Madilyn Paige matures into a fresh new pop sound on her follow-up to her debut self-titled EP. Her pitch-perfect vocal talent combines with progressive electronic and traditional pop production on this album. Keeping with the inspirational tone of her first album, this new effort shows Madilyn striking out with bold messages about positivity, self-worth, inner strength, and the dangers of comparing ourselves to others in a hyper social-media world. Standout tracks like "Scribbles" examine a deeper relationship with God, and the anthemic "We Are the Riptide" is a call to girls across the world to unite as a force for good.
I am always excited to hear new songs by Madilyn Paige. She has a voice that is recognizable and I love her sound. One of the things I love about Madilyn is that she sings songs that deal with relevant feelings and issues of today in a positive and uplifting way. Her first track, Perfect, is fantastic. I love the message and the tune is so catchy. By far my favorite song of the album. I also loved the track featuring David Archuleta, another singer who always portrays positive and uplifting lyrics and songs. The two of them together is a great combination. This is definitely a feel good sort of album and I enjoyed it so much!
Below is the music video for "Perfect". Enjoy!
Track List 1. Perfect 2. Anymore (feat. David Archuleta) 3. Scribbles 4. One Day At a Time 5. We Are the Riptide 6. Anonymous 7. Shine
Madilyn Paige is a singer-songwriter who has performed for audiences throughout the United States, in Canada and Japan. At age 16, she was a Top-20 finalist on Season 6 of The Voice. Madilyn has opened for the Sawyer Brown Band, as well as the pre-show for Rachel Platten, American Authors and Jason Derulo. She has also performed with Nathan Pacheco, David Archuleta, and Vocal Point. In addition to performing, Madilyn speaks to youth groups about the importance of having self-esteem, which is the message of her single “Irreplaceable.” She was able to share her song, and part of her message on Face to Face, a live streaming event, that was viewed by youth around the world.
Felicity Miner is not normally an anxious person, and she’s been on her own since high school. But after a shoplifter steals from her bookshop, she calls the cops. When Officer Leo Russo shows up, Felicity has to tell herself that just because the romance novel she’s been reading has a hero police officer doesn’t mean she needs to project her imagination onto the real man. Yes, Officer Russo is unexpectedly generous, and he helps make Felicity’s home more secure when her worries won’t settle down. But the more Felicity is around Officer Russo, the more she imagines a future between them. Is he merely doing his duty, protecting and serving the citizens of Pine Valley, or is there potential for something more?
I am enjoying this series so much. Every time a new book comes out, it makes me so happy. Each book can stand alone so no worries about reading them all in order, just jump right in and enjoy the ride.
Leo is swoony. I LOVED him. How could I not? He is a man's man, strong, protective but also kind. Felicity is quirky and I loved that she rode her bike everywhere. Of course her working in a bookshop was dreamy and I'm going to love her because she loves reading! Bonus. Oh, and she loves hot chocolate too! Dark chocolate and raspberry are my favorites.
One of the things I love about all these books and not just this one, is that they aren't overdone. The conflicts seem reasonable and I believe them. The characters are easy to relate to and the romances progress so naturally. It all just comes together so easily for me as a reader. I love that.
Content: clean romance, some kissing
- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Fleeing from an abusive relationship, Meg takes his precious Mustang and runs. Afraid the police will be after her, the last thing she needs is a wanted man in her car. But when Cade McMillan saves her life and gets hurt, she can’t just leave him by the side of the road, bleeding. And waiting for the cops is out of the question.
Cade McMillan just wants to clear his name, but in order to do that he has to find the man who murdered his girlfriend and set him up. He doesn’t need to get tangled up in a relationship, and definitely doesn’t need to fall in love. But he can’t help feeling drawn to the sassy woman who saved him from getting picked up by the police.
As Cade realizes someone is trying to kill him, he must decide if staying with Meg is worth the danger he’s putting her in.
I really love books just like this so it's no wonder that I couldn't put this book down. I read it straight through from beginning to end in one sitting and yes, this is a novella, so it's a shorter book, but still. And, speaking of shorter, that's my biggest complaint about this book. It was over way too soon. I wanted MORE. MORE, MORE, MORE.
These characters were well defined and I could so easily picture them and the scenes that were playing out on the pages. It was a fun movie in my head. I loved the added element of suspense and danger that was always in the background lurking until it wasn't! So good.
I would love to see more stories like this from this author. She nailed this one for me and I'm just so excited about it. 😃 I just want the next books to be longer. That's not too much to ask, right?
Content: some violence, peril, kissing
- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Mackenzie Scott is trapped in another realm, but that’s the least of her problems. Magic runs through her veins, and even now she can feel herself changing. She’s managed to help her brother, but in exchange, she’s turning into one of them. Worse, Mackenzie’s not just a monster. She’s their queen.
Hunter had one job: open the gateway between worlds to keep his realm alive. He hadn’t counted on betrayal. He hadn’t counted on being saved by a human girl. And he’d never guessed he couldn’t trust his own king. Now he’s trapped in a world to which he can never truly belong.
Separated by realms, Mackenzie and Hunter must save the other’s world. But the divide isn’t the only thing working against them. Beasts and men fight a dangerous battle that pits Hunter and Mackenzie against those they’re trying to protect.
When flying monsters break through the veil into her world, Mackenzie Scott has nothing left to lose. Her brother has been taken, her future has vanished, and all that remains is a desperate need for revenge. After discovering the breach the creatures used as a gateway, Mackenzie devises a plan to stop them, whatever the cost.
When she finds an injured stranger in the street, he just might be the key she needs to succeed. What Mackenzie doesn't know is that this stranger isn't the helpless boy he appears to be. He's one of the monsters. And he's got plans of his own.
Thrown into a dying city in another realm, Mackenzie is powerless to get back. With the gateway closing, time is not on her side. But the stranger is, and if they can escape execution, this girl and her monster might be able to save both their worlds.
Melissa Wright is the author of the Frey Saga, Descendants Series, and Shattered Realms Series. She is currently working on the next book, but when not writing can be found collecting the things she loves at Goodreads and Pinterest. Contact her through the web at www.melissa-wright.com.
Riley had kept the wound a secret, hidden from
everyone so he could join the troops and fight. But when the gateway started to
pull, she’d seen him moving toward it, trying to leave the safety of their
shelter. She’d misunderstood at first, thought he’d been going after his
sister, to help her escape the storm. Hannah’s fingers had clawed into Riley’s
shirt as he fought her, tearing the material to reveal a duct-tape-covered arm.
It had been hot, buzzing, and suddenly she’d known what he’d been hiding all
along. Riley had been Marked.
The creature, Hunter, had hidden Riley and
Hannah with a few others in the very bunker they watched from now, in what he’d
called a safe place. Don’t fight it,
he’d said. It’s the only way to stay
alive. Hannah had assumed he’d meant the invasion: Don’t fight the monsters or you’ll be killed. But she wasn’t sure
now, because Hunter had a power that seemed to grab at Riley and his sister in
the strangest way. She had the unpleasant feeling that the message had been to
let him go. It wasn’t unpleasant because Riley had gone, because if what the
creature had said was true, that meant Riley was somehow still alive. What
bothered Hannah was what if it had happened to her? What if that was why she’d
allowed it to carry on, why she’d followed a monster into this darkened
building and trusted his words?
1 winner will receive an awesome prize pack with "survival" gear: print copies of The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey, Angelfall by Susan Ee, and King of Ash and Bone by Melissa Wright, plus Be Your Own Hero bracelet, lip balm, compass, playing cards, emergency blanket, and other fun stuff
US only
Ends August 29th
In the sleepy town of Heber, a strange 911 call is made to report an unthinkable crime: someone has murdered a woman . . . and her body has been found in Rhett Ketchum’s barn. Rhett, a well-known rodeo cowboy, is placed firmly at the top of the suspect list—the only problem is, he’s innocent. As officers search tirelessly for the evidence needed to lock him up, Rhett takes matters into his own hands.
Max and Patches Fisher are the father-daughter duo behind the unconventional PI firm Short Investigations, and they agree to undertake the task of proving Rhett’s innocence. Soon the list of suspects begins to grow, and Rhett feels a glimmer of hope—and an undeniable attraction to Patches. But when the officers on the case become targets themselves, it seems they may be the ones in need of protection. As events take a deadly turn, it’s up to Max and Patches to uncover the truth before time runs out.
I've been reading Clair Poulson books for a long time now so I know exactly what I'm going to get when I pick up one of his books. I'm sure my reviews all sound about the same but that says something about his consistency.
One thing I know going into Clair Poulson books is that the characters aren't going to overwhelm me with personality. I won't fall in love with them. Any type of romantic starts to a relationship are going to be hard for me to feel. These books are more plot driven than character driven. But I always know this going in so it's all good.
This was a great murder mystery. Actually, it started out with one mystery and ended with three! There were so many things swirling around in this story which had me interested from beginning to end. The list of suspects grew and I was right there, suspecting them all! This is the consistent part I was talking about before. Clair Poulson knows how to write up a good, interesting mystery. I actually think this one might be one of my favorites.
Content: some violence, death (described in some detail), peril. LDS fiction so some things specific to that religion are made (not drinking, smoking) but nothing preachy. Characters offer a prayer for help.
- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
When an undercover assignment pairs laid-back Florida detective Dante Matthews with by-the-book cop Eloise Archer, he knows it won’t be easy. And not just because they’re competing for the same promotion. Now they’re living together under the same roof, and it’s getting harder to ignore his deepening feelings for his “wife.” Can he convince Eloise to partner up—for life?
I love a good opposites attract love story and Dante and Eloise couldn't be more opposite! I loved the clash and pull between them in almost every situation. It was great. The whole undercover op as a married couple was fun and as Eloise grew to love the people around her, so did I. It was a fantastic feeling of community that emerged when I wasn't expecting it. The added bit of light suspense the mystery provided help in the all around full feel of the book. I really liked it a lot!
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling Author Tara Randel has enjoyed a lifelong love of books, especially romance and mystery genres, so it didn't come as a surprise when she began writing with the dream of becoming published. Family values, mystery and, of course, love and romance are her favorite themes, because she believes love is the greatest gift of all. Tara lives on the West Coast of Florida, where gorgeous sunsets inspire the creation of heartwarming stories, filled with love, laughter and the occasional mystery.
Prize #1: Beach/pool tote and water bottle, signed print copies of The Bridal Bouquet and His One and Only Bride, $25 Amazon Gift Card. (Open to US only)
In the final volume of The Hundredth Queen Series, Kalinda will risk everything to save the man she loves.
Kalinda has brought peace to the Tarachand Empire, at least for now. Bhutas no longer need to hide their gifts. The last of the rebels have been banished. And Prince Ashwin is set to take over as rajah.
But for Kalinda, this all came at a great loss. Her childhood home. Her best friend. The love of her life.
Deven is still trapped in the Void, although he is able to find his way to Kalinda each night. He has been lucky so far — mortals are not meant to last in the Void for long, and Deven has lasted longer than most. But when he doesn’t visit her one night, Kalinda knows that his luck has run out.
She will do whatever it takes to save the man she loves, even if it means convincing a god to guide her through the Void. Freeing a mortal from the Void is nearly impossible, but Kalinda has never let those odds stop her before…
Here it is! The last volume in the Hundredth Queen Series! I've been waiting to read this book since the last book left me in such a hanging over the cliff place. This is a series I've been reading since the very beginning and it is always both exciting and sad to reach the end.
I have to say that this book was slow for me. I had a hard time staying invested in it, which seems awful to say. There were moments that I absolutely loved and the ending with everything wrapping up was good. Satisfying. But for me this book lacked the intensity and danger the other books had and it felt much less compelling. I don't know, I just didn't enjoy it as much.
But. It wasn't bad. There were a lot of things coming together which led to a great ending for this series. Overall this is a series that I've enjoyed and would recommend. Plus, these books are all on kindle unlimited with the audible narration which is AWESOME!! The first book, The Hundredth Queen (which was my favorite one), is just $1.99 (if you don't have KU) which is an awesome price and makes this the perfect time to see if this series is something you would enjoy.
Content: peril, mild violence, kissing
- I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher at my request. All opinions expressed are my own.
Arden Pearson loves planning weddings. Other people's weddings, that is. After her own engagement ended in disaster, she prefers to live vicariously through her work. But when she needs to persuade a big client that she’s capable of planning the celebrity wedding of the year, she’s willing to go as far as pretending to be engaged herself to her best friend’s older brother.
Soon their ruse has everyone in town believing they make the perfect couple—including Arden. She’s always been nothing more than a kid sister to Wade, and it might take a village to convince him otherwise...
I love reading books by Jennifer Shirk! She has a gift for writing books that are easy to settle in with. There is always a pull with her books that makes me want to keep reading and keep reading. . .
Wade and Arden have some zingy chemistry. The mutual attraction is there so when they decide to help each other out by faking a relationship, boy do those sparks start flying. I loved the fun banter between Wade and Arden. It was so easy to imagine them, like scenes from a movie. Arden falls quickly for Wade, even though she knows better because all Wade does is casual. Wade is a harder sell but I loved how everything worked out in the end. It was such a fun ride! I can't wait to see what is coming next from Jennifer Shirk!
A few extra loves: the name Arden, dreaming of the weddings she created (I'd love to see them in real life!), the pink bedroom.
Personally, I could have done without the swearing, but that is a definite personal preference. I also would have rather seen the characters take a less casual approach to sex but again, personal preference.
Content: Swearing. Intimate relations between the characters behind closed doors with no details but you know it happens. Innuendo.
- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Jane Hartford fell head over heels for Jackson at the tender age of fifteen. She spent most of high school pining for him, until she realized he wasn’t going to see her as anything more than his baby sister’s best friend. Now she finds herself single with a daughter, a broken heart, and songs that remind her of a long lost love.
Jackson Wright is a man living with regret. His biggest one, never acting on his feelings for Jane. When he returns to Bellebrook, the town they grew up in, he literally runs into her and his world gets tossed upside down and sideways.
This time, Jackson isn’t willing to give up. With a meddling sister eager to push both of them together, he believes things might actually work out. That is, if they can overcome the heavy baggage they both carry. Follow Jackson and Jane as they revisit their past, figuring out what went wrong so long ago.
Will they learn they have the power to make things right in the present?
Wow! Debut author Mylissa Demeyere has woven a fantastic second chance at first love story here. As a reader, it's sometimes a bit scary to pick up a brand new author because you just cannot be sure what you are going to get. But this book? It makes me so happy because now I have another new author to support. :) I loved the flashback memories that helped me connect with both Jane and Jackson. It gave me history and insight into the depth of their friendship and the dynamics that were coming into play. Their friendship is still there, but that crackling chemistry was so hard to ignore. Watching them navigate their re-connection was yummy. Jackson's determination and patience was so attractive. I also loved the dual perspectives from both Jane and Jackson. I pushed through this book so quickly and it was hard to put it down. I'm so excited to see what comes next from this author! I sure hope it comes soon. :) Content: mention of death, infidelity - I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
The whole idea for this book started out as a scene after listening to a song. Then I would listen to that song over and over and see more of the pieces fall into place.
Soon, I had an entire playlist, with scenes mapped out, and a whole story ready to write. This book tells the story of Jane and Jackson, the songs of them.
Included in the book is a unique playlist. Here is the list, but in the back of the book, I give you a full breakdown of how I saw each scene and how I felt that song was best fitted for the chapter. Enjoy!
Prologue: Tears in Heaven – Eric Clapton
C1: Lay Me Down – Sam Smith
C2 : It’s a Beautiful Day – U2
C3: Hello – Martin Solveig
C4: Hanging by a Moment – Lifehouse
C5: This Girl – Kungs
C6: Disappointment – The Cranberries
C7: Everybody Hurts – R.E.M
C8: My Father’s Eyes – Eric Clapton
C9: It’s Time – Imagine Dragons
C10: Could this be love? – The Wanted
C11: Hold Back the River – James Bay
C12: September Song – J.B. Cooper
C13: Count on Me – Bruno Mars
C14: The Other – Stripped / Lauv
C15: Breathing – Oscar and the Wolf
C16: Love Love – Amy MacDonald
C17: Push the Button – Sugababes
C18: Animal – Neon Trees
C19: Perfect – Ed Sheeren
C20: Someday – Sugar Ray
C21: What Lovers Do (feat. SZA) – Maroon 5, SZA
C22: Gotta Get Thru This – Daniel Bedingfield
C23: It’s Gotta Be You – Isaiah
C24: Welcome to New York – Taylor Swift
C25: Best Day of My Life – American Authors
C26: Over My Head – The Fray
C27: Water under the Bridge – Adele
C28: The Middle – Jimmy Eat World
C29: Silence – Marshmellow ft Khalid
C30: Demons – Imagine Dragons
C31: Walking The Wire – Imagine Dragons
C32: Home – Dotan
C33: No Sound But The Wind – Editors
C34: WhoKnew – Pink
C35: Stargazing – Kygo
C36: Love – Jana Kramer
C37: Quicksand – Tom Chaplin
Epilogue: False Alarm – Matoma , Becky Hill
Author Mylissa Demeyere
Mylissa Demeyere was born in Belgium, and resides in the beautiful city of Ghent. She lives in a somewhat organized home with her four beautiful children and the love of her life. If she isn’t working, she’s writing, running, reading, or enjoying time with her kids, who are growing up way too fast.
The Songs of You and Me is her debut novel, with a sequel already in the works.
Blog Tour Giveaway$25 Amazon Gift Code or $25 in Paypal Cash
Ends 8/19/18
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Standing before Feldstone Manor, site of so many happy memories, Rose Davenport feels nothing but dread. Her family’s annual visit to the stately home was once brightened by her friendship with the earl’s youngest son, William, but everything changed the day his elder brother was disinherited and William became heir to his father’s earldom. From that moment, William made it clear he has no interest in continuing an acquaintance with Rose. Heartbroken, she sets out to prove that she will simply not be ignored—or outdone—by the arrogant future lord of the manor. When his elder brother marries for love, William’s entire life changes in an instant. He does not have the same option to marry whom he chooses, and he must let go of the feelings he has harbored for his dear friend, Rose. He steels himself against her annual visits, determined to keep his feelings for her a secret. But when he makes the hasty promise to marry within six months, he never dreams that his actions will lead Rose to impulsively undertake the same challenge.
This book was such a pleasant surprise. Debut author, Esther Hatch, has created a fantastic story with vivid characters who stand out in personality but not without their flaws. The back and forth between Rose and William was enough to drive me crazy in the best of ways. I was ready to scream out in frustration with them and then . . . oh, well, I cannot give too much away but let's just say that my tummy was all a flutter and I got goosebumps on my arms. That's a good sign of happy things. But then. Frustration again. There were so many great moments in this book that created a perfect movie in my head. I love when that happens.
I really had a good time reading this book. It was so good. I am so excited about Esther Hatch and hope to read many, many more books from her in the future.
Content: clean, some kissing
- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Marina Berghman is a classical piano prodigy with parents who’ve had her life mapped out since she was in diapers. But their plan leaves no room for her secret love of alternative rock, or Sean, the edgy guitarist who recently moved to town.
When Marina buys a lottery ticket on her eighteenth birthday via the new Windfall app, she expects it to be nothing more than a rite of passage. But she wins—the grand prize of five thousand dollars a day, for life. Suddenly given the means to break free from a life she never felt in control of, she’s quick to cut her family ties and turn her back on everything she knows.
But her lottery win was no lucky break. Her prize comes with strings attached, and Marina soon finds herself at the center of someone else’s life or death game. When she discovers evidence linking her dad to the intrigue, she turns to Sean for help. But he’s harboring secrets of his own.
Now Marina must sort out who to trust and who’s pulling the strings, before her prize turns into a noose.
What a cute book! This story was really just easy, breezy fun to read. I loved the quirky Marina, coming into her own and trying to figure life out. She is talented and smart but definitely not used to making her own decisions. Spreading her wings under such unusual and dynamic circumstances (winning the lottery!!) leads to a few big bumps in her road. Yes, Marina makes some mistakes but I thought she handled herself fairly well all things considered. Marina is kind and a bit fearless. I think I loved that about her the most.
What would you do with $5000/day for the rest of your life? It's crazy to think about, right?
This book was a little bit teenage drama, a little bit romance and a little bit mystery. It had moments where the sweetness of a new romance had me sighing happily and moments where my heart was speeding up because DANGER! It was just a good balance of all the good stuff a young adult novel should be filled with. It was fun and I really enjoyed reading it.
Content: underage drinking (party), peril
- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
