The Temporary Roomie (It Happened in Nashville #2) by Sarah Adams

 

What happens when you have to play nice with your greatest enemy? Revenge.

Drew Marshall may have let me move into his spare bedroom while my house is being renovated, but don’t think for one second his kindness comes without strings. Big, ugly, fake relationship strings.

That’s okay, though, Dr. Andrew. I’ll agree to your terms, move into your house, and act like
your girlfriend when the big day comes; but I also plan to make your life miserable—make you pay for what you did to me.

I may not be good at forgiving or forgetting, but I’m excellent at getting even.

Get ready to laugh until you cry with this sizzling, hilarious, closed-door romantic comedy!

* Amazon * Goodreads *

Excitement.  Giddy, happy, excitement.  That's what I'm feeling right now.  I just had THE MOST FUN reading this new book by Sarah Adams.  It's no secret that I love to be entertained when reading and I love when I am left with an emotional high.  This book gave me so many smiles, quite a few giggles and all the sizzle of attraction.  It was so yummy.  

The beginning feud, especially on Jessie's side, seemed a bit extreme.  I could understand Drew's side, retaliation for something he didn't fully understand, but Jessie was a bit over the top.  The evolution of pranks was hilarious though.  Oh man.  I'm smiling just thinking about it.  Enemies to lovers done to perfection.  There is a reason this author is at the top of my favorites list.  And the ending?  Yeah, it was pretty great.  Like I said, I'm on a high and it's going to be tough coming back down to Book Hangover.

I could not put this book down.  I stayed up waaaaaay into the night to finish it and didn't regret it at all.  I'm ready to read it again!!  😁  

This book is on KU if you have that.  

Content:  a few instances of mild swearing.  Kissing- making out, behind doors intimacy with no details but you know it happens.

- I received a complimentary copy of this book but have already pre-ordered my own copy.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Springtime Love at The Homestead Inn: Country Boy & City Girl Romance (The Haven Hills Homestead Inn #1) by Kimberly Krey

 

 

She's a billionaire thrust into hiding. He's a wealthy cowboy seeking solitude. When the two are roped into running his granddad's inn, they're captured by an unforeseen romance. But will the secrets of her past destroy their blooming love?

--------------------------

Five billionaire siblings are sent into hiding when their mafia-linked granddad makes a plea bargain that puts them at risk. Through a relocation program, they're sent to help run The Homestead Inn.

Now each must hide their secret past, adapt to their unexpected future, and learn how to answer the call when love comes knocking.

 * Amazon * Goodreads * 

I always love reading books by author Kimberly Krey!  I've been reading them for years and she is an author I can depend on for sizzling sweet romance.  This is the first book in a new series and I'm excited about it!  This book kind of sets the stage for the series and introduces us to a cast of characters- siblings- who are hiding away in the protection program. 

First up is Andie, the only girl in this family.  She and her brothers get off to a rocky start with Trenton who definitely has a chip on his shoulder.  He's confused and feeling a bit left out and betrayed by his grandfather who harbored a LOT of secrets.  There is an excellent cast of secondary characters that help give this book a sense of home and family.  I loved the developing friendship and love between Andie and Trenton.  It was a slow burn kind of thing but once that first kiss came- hold on to your hats, friends- things really picked up steam.  

This was a fun, romantic escape.  Easy reading, left me feeling happy kind of book.  I'm looking forward to the next one!

Content:  kissing

- I picked this book up on Kindle Unlimited!

 

Dreamer (The Dream World Chronicles #1) by Camille Peters

 

Eden has a secret: she has the ability to see and enter others’ dreams, a most inconvenient power when one is an outcast living in a magic-phobic village and yearning to fit in. When she accidentally exposes her powers, Eden discovers that her uncanny abilities connect her to the Dream World, home to the magical beings responsible for creating dreams, and the first place Eden has felt she truly belongs.

Standing in her way is the formidable Dream Council, which questions whether she should remain in their world. Unless Eden can prove she’s truly a Dreamer, she’ll lose all her magical powers and be forced to return to Earth. Proving herself turns out to be more difficult than she anticipated. When Eden is assigned to create dreams for a newborn mortal, her opponent—the talented Nightmare Darius—makes it his personal mission to uncover her secrets, which could result in her permanent banishment.

Eden struggles not only to outwit her foe, but also to prevent herself from falling in love with him, all while finding herself entangled in mysterious events as the Nightmare Realm begins to eclipse the Dream Realm, threatening not just her chances of remaining in her new home, but the balance of the universe itself. As Eden fights to fit into this world of dreams and magic, she finds herself on a journey of self-discovery that will take her down a path that forces her to confront an unknown darkness within herself, leading her to realize she’s not who she initially believed, nor does she belong where she thinks she does.

 * Amazon * Goodreads *

Happy new release to this book and this author!

First, I have to shout out my love for the cover of this book.  It so perfectly represents what is inside and I think it is beautiful.  

I have to admit that fantasy books can be a bit hit or miss for me.  I thought the premise of this book sounded cool though so I wanted to try it out and I've read books by this author before and enjoyed them.  This book is a YA book, with a target age of 12-18.  That sounds about right.  The characters come across young.  Even the older ones.  So yeah, target range is spot on except this book is LONG.  Over 400 pages, which makes it not really great for most 12 year old's (and sometimes even adults like me!)  There was a LOT of description and the plot moves forward slowly.  If you love descriptive books, you will love this one.  

The author clearly put a lot of thought and effort into this idea.  It is creative and imaginative.  I liked many parts of it.  I didn't have a lot of emotional investment in the characters but the story concept and the cover?  Two thumbs up.

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Rough Stock (Lost Creek Rodeo #3) by Heather B. Moore

 

Life on the road is good . . . Until he meets her and realizes what he’s missing.

Westin Farr has been focused on one thing. To match his dad’s perfect 100-point record in professional bull riding. It’s getting closer; he can feel it. Although he misses his dad, life is good. Westin spends his days on the road, his nights bull riding, and his free time with his former college rodeo buddies—the Original Six. But when he meets the feisty Silvia Diaz, Westin finds that his lofty goals might not be so important after all.

The last thing Silvia wants to do is ‘work on herself’ at Broken Hearts Ranch in the tiny town of Lost Creek, Texas. And the last thing she needs is a cowboy sweet-talking her into staying. She agrees to give the place one week, one week only, and then she’s returning to normal life. Not even a bull rider who seems to look straight into her heart can change her mind . . . until he does.

Welcome to Lost Creek Rodeo!

Best friends at a small college in Texas, six cowboys rise to become pro-rodeo stars. Follow Ryan, Reid, Westin, Ford, Eric and Lars in these six swoony sports romances.

 * Amazon * Goodreads *

Are you ready for more cowboys?  Here is book three in the Lost Creek Rodeo series.  I don't think you have to read these books in order, but I think you will be much happier if you do.  These authors take turns writing the books but the characters they write about all interconnect.  In this book, Silvia's brother is from a previous series.  It definitely gives all these books a feeling of continuity, community and family.

Westin is a genuinely nice guy.  He is motivated as a bull rider by his father and his hopes to reach his record and level.  I liked Westin's determination and his kind support of Silvia, even when she wasn't so nice to him.

Silvia is a character I feel I didn't fully understand.  I could feel her frustration with her brother and I get having panic attacks but I didn't altogether buy into her reasons for conflict with Westin.  Silvia was on a journey to self discovery though, finding independence and confidence along the way.  That was satisfying.

This was a nice addition to this ongoing series.  I love reading about these cowboys because they are rough and tough but kind and good as well.  They make great love stories!  I'm looking forward to the next one!

This book (and this series) is available on KU.

- kissing, mild peril

Cover Reveal for Royal Spy (Fate of Eyrinthia #2) by Heather Frost

This is a book I am really anticipating.  The first book was one of my favorite reads last year.  I'm so excited that I am getting closer to having this book in my hands!  So, here it is! ** DRUM ROLL ** The cover for the second book in the Fate of Eyrinthia series!!

A DECOY recruited to be a spy.

A PRINCE compelled to become an assassin.

A SERJAH pressured by an unwanted crown.

A WORLD covered in shadows.

Mere months ago, Clare was just a kitchen maid. Now, she is a decoy for Princess Serene and a novice spy, caught in the royal family's web of secrets. While journeying to Mortise to finalize the princess’s betrothal to Serjah Desfan, Clare lives for the stolen moments she has with Bennick, the bodyguard who is quickly claiming her heart. But when a notorious assassin is hired to kill her, Clare’s life and the alliance hang in the balance.

In Ryden, Grayson prepares to leave for Mortise with his brother, Liam. Their orders are to ignite a war between their enemies, and Grayson has been tasked with assassinating Princess Serene. It may cost his soul, but he is ready to comply, as long as he gets something in return: freedom for Mia, the girl he loves. But the more time he spends with his brother, the more he begins to wonder if Liam is what Grayson wishes he had the courage to be . . . a traitor.

Desfan feels trapped. By his disapproving council, his impending marriage to a stranger, and the imminent arrival of enemy princes who may not want the peace they profess. When a dangerous drug threatens his people, Desfan jumps at the chance to rely on his swords instead of politics. But his investigation uncovers more than he bargained for—a plot that may destroy Mortise from within.

Eyrinthia hovers on the edge of war. Spies. Rebels. Traitors. All must choose a side.

 * Goodreads * Amazon *

Pre-order Gift Form: https://forms.gle/uQtyD4SboRAeNBtYA

***Pre-order Royal Spy and fill out the form to receive an EXCLUSIVE scene from Bennick’s POV: The Decoy and the Bodyguard***

***Read Book 1 Today – Available on Kindle Unlimited***

 

Heather Frost writes mostly YA fiction and has a soft spot for tortured characters, breath-stealing romance, and happy endings. She is the author of the Seers trilogy and the Fate of Eyrinthia series. She has a BS in Creative Writing and a minor in Folklore, which means she got to read fairy tales and ghost stories and call it homework. When she's not writing, Heather likes to read, travel, and hold Lord of the Rings movie marathons. She lives in a beautiful valley surrounded by towering mountains in the wilds of Utah. To learn more about Heather and her books, visit her website:www.HeatherFrost.com. 

Instagram:

Heather.Frost.Author

https://www.instagram.com/heather.frost.author/

 

Facebook:

@AuthorHeatherFrost

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorHeatherFrost

 

Twitter:

@HeatherFrost

https://twitter.com/HeatherFrost

 

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4983261.Heather_Frost

 

Book Bub:

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/heather-frost

Join Heather’s Mailing List:

http://eepurl.com/gQh_aD

The Songbook of Benny Lament by Amy Harmon

 

New York, 1960: For Benny Lament, music is his entire life. With his father’s deep ties to the mob, the Bronx piano man has learned that love and family can get you in trouble. So he keeps to himself, writing songs for other musicians, avoiding the spotlight…until the night his father brings him to see Esther Mine sing.
Esther is a petite powerhouse with a gorgeous voice. And when Benny writes a hit song and performs it with her, their collaboration thrusts the duo onto the national stage…and stirs up old issues and new scrutiny that the mob—and Benny—would rather avoid.

It would be easier to walk away. But the music and the woman are too hard for the piano man to resist. Benny’s songs and Esther’s vocals are an explosive combination, a sound that fans can’t get enough of. But though America might love the music they make together, some people aren’t ready for Benny Lament and Esther Mine on—or off—the stage.

 * Amazon * Goodreads * 

I'm such a fan of Amy Harmon.  She is a talented author with the ability to write such diverse books covering all the genres.  It's amazing to me.

This book has such a somber feel to it.  It was engaging and interesting but definitely somber and a bit heavy.  Each chapter starts with part of an interview between Benny and a radio show host which kind of sets the stage for the next bit of the story.  I really liked how that was set up.  As the story progressed I began to understand the characters and I really grew to love them.  I was invested in them, their stories and what motivated them.  

Esther says, “If you want people to change, you have to show them what it looks like.”

Isn't that so true?  It's a timeless message worth repeating over and over.  This author doesn't shy away from writing the hard things.  She challenges her readers to think and feel in ways that may feel uncomfortable.  Uncomfortable but necessary.

Of course I adored the love story of Benny and Esther.  It was real and it was deeply rooted.

Unfortunately, there was content that crossed my personal boundaries.  Frequent swearing (some strong language) and some sexual content.  It's a personal preference, not a judgement call.  There was violence, some graphic in nature.  Of course this is expected when dealing with mobs.  I just had a harder time with all of that together.  This wasn't my favorite book by this author but her talent is undeniable.  I'll be watching to see what she does next.

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

In Harm's Way (Guardian #5) by Traci Hunter Abramson + Win a Copy of This Book!

 

For years, Troy has lived in the shadows as a Guardian. As part of this secret government taskforce, he has agreed to oversee the team’s base of operations on a remote private island in Maine, replacing fellow agent Ace and his wife, Kristi, for a year. When Troy steps in to hold down the fort, however, he does not anticipate company. So when Kristi’s sister, Jocelyn, appears on the island looking for a getaway, Troy is unnerved by her presence—hiding his top-secret work from the beautiful visitor is a recipe for disaster.

It’s been years since Jocelyn has been able to relax, and the family island is the clear antidote to the chaos of the business world. Expecting solitude, she is taken off guard by the presence of the handsome house sitter living in her sister’s home. Though she and Troy fall into an easy friendship, beneath his calm demeanor, he is an enigma. It’s clear the man who is quickly stealing her heart has a secret, but the truth is beyond Jocelyn’s widest imaginings: Troy is involved in stopping a political coup, and their relationship threatens to place Jocelyn squarely in the crosshairs of a deadly assassin.

 * Amazon * Goodreads * Deseret Book *

All good things will be coming out of my mouth for this book.  I really loved it but first can we talk about the cover?  This publisher is so good at covers!  Honestly, they have created some of my favorites and this book and series is an excellent example.  This cover perfectly matches the content of the book and well, I just love it.

So now.  The book.  

I loved being back on the island off the coast of Maine, this time with Troy and Jocelyn.  Everything in this book grew so well together.  Friendship, plot, suspense.  So many of the characters in this book are familiar to me from previous books in the series which gave it that feeling of community and family.  It also means you really should read this series in order because you will love it so much more if you do.

The buildup in tension was great.  I loved how my feelings grew as the story progressed.  The ending was full on.  I finished right before going to bed and I had a hard time turning my brain off.  It just wanted to think about the book!  I even woke up thinking about it.  I love when that happens.  

This author is so good at this genre!  One of my favorites.

Content:  peril, violence, kissing, some Christian elements (talk of God, praying)

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Before Time Runs Out (Charles & Company Romance, #1) by Amy Matayo

 

Graduate student Bree Sanders is failing the one class she needs to get her degree. So when her professor gives her an ultimatum—ace her dissertation or risk having to repeat her final semester—she knows she has to pull out all the stops. After scrambling for an idea, she decides to create her own Ghost Club, a club that blames ghosts for unsolved crimes, the same type of club originally founded two centuries ago by Charles Dickens.

What she doesn’t expect is to find an original copy of one of Dickens’ early works, or to be transplanted into Dickens’s actual ghost club meeting, circa 1870, the instant she picks it up.

When Bree shows up in nineteenth-century England wearing cut-offs and an old t-shirt, her only option is to hide. The Cambridge of 1870 won’t look kindly on a woman dressed like her. So, when Theodore Keyes finds her tucked behind a bookcase at the Trinity College library and immediately demands to know where she came from, she knows he doesn’t belong here either. Turns out she’s right; the same book caused him to time-travel from 1947 almost three months ago and he’s been stuck in England since.

Together, the two vow to work side-by-side in their search for the lost book that will take them home. But as their feelings for one another deepen, Theo and Bree are caught between a desire to return to the lives they each left behind, and the knowledge that if they find the book, they won’t be able to leave together.

In the end, they each must decide which sacrifice is worth making—the one that will cost them their hearts, or the one that could cost them their very existence.

 * Amazon * Goodreads *

Happy release day to this new book by author Amy Matayo!  I don't know how this feels as an author, but as a reader, it can be a bit scary when an author you love steps into a new genre.  Into the unknown. . . (is anyone singing with me?!)  Because what if you don't like it?  That's how I was feeling about this book.  Time travel romances can be hit or miss for me.  It's not a genre that is easy to do well.

I shouldn't have worried.  Honestly, I freaked myself out for nothing.  haha.  It took me a little bit to be convinced and to really invest in the characters and the story but once I was in, I was in.  The plot of this book is interesting and it wasn't like anything I've been reading lately so that felt really good.  It had a couple surprises for me that I didn't quite predict so that was also fun.

This author always does a good job of giving her characters substance and making them feel like every one of us.  A little bit broken in some places but brave in moving forward and facing life.  That was both Theo and Bree.  I really liked them both.

This is the first book in a new series and I'm excited about it!  Time travel romance, here we come!  This book is available in KU if you have that.  Happy reading!

Content:  mild peril, mild violence, kissing

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

A Captain for Caroline Gray by Julie Wright

 

 

Caroline Gray would rather be daring and intelligent than demure and insipid, which is why she is still unmatched after her third season in London. Her family’s threadbare finances leave Caroline with only one choice to secure her future: sail with the Fishing Fleet to India, where the son of a family friend is willing to consider an engagement to her.

Captain Thomas Scott loves the open sea as much as he despises the three-month, twice-yearly trip his ship makes as he ferries young English girls across the ocean. He can’t imagine what family would allow an innocent young woman to be matched up with the Englishmen of questionable reputation who work and live in India.

But when Miss Gray boards the HMS Persistence, all of Captain Scott’s plans are upended. Miss Gray’s fiery spirit can’t be contained, and he is shocked and secretly delighted at her boldness—and her beauty. But the rest of his passengers aren’t so kind.

Caroline finds herself an outcast among her peers, but Captain Scott becomes an unlikely ally. They share the same passions and interests, creating an undeniable attraction. But they both know any relationship between them is impossible. After all, Caroline has obligations to fulfill in India.

Caroline has until the end of the voyage to decide if she is going to marry a man she has never met or be brave enough to love a sea captain who just might break her heart.

 * Amazon * Goodreads * Deseret Book *

I've read a few books in the last little while set on a ship during this time period.  It's amazing to me that authors can take a setting with so little diversity and make it into a full length novel.  This one does eventually end up in India but not until the end.

Caroline is an interesting character because she doesn't really in with "society".  She is beautiful and brainy too.  It's a great combo but not for her forced society.  Watching her constantly question herself and force herself to be someone she was not was hard.  It made me sad just like it made her sad.  It makes me really grateful for those kind of women who didn't conform but forged ahead to pave a new path for women in society.

This story progresses slowly and gently.  The bit of excitement at the end was a nice change from the more placid pace of the rest of the book.  I wish there would have been more to the ending or maybe an epilogue.  I felt like it cut off pretty quickly once the final resolution came.  Overall, I liked it.  3.5 stars

Content:  mild peril, kissing

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

 

About the author:

JULIE WRIGHT was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. She’s lived in LA, Boston, and the literal middle of nowhere (don’t ask). She wrote her first book when she was fifteen. Since then, she’s written twenty-five novels and coauthored three. Julie is a two-time winner of the Whitney Award for best romance with her books Cross My Heart and Lies Jane Austen Told Me and is a Crown Heart recipient. Her book Death Thieves was a Whitney finalist.

She has one husband, three kids, one grandbaby, one dog, and a varying amount of houseplants (depending on attrition).

She loves writing, reading, traveling, hiking, snorkeling, playing with her family on the beach, and watching her husband make dinner.