If You Follow By Email . . . It's Going Away

 Hi friends,

I just wanted to let you know that starting in July, the method for email delivery of my blog posts will be going away.  I'm so grateful for all of you that have been following my reading journey through email.  There are a lot of you and I really appreciate every one of you!  If you would like to continue to follow me, please find me in any of the other places I hang out at.  You can always physically check in with my blog here.  I'm not going anywhere.  😊

Facebook - I always post bits of my review on Facebook with a link to my full review here on my blog.  Facebook is also the place where I post about FREEBIES, deals and giveaways.  It's a fun place to be.

Instagram - I post about my reviews here as well.  Sometimes about books I receive in the mail and other book related things.  Not usually about freebies though.  I should do better at that.

Goodreads - I post all my reviews to Goodreads.  This is where you will also find books that I didn't officially review on my blog, but read just for fun.

I also post reviews to Bookbub if you are there.

A BIG thank you to all who follow me in any or all of the places!  I love reading SO MUCH and I love sharing all things books with you. 📚📖💙💙

Time's Dagger by Margot Hovley + Enter To Win This Book!

 

After a rough stint at work in the ER, Dillon Kelly is more than a little ready for a vacation when he packs his bags and sets off on a camping trip in the wilds of Ireland. But when a mysterious dagger covered in druidic markings appears in his backpack, Dillon finds himself hurtled into the fourteenth century. Thrust into the legends and politics of ancient Ireland, he is rescued from suspicious locals by a beautiful young woman named Ailish.

Ailish has always dreamed of being a bard, but there’s just one problem: women aren’t allowed. Determined to follow her heart, Ailish has fooled everyone into thinking she’s a boy—everyone, that is, except for Dillon. He’s agreed to keep her secret in exchange for her help in finding his way home to his own time. Despite the impossible barriers between them, feelings beyond friendship soon blossom. But more than just their budding romance is in danger. Ailish isn’t the only one who recognizes the dagger’s druidic significance, and there are those who would stop at nothing to harness its time-bending powers.

 * Amazon * Goodreads * 

This is the third time travel book I've read this month.  Weird, right?  Time travel books are not as widely written but all of a sudden it seems like authors are jumping on this bandwagon.  I think time travel books must be hard to write and make believable but I do enjoy reading them.

I thought the concept of this story was unique and interesting with druids and the dagger that allows for time travel- but only for people with druid blood in them.  It's a cool idea and I thought the story was a good one.  It progressed nicely and had a bit of mystery to it.

My only hang up was Dillon.  I didn't really like him a whole lot.  His backstory felt incomplete and I didn't really connect with him emotionally but his go with the flow nature really lent itself to this story.  Ailish was intriguing and I admired her spunk and determination.  It was fun watching Ailish and Dillon learn about the dagger and sort out good from bad, danger and love.

Oh, and I need to say that I love this cover.  It's pretty cool, right?  It fits the story so well.

Content:  mild peril, mild violence, kissing

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

Margot Hovley grew up a country kid in Washington State, where she filled the tedious hours of farm chores with an overactive imagination. She loves her work with her church’s international magazines, but fiction writing is her favorite creative outlet. Time’s Dagger is her third published full-length novel. She lives in northern Utah at the foot of her beloved mountains, where she chases chickens and grandchildren and teaches piano to the somewhat willing. Helping run the family business is hectic, but she loves working with her husband, Art, and several of the Hovley children. How she finds time for writing is both a miracle and a mystery.

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The Nabob's Daughter by Jess Heileman

 

She’ll do anything to escape an arranged marriage. He’ll do anything to help her.

Honora Crauford relishes her life in India. So when her father informs her of his latest business transaction—marrying her off to a bankrupt nobleman in England—her only hope for returning home is to convince her betrothed, by whatever antics necessary, that a marriage to her comes at a cost that not even the greatest fortune can justify.

Graham Whitworth can hardly believe his wretched luck. It seems the only way to save his family’s insolvent estate is to comply with his father’s demands and marry the extremely wealthy, but utterly ridiculous, nabob’s daughter. But when Honora missteps, Graham discerns her farce and begins to see who she truly is—a most impressive lady. A lady likely capable of fixing his family’s financial troubles.

Realizing they both desire freedom, Graham and Honora join forces to restore the Whitworth estate and return Honora to her beloved India. But sometimes love has its own agenda, and the revoking of a once undesirable arrangement may just prove to be the greatest sacrifice of all. 

 * Amazon * Goodreads * 

This book was such a delight.  Honestly, from beginning to end I was invested and interested.  I didn't want to put it down and I read through it quickly.

I adored the characters.  Graham was, well, Graham.  I loved his teasing, playful side with Honora.  I loved how he didn't really hide his feelings.  They came out in his words and his actions.  And if you don't laugh from Honora's antics, I don't know what to say.  (I'm thinking peacock here.)  She is a smart one, Honora, and super dedicated to her plan.  She was fun.

From the scenes to the character interactions, this book played out like a lovely movie in my head.  I love when that happens. I honestly wish this was a movie.  I would probably watch it over and over again.

This book releases on June 30th but you can snag it at a pre-order price of $2.99 on Amazon! I think it will be on KU as well.  😍

Content:  kissing

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

 

An Unlikely Pair (Dream's Edge #1) by Traci Hunter Abramson

After a family tragedy, aspiring ballerina Amaliya Marcell is adrift. When she is forced to leave behind everything she knows, the lost young woman struggles to build a new life in an unfamiliar city. But when she meets a handsome world-class figure skater, she finds a glimmer of hope.

After his sister’s unexpected retirement from figure skating, Tyler Linden is devastated to give up his shot at the US national championships. His only hope is to find a new partner, a task that proves nearly impossible—until he observes a beautiful young woman at the local ice rink.
Struck by her grace and poise, Tyler takes an unthinkable risk and asks Amaliya to become his new partner. To both of their surprise, she agrees. The path to the championship won’t be easy, but Amaliya and Tyler quickly establish a solid partnership and a profound connection—both on and off the ice. But competition at the championships is fierce, and when the time comes, they will be forced to put everything on the line if they hope to achieve their dreams. 

 * Amazon * Goodreads * Deseret Book * 

This book makes me wish I could watch the winter Olympic games RIGHT NOW, specifically figure skating.  It's one of my favorite things to watch.  I'm always so fascinated by how graceful and how fast these skaters are.  The few times I tried to ice skate were laughable because I just couldn't get the hang of it.  Not Tyler and Amaliya though.  They are the epitome of elegance, grace and strength.  I just love figure skating!!

Amaliya begins this book as a dancer- a premiere ballet dancer, just like her mother but with a love for the ice like her hockey playing and coaching father.  When Amaliya gets the chance to skate her natural skills and hard work propel her forward, right into Tyler's arms.  I love that they had a slow burn start to their romance but built a solid base of friendship first.  This story is so gentle and so easy to read.  There is nothing heart pounding or fast paced about it- just a good, solid story about two people working hard and finding love along the way.  I really enjoyed it.

It was also fun to see Amaliya's parents in this book and even get their perspective every now and then to help me remember that connection I had with them in their novella (Dancing to Freedom).

If you are a fan of figure skating, don't miss this one!  It's so sweet. 

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My Bodyguard Summer by Michelle Pennington

 

She hired him to keep her boss safe, but now she's in danger too...of falling for him.

Everly only cared about one thing--protecting her celebrity boss, Harlow Kline, from the lowlifes threatening her. But it wasn't going to be easy.

Not only did she have to convince Harlow to give up her busy schedule of interviews, fashion shows, and red-carpet events for the summer, she had to convince Jack Prescot to do something he'd sworn never to do again--guard a beautiful, single starlet with a propensity for falling in love.

She also had to remind herself--repeatedly--that she wasn't interested in the handsome and perceptive bodyguard who paid way too much attention to her. Especially considering that Harlow was the one in danger.

But as the long, sultry days in paradise melted into each other, their connection grew until she knew he was the one man who could save her from the shadows and secrets hidden in her heart.

If only Harlow didn't need her.

If only she was capable of love. If only danger wasn't rushing toward them like a tidal wave.

 * Amazon * Goodreads * 

Ooh, this book fit my mood perfectly this week as I needed a good distraction.  I really love romantic suspense (light suspense) and this one was so good.  

There are some heavy duty sparks flying around in this book!  I loved the strong attraction between Everly and Jack.  From the very beginning, the attraction was there and even though they were sometimes at each other, it added to the build up between them.  The story has a great forward momentum and I was invested from beginning to end.  I didn't want to put it down.  I thought the epilogue with the resolution between Everly and her family came suddenly for me as a reader, without a ton of fallout details, but it's okay.  I'll fill in the details myself.  hahaha.

Content:  mild peril, kissing, mild violence

- I borrowed this book on KU.   

Summer Nights At The Homestead Inn: While He Was Sleeping (Billionaires In Hiding Family Romance Series Book 2) by Kimberly Krey

 

Two brothers.
One Woman.
And a whole lot of commotion.

They can't let the others know about their romance.
Good thing they have those warm summer nights.

When a set of billionaire twins unwittingly offer Ava a chance to escape her abusive boyfriend, she takes it. Who knew the one-way trip to Costa Rica would lead them to a relocation program in Haven Hills, where the twins' siblings, including their "oldest ornery brother" Richard live in hiding?

As Ava finds her place in their new destination, she also finds herself drawn to none other than the oldest brother, despite obvious advances from one of the twins. Things take a turn when that twin winds up on strict bedrest while attempting a stunt to impress her. Days later, Ava discovers that Richard feels the same undeniable spark between them, and so starts their summer nights rendezvous. In a hiding spot of their very own, Richard and Ava give into sweet romance, passionate kisses, and talk of how they'll eventually tell his family about their love.

Richard knew better than to fall for a woman his brother Maverick had the hots for. But he can't deny his attraction to Ava, a woman who actually loves math as much as he does. Besides, the two weren't dating. Maverick had no right to stake his claim on her.
But that doesn't change the fact that he and Ava's secret romance could start a whole lot of trouble when he finds out.

 * Amazon * Goodreads * 

I am loving this series so far.  This family of siblings is in the witness protection program- new identities, new life.  It's fun to watch love find them one by one.  

Ava is someone I was invested in and rooting for from the very beginning.  I'm so glad those crazy twins pulled her into their mess because heaven knows Richard needed someone to soften him up!  It was fun watching them fall for each other, stealing kisses and sneaking glances.  I loved the "while you were sleeping" vibe.  This book was a great escape from reality that I really needed this week.

I wonder which sibling is up next?  I'm excited to find out!  This book and this series is on KU if you have that.

Content:  mention of physical abuse.  Kissing. 

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

Ace High (Lost Creek Rodeo #6) by Heather B. Moore, Rebecca Connolly, Sophia Summers

 

Sometimes second chances are waiting when you least expect them.

Lars Jackson isn’t purposely hanging around Lost Creek to see Kellie Prosper more. All right, maybe he is. She’s single now, and well, he knows she’s been through a lot. Maybe he can be a listening ear. Something more would be a dream of his, but he’s good at waiting. Before Kellie’s divorce, he’d just kept his focus on his bronc riding career. But now . . .

Kellie Prosper is busier than she’s ever been. Running the Broken Hearts Ranch, bringing on new clients, and balancing all the changes in Lost Creek. At least her brother Ryan is there to help, though when Lars Jackson, one of the Original Six, starts hanging around more, Kellie feels . . . She doesn’t know exactly what she feels. But appreciation is just the beginning.

 * Amazon * Goodreads *

I think this book is one of my favorites of the series.  That's probably because I've seen Kellie in action in all books of this series and I've been hoping we would get to see her love story. blossom.

One of the things I loved best about this story was that there was no big blowup or misunderstanding.  It was just Lars and Kellie trying to navigate a new relationship.  Lars is the best kind of supporter- quietly there, helping and taking care of things for Kellie.  He's kind and he is generous with both his words and his actions.  I really loved that.  It's that consistency and dependability that help Kellie know it's safe to move on with him.  The natural progression of this relationship felt good and I just really enjoyed it.

As always, it was good to see all the guys in this book.  The family of cowboys.  What a fun series this has been.  I don't think you have to read these books in order but for this one especially, you might be happier if you do.

Content:  kissing, mild swearing

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

Silent Partner by Jennifer Peel

He thinks his silence will protect her. She needs to hear what’s in his heart.

When it comes to love and life, Kinsley Kramer knows one thing—she’s always second best. Tired of feeling like she’s never enough, she decides to give up on men and adopt a cat. What Kinsley doesn’t know is that Brant Holland wants nothing more than to tell the world how much he loves her, but he has kept his distance to protect Kinsley from the secrets he keeps and from his ex-fiancée’s family.

But when Kinsley is about to lose her restaurant, Brant can’t help but act. He steps in and becomes her silent partner. Unable to deny the passion that sizzles between them, they must open painful doors to the past, and the secrets Brant has been keeping must be unleashed. Secrets that threaten to destroy everything and everyone he holds dear. Kinsley must now decide if she can bear the pain of Brant’s past choices and an uncertain future as everything in the Hollands’ world hangs in the balance.

See how it all unfolds in this heart-tugging final chapter of the Pine Falls series.

 * Amazon * Goodreads *

I have a confession.  I am a book addict.  I know this and I am at peace with it.  It is books like this that have caused this condition.  See how I blame my addiction on other people?  haha

I read this book quite a bit ago.  I probably read it way to fast because I was so very anxious about it all.  It delivered that one, two (three) punch that author Jennifer Peel is famous for.  You know the kind?  Give you heart, rip the heart out of you and stomp on it (twice for good measure) and then put it together again.  That kind.  After a few weeks, I went back and read it again.  Why?  I thought that the second time around I could just savor it, enjoy it slowly, because I already knew exactly how it all played out.  Are you laughing?  You should be laughing.  Because that was a lie I told myself.  My stomach was a ball of nerves and butterflies the whole second time too.  My heart went through the wringer AGAIN and at the end?  I want to do it all again.  See?  Addiction.

Here's the catch with this book.  You cannot read it until you have read the other two books in this series.  You really, really cannot.  This series is a bit (a lot) of DRAMA.  It's like a soap opera and book three just explodes with secrets and the aftermath of some big decisions that characters make.  It's fantastic.  So, so good.  But start at the beginning.  You won't regret it. 

If ever there were two people to love, it would be Brock and Kinsley.  They are two of the best people ever.  I adore them.  Ugh, okay.  I more than adore them.  Kinsley is SO in the dark throughout the majority of this book.  Almost everyone around Kinsley knows the secrets, I know the secrets and that's where the anxious knot of anticipation came in.  I don't know how my whole body becomes invested in this story and these characters, but it does.  My head, my heart, my gut- all working in sync with the ebbs and flows of this book.  It's nuts.  And I love it.  Clearly.

Content:  mild swearing, talk of intimate relations but nothing detailed in any way.  Kissing.

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

Only Time Will Tell: A Charles & Company Romance, book 2 by Amy Matayo

 

For newly published author Eliza Sterling, having her first book launch party at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is a dream come true. Since her book is a modern-day retelling of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens and the Met is hosting a display of rarely seen Dickens’ artifacts at the same time, she chalks it up to a case of good timing.

For publicly disgraced, former best-selling author Lew McDonnell, seeing a debut author having her first book launch party at the Met brings up all sorts of resentments. Especially when the book this lady is promoting just happens to be one of his old manuscripts that she’s clearly plagiarized and claimed for herself.

When heated words are exchanged in front of a display case containing an original copy of Great Expectations, both Lew and Eliza are prepared for a fight. But they aren’t prepared for the room to shake, for the display case to shatter, or for the old book to send them both careening toward a new existence entirely.

When Lew wakes up on the floor of the Charles Dickens museum in London to see Eliza working there as a tour guide, he knows something has gone horribly wrong. It’s the same day and time, but suddenly he’s the best-selling author headlining his own book launch again, and Eliza is serving him drinks and working all hours to make ends meet. And the weirdest thing of all?

Lew is the only one who remembers their former lives.

 * Amazon * Goodreads *

I had fully intended to post this review on Friday but, well, life.  Something unexpected came up and I just couldn't.  Last week I read two time travel books which was odd for me but luckily they were nothing alike so it was easy to read them without comparison.  (phew!  I was worried about that!)

This book is the second in the series but I think it can stand alone.  You will probably enjoy it more if you read the first book though.  The first book in the series is definitely a time travel book but I would say this one is more of a time shift.  The characters don't travel through time but shift into an alternate reality where things are different for them.

Both Lew and Eliza are great characters.  It was so interesting to see how Eliza was so different in each timeline and how circumstances changed her perspective and her confidence so much.  The author did such a great job with the characters, making them seem vulnerable and relatable.  Lew's growth was so satisfying- at the beginning I pitied him and by the end I admired him.  I felt like I really knew Lew and Eliza both.  Knew them and loved them.  

I think I liked this book better than the first one!  It's a fun series and I can't wait to see what's coming next.

Content:  kissing, talk of substance (alcohol) abuse

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

Come Back to Me (Waters of Time #1) by Jody Hedlund

 

The ultimate cure that could heal any disease? Crazy.

That's exactly what research scientist Marian Creighton has always believed about her father's quest, even if it does stem from a desire to save her sister Ellen from the genetic disease that stole their mother from them. But when her father falls into a coma after drinking a vial of holy water believed to contain traces of residue from the Tree of Life, Marian must question all of her assumptions. He's left behind tantalizing clues that suggest he's crossed back in time. Insane. Until Marian tests his theories and finds herself in the Middle Ages during a dangerous peasant uprising.

William Durham, a valiant knight comes to Marian's rescue and offers her protection . . . as his wife. The longer Marian stays in the past, the more she cares about William. Can she ever find her father and make it back to the present to heal her sister? And when the time comes to leave, will she want to?

Bestselling author Jody Hedlund is your guide down the twisting waters of time to a volatile era of superstition, revolts, and chivalry in this suspenseful story.

 * Amazon * Goodreads *

Time travel books are tricky, am I right?  Most of the time, you just can't think too hard or it just doesn't seem plausible but it's still fun.  This author definitely nailed the plausibility with a very in depth, detailed description of the why and how of it all.  Laying the foundation took pretty much half of the book.  We don't actually see the time travel until half way through and honestly?  I was growing impatient.  Sometimes it just felt too wordy and lengthy but I know, laying the foundation is important especially in stories like this and I actually thought the idea of the time travel was interesting.  I just really wanted more time with Will and Marian.  They are awesome together and I just didn't get enough of them.  I adored the second half of the book.  I didn't want to put it down.  Everyone should have a Will in their lives.  😍

I can see that the author set things up for future books and I'm excited to read them!  And hopefully Will and Marian will be in those too because that would make me happy.

The first half of the book gets 3.5 stars from me.  The second half, 5.

Content:  peril, mild violence, kissing (some thoughts about a husband wanting his wife physically, but nothing descriptive)

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