Book Beginnings, First Line Friday, & Friday 56: Rescue on the Farm by Allie Pleiter

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. I'm also linking up with Carrie at Reading is My Superpower for First Line Friday. Friday 56 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. It was started by Freda at Freda's Voice, but Anne over at My Head is Full of Books has taken over for the time being.

This week I'm featuring Rescue on the Farm by Allie Pleiter. This was a really sweet romance. It releases Tuesday, so I should have my review up then. 

About the Book

They weren’t looking for love

But these puppies will bring them together

Police officer Grant Emerson’s temporary trip home is turning into a disaster. Instead of selling the family farm, his mom and aunts have opened an animal shelter—and already rescued several puppies! When neighboring single mother Meg Kittering offers to help, the matchmaking sisters are convinced she can cure Grant’s grumpiness, despite his protests. But behind Meg’s sunny smiles are struggles Grant can relate to. They’re both in need of love…but can they help each other accept it?

From Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.

Book Beginnings / First Line Friday

Meg Kittering watched the enormous dark-eyed man yank open the diner door and then practically fill the doorway. He scanned the Sundial Diner until he found her. Glaring in a way that somehow made his eyes even darker, he walked straight to her.

Friday 56

Half the diner lights were off, but the strings of lights hadn't yet been unplugged. Bright and cheery by day, the shadows and tiny golden bulbs made the diner seem ... romantic. As if they were having dessert at a cozy restaurant. As if they were on a date.

Which they were not. Funny how she kept having to remind herself that.

What have you been reading lately?

Cover Reveal: Amidst Fury and Valor - Compiled by Anne J. Hill & Moriah Chavis

I'm so excited to be part of the cover reveal for Amidst Fury and Valor! This is a very special collection from Twenty Hills Publishing! Ebook pre-orders are live on Amazon and wherever you buy your ebooks. Paperback pre-orders will be live in a few weeks. The release date is March 28.

About the Book
This collection is put together by Anne J. Hill and Moriah Chavis in order to raise money and bring joy to Brook J. Katz's son, Ephriam, who is battling his own dragon: cancer. 85% of royalties will go to support him and his family. Not only do we hope this can help relieve some of the financial burden, but we simply want to bless Ephriam with adventure right from his hospital room. If you'd like to give directly, you can tap the link in @brookjkatz's bio on Instagram, and it'll lead you to their GoFundMe.

Blurb:

In realms of new tales and ancient legends, dragons take flight in this collection of stories filled with courage, heroism, and sacrifice in the dark unknown.

Whether fighting foes on a battlefield or struggling against inner demons, these heroes in Amidst Fury and Valor remind us that true bravery is facing our dragons even when afraid.

Publishing this March 28th. Keep an eye out for more details. If you'd like to ARC read, or share on publication day, you can sign up via the link in the @twenty_hills 🅱️ℹ️🅾️ on Instagram.

Preorder: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DWHCNBHF

Review: An Overdue Match (Checking Out Love #1) by Sarah Monzon

About the Book

Can a librarian's matchmaking mischief lead to a love that rewrites their stories?

If the covers of every romance book ever published didn't convince librarian Evangeline Kelly that she isn't heroine material, her fiancé calling off their wedding when she lost her hair to alopecia did. But what's a girl head over heels for love to do when her feelings are unrequited? Matchmake, that's what. Armed with library patrons' check-out histories, she's determined to make at least one love connection--even if it's not her own.

Tattoo artist Tai Davis is used to people judging him with a single glance, so it doesn't surprise him when the town's quirky new librarian believes his bad-boy reputation without giving him a chance. He can't help being intrigued by her, though, so when he discovers Evangeline's secret matchmaking scheme, he's not above striking a bargain with her. She just has to agree to one date with him for every time she uses his hometown knowledge to set up library patrons on a romantic rendezvous. The deal is made, but in the process, they both might learn you can't judge a book--or each other--by the cover.

This is a sweet he-falls-first, opposites attract, matchmaker romantic comedy with disability representation. Perfect for fans of books about books and kisses-only romances.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

I love books about books. And I love reading about characters who love reading. So this book was sure to be a winner! It had me laughing in spots and crying in others.

I liked Tai and Evangeline. At first glance, they seemed like complete opposites, but they had more in common than first thought. Plus, they were just flat-out great together. And I loved that we got both of their POVs.

I liked that Tai wasn’t the stereotypical bad boy. And I thought it was really cool that he was a tattoo artist. And while I did feel like he was a little unrealistically perfect, I liked him a lot.

I like that this book tackled serious subjects in the midst of the humor. It felt very balanced. I really appreciated the light it shined on alopecia. I knew a little about the autoimmune disease, but I appreciated learning more.

If you’re looking for a humorous and heartfelt romance, give this book a try! I’m excited that it’s the beginning of a series. I can’t wait for the next one.

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

FOUR STARS

Can't Wait Wednesday: Every Deadly Suspicion by Janice Cantore

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 Every Deadly Suspicion by Janice Cantore releasing March 4.

About the Book

Thirty years after a federal agent and two suspects disappeared in the wilderness, the case is cold, and they’ve never been found. Now their suspected killer is about to go free. But is the truth really what it seems?

In Dry Oaks, California, Chief of Police Hanna Keyes has long believed her father, Joe, is a murderer, justly imprisoned. When she’s told he’s dying and is being given compassionate release from prison, she wants nothing to do with him. But taking him in might be Hanna’s one shot at cracking the cold case, so she reluctantly agrees to oversee his care.

Joe’s arrival in Dry Oaks seems to set off a chain reaction of crimes. Then an infamous true-crime podcaster comes sniffing for information, and Hanna’s first love, Jared, shows up just when she least needs the distraction. As Hanna tries to convince Joe to reveal what he knows about the missing persons, evidence in the cold case surfaces at a suspiciously rapid pace . . . suggesting there’s more to the murders than people thought.

With Joe’s strength failing, Hanna and her colleagues look for answers, not only about the past but also about recent criminal dealings in Dry Oaks. As the puzzle pieces start to fit together, it becomes clear that there’s a sinister plot at work, far more wide-reaching than anyone suspected, and that someone is desperate to silence the truth at any cost.

What upcoming release are you eagerly awaiting?

Cover Reveal: All the Wild Hearts by J.M. Hackman

I'm so excited to be part of the cover reveal for All the Wild Hearts the first book in the Stardust Hearts series by J.M. Hackman! It's releasing April 29 and is a futuristic sci-fi fantasy retelling of Little Red Riding Hood! 

About the Book

Who’s afraid of the big bad businessman? Everyone.

On the snowy planet of Amaris, Avarill Engle makes deliveries for her grandmother and the residents of Skift, while avoiding unwanted advances from the gray tycoon Wolfgang Vujic. When the crooked CEO buys the mortgage to her grandmother’s neo-res, the only way to keep their home is to go to work—for him.

With every passing day, Avarill feels more desperate and afraid. Blaiz Weylin, her new friend and expert codestitcher, creates a plan to destroy Vujic, and Avarill eagerly joins the sting operation. But Blaiz’s past entwines with Vujic in ways he can’t confess, even as his feelings for Avarill deepen. When his secret comes to light, Avarill must make a choice: trust in the man who could break her heart or fight to free herself from Vujic’s iron grasp. With one wrong move, her freedom will become a distant memory. Time is running out, and the wolf is closing in.

There are no preorder links at this time but be on the lookout for this book at the end of April! 

Review: Truth Cursed by Angie Dickinson

About the Book

Speaking the truth can be a dangerous thing.

Cressida Hoth is alone in the world. Orphaned and unwanted, she is inflicted with a peculiar curse by her mischievous aunts and banished to a finishing school in the secluded kingdom of Dernmont. Students train in every accomplishment suitable for young ladies: music, dancing, etiquette . . . and strangely, poison-making, fencing, and lock-picking.

The school is a front for a rebel spy ring, and when her training is complete, Cressida is selected to join a mission to infiltrate the kingdom’s royal court. She has been thrown unceremoniously into a world of ball gowns and espionage, but she is still under a curse, and it threatens to expose them all.

Defending her teammates and her secret, Cressida discovers that the kingdom’s buried history and the truth behind her curse run far deeper than she imagined.

Amazon / Enclave Publishing / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

This was such a fun story! The gripping first line is one of the best I’ve read. I was hooked and enjoyed every second of this fantastic debut novel.

I really liked Cressida. Her curse of having to tell the truth made for some awkward moments, but I loved seeing her resiliency and bravery, especially when facing dangerous situations. She was endearing and easy to root for.

There was danger, intrigue, and subterfuge! It was such an exciting read! There were many surprising twists and turns. I was shocked on multiple occasions, wondering if that really did just happen!

From Cressida’s time at the academy to her first mission and through to the satisfying conclusion, this whole book was an absolute joy to read. This debut novel is going on my favorites shelf. I'm looking forward to more from this talented author.

I received a copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

FIVE STARS

Review: Uneasy Street by Becky Wade

About the Book

Christy Award Hall of Fame Author

Once upon a time Max Cirillo and Sloane Madison were close friends and business partners. But when their business relationship imploded, so did the friendship.

Now, four years later, Max is a rich CEO. Sloane’s a not-so-rich etiquette expert who returns to Maine to serve as her niece’s temporary guardian and help the girl search for her birth father. Sloane and her niece move into a darling garage apartment but Sloane’s joy in their accommodations soon turns to horror when she realizes their apartment belongs to Max. Thanks to an unbreakable lease, she’s stuck living right next door to him.

Max pulled strings to bring Sloane into his orbit because he needs closure on what went wrong between them. Quickly, though, his scheming comes back to bite him. The world might view him as a cold-hearted rake, but this one woman has dangerous power over his emotions.

They’ll have no choice but to confront their history—and the undeniable spark between them—while living side by side on uneasy street.

Discover witty humor, rich emotion, banter, and charm within the pages of this sweet enemies-to-lovers romance!

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

I had ridiculously high expectations for this book. I loved the first two in the series and have been so eager for Max’s story. Y’all! This book exceeded all of my ridiculously high expectations! I loved it so much!

Max and Sloan have history. A complicated past. Things did not end well between these former friends and business partners. They’re back in each other’s lives now that Sloane is in Groomsport looking after her teenage niece Ivy. While her niece’s parents are away, they rented a garage apartment for Sloane and Ivy to stay in. The garage apartment on Max’s property! Sparks fly from the very beginning, and I was so there for it! Their banter was great! They had me laughing and smiling all throughout the book.

Ivy was a very likable character. Even though she could be a bit impulsive at times, she had a good head on her shoulders. I loved the supportive and loving bond between her and Sloane. And I was very intrigued by the mystery of trying to find her biological father.

I was glad to get closure to Fiona’s story. I was rooting for things to work out for her.

I also enjoyed the mystery behind the missing tiara.

This was such a great second chance, enemies to more romance. I can’t recommend it highly enough. I’d definitely recommend reading the series in order, though. While Max and Sloane’s romance stands alone, there are threads from the first two books that are tied up here.

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

FIVE STARS

My Thoughts on Memory Lane - Book 1

    https://rusticreadinggal.blogspot.com/2023/02/review-memory-lane-sons-of-scandal-1-by.html

My Thoughts on Rocky Road - Book 2 

    https://rusticreadinggal.blogspot.com/2024/02/review-rocky-road-sons-of-scandal-2-by.html