Book Beginnings + Friday 56: Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes

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.

This week I'm featuring Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes. I recently finished this beautiful, uplifting, and emotional book. I loved it so much.

About the Book

In the wake of WWII, a grieving fisherman submits a poem to a local newspaper: a rallying cry for hope, purpose . . . and rocks. Send me a rock for the person you lost, and I will build something life-giving. When the poem spreads farther than he ever intended, Robert Bliss's humble words change the tide of a nation. Boxes of rocks inundate the tiny, coastal Maine town, and he sets his calloused hands to work, but the building halts when tragedy strikes.

Decades later, Annie Bliss is summoned back to Ansel-by-the-Sea when she learns her Great-Uncle Robert, the man who became her refuge during the hardest summer of her youth, is now the one in need of help. What she didn't anticipate was finding a wall of heavy boxes hiding in his home. Long-ago memories of stone ruins on a nearby island trigger her curiosity, igniting a fire in her anthropologist soul to uncover answers.

She joins forces with the handsome and mysterious harbor postman, and all her hopes of mending the decades-old chasm in her family seem to point back to the ruins. But with Robert failing fast, her search for answers battles against time, a foe as relentless as the ever-crashing waves upon the sea.

Book Beginning

"Every wave in that big old blue sea is a story."

Friday 56

Annie smiles, wondering if she has any right to intrude but hating the fact she holds knowledge that might bring some good to this courageous woman's life.

Do you read classics? If so, what is your favorite?

Not very often. My favorite is Dracula by Bram Stoker. I've read it too many times to count.

What have you been reading lately?

Review: Laughter at the Academy by Seanan McGuire

About the Book

From fairy tale forest to gloomy gothic moor, from gleaming epidemiologist’s lab to the sandy shores of Neverland, Seanan McGuire’s short fiction has been surprising, delighting, confusing, and transporting her readers since 2009. Now, for the first time, that fiction has been gathered together in one place, ready to be enjoyed one twisting, tangled tale at a time. Her work crosses genres and subverts expectations.

Meet the mad scientists of “Laughter at the Academy” and “The Tolling of Pavlov’s Bells.” Glory in the potential of a Halloween that never ends. Follow two very different alphabets in “Frontier ABCs” and “From A to Z in the Book of Changes.” Get “Lost,” dress yourself “In Skeleton Leaves,” and remember how to fly. All this and more is waiting for you within the pages of this decade-spanning collection, including several pieces that have never before been reprinted. Stories about mermaids, robots, dolls, and Deep Ones are all here, ready for you to dive in.

This is a box of strange surprises dredged up from the depths of the sea, each one polished and prepared for your enjoyment. So take a chance, and allow yourself to be surprised.

Amazon / Goodreads

My Thoughts

Seanan McGuire is one of my favorite authors, so I was beyond excited to dive into this collection. It was awesome! Each story was unique and different, yet still contained McGuire's creative genius and signature style. If you're new to McGuire's work, then Laughter at the Academy is an excellent place to start.

I usually find that most short stories are just too short and lack the depth they need to make a good story. But that's not the case with McGuire. She's near-flawless in her ability to take just a few words and weave them in such a way as to create a full and meaningful experience that lacks for nothing.

There were a few stories that weren't really to my tastes, but the vast majority of them were awesome. Here are some of my favorites.

Laughter at the Academy: A Field Study in the Genesis of Schizotypal Creative Genius Personality Disorder (SCGPD) - This story takes a rather interesting look and approach to the term “mad scientist” where it's treated like a disease of the worst order. I liked it. It raised some good questions.

The Tolling of Pavlov's Bells - The Tolling of Pavlov's Bells was an absolutely terrifying read for this hypochondriac. An author/microbiologist has created something with the potential to wipe out all of humanity. It was so scary because it was so realistic! Thanks to this story, I'll be having nightmares for weeks to come.

Crystal Halloway and the Forgotton Passage - This was an emotional portal fantasy. Crystal was torn between two worlds, The Otherways where she was a champion and hero to the realm, and the world she was born in, the reality that felt less and less real each time she left.

Emeralds to Emeralds, Dust to Dust - This was a grittier take on Oz. Dorothy, or Dot as she prefers now, is not the sweet, innocent little girl we remember, but a bitter and angry woman. She's a Princess of Oz. The Wicked Witch of the West. I was a little unsure about this story in the beginning, but once the mystery really got going I was sold and really, really enjoyed it. I'd love more stories set here.

Frontier ABCs: The Life and Times of Charity Smith, Schoolteacher - This was a space opera that had a bit of a western flair to it. Neither one of those genres are my favorites, but I LOVED this story. It was so much fun and I'd love more stories about Miss Cherry.

We Are All Misfit Toys in the Aftermath of the Velveteen War - AI toys go rogue and start a war. This story was disturbing, terrifying, and heartbreaking. It shines a light on the dangers of what might happen with artificial intelligence. Truly horrifying, and yet, I want more.

Office Memos - Office Memos was a hilarious story that followed the wacky lab incidents of a gremlin scientist. This was one of my absolute favorites. I loved it and wished it would've kept going. I didn't want it to stop.

#connollyhouse #weshouldntbehere - Follow alongside a character as she live tweets her experience inside a haunted house. I really liked this one. The fact that it was told only in tweets was a fun twist. Just a little warning though, it's VERY creepy! Gave me quite a fright!

NOTE: This book does contain some strong language.

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

Four Stars

Can't Wait Wednesday: Chasing the Shadows (Sentinels of the Galaxy #2) by Maria V. Snyder

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 Chasing the Shadows (Sentinels of the Galaxy #2) by Maria V. Snyder releasing November 18. 

About the Book

Year 2522. Lyra Daniels is dead.

Okay, so I only died for sixty-six seconds. But when I came back to life, I got a brand new name and a snazzy new uniform. Go me! Seriously, though, it's very important that Lyra Daniels stays dead, at least as far as the murdering looters, know.

While dying is the scariest thing that's happened to me, it morphed my worming skills. I can manipulate the Q-net like never before. But the looters have blocked us from communicating with the rest of the galaxy and now they believe we've gone silent, like Planet Xinji (where silent really means dead).

A Protector Class spaceship is coming to our rescue, but we still have to survive almost two years until they arrive - if they arrive at all. Until then, we have to figure out how to stop an unstoppable alien threat. And it's only a matter of time before the looters learn I'm not dead and returns to finish what they started.

There's no way I'm going to let the looters win. Instead I'll do whatever it takes to save the people I love. But even I'm running out of ideas...

Why I Need It
A new book from one of my favorite authors! I loved the first book in this series and have been very eager for the sequel. So excited!

What upcoming release are you excited about?

Review: Wyatt (The Montana Marshalls #4) by Susan May Warren

About the Book

He’s lost her twice…he’s not going to lose her again...

NHL Hockey Goalie Wyatt Marshall has everything--fame, money and a thriving career. But he’s hiding the two things that matter most...a career-ending injury, and his broken heart. He’s been in love with Coco Stanley since she walked into his life at age fourteen, a foster child for the Marshall family. She stole his heart years later, when, after a secret tryst, she returned to her home country of Russia. But she won’t let him back into her life—and he can’t figure out why.

She’s harboring a secret that could cost lives...

Coco Stanley is tired of living her life undercover. Or at least, with an assumed name, always pretending to be someone she’s not. And that’s not the only secret she’s harboring. If Wyatt discovers the real reason she left him, it might just destroy him. She’s resigned herself to loving him from afar...

But when he discovers she’s in danger...

Wyatt is horrified when he learns Coco has been shot and left in Russia, her fate unknown. There is nothing—nothing—that will stop him from finding her. So what if he’s not one of his super-heroic brothers, not a Ranger, not a SEAL...Wyatt is a hockey goalie, a special kind of crazy brave. Except, is he brave enough to face the secret Coco is keeping, or will it destroy everything he’s hoped for?

What will it cost them to save her?

What Wyatt and Coco don’t know is that revenge is stalking her and bringing her home just might cost them their long-awaited happy ending.

Amazon / Goodreads

My Thoughts

I love a good second chance romance and this one was great! It started out slower paced than the previous books, but that doesn't mean it was any less compelling. I was hooked and read it as fast as I could.

I have a bit of a weakness for hockey players, so I was excited to get to know Wyatt better. He's been somewhat of a mystery. Though we did finally get to spend a little bit of time with him in the previous book, it wasn't nearly enough. After this book, I've gotta say, I adored him. (Almost as much as Ford.) He's such a sweet guy. So different from his brothers, but no less of a hero. When the woman he loves is in danger and injured in Russia, Wyatt stops at nothing to find Coco. So what if they haven't seen each other in years? No big deal. There's no other woman for him. But there's a very big secret she's been keeping from him that just might tear them apart for good.

There were some actions and choices that a few characters made that irked me. I understand why they did it, but it was still frustrating. I want to explain better, but I don't want to spoil anything. And while I did want to shake some sense into these characters at times, I really did enjoy this book.

Wyatt was an emotional, action packed, and suspenseful romance that I had a hard time putting down. I can't wait to read Ruby Jane, the conclusion to this exciting series.

Four Stars

Review: David, Billionaire Cowboy (Billionaire Protectors #3) by Alexa Verde and Autumn Macarthur

About the Book
A cowboy, a celebrity TV journalist, and a baby in danger...

After losing his leg and the love of his life in an explosion, billionaire cowboy David King dedicates himself to the charity he founded in her memory, and to the Texas ranches he inherited. But when he finds an abandoned baby, he needs to keep the baby safe and uncover why someone is ready to kill to get the child. Unexpected help comes from the celebrity investigative reporter who crashes into his vehicle. But can he trust the famed serial dater who just wants to rehab a ruined reputation?

Aster Andrade has made many mistakes in her life. Like a teenage pregnancy, staying in an abusive marriage far too long, and failing as a mom. Now it seems she’s lost the career she gave up so much for, too. Helping the innocent baby is not a mistake. The reclusive billionaire cowboy intrigues her. But she's not about to fall for the wrong man again.

As the danger surrounding them escalates, can David and Aster keep the baby safe - along with their hearts?

A Christian contemporary romance with suspense.

Amazon / Goodreads

My Thoughts

Featuring wonderful characters, a mystery that kept me guessing until the reveal, and an inspirational message, David, Billionaire Cowboy was another great addition to this exciting series.

David and Aster don't really start out on the best of terms. There's a lot of false assumptions and rash judgments to begin with. But there's also an instant spark of attraction between them. There's a lot of obstacles to overcome, though, before they can act on it. A lot of trust-building and letting down of guards needs to happen first. I loved watching that relationship grow. It felt very organic and not forced.

I said this about the first book, but I'll say it again because I feel the same way; this was a soul-lifting read. My favorite thing about the book, this whole series really, has been the fact that God is at the forefront of the story. I love that! I can't recommend this series highly enough.

Four Stars

Book Beginnings + Friday 56: Wyatt (The Montana Marshalls #4) by Susan May Warren

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.

This week I'm featuring the fourth book in the Montana Marshalls series, Wyatt by Susan May Warren.

About the Book

He’s lost her twice…he’s not going to lose her again...

NHL Hockey Goalie Wyatt Marshall has everything--fame, money and a thriving career. But he’s hiding the two things that matter most...a career-ending injury, and his broken heart. He’s been in love with Coco Stanley since she walked into his life at age fourteen, a foster child for the Marshall family. She stole his heart years later, when, after a secret tryst, she returned to her home country of Russia. But she won’t let him back into her life—and he can’t figure out why.

She’s harboring a secret that could cost lives...

Coco Stanley is tired of living her life undercover. Or at least, with an assumed name, always pretending to be someone she’s not. And that’s not the only secret she’s harboring. If Wyatt discovers the real reason she left him, it might just destroy him. She’s resigned herself to loving him from afar...

But when he discovers she’s in danger...

Wyatt is horrified when he learns Coco has been shot and left in Russia, her fate unknown. There is nothing—nothing—that will stop him from finding her. So what if he’s not one of his super-heroic brothers, not a Ranger, not a SEAL...Wyatt is a hockey goalie, a special kind of crazy brave. Except, is he brave enough to face the secret Coco is keeping, or will it destroy everything he’s hoped for?

What will it cost them to save her?

What Wyatt and Coco don’t know is that revenge is stalking her and bringing her home just might cost them their long-awaited happy ending.

Book Beginning

Usually Wyatt, goalie for the Minnesota Blue Ox NHL team, could shrug off his mistakes. Ignore the horn blaring behind his ears, block out the cheering - and occasionally the gloating of the opposing players.

Not today.

Wyatt Marshall hadn't come all the way to Russia only to fail.

Friday 56

She'd read the text under the groggy 4:00 am sunrise.

RJ probably should have gotten a couple more hours of sleep instead of tiptoeing down the stairs and back into her crazy espionage life.

But frankly, RJ was tired of hiding.

What's your favorite horror book-to-movie adaptation?

I don't watch horror movies, so I don't have a favorite adaptation.

What have you been reading lately?

Review: City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab

About the Book

Ever since Cass almost drowned (okay, she did drown, but she doesn't like to think about it), she can pull back the Veil that separates the living from the dead . . . and enter the world of spirits. Her best friend is even a ghost.

So things are already pretty strange. But they're about to get much stranger.

When Cass's parents start hosting a TV show about the world's most haunted places, the family heads off to Edinburgh, Scotland. Here, graveyards, castles, and secret passageways teem with restless phantoms. And when Cass meets a girl who shares her "gift," she realizes how much she still has to learn about the Veil -- and herself.

And she'll have to learn fast. The city of ghosts is more dangerous than she ever imagined.

NYT bestselling author Victoria Schwab delivers a thrillingly spooky and action-packed tale of hauntings, history, mystery, and the bond between friends (even if that friend is a ghost . . .). 

Amazon / Goodreads

My Thoughts

City of Ghosts was a wonderful middle grade novel that had just the right amount of spookiness. A perfect read for Halloween.

It started off a little slow for me, but things really picked up and I found myself reading the last half of the book in record time.

The characters were great. Cass and Jacob were instantly likable. And so were her parents. The setting really came to life, so much so that I could actually feel myself there. Which was a little scary at times, I'm not gonna lie, lol.

I've seen a few reviews that have compared this book to Stranger Things and, yeah, I can see why. It's way different, but it does have that kind of vibe. So if you're a fan of that TV show, I think you'd really enjoy this book.

Four Stars

Can't Wait Wednesday: Brand of Light (The Droseran Saga #1) by Ronie Kendig

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 Brand of Light (The Droseran Saga #1) by Ronie Kendig releasing December 3.

About the Book
There's a price on her head, and it has everything to do with the brand on her arm.

Tertian Space Coalition has blessed every planet in the quadrants with high technology, save one: Drosero. But in spite of their tenuous treaty with the ruling clans, TSC has plans for the backward planet. And they're not alone.

After a catastrophic explosion, Kersei Dragoumis awakens in a derelict shuttle, alone, injured, and ignorant of the forbidden technology that has swept her into a nightmare. The brand she's borne since childhood burns mysteriously, but the pain is nothing to that when she learns her family is dead and she is accused of their murders.

Across the quadrants, Marco Dusan responds to the call of a holy order—not to join them, but to seek a bounty. Gifted—or cursed—with abilities that mark him a Kynigos, a tracker sworn to bring interplanetary fugitives to justice, Marco discovers this particular bounty has nothing to do with justice and everything to do with prophecy. One that involves the hunter as much as the hunted.

Why I Need It
A new Ronie Kendig book! I'm a huge fan of hers and while space operas aren't something I read much of, you can bet that this one is high on my list. There's sure to be lots of action and I can't wait to read it!

What upcoming release are you excited about?

Review: Home to Chestnut Grove by Christy Barritt

About the Book

A heartwarming, small-town Christmas story about restoring broken hearts and remembering those you love.

When Faith Winters returns to Chestnut Grove, Virginia, for the community’s annual Christmas celebration, she’s desperate to get in and out as quickly as possible. She’s failed at making it on Broadway and is certain her hometown will never accept her again after her sudden departure eight years ago. Despite that, she’s vowed to honor a promise and face the heartache she left behind.

Jake Whitmire is the sheriff in Chestnut Grove, but keeping the area free of crime is the least of his worries. Most days are filled with trying to keep the community’s spirits up as businesses have closed and jobs disappeared. He never expected to see the woman who broke his heart return home to lead up the town’s Christmas concert, nor is he sure he can ever forgive her.

As someone in town begins sabotaging the community’s celebration, Faith and Jake work together to find the person responsible and ensure their friend Aimee’s last request is fulfilled. Can holiday hope heal the broken spirit afflicting Chestnut Grove residents? Or is it time for everyone—including Faith and Jake—to treasure the memories of the past but to move on?

Amazon / Goodreads

My Thoughts

Home to Chestnut Grove is a wonderful romance full of forgiveness that's sure to get you into the Christmas spirit. It's uplifting, heartwarming, and oh so good! It's a little bit of a different type of story from Christy Barritt, but, goodness, did I love it or what!

With a deep message that really hit home, it spoke to me on so many levels. It really touched my heart. I wont lie, it even made me teary-eyed a few times. I want to say so much more, but I don't want to spoil a thing.

This is a novella that I know I'll be wanting to reread every Christmas. It's a new favorite that I highly recommend to everyone.

Five Stars

Book Beginnings + Friday 56: City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab

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.

This week I'm featuring City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab.

About the Book

Ever since Cass almost drowned (okay, she did drown, but she doesn't like to think about it), she can pull back the Veil that separates the living from the dead . . . and enter the world of spirits. Her best friend is even a ghost.

So things are already pretty strange. But they're about to get much stranger.

When Cass's parents start hosting a TV show about the world's most haunted places, the family heads off to Edinburgh, Scotland. Here, graveyards, castles, and secret passageways teem with restless phantoms. And when Cass meets a girl who shares her "gift," she realizes how much she still has to learn about the Veil -- and herself.

And she'll have to learn fast. The city of ghosts is more dangerous than she ever imagined.

NYT bestselling author Victoria Schwab delivers a thrillingly spooky and action-packed tale of hauntings, history, mystery, and the bond between friends (even if that friend is a ghost . . .). 

Book Beginning

People think that ghosts only come out at night, or on Halloween, when the world is dark and the walls are thin.

Friday 56

I'm so used to Jacob's constant commentary, like a narrator in my life, that without him, the world feels quiet. He's not always around, but this is the first time it feels like he's deliberately missing.

You're spending a night in a haunted house. What book would you bring with you?

Hmmm... good question. I wouldn't want anything scary because I'd already be scared enough in a haunted house. I'm thinking my Bible would probably be the best option.

What have you been reading lately?

Review: Shade: The Complete Trilogy: A Re-Imagining of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein by Merrie Destefano

About the Book

A holiday in Switzerland is supposed to lift Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin’s spirits. She wants to forget the past and have fun. In fact, everyone in her party is running away from one indiscretion or another—from her fiancé Percy Shelley to Lord Byron to Mary’s stepsister, Claire. But from the moment Mary arrives at Byron’s villa, she knows something is wrong. He rushes her indoors and forbids all of them to go out at night, claiming that the horrible weather has driven wild animals down from the mountains.

The only person who doesn’t seem to be running away from anything is a handsome, young Italian doctor, John Polidori. Instead, he is fervently pursuing local folk legends and a new scientific theory that claims people can be raised from the dead.

But it’s not until they all challenge one other to write ghost stories that the real danger begins. In a nightmare, Mary envisions a patchwork man animated by Galvanism and she begins writing Frankenstein. Likewise, fueled by local legends, John writes The Vampyre—one of the first vampire stories ever written.

What neither one of them knows is that they are conjuring a dark evil. Before long, all of their lives will be in danger—for neither of these characters are imaginary. Far from it.

Amazon / Goodreads

My Thoughts

Haunting and atmospheric this gothic tale was full of chilling horror, making it the perfect October read. I was completely absorbed in it from the very first sentence and held captive until the very last word.

Shade reimagines the origins of Frankenstein in a compelling and unique way. It's action-packed and has a lightning-quick, rapid-fire pace that kept me glued to the pages and reading as fast as possible.

This was my first time reading anything by this author and I loved it. I'll definitely be checking out more from her. I highly recommend Shade to anyone looking for a good, scary read.

Four Stars

Can't Wait Wednesday: Verse and Vengeance (A Magical Bookshop Mystery #4) by Amanda Flower

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 Verse and Vengeance by Amanda Flower releasing December 10.

About the Book

With the help of Walt Whitman's works, magical bookshop owner Violet Waverly puts her pedal to the metal to sleuth a bicycle-race murder that tests her mettle.

A bicycle race is not Charming Books proprietor Violet Waverly's idea of a pleasant pastime. But police chief David Rainwater wheelie wants them to enter the Tour de Cascade as a couple, so she reluctantly consents.

The Tour de Cascade is the brainchild of Violet's Grandma Daisy. The race is a fundraiser to build the Cascade Springs Underground Railroad Museum. But not everyone in this Niagara Region village supports the race. As if the bike race weren't tiring enough, pesky private investigator Joel Redding is snooping around Charming Books. It takes all of Violet's and Grandma Daisy's ingenuity to keep Redding from discovering the shop's magical essence--which communicates with Violet through books.

When Redding perishes in an accident during the race, David discovers that the brake line of the private eye's bike was cut. Worse, Violet tops his list of suspects. As Emerson the tuxedo cat and resident crow Faulkner look on, Charming Books steers Violet to the works of Walt Whitman to solve the crime. But no other names ring a bell as culprits, and as David's investigation picks up speed, Violet will have to get in gear to clear her name.

Why I Need It

This is such a fun cozy series. I'll confess I didn't even read the synopsis before adding it to my wishlist. Now, after reading what it's about, I'm even more excited! It sounds like a great mystery. And uh oh... seems like Violet could be in some real trouble here.

What upcoming release are you excited about?

Review: Murder at Archly Manor (High Society Lady Detective #1) by Sara Rosett

About the Book

A high society murder. A spirited lady detective. Can she out-class the killer before an innocent person takes the fall?

London, 1923. Olive Belgrave needs a job. Despite her aristocratic upbringing, she’s penniless. Determined to support herself, she jumps at an unconventional job—looking into the background of her cousin’s fiancé, Alfred.

Alfred burst into the upper crust world of London’s high society, but his answers to questions about his past are decidedly vague. Before Olive can gather more than the basics, a murder occurs at a posh party. Suddenly, every Bright Young Person in attendance is a suspect, and Olive must race to find the culprit because a sly murderer is determined to make sure Olive’s first case is her last.

Murder at Archly Manor is the first in the High Society Lady Detective series of charming historical cozy mysteries. If you like witty banter, glamorous settings, and delightful plot twists, you’ll love USA Today bestselling author Sara Rosett’s series for Anglophiles and mystery lovers alike.

Travel back to the Golden Age of detective fiction with Murder at Archly Manor. 

Amazon / Goodreads

My Thoughts

Murder at Archly Manor is a fantastic start to the High Society Lady Detective series. Considering how much I enjoy them, I don't read nearly enough books set during this time period, the Golden Age of detective fiction. I'm glad I picked up this book. I had so much fun with it.

Olive was instantly likable. She's recently found herself a bit down on her luck. She grew up as part of the aristocracy, but is now near-penniless. Finding a job proves more difficult than she imagined, so when an opportunity arises to take a job investigating her cousin Violet's suspicious fiance, she jumps at the chance. What follows is a witty, vastly entertaining mystery full of twists and turns.

My only complaint was that there were so many characters it was kinda hard to keep everyone straight, at first. But other than that, I had a wonderful time reading it and am very much looking forward to book two.

Four Stars

Book Beginnings + Friday 56: Shade: The Complete Trilogy: A Re-Imagining of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein by Merrie Destefano

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.

This week I'm featuring Shade: The Complete Trilogy: A Re-Imagining of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein by Merrie Destefano.

About the Book

A holiday in Switzerland is supposed to lift Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin’s spirits. She wants to forget the past and have fun. In fact, everyone in her party is running away from one indiscretion or another—from her fiancé Percy Shelley to Lord Byron to Mary’s stepsister, Claire. But from the moment Mary arrives at Byron’s villa, she knows something is wrong. He rushes her indoors and forbids all of them to go out at night, claiming that the horrible weather has driven wild animals down from the mountains.

The only person who doesn’t seem to be running away from anything is a handsome, young Italian doctor, John Polidori. Instead, he is fervently pursuing local folk legends and a new scientific theory that claims people can be raised from the dead.

But it’s not until they all challenge one other to write ghost stories that the real danger begins. In a nightmare, Mary envisions a patchwork man animated by Galvanism and she begins writing Frankenstein. Likewise, fueled by local legends, John writes The Vampyre—one of the first vampire stories ever written.

What neither one of them knows is that they are conjuring a dark evil. Before long, all of their lives will be in danger—for neither of these characters are imaginary. Far from it.

Book Beginning

I was cursed from the moment I met him.

Friday 56

I wrote through the night, although there wasn't much left to this night. My story bled from my fingers, one black word at a time until many pages were filled with my curving script. I had to lose myself. I had to focus on the troubles of my patchwork man and forget about everything else.

Name one book that gets you in the mood for Halloween.

I'd say any book that has a bit of a spooky-vibe will get me in the mood for Halloween. But if I had to choose just one, it'd be Dracula by Bram Stoker. Can't beat that one!

What have you been reading lately?

Review: Belinda Blake and the Snake in the Grass by Heather Day Gilbert

About the Book
When exotic pet-sitter Belinda Blake moves into a carriage house in tony Greenwich, Connecticut, she’s hoping to find some new clients. Instead she discovers a corpse in the garden—and a knack for solving murders . . .  
 
Pet-sitter Belinda Blake doesn’t rattle easily, but move-in day has been eventful, to say the least. The python in her care tried to slither to freedom—just as she met Stone Carrington V, her landlords’ disarmingly handsome son. With the constrictor back in its cage, she heads out to the garden, only to discover a designer shoe poking out of the boxwood hedge—attached to a woman’s dead body.

The victim, Margo Fenton, was a Carrington family friend, and no one in their circle seems above suspicion. Between client trips to Manhattan and visits to her family in upstate New York, Belinda begins to put the pieces together. But though she’s falling for Stone’s numerous charms, Belinda wonders if she’s cozying up to a killer. And soon, daily contact with a deadly reptile might be the least dangerous part of her life . . .

Amazon / Goodreads

My Thoughts

Exotic pet-sitter and video game reviewer Belinda Blake has just moved into the carriage house on the wealthy Carrington family property when she stumbles upon a dead body in her flowerbed. Alongside the handsome Stone Carrington the fifth, she sets out to find the person who murdered the young lady.

Quirky and introverted, Belinda was super relatable and easy to like. I don't ever recall reading a book that featured a female gamer before, so I really enjoyed that. I'm a bit of a gamer myself so I thought that was neat.

I thought I had the mystery all figured out. I was positive I knew who the culprit was, but I was absolutely shocked by the reveal. I did not see that one coming!

This was one of the best cozy mysteries I've read in a while. It was a lot of fun and had an easygoing flow to it that I loved. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good mystery. I'm very eager to see what happens in the next installment.

4.5 Stars

Can't Wait Wednesday: Seconds to Live (Homeland Heroes #1) by Susan Sleeman

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 Seconds to Live (Homeland Heroes #1) by Susan Sleeman releasing December 3.

About the Book
When cybercriminals hack into the US Marshals' Witness Protection database and auction off witnesses' personal details to the highest bidders, the RED Team led by FBI Agent Sean Nichols begins a high-stakes chase to find the hacker. But before he can even get started, the first witness is targeted and barely escapes with her life. Sean believes Phantom, an obsessed hacker who previously outwitted the top minds in the field, is behind the attack, and Sean needs this witness's help, as she's the person who has come closest to discovering Phantom's identity.

Trouble is, she's a witness under the care of US Marshal Taylor Mills, and Sean is reluctant to work with the captivating marshal who knows his deepest secrets. But Phantom claims he knows where the witness is hiding and will kill her, so to stop the hacker, Sean and Taylor must work through their personal pain and learn to trust each other. . . . The seconds are ticking down before someone dies. 

Why I Need It

Cybercriminals hack into the Witness Protection database? Scary! I'm super intrigued by this and can't wait to get my hands on a copy!

What upcoming release are you excited about?

Review: The Aftermath (Love in Chaos #2) by Amy Matayo

About the Book

According to Riley Mae Floss, life is a ten-page menu of possibilities. As the owner of a cupcake shop in small-town Missouri, she thrives on candies and rainbows and spreading joy every chance she gets. Even her hair is the color of bubble gum. Life is just the way she likes it, so why would she want anything to change now?

But when a tornado rips into Riley Mae’s southern town and destroys nearly everything in its path, her happy little life changes in less than forty-two seconds. Buildings gone. Homes carried away. People missing or even dead. Her bakery a shell of what it once was; also her life. Riley Mae’s picture-perfect world is shattered, and everyone she cares about has been hurt in the process.

According to insurance adjuster Chad Gamble, life always works out exactly the way it’s supposed to…for other people. As for him, life is a bit of a crapfest—one where he never wins the prize, makes the starting team, or gets the girl. He’s straight-laced, suit-and-tie, all-business, and sees the world for the color it is: muted gray with a little black around the edges.

So when Chad Gamble walks into Riley Mae’s ruined bakery to “assess the damages”—his words, not hers—he has no intention of getting bogged down by sentimental nonsense. Sparks immediately start to fly, and not the good kind. Who does this pushy, pink-haired chick think she is, treating him like an outsider when all he came to do was help? He can’t figure out why the locals like her so much.

Or worse, why he can’t stop thinking about her. 

Amazon / Goodreads

My Thoughts

Oh my! This book, y'all! It absolutely broke my heart. A tornado rips through town and completely destroys lives, leaving many destitute, their homes destroyed, loved ones lost. They have nowhere to go and very little hope. Though one of the bright spots in their day is going to the cupcake shop owned by Riley Mae Floss. She's been just as affected by the tornado as the rest of the town, but makes it her mission to lighten the load a bit for everyone who walks through her door.

There's always something so real and relatable about the characters in Amy Matayo's books. And that's still the case in this book with Riley and Chad. And even the characters who only appear in one quick scene. There's a real authenticity.

Riley has been through a lot in her life. Faced quite a few hardships, ups and downs. She's overcome a lot, but one thing she doesn't do is let people get close to her. Most of the people she's cared about, with the exception of her grandmother, have left her in some way or another. She just can't deal with being hurt again, so she doesn't let anyone close enough to try.

Chad's always trying to prove himself and feels like he never measures up. The girl he was in love with chose his brother over him. Things just never seem to work out for him...until he meets Riley.

The Aftermath is an emotional read, for sure, but there was also a nice amount of humor to lighten things up when it started to get too heavy. It struck a perfect balance. I highly recommend it to fans of contemporary romance.

Four Stars

Book Beginnings + Friday 56: Belinda Blake and the Snake in the Grass by Heather Day Gilbert

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.

This week I'm featuring a super fun cozy mystery, Belinda Blake and the Snake in the Grass by Heather Day Gilbert.

About the Book

When exotic pet-sitter Belinda Blake moves into a carriage house in tony Greenwich, Connecticut, she’s hoping to find some new clients. Instead she discovers a corpse in the garden—and a knack for solving murders . . .  
 
Pet-sitter Belinda Blake doesn’t rattle easily, but move-in day has been eventful, to say the least. The python in her care tried to slither to freedom—just as she met Stone Carrington V, her landlords’ disarmingly handsome son. With the constrictor back in its cage, she heads out to the garden, only to discover a designer shoe poking out of the boxwood hedge—attached to a woman’s dead body.

The victim, Margo Fenton, was a Carrington family friend, and no one in their circle seems above suspicion. Between client trips to Manhattan and visits to her family in upstate New York, Belinda begins to put the pieces together. But though she’s falling for Stone’s numerous charms, Belinda wonders if she’s cozying up to a killer. And soon, daily contact with a deadly reptile might be the least dangerous part of her life . . .

Book Beginning

The first time I saw Stone Carrington the fifth, I had a snake wrapped around my neck.

Friday 56

The snow had melted and the day seemed to be warming up nicely, so I dug around for an outfit that would blend into the landscape. Finally, I found an olive green shirt and camo pants. I added my brown boots and brown knit hat, figuring I could skulk around behind trees and bushes in this garb.

You've dropped your favorite book while being chased by a herd of zombies. Would you go back to retrieve it?

No. I'd keep running and just buy another copy later. There's no way I'd give the zombies an even easier chance of catching me.

What have you been reading lately?

Review: Legacy Rejected (The Legacy #1) by Robin Patchen

About the Book

All she wants is a home, but there is no safe haven when mobsters are after you.

  

Realtor Ginny Lamont's family has abandoned her, leaving her with nothing but a warning that she’s in danger. But Ginny's built a home in New Hampshire. After a childhood of nomadic living, she’s not running again, certainly not because of some nameless, baseless threat.

Real estate developer Kade Powers is thrilled to go out with Nutfield’s beautiful new real estate agent. But the prowler they surprise after their first date offers a glimpse into Ginny's past and the legacy of lies her parents left her with. She brings a mystery, one he’s determined to help her solve.

With Kade’s help, Ginny searches for the truth of her parents’ criminal activity while her enemies close in. When the mobsters show up in her quaint New England town, will she find a way to bring them down, or will she lose the life—and the man—she’s come to love?

Amazon / Goodreads

My Thoughts

Ginny Lamont moved to Nutfield to be closer to her sister Kathryn, but she wants nothing to do with Ginny. Kathryn even goes so far as to move away, trying to sneak away before Ginny notices she's gone. Ginny catches her before she departs and Kathryn leaves her with a warning to leave too. She needs to run before “they” show up. But she can't leave. She's got nowhere else to go. Plus she loves Nutfield. It feels like home to her. It's not long before “they” show up, though, and Ginny's questioning her decision to stay.

Legacy Rejected started off slow for me. It took awhile to grab my interest and I never really connected to either one of the characters. Also, there were a few things that didn't seem very believable. But by no means was it bad. I just think I wasn't really in the mood for this type of book which is a shame and is probably why I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. There's a ton of people who have really loved it, though, so don't just take my word on it.

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Bridge to Belle Island by Julie Klassen

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 Bridge to Belle Island by Julie Klassen releasing December 3.

About the Book

After a humiliating mistake, lawyer Benjamin Booker resolves to never again trust a beautiful woman. When an old friend is killed, the senior partner isn't satisfied with Bow Street's efforts and asks Benjamin to investigate. Eager to leave London for a while, Benjamin agrees. Evidence takes him to a remote island on the Thames, a world unto itself, shrouded in mist and mystery. Soon he finds himself falling for the main suspect--a woman who claims not to have left the island in ten years. But should he trust her?

On Belle Island, Isabelle feels safe and leads a productive life, but fear keeps her trapped there. When Mr. Booker arrives with news of her trustee's murder in London, Isabelle is stunned. She has not left the island, yet she has a recurring dream about the man's death. Or is it a memory? She had been furious with him, but she never intended . . . this.

When a second person dies and evidence shockingly points to her, Isabelle doesn't know who to trust: the attractive lawyer or the admirer and friends who assemble on the island, each with grudges against the victim. Can she even trust her own mind? While they search for the truth, secrets come to light and danger comes calling. 

Why I Need It

It's been a few years since I've read a Julie Klassen book and this one sounds amazing! The mystery seems really intriguing. Why does all the evidence point to Isabelle? What's up with the recurring dream? Did she do it? Is she being set up? If so, by who? What's going on? I need to know!

What upcoming release are you excited about?

Review: A Time Traveller's Best Friend by W.R. Gingell

About the Book

Meet Marx. Meet Kez.

Marx is a small, angry man with a time machine and a chip on his shoulder. Kez is a homicidal little girl with a price on her head and a penchant for kicking people where it hurts the most.

After a narrow escape from the owners of the stolen craft he pilots, the last thing Marx wants is another gun pointed at him. What he wants and what he gets, however, are two very different things.

On the run from killers, shadowy corporations, and one very specific Someone, the last thing Kez wants when she points a gun at yet another apparent killer is a self-appointed protector.

What she wants and what she needs, however, are two very different things... 

Amazon / Goodreads

My Thoughts

It's been way too long since I read a time travel book. I used to devour them as fast and as often as I could. So I was super excited when I stumbled upon A Time Traveller's Best Friend by one of my favorite, newly-discovered authors W.R. Gingell. I discovered her City Between series earlier this year and have been slowly making my way through her backlist.

This book was so good! So much fun. Full of so much heart. Things did get a little confusing at times. Events don't happen in a “straight-line” way, but bounce all over the place. It is time travel, though, so that's to be expected. And it was fun, in a way, trying to figure it all out. Trying to connect all the dots. And things did get straightened out before long.

All in all, if you're a fan of time travel, then I'd definitely recommend picking up a copy of this book. I'm eager to check out the sequel.

Four Stars