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Friday Finds & Reader Recommendations – 04-03-2020

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HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE!!! Yes. It’s Friday. 😉 I’m still working on today’s list (have quite a few reader recommendations to add still), but today’s Friday Finds list is already loaded in awesome-sounding new releases.

AND!! Make sure to check this super-fun post out. We’ve got a playlist, a personal note from the author, and everything!!

ALSO!!! APRIL’S AMAZON FIRST READS are up (thank you for reminding us, Tasha!!!) And omg THREE of them sound SO freaking good right now, and right up my alley. Okay wait. For me it’s definitely between “What We Forgot to Bury” and “Stories We Never Told“. I’m stuck trying to choose. I want to read them both right now, equally.

Tasha J: Help! I’m having so much trouble deciding today. I’m looking at Kindle Firsts and What We Forgot to Bury sounds soooo juicy. I want to devour it. Stories We Never Told sounds mind bending and possibly will push on the emotions, The Girl Beneath the Sea also sounds like the perfect thriller read. What to choose?? Omg and Book of the Months picks are worse. I’m loving the sound of 4 more than 1… will ask opinions on those too, cuz why not? 😜

Maryse: OMG three of them sound SO freaking good right now. Exactly the ones you love, I love!!! I can’t choose.

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

  • STILL ON ➔➔➔ TWO MONTHS KINDLE UNLIMITED DEAL!!! <— If you haven’t tried it yet, now’s your chance. 😲👏👏👏 WE ARE LOVING IT!
  • Don’t forget this wonderful free program Audible just started for children while schools are closed!! 😀 Free stories for kids of ALL ages (and multiple languages to choose from). This is so fantastic. No membership required, you can start listening to these audiobooks for free right now! ➔ https://stories.audible.com/start-listen

And…

  • Southern Storms: A Small Town Standalone Romance by Brittany Cherry <— LIVE!!! Brittainy C. Cherry’s LATEST WENT LIVE EARLY!!! She’s starting over and fell for the black sheep of her new town… “…After leaving the city life behind to escape my loveless marriage, I moved to small town Havenbarrow for a fresh start. What I didn’t expect was to find myself drawn to the town’s black sheep. They called him troubled. Cold. A man with a dark past…”

Teri:  I’m in! Lol, WOW, what a cover!!!

Viki:  I am reading this right now. Yes!

“In Across Time, it’s 1938 and a young French farmer has found a woman hiding in his barn…the exact kind of woman he’s protecting his sister from…”

Mony: Just finished A Fairbanks Affair (Odds-Are-Good #3) by Katy Regnery. Cute little book between an Alaskan businessman and a NYC exec. Slow at beginning but as it unfolds, characters& dialogue thoughtful & mature.

  • Followers: A Novel by Megan Angelo <— IT’S ON SALE YOU GUYSSSSS!!! I JUST ONE-CLICKED!!! OOOOOOOOH THIS ONE SOUNDS SOCIALLY CRAZY!!! 😀 “...Orla meets Floss—a striving, wannabe A-lister—who comes up with a plan for launching them both into the high-profile lives they dream about. So what if Orla and Floss’s methods are a little shady—and sometimes people get hurt? Their legions of followers can’t be wrong. Thirty-five years later, in a closed California village where government-appointed celebrities live every moment of the day on camera, a woman named Marlow discovers a shattering secret about her past. Despite her massive popularity—twelve million loyal followers—Marlow dreams of fleeing the corporate sponsors who would do anything to keep her on-screen…”

Misty: Currently reading Followers by Megan Angelo.

Tasha J: Followers …that 1 was on my tbr …Sounds good!

Jessica: I absolutely loved INDIGO GIRL. I go to Charleston often, and it was *such* a fascinating look into the city’s history. Love love loved it…smart, romantic, and wrenching all at once. Highly recommend!

Sheila: Love this series!

Jami: Omg, these books are so good. Some of her best work to me. So excited for book 3. L.A. Cotton writes some of the best sport romances to me.. Love them.

Vicci: I have many favorite sports Romance books. The Trouble with you definitely makes the Top 5 of my list.

Kerri: Love, love, love LA Cotton’s books and this new series is in my opinion her best writing to date. QB1 stole my heart❤️. I’m a big sports romance fan

Jan: FLT: ‘Silence. A dark, calm centre absorbing chaos into its stillness.’ from The Sins of Lord Easterbrook by Madeline Hunter.

Ha ha ha. It’s an unusual opening for a historical romance. But Lord Easterbrook has spent some time in the Far East, where he was taught how to meditate.

I’m 15% in and enjoying it so far. I just read the first 3 books in the series, and 4 starred all three. This is #4 and looking good 😀

  • Sam’s Folly by Carmen DeSousa <— ALASKA ROMANCE ALERT!! NANCY ENJOYED THIS ONE!!

Nancy: Another Alaskan Book for the list: Sam’s Folly by Carmen DeSousa.  My Review Below:

Sam’s Folly is the 1st book in the Midnight Sons Series.  Five brothers risking their lives to rescue those caught in the death grip of the Alaska wilderness. Each book in the series is about a different brother and the woman they lose their hearts to.  These man and woman are as tough as the Land of the Midnight Sun. The first book is about Sam Belgarde, who is the oldest brother and in charge of his family’s company, Search and Rescue Alaska.  

Nora Molina has come to Alaska to runaway. Her best hope to escape without a passport  is Alaska. Being a native of Argentina, Nora is accustomed to harsh winters and high elevation.  She is determined to lose herself in the wilderness. Unfortunately, the very man whom she is running from, has hired the best tracker in all Alaska and his search dogs. Sam’s reluctant to take the job, but since his family’s company is in financial trouble and the money offered is substantial he takes the job.

Once Sam realizes that the very man who hired him to find his fiancee, is the reason Nora is running. Sam decides that maybe he will try to keep Nora for his very own. Sam has trust issues, but nothing to the trust issues of Nora Molina. This proves to make a very interesting story.

Nancy: Also, I wanted to read something other than Alaska, just for a change. Amd since I’m running out of days to pick my March book from the Kindle Lending Library.

So, in Maryse’s New Releases I saw: BEYOND THE HORIZON by Bea Paige. It caught my interest as an age gap romance. And to be honest “the cover”! I started it last night & the writing is beautiful. I felt I was right there on the beach. I needed that after freezing in Alaska!

  • French Kiss by Stacy Travis <— LIVE!!! FRIENDS-TO-LOVERS!! “…It didn’t take a medical degree to know Maddox had Wrong Guy written all over him. And I’d know. I always go for those cocky, gorgeous types that live to break hearts. That’s why I’m keeping my head down and my mind on medicine. To complicate matters, his roommate is my best friend. Josh is always happy to remind me what bad news Maddox is. To make me laugh. To be there for me no matter what. To prevent me from getting my heart crushed. Even if that means flying to Paris. And showing me exactly what I’ve been missing...”
  • Smooth Talking Stranger: A Novel (Travis Book 3) by Lisa Kleypas <— JULIEO SAYS THERE’S A SUPER-HOT SCENE!!

JulieO: SMOOTH TALKING STRANGER is my favorite.  … The sex scene in the parking garage is hottttt!

  • A Kaleidoscope of Butterflies by Christina Lee <— LIVE!!! M/M ROMANCE ALERT!! “…The last thing Emerson Rose expects is to fall for his best friend, Rhys, especially since he’s never been attracted to a man before. Everything in his life is already complicated enough. He’s put his own future on hold to raise his two younger siblings, and confusing feelings for the guy who always has his back muddy the waters even more. But then something astonishing happens. For one perfect moment, he thinks Rhys might feel the same—only to have his world come crashing down around him a second time…”

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…
  • Jane Doe: A Novel by Victoria Helen Stone  <— THE HEROINE IS A SOCIOPATH!!! I LOVE THIS AUTHOR TOO!!!

Shirley: So excited about starting The Herd and Problem Child on Audible of course! I just listened to the sample for both and I’m already hooked!

I listened to Jane Doe a few weeks ago and loved it. I can’t decide which one to start first…decisions, decisions!!

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 L. Armentrout’s “From Blood And Ash” is LIVE & we’ve got fun details, an excerpt + two giveaways!

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FROM BLOOD AND ASH <— HUGE SURPRISE NEW BOOK RELEASE by author Jennifer L. Armentrout (one of our HUGE early indie favorites!!!) and she’s just released a fantasy romance that’s got a side of forbidden love!!! YES PLEASE! 😀

Susan: Such a great book. I loved every moment of it.

Grey: Oooh, yes, please!!!❤️

Andrea: 😍 what an awesome giveaway! There’s so much awesomeness in this one post I can’t even handle it!

Sarah: From Blood and Ash has become my new favorite by far!

Rachael: I absolutely love Jennifer Armentrout and am dying to read her new book!!!

Kimberly: I bought and finished From Blood and Ash the first day it came out, and I have the BIGGEST book hangover ever. It was such an incredible read and is not only one of my favorite JLA books, it’s one of my all-time favorites now.

She’s today’s newsletter sponsor and her publisher (The Blue Box Press) have sent over an excerpt, some fun stuff about the book, plus we’re having a giveaway!!!

She says:

Dear Reader,

When I start reading a book, I want to be swept away, captivated, shocked and messed up in the best way possible from. From Blood and Ash is all of that. If you love forbidden romance, this book is for you. If you love snark, this book is for you. If you love action and intrigue, edge of your seat moments and being caught off guard by what you’re reading, this book is for you. And if you’ve been missing… vampires in your life, this book is for you.

She also posted a bit of personal tidbit about it, on her Facebook page:

SURPRISE! FROM BLOOD AND ASH IS AVAILABLE NOW!

Four years ago, I had this idea for a fantasy. I tinkered with the idea, here and there. Actually created an outline. Character bible. Location bible. I even drew a map. It was terrible. For a lot of those years I was afraid to actually sit down and write it. I’d never written a high fantasy before. What if I couldn’t do it? What if my readers were like nope? But the story stayed with me. Then, I was talking to an author friend of mine about books of the heart, and I realized that this idea was a book of my heart.

So, I sat down and finally wrote FROM BLOOD AND ASH. This is the first book I’ve ever written that came out exactly how I saw it my mind. There was no way I could wait for a year or more to share it.

Enter Blue Box Press, and the amazing team of Ladies—Liz Berry, MJ Rose, and Jillian Stein. This was a huge book to fast track through edits—over 170,000 words, over 600 pages. But they did it. Then Hang Le created a cover that absolutely blew me away. Since January, we planned on releasing FROM BLOOD AND ASH the Tuesday after ApollyCon. Although ApollyCon had to go through some significant changes, we didn’t want to postpone FROM BLOOD AND ASH.

This book has been four years in the making, and I believe now more than ever, books can provide a much needed escape. With all of that being said….

So what’s it about?

Captivating and action-packed, From Blood and Ash is a sexy, addictive, and unexpected fantasy perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Laura Thalassa.

A Maiden…

Chosen from birth to usher in a new era, Poppy’s life has never been her own. The life of the Maiden is solitary. Never to be touched. Never to be looked upon. Never to be spoken to. Never to experience pleasure. Waiting for the day of her Ascension, she would rather be with the guards, fighting back the evil that took her family, than preparing to be found worthy by the gods. But the choice has never been hers.

A Duty…

The entire kingdom’s future rests on Poppy’s shoulders, something she’s not even quite sure she wants for herself. Because a Maiden has a heart. And a soul. And longing. And when Hawke, a golden-eyed guard honor bound to ensure her Ascension, enters her life, destiny and duty become tangled with desire and need. He incites her anger, makes her question everything she believes in, and tempts her with the forbidden.

A Kingdom…

Forsaken by the gods and feared by mortals, a fallen kingdom is rising once more, determined to take back what they believe is theirs through violence and vengeance. And as the shadow of those cursed draws closer, the line between what is forbidden and what is right becomes blurred. Poppy is not only on the verge of losing her heart and being found unworthy by the gods, but also her life when every blood-soaked thread that holds her world together begins to unravel.

She also talks about it in this video:

I am thrilled to have a very special surprise release today and I’d love to tell you more about it!

In this video, I talk with Blue Box Press co-owner (along with Liz Berry and MJ Rose) Jillian Stein about the book and give information on a very special gift with purchase promotion which includes a special From Blood and Ash bookmark and a limited edition temporary tattoo featuring commissioned dagger artwork!

PLUS!!!

This is Jennifer’s playlist while writing FROM BLOOD AND ASH:

And you can read the first three chapters for free here.

And now… an excerpt:

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout – excerpt 

Snapping out of my stupor, I whirled to face him, the hood of the cloak remaining in place as my hand went for the dagger. I looked up…and then up some more. 

Oh, my gods.

I froze, utter shock rippling through me, shorting out all common sense when I saw his face in the soft glow of the candlelight. 

I knew who he was, even though I’d never spoken with him. 

Hawke Flynn.

Everyone in Castle Teerman knew when the Rise Guard arrived from Carsodonia, the capital, a few months ago. I’d been no different.

 I wanted to lie to myself and say that it was due to his striking height, placing him nearly a foot taller than me. Or it was because he moved with the same inherent, predatory grace and fluidity that belonged to the large, gray cave cats that normally roamed the Wastelands but that I had seen once in the Queen’s palace as a child. The fearsome, wild animal had been caged, and the way it continuously prowled back and forth in the too-small enclosure had equally fascinated and horrified me. I’d seen Hawke pacing in the same manner on more than one occasion, as if he too were caged. It could’ve been the sense of authority that seemed to bleed from his pores even though he couldn’t be much older than I was—maybe the same age as my brother or a year or two older. Or perhaps it was his skill with the sword. One morning while I stood beside the Duchess on one of the many balconies at Castle Teerman, overlooking the training yard below, she’d told me Hawke had come from the capital with glowing recommendations and was well on his way to becoming one of the youngest Royal Guards. Her gaze had been fixed on Hawke’s sweat-slick arms. 

So had mine. 

Since his arrival, I’d found myself hidden in the shadowy alcoves more than a few times, watching him train with the other guards. Other than the weekly City Council sessions held in the Great Hall, it was the only time I saw him. 

My interest could simply be because Hawke was…well, he was beautiful. 

It wasn’t often that could be said about a male, but I could think of no better word to describe him. He had dark, thick hair that curled at the nape of his neck and often fell forward, brushing equally dark brows. The planes and angles of his face made me yearn for some talent with a brush or a pen. His cheekbones were high and wide, nose surprisingly straight for a guard. Many of them had suffered at least one broken nose. His square jaw was firm, and his mouth well formed. The few times I’d seen him smile, the right side of his lip curved up, and a deep dimple appeared. If he had a matching one in his left cheek, I didn’t know. But his eyes were by far his most captivating feature. 

They reminded me of cool honey, a striking color I’d never seen before, and he had this way of looking at you that left you feeling stripped bare. I knew this because I felt his stare during the Councils held in the Great Hall, even though he’d never seen my face or even my eyes before. I was sure his regard was due to the fact that I was the first Maiden in centuries. People always stared when I was in public, whether they were guards, Lords and Ladies in Wait, or commoners. 

His stare could also just be a product of my imagination, driven by my small, hidden desire that he was as curious about me as I was of him.

Perhaps it was all those reasons why he caught my interest, but there was another one that I was a little embarrassed to even acknowledge. 

I’d purposely reached out with my senses when I saw him. I knew it was wrong to do when there was no good reason. Nothing to justify the invasion. And I had no excuse other than wondering what often made him pace like a caged cave cat. 

Hawke was always in pain. 

Not the physical kind. It was deeper than that, feeling like chips of sharp ice against my skin. It was raw and it felt never-ending. But the anguish that seemed to follow him like a shadow never overwhelmed him. If I hadn’t prodded, I never would have felt it. Somehow, he kept that kind of agony in check, and I knew of no one else who could do that. 

Now for the giveaway!

TWO GIVEAWAYS!!!

1.) We’re giving away a Dark Nights swag pack (which includes a 1001 Dark Nights limited edition coloring book, colored pencils, and promo booklet & bookmark). AND including a copy of THE PRINCE (another book by Jennifer)!!

2.) I also received this amazing swag kit (and the HUGELY THICK print book) of “FROM BLOOD AND ASH” and I’m giving it away here too! Wanna see? ➔➔➔➔➔➔➔

How to enter for a chance to win one of these two prizes?

Just leave a comment below (and better yet, if you have one, tell me your favorite fantasy romance OR forbidden love story), and by 10pm EST, Sunday April 5th, 2020, I will randomly select two lucky commenters as the winners.

The winners 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 Dark Nights swag pack & “The Prince” book will be sent to one winner by the publisher, and I will be sending MY “From Blood and Ash” kit to the other lucky winner.

US ONLY for now on this one (but we’re going to have an international giveaway for ebooks in just a few months). :D

➔➔➔  Love this author? Browse more Jennifer L. Armentrout features and reviews on my blog. 😀

Reader Question… Solved! The book where she auditions for a band and he overhears it, thinking it’s his guy friend…

By 4 Comments

Tanishka needs our help for this one, BIG TIME!!! She made me giggle. 😉 To me, this sounds like one of Olivia Cunning‘s rock star books (suuuuuuuuuper steamy, but also some great romance feels, too).

She asks:

Hey Maryyyyssseeee

How’s your quarantine going? Could you please help meeee?

So I read this book some time ago and I can’t remember the name.

*SPOILER ALERT (MAYBE)*

*SPOILER ALERT (MAYBE)*

*SPOILER ALERT (MAYBE)*

So like the girl auditions for a band and like a guy from another band is also listening to the auditions and he thinks that his best friend and also his band member was the one trying out, but when they select her, he finds out that she’s a girl.

And the guy has feelings for his best friend (the guy who he thought was auditioning) and also the girl.

I think it’s an mmf but I don’t remember the name.

Please help meeee……

Anyone have a guess?

Terri: It is absolutely by Olivia Cunning. It is part of the Sinners on Tour Series and is book #5 called Double Time.

Maryse: WOW!!! YAY!!! I feel so happy that I recognized this one. 😀 And now that I think of it, I LOVED that one. I read it so long ago, though which is why I wasn’t sure.

Tanishka: Thank you soo muchhh. Even I read it long ago so I couldn’t remember the name.

Maryse: YAY!!! Another one solved!!! 😀

➔➔➔  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.

Reader Question – The book about the son of the Russian Bratva that falls in love with a college girl…

By 5 Comments

Jenni needs our book help! I don’t have much “Bratva romance” experience under my belt, but I bet someone here will know this one. Sounds like it might have a touch of star-crossed lovers to it.

She asks:

Hi.

I’m looking for a book in which a young son of the Russian Bratva falls in love with a college age girl. He starts providing for her and they also live together with his brother in a nice house.

Another thing I remember is that he had maybe just returned from Russia and was sent to consolidate things in the US.

I would be so grateful if I can find this book.

Anyone know it?

Megan: The Professional by Kresley Cole?

Kathy: Is it Secrets by Sapphire Knight (part of the Russkaya Mayifa Book 1). This is a great mafia series if you haven’t read it!

Lisa: This sounds like London Miller’s series. Is it In the beginning (Volkav Bratva). Loved the series and the 2 other series.

➔➔➔  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.

Reader Question… Solved! The book about the the strip club that she inherited from her father…

By 4 Comments

Kirsty has a short and sweet one for us, and hopefully it’s enough info to spark someone’s memory. She knows the names of the characters pretty well!

She asks:

I need to find this book. It’s one of the few in the series but I cant remember the name.

Murphy got a club left in a will by her late father. Her mother was a former stripper.

Cherry/Sherry was the club’s name.

Her father owed debt a lot to Sterling.

Murphy met Zander, got pregnant etc.

Anyone know what book or series she’s looking for?

Mony: Art of War (Stern Family Saga, #3) by Monique Orgeron. Looks really good…I think will read it. Thanks

Kirsty: Thank you

Mony: You’re welcome Kristy

Maryse: YAY!! Thank you Mony! That was quick. 😀

➔➔➔  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.

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