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Friday Finds & Reader Recommendations – 06-07-19

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HAPPY FRIDAY!!! This list is a TWO-PART post. We had a few awesome releases yesterday that I just couldn’t hold back on, so I made a mini “SURPRISE RELEASES” post, so in case you missed it… make sure to check it out too. Seriously. It’s short but boy is it sweet!!

Plus! I just posted my latest book review of “Marriage for One“ (arranged marriage/marriage of convenience) 😀

Nadia: This one sounds like a good one !❤️

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

➔➔➔ Kindle Unlimited Membership super-bargain deal!!!! eek <— TODAY IS THE LAST DAY to get in on it!!! Extended through the month of June!!! 😀

  • Craving Rose (The Aces’ Sons) by Nicole Jacquelyn <— LIVE!!! Kathy found us this one!! SHE’S GOT TERRIBLE TASTE IN MEN... “...When the stories of how your dad and uncles raised hell before settling down are legendary, it was all too easy to see Prince Charming everywhere, believing that if a man loved me enough, he’d change. What a load of garbage. I was tired of the game, almost as tired as I was of being the only single adult at every family barbecue. But you know what they say, the moment you stop looking, the right one finds you…”

Kathy: Craving Rose by Nicole Jacquelyn is out today also.

Maryse: GASP!!! Thank you Kathy!! I’m adding it now. 😀 I love that author!

Tasha J: I just watched the trailer for Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. It comes out in August. The entire time I watched it, I chanted I my head, “no thank you, no thank you, no!” But, at the same time, I’m intrigued. I kind of, ACTUALLY wanna watch a scary movie. Believe it or not, I once was obsessed with them. Until 2009. Maybe I wanna taste of that thrill again? *waggles eyebrows*

Maryse: YES THANK YOU, YES THANK YOU!!!! I WANNA!!!!

Tessa: I remember that book! I remember the stories pretty well, as it’d come out during slumber parties and someone would read it. And of course, I’d be freaking out, and if it was one I hadn’t heard, nightmare galore. It was to the point that one parent forbade me to be in the same room with those stories because my screams kept waking her up. lol

Jan: my best read of May. Hands down, it was Carry The World, Susan Fanetti’s latest book. A really beautiful read. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Depression-era Appalachians. A lonely widowed mountain man with two kids has a slow-burn romance with a lonely widow who visits his remote farm once a fortnight to deliver free library books for his kids. Makes you cry and smile and feel warm inside.

Linda: Jan I agree!! LOVED this read. One of my May favorites!!

Mari: I agree with Jan and Linda. Carry the World was the best book I read in May. I’ll definitely read it again.

  • Training Maisy by Samantha Morgan <— SHE THINKS SHE’S NOT DESIRABLE “…After joining a gym, a steamy night with Maisy’s personal trainer leads to more heartbreak when he tells her they can never be an item. He uses the gym’s policy as an excuse, but Maisy knows the truth: she’s just not desirable...”
  • Hilariously Ever After by by Penny Reid, Helena Hunting, Jana Aston, Talia Hibbert, Julia Kent, Susannah Nix, Emma Hart, Kayti McGee, Annika Martin <— LIVE!!! COMEDY ROMANCE ANTHOLOGY BY OUR FAV AUTHORS ALERT!! NINE romantic comedy fan faves! Laugh-out-loud tales of rocket scientists, fake fiancees, mistaken identities, twins, billionaires, teachers, dog-walkers, sports stars, and one super-hot gynecologist.

Tessa: Oooh, best of the month time, or almost for those of us in the western hemisphere. 2 for me were above the rest. The Culling Trials 2 by KF Breene and Shannon Mayer. These two should work together more often. The second book did NOT disappoint.

  • The Shape of Me (Soul Catcher Book 1) by Jayme Ford <— LIVE!! “…Catching the souls of creatures and using them to change form is a biological right in a world of shifters. Unable to harness this gift has made Vex feel alone. When the city she lives in collapses around her, she scrambles to escape. With only a few survivors flanking her, Vex sets out to find safety at the next shifter sanctuary, hidden inside a mountain. As the largest city in the shifter world, it offers the protection they seek. But evil licks at the edges of Vex’s sanity,..“
  • Dragon Slayer (Sons of Rome Book 3) by Lauren Gilley <— PARANORMAL & MICHELLE S LOVES IT!

MichelleS: Going to be an amazing reading weekend for me! I just started Dragon Slayer (Sons of Rome Book 3), by Lauren Gilley. Squee I love this author. I love this series. So original. Mixing paranormal with historical figures & it totally works. Great characters & amazing story telling. Set in our world. Just freaking fantastic. I somehow missed the release. Glad Amazon recommended it based on my reading history. It’s a LOOONG book, just like her others. Happy happy camper here!

MichelleS: Val…Vlad’s brother…. is so dang hot! Vampires & werewolves, oh my!! Y’all, if you haven’t read this series, you’re missing out!

Tessa: I gotta get started on this series. I just keep forgetting it.

MichelleS: I think this is right up your alley! There are three now, and they are LONG books. Slow to start. Stick with it. Sooooo Worth it. Completely original. So many great characters to sink your teeth into.

  • Game On: A High School Bully Romance (The Ballers of Rockport High Book 1) by by E. M. Moore <— LIVE!! REVERSE HAREM BULLY BOOK ALERT!! “…the Ballers and I have a history. They play basketball. I play basketball. But they hate that I play B07Q5VVSJH as good as them. And the only thing they hate more than that, is me. That’s right. I’m a girl, and I. Can. Play. Make no mistake about it. The Ballers can do their worst, but I will earn a spot on the RHS boys’ team…”
  • Storm Cursed (A Mercy Thompson Novel Book 11) by Patricia Briggs <— Tessa & MichelleS both LOVED this one!

Tessa: Storm Cursed by Patricia Briggs. I love visiting Mercy’s world. One of my favorite places ever. Also, miniature zombie goats.

MichelleS: My May fave too was miniature zombie goats! Mercy Thompson will undoubtedly land as my favorite read anytime a new one is released. That series is still going strong. Adam was extra swoony touchy feely in this one. Wish there would have been a Bran sighting. Vote #2 for Storm Cursed as best of May.

  • Love Hard by Hazel Parker <— BIKER BOOK ALERT!! SHE’S HIS DAUGHTER’S TEACHER… “…After my wife died, I’m all that my teenage daughter has left. And she’s growing up too fast. With a short sabbatical from the club, I’m going to give the single dad life all I’ve got. Who would’ve guessed my daughter would set me up with her drama teacher almost immediately? Our emotional connection is immediate,  and we share details of our lives— and loves lost. She’s been through so much, and I’m hesitant to tell her the truth about my ties to the Saints…”
  • Rocking at Book Bonanza: Volume 1 AND Rocking at Book Bonanza: Volume 2 <— LIVE!!! TWO ANTHOLOGY OF SAMPLES “…An exclusive collection of samples by New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors appearing at Rocking at Book Bonanza in Dallas Texas, August 9-10, 2019. Each author personally selected an enticing preview of their work for you to sample...”

Michelle Mankin: This is an amazing group. I so admire these women. You might have heard we are doing a meet and greet together at Book Bonanza, August 9th 6-8 pm here in Grapevine, Texas (my hometown) at the Gaylord Hotel. And we are giving away 2500 one of a kind autograph books, for FREE, to ALL the attendees of the event.

We also put together an-ebook anthology, two volumes with never before combined samples of our work. Readers can preview our stories, then link at the end to purchase the full length book if they want to read more. And I just sent out an email to my subscribers to warn them, they will want to read more.

This group is wickedly talented, as well as being incredibly supportive and generous. I’m honored to be included with them.

All profit from Rocking at Book Bonanza, Volume 1 & Rocking at Book Bonanza, Volume 2 are going to the Bookworm Box. Good deeds. Great reads.

AUDIOBOOK L:D VERS!

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. The Skull King by Penelope Skye <— LIVE!!!
  2. In to Her by J.A. Huss <— LIVE!!
  3. Boomtown: Freebirds, Book 1 by Lani Lynn Vale <— LIVE!!!

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).

Book Review – Marriage For One by Ella Maise

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Marriage For One

I have a great fondness for stories about complete strangers getting married (whether it be arranged by family, or for appearances sake, or for financial reasons). Getting to know one another, through all that turmoil, and feeling completely disoriented just sucks me in!

Sometimes when it comes to romance, there’s nothing better than all that initial discomfort (and even distress) over having to live with someone you don’t even know (and may not even like), let alone acting like you’re in love. FUN!!!

And this one tempted me HARD, because of that blurb (teasing me with promises of turmoil, pining and maybe even eventual unrequited love – from the heroine’s POV – which is my favorite).

His actions spoke the loudest to me. And day after day my heart started to get a mind of its own.

One second he was no one. The next he became everything.
One second he was unattainable. The next he seemed to be completely mine.
One second I thought we were in love. The next it was still nothing but a lie.

And so I jumped in, rubbing my hands together in anticipation of the mess she had just gotten herself into. 😉 I know… I’m mean like that. *snort*

I absolutely loved being in her head for the most part. I TRULY liked her, I found her silly-funny, and relatable and vulnerable and well, sure… a bit naive (maybe too much, for some), but there was just something about her that I connected to. I could see myself in.

Ohhhhhh how I WISH we had stayed in her POV throughout. There’s nothing better for me, than to pine and stress over the strong and silent guy I’m into (I mean… that SHE’S into), wondering what his motives are, wondering what he’s thinking, being all uncomfortable with his grumpy, scowly demeanor. Ahhhh such romance-stress bliss!! 😉

Alas, we soon get his POV (and he’s pretty great himself, so it’s no hardship), but I wanted to learn that he was pretty great by his actions, and her observations of him. Eventually. As they got to know each other… slowly. But being in his head pretty much from the start, we are privy to who he is, and how he feels, despite the fact that the heroine is not. Which tones down the effect of worry and heartache that I could have had, had I been living with him, strictly through her eyes.

So what’s it about?

Rose is struggling with heartbreak after the love of her life just dumped her, while simultaneously stressing over a newly broken contract (that she had with her now deceased uncle) on a coffee shop she had just spent all of her savings on. That contract was now null and void… her dreams all going down the drain. Everything was now going to be owned by her cousins (who had NO interest in working with her on the initial deal).

But her uncle did include a stipulation in his Will. If Rose was married, her HUSBAND would inherit the coffee shop. But her dreams of marriage were now gone too.

That is, until an attorney at the firm offered her an out. Or an “in” I should say. And I’ll let you read the rest from there. 😉

It kept me interested, but it was long (over 500 pages) and at times, predictable (I was waiting for a gasp worthy twist that I didn’t see coming, but I pretty much had it figured out early in the book). That said, plenty of it kept me captivated and power-reading. From her getting her coffee shop ready (so fun – I could SEE it), to a certain surprise situation that had me hooked and anxious, to giggling over the heroine’s goofiness (and HIS reactions). *snort* LOVE THAT!!

Yet at times, I found myself skimming to get back to the heart of the story (or hoping, at least, to get back to feeeeeeling the angst). I love a serious push-pull, and this had that to an extent, but I think I needed more in terms of lack of emotion maybe? From him? *sigh* I dunno. Like how that blurb made it seem!! THAT!!

It was a bit too easy on me, but I was hooked enough and needing to know the “bigger picture”. I knew we were up for a big angsty reveal – though in the end, some of the reveals and explanations were a bit over-the-top for me. And made me grumble.

Sooooo….

3.75 stars! <— I enjoyed it, but it didn’t have that intense, unputdownable feeling for me, you know?

Thursday Book Release Surprises!!!

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 <— OKAY!!! This was totally supposed to be the Friday Finds list (I usually post what went live Thursday and Friday on THAT list), but too many awesome-sounding books, from authors we already LOVE BIG TIME just went live today (and a couple of amazing bargains), and I can’t wait to put these up.

P.S. OMG!!! Kim Holden’s latest IS LIVE!!! WE LOVED her angsty Brightside series, and she tore our hearts out and HEALED us too.

And now… we get to read another one of her beautiful stories.

➔➔➔ Kindle Unlimited Membership super-bargain deal!!!! eek <— TODAY IS THE LAST DAY to get in on it!!! Extended through the month of June!!! 😀

LOOKIT WHAT JUST WENT LIVE :D !!

  • The Other Side by Kim Holden <— Kim Holden ALERT!!!! OMGGGGG LOOKIT WHAT JUST WENT LIVE!! SURPRISE!!! 😀 He wants to give up, but the she moves in downstairs… “…When Alice Eliot moves in downstairs, she offers Toby some light in his dark world. At a crossroads and barely hanging on, it’s hard to have perspective. It’s difficult to see your own worth when you’re the villain in your story. Luckily for Toby, Alice brings things out in him that no one else ever has. As the two sides of Toby’s story are revealed, and the full reality comes into view, truth is gained, unlikely heroes emerge, and improbable alliances prove that kindness is fundamentally human. The question is, Will it all be enough to save him?…”
  • Coldhearted Boss by R.S. Grey <— LIVE!! SQUEEEE!!! R.S. GREY ALERT!!! SHE JUST GOT A JOB BUT HER NEW BOSS IS HER ENEMY!! 😉 “…I like to think I might have pulled the whole thing off save for one thing: I know my boss. Last month, we met at a bar, and after a fiery first encounter, it seems we’re destined to be sworn enemies. Ethan Stone is ruthless and arrogant, a man I never would have crossed had I known how much he likes to toy with his prey. He should just fire me and be done with it. Instead, he decides to make me his personal slave. Oh right, I think they’re calling it personal “assistant” these days…”

JenC: R.S. Grey is my go to! Without fail! …This author has totally become a must read for me, I’m just going through some of her back catalogue whenever I’m in the mood for a RomCom.

Mona: I’m now reading Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah, it’s KU. I’m about 43% into it and don’t want to put it down. I was expecting paranormal but it’s really not that.

Tasha: I’ve finished Where the Forest Meets the Stars and it was wonderful! Just, perfect. No tears, safe for a cruise read. 😉 Not classified as romance, but does have just what I like! And it’s kindle unlimited. …No annoyance in hero or heroine. Just a lovely read. Ursa was the star, but I loved Gabe too. And Jo. There are so many little issues I have with descriptions or sappyness or immaturity or dragging or whatever, that this book didn’t have for me. It was refreshing.

Michele G: Tasha, I have to agree with you about your love for Where the Forest Meets the Stars. That was a really special book! It’s hard to put into words…I’m on emotional overload

Nay: …for anyone who gets Where the Forest Meets the Stars free with KU, the audio book is also free.

  • The Girl by K. Larsen <— LIVE!!! K. LARSEN ALERT!!! THEY’RE BOTH OUTCASTS… “…A good girl but a loner–she spends her time on the fringes of high school society, keeping to herself. But then Dallas Baribeau appears. A mysterious new student with a sexy yet mischievous smile and fellow social outcast, who seems hell-bent on winning her heart. But like everything in her life, Lotte errs on the side of caution…” P.S. Lotte (the little girl from The Tutor) has her own book!!! I asked the author and she confirms we can read this on its own, but The Tutor was creepy and good and she was a major character in that book (so I recommend reading it first – see the very next book underneath).

Maryse: Quick question! Can readers read this is a standalone if they haven’t read The Tutor?

K. Larsen: Absolutely! I wrote it to stand on its own since it’s not dark or in any way plot wise like The Tutor.

Debbie: This book…..I can’t even. 😍 It exceeded my every expectation and is easily a top favorite.

Jean: I jumped into The Tutor last night and COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN!!! I will be sneak reading at work all day today without a doubt!

Grey: …here I am, a month later, and I’m still thinking about it. It’s dark… I had full on pretzel tummy… There’s something about the way K. Larsen writes, that just hooks you and draws you into the world she builds…

  • The Weight of Lies: A Novel by Emily Carpenter <— PSYCH-THRILLER SUPER-BARGAIN ALERT!! Her mother’s a famous author… “…Reformed party girl Meg Ashley leads a life of privilege, thanks to a bestselling horror novel her mother wrote decades ago. But Meg knows that the glow of their very public life hides a darker reality of lies, manipulation, and the heartbreak of her own solitary childhood. Desperate to break free of her mother, Meg accepts a proposal to write a scandalous, tell-all memoir…” (and then disturbing things come to light!! ABOUT HER MOTHER!)

Reader Question… Solved! The book about the girl that stumbles upon a crime, and they take her…

By 6 Comments

Kelli is looking for this one! Two books immediately came to mind (I discuss why, below) but I know they’re not the ones, so I’m dying to find out too!

She asks:

Hi!

I’ve come across your blog while trying to hunt down a book I read a few years ago.

I cannot for the life of me recall the name or even the author, but it’s out of a distinct genre and a dark read, so, I’m hoping you’ve read it and it rings a bell. I really need to read this book again!

Anyways, it’s about a girl who stumbles up on a crime being committed and she’s found out by the men committing it (a murder if I remember right, and she’s hid beside dumpsters). So, they take her, and she ends up in this beautiful home that is also a S&M private club of some sort. The man who keeps her, kind of deprives her from affection until she’s all but starved of it and begs for communication.

As it turns out, she takes a liking for this lifestyle.

The male MC happens to be an undercover agent, and their relationship peaks. He discovers that he likes being her master and is very conflicted by that.

That’s about all I can remember. I really hope you’ve read this and it sounds alarms in your head!

Thanks!

P.S. Newly added information that Kelli remembers:

“I remember that her keeper (the undercover cop) becomes really guilt ridden the closer it comes time for a raid by his agency. At the end of the book, and I hate to leave a spoiler, but

*spoiler alert*

*spoiler alert*

*spoiler alert*

*spoiler alert*

*spoiler alert*

the two of them are in a restaurant together and they’re still very much a master slave duo. It had to have been published before 2017 “

Okay, so immediately a DARK kidnap book (Mafia Captive by Kitty Thomas) that I devoured. It wasn’t as dark as her usual ones, but IS dark – she WAS taken and held hostage when she saw the crime around the dumpsters. BUT I know that’s not it, because it’s a Mafia family and one of the members claims her as his. No BDSM club that I can remember? (P.S. Here’s my review)

Also makes me think of “Crow’s Row” (she stumbles upon a crime and they take her – SOOOO GOOD – we went wild for that one back in our original indie days), but again, no BDSM club. (P.S. Here’s my review)

So I’m dying to know too!! 😀 I love cop heroes and I love reading about when two discover (and explore) a D/s connection that they’ve never experienced before.

Anyone know it?

Millie: Hummm interesting, the really beginning makes me think of “Nero (Made Men Book 1)” by Sarah Brianne (the heroine hides behind a dumpster and then the son of the Mafia boss takes an interest in her, it’s a bully romance book) and then the undercover cop / master makes me think of “Owned)” by M. Never

Kelly: Hi! I appreciate so much you trying to help me out but unfortunately, I’ve looked in to all the guesses and none of those are it. I remember that her keeper (the undercover cop) becomes really guilt ridden the closer it comes time for a raid by his agency. …It had to have been published before 2017

Jenn: Irrevocable (Sins of Ashville Book 1) by Skye Callaghan???

Kelli: I found it! And it is Broken by W. Winters. SUCH a fantastic read and what’s even better is now that I’ve rediscovered this book, I’ve also found this authors other fabulous works.

➔➔➔  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 where he draws on her with special markers for skin…

By 11 Comments

Carrie needs our book help and I love the sound of this one!! It sounds warm and uplifting, and now I must know it too!

Carrie: Maryse, I need some help with finding a book.

All I can remember is the H drawing on the h w/ special markers for skin, & she eventually gets some of his drawings tattooed. I believe he’s a tattoo artist.

And the drawings help her heal/help her body image… Is this ringing any bells?? Did I dream this story line? Thanks!!

Jackie: I remember this as well but I can’t remember the title.. 😑

Anyone know which one she’s looking for?

Ashley: Is it The Strongest Steel: A Second Circle Tattoos Novel by Scarlett Cole?

Carrie: Omh Ashley! I’ve even been rereading her Preload series lately!! I’m off to see if this has the scene I’m looking for! Thank you!!

Ashley: I didn’t remember a scene like that – but it was what popped into my head. It’s such a good book. It’s been so long since I read it….I’m pretty sure I’m due for a reread!

Anne18: Sins and Needles (The Artists Trilogy Book 1) by Karina Halle?

Maryse: Anne18!!!! OH YEAHHHHH!!! I remember because of her burns… and he turned them into beautiful tattooooooos!!! YES!! I bet that’s the one!!! Holy moly how could I have forgotten that tidbit. I LOVED that book. Here’s my review.

Carrie: Idk if I’ve read this one but I’m checking it out!!!

Carrie: I just looked & it doesn’t appear to be either of those, darn it! But I’ll still be trying to reread all my Scarlett Cole books this year!

Suzanne: Could it be Helena Hunting’s Clipped Wings (maybe 3 or 4 books in the series)?

Terri: There is a scene about tattoo pens in Hard As It Gets: A Hard Ink Novel by Laura Kaye as well.

➔➔➔  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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