Maryse's Book Blog

Following my heart, one book at a time...

Friday Finds & Reader Recommendations – 09-20-19

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HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE!!! 😀 It’s the weekend and we have a MEGA-LIST of “Friday Finds” today (loaded in tons of awesome new releases by our favorite authors AND a bunch of 5-star reader recommendations). The Friday lists are getting longer these days, and I LOVE IT!!!! P.S. Yes, I posted this Thursday night, but considering how many awesome-sounding books just went live today, I couldn’t help myself.

What I’m reading right now? Where the Blame Lies by Mia Sheridan (I chose it because of the recommendation below). It’s over 450 pages, I just started it this afternoon while I was at the Drs office (oh thank goodness for e-readers!!!), and I’m already at 30% so I’m devouring it. Do I love the police procedural stuff? Less (you know me). But I LOVE the victim’s perspective BIG time and I’m hyperventilating and feeling freaked out while reading.

My latest review is up! Forbiddeny, super-steamy (but in a subtle way which made it even more effective). Excellent writing and a unique voice… all from the heroine’s POV ➔ Book Review – Crossed Lines by Lana Sky

L.A. Cotton is today’s newsletter sponsor and she’s sent over an excerpt AND a giveaway for us!! 😀 ➔ L.A. Cotton – Rixon Raiders Series Reading Order + a signed set giveaway!! (open to international!! 😀 )

TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE FOUND FOR THE WEEKEND :D !!

  • Neat by Kandi Steiner <— KANDI STEINER’S LATEST IS LIVE!!! Their families are at war and he’s her NEW BOSS!! “…It can’t be that bad, I thought. Until I realized my new boss was Logan Becker. The Becker brothers have a reputation for being trouble, and since I love trouble, it’s no surprise to me that I’m infatuated by that forbidden fruit the first day I walk into the distillery. That lean, whiskey-eyed, too-hot-for-his-own-good man hates me — and I can’t blame him. His family has been at war with mine for decades, and for good reason…”
  • The Game You Play (Rixon Raiders Book 2) by L.A. Cotton <— LIVE!! SPORTS ROMANCE ALERT!! He wants to be an NFL star and she’s just a game to him… “…Felicity Giles has a list. Lose her virginity. Meet her knight-in-shining-armor and fall in love. Have the best senior year a girl can have. The only problem? Her knight isn’t a saint, he’s a villain, and she’s pretty sure he’ll destroy her before ever handing over a piece of his heart…” P.S. Make sure to enter (leave a comment) for a signed copy of the first two books in the series!!! ➔ L.A. Cotton – Rixon Raiders Series Reading Order + a signed set giveaway!! (open to international!! 😀 )

Ria: I love L. A. Cotton and I LOVE sports romances!

Jan: I also read LJ Shen’s Scandalous (I know, everyone else read it ages ago LOL). He’s kinda a douche, but somehow I just had to keep on reading LOL.

  • Married to My Dad’s Best Friend by Penny Wylder
  • Incomplete by L.A. Fiore & Anthony Dwayne <— LIVE!!! BLURB JOLT ALERT!! Theresa found us this one! 😀 Oooooh this one sounds like marital strife and infidelity???!!! Or is it something else? Either way… GASP!!!!! “…There are days you sit and wonder is the grass really greener on the other side? Does the sun shine brighter? Do the flowers smell sweeter? Until one day… you take that leap to find out for yourself. And in the midst of it all, your world crumbles around you. Meet Tillian Forester and Gage Sutherland and how they destroyed each other’s lives…”

Theresa: L.A. Fiore, Incomplete just went live early!

Namaste: I’m scared 😱 looks like a nail-biting-throw you kindle-stay away from me while I read kinda book = 1-clicked

Maryse:  I’m right there with you!!!!!! 😆 I am ALL over this (and terrified!!)

  • The Dugout by Meghan Quinn <— MEGHAN QUINN’S LATEST IS LIVE!!! BASEBALL STAR INJURED… “… That injury has cost me everything; my starting position, my junior year—and the draft. Now, I’m a senior fresh off recovery, struggling to find my groove, until the day I run into a nervous, fidgety, girl with freckles, in the dining hall. They call Milly Potter The Baseball Whisperer, The Diamond Wizard, and The Epitome of All Knowledge. She believes in baseball. She breathes it. She’s the queen of an infamous dynasty, but no one actually knows who she really is, and she plans to keep it that way…“
  • The Master: Steamy Boss Romance (Manhattan Records Book 3) by M.S. Parker <— LIVE!!!
  • Alex (Twilight Falls Book 1) by A.M. Salinger <— LIVE!!!
  • Fae King (The Crystal Kingdom Book 1) by Milly Taiden <— LIVE!!!
  • Game Day Baby by C.M. Seabrook and Frankie Love <— SINGLE DAD NFL STAR!!! “…I had it all planned out. I’d find a girl, marry her, get the white picket fence and make a family. But then a baby is dropped off at my doorstep. My baby. Turns out I’m more than an NFL quarterback — I’m a father. And my daughter’s mother is missing. Or she ran away. No one knows, not even her sister Aria Ryan…”
  • Just Roommates by Charity Ferrell <— LIVE!!
  • Clay (Texas Rascals Book 11) by Lori Wilde <— LIVE!!
  • A Demon’s Horns: Vice College For Young Demons: Year One by Marie Mistry <— REVERSE HAREM ALERT & Tessa 5-STAR LOVED IT!!

Tessa: Okay, so I tried a new reverse harem series, which two books are out, Vice College For Young Demons by Marie Mistry. The last time was this good that was pure PNR was the Curse of the Gods series. 5 star LOVED it. It’s longer than most, but it’s so thorough, the characters, secondary, prime, and even some third are so well thought and individual. The world is intriguing and the intrigue and plot, *grins* SO GOOD.

Jan: Lady Derring Takes A Lover by Julie Anne Long. I’m quite enjoying it, but not as much as Devil’s Daughter. Still, Long is a good writer and she knows how to deliver a funny line.

  • Longing for Ever After (Sunset Bay Romance Book 4) by Debra Clopton
  • Ghosted: A Novel by Rosie Walsh <— SUPER-BARGAIN ALERT & HE GHOSTED HER!!! This one sounds SO good! I just one-clicked it!! He didn’t call her back… “When Sarah meets Eddie, they connect instantly and fall in love. To Sarah, it seems as though her life has finally begun. And it’s mutual: It’s as though Eddie has been waiting for her, too. Sarah has never been so certain of anything. So when Eddie leaves for a long-booked vacation and promises to call from the airport, she has no cause to doubt him. But he doesn’t call…”

Nancy: I 1-clicked this one!

Maryse: Me too!!! TOTALLY my thing. I’m dying to know what the secret is!!! 😀

Annette: You are a dangerous friend. 1-clicked too! Just realized this was previously released as “The Man Who Didn’t Call”. I had it in my TBR list. haha. At least I’m consistent.

Jenn: I started this morning and it sucked me right in. Didn’t want to stop-sadly though I am at work now and I had to…damn job!

  • Fake Date by Monica Murphy <— FAKE RELATIONSHIP ALERT & Michele G loved it!

Michele G: My two reads for this week’s releases that I really enjoyed were both about fake relationships. First up was Fake Date by Monica Murphy. It’s the second in her Dating series and my favorite in this series so far! …It was an enemies to lovers vibe. It was a super fun read

  • Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas <— OMG OMG OMG!! BREAKING NEWS UPDATE!! Nancy just found us the biggest bargain of all the bargains. Trust me.  P.S. FORBIDDENY PLEASURE (in many ways!!) & PURE AWESOMENESS and has made SO many of our favorites lists!!!! Here’s my review.

JulieO: Absolutely loved BIRTHDAY GIRL.

Ashley: I was super happy that Birthday Girl was up for romance book of the year- I’ve recommended it to a few people. I’ve reread that one so many times!

Jen C: Ashley, I was so happy to see Birthday Girl nominated too. Loved that book so much!

  • Wylde Fire by Sarah Robinson <— RECENT RELEASE & WE HAVE FEEDBACK!! 😀

Michele G: I also read Wylde Fire by Sarah Robinson. Holy Hotness! It was a fun and toasty little read. I wanted her to delve a little deeper into some things but it didn’t ruin the story for me…I just wanted more. It’s the start of a series and it looks like there will be at least two more coming out next year.

  • Hello, Darkness by Sandra Brown <— SANDRA BROWN & IT’S ON KINDLE UNLIMITED!!!

Diane M: I’ve been on a Sandra Brown romantic suspense binge, good stuff!!!

Bia: I ALWAYS read everything by Sandra Brown

  • Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens <— BACK ON THE LIST ‘CAUSE NANCY LOVED IT & she’s buying it for family members!!

Nancy: WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING by Delia Owens! A book I highly recommend & will not soon forget!!

…was a book recommended by good Book Buddy: Heidi Hines BookReality. I can’t find the words to describe this book. It stays with you long after the last page. It was a bit pricey even for a ebook copy, but I got mine through the public library. Even the hardback copy is less money. It is in the top 100 ebooks on Amazon, so it shows you people are willing to pay the high price. Anyway, I am just saying there are ways around the high price tag. Highly recommend!!

My husband and I rarely read the same book at the same time, but we did with WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING!! We can’t stop talking about it & also have decided to buy a hard copy for both his sister & brother.

Jan: I read and enjoyed P Dangelico’s new one, You Can Have Manhattan. …Quite different from her other books, though.

Caroline: Another freebie by Kennedy Fox

Artemis: My favorite roommate story is Checkmate Duet by Kennedy Fox.

  • One Hot Scot: A Second Chance Romance (Hot Scots) by Donna Alam <— HE’S HER PROBLEM #100!! Caroline found us this one! “...She’s lost her husband, her job, recently avoided jail time, and is back living in the place she’s always loathed . . . when problem #100 walks in…”

Caroline: New author for me! Humorous, sexy, and Scottish. Kindle Unlimited 5 book series. 😬

  • Buried Alive by Stacey Marie Brown <— SUPER-BARGAIN ALERT!!! In fact… freebie alert!! 😉 “…The moment Hannah walks into his room, he knows something is different about her. Drawn to her, he can’t seem to stay away from the mysterious, guarded girl. They are two heartbroken souls who both understand the darkness. Little does he know she lives in lies and carries secrets that will bring his universe to its knees and secrets that will bury them both alive...”
  • A Kingdom of Dreams (The Westmoreland Dynasty Saga Book 2) by Judith McNaught <— JUDITH MCNAUGHT HISTORICAL ROMANCE NOW ON KU!! Caroline found us this one!

Caroline: Judith McNaught alert new to kindle unlimited

Janet: I just finished A Kingdom of Dreams (The Westmoreland Dynasty Saga Book 2). Medieval knights, mistakes and misunderstandings, cruelty and tenderness, great characters, a feisty Scottish heroine and a dangerous warrior hero! Read it – you’re going to LOVE it!

Anne: Just finished A Kingdom of Dreams and loved it!! I am in love with Royce Westmoreland. I love reading HR set in the Middle Ages, so any good recs?

  • Where the Blame Lies by Mia Sheridan <— RECENT RELEASE & PSYCH-THRILLER & MONA LOVED IT! She just chose my next read for me!! 😀 YAY ME!!!

Mona: I don’t usually read psych thrillers because they stress me out, but decided to read Where the Blame Lies by Mia Sheridan (because I love her books). It was so good!

It’s about a serial killer of college co-eds.  The first victim escapes after ten months of captivity and it is eight years before another body is found. But the attacker of the h died by suicide at the time of her escape.  The story goes back and forth between the h’s captivity and the present but flows smoothly (and it’s KU).

I could not figure out whodunnit until the author wanted it figured out. I hope you read this and would love to hear if you figured it out sooner!

Kathy P: I finished Where the Blame Lies last night. It was definitely different than a few of the other books i read (more thrillerish if that is a word. Not a light read. I would definitely recommend reading it.

  • CowSex by Lesley Jones <— KATHY P LOVED IT!

Kathy P: Needed something a little lighter after that and read CowSex by Lesley Jones. I LOVED it and the main woman character (Gracie). If you don’t like swearing in the boom, than don’t read this one but that is all part of her character. This was my first book by Lesley Jones so excited to find a new author to me!

Debbie: Lol! I think I liked Cowsex because it fits in with all of the Hallmark movies I’ve been watching. I needed something light and different from the usual tropes. I hate knowing what is going to happen in a book based on the first page. …Biggest Smile: Cowsex (The best part is the reaction you get when you tell people what you are reading).

Jan: Now I’m reading Neal Stephenson’s recent one, Fall, or Dodge In Hell. It’s kinda a sci-fi thriller. Not a romance, for a change, but I love his books. Always challenging and fascinating and full of amazing ideas.

  • The Ring by Sandi Lynn <— SANDI LYNN’S LATEST IS LIVE!!! “…It all started with a ring. A beautiful ring I found at the bottom of the ocean while scuba diving on vacation. From the moment the ring was in my possession, bad luck followed me everywhere and turned my entire life upside down. On the inside of the band there was an inscription: To my darling Mary. My soulmate for eternity. After a string of tragic events, the ring led me to New York hoping to return it to its rightful owner. That’s where I met Harrison Grant…”

 

AUDIOBOOK L:DVERS!

For those going on a road trip soon, or maybe you’ve got some projects that require both hands this weekend but still allows you to “listen”… check out the free audible trial + 2 free audiobooks deal

Nay: Well, I finished it. I simply couldn’t stop listening. Such a wonderful book. Definitely a 5-star read for me. As I said before, I just loved the writing!

…It’s a stranded/castaway book, but it’s not your typical stranded contemporary romance story. It’s more about how they survive and how their needs/feelings/outlook on life change and evolve in the process.

PREORDERS (going live soon!!! 😀 )

        

➔➔➔  Get Maryse’s Book Blog updates delivered by email (you’ll get one daily email that will have each post from that day consolidated on it).

Jennifer Estep – Crown of Shards Series Reading Order

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OUR FELLOW HARDCORE FANTASY ROMANCE LOVERS are so into this series!!

Michele G: So, for my fantasy lovers out there, I just finished Kill the Queen by Jennifer Estep. It was soooo good! It’s the first in a new series by her and has a really strong cast of characters. I listened to the audiobook and it was outstanding!

Tessa: Jennifer Estep’s Crown of Shards series? I’m want to say it’s her best series so far, but I’ve only read book one. … so goooooood! …The action is fast-paced. The only slow was waiting for the massacre to start. lol But, all the talk and such beforehand actually matters later, even the minor stuff. I love that nothing was actually wasted.

Michele G: Listening to Protect the Prince by Jennifer Estep (2nd in the Crown of Shards series) – it’s so good!

About book #1:

Gladiator meets Game of Thrones: a royal woman becomes a skilled warrior to destroy her murderous cousin, avenge her family, and save her kingdom in this first entry in a dazzling fantasy epic from the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Elemental Assassin series—an enthralling tale that combines magic, murder, intrigue, adventure, and a hint of romance.

In a realm where one’s magical power determines one’s worth, Lady Everleigh’s lack of obvious ability relegates her to the shadows of the royal court of Bellona, a kingdom steeped in gladiator tradition. Seventeenth in line for the throne, Evie is nothing more than a ceremonial fixture, overlooked and mostly forgotten.

But dark forces are at work inside the palace. When her cousin Vasilia, the crown princess, assassinates her mother the queen and takes the throne by force, Evie is also attacked, along with the rest of the royal family. Luckily for Evie, her secret immunity to magic helps her escape the massacre.

Forced into hiding to survive, she falls in with a gladiator troupe. Though they use their talents to entertain and amuse the masses, the gladiators are actually highly trained warriors skilled in the art of war, especially Lucas Sullivan, a powerful magier with secrets of his own. Uncertain of her future—or if she even has one—Evie begins training with the troupe until she can decide her next move.

But as the bloodthirsty Vasilia exerts her power, pushing Bellona to the brink of war, Evie’s fate becomes clear: she must become a fearsome gladiator herself . . . and kill the queen.

SERIES READING ORDER:

L.A. Cotton – Rixon Raiders Series Reading Order + a signed set giveaway!!

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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS ROMANCE WITH COCKY FOOTBALL PLAYERS ALERT!!! Book #2 just went live, book #3 is up for preorder, and the author is this week’s newsletter sponsor and we’re celebrating with a signed book giveaway!! 😀

P.S. So much love for this series already!!!

LeAnn: Oh my god! I loved this book and can’t wait for the next!! I love all things L.A. Cotton

Shaley: Loved this book so hard!! Excited to see where she takes the series!!

Rachelle: I’m reading this now and it’s so good 😍

Sabrina: I loved this book 😍

Whitney: Jason Ford totally ran off with my heart!

About the series:

Cocky football players, school rivalry, and the girls who get in their way … Rixon Raiders is an angsty YA/NA sports romance series that will have you yelling GO RAIDERS in no time! Catch up with the series in book #1: The Trouble With You >>> books2read.com/TroubleWithYou or dive into book #2: The Game You Play, now available on all major vendors.

P.S. Check out a recent post with a Five Fun Facts (and an excerpt!!) for “The Trouble With You”

SERIES READING ORDER (but each one can be read as a standalone):

Excerpt of “The Game You Play”:

“I want you,” my voice trembled, mirroring my body. “I want… this.” The words left me in a sharp exhale. Victory flashed in his eyes, the air around us shifting as an understanding settled between us.

I did hate him.

I hated that he made me feel so alive, so desired.

I hated the way he knew exactly how to kiss me, touch me, to get me to fall at his feet.

But most of all I hated how I didn’t hate him, not even a little bit.

“Relax,” he said as if he knew I was all up in my head. “If it makes you feel any better, I hate you too.” His thumb brushed my neck slowly before he chased his touch with his lips. “I hate how I can’t stop thinking about you.” Kiss. “I hate that you say the most ridiculous things.” Kiss. “But most of all I hate that Thatcher and his goon had their hands on you. I hate…” His lips touched my skin again as my heart crashed against my ribcage.

This wasn’t the plan.

He wasn’t supposed to say all of this, to feed the small part of me dreaming of a different time and place. A time and place where Felicity Giles could ever end up with a guy like Jason Ford.

I waited for his words, greedy for more. But they never came, replaced with hot kisses as he dragged his tongue up and down the hollow of my throat. Disappointment flooded my chest but deep down, I wasn’t surprised. Jason would never admit the truth. That there was something between us. That this was more than just sex. And for as much as it hurt, maybe it was better this way.

His hands were all over me now, his mouth the same.

“Jason,” I said, gently tugging his hair. “Slow down.”

He lifted his face, brow arched. I took advantage of the moment, pushing my hands against his chest to move him back. Then I fumbled around to find the recline handle and pulled.

“What the f*ck?” he grunted, and I stifled a giggle. Jason needed control. He needed to hold all the power. But this time, I wanted to be in the driving seat.

I wanted to drive him wild.

“What game are you playing, Giles?” he asked, his hands gripping my hips as I gently rocked above him. We both groaned, and another thrill shot through me. He was at my mercy now.

With my newfound confidence, I hooked my hands into the waistband of my leggings and pushed them down over my hips. It was no easy feat getting them off, but I managed. If Jason noticed my clumsy striptease, he didn’t comment, his hooded gaze too busy eating up every inch of my bare skin.

“F*ck, you’re beautiful,” he whispered.

Yeah, f*ck. His words were like a poisoned arrow through my heart.

As if he noticed my hesitation, challenge glinted in his eye. He was ready to pounce, to take back the power and flip this whole thing on me. But I wasn’t backing down. I wasn’t just a pawn in his game.

I was the goddamn queen.

And this queen wanted her king to kneel at her feet.

NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY :D !!

The author is giving away a signed set of paperbacks (The Trouble With You and The Game You Play) with swag.

How to enter for a chance to win it? Just leave a comment below (or better yet – tell me your favorite sports romance book) and by 10pm EST, Sunday July 22nd, 2019, I will randomly select one lucky commenter as the winner.

The winner will be contacted and will have 48hrs to respond confirming their mailing address, so if you are picked, do not delay or you will lose your chance. The signed book will be sent to the winner directly by the author.

Open internationally.

Other Vendors:

Reader Question – The book about the teacher’s assistant that wants to become a writer…

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Tina needs our book help! Good detail in this one, but I’m sure I haven’t read it, so maybe you’ll know?

She asks:

I’m looking for a book that I misplaced. I don’t know the name of the book or the author.

In the book h is scared after an accident and lives with her best friend. She is a TA and wants to become a writer. The H is her professor and a successful author who is writing a book on h’s father who has been his teacher and a successful author. The h does not like her father very much.

Then some things happen that I don’t remember.

Then after some year the h have written her first book and it was successful. For book event she goes to her ex university Meets with her friends and the H.

Anyone know it?

Kelly: Maybe a Pam Godwin book?

Holly: The Muse by L.M. Halloran?

Reader Question… Solved! The book about the man and the woman that were swept out of a plane and land on an island…

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Vicki has a reader question for us, and I was SO sure I had read it and guessed it (these are one of my favorite tropes). But I was wrong. So… YAY!!! That means we get to make a list of guesses!! Er… unless someone comes up with it right off the bat. 😉

She asks:

Vicki: I have a reader’s question for you. A story of two couples who are friends. They have kids etc. They go on a plane trip and the man of one couple and the woman of the other couple are swept out of a plane. They land on an island together…

*spoiler alert*

*spoiler alert*

*spoiler alert*

*spoiler alert*

*spoiler alert*

and are there for many years. End up having a baby etc. I think got the recommendation from your blog. Hope you can help. Thanks for what you do.

Maryse: Yep!!! I know this one!!! Well… I think… anyway. I’m guessing Unseen Messages by Pepper Winters. 😀

I don’t remember if they were friends before the crash, but if I can remember it right, I know the children that survived the crash were not theirs (but their parents did not survive) so they sort of became a pseudo-family. SO GOOD!! Here is my review. Let me know if this is the one, if not I will continue searching and post it this week. I LOVE desert island stories!!! Here’s my review: https://www.maryse.net/books/book-review-unseen-messages-by-pepper-winters.html

Vicki: No this isn’t the right one. The couple who go on the island and up falling in love and having a baby together.

Maryse: GASP!!! Okay, we’re on it!!! 😀

Anyone have a guess?

CorkDork: There is a baby in Unseen Messages. The main character gives birth on the island and they name her Coconut 😁

Maryse: That’s right!!!!!!

Carol: I think it’s See You Never by Misty Jae Ogert

Ashley: It sounds like Wreckage by Emily Bleeker.

Ashley: Also, a book alongside these lines is one called Justified Temptation by Erin Lockwood. Oooh, and another good one is Withering Hope by Layla Hagen. Now I want to reread some books!

Vicki: It is See You Never. Thanks so much for your help

Maryse: YAY!!! Another one solved!!! 😀 And… 1.) I want to read this and 2.) we have another mini-list in this trope and I LOVE that! 😀