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Friday Finds & Reader Recommendations – 07-24-2020

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TGIF!!!! 😀 !!! Holy moly do I need a weekend right now (and am so thankful it’s finally here). I just need to decompress, and start a new book (and hope I get sucked in BIG time).

But the book I’m reading next… I have no doubt since it’s by one of my favorite authors. OR… maybe I’ll go super-angsty romance and read the Wildflower Series (down there) since I one-clicked it and everyone is going crazy for it. 😉

OMG AND… THIS BOOK NEWS!!!

1.) Book Bonanza (the author signing started by Colleen Hoover) is having a HUGE raffle. HOW FUN!! The prizes they are raffling are INCREDIBLE. AND proceeds from this raffle will be donated to Food Banks in the US to help those affected by Covid-19.

AND!!!

2.) Guess what *might* happen to one of my most favorite angsty romance/love triangle/unrequited love/SCARY series (Experiment in Terror) in the world?? It might be turned into a show/tv series (I hope Netflix)!! She tweeted:

I wrote this in 2009 with the dreams that I’d go back to screenwriting and write a pilot based on it. Took over ten years but it happened.
So yeah…that thing you want to do? Keep at it.

and she tweeted:

Just had meeting with the producers, learned that I’ll be the one pitching my script to networks. Soon.
Me. Who may be good at writing but lacks at speaking. Won’t let nerves get the best of me, tho. I’ve got this!
PS I am beyond excited. I’m all over the place.

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

And…

Marina: I’m always sort of lost and bumbling around after I finish a book in this series, not knowing what to read or how to get into something after it. Cannot wait for Nightfall!!

Kelly: Have been reading up a storm lately. Have some MAJOR book recs and have found a two new book boyfriends:

Captive by R.J. Lewis is absolutely amazing. Nixon is the bomb!

  • Binding/Keeping 13 by Chloe Walsh <— BOOK BOYFRIEND ALERT!! Kelly’s second recommendation:

Kelly: Binding/Keeping 13 by Chloe Walsh. OMG Johnny is everything!!! I want to find him and keep him forever. He is everything a book boyfriend should be. “Shannon like the river”

  • Like Us series by Krista and Becca Ritchie <— RE-READ GOOD!!! Kelly’s third recommendation!

Am obsessed with the Like Us series by Krista and Becca Ritchie. Maximoff and Farrow OMG! Jane and Thatcher!!! I literally feel like I know these characters personally and at any moment I will see them on tv. Have been rereading them and listening to the audio. Narrators Alexander Cendese, J.F. Harding and Stephen Dexter nail their characters.

Linda: Read Making Whoopie yesterday and highly recommend that one too for a lighter read. I’ve become a snob searching out 5* reviews only lately!!

Jackie: Just finished The Wildflower Series! Loved it! Gave me “Twilight” feels!!!

Maryse: OMG that comment HAS ME!!!!!!

Rae: These stories will certainly pull your heartstrings.

Cody: I just read these too, because of the previous post and there were times where I was GUTTED!!!!! Whew, what a ride! Loved the first two, wondering if the 3rd is just as good. 😍

  • After I Do: A Novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid <— HOLY MOLY ONE OF MY 5-STAR FAVORITES IS ON SALE RIGHT NOW (US & Canada)!!! This is a must read!!

Isadora: I just finished this book!!!! I LOVED it!!! This author’s writing style is just amazing. Everything felt real. Thanks for another recommendation Maryse!

Sara: Holy crap. Wow. That last quote you gave just made my eyes pop out.

Maryse: I know, right?! The WHOLE book is like that. Ahhhhhhh I just… can’t get over this one. Screaming it from the rooftops!!!

  • Stay Down by K.C. Mills <— LIVE!!! SHE’S NEWLY SINGLE & HE HAS TO TAKE CARE OF HIS SISTER… “…Going with the flow and refusing to settle she also decides that her approach to love has to change. An instant attraction is formed between Noa and Wise that neither of them is ready to admit. Past feelings are still fresh for all involved making it hard for these two to navigate a new connection. Noa is bound and determined not to fall for a certain type, while Wise still must consider his number one priority, Ciara...”
  • Beat of My Heart: Whiskey Bend Series Book Two by Samantha Conley <— LIVE!!!
  • Chosen Shadow (Demon Bayou Series Book 4) by S. Lawrence <— LIVE!!!
  • The Rules (Summer Nights Series Book 2) by Lauren H. Mae <— LIVE!!!
  • Crash Into Me by L.A. Fiore <— LIVE!! BILLIONAIRE ROMANCE & MURDERS ALERT!! “…When a stabbing death calls homicide detective Molly Donahue and her partner to Central Park, it’s just the beginning of a string of murders in an investigation that leads them to Los Angeles, and the death of a Hollywood starlet three decades earlier. During the course of their investigating, they interview billionaire Kade Wakefield. Molly isn’t prepared for her reaction to him...”
  • In The Zone by Kate Willoughby <— NHL HOCKEY STARS ALERT!! JAN IS RE-READING THESE!

Jan: For some random reason this week I started rereading Kate Willoughby’s In The Zone series. I read them a few years ago and suddenly got a craving for some hot hockey lovin’ so decided to reread.

They are a little predictable, but I like the characters and I also like that they have actual hockey in them. Sports romances can be annoying if you don’t feel as if the characters actually play their sport. In these books, they do.

  • Irresistible: A Small Town Single Dad Romance (Cloverleigh Farms Book 1) by Melanie Harlow <— MELANIE HARLOW SUPER-BARGAIN ALERT!! The Marine & the Nanny… “…Sure, Frannie Sawyer is beautiful and sweet, but she’s twenty-seven, the boss’s daughter, and my new part-time nanny—which means she’s completely off-limits. It’s bad enough I can’t stop fantasizing about her..”

Linda: Loved Irresistible by Melanie Harlow!! Love her writing.

JR: Love Melanie Harlow.

  • Claiming the Wardens: A Paranormal Prison Romance by Dia Cole <— LIVE!!! “...I don’t know what strange compulsion made me stalk the halls of the Elemental Academy until I found my handsome professor. All I knew is I’d die if I didn’t taste him. I never meant to steal his power. I never meant to nearly kill him. For my crime, I’m sentenced to eternal life in the darkest pit of the Lost Soul’s Penitentiary. Or at least I was until my professor interrupts my stasis. He’s a warden now and he wants me to pay for destroying his life…”
  • Love Unexpected (The Unexpected Series Book 2) by J.S. Baker <— LIVE!!
  • Passion Awakened: A Vampire Romance (The Hush Book 1) by Katherine Diane <— LIVE!!
  • Knock Out (Heavy Hitters Series Book 1) by M. A. Lee <— MMA FIGHTER ALERT!! “…on her own and working in the world of sports medicine, she jumped at the chance of having her first ‘real’ job. However, Lexi didn’t realize that job would consist of being on a team with Mad Max. Hired to keep Max’s body healthy and working like a well-oiled machine, Lexi quickly discovers that working for Max has awakened a primal desire for a man she once couldn’t stand. What began as a tumultuous friendship, now has turned into a fiery obsession…”

AUDIOBOOK L:DVERS!

  • ➔➔ Not a member of Audible yet? Get a free 30 day audible trial (which includes 1 free audiobook + 2 audible originals)
  • ➔➔ AND! Audiobook Matchmaker!! <— Find out which of YOUR Kindle books are available as audiobooks at a BARGAIN-PRICE! This is how it works. Click on that link & Amazon will show you all of your Kindle books that are also available as an audiobook at a seriously discounted price. This way, you can switch back and forth, seamlessly between your ebooks and your audiobooks. VERY COOL!
  • ➔➔ Audible now has an “Escape” package membership (30 day free trial) – used to be called the “Romance” package <— this one is SO cool, and worth it (unlimited listening for all of the audiobooks in the program, and there are tons – kind of like Kindle Unlimited)!!
  • ➔➔ And… if you’re not an audible member yet, you can get the first 4 months for 46% off this summer!!!

and…

  • Malorie by Josh Malorman <— RECENT RELEASE & R LOVES the narrator!!

R. Renee: Woop! I preordered the audio for Malorie and I can’t wait!

The audio for Bird Box was one of the best I’ve ever listened to and thankfully it’s the same narrator. My GR feed gave it a consistent 4 stars across the board, but listening to it scared the crap out of me! Five stars hands down! I had to sleep with the lights on! And just so there’s no confusion, I’m talking about Bird Box, not Malorie. 😂

Michele G: I’ve read Bird Box…but I might want to listen to Malorie if you like the narrator!

PREORDERS (going live soon!!! 😀 )

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Harper

I read almost all of the shifter/paranormal romance genre recommendations the girls gave me and many others. I liked Patricia Briggs but is a love triangle and it doesn’t have much of a romance. I was looking for something more steamy.
Of all of them, the best is The Wildflowers Series. The first book is awesome (made me cry and had a really good romance story). The second is good too, but not as good. The third I DNF. The h was weak and the H clearly wasn’t into her.
I’m still looking for a favorite in the genre since none of them had everything I’m looking for (really good romance story, steamy, badass h, well written, original plot).

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Maryse

Okay Harper, I will also make a plea to our Facebook group and then start an amazing list from what we gather here, and from there. 🙂

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Maryse

Hi Harper!!! Okay you asked for it, and we built you a HUGE list!!! Maybe some of these will be just what you’re looking for?

*fingers crossed*

https://www.maryse.net/books/book-recommendations/reader-recommendations-our-favorite-smart-steamy-shifter-romance-books-with-a-great-plot.html

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M.L. Gabrielle

Suzanne Wright’s Dark in You Series might be a good fit, but it’s not a shifter romance per se. There are some shifter demons in the story though – think hellcats & hellhounds. If you’re open to non-shifter romances, I have a bunch of recos. Happy reading!!

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Harper

I read Burn already. After that, I tried Slave to Sensation because everyone was saying it was similar but with a more well-developed story and it really was.
I think I’m being too judgmental, I don’t know. But they all are okays reads for me, but none of them I wish to continue with the series or read again in the future. That’s how I usually review all the books I read.
Today I started The Devil in disguise by Cynthia Eden.
I would love more recos M. L. Gabrielle. I don’t want to give up yet! Thanks a lot =)

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Maryse

Okay what is (or… are) your absolute favorite books in the genre that did blow you away? I’ll include them in the examples of what we’re looking for (more like…. “this and this”)

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Harper

I started reading paranormal romances just two weeks ago, so I still don’t have an absolute favorite.
Mercy Thompson (Patricia Briggs) was a truly badass h and that’s what I loved about the first book. She didn’t need any men protecting her and was very smart and independent. I liked her story with Adam too, but there wasn’t much of a romance, only in the last couple of pages.
Wildflower (Rachelle Mills) was really well written and the romance was truly believable. There was a lot of chemistry between the couple. The author took her time developing their story, so when it was time for the bonding and claiming part it made sense and truly moved us. You could feel the pain the h felt on the first book and how her character developed into a stronger and more confident woman.
I can’t say that I liked any other. The stories are always very similar. There is always a couple fighting for the pack (or the equivalent) and the H is trying to protect the h. They are both extremely powerful.
I guess I want to find a story where the focus is more on their relationship (like wildflower). There can be some action too to enrich the story, but not the whole book. The steamy scenes have to be well written as well. There are so many books that they just put the sex scenes there for the sake of it, but they are just wasted because they fail to make you feel anything and don’t strengthen the bond between the couple.
I guess I want something between Clayton and Mercy Thompson with a bit more of a steam factor (like the menage scene in Feral Sins by Suzanne Wright).

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bev

Do you read m/m?

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Harper

I’ve never tried.

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bev

Well, if you want to try I am enjoying the Charlie Adhara Big Bad Wolf series. The first I think is on KU.

Briggs doesn’t really go for steam, but many say that the spin off with Charles and Anna is much more romantic.

Ilona Andrew’s tells great stories maybe not enough romance.

Many of us cut our PNR teeth on Kenyon and Feehan. Both of their series became too long and jumped the 🦈 for me, but the beginning books are fun.

If you like sort of slapstick humor Katie McAlister has a humorous take that is definitely inspired by Feehan’s world.

Oh, and of course their is Nalini Singh’s series. She has a changeling one and an Archangel one.

And Kresley Cole has a hugely popular series.

Darn. There was a recent one that many enjoyed that was reminiscent of Twilight, but I can’t remember what it was.

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Jan

I know what you’re saying about Marcy Thompson. It’s quite a long series and the romance element gets stronger (with Adam) in later books in the series. The romance is more up front in the Alpha and Omega series by Briggs. (Im in love with Charles). But yeah, Mercy Thomson is perhaps a little more urban fantasy rather than pnr.

Did you get a chance to try the Seven series or the Wild Hunt Legacy series?

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Harper

Yes, Jan. I read both. They were ok for me. I liked the Wild Hunt better. I was reading the comments about the sequels on gd and decided to try another series before reading the second book. I saw on gd the sequels for Mercy Thompson and everyone agrees with you. I think I will keep reading it later. It was very well written and I’m not ready to give up on the series.

Bev, the book you were trying to remember is the Wildflower series by Rachelle Mills. And the changeling one is Slave to Sensation. I also read a hunger like no other by Kresley Cole.

I’ll try these new ones you guys recommended. Thank you for the patience. I love how you all know so many books and the kindness you show everyone here.

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bev

It is a different one.

This one:

http://foreveryoungadult.com/2020/04/08/crave/

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Harper

Wow it does look a lot like twilight! After I saw it all goes down in Alaska it was on hahaha I’ll add it to my list today

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Harper

Bev, I was looking for this book you recommended and found The coldest girl in Coldtown by Holly Black. It’s a YA, so there are no steamy scenes, but it was soooooo perfect! The character development is off the charts and the whole story is beautifully written. I loved it so much!!! Now, I’ll start Crave.

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mony

Just wondering if you had a chance to look at Dragon Bound…don’t let the poor book cover fool you…While not a series, an excellent read…writing is good, steamy, good story, bad ass H and h… 🙂

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Harper

I read Dragon Bound last week. Yes, the cover doesn’t do it justice at all.

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Leslie M

Hi Maryse! Just wanted to let you know your comment is showing up small on this post. I know you were talking about that happening the other day. I’m on my cell phone which is always the only way I ever view your blog.

I would love it if Experiment in Terror became a series!! I only read first book which I really liked but that genre isnt really for me in reading. But watching?!? Heck yes!!

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Maryse

Hi Leslie M!

Ohhhh nooo. They just sent through another update today (to fix that bug) so I’ll need to let them know you’re seeing it wrong. Can you tell me… are you on an iPhone or android and what browser are you using?

On my laptop and phone on both Safari and Chrome it looks normal.

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Leslie M

Ok, so weird. THIS comment is reg sized but your previous comment is small. I will screen shot and email to you so you dont think I’m going crazy. Hee hee

I’m on an android phone and chrome. Like I said, I am always viewing from this. I don’t have a lap top or tablet.

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Maryse

Okay I suspect what happened was I was doing their latest update for the bug-fixes and the comment crossed the update somehow, so the comment bugged out for you?

I totally believe you and the updates are making me growly. LOL!

And now I’m testing it on my work computer using Explorer and it looks good here too now.

*fingers crossed* that’s all it was.

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Leslie M

I’ll be on the lookout for tiny comments and let you know if they come out that way again. 😉

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Maryse

LOL thank you Leslie!!! 🙂

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Leslie M

Omg…now the comment I just typed above came out tiny!!!

The blog has the ghost from Experiment in Terror haunting it.

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Maryse

That dastardly ghost!!!

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Maryse

Testing

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Lara

Hi Maryse! I recently read Fraud by Lily White and it was so good! Much better than the first one in my opinion. It’s enemies to lovers and the banter is awesome. Would recommend it to anyone who likes that trope 🙂

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Maryse

Thank you Lara!!!! I will update the series reading order post I made for it, with your recommendation, too!! 🙂

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Tasha J

I’m not allowing myself to get too excited about EIT until it goes to production. I’m still sad over Beautiful Disaster. But, if/when it does?! (AHHH!!!) 😃🥳
I spent a long while trying to get through Kissing Booth 2 this morning. No thanks to my stinkers, not bc of the movie. And, I loved it more than the 1st, I think. I was not satisfied by the ending and we need a KB3!! I think I’m gonna rewatch 1 and 2 this weekend. At night, without being interrupted. 😒

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JulieO

I read IRRESISTIBLE by Mel Harlow and enjoyed it so much a couple of months ago. I didn’t read any of the other books in the series but this one just called my name. Glad I read it.

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M.L. Gabrielle

Hi Harper! Maybe you’d enjoy some of the below books…

-Shadow Fae Series by C.N. Crawford (all of their series are enjoyable)
-Thorne Hill Series by Emily Goodwin (a fun vampire/witch romance)
-Facets of Feyrie Series by Zoe Parker (this is dark and very different from my normal reads. It totally sucked me in, though. I’m about to jump into her Fate Caller Series.)
-Four Pyschos by Kristy Cunning (it’s a fun/chaotic RH series)
-King Hall by Scarlett Dawn (new adult series)

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Harper

Thank you 🙂 I’ll look for them next!

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J R

I just read 2 books this last week that were both very different but very good! First was The Rivals by Vi Keeland. It was a sexy enemies to lovers story. I loved Sophia and Weston. The second was The Last Flight by Julie Clark. Not a romance but a thriller that kept me guessing until the end. I recommend both if you are trying to decide what to read next!

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Maryse

OMG I AM DYING to read The Last Flight!!! That is the ultimate blurb jolt and I can’t imagine where it even goes, but I bet it’s exciting!!

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Liz

I just read captive, it was amazing thanks for the recommendation

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Maryse

YAY LIZ!!! Thank you for letting us know you loved it too!!!!

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Marsha D

I am so blown away by the time and detail you put into your blog posts. Thank you so much for your reviews and recommendations. During the summer I really like to keep it light with contemporary romance books. I really do feel like they are the best “beach reads.” It seems like you already have a daunting TBR list but as an avid reader I have to recommend books that I can’t stop thinking about and I recently finished “Endless – A Seattle Rockstar Romance” (Book 1 of the series) by Kaylene Winter. This was such a FUN and sexy read. I really love romance authors Carian Cole, Jaine Diamond, and Lauren Dane and I feel Kaylene Winter fits right in! The book follows rockstar Ty and bookworm Zoey and their initial romance that could have never worked because of the timing. Zoey was heading off to school for Law and Ty was about to embark on a tour with his band. It was very clear they had fallen in love though and once they reconnect it’s as if they had never spent almost 10 years apart! However, in that time Ty has slept with TONS of women (including his publicist) and his band Less Than Zero has become a worldwide phenomenon and Zoey has become a lawyer and seems to be Ty’s true opposite. This book is dramatic, sexy, funny, and I really loved the characters. Even Ty’s bandmates are super enjoyable characters too. Check out the website if you want to read more about it – https://rockerromance.com/Would love to hear your thoughts!

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Sara Jay

Eeeee! I have been looking for a good series and I loooove Rockstar romances. Thanks!

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