whatever wednesday

I told all of you Monday that I was summoned for jury duty that day and had no idea how long it would last. It was a super long day of hurry-up-and-wait but I didn't have to serve on a case and that was it so yay! Can't really talk publicly about any of it so...lol

Any-hoo…I brought a book to pass the time and wanted something that was too *plotty* and wasn’t a review book because I can’t really concentrate with people around me.

Craig & Fred was an impulse purchase that I’ve had on my shelf for months and seemed perfect for the occasion. ~ Goodreads







Here’s the book trailer:



This isn’t a review – because I haven’t quite finished reading it yet - but I wanted to give it a quick shout out because I’m enjoying it so much more than I thought I would.

Craig was a U.S. Marine who found Fred while serving in Afghanistan and was able to bring him home to the U.S.

I knew I would get caught up in the saving of Fred because…well, you know I’m an animal lover and I’ve worked with rescue dogs for years now but I was surprised by how much I also loved hearing Craig’s story about how he felt lost before joining the Marines and his problems returning to civilian life.

The story alternates between Craig’s time in the Marines and after he gets home. Suffering from PTSD, Craig, Fred and his friend Josh, who also served and is a single leg amputee, take a road trip. Through Fred, as an ice breaker/conversation starter, they are able to open a dialogue with strangers and work through their experiences. Basically, Craig saves Fred - then Fred saves Craig.

It’s really good so far!

And while I was reading this book waiting for my name to be called – there were several former Marines sitting around me talking about Iraq and Afghanistan, and how they were the first U.S. troops to enter Saddam Hussein’s palace during the invasion of Iraq. Really sad stories but it was so weird to be reading about some of these things and then having the people around me describing the same experiences right next to me.

So yeah, not always happy stuff but it is a very uplifting and often funny story. I highly recommend it.

**Since a few people have expressed concern in the comments - FRED LIVES and is on Instagram  and other social media to follow! I would never read or recommend a book where the dog dies!

my monday musings

I was summoned for jury duty this week so I might be MIA for a bit depending what happens today and if I get selected for a case.

I do have a review scheduled for Thursday but other than that zip…nada…zilch. I’ll try to at least keep up with commenting.

I also wanted to squeeze in my Blog All About February post – hosted by Anna of Herding Cats Burning Soup. This months prompt was RED and for some reason I had a really difficult time coming up with something but here are a couple of red things…

Strawberries!

Although we seem to have skipped right over spring and into summer here in FL (it’s been in the mid to upper 80’s) this is still my favorite time of year at the farmers market. Everything is at it’s peak and February is strawberry season. We have quite a few festivals one of the biggest being an 11 day event in Plant City. I’ve mostly stuck to the smaller, local ones but it sounds fun. 

I usually marinate my strawberries in a tiny bit of sugar and balsamic vingigar and serve over this Berlin Natural Bakery Spelt Angel Food Loaf. I gave it a try one year when no one had the regular shortcakes and OMG it’s YUM. What’s your favorite way to eat strawberries?



I also tried my hand at book spine poetry using my red books.

So have a great week everyone and wish me luck with jury duty! I’m super nervous for some reason lol

review: the cruel prince (the folk of the air #1) by holly black

Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.

And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.

Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.
To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.

In doing so, she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, discovering her own capacity for bloodshed. But as civil war threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself. ~ Goodreads

Source: Library

Review:

I am not a huge fan of fae stories but I did enjoy Holly Black’s The Darkest Part of the Forest about them, so I was looking forward to giving The Cruel Prince a try. Avoiding spoilers and hype while awaiting my copy from the library was a struggle but I think the delay helped temper my expectations and I ultimately enjoyed it!

Jude her twin, Taryn, and their older sister, Vivianne, are taken from the human world after Vivi’s fae father finds and murders their parents to claim Viv. Under some twisted sense of honor, he believes he is required to raise and care for all of the girls – not just Vivi – in Faerieland.

Both Jude and Taryn, as humans, and struggle to fit in. They are considered ugly and weak compared to the beautiful and immortal fae and are only tolerated because their "father", Madoc, serves as the High King’s general.

Vivi has never forgiven Madoc for the death of her parents and is still defiant but Jude and Taryn, having been younger at the time, are torn between hate for what he did and a fondness for him as the only father figure they've known. It's an interesting dynamic. The half fae daughter, Vivienne fits in but longs to go back to humanity but the twins, who are human, want to find a way to fit in Faerieland. Jude by becoming a Knight for the King and Taryn through marriage. 

As the group of young Lords and Ladies – children of the royal fae – up their taunts of Jude and Taryn to dangerous levels – Jude starts fighting back leading to a game of one-upmanship against their leader, Cardon, that goes far beyond simply holding your own and places Jude as a potential King Maker.

I REALLY enjoyed this book but had a few conflicting thoughts so I’ll break them down below:

Worldbuilding: I love that both the human and Faerieland co-exsist and the sisters travel between the two. There are cool creatures like goblins and mermaids and of course the fae and Black does a good job of describing them without getting bogged down in all the details. That might be a negative to some readers who want lush descriptions but as someone who gets lost while reading fantasy – this was a plus for me.

Characters: Everyone has dueling motivations and complex backgrounds that shape their actions. I loved this. I particularly liked the complexity of Jude’s relationship with Madoc. He killed her parents yet shows a tenderness to the the girls that leaves her conflicted. It was weird how she almost forgave and admired Madoc – yet hated the other fae for lesser transgressions.

I didn’t love the portrayal of the royal heirs. Yes, they were creepy and cruel yet alluring but it felt overly simplified. They acted like a frat/sorority of spoiled rich kids engaged in a hazing ritual. This was generic mean kids material. Although the overall story gets much darker later in the book.

And of course we have the tortured soul/bad boy/potential romance material type - Cardon. Yes, there was more to him and I think he's going to be SUPER interesting in book #2, but in this book, I didn't get the attraction.

I should add that the romantic elements are very minor. The Cruel Prince is not about a girl going gaga over a guy. Jude has way more going on and isn't afraid to throw down to get it.

As they play their games, their fates start to intertwine.. They must make allies out of enemies and enemies out of friends and loved ones.

And despite all these complexities and the moral ambiguity – I never felt too attached to anyone or wowed overall by the story.

Yet, I really liked it. Does that make sense??? lol

The Cruel Prince is a dark, twisty tale of jealousy, cruelty, betrayals and political intrigue and I thoroughly enjoyed it but I wasn't in the OMG this book was amazing camp.

If you're interesting in a few different reviews for The Cruel Prince - here are my pal Amber from Du Livre's positive 4.5 star review or Aimee, Always 2.5 star review

tell me something tuesday

Tell Me Something Tuesday is hosted by Rainy Day Ramblings and discusses a wide range of topics from books to blogging.


Question: How do you find time to read?

Boring answer: I just do. I’m lucky in that I’m a very fast reader. I can read a 300 page book in about 4-5 hours or crank out several novellas in an afternoon.

As for my generic reading habits…I can’t read in the morning. I have things to do or work. Even if I had a spare moment of time my brain is too busy processing the things I need to get done for the day.

If I have the day off and to myself, I’ll start reading around 2-ish and keep going until dinner unless I forget to eat because I’m too absorbed in the book but the dogs won’t let that happen because they want to eat.  Or if I have to work then I’ll read after dinner until I go to bed.

I used to read in bed a lot when my husband worked nights but I don’t as much anymore. If I’m really into an e-book though, I’ll pull an all nighter because the light from the Kindle doesn’t bother him but then he tries to wake me up early and I’m all...

via GIPHY

I also can't read in public...I get too distracted by all the noise and I can't do audio books for the same reason. Even though I can read with the tv on at home.

Tell Me: How do you make time to read?

Monday Minis

SUPER eclectic mix today guys! Cyber punk M/M, contemporary M/f romance, YA thriller and a M/M sports romance. 

                                   

Apocalypse Alley (Blue Unicorn #2)by Don Allmon ~ Goodreads

Source: e-arc provided byt he published in exchange for an honest review

“Home from a six-month assignment to war-torn East Asia, genetically engineered supersoldier Noah "Comet" Wu just wants to kick back, share a beer, and talk shit with his best friend, JT. But JT's home has been shot up like a war zone, and his friend has gone missing.

Comet's only lead is a smart-mouthed criminal he finds amid the mess. His name's Buzz Howdy. He's a con man and a hacker and deserves to be in jail. Or in handcuffs, at least…”

My thoughts: I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as Book #1 – The Glamour Thieves. The adrenaline rush and cool tech world is still there but there was almost too much of it being thrown at the reader rapid fire. It was hard to get a handle on it while also alternating with (much needed) background information coming at me.

Apocalypse Alley also follows a more traditional romance formula yet Comet and Buzz didn't resonate with me as much as JT and Austin did in book #1.

Having said that, I like the authors balls to the wall writing style even if not all of it worked for me. It was still a thrilling ride and I'm looking forward to the next book.



Mister McHottie and Stud in the Stacks by Pippa Grant ~ Goodreads

Source: Kindle Unlimited

My thoughts: These books are pure RomCom fun. Mister McHottie is second chance/hate to love, and Stud in the Stacks is fake relationship romance.

I liked Stud in the Stacks a bit more – maybe because the stud in question is a romance reader and reviewer 😍 – but Grant takes a joke or a double entendre and beats until there’s nothing left.

These books are funny and waaaaay over the top but intentionally and gleefully so. I had fun with them but the CONSTANT joking and nicknames for body parts sounded infantile and grated on me after a while.



Bad Girls with Perfect Faces by Lynn Weingarten ~ Goodreads

Source: Borrowed

“When Sasha’s best friend Xavier gets back together with his cheating ex, Ivy, Sasha knows she needs to protect him. So she poses as a guy online to lure Ivy away.
But Sasha’s plan goes sickeningly wrong. And she soon learns to be careful of who you pretend to be because you might be surprised by who you become…”

My thoughts: Super twisty novel. I liked the characters - *liked* might not be the right word because the characters are fucked up lol – but they were flawed yet you could see why they did the things they did to and for each other. But I felt like the author should have stuck with her core story instead of adding additional twists and turns, that while shocking, took away from a lot of issues that could have been explored more closely.

Greg from Book Haven liked it quite a bit more than I did and you can read his review here


Undone by You (Chicago Rebels #3) by Kate Meader ~ Goodreads

Source: e-arc provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

"USA TODAY bestselling author Kate Meader brings her signature “steamy sex scenes, colorful characters, and riveting dialogue” (RT Book Reviews) to this novella in the Chicago Rebels series, following the general manager of the Rebels as he scores with one of his players off the ice."

My thoughts: Meader’s couples always have the best chemistry! Dante and Cade were no exception. I  loved this one at first, but the second half lagged in comparison and Dante was kind of a jerk - I understand a lot of his misgivings (he was Cade’s boss and had been in a relationship with another closeted gay man before and wasn’t looking for a repeat) but he was running so hot and cold I was annoyed.

Overall really good though. If you like Kate Meader or this series (there are a lot of cameos) - you should enjoy this one as well.

the friday five

1.

WATCHING



Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency – BBC

From Wikipedia: “The show is based around the eccentric Dirk Gently (Samuel Barnett) who claims to be a "holistic detective", investigating obscure cases based on the inter-connectivity of all things. During the first season he befriends Todd Brotzman (Elijah Wood) and Farah Black (Jade Eshete) who help him with his cases. Dirk's past is linked with "Project Blackwing", a secret CIA project to evaluate subjects with strange abilities. Dirk is not only followed by agents of Blackwing trying to recapture him but also by Bart Curlish (Fiona Dourif), another Blackwing subject who considers herself a "holistic assassin" and believes she is destined to kill Dirk.”

I jumped in on S2 without watching the first but I’ve been able to figure out what’s going on pretty easily. Dirk is sort of a manic Doctor Who type (although a bit more bumbling than brilliant) with a fun Scooby gang as his sidekicks.

Diverse cast, funny and quirky.

It’s based on a series by Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
S1 is on Hulu

2.

ICYMI

My friend Roberta from Offbeat YA had a good discussion post on her blog about commenting – what makes you comment or take a pass? Join the discussion bu following the link below!

From Comment-Ça-Va to No-Comment: When Does a Post Make You Talk?

3.

Book Deals





Both of these books are only $1.99 on Amazon Kindle and Nook right now. They’ve been on my TBR list so I snapped them up!

4.

Music



We went to see AJR in concert this week. They’re an indie pop band and put on an amazing show. So much energy, audience interaction and just plain fun. One of the best shows I’ve seen in a while.
Website

5.

You didn’t think poor Fonzi would escape another holiday without me being a mean mom did you???



ICYMI

On the blog this week:

The All About Love Tag
Review: A Girl Like That by Tanaz Bhethena
Review: Certain Dark things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

review: certain dark things by Silvia moreno-garcia

Welcome to Mexico City… An Oasis In A Sea Of Vampires…

Domingo, a lonely garbage-collecting street kid, is busy eking out a living when a jaded vampire on the run swoops into his life.

Atl, the descendant of Aztec blood drinkers, must feast on the young to survive and Domingo looks especially tasty. Smart, beautiful, and dangerous, Atl needs to escape to South America, far from the rival narco-vampire clan pursuing her. Domingo is smitten.

Her plan doesn’t include developing any real attachment to Domingo. Hell, the only living creature she loves is her trusty Doberman. Little by little, Atl finds herself warming up to the scrappy young man and his effervescent charm.

And then there’s Ana, a cop who suddenly finds herself following a trail of corpses and winds up smack in the middle of vampire gang rivalries.

Vampires, humans, cops, and gangsters collide in the dark streets of Mexico City. Do Atl and Domingo even stand a chance of making it out alive? Goodreads

Source: I donated to the authors Indiegogo crowdfund campaign for the book and a finished copy was my reward.

Review:

Certain Dark Things has been on my shelf for almost two years and was one of my TBR books that I was determined to read this year. I was expecting an ultra violent, dark take on vampires but it was quite different. This story is more of a slower paced, character focused novel with multiple POV’s. It's steeped in vampire folklore and mythology and set in an alternate history Mexico City. And yeah – there was a lot of throat ripping too! lol

I love me some gore but what Moreno-Garcia does best here is explore the various species and hierarchies of the vampires in a refreshing way, showing their different origins and motivations while they are still connected through one driving force - their hunger.

Atl is a sub species of vampire, a Tlāhuihpochtlin, with Aztec origins, who partners with street kid and garbage collector, Domingo, to outrun a gang of Necros vampires that murdered her family.

Domingo’s complete naivete, faith and loyalty in Atl is in contrast to her dueling desires to protect or kill him. There’s a touch of romance but I wouldn't necessarily even call it romantic. It's sweet and an interesting dynamic but if you need a traditional HEA or think of this as romance novel you might be disappointed.

As Atl’s friend, Bernardino, a Reverent vampire, explains to dissuade the pair – it’s always about the hunger and ignoring that will get one or both of them killed eventually.

The main focus and pov’s are of Atl and Domingo but we also get the pov’s of Ana Aguirre ( a nod to one of my favorite authors - Ann Aguirre!), a cop and single mom trying to rid Mexico City of vampires to make a better life for her daughter, Nico, a vampire and gangster with an obsession to hurt Atl, Rodrigo, a human that works for Nico’s dad and is hired to keep Nico under control and bring Atl in.

That many pov’s doesn’t usually work for me but they blended seamlessly in this case – building on the story and providing another window to this world.

All five have differing levels of morality and there’s a grey line of which some cross. It’s up to the reader to decide if it was for a just cause.

I don’t want to give too much of the plot away because really, it’s a simple story of gangs & turf wars and being on the run but Moreno-Garcia’s fascinating twist on the vampire genre and moral complexity makes this a clever take. And it's a stand alone - so no cliffhangers! Although, I could easily see there being more stories from this world.

I would recommend this book to people who like The Others series by Anne Bishop. It's a totally different subject matter and world but similar to Bishop's slower pace and unraveling of her world/ characters and understated romances - and to fans of Sunshine by Robin McKinley - where the human/vampire relationship is complex and you don't necessarily get the end you want but the one that works for the characters - a touch bittersweet.

review: a girl like that by tanaz bhathena

A timeless exploration of high-stakes romance, self-discovery, and the lengths we go to love and be loved. 

Sixteen-year-old Zarin Wadia is many things: a bright and vivacious student, an orphan, a risk taker. She’s also the kind of girl that parents warn their kids to stay away from: a troublemaker whose many romances are the subject of endless gossip at school.  You don't want to get involved with a girl like that, they say. So how is it that eighteen-year-old Porus Dumasia has only ever had eyes for her? And how did Zarin and Porus end up dead in a car together, crashed on the side of a highway in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia? When the religious police arrive on the scene, everything everyone thought they knew about Zarin is questioned. And as her story is pieced together, told through multiple perspectives, it becomes clear that she was far more than just a girl like that.

This beautifully written debut novel from Tanaz Bhathena reveals a rich and wonderful new world to readers. It tackles complicated issues of race, identity, class, and religion, and paints a portrait of teenage ambition, angst, and alienation that feels both inventive and universal. ~ Goodreads

Source: ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Review:
A Girl Like That doesn’t pull any punches right from the first line in the prologue:

“ The wails that Masi let out were so heart-wrenching, you would think I was her only daughter lying dead before her instead of the parasite from her sister’s womb as she had once called me.”

I’m not spoiling anything that isn’t in the summary but the book starts with Zarin and her friend Porus dead – hovering above their car wreck, watching their families mourn and the police make judgement on Zarin’s character rather than investigate the crash. As Zarin points out from her ghostly state – few things rile up the authorities in Saudi Arabia than a girl being in the company of a boy that is not her brother or husband.

We start from the time of death and then the story is told in non-chronological order, describing the events that led to the accident.

You can tell right from the start that Zarin is troubled, haunted and uses indifference and harsh words as a shield to protect herself from all those who have and will fail her. This defense mechanism leads people to unfairly judge her based on rumors and double-standards for girls vs boys.

Bhathena is unflinching in her portrayal of, misogyny, rape culture and the bullying/gossip (from both boys & girls) that happens to a “girl like that”.  She also explores the regional religious beliefs and cultures through a sometimes harsh lens but also with nuance and respect.

There are multiple pov’s. Zarin the MC – who is betrayed, broken and feels unworthy of love or kindness, Porus – the boy who loves Zarin and the only one true friend that she can rely on. To a lesser extent, the pov’s of Farhan a boy who dates Zarin and Mishal  - the sister of another boy Zarin had dated.

Each pov intertwines and adds a layer to the story. Although extremely difficult to read at times, it shows what it’s like for boys to be exposed to the idea that girls should be shamed while boys protected and celebrated and how that affects every step of their lives and expectations for their future.

While I do believe that the added pov’s of Farhan and Mishal provide troubling insight as to how Zarin reaches the point of no return - it also slowed the story somewhat for me. Every pov was relevant – but wasn’t always as compelling as Zarin or Porus.

I felt like I had read a version of this story many times before (even in this non-chronological format just a year ago) but the prose is beautiful and Zarin  a fierce and unforgettable character.

Highlight for content warnings: drugging/attempted date rape/sexual assault, one scene of animal cruelty/death, child abuse, bullying

my Monday musings

 Meme time again!  Hosted by The Blended Blog.

1. Kisses or Hugs? I'll go with hug.
2. Candy or Flowers? Ooh tough one! I LOVE flowers but I’d rather have a plant that lasts forever (or until I kill it) than a bouquet, which my husband and friends know and oblige. And of course – I’ll always take some candy!
3. Baking or Cooking? I don’t love either but I cook more than I bake because I suck more at baking than cooking. Basically – I need to eat so I do what I gotta do.
4. Do you remember your first kiss? Yes, I was on the doorstep of my bff’s house (the boy lived across the street. It was 7th grade and he had just given me an ugly watch and asked if I wanted to be his girlfriend. It was a blah kiss and he dumped me for my best friend a few months later. Ahhh – young love.
5. Favorite color of roses? I’m not a huge rose fan, unless they’re antique roses from my yard. I like how messy and wild looking the old fashioned varieties are - but I once bought my MIL beautiful roses that were a peachy, orange color. I know, that sounds ugly, but they were gorgeous.
6. Conversation hearts? To read but not to eat.
7. Do you leave love notes? Not really. We leave surprise treats or snacks. I also just got a small letter board recently, so we sometimes leave snarky messages to each other. Cuz we’re romantic like that lol
8. Do you decorate for Valentine’s Day? No. Sometimes I put on a red tablecloth or pull out a heart mug but nothing major.
9. Red or Pink? Either – neither – don’t care lol.
10. Milk, white or dark chocolate? Dark. But I just had the BEST milk chocolate sent to me from Finland. Mmmmmmmmm
11. Do you believe in love at first sight? Yes. I knew Kevin for a few years before we dated and never felt a thing for him – we were just friends and dating other people during that time - but his car broke down and he needed a ride to and from work. I offered and we went to a drive –thru to eat after I picked him up one of the days and WHAM. I knew right then this was it. So it wasn’t love at first sight for us. More like love at first take out after knowing you for 3 years but I believe it can happen.
12. Do you give humorous or serious Valentine’s Day cards? Both, whatever expresses my feeling the best.
13. Favorite chick flick or romantic movie?  I’m SO bad at remembering movies….The Proposal is a fun one that I always watch when it’s on.
14. Stay in or go out? We never go out on Valentine’s Dat – everywhere is packed. As you can probably tell from some of my answers – I’m not a super romantic type lol We’re kind of practical we don’t make too big a deal out of the day.

review: the wedding date by jasmine guillory

A groomsman and his last-minute guest are about to discover if a fake date can go the distance in a fun and flirty debut novel.

Agreeing to go to a wedding with a guy she gets stuck with in an elevator is something Alexa Monroe wouldn't normally do. But there's something about Drew Nichols that's too hard to resist.

On the eve of his ex's wedding festivities, Drew is minus a plus one. Until a power outage strands him with the perfect candidate for a fake girlfriend...

After Alexa and Drew have more fun than they ever thought possible, Drew has to fly back to Los Angeles and his job as a pediatric surgeon, and Alexa heads home to Berkeley, where she's the mayor's chief of staff. Too bad they can't stop thinking about the other...

They're just two high-powered professionals on a collision course toward the long distance dating disaster of the century--or closing the gap between what they think they need and what they truly want. ~ Goodreads

Source: e-arc provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Review: I had requested this book months ago and by the time it came time to read it for review I had forgotten why lol And the dreaded hype machine was in full swing so I was kind of reluctant to read it but I’m glad I ignored my misgivings because this was a fun book.

Alexa and Drew are staying at the same hotel and have their meet cute when a power outage leaves them stuck in the elevator. They have an instant, flirty rapport and Drew takes a chance and asks Alexa to be his fake girlfriend at his ex’s & bf’s wedding where he is a groomsman. Alexa, who never has anything this exciting happen to her, says yes to the elevator hottie.

Alexa, is a smart, ambitious Chief of Staff for Berkeley’s (CA) mayor, while Drew is a pediatrician in LA. It’s so refreshing to see two characters who have their own stuff going on and respect each others careers and the time commitment they entail. Even though they live in different cities, they keep flying out to each other to spend weekends together while never really defining where this is going.

Their romance is so fun and light. When they are together, it’s easy and just a joy to be there with them. You can easily see why they keep coming back for more.

Drew is a commitment-phobe and Alexa is kind of reserved when it comes to dating/sex. Thinking Drew is a once in a lifetime fling, she lets herself go and doesn’t worry about how her body jiggles, or how her ample boobs sag. Alexa is every woman and so relatable! They are also an interracial couple – Alexa is black while Drew is white and the author doesn’t shy away from some awkward moments like when Drew takes her to a party where she is the only black person or when all his ex’s appear to be tall, thin, blond, white girls but neither is it a big factor in their relationship.

But as the weekends start to add up and they actually come to need each other to lean on, things get more personal and they both start to panic and react to perceived slights as an excuse to bolt without really taking to each other. This is a minor complaint but I did start to get irritated when they would make assumptions and not let each other explain – instead retreating to their homes. Even well meaning friends couldn’t get through to these two. (awesome supporting characters btw)

Drew is convinced that Alexa will see that he is indeed an asshole (he’s not) and Alexa is trying to cut off the eventual “sorry, it’s not you – it’s me” break up speech.

It just happened a little too often for me and I was starting to get frustrated but it wasn’t a deal breaker and there’s so much more to love with these two with their witty banter and slow slide to their eventual HEA.

I really enjoyed this one! Perfect when you're looking for a fun, flirty romance for Valentine's Day.

tell me something tuesday: It’s so fluffy!

Tell Me Something Tuesday is hosted by Rainy Day Ramblings and discusses a wide range of topics from books to blogging.

Question: What are some light, fluffy, feel good books you have read lately?

I know some authors are insulted by the light, fluffy label but light, fluffy, feel good books are my FAVORITE kind of books to read! I can’t think of anything better than closing a book with a giant smile on your face and being able to forget about all the bad things going on in your life. ALL my thanks to the authors who do that well!

Sadly, I haven’t read many lately. But there are a couple plus a few that I hope to read this month and an older favorite.

*Click on cover to go to Goodreads

Recent



It Takes Two to Tumble by at Sebastian – this was one of the sweetest, romantic stories about a
vicar, a naval captain and his three wild children. My mini review: “ So flipping heartwarming and sweet. I adored this one – really lovely writing and story. Low angst – opposites attract, cute kids, great friends. It just had it all.”

HeartOn by Amy Jo Cousins – A football player and a set designer, exploring their bi-sexuality during a 2 week long fling & of course it turns to more. Super sweet, sexy, fun and low angst - just as promised.

Cousin's is one of my go-to authors and this book is a good example of why. Always a lot of heart packed into her stories.

Recommended Reads



These aren’t books that I would have noticed on my own but SO many bloggers have said how over-the-top fun and silly they were (in a good way) and also sweet. They are both on Kindle Unlimited so I’m giving them a try this month!

Older fave:



Sustained by Emma Chase – This is one of my favorite laugh out loud reads. Jack is a lawyer who falls hard for Chelsea and her six orphaned nieces and nephews. I’m not a huge fan of kids in books but it really works here (& in It Takes Two to Tumble – above).

I stuck with romance for this post and I’m sure there are dozens more but I have the worst memory. lol Hit me up in the comments with your favorite light & fluffy reads of any genre/age group!

my monday musings January wrap-up

January was a pretty good reading month, #’s-wise, which surprised me. It’s usually my lowest reading number at about 3-5 books, because I tend to spend more time outside in the winter, but this January I read 13 books total.

It was so freaking cold this year that I just huddled inside and read lol

I’m going for eclectic and certainly hit that mark last month with graphic novels, contemporary romance, vampires, post-Roman erotica, royal romance, geek romance, post apocalyptic cyber punk.

Certain Dark Things was from my TBR. Yay! Still not reading enough from there but one down!

Click on cover for my review or to view the title on Goodreads if a review hasn’t posted yet.

*Certain Dark things, The Wedding Date reviews are scheduled for this month – Heart On review on Goodreads

Favorites:

 

Pretty good:



The rest were duds. Here’s my January Goodreads shelf

Netgalley

I’ve been annoyed with Netgalley because I have ALWAYS reviewed any book I’ve ever requested from there but several years ago there was a publisher that just loaded books to your new titles automatically. If I didn’t elect to read or review them, it brought my feedback ratio down. Anna from herding Cats & Burning Soup helped me figure out how to fix that so I got that cleared up and now have a Feedback Ration of 102 %. O_O I mean…I’m happy about that but…how is that possible? I even have two books I need to post reviews for. Oh well, I’ll take it!

ARC’s

I only accepted two for the month – The Wedding Date and Heart On. They've been read and reviewed so I’m free and clear of arc’s! Wheeeeee

Physical TBR pile

Well, I guess you can’t conquer everything right? lol I only read one book from that pile so still 80-something to go.

How did your January reading go? What are you planning to read in February? I’m playing it cool and let my mood dictate what I read since I don’t have anything for review.

February pick your book giveaway!

The winner can choose any ONE book, up to $15 value, as long as it is released during the month of February

Need a little inspiration?

Most Popular Books Published in February 2018  list

YA Releases of Februray 2018 list

New and Upcoming Book Releases February 2018

Rules & stuff!

The winner will be announced on March 1st on this post in the rafflecopter form - and notified by email. Winner has 48 hours to respond or I will pick another winner. (read my full * My Giveaway Policy here)

International entries OK as long as The Book Depository ships to your country.

To enter – fill out the Rafflecopter form and leave a comment!

What book are you most looking forward to in February 2018?

*I’m making this one super easy to enter so no extra entries, other than a tweet, but if you are looking for me elsewhere my SM links are in the sidebar. Twitter is where I like to chat, Instagram is where I mostly post about food, my dogs – Fonzi & Indy and one grumpy, clingy cat named Figment and, of course, books and  follow me on Goodreads if you want to know what I’m reading.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The friday 5: The 5 Best Things About Blogging

For the past few weeks I’ve talked about blogging struggles but there’s a GOOD side to blogging and I want to make sure I also point that out as well.

ICYMI: the first two topics – 5 Truths/Tips About Blogging & 5 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Blogging

Despite 8 years of highs and lows, this is still my favorite hobby and I would feel lost without my little space to express myself and chat with all of you.

The 5 BEST Things About Blogging

1. You Will Expand your horizons! I haven’t traveled a lot in my lifetime and never outside the US but now I’m friendly with people from all over the world and people with very different life experiences from my own and it’s been amazing and educational. It’s always good to step outside your own world view.

  via GIPHY

I’ve even received gifts of home baked Christmas Cake from a blog follower in England and chocolates from Finland.

2. You Get To Challenge Yourself! I’m SUPER shy, very phobic, and have panic attacks. Blogging has pushed me so far out of my comfort zone and has been the best thing that has ever happened to me on that front. Am I completely over everything? No, but I’ve gotten on planes to attend book cons, been in ginormous crowds at those cons, contacted authors & publishers, organized and held events on my blog, Things I could never imagine my scaredy cat self doing. It helps that so many other bloggers are the same way and totally get it and support you.

3. You Can Get Creative! Another thing I NEVER imagined myself doing. I don’t consider myself creative at all. I never cared to learn anything artistic – but here I am…8 years later…searching for clip art, making my own headers and banners, taking bookish Instagram pics. And I have so much fun with it! Do I waste a ton of time doing it and ditching half of what I come up with because it’s crap?? YES! But I still love doing it. It’s an outlet I never considered for myself. And crafting reviews/posts is it’s own form of creativity. No matter the type of reviews/posts you write – they are stamped with your own style.

4. You Become Part of the Bigger Picture! Sure, you aren’t the author but you are still an important part of the process which is totally mind blowing to me sometimes. You’re a tiny piece of the puzzle that helps get the word out about books or products that you love. That anyone would ask me to review their book or if you’re lucky get your review blurbed, or in my case, have my name in the dedication of one of my favorite series is still weird to me.

I also beta read for a few authors now which is Mind. Blowing.

via GIPHY

5. And the Very Bestest of My Favorite Things About Blogging is the Friendships! I keep hearing how online friendships aren’t real but I’ve made the most amazing friends over the last 8 years.

People who have supported me through real life struggles – like the long, tough illness and eventual passing of my father, losing several of my pets, a few years with my own health problems. It’s been my blogging pals who have been there for me. Just checking in through Twitter, or DM’s, emails, texts, sending cards but always letting me know that they were there.

I’ve met several of you in real life and and many have quit blogging or even following blogs yet our friendships remain.

So yeah…blogging can be stressful and time consuming but I can’t think of any other hobby of mine over the years that has brought so many good things into my life.

What are your favorite things about blogging – or even if you aren’t a blogger – has anything positive  come from following blogs?

Review: Truly, Devious (Truly, Devious #1) by Maureen Johnson

Ellingham Academy is a famous private school in Vermont for the brightest thinkers, inventors, and artists. It was founded by Albert Ellingham, an early twentieth century tycoon, who wanted to make a wonderful place full of riddles, twisting pathways, and gardens. “A place,” he said, “where learning is a game.”

Shortly after the school opened, his wife and daughter were kidnapped. The only real clue was a mocking riddle listing methods of murder, signed with the frightening pseudonym “Truly, Devious.” It became one of the great unsolved crimes of American history.

True-crime aficionado Stevie Bell is set to begin her first year at Ellingham Academy, and she has an ambitious plan: She will solve this cold case. That is, she will solve the case when she gets a grip on her demanding new school life and her housemates: the inventor, the novelist, the actor, the artist, and the jokester. But something strange is happening. Truly Devious makes a surprise return, and death revisits Ellingham Academy. The past has crawled out of its grave. Someone has gotten away with murder. 

The two interwoven mysteries of this first book in the Truly Devious series dovetail brilliantly, and Stevie Bell will continue her relentless quest for the murderers in books two and three. ~ Goodreads

Source: Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Review: I was pretty excited when this book showed up. I’ve always wanted to give Maureen Johnson’s books a try and I’m starting to read more thrillers/mysteries. Toss in that this became a buddy read with my blogger friend Jen & I was eager to jump in.

I wish I could say it was everything I was hoping for but it fell pretty flat for me. I’m horrible at reviewing meh books so I’m going to do a list of pros and cons instead.

The set up:

In April of 1936, the wife and daughter of Ellingham Academy founder, Albert Ellingham, were kidnapped by “Truly, Devious”. The only clue was a creepy riddle made up of cut and paste letters from magazines and sent to Albert.

There was also an additional victim, a brilliant student named Dolores, but none of the crimes were ever solved.

Flash forward to present day, and Stevie Bell, who fancies herself as an amateur sleuth, is one of the very few accepted to the quite prestigious Ellingham Academy. Her goal is to solve the Truly Devious murders.

Pros:

* Really interesting premise! Johnson weaves the 1939 case seamlessly into the present tense and does a great job of having the other students join Stevie in investigating this cold case from their own perspectives and talents. One student is a You Tube star, another – a writer, for example, so coming together to make a reenactment/documentary as a school project works.

*Stevie is a super relatable protagonist. She suffers from anxiety and panic attacks but knows to be a good detective, she’ll need to work past that. She uses the case as a tool to challenge herself. She asks for help when she needs it too. A major plus. She’s obsessed with true crime shows and she’s just really cute.

* The 1936 case is REALLY interesting. I’m not always a fan of flashback story telling but it works here. The eclectic characters, the speak easy setting, the new prestigious boarding school – it all lends to a fantastic mystery and who-dun-it.

* The Ellingham Academy is an interesting place. It was founded by the Albert Ellingham as an all expense paid school for the most brilliant minds. The application process is odd, the school itself is very offbeat and the students it accepts is so random that I couldn’t help but be enthralled with that setting.

But…..

Cons:

* This book never really goes anywhere, And it’s long, 416 pages, so I would like to have felt like the time I invested led to something…anything – but I didn’t feel like it did. Instead it threw in yet another twist.

* The romance….eek, it’s bad! And weird. And I just wish it wasn’t included. It wasn’t a big part of the story – but might be in the next because of the way things ended. The guy is - I believe my exact term to describe him while chatting with Jen about him was “squicky” lol

* So many characters. So many! The older mystery is very tightly plotted. The present day story – not so much. There’s a large cast of characters that are void of personality descriptors other than what clothes they are wearing. And Johnson manages to describe what everyone is wearing in every single scene. I just found it odd and ended up forgetting everyone other than the core group, who, other than the adorable, cynical Nate, I didn't care about.

* Truly, Devious was okay. I didn’t hate it at all, but I doubt I’ll read on. This book mostly felt like a set up for the second installment when it really could have been an excellent stand alone.

This book got MANY 5 stars so I suggest trying it for yourself if you like twists and turns, don’t mind major cliffhangers and enjoy a plucky protaganists, in the vain of Nancy Drew.
Here is Jen’s review if you would like a slightly different take on it. She tells me that this book is very in keeping with Maureen Johnson's writing style - so if you love her books ,t hen you should love this one as well.