Thursday, December 31, 2020

Book Beginnings + Friday 56: Point of Danger (Triple Threat #1) by Irene Hannon

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 Point of Danger (Triple Threat #1) by Irene Hannon. It feels like it's been ages since I've read an Irene Hannon romantic suspense, so I was excited to dive into this latest one from her.

About the Book
Radio talk show host Eve Reilly is used to backlash from her pot-stirring on-air commentary and interviews, but now it seems a disgruntled listener is resorting to more than angry words to express their displeasure. When a suspicious package arrives on her doorstep, Eve turns to law enforcement for help.

Police detective Brent Lange can't find any evidence to link the string of unsettling incidents that follows, but he's convinced they're connected. As the harassment grows more menacing, it becomes clear someone wants Eve's voice silenced--permanently.

But unless he can track down her foe, fast, the gutsy woman who is willing to take risks for what she believes--and who is swiftly winning his heart--may not survive.

Bestselling author and three-time RITA Award winner Irene Hannon is back with a heart-stopping new series that will have you turning pages well into the night.

Book Beginnings
The package was ticking.

Friday 56
"Ms. Jackson...may I speak with you for a few minutes?"
As  the familiar male voice addressed her, Meg jolted to a stop and swiveled around, pulse hammering. Steve had been right. The detective on Eve's case had, indeed, sought her out at the office.

What have you been reading lately?

Review: Hadley Beckett's Next Dish by Bethany Turner

About the Book
Celebrity chef Maxwell Cavanaugh is known for many things: his multiple Michelin stars, his top-rated Culinary Channel show To the Max, and most of all his horrible temper. Hadley Beckett, host of the Culinary Channel's other top-rated show, At Home with Hadley, is beloved for her Southern charm and for making her viewers feel like family.

When Max experiences a very public temper tantrum, he's sent packing to get his life in order. When he returns, career in shambles, his only chance to get back on TV and in the public's good graces is to work alongside Hadley.

As these polar-opposite celeb chefs begin to peel away the layers of public persona and reputation, they will not only discover the key ingredients for getting along, but also learn the secret recipe for unexpected forgiveness . . . and maybe even love. In the meantime, hide the knives.

Fan-favorite Bethany Turner serves up a heaping helping of humor and romance with this thoroughly modern story centered on cooking, enemies, and second chances.


My Thoughts

Bethany Turner has quickly become my go-to author for romantic comedy. Hadley Beckett's Next Dish is another hilarious, laugh-out-loud funny, impossible to put down read from her. I loved it so stinkin' much! It might just be my new favorite from her which is a tall order because her previous ones are some of my favorite rom-coms ever.

This one was full of lighthearted moments, but also a lot of depth, too, dealing with some deeper and more emotional issues. It struck the perfect balance between the two and made it feel more true to life.

I watch a lot of the Food Network, so I loved the fact that this featured characters from cooking shows. It was almost like getting a sneak peek behind the scenes. It was so fun!

I liked Hadley right off. She was sweet, kind, humble, relatable, and so down to earth. It felt like she could be a friend.

Max's introduction was unforgettable, that's for sure. Memorable, but not in a good way. He was definitely a pompous, self absorbed jerk in the beginning and I wondered how in the world he could redeem himself. But it wasn't long, though, before he charmed me and by the end of the book, became one of my favorite leading men I've read about in a while.

I loved every second I spent with these characters and didn't want my time with them to end. Hadley Beckett's Next Dish gets a huge recommendation from me. It's one of the best books I've read all year.

Five Stars

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Prince of Spies (Hope and Glory #3) by Elizabeth Camden

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 Prince of Spies (Hope and Glory #3) by Elizabeth Camden releasing February 16, 2021. I've been loving this series so far and am so excited to finally get Luke's story. We've gotten to know him a little in the previous books and he's quite the interesting character. I can't wait to find out more about him.

About the Book
Luke Delacroix has the reputation of a charming man-about-town in Gilded Age Washington, DC. In reality, he is secretly carrying out an ambitious agenda in Congress. His current mission is to thwart the reelection of Congressman Clyde Magruder, his only real enemy in the world.

But trouble begins when Luke meets Marianne Magruder, the congressman's only daughter, whose job as a government photographer gives her unprecedented access to sites throughout the city. Luke is captivated by Marianne's quick wit and alluring charm, leading them both into a dangerous gamble to reconcile their feelings for each other with Luke's driving passion for vital reforms in Congress.

Can their newfound love survive a political firestorm, or will three generations of family rivalry drive them apart forever?


What upcoming release are you eagerly awaiting?

Monday, December 28, 2020

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Books of 2020


Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

I'm so excited to share my Favorite Books of 2020 with y'all today. I read so many fantastic books this year, so it was extremely hard to narrow it down. I started out with sixteen, figured that was too many and removed three, but then added one more, lol. 
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This was such a stunningly beautiful and heart wrenching story. So thought-provoking. So powerful. I'm still thinking about it today and imagine I'll still be thinking about it for a long time to come. In my review, I said it was a book of the year contender and that's a fact. It's my absolute favorite of the year and is one of the best books I've ever read. I can't recommend it highly enough. It's such an amazing story.

About the Book
The world is blind...then one boy is born with sight.

Nestled in a mountain haven, the remaining people of the world live in a village that is ordinary but strict. A severe peace must be kept severely, as they say. It's all that keeps them from descending into the chaos that claimed the world a hundred years ago.

Led by the Prophet Valdas and his Regents, the villagers work, play, marry, and have families. They gather in ceremony once a year to celebrate their Day of Remembrance. Life is planned, precise, and predictable until the special abilities of eleven-year-old Andrius threaten to undermine it all.
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This book resonated so hard with me. I've never connected with a character the way I have Lance. This might sound weird, but as I was reading it, I'd never felt so seen. A lot of his struggles were my struggles and his personality traits were mine. It was so nice to read about a character like that, like me. Author Jennifer Rodewald has a special talent for crafting authentic and true-to-life characters. 

About the Book
Their whirlwind romance takes the hard road toward happily-ever-after as disaster tests their love for each other and their faith in God’s goodness.

Sophie Shultz smiles at her future, even when she doesn’t feel like it, but when a country drive leaves this city-girl stranded in the mud, the cowboy who stops to help gives her plenty to smile about. For real. Lance Carson is tall, handsome, and kind, if a little on the quiet side—not to mention the owner of Big Prairie’s celebrated vineyard.

Lance has always had a decided preference for solitude, but when he rescues Sophie he develops a whole new appreciation for companionship. It doesn’t take long for him to lose his heart as she fills the aching void life’s disappointments have left behind. But a family issue has put him in a hard spot, pushing him to a decision that will ruin his relationship with many of Big Prairie’s citizens—and devastate Sophie, who adores her newly adopted hometown. Before he can figure out how to tell her, someone tattles on his plans.

As their relationship is put to the test, conflict presses in from every side. Can this rapidly grown romance sink its roots deep enough to weather the storms, or will Lance and Sophie both lose their way?
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I can't believe I waited so long to read this one! It's such a fantastic and hilarious read. It's not only my favorite book from Bethany Turner, but my favorite rom-com of all time. My review for it will be up this Thursday. 

About the Book
Celebrity chef Maxwell Cavanaugh is known for many things: his multiple Michelin stars, his top-rated Culinary Channel show To the Max, and most of all his horrible temper. Hadley Beckett, host of the Culinary Channel's other top-rated show, At Home with Hadley, is beloved for her Southern charm and for making her viewers feel like family.

When Max experiences a very public temper tantrum, he's sent packing to get his life in order. When he returns, career in shambles, his only chance to get back on TV and in the public's good graces is to work alongside Hadley.

As these polar-opposite celeb chefs begin to peel away the layers of public persona and reputation, they will not only discover the key ingredients for getting along, but also learn the secret recipe for unexpected forgiveness . . . and maybe even love. In the meantime, hide the knives.

Fan-favorite Bethany Turner serves up a heaping helping of humor and romance with this thoroughly modern story centered on cooking, enemies, and second chances. 
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Nobody does WWII fiction like Sarah Sundin. The attention to detail is always so spot on. I always feel like I'm transported back in time when I read one of her books. This one was no different. It was such a wonderful conclusion to this series about the Paxton brothers.

About the Book
In 1943, Private Clay Paxton trains hard with the US Army Rangers at Camp Forrest, Tennessee, determined to do his best in the upcoming Allied invasion of France. With his future stolen by his brothers' betrayal, Clay has only one thing to live for--fulfilling the recurring dream of his death.

Leah Jones works as a librarian at Camp Forrest, longing to rise above her orphanage upbringing and belong to the community, even as she uses her spare time to search for her real family--the baby sisters she was separated from so long ago.

After Clay saves Leah's life from a brutal attack, he saves her virtue with a marriage of convenience. When he ships out to train in England for D-day, their letters bind them together over the distance. But can a love strong enough to overcome death grow between them before Clay's recurring dream comes true?
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This was such a beautiful and unique fantasy. I'd never read anything like it before. The world-building was spectacular and the characters so fleshed out and real. 

About the Book

The dancers of the Order direct their floating world of Meriel with their movement... but are they steering it toward destruction?

Calara spent her life learning dance patterns and seeking to become the perfect servant to her people. When she discovers the work of the Order is built on lies, she flees with a rough-edged herder, Brantley of Windswell. Pursued by soldiers, her journey through the suffering villages of the rim leads her to encounter a truth that sends ripples through her world—and through her soul.

As she seeks clues to her forgotten family, Calara discovers newfound courage in the face of danger, while her quest awakens a growing but forbidden affection for Brantley. Yet even his support can't fully be trusted, since he'd rather destroy the Order than bring reform.

She is a lone woman facing opposition from rim villages and treachery from the all-powerful Order. Can she restore the dance to its true purpose and bring freedom and hope to her people?
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When I read an Elizabeth Camden book, I always feel like I learn so many interesting historical tidbits I didn't know before. And that was definitely the case with this one too. Not to mention, the characters were great too. Plus the romance. And the whole plot. Seriously, this whole book was stellar from top to bottom.

About the Book
Caroline Delacroix is at the pinnacle of Washington high society in her role as secretary to the first lady of the United States. But beneath the façade of her beauty, glamorous wardrobe, and dazzling personality, she's hiding a terrible secret. If she cannot untangle a web of foreign espionage, her brother will face execution for treason.

Nathaniel Trask is the newly appointed head of the president's Secret Service team. He is immediately suspicious of Caroline despite his overwhelming attraction to her quick wit and undeniable charm. Desperate to keep the president protected, Nathaniel must battle to keep his focus fully on his job as the threat to the president rises.

Amid the glamorous pageantry of Gilded Age Washington, DC, Caroline and Nathaniel will face adventure, danger, and heartbreak in a race against time that will span the continent and the depth of human emotion.
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I've gotta mention the second book, Flight of the Raven, here too. This has been one of the best fantasy series I've read in recent memory. It was such a powerful story. To see a character start off completely enmeshed in darkness and then, by the end, embracing the Light. Wow! So inspiring!

About the Book
Lady Selene Ravenwood has come into her full power as a dreamwalker just as the war with the Dominia Empire begins. Working with the other Great Houses, Selene and Damien use their gifts to secure the borders and save those devastated by the war. But conflict, betrayal, and hatred begin to spread between the Great Houses, destroying their unity as the empire burns a path across their lands. At the same time, Damien Maris starts to lose his ability to raise the waters, leaving the lands vulnerable to the empire's attacks.

The only one who can unite the houses and restore her husband's power is Selene Ravenwood. But it will require that she open her heart to those who have hurt her and let go of her past, despite the one who hunts her and will do anything to stop her power.

Will Selene survive? Or is she destined to fall like the dreamwalkers before her?
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Okay, so I wanted to list all (five) of Jennifer Rodewald's books I read this year, but thought that might be a bit much, lol. But seriously, every single one of them was spectacular, five star reads. This one was full of so many laughs, but had a lot of depth too. And it had one of the single most mortifying, but absolutely hilarious, meetings between the main characters I've ever read. Oh my goodness! So funny! I'm laughing right now just thinking about it, but also cringing a little bit too. 

About the Book
They made a pact of friendship. Love was not supposed to be part of the deal.

Lauren is desperate to escape the massive shadow of her father’s and sister’s political careers.

Matt is running from the biggest disappointment of his life.

After a messy meeting in a snowbound airport, they launch a new friendship, founded on a mutual love for the Lord and an agreement of respect. They find themselves working together at the Lake Shore Resort, thankful to have each other as they each carve out a fresh start. But as the winter season wears on, and through a few interesting predicaments, one begins to feel more, and the other...well. Maybe neither knows what they really want. Already wounded from the things they’ve left behind, Matt and Lauren wrestle with what comes next. Afraid to move forward. Not wanting to go back.

Each must face a dilemma that only the hand of the Potter can smooth into a hopeful, promising future. Can they surrender past hurts, as well as their future hopes and plans and trust the good intentions of the God they both love?
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Based on the true story of Sophie Scholl and the White Rose resistance group in Nazi Germany, this was an emotional, inspiring, and moving read. The bravery this group showcased was awe-inspiring. This is a must read that I recommend to everyone. My words can never do this story justice. It's so good. 

About the Book
Inspired by the incredible true story of a group of ordinary men and women who dared to stand against evil

The ideal of a new Germany swept up Sophie Scholl in a maelstrom of patriotic fervor--that is, until she realized the truth behind Hitler's machinations for the fatherland. Now she and other students in Munich, the cradle of the Nazi government, have banded together to form a group to fight for the truth: the White Rose. Risking everything to print and distribute leaflets calling for Germans to rise up against the evil permeating their country, the White Rose treads a knife's edge of discovery by the Gestapo.

Annalise Brandt came to the University of Munich to study art, not get involved with conspiracy. The daughter of an SS officer, she's been brought up to believe in the Führer's divinely appointed leadership. But the more she comes to know Sophie and her friends, the more she questions the Nazi propaganda.

Soon Annalise joins their double life--students by day, resisters by night. And as the stakes increase, they're all forced to confront the deadly consequences meted out to any who dare to oppose the Reich.

A gripping testament to courage, The White Rose Resists illuminates the sacrifice and conviction of an unlikely group of revolutionaries who refused to remain silent-no matter the cost.
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I didn't think there was any possible way that Julie Hall's new series would be as good as her first one, Life After. Man, was I happy to be wrong! Stealing Embers is very different, but just as good. I fell in love with the characters and the setting, and became so completely engrossed in the storyline. It's a definite must read for fans of urban fantasy.

About the Book
A realm of monsters. A world of lies. She belongs to both.

My name is Emberly, and everything I’ve ever been told is a lie.

Monsters don’t exist. Wrong.
The nightmarish spectrum world is just my imagination. Wrong.
In a few months, I’ll finally be free. Wrong.

It takes being dragged to a secret training academy in the mountains to unravel the truth. My captors--an elite race of angel-born warriors called Nephilim.

The deadliest of them all is an arrogant shape shifter, Steel. He’s gorgeous, lethal, hot-headed . . . and convinced I’ll be the death of them all.

Maybe he’s right. As soon as I show up, the monsters that have haunted me my entire life breach the academy walls. My only hope of saving my new friends is learning how to control my powers, but when a stunning betrayal hurts someone I care about, I have an impossible choice.

Stay and fight for a place to belong . . . or decide once and for all that I’m better off alone.

Enter the spectrum world, a realm in-between worlds where shadow beasts draw blood, reality is a maze of twisted lights and sounds, and life goals are whittled down to just one: survive.
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This was a great conclusion to a fantastic series. I didn't read much sci-fi before this series, but can't seem to get enough of the genre now. I love it when an author can spark a new love like that.

About the Book
Year 2522. Oh. My. Stars.

Junior Officer Ara Lawrence here, reporting for duty. Again. It's situation critical for the security team and everyone in the base - including my parents - with a new attack from the looters imminent, a possible galaxy-wide crime conspiracy and an unstoppable alien threat. But this all pales in the face of my mind-blowing discovery about the Q-net. Of course, no one believes me. I'm not sure I believe me. It could just be a stress-induced delusion. That's what my parents seem to believe...

Their concern for me is hampering my ability to do my job. I know they love me, but with the Q-net in my corner, I'm the only one who can help the security team beat the shadowy aliens from the pits we discovered. We're holding them at bay, for now, but the entire Milky Way Galaxy is in danger of being overrun.

With battles on too many fronts, it's looking dire. But one thing I've learned is when people I love are in jeopardy, I'll never give up trying to save them. Not until my dying breath. Which could very well be today...
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I found a new insta-buy author after finishing this book. It was such a fascinating read. It's a dual timeline that followed a woman in modern times striving to be the first female Navy SEAL and then a woman from the past involved in the Boston Tea Party. I loved every second of it.

About the Book
Boston, 1773
Emma Malcolm’s father is staunchly loyal to the crown, but Emma’s heart belongs to Noah Winslow, a lowly printer’s assistant and Patriot. But her father has promised her hand to Samuel Clarke, a rapacious and sadistic man. As his fiancée, she would have to give up Noah and the friends who have become like family to her—as well as the beliefs she has come to embrace.

After Emma is drawn into the treasonous Boston Tea Party, Samuel blackmails her with evidence that condemns each participant, including Noah. Emma realizes she must do whatever it takes to protect those she loves, even if it means giving up the life she desires and becoming Samuel’s wife.

Present Day
Lieutenant Hayley Ashworth is determined to be the first woman inducted into the elite Navy SEALs. But before her dream can be realized, she must return to Boston in order to put the abuse and neglect of her childhood behind her. When an unexpected encounter with the man she once loved leads to the discovery of a tea chest and the document hidden within, she wonders if perhaps true strength and freedom are buried deeper than she first realized.

Two women, separated by centuries, must find the strength to fight for love and freedom. . . and discover a heritage of courage and faith.
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This urban fantasy series just gets better with every new book. It's so much fun! Full of tons of humor, lots of action, and some of my favorite characters in recent memory. If your a fan of this genre, pick up a copy of this series. I can't recommend it highly enough.

About the Book
G’day. I’m still here. Still Pet.

Well, I’m only two thirds of a Pet these days, but you might as well call me Pet anyway. Everyone does: everyone but the vampire, that is.

Life is more unbalanced these days—cases are cutting closer to home than usual. I thought I was the only one, but there are others like me: kids whose parents were murdered just like mine. Stuff that never fit into place before is beginning fall into place.

And my psychos are getting really weird. I mean, they’ve always been weird, but now they’re getting weirder.

Why would a fae lord decide to collaborate with humans?

Why has the fae steward started sneaking out at night?

And why is the vampire reading romance novels?
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I don't read much non-fiction but I couldn't pass this one up. I struggle with MCS (multiple chemical sensitivity) and I found this book to be a great resource. It would be a great book for people who don't know much, or anything, about MCS too. It's a must read for everyone. Chemicals are everywhere and we need to start paying attention to the harm they're doing to us.

About the Book
How many chemicals have you put in, on, or around your body today? How many have been used in your home, church, school, or workplace? Do you know how they’re affecting you? Do you know their potential impact on others?

Commonly used products may be harming you in surprising ways and keeping a large and growing number of people out of church. Seemingly small decisions about the use of consumer goods can profoundly influence physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Efforts to create a positive environment within a home or organization are incomplete without focusing on air quality, which affects everything that happens inside a building and to the people who enter it.

Chemicals and Christians will help you understand the risks of everyday toxins, learn how to protect yourself, and determine how to make public and private spaces more accessible and healthy for all. The message in two words is this: Take care. Take care not to let everyday chemicals harm you and take care of those who’ve already developed Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) or another illness associated with toxic exposure. Packed with information, biblical counsel, and personal testimony, the book offers both practical and spiritual help.
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What were some of your favorite books this year?

Review: Goblins and Snowflakes by Melanie Karsak

About the Book
*Caution: May contain Christmas gnomes

Never bargain with goblin men.


Scarlette Rossetti thought her stay at Strawberry Hill Castle during the Christmas holiday would pass by uneventfully. She couldn't have been more wrong. Enticed by the delights of the nearby village of Twickenham, Scarlette's life would change in unimaginable ways.

She never expected to be drawn magnetically to The Two Sisters Doll Shop and Toy Emporium.

Scarlette didn't guess that tinkering clockwork gnomes could have supernatural consequences.

And she didn't know that one should never, ever, bargain with goblin men.

But during the Christmas season, magic is always brewing.

Charles Dickens meets Supernatural in this magical retelling of The Elves and The Shoemaker. Dive into New York Times bestselling author Melanie Karsak's award-winning fairy tale world set in gaslamp England.


My Thoughts

I absolutely loved this story. I'm not very familiar with the fairy tale it was based on, but that didn't hinder my enjoyment one bit. It's a super fun Christmassy read that transported me right into the story. Seriously, that first chapter? It made me so hungry! All those baked goods were described so well that I could almost taste them!

The characters were great and the romance was sweet. Scarlette and Archie had such great camaraderie. They were the perfect pair.

The world building was stunning. I'm so excited there are more books set in this world for me to explore! I can't wait to check them out. If you're a fan of steampunk or fairy tales, check this novella out. I highly recommend it.

4.5 Stars

Thursday, December 24, 2020

Book Beginnings + Friday 56: Hadley Beckett's Next Dish by Bethany Turner

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.

Merry Christmas, y'all! This week I'm featuring Hadley Beckett's Next Dish by Bethany Turner. I've been wanting to read this romantic comedy for a while now and finally got my hands on a copy. It's awesome, even better than I thought it'd be. I've been laughing so much!

About the Book
Celebrity chef Maxwell Cavanaugh is known for many things: his multiple Michelin stars, his top-rated Culinary Channel show To the Max, and most of all his horrible temper. Hadley Beckett, host of the Culinary Channel's other top-rated show, At Home with Hadley, is beloved for her Southern charm and for making her viewers feel like family.

When Max experiences a very public temper tantrum, he's sent packing to get his life in order. When he returns, career in shambles, his only chance to get back on TV and in the public's good graces is to work alongside Hadley.

As these polar-opposite celeb chefs begin to peel away the layers of public persona and reputation, they will not only discover the key ingredients for getting along, but also learn the secret recipe for unexpected forgiveness . . . and maybe even love. In the meantime, hide the knives.

Fan-favorite Bethany Turner serves up a heaping helping of humor and romance with this thoroughly modern story centered on cooking, enemies, and second chances.

Book Beginnings
"Okay, everyone! We're back in twenty. Places, please."

Friday 56
"What was I thinking? What was I thinking? What was I thinking?" I muttered to myself as I hurried through my ridiculously oversized house-for-one to the door. I looked down at my outfit one last time and smoothed it out and then took a deep breath before reaching for the knob.

What have you been reading lately?

Review: Hauntings and Humbug: A Steampunk Christmas Carol by Melanie Karsak

About the Book
Humbug! This Christmas, Ebony Scrooge will learn the true meaning of the holiday season.

It’s Christmas Eve in Victorian London, and Ebony Scrooge is hard at work tinkering weapons of mass destruction and avoiding all things Christmas. When the spirit of her deceased partner, Jacqueline Marley, warns Ebony that she will be visited by three ghosts, Ebony writes the visitation off as a dream. But on this Christmas Eve, the spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future must try to pull off a miracle, restoring Ebony’s heart before it’s too late.

Hauntings and Humbug is a retelling of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, set in New York Times bestselling author Melanie’s Karsak’s steampunk universe.


My Thoughts

Hauntings and Humbug is a gender-swapped retelling of A Christmas Carol in a steampunk setting. I absolutely loved it. It's a very quick but satisfying read. It brought out all my emotions. It's so full of heart and made me tear up a couple times.

For some reason, retellings of A Christmas Carol always wind up being some of my favorites. This one is right up there. I loved the steampunk twist. I never would've thought to place this story in a steampunk setting, but it worked so well. Like it was made for it.

If you're looking for a unique and heartwarming Christmas story, I highly recommend this one. It'll pull at your heartstrings and leave a smile on your face.

Five Stars

Merry Christmas Eve!

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Clean Romance for Christmas: Grand Finale

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

We hope you enjoyed getting a glimpse into these clean contemporary romances and grabbed some for yourself or as gifts for other romance lovers! If you missed any of the stops, you can see snippets, as well as the link to each full post, below. And don't forget to enter the giveaway below...

December 8th: Launch

December 9th: Krystal M. Anderson - Love's Sweet Return


Follow the Author: Website | Goodreads | BookBub | Facebook
Find the Book: Goodreads | Amazon

Snippet from the Excerpt (find the full post here):

Oregon, December 1869 

Charlotte Pullard opened her eyes to the gray of dawn, blinking slowly. Gradually, a beamed ceiling came into focus… but it wasn’t her ceiling. Whose ceiling was it? She closed her eyes again, thinking. 

She’d kissed her mother goodbye. Something about that felt sad, wrong somehow. Maybe she hadn’t wanted to leave. And her father… her father… 

December 10th: Julie Coulter Bellon - The Marquess Meets His Match


Follow the Author: Website | Goodreads | BookBub | Pinterest | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Find the Book: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Bookshop | Book Depository

Snippet from the Excerpt (find the full post here):

“In a hurry, my lady?” he said, arching his eyebrows and slowing his step. 

“I wouldn’t want to keep Lord Pembroke waiting,” she said, nearly pulling him along with her. 

But Wolverton stopped altogether. Since he still held her arm fast, she did, too, rather abruptly. Alice looked up in surprise. 

December 11th: Delaney Cameron - Because You Loved Me


Follow the Author: Website | Goodreads | BookBub | Facebook
Find the Book: Goodreads | Amazon

Snippet from the Excerpt (find the full post here):

Bridget smiled a little as she led the way to the stairs. “I guess that means my brother and sister are behaving. I hope you realize it won’t always be like that.”

“I’d be disappointed if it was. It’s natural for kids to test their limits.”

“Is that what you did?”

December 12th: Rachelle Paige Campbell - Love Overboard


Follow the Author: Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram
Find the Book: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Apple Books | Kobo

Snippet from the Excerpt (find the full post here):

Breathe in, breathe out. 

Caitlyn slowed her breathing and willed calm to her tingling limbs and her pounding heart. After disembarking the ship, she and Greg boarded a bus to the airfield. Her fear of heights didn’t extend to flying in commercial aircraft. During the thirty-minute drive, she watched a safety video and signed waivers about accidental death. She reconsidered her opinion. 

December 13th: Raneé S. Clark - Finding Taylor


Follow the Author: Website | Goodreads | BookBub Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
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Snippet from the Excerpt (find the full post here):

Gavin headed down to the restaurant to meet Taylor. He stuffed his hands in his pockets as he walked down, trying to contain the excitement at seeing her again. 

He arrived first and waved off the hostess’s offer to wait at the table, instead walking slowly around the lobby. He’d sat too much the last week anyway, not to mention the long flight from Rio. 

“Gavin?” 

December 14th: Chrissy Elliot - Finding Home on Winslow Island 


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“Is that him?” Gabby slapped Tessa’s leg like an overexcited Chihuahua. “That has to be him. Tessa, is that him? Tell me it’s him.”

Tessa laughed. “I told you I don’t know what he looks like.”

“Just look,” Gabby begged.

December 15th: Aspen Hadley - Suits and Spark Plugs


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The sound of the door opening from the mechanic shop interrupted me and I glanced up to see Connor Hunt coming into the lobby.

He nodded at the phone in my hand. “Looking at anything good?”

“A physiology text book.”

“Sure. Good choice for some light reading on a snowy weekend afternoon.”

December 16th: Shanna Hatfield - The Christmas Bargain


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Luke waited to catch a glimpse of his bride. Chauncy kept him updated on her progress during the week. Sincerely hoping his friend hadn’t exaggerated, Luke felt it best to give Philamena plenty of space to adjust to being off the farm and away from her father. 

Eventually, with enough time and encouragement, he hoped they could become friends. If they were stuck living under the same roof for goodness only knew how long, it would be nice if they could get along. 

December 17th: D. E. Malone - Love, Lies and Mistletoe


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Frustrated, Layla unpacked while the sour details of their first meeting stirred. 

It had been at a fundraiser for Friendship House, a social service organization in the Twin Cities, and had attracted the heads of companies and old-money philanthropists. The ballroom of the historic Rennselaer Hotel had been transformed to showcase Brant Johnsson’s famed lights displays. Its ballroom was all plaster moldings, ceiling frescos, and soaring balconies on four sides with polished pillars of red oak standing like silent sentinels overhead. Someone mentioned Brant had used more than 25,000 lights on the balconies alone. 

December 18th: Melissa McClone - Sweet Yuletide


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The interior was more impressive now with the 360-degree view. Floor-to-ceiling windows along the far wall showed an overcast sky and the Atlantic Ocean. Hope mentioned the place was on the beach, but Sheridan hadn't expected it to be backyard close. Halfway to the glass, she let go of her suitcase and left it behind. The wheels might damage the floor. 

As she stood at the window with a sense of awe, her breath left a patch of fog on the glass. Christmas lights and garland were strung along the deck. An unexpected sight with the beach grass, giving a touch of color to the sand below. Gentle waves rolled in. A couple with their dog walked along the beach. 

December 19th: Sarah L. McConkie - The Promise of Miss Spencer


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Miss Suzanna Spencer smoothed her slightly dirty work apron and checked the state of her unruly dark blonde bun. She reached for her basket and pressed deeper into her family’s large vegetable garden. The fall sun shone with a warm hue as she smelled the rich, musky earth around her. At the edge of the plot on a stone bench sat her sickly, coughing father, who dutifully inspected his radishes. 

She sat down a few yards from him and sunk her trowel near a carrot, unearthing a rock. Chocolate-colored soil flew all over the tidy linen cravat of Mr. Lacy, her father’s studying vicar, who followed directly behind her, weeding the beds as she continued her story. “You see,” she said speaking quickly and with such animated hand motions that Mr. Lacy had no choice but to submit to the barrage of soil now covering his vest. 

December 20th: Kimberley Montpetit - Mostly Dangerous


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“Oh, my,” Sofia gasped under her breath as she suddenly, and irrevocably knew what it was like to be in Gavin Spencer’s arms. She could feel his hard chest muscles and the biceps outlined by his coat jacket. He smelled incredible, musky and masculine. A heady scent that made her so distracted she missed a step on the dance floor. “Oh, oops!”

“I’ve got you, Sofia,” he whispered into her ear.

“Sorry I’m distracted.”

December 21st: Kate O'Keeffe - Dating Mr. Darcy


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How on this sweet Earth did I get myself into this position?

I’m not talking metaphorically or spiritually or anything like that here, you understand.

Oh, no. I’m being much more literal.

Right now, I’m all alone in the back of the limo, whizzing through the outskirts of Houston on my way to some ranch out in banjo territory. I’ve managed to remove my mic, which was a feat all its own, and now I’m wrangling with my Timothy leggings. With an almighty effort, I pull them up to my thighs, my dress bunched up under my chin. Ever bunched up a sequin dress under your chin? Not comfortable.

December 22nd: Regina Scott - Always Kiss at Christmas


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The snow had stopped falling, she saw as she ventured outside. Like muslin, white sheets draped tree and field. Their gardener had swept the snow off the pond, and the ice glittered darkly under the heavy sky. She pointed one group toward the sleigh that stood waiting, the horses’ breath fogging the air, and another group toward the lawn, where two industrious youths were already fashioning snowballs. Though he remained at her side, Julian kept glancing toward the pond. Skating, then. Gliding along, arm in arm, their steps matching as they used to do when they were younger. How romantic. Another shiver went through her. 

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