ARC Mini Review: My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing

My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing (March 26, 2019)
Genre: Adult Psychological Thriller
Length: 359 pages
Publisher: Brekley Books
Source: The library I work at received an ARC from the publisher. This did NOT affect my honest review. Thank you Berkley!
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository
My Rating:

Goodreads Summary: Our love story is simple. I met a gorgeous woman. We fell in love. We had kids. We moved to the suburbs. We told each other our biggest dreams, and our darkest secrets. And then we got bored. We look like a normal couple. We're your neighbors, the parents of your kid's friend, the acquaintances you keep meaning to get dinner with. We all have secrets to keeping a marriage alive. Ours just happens to be getting away with murder.

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My Review

When a couple murders together, they stay together?!?! My Lovely Wife is an enthralling contribution to the psychological thriller genre. It gives Gone Girl a run for its money. It has interesting characters I loved to hate, plenty of twists, is dark, disturbing, and will give you goosebumps. This debut author deserves some high praise for writing this wild unputdownable story. Even when I could predict a twist correctly, there would be an extra surprise, or two, or three, that I didn't see coming. My Lovely Wife may perhaps even make you second guess how really well you know the people in your life. This is a must-read thriller, and will probably make it on my best of 2019 list. What are you waiting for? Grab a copy and prepare to be shook.

If you liked My Lovely Wife try:

  

Giveaway & Review: Wicked Soul by Nora Ash

Wicked Soul (#1) by Nora Ash (Feb. 10, 2018)

Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Source: I received a free copy of the book as part of Xpresso Book Tours. This did NOT affect my honest review. Thank you!

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo

My Rating:

Synopsis: He saved me… And then he blood-bonded me. Now I’m his. My first meeting with a Chicago vampire went better than expected. Up until that night, all I knew about vampires was limited to a few common facts: they drink blood, they get a mean sunburn and if you find yourself alone with one, you’re dead. Except he didn’t kill me. Sexy, broody Warin clearly had his own reasons for sparing my life and tying me with his blood, but if he’d known how much trouble I’d attract, I bet he wouldn’t have bothered. When he blood-bonded me, secrets even I didn’t know about myself came to light. Secrets that will pull us both deep into the eternal war between vampires and the witches determined to rid the world of their evil. We have only one choice now: fight the forces hell-bent on breaking our bond… Or die.

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My Review

Wicked Soul in Three Words: Steamy. Funny. Enjoyable.

What I Liked

• How the vampire mythology was handled. It reminded me of a mix of all my favorite vampire novels in one!
• The humor was fantastic. I actually laughed out loud quite a few times. The main character Liv is awkward and hilarious. She reminded me a lot of myself.
• The attraction between Liv and Warin was hot! They were also pretty cute when they were just hanging out.
• Thanks to some great action scenes along with perfect pacing of the story, I was never bored.
• The cast of secondary characters including a giant body guard, Warin's brother, and various witches were very interesting.

What I Didn't Like

• At times, Warin was just a tad bit too alpha male for my taste.
• A couple of the sexy scenes were a little out of my comfort zone.
• Although easy to relate to and hilarious, Liv also sometimes made really cringe worthy decisions that made it hard to like her.

The Bottom Line: A good fit for vampire romance fans! It was a very entertaining read.

The Author

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS

Nora Ash writes the sort of books that have your toes curling and your blood pulsing. Her stories are often dark and always thrilling, with lots of sexy bad boys and the women who spur their desires. When not typing away at a story, Nora paints, eats chocolate or go for hikes around the English countryside with her very own bad boy.

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Book Review: First Step Forward by Liora Blake

First Step Forward (#1) by Liora Blake
Length: 358 pages
Genre: Adult Romance
Publisher: Pocket Books
Source: I received a free copy from the author through Xpresso Book Tours. Thank you so much! This did NOT affect my honest review.
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
My Rating:

Goodreads Summary: Pro-football player Cooper Lowry is off the field and into some trouble—in the form of a very alluring, very free-spirited apple orchard owner named Whitney Reed—in the first installment in Liora Blake’s all new Grand Valley series. After eight seasons playing pro-football, Cooper Lowry knows all the right answers. Is he stubborn, short-tempered, and impatient? Yes. Are jersey chasers more trouble than they’re worth? Absolutely. Has he ever imagined a life beyond the game? Nope. Cooper has built an enviable career—the result of staying focused, working hard, and keeping his head on straight—even as his body takes the brunt. So when a hard hit during a Sunday home game leaves him in a dazed heap on the field, it’s nothing more than another day at the office. The only thing that’s different about this Sunday is a chance encounter with a certain fascinating, beautiful free-spirited woman. And some sternly-worded instructions from his coach to take a little time off and give his body the TLC it craves—before he does lasting damage. Whitney Reed is a few months away from losing the organic fruit orchard she bought three years ago in the tiny town of Hotchkiss, Colorado. At the time, she was just looking for a place to get lost. Instead, she found a home, somewhere she could finally put down roots. Now foreclosure is knocking on her door—along with a grumpy, gorgeous football player who might be just what she never knew she needed.

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My Review

First Step Forward in Three Words: Football. Apples. Swoons.

First Step Forward is a charming romance set in the wonderful state of Colorado. The author's descriptions of the setting really pulls you in, and with the help of its two interesting main characters, it is even easier to get lost in this delightful story.

Cooper has been a pro-football player for years, and it's starting to take a toll on his body. After losing her father, Whitney is trying to start over with a small fruit orchard, but she soon discovers that it is harder than it looks to stay afloat. On a chance meeting in Denver after a rough football game, we get to see their amazing meet cute from the male's POV. Cooper is the best part of this story. He is strong, can be cranky, is sweeter than sweet, and loves football. Whitney is stubborn, organic, and determined. They make a unique pair that made me smile. Although I would have liked a little more time with them, I enjoyed the fascinating minor characters as well.

The plot of First Step Forward is of your standard romance variety, but the important big romantic scenes are perfect. They will make your heart flutter. The only major complaint I had of this book was the pacing of the plot. It just seemed off from the start, especially when looking at how soon these characters seem to genuinely care for each other even though they are strangers. However, I was able to look past this flaw and enjoy its football scenes and romantic gestures.

The Final Verdict: First Step Forward is a sweet story. I recommend reading this book in the fall. It will leave you on the hunt for some delicious apple butter. I would read more books by this author.

Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: One S'more Summer by Beth Merlin

Hosted by Xpresso Book Tours

One S'more Summer by Beth Merlin (May 30, 2017)

Length: 264 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Publisher: Ink Monster LLC

Source: I received a free copy from the author as part of Xpresso Book Tours! This did not affect my honest review.

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating:

Synopsis: If you love Sophie Kinsella and Emily Giffin, you’ll love this heartwarming
debut from a fresh voice in contemporary chick-lit that offers a lighthearted and fun take on friendship, love, and how to recover from past mistakes. For twenty long years, Gigi Goldstein has been pining away for her best friend’s guy. She knows it’s wrong and it has to stop, but she hasn’t been able to let go ever since they all met on the bus to summer camp back when they were 7 years old. The same week that her best friends finally announce their wedding date, Gigi loses her high-profile design job. With all of her dreams unravelling, she runs to the last place she remembers being happy. Taking the Head Counselor position at Camp Chinooka, Gigi hopes to reclaim the joy she felt as a camper, but the job isn’t all campfire songs and toasting marshmallows. Gigi’s girls are determined to make her look bad in front of the boys’ Head Counselor—the sexy but infuriating Perry—and every scrap of the campground is laced with memories. When Gigi finally realizes she can’t escape the present by returning to her past, she’s forced to reexamine her life and find the true meaning of love. But will she be able to mend fences and forgive herself before she loses her one real shot at happiness?

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My Review

One S'more Summer in Three Words: Charming. Summer. Nostalgia.

One S'more Summer was a fun read full of good summer vibes, new and old friendships, and some romance. I enjoyed the quick read and its interesting story.

When Gigi flees real life,  since the whole loving the guy your best friend is engaged to is a problem, she takes a job at her old summer camp as head counselor. While there she struggles with past memories while trying to make new ones. I loved the setting of a summer camp. If you have ever attended any kind of camp you will get a big wave of nostalgia thrown your way, and I really liked that. It put me in the summer mood. I could smell the campfires, envision the cabins, and delight in my own summer camp memories while enjoying Gigi's story.

Gigi was a main character that was hard to like at first, but grew on me just as she did throughout the book. She was always making such frustrating decisions that I wanted to smack her for, but her character has some growth, thanks to the help of her campers, her new friend, and Perry. Perry is the hot counselor that Gigi is always arguing with, but well... I'm sure you know what eventually happens between those two. I liked Perry more than Gigi, and found him to be mysterious and fun, two things I look for in a book boyfriend.

Camp shenanigans, summer romance, a well paced plot with a nice unfolding between the past and present, and interesting characters, are what drove me to give this book 3.5 stars. The ending left me a little annoyed, but there will be a book two so I think that will make a difference!

The Verdict: One S'more Summer is the perfect book to bring to the beach. It may have its flaws, but it was very enjoyable.

The Author

Beth Merlin has a BA from The George Washington University where she minored in Creative Writing and a JD from New York Law School. She’s a native New Yorker who loves anything Broadway, rom-coms, her daughter Hadley, and a good maxi dress. She was introduced to her husband through a friend she met at sleepaway camp and considers the eight summers she spent there to be some of the most formative of her life. One S’more Summer is Beth’s debut novel.

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Review: Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Me Before You (#1) by Jojo Moyes (2012)
369 pages
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books/Viking
Source: I bought it.
Purchase: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository
My Rating:

Goodreads Summary: Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.

What Lou doesn't know is she's about to lose her job or that knowing what's coming is what keeps her sane.

Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he's going to put a stop to that.

What Will doesn't know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they're going to change the other for all time.

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My Review

I was never really interested in reading Me Before You. It just never appealed to me for whatever reason. Then the movie trailer came out and I was intrigued. Then my co-workers, family, and friends kept gushing about how great this book was. So my lovely readers, I finally gave into all the hype and I read Me Before You. I am a little disappointed.

I'm not sure if it was all the hype that skewed my feelings of the book or simply because I obviously knew how the ending was going to play out, but Me Before You was not as epic as I was hoping it would be. I liked it just fine, but I didn't love it.

Lou Clark is eccentric and adorable, but also a little frustrating. Will is understandably frustrated with life and a character that grows on you. I liked both of the main characters, but it's just too bad I didn't love them. I did like seeing how Will helped Lou realize how much there is out in the world that she could be trying and discovering. As for the ending, I am not sure how I feel about it. I did cry. I am glad I had some tissues nearby.

I liked the story, the pacing of the plot was good, and the characters were solid, but I simply couldn't love it. I am however planning to watch the movie when it comes out on DVD. I love the actors portraying Lou and Will so much that I have to give it a try. I think it will be a good movie.

I don't regret finally reading Me Before You, but I am a little sad it wasn't as life changing as I hoped it would be for me. I can definitely see why everyone loves it so. I think it's more of a it's not you it's me instance in this case.

Review: Uprooted by Naomi Novik

Uprooted by Naomi Novik (May 2015)
438 pages
Genre: Adult/Fantasy
Publisher: Del Rey
Source: The library.
Purchase: Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Amazon
My Rating:

“Our Dragon doesn’t eat the girls he takes, no matter what stories they tell outside our valley. We hear them sometimes, from travelers passing through. They talk as though we were doing human sacrifice, and he were a real dragon. Of course that’s not true: he may be a wizard and immortal, but he’s still a man, and our fathers would band together and kill him if he wanted to eat one of us every ten years. He protects us against the Wood, and we’re grateful, but not that grateful.”

Agnieszka loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests and the bright shining river. But the corrupted Wood stands on the border, full of malevolent power, and its shadow lies over her life.

Her people rely on the cold, driven wizard known only as the Dragon to keep its powers at bay. But he demands a terrible price for his help: one young woman handed over to serve him for ten years, a fate almost as terrible as falling to the Wood.

The next choosing is fast approaching, and Agnieszka is afraid. She knows—everyone knows—that the Dragon will take Kasia: beautiful, graceful, brave Kasia, all the things Agnieszka isn’t, and her dearest friend in the world. And there is no way to save her.

But Agnieszka fears the wrong things. For when the Dragon comes, it is not Kasia he will choose.

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My Review

Well. Well. Well. I finally read this very hyped up fantasy novel. In the end, I had a hard time coming up for a rating for Uprooted. Did I like it? Yes. Did I love it? I think so... I still can't really say.

Uprooted reads like a dark fairy tale, and that just wasn't what I was expecting. That didn't make it bad, it just made me a little shocked when I began reading. Once I got into the flow of the book I had no problems diving in and appreciating its uniqueness. 

The other little snafu I ran into, I had a horrible time with the characters at first. At least when I reached 100 pages in the story the characters finally started to become interesting and less annoying. At that time I finally really started to appreciate the now more complex characters and I no longer had a problem with the MC, Agniezka. I do wish we could have gotten some chapters from the Dragon's point of view. That would have been nice. I ended up liking him the most, and Kasia, Agniezka's best friend, was close second.

The best thing Uprooted has to offer, the utterly fantastic world building. The vivid descriptions were intense. I sure as heck wouldn't ever go into the Wood. No way. The details of where the Dragon lives, the descriptions of the villages, the clothes, the magic, everything was also wonderful. The whole world was captivating and magical. I couldn't ask for a more interesting magic system.

The bottom line: Uprooted was a really good book, but it didn't quite hit epic status for me. Fans of dark twisty tales, fairy tales, and just a good fantasy world with some interesting magic will enjoy Uprooted.

Review: The Lives Between Us by Theresa Rizzo

The Lives Between Us by Theresa Rizzo (July 1, 2015)
441 pages
Genre: Adult/Fiction/Family Drama
Source: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. Thanks Theresa!
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
My Rating:

Goodreads Summary: How far would you go to save the one you love?

Reporter Skylar Kendall has run from commitment all her life, pushing people away before they leave her, until her niece worms her way into Skye’s heart and settles in tight. Skye relaxes into a career she enjoys and relishes being a doting aunt.

Then her niece becomes gravely ill. Unable to bear yet another loss, Skye is determined to find a cure, but the girl’s only hope lies in the embryonic stem cell therapy Michigan Senator Edward Hastings repeatedly opposes. When Skye fails to find alternative treatment in time, she vows to end the senator’s political career.

Curious about the woman behind the scathing articles on his best friend, Mark Dutton pursues Skye. Dating Mark gives her access to Hastings’s life and secrets that would launch Skye's career and satisfy her need for retribution… Only she hadn’t counted on falling in love.

Can she avenge the lives lost to politics at the expense of her new love and friends?

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My Review

I have previously read two books by this author and liked them a great deal. I can honestly say that The Lives Between Us is another beautiful and heartfelt story by this author that I thoroughly enjoyed. Theresea Rizzo really knows how to write a complex and moving family drama.

The Lives Between Us captured me from the first page, and I wasn't freed from its grasp until the very end. I don't read a lot of books about politics or super controversial subjects, but I am glad I read this one. Its fast pace and interesting subject matter makes for a quick and interesting read.

The best part of this novel has to be the strong characters whose presences can be felt through the page. The MC, Skye, is probably my least favorite due to her sometimes very immature attitude, but she did grow as a character and watching her struggle between her career as a reporter and keeping that separate from her personal life was compelling. I appreciated every single character and what they brought to this story about family, love, and living life to its fullest. They were complex and unique in their own way. Mark is especially sweet and genuine and a character I really liked, even if he wasn't a bad boy, he was a good fit for Skye. 

The Lives Between Us is a pretty well written thought provoking piece on stem cell research and how far a person would go to save their loved one. I know that I would go to the ends of the earth if someone I loved was in danger of dying. Although I wasn't too shocked by any of the secret reveals in this one, I still appreciated the overall plot and the different family and relationship dramas.

If you like a good story that focuses on politics, family, a little romance, and what the struggle is like when dealt with having to make the right ethical choice for you, then you will enjoy The Lives Between Us. 

Review: The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon

The Mime Order (#2) by Samantha Shannon (Jan 2015)
510 pages
Genre: Fantasy/Adult
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Source: The Library.
Purchase: Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Amazon
My Rating:

Goodreads Summary: Paige Mahoney has escaped the brutal prison camp of Sheol I, but her problems have only just begun: many of the survivors are missing and she is the most wanted person in London...

As Scion turns its all-seeing eye on the dreamwalker, the mime-lords and mime-queens of the city's gangs are invited to a rare meeting of the Unnatural Assembly. Jaxon Hall and his Seven Seals prepare to take centre stage, but there are bitter fault lines running through the clairvoyant community and dark secrets around every corner. Then the Rephaim begin crawling out from the shadows. But where is Warden? Paige must keep moving, from Seven Dials to Grub Street to the secret catacombs of Camden, until the fate of the underworld can be decided.

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My Review

I liked the first book, The Bone Season, but I didn't love it. I felt like it got more hype than it deserved, but I just felt like I HAD to give the second book a shot. I'm glad I did. I ended up enjoying The Mime Order more than The Bone Season. (Sorry this review is kind of all over the place. Just go with it.)

The Mime Order begins right where the first book left off. Thanks to the Recaptains website and their review of the first book I wasn't lost when I started reading. I also liked how I was thrown into action right off the bat. I love me some action. 

One of the things I didn't like about the first book was how hard it was for me to follow the complex world full of so many different clairvoyant people, not to mention all the weird made up words. Luckily, it was easier to follow all of that in the second book since I had time to become familiar with it in the first one thus making this read a much more enjoyable one.

The second main thing I struggled with in the first book was how Paige seemed kind of dumb to me. I was having problems connecting with her for whatever reason. However, in The Mime Order I loved her. She was a stronger and harder woman. It didn't really surprise me too much that she is a stronger person after what she went through in the last book. My favorite thing about her... not only does she change, but she wants others to change as well and is willing to fight for it, even if it seems impossible. I also love Warden... it's too bad he isn't in the book as much as I would like. I won't even begin to talk about these two together. I'm sure you can guess that I am a fan. Forbidden love is my favorite.

The Mime Order focuses on the politics of the mime lordes and the underworld. It's the main focus of the book and although very interesting and important at times it did make me lose attention a little bit. I did like the book more and more with each passing page. The author does a wonderful job at building me up for the big to do at the end of the novel. It had a great ending.

The Mime Order is a dark and sometimes very gloomy novel. It's full of strong, weak, evil, and kind characters. The Final Verdict: I will continue reading this series.

ARC Review: Royal Wedding by Meg Cabot

Royal Wedding (Princess Diaries #11) by Meg Cabot (June 2, 2015)
448 pages
Genre: Adult/Romance
Publisher: William Morrow & Company
Source: I received a free ARC from Meg Cabot herself (and the publisher) at ALA Midwinter. This did not affect my honest review. Thanks Meg Cabot and William Morrow & Company!
Purchase: Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Amazon
My Rating:

Goodreads Summary: From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Princess Diaries series, comes the very first adult installment, which follows Princess Mia and her Prince Charming as they plan their fairy tale wedding--but a few poisoned apples could turn this happily-ever-after into a royal nightmare.

For Princess Mia, the past five years since college graduation have been a whirlwind of activity, what with living in New York City, running her new teen community center, being madly in love, and attending royal engagements. And speaking of engagements. Mia's gorgeous longtime boyfriend Michael managed to clear both their schedules just long enough for an exotic (and very private) Caribbean island interlude where he popped the question! Of course Mia didn't need to consult her diary to know that her answer was a royal oui.

But now Mia has a scandal of majestic proportions to contend with: Her grandmother's leaked "fake" wedding plans to the press that could cause even normally calm Michael to become a runaway groom. Worse, a scheming politico is trying to force Mia's father from the throne, all because of a royal secret that could leave Genovia without a monarch. Can Mia prove to everyone--especially herself--that she's not only ready to wed, but ready to rule as well?

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My Review

When I found out that there was going to be another Princess Diaries book I looked a little something like this.

So was the wait worth it? Was it everything I thought it was going to be? Did Princess Mia still make me laugh and smile? 

It was everything I wanted and more! We jump right back into Mia's life and she is now an adult, just like her readers! I loved this. I never realized how much I had missed Mia and Michael and everyone until I started reading Royal Wedding. This book is a treat for all the Princess Diaries fans out there. I honestly probably don't even need to convince you to read this because you already plan on it. I'm guessing as soon as this baby comes out that this will be you. (It was how I looked when I was reading.)

I enjoyed every single second of my time reading Royal Wedding. I can't find a single thing that I didn't like about it. I welcomed back my beloved characters with open arms and they fell right in.

Royal Wedding was full of cuteness, realness, sweet moments, funny moments, and a whole lot of surprises.

You won't regret reading this. It was perfect. I have been a fan of the Princess Diaries series from the beginning and I couldn't be happier with this new addition. 

Now go get a copy and enjoy! (If you are not yet a Princess Diaries fan then you should become one!)

Random Mini Review Pile-Up: Invaded, Out to Lunch, & American Gods

Invaded (Alienated #2) by Melissa Landers (Feb. 3, 2015)
356 pages
Genre: Young Adult/Sci-Fi/Romance
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Source: The Library
Purchase: Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository | Amazon
My Rating:

Goodreads Summary: The romantic sequel to Alienated takes long-distance relationships to a new level as Cara and Aelyx long for each other from opposite ends of the universe...until a threat to both their worlds reunites them.
Cara always knew life on planet L’eihr would be an adjustment. With Aelyx, her L’eihr boyfriend, back on Earth, working to mend the broken alliance between their two planets, Cara is left to fend for herself at a new school, surrounded by hostile alien clones. Even the weird dorm pet hates her.

Things look up when Cara is appointed as human representative to a panel preparing for a human colony on L’eihr. A society melding their two cultures is a place where Cara and Aelyx could one day make a life together. But with L’eihr leaders balking at granting even the most basic freedoms, Cara begins to wonder if she could ever be happy on this planet, even with Aelyx by her side.

Meanwhile, on Earth, Aelyx, finds himself thrown into a full-scale PR campaign to improve human-L’eihr relations. Humans don’t know that their very survival depends on this alliance: only Aelyx’s people have the technology to fix the deadly contamination in the global water supply that human governments are hiding. Yet despite their upper hand, the leaders of his world suddenly seem desperate to get humans on their side, and hardly bat an eye at extremists’ multiple attempts on Aelyx’s life.

The Way clearly needs humans’ help . . . but with what? And what will they ask for in return?

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My Mini Review: When I first started reading Invaded I had the worst time trying to remember everything that happened in the previous book. It was frustrating, but I did catch on after a bit. I don't think Invaded was as strong as Alienated (the first book). It took a while for me to look past the cheesiness and actually laugh. I liked Cara just fine and I liked Aelyx. I think perhaps I didn't like this book as much because our two main characters aren't really together at all for most of the book. I liked getting to see more of the L'eihr planet, but it was still frustrating. There is a cute pet in Invaded, it has perfectly good characters, and it is more complex than it pretends to be at first, but it was missing the IT factor. I still enjoyed Invaded and will read the next book in the series, but I was a little disappointed.

Out to Lunch by Stacey Ballis (2013)
388 pages
Genre: Adult General Fiction
Publisher: Berkley
Source: The Library
Purchase: Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository | Amazon
My Rating:

Goodreads Summary: A touching and hilarious novel from the fabulous Stacey Ballis about best friends, true love, and the joy of food—for fans of Jen Lancaster, Jennifer Weiner, and Emily Giffin...

Jenna has lost her best friend.

With Aimee gone so tragically young, Jenna barely knows where to turn. Aimee was the one who always knew what to do—not to mention what to wear. The two built a catering company together and had so much in common—well, except their taste in men. Jenna never understood what the successful, sophisticated Aimee saw in Wayne, with his Star Wars obsession and harebrained business schemes.

And gained her best friend’s husband…

But Aimee has left a shocking last request: Jenna now has financial custody of the not-so-merry widower. True, Wayne needs someone sensible around to keep him under control, but what was her dear departed friend thinking?

The thing is, as she gets to know Wayne better, his latest moneymaking idea actually starts to intrigue her. Her attractive new lawyer boyfriend doesn’t approve of it—but then, Wayne doesn’t approve of her attractive new lawyer boyfriend. Now Jenna has to figure out what direction her life is going to take next. And she can’t help asking herself: What would Aimee do?

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My Mini Review: Do you love food? Do you love dogs? Do you love a good heart-warming story that will make you laugh and cry? If you answered yes to any of the above then Out to Lunch is a book for you. Jenna is a very easy to relate to character that you won't be able to help but care about. Wayne is a man full of life and I loved him from the beginning. What a sweetie. Jenna can't stand Wayne but her best friend wants to her to try to get along with him, and since she has passed away Jenna can't do anything but do what her late friend wants. They are opposites and both have their flaws. (Just a heads up, this isn't really a romance between these two if that is what you think.) There was just something special about this story that made me love it. It wasn't really like any book I have read before. Out to Lunch was a memorable book for me. I plan on reading other books by this author.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman (2001)
588 pages
Genre: Adult
Publisher: Harper Collins
Source: I got this as a gift for Christmas!
Purchase: Barnes and Noble|The Book Depository|Amazon
My Rating:

Goodreads Summary: Shadow is a man with a past. But now he wants nothing more than to live a quiet life with his wife and stay out of trouble. Until he learns that she's been killed in a terrible accident.

Flying home for the funeral, as a violent storm rocks the plane, a strange man in the seat next to him introduces himself. The man calls himself Mr. Wednesday, and he knows more about Shadow than is possible.

He warns Shadow that a far bigger storm is coming. And from that moment on, nothing will ever be the same...

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My Mini Review: American Gods is the first book I read by Neil Gaiman, and quite frankly it wasn't as good as I thought it was going to be. I chose to read this book because it is the most read book in the state where I live, Illinois. I figured I should join the club, but for whatever reason I struggled to start and finish this book. It seemed to take me a long while to really get into the story. I had trouble following along, and really I just got bored a lot for whatever reason. I think it may partly have to do with me not being in the right mood to read this one. I'm not sure though. It's a little weird and filled with dark humor and I liked that about it, but I had such a hard time connecting with any of the characters on any level. I think that was my undoing. I did like Gaiman's take on America past and present. With that being said, now that I have read my first Gaiman book and it didn't blow me away, I have decided that I am willing to give one other book by him a chance because he is such a highly acclaimed author. If you have any Gaiman reading suggestions please share them with me below!

Review: The Accidental Assassin by Nichole Chase

The Accidental Assassin (The Assassins #1) by Nichole Chase (Nov. 2014)

354 pages

Genre: Adult/Romance

Source: I bought a copy for myself.

Purchase: Barnes and Noble | Kobo | Amazon

Goodreads Summary: Ava McKenzie is a creature of habit. Life is passing her by and she has nothing to show for it. She’s had the same job since she started college, she orders the same dish every time she goes to her favorite restaurant, and only reads books from authors she knows. There is nothing new or surprising in her life… until her best friend marries a man from London. When her newlywed friend asks her to house-sit while she honeymoons, Ava jumps at the chance. She thinks this could be the very thing she needs to shake up her life. Ava throws herself head first into her new lifestyle; she wants to try everything, go everywhere, and never get stuck in a rut again. Of course, offing a man in a car garage hadn’t been one of the things on her list to try.

Owen Walker spends every day in a new place with a new case. As one of the most renowned assassins in the world, he has his choice of marks—and he’s never failed in a mission. When a new hit takes him back to his hometown, he looks forward to spending time somewhere familiar. What he isn’t expecting is to help an attractive, confused American woman find out how she’s ended up on a hit man’s list.
As Ava and Owen dodge bullets, will they be able to escape their undeniable attraction to each other? Or will all of that chemistry blow up in a shower of hot and dangerous sparks?

MY REVIEW

Let’s talk about how much I enjoyed reading The Accidental Assassin shall we? I was never bored, usually laughing, and loving every second of my time with the loveable main characters.

Ava and Owen are a great couple who have a good amount of chemistry that I couldn’t get enough of. Ava is down to earth and pretty easy going. I love how she seems like a real person. She is trying to make something of life and live it to its fullest. Owen is an assassin, taking out only bad people, and is usually on his own. Then one day Owen and Ava’s worlds collide and Owen becomes less lonely, and Ava really begins to understand what it means to take risks and try new things. We get to watch these two find love while partaking in car chases, dodging bullets, and basically just trying to stay alive.

The Accidental Assassin is a unique romance full of action. I’m glad this book is part of a series, because I want some more assassins in my romance books! I was sad when the book was over because this book was just too much fun.

Basically I’m telling you to read this. The synopsis doesn't deceive. It is as good as it sounds.

Review: The Book of Life by: Deborah Harkness

The Book of Life (All Souls Trilogy #3) by: Deborah Harkness (July 15, 2014)

561 pages

Genre: Adult/Supernatural

Publisher: Kensington

Source: The Library

Purchase: Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository | Amazon

Goodreads Summary: After traveling through time in Shadow of Night, the second book in Deborah Harkness’s enchanting series, historian and witch Diana Bishop and vampire scientist Matthew Clairmont return to the present to face new crises and old enemies. At Matthew’s ancestral home at Sept-Tours, they reunite with the cast of characters from A Discovery of Witches—with one significant exception. But the real threat to their future has yet to be revealed, and when it is, the search for Ashmole 782 and its missing pages takes on even more urgency. In the trilogy’s final volume, Harkness deepens her themes of power and passion, family and caring, past deeds and their present consequences. In ancestral homes and university laboratories, using ancient knowledge and modern science, from the hills of the Auvergne to the palaces of Venice and beyond, the couple at last learn what the witches discovered so many centuries ago.

With more than one million copies sold in the United States and appearing in thirty-eight foreign editions, A Discovery of Witches and Shadow of Night have landed on all of the major bestseller lists and garnered rave reviews from countless publications. Eagerly awaited by Harkness’s legion of fans, The Book of Life brings this superbly written series to a deeply satisfying close.

My Review

Waiting for The Book of Life to come out was completely worth it, and I would do it over and over again. The Book of Life was a solid ending to a great trilogy. I can honestly say that I’m not sure I have ever enjoyed a third book in a trilogy more than this one. I was in Book Nirvana. For fans that didn’t enjoy the second book as much as the first book you are in luck, The Book of Life is more like A Discovery of Witches.

The Book of Life picked up right where Shadow of Night left off. Matthew and Diana are back in the present and finding the book, keeping the family together, and trying to stay alive are just few of the hardships they must face.

I love Matthew and Diana. I love them separately. I love them together. I love them. Did I mention that I love them? The best part, I pretty much love all of the minor characters in this trilogy as well. All of them. Okay, I think it’s time I move on.

The Book of Life is the darkest book yet in this amazing trilogy full of vampires, witches, and deamons. Even though the atmosphere is more intense than ever before, Harkness manages to also include moments of happiness among her characters, even during dark times. While reading my heart broke and then it mended, I was sitting on the edge of my seat the entire time, unraveling the secrets it held in its pages. Did I mention that I read this big book in one day? Well I did. It was that captivating. I never wanted to leave the world Harkness made. The Book of Life was full of unexpected events and brings what it means to be a family to a whole new level. I loved every second of it. It maybe did get a little weird at times, but nothing I couldn’t handle.

If you are A Discovery of Witches fan then I’m certain you will enjoy the final installment in the trilogy. Grab a copy and have fun reading about more of Matthew and Diana’s adventures. Retreat into the magical world Harkness created and enjoy.

Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: Marry Me For Money by: Mia Kayla

Marry Me For Money by: Mia Kayla (May 2014)

Genre: Romance/Adult/Contemporary

Source: I received a copy of this book for a tour through Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for my honest review. Thanks Mia Kayla and Xpresso!

Purchase: Barnes and Noble | Amazon

Synopsis: Leaving her small town behind, Bethany Casse moves to Chicago in search of a new life. Working at a top financial bank brings her into contact with two men who are as different as night and day.
Kent Plack, heir to Plack Industries, has no interest in being with a woman for longer than one night. A spoiled and lazy man-whore, he is completely content with his playboy lifestyle, and Beth is surprised when they form an unlikely friendship.

Brian Burcham, a finance banker, is gorgeous and respectful. A man plucked from Beth’s dreams, he is definite husband material. Unfortunately, Beth has a hard rule against dating coworkers, but Brian is determined to change her mind.

When a deadbeat mother and money problems follow her to Chicago, Beth is offered a solution that could fix everything. Marrying for money seems simple enough, but when lines become blurred, Beth faces difficult choices, making her realize that the easy way out just made her life even harder than before.

My Review

Marry Me For Money is a solid entertaining romance novel.

Marry Me For Money started off with a prologue that immediately grabbed my attention. Not everyone can pull off a prologue that works, but Kayla did.

Full of interesting funny characters and a strong romance makes this novel a good choice for a summer read. I like Bethany a lot. She was easy to relate to (a normal woman who recently graduated college, kind of like me), and a hard-working strong female who would be hard not to like. I found Kent rather entertaining to read about as well. Both have their own little issues but they come together and form a fun and nice bond/friendship. The minor characters were nothing to write home about, but were nice enough.

Although Marry Me For Money has a pretty typical romance plot line and wasn't as unique as I hoped it would be, I think it is still a good addition to the romance genre.

Next time you are looking for a contemporary romance that features a young strong female lead who is trying to make it on her own right after college, pick up Marry Me For Money. It’s a cute book and a nice easier read. I think there is going to be a sequel, and I’m sure I’ll be reading it.

The Author

Mia Kayla is a New Adult/Contemporary Romance writer who lives in Illinois. On the weekdays, she can be caught wearing a suit, commuting to her corporate job in downtown Chicago and raising three beautiful munchkins in the suburbs, four if you count the husband.

In her free time she loves reading romance novels, jamming to boy bands, catching up on celebrity gossip and designing flowers for weddings. Most of the time, she can be caught on the train with her nose in a book sporting a cheeky grin because the main characters finally get their happily-ever-after at the end. She loves reading about happy endings but has more fun writing them.

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Review: Gone Girl by: Gillian Flynn

Gone Girl by: Gillian Flynn (2012)

395 Pages

Publisher: Crown Publishers

Genre: Mystery/Thriller/Adult

Source: The Library

Purchase: Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository

Goodreads Summary: On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne's fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick's clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn't doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife's head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media--as well as Amy's fiercely doting parents--the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he's definitely bitter--but is he really a killer?

As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn't do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?

My Review

When someone asks me what I think of Gone Girl I usually just say "it was a good book," but that doesn’t even come nearly close enough to how I really feel about it. It’s just the easy answer. Lucky for me, I have a book blog where I can fully express my opinion of the book. Gone Girl is split into three parts so I thought I would go ahead and review it as such. Also, I try to stay as vague as possible so I don’t give any important plot points away.

“It was my fifth lie to the police. I was just starting.” ~ Gone Girl pg. 55

The Beginning (Part 1)

I first started reading Gone Girl and was immediately intrigued by this couple. Going in I knew there was a big omg ending, or at least one that people talked a lot about so I wanted to look for clues while I was reading. Well, that didn’t turn out so well because the first part of the novel was very generic. Nothing new was brought to the mystery/thriller genre. I was struggling with really enjoying it. All I kept thinking was that Nick, the husband, is a big crazy jerk. During most this part of the book I was bored. I just wanted the book to move it along and get to the good stuff.

The Middle (Part 2)

My initial reaction: well hello part two, thank you for reviving my faith in this book. Part two of Gone Girl blew me away. It was gripping. It also gets points for making me feel so many different crazy and sometimes very angry feels. The characters become more complex and way more interesting in the second part. The plot picks up and the secrets start to unravel, things you didn’t even know were secrets before are revealed. Although you can see how well Flynn writes in part one, she really blew me away in part two, she is a fantastic writer.

The End (Part 3)

The ending was unsatisfying and disappointing. I can see why the movie adaptation of Gone Girl has decided to change the ending. (Yes, I just said that.) I actually want to see the movie just to find out what they did with it.

If you haven’t read Gone Girl yet, although many of you probably have, I can say with confidence that it is a solid mystery/thriller, but it just didn’t necessarily live up to its hype. I am glad I read it.