Sunkissed by Kasie West

 

After being betrayed by her best friend, Avery is hoping for a picture-perfect summer. Too bad her parents have dragged her and her sister to a remote family camp for the entire summer. And that’s not even the worst part. Avery also has to deal with no internet, a cute but off-limits staff member, and an always-in-her-face sister.

But what starts as a disaster turns into a whirlwind summer romance as Avery embarks on an unexpected journey to figure out what she truly wants and who she wants to be.

 * Amazon * Goodreads *

What a cute young adult book!  My daughters used to love books by Kasie West and sadly, they have outgrown them now but I still pick them up and read them when I can because I think this author does a great job of spinning a relevant story that teenagers can relate to and enjoy.  There are struggles typical to teenagers and sometimes bigger issues but those issues never become overwhelming or depressing.  The story remains upbeat and positive for the most part which I think is so important.

I really liked the summer family camp setting of this book and I liked the whole cast of characters.  They were fun and they made fun happen.  It made me smile.  Avery has a great journey of self discovery which was satisfying and enjoyable.  It was so easy to root for her.  This is easily a book I can recommend for teenage girls.  Sweet romance.

Content:  kissing

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

Eye for an Eye by Stephanie Black + Win A Copy of This Book!

 

After a family tragedy nearly destroyed Mallory Ingram, she's fighting to get her life on track. When her sister and brother-in-law open their home to her, Mallory is certain that moving across the country will allow her to focus on a hopeful future. That future looks even more promising when her enrollment at a local university connects her with the charming Darien Thomas.

However, when illegal drugs turn up at her sister's house, the first person accused is Mallory, and suddenly, she doesn't know who to trust. Mounting evidence of Mallory's guilt is straining the tenuous bond she has just begun to develop with her sister after years of living separately. Desperate to prove her innocence and keep the harmful patterns of the past from hijacking her future, Mallory reaches for Darien's help to discover the truth.

But the truth may be more dangerous than any of them imagine.

 * Amazon * Goodreads * Deseret Book *

Wow, this story packs a punch into it's short pages!  It's novella length and I read it in less than an hour.  I'm not sure if that was me speed reading because I was so anxious about the story or if it was really that short.  Haha.  

This author did a great job of giving me what felt like a full sized story in a novella size.  Yeah, the romance wasn't there but the beginnings of it was there.  It was perfect for what was happening.  The story was fast paced and exciting from beginning to end.  The perfect little bite sized snack.  So fun!

 Content:  mild peril, kissing, mild violence

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

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Legend of the Dragon Slayer: The Origin Story of Dragonwatch (Dragonwatch) by Brandon Mull, Brandon Dorman (Illustrations)

 

In ancient times, dragons posed the ultimate threat to the rest of the magical world. During the Dragon War, a group of specially trained Dragon Slayers banded together to stand against the onslaught. They called themselves Dragonwatch, and they succeeded in confining the majority of dragons to sanctuaries. Legend of the Dragon Slayer is the illustrated story of the very first Dragon Slayer who took to battle.

As the legend tells it, powerful monsters terrorized the kingdom of Selona on all sides. An unlikely hero named Konrad, the cobbler's son, accepts the king's challenge to defeat the monsters: fierce yeti, a merciless vampire, a dangerous gorgon, and a deadly phoenix. But Selona's biggest threat will come from the Dragon, and it will take every ounce of wit and experience that Konrad has acquired to stand a chance against such a formidable foe.

Legend of the Dragon Slayer features a never-before-published catalog of Dragon Slayers, a detailed map of the kingdom of Selona, and lavish full-color illustrations. Fantasy fans will love this stand-alone tale of valor, destiny, and magic.

 * Amazon * Goodreads * Deseret Book *

What a fun book!  This is a collection of stories all about Konrad and how he grew into a dragon slayer in the kingdom of Selona.  His adventures helped the kingdom expand by defeating the monsters that surrounded it.  

Konrad really stepped up to the plate when nobody else would.  He was a good defender (an even better storyteller) and a great hero to root for.  His legacy established the Fair Folk of Fablehaven and that's how it all ties together.  If you haven't read the Fablehaven/Dragonwatch series, you really should.  It is fantasy at it's best and suitable for all ages and the perfect series to read aloud to younger children.  This book has such beautiful illustrations!  It is fun to see the story spring to life through the vibrant pictures.  I wish I could show you the pictures!

I first obtained this book as an ebook for review and it was okay but I was so excited when I was offered a physical book for review as well.  The book is beautiful from front to back cover and I loved being able to hold it in my hands.  It's one of those kind of books and definitely one you want to add to your collection- especially if you own this series!

Content:  mild peril

About the author/illustrator:

 

Brandon Mull has worked as a comedian, a filing clerk, a patio installer, a movie promoter, a copywriter, and briefly as a chicken stacker. For a couple of years, he lived in the Atacama Desert of Northern Chile, where he learned Spanish and juggling. He and his wife Erlyn and their large family and a dog named Buffy the Vampire Slayer live in a Fablehaven-style house with an attic filled with peculiar artifacts. Brandon is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Dragonwatch, Fablehaven, Beyonders, and Five Kingdoms series.

Brandon Dorman grew up near Tacoma, WA and is the dad of three boys and one girl. He is best known for his book cover art on popular series like Fablehaven, Goosebumps, and The Land of Stories. He is an accomplished visual storyteller who has illustrated 21 picture books.

Protecting The Princess (Royal Secrets #9) by Lucinda Whitney

 

Princess Emma Somerset struggles to find purpose and fulfillment in her life. With her brother and cousins all married and in their new roles, she’s the only one left at the palace. When Queen Nicolette, her aunt, asks Emma to undertake a trip to the north as a good-will ambassador, she agrees, despite her lack of experience.

Ryan Sterling is a new protection officer for the royal house of Durham. He has aspirations for a high-profile assignment, but when Princess Emma’s long-time female bodyguard is injured a week before departure, he’s called to replace her. Now he’s stuck babysitting a spoiled princess instead of proving his worth to advance his career.

After floods strand Emma and Ryan in the remote countryside during the trip, their fledgling friendship slowly turns into something more. But is a new relationship between them doomed to fail when they return to the palace?

 * Amazon * Goodreads *

Happy release day to this new book by author Lucinda Whitney!  

Are you in the mood for some royalty?  Well, Princess Emma is a princess but she isn't in the line to be queen.  She is the youngest in this royal family and grew up with her cousins in the royal castle.  I really like how down to earth Emma is and how kind she is to all she comes in contact with.  She worked hard to do what was expected of her and learn new things.  Most of this book isn't really about royal things though and I kind of liked that.  It was more about the growing relationship between Emma and Ryan as they were stranded during a flood.  Ryan is, yes, her bodyguard.  He is a protector and he is diligent.  He has an air of strength about him that is very attractive.  

First impressions (and maybe even second impressions!) are put aside as Ryan and Emma get to know each other better.  When they begin that deep dive into friendship and trust everything shifts.  I really enjoyed getting to know both these characters.  They are people I would want to be around in real life. This is a sweet and gentle story and I really enjoyed it.  

This book is part of a series but can easily stand alone.  

Content:  mild peril, kissing

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

A Proper Scoundrel by Esther Hatch + Win A Copy of This Book!!

As the successful owner of multiple railroad lines, Diana Barton is all too accustomed to fending off suitors seeking to stake their claim on her wealth. In order to keep the wolves at bay, Diana has contrived the perfect plan: appeal to the most notorious rake in London, the Baron Lord Bryant, to ruin her reputation and scare off the worst of the time wasters. The ruse will be no hardship—she’s secretly been fascinated by the man for years.

Lord Bryant is well aware of his questionable reputation. Indeed, he has cultivated the image carefully, and the last thing he wants is a wife. But when he’s approached by the younger sister of a business associate, he tells her in no uncertain terms that he cannot help. However, when he sees for himself what she is up against, Bryant grudgingly offers his assistance. Faced with his most complicated entanglement yet, Bryant is firm in his conditions—and Diana knows that to get romantically involved with Bryant would spell certain heartbreak. But as the counterfeit couple grow ever closer, the line between truth and lies becomes blurred, threatening both Lord Bryant’s well-laid plans and the future of Diana’s railroad business.

*Amazon * Goodreads * Deseret Book *

You guys.  I am having THE BEST reading week!  If you follow me on Facebook, you know that I just read Jennifer Peel's new book that comes out next month.  (review coming soon) I was in full hangover mode heading into this book and I was worried.  Now I'm just laughing because THIS.  BOOK.  <sigh>  Now I have two book hangovers back to back.  It's a completely awesome feeling.

This is the kind of book for girls who love a "bad boy" and the woman who finally claims him.  Misunderstood, unfairly (and sometimes fairly) judged, a bit on the dark side and pushing the social norm boundaries of his day.  Meet Lord Bryant.  He's yummy.  Honestly.  So, so yummy.  You can tell this just from the cover, right?  I feel like I just watched the loveliest movie play out in my head.  Right up there with Pride and Prejudice.  Seriously.  I was so engaged from beginning to end.  Invested.  Right there with these characters.  

This feels a bit gushy, right?  It is.  I can't help it. 😍

Go get this book.  Or enter to win a copy below!  Block out some time to read it uninterrupted.  (especially the last third of the book)  This book is what reading is about for me.  I loved it.

Content:  kissing

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

 

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Let It Be Me (A Misty River Romance #2) by Becky Wade

 

Having graduated college at 18, Sebastian Grant has continued to leverage his intelligence and determination to become a pediatric heart surgeon. The more accolades he receives, the more he's driven to pursue. Then he meets high school math teacher Leah Montgomery, and his fast-spinning world comes to a sudden stop.

Solving advanced math equations by the age of five, Leah has always wanted to pursue a PhD in mathematics. She willingly put that dream on hold to raise her brother. Now that he is of age, she's set on avoiding any obstacles to her goal--including romance.

When Leah receives surprising news in the process of taking a test for tracking her ancestry, she asks Sebastian to help her comb through aged hospital records to learn more. Soon his presence isn't so easily ignored. But when Sebastian learns his best friend also has feelings for Leah, he begins to question his resolve to win her. Attaining their deepest desires may require more sacrifices than they ever imagined.

 * Goodreads * Amazon *

I love how well this author tackles tough issues in a way that I can feel and relate even though I might not have personally gone through the same things the characters are going through.  This story filled me with all the feelings I long for as a reader.  I was attached to these characters and I was invested in their story and most especially, in their success.  There were some twists I didn't see coming and I love to be surprised in good ways.  This book was so well written and I loved it from beginning to end.   Loved it.

Content:  Christian elements, kissing

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

Isabelle and Alexander by Rebecca Anderson

 

Manchester, 1850

Isabelle Rackham knows she will not marry for love. Though arranged marriages have fallen out of fashion, hers has been settled for some time. Alexander Osgood is handsome, well-known, and wealthy, but he is distant and aloof, spending much of his time at his textile mill.

Moreover, Northern England is nothing like Isabelle's home in the Lake Country, and her marriage is far from the fairy tale she expected. Conversations with Alexander are awkward, when they happen at all, and Isabelle struggles with loneliness.

Sensing his wife's unhappiness, Alexander brings Isabelle to his country estate. During their time together, the couple begins to build a friendship, opening up to each other about the details of their lives. But when a tragic accident leaves Alexander unable to walk, their fledgling relationship is tested.

Isabelle is determined to see to her husband's recovery, and in caring for him, she discovers within herself an untapped well of strength and courage. In learning to rely on each other, the couple has an opportunity to forge a love connection that they both have longed for but never dreamed could be.

 * Amazon * Goodreads * Deseret Book *

So, I have some mixed feelings about this book.  It's told in first person, entirely from Isabelle's perspective.  This allowed a very extensive knowledge of Isabelle's thoughts and feelings, making her personal journey of growth obvious and gratifying.  Sometimes I got a little impatient with her internal musings and found myself skimming.  I liked Isabelle but I didn't love her.  I did love how she stood up for Alexander and wanted the very best for him regardless of how she was treated.

I liked Alexander but I didn't love him.  It was really hard to build a connection with Alexander given his personality and Isabelle's single viewpoint.  Especially when she didn't understand him for most of the book.  I didn't have a real emotional connection to either of them.  

The textile mill was a great part of the book and I enjoyed learning about that through Isabelle's eyes.  I liked this story, it was interesting and I liked the secondary cast of characters too.  It was good, just not my favorite.  Oh, and I think the cover is lovely.

 3/5 stars

Content:  mild peril

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

About the author:

By night, Rebecca Anderson writes historical romances. By day, she sets aside her pseudonym and resumes her life as Becca Wilhite: teacher, happy wife, and a mom to four above-average kids. She loves hiking, Broadway shows, food, books, and movies. You can find her online at beccawilhite.com