X

Maryse's Book Blog

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

You are here: Home / Home

Parker S. Huntington – The Five Syndicates Series Reading Order

By Leave a Comment

 MAFIA SERIES ALERT & TWO MORE BOOKS just went LIVE!!!! Oh I love the sounds of this one!!!!

About book #1:

It started with my bladder.

I didn’t mean to witness a shady deal in the restroom hallway. I didn’t think twice when I called the cops. And I certainly didn’t know who the club belonged to.

Asher Black. Former mafia hitman. Billionaire CEO. New York’s most eligible bachelor. When he shows up at my college, looking for the girl who called the cops on his business, I know I’m as good as dead.

What I don’t expect is his offer–he’ll pay my tuition and set me up with a cushy job after I graduate.

All I have to do is… be his fake fiancée.

SERIES READING ORDER:

Friday Finds & Reader Recommendations – 07-26-19

By 35 Comments

<— Happy Friday everyone!!! Today’s list is loaded with over 30 books, and it’s one of our best Friday Finds in awhile!! So many awesome sounding recommendations and recent release feedback, plus a few new releases like that one to the left (KATE STEWART ALERT!!! I LOVE HER!!) The Guy on the Right that gave me an incredible blurb jolt!!! 😀 !!!!

And while you’re here, don’t forget to check out:

JulieO: Dropped my Oasis in the tub and still performing perfectly.

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

  • The Guy on the Right by Kate Stewart <— OMG KATE STEWART’S LATEST IS LIVE!!! AND OMG BLURB JOLT!! He just started college, he got the girl, and has a college football star roommate… and life is good… until… “…Except for here. College. The place where all bets are off, and I’ve managed to redeem myself. There’s only one problem, my new roommate, Troy, is football royalty and looks like he stepped off the set of an Abercrombie shoot. Doesn’t matter, I cook a mean breakfast for his panty parade, and we get along well. And anyway, this year I got the girl. And she’s perfect. That’s right. Theodore Houseman, former band geek, now marching band rock star has finally landed the girl of his dreams. Everything is perfect. That is, until Troy takes a good look at her…”

Grey: So…that little marvel up there by Kate Stewart. You’re gonna love it! Laney is our kinda girl! #JustSayin

Tasha J: Yaaaay!! I was just saying yesterday how much I wanted to read The Guy on The Right. Woohoo!

Nay: … it’s SO good! It’s about a singer who’s killed in a mass shooting at a rock concert, and his massively damaged gf and brooding older brother (also a member of the band), both survivors of the shooting, who find themselves leaning on each other to try to deal with their grief.

Michele G: I’m finishing Severance by N.N. Britt…I love her stuff. It’s emotional and right up my “pass the Kleenex box” alley.

R. Renee: Severance (ah-maz-ing), nothing else appeals to me!

Kim: Ohhhh I love this author! I’ve read another book by her that’s awesome

Nancy: I started reading it & is so good. He is an alpha, single dad & a judge. He is 39 & broken since the death of his wife & mother of his 2 kids. He lives in London. He has had 9 nannies in the past 2 years. Along comes his new 25 year old new nanny from Australia. She makes the worst mistakes possible in her 1st day. He fires her the 1st day, only to change his mind & once his kids get attached & adore this new fun & quirky nanny. He is sunk. They hated every previous nanny. And there is the off the charts sexual attraction & totally forbidden draw between the boss & his nanny!!

Susan: I just finished reading T L Swan’s Mr. Masters and it’s on KU. I couldn’t put it down. It has been a while since I have read some of her books and I had forgotten what a great writer she is and her books are steamy. I have loved every book I have read of her’s. All of her books are free on KU right now if you are looking for some great reads. The Stanton Series and Dr. Stanton Series are great too!!

Chris: One Percent of You. Just read it a week ago. So good, highly recommend.

Ashley: I LOVED LOVED LOVED One Percent of You …. it was beyond amazing! I was kind of in a reading slump and I saw it on the new Tuesday releases and it sounded really good. I’m so glad that I decided to try it. It reminded me of The Air He Breathes (a personal favorite) and River Wild by Samantha Towle. I’ve already recommended it to a couple friends. This is definitely going to be a reread!

Michelle: It is One Percent of You my Michelle Gross. I loved the book so much that I also bought the paperback!

  • Descending Into Madness (Winterland Tale Book 1) by Stacey Marie Brown <— LIVE!! SEXY RE-TELLING OF A FAIRYTALE 😉 “…What if Alice Liddell’s story didn’t happen the way you think? What if it wasn’t Wonderland she fell into, but Winterland. This mad tale is dark, twisted, sexy, and nothing like the legend you know…”
  • Knitting in the City by Penny Reid <— KU AND NEW BOOK COVERS ALERT!! Morgan found this series is now on KU!!

Morgan: Another good find for KU, Penny Reid Knitting in the city series is there now. All TEN books!! Which made my morning as I haven’t read them yet but her Winston Brothers series is hilarious.

Maryse: I need to read her again!! I’ve read a couple and chuckled, but I was more into angsty romance back then. I’m SO much more into the funny stuff now.

Jaime C: I LOVE Penny Reid and this whole series!! You’ll fall in love with the guys of course, but the real stars are the smart, quirky ladies of the knitting group!!

  • Corduroy, a Boy, and a Mostly True Story by Ashley Simmons <— SUPER-BARGAIN ALERT!! HER LIFE WAS UPENDED even though it wasn’t supposed to be like that… “…It’s definitely not supposed to be a new life, in a new town, away from the bustling city I’ve called home for my whole life, away from the beach house where I spent my summers. It’s not supposed to drag me down, wrecking my soul, and making me a prisoner to the secrets of my family. We were definitely never supposed to find each other, to choose each other. But I did, and he did, and here we are…”
  • Where I’d Rather Be (Forget Me Knot Book 4) by C.R. Ellis <— LIVE!!! BAD BOY & THE SHY GIRL ALERT!! “…If there’s one thing my past has taught me, it’s not to fall for a guy whose hobbies include bed-hopping and breaking hearts. But you know what they say about history…”
  • Stars On Fire by E.L. Todd <— LIVE!!!
  • Marquess of Mayhem (Sins & Scoundrels Book 3) by Scarlett Scott <— LIVE!! HISTORICAL ROMANCE ALERT!!
  • The Unseen (The Unseen Series Book 1) by Piper Sheldon <— LIVE!!!
  • The Lyons Next Door (A Lyons’ Heart Book 1) by Inda Herwood
  • The Better Choice by Kiersten Modglin <— LIVE!!! LOVE TRIANGLE ALERT!! “…There was Finn, the tough and mysterious bad boy who took Blythe into his home, and Asher, the handsome go-getter who showed Blythe a world she’d never known. Both men had secrets. Both men wanted Blythe for their own. The choice was hers to make…“
  • Honor’s Splendour by Julie Garwood <— JULIE GARWOOD HISTORICAL ROMANCE ALERT!! Morgan found us this one in KU!!

Morgan: Wanted to mention a bargain find. Julie Garwood, Honor’s Splendor is on KU right now…… Not sure if this is newly added to there or not…. but fingers crossed that maybe she is taking KU for a test run and will add more soon…

Robyn: Julie Garwood is like the HR Godess! I’m in love with all her books. But, my favorite is The Bride. I even named my son after the H.

bev: Oh, Julie Garwood. Her historical romances were so wonderful.

Kathy P: Just finished Endless Stretch of Blue by Riley Hart (M/M Romance). Five Stars. It is about two people who lost loved ones in a tragic fire and form a friendship over that loss. So good that I finished it in one day!

Grey: Hmm, I need a good bully. …I’m feeling some angst today.

Tasha J: Have you read the Dark Legacy series, Grey? It’s goood. Has that Fallen Crest-ish feel.

Grey: *perks ears up* um, I don’t think so? Who’s it by?

Tasha J: Jaymin Eve and Tate James. I wasn’t sure at first when I started it. I went in blind, thought it was going to be paranormal or something, but it sucked me in around 20% and I jumped right into book 2. #3 comes out Aug 11

Bibi: The Penalty Box such a good book!. Reminds me of wall of winnipeg!

Ashley: …it was amazing!!! I think it’s my favorite book of the series so far. It had a wonderful slow burn and was done perfectly for me.

Kathy P: I read the Penalty Box by Odette Stone yesterday. I have read all 3 books in this hockey series. I love hockey romances 🙂 These books are perfect for summer vacation reading.

Cheryl: Kathy I love sports romances too. Noticed the first two books in the series are available on Hoopla. Going to listen to those and then get Penalty Box on KU.. 😉

  • The Tip-Off: A College Sports Romance (Smart Jocks Book 3) by Rebecca Jenshak <— LIVE!! BASKETBALL SPORTS ROMANCE ALERT! This sounds fantastic!!! “...I’ve spent years hiding in the shadows. He’s spent his whole life chasing the bright lights of the NBA. We have nothing in common, except for the fact our friends ditched us for spring break. I have a bucket list for my senior year at Valley U. He’s the only person I know on campus…”
  • The Assist: A College Sports Romance (Smart Jocks Book 1) by Rebecca Jenshak <— BASKETBALL SPORTS ROMANCE ALERT!! Kathy P recommends this one, too!

Kathy P: Have you read any Rebecca Jenshak’s books? Her first is The Assist. There are 3 books in the basketball series. The 3rd book is coming out on Thurs. I think you would like them!

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

  • AND! Here’s the fun-tool again! —> Find out which of YOUR Kindle books are available as audiobooks at a BARGAIN-PRICE! <— This thing is so cool (Amazon calls it “Matchmaker“)! It’s an Amazon feature, that scans all of your Kindle books and will list all of the ones you have that are also available as an audiobook at a discounted price (not normal audiobook prices). This way, you can switch back and forth, seamlessly between your ebooks and your audiobooks. VERY COOL!
  1. ➔➔ Audible now has a “Romance” package membership (30 day free trial)
  2. ➔➔ Prime members Audible for 3 months at a super-deal!!!

Nay: I’ve found a new-to-me thriller author that I LOVE–Gregg Olsen. I’m listening to The The Weight of Silence: Nicole Foster Thriller Series, Book 2 (sequel to The Sound of Rain) right now, and it is intense! It does have some disturbing content, so it’s not for everyone. I’ve listened to 3 of his books in a row, and I’m hooked! Oh, and many of his books (and audio books) are free with KU!

Leslie M: Nay, that is me too with the audiobooks. I even listen in the car. Love them!! You used to hate them right? It’s all a matter of keep trying til you get used to it and then BAM, you get hooked.

Maryse: I don’t have an audible subscription yet, so I can still get in on these deals. BUT I also don’t listen to audiobooks enough yet.

Nay: Maryse–if you’re like me, once you start listening, you won’t be able to stop! It’s so great to listen when you’re cooking, cleaning, doing laundry (it’s awesome when you’re folding clothes!) I’ve been listening to so many thrillers: Jar of Hearts (LOVED), the Gregg Olsen books I mentioned the other day, which are free in audio with KU, and, of course, the one I can’t shut up about–Blake Crouch’s Wayward Pines (and also Luther Kite) series. I’ve listed to other books of his that were great too.

I’m constantly walking around with my earbuds in and having to yank one out and say, “Huh?” to everyone in my house.

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).

Claire Raye – The Rockport Beach Series Reading Order + a series giveaway and a guest post by the authors!

By 12 Comments

<— Today is extra special, ’cause not only do we have a new series to check out via this reading order, but the authors are sponsoring today’s Friday Finds newsletter, are today’s guest posters (it’s hilarious, and gives us an awesome sneak peek into who they are, and their writing process). Oh right… authorsssss? You ask? Yep! “Claire Raye” = two authors co-writing. 😀

OH AND they’re giving away the entire ebook series to one lucky commenter here!!! 😀

P.S. The authors mention: “While each book can be read as a standalone, it offers so much more if read as a series. HEA guaranteed with each book!”

The Rockport Beach Novels – How We Write:

~Claire
So a long time ago, Raye and I decided that we would try our hand at writing a book together. We were both big readers and we also loved to write, so we thought why not combine this into a novel? Pretty quickly we managed to get Coming Home to You drafted and finished. We even had all of Finding Home with You done and half of Making Home with You done. Then it all kinda just died in the ass… Why? Even we weren’t really sure. All we knew is we lost our mojo, even though it had been really good fun. And it wasn’t until we took a vacation together to Hawaii in 2018 that we finally rekindled our love of writing, which resulted in us completely re-writing Finding Home with You and Making Home with You, as well as getting our shit together with the whole marketing and promo thing. How did this all happen…well we can probably trace it back to two things…alcohol and our crazy-ass husbands and all their snarky, sarcastic wisecracks as we sat at our swim up bar! Would you agree, Raye?

~Raye
I would totally agree! It was definitely their support that got us going again… That and all that alcohol. (*drinks all the mai tais*). We literally published Coming Home to You and thought, “We wrote a book, so people will read it, right?” The answer to this was no, straight up no. We had no idea we needed to market the book, which brought us to our time in Hawaii. Our hubs are pretty successful and very knowledgeable, and while they basically think we write porn, they helped us get our shit together. We came back from our vacation refreshed, ten pounds heavier with a possible drinking problem and ready to write some books. We wrote Finding Home with You and Making Home with You at the same time, and then proceeded to crank out our next book, which may have been inspired by the shitty wine choices at our Hawaiian hotel’s club level. Btw, where did the idea for All’s Fair in Love and War come from, Claire?

~Claire
Definitely a drinking problem…although to be fair, pretty sure I was making a solid effort on that one before we went on vacation. Was that the inspiration for All’s Fair in Love and War? I don’t know. I know I did suggest we write about a sexy farmer, who’s cranky and hot and falls for a girl who he then has hot sex with in a barn…which is totally different to what we ended up writing about, so clearly that wasn’t it. Or maybe like so many of our ideas, it started with that, and then evolved into something entirely different through our constant back and forth (and often drunk) messaging…?

~Raye
Pmsl at the hot farmer having some sexy times in the barn! Hay in places that hay should never be! Well, whatever it was it was totally fueled by alcohol. I guess all we can say is we are back thanks to our husbands, mai tais, swim up bars, and Dramamine comas and stolen champagne (more on that another time).

~Claire
Yeah, and let’s not forget the vodka and POG 😉

*snort* 😛 YOU GUYS CRACK ME UP!! Kind of sounds like some of our late night Friday night conversations here… 😉

About book #1:

Beck O’Loughlin never got over his first love. Not even when he left her ten years ago to become the now hardened Boston detective. But life has come full circle because he finds himself back in his hometown, bound and determined to protect her.

Kelsey Walters never imagined she’d get a second chance with the love of her life, but he reappears when she needs him most. Stalked and tormented by an ex-boyfriend, she just longs to feel safe again and knows Beck is willing to risk his life to give her that.

As their sexual tension builds, they both realize it may not be enough to rekindle what was once lost.

READING ORDER (although each book can be read as a standalone):

And now for the giveaway!

The authors are giving away:

  • All 3 ebooks in the series!! :D!!!!

How to enter for a chance to win it? 

Just leave a comment below and by 10pm EST, Sunday July 28th 2019, I will randomly select one lucky commenter as the winner.

The winner 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 ebooks will be sent to the winner directly by the authors.

Giveaway open to International!!! :D

Jennifer Estep – A Crown of Shards Series Reading Order

By Leave a Comment

 <— NEW FANTASY SERIES ALERT!!! And I think this could fit a few of our “in the mood for” genre lists!! 😀

Michele G: …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: Kill the Queen by Jennifer Estep <— This is the one I got from San Diego and OMG, so goooooood! This has been a hectic week so I’m still not done, but it’s not the book’s fault. 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: I loved Kill the Queen!

Maryse: Book #3 is already up for preorder! 🙂 And the cover is AMAZINGGGGG!!!!

Nay: Oh, wow, Maryse–that cover IS amazing!!

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.

READING ORDER:

Reader Question – The book about a girl that escaped her family’s murder & found a reclusive man in the woods…

By 6 Comments

Yoly is looking for a book! Sounds scary, and dark, and I’m dying to know which it could be. Also, could have that forbidden-edge to it? Hrmmm….

She asks:

Hello,

I’m looking for a book, for the life of me I can’t seem to find it. I was strolling through my Goodreads community and came across a book that I remember going something like this:

A girl who’s family was murdered while she was in the house and she managed to escape. She ran through the woods and came across a home of a man who’s a recluse (and I believe a friend of her father or knows him).

I think he kidnapped her (not a 100% on this).

Now I thought I added it to my TBR list but it’s not there and now I’m thinking that I dreamed this all up, lol.

Can anyone help me locate this book, I know it’s real.

Anyone know it?

Niki: I don’t have any guesses, but it sounds like it could be good!

Maryse: Agreeeed!! I love reclusive heroes… not sure if he’s a bad guy or not. 😉

Elle: It could be Tied (All Torn Up Book 2) by Carian Cole. Not an exact match but close on the major theme ☺️

Fiona: I was thinking the same Elle the H was kidnapped when she was very young and the H rescues her in the woods; he is a recluse and is not well liked by the locals etc; it is a great read anyhow by the author Carian Cole who has a number of books in this series that are interlinked

Yoly: Thanks for trying, but no that’s not it, but sounds really interesting maybe I’ll check it out. 😊

Ari: I’m not sure if this book is published now, but I read it on Wattpad I think a few years ago… It’s called Requiem For A Soldier by ellelawrence. It’s sounds almost exactly like this

➔➔➔  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.

Contact Me | About Maryse | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Cookie Policy | © 2025 Maryse.net – Maryse’s Book Blog |
I am part of the Amazon affiliate program, which is designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Other than potential affiliate link commissions, I receive no compensation for reviews. All opinions I have expressed are my own.