tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33343651026586253442024-03-18T19:53:09.146-04:00The Cover ContessaThe Cover Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936117064881855016noreply@blogger.comBlogger2926125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334365102658625344.post-63159036486548508742024-03-18T00:00:00.004-04:002024-03-18T00:00:00.137-04:00Review: The Program (The Program #1) by Suzanne Young<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtmTqYrfnDVbhqSIuxpncNOh9N-6Rus-QZmvQV-tyfzwWegQFRRUz0z_g7AL1QCi60Tz0sLoIO9zkvvwokErs-8HPQvBXPpxJdrYyr1YjNduw2PFn5w_ZMsheNjv5SPPOMP1PBceitUzpK8GAObaDjgfRTXQ2SODkyG4c6xbpiQXQJMclE00_GbixMFYAW/s475/11366397.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="312" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtmTqYrfnDVbhqSIuxpncNOh9N-6Rus-QZmvQV-tyfzwWegQFRRUz0z_g7AL1QCi60Tz0sLoIO9zkvvwokErs-8HPQvBXPpxJdrYyr1YjNduw2PFn5w_ZMsheNjv5SPPOMP1PBceitUzpK8GAObaDjgfRTXQ2SODkyG4c6xbpiQXQJMclE00_GbixMFYAW/s320/11366397.jpeg" width="210" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; text-align: start;">In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Title: The Program (The Program #1)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Author: Suzanne Young</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Publisher: Simon Pulse</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Publication Date: April 28, 2013</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Review:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's been a long time since I read a good Dystopian series and been engulfed enough in the world to truly want to continue. Sadly, this one was not that series.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I read this book as a buddy read with my friend and seriously had to push through to finish it. I didn't care about the world or the characters enough.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Let's start with the world building. Society has a rampant uptick in the suicides of young people; teenagers to be exact. So they create a program where the symptoms are recognized and teens are brought to centers to have the memories the government considers tainted (leading to depressive and suicidal thoughts) wiped clean from their minds. While this idea is interesting, I just didn't fully understand the connection of leaving some things while wiping away other things. In our lives, things are always connected and no matter how hard we might want to wipe our minds clean of something, those connections can't ever been truly severed. Yet, they give these kids some kind of pills to do just that. Do I have any idea how the pills work? Not really. There is a brief description of it but it didn't fully let me grasp how it happened. Combine that with the lack of world building and I just didn't find myself caring enough about this dystopian world. I wanted more of a description of how the suicides progressed in the past. How the program was created? Who created it? Why was there an uptick? Instead, I got a flat story that really seemed to go nowhere.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Next we have the characters. Were they likeable? Enough so that I pushed to get through the story but not enough for me to truly care about them. They were quite underdeveloped for me. Sloane was very flat and I didn't find her relatable. I hated her neediness and dependency, as well. When I read dystopia, I always want to root for the main character to expose the terrible government and overtake it, or at least bring it to its knees. Sloane would never in my wildest dreams be able to do this. She's way too timid and does not come across as smart enough to even pull it off. Her relationship with James seemed completely forced, especially given their more solidified connection after her brother's suicide. There was nothing in depth about their connection other than that. I just didn't see it. And then we get introduced to another male character, Realm, that creates a sort of love triangle that I really didn't need. Plus, I just didn't trust Realm at all. Overall the romance in this book was too cheesey for me to like it and route for it, whatever it might have been.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The pacing was very slow for me. I felt like it wasn't moving or going anywhere. I was actually quite bored. It's not until the very end of the book that we even get any real action. And even that wasn't particularly shock worthy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Finally, the writing. I found it juvenile. Yes, I know this is YA, but I've ready a lot of YA where the writing flowed and was beautiful. This is not that. And I expected more from the author as far as diving into depression and suicide but, sadly, the author chose not to do that and it left me feeling like she didn't do enough research even for a fictional plot line.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I wanted more from this story than it gave. I pushed through because I was reading with someone and we had a timeline we wanted to reach. And now that I see it's six books, I don't think I can move on without being annoyed at the whole thing.</div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyX6F5fN_Qm5_K_eceNd-ZXwP2UCqi8bxwKBj3CkF7T2L78CnyJ7nnTdzzETmNIf1NkEeyB7bdd5HqShT402oIqs5FdrDpfd9pzupdQEMsJltKGTpEIyfWQUavkC7VrN9AkUWXx-USG0Po_CgzzoZgobJ3EUti8bpH3iamK-RnxCO2128L23WIjCpJWUAK/s266/164576.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="177" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyX6F5fN_Qm5_K_eceNd-ZXwP2UCqi8bxwKBj3CkF7T2L78CnyJ7nnTdzzETmNIf1NkEeyB7bdd5HqShT402oIqs5FdrDpfd9pzupdQEMsJltKGTpEIyfWQUavkC7VrN9AkUWXx-USG0Po_CgzzoZgobJ3EUti8bpH3iamK-RnxCO2128L23WIjCpJWUAK/s1600/164576.jpeg" width="177" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Suzanne Young is the New York Times bestselling author of The Program, The Treatment, and several other novels. She currently lives in Tempe, Arizona where she teaches high school English and obsesses about books. Learn more about Suzanne at </span><a href="http://www.suzanne-young.blogspot.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #00635d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">www.suzanne-young.blogspot.com</a></div><br /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><br /> <p></p>The Cover Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936117064881855016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334365102658625344.post-50087641876634619022024-03-15T00:00:00.039-04:002024-03-15T00:00:00.150-04:00Fat Stack Friday!<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="text-align: center;"> </span><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana; font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">FAT STACK FRIDAY BOOK HAUL!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">This week was a great haul for me! </span><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Check out all my different new books!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Here are my physical books and one Kindle book purchased.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNqTaitGQUupdQkzfZqXdvPz2ejPaJdrcTLCpHNgiOLbtKMaK2fdYinsu1_Rvbl61HZpK2mO9qS8wkFRVgVibz9gK-ITgD7wMAgvKzmj2AiyDsA3_As3bZTGTPousYO5jA9_BFldU9S7J5uuIMm9XYznWrpxWIezqHCK78oSAVPoGOJ74wTQ-uhyphenhyphenX9hUs/s4032/IMG_6699.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNqTaitGQUupdQkzfZqXdvPz2ejPaJdrcTLCpHNgiOLbtKMaK2fdYinsu1_Rvbl61HZpK2mO9qS8wkFRVgVibz9gK-ITgD7wMAgvKzmj2AiyDsA3_As3bZTGTPousYO5jA9_BFldU9S7J5uuIMm9XYznWrpxWIezqHCK78oSAVPoGOJ74wTQ-uhyphenhyphenX9hUs/s320/IMG_6699.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHi0ND9nfh8JfWJriX4toXOYC52GjzQjV2ttNMseOQakulXy172WhKTyR0CZqrlUgq2jGmW6DMFXzhdkIOz8VUdQSvjYusmJL_pEJXRqc4gZC7YY7Pjvp2A-ok989BERH3e6l6q125E_rXbMSaQ57Dn9FZ0dCtWfYu4icMrO6AKsALJLpT2RTQtc_rwtzl/s475/60505562.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="308" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHi0ND9nfh8JfWJriX4toXOYC52GjzQjV2ttNMseOQakulXy172WhKTyR0CZqrlUgq2jGmW6DMFXzhdkIOz8VUdQSvjYusmJL_pEJXRqc4gZC7YY7Pjvp2A-ok989BERH3e6l6q125E_rXbMSaQ57Dn9FZ0dCtWfYu4icMrO6AKsALJLpT2RTQtc_rwtzl/s320/60505562.jpeg" width="207" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Saint (The World fo Narrows #0) by Adrienne Young</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fable (The World of Narrows #1) by Adrienne Young</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Namesake (The World of narrows #1) by Adrienne Young</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: verdana;">I've seen these two around and have heard some good things. Plus, the covers of all are so pretty and they paperbacks have painted edges. I got them with my gift card from my birthday. Looking forward to reading them and seeing what they are about. They had the prequel, as well, but it was hardcover and I'd really like them to match so I got it on Kindle for now.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Hurricane Wars (The Hurricane Wars #1) by Thea Guanzon</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I've seen so many great reviews of this one so I hope I like it. The cover is gorgeous. I know there are special editions out there, as well, which are so pretty. I hope I like this one!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">This one I got for review.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GYpm6kC0_sioX54TutaSM1O15W2hrwZoikjL7HfkYnDTuM1rxDvqPV_qLSjEzFI2OzPz6noiKTPLhGtgX82x-EzJlVe3VgXYk5HvMnpGwvslJJ5TZS2bIjAFe1falarrJlYXDgVc0dptDyZv_pG3vSe5Xi7fsHkfHOVwWTCR-jsqp_a1huFlnh3nFqbH/s1355/IMG_6700.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1355" data-original-width="911" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GYpm6kC0_sioX54TutaSM1O15W2hrwZoikjL7HfkYnDTuM1rxDvqPV_qLSjEzFI2OzPz6noiKTPLhGtgX82x-EzJlVe3VgXYk5HvMnpGwvslJJ5TZS2bIjAFe1falarrJlYXDgVc0dptDyZv_pG3vSe5Xi7fsHkfHOVwWTCR-jsqp_a1huFlnh3nFqbH/s320/IMG_6700.jpeg" width="215" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Corpse In The Closet (Riley Thorn #2) by Lucy Score</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"> I just finished the first one and it was so much fun to read. I highly recommend this series if you haven't read this series. The FMC is a quirky psychic which makes for a lot of fun in a murder mystery series!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">What did you get this week?</span></div><br /><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span><p></p></div></div>The Cover Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936117064881855016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334365102658625344.post-57815653478507136642024-03-14T00:00:00.001-04:002024-03-14T00:00:00.131-04:00ARC Review: The Guncle Abroad (The Guncle #2) by Steven Rowley<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtKQ1TZR_HRbu_TXk3CkGBnG9wr-0sSIQvbLc13zrGLKSQZf154Mtp7eR_4XzRa4W1iJE-9_Pdr5oBm-tJYysOiNTF8kCY9p6WmOIsBrExcmg3XBSF-T5MEWtxxEwKGEiJdttkx07wXKnYGJIJogvryU9RApc8c5T9w1T3KJdsVofHED8b-kZ-EbRXgvgk/s522/197511201.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="346" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtKQ1TZR_HRbu_TXk3CkGBnG9wr-0sSIQvbLc13zrGLKSQZf154Mtp7eR_4XzRa4W1iJE-9_Pdr5oBm-tJYysOiNTF8kCY9p6WmOIsBrExcmg3XBSF-T5MEWtxxEwKGEiJdttkx07wXKnYGJIJogvryU9RApc8c5T9w1T3KJdsVofHED8b-kZ-EbRXgvgk/s320/197511201.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; text-align: start;">From the nationally bestselling author of <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Guncle</i> comes the much-anticipated sequel, in which Patrick O’Hara is called back to his guncle duties…at a big, family wedding in Lake Como, Italy.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Patrick O’Hara is finally in a league of his own…professionally. Inspired by his stint as Grant and Maisie’s caretaker after their mother’s passing, Patrick has "un-stalled" his acting career with sit-com, Guncle Knows Best . Still, some things have had to take a back seat. Looking down both barrels at fifty, Patrick is single and lonely after breaking things off with Emory. But at least he has family, right?</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">When his brother Greg announces his big, second wedding in Lake Como, Italy, Patrick feels pulled toward Grant and Maisie and flies to Europe to attend the lavish event, only to butt heads with a newfound Launt (Lesbian Aunt), curb his sister Clara from flirting with guests, and desperately restore himself to the favored relative status in the eyes of the kids, as they struggle to adjust to a new normal. But is it Patrick’s job to save the day? Or is simply celebrating love enough to quell the family chaos?</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Gracing the page with his signature blend of humor and heart, Steven Rowley delivers the long-awaited sequel to a beloved story, all about the complicated bonds of family, love, and what it takes to rediscover yourself, even at the ripe age of fifty.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Title: The Guncle Abroad (The Guncle #2)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Author: Steven Rowley</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Publisher: Penguin Group Putnam<br />Expected Publication Date: May 21, 2024</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Review: </span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I would like to thank Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for providing me with an egalley of this title to read and give my honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">If you have not read the first book in this series, I highly recommend you do before jumping into this one. You truly need the background of the characters and their connections to understand this book.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I fully enjoyed the first book from Rowley so was super excited to see a continuation of this world. The Guncle Abroad picks up a few years after the ending of the first book. Rowley entertains us once again with the amazing antics of his character Patrick O'Hara. This time while he drags his niece and nephew through Europe on a quest to show them what love truly is.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Rowley does a great job of extending his world with these characters. The premise of Patrick traveling with Grant and Maisie through Europe on their way to Greg's wedding was so great. I love Patrick's connection with his niece and nephew. Their relationship is sweet. Their connection from Sara is undeniable. I think, had Sara married anyone else, Patrick still would have been her kids' uncle. Having his brother as their father just makes it that much more special.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Patrick's way of giving the kids, and everyone else, advice, is unsurpassed. He makes me laugh, and cry, and feel so many emotions. I'm totally in love with his character. He really makes you feel and that's such a great part of these books. And Patrick himself had growth in this book which I loved watching. The realization that he may have left a good thing with Emory behind. That it's ok to love another after the love of your life is gone. That family, and found family, are there for you and will support you for who you are.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">We're also introduced to a few new characters in this book: Livia, Palmina, and a few others. I liked what they all brought to the table. Especially Palmina, who becomes a bit a rival for Patrick in regards to sharing the attention from his niece and nephew. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I loved how this book moved through Europe as part of the plot. I enjoyed the journey the kids and Patrick took, the attractions they saw, and how Patrick took each moment and made it into something special. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">And the banter in this book rivals that of the first book. So many funny moments that often turned endearing or a little hear breaking. Rowley was able to roll in some humor to balance it all out.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I'd love to see more in this world from Rowley. Though, given the happily ever after we got from this one, I'm not sure where he would take it. But I would read it!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Rowley may be one of my new favorite authors!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHH-ODRy5YwLURPxhHxKO7R00PkyIINY5Xn8XkbiksI9o1GzlervLCiDYScvLZVHkgrFykt4ZyW_sz74a0O2DwF34muISluerYOcnb3k-xPX7NTMQxkOn6uzhGeJDMN_SEGEHETllACqJ4cLBt1eJ5zSDAhVPidQvculixOfTwp8aRKnhFnwjEmoCMu84G/s266/14972725.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="190" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHH-ODRy5YwLURPxhHxKO7R00PkyIINY5Xn8XkbiksI9o1GzlervLCiDYScvLZVHkgrFykt4ZyW_sz74a0O2DwF34muISluerYOcnb3k-xPX7NTMQxkOn6uzhGeJDMN_SEGEHETllACqJ4cLBt1eJ5zSDAhVPidQvculixOfTwp8aRKnhFnwjEmoCMu84G/s1600/14972725.jpeg" width="190" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="aboutAuthorInfo" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><span id="freeTextContainerauthor14972725">Steven Rowley is the bestselling author of Lily and the Octopus, a Washington Post Notable Book of 2016, The Editor, named by NPR and Esquire Magazine as one of the Best Books of 2019, and The Guncle, a Goodreads Choice Awards finalist for 2021 Novel of the Year and semi-finalist for The Thurber Prize in American Humor. His fiction has been published in twenty languages. Rowley lives in Palm Springs, CA with his husband, the writer Byron Lane.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div></div><br /><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div><p><br /></p>The Cover Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936117064881855016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334365102658625344.post-25870232245841744042024-03-13T00:00:00.006-04:002024-03-13T00:00:00.135-04:00ARC Review: The Dead Guy Next Door (Riley Thorn #1) by Lucy Score<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7ZI9dSqrfUsRdyEleTLCDzXuIrau8hD7Ql1xIk9JE8kiCPryVe1p8MjJHcDZulWySXjGKj8QXxP0hfQ1N6FuZul-qSVjfBvIWW8otb5SfwvpDfPRUC8On6Y_H5Pn15GS5OaZC8kOLs5i4mSKPh4UO_D0YgegPAJa3XJIFze_EbB_nEJd3rzT7jtL7Y0h/s640/138690758.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7ZI9dSqrfUsRdyEleTLCDzXuIrau8hD7Ql1xIk9JE8kiCPryVe1p8MjJHcDZulWySXjGKj8QXxP0hfQ1N6FuZul-qSVjfBvIWW8otb5SfwvpDfPRUC8On6Y_H5Pn15GS5OaZC8kOLs5i4mSKPh4UO_D0YgegPAJa3XJIFze_EbB_nEJd3rzT7jtL7Y0h/s320/138690758.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">From the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Things We Never Got Over A nice, normal life. Is that too much to ask? For Riley Thorn it is. Divorced. Broke. Living with a pack of elderly roommates. And those hallucinations she's diligently ignoring? Her tarot card-dealing mom is convinced they're clairvoyant visions. Just when things can't get worse, a so-hot-it-should-be-illegal private investigator shows up on her doorstep looking for one of her neighbors…who turns up murdered. Nick Santiago doesn't play well with others. Unless the "others" are of the female persuasion. Wink. He's a rebel, a black sheep, a man who prefers a buffet of options to being stuck with the same entrée every night, if you catch his drift. When the pretty, possibly psychic Riley lands at the top of the list of suspects, Nick volunteers to find out whodunit. Only because he likes solving mysteries not because he wants to flex his heroic muscles for the damsel in distress. All they have to do is figure out who pulled the trigger, keep a by-the-book detective with a grudge at bay, and deal with a stranger claiming he was sent to help Riley hone her psychic gifts. All before the killer discovers she's a loose end that requires snipping.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Title: The Dead Guy Next Door (Riley Thorn #1)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Author: Lucy Score</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Publisher: Sourcebooks Bloom Books</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Publication Date: 3/12/24</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Review:</span></span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Bloom Books for providing me with an egalley of this title to read and give an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">So I didn't know what I was expecting from this book, but it was not this! Fun, sexy, mysterious, tense, and so many other things! It was so much fun to read.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I've read one other Score book and I wasn't a fan. So I was a bit worried about jumping into this one but I'm so glad I gave it a try.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Let me say, do you want a little mystery? Do you want banter? Do you want funny times? Do you want sexy times? Do you want character who just pull you in and hold on to you? THIS IS THAT BOOK!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Riley Thorn is my girl. She's funny, fun, sexy, quirky, and just downright out there. Her and her psychic ability made this book. I love how she tries her hardest to not embrace who she is but must do so in the end to be happy. Her development is fun. I was routing for her the whole time. Solve that puzzle! Embrace yourself! Get the man! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">And Nick? What can I say about him. He's confident ,but a little worried he's not. He's cool, but questions himself. He's sexy, but is not sure it's the right thing. I really enjoyed his characters!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Take these two and their crew and you have a fun, hilarious, crazy murder mystery that leads you in all directions and ends up not quite where you thought it might end!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Plus Score has the pacing just right. And the build up is perfect.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">If you want fun, mystery, tension, sexy times, and just a lot of freaking fun, pick this one up and give it a try. I'd totally read more stories in this world!</span></div><br /></span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyN0fxUjmfQSz9aFJuSsYN3cl-UVrNOb_J_utAVpv81bz7z0-Qnxjjhbk6RBy01iH9Hl6TdnmWJfvOuu5VRU83T24dqb2HOae9i_lqdOv-9yKbzjdx-ztsC5tKcdYOKhmbcDNdTUO7LN4K-gJgh92_1WyF6VLaj2uvW1QM79GEiEmPE-cQlFAuV9_h3fEG/s266/8103667.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="177" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyN0fxUjmfQSz9aFJuSsYN3cl-UVrNOb_J_utAVpv81bz7z0-Qnxjjhbk6RBy01iH9Hl6TdnmWJfvOuu5VRU83T24dqb2HOae9i_lqdOv-9yKbzjdx-ztsC5tKcdYOKhmbcDNdTUO7LN4K-gJgh92_1WyF6VLaj2uvW1QM79GEiEmPE-cQlFAuV9_h3fEG/s1600/8103667.jpeg" width="177" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Lucy Score is an instant #1 New York Times bestselling author. She grew up in a literary family who insisted that the dinner table was for reading and earned a degree in journalism.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">She writes full-time from the Pennsylvania home she and Mr. Lucy share with their obnoxious cat, Cleo. When not spending hours crafting heartbreaker heroes and kick-ass heroines, Lucy can be found on the couch, in the kitchen, or at the gym.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">She hopes to someday write from a sailboat, oceanfront condo, or tropical island with reliable Wi-Fi.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Sign up for her never annoying newsletter at </span><a href="https://www.lucyscore.net/subscribe-lucys-newsletter-website/" rel="noopener nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #00635d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">https://www.lucyscore.net/subscribe-l...</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">.</span></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><br /> <p></p>The Cover Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936117064881855016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334365102658625344.post-40527727178208009012024-03-12T00:00:00.023-04:002024-03-12T00:00:00.141-04:00Most Anticipated Releases 3/12/24<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPRbMW3UIKYon7S5GZA7e8vpECz44952tE5jS0ozjf4HOrSVDbZmfGHhyQ6nWPvo-VfZlzNlkvuRUC6qOdmmmjLbhrby5RrshynFj4MW7y0qu67w6UV7YKOPOVzLyr6QEQi_QQMkUTG2Br0i3T8cJZiEmhYnzzNyCgWVyNcWs00ffYQH_aeXmyXQfPwCa/s940/March%2012,%202024%20Most%20Anticipated%20Releases.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPRbMW3UIKYon7S5GZA7e8vpECz44952tE5jS0ozjf4HOrSVDbZmfGHhyQ6nWPvo-VfZlzNlkvuRUC6qOdmmmjLbhrby5RrshynFj4MW7y0qu67w6UV7YKOPOVzLyr6QEQi_QQMkUTG2Br0i3T8cJZiEmhYnzzNyCgWVyNcWs00ffYQH_aeXmyXQfPwCa/s320/March%2012,%202024%20Most%20Anticipated%20Releases.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Happy Tuesday March 12, 2024 release day! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">These are my picks for most anticipated releases this week.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvsc53NEht5M0NOkMoy2vaJO9m0_oFMsc-81FieO3mWpCiR9K0ugQEw0Peder6vOdgUM3JRzij44RopltveQVNWjWCXNOMb68pyXKbSnNCnoIfrg4F98A7oQXhExgfnFvVv2wnkJea01mqntoxHdML8_7gHPgRONfaL0cJbqS2wuTWgcqwSoCp-PQtM4l/s964/56670031.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="964" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvsc53NEht5M0NOkMoy2vaJO9m0_oFMsc-81FieO3mWpCiR9K0ugQEw0Peder6vOdgUM3JRzij44RopltveQVNWjWCXNOMb68pyXKbSnNCnoIfrg4F98A7oQXhExgfnFvVv2wnkJea01mqntoxHdML8_7gHPgRONfaL0cJbqS2wuTWgcqwSoCp-PQtM4l/s320/56670031.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A Touch of Chaos (Hades X Persephone #4) by Scarlett St. Clair</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">The World Will Burn</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Persephone, Goddess of Spring, never guessed a chance encounter with Hades, God of the Underworld, would change her life forever—but he did.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">A fight for humanity and battles between gods, it's a world Persephone never thought she would see. To end the chaos, she must draw upon her darkness and embrace who she's become—Goddess, Wife, Queen of the Underworld.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Once, Persephone made bargains to save those she loves, now she will go to war for them.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I'm seriously excited for this one! I've read all the other books including the Hades saga and I need to know what happens!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUY9hvaTP0WA0RVZcmkNyb40s3Yj_G97VPl1KesFBJmkiXP4agg8PUeK7i9QvTr8VqNo6Fwel7fTkCGNQO7DUAALSjVbJslLaVVO9USd8y1PpjsLD085eCHM-tqYdNygbMz1UiT9E_XkiqjWQK0SQScJaSTcmFBWiebMZn3-QTTjcsfzFF3_2DNhDLce4G/s601/124941442.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="399" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUY9hvaTP0WA0RVZcmkNyb40s3Yj_G97VPl1KesFBJmkiXP4agg8PUeK7i9QvTr8VqNo6Fwel7fTkCGNQO7DUAALSjVbJslLaVVO9USd8y1PpjsLD085eCHM-tqYdNygbMz1UiT9E_XkiqjWQK0SQScJaSTcmFBWiebMZn3-QTTjcsfzFF3_2DNhDLce4G/s320/124941442.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sunbringer (Godkiller #2) by Hanna Kaner</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; text-align: start;">Return to the world of <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Godkiller</i> in this thrilling sequel to the #1 internationally bestselling fantasy debut, where Kissen and her companions must navigate lands of gods and demons to unravel a dark truth at the heart of their world.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Professional godkiller Kissen and her companions—young noble Inara and knight Elogast—return in a winding adventure in a world overflowing with magic, beauty, and danger.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">This cover though, right? I actually have not started this series but I've heard great things and I really do want to read it. I'm trying not to start new series at this time, since I'm still trying to finish up some I've never finished!</span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-xqRpeenUWMvXrXfVkqYtqil4Qdxu6qC4hMec5PbrKDJcZeAhPH8ybPxDogPtSXPGrH8dJ_W4SGk4AyLsEA_AM5PqQm1GV-crufZv1BIG4_4RyMDoUG9ijIZ7w_dEoAcWkl2YWjg9K79q5eLneZ9X02zQuFEmLTAtFQtk3Zz6otLXAhS-gr7GIhyCSOM/s2560/196700456.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1707" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-xqRpeenUWMvXrXfVkqYtqil4Qdxu6qC4hMec5PbrKDJcZeAhPH8ybPxDogPtSXPGrH8dJ_W4SGk4AyLsEA_AM5PqQm1GV-crufZv1BIG4_4RyMDoUG9ijIZ7w_dEoAcWkl2YWjg9K79q5eLneZ9X02zQuFEmLTAtFQtk3Zz6otLXAhS-gr7GIhyCSOM/s320/196700456.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happily Never After by Lynn Painter</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; text-align: start;">Their name? The objectors.<br style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;" />Their job? To break off weddings as hired.<br style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;" />Their dilemma? They might just be in love with each other.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">When Sophie Steinbeck finds out just before her nuptials that her fiancé has cheated yet again, she desperately wants to call it off. But because her future father-in-law is her dad’s cutthroat boss, she doesn’t want to be the one to do it. Her savior comes in the form of a professional objector, whose purpose is to show up at weddings and proclaim the words no couple (usually) wants to hear at their ceremony: “I object!”</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">During anti-wedding festivities that night, Sophie learns more about Max the Objector’s job. It makes perfect sense to her: he saves people from wasting their lives, from hurting each other. He’s a modern-day hero. And Sophie wants in.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">The two love cynics start working together, going from wedding to wedding, and Sophie’s having more fun than she’s had in ages. She looks forward to every nerve-racking ceremony saving the lovesick souls of the betrothed masses. As Sophie and Max spend more time together, however, they realize that their physical chemistry is off the charts, leading them to dabble in a little hookup session or two—but it’s totally fine, because they definitely do not have feelings for each other. Love doesn’t exist, after all.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">And then everything changes. A groom-to-be hires Sophie to object, but his fiancée is the woman who broke Max’s heart. As Max wrestles with whether he can be a party to his ex’s getting hurt, Sophie grapples with the sudden realization that she may have fallen hard for her partner in crime.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I've recently become a fan of Lynn Painter. Her Mr. Wrong Number series was super cute and she writes adorable YA, as well. Looking forward to seeing what this story is all about!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">What are your most anticipated releases for today?</span></span></div><br /><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div></div></div><p><br /> </p>The Cover Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936117064881855016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334365102658625344.post-47203933961396216252024-03-11T00:00:00.007-04:002024-03-11T00:00:00.258-04:00Review: Ninth House (Alex Stern #1) by Leigh Bardugo<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigW4O5VX0oCWafIVp-NvLtFWFVTJj-lA1Lbe3fVLJFTnrhPDJ08Fzc3aYV4qgPpPS-n-t86ngMv98lJGR0lsmij4gWhTThwJ6x9UdapwGMDszszw9SSE8zPouA5_ZG36M43JPB_qa7WbULWjenaTPZ9MU04a24RcQzCLmq-FfQBCopv0mozs8PAGAevYl/s2560/43263680.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1684" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigW4O5VX0oCWafIVp-NvLtFWFVTJj-lA1Lbe3fVLJFTnrhPDJ08Fzc3aYV4qgPpPS-n-t86ngMv98lJGR0lsmij4gWhTThwJ6x9UdapwGMDszszw9SSE8zPouA5_ZG36M43JPB_qa7WbULWjenaTPZ9MU04a24RcQzCLmq-FfQBCopv0mozs8PAGAevYl/s320/43263680.jpeg" width="211" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Galaxy “Alex” Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale’s freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. By age twenty, in fact, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she’s thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to attend one of the world’s most elite universities on a full ride. What’s the catch, and why her?</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Still searching for answers to this herself, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale’s secret societies. These eight windowless “tombs” are well-known to be haunts of the future rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street and Hollywood’s biggest players. But their occult activities are revealed to be more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Title: Ninth House (Alex Stern #1)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Author: Leigh Bardugo</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Publisher: Flatiron Books</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Publication Date: October 8, 2016</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Review:</span></span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I'm a huge Bardugo fan. I truly enjoy her Grishaverse so it's not surprise I was itching to jump into anything else she writes. And this one did not disappoint in the least! But this is NOT her Grishverse. And this is not a book for the feint of heart.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This one comes with some trigger warnings. I don't have any triggers so I didn't even look into them, to be honest. But if a dark story with secret societies, murders, occult activity, and magic aren't your thing, then take a pass on this one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Enter the world of Yale where secret societies abound and Alex Stern is tasked with patrolling what happens. After suffering a horrific event, she is recruited into the world and offered a second chance As she slowly uncovers the occult activities of politicians and well known business men, she has to try to keep herself alive and not reveal who she is, what she knows, or how she knows it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I listened to this on audio and really enjoyed the narration. The author did a great job with jumping back and forth between past and present to unroll the story. Each chapter leavings trinkets of information as the book unfolded. The pacing was great and I found myself wanting to rush through so I could find out what happened with the characters.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Alex Stern is such a well written and developed character. I really adore a snarky FMC who is tough as nails. Her trauma follows her around like a lead weight on her shoulders, but she still does what she needs to survive. She does build walls between herself and others but they slowly get broken down as she works with others in her circle. She does take chances she probably should not. She does put herself in situations that could cause her harm. But she does this all in the name of preventing the abuse of magic. I easily connected with this character.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Darlington is also an extremely well developed characters. I loved his voice. And he is a prime example of how something evil can actually turn out to be good. He's got a very magnetic personality and just pulls you in. It's truly impossible not to like him. I also loved his relationship with Alex. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bardugo built her world in so many layers and I enjoyed every bit of it. She writes an original and authentic story which is completely entertaining. I will say, the beginning is a bit hard to gel with. There is a lot of information presented which seems confusing. But Bardugo does a fantastic job revealing what you need to now in dribs and drabs throughout each and every chapter. There is nothing she writes that isn't important. So pay attention to it all! I had my doubts that I would enjoy the story because I felt like I was a little lost, but I'm so glad I stuck with it to see where the story went. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is not the young adult writing I know from Bardugo. This writing is adult, dark, disturbing, and full of triggers people need to look into if they have any. But, I will say this, if you are ok with giving this darkness a try, you will not be disappointed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-3IU66pfDgn6bhhV0SxfjraC2Xl0CaOX4VSfEkEmjl65EGGMW1J2_AU7dUZFMqRPIze5e15UZo8y22PmVFBm3afJyRT-TKbir3z1yFJunH4fKW8q3-7H5BNOazDjpa-aQsyLaOOpB-ndeP9QsFO93XBGYLN2y74RXAmMuwafPVj9enpGhaBc1iC7ZOOnK/s266/4575289.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="150" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-3IU66pfDgn6bhhV0SxfjraC2Xl0CaOX4VSfEkEmjl65EGGMW1J2_AU7dUZFMqRPIze5e15UZo8y22PmVFBm3afJyRT-TKbir3z1yFJunH4fKW8q3-7H5BNOazDjpa-aQsyLaOOpB-ndeP9QsFO93XBGYLN2y74RXAmMuwafPVj9enpGhaBc1iC7ZOOnK/s1600/4575289.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Leigh Bardugo is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Ninth House and the creator of the Grishaverse (now a Netflix original series) which spans the Shadow and Bone trilogy, the Six of Crows duology, the King of Scars duology—and much more. Her short fiction has appeared in multiple anthologies including The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy. She lives in Los Angeles and is an associate fellow of Pauli Murray College at Yale University. For information on new releases and appearances, sign up for her </span><a href="https://https//leighbardugo.us11.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=160b0462d4826c60dbb8af320&id=ec014907b2" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: white; color: #00635d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: none;">newsletter</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">She would be delighted if you visited her at </span><a href="http://leighbardugo.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: white; color: #00635d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: none;">LeighBardugo.com</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"> and fairly giddy if you liked her selfies on </span><a href="http://instagram.com/lbardugo/7" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: white; color: #00635d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: none;">Instagram</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">.</span></div><br /><p><br /> </p>The Cover Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936117064881855016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334365102658625344.post-90928811405934141902024-03-08T00:00:00.012-05:002024-03-08T00:00:00.134-05:00Fat Stack Friday!<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana; font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">FAT STACK FRIDAY BOOK HAUL!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">This week was a great haul for me! </span><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Check out all my different new books!</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">These are books I got for review:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VU5cJhnfHRx2kKX3pii0w5nbdzlwqQtQ1rl8_UVsvQp1ZBtjvTad0JxYU394Gey81luT0GueGxG9qyS9SMxLyLMRINhfPiSiCr96UNT_eKYccMEV09F7W_jkEBRZkLOH5QPZ78zQJpaqg6tmqLmIm8Lor-HHZT8FppGapQM7xyNJuYUGqMhp4HwCfS3Y/s1398/IMG_6598.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1398" data-original-width="1003" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VU5cJhnfHRx2kKX3pii0w5nbdzlwqQtQ1rl8_UVsvQp1ZBtjvTad0JxYU394Gey81luT0GueGxG9qyS9SMxLyLMRINhfPiSiCr96UNT_eKYccMEV09F7W_jkEBRZkLOH5QPZ78zQJpaqg6tmqLmIm8Lor-HHZT8FppGapQM7xyNJuYUGqMhp4HwCfS3Y/s320/IMG_6598.jpeg" width="230" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQCEb-wiLzT8W6_7QS1gS6eZK6rYHTwWHHyEOCOlnmVcKxhteyJqaADIvk4WAIlYtViDE4eHgs7gYKeZQ2k_Dkc-10LZOCL189LJIAfvF-giIAcM6lJ8Y_0gfAswItQ23Kd0ODgJFOWXxwGYYh__R3KsnEpRCi6Y6X0carcbvxNZvz4HB7QNOIQ6odnDh/s1618/IMG_6597.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1618" data-original-width="1113" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQCEb-wiLzT8W6_7QS1gS6eZK6rYHTwWHHyEOCOlnmVcKxhteyJqaADIvk4WAIlYtViDE4eHgs7gYKeZQ2k_Dkc-10LZOCL189LJIAfvF-giIAcM6lJ8Y_0gfAswItQ23Kd0ODgJFOWXxwGYYh__R3KsnEpRCi6Y6X0carcbvxNZvz4HB7QNOIQ6odnDh/s320/IMG_6597.jpeg" width="220" /></a></div></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTffIjoCwcWwyvdjvPsYRzseOA1f3LaMKD6Kx4TKkt15HjzEgwgcTEbUD-Ercy3YcJQ4fGYj3gRSG8zZCXwJk7I4u9ooQtwLxEc5livtMQ4LTNSUiDCZsz69EQNbDLzU7xVbY-Be748HBHld8ukl-IGk9VaiC5kGmPHcTVWwUrSTDSg9DlQVQgH8NXWie/s1773/IMG_6605.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1773" data-original-width="1149" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTffIjoCwcWwyvdjvPsYRzseOA1f3LaMKD6Kx4TKkt15HjzEgwgcTEbUD-Ercy3YcJQ4fGYj3gRSG8zZCXwJk7I4u9ooQtwLxEc5livtMQ4LTNSUiDCZsz69EQNbDLzU7xVbY-Be748HBHld8ukl-IGk9VaiC5kGmPHcTVWwUrSTDSg9DlQVQgH8NXWie/s320/IMG_6605.jpeg" width="207" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEo5kif4gwEH6RGfIaRd5gGwvyRm5ZZMEu96ty-YUPtsGDa87Hw1Rhyphenhyphen0aWwYMiZMEYGOWKRfv18UUOZX1LK1-H7AnMWIvsUopOLPddemSKXU1qrb01EXaXbeMCdYIF4GMsqPnPtTivL5o9SxRXdCfBonK7n00Ra2M7aWvK_URYhB8bc11BUmLizxT4dmh3/s1070/IMG_6609.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="709" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEo5kif4gwEH6RGfIaRd5gGwvyRm5ZZMEu96ty-YUPtsGDa87Hw1Rhyphenhyphen0aWwYMiZMEYGOWKRfv18UUOZX1LK1-H7AnMWIvsUopOLPddemSKXU1qrb01EXaXbeMCdYIF4GMsqPnPtTivL5o9SxRXdCfBonK7n00Ra2M7aWvK_URYhB8bc11BUmLizxT4dmh3/s320/IMG_6609.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div></div></div><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gYDKJVVyPhGnlK-veni2xDn14pyRZ8mjet9ujt_Pl5TXoeWGrkcV0Lmg-TXwI1MOGhq66d8WTGvG77x_qRj09F1YegBP3qu8Vo8M-t8Q1bE4pJO8Y1EhV1yqiMERCRwdYsOObZVTUX7ClJSQ-oqOzXTZGHB2KYJk2KOwArxGmoS9EG-xaQQMQ2iZxao-/s1336/IMG_6603.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1336" data-original-width="847" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gYDKJVVyPhGnlK-veni2xDn14pyRZ8mjet9ujt_Pl5TXoeWGrkcV0Lmg-TXwI1MOGhq66d8WTGvG77x_qRj09F1YegBP3qu8Vo8M-t8Q1bE4pJO8Y1EhV1yqiMERCRwdYsOObZVTUX7ClJSQ-oqOzXTZGHB2KYJk2KOwArxGmoS9EG-xaQQMQ2iZxao-/s320/IMG_6603.jpeg" width="203" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not In Love by Ali Hazelwood</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I am thrilled about the two listed above. They are two of my most highly anticipated reads for 2024 and I cannot wait to dive into them and see what stories two of my favorite authors bring me!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Night Ends With Fire by K.X. Song</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I was offered this one from the publisher and it just sounded so interesting. It's inspired by Mulan, which is a top Disney film for me. I'm excited to see how the author tells this story!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A Letter To The Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Under water world? CHECK! Fantasy? CHECK! Giving me some mermaid vibes? CHECK! Romance? CHECK! Bring it on!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Dead Guy Next Door (Riley Thorn #1) by Lucy Score</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">This is my second try at this author. I've already started this one and like it much more than the previous one I tried to read. This one has a bit of magical realism (not sure what else to call it bu there's some psychic type stuff going on) to it and I can't wait to see where it goes. I love that it's a series, too!</span></div><p><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">These are books I bought:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWEHzlPKQ5INj-xtaK_l3LsRZpBJ7h5tcwYU3sy_z-we8qXPLjKvJOcBCQQfQgIcn4ju3aO8QOZBNc_B0bxeJLZrJwv1S_m9FdJOW1q-xntIlgduPbDScwhRQV3CKnT92jAQ2iSXNUOGsABGJLBVLH5k_ZGX1kbPXQaxLxbqXi4zcUVjiumJHomz6GG4_/s4032/IMG_6592.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWEHzlPKQ5INj-xtaK_l3LsRZpBJ7h5tcwYU3sy_z-we8qXPLjKvJOcBCQQfQgIcn4ju3aO8QOZBNc_B0bxeJLZrJwv1S_m9FdJOW1q-xntIlgduPbDScwhRQV3CKnT92jAQ2iSXNUOGsABGJLBVLH5k_ZGX1kbPXQaxLxbqXi4zcUVjiumJHomz6GG4_/s320/IMG_6592.jpeg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQ1P_HugteTQMLsx67eaZCM5j1OOiG6A0ypYSEak5I2EXhpGtTnl-qpTgJmqMfeImd6-Zso0QCiTBumKybBlYvGXZ8Ev1QJ76WdVf_v1V4w6CaJ0xKf7RdsjXQ-z3Zy0uZ3t_baO0u8AsnxrePCImeb76WJMA72BXtlaGNnxKgxbTn63NlFCe4Yw3u9d0/s3702/IMG_6614.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3702" data-original-width="2531" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQ1P_HugteTQMLsx67eaZCM5j1OOiG6A0ypYSEak5I2EXhpGtTnl-qpTgJmqMfeImd6-Zso0QCiTBumKybBlYvGXZ8Ev1QJ76WdVf_v1V4w6CaJ0xKf7RdsjXQ-z3Zy0uZ3t_baO0u8AsnxrePCImeb76WJMA72BXtlaGNnxKgxbTn63NlFCe4Yw3u9d0/s320/IMG_6614.jpeg" width="219" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV99V20hVaSugCNnRo9UenpqJnon-n94fPKpYJqTSz5JNBhSR8q2ruWlH1MdxGBs_NJYZcEyiyNb7hPaLusEkYXLLNCVlMbtRJ6piIYaIBicbyawUHdO619q25LXShyphenhyphenfAFS0GyRnw55OgxT2rL9D8tAhzZqIL9nqWgzo-pz4SKbGQd7F7jfRe2NjdEEtEx/s4032/IMG_6593.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV99V20hVaSugCNnRo9UenpqJnon-n94fPKpYJqTSz5JNBhSR8q2ruWlH1MdxGBs_NJYZcEyiyNb7hPaLusEkYXLLNCVlMbtRJ6piIYaIBicbyawUHdO619q25LXShyphenhyphenfAFS0GyRnw55OgxT2rL9D8tAhzZqIL9nqWgzo-pz4SKbGQd7F7jfRe2NjdEEtEx/s320/IMG_6593.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADSx8UpxIzKNEeyC-WUz3OnVv0C3U_CnHv8dlAuKpC_wsqVILCpk4bQAVsLm-g36pkb69GFD-5PUMu2ruQLBZ37HaBAp5GO4mChWf6xCFp8B0ZKkzgKVx7saUSHDY9jYZQrUT95oVdjrJ4_4W2Dxz9t0pqM_QJz5Mtj-7RDH1M_whyhrk5gBT9-Bjem7q/s3879/IMG_6615.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3879" data-original-width="2601" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADSx8UpxIzKNEeyC-WUz3OnVv0C3U_CnHv8dlAuKpC_wsqVILCpk4bQAVsLm-g36pkb69GFD-5PUMu2ruQLBZ37HaBAp5GO4mChWf6xCFp8B0ZKkzgKVx7saUSHDY9jYZQrUT95oVdjrJ4_4W2Dxz9t0pqM_QJz5Mtj-7RDH1M_whyhrk5gBT9-Bjem7q/s320/IMG_6615.jpeg" width="215" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWequB78uSYp75YpwMZ0C892G9s90jyuY_paydpeilNkpqugjorWtZ-1xwjrtIKqcVgr5fUFP_bxDhxHs22jqAeov9mB2sQsaMKCW_dymyfi21YlHqJwcdCQHex1c-bOo1lq6zpPvAvZVTZ5h-VWQ8I3BXyhBbzp_qQ1v6ryPowtEwMqx15w0hFio4N_OC/s3386/IMG_6612.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3386" data-original-width="2336" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWequB78uSYp75YpwMZ0C892G9s90jyuY_paydpeilNkpqugjorWtZ-1xwjrtIKqcVgr5fUFP_bxDhxHs22jqAeov9mB2sQsaMKCW_dymyfi21YlHqJwcdCQHex1c-bOo1lq6zpPvAvZVTZ5h-VWQ8I3BXyhBbzp_qQ1v6ryPowtEwMqx15w0hFio4N_OC/s320/IMG_6612.jpeg" width="221" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5eP8NPAUObJRQ4V-9ORz2-nqUZQHT8e-dlrCNxS2fnGlm5GB-WZdHc-7VQJ3Ip994tRH86zvukk8X-LK2vwoRVZ1baLSXFbLjWmpzzX29sBR-8UxGJ9gVfCYTG-MzYE6W_jAF-wWBPmSqN4VHJwmKJgwB0iF3uSGpB5VgZdNJY-cX29ruLgCKuavTROx5/s3738/IMG_6611.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3738" data-original-width="2652" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5eP8NPAUObJRQ4V-9ORz2-nqUZQHT8e-dlrCNxS2fnGlm5GB-WZdHc-7VQJ3Ip994tRH86zvukk8X-LK2vwoRVZ1baLSXFbLjWmpzzX29sBR-8UxGJ9gVfCYTG-MzYE6W_jAF-wWBPmSqN4VHJwmKJgwB0iF3uSGpB5VgZdNJY-cX29ruLgCKuavTROx5/s320/IMG_6611.jpeg" width="227" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8AHDqGw1g6SWmdYUKDA3qz6i8a04bRiPiu5emHm985wYrRy2ZYeN27G2wxV30gOF70mAPtJoWiNc9xlpAzuwOj7rfnmKKgNGtz5Gy204E6tiEkydsdT8d1_c0U6b6ZHJDDaLgdK86-OJe5I-YaGiXfFO_wGAmt6IqHU1YATjDQzlNNoGSRdpBvvUhynch/s4032/IMG_6594.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8AHDqGw1g6SWmdYUKDA3qz6i8a04bRiPiu5emHm985wYrRy2ZYeN27G2wxV30gOF70mAPtJoWiNc9xlpAzuwOj7rfnmKKgNGtz5Gy204E6tiEkydsdT8d1_c0U6b6ZHJDDaLgdK86-OJe5I-YaGiXfFO_wGAmt6IqHU1YATjDQzlNNoGSRdpBvvUhynch/s320/IMG_6594.jpeg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTmKl6-klL3Wbki9JynOoF8hlptfFY2dHpqHK9kBwYZnwHFkjc_i8DdWEc4fcdb5x9Fclvj_l2d0bB6JMjwcOyrIV6iWoyt1CyvynmifTmK9dhbuQKfgLXHUtma8-W_aATPa_fJAOtJb2pAevc1AAa7mcyVB6fXYwIY_isJ5IaLOiWdb34uOg0oDVM4pV/s4032/IMG_6595.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTmKl6-klL3Wbki9JynOoF8hlptfFY2dHpqHK9kBwYZnwHFkjc_i8DdWEc4fcdb5x9Fclvj_l2d0bB6JMjwcOyrIV6iWoyt1CyvynmifTmK9dhbuQKfgLXHUtma8-W_aATPa_fJAOtJb2pAevc1AAa7mcyVB6fXYwIY_isJ5IaLOiWdb34uOg0oDVM4pV/s320/IMG_6595.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Serpent & the Wings of Night (Crowns of Nyaxia #1) by Carissa Broadbent</span><p></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">This is not my first copy of this title but I could not resist this Blackwell's version with the beautiful painted edges. I now have the Indie version, the traditionally published, and this version which is also traditionally published. I might be obsessed with this series (and this author) and I am sure I'll get more special edition copies when I can actually afford them!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney</span></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I've seen this title around. It looks interesting. And this was only 99 cents at my local Goodwill. I don't often find things I want to get there but this week I did! Once I'm done I'm going to pass this one on to my father!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">A Fate Inked In Blood by Danielle L. Jensen</span></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I needed this copy with the pretty blue shimmery edges. Plus, it's toted as a book for those who love the show Vikings and I'm all about that show! I'm excited to read it. A few of my fellow book lover friends have said it's really quite good.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">To Cage a God (These Monstrous Gods #1) by Elizabeth May</span></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">My monthly Illumicrate book. Those edges though! I don't even want to take the plastic off. The entire book is just gorgeous. I had not heard of it before I received it. It's a Russian inspired fantasy and will be a duaology. I hope Illumicrate does the second one, as well, so I can have a matching set! It's said to be for fans of Leigh Bardugo and I love everything she writes.</span></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">These are books I won:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJn-oeZezQ11TXLZZpasZ5yzN33Ldvx_TaaC9O-VEHN1g5FnbJnWmd2lwjcyYO6UvqX34FeWKn75SF6lbuIvmaPZViEBXWnaO6tv8vDfWHMRgKMRmr_VBjKFKPIkXUnLzs1ben19PDVoMYa6sxV9ZFkWZvT2yJ_moLqC6FTD8bp0C-sO45rgX4FPZsod0o/s1151/IMG_6606.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="803" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJn-oeZezQ11TXLZZpasZ5yzN33Ldvx_TaaC9O-VEHN1g5FnbJnWmd2lwjcyYO6UvqX34FeWKn75SF6lbuIvmaPZViEBXWnaO6tv8vDfWHMRgKMRmr_VBjKFKPIkXUnLzs1ben19PDVoMYa6sxV9ZFkWZvT2yJ_moLqC6FTD8bp0C-sO45rgX4FPZsod0o/s320/IMG_6606.jpeg" width="223" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZdCl8H3laKyA2SMPufih986d_AYvBDCzJh2FaT6WYlePY4pYwcH-U-S9DNgcTeeKE8PO4F0pgo6LuRXWyzhMpUgqjOs3s5UA4ASvsvdBhYIGfy3ruwuZTfvd0C3srQOtJjsciSY6AJvPzG_hO5O-mqK3IQjkTcwzzk74cM86KfhKv3ZBINjq-mvYED_5b/s1154/IMG_6607.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1154" data-original-width="781" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZdCl8H3laKyA2SMPufih986d_AYvBDCzJh2FaT6WYlePY4pYwcH-U-S9DNgcTeeKE8PO4F0pgo6LuRXWyzhMpUgqjOs3s5UA4ASvsvdBhYIGfy3ruwuZTfvd0C3srQOtJjsciSY6AJvPzG_hO5O-mqK3IQjkTcwzzk74cM86KfhKv3ZBINjq-mvYED_5b/s320/IMG_6607.jpeg" width="217" /></a></div></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSUjzauHAy2aA-SxhLybVu_f3uJBMewcQ0fhhIJXYzQ4PcqI0hnHfce-Y_NW-mHvJyVsX0uTMlf62IOlsxnJg2XicIPahEp7rvQ2JLMreBPyGIJDxGpSn2wUpUr12GbzE91lKw9Y6NGgHlRHdCuqrJvX1qwMITpv5jz6_E5nwN9ECf09byRd-ZZst37M9/s1164/IMG_6608.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1164" data-original-width="782" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSUjzauHAy2aA-SxhLybVu_f3uJBMewcQ0fhhIJXYzQ4PcqI0hnHfce-Y_NW-mHvJyVsX0uTMlf62IOlsxnJg2XicIPahEp7rvQ2JLMreBPyGIJDxGpSn2wUpUr12GbzE91lKw9Y6NGgHlRHdCuqrJvX1qwMITpv5jz6_E5nwN9ECf09byRd-ZZst37M9/s320/IMG_6608.jpeg" width="215" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr_4yuBH6wifq3j_9hGLkkJkyZSkpdsGRBDe8ljmJaPSPbIPAfGv3q1S7p1OYedkMS9jirYKHsE3woLr2YMxmm_RuHCH4qKqu5PMJ2Udvi1PL7lPV-7gjcGG-BHYEgHAbmy7t3PmjnaeahUZViyPyn-1QJqPn9nm2BeVNzBEnldQmgALkrJX7SnCnk9mC_/s1617/IMG_6610.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1617" data-original-width="1170" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr_4yuBH6wifq3j_9hGLkkJkyZSkpdsGRBDe8ljmJaPSPbIPAfGv3q1S7p1OYedkMS9jirYKHsE3woLr2YMxmm_RuHCH4qKqu5PMJ2Udvi1PL7lPV-7gjcGG-BHYEgHAbmy7t3PmjnaeahUZViyPyn-1QJqPn9nm2BeVNzBEnldQmgALkrJX7SnCnk9mC_/s320/IMG_6610.jpeg" width="232" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Isabel and The Rouge by Liana De La Rosa</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One-Star Romance by Laura Hankin</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Until Next Summer by Ali Brady</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">These three I won from a contest through Berkley Publishing Group. Thanks Berkley! I love me some good romance and Berkley does not usually disappoint so I'm looking forward to jumping into them and seeing what they are all about. All three authors are new to me.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Guncle Abroad (The Guncle #2) by Steven Rowley</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I actually received a copy of this a while back for review. Apparently I also had my name thrown into a drawing for the title and ending up winning it. Thank you G.P. Putnum! I'm actually almost done reading the review copy and I am really enjoying it. Highly recommend. Watch for my review!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">What did you get this week?</span></div></div><br /><br /><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p></div></div>The Cover Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936117064881855016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334365102658625344.post-89389683162652646872024-03-06T16:32:00.000-05:002024-03-17T16:32:52.527-04:00Release Day Blitz: Rise of the Melody by Wendy Higgins<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.rockstarbooktours.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="615" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-8JAqZSSuT0wKCWy0BZgf_yorQmAj0w08NtsJ6-I0-alqzsRZ1pBhzsUo-FKUj99Eh_fQOp_ACDp1HVeIHEtgymLqzx70Ekqh7PDK75_KL5bBCEJB-QlRLP-KGC3C_f6ee8wbWPsTOToHc6uJr8FpzMSKj28MeP4JEvvGpoE4aDtgvFfOYoK5CidqsCv/w400-h156/RISE%20OF%20THE%20MELODY.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I am so excited that <b>RISE OF THE
MELODY </b>by Wendy Higgins is available now and that I get to share the news!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">If you haven’t yet heard about this
wonderful book, be sure to check out all the details below. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">This blitz also includes a giveaway
for a signed copy of the book & swag courtesy of Wendy & </span><a href="http://www.rockstarbooktours.com/"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Rockstar Book Tours</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">. So if
you’d like a chance to win, check out the giveaway info below.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">About The Book:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a name="_Hlk160444940"></a><a name="_Hlk101517841"></a><a name="_Hlk109641341"></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk109641341;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk101517841;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk160444940;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></b></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk109641341;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk101517841;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk160444940;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://books2read.com/RISE-OF-THE-MELODY" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2500" data-original-width="1667" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrxc_ceFWR2lDgTRF7BWDBIhteLLxlEhPuMzHt6QFEFpxuniaQQicMxaMag_BOoXhBFgB2KpQFKxPtYrCCkU-JdB81NanHUNVi2BZhUK0T_mFPN68Rw_Hpa1Z6kYbTr730-UiNuGpHweHkgcOLzCWl71CWdrsvP4HI1Ihrj9CPKaQ43f6wdVCq3Y_RjT-i/w266-h400/RiseOfTheMelody_Higgins_Amazon.jpg" width="266" /></a></span></b></span></span></span></div><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk109641341;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk101517841;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk160444940;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Title:</span></b></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk143515659;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk109641341;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk101517841;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk160444940;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> RISE OF THE MELODY<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk143515659;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk109641341;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk101517841;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk160444940;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Author: </span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk143515659;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk109641341;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk101517841;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk160444940;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Wendy
Higgins<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk143515659;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk109641341;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk101517841;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk160444940;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Pub. Date:</span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk143515659;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk109641341;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk101517841;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk160444940;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> March 5, 2024<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk143515659;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk109641341;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk101517841;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk160444940;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Publisher: </span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk143515659;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk109641341;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk101517841;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk160444940;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Wendy
Higgins<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk143515659;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk109641341;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk101517841;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk160444940;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Formats:</span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk143515659;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk109641341;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk101517841;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk160444940;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> Paperback, eBook<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk143515659;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk109641341;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk101517841;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk160444940;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Pages:</span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk143515659;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk109641341;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk101517841;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk160444940;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> 290<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk143515659;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk109641341;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk101517841;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk160444940;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Find it:</span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk143515659;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk109641341;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk101517841;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk160444940;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/200991308-rise-of-the-melody"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk143515659;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk109641341;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk101517841;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk160444940;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Goodreads</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk143515659;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk109641341;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk101517841;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk160444940;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">, </span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk143515659;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk109641341;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk101517841;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk160444940;"></span></span></span></span><a href="https://books2read.com/RISE-OF-THE-MELODY"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk143515659;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk109641341;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk101517841;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk160444940;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">https://books2read.com/RISE-OF-THE-MELODY</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk101517841;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk109641341;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk143515659;"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk160444940;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">From the <i>New York Times</i> and <i>USA
Today</i> bestselling author of the YA paranormal <i>Sweet Evil</i> series
comes a modern fantasy romance of mystery with Celtic and Gaelic mythology.<br />
<br />
Seventeen-year-old Colette “Letty” MacIntyre has everything going for her: a
great life with her Aunt Lorna in Brooklyn, a promising singing career, and
enough distractions to forget the tragic disappearance of her parents. She’s
banking on a bright future in the city until strange things begin to happen.
People are suddenly having peculiar reactions to her singing voice, and a giant
wolfhound starts following her like a lost puppy. But the cherry on top is when
the mayor of her long-forgotten birthplace, Shehan, a mountainous island off
the craggy northern coast of Maine, shows up on her doorstep with an impossible
revelation. The Gaelic folklore she grew up hearing is real. Letty is the last
land siren on Earth…and he needs her help.<br />
<br />
An escaped kelpie—a monstrous water horse—is terrorizing Shehan, and Letty’s
voice is the only thing that can stop it. Despite the shock at learning her
heritage, Letty returns to the island, which is filled with as much mystery as
it is fog. She wants answers to her parents’ disappearance as well as a chance
to prove herself. But in a race of mighty druids and formidable Scottish
witches, Letty’s power is an anomaly, feared and reviled by the mystic
community. Her lineage must be kept secret. It becomes even harder to fulfil
these tasks when a new enemy threatens her—an alluring, powerful druid boy
filled with darkness who would just as soon kill her as kiss her.<br />
<br />
Will her deadly melody be enough to save the town and herself?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk160444940;"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Excerpt:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Chapter One: Death of the Dress<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I tipped my chin from side to side with my hand, feeling the
satisfying <i>cracks </i>in my neck before shaking out my arms and
meeting my instructor’s eyes. Mr. Goneley smirked with amusement as he sat at
the piano in his office at my high school. I ignored the occasional muted blare
of car horns from the city streets outside.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">He adjusted his glasses. “Ready, Letty?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I nodded and exhaled, though I wasn’t nervous, exactly. I’d
had many in-person auditions and recitals in my life, and recently with college
applications. I adjusted my silken blue choir gown. Normally I’d wear all black
to match my eyeliner, nails, and dyed black hair. No black lips, though. Red
all the way. And I wore my long hair in a series of intricate braids that the
camera would probably not be able to capture. Oh, well.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“You’ve got this,” Mr. Goneley said. I granted him a smile.
He’d helped me a lot, pushing me to apply to all the nearby musical schools for
next year. This tape was for the final round of auditions with Manhattan School
of Music, but Mr. Goneley had contacts in the theater world and had encouraged
me to get a side job in a local theater this summer, despite my aunt’s
insistence against it. A foot in the door. We’d use this video for that, as
well.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Here we go. Three, two….” He silently mouthed <i>one</i> as
he pressed the record button on my propped phone and began to play. I closed my
eyes and let everything else fall away except the notes floating up. It was a
haunting, Gaelic inspired tune that I’d written myself to match my voice
perfectly—smokey and breathy, yet rich. My voice was attuned to the slow, deep
melody of long-ago ancestors, the hardships I could barely fathom.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Through the night, my fire bright</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I wait for my sailor, nigh</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I sit in the breeze, but my soul does not ease</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">As I wait for my lover, nigh</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">When I opened my eyes, I looked into the camera, willing it
to hear every nuance. My arms moved of their own accord with the emotion of the
song. As the notes rang from my throat a strange sensation came over me, like
heat razing my skin. I’d never felt anything like that before while singing—a
slight burn and tingle that only strengthened as I lost myself to the music. A
sense of command filled me, and I embraced it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Three weeks he’s been gone as I stare at the dawn</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Awaiting my sailor, nigh</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Powerful. That’s what I felt. Holy crap. Like I could do
absolutely anything in that moment. Was the camera getting this? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The sky has gone black, the thunder does crack</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">As I wait for my lover, nigh</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">It was that moment when I noticed Mr. Goneley sweating,
moisture beading along his hairline and lip. It had been abnormally hot today
in New York City for May, but not <i>that</i> hot. The AC was pumping
overhead, yet he was grimacing. I closed my eyes again to force myself to
concentrate on the rumble of reverberations in my throat.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">When Mr. Goneley flubbed a note, I opened my eyes and
wondered if he’d stop, but he kept going for another few seconds before pulling
away from the keys and staring at me. His eyes looked blank and lost as he made
a strange noise at the back of his throat. I wanted to scream in disappointment
because that had been the best I’d ever sang in my entire life! Would I be able
to do that again on the second take? He finally broke the weird stare and wiped
his forehead with the back of his hand, slumping. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Mr. G?” I said. “Are you okay?” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“I…did you change anything?” he asked in a croaky voice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“What?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">He shook his head and rubbed his chest with the heel of his
hand. “With the song? I don’t know. Your voice is…” He cleared his throat and
looked at me funny. “Different.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“No,” I told him. “It was the same, but it did feel kind of
different. Like, stronger. Did it sound bad?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Again, his head shook back and forth, almost as if in
confusion. “I’m not sure how to explain it. I think it must be me. I’m not
feeling well all of a sudden.” He blinked up at me as his eyes began to clear,
a nervous sounding chuckle escaping him. “I’m so sorry about this, but do you
mind rescheduling?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Yeah,” I said, regret washing over me. “No problem. I hope
you feel better.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">There was a strange, awkward tension in the room as I
gathered my things and Mr. Goneley gave me a wide berth to leave. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I swung my bag over my shoulder and walked quickly out of the
school building, my purple boots hitting hard with each step on the Brooklyn
sidewalks. A giant bird swooped down from the ledge of a window and I jumped,
cursing as its wings lifted my hair for a second. Was that an eagle? I watched
it dart skyward and tried to shake off the startled feeling. I didn’t have many
wildlife encounters here in Brooklyn, other than pigeons and the occasional
rat. I absently weaved through people, speed walking. Sweat ran down my back,
probably soaking into the satiny material. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Had I been singing too loud? It hadn’t felt like it. It felt
like the best singing of my life, but clearly it had been terrible based on the
bizarre look he gave me. Was I losing my touch? Panic flared because singing
was my everything. The only thing I was good at. And even though Aunt Lorna had
been begging me for years to focus on some other line of work, something more
stable, I had to chase this dream. But what if I got home and watched the video
and it was awful? If my singing had felt that good, but actually been
horrible…oh, Gaia. I didn’t know what I’d do. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I cut through a small park, the grass squishy under the soles
of my boots. Usually there were couples picnicking on blankets and kids running
around chasing bubbles, but it was barren. It was never this empty on beautiful
afternoons, even during the week. Weird.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">A burn of heat flashed across my skin as something huge and
hairy stepped out from behind a crop of tall bushes, sending my heart into an
erratic race. I stopped so fast at the massive sight that I tripped over my own
feet and landed on my hands and knees. My head whipped up and I froze, holding
my breath for a long beat before gasping.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">A dog loomed over me. The largest dog I’d ever seen. Its face
was long like an Irish hound with a shaggy dark body that appeared oddly
greenish. I blinked. It was as round as a Saint Bernard, as tall as a small
cow, and its silky tail twitched back and forth behind it. We stared at each
other. Every fiber of my body wanted to run, but my mind screamed at me not to
move. This giant mutt could, no doubt, take me down and maul my face with very
little effort.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I glanced down and saw it was clearly male. With a hard
swallow I whispered, “Good boy.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">He sniffed the air and lowered his head, stepping toward me
almost cautiously. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">My survival instinct screamed to run but I stiffened every
muscle. <i>Don’t move, Letty.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The dog slowly sat and then lay before me, its huge paws
inches from my hands, like it expected something from me. My heart rate began
to slow enough to give me the nerve to move into a sitting position. I never
took my eyes off him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Are you lost?” I whispered, feeling foolish talking to a
dog. “Where’s your owner?” I searched around, but there was no one.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The dog huffed through its nose. Then he lifted a heavy paw
and plopped it on my booted foot.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I couldn’t help but smile, though my insides still shook.
“Okay. So, you’re friendly?” I let out a deep breath. When I climbed slowly to
my feet, he did too. His head came to my chest. He definitely outweighed me,
and I was no waif. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">My eyes scanned the park now. Literally nobody. Maybe if we
walked around we’d find his owner. Taking slow steps, I began to loop the park,
and the dog followed me. We passed a few people on the sidewalks now, who all
took one look at the dog and steered clear. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">One woman scowled. “You need to have that thing on a leash!
It’s the law!” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“He’s not mine,” I tried to explain, but she scurried away.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">After fifteen minutes of this, my need to get home and talk
to Aunt Lorna was overpowering my need to find the dog’s owner. If I wasn’t in
the middle of this singing crisis, I would have taken him to a veterinarian to
check for a chip, but I didn’t have time for this. And the SPCA was all the way
across town. New York was full of do-gooders who would happily take care of
him. Right? Yeah….<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“I’m sorry, boy,” I said to the dog, feeling silly that I
needed to explain myself. “I have to go. Just stay right here until your owner
comes back, okay? Or some nice person helps you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">He cocked his head. Guilt was a stone in my gut as I turned
and speed-walked away from him. Thirty seconds later his pitter-pattering paws
and clickety-clacking claws sounded loudly behind me. I spun and held out my
palm. “Oh, no you don’t. Stay. <i>Stay</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">He wasn’t a very good listener. The dang dog followed me the
whole five blocks to the shop. Ugh, Aunt Lorna was going to freak. Granted, she
had four cats that lived at her work, but they added to the atmosphere of her
witchy apothecary and gem shop. We’d never had an animal in our apartment. I
stopped in front of Aunt Lorna’s shop, Moonlight Apothecary and Dispensary,
which we lived two stories above. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I caught sight of my reflection in the glass. My gown was
officially ruined with the rip and grass stains from when I’d fallen. I’d had
to save money to buy it for the state treble choir competition. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Every single person eyed the dog warily as they passed. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Okay,” I told him. “You need to go. Go back to the park and
find your people. Go on, <i>shoo</i>.” He sat and I sighed. He was going
to scare customers away. I rolled my eyes and wished him luck as I went inside,
certain he’d finally leave once I was gone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Incense tickled my nose, and the gentle sounds of delta waves
playing overhead immediately relaxed me. Stepping into the shop always
transported me from overwhelming city into a fantastical, meditative space. I
took a moment to peer around at the shelves of homemade vials of oils, soaps,
and sage bunches. Displays of authentic crystals with a giant rose quartz in
the center. Salt lamps. Potted plants hanging from the ceiling with their long
vines spidering out like jungle fingers. A table of incenses dipped by my aunt
and me. This shop was our sanctuary.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">All around the room were cool framed pictures of
drawings—depictions of Faerie queens and creatures from Celtic and Gaelic
mythology that I’d grown up hearing about. Sea maidens and forest nymphs.
Brownie house spirits. Selkies and kelpies, and of course Nessie, the Loch Ness
monster. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Is that you, Letty?” my aunt called from the back room.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Yes, it’s me.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Good news!” she hollered. “I found someone to watch the shop
next week while I go to your graduation.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Cool,” I said, my mind still stuck on Mr. Goneley.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Aunt Lorna bustled in, and her pretty face lit up when she
saw me. She pushed dirty blond curls out of her eyes and adjusted the quartz
necklace around her neck. She often acted like a little old lady, but she
wasn’t. She was just wise for her thirty-something years.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“What’s the matter?” Her gentle Scottish lilt from a
childhood in the Highlands calmed me for a moment. Then the memory of Mr.
Goneley assaulted me again and I cringed. She swished over in her long skirt,
the bangles clinking on her wrists. Her eyebrows crashed together as she looked
me over. “Why do you look like that? What happened to your dress? And you’re
sweating—my gods, were you attacked?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“No,” I tried to calm her as I reached up and felt my
knotted, long locks. “Not exactly. It’s a long story. Something weird happened
while I was singing.” At this, she went still, and her face shuttered closed,
her lips pursing like they always did when it came to my singing. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“What happened, Letty?” Gods, she didn’t need to look so
severe.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“I’m not really sure,” I admitted. “But I got it on tape.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I shouldn’t tell her all of this, considering how much she
wanted me to find a different career path, but she was the only person I could
talk to. I pulled out my phone with a shaking hand and started the video. When
my voice first began, she sucked in a breath. And then her eyebrows crinkled.
Her head began a small shake, and she took the phone from my hand to watch more
closely. I crossed my arms, feeling nauseated as I recalled Mr. Goneley’s
reaction. But my voice <i>did</i> sound great. Not to brag. It hadn’t
been just a great performance in my mind. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">When it ended, Aunt Lorna’s lips were pressed tightly
together as she passed the phone back to me. “I know you enjoy singing, Letty.
And it’s been a wonderful hobby to have growing up—”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">My heart dropped. “Auntie, don’t—”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Enough!” She raised her voice over mine. “This is a fool’s
errand! This path will be filled with heartache.” She seemed to struggle for
words before saying, “Do you really want to be just another New York starving
artist working as a waitress and facing disappointment after disappointment?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">My breath caught in my lungs. “Why don’t you believe I can do
it?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“It’s not that I don’t believe in you. It’s just unnecessary
hardship, Letty! You can help me run this business, or <i>any</i> business.
You’ve got an eye for detail and math. You’re smart.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Ugh, this again!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“I would be miserable!” I insisted. “And I’m more than happy
to help you with the shop, but that’s your dream, not mine. I’m sorry if you
don’t like it, but I’m going to sing, Aunt Lorna. It’s my gift.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“I don’t think it’s what your parents would have wanted,” she
blurted.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Her face turned ashen as my stomach twisted and burned with
acid. My parents had disappeared on a whale-watching excursion when I was four.
We rarely spoke of them. Her eyes looked full of both panic and shame.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“That’s not fair,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “You
can’t <i>know</i> that.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I watched, as if in slow motion, as my aunt’s face pinched in
pain and she grabbed her temples, her knees buckling.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Auntie!” I dropped my phone and grasped her upper arms,
leading her to a velvet armchair to sit. She breathed heavily, a small whimper
escaping. She’d suffered from headaches and migraines since I could remember,
but this one looked more severe than normal. “You need to see a doctor. What if
something’s really wrong?” I’d lost too much sleep worrying about brain tumors,
but as usual, Aunt Lorna shook her head.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“No doctors. I’ve got it under control.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I gritted my teeth in frustration. Yes, she was the most
talented herbalist possibly ever, especially in the western world. People
traveled to Moonlight Apothecary from all over to get her tinctures and
homeopathic healing herbal mixtures when modern medicines and clinical
chemicals didn’t work. I’d seen her work miracles like a modern-day witch
doctor. She was a genius, but herbs could only go so far. If she would get an
MRI at least we could know what the real problem was.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“I’m okay.” She sat taller and her forehead smoothed. “I’m
sorry.” She met my eyes and there was regret there. “I shouldn’t have brought
up your parents.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I nodded, at a loss for words. Her erratic behavior and
headaches were scaring me lately. My aunt had always been eccentric and
special. I’d come to think of her as this magical sort of being, though I knew
how unhinged that sounded. But I’d seen strange things as a child. Whenever I
asked for explanations, Aunt Lorna always had some logical reason for the
things I’d witnessed her do when she thought I wasn’t looking. A book sliding
across the table to her waiting hand. One of her potions turning bright green,
then bubbling down to a muddy brown as she chanted in Gaelic—literal miracles
of near-death to life from her potions. Multiple candle wicks blowing out at
the same time when there was zero air movement in the room. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">It had been a while since anything like that happened, so I
chalked it up to fuzzy memories and childish wonderings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">After a moment, Aunt Lorna touched the ornate cuff on my
wrist that she’d given me, turning it as if inspecting it. The underneath was a
layer of salt, sulfur, and agate fused together and embedded onto dried fish
leather. On the top was a layer of ammolite gemstone plating—iridescent red and
green that looked like dragon scales. The cuff was said to provide protection
and ward against evil. When she’d put it on me years ago, she’d spoken a line
of Scots Gaelic as she sealed it shut with a glue substance. She was funny like
that. Old pagan superstitions from when she’d grown up in the highlands of
Scotland. To me, her Gaelic phrases sounded like spells, which would be apropos
considering the amount of rare mystical texts and spell books she sold here. It
was because of her that I said weird things like “gods” and “Gaia,” aka Mother
Nature, the creator of faeries in folklore.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">A sound came from the shop’s door.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“<i>Jeebus</i>!” Aunt Lorna’s scream had both of us jumping.
Her hands gripped the arms of the chair, and I followed her eyes. The giant dog
stood there taking up the entire doorway staring at us through the glass. He
had that greenish tint again. Had he rolled in moss or something gross?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“<i>Coo Shee</i>!” she yelled. I’d never heard my aunt sound
so terrified before. “Letty, hide!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Aunt Lorna, it’s okay!” I stood and motioned to the door.
“It’s just a stray dog I found on my way home today. I know he’s scary looking
but he’s actually really good and sweet.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Suddenly the dog was pushing open the shop door with his
body, and Aunt Lorna screamed again, grabbing me. We did a silly tug-of-war
where she tried to pull me into the back room and I yanked back, trying to
reassure her that everything was okay. The dog got close to us and sat down
staring at us in that intent way of his. All four cats, which had been quietly
resting in their various places, suddenly began a ruckus of hissing and
screaming in a flurry of orange and black as they ran, scuttling and sliding along
the tiled floor until they escaped through the doorway of dangling beads to the
back room. The dog watched them with a tilted head, and I swore he appeared
amused. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Good boy,” I said. “See, Auntie?” He took up a lot of space
in her small shop.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">She was gripping me hard, breathing erratically as she stared
at it. “I’ve never…I’ve only heard…Gaia above. Did it—I mean, has he…barked?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“What?” I thought about it. “No, he hasn’t made a sound the
whole time I’ve been with him.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">She nodded and I saw her throat bob with a hard swallow.
“That’s good. Very good then.” Slowly, she began to relax, still staring him
down.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I told her the whole story. “He’s sort of attached himself to
me. I don’t know why. I’m going to take some pictures of him and post them
online. I’m sure his owners will be looking for him. Wouldn’t you think?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Aunt Lorna never lost the look of worry. She pinched her
upper nose and closed her eyes for a long moment of quiet.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“I’ve got some calls to make and things to do. I think I’ll
close the shop an hour early today. Please….” She eyed the dog, then me. “Be
careful. If he barks, run immediately.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I laughed and she glared hard. “Run because of a bark?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“I’m not messing about, Letty! Swear you’ll run.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Okay, I will.” My aunt often had these intuitive moments.
I’d learned not to question them because her hunches were always right. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">She bustled away into her back room, swishing through the
beads with a rustle of <i>clinks</i>, and I knew she must have been
discombobulated because she didn’t even make our afternoon tea. It was a staple
every single day after school. I hoped she would be okay.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Come on, boy,” I said. “Let’s go to the corner drug store
and get you a leash and collar. I’ll take you up to the apartment.” He was
probably hungry, and I was dying to get this stupid dress off. I’d need to find
something to feed him—eggs maybe?—and take a few pictures to post online. Our
landlord would go berserk and charge us if he caught sight of the dog, so I
hoped its owner was found soon.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The hound followed me outside, all the way to the store, and
back to the side door with narrow stairs leading up to our apartments. I felt
safe with the dog at my side. For the first time ever I didn’t look back and
forth to make sure nobody was hiding or acting shady nearby. I didn’t even have
my safety whistle in my hand.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">What a strange afternoon. I mean, the dog was awesome, but my
aunt’s reaction to him had been over-the-top. She’d been stressing me out about
a lot of things lately. I sighed as we walked. Tomorrow was a new day. I
already couldn’t wait to go to bed tonight and put it all behind me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Chapter Two: Hair Crime<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I woke up the next morning overheated but so comfortable. I
couldn’t remember snuggling with anybody or anything in my entire life, but
here I was pressed against this warm, firm, furry thing in my twin bed.
Blinking, I raised my head and saw the dog and I were at a diagonal, his
straight legs sticking off the bed. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The dog groaned and stretched, then pressed even harder into
my side, pushing me into the wall. Wait, what was he doing on the bed? I didn’t
remember him climbing up. I’d checked him over for fleas and ticks yesterday,
and thankfully he was clean, but still.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">What had Aunt Lorna said when she saw him yesterday? CooShee?
Probably some old Gaelic curse word I’d never heard her say before.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“CooShee?” I tried out the word for myself.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The dog raised his head and looked at me. I smiled at the
sight of his fur pressed upward on his sleeping side. “Let’s take you out and
check online to see if your owner has claimed you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I went into the bathroom and dressed quickly in a black baby
doll dress and thigh-high black stockings with my boots. When I opened my phone
to check, there were absolutely no people claiming to own the dog, but dozens
of comments on his size and people trying to guess his breed. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Oh, look,” I said. “A few people have said they’re willing
to take you if your owner doesn’t come forward.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">A quick, deep growl sounded from the dog’s throat, and I
swear he turned his head and gave me a mean side-eye. It was the first sound
I’d heard him make. I snorted with amusement. Sometimes it felt like he could
understand me. I scratched behind his shaggy ear and patted his back so he’d
move out of the doorway. “Come on, let’s go outside.” Maybe we would see Aunt
Lorna. She took long walks every morning before heading to the shop.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Before leaving I checked my lipstick and eyeliner. I clicked
on the leash and grabbed my oversized black sunglasses, then led him down the
narrow stairs. We walked several blocks down to the small park, ignoring stares
and people craning their necks, even taking pictures. From the corner of my eye
I saw a squirrel dash from the ground toward a tree, and the dog yanked away
from me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“CooShee!” I called, but there was no stopping him. He moved
quick and with a grace I didn’t think possible for such a huge creature. I
gasped and covered my mouth as he snatched the squirrel mid-run up the tree,
shook his head violently, and gave a great <i>crunch</i>. “No!” I covered
my face but could still hear two more sickening crunches. Then some lip
smacking.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Oh, my God!” said someone behind me. I turned to see a guy
videoing the whole thing on his phone. Oh, great. I ran over and grasped the
useless leash tightly until the guy stopped and left.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“CooShee, come on,” I urged as he licked his paw now. “That
was disgusting. We have to go.” Poor little tree rat. The dog seemed quite
satisfied with himself, trotting next to me with his head up. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“I was going to feed you, you know,” I mumbled. “Savage.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">On the walk back to the apartment I thought about yesterday
with Mr. Goneley and a sick feeling overcame me. I couldn’t help but feel like
it wasn’t a coincidence that he’d acted so strangely when I’d had that peculiar
feeling go through me while singing…. I shook my head. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I needed to get back so I could work my shift at Moonlight
Apothecary. Aunt Lorna’s local supplier had given her containers of fresh cut
cannabis varieties, which she would dry and process in her back room. “The
lab,” I called it. She made her own homemade gummy mixture with cute molds in
the shape of leaves and flowers. Yep, it was CBD gummy day. She did mild
mixtures to help people relax and sleep, and full-blown edibles to help
people…not sleep. Medicinal and recreational. Her skills ran the gamut. We couldn’t
keep them on the shelves longer than two days.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I tried to leave CooShee in the apartment, but he wasn’t
having it. He was glued to my side and literally threw himself into the door
crack every time I tried to close it. Aunt Lorna was going to hate this, but
the dog was coming to work with me. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“You have to relax,” I told him as we went down the stairs.
“I mean it. Lay by my side and don’t move. No scaring customers or I’ll put you
in the back room.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I walked into the store and Aunt Lorna’s eyes widened.
“Absolutely not!” she whisper-yelled as CooShee pushed in right behind me.
Customers turned and gaped. The cats hissed and ran, knocking over a display of
crystals. I cringed as she rushed over to fix it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“He’ll be so good!” I promised, moving toward the register.
Just as I told him to do, he lay at my feet and let out a little huff. “See?” I
smiled at Aunt Lorna, who stared at him with distrust before shaking her head,
defeated.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“We need to talk after work,” she said quietly, not meeting
my eye. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Okay,” I answered, my stomach tightening. Something was up,
though I couldn’t begin to put the pieces together. Aunt Lorna had been strange
lately, almost secretive, though I couldn’t fathom what in the world she could
possibly have going on.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">She disappeared into the back where I imagined her with her
curls pulled up and her stained apron covering her blouse. I eyed CooShee and
held out my hand. To my shock, he raised his and set it in mine. A grin split
my face. He’d been taught to shake! Or give a high five. I didn’t know what to
call it, but it was cool. I shook his paw and let it fall. A thought came to me
that I hoped his owner never came forward, but I pushed it away. I couldn’t
keep him. Tiny shop. Tiny apartment. Huge dog who attacked and ate rodents at
the park. No, I couldn’t get attached.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The day flew by because we were so busy. Close to closing
time I got a text from a girl from school, Tessy, asking if I wanted to hit the
new club tonight called Churs. Apparently, that was how people in New Zealand
said Cheers, and the owners were Kiwis. I didn’t know Tessy very well. We were
acquaintances, a group of misfits with fake IDs. I couldn’t help but be
flattered at the invite, so I agreed. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">* * *<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">On the subway ride over I’d been lucky enough to get a seat
and was scrolling on my phone when a news headline caught my eye. I abruptly
sat up straight. OMG…I held my breath as I read: “Body Found in Third Missing
Person Case on Shehan Island.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Shehan Island. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Oh, my gods. That’s where I was born in Maine. A chill zipped
through me, and all the other passengers on the train seemed to disappear as I
read. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Three hikers have been reported missing from Benn Shehan
National Park in the past two months on Shehan Island. Today, the body
twenty-five-year-old Shannon Baltrove was found. A coroner report lists the
cause of death as drowning but she had markings on her leg that prove she may
have been dragged by an animal prior to being in the water. Shehan Island has
no known natural predators. However, this is not the island’s first mysterious
disappearances. Thirteen years ago, a group of seven people went missing at sea
after leaving from Shehan’s port on a whale watching excursion.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">My phone slipped from my jittery hand into my lap as my
fingers covered my mouth. I felt ill.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Through the pounding of my heart in my ears, I heard the
doors to the train hiss open and glanced up in a fog. I barely registered that
it was my stop, fumbling to grab my phone and jumping up at the last moment. I
rushed through the people to jump off just in time. My heart was still
hammering when the doors closed. It took a moment to drag my mind out of where
it had been moments before. Great Gaia. I swear, that island was cursed.
Despite being a warm spring night, I was cold.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Letty!” Tessy and two friends were waiting by the dingy
stairs. Seeing them shook me out of the icky haze enough to force my legs to
move. I raised my chin and joined them, heading up the steps in our chunky
heels.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Don’t think about that article</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">, I told myself. <i>Don’t think
about any of that unexplainable weird stuff. </i>I needed a fun night to
get my mind off it all.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The four of us girls might have stood out in a normal town
with our kohl-lined eyes, various piercings, ripped fish net stockings, and
rainbow assortments of hair, but in New York City nobody was shocked by
anything. I didn’t necessarily care about being different…I just didn’t want to
be noticed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">At age fifteen I became uncomfortable with the attention I
started getting, mostly from older men. I’d developed quickly, becoming curvy.
My hair was long and wavy, like a mix of gold and bronze down my back. Though
my face was roundish with a spattering of freckles that I thought made me look
younger, men looked at me in a way I didn’t want to be looked at. And don’t get
me started on the comments about my “sultry” voice….<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The alternative, dark style didn’t scare away everyone, but
it kept the worst of the unwanted attention at bay.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Inside the club, I went to scout out possible seats while my
three companions used their fake IDs to get drinks. I didn’t drink. I was here
for the music—the louder the better. There were two suede sofas facing each
other but one guy was sitting there. He looked harmless enough, like a college
kid or maybe a tourist.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Is anyone sitting with you?” I asked, shouting over the
music. “We have four.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">He stared at me a long moment and I wondered if he heard me
over the high volume. Then he spoke and a shiver went down my spine.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Aye, lass. You can nick these seats from my mates; I won’t
mind a bit.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Scottish? <i>Uuugh</i>. My absolute weakness. I wasn’t
proud of how foolish it made me. I sat right next to him and for a moment we
stared at one another. He suddenly looked ten times hotter than he had at
first. Had he ever worn a kilt? What were the plaid colors for his family line?
I imagined his light brown hair blowing in the highland breeze by the
sea. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">See? So dumb!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“What’s your name?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Luis. What’s your name, love?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Letty.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“That’s lovely.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Don’t giggle, Letty, you idiot.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“I have to say,” he told me. “Your voice is…bloody
spectacular.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I would normally want to roll my eyes but found myself
smiling and thanking him, knowing it was extra raspy and velvety when I had to
shout over the music. I asked questions about what he did and where exactly he
was from just so I could hear him talk more. I’d never been shy with boys, and
though I’d never been with a guy, I loved kissing. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Kissing was my favorite.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">By the time my friends joined us, I wasn’t proud to admit I
was practically in his lap and we were, indeed, kissing. I barely noticed when
his friends joined us as well. It was Luis and I kissing, my red lipstick
around his mouth, while our friends drank and laughed and ignored
us. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I pulled back just enough to ask, “When will you go back to
visit Scotland again?” He was a student but his parents were still in
Edinburgh.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“I reckon Christmas.” Every vowel sounded like a sexy
mouthful, and he rolled his “r”s so beautifully. I dug my fingers into his hair
and pulled him in for another kiss.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">We eventually made our way to the dance floor where I
shamelessly danced close against him. Back on the couches, he exclaimed, “To
the motherland!” as he raised a creamy shooter.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">His drunkest friend stumbled forward. “Luis, bruh, are you
still doing that fake-ass accent?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Luis’s widened eyes darted to mine, his shot frozen mid-air.
I went stiff as his friend’s words hit me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Uh,” said Luis. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Uh,” I repeated. Holy crap.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Everyone went still, our group in major contrast to the
movement all around us. Everyone’s head turned to me. This is where I should’ve
gotten mad. I waited for anger and indignance to rise but found only reluctant
fascination.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“You’re not Scottish?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">He rubbed his face and muttered in a boring American voice,
“I’m sorry. I just got flustered when you talked to me.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I let out a laugh straight from my belly. “That is literally
the best accent I’ve ever heard, and I know my way around a Scot’s accent!”
Everyone began to laugh, relief apparent. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Really?” he asked sheepishly. “I’m an acting student and I’m
taking accent classes.” Of course he was. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“He’s really good,” another one of his ‘mates’ said. “You
should hear his South African!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“That’s a tough one,” Luis claimed, finally taking his
shooter. He leaned in as if to kiss me again, and I placed a hand on his chest,
shaking my head. All of our friends died laughing then, his friends slapping
him on the back. He grabbed the drunk one who’d ratted him out and pulled him
down into a headlock.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">A new song came on that I’d been obsessed with and I
screamed, “I love this song!” Tessy and I jumped up and down as we sang the
words at the top of our lungs. But a few seconds into our singing, she became
still and stood before me with her head tilted. Her eyes unfocused and her
mouth went slack. I sang on for a few more notes before asking, “Are you okay?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">To my shock, our entire group was gathered around us, staring
blankly. At me. My stomach turned. I stepped back, an eerie chill going through
me at their glazed eyes, like Mr. Goneley’s had been. I glanced down to make
sure I didn’t have a boob hanging out or something.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“What?” I yelled, barking out a nervous laugh. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Tessy blinked and gave her head a shake. “Wow. You…you’re
super hot tonight.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I laughed and gave her a playful <i>whap</i> on her
arm with the back of my hand. “Okay. Whatever.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">But she kept looking at me in that intense way, same as the
others. They all began to squirm a little, shifting around like they were
coming back to their senses. Luis grabbed the back of his neck and chuckled.
Then the others laughed. It was all hecka weird and I felt like I’d done
something wrong but couldn’t figure out what.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I was about to say it was time for me to leave when a scream
from somewhere in the club curdled my blood. Other shouts and yells began to
ring out and we all turned toward the entrance expecting the worst. Everybody
in the club seemed to go on alert and the energy level maximized, people ready
to run for their lives in a panic. But alas, the crowd parted and in walked a
giant freaking animal.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">CooShee. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I leapt to my feet as people scrambled away, some screaming
and others asking what the hell he was.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Shit,” I mumbled to my group. “I have to go. That’s…my dog.”
Not really, of course, but it was too much to explain.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">He had the stupid leash in his mouth and gave a tail wag when
he saw me. How did he find me? Chur was in Manhattan and I’d left him at home
in Brooklyn! My heart pounded as I attached his leash and gave him a tug toward
the doors. People stared, some with their phones out. I kept my head down.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“No pets allowed!” A man in a suit with a New Zealand accent
ran alongside me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“I know, sorry,” I said, hurrying out. “We’re leaving.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Once outside, I jogged us down to the corner and stopped,
staring down at him. The dog sat and cocked his head at me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“No, no, no,” I said. “Don’t try to be cute. How did you find
me? I took the subway here! Is your nose <i>that</i> good?” I shook
my head, baffled. “You can’t just walk into public places like that—”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">CooShee abruptly turned, staring hard toward the dark corner
of the building with a narrow alleyway. I went still. He didn’t growl, but a
strip of hair down his back stood up, his hackles. Was he about to attack
someone? I’d seen him kill enough for one day, thanks very much. I gripped his
leash tighter and tried to calm him as I reached into my pocket and grasped my
pepper spray.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“It’s okay, boy. Let’s just….” My voice trailed off as a form
began to clarify in the darkness. It appeared to be a guy, tall with nice
shoulders, his longish, dark hair hiding half of his face. He wore black jeans,
black boots, and a long-sleeved navy shirt. Something about him set my nerves
on edge. I could only see one of his eyes, light in color, the other hidden by
his hair, but as he took another step toward me, my skin razed with a strange
heat.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Listen,” I warned him, motioning to the dog. “You should
back off. I can’t control him. He’s not mine, exactly. Just step away and we’ll
leave.” But when I glanced down at CooShee, his hackles had gone down and he
seemed unbothered now. The guy’s lip quirked up for a split second.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“I’m no’ afraid of the creature.” His r’s rolled
languidly. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> Freaking Scottish? What were
the odds?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“No’ <i>that</i> creature, anyhow,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I shook my head, confused. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
What other ‘creature’ was here?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">His one visible eye narrowed as if <i>I </i>was the
one being a smartass.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Did fake accent guy tell you to mess with me?” It sort of
just popped out of my mouth and I immediately felt stupid. How would they have
had time to coordinate this?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The guy took another step forward and swished the long waves
from his face. I sucked in a gasp and held it. Under all that thick hair was a
brutally handsome face, all sharp angles with light eyes. I looked down
expecting the dog to growl at this stranger, but instead he sat down! What a
worthless guard dog! Why was this guy talking to me anyway? I felt…off. Like I
wanted to run, but also move closer to see him better. The opposing instincts
freaked me out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">About Wendy
Higgins:</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://www.wendyhigginswrites.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="5733" data-original-width="3662" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUadMYsIkqQGwxvdjxE5Y2XHwt-hmNOHO1ZGmwsEPsIjs8Y6k9OEuXBs1vdk6-5aT0E7CYde1TbjyUhQ704gQa2oDrmQUoiqCEivuuyJ2wFj-h7B_emTF6yU4rWkNGh1d7cU_dxPhxsOqw__QjOIVjlRxItaBxpeMsv_Lksm9nVIcMVD0LhuPZbrDyjg24/s320/WendyHiggins2024.jpg" width="204" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Wendy Higgins is
a <i>USA Today</i> and <i>New York Times</i> bestselling
author of young adult and adult genre romance, including fantasy, paranormal,
Sci-Fi, mythology, and contemporary. She is a former high school English
teacher who now writes full time, and lives in Virginia Beach with her
daughter, son, and tiny doggies.<br />
<br />
Wendy earned a bachelor's degree in Creative Writing from George Mason
University and a master's from Radford University.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://www.wendyhigginswrites.com/">Website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/Wendy_Higgins">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WendyHigginsWrites">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/WendyHigginsBookChat">Facebook Group</a>
| <a href="https://www.instagram.com/wendyhigginswrites/">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@wendyhigginswrites">TikTok</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4279785.Wendy_Higgins">Goodreads</a>
| <a href="https://amzn.to/3uT3a19">Amazon</a> | <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/wendy-higgins">BookBub</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Giveaway Details: <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">1 winner
will receive a signed finished copy of RISE OF THE MELODY & a swag pack. US
Only.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Ends March
12th, midnight EST.</span></p><p></p>
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The Cover Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936117064881855016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334365102658625344.post-20023259058988372132024-03-05T00:00:00.032-05:002024-03-05T00:00:00.131-05:00Most Anticipated Releases 3/5/24<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitSZ2I_pr_hJo-lgD5E56SB5jgKvdaOJZTlmnkG1tV4u5ifVinJtlV6fHmnSFBPnn2AjYIDxUpkmUi2UUkbZGmvpbG_KhQ6FV0e9FkzeEyWSI4yw2ympyCf0QkdZcmews0JyRipzrF6gz3DeuVNST1RXoYkkh7U1muWK7rX-IIXEC_-q9ssShWacK0Fo9i/s1080/March%205%20Most%20Anticipated%20Releases.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitSZ2I_pr_hJo-lgD5E56SB5jgKvdaOJZTlmnkG1tV4u5ifVinJtlV6fHmnSFBPnn2AjYIDxUpkmUi2UUkbZGmvpbG_KhQ6FV0e9FkzeEyWSI4yw2ympyCf0QkdZcmews0JyRipzrF6gz3DeuVNST1RXoYkkh7U1muWK7rX-IIXEC_-q9ssShWacK0Fo9i/s320/March%205%20Most%20Anticipated%20Releases.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Happy Tuesday March 5, 2024 release day! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">These are my picks for most anticipated releases this week.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SUbuvjKIS_WNL-MBpY9br0PtZ29Fe2VvCfUtOdyGlKXHe-81s_bCRDB-4r-8meuqF_mNf-UnDwAJl2m4iBu7odg1M8lmLkLAYtxll1GuCiSNIz7cn_PZPfgcJrAq0cx-8mbgy_uWXEyQlzJWaWDqiRsbjT8ZElSCVLjytmQgJJ9VrXX_sWZMStCi-aHx/s147/61250159._SX98_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="98" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SUbuvjKIS_WNL-MBpY9br0PtZ29Fe2VvCfUtOdyGlKXHe-81s_bCRDB-4r-8meuqF_mNf-UnDwAJl2m4iBu7odg1M8lmLkLAYtxll1GuCiSNIz7cn_PZPfgcJrAq0cx-8mbgy_uWXEyQlzJWaWDqiRsbjT8ZElSCVLjytmQgJJ9VrXX_sWZMStCi-aHx/s1600/61250159._SX98_.jpg" width="98" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Prisoner's Throne (The Stolen Heir #2) by Holly Black</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; text-align: start;">An imprisoned prince. A vengeful queen. And a battle that will determine the future of Elfhame.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Prince Oak is paying for his betrayal. Imprisoned in the icy north and bound to the will of a monstrous new queen, he must rely on charm and calculation to survive. With High King Cardan and High Queen Jude ready to use any means necessary to retrieve their stolen heir, should Oak attempt to regain the trust of the girl he's always loved, or remain loyal to Elfhame and hand over the means to end her reign-even if it means ending Wren, too...</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">With war looming and treachery lurking in every corner, neither Oak's guile nor his wit will be enough to keep everyone he loves alive. He will have some terrible choices to make.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">From the #1 </span><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">New York Times</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"> bestselling author Holly Black comes the stunning blood-soaked conclusion to the </span><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Stolen Heir<i style="box-sizing: border-box;"> duology.</i></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></i></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I'm obsessed with all things Holly Black. I just love her writing and have yet to meet a book by her I do not like. I have been waiting for this one to release before beginning this duology as I didn't want to be stuck waiting and it's here so I am a happy camper! I loved The Folk of Air series.</span></div></i></i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0MfUYjWmUXYGSZmkov5xATrlROuQQkdSs4ZpR40ZMpxzddtg8Fgxt7KEInChXmJCp1tVsfHkShaYOE7LwA2YRFJCeGSC9epSoUyhhAXzkqDAcIrvXzFP16xpSsd6lrke74JoW9ovif91Vrq5-Rx889zRXTUGeu7hJ_NMVH2o9Irl9-hWkeMN6Z-Clpa6R/s148/173953567._SX98_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="98" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0MfUYjWmUXYGSZmkov5xATrlROuQQkdSs4ZpR40ZMpxzddtg8Fgxt7KEInChXmJCp1tVsfHkShaYOE7LwA2YRFJCeGSC9epSoUyhhAXzkqDAcIrvXzFP16xpSsd6lrke74JoW9ovif91Vrq5-Rx889zRXTUGeu7hJ_NMVH2o9Irl9-hWkeMN6Z-Clpa6R/s1600/173953567._SX98_.jpg" width="98" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What Monstrous Gods by Rosamund Hodge</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Centuries ago, the heretic sorcerer Ruven raised a deadly briar around Runakhia's palace, casting the royal family into an enchanted sleep - and silencing the kingdom's gods.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Born with a miraculous gift, Lia's destiny is to kill Ruven and wake the royals. But when she succeeds, she finds her duty is not yet complete, for now she must marry into the royal family and forge a pact with a god - or die.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">To make matters even worse, Ruven's spirit is haunting her.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">As discord grows between the old and new guards, the queen sends Lia and Prince Araunn, her betrothed, on a pilgrimage to awaken the gods. But the old gods are more dangerous than Lia ever knew - and Ruven may offer her only hope of survival.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">As the two work together, Lia learns that they're more alike than she expected. And with tensions rising, Lia must choose between what she was raised to believe and what she knows is right - and between the prince she is bound to by duty...and the boy she killed.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I've read just one book by Rosamund Hodge, Cruel Beauty, and I enjoyed her writing. This one just sounds good and I love an enemies to lovers trope. </span></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiFWyXiuYo2yG0T_y6d4RijAOtgQyKFEVI_notkaVEWTD5prHKGwx6MixOYKhHT64ee6jcx6H88BGNM_NsohgZD8HIzRZJ5r4MPcs_vO4kRfmQ7bpYs5L7I_xRqs_F2qtQeSr9VYe_KAiQhsRAtlyO0qsMS95b8uGhSylZKiLgvZx1sXnYPRsDEoTwRGGh/s148/174156125._SX98_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="98" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiFWyXiuYo2yG0T_y6d4RijAOtgQyKFEVI_notkaVEWTD5prHKGwx6MixOYKhHT64ee6jcx6H88BGNM_NsohgZD8HIzRZJ5r4MPcs_vO4kRfmQ7bpYs5L7I_xRqs_F2qtQeSr9VYe_KAiQhsRAtlyO0qsMS95b8uGhSylZKiLgvZx1sXnYPRsDEoTwRGGh/s1600/174156125._SX98_.jpg" width="98" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Encanto's Daughter (The Encanto's Daugher #1) by Melissa de la Cruz</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">A young woman claims the throne of a realm inspired by Filipino mythology in this YA romantic fantasy, the first in an enchanting new duet by #1 New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">MJ Rodriguez has spent her life hiding in the human world, keeping a heavy secret. She’s half-encanto. As the only child of King Vivencio of the Sirena Court, she’s also next in line for the throne. And now, upon her estranged father’s sudden death, MJ must claim her place as rightful heir.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">In wondrous Biringan, the road to the throne is paved with thorns. Without a reigning monarch, the realm has spiraled into disarray. MJ has to win over a backstabbing council that objects to a half-human ruler. And when it looks like her father’s passing wasn’t natural but possibly inflicted by a curse, she must hunt down the sorceress behind this merciless magic.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">In a bind, MJ forges an unlikely alliance with the striking Sir Lucas of the feared Sigbin Court, and soon, she loses her heart to the mysterious knight. But with peril looming over Biringan, the princess must decide if she can both open herself to love and carry the weight of the crown.</span></div><br /><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: Times;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I'll be honest, the cover drew me into looking at this one. My favorite color is purple (can you tell?). But then I read the inspiration for it. I do not know Filipino mythology but it sounds like something I want to look into and this seems like the perfect way to do it!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: Times;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: Times;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">What are your most anticipated releases for today?</span></div></span></div></div></div><p><br /> </p>The Cover Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936117064881855016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334365102658625344.post-80350227809819331472024-03-04T00:00:00.002-05:002024-03-04T00:00:00.164-05:00Review: Soldier (Talon #3) by Julie Kagawa<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqwU5g0Z2LG5-G0vYV6QXCpKADqQK370TA9N_u3ZEH3dnWvwxjpWISne9L4M-JDkeHduO6YcvXIVSJj-ewvYvse7dGbj57hYbqP643VVSpZfpRDsLF7aCEQuIk_XKwJMJysEtP8gO9APdAezAJJ2bqA5LJ23eJ0fgwP3Bw__EuuTOPfchS5PuhnRK1UbV/s460/17331828.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqwU5g0Z2LG5-G0vYV6QXCpKADqQK370TA9N_u3ZEH3dnWvwxjpWISne9L4M-JDkeHduO6YcvXIVSJj-ewvYvse7dGbj57hYbqP643VVSpZfpRDsLF7aCEQuIk_XKwJMJysEtP8gO9APdAezAJJ2bqA5LJ23eJ0fgwP3Bw__EuuTOPfchS5PuhnRK1UbV/s320/17331828.jpeg" width="221" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; text-align: start;">THE DRAGONS OF TALON: Once hunted nearly to extinction, they are now poised to take over the world. </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; text-align: start;">THE ORDER OF ST. GEORGE: The legendary dragonslayers will stop at nothing to wipe dragons from the face of the earth. </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; text-align: start;">These mortal enemies are locked in secret and deadly combat, with humanity none the wiser.</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; text-align: start;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">To take her rightful place in the Talon organization, young dragon Ember Hill must prove she can hide her true nature and blend in with humans. Her delight at the prospect of a summer of "normal" teen experiences is short-lived, however, once she discovers that she's also expected to train for her destined career in Talon. But a chance meeting with a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">As Ember struggles to accept her future, St. George soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian is tasked with hunting her down. But when faced with Ember's bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything the Order has ingrained in him—and what he might be willing to give up to uncover the truth about dragons.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Title: Talon (Talon #1)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Author: Julie Kagawa</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Publisher: Harlequin Teen</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Publication Date: October 28, 2014</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">BUY THIS TITLE HERE:<br /><a href="https://a.co/d/cBKiD5f" target="_blank">Amazon</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/talon-julie-kagawa/1118656157?ean=9780373212156" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Review:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">I want to thank Harlequin Teen for providing me with an early copy of this book for an honest review. Receiving this book for free has in no way altered my opinion or review.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">I have to say that when I read the blurb for this book I got all kinds of excited. I enjoyed Kagawa's Iron Fey series, but I loved her Blood of Eden series more. And now she was writing a series about dragons? How could it go wrong. And after having read the first chapter that she posted online, I knew for sure I had to have this book to read. So I jumped in with both feet and held on tight for the ride.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">The book opens and we are introduced to Ember. She's a young dragon who has been training all her life to be assimilated into the human world. At 16 she is finally getting the chance as she and her twin brother, Dante, are placed in a house on the shore of California. Ember is excited to have the summer to live as a "normal" girl: no training, no school, no commitments. Ember truly comes across as a normal teenage girl. I don't get the gist that she's a dragon unless she's telling us about it. I wish I could have seen more conflict with this. She's trained that humans are the enemy but she easily assimilates and takes on human characteristics.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">And a YA book wouldn't be complete if there wasn't some romance and conflict. This comes in the form of Garrett, a soldier for the order of St. George (Ember's enemy) and Riley, a rogue dragon determined to show Ember her true potential. Garrett comes across as this sweet, inexperienced guy (at least when it comes to females) who is determined to keep his secrets.Riley, on the other hand,is a gruff, sexy guy who doesn't hold back. The two guys are in direct conflict with Ember's training: dragons don't show or have emotions. But there's more to life than what Ember has been taught and both these guys show her that.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">I love the idea of this book. I love the idea of dragons hiding within our society. But what I was missing in this book is the why. Talon is said to exist to help protect dragons. That they were hunted to near extinction by the order of St. George. But we never get what the actual conflict was between the human's and the dragons. What exactly happened in history to make the dragons and humans hate each other so? I needed this back story and it just did not exist. I'm surprised because in previous books I've read from this author, there is always a ton of world building. What is the history of Talon? The order of St. George? Give me something!I didn't get that so much in this book.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">I do love Julie's writing. It's easy to read and flows well. I will say her voice sounded completely different to me in this book. But I think that's a good thing considering it's a new series. She mixes romance and action well, although I felt the story was slow in a few places and I thought maybe there could have been more conflict scenes to really show us the relationships between humans and dragons. Instead we get mostly Ember's conflict with her emotions and how she wants to be just a "normal" girl.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Overall the book was a good enough read, but I didn't find it to be on par with Kagawa's other writing. I will most likely pick up the next book so I can see what happens as this one does end on a cliffhanger.</span></span></div> <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7wCGS5I_ktM8AB8bKNlXmllkdjsOpWws012QmO5UEaKK9uWLTRawSSQCpq-IMBOIMhnRw1i3YhqBLPMPjAazaDNaNSJUCCgO56QtzEkQkHQ4RUmMBsBDR_jHNuo7VoZsqcITk3VqPb-lJxxZkv0DICH5PCToWCmjOs7lsx68DEZTTnucPOOeWfz1Lelvc/s250/2995873.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="200" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7wCGS5I_ktM8AB8bKNlXmllkdjsOpWws012QmO5UEaKK9uWLTRawSSQCpq-IMBOIMhnRw1i3YhqBLPMPjAazaDNaNSJUCCgO56QtzEkQkHQ4RUmMBsBDR_jHNuo7VoZsqcITk3VqPb-lJxxZkv0DICH5PCToWCmjOs7lsx68DEZTTnucPOOeWfz1Lelvc/s1600/2995873.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Julie Kagawa, the New York Times bestselling author of the Iron Fey, Blood of Eden, Talon, and Shadow of the Fox series was born in Sacramento, California. But nothing exciting really happened to her there. So, at the age of nine she and her family moved to Hawaii, which she soon discovered was inhabited by large carnivorous insects, colonies of house geckos, and frequent hurricanes. She spent much of her time in the ocean, when she wasn’t getting chased out of it by reef sharks, jellyfish, and the odd eel.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">When not swimming for her life, Julie immersed herself in books, often to the chagrin of her schoolteachers, who would find she hid novels behind her Math textbooks during class. Her love of reading led her to pen some very dark and gruesome stories, complete with colored illustrations, to shock her hapless teachers. The gory tales faded with time, but the passion for writing remained, long after she graduated and was supposed to get a real job.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">To pay the rent, Julie worked in different bookstores over the years, but discovered the managers frowned upon her reading the books she was supposed to be shelving. So she turned to her other passion: training animals. She worked as a professional dogtrainer for several years, dodging Chihuahua bites and overly enthusiastic Labradors, until her first book sold and she stopped training to write full time.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Julie now lives in horse country in Kentucky with her husband and a pair of Australian Shepherds that have more Instagram followers than she does.</p></div><br />The Cover Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936117064881855016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334365102658625344.post-55678229206367123452024-03-01T17:00:00.004-05:002024-03-01T17:00:00.247-05:00February 2024 Wrap Up<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> February went fast! Let me show you what I read this month. A mix of audio, kindle, and print. A few ARCs.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTckuxC-Ykiv0WH3HsEk6f0suGFNLOZ-Uy_a5-w9O9VApj9lhMj2KOxokxSa7ULfktFaX_rrIm-Xvorh7ke0ADvtVlUwOh6_9Uymv4XKkaejtaxyiYUrJ4pMo8taUv5h6Ub9roys0zOkbdwRoWu8MFGQYbg2imrW-LkhMA7EMkr46MoobAiBSB6B6S1NVK/s940/February%20Reads.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTckuxC-Ykiv0WH3HsEk6f0suGFNLOZ-Uy_a5-w9O9VApj9lhMj2KOxokxSa7ULfktFaX_rrIm-Xvorh7ke0ADvtVlUwOh6_9Uymv4XKkaejtaxyiYUrJ4pMo8taUv5h6Ub9roys0zOkbdwRoWu8MFGQYbg2imrW-LkhMA7EMkr46MoobAiBSB6B6S1NVK/s320/February%20Reads.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">And my ratings:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Defy the Night (Defy the Night #1) by Brigid Kemmerer (Audio) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Mr. Wrong Number (Mr. Wrong Number #1) by Lynn Painter (Audio) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Colin’s Proposal (Mr. Wrong Number short) by Lynn Painter (Kindle) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">The Wedding Day (Mr. Wrong Number short) by Lynn Painter (Kindle) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">And Island Strange and Wild (Book One in The Lost Garden Series) by Lisa Amowitz (Kindle ARC)⭐️⭐️⭐️✨</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">The Love Wager (Mr. Wrong Number #2) by Lynn Painter (Audio)⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">The Program (The Program #1) by Suzanne Young<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>(Print) ⭐️⭐️</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Remedial Magic (A Course in Magic #1) by Melissa Marr<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>(Kindle ARC) ⭐️⭐️</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Girl Abroad by Elle Kennedy (Kindle) ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">The Library of Borrowed Hearts by Lucy Gilmore<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>(Kindle ARC) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Collide (Of the Ice #1) by Bal Khabra<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>(Kindle ARC) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Wretched (Never After #3) by Emily McIntire<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>(Print) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">A Game of Gods (Hades #3) by Scarlett St. Clair (Audio) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid (Kindle) ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Plus I had one DNF. I have tried a few titles from this author and I just don't think she's for me.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">DNF:<br />The Off Limits Rule (It Happened In Nashville #1) by Sarah Adams</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">What did you read this month?</span></p></div><br /><p><br /></p>The Cover Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936117064881855016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334365102658625344.post-31932159077910136172024-03-01T00:00:00.090-05:002024-03-01T00:00:00.157-05:00Fat Stack Friday BOOK HAUL!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">FAT STACK FRIDAY BOOK HAUL!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">This week was a great haul. I got a bunch of physical books. Two gifted and three I purchased for myself for my birthday. I have one I purchased that is also delayed. I also got two egalleys to review! And one Kindle book I bought.</span></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Check out my stack!</span></p></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Lps3HcIPR3-TVEN9XV-YNAUcoWYUQpDbFWLG4pqD56upbJY1XYddHWgZ44b-1a2IiwM6o2-_rPNNqBZCtXHPKf9ZmGFYs3TaHOyv1ozfQrQdN2W0NAfE4uDCtr-yUgwpK7Cc1i-ieB5g6ay357nR6krBMXh1_mGh3rge-f0iwFZChwrhR73xzY0_-D-_/s4032/IMG_6569.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Lps3HcIPR3-TVEN9XV-YNAUcoWYUQpDbFWLG4pqD56upbJY1XYddHWgZ44b-1a2IiwM6o2-_rPNNqBZCtXHPKf9ZmGFYs3TaHOyv1ozfQrQdN2W0NAfE4uDCtr-yUgwpK7Cc1i-ieB5g6ay357nR6krBMXh1_mGh3rge-f0iwFZChwrhR73xzY0_-D-_/s320/IMG_6569.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkBDc1wN_wOeOxkcMuCNuAojq-eHWnvYgDPYdJkJ3z3NKmZoA8UlC4CuJNs7FCWOWkcV6llxG4urWxeXdliDWFFx4FDgN4TH4OvsQHFxyLOZAxpuBFccyqSQy594vef6oBVvl_YYVZMiBKHYTgPmmlwZLeisNRwHQS9yQY8WQFU4bzDjNlZvR1rNkKLDc/s4032/IMG_6574.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkBDc1wN_wOeOxkcMuCNuAojq-eHWnvYgDPYdJkJ3z3NKmZoA8UlC4CuJNs7FCWOWkcV6llxG4urWxeXdliDWFFx4FDgN4TH4OvsQHFxyLOZAxpuBFccyqSQy594vef6oBVvl_YYVZMiBKHYTgPmmlwZLeisNRwHQS9yQY8WQFU4bzDjNlZvR1rNkKLDc/s320/IMG_6574.jpeg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBz923vSFm50UPWby3eB_KQbVvBJvhaqJZDv7WlvmceGpZXTeaWBJQaSn92GJTSre1VlezMCyWeQ5AzLC29MwVZTHEX8EWjP4O0Mfwv-kXaN3_Kh4GZfTF4zqSVJNr2GZTLDmHOMs7h0IPyLuRkzJJ2chAtR17QNjtwn0awdz2bnl-F3jZqVIIMwoWeEu/s4032/IMG_6575.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBz923vSFm50UPWby3eB_KQbVvBJvhaqJZDv7WlvmceGpZXTeaWBJQaSn92GJTSre1VlezMCyWeQ5AzLC29MwVZTHEX8EWjP4O0Mfwv-kXaN3_Kh4GZfTF4zqSVJNr2GZTLDmHOMs7h0IPyLuRkzJJ2chAtR17QNjtwn0awdz2bnl-F3jZqVIIMwoWeEu/s320/IMG_6575.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTwOkkmWqQgF7xTiBfTuV7-Q4hRuxETaobGRHWtLu68C7EgyEJ5GYjq2uKmlVOE37K56KLwaP_ZhGnTY2EFgpD6tj9rxCTO6GMJQtxT9CyagGYFn-sl1YrkTFtypRJcMtDxIpld79cE0PSW_nrXHjnFphGXcfmasb50ouBohHpoQCFdNsma2gfOiI8h48/s4032/IMG_6570.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTwOkkmWqQgF7xTiBfTuV7-Q4hRuxETaobGRHWtLu68C7EgyEJ5GYjq2uKmlVOE37K56KLwaP_ZhGnTY2EFgpD6tj9rxCTO6GMJQtxT9CyagGYFn-sl1YrkTFtypRJcMtDxIpld79cE0PSW_nrXHjnFphGXcfmasb50ouBohHpoQCFdNsma2gfOiI8h48/s320/IMG_6570.jpeg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEcnBQqZHJh4mdBU0aLkc8Tt6V9zVI5pDGdbRgJQqAFQcoFxtDvo8XXu3oLPoKVdMig0tjEtak3VnJNfcbUafWuFTMHSa-9WAxY00aYqSkfKjg6uCEfyKzEvMKuCThuf611_UrfUQDCCKCta1YRF26Qn8TIZdyqAbJ-NhPIl3OOJ8K2Z7-S_R3fKKT0Bk/s4032/IMG_6571.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEcnBQqZHJh4mdBU0aLkc8Tt6V9zVI5pDGdbRgJQqAFQcoFxtDvo8XXu3oLPoKVdMig0tjEtak3VnJNfcbUafWuFTMHSa-9WAxY00aYqSkfKjg6uCEfyKzEvMKuCThuf611_UrfUQDCCKCta1YRF26Qn8TIZdyqAbJ-NhPIl3OOJ8K2Z7-S_R3fKKT0Bk/s320/IMG_6571.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-cZRnCNv6xJzD3nSlB6CzlCdKK8rraPodKgYMpD8qvqbwGWttzXYRqEBtLQzk1glPfh2Wy2LmT52fVLcJLuiKIx0U4f0ZYEZog-APFmBoY4DFibR6X5vKLFv2RxaneEj2LJXIr9csZ0jNIGme012NmnhcmNTAx1KkfKNGP06wiBeB7R5i4jcmKj2CjaEB/s4032/IMG_6572.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-cZRnCNv6xJzD3nSlB6CzlCdKK8rraPodKgYMpD8qvqbwGWttzXYRqEBtLQzk1glPfh2Wy2LmT52fVLcJLuiKIx0U4f0ZYEZog-APFmBoY4DFibR6X5vKLFv2RxaneEj2LJXIr9csZ0jNIGme012NmnhcmNTAx1KkfKNGP06wiBeB7R5i4jcmKj2CjaEB/s320/IMG_6572.jpeg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1yGU9HOLirdKuo3Ji-p-PrGw7DEcr0xmh7Dm0L6erx5Z3NpJOBmDZ0cSZZD8__As9Il9QIUgdVxt8C_RBWv3mmqnRIDhyphenhyphenfGYx2GtL9dNY32JHBNrJeFCSxKOsNov3_LMlyFtMiLs5jGSVIM8OLK3ZESOMa7Ls_6RVTawo5enJTb_OP4O5HpB6S8EhfG4/s4032/IMG_6573.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1yGU9HOLirdKuo3Ji-p-PrGw7DEcr0xmh7Dm0L6erx5Z3NpJOBmDZ0cSZZD8__As9Il9QIUgdVxt8C_RBWv3mmqnRIDhyphenhyphenfGYx2GtL9dNY32JHBNrJeFCSxKOsNov3_LMlyFtMiLs5jGSVIM8OLK3ZESOMa7Ls_6RVTawo5enJTb_OP4O5HpB6S8EhfG4/s320/IMG_6573.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrWmKHpRy28YN7IN2frIdTy-a3o7uj7DB_xu4Vi6xfEVOsI8aK6zD6IcDfSAUSznoOoZ5DUwHyuDkOSVnusxLkUX9yJCZarcJy97Ex95MFvAVMmIQsqYw7BbhgA5CoSVDgwYD-tqhLGaBtVZJWO7hO8_gH_Zk_IH6dTKJS4IpxqZYkCkfp5qEhAs9eXr3/s1801/IMG_6582.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1801" data-original-width="1162" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrWmKHpRy28YN7IN2frIdTy-a3o7uj7DB_xu4Vi6xfEVOsI8aK6zD6IcDfSAUSznoOoZ5DUwHyuDkOSVnusxLkUX9yJCZarcJy97Ex95MFvAVMmIQsqYw7BbhgA5CoSVDgwYD-tqhLGaBtVZJWO7hO8_gH_Zk_IH6dTKJS4IpxqZYkCkfp5qEhAs9eXr3/s320/IMG_6582.jpeg" width="206" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ol6sBMcrOkKZrqsDlG926tEhRZ4e0jebto8VfOVELOUUfDjp75ElebcOLY4eQ0xm4XhUxir1BEXKP1PZc8g2ICCJZCAxkhUxj9aA5z4S5jB9Sgkgiaf2fGu3oq5iaydJl9DLJm04HW_BkBzEt6B5B1XhyphenhyphenoOE57BxT5ZTqhAKRiX5XkK0xi3Y0691LgxP/s1762/IMG_6583.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1762" data-original-width="1170" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ol6sBMcrOkKZrqsDlG926tEhRZ4e0jebto8VfOVELOUUfDjp75ElebcOLY4eQ0xm4XhUxir1BEXKP1PZc8g2ICCJZCAxkhUxj9aA5z4S5jB9Sgkgiaf2fGu3oq5iaydJl9DLJm04HW_BkBzEt6B5B1XhyphenhyphenoOE57BxT5ZTqhAKRiX5XkK0xi3Y0691LgxP/s320/IMG_6583.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxGhzuOLzmphORfI-G3QC08o-23FrPc6qMoMKMVBXGo8hiYBSpmwxFKHc_anM6IlXRDUX9-vyLdPUfEIAgmzGegmatc7R7Cvnnhd3EVtv_q82RhKoU3NYva_Uqu8PFwXeLZqWCuEFEgFsQZTGlL5irF1noTXNbIE1XtlO4Hcw8s8zjxen28i6PdIv6Mkk/s1803/IMG_6585.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1803" data-original-width="1170" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxGhzuOLzmphORfI-G3QC08o-23FrPc6qMoMKMVBXGo8hiYBSpmwxFKHc_anM6IlXRDUX9-vyLdPUfEIAgmzGegmatc7R7Cvnnhd3EVtv_q82RhKoU3NYva_Uqu8PFwXeLZqWCuEFEgFsQZTGlL5irF1noTXNbIE1XtlO4Hcw8s8zjxen28i6PdIv6Mkk/s320/IMG_6585.jpeg" width="208" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGAOK1v6-bo7-NuTM3CZ65UcM9Rkt9oTVR36SiqcxIzW0xGq849yvAOhhEwxX8M0mXOvmaqGy7qInRhVwh5V1T9oLH4PkTfKWSDiBPL4a4ZnGSncjcxfMo0mPKBDIc49tZlZwKNVCNNf7CVwBSSOp_gJ9n11COQX2TAQc5RLhB-H1urpO2kF3L6F68rpgh/s1800/IMG_6584.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1170" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGAOK1v6-bo7-NuTM3CZ65UcM9Rkt9oTVR36SiqcxIzW0xGq849yvAOhhEwxX8M0mXOvmaqGy7qInRhVwh5V1T9oLH4PkTfKWSDiBPL4a4ZnGSncjcxfMo0mPKBDIc49tZlZwKNVCNNf7CVwBSSOp_gJ9n11COQX2TAQc5RLhB-H1urpO2kF3L6F68rpgh/s320/IMG_6584.jpeg" width="208" /></a></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mountains Made of Glass (Fairytale Retelling #1) by Scarlett St. Clair</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I've just finished reading St. Clair's Persephone and Hades and Hades series and found other books by her so I added them to my list. A swell book pal from a Facebook group gifted me this one for my birthday!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Defy The Night (Defy The Night) by Brigid Kemmerer</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I love Kemmerer. I've listened to this one on audio but wanted to have a copy because it's so pretty. A bookish friend from an online book gifted it to me for my birthday!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Children of Fallen Gods (The War of Lost Hearts #2) By Carissa Broadbent</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mother of Death and Dawn (The War of Lost Hearts #3) by Carissa Broadbent</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Slaying the Vampire Conquerer by Carissa Broadbent</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">If you have not discovered this author yet, get on it. Her Crowns of Nyaxia series is amazing so I needed to have her other books. They are so pretty! Check out those naked covers! I also ordered the first book but it's delayed.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I haven't read this author before. I have heard great things about her book "The Seven Year Slip" but haven't gotten to it yet. I was approved by the publisher to read this one so I'm exited to do that!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Guncle Abroad (The Gundle #2) by Steven Rowley</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The first book from this series was so good. I loved the humor and the pop references. I very much fell in love with GUP and I'm excited to read this one and see where the next chapter of this story goes!<br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When I was Alice by Jennifer Murgia</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I have been friends with Jennifer for many years. At one point I was actually her publicist! I remember when she started writing this story and how wonderful it was. I'm so excited she finally finished it and I will get a chance to read an early copy! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A Dawn of Onyx (The Sacred Stones #1) by Kate Golden</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I got this one yesterday for a buddy read with a bookish friend. It sounds really interesting and also that cover is totally gorgeous!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">What books have you gotten this week?</span></div><p></p><p><br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>The Cover Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936117064881855016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334365102658625344.post-31591700745687343032024-02-28T00:00:00.014-05:002024-02-28T00:00:00.142-05:00ARC Review: Collide (Off the Ice #1) By Bal Khabra<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgzkzMYmslLTZEiNsGkhV1k7a9LcqA-tX0US1uGd0PampzQF5uX4daR75NqcN3LbwdN_ZSorBg6YnxwfvVR0vVMdA5rtLrTuaWFpB7A45sRGl4MqE1dDDPx9w8zO90VJW6dPcEOryzs2s5n27WRCtJbreETBH2BiKwPkj7kKvg9edyrl_5T8gQS20eHpY/s3000/197306586.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="1969" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgzkzMYmslLTZEiNsGkhV1k7a9LcqA-tX0US1uGd0PampzQF5uX4daR75NqcN3LbwdN_ZSorBg6YnxwfvVR0vVMdA5rtLrTuaWFpB7A45sRGl4MqE1dDDPx9w8zO90VJW6dPcEOryzs2s5n27WRCtJbreETBH2BiKwPkj7kKvg9edyrl_5T8gQS20eHpY/s320/197306586.jpeg" width="210" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">An ultimatum from her professor thrusts Summer Preston into an unexpected collision with hockey captain Aiden Crawford. She’s caught in a delicate balance between fulfilling her lifelong dream of becoming a sport psychologist and veering far away from this god-awful sport.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">For Aiden Crawford, being the captain of the college hockey team has its perks, except when a reckless mistake by his team threatens to jeopardize their entire season. Consequently, his coach nominates him as the subject of a research paper. It's the last thing he wants to do, especially since the girl leading the project looks like she could wield his skates as a weapon.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Summer can't stand his blasé approach to life, and Aiden doesn't understand her uptight, scheduled one. They are off to a rocky start, and provoking each other is what they do best, but defeat isn't something either of them is willing to accept.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Title: Collide (Off the Ice #1)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Author: Bal Khabra</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Expected Publication Date: May 14, 2024</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Review:</span></span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with an egalley of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Summer Preston dislikes hockey so when she's given an ultimatum from her advisor to take on a hockey player for her project that will help her get into graduate school, she begrudgingly sucks it up. Saddled with Adien Crawford, the hockey's teams senior captain, she's determined to dislike him but still make the project work so she can pursue her dream. What she's not expecting is to find a warm hearted, genuine guy, who is loyal to a fault. They have a rocky start but then form a tenuous friendship that finds them spending time together and being drawn to one another.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">I love me a good sports romance but there is just something about hockey romance that gets me every, single time. I will always add it to my TBR. I was excited to see this one offered when the author got picked up by Berkley and had to have a crack at it as I'd heard some great things about it. I was pleasantly surprised by this new author,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">If you're looking for a book with heavy plot this one doesn't really have that. There is an underlying plot that kind of blows up at the end, true to any romance book of this type, But if you are looking for fluff and romance and swoon, then you've come to the right place. If you're looking for a frenemies, forced proximity, reverse grumpy sunshine book, this is for you!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Summer Preston is my girl. She knows what she wants. She's not afraid to ask. And I loved how her character morphed and changed to go from someone who doesn't want to burden others with her stuff to taking the help she might need. I was a little surprised with her acceptance of how Donny Rai, her ex, treats her pissed me off. I wanted to see her stand up to him more and realize he was playing her but it didn't happen. I will say given her hate of hockey, and hockey players, she does easily integrate into that life without much push back. Her Daddy issues come through but not enough to really stop her from immediately accepting and interacting with all the guys from the team. This is something I would have liked to see more: her struggle with accepting being part of it all. Her childhood friend is on the team, her friend from her classes is on the team, so she does associate and it seems not in line with what she says about it from the beginning.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Adien Crawford is a warm hearted, golden retriever of an MMC. He's not at all what I thought he would be at first, which was cocky and full of himself. Instead, he's a caring guy who wants to make sure everyone is safe and happy. It totally took me by surprise. But I was happy to see an MMC with such a big heart. He wears his emotions right on his sleeve and I adore that he's not afraid to show them. I will say, he was quick to turn from never settling down to suddenly finding the one. Going from more of a hook up player to someone who is ready for a real relationship kind of seemed like a jump for me. I would have liked to see this explored a bit more. But I guess when you find the one, you just know. He had so much patience with Summer though I do think at times he let her walk all over him because he wasn't willing to hurt her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">As with most romance books like this, we see a slew of side characters: particularly Adien's hockey team friends and Summer's dorm mates. I loved how the story wove them in and gave opportunities for them to have their own stories in future books. I'm looking forward to more Tyler, Dylan, Kian, Eli, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">I loved all the smut and fluff in this book. But my biggest love was the banter. It was everywhere. If a book has me laughing out loud, I consider that a huge success. The writing was good. From the reviews of this title as an indie publication, you would think it didn't make any sense, but editing must have done this book well because I liked it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">I liked the diverse cultural representation in this book, as well. My past experience with sports romance have never shown such diversity. But Khabra wove in so many different cultures in this book, I was happy to see it. I'm hoping she continues this diversity for her future books. I will definitely be following this series and other books written by this author.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Fans of Elle Kennedy 's Off Campus/Briar U/Campus Diaries and Hannah Grace's Maple Hills series will eat this story up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Preorder <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Collide-Bal-Khabra/dp/0593818261/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.h8AY4qrg2FS79hh2w-WtqfVnyfVIvqCTsA_oXzn3fMWrIBBeig2oYeVKvHeXb9IdeipUqDZYpDbXg4nLV1uehp8SBy6mCbK8OUucRdPJQodSGNhdi5jI_F1VmECwVJnzGZUq7DMH_DGG9VfIKNvcYUEEdGPD1UcTvAAtx4iClcnWWBCM7Izb6YF9vEmmqr018JBdV0tzrd8-tvHp7RwZiXuORRonrstiD-vQ494ldgc.wkI_gwO9ucoLNF5b12CinRm9VYkgO76mOZSM2DiAnzI&qid=1708793269&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Here</a></span></div></span></span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKAw6GoZphNOO7GWuzFlJyK3XDX6735VlkDgySwwcXS_BN5Z1-u-EikOFWfAPFQsFVduu2UXMPbcGhvkEv4XN1SO0hH0DrkTTqU3Gd9mhF7BJ2Ym218T6I9GSq4xqSN-mPO5w2tkDI0Smbvx8_-8AuupucqA7LD8WUO58xPUPvyBmxhnMk7bwqnSf-_b-/s442/author-img.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="442" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKAw6GoZphNOO7GWuzFlJyK3XDX6735VlkDgySwwcXS_BN5Z1-u-EikOFWfAPFQsFVduu2UXMPbcGhvkEv4XN1SO0hH0DrkTTqU3Gd9mhF7BJ2Ym218T6I9GSq4xqSN-mPO5w2tkDI0Smbvx8_-8AuupucqA7LD8WUO58xPUPvyBmxhnMk7bwqnSf-_b-/s320/author-img.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Bal is a Canadian writer, romance enthusiast, and book lover. Before she decided to jump into the romance pool, she spent her time gushing about books on social media.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">She loves reading about love, watching movies about love, and now, writing about it herself. There really isn’t much else that gets her heart fluttering the way HEAs do. She fell in love with writing and hopes to continue living out her romance author dreams.</span></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><br /> <p></p>The Cover Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936117064881855016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334365102658625344.post-72293354435974800032024-02-27T00:00:00.008-05:002024-02-27T00:00:00.254-05:00Most Anticipated Releases 2/27/24<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCNLsFoZ3HfGM9KkTrWJOo4xOYEU9TdmVREjE_SP_ekJoEnSncpv4uig0E_9hNrfMNf0I9AA221O1ncWDpfMBv2zQcWkjA9y8p7Mbyd1TK-_DDEQ1TMP3K1SrZMnwCHpCE0VgXeNUGUoHmuWRtzWCrmEV-AjQIn2dD6pizx1kJ-dIS_yVQ-OW-SrBnhvA/s1080/February%2027%20Most%20Anticipated%20Releases%20(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCNLsFoZ3HfGM9KkTrWJOo4xOYEU9TdmVREjE_SP_ekJoEnSncpv4uig0E_9hNrfMNf0I9AA221O1ncWDpfMBv2zQcWkjA9y8p7Mbyd1TK-_DDEQ1TMP3K1SrZMnwCHpCE0VgXeNUGUoHmuWRtzWCrmEV-AjQIn2dD6pizx1kJ-dIS_yVQ-OW-SrBnhvA/s320/February%2027%20Most%20Anticipated%20Releases%20(1).png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Happy Tuesday February 27, 2024 release day! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">These are my picks for most anticipated releases this week.</span></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5bhSO35Hk7yVi7Rn9rXgxjCvlTwE_xlE9UJObpRvCTSPl3D-SphDLKV4SHeG5j8kbEDoNuGJtus_jB-URNEdDRepz8BQNbvrBqZPCyxF26hP9mg4Fg4eLWWVnwVqckIpy9Oby6tqI1rGKEZcIKxgTreYj-8aN_GMVgPLfvBKiqS-FhnKPMq9wG7u9L3c/s1503/61287784.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1503" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5bhSO35Hk7yVi7Rn9rXgxjCvlTwE_xlE9UJObpRvCTSPl3D-SphDLKV4SHeG5j8kbEDoNuGJtus_jB-URNEdDRepz8BQNbvrBqZPCyxF26hP9mg4Fg4eLWWVnwVqckIpy9Oby6tqI1rGKEZcIKxgTreYj-8aN_GMVgPLfvBKiqS-FhnKPMq9wG7u9L3c/s320/61287784.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Where-Dark-Stands-Still-Poranek/dp/1665936479/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">Where The Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Raised in a small village near the spirit-wood, Liska Radost knows that Magic is monstrous, and its practitioners, monsters. After Liska unleashes her own powers with devastating consequences, she is caught by the demon warden of the wood – the Leszy – who offers her a bargain: one year of servitude in exchange for a wish.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Whisked away to his crumbling manor, Liska soon discovers the sinister roots of their bargain. And if she wants to survive the year and return home, she must unravel her host’s spool of secrets and face the ghosts of his past.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Those who enter the wood do not always return…</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">This book is based on a Polish folktale from what I've read and it sounds really interesting. It's a romantic fantasy with a side of gothic. Looking forward to seeing what this story entails.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDz_jaYuwRjMasZOuIB3wtk45pTLuDD9xnSzzdswpaWdpX917tGAWp0FksoZ6J57CCEU40mAT503-FTk0bzK6WGHJ5l-CS4FC4jKg1loIeQ7vocO4k1OEHR9lxEZWVIJTJT64mjwHCmkUh0v0mzRqSVxtQ75iuIpDsWB6hpgyiY9XdjCHStM0mQnu8voP/s750/173404001.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="498" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDz_jaYuwRjMasZOuIB3wtk45pTLuDD9xnSzzdswpaWdpX917tGAWp0FksoZ6J57CCEU40mAT503-FTk0bzK6WGHJ5l-CS4FC4jKg1loIeQ7vocO4k1OEHR9lxEZWVIJTJT64mjwHCmkUh0v0mzRqSVxtQ75iuIpDsWB6hpgyiY9XdjCHStM0mQnu8voP/s320/173404001.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fathomfolk-Eliza-Chan/dp/0356522393/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">Fathomfolk (Drowned World #1) by Eliza Chan</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">From one of fantasy’s most exciting new voices Eliza Chan comes a modern, myth-inflected story of revolution and magic set against the glittering, semi-submerged city of Tiankawi, perfect for fans of Jade City and The Bone Shard Daughter . Welcome to Tiankawi – shining pearl of human civilization and a safe haven for those fleeing civil unrest. Or at least, that’s how it first appears.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">But in the semi-flooded city, humans are, quite literally, on peering down from skyscrapers and aerial walkways on the fathomfolk — sirens, seawitches, kelpies and kappas—who live in the polluted waters below.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">For half-siren Mira, promotion to captain of the border guard means an opportunity to reform. At last, she has the ear of the city council and a chance to lift the repressive laws that restrict fathomfolk at every turn. But if earning the trust and respect of her human colleagues wasn't hard enough, everything Mira has worked towards is put in jeopardy when a water dragon is exiled to the city.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">New arrival Nami is an aristocratic water dragon with an opinion on everything. Frustrated by the lack of progress from Mira's softly-softly approach in gaining equality, Nami throws her lot in with an anti-human extremist group, leaving Mira to find the headstrong youth before she makes everything worse.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">And pulling strings behind everything is Cordelia, a second-generation sea-witch determined to do what she must to survive and see her family flourish, even if it means climbing over the bodies of her competitors. Her political game-playing and underground connections could disrupt everything Nami and Mira are fighting for.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">When the extremists sabotage the annual boat race, violence erupts, as does the clampdown on fathomfolk rights. Even Nami realises her new friends are not what they seem. Both she and Mira must decide if the cost of change is worth it, or if Tiankawi should be left to drown.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">This is one I saw posted on an IG post calling out an author who decided to create multiple Goodreads accounts in order to hype her book while giving other authors poor ratings. Right away I added it to my TBR without knowing anything about it. Then I read the blurb and DRAGONS and MERMAIDS and I was HOOKED. Plus the cover is really pretty!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGfl9Xb2Ku9FFJ2-9kX5Co-np-9iUCqUHi84l9Tbx0IE0YpMtmhZ5DZGgUh9VydnlVxkottaWD5XCLvbfqZQDfBHEeYujA-wHkDVyb9h2yxMxksQNTHyCJGELmO4h9-mFVhw7OHfEzCHmP4cWqaqtIqfx832T8GJUqZ0mVBVhS_UCvncc9bP_66R4-5WJ/s2560/165940202.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1684" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGfl9Xb2Ku9FFJ2-9kX5Co-np-9iUCqUHi84l9Tbx0IE0YpMtmhZ5DZGgUh9VydnlVxkottaWD5XCLvbfqZQDfBHEeYujA-wHkDVyb9h2yxMxksQNTHyCJGELmO4h9-mFVhw7OHfEzCHmP4cWqaqtIqfx832T8GJUqZ0mVBVhS_UCvncc9bP_66R4-5WJ/s320/165940202.jpeg" width="211" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fate-Inked-Blood-Book-Unfated/dp/0593599837/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">A Fate Inked In Blood (Saga of the Unfated #1) by Danielle L. Jensen</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">A shield maiden blessed by the gods battles to unite a nation under a power-hungry king—while also fighting her growing desire for his fiery son—in this Norse-inspired fantasy romance from the bestselling author of The Bridge Kingdom series.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Bound in an unwanted marriage, Freya spends her days gutting fish, but dreams of becoming a warrior. And of putting an axe in her boorish husband’s back.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Freya’s dreams abruptly become reality when her husband betrays her to the region’s jarl, landing her in a fight to the death against his son, Bjorn. To survive, Freya is forced to reveal her deepest secret: She possesses a drop of a goddess’s blood, which makes her a shield maiden with magic capable of repelling any attack. It was foretold such a magic would unite the fractured nation of Skaland beneath the one who controls the shield maiden’s fate.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Believing he’s destined to rule Skaland as king, the fanatical jarl binds Freya with a blood oath and orders Bjorn to protect her from their enemies. Desperate to prove her strength, Freya must train to fight and learn to control her magic, all while facing perilous tests set by the gods. The greatest test of all, however, may be resisting her forbidden attraction to Bjorn. If Freya succumbs to her lust for the charming and fierce warrior, she risks not only her own destiny but the fate of all the people she swore to protect.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">This author is new to me but looking at her books, they all seem like they would be something I would enjoy. I love Norse mythology and I'm looking forward to seeing what spin this author takes with the folklore.</span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJK80oAaeMQSJLVMOJTheJuK7mUC30U0D_GuBW4EYMKh16U4sLlwaui3U3rFyMv8I_-XHN8cBY7VBH8TJgw4yRbESBU5tXLLEK7ByQDLzeKAgfoQPsl-GquatbscQfxw6eXGiBmKmjORRVGeco9KFtJLTeYccOWuAeyShsRV04VR6FxCYOoO9J-owyMO_V/s148/166999534._SX98_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="98" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJK80oAaeMQSJLVMOJTheJuK7mUC30U0D_GuBW4EYMKh16U4sLlwaui3U3rFyMv8I_-XHN8cBY7VBH8TJgw4yRbESBU5tXLLEK7ByQDLzeKAgfoQPsl-GquatbscQfxw6eXGiBmKmjORRVGeco9KFtJLTeYccOWuAeyShsRV04VR6FxCYOoO9J-owyMO_V/w212-h320/166999534._SX98_.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fate-Breaker-Realm-3/dp/0063116065/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">Fate Breaker (Realm Breaker #3) by Victoria Aveyard</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Change your fate—or kneel to it. The Companions are scattered and hopeless, torn from each other. After Corayne barely escapes with her life, she must forge on alone, leaving her blade broken and her allies behind her. Her only consolation—Corayne now has Taristan's sword, the only Spindleblade left in existence. Without it, he can’t rip open any more Spindles. Without it, he can’t end the world. But Taristan and Queen Erida will not be defeated so easily. Both will burn the world to bring down Corayne—and bring forth their demon god, What Waits, ready to claim the realm of Allward for his own. In a final clash between kingdoms and gods, all must rise to fight—or be destroyed. Everything has come to this. Prepare for a larger-than-life, unforgettable finale to the instant New York Times bestselling Realm Breaker series, where a shattered alliance must rise from the ashes to make their final stand against a ruthless enemy…and the demon god who looks to shroud the entire world in darkness.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I will admit I have not read any of the books in this series as of yet. I was waiting for them all the be released. I have no idea if there will be more books in this series so I'll need to check that out. But this is another one where the covers are just amazing. And I enjoyed Aveyard's Red Queen so I'm sure I'll like this!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">What are your most anticipated releases for today?</span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>The Cover Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936117064881855016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334365102658625344.post-16224818044802909722024-02-26T00:00:00.016-05:002024-02-26T00:00:00.142-05:00ARC Review: The Library of Borrowed Hearts by Lucy Gilmore<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzQNQBH8dIV9nf9uHTD3WCIygY98UsZkRIe0y48i9Aw4uzpBYBxJn0Wcy8q6530bI0adyPb7LfPx41ooW-0OXNaF9Abp20gIQAOmOkTb0DRfIDyxY0LylBxoqD4lmGxrFYYeaVPzgIxOY6G56YiRE1G3TZBMfAu3N2xsEUYjPAbwGQgvUG5YoLEeZjgzT/s2475/179947229.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="1650" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzQNQBH8dIV9nf9uHTD3WCIygY98UsZkRIe0y48i9Aw4uzpBYBxJn0Wcy8q6530bI0adyPb7LfPx41ooW-0OXNaF9Abp20gIQAOmOkTb0DRfIDyxY0LylBxoqD4lmGxrFYYeaVPzgIxOY6G56YiRE1G3TZBMfAu3N2xsEUYjPAbwGQgvUG5YoLEeZjgzT/s320/179947229.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">A.J. Fikry meets The Bookish Life of Nina Hill in this charming, hilarious, and moving novel about the way books bring lonely souls together.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Librarian Chloe Sampson has been struggling: to take care of her three younger siblings, to find herself, to make ends meet. She's just about at the end of her rope when she stumbles across a rare edition of a book from the 1960s at the local flea market. Deciding it's a sign of her luck turning, she takes it home with her―only to be shocked when her cranky hermit of a neighbor swoops in and offers to buy it for an exorbitant price. Intrigued, Chloe takes a closer look at the book only to find notes scribbled in the margins between two young lovers back when the book was new…one of whom is almost definitely Jasper Holmes, the curmudgeon next door.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">And when she begins following the clues left behind, she discovers this isn't the only old book in town filled with their romantic marginalia. This kickstarts a literary scavenger hunt that Chloe is determined to see through to the end. What happened to the two tragic lovers who corresponded in the margins of so many different library books? And what does it have to do with the old, sad man next door―who only now has begun to open his home to Chloe and her siblings? In a romantic tale that spans the decades, Chloe discovers that there's much more to her neighbor than meets the eye. And in allowing herself to accept the unexpected friendship he offers, she learns that some love stories begin in the unlikeliest of places.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Title: The Library of Borrowed Hearts</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Author: Lucy Gilmore</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Expected Publication Date: April 30., 2024</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Review:</span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for providing me with an egalley of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Chloe Sampson is struggling to keep her family going. Caring for her three young siblings as their guardian has been tough since her mom stepped out of their lives. Her librarian job helps her to just make ends meat. When she finds a rare copy of a book in the library, riddled with notes in the margins from two lovers, she's surprised to have it suddenly linked to her curmudgeon of a neighbor, Jasper. As she investigates his past, she finds this book is not the only one the lovers communicated through and slowly unravels their tumultuous and short love affair. Determined to see the scavenger hunt through, she builds a relationship with Jasper, as well as a local man named Zach who is determined to help her. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">This is my first Lucy Gilmore book. I saw a ton of great reviews for her Lonely Hearts Book Club, which I now have to read! I really enjoyed her writing. It flowed easily and had great pacing. She easily built her characters and made me invested in them. And books written about books are always going to be on my radar. So it was not surprise for me to want to pick this one up and see what it was all about.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Chloe's character is tough but also somewhat broken. Having to care for your three young siblings when you are barely an adult yourself is difficult. And she's determined to ensure they are cared for even if it means she gives up everything she has always wanted to do. Her love of books is what really got me. It's what helped me connect with her and care about her. It's also what helps her connect more with Jasper, which I love. If I were to start my life over again, I would absolutely go for a degree as a librarian or do something in the publishing world. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Speaking of Jasper, he's definitely my favorite character in this book and has the ARC that progresses the most. He goes from a recluse who wants nothing to do with anyone, to figuring out there's more to life than stewing in your own thoughts. He's also a book lover, which helped me connect with him. I loved his love story, even if it was a little more sad than I would have liked.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">My least favorite character was Catherine. I found her to be super selfish and it really bothered me. I wanted her to be so much more. But I also knew there wasn't a HEA coming for her and Jasper (you see this throughout the story so it's not a spoiler for their story ARC). </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I do wish there was more about Zach. I loved him, and how he wanted to connect with Chloe, but I was also mad at him for how he went about it (no spoilers here, you'll have to read to find out why). Mostly I adored his connection with Noodle. And the fact that he took Chloe, siblings and all, even when many would run from a young girl who comes strapped with kids.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">The story is told from five points of view, which I would normally be annoyed about but worked really well for this story. It wasn't hard to keep the points of view separate while reading as the chapters were titled. The author also chose to bounce between the present and the past to tell the love story of Catherine and Jasper and how it progresses and ultimately how it ends. There was no point in the book where this story bored me. I truly wanted to find out what happened between the lovers, and wanted Chloe to also get her HEA.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">The idea of found family is very much at the forefront of this story and I really love that. Family is great but some don't always have one that is super supportive. So to be able to find the community Chloe did at the end, people who want to help her and watch her succeed, was heart warming.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">If you are looking for a romance read, this one isn't it. It has romantic elements for sure because it does ultimately focus on the love affair between Catherine and Jasper. But it is not a romance as much as it is chick lit or contemporary fiction.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">The story does just kind of end. I was hoping for an epilogue, something, anything to show me what happens down the line. Chloe is given a great opportunity, but does she take it? What happens with Zach? Does her mother ever come back? How do the children fair? What happens with Jasper? I just needed something to tie up all the loose ends and it wasn't there. This is why I didn't give it 5 stars.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would definitely read more from this author in the future.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Preorder <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Library-Borrowed-Hearts-Lucy-Gilmore-ebook/dp/B0C9N4LNL1/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3TWXR0TWCVQED&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.8jGDirrQ5Key-oOW-ZUgMMz8QhYwy7Se2W4E2pCxSMf8HN-d_0YZFLq3fsyRC25dq2c5InTB8DW5skBz2N-usF9vBEMULBrQGcw4giv54BuPKH15gv8dZAIs2JYxlzd_dVhR0hl-1_j2lArxdZx--URaC2U22TJyswXA5PVmMzDGaimyryVWH6UtFILg0raSXVt_3DmGODyGmzwoi8jMO6bHjLbf3Igkjble5kVidyQ.gLbl_VLwDYPQnaM_MLXr8Rj2Bmd_KBh9nKFWM3pT6w0&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+library+of+borrowed+hearts&qid=1708793308&sprefix=the+libraray+of+borr%2Caps%2C139&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Here</a></span></div></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqcI8GMA-37lXlD2ETcHenE07B0wmIdxKK7q-c6uz7JJerCmknfvlIbAtB7ThQKFJAbMj_0R3i3GPp9I2LuraZa8aGUY3rUD8b34w8A_lOH6-6ee5nHvdVT_tMn8kCSQChAbMIiw2ZIK8-hnpcIYU3KmOikrmFJmLpQwBE4j7ct8OnlrMiAKUwnSRs4Wy/s266/18573441.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="176" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqcI8GMA-37lXlD2ETcHenE07B0wmIdxKK7q-c6uz7JJerCmknfvlIbAtB7ThQKFJAbMj_0R3i3GPp9I2LuraZa8aGUY3rUD8b34w8A_lOH6-6ee5nHvdVT_tMn8kCSQChAbMIiw2ZIK8-hnpcIYU3KmOikrmFJmLpQwBE4j7ct8OnlrMiAKUwnSRs4Wy/s1600/18573441.jpeg" width="176" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Lucy Gilmore is a celebrated novelist in a wide range of genres, including literary fiction, contemporary romance, and cozy mystery. She began her reading (and writing) career as an English literature major and ended as a book lover without all those pesky academic papers attached.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">She lives in Spokane, WA with her family.</span></div><br /> <p></p>The Cover Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936117064881855016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334365102658625344.post-76757698950115740562024-02-23T00:00:00.030-05:002024-02-23T00:00:00.137-05:00Fat Stack Friday BOOK HAUL! <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">FAT STACK FRIDAY BOOK HAUL!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">This past week was a small haul week for me with books, especially since it was my birthday week! I was able to find a few goodies at my local Goodwill.</span></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Check out my stack!</span></p></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-nyEmugT6N235fdqisFs6gF-8hDJdeFjcl6cwmi1Yg09J8zc3ZhLYS1JU5V_C7Dkls4QFUIAoSVEMLNuWn9fJRpS5Rn7lo3S7Kd99WpQI3FCSIguLjcfOqBXiE3zTkm9i0i4vc2dtlfDgWUOLpbidK51U50l2vdOJ_3JuKASIcq9BU4O_iG4rlIe9EiZg/s4032/IMG_6539.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-nyEmugT6N235fdqisFs6gF-8hDJdeFjcl6cwmi1Yg09J8zc3ZhLYS1JU5V_C7Dkls4QFUIAoSVEMLNuWn9fJRpS5Rn7lo3S7Kd99WpQI3FCSIguLjcfOqBXiE3zTkm9i0i4vc2dtlfDgWUOLpbidK51U50l2vdOJ_3JuKASIcq9BU4O_iG4rlIe9EiZg/s320/IMG_6539.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">American Gods (American Gods #1) by Neil Gaiman</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">He's definitely not for everyone but I really enjoy his writing and his stories. I remember watching some of the show made from this book and really liked it. Looking forward to diving in.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Electric Idol (Dark Olympus #20 by Katee Robert</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I haven't read any of Robert's books but I heard good things about this series. Unfortunately, this is book #2 so I guess I'm going to have to find book #1 somewhere or buy myself a copy!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All The Feels (Spoiler Alert #2) by Olivia Dade</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Another book #2 in a series and I don't have the first. I'll have to see if I can find a copy of Spoiler Alert somewhere. I've not read Olivia Dade, but I liked the synopsis on the back so I thought I'd give her a try!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">What books have you gotten this week?</span></div><br /> <p></p>The Cover Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936117064881855016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334365102658625344.post-56506091797673062742024-02-20T00:00:00.048-05:002024-02-20T00:00:00.147-05:00Most Anticipated Releases 2/20/2024<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbCKnysRH2yPET2R1BVC6_CeYqCdRFRdpOQqJreFxetH5qyFjXJiv7XzS0tVfysAT2TEQnJ-S281f3LqU7vGZ-CFgi6QabkFfFz0enwARVdQVZmxjJfQYedjtw5WxIv1n-tbb9H3sOB61W1E05Kj44HjzyggMIP9l1-cWC2y_Lf71lCsBrBt143bm8Y9y/s1080/February%2020,2024.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbCKnysRH2yPET2R1BVC6_CeYqCdRFRdpOQqJreFxetH5qyFjXJiv7XzS0tVfysAT2TEQnJ-S281f3LqU7vGZ-CFgi6QabkFfFz0enwARVdQVZmxjJfQYedjtw5WxIv1n-tbb9H3sOB61W1E05Kj44HjzyggMIP9l1-cWC2y_Lf71lCsBrBt143bm8Y9y/s320/February%2020,2024.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Happy Tuesday February 20, 2024 release day! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">These are my picks for most anticipated releases this week.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjb4fn5TaByOrbWdAY6FNfchNyJpFjSkrAlVPjD77HMQrJAzmihK0K_TExsQaSpJqNi2nAcgUnjcmfZXR2Qg-FbiyIS4F9si0Vqn5zUQPfgbgrKWG46ILG2YFqvP45zT5PF22lhoyqHXjVABQRtUmmhWvELa_8VBrhQ4sML5zgYI7ITyZgCQZtEbkwZCcE/s742/201561873.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="742" data-original-width="498" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjb4fn5TaByOrbWdAY6FNfchNyJpFjSkrAlVPjD77HMQrJAzmihK0K_TExsQaSpJqNi2nAcgUnjcmfZXR2Qg-FbiyIS4F9si0Vqn5zUQPfgbgrKWG46ILG2YFqvP45zT5PF22lhoyqHXjVABQRtUmmhWvELa_8VBrhQ4sML5zgYI7ITyZgCQZtEbkwZCcE/w134-h200/201561873.jpeg" width="134" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CM8QGZX5/ref=x_gr_bb_kindle?caller=Goodreads&tag=x_gr_bb_kindle-20" target="_blank">An Island Strange and Wild (Book One of the Lost Garden Series) by Lisa Amowitz</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Devastated by the freak death of her fellow climate activist and best friend/secret crush Tyler, eighteen-year-old science geek Rosalie Gatell decides to ditch her prestigious summer study abroad and escape to the place of his birth, which happens to be an endangered and uncharted island off the coast of Maine. Once there, Rosalie discovers a shocking truth about her past…and that what troubles this island goes far beyond the laws of nature. Even with a vanishing walled garden, a miraculous healing plant with a mind of its own, an unknown aunt trapped in a tree, nothing confounds Rosalie as much as the enigmatic Liam, a reckless and beautiful island boy with a supernatural green thumb. Rosalie believes she may have found salvation in this island wonderland—and a path to completing Tyler’s climate work. But as her attraction to Liam grows, she’s confronted by myths and legends about her family’s origins that forces her to reconcile science and magic in order to save the island, and everyone on it, from an ancient evil. To do so, Rosalie will have to rely on her own power, instead of logic or science, if she is to free Liam from his curse while keeping the evil from consuming her and everyone else she’s ever loved.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Lisa Amowitz has been a favorite author of mine for a long time. Not only is she a talented writer, but she's also a talented artist. She creates all her own covers! I was fortunate enough to read an early copy of this book and you can find my review here:</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><a href="http://www.thecovercontessa.com/2024/02/arc-review-island-strange-and-wild-book.html" target="_blank">ARC Review: An Island Strange and Wild</a></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZwFjC4mAHMPKUZb-n13fytTyCST1b4FfxBGKNv5rZFG9fU9jRc0gt2mdMBhgn8dAlOswe2x8RsLr9OnPcsd_gfUovd6rRoJWvTGP1Jboj7s3JJpjgGfuQftSjgi5MMCrJR-_34n7B5ZKiN-tPp1Wlxf9uX9KOpbxj5Y2lonpkvZZG_V3isPUYfPYP_H7/s151/127305713._SX98_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="151" data-original-width="98" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZwFjC4mAHMPKUZb-n13fytTyCST1b4FfxBGKNv5rZFG9fU9jRc0gt2mdMBhgn8dAlOswe2x8RsLr9OnPcsd_gfUovd6rRoJWvTGP1Jboj7s3JJpjgGfuQftSjgi5MMCrJR-_34n7B5ZKiN-tPp1Wlxf9uX9KOpbxj5Y2lonpkvZZG_V3isPUYfPYP_H7/s1600/127305713._SX98_.jpg" width="98" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Heartless-Hunter-Crimson-Moth-Book/dp/1250866901/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1707691836&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Heartless Hunter (The Crimson Moth #1) by Kristen Ciccarelli</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; text-align: start;">A steamy game of cat and mouse between witch and witch-hunter, played out against a backdrop of opulence, secrets, and bloody history.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">On the night Rune’s life changed forever, blood ran in the streets. Now, in the aftermath of a devastating revolution, witches have been diminished from powerful rulers to outcasts ruthlessly hunted due to their waning magic, and Rune must hide what she is.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Spending her days pretending to be nothing more than a vapid young socialite, Rune spends her nights as the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante who rescues her kind from being purged. When a rescue goes wrong, she decides to throw the witch hunters off her scent and gain the intel she desperately needs by courting the handsome Gideon Sharpe - a notorious and unforgiving witch hunter loyal to the revolution - who she can't help but find herself falling for.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Gideon loathes the decadence and superficiality Rune represents, but when he learns the Crimson Moth has been using Rune’s merchant ships to smuggle renegade witches out of the republic, he inserts himself into her social circles by pretending to court her right back. He soon realizes that beneath her beauty and shallow façade, is someone fiercely intelligent and tender who feels like his perfect match. Except, what if she’s the very villain he’s been hunting?</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Kristen Ciccarelli’s </span><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Heartless Hunter</i><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"> is the thrilling start to a romantic fantasy duology where the only thing more treacherous than being a witch...is falling in love.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Another book that drew me in because of the beautiful cover. I mean it's just freaking amazing. Have you seen the UK version (titled The Crimson Moth across the pond!)? It's also beautiful. But the story blurb is what really drew me to want to read this one. It reminded me of Serpent and Dove by Shelby Mauhurin, which I really enjoyed. Plus, there's an enemies to lovers trope (one of my favorites). I had the chance to read an early copy of this book and you can find my review here:</span><br /><a href="http://www.thecovercontessa.com/2024/01/arc-review-heartless-hunter-crimson.html" style="color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif;" target="_blank">ARC Review: Heartless Hunter (Crimson Moth #1)</a></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJ4ff_aGvrFSJpoZBC1TdODN8mvc40oZMQdnsMySn4eRPWL6qcq7wjQWu0v8EKAd5sG4_Mt3kEY2a83Qjop6a17gE_uhfDO9gCuXFHbVdvEatszmSDqiYPDJV3pIth6qKsix3NECMwNHlNiS3mgBgH3rUu9CySa97VWnJiTFMq0h4TODeJLlOWziNQNT_/s149/173404147._SX98_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="149" data-original-width="98" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJ4ff_aGvrFSJpoZBC1TdODN8mvc40oZMQdnsMySn4eRPWL6qcq7wjQWu0v8EKAd5sG4_Mt3kEY2a83Qjop6a17gE_uhfDO9gCuXFHbVdvEatszmSDqiYPDJV3pIth6qKsix3NECMwNHlNiS3mgBgH3rUu9CySa97VWnJiTFMq0h4TODeJLlOWziNQNT_/s1600/173404147._SX98_.jpg" width="98" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Disciples-Chaos-Seven-Faceless-Saints/dp/0316471771/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1NTPHTLSU326J&keywords=disciples+of+chaos&qid=1707691862&s=books&sprefix=disciples+of+chaos%2Cstripbooks%2C92&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Disciples of Chaos (Seven Faceless Saints #2) by M.K. Lobb</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">In this thrilling sequel to Seven Faceless Saints, perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Kerri Maniscalco, Roz and Damian must face their destiny as the world crumbles around them.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Damian Venturi isn't aware of it yet. But as small shifts start to crack the foundations of the Ombrazian power structure after the Rebellion's attack, cracks are beginning to show in Damian's own facade. Uncontrollable anger is bubbling to the surface and can't always be pushed down. Can he keep everyone safe, even from himself?</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Rossana Lacertosa should feel victorious. She accomplished everything she set out to do, and more. The Rebellion's attack set countless prisoners free and brought attention to the unfairness in the Palazzo's structure. And Damian is back by her side where he belongs. Yet the war with Brechaat rages on and government officials are hellbent on keeping the status quo.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Then an Ombrazian general arrives from the front lines, and orders dozens of arrests, shipping Roz and Damian's friends up north. Determined to free those who matter most, Roz and Damian set their sights on Brechaat. But their journey is dogged by strange magic, and Damian shifts further from the boy he used to be.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">The complications of love, magic, faith, and war will keep readers eagerly turning the pages as they head towards the gripping conclusion in the Seven Faceless Saints duology.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">This book was one of my most highly anticipated for this month. I had a chance to read Seven Faceless Saints as an ARC and I tore through it. I loved the characters and the fantasy theme that was presented. And of course it ended on a bit of a cliffhanger so I was chomping at the bit to get my hands on this one. Plus I needed to finish the duology! The publisher granted my wish and supplied me with an egalley of this one, as well. You can see my review here:</span><br /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #1e1915;"><a href="http://www.thecovercontessa.com/2024/01/arc-review-disciples-of-chaos-seven.html" target="_blank">Disciples of Chaos (Seven Faceless Saints #2)</a></span></span></div><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">What books are your most anticipated releases for today?</span></div>The Cover Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936117064881855016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334365102658625344.post-43301425900166523122024-02-16T00:00:00.001-05:002024-02-16T00:00:00.136-05:00Fat Stack Friday BOOK HAUL!<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">FAT STACK FRIDAY BOOK HAUL!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">This past week was a good haul week for me with books! Not only was I gifted several but I was able to find a bunch at my local Goodwill, which rarely happens for me. Check out my stack!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZ2qyaEbvxzRcoaqDcdehL-jiNF6KiLHaQhXO5EGNZM-T59LN5z-RqCD-QNc3QebrXUR8oV9-ohEddqxZf_yxGbqiXLEqxtDNGoRbcU0DQWrijEunFcB5Ucq1E7EUdxUQXA-yzMupHInJAfB_eoiKtd8X3vAhx1rgDbxPLhjiFKwijoDyVOqRQyoSiHVt/s4032/IMG_6487.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZ2qyaEbvxzRcoaqDcdehL-jiNF6KiLHaQhXO5EGNZM-T59LN5z-RqCD-QNc3QebrXUR8oV9-ohEddqxZf_yxGbqiXLEqxtDNGoRbcU0DQWrijEunFcB5Ucq1E7EUdxUQXA-yzMupHInJAfB_eoiKtd8X3vAhx1rgDbxPLhjiFKwijoDyVOqRQyoSiHVt/s320/IMG_6487.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gifted:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Twisted (Never After #4) by Emily McIntire</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bride by Ali Hazelwood</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I'm excited to have my complete set of McIntire books! I really love the reimaginings of well known fairy tales with the villain twist! These were also my first dark romances! Apparently I have a little bit of a twisted mind as I loved every minute of the first two in the series I have read. I can't wait to read the rest!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Bride was one of my most anticipated books for 2024. I adore Ali Hazelwood. I will say, I was worried about her jump into the paranormal. I wasn't sure she could pull it off but she NAILED it. And from what I can see, this one will be a bit of a series so I cannot wait for more in this world! I was fortunate to get to read an egalley of this book for review. Check that post out here:</span><br /><a href="http://www.thecovercontessa.com/2023/12/arc-review-bride-by-ali-hazelwood.html" target="_blank">ARC Review: Bride by Ali Hazelwood</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bought New:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wretched (Never After #3) by Emily McIntire<br />Gothikana by RuNyx</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I'm super excited to jump into Wretched as I've read the first two books in McIntire's series and have adored them. Give me all the villains from the fairy tales!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I will be honest and say I bought Gothikana soley based on the cover. It's absolutely gorgeous. But then I learned it's dark academia, and that is one of my favorite genres! I've seen some mixed reviews so I'm truly hoping I end up liking it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Scored from Goodwill:<br />The Program Series by Suzanne Young</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I've had an ARC of The Treatment by Young for years but have never jumped into the series. I love a good dystopian read. This one is a commitment with six books! I have already finished the first one as a buddy read with my pal Anne Marie Brewer and plan to post a review next week.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">The Harry Potter book was a good find. It's the only book I didn't have to complete my set, so I figured why not buy it and put it on my shelf. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">What books have you gotten this week?</span></div><br /><p><br /></p>The Cover Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936117064881855016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334365102658625344.post-84231016558127765812024-02-15T00:00:00.001-05:002024-02-15T00:00:00.152-05:00ARC Review: Remedial Magic (A Course in Magic #1) by Melissa Marr<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLQlsUYBGePlMe3HuS-OdVnzt1AeXhCim933c-h4OA4bM09LvcSwAk51Vf3BJtU1qs9h1fw_f1EOrWMLehrxtEvZda_n10d56rr1q3ZqYxpB3sQW_bJ5slfb_LTwJ70NsDgR2NbroSHdhvjgDat8hBVw2caEFVlZC_0E9MNoDzW-lfR-gQoirutg4RDwg/s2560/154985479.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1665" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLQlsUYBGePlMe3HuS-OdVnzt1AeXhCim933c-h4OA4bM09LvcSwAk51Vf3BJtU1qs9h1fw_f1EOrWMLehrxtEvZda_n10d56rr1q3ZqYxpB3sQW_bJ5slfb_LTwJ70NsDgR2NbroSHdhvjgDat8hBVw2caEFVlZC_0E9MNoDzW-lfR-gQoirutg4RDwg/s320/154985479.jpeg" width="208" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; text-align: start;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Magicians</i> meets <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">One Last Stop</i> in this brand-new fantasy romance <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Remedial Magic</i>, about an unassuming librarian who 1) has fallen in love with a powerful witch; 2) has discovered that she is a witch; and 3) must attend magical community college to learn how to save her new world from complete destruction by <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">New York Times</i> bestselling author Melissa Marr!</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Ellie loves working in her local library in the small town of Ligonier. She loves baking scones and investigating the mysterious and captivating in her spare time. And there is nothing more mysterious and captivating than the intriguingly beautiful, too properly dressed woman sipping tea in her library who has appeared as if out of nowhere. The pull between them is undeniable, and Ellie is not sure that she wants to resist.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Prospero, a powerful witch from the magical land of Crenshaw, is often accused of being… ruthless in her goals and ambitions. But she is driven to save her dying homeland, and a prophecy tells her that Ellie is the key. Unbeknownst to Ellie, her powers have not yet awakened. But all of that is about to change.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Title: Remedial Magic (A Course In Magic #1)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Author: Melissa Marr</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Publisher: Bramble/Tor Trade<br />Expected Publication Date: February 20, 2024</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Review:</span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Thank you to NetGalley and Bramble/Tor Trade for providing me with an egalley of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">This was my first Melissa Marr book. I have heard really great things about this author but have not had a chance to read anything by her before now. I was excited to read this for the magical aspect as well as the LBGTQ+ representation I was promised as I'm trying hard to expand my reading palette. Unfortunately, I wasn't impressed with either of these in this book. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">My first issue is the blurb versus what you actually get in the book. I thought I was getting Ellie and Prospero's story, which you do to an extent. But we also see several other points of view in the book, which was not evident in the blurb at all. So now, rather than having to focus on two POVs and their romance blooming, I was forced to watch multiples POVs and romances. Normally, I'd be ok with several POVS, but six? It was just too much for my brain to be happy with. The marketing of this one needs to be tweaked. Maybe give a hint there are other POVs when showing what it is to the public. On top of that, all the characters suddenly have romantic interests and it just all seemed so impossible to believe, even for a fantasy.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">From the beginning, I could tell what would happen to Ellie. It was very obvious to me and I would have liked a bit more mystery there. She's a normal functioning human then POOF she's a witch. And after trying her hardest to figure out what happened to all these people who disappeared, now it was her turn? It was just to contrite for me.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">The world building for this one isn't bad. I enjoyed the magical aspect. And I love a good magical academia book. But I didn't see as much of that as I would have liked. Even at half way through, I was still trying to figure out when the characters would take part in classes that would help them with their magic. It took way too long to get going.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">In all honestly, I was bored with this book. I tried to be invested in the characters but since they were barely developed it was hard to really care about them in any deep way. I didn't connect with them or want to know how their stories would turn out. The author gave me no reason to want to know.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">There was nothing drawing me to pick this book up and read. I read it only because I knew I'd have to review it, so I pushed myself through chapters. But I also had the hope things might pick up later on in the book and they didn't. I ended up skimming many of the chapters.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I will admit, I was initially drawn in by the cover art (I can't pass up a beautiful cover) and then the blurb drew me in further. But even with those, I was disappointed in what was presented.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I am doubtful I would move on to the rest of this series, even with the cliffhanger ending.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2RxQYx_FcUZtMAlIOixj3E_QH-v8WPAkHbHzd-pJGIQf-4MA6Y6myViL32KTxqHsvLEZW1di_bSfmSGWTvYzEYzk6a5nL4kbXfFVYwoXQoxc74-pOd2L7DFgNEHNAzbj6bN1Qmtg3PQO7UAhyphenhyphenmje5OJj0eEwI4Lg8IRpiJtXiLWgdcW8EuZX0CbcsIkl/s203/175855.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="203" data-original-width="200" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2RxQYx_FcUZtMAlIOixj3E_QH-v8WPAkHbHzd-pJGIQf-4MA6Y6myViL32KTxqHsvLEZW1di_bSfmSGWTvYzEYzk6a5nL4kbXfFVYwoXQoxc74-pOd2L7DFgNEHNAzbj6bN1Qmtg3PQO7UAhyphenhyphenmje5OJj0eEwI4Lg8IRpiJtXiLWgdcW8EuZX0CbcsIkl/s1600/175855.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Melissa Marr is a former university literature instructor who writes fiction for adults, teens, and children and sometimes teaches in an MFA program. Her books have been translated into twenty-eight languages and been bestsellers internationally as well as domestically (NY Times, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal).</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">After a quieter spell the last few years (due to both adopting a sick baby & health complications--in part due to her lupus), she is back in 2024 with a queer fantasy (Remedial Magic), a picturebook about a wee one and his two moms (Family is Family), and a graphic novel about teen Harley & Ivy (The Strange Adventures of Harleen & Harley).</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">She currently lives with part of her family (wife & 2 of her 3 children) in Arizona.</span></div><br /><p><br /></p>The Cover Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936117064881855016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334365102658625344.post-12916729209215319302024-02-14T00:00:00.010-05:002024-02-14T00:00:00.144-05:00ARC Review: This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5hFwUkTmi5NhbazpZg8GqZBZ5DBHWnqsG7p6CaBNDvRsgxTEEJ7Nltc-_HS0SwtuSOUOMJKzzqipjifhK6wexKlMuHDpjp9ytxJPNDuEM1VkMc6fWAyHkfmOo5vIdbiCAc2FOn_QQpzGCyGCagG9Wcp5eZ5TZtaeb2pML7yTKmQU0c9YmGsdFgtV0b_h5/s1157/197577126.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1157" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5hFwUkTmi5NhbazpZg8GqZBZ5DBHWnqsG7p6CaBNDvRsgxTEEJ7Nltc-_HS0SwtuSOUOMJKzzqipjifhK6wexKlMuHDpjp9ytxJPNDuEM1VkMc6fWAyHkfmOo5vIdbiCAc2FOn_QQpzGCyGCagG9Wcp5eZ5TZtaeb2pML7yTKmQU0c9YmGsdFgtV0b_h5/s320/197577126.jpeg" width="207" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">This summer they’ll keep their promise. This summer they won’t give into temptation. This summer will be different.</i><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Lucy is the tourist vacationing at a beach house on Prince Edward Island. Felix is the local who shows her a very good time. The only problem: Lucy doesn’t know he’s her best friend’s younger brother. Lucy and Felix’s chemistry is unreal, but the list of reasons why they need to stay away from each other is long, and they vow to never repeat that electric night again.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">It’s easier said than done.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Each year, Lucy escapes to PEI for a big breath of coastal air, fresh oysters and crisp vinho verde with her best friend, Bridget. Every visit begins with a long walk on the beach, beneath soaring red cliffs and a golden sun. And every visit, Lucy promises herself she won’t wind up in Felix’s bed. Again.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">If Lucy can’t help being drawn to Felix, at least she’s always kept her heart out of it.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">When Bridget suddenly flees Toronto a week before her wedding, Lucy drops everything to follow her to the island. Her mission is to help Bridget through her crisis and resist the one man she’s never been able to. But Felix’s sparkling eyes and flirty quips have been replaced with something new, and Lucy’s beginning to wonder just how safe her heart truly is.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Title: This Summer Will Be Different</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Author: Carley Fortune</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Expected Publication Date: May 7, 2024</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Review:</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an egalley of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.</span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Vacationing on Prince Edward Island, Lucy meets a gorgeous man and has a small tryst only to find out the man is her best friend's brother! Told over multiple summers on the island, during which the time was just never right, this is the story of two people drawn to each may not be able to resist the love between them.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I've been a fan of the stories I've read by Fortune so far. She has quickly become one of my go to authors for a sweet romance with just a bit of angst. Throw in a bit of forbidden love and I'm hooked.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I enjoyed Lucy's character. She's very independent and does what she truly thinks is best. But she also limits herself with this as she ends up in a job that's not quite what she has always wanted to do. She feels an obligation to her aunt, who has passed. She struggles to find her truth and become involved in what she truly loves while still honoring the woman who helped her grow into herself.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Felix, oh Felix. I really found him so endearing. He's not afraid to be who he is, do what he wants to do, and go after what he wants. Even if it means his heart might break just a bit. The chemistry between him and Lucy is undeniable. He's willing to be whatever Lucy needs, and willing to do what it takes to be with her. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I love the slow burn heartfelt relationship that grows between these two. I love that it takes years for it to actually become something showing that if the heart knows, it will wait until the time is right. There is also an air of found family for this book. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">There is definitely steam and chemistry between the FMC and MMC. I loved the smexy scenes as much as I loved the scenes where they were bantering and flirting: side glances, quick banter, and so much more.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Something Fortune did magnificently in this book is describing the setting. I have never been to Prince Edward Island. The author easily took me there with her descriptive imagery. I truly felt like I was on the beaches, by the lighthouse, And, since I've never been to this area, I was glad for the descriptiveness of what it looked like.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I also enjoyed the wonderful friendship between Bridget and Lucy. It is such a dedicated friendship. They are rocks for each other, solidifying even more that your family does not always have to be blood related. There was so much love between them, I really felt their deep bond down to my bones.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Overall this was a very enjoyable read. I loved the flashbacks you got showing how the relationship between the two main characters builds and grows. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for future titles from Fortune.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">If you're looking for a found family book with an amazing friendship, steamy and flirty romance, and characters that come into their own, pic this one up and give it a try.</span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioR7zFQtiM0p431QlvMwtkbkrtb7xnNnn2FruOuyZBoToIEt0QT4GzrgNbvwmXjPqvPhN1ItCL6gqevao7drn9VioVxBtE2ORs62DBgpZilkM72jbLi-SBMfXoJgmXkgveWt6GvN64WrjMw16OwVYPzUzatU9vmTEejBhrRNgCwA9X4J8L1pwpNev5cjbO/s266/21483807.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="177" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioR7zFQtiM0p431QlvMwtkbkrtb7xnNnn2FruOuyZBoToIEt0QT4GzrgNbvwmXjPqvPhN1ItCL6gqevao7drn9VioVxBtE2ORs62DBgpZilkM72jbLi-SBMfXoJgmXkgveWt6GvN64WrjMw16OwVYPzUzatU9vmTEejBhrRNgCwA9X4J8L1pwpNev5cjbO/s1600/21483807.jpeg" width="177" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Carley Fortune is the #1 </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">New York Times</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"> and #1 </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Globe and Mail</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"> bestselling author of EVERY SUMMER AFTER and MEET ME AT THE LAKE. Her third book, THIS SUMMER WILL BE DIFFERENT, comes out May 7, 2024.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Carley is an award-winning journalist and worked as an editor at some of Canada’s top publications, including </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">The Globe and Mail, Chatelaine, Toronto Life,</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"> and </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">The Grid</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">. She was most recently the Executive Editor of </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Refinery29 Canada</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Carley spent her young life in the suburbs of Sydney, Australia, and in Barry’s Bay, a tiny lakeside town in rural Ontario and the setting for EVERY SUMMER AFTER.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Carley lives in Toronto with her husband and two sons. Follow her on Instagram </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/carleyfortune/" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: white; color: #00635d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: none;">@carleyfortune</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">.</span></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><br /> <p></p>The Cover Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936117064881855016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334365102658625344.post-41666120340619792572024-02-13T00:00:00.004-05:002024-02-13T00:00:00.332-05:00Most Anticipated Releases 2/13/24<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHAh1Uqpzwht4ntfHssm0TATTtMxzsOk00OyaSqVtvHe5FgKO1d1WYlMItidbuoyFOghuyzdVkhbB9cWu8K4C6VUxCI3X4X709JRJbR7uTqBs2BxgAGVXsNu-dyD7ddHHO5aLqNKLH0FbwTsh3rjWKNsxDoKT5w2Sahnmk8A8hKQ52Isk_Uh7h1DgFDJa/s1080/February%2013.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHAh1Uqpzwht4ntfHssm0TATTtMxzsOk00OyaSqVtvHe5FgKO1d1WYlMItidbuoyFOghuyzdVkhbB9cWu8K4C6VUxCI3X4X709JRJbR7uTqBs2BxgAGVXsNu-dyD7ddHHO5aLqNKLH0FbwTsh3rjWKNsxDoKT5w2Sahnmk8A8hKQ52Isk_Uh7h1DgFDJa/s320/February%2013.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Happy Tuesday February 13, 2024 release day! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">These are my picks for most anticipated releases this week.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZujptuO6rW7VRWrH8QxfrIdE7SVjdxkdsFLvlc0aY0zf_lmzPWHg46RZhunPoPcQL6Lhn7W2coKhy1E68JBM1K8Ztf9RWF4MNZjwohs4-b0LNx6ibipnNZcySu7Jcq9gJadkGC2khzVdSJ2J6hze8cwxv08GiLy24Re3KajPYVTQvihvKOKlns71myk9/s147/175399560._SX98_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="98" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZujptuO6rW7VRWrH8QxfrIdE7SVjdxkdsFLvlc0aY0zf_lmzPWHg46RZhunPoPcQL6Lhn7W2coKhy1E68JBM1K8Ztf9RWF4MNZjwohs4-b0LNx6ibipnNZcySu7Jcq9gJadkGC2khzVdSJ2J6hze8cwxv08GiLy24Re3KajPYVTQvihvKOKlns71myk9/s1600/175399560._SX98_.jpg" width="98" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Abroad-Elle-Kennedy/dp/1728299799/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1707681089&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Girl Abroad by Elle Kennedy</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; text-align: start;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">New York Times</i> bestselling author Elle Kennedy brings her signature angst, drama, and humour to a new standalone romance.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">When nineteen-year-old Abbey Bly gets the opportunity to study abroad for a year in London, it's the perfect chance to finally slip out from under the thumb of her beloved but overbearing retired rock star father. She's ready to be free, to discover herself - but first off, to meet the girls she's rooming with. That is, until she arrives at her gorgeous new flat to discover those roommates are actually all boys. Charming, funny, insufferably attractive boys. And off-limits, with a rule against fraternizing between housemates after unwanted drama with the previous girl.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Abbey has never considered herself a rulebreaker. But soon, she's lying to her father about her living situation and falling for not one, but two men she can't have: her rugby-player roommate and a broody musician with a girlfriend. Not to mention, her research for school has gotten her tangled in a deeply hidden scandal of a high nobility family, surrounding her in secrets on all sides.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">If there's any hope of Abbey finding love, answers, or a future in London, she'll have to decide which rules - and hearts - might be worth breaking . . .</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Kennedy is one of my go to authors for romance. I love everything she writes and she never ceases to surprise me with what she'll come up with next. Check out her latest release (and her other series such as Off Campus and Briar U) for some fun and entertaining characters and smexy romance!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsT4nlcOKtl07nnwNNR_AM0XTbBXtjjelBWRx5chEdD6uuP7ffoed8Y-DLe-wKqC6bhVf6OdpVTmwzd7lJvvcxvw4v5G6-sRfwMAUzTl9XtdT6cLBc4mWmo0lf00ZxS3rjN80_PMaf0Ckeqh-xBV7hTJFqwxZgunRqgrFEaugDxo0sSOcdrsjC7fuCQH7/s148/150343880._SX98_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="98" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsT4nlcOKtl07nnwNNR_AM0XTbBXtjjelBWRx5chEdD6uuP7ffoed8Y-DLe-wKqC6bhVf6OdpVTmwzd7lJvvcxvw4v5G6-sRfwMAUzTl9XtdT6cLBc4mWmo0lf00ZxS3rjN80_PMaf0Ckeqh-xBV7hTJFqwxZgunRqgrFEaugDxo0sSOcdrsjC7fuCQH7/s1600/150343880._SX98_.jpg" width="98" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fangirl-Down-Novel-Big-Shots/dp/0063308363/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1AKTDCMWZUHDR&keywords=fangirl+down&qid=1707681139&s=books&sprefix=fangirl+down%2Cstripbooks%2C103&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Wells Whitaker was once golf’s hottest rising star, but lately, all he has to show for his “promising” career is a killer hangover, a collection of broken clubs, and one remaining supporter. No matter how bad he plays, the beautiful, sunny redhead is always on the sidelines. He curses, she cheers. He scowls, she smiles. But when Wells quits in a blaze of glory and his fangirl finally goes home, he knows he made the greatest mistake of his life.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I just discovered Bailey in the last year and I really enjoy her stories. I'm excited for this one because not only is it a sports romance but it's GOLF! I haven't really seen any romances centered around this sport so it should be fun to see what Bailey does with the story!</span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlBaYjrtXJGoHCcVCeln0AWgZMWBm632wQTqs6x5Vc6FJ2ApldL55HuFYPoQr-lOekuv6MUrr_zflOa84jPhIx-_EPdH8l1f-AThGp6T9KsJhm6Y08Wu9-uYPGAyUre7aNnNms5dCQEOfTUJgqRUN-luywPLbFs_GrFNgL3-jC5a18rUeiT5C45Nb7nbV0/s143/63291997._SX98_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="143" data-original-width="98" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlBaYjrtXJGoHCcVCeln0AWgZMWBm632wQTqs6x5Vc6FJ2ApldL55HuFYPoQr-lOekuv6MUrr_zflOa84jPhIx-_EPdH8l1f-AThGp6T9KsJhm6Y08Wu9-uYPGAyUre7aNnNms5dCQEOfTUJgqRUN-luywPLbFs_GrFNgL3-jC5a18rUeiT5C45Nb7nbV0/s1600/63291997._SX98_.jpg" width="98" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Little-Luck-Marissa-Meyer/dp/1250618932/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">With a Little Luck by Marissa Meyer</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">After being magically gifted with incredible luck, a boy discovers this gift just may be a curse when it comes to love, in this YA novel by #1 New York Times -bestselling author Marissa Meyer.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Jude is determined to fly under the radar. He just wants to draw his comics, host regular D&D night with his friends, work at his parents’ vinyl record store, and escape high school as unscathed as possible. That is, until the night he comes across a mysterious twenty-sided dice and finds himself inexplicably gifted with a bout of supernatural good luck.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Suddenly, everything Jude has ever wanted is within reach. His first art submission is accepted to his favorite fanzine. He helps his friend’s song become a finalist in a songwriting competition. And he’s the 100th caller to a local radio contest, winning him a pair of coveted concert tickets, which he uses to ask out the popular girl he’s been crushing on since elementary school. For a few blissful weeks, he feels invincible.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">But when he loses the magic dice at a local music festival, his luck takes a turn for the worse. He struggles to reclaim his good fortune while fighting off long-buried feelings for his best friend―who is definitely not the girl he’s supposed to be in love with. Can Jude risk stepping into the spotlight long enough to win the true girl of his dreams? Or is he doomed to be unlucky in love forever?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I am a huge fan of Meyer's The Lunar Chronicles and love anything sci-fi. This one is more magical realism, and is the second in this series (I have not had a chance to read the first one but it's on my LONG TBR list!). I am excited to see what she does with this story.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">What books are your most anticipated releases for today?</span><br /><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>The Cover Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936117064881855016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334365102658625344.post-48576773369478148102024-02-12T00:00:00.001-05:002024-02-12T00:00:00.366-05:00ARC Review: An Island Strange and Wild (Book One of The Lost Garden Series) by Lisa Amowitz<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNjAyJ7MNDZCNEF-JWYO3rNhdMX0kDhsdpZ5ytbLH-7LVQEti3cbFurzXOQkDHxdlaehs3Yg2wM_xoa4c2nzDqjnacWadSynCx1tzYb2_EvJR3LnwxVMZ-MBz4_aGI6p3mynxvT3jTqp7vHTnN5IGAQzvnWUTx6K25mpT5yKecJw0YKJculY1G8aD-_8W/s742/201561873.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="742" data-original-width="498" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNjAyJ7MNDZCNEF-JWYO3rNhdMX0kDhsdpZ5ytbLH-7LVQEti3cbFurzXOQkDHxdlaehs3Yg2wM_xoa4c2nzDqjnacWadSynCx1tzYb2_EvJR3LnwxVMZ-MBz4_aGI6p3mynxvT3jTqp7vHTnN5IGAQzvnWUTx6K25mpT5yKecJw0YKJculY1G8aD-_8W/s320/201561873.jpeg" width="215" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Devastated by the freak death of her fellow climate activist and best friend/secret crush Tyler, eighteen-year-old science geek Rosalie Gatell decides to ditch her prestigious summer study abroad and escape to the place of his birth, which happens to be an endangered and uncharted island off the coast of Maine. Once there, Rosalie discovers a shocking truth about her past…and that what troubles this island goes far beyond the laws of nature. Even with a vanishing walled garden, a miraculous healing plant with a mind of its own, an unknown aunt trapped in a tree, nothing confounds Rosalie as much as the enigmatic Liam, a reckless and beautiful island boy with a supernatural green thumb. Rosalie believes she may have found salvation in this island wonderland—and a path to completing Tyler’s climate work. But as her attraction to Liam grows, she’s confronted by myths and legends about her family’s origins that forces her to reconcile science and magic in order to save the island, and everyone on it, from an ancient evil. To do so, Rosalie will have to rely on her own power, instead of logic or science, if she is to free Liam from his curse while keeping the evil from consuming her and everyone else she’s ever loved.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Title: An Island Strange and Wild</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Author: Lisa Amowitz</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Publisher: Branch Office Books</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Expected Publication Date: February 20, 2024</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Review:<br /></span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I'd like to thank the author for providing me with an egalley of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Rosalie's scientifically based life has been sculpted by her mother. That is until the fateful night her best friend, Tyler, drowns, and her world gets turned upside down. She breaks with what her mother wants to pursue life on an island off the coast of Maine where things are not quite what they seem. Seen as an outsider, Rosalie finds herself drawn to a strange boy and connected with the terrain in a way that is dizzying.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Lisa Amowitz is well known to me. She has this quirky and fun way of writing that just draws me in. Her descriptions and imagery are unique and it's impossible not to picture in your mind exactly what she's showing you. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I cannot say enough about the cover of this book. It is absolutely gorgeous. Not surprising since Amowitz designed it and her penchant for such things is always above and beyond my expectations. I have seen several covers she has designed, one more beautiful than the other.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Roalie, the FMC, is a relatable and interesting character. I love her science mind and how in tune she is with nature. I would have liked to see more of that during the story. Amowitz did a great job with Rosalie's struggles. I could feel her anxiety over the situation in which she was placed. I also saw a decent amount of growth as Rosalie came into her own and took the reigns of her life. She became strong and powerful throughout the telling of the story.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Liam was a bit of a mystery as the MMC. I wasn't sure what to make of him. He never really wanted to give up much of himself to Rosalie. His tie with Tyler was not expected. And in all honesty I thought we'd see Tyler make a come back, even though I knew it was improbable.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Each side character really gave a lot to the story, as well. From Rosalie's father, who seems to not be in touch with reality. To Liam's mother and even the bad guys, Amowitz gave each their own distinct personality. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I really enjoyed the writing. As I mentioned above, Amowitz really knows how to write imagery. Her descriptions are very specific and it was easy for me to imagine what was happened during the scenes.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Plot wise there were some real twists and turns I was just not expecting. I can't really call them out as it would ruin the story, but these twists served well to move the story forward. I never knew what was going to happen next. And the magical world was unique. I loved the tie in to the land and sea. She also layered the different aspects of magic and mystery well.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">As an aside, I would read this book as your only single read at the time. I'm a multiple book reader but this one really needs all your attention so you can absorb what is happening.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">In this unique fantasy reimagining of The Secret Garden, Amowitz builds a magical world full of rich and colorful characters, mystery, forbidden romance, and magic. Teens will eat this one up. I'm excited to see where Rosalie's story leads in future books!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpnZD0cOySpXFveM_OSdDbdhGXfK0KW_eGVWHJlMxYwBxIHLW47wbIRnyD89hg-_xZtZ_kiKz3HzN2GiDVglNmvcEKSbcd_JXyb6U0KBovsSikMXgPkxDeONN89Gh3pho63Cl00hNWJOtAVOkVMi6Ayeg0dKu8fsBm-BTCyiCOGOXJFsaNtwkRBsiJydB/s354/1453686919.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="354" data-original-width="341" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpnZD0cOySpXFveM_OSdDbdhGXfK0KW_eGVWHJlMxYwBxIHLW47wbIRnyD89hg-_xZtZ_kiKz3HzN2GiDVglNmvcEKSbcd_JXyb6U0KBovsSikMXgPkxDeONN89Gh3pho63Cl00hNWJOtAVOkVMi6Ayeg0dKu8fsBm-BTCyiCOGOXJFsaNtwkRBsiJydB/s320/1453686919.png" width="308" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Lisa Amowitz is an artist and graphic designer by trade, but writing</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">has always been a deep and abiding passion.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">This new version of Breaking Glass is the official launch of her entry into the world of hybrid publishing!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Her books are the YA fantasy/thrillers Breaking Glass, Vision and, Until Beth.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">visit her online at lisaamowitz.com</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Twitter: @lisa_amowitz</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Instagram @lisa_amowitz.author</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">TikTok: @lisaamowitz_author</span></div><br /><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div><p><br /> </p>The Cover Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936117064881855016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334365102658625344.post-84611806223284423632024-01-29T00:00:00.008-05:002024-01-29T00:00:00.173-05:00ARC Review: Funny Story by Emily Henry<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuXwF6XbGS7rZyzYs8DeghB5T4Vu3nUNMWo7RSwDBFrG17ZKja6wEi8tbrBPJk1tC8pKho7b2hJjio2lfuUSDejL9gvt-I2ZTZKjas6f21hM47T4PwhwEXNIaEY2mZ0RsWB_1S2o5vhVjXRuJqDKaLD41FpYQldcPU3UywKVwlkWrobZUPiqkmZ4lSIxg/s785/194802722.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="785" data-original-width="520" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuXwF6XbGS7rZyzYs8DeghB5T4Vu3nUNMWo7RSwDBFrG17ZKja6wEi8tbrBPJk1tC8pKho7b2hJjio2lfuUSDejL9gvt-I2ZTZKjas6f21hM47T4PwhwEXNIaEY2mZ0RsWB_1S2o5vhVjXRuJqDKaLD41FpYQldcPU3UywKVwlkWrobZUPiqkmZ4lSIxg/s320/194802722.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; text-align: start;">A shimmering, joyful new novel about a pair of opposites with the wrong thing in common, from #1 <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">New York Times</i> bestselling author Emily Henry.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Daphne always loved the way her fiancé Peter told their story. How they met (on a blustery day), fell in love (over an errant hat), and moved back to his lakeside hometown to begin their life together. He really was good at telling it…right up until the moment he realized he was actually in love with his childhood best friend Petra.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Which is how Daphne begins her new story: Stranded in beautiful Waning Bay, Michigan, without friends or family but with a dream job as a children’s librarian (that barely pays the bills), and proposing to be roommates with the only person who could possibly understand her predicament: Petra’s ex, Miles Nowak.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Scruffy and chaotic—with a penchant for taking solace in the sounds of heart break love ballads—Miles is exactly the opposite of practical, buttoned up Daphne, whose coworkers know so little about her they have a running bet that she’s either FBI or in witness protection. The roommates mainly avoid one another, until one day, while drowning their sorrows, they form a tenuous friendship and a plan. If said plan also involves posting deliberately misleading photos of their summer adventures together, well, who could blame them?</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">But it’s all just for show, of course, because there’s no way Daphne would actually start her new chapter by falling in love with her ex-fiancé’s new fiancée’s ex…right?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Title: Funny Story</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Author: Emily Henry</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Expected Publication Date: April 23, 2024</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">Review:</span></span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;">I want to thank NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an egalley of this title to review and give my honest opinion. All the opinions expressed here are my own.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Daphne's life was all laid out: fiance, nice home, good job. Until the day it blows up and her fiance, Petere, runs off with his childhood best friend, Petra. Stranded in a town she knows nothing about, she ends up moving in with her ex-fiance's new fiance's ex. When forced into close proximity with MIles, she learns more about who she is, what she wants, and who she might want to spend time with. And she forms new friendships with those around her while realizing it's ok to have her wants come above others. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The plot puts Daphne stranded across the country from where she lived, after her fiance decides he's suddenly leaving her, after they've already bought a house and started to make a life together. What a complicated situation! She's forced to find shelter in a place she knows nothing about. She's forced to make decisions about if she's stay or go back to her old life where she lived near her mom, the only family she has. Not only is she forced into living with her ex-fiance's new fiance's ex but they each receive an invitation for the wedding between their exes! Together they decide a fake relationship will show their exes up. To complicate the situation more, Daphne has given herself a timeline to decide what she wants to do, the Summer until her read-a-thon she's organized happens. Then she believes it will be time to go back to where she grew up. But along the way, Miles suggests he gives her a tour of her new home town so she can learn about it and see if that might make her want to build a life there. She doesn't plan on being attracted to him, or falling for him.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've really enjoyed all of Emily Henry's titles so it's no surprise this one fit that bill. This is probably my new favorite by her! Two great tropes: forced proximity, opposites attract, and friends to lovers!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Let's talk characters. I like Daphne enough. She's not my favorite Henry FMC. She was a bit whiny at times and a lot self-sabotaging. This kind of character drives me a little batty because I just want to slap them upside the head. At the same time, the whole point was her growth from this introverted girl who did what others wanted and accepted how she was treated to someone who could turn out her voice for herself. By the end, I was ok with her, and happy for her. Miles, on the other hand, is definitely my favorite Henry MMC. He's charming, funny, sexy, scruffy, kind, selfless (to a flaw), and kind. I really enjoyed how he was so easy with himself and how he gave of himself to others. Often times I wish he was more worried about himself and his happiness. But I think that was the point of his character arc: to watch him realize he doesn't have to be the caretaker of others and is allowed to feel and find the things that make him happy. And the side characters that were introduced really made me happy: Julia (Miles' sister), Ashleigh, Harvey and the poker crew, and all the others introduced along the way. They surround Daphne and help her start to understand herself and her needs. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think my favorite thing about the relationship between Miles and Daphne is the honestly between the two. While there was some misunderstanding here and there, for the most part they let each other know what was happening. I was happy to see this as it made for less stress for me while reading. Was there a conflict, of course there was, Par for the course with a romance, but it was easily solved and didn't make the story unintentionally tense.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As for pacing, it was an easy read I really didn't want to put down. I love how Henry is able to weave each chapter with the next so you are left with wanting to know what will happen next.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This has become my new favorite Henry book (it pushed Book Lovers right out of the way). I'm so happy I had a chance to read this and I'm truly looking forward to whatever romantic antics Henry comes up with next!</div></span></span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Author:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbbrc6XVhhGiNjDjCiakoF1tAfuQUSgEHIqXmpQd-irp8qg3jRHGKBJtrglFdyo5D7L2PG8GoaclQXCWW4y8KmAyWX6lj5hbcZ2zPAqYhuAzsiwdUgA1dbPxzPzb_21CU_67ckDQehhou03mSUbzegckxtnCW0qiS_l6boFXw_g0Dd_Thyphenhyphenm_OiNQYccZQ/s202/13905555.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="202" data-original-width="200" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbbrc6XVhhGiNjDjCiakoF1tAfuQUSgEHIqXmpQd-irp8qg3jRHGKBJtrglFdyo5D7L2PG8GoaclQXCWW4y8KmAyWX6lj5hbcZ2zPAqYhuAzsiwdUgA1dbPxzPzb_21CU_67ckDQehhou03mSUbzegckxtnCW0qiS_l6boFXw_g0Dd_Thyphenhyphenm_OiNQYccZQ/s1600/13905555.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Emily Henry is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Book Lovers, People We Meet on Vacation, and Beach Read, as well as the forthcoming Happy Place. She lives and writes in Cincinnati and the part of Kentucky just beneath it.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Find her on Instagram @EmilyHenryWrites.</span></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><br /> <p></p>The Cover Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936117064881855016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334365102658625344.post-48317488296934853102024-01-18T00:00:00.001-05:002024-01-18T00:00:00.133-05:00ARC Review: An Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFRzixhPAxl9N6rkwmEKzqovfIZxQZCfVwCcPvKFyvYnt3goA4JtkaTTlcfR03MvthCarpdKWjv_ZlZfKbhZliCzUzPoM1txKOF9Sn0xhQGLUcAkKhIlDa4522KTofhJMwy-guFRKcJNljOwc_fRe-KHosyOIumk-yBTnw3skICY5gR3bKc3c9FIQO2GBe/s965/173494433.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="965" data-original-width="627" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFRzixhPAxl9N6rkwmEKzqovfIZxQZCfVwCcPvKFyvYnt3goA4JtkaTTlcfR03MvthCarpdKWjv_ZlZfKbhZliCzUzPoM1txKOF9Sn0xhQGLUcAkKhIlDa4522KTofhJMwy-guFRKcJNljOwc_fRe-KHosyOIumk-yBTnw3skICY5gR3bKc3c9FIQO2GBe/s320/173494433.jpeg" width="208" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; text-align: start;">Sumptuous and addictive, <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">An Education in Malice</i> is a dark academia tale of blood, secrets and insatiable hungers from S.T. Gibson, author of the cult hit <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">A Dowry of Blood</i>. </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Deep in the forgotten hills of Massachusetts stands Saint Perpetua’s College. Isolated and ancient, it is not a place for timid girls. Here, secrets are currency, ambition is lifeblood, and strange ceremonies welcome students into the fold. </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">On her first day of class, Laura Sheridan is thrust into an intense academic rivalry with the beautiful and enigmatic Carmilla. Together, they are drawn into the confidence of their demanding poetry professor, De Lafontaine, who holds her own dark obsession with Carmilla. </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">But as their rivalry blossoms into something far more delicious, Laura must confront her own strange hungers. Tangled in a sinister game of politics, bloodthirsty professors and magic, Laura and Carmilla must decide how much they are willing to sacrifice in their ruthless pursuit of knowledge. </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; text-align: start;">For more from S.T. Gibson, check out <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">A Dowry of Blood. </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; text-align: start;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; text-align: start;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Title: An Education In Malice</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; text-align: start;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Author: S.T. Gibson</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; text-align: start;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Publisher: Redhook</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; text-align: start;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Expected Publication Date: February 13, 2024</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; text-align: start;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><b>Review:</b></span></i></span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><b>I'd like to thank NetGalley and Redhook for providing me with an egalley of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A dark academia tale filled with secrets, blood, and mystery as two girls navigate the world of poetry with their professor who is much more than she seems.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love a good dark academic tale. Especially one filled with mystery and a bit of the paranormal. So I was excited to dive into this one to see what it held for me. I knew nothing of the background story, this being toted as a retelling of a story called Carmilla. Since I've read no other Gibson, I wasn't sure what to make of it. So I definitely went in blind and not knowing what to expect. Then I read a few reviews after I finished the book and realized that perhaps I would have benefitted from reading A Dowry In Blood first as it is the same world.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Let's start with what I enjoyed. I love a good tale told from dual POV, and this book gave us Laura and Carmilla. It was nice to see how things were progressing in the story through their eyes as their points of view were vastly different. This way of telling the story easily characterized both Laura and Carmilla. One being quite innocent while the other was much more worldly. The dynamic between the two vasillated from hatred to pure attraction.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Speaking of the romance, it was quite interesting. The book offered good sapphic representation. I have read very few books in this genre so this gave me more education in this area. The romance was fraught with tension and a push and pull between not only the main characters but the professor who tied them together. And the addition of the professor almost made it a love triangle, but not quite. It was hard to pin down exactly what we were supposed to get from the relationship between the professor and Carmilla. In all honesty, I had no empathy for the characters Gibson created. In the long run they were boring for me and I didn't feel invested to worry about what would or would not happen to them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The pacing was a bit slow for me. I honestly felt like there wasn't much that pushed the chapters going forward for me except the fact that I was finding the story quite odd and needed to know how it would end up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The paranormal aspect was good but didn't quite incorporate enough of the vampiric aspect I would have liked to see. One seen, at Magdelena's, a socialite of vampire society was quite interesting and brought in the vampiric world. But besides that one scene, I didn't see much world building when it came to it. But, in all honesty, you could have removed the vampire aspect and the story would have remained the same. I didn't feel like it leant anything new and exciting to the story.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Overall, I wasn't a fan of the writing or the story but it was nice enough. I think fans of gothic romance will enjoy it overall.</div></b></span></i></span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; text-align: start;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #1e1915; font-family: Proxima Nova, Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><i>Author:</i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #1e1915; font-family: Proxima Nova, Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Q4WSLOz_BDvS5UDW5klcSk-BiqouSt5DuAmVvJ7aNwoj2COAs7YZpXtdUBsaWUw3-OV5ER-c1A9ACjASL4HS8AoSS2hObp9v8HMd4ftC0Hi8stcOJBjEKZifbgrfzGhCUwO8eY3jNqTM0hYiz4CoUgUR7WPAijff2iJz7qzdOdOCMXt7kTg4VBNtAcF3/s200/15721114.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Q4WSLOz_BDvS5UDW5klcSk-BiqouSt5DuAmVvJ7aNwoj2COAs7YZpXtdUBsaWUw3-OV5ER-c1A9ACjASL4HS8AoSS2hObp9v8HMd4ftC0Hi8stcOJBjEKZifbgrfzGhCUwO8eY3jNqTM0hYiz4CoUgUR7WPAijff2iJz7qzdOdOCMXt7kTg4VBNtAcF3/s1600/15721114.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Quattrocento Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; text-align: start;">Saint is a literary agent, author, and village wise woman in training. A graduate of the creative writing program at the University of North Carolina at Asheville and the theological studies program at Princeton Seminary, she currently lives in Boston with her partner, spoiled Persian cat, and vintage blazer collection. She is represented by Tara Gilbert of the Jennifer De Chiara literary agency.</span></div><br /><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div><br /> <p></p>The Cover Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936117064881855016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3334365102658625344.post-67725487559154353752024-01-17T00:00:00.004-05:002024-01-17T00:00:00.251-05:00ARC Review: Disciples of Chaos (Seven Faceless Saints #2) by M.K. Lobb<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCMju4wkGQ5-qSOE0yInrlfrW81pJrishW5wCyc29BhP8keBF0ZP_EQeIp27fH1FAy5kk1dCHAjnT0PCxKXb1vznzI3h0FJZ-Xtt3QjJccnYHPX_7kJ59KeapL_Ht0itFswsalwrwlpGth8FF0n8LByjrzREqI5C0h3o-ON6Gkhth3qtgkm7NWOmTUyZo/s387/cover293249-medium.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCMju4wkGQ5-qSOE0yInrlfrW81pJrishW5wCyc29BhP8keBF0ZP_EQeIp27fH1FAy5kk1dCHAjnT0PCxKXb1vznzI3h0FJZ-Xtt3QjJccnYHPX_7kJ59KeapL_Ht0itFswsalwrwlpGth8FF0n8LByjrzREqI5C0h3o-ON6Gkhth3qtgkm7NWOmTUyZo/s320/cover293249-medium.png" width="211" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">In this thrilling sequel to Seven Faceless Saints, perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Kerri Maniscalco, Roz and Damian must face their destiny as the world crumbles around them.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Damian Venturi isn't aware of it yet. But as small shifts start to crack the foundations of the Ombrazian power structure after the Rebellion's attack, cracks are beginning to show in Damian's own facade. Uncontrollable anger is bubbling to the surface and can't always be pushed down. Can he keep everyone safe, even from himself?</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Rossana Lacertosa should feel victorious. She accomplished everything she set out to do, and more. The Rebellion's attack set countless prisoners free and brought attention to the unfairness in the Palazzo's structure. And Damian is back by her side where he belongs. Yet the war with Brechaat rages on and government officials are hellbent on keeping the status quo.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Then an Ombrazian general arrives from the front lines, and orders dozens of arrests, shipping Roz and Damian's friends up north. Determined to free those who matter most, Roz and Damian set their sights on Brechaat. But their journey is dogged by strange magic, and Damian shifts further from the boy he used to be.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">The complications of love, magic, faith, and war will keep readers eagerly turning the pages as they head towards the gripping conclusion in the Seven Faceless Saints duology.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Title: Disciples of Chaos (Seven Faceless Saints #2)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Author: M.K. Lobb</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Expected Publication Date: 2/20/2024</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Review:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #674ea7; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I want to thank NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Children for providing me with an egalley of this book to read and given an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Picking up right where Seven Faceless Saints left off, Damian and Rosanna suffered at the hands of a disciple of Chaos and won. Now they face a new power that has come to usurp. Escaping their captivity, they run towards their enemy only to find the enemy may not be truly who they think it is.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This review will be very vague as I don't want to spoil the first book.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I expected so much from this book. I loved the first installment in this duology. The theme of the saints and their hold on society was so interesting and the ending took a turn that kept me wanting for more. I knew something odd was up with Damian and I knew Roz was going to do her best to find out what it was.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I enjoyed the world building a bit more in this book. In the first book I felt like i was missing some important background with that. But this book really dove into the saints and the stories that went along with Chaos and Patience and why things were set the way they were.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This book took the turn I thought it might. The predictability came to me once the ending of the first book happened. I just wasn't sure how it would move forward. And then when I started reading I saw it would and wondered how the author would handle it. In the end, I just didn't feel satisfied with it. It felt like it was missing something important.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In all honesty, I found the pacing in this book to be very slow compared to the first book, which I flew through. It took me over a month to read this as I just didn't feel the pull I had with the first. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The romance wasn't really where I wanted it to be. I was loving the connection Damian and Roz built throughout the first book. I was hoping that connection would continue in this book. But it didn't. I do understand that was part of Damian's transformation, him pulling away and beginning to be something else, but it just didn't seen organic. I actually came to loathe Damian, but perhaps that is what the author was going for.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The action was good in this book. And I like the journey the characters took along the way. We met some new and interesting characters and of course saw those we knew from book one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I do love the author's writing and the fact that she chose to continue the dual POV in this book. It really gave great insight into the characters and their inner turmoils. Though it wasn't truly a dual POV since we did see Milos and Kieran speak in their chapters, but most of the focus was on Roz and Damian.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But overall I just wasn't as satisfied with this one. Specifically the ending. I understand there needed to be a sacrifice, though I thought the author would somehow come up with a way to turn it. I just didn't understand the need to have the twist happen and then all of a sudden it goes from not so happy to sort of happy. That just left me wanting a better wrap up.</div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8R4wrWGqgBF66Hv0t01J1iuKyIwUf0igEXBv0i-y5-otDeHDBJf78aeNNVzT_8G-lQNqQRfTQS_rHZgKv-f84VOI0ZPLgvOES9f6ZbiWwizYogoBvqtGGcFLnJ0LyoFMATZINLCQeToF-POd3AtyBH8F6DytAcvAZTR98HB9JtYKxo2NcjeRnqT9f_DI/s266/21460101.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="177" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8R4wrWGqgBF66Hv0t01J1iuKyIwUf0igEXBv0i-y5-otDeHDBJf78aeNNVzT_8G-lQNqQRfTQS_rHZgKv-f84VOI0ZPLgvOES9f6ZbiWwizYogoBvqtGGcFLnJ0LyoFMATZINLCQeToF-POd3AtyBH8F6DytAcvAZTR98HB9JtYKxo2NcjeRnqT9f_DI/s1600/21460101.jpeg" width="177" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">M. K. Lobb is a fantasy writer with a love of all things dark— be it literature, humour, or general aesthetic. She grew up in small-town Canada and now lives by the lake with her partner and their cats. When not reading or writing, she can be found at the gym or contemplating the harsh realities of existence.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Her debut novel, SEVEN FACELESS SAINTS, releases Feb 7, 2023 from Little, Brown. The sequel, DISCIPLES OF CHAOS, is to follow in 2024.</span></div><br /><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><br /> <p></p>The Cover Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936117064881855016noreply@blogger.com0