Can't Wait Wednesday: Lost in Darkness by Michelle Griep

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 Lost in Darkness by Michelle Griep releasing November 1.

About the Book

Even if there be monsters, there is none so fierce as that which resides in man’s own heart.

Enchanting Regency-Era Gothic Romance Intertwined with Inspiration from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Travel writer Amelia Balfour’s dream of touring Egypt is halted when she receives news of a revolutionary new surgery for her grotesquely disfigured brother. This could change everything, and it does. . .in the worst possible way.

Surgeon Graham Lambert has suspicions about the doctor he’s gone into practice with, but he can’t stop him from operating on Amelia’s brother. Will he be too late to prevent the man’s death? Or to reveal his true feelings for Amelia before she sails to Cairo?

What upcoming release are you eagerly awaiting?

Review: Dance With The Sword (Bluebeard's Secret #2) by Sarah K.L. Wilson

About the Book

A GRIM BETRAYAL. A DYING KING. A HUSBAND WHO WON'T LET HER GO.

With the heart of the Wittenhame still ringing from Izolda's actions and her new husband shocked at her betrayal, the future seems very grim indeed.

If Izolda had been asked if she wanted to be rescued from her would-be bridegroom and returned to her home and family, she would have eagerly agreed to go, but now that she is back in the mortal world, she is quickly discovering that home, family and even the inclinations of her own heart are not what she expected.
Worse yet, Izolda has unwittingly become a pawn in a deadly dance between two Wittenbrand, snatched from the claws of one of them only to be stolen back by the other.

With her bodiless friend Grosbeak along for the ride and the great game of crowns and thrones still being played out across the nations, will Izolda's endless common sense still be enough to rescue her from disaster? Or will she fall prey to the terrible ambitions of her enemies?

DANCE WITH THE SWORD is the second book in the Bluebeard's Secret series following the eerie and romantic story of FLY WITH THE ARROW.

Warning: There are four books in this series. Read at your own risk.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

What a fantastic sequel to Fly with the Arrow. This picks up right where the last one left off. And, let me tell ya, the fast pace hardly lets up. I couldn't stop myself from racing through the pages. Filled with a constant sense of danger, a slow-building romance, and surprises at every turn, Dance with the Sword is just as good, if not better, than the first one.

With the way the first book ended, I was worried that we wouldn't see much of Bluebeard, Grosbeak, or really any of the Wittenbrand. But thank goodness that wasn't the case. To my delight, they were featured very prominently, even more so this go-around. I felt like we really got to know Bluebeard better and, I've gotta say, I can't get enough of him. He's such an intriguing guy. So multi-layered. I was excited that we got to experience the Game in such depth, too. It was brutal but captivating.

Now, about that ending! I just thought the previous book's ending was a doozy, but this one tops it! My goodness, what a cliffhanger! I'm so anxious to find out what happens next!

4.5 STARS

Book Beginnings + Friday 56: Scales and Sensibility (Regency Dragons) by Stephanie Burgis

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 Scales and Sensibility (Regency Dragons) by Stephanie Burgis. I LOVED it! It's such a fun historical fantasy. 

About the Book

Sensible, practical Elinor Tregarth really did plan to be the model poor relation when she moved into Hathergill Hall. She certainly never meant to kidnap her awful cousin Penelope's pet dragon. She never expected to fall in love with the shameless - but surprisingly sweet - fortune hunter who came to court Penelope. And she never dreamed that she would have to enter into an outrageous magical charade to save her younger sisters' futures.

However, even the most brilliant scholars of 1817 England still haven't ferreted out all the lurking secrets of rediscovered dragonkind...and even the most sensible of heroines can still make a reckless wish or two when she's pushed. Now Elinor will have to find out just how rash and resourceful she can be when she sets aside all common sense. Maybe, just maybe, she'll even be impractical enough to win her own true love and a happily ever after...with the unpredictable and dangerous "help" of the magical creature who has adopted her.

A frothy Regency rom-com full of pet dragons and magical misadventures, Scales and Sensibility is a full-length novel and the first in a new series of standalone romantic comedies.

Book Beginnings

It was a truth universally acknowledged that any young lady without a dragon was doomed to social failure. But it was becoming increasingly obvious to everyone in Hathergill Hall that for Penelope Hathergill, actually having a dragon would guarantee disaster.

Friday 56

"I beg your pardon?" Penelope's voice soared upwards. "Are you actually trying to claim that my dragon's behavior was my fault?"

What have you been reading lately?

Review: The Way We Are (Gaining Love) by by Tanya Eavenson

About the Book

To Gain a Bodyguard - Book One

Undercover ICE agent Madi Reynolds has spent years infiltrating a human-trafficking ring, but when her life is threatened, she is forced to walk away and advised to leave the country. Undeterred, she continues her plan to attend her brother’s Christmas wedding, with her partner assigned as her bodyguard. But after seeing Brice care for her niece, she finds it's more than her life that needs protecting. Is there really any defense for the heart?

War Veteran and ICE agent Brice Johnson has been defending his country and American lives for as long as he can remember. Now, he faces the biggest assignment of his life--protect the woman he loves. He's never been one to run from a fight, but when an old flame butts in expecting a second chance with Madi, and crippling visions of war call out to him, he begins to wonder if surrender is an option after all.

To Gain a Bodyguard - Book Two

Undercover ICE agent, Brice Johnson, fell in love with his partner, but the fight to control his PTSD drove him to leave her and his assignment.

Deep undercover, ICE agent Madi Reynolds’ identity is blown, and she is involved in a hit-and-run meant to kill. Lucky to be alive after her vehicle was forced off the mountain, she finds herself in a wheelchair and facing an unknown future.

Even though the men responsible were tracked down and brought to justice, Brice’s gut tells him Madi is still not safe. Details of the investigation aren’t adding up. In secret, Brice moves to Helen, Georgia, across the street from Madi. But how long can he stay in the shadows when seeing her struggle day in and day out bombards him with memories of their happier days.

Unable to forgive himself for Madi’s accident, Brice vows to protect her, but is it enough? Is he enough?

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

The Way We Are was a heartfelt, faith-filled romance featuring likable characters and a moving, inspirational story.

I can't even tell you how excited I was for this book. I loved Madi and Brice in To Gain a Bodyguard, but wanted more of their story. The Way We Are delivers that. It includes the original story and adds part two, which I loved just as much, maybe even more, than the first.

Book one featured Madi and Brice coming together. Book two finds them, a little while later, falling apart, no longer together and yet still drawn to each other. My heart broke for them and their struggles. I was rooting so hard for them. They're such a great pair and deserved all the happiness in the world.

If you're a fan of contemporary romance, I highly recommend The Way We Are.

FIVE STARS

Can't Wait Wednesday: False Prophet (Windy Ridge Legal Thriller #4) by Rachel Dylan

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 False Prophet (Windy Ridge Legal Thriller #4) by Rachel Dylan releasing October 26. The first three books were all five star reads for me, so I was ecstatic to find out there would be a fourth book. I've got it preordered and am so ready to dive into it. 

About the Book

When an arsonist destroys Windy Ridge Community Church, Pastor Dan is shaken to the core. He calls on attorney Olivia Murray and her boyfriend Grant Baxter to help secure a place for worship services. Shockingly, the City of Windy Ridge denies the church’s application to use the civic center, and Olivia brings a lawsuit to protect the church’s constitutional rights.

During this already challenging time for the Windy Ridge community, an outside pastor decides to open a place of worship within the city limits. People begin flocking to the young charismatic preacher especially since Windy Ridge Community Church lost its building. Olivia worries that this new and radical approach to faith will lead people astray, but with each passing day, his popularity continues to grow.

When the police make a surprise arrest in the church arson, the battle lines are drawn across Windy Ridge. Alliances are shaken and relationships are tested like they’ve never been before. The forces of darkness are working overtime to shake the faith of the believers. Can Olivia and Grant stand up for their faith and prevail in the battle of good versus evil?

What upcoming release are you eagerly awaiting?

Review: The Inn on Hanging Hill (The Beach House Mystery Series #2) by Christy Barritt

About the Book

Lindsey Waters never wanted to return to the seaside inn where she grew up. Too many traumatic memories haunt the place, both from her childhood and from days gone by. But with guilt relentlessly chasing her after a tragic choice, she’s desperate for a fresh start.

Mysterious incidents begin plaguing the inn—dangerous incidents—that make it clear someone wants to scare Lindsey away. But why? Does it have anything to do with the two weeks missing from her memory when she was abducted at age twelve?

Childhood friend Benjamin Newsom seems like an answer to prayer when he shows up to work as a handyman. But something is different about him, something Lindsey can’t put her finger on. She’s certain Benjamin harbors secrets.

As peril continues to close in, Lindsey must decide if she wants to face her past or run. She doesn’t know whom she can trust, and whatever choices she makes will determine if she lives or if she becomes part of the inn’s tragic legacy.

Amazon / Goodreads

Available in Kindle Unlimited at time of posting.

MY THOUGHTS

The Inn on Hanging Hill was an intriguing mystery that had me racing through the pages. Even though it's book two, it stands alone just fine. There's no connection to the previous book.

Lindsey's come back to her childhood home to fix up her family's dilapidated old inn and sell it. Lots of bad memories are attached to the place, and she's ready to get rid of it. When she was a preteen, Lindsey went missing for two weeks, but she can't remember exactly what happened then. Her memories for those two weeks are gone. Now that she's back, it looks like the past may be coming back to haunt her when mysterious things start happening around the inn and she starts receiving threats.

I can't say that I ever really connected with the characters, and there was some suspension of belief needed in a couple of places, but the mystery kept me very interested. I was so curious about what was really going on, who the culprit was, and why they did it. I didn't figure it out until right before the reveal. There were definitely some twists and turns, and some surprises that I didn't see coming.

3.5 STARS

A Couple of Reviews: Phoenix Heart: Season 1 by Sarah K.L. Wilson & Crimson Phoenix by John Gilstrap

About the Book

SHE THOUGHT THERE COULD BE NO FUTURE FOR SOMEONE LIKE HERE UNTIL SOMETHING BLOOMED IN HER HEART - A PHOENIX.

Disabled and rejected in her community, Sersha has never had a best friend. Until one day, a phoenix enters her world, tied to her heart in a way no one can break.
Now, this great fiery beast has adopted her as his best friend and he wants to take her away from the world she’s known until now.

But Sersha’s village is in trouble and unless she can learn to work with her phoenix friend right now, they might both lose the future they were counting on.

Will Sersha’s big heart be enough to forge a bond between them?

NOTE FROM AUTHOR:

"Phoenix Heart "is a series very much like your favorite streaming tv show. There are seasons and episodes. The episodes are designed to be read in roughly two hours, though fast readers will read more quickly and those of you who like to take your time may go more slowly. They’re intended to be fast-paced and exciting, and they release frequently so that you can keep up with the story even if you have a very busy life. Perfect for lunch breaks, a single evening of enjoyment, and younger readers who prefer bite-sized chunks.

Amazon / Goodreads

Available in Kindle Unlimited at time of posting

MY THOUGHTS

On All Five Episodes of Season One

I was in the mood for something different, so I picked up episode one from Kindle Unlimited, not really expecting much. I thought I'd probably read a chapter or two and send it back. Boy was I wrong. I can't even begin to tell you how much I loved it!

I've never read anything in an episodic format like this, but I really enjoyed it. It's fast paced and engaging. It kept me invested in the characters' lives and yet still had me hungering for more. It was quite inspiring watching Sersha's journey from a voiceless underdog that everyone dismissed and saw as dispensable to the strong and fierce young woman she became.

This was my first time reading anything by Sarah K.L. Wilson. I read the first four episodes in a row and then while I was waiting for episode five to release, I picked up a copy of the first book in her Bluebeard series and became a forever fan. If you're looking for captivating and quick reads, check out this highly addictive series. I can't wait for season two.

FOUR STARS

_________________________________________

About the Book

From John Gilstrap, the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Jonathan Grave novels, comes Crimson Phoenix—first in the new Victoria Emerson Thriller series. With America brought to the brink of destruction, one woman becomes the last hope of a nation and its people . . .

Victoria Emerson is a congressional member of the U. S. House of Representatives for the state of West Virginia. Her aspirations have always been to help her community and to avoid the ambitious power plays of her peers in Washington D. C. Then Major Joseph McCrea appears on her doorstep and uses the code phrase Crimson Phoenix, meaning this is not a drill. The United States is on the verge of nuclear war. Victoria must accompany McCrea to a secure bunker. She cannot bring her family.

A single mother, Victoria refuses to abandon her three teenage sons. Denied entry to the bunker, they nonetheless survive the nuclear onslaught that devastates the country. The land is nearly uninhabitable. Electronics have been rendered useless. Food is scarce. Millions of scared and ailing people await aid from a government that is unable to regroup, much less organize a rescue from the chaos.

Victoria devotes herself to reestablishing order—only to encounter the harsh realities required of a leader dealing with desperate people . . .

Amazon / Goodreads

I borrowed this from Kindle Unlimited, but it doesn't look like it's available to check out there anymore.

MY THOUGHTS

I had high hopes for this novel, but it just didn't work for me. I ended up not finishing it. I hate doing that, but I just didn't want to spend anymore time on it.

I will say though that I enjoyed the first half. It was really interesting and engaging before "the event" happened. Watching how everyone prepared for "the event", wondering if it would actually happen and if it did, what that would look like. But once it did happen, that's where things started falling apart for me. Maybe I've read too many books like this, but things started taking a very predictable turn. There were no surprises, nothing special. And add to that the fact that Victoria, an outsider, came into a town, started barking orders at everyone and the townspeople did as she said with little to no arguments. I've gotten really tired of that trope. The one where the newcomer comes into a well established place and just takes over, saving the day for the poor people who didn't have a chance without her. 🙄 I just didn't care anymore after that.

I will say that I did enjoy the bits of story that followed the makeshift government. That was new and interesting, and I wish the whole story had focused on that instead.

DNF