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Maryse's Book Blog

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Book Review – You Are Not Alone: A Novel by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

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You Are Not Alone: A Novel <— PSYCH-THRILLER ALERT!!! And pretty good overall (with a great twist that I didn’t see coming), but crazy far-fetched for the most part.

I’m all about vigilante stories but this one became a little obnoxious. At some point it just got so… night soap opera-y (in regards to cunning villains and the lengths they’ll go to, to get what they want), that it exhausted me. Also, there was some eye-rolling. I couldn’t help it. 🙄 😂

It took me awhile to read, despite it being intriguing for the most part, probably because of the multiple POV changes as we get to know each of the characters and how they became a part of this “girl group”. So I’d put it down, take a break but always pick it back up.

Tasha J: I’m so behind though, I feel like I’m stuck reading the same books forever. Like, all the books I pick up are 400, 500+ pages. And it seems daunting.

Maryse: I’m still reading You Are Not Alone and enjoying it, but same for me… I’m stuck at the last quarter and I just need to power through. It’s a tiny bit slow through the middle because we go back and learn about each girl in the group and how she was chosen for the group. Which is good, and slowly builds answers but pulls me out of the main story regularly.

Tasha J: Yes! There’s so much going on and I have to read and reread a lot bc it’s so different and there are a lot of characters and things to keep up with and I can’t just get sucked in and power through.

Yep. I powered though, especially because I loved being in our heroine’s head as she blossomed from a meek, unobtrusive and even a bit fearful woman (with a slight but interesting OCD – she loves statistics and facts), to suddenly becoming one of the most recent popular girls amongst a group of women that she looked up to, and that seemed to really like her back.

So what’s it about?

Shay has been living with her guy best friend (that she has an unrequited crush on),

Sean’s the first guy I really liked since I ended things with my college boyfriend. I began to fall for Sean months ago. I thought he felt the same.

and she’s needing a job, and she’s pretty much down in the dumps, especially when he moves his new girlfriend in with them. She knows things need to change but luck is not quite with her.

Lately it seems like the stats are against me: I’m thirty-one years old, and I’m not dating anyone. When my boss called me into his office last month, I thought I was getting promoted. Instead, he told me I was being downsized. It’s like I’m caught in a slow spiral. I’m fighting as hard as I can to turn things around.

When she witnesses a woman jump in front of a train in the subway station, she develops a severe phobia, but also, an incredible preoccupation with her,

I keep berating myself for not doing something differently. I should have reached out to grab her or yelled “Don’t!” sooner.

When I spotted the woman with the pleasant face, I only thought about how she could save me. But I should have been the one to save her.

My room feels like it’s closing in on me in the darkness.

…trying to find out who she was and why she jumped.

One second she existed, and the next, she’d been erased. I stagger over to a bench by the wall and collapse.

During everything that follows—while I give my statement to a police detective with an impassive face, am escorted past the crime-scene tape up to the street, and walk the seven blocks home—I can’t stop seeing the woman’s eyes right before she jumped. It wasn’t despair or fear or determination I saw in them.

They were empty.

And then she meets her friends…

Suddenly I don’t want to leave. It’s no longer about the connection I feel toward Amanda. It’s the connection I want to feel with her friends.

And her luck turns around.

And that’s where I’m ending this section. 😉 Because each part develops slowly, as do the characters.

The development of each layer as the story progressed (and regressed) was interesting enough to keep me reading, and I had no real idea how she was going to get herself out of this. I mean… logically I did (I don’t think I would have let it all get that far – but hindsight is always 20/20), but our heroine was in too deep, and well… it’s a cast of craziness, so I just went with it.

Are they good? Are they bad? Good reasoning or…? You know me I’m always up for vigilante justice (fictional, that is!! 😉 ), but there’s so much more to uncover in this one.

3.75 stars <— Normally I think I’d give this 4 stars, but I loved 2 other books by these authors so much more, so this one can’t get the same rating from me, unfortunately.

➔➔➔  Looking for more of my must-read recommendations? Browse my 5 star and 4.5 star and 4 starreviews. 😀

➔➔➔ Love this author? Check out more of my Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen features and reviews on my blog!

➔➔➔ Love this trope? Check out more of my psych-thriller & vigilante features and reviews on my blog!

K. Lew & C.R. Lockhart’s Knives and Knightsticks is LIVE & they’ve sent us fun facts, an excerpt + a giveaway!

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Knives and Knightsticks: An amateur sleuth and organized crime serial romance novel (Adventures in the Six Book 1) IS LIVE and the authors are here with some fun details, giving us a “peek” behind the book. 😉 And, they are celebrating by sponsoring today’s newsletter AND giving away 2 copies!!

So what’s it about?

What shade of lipstick goes with bloodstains?

Sadie and Zoey, best friends and sharers of shoes, have both lost their jobs for Very Bad Reasons. Sadie ditched her lawyer boyfriend (who happened to be her boss) and Zoey followed her nose into a story that shattered her burgeoning career as a journalist.

When the story that destroyed Zoey’s career lands her next to a dead body, Sadie’s new job at the police station makes for the perfect spy. Unravelling the mystery proves to be more dangerous than expected, and the two find themselves wedged between romance, organized crime and deciding what shoes go best with a stakeout.

If you loved the Stephanie Plum series, the Rock Chick series or Firefly Lane, you’ll enjoy Knives and Knightsticks!

5 Fun Facts About the Book

  1. The authors are besties and met when they dated the same guy (but not at the same time);
  2. The company the main character (Zoey) works for is based partly on a real-life PI business that one of the authors worked with;
  3. No weapons were bought for this book, but the authors did use the ‘pretend’ versions mentioned in the book for real life practise;
  4. Both authors are pretty sure they’ve never dated a mobster (ooh but there was that one guy…); and
  5. There really is a shady McDonalds at King and Dufferin in Toronto, but neither of them have flushed drugs down the toilet there (allegedly).

P.S. There’s a Spotify playlist!!!

Series Introduction:

This is the first in the Adventures in the Six series, set in Toronto. It features twenty-something best friends, Sadie and Zoey, as they solve the mysteries that fall into their lap. They are poorly prepared for, well… everything. So, as their amatuer sleuthing lands them in increasingly dangerous situations, they pick up survival skills (and weapons!) along the way. 

The series will unfold with new mysteries (and new men!) that will increase in scale as the books go on and the girls ‘come of age’, so to speak. As the mysteries ramp up, so will their love lives. Buckle up, friends, because it’s going to be a bumpy ride!

A little about the authors:

Authors K. Lew and C.R. Lockhart are best friends who found each other through meeting the same Mr. Wrong. Once upon a time, they both lived and worked in Toronto. Together, they hit the hottest bars, drooled over the hottest men and drank too much wine in boardrooms after work. 

Cindy-Rose is a life-long writer and journaler, while Kaitlyn has been drafting legal documents since before she could drink. When the pandemic hit, Cindy-Rose encouraged Kaitlyn to give writing a try and she LOVED it! Finally, lightning struck when Cindy-Rose convinced Kaitlyn to outline a book with her. 

The moment they started to create together, it was magic! Their first book was born in the span of two weeks and it’s been nothing but fiery literary chemistry since.

Kaitlyn now lives in a suburb of Toronto, where she found her man and her dogs. She misses the good sushi but loves the country trails and down-home people. She keeps her inner City Girl alive by wearing incredibly impractical shoes and rapping in her car. 

Cindy-Rose now lives in Vancouver with her greatest fan, her husband, and her crazy cats who prove that pets really do adopt the personality of their owners. She loves the mountains and the great Bubble tea but misses the sharply tailored business suits of Bay Street men. She keeps the Toronto girl in her alive by changing the shade of her red hair as regularly as it rains. 

They have both grown up and moved on to new adventures, but a piece of their hearts always remain in the Six where they became friends. And yes, they’ve both met Drake. 

Excerpt:

“Have you lost your ever-loving mind?” I demanded, plopping into Zoey’s dark blue rideshare with anger and attitude. “Do you have a death wish?” I pushed, not expecting or wanting an answer.

She didn’t get to answer. Answering was for people with a feasible excuse and an opportunity to defend themselves. Right now, she had neither.

“What part of ‘I promise I won’t go on a stakeout alone’ was unclear to you? What part of ‘I promise to be safe’ did you decide was up for debate?” She opened her mouth to speak, and I held up a finger and shot her a look that dared her to try me.

“How dare you? Honestly, how dare you! You are my best friend, my roommate, my family whom I have chosen, and you promised me that you would not endanger yourself again–you promised it on our friendship. Uh-uh, no, still my turn to talk,” I barrelled through her second attempt to speak.

“I would understand if Dion couldn’t make it, I would understand if you were annoyed, but what I cannot understand is why you wouldn’t tell me first. You know–you know–that I would support you on any crusade, no matter how crazy. I would have done this with you.”

I finally took a moment and looked around the car at her detritus of takeout cups and lack of anything helpful.

“I would have also been a lot more prepared. Were you going to lure the mobster out with an iced latte? Most importantly, I would have known you were safe.” I took a deep breath, trying to calm down from my rant. “I could have lost you the other day at that stupid crime scene, and the only thing that has kept me from going off the deep end with stress and worry is trusting that you would reach out to me for help and support. So let me offer you some freaking support, woman!”

Zoey went through a day’s worth of emotion written on her face in the span of a moment. Fear, laughter, shame–thank God–and skepticism.

“I know, I know,” she said, holding up her hands defensively. “I did promise, and I really am sorry that I broke that, but I couldn’t let this opportunity go. You know why.”

“I do!” I replied, “I do understand. What I don’t understand is why you didn’t tell me or ask me to come with you.”

“I did ask you! You said ‘no’ in no uncertain terms!”

“That was when I thought someone could go with you, Dion, or another PI. Not when the only option was you going alone. Why wouldn’t you tell me that?”

“Because! I love you, Sadie, you are my soulmate, but you aren’t exactly Daring Investigative Barbie. You have to go pee when you sneak around in the dark. I didn’t think a stakeout would be up your alley.” She paused for a moment and looked down, finally admitting, “I thought you wouldn’t let me go.”

“Let you go,” I repeated incredulously. “Honey, no one has let you do anything since the third grade. You’re going to do what you need to do, you always have. I love you enough to respect that.”

Surprise flashed over her features, and I shook my head.

“I wouldn’t and couldn’t stop you, but I could help you.” I held up my hand to stave off her retort and went on, “I may not be daring, but I am supportive as hell and always prepared. No one can argue that.”

Zoey’s raised eyebrows and head tilt acknowledged her agreement.

“So let me support you?” I asked, finally and quietly.

She nodded and leaned over to hug me across the gear shift and emergency brake.

“Um, so how did you find me?” she asked while we were still hugging.

“I’m psychic,” I replied simply.

She huffed out a laugh and let go of the hug.

“I know you know me creepily well, but really, how did you know?”

“Dion called.”

Her eyes flew open wide with outrage.

“That little shi–”

“He was worried about you! He said he did a background check on Vecchio after you left, and, well, we know what he found. He was worried you would go alone and do something stupid.” I studied her for a moment, “And while you are hale and whole, I’m not entirely sure that you didn’t… Why are you covered in dirt and twigs?”

“It’s a long story,” she said simply with a look that finished with, and you don’t want to know it.

“Oh, you’ll tell me. Are those my sunglasses? And why are you in black? It’s four thirty in the afternoon–what are you trying to blend in with, because it sure isn’t the night.”

“Ugh. Look who is suddenly full of surveillance advice now that my boss ratted me out.” Her look was pure venom and made me happy as hell.

“Listen,” I smiled, “I understand that you want to keep an eye on Vecchio and see where he could lead us, but I had some time to think this through on the three busses I took to get here.”

“And?”

“And I think we need to be smarter about this. The car was a good call—smart—but what if we needed to leave? What if we needed to follow him on foot? What if someone caught us?”

“Yeah, I thought of a few of those things myself while I was sitting here,” she replied wryly. “What do you suggest, Miss Marple?”

“How much longer do you have the car?” I asked.

“A few more hours.”

“Let’s go shopping,” I said with a grin. 

Time for the giveaway!

The author is giving away an E-Book of Knives and Knightsticks: to TWO lucky commenters!

How to enter for a chance to win it? 

Just leave a comment below, (or better yet, tell me your favorite mystery book) and by 10pm EST, Sunday April 11th 2021, I will randomly select two lucky commenters as the winners.

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

Giveaway open to International!!! :D

Latest Romance Book Releases – 04-06-2021

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<— HAPPY TUESDAY NEW RELEASE DAY AND YAY ME!!!! I am hooked on this series, and book # 3 JUST WENT LIVE today. *claps with glee*

BLURB JOLTS!! WELL obviously You Love Me ’cause our favorite creepy stalker Joe, has just fixated on someone new… that doesn’t have time for him. Eeeeeep! Darling Rose Gold (not a new release but is super-bargain priced and I jumped on that so hard. She wants to get even with her mother…), Jailbait (Lani Lynn Vale’s latest and he goes to jail because of her… *ahem* her age was the initial problem…  the title), The Boy Next Door (he dumped her via text!), What the Heart Wants (TOTAL blurb jolt!!!!! She has a heart defect and is dying, and the love of his life dies unexpectedly… so he donates her heart)

P.S. Don’t forget to check out:

TODAY’S BLASTS FROM THE PAST 😀 !!

AUDIOBOOK L:DVERS!

➔➔ Not a member of Audible yet? Get a free 30 day audible trial (which includes one title from their premium selection of best sellers and listen all you want to thousands of titles in their growing Audible Plus Catalog.)

➔➔ 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!

  1. Blessed Monsters: A Novel (Something Dark and Holy Book 3) by Emily A. Duncan
  2. Mother May I: A Novel by Joshilyn Jackson
  3. Headhunter: A With Me In Seattle Mafia Novel by Kristen Proby
  4. Goodbye, Lark Lovejoy: A Novel (The Enchanted Rock Series Book 1) by Kris Clink
  5. Jailbait (Souls Chapel Revenants MC Book 3) by Lani Lynn Vale
  6. The Last Bookshop in London: A Novel of World War II by Madeline Martin
  7. Life’s Too Short (The Friend Zone Book 3) by Abby Jimenez
  8. The Bookstore on the Beach: A Novel by Brenda Novak
  9. Forever in Cape May (The Sunshine Sisters Book 3) by Jennifer Probst
  10. The Siren Saves The Billionaire by Kristen Painter
  11. Three Missing Days (The Pelican Harbor Series Book 3) by Colleen Coble
  12. You Love Me: A You Novel by Caroline Kepnes
  13. Southern Heart (The Southern Series Book 5) by Natasha Madison
  14. Say You’re Mine (The Gallaghers Book 1) by Layla Hagen
  15. Sweet as Honey: An Aster Valley Novel by Lucy Lennox
  16. Hummingbird Lane by Carolyn Brown
  17. The Intimacy Experiment by Rosie Danan
  18. To Love and to Loathe: A Novel (The Regency Vows Book 2) by Martha Waters
  19. House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland

READER RECOMMENDATIONS & BARGAIN FINDS:

➔➔➔ TWO MONTHS FREE KINDLE UNLIMITED DEAL!!! <— For new members only. If you haven’t tried it yet, now’s your chance. WE ARE LOVING IT! 

  • stealing the stars (Drowning in Stars Book 2) by Debra Anastasia <— DEBRA ANASTASIA ALERT!! HOW DID I MISS THIS RELEASE a few days ago?? And it CAN be read as a standalone. She had the perfect life and then he showed up at her door… “...then he showed up on our doorstep looking like the aftermath of a rock concert, claiming to be my adopted brother’s half-brother. Sounds like trouble, right? He looked like trouble. Hell, his name defined trouble. Ruffian had bad news and heartbreak written all over him. But knowing he would break my heart didn’t stop me from falling…”
  • Dark Vintage: A Midnight Doms Collection by Ines Johnson <– VAMPIRES BOXSET ALERT!!
  • Outlaws: A Romance Anthology <— ANTHOLOGY!!! “Seven authors bring you seven forbidden romance stories with a never-before-seen twist.”
  • Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel <— SUPER-BARGAIN ALERT AND I JUST ONE-CLICKED IT SO HARD!!! I wanted to read this, and now it’s mine!! YAY ME!! YAY US!! Omg I wanna start it right now!!!! But I have to finish my current book first… *sigh* LOL! “...For the first eighteen years of her life, Rose Gold Watts believed she was seriously ill. She was allergic to everything, used a wheelchair and practically lived at the hospital. Neighbors did all they could, holding fundraisers and offering shoulders to cry on, but no matter how many doctors, tests, or surgeries, no one could figure out what was wrong with Rose Gold. Turns out her mom, Patty Watts, was just a really good liar. After serving five years in prison, Patty gets out with nowhere to go and begs her daughter to take her in. The entire community is shocked when Rose Gold says yes…”
  • Dream Team Series by Kristen Ashley <— KRISTEN ASHLEY SALE! She says:

…If you haven’t taken a dip into my Dream Team series, the first two books are on sale from today to Sunday (April 11). And with good timing, because DREAM SPINNER, the third in the series, is out next month!

  • Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern <— SUPER-BARGAIN & I JUST ONE-CLICKED IT!! SO MANY HERE LOOOOVVED THIS ONE!!

Leslie M: I’m doing audio of Sh*t My Dad Says and it’s cracking me up. I am literally laughing out loud.

Jenn: Leslie-I am done and yes my stomach literally hurts from laughing so hard, it’s almost as if I did 100 situps 🙂 loved it

Tasha J: Book the left big smile: Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern… I read it in written form and I laughed just as much, but I’m glad you guys are enjoying it the way I did in audio. A palette cleanser.

  • Our Finest Hour (The Time Series Book 1) by Jennifer Millikin <— THIS OLDER RELEASE IS MAKING WAVES & CLIMBING THE AMAZON CHARTS!!! It’s at #3 in all of Amazon Kindle right now! The blurb is not saying this,  but I saw a comment on my Facebook feed (she gets pregnant from a one night stand, and 4 years later, the child needs surgery… and guess who the surgeon is???) GASP!!!!

PARANORMAL/FANTASY/SCI-FI/DYSTOPIAN NEW RELEASES:

  1. Blessed Monsters: A Novel (Something Dark and Holy Book 3) by Emily A. Duncan <— TRILOGY CONCLUSION!! “…The girl, the monster, the prince, the queen. They broke the world. And some things can never be undone…”
  2. Her Cyborg Champion (The Drift: Haven Colony Book 2) by Susan Hayes
  3. Valor, Variant – 2: A Dark Genetic Manipulation Romance by Sandra R Neeley
  4. Miners of Djaromir: Toren by Leora Gonzales
  5. Sheltered by the Sea Lord (Lords of Atlantis Book 10) by Starla Night
  6. A Fairy’s Quest: The Magicals Series, #3 by Maya Tyler
  7. Unjustified Claims (Hidden Wolves Book 4) by Kaje Harper
  8. The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon <— THE SPRING GRANTS WISHES BUT ALSO TAKES WHAT IT GIVES… “…When Jax arrives at the house to go through her sister’s things, she learns that Lexie was researching the history of their family and the property. And as she dives deeper into the research herself, she discovers that the land holds a far darker past than she could have ever imagined. In 1929, thirty-seven-year-old newlywed Ethel Monroe hopes desperately for a baby. In an effort to distract her, her husband whisks her away on a trip to Vermont, where a natural spring is showcased by the newest and most modern hotel in the Northeast. Once there, Ethel learns that the water is rumored to grant wishes, never suspecting that the spring takes in equal measure to what it gives...”
  9. Master Mage by Chandelle Lavaun <— TESSA FOUND US THIS ONE!!

Tessa: Master Mage by Chandelle Lavaun came out yesterday! I read everything by her!

  1. Nights of Iron and Ink by Shannen Durey
  2. Psychic Moon (The Shifter Chronicles Book 1) by M.D. Grimm
  3. Angel Down by Micky O’Brady
  4. The Spellbound Queen: The Morrigan Prophecies Book Two by Emma Jayne Mills
  5. House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland <— DARK FANTASY!!! Tasha J found it for us!

Tasha J: House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland released today. I read one of hers, Our Chemical Hearts a loong time ago (and recently watched the show) and it was packed with emotion for me so I’m really intrigued by this different genre from her.

CONTEMPORARY NEW RELEASES:

  1. You Love Me: A You Novel by Caroline Kepnes <— PSYCH-THRILLER BOOK #3 IN MY BELOVED STALKER SERIES (You) ALERT!! “…He gets a job at the local library—he does know a thing or two about books—and that’s where he meets her: Mary Kay DiMarco. Librarian. Joe won’t meddle, he will not obsess. He’ll win her the old-fashioned way . . . by providing a shoulder to cry on, a helping hand. Over time, they’ll both heal their wounds and begin their happily ever after in this sleepy town. The trouble is . . . Mary Kay already has a life. She’s a mother. She’s a friend. She’s . . . busy…” <— Eeeeeeeep!!! 😬
  2. The Bookstore on the Beach: A Novel by Brenda Novak
  3. Sweet as Honey: An Aster Valley Novel by Lucy Lennox
  4. Mother May I: A Novel by Joshilyn Jackson <— PSYCH-THRILLER ALERT!! SOMEONE KIDNAPS HER BABY!! “…she spies the old woman again, in the parking lot of her daugh­ters’ private school . . . just minutes before Bree’s infant son, asleep in his car seat only a few feet away, vanishes. It happened so quickly—Bree looked away only for a second. There is a note left in his place, warning her that she is being is being watched; if she wants her baby back, she must not call the police or deviate in any way from the instructions that will follow. The mysterious woman makes contact, and Bree learns she, too, is a mother…”
  5. Forever in Cape May (The Sunshine Sisters Book 3) by Jennifer Probst
  6. The Siren Saves The Billionaire by Kristen Painter
  7. Life’s Too Short (The Friend Zone Book 3) by Abby Jimenez <— SHE WANTED TO TRAVEL THE WORLD BUT THEN… “…after her half sister suddenly leaves Vanessa in custody of her baby daughter, life goes from “daily adventure” to “next-level bad” (now with bonus baby vomit in hair). The last person Vanessa expects to show up offering help is the hot lawyer next door, Adrian Copeland. After all, she barely knows him. No one warned her that he was the Secret Baby Tamer or that she’d be spending a whole lot of time with him and his geriatric Chihuahua...”
  8. Duke of Disrepute (Dukes of Distinction Book 3) by Alexa Aston <— HISTORICAL ROMANCE!!
  9. Three Missing Days (The Pelican Harbor Series Book 3) by Colleen Coble
  10. The Delivery of Decor: Glover Family Saga & Christian Romance (Shiloh Ridge Ranch in Three Rivers Romance Book 7) by Liz Isaacson
  11. Headhunter: A With Me In Seattle Mafia Novel by Kristen Proby <— KRISTEN PROBY MAFIA SERIES!! “...Ivie Jordan has led a pretty uneventful life, and that’s just how she likes it. Especially since she’ll be the first to admit that she doesn’t do so well in social situations. She’s a proud business owner, and while she doesn’t have family, she does have a network of people who look out for her. Little did she know that being accepted into that fold came with a laundry list of issues. When the worst happens, and she’s forced to rely on the ruggedly handsome alpha hero who comes to her rescue, she discovers her inner badass—and the sultry vixen on her other shoulder. Too bad the two of them are literally running for their lives...”
  12. Cottage on Gooseberry Bay: Charmed Summer by Kathi Daley
  13. Hummingbird Lane by Carolyn Brown
  14. Goodbye, Lark Lovejoy: A Novel (The Enchanted Rock Series Book 1) by Kris Clink <— SHE’S GOING BACK HOME AFTER THE LOSS OF HER HUSBAND… “…After years of putting off her dream of becoming a winemaker, Lark puts every cent into a failing vineyard, determined to work through her grief and make a brighter future for her children. The last thing she expects is to fall in love again. Especially not with Wyatt Gifford, an injured Army vet with a past of his own to conquer...”
  15. After Happily Ever After: A Novel by Leslie A. Rasmussen
  16. The Last Bookshop in London: A Novel of World War II by Madeline Martin <— WAR TIME HISTORICAL!!
  17. Jailbait (Souls Chapel Revenants MC Book 3) by Lani Lynn Vale <— LANI LYNN VALE ALERT!! HE WENT TO PRISON BECAUSE OF HER!! “…The last time, the time that I decided enough was enough, was when I saw her at my bar eight weeks after I’d been set free. Unlucky for her, I’d stopped being a good guy about two seconds after those bars closed behind me twelve years ago. Now all that was left was a shell of a man that didn’t see the good in anything. Anything except for her...”
  18. Rescuing Jenna (Special Forces: Operation Alpha) (Bravo Series Book 5) by Anna Blakely
  19. Circus Comes to Town (Special Forces: Operation Alpha) (Heroes in Hardhats Book 1) by LJ Vickery
  20. Summer Heatwave (Special Forces: Operation Alpha) (Seasoned Seals Book 2) by KaLyn Cooper
  21. Saving Eric (Special Forces: Operation Alpha) (Saving SEALs Book 2) by Jane Blythe
  22. Temptation After Dark: A Gansett Island Novel by Marie Force <— MARIE FORCE!!! “Cooper James and Gigi Gibson take the lead in the next Gansett Island novel! Find out what happened on their crazy first date and whether these two can make a go of it after Gigi finishes shooting her show on the island. It’s time to head home to LA, but will Cooper give her a good reason to stay? You’ll also hear more about what happens with Cooper’s brother Jared and his wife, Lizzie, who’ve had a baby come into their lives under less-than-ideal circumstances…”
  23. Shielding Grace (Special Forces: Operation Alpha) (Rebel Construction Book 1) by Sarah Stone
  24. Seeking Solis (Police and Fire: Operation Alpha) (To Have and To Hold Book 3) by Josie Kerr
  25. Protecting Marlowe (Special Forces: Operation Alpha) (search and rescue Book 6) by Jen Talty
  26. Luke (Police and Fire: Operation Alpha) (Zeta Security Book 5) by B. P. Beth
  27. Poison Ivy (Police and Fire: Operation Alpha) (Ellison-Clark Paramilitary Securities Book 2) by Annie Miller
  28. Southern Heart (The Southern Series Book 5) by Natasha Madison <— MILITARY ROMANCE ALERT!! “…opened the door and found a man—broken, bloodied, and fighting for his life. I don’t know why, but I said I would take care of him. I had to. Needed to. He was a mystery, showing up from out of nowhere. But he might have already stolen my heart...”
  29. Eton’s Escape (Bullard’s Battle Book 3) by Dale Mayer
  30. The Intimacy Experiment by Rosie Danan
  31. Say You’re Mine (The Gallaghers Book 1) by Layla Hagen
  32. Blackberry Beach: A Hope Harbor Novel by Irene Hannon
  33. Cowboy Bikers MC #8 by Esther E. Schmidt
  34. The Boy Next Door by Jennifer Sucevic <— HE DUMPED HER BY TEXT & NOW WANTS A SECOND CHANCE… “...he appeared out of nowhere and swept me off my feet. It had all seemed like a fairytale until he dumped me. Through text message, no less. Ouch. Eighteen months and one study abroad program later, I’ve returned to Wesley University to finish out my senior year. And Colton? He’s nothing more than a regrettable mistake I’d prefer to forget. Or so I tell myself...”
  35. To Love and to Loathe: A Novel (The Regency Vows Book 2) by Martha Waters <— HISTORICAL ROMANCE!!
  36. The Recovery of Fitzwilliam Darcy by Lucy Marin <— HISTORICAL ROMANCE
  37. The Duke Undone by Joanna Lowell <— HISTORICAL ROMANCE
  38. One Thing Leads to a Lover (Love and Let Spy Book 2) by Susanna Craig
  39. Convincing Derrick: A Sweet Romantic Suspense (Stryker Security Force Book 6) by Sara Blackard <— HISTORICAL ROMANCE
  40. The Lady Tamed (Saints and Sinners Book 4) by Heather Boyd <— HISTORICAL ROMANCE
  41. My Almost Ex (The Greene Family Book 2) by Piper Rayne <— MARITAL STRIFE & NOW SHE HAS AMNESIA!!! “...In the middle of a crowded bar in our small Alaskan town, my estranged wife snuggles up to me as if we’re still a happy couple. Don’t get me wrong, we were a happy couple—before she walked out on me a year ago. We were the high school sweethearts everyone thought were destined to be together forever. We thought so too, which is why we married shortly after graduation. We had a good marriage. Until she left me without any real explanation.  Now, she’s back—and this is the real kicker—she has amnesia and thinks I’m still her husband…”
  42. The Butterfly Effect (Boggy Creek Valley Book 1) by Kelly Elliott
  43. Bondage Buddies (Masters of Marquis Book 1) by Golden Angel
  44. Captive Bride: A Dark Romance (The Secret Bride Book 1) by Alta Hensley <— DARK ROMANCE PSYCH-THRILLER ALERT!! SHE’S HIS CAPTIVE & HIS BRIDE… “…Trapped in a twisted and dark courtship with a secret woman who needs my strength to survive, I will be wed. Walking the thin line between lunacy and reality, I am now the protector of my future captive bride. So, I have no choice but to recite the vows...”
  45. Courage in the Mountain Wilderness (Call of the Rockies series Book 4) by Misty M. Beller
  46. Waggs: An Eidolon Black Ops Novel by Maddie Wade
  47. Present Danger (Rocky Mountain Courage Book #1) by Elizabeth Goddard
  48. Beneath the Hood: A Forbidden, Age Gap Romance (Sugarlake Series, Book Three) by Emily McIntire <— FORBIDDEN!!! “…My life is a stage. Followed by millions, and loved by none. And me, the captain of control, steering my image through choppy waters. Making sure I stay on top. No one ever sees me. No one ever looks. Until him. But he’s everything impossible, and a thousand shades of wrong. Falling for him would ruin everything I’ve worked for. So why can’t I stay away?“
  49. Sporting: A Surprise Road Trip Romantic Comedy (Unleashed Romance, Book 3) by Kylie Gilmore
  50. Is It Any Wonder: A Nantucket Love Story by Courtney Walsh
  51. The Rosebud Girls by Julia Clemens
  52. The Mastermind (The Long Con Book 1) by Amy Lane <— M/M ROMANCE!! “...Once upon a time in Rome, Felix Salinger got caught picking his first pocket and Danny Mitchell saved his bacon. The two of them were inseparable… until they weren’t. Twenty years after that first meeting, Danny returns to Chicago, the city he shared with Felix and their perfect, secret family, to save him again. Felix’s news network—the business that broke them apart—is under fire from an unscrupulous employee pointing the finger at Felix. An official investigation could topple their house of cards. The only way to prove Felix is innocent is to pull off their biggest con yet…”
  53. King’s Gambit (Road To Redemption Book 1) by Aiden Bates and Ali Lyda <— M/M ROMANCE!!
  54. Fair Trade: Bold Brew Book 7 by Cate Ashwood <— M/M ROMANCE!!
  55. Raven Falls by Jill Sanders <— JILL SANDERS ALERT! SHE LOST EVERYONE… “…Not only did she lose her mother and father, but she also lost the one chance she had at true love. Coming home meant dealing with her demons, and the worst one was the sexy fire marshal who was hell-bent on getting answers about that night long ago. Answers that only she can give…”
  56. Make Me Stay: A Friends To Lovers Football Romance ((in love with) My Big Brother’s Best Friend Book 4) by Gabrielle Snow
  57. Intentional Grounding (Diagnosis: Love Book 4) by Tawdra Kandle
  58. Shutout (Sacramento Ravage Book 1) by Kay Gordon
  59. What the Heart Wants by Tiana Laveen <— OMG THIS!!!!!!!!!! “…Emily feels her life is perfect until her congenital heart condition is pronounced terminal and she’s given just months to live. Cameron Davis is an outspoken, mixed-race social activist. His greatest joy is his soulmate, Brooke Coleman, an up-and-coming New York City jazz singer who’s as talented as she is kind. But his life and heart are shattered when Brooke is killed. As her heart gives its last beat, it is quickly readied for transplant—her final act of selflessness. As one life ends, another begins...”

PREORDERS (going live soon!!! 😀 )

  1. Sixpence and Selkies (Manners and Monsters Book 5) by Tilly Wallace – April 9th 2021
  2. Not Pretending Anymore by Penelope Ward & Vi Keeland – April 12, 2021
  3. Vampire: A Dark Protectors/Rebels Novella by Rebecca Zanetti – April 13th 2021
  4. When the Stars Go Dark: A Novel by Paula McLain – April 13th 2021
  5. How to Catch a Duke (Rogues to Riches Book 6) by Grace Burrowes – April 13th 2021
  6. The Venice Sketchbook: A Novel by Rhys Bowen – April 13th 2021
  7. Bombshells by Sarina Bowen – April 13th 2021
  8. What You Never Knew: A Novel by Jessica Hamilton – April 13th 2021
  9. Near You by Mary Burton – April 13th 2021
  10. Man Eater: A romantic suspense by January James – April 15th 2021
  11. Words We Never Say by Heidi Dischler – April 18th 2021
  12. The Last Night in London by Karen White – April 20th 2021
  13. Hour of the Witch: A Novel by Chris Bohjalian – April 20th 2021
  14. State of Affairs by Marie Force – April 20th 2021
  15. The Son of Mr. Suleman: A Novel by Eric Jerome Dickey – April 20th 2021
  16. Autumn Night Whiskey (Tequila Rose Book 2) by Willow Winters – April 20th 2021
  17. Lodestone by Katherine Forrister – April 20th 2021
  18. Mirrorland by Carole Johnstone – April 20th 2021
  19. Lover Unveiled by J.R. Ward – April 20th 2021
  20. The Crown of Gilded Bones by Jennifer L. Armentrout – April 20th 2021
  21. Quit Bein’ Ugly (The Southern Gentleman Series Book 3) by Lani Lynn Vale – April 20th 2021
  22. The Perfect Daughter: A Novel by D.J. Palmer – April 20th 2021
  23. Chaos and Love: College Sports Romance Stand-Alone (Campus Hotshots Book 2) by Michelle A. Valentine – April 20nd 2021
  24. The Virgin Rule Book (First To Score 1) by Lauren Blakely – April 23rd 2021
  25. The Healing by Lynda Faye Schmidt – April 23rd 2021
  26. Broken French: A widowed, billionaire, single dad romance by Natasha Boyd – April 26th 2021
  27. Bad Intentions (Intentions Duet Book 1) by Ella Frank – April 26th 2021
  28. Mafia King: A Mafia Royals Novella by Rachel Van Dyken – April 27th 2021
  29. Finding Ashley: A Novel by Danielle Steel – April 27th 2021
  30. Find Me: A Novel by Alafair Burke – April 27th 2021
  31. From the Embers by Aly Martinez – April 28th 2021

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Reader Question… Solved! The book about the Hero who is a popular soccer player, and they don’t talk…

By 8 Comments

shubh is looking for this one! Hrmmm… it’s not Kulti is it? Do I remember an accident in that one? It’s been years since I read it, so maybe someone can refresh my memory or knows if it’s a different one.

I mean I remember they didn’t “talk” for a good part of the book since he was a moody jerk. Tee hee! I LOVE THAT. What an amazing slow burn.

She asks:

I’m looking for romance book which i really love but cant remeber its name.

Its a college romance where the guy is popular soccer player i think and the girl and he knows each other but they dont talk.

One day due to girls parents accident the guy help and their romance begins..

Plz help me if u know about this book

Anyone have a guess?

Maryse: My guess is Kulti!! Am I right? Am I wrong? Eeeeeep! 😬 Even if I’m wrong, it’s a must read and here’s my Book Review.

Jan: I love Kulti!! Mariana Zapata’s best book!!!

Rose: I know this! It’s Enemies by Tijan!

Angie: Could it be Offside by shay savage?

➔➔➔  Browse more reader questions (solved & unsolved) here. 😀 Maybe you’ll find a solved one to read or have a guess for us for one that’s still unsolved.

Have a reader question for us to solve? Send it to me here.

➔➔➔  Love this trope? Browse more sports romance features and reviews on my blog. 😀

Reader Question – The book about the Military Heroes that knew “The Princess Bride” forwards and backwards.

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Tobi needs our book help! Sidenote: I have yet to fully watch The Princess Bride… everyone (even guys I know) tell me it’s a must. GASP!! 😧 I know…

She asks:

I need help finding a book.

It’s a series about a military unit seals or special forces.

It’s a romance but what I remember most is they were on a mission and the only movie they had was the princess bride so they all know the movie forwards and backwards. The first book deals with a girl getting kidnapped, it takes place on the coast as well either Alabama or Louisiana.

Can you help?

Does anyone have a guess?

➔➔➔  Browse more reader questions (solved & unsolved) here. 😀 Maybe you’ll find a solved one to read or have a guess for us for one that’s still unsolved.

Have a reader question for us to solve? Send it to me here.

➔➔➔  Love this trope? Browse more military romance features and reviews on my blog. 😀