.”
My eyes widened.
He winced. “That was pretty awful.”
“Maybe your bad day is showing after all.” Smiling, I handed him the catalog.
“I don’t believe in bad days.”
About Amanda Pennington
Amanda Pennington lives outside Louisville, Kentucky with her husband in their fixer-upper house. When she’s not writing, Amanda loves traveling, running, and reading anything within reach. More information is available at www.amandacpennington.com.
I was provided an ARC of this book via the author and Candi Kane PR, all opinions are my own.
This is a standalone in the Carmichael Family series, however you are going to want to read the other books in the series because they are awesome and you are going to want to get to know the other couples. While you don't need to read the previous books in the series, I think to get a full appreciation for Banks and his antics, you will want to start at the beginning with Flirt and go from there. You will be perfectly fine if you start with Flaunt or read the books out of order.
If you have read the other books in the series you know that Banks is the youngest of the Carmichael brothers. He is hilarious and always pulling pranks on his brothers. He has issues with boundaries and now that his brothers are settling down with their wives and significant others he doesn't know what to do with himself. Enter Sara, a spitfire of a woman who needs a place to stay while she tries to figure out how to put her life back together after a casual relationship ends badly. Sara and Banks do no get along, but when Ashley, Banks' new sister-in-law asks for his help he caves. Despite his prankster demeanor, he will do anything for his family and Ashley is family and Sara is her best friend. Banks and Sara may start out as frenemies, but they quickly find that they enjoy spending time with each other, verbally sparring, and taunting one another. Eventually they realize that there is an attraction there, and while neither one of them really wants a relationship they may just be each other's perfect match.
I really loved the dynamics between Sara and Banks. He is so silly and immature at times, but he can also be sweet and serious. We haven't seen his serious and responsible side in the other books but we get to know him alot better here. He is patient and kind with Sara, even when he wants to be a brat. Sara was such a realistic character, she was forced to grow up fast and doesn't deal with relationships and emotions very well because of it. Fortunately she has a great support group in Ashley and Becca and now the Carmichaels. I love a good found family story.
As with the other books in the series, I loved this one. I'm anxiously awaiting Foxx's book, he is the brother that intrigues me the most. I also hope we find out who is behind the hilarious text messages the brothers are getting. I highly recommend this book as well as the others in the series.
I was provided an audio arc of this book via Netgalley and Macmillan Audio, as always all opinions are my own.
I thought the narrator did a good job with the narration, however I wish I had also had a print version of this book while listening along. There is list of characters at the beginning of the book that would have been really helpful to flip back to to keep track of all of the characters. Hopefully the final audiobook version comes with a PDF so you can refer to the cast of characters and terms used in the book. The ARC didn't have that available and I didn't have a print ARC. This does have a large cast and a complex world and magic system and only listening to this book was a bit confusing without that as reference. I still enjoyed the storyline once I was finally able to figure out what was going on and who everyone was.
As I mentioned this has a complex world and magic system, and it flip flops between the present time and the past. I found that a bit confusing while listening to the book and it was hard to keep track of what was going on. I think had I read the book in print I would have been able to keep track a bit better because I would have been able to easily look things up or reference past chapters. That isn't as easy to do with audiobooks. After about the 50% mark I was finally able to keep track of things and really engage in the story, but I think I would have enjoyed this more in print. Personally I tend to enjoy really complex books with large casts of characters in print versus on audio. This is one I need to reread in print to get all the things I missed the first time.
This follows Kai, the Witch King, after waking up without his body. Weird right? You see he's an immortal demon that can possess the body of another and he's got other pretty interesting powers. He then sets out to find the culprits of his lack of body situation and sets out on quite the political and magical adventure with some old and new friends.
Overall I enjoyed this story and plan on rereading it soon. I'm not sure if this is a standalone or the start of a new fantasy series. I enjoyed the characters and the world and would be interested in more.
“Aly Stiles delivers the perfect romantic comedy with Look Smart. I found myself laughing throughout and wondering what the secondary characters would do next. The connection between Nate & Nat filled my heart with pure joy and was immediately rooting for their HEA.” -Author Andrea Johnston
Look Smart, an all-new star-crossed lovers workplace romantic comedy from Aly Stiles, is now available in Kindle Unlimited!
Nate Hanover’s future was set. The perfect girlfriend, the perfect career… He’s the perfect man with the perfect life—until he lost it all this summer. Now he’s not sure about anything, except that no one can know the truth lurking behind his “perfect” facade. Especially not at this week’s high-stakes corporate circus known as Tele-Con.
Natalie McAllister has no time for games. After working nonstop since… ever, she’s one win away from the dream promotion she’s been chasing for years. All she has to do is land the Sandeke Telecom account at this week’s telecom conference and life will be perfect.
But when a chance encounter leads these strangers to an incredible night of intimate soul-searching, “perfect” might look different than they thought. With so much on the line, it’s a good thing they’ll never see each other again. Well, not until the following morning when they learn they’re competing for the same account, their firms despise each other, and a nut-obsessed enigma named Chad Smith is the key to their success. Oh, plus their forbidden connection is still fully charged and more off-limits than ever.
What could go wrong when the perfect night explodes into the perfect storm?
‘Look Smart’ is a full-length contemporary romance and can be read as a standalone. Book #6 in the Work For It series, Educated Romance World, Penny Reid Book Universe.
He grins, and I push the button for the eighth floor.
“What floor?” I ask him.
“Eight,” he says, his eyes flashing with humor.
Oh.
Damn.
“We’re not in the same room, are we? Because that would be awkward,” I say.
“I’m thinking we’d probably know that by now.”
“True. You look like a guy who uses a lot of closet space.”
He raises his brows, and I shrug.
“Do I? What do those guys look like?”
“I don’t know… Put together?”
I thought that answer would be safe, but maybe not when he frowns. With another tight smile, he faces the door. Guess we’re back to watching numbers do literally the only thing numbers can do.
Three.
Four.
Five.
Say something, Nat. You’re about to part ways forever.
“You could come check out my closet if you want.”
Not that!!
He fires what I count as his fifth confused look of the encounter, and I offer a conciliatory cringe.
“Sorry. That was not what it sounded like.”
“What did it sound like?”
The elevator dings, and the door opens. Floor eight. Thank the heavens.
I step out with relief, then remember it’s time for him to step out too.
Should have followed the wheat crystal debate up the stairs.
“Oh, uh. Well, I guess it sounded like I was inviting you back for sex.”
What?!
He just about chokes on air, and I OMG myself for that one.
“I wasn’t,” I rush out. “That’s my point. I was just… making conversation.”
He hesitates, and I squirm beneath his curious gaze. He doesn’t look upset, though. Or offended. Or even embarrassed. He looks… intrigued. By me? Most people aren’t a fan of my no-nonsense approach to, well, everything. And when I’m drinking? All filters are off.
“I see. So in this ‘making conversation scenario,’ how would a person respond to a question like that?” he asks.
“Like what?”
“Like an invitation for sex that isn’t.”
I bite back a smile and shrug.
“However that person would want to respond, I suppose.”
“Is it a nice closet?” he asks.
“Probably the same as yours.”
“A little presumptuous, no? What if I have a suite? My closet would be very different.”
“Okay, but now you’re being presumptuous. What if I also have a suite?”
“Do you?”
“No. Do you?”
“No.”
That breathtaking grin slips out, and suddenly I’m not sure I was just making conversation. My gaze drops to a dark button-down shirt stretched over a body that has seen plenty of action in a gym. His rolled-up sleeves reveal several tattoos that clash beautifully with the business-casual attire. Gosh, is there also a modeling convention going on at the resort? He could be the hot stock-photo dude in all those “Look how cool it is to work here!” photos on the Careers page of every company website.
My door looms ahead, which ushers in corresponding disappointment. Even worse, Cautious Brain is now berating me through the margarita mist.
You can’t take a stranger back to your hotel room! This is the opening scene of every true crime show ever. You want your polaroid thumbtacked to a wall with a red string wrapped around it?!
Wait. Who uses the red string again? Is that a serial killer thing or more of a spy-conspiracy-theory thing? Do they still use polaroids for crime-solving? That seems inefficient.
“This is me,” I lie, stopping at a random room.
Smart, Nat. Good work.
“Yeah?” he asks.
He leans against the wall on the other side of the door to face me. Brown eyes scan me with amusement and something else. Something that triggers all kinds of tiny bubbles in my stomach. Yep, I’m now a walking champagne flute. Fantastic. Why did he have to be smart and funny in addition to being achingly beautiful? Ugh. What an unfair combination in a stranger you can’t have.
Well, shouldn’t have. Because, I shouldn’t, right?
Right. Because what you do have is a big day tomorrow.
The biggest.
“So, um, have a great night,” I say.
He doesn’t budge, and I start to panic. What if he is a creepy stalker? Aren’t the worst ones charming and attractive? Or maybe he’s considerate on top of everything else and is waiting for me to get safely into my room before going to his?
Or…
I mean…
He’s not… actually interested in staying?
Not safe! Not safe!
Maybe, but I’m not getting a creepy vibe from him. I watched him with his friends all night and nothing about his demeanor screamed FUTURE THUMBTACKED POLAROID.
“Okay, well, I won’t keep you,” he says, straightening from the wall.
The disappointment is real when he pulls a keycard from his pocket, but it’s for the best. I’ve spent months preparing for this conference. It’s bad enough I had one too many drinks tonight. The last thing I need is an even bigger mistake.
No! It’s not! Come on. Break one simple rule. Just a small dose of “wild.” You don’t even risk the occasional rolling stop at a stop sign.
It’s true. Stop means stop. But fine.
“Wait. Would you maybe want to see my closet after all?” I blurt out. “Not for sex. Just to hang out. Maybe a drink or two?”
The corner of his perfect mouth tips up in a smirk. “You want to hang out in your closet?”
“Sure. It might be a tight fit, but if we move the luggage stand, we could make it work.”
His smile grows—and wow. Maybe I’m actually nailing this hookup thing.
“Sure. Why not?” he says. “It’s been a while since I’ve spent time in a closet. My room or yours?”
He studies the door beside us that is very much not my door.
“Yours,” I say.
He nods and slides his keycard into the slot.
Oh no.
“It’s so weird that they put us in the same room, isn’t it?” he says.
About Aly Stiles
From angsty and dark to snort-laugh funny, Aly writes romance from her soul to yours.
I was provided an ARC of this book via the author and Smartypants Romance, all opinons are my own.
This like the other books in the series reads as a standalone. I do recommend reading Book Smart first if you want to get to know Mel and Cameron better as some of the events that take place in this book happen simultaneously. It isn't necessary to understand Ivy and what is happening in this book though.
Much like with Book Smart, if you are looking for a super steamy romance and something NSFW this isn't going to be for you. This is pretty clean and sweet. There are several mentions of intimacy and physical acts but it all happens off page behind closed doors. If you are into cleaner romance and something that is totally safe for work this is going to be perfect for you.
This follows Ivy and Toby who couldn't be more different, which is what makes their flirtationship so fun. Ivy doesn't really like her job working at the registration office at the local university, but it pays the bills. She would much rather be painting, but she's been lacking inspiration for quite some time. She is stressed by life, work, and being part time care-taker for her aging mother. Toby on the other hand loves being a physical therapist and helping people. He looks forward to seeing Ivy every time he has to register for continuing education credits, and he is determined to get her to go on a date with him. He is also determined to help her mom get back on her feet after a fall leaves her with a broken ankle.
This was an awesome look at how someone with neurodivergence navigates the world and how hard being a full or part time care-taker for an aging parent is on a person. As a parent it is hard keeping my own two kids alive and they constantly need me, so I can only imaging how hard it is taking care of an adult. I think the author did a great job showing how stressful it is taking care of another human being. It is hard to ask for help and I'm glad Ivy had a support system in place with Cam and Mel, and she slowly let Toby into her circle. Her romance with Toby was slow burn but it developed nicely and they had good chemistry. Toby was kind and patient and willing to admit when he was wrong or had made a mistake or overstepped. They had good banter and conversations about their fears and concerns.
Overall this was a good read with some heavy topics.
“Banks!” Ashley calls, stopping me in my tracks. “What?” I groan and face her again. “Call someone else. Whatever it is, call someone else to help her. I’ll even pay for it. It’ll be cheaper than the therapy I’ll have to endure after seeing her.”“She needs help.”I cross my arms over my chest. “Oh, I know that. I rode with her all the way to Orlando and back to pick up someone’s shit when they moved in with Maddox.”She sighs.I sigh back at her.We watch one another. Neither of us says a word. But Sara? Sara says lots of words, many of which can be heard through the phone dangling in Ashley’s hand from across the room.If Sara had called and asked for my help, I wouldn’t answer. The woman is hell on wheels. She’s headstrong and thinks she knows everything. Her aversion to physical labor is astounding.If I’m water, she’s oil—oil that hasn’t been changed in a hundred-thousand miles. And I’m basically holy water, so it’s a no-go.But it’s not Sara who’s asking for my help. It’s Ashley. And Ashley is family. Oh, fuck my life.I blow out a long, hasty breath.“I’ll let you come over for dinner tomorrow, too,” Ashley says, luring me in with her fluttery lashes. Still, I hold strong and think it through. Even if I put up an argument and do my best to resist her pleas for help, I’ll give in. Arguing will only delay the inevitable. At worst, Ashley will call Maddox, and he’ll call me, asking me to go. And I can’t say no to Maddox because he never says no to me.Except for the spiders.“Three dinners,” I say. “And movie nights with you guys every Saturday for a month.”She grins and thrusts the phone my way.I take it, glaring at her. It only makes her giggle.I sigh again, just to set the stage. Can’t let Sara think I’m happy about this.“Hi, giant pain in the ass,” I say.“Thinking about my ass again, I see.”This is gonna suck.
Blurb:
Looking for a Fake FiancéHave you ever wanted to prove someone wrong so badly that you could taste it?It doesn’t matter if they’re right. The fact that they had the audacity to say it is what counts.Hi. It’s me. I’m that person.The man I’ve been casually seeing told me I’m not “wife material” and should “lower my expectations”. Didn’t he realize I lowered them the moment I met him for dinner?Obviously not.Am I petty? Maybe. Annoyed? Of course. Determined? Definitely.I need someone to help me flaunt my new engagement—my fiancé couldn’t wait to pop the question because I’m that amazing—in his face.The problem? I don’t have a boyfriend, let alone a husband-to-be.Which brings us to you.Are you handsome? Successful? A smooth talker extraordinaire?Are you willing to do all the things that someone madly in love would do?Putting your hand on the small of my back. Forehead kissing. Acting like I’m a treasure you can’t live without. I need you to be prepared to do all those things … and maybe more.What do you get out of this? I’m willing to negotiate terms—especially if they include a job and a place to stay. It’s a long story. One night. One event. Let’s put on one heck of a show.From USA Today and Amazon Charts Bestselling author comes a “hot and hilarious!” fake-dating tale between two frenemies that turn into roommates, coworkers, and, ultimately, lovers. Fans of close proximity, one-bed trope, and blue-collar, small-town heroes will fall madly in love with this story.
About the Author:
USA Today Bestselling author, Adriana Locke, writes contemporary romances about the two things she knows best—big families and small towns. Her stories are about ordinary people finding extraordinary love with the perfect combination of heart, heat, and humor.She loves connecting with readers, fall weather, football, reading alpha heroes, everything pumpkin, and pretending to garden.Hailing from a tiny town in the Midwest, Adriana spends her free time with her high school sweetheart (who she married over twenty-five years ago) and their four sons (who truly are her best work). Her kitchen may be a perpetual disaster, and if all else fails, there is always pizza.
Dragon Springs & Other Things: A Short Story Collection: Book I by Raven Oak
