Can't Wait Wednesday: Wedding at Sea (Muir Harbor Book 3) by Melissa Tagg

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights and discusses the books we're excited about that we've yet to read. Generally, they're books that are yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm featuring Wedding at Sea (Muir Harbor Book 3) by Melissa Tagg releasing June 29.

About the Book

Two enemies. One wedding. And a seaside mystery decades in the making.

Lilian doesn’t remember anything about her life before the day Maggie Muir found her on her front porch—a toddler, abandoned and alone. And maybe that’s okay. She has a beautiful life at Muir Farm, including an adopted family she adores and a successful career as a lawyer. But she also has a secret . . . one that raises just as many questions about her future as it does her unknown past.

And, of course, it would be private investigator Wilder Monroe, her brother’s best friend and the bane of her existence, who sniffs out her secret before anyone else.

Wilder has spent the past three years trying to close the one case his father couldn’t—the mystery of Maggie Muir’s long-lost granddaughter. But the decades-long search has become more tangled than ever. It’s become more personal, too. Not only are the Muirs the closest thing to family he has left, but if he can solve this mystery, maybe he'll keep himself from drowning in the one he can’t . . . the truth about his father’s death.

In the midst of secrets and swirling questions, Maggie asks a favor of both Lilian and Wilder: put aside their bickering and work together to plan her summer wedding. It’s a big ask, made all the more difficult when danger comes calling at Muir Farm. But if the two enemies can stand each other long enough to pull off the event of the year, they just might solve a mystery in the process.

And the biggest discovery of all? That sometimes the one your heart longs for is the last person you ever would've expected.

Wedding at Sea is the breathtaking finale in bestselling, award-winning author Melissa Tagg's Muir Harbor series.

What upcoming release are you eagerly awaiting?

Review: The Shifting Current: A Coastal Guardian Novella by Dani Pettrey

About the Book

An elusive killer. A false identity. A deadly maze of lies.

When Coast Guard Investigative Service Special Agent LOGAN PERRY’s beloved grandfather is murdered, Logan races to his hometown of Cauldron Creek, New Mexico to investigate the murder. His teammate and friend, EMMY THORTON, insists on joining him. Not a good idea—not when he loves her, but carries a secret that he knows will tear them apart.

Emmy knows Logan will pursue the investigation no matter the cost, and she won’t let the man she loves plunge into a dangerous situation alone. She needs to be at his side, even if he believes friendship is her only reason for joining him.

What looks like a robbery gone wrong rapidly shifts, drawing Emmy and Logan into a dizzying maze where nothing is as it appears. Every lead slips through their fingers as threats against them grow deadlier at each turn. Having only each other to rely on, their love for one another deepens, but will they live long enough to admit their attraction to each other?

They’re in the killer’s sights. One wrong move puts their future together and their lives on the line.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

Fast-paced and impossible to put down, this story pulled me right in and didn't let go until the very last word. I loved the Coastal Guardians series and am so happy that Logan and Emmy got their own story with this standalone novella. I was eager to spend more time with them and loved learning more about them and their pasts.

This case was personal. Logan and Emmy head to New Mexico to find the person who murdered his grandpa. My heart absolutely broke for Logan. I was rooting so hard for him to bring swift justice to the criminal.

Despite being a novella, it never felt too short or lacking. While the full-length books had multiple mysteries going on at the same time, this one just focused on Logan and Emmy, which I really appreciated. I highly recommend this to fans of romantic suspense. I loved it and am eager for Dani Pettrey's next series.

4.5 STARS

Book Beginnings, First Line Friday, & Friday 56: Fractured Lies (Lantern Beach Exposure Book 1) by Christy Barritt

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice and asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two. I'm also linking up with Carrie at Reading is My Superpower for First Line Friday.

This week I'm featuring Fractured Lies (Lantern Beach Exposure Book 1) by Christy Barritt. 

About the Book

Lantern Beach has seen its fair share of trouble. But the danger isn’t over yet . . .

As security agent Jonah Gray zeroes in on his current mission, he finds scientist Rachel Atwood in his crosshairs. Right before his foster brother died, he handed Jonah a slip of paper with the woman’s name on it and muttered the word “killed.” But the more Jonah gets to know Rachel, the more he’s uncertain if she’s a killer or a target.

Rachel Atwood hopes to leave trouble behind when she takes a new research position at a cosmetics company located on Lantern Beach. But things aren’t as idyllic on the coastal island as she’d assumed. Something fishy is going on at the waterfront lab, and Rachel is unsure who to trust.

When lies are exposed, Jonah and Rachel's newfound trust is shattered. Can they pick up the fractured pieces of truth in time? Or will a killer’s devious plan destroy them both?

A suspenseful mystery full of romance, forced proximity, hidden identities, secrets, and danger around every turn.

Book Beginnings / First Line Friday

Jonah Gray glanced at his watch again. 

Ganon "Gandalf" Jones was ten minutes late. It wasn't like his friend not to be on time.

Friday 56

She shouldn't have come here to Lantern Beach. This job change was a mistake. It could get her killed.

What have you been reading lately?

Review: Veil of Destruction (Kessler Effect Book 3) by Vannetta Chapman

About the Book

How far would you go to save your brother?

It’s been six months since all of the lower orbital satellites crashed to Earth. Akule Lopez has waited through every one of those days...waited to see her brother arrive home in Alpine.

Now she’s done waiting. Winter has fallen across the desolate Texas landscape. Rumors of war and insurrection abound. Akule doesn’t know how she’ll get from Alpine to Dallas. She doesn’t even know that her brother is still there. But she does know that she’s going to find out.

Her father doesn’t want her to go, but Akule isn’t a child anymore. She doesn’t need her father’s permission. She also understands that if she goes, if she dies in the attempt, then her father will have lost both of his children. She won’t let that happen. If it’s the last thing she ever does, she will find Paco and bring him home.

What sacrifice is too big, when it seems your life has been draped in a Veil of Destruction?

From USA Today Bestselling author Vannetta Chapman comes a survival series unlike any other.

Veil of Destruction is book three in a new post-apocalyptic survival thriller series from USA Today Bestselling Author Vannetta Chapman. An exciting contribution to the genre of disaster fiction, this is a series that will keep you reading late into the night.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

This has to be one of the most realistic books in this genre that I've read. The characters, their actions, and the situations they found themselves in all felt so authentic. I've lived in West Texas my whole life, so I was very familiar with the landscape, cities, and route the characters took to find Paco and his family. I think because I knew the places, it made it feel all the more real. There were times when I forgot I was reading. I was so immersed in the story that I began to wonder how my family, who lives in one of the towns mentioned, was faring, lol.

I really liked Akule, Dylan, and Keme. I admired Keme's level-headedness, Dylan's positive outlook, and Akule's determination and bravery to find Paco and his family and bring them back home. They knew it was going to be a long and dangerous journey, but they weren't going to let anything stop them. They made a great team.

Even though this is book three in the series, it stands alone just fine. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys post-apocalyptic fiction. I'm really looking forward to the next one.

I received an advanced copy of this book via BookSirens and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

FIVE STARS

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights and discusses the books we're excited about that we've yet to read. Generally, they're books that are yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm featuring The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh releasing June 13.

About the Book

She’s out to prove that there’s no such thing as choosing happiness.

Isadora Bentley follows the rules. Isadora Bentley likes things just so. Isadora Bentley believes that happiness is something that flat-out doesn’t exist in her life—and never will.

As a university researcher, Isadora keeps to herself as much as possible. She avoids the students she’s supposed to befriend and mentor. She stays away from her neighbors and lives her own quiet, organized life in her own quiet, organized apartment. And she will never get involved in a romantic relationship again—especially with another academic. It will be just Isadora and her research. Forever.

But on her thirtieth birthday, Isadora does something completely out of character. The young woman who never does anything “on a whim” makes an impulse purchase of a magazine featuring a silly article detailing “Thirty-One Ways to Be Happy”—which includes everything from smiling at strangers to exercising for endorphins to giving in to your chocolate cravings. Isadora decides to create her own secret research project—proving the writer of the ridiculous piece wrong.

As Isadora gets deeper into her research—and meets a handsome professor along the way—she’s stunned to discover that maybe, just maybe, she’s proving herself wrong. Perhaps there’s actually something to this happiness concept, and possibly there’s something to be said for loosening up and letting life take you somewhere . . . happy.

What upcoming release are you eagerly awaiting?

Review: Man of Shadow and Mist (Of Monsters and Men Book 2) by Michelle Griep

About the Book

“The world seems full of good men—even if there are monsters in it.”
–Bram Stoker, Dracula

England, 1890

Vampires are alive and well in North Yorkshire, leastwise in the minds of the uneducated. Librarian Rosa Edwards intends to drive a stake through the heart of such superstitions. But gossip flies when the mysterious Sir James Morgan returns to his shadowy manor. The townsfolk say he is cursed.

James hates everything about England. The weather. The rumours. The scorn. Yet he must stay. His mother is dying of a disease for which he’s desperately trying to find a cure—an illness that will eventually take his own life.

When Rosa sets out to prove the dark gossip about James is wrong, she discovers more questions than answers. How can she accept what she can’t explain—especially the strong allure of the enigmatic man? James must battle a town steeped in fear as well as the unsettling attraction he feels for the no-nonsense librarian.

Can love prevail in a town filled with fear and doubt?

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

Where do I even begin? This book was so good! It's the kind of Gothic yet faith-filled read that I can never get enough of. And what a wonderful homage to Dracula! Since Dracula is one of my all-time favorite books, I loved all the nods to the classic. I had to smile every time I noticed a familiar name or place.
​
I liked James and Rosa right from the start. Rosa's the kind of bookish, spunky, and determined heroine that I love reading about. James was charming, chivalrous, and just an all-around good guy. He was the very definition of swoony. I really felt for him, though. The way others treated him with suspicion and superstition regarding his health condition infuriated me. I didn't know much about porphyria beforehand, so it was really interesting learning about it.

I can't say enough good things about this book. It's one of the best I've read this year. If you're a fan of Gothic historical romance, you're sure to love it too. I can't recommend it highly enough.

I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

FIVE STARS

Book Beginnings, First Line Friday, & Friday 56: The Shifting Current by Dani Pettrey

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice and asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two. I'm also linking up with Carrie at Reading is My Superpower for First Line Friday.

This week I'm featuring The Shifting Current by Dani Pettrey. I loved the Coastal Guardian series, so I was excited for this novella featuring Logan and Emmy. It did not disappoint. I think it might be my favorite of the series.

About the Book

An elusive killer. A false identity. A deadly maze of lies.

When Coast Guard Investigative Service Special Agent LOGAN PERRY’s beloved grandfather is murdered, Logan races to his hometown of Cauldron Creek, New Mexico to investigate the murder. His teammate and friend, EMMY THORTON, insists on joining him. Not a good idea—not when he loves her, but carries a secret that he knows will tear them apart.

Emmy knows Logan will pursue the investigation no matter the cost, and she won’t let the man she loves plunge into a dangerous situation alone. She needs to be at his side, even if he believes friendship is her only reason for joining him.

What looks like a robbery gone wrong rapidly shifts, drawing Emmy and Logan into a dizzying maze where nothing is as it appears. Every lead slips through their fingers as threats against them grow deadlier at each turn. Having only each other to rely on, their love for one another deepens, but will they live long enough to admit their attraction to each other?

They’re in the killer’s sights. One wrong move puts their future together and their lives on the line.

Book Beginnings / First Line Friday

Death. It permeated her hair, her skin. She wanted to crawl out of it, but there was nowhere to go.

Friday 56

He reached the edge of the forest in time to see a dune buggy disappearing in the distance.

He was too late.

What have you been reading lately?