Can't Wait Wednesday: The Story Between Us (Maple Lake Collection Book 1) by Susan May Warren & Sarah May Warren

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 Story Between Us (Maple Lake Collection Book 1) by Susan May Warren & Sarah May Warren releasing September 29.

SYNOPSIS

Best friend’s older brother. The almost-kiss summer. And one bestselling manuscript that’s years overdue.

Livvie Fox has spent six years being too nice for New York publishing — bringing cupcakes to the man who stole her promotion, watching senior agents take credit for the books she fought for, smiling while the bestseller list ticks past her name and lands on someone else’s.

Then her agency drops the bomb: bestselling reclusive author Ian Rivers is two years past deadline. The contract is about to die. The agency is about to take a hit it can’t afford. And if Livvie can’t fix it, she’s the one out the door.

Someone like the woman who knew him before he was Ian Rivers.

Before the bestsellers. Before the funeral. Before the night on a Maple Lake dock when she told him exactly how she felt and he just stood there, frozen, while every star in northern Minnesota watched her heart break.

Nate Rivers shouldn’t open his door.

Not for the publisher. Not for the lawyer. Not for the woman who walked off his sister’s dock seven years ago and took half the world with her.

But Livvie Fox is back in Maple Lake. With stolen soup. With his sister’s name in her mouth. With a publisher’s deadline that could cost him the only house left where Emma still feels real.

The town is gearing up for the Flannel Festival. The maples are turning. The dogs already love her. And the chapter Nate has been refusing to write for three years is suddenly demanding a co-author.

Some what-ifs deserve a second chapter.

What upcoming release are you eagerly awaiting?

Review: A Lady's Handbook to Gadgets and Guile (A Daughters of Genius Society Novel) by Angela Bell

SYNOPSIS

Margaret Kingsley's routine revolves around invention not investigation--until her ordered world springs a gasket.

London, England, 1895
Ambulatory wheelchair user Margaret Kingsley secretly crafts gadgets for the Daughters of Genius Society, a covert team of lady inspectors disguised as harmless bluestocking spinsters. While her fellow inspectors gallivant about London solving crimes, Margaret has been perfectly content assisting from the sidelines--until her expertise is needed to infiltrate the domain of London's most prolific inventor.

Charles Noble sacrificed his career as a musician to support his family after his father's stroke. Now he balances ledgers as a secretary by day and tends to his disabled father by night, but he can't pass up the chance to take a temporary job as event coordinator for a famous inventor commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of his mechanical empire. As strange occurrences cause Charles' event planning to collide with Margaret's case, the pair must unravel a plot of sabotage against the inventor's legacy while also investigating the sparks of attraction between them. 

Little Women meets Inspector Gadget in Angela Bell's witty romp of brilliant women, whimsical gadgetry, and sweet he-falls-first romance set in the Victorian era with themes of disability representation, women in STEM, light academia, and steampunk.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

I absolutely adored this whimsical historical romance! This story was a lot of fun but also dealt with serious topics with grace. I really appreciated the chronic pain, invisible illness, and anxiety rep. They were described with such care and knowledge.

I was very intrigued by the comparison to Inspector Gadget and Little Women. It totally fit! Inspector Gadget was one of my favorite cartoons when I was a kid, so I loved all the gadgets! They were really neat!

I really liked both Margaret and Charlie. I thought they made a good pair. Charlie’s struggle with anxiety was very relatable. While I’m not usually a fan of “love at first sight," which is what happens when he first meets Margaret, I didn’t mind it all that much. I appreciated how honestly Margaret’s struggles were portrayed. I loved seeing her passion for her work. And I also loved seeing how loving and supportive her family was.

I loved the strong message of faith woven throughout the whole story. I highlighted so many passages! I can’t recommend this book highly enough! If you’re a fan of whimsical historical romances with a dash of mystery, don’t hesitate to grab a copy. You’ll love it!

FIVE STARS

Book Beginnings, First Line Friday, & Friday 56: A Lady's Handbook to Gadgets and Guile (A Daughters of Genius Society Novel) by Angela Bell

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 A Lady's Handbook to Gadgets and Guile (A Daughters of Genius Society Novel) by Angela Bell. This was even better than I thought it would be. I adored it! 

SYNOPSIS

Margaret Kingsley's routine revolves around invention not investigation--until her ordered world springs a gasket.

London, England, 1895
Ambulatory wheelchair user Margaret Kingsley secretly crafts gadgets for the Daughters of Genius Society, a covert team of lady inspectors disguised as harmless bluestocking spinsters. While her fellow inspectors gallivant about London solving crimes, Margaret has been perfectly content assisting from the sidelines--until her expertise is needed to infiltrate the domain of London's most prolific inventor.

Charles Noble sacrificed his career as a musician to support his family after his father's stroke. Now he balances ledgers as a secretary by day and tends to his disabled father by night, but he can't pass up the chance to take a temporary job as event coordinator for a famous inventor commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of his mechanical empire. As strange occurrences cause Charles' event planning to collide with Margaret's case, the pair must unravel a plot of sabotage against the inventor's legacy while also investigating the sparks of attraction between them. 

Little Women meets Inspector Gadget in Angela Bell's witty romp of brilliant women, whimsical gadgetry, and sweet he-falls-first romance set in the Victorian era with themes of disability representation, women in STEM, light academia, and steampunk.

Book Beginnings / First Line Friday

March 29, 1895

London, England 

How was a lady supposed to discreetly conceal a grappling hook on her person, that was the question. And the answer, quite logically, was within the handle of a parasol.

Friday 56

As they entered the Invention Factory, the pair was greeted not by the rhythmic clanking of tools of the frenetic whirring of machinery, but by a familiar voice warbling a lively tune one would expect to come staggering out of a pub.

What have you been reading lately?

Review: Vigilante Sasquatch by Frank L. Cole

SYNOPSIS

Fourteen-year-old Ben Ostman’s lack of respect for authority has gotten out of hand, and now he is one mistake away from landing in juvenile detention. Having run out of options, Ben’s mother turns to her brother-in-law for help, leaving Ben no other choice but to spend his summer on his estranged Uncle Garth’s Mississippi farmhouse.

Right from the beginning, Ben and Garth don’t exactly hit it off and it doesn’t take Ben long to discover there is something not right on his uncle’s property. Aside from the manual labor Ben is forced to do around the house, Garth often disappears for days on end. And then there’s the mysterious music Ben hears every night coming from deep in the forest.

When he accidentally stumbles upon his uncle’s gathering of heavily armed teenagers in the woods, Ben is plunged headfirst into the world of the bizarre. Uncle Garth is keeping more than a few secrets. Not only does he work for a shady organization known as the Department of Wildlife Phenomenon, but he spends his days hunting down violent, mutated beasts with the help of an unusual partner named Sid—an eight-foot tall, double-barrel shotgun toting sasquatch with a flair for plucking the banjo.

Reluctantly, Garth allows Ben to tag along on the D.W.P.’s dangerous missions. The work is risky and difficult, and Bigfoot may be the most unpredictable of them all. As Ben develops new friendships with the likes of Dacia and Drubber, he finds himself totally immersed in the D.W.P.’s exploits, and he begins to unravel the mysteries of the forest. Sid isn’t all that he seems and, for that matter, neither is his Uncle Garth.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

This book looks like it's out of print now, but I checked it out with Kindle Unlimited a while ago and finally got around to reading it. It was a lot of fun! Ben's been getting into a lot of trouble lately, so instead of getting sent to juvenile detention, he's sent to his uncle's farm. It was definitely out of his comfort zone, to say the least, but it ended up being a very interesting trip.

It took me a few chapters to really get into the book, but that could've been because of the constant interruptions I experienced. But once I had a long stretch of uninterrupted reading time, I really got into it and ended up enjoying it.

Ben was not likable in the beginning. He was an entitled troublemaker with a chip on his shoulder, but I really liked seeing his character growth. By the end of the story, he had really changed and grown up quite a bit. I loved Sid, though. He was such an awesome character!

While this story was a lot of fun, things got pretty intense in the second half. Things took a turn in a way that I wasn't expecting. It was a definite page-turner! If you're a fan of middle-grade fantasy and can find a copy of this book, I definitely recommend it! I really enjoyed it!

FOUR STARS

Can't Wait Wednesday: Fatal Pattern (The King Legacy Book #2) by Kate Angelo

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 Fatal Pattern (The King Legacy Book #2) by Kate Angelo releasing September 15.

SYNOPSIS

A COVERT INVESTIGATION
A stalker attacks behavioral analyst Dr. Tori Crew at knifepoint, shattering the fierce independence she's built since her parents' unsolved murder. Forced into an off-the-books criminal investigation, Tori must push her expertise--and her fiercely guarded heart--to the breaking point as a killer's pattern emerges.

A LOOMING THREAT
Homicide detective Blade St. James has been Tori's friend and protector since childhood. Haunted by his own past of parental abandonment, Blade is determined to build a stable life and find the peace that always seems just out of reach. But when Tori's life is threatened, his guardian reflexes collide with everything he's been trying to build.

A HIDDEN MENACE
As the conspiracy rooted in Tori's past pulls them deeper, the boundaries of their friendship blur, and the truth neither can deny becomes impossible to ignore. Can they unmask the sophisticated serial killer before they become the final, fatal piece in the pattern?

In this gripping romantic suspense thriller, Kate Angelo delivers pulse-pounding psychological suspense and forensic investigations threaded with slow-burn romance and a heart-stopping cold case. Perfect for fans of Criminal Minds, Lynette Eason, Nancy Mehl, Colleen Coble, and Irene Hannon.

What upcoming release are you eagerly awaiting?

Review: Flaw and Order (The Worst Detective Ever Book 14) by Christy Barritt

SYNOPSIS

Some women panic. Joey Darling packs a suitcase.

Joey Darling knows not to interfere with a police investigation—especially one involving her husband, Detective Jackson Sullivan. But when Jackson vanishes while working undercover and no one will tell her what's happening, Joey launches her own investigation.

Armed with little more than a cryptic clue, an overactive imagination, and her irrepressible Aunt Dizzy, Joey heads to a charming coastal town where a stranger seems far too interested in her arrival, mysterious late-night activity unfolds along the waterfront, and the tightlipped locals warn her to stay away from the wrong side of the docks.

She soon suspects Jackson is in far more danger than anyone realizes. But with no script to follow, a knack for turning simple surveillance into spectacular disaster, and a celebrity face even a clever disguise can’t hide, Joey must improvise now more than ever.

Will her flaws lead to order this time? Or will this be the case that plunges her in too deep to ever find her way back to the surface?

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

Flaw and Order did not disappoint! I loved it so much! It was so great being back with Joey and the gang. This is my favorite Christy Barritt series, so I’m always excited to see what new is going on with these characters. And there’s a lot that happens in this book!

Jackson, Joey’s husband, has been deep undercover for longer than he was supposed to be, so Joey and her aunt Dizzy take it upon themselves to head off and find him. Joey and Dizzy are quite the pair! They’re hilarious and often found themselves in some dangerous situations. But they always meant well!

While this book had me laughing out loud in so many spots, it also had me emotional in others and on the edge of my seat throughout too. It was the perfect combination of funny, suspenseful, and emotional. It took turns I wasn’t expecting, and there was resolution to some things from previous books. There’s also some exciting things to look forward to!

This book left a big smile on my face. I absolutely adored it! If you’re a fan of fun cozy mysteries, don’t hesitate to pick up this series. You’ll love it!

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

FIVE STARS

Book Beginnings, First Line Friday, & Friday 56: Flaw and Order (The Worst Detective Ever Book 14) 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. 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 Flaw and Order (The Worst Detective Ever Book 14) by Christy Barritt.

SYNOPSIS

Some women panic. Joey Darling packs a suitcase.

Joey Darling knows not to interfere with a police investigation—especially one involving her husband, Detective Jackson Sullivan. But when Jackson vanishes while working undercover and no one will tell her what's happening, Joey launches her own investigation.

Armed with little more than a cryptic clue, an overactive imagination, and her irrepressible Aunt Dizzy, Joey heads to a charming coastal town where a stranger seems far too interested in her arrival, mysterious late-night activity unfolds along the waterfront, and the tightlipped locals warn her to stay away from the wrong side of the docks.

She soon suspects Jackson is in far more danger than anyone realizes. But with no script to follow, a knack for turning simple surveillance into spectacular disaster, and a celebrity face even a clever disguise can’t hide, Joey must improvise now more than ever.

Will her flaws lead to order this time? Or will this be the case that plunges her in too deep to ever find her way back to the surface?

Book Beginnings / First Line Friday

Three things never stopped at the Fatty Shack: the hush puppies, the gossip, and the Hot Chicks once they got rolling.

Friday 56

He tugged the ball cap low again, and the stillness came back over him like a tide coming in, smoothing everything flat. "You've got good instincts. So here's some free advice on top of the pie: Trust those instincts. The minute this town stops feeling friendly, you need to get back in that car, and you don't stop till you're back home."

What have you been reading?