Can't Wait Wednesday: Positively, Penelope by Pepper Basham

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 Positively, Penelope by Pepper Basham releasing August 1. 

About the Book

The world could do with a little more kindness and positivity and random acts of singing, don’t you think?

Dear Reader, My name is Penelope, and while I may not be a real-life princess, I’ve been told I possess a certain fairy-tale heroine quality. I wield optimism as my weapon of choice, don amazing shoes and vintage hats whenever possible, and speak in musical references. All of which perfectly qualifies me to succeed in my new role as a marketing intern at the historic Darling House theater on the island of Skymar.

Only . . . it seems this internship position is going to be a LOT bigger than I thought. The Gray family, who owns the theater, has been stuck in a rut of darkness ever since the loss of their matriarchs. Now all that’s left is a dying theater, a reclusive grandfather, three siblings, and an adorable seven-year-old girl who desperately needs some pixie-dust magic.

So that’s what this story is about. My plans to save the theater! (Plans that, somehow, keep being stolen by a local competitor.) And an anonymous online theater troupe. And two single brothers who may be vying for this American girl’s heart . . . until they’re not (or maybe they just want me for my ideas too). And a dream job offer that will require me to make a truly heart-wrenching decision. I may not excel at finishing stories, but I promise to see this one through to its happily ever after.

Positively,
Penelope

What upcoming release are you eagerly awaiting?

Review: Fairest of Heart by Karen Witemeyer

About the Book

Once upon a time in Texas . . .

Beauty has been nothing but a curse to Penelope Snow. When she becomes a personal maid for a famous actress whose troupe is leaving Chicago to tour the West, she hides her figure beneath shapeless dresses and keeps her head down. But she still manages to attract the wrong attention, leaving her prospects in tatters--and her jealous mistress plotting her demise.

After his brother lost his life over a woman, Texas Ranger Titus Kingsley has learned to expect the worst from women and is rarely disappointed. So when a young lady found in suspicious circumstances takes up residence with the seven old drovers living at his grandfather's ranch, Titus is determined to keep a close eye on her.

With a promotion hanging in the balance, Titus is assigned to investigate a robbery case tied to Penelope's acting troupe, and all evidence points to Penelope's guilt. But Titus might just be convinced that the fairest woman of all has a heart as pure as her last name . . . if only he can prove it.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

What a wonderful historical romance! Y'all know I love a good fairytale retelling, and I've gotta say, this was excellent. One of my favorites in recent memory. I loved all the nods to Snow White. Every time one popped up, I had to smile. My favorite part of the story was the Seven Drovers. They filled the shoes of their Dwarf counterparts so well. I loved them all.

Oftentimes with Snow White retellings, "Snow" comes across as annoyingly and unrealistically perfect, but I was happy to find Penelope to be very likable. Yes, she had the typical characteristics you'd find in Snow White, but she wasn't perfect, and I really liked that. Titus was a true gentleman. Such an honorable and caring guy. He could be stubborn about some things but could admit when he was wrong, which I appreciated. While I thought the villainess was a bit over the top, she fit the part well.

All in all, I really enjoyed this western retelling of Snow White. It was a fun and sweet read that I highly recommend to fans of inspirational historical romance.

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

4.5 STARS

Book Beginnings, First Line Friday, & Friday 56: Behind Closed Doors (The Worlds Behind Book 2) W.R. Gingell

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 Behind Closed Doors (The Worlds Behind Book 2) W.R. Gingell. This is a super fun and twisty sequel. I'm loving this series!

About the Book

When is a curse not a curse? How does a house become a prison? Why is a reformed murderer the only hope for a far-too-easily injured boy?

Athelas has always been opposed to having a small, possibly-cursed Australian boy in the kitchen. When that small boy disappears, however, and Athelas’ housekeeper Camellia strongly encourages him to do something about it, he finds himself wavering.

YeoWoo wants nothing to do with the disappearing Harrow, cursed or otherwise. Caught up with her own investigation and preparations for revenge, she would prefer her housemates to remain unseen and unheard. Entirely absent is even better.

But Athelas and YeoWoo have something in common: they both tread warily when it comes to their housekeeper, who runs the house with a tea-scented, magic-laced rod of iron. Camellia holds the key to Athelas’ pretensions of reformation being accepted—and blames him for Harrow’s disappearance. And she is determined to save Harrow, no matter what it takes.

Life as a reformed murderer would be so much easier if the process didn’t include so much…reformation.

Book Beginnings / First Line Friday

There was no one in the house when YeoWoo returned that morning. That was a vast improvement over yesterday when the entirety of the two-storey house had somehow been filled with the curious combination of a small, crushed human boy, a very angry housekeeper who smiled through her anger in a worrisome way, and a very nearly dead and far too twisty fae.

Friday 56

Given the nature of his more delicate work, Athelas sighed faintly and set his teacup down precisely on the table beside him at the buzz of the phone, catching Camellia's eye from across the room as he pulled it out of his pocket.

What have you been reading lately?

Review: 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.

Amazon / Goodreads 

Available in Kindle Unlimited at time of posting

My THOUGHTS

We're back in Lantern Beach with the start of this new series! I always enjoy visiting the island and its residents, so I was excited to find out what was going on around town this time.

The mystery instantly grabbed my attention and kept me guessing. Vowing to find the person who killed his friend, Jonah's search takes him to Lantern Beach and scientist Rachel Atwood. With his friend's cryptic last words, and the fact that she was just promoted into his friend's old position at the cosmetic company Ocean Essence, make her his top suspect. But instead of being a potential suspect, could she be the next victim? Something fishy was happening at Ocean Essence, and I was racing through the pages to find out exactly what was going on!

I really liked both Rachel and Jonah. I admired Jonah's loyalty and determination to get to the bottom of his friend's murder. And I could relate to Rachel and her social anxiety. I loved the fact that her favorite Bible verse was mine too!

All in all, I really enjoyed this trip back to Lantern Beach. I loved seeing familiar faces and meeting new ones, too. I recommend this book to fans of romantic suspense and look forward to the next one.

FOUR STARS

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?