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Reader Favorites – Rochelle’s Best Books of 2018 List

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It’s Rochelle’s turn!!! She’s fairly new to our crew (at least publicly), but I am so thankful that she’s come out of the woodwork to recommend her very favorites of the year!

And I just love this sweet message that she sends to us.

“First Maryse and all the blog family. I love, I mean love waking every morning and reading what is inspiring in books, food and family. There was a short time when there was no blog and I almost panicked. I know you live in Florida and I couldn’t help but worry.

So often I wanted to post but my morning fingers don’t work on my phone. But I was inspired to share my 10 top 5 star reads.  I listened to or read 81 books this year. That is only 7 books a month.

Thank you all for sharing and I look forward to more years of Maryse’s Blog. Thank you Maryse!”

I’m SO glad you’re with us, Rochelle. And I completely understand your tired morning fingers. LOL!!!

Now… Rochelle’s Top 10 Five Star Reads for 2018 😀

Dark Notes by Pam Godwin  <— So well written and a book that stays with you for a long time. This is probably #1 of my 10. Pam is a new author for me and she captures me one page one and takes me for a ride. This book is utterly engrossing and addicting. I listened to this on Audible and was captivated.

Road Trip, Head Tripped and Field Tripped by Nicole Archer <— LOL funny and an author who can pull in details with humor and poise.

Hydraulic Level 5 (The Hydraulic Series Book 1) and Skygods (The Hydraulic Series Book 2) by Sarah Latchaw <— I HATE cliffs. If I had known. Book 3 was never written. But yes, there is a but, these two books are so well worth the Cliff. Not really a cliff but a unfinished story.

Any book that can take us on the river or flying through the sky and have me wanting more has my attention. This is such a fun book.

No Tomorrow by Carian Cole <— Broken Rock Stars just do it for me.

The Girl in Times Square: A Novel by Paulina Simons <— You cannot rush Paulina. She gives history and ties it up and doesn’t miss any detail. She can paint a perfect picture with her words. All her works are superb and this is no exception. Don’t be in a hurry and absorb all she has to offer.

Five (The Mister Series Book 6) by J.A. Huss <— It is JA Huss What can I say. She rocks the romance world.

The Lucky Ones by Tiffany Reisz <— Tiffany has always been a go to author for me and last year The Red was on my top 10. I now have the Lucky Ones which is a road of twist and turns. Kept me guessing to the end.

Keep Her Safe: A Novel by K.A. Tucker <— KA books keep getting better and she has a way of using expressions, history, locations and traditions which she weaves into her stories. They come alive.

Still Me: A Novel (Me Before You Trilogy Book 3) by Jojo Moyes <— Give me any Jojo and I am happy.

One is a Promise (Tangled Lies Book 1) by Pam Godwin <— After Dark Notes I devoured all of Pam’s Books. So good and a twisted plot. Who will she choose. I loved this book.

My Oxford Year: A Novel by Julia Whelan <— Best New Author. Writing is Phenomenal.

Friday Finds & Reader Recommendations – 12-21-18

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SATURDAY MORNING BREAKING NEWS UPDATE!!! AMAZON IS HAVING A KINDLE UNLIMITED MEMBERSHIP DEAL!!! This is valid for EVERYONE and not just new members!! :D!!! Instead of the monthly payment plan, you can save BIG time if you sign up for:

Can we gift these, I wonder? THAT would be an awesome last minute Christmas gift for someone!!! If not, well, it’s a nice treat for ourselves!!
HOLY MOLY I CAN’T BELIEVE it’s already almost Christmas!!!! I’m so excited. I have new friends to celebrate with, and my sister will be here tomorrow!!! 😀
And then… these awesome sounding books that we found. Gifts in themselves! And I will be adding more throughout they as I find them.

P.S. A few fun things:

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

  • Late Night Kisses by Whitney G <— WHITNEY G’S LATEST IS LIVE!!! She had the worst first date with the cockiest, rudest guy… “Days after I abandoned him on our first date, he tracked me down with one hell of a way to get me to agree to a second one. (And a third, and a fourth.) I swear if it weren’t for the fact that I was being blackmailed by the sexiest man I’ve ever met, I would’ve reported him to the authorities a long time ago…”
  • Shriek: Legend of the Bean Sídhe by Jennifer M. Barry <— LIVE!! PARANORMAL ROMANCE/URBAN FANTASY ALERT!! And…. SHE’S SHRIEKING!!! “Sara Donovan is a banshee. Well, that’s what her father says. Her mom just thinks she needs a good psychiatrist. When she wakes the morning after her eighteenth birthday screaming her head off outside some stranger’s house, she’s inclined to believe her dad’s side of the story. She can’t control her shrieks – not when they happen or who dies – but things could always be worse. She could have a crazed madman determined to kill her, thanks to her newfound talents. Or, she could find out her long-time crush is the next to die…” P.S. Check out her guest post and enter the giveaway we’re having ➔ Four Fun Facts + a giveaway!!
  • More: Ryder Brothers by JD Hawkins <— LIVE!!! EX-ROCK STAR ALERT!! HE HAD A ONE NIGHT STAND WITH HER AT A WEDDING… “…After spending years of my life getting screwed over by managers and agents with the Ryder Brothers, I no longer like to commit. I don’t even play music anymore. The secret that I haven’t told anyone- is that I can’t. A chance to raise money for my best friend’s nonprofit to help child stars means it’s time to deal with my block. Hiring Hadley seems like the obvious solution…”
  • Kandace and the Beast by Shay Savage <— SHAY SAVAGE wrote this book years ago for… and about one of our best book friends, Kandace (who has cancer and is very ill right now) and has donated all of the money from the sales of it, to Kandace and her family (husband and three children). We’re giving an extra push for it this week to raise more money for her family and here’s another way you can donate (thank you Heather!!)
Shay Savage: A lot of people have reached out to me this week asking about Kandace and the Beast. Yes, the proceeds have always gone to her and her family, and will continue to do so.
  • Diced: A New Year’s Romance by  Ginger Scott <— LIVE!!! GINGER SCOTT CHRISTMAS SURPRISE SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE ALERT! ➔ “… One perfect dinner service at the hottest new hotel in Vegas means landing her own restaurant. But what happens when her righthand man turns out to be working against her. Mia needs help. And there’s really only one person she can call. But damn is it ever gonna hurt…”
  • First Grave on the Right (Charley Davidson Book 1) by Darynda Jones <— GREY IS LOVING IT!

Grey: I’m reading First Grave on the Right, makes me *giggle*. Right now, I just needed something light and funny…
Theresa: Just read this 1st book and loved it!…can’t wait to read more!
Kim L: OMG I LOVE LOVE LOVE this series, I <3 Reyes!!!!

Jean: I loved Devil in Spring (thanks to Jan for that recommendation)! You guys should try it!
Jan: Yes Jean! Devil In Spring is beautiful. Grab it while it’s on sale, folks. New one in series is out in Feb 2019 😀 😀

Amy: I found one that sounds like it could be right up our Marmy alley… Thigh Bones of Desire. Odd title but that blurb! Oh man, that is my next read. For. Sure.
Maryse: ME TOO Amy! I think we’ll end up buddy-reading this one. 😀

  • Juniper Smoke: Part I & II by Sadia Ash <— WILL BE A HOLLYWOOD MOVIE!! TWO books bundled in one and super-bargain priced today!! Plus, book #3 was just released too! 😀
Jan: Jan: Juniper Smoke is a really different and original romance – although it wasn’t a perfect book I still recommend it cos it’s got such a different ‘flavour’. A ‘fresh’ feeling.
  • IF | A Novel by Randi Cooley Wilson <— LIVE AND OH EM GEEEEE ON THIS ONE!! Amy found it for us and I’m ON IT!!!!! “What happens when two broken people meet, fall in love, and realize they can never be? What happens when all the what ifs no longer make sense? If you knew your heart would break, would you still fall?”

Amy: I found another one just released today that has achy potential all over the blurb… IF by Randi Cooley Wilson. *OOMPH!*
Maryse: Yep… you ‘n me are still 100% book twins. I had the same OOMPH and lookit that cover!!!!!!!

          

 

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 —>

R: Renee …My new obsession with audio books continues. I’m now finding things to do around the house just so I’ll have an excuse to “read.” Not that there’s ever a lack of things to do. I just don’t usually do them.

  • 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. Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover <— Ashley LOVES this and says it takes the “book” to a whole new level.

Ashley: I have had the hugest girl crush on Colleen Hoover since I read Maybe Someday. The way she incorporated music right into the book that you could actually listen to while you read the lyrics was incredible! I ended up buying the songs so I could just listen to them while I was working. It remains one of my favorite reads…and I didn’t think it could possibly get any better until I listened to the audiobook. Whole new level. (Zachary Webber everyone.)

PREORDERS (going live soon!!!  :D )

  1. The Darkest Captive: A Lords of the Underworld Novella by Gena Showalter – December 24th 2018
  2. Yours After Dark, A Gansett Island Novel (Gansett Island Series) by Marie Force – December 25th 2018
  3. Tainted Bastard (Tainted Knights Book 4) by Terri Anne Browning – December 29th 2018
  4. The Lies We Tell by Brittany Butler – December 31st 2018 <— Amy “I totally preordered The Lies We Tell…THAT is an intriguing blurb!”
  5. Wicked Knight (Wicked Horse Vegas Book 5) by Sawyer Bennett – January 1st 2019
  6. Dirty Rich Obsession: All Mine (Reid & Carrie Book 2) by Lisa Renee Jones – January 2nd 2019
  7. The Secret to Dating Your Best Friend’s Sister by Meghan Quinn – January 3rd 2019
  8. Ransom (Laurel Springs Emergency Response Team Book 1) by Laramie Briscoe – January 5th 2019
  9. Prisoner of Night (The Black Dagger Brotherhood series) by J.R. Ward – January 7th 2019!!!!
         

➔➔➔  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).

Reader Question – The book about a couple who got separated because the guy thought he was impotent and couldn’t give her a child.

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Steve is looking for this one for… “she”. 😉 His wife?

Girlfriend? Sister? Mom? Not sure but I think it’s great he’s come to us! And it sounds good, so maybe a new book for us to read?

He asks:

Looking for a book about a couple who got separated because the guy thought he was impotent and couldn’t give her a child. They got divorced.

The guy became rich (he was a former construction worker) and they met again at a company he bought where she was working at. He didn’t know that his wife got pregnant and had a child with him.

She forgot the names of the characters :’( only remembers the plot.

Things that she recall: The guy stayed at the house that they picked out together, they had a son who wants a dog, the mother was constantly struggling to provide for her son, the guy thought that her son wasn’t his and insists that the guy who got her pregnant take up his

Anyone have an idea?

Amy: I have no idea what the name of this book is and I’ve read a lot of “surprise pregnancy” books. I’m going to go on goodreads and search. I hope I or someone can it. If not then I hope someone writes it!!! :D!!

Caroline: Would like to read this book if anyone ever comes up with the title and / or author!!!

Beth: This looks like a winner! I hope someone can remember this one!

Kate: Mistress to her husband by penny jordan

Reader Question – The book that has an upside down bridge at night, on the cover…

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Louise needs our book help and this one sounds heartfelt, and painful, and wonderful, and angsty. I must know it, too!!

She asks:

Hello Maryse! I didn’t really found the best method to contact you and I hope that I’m not bothering you by sending my request by email…
But first, I wanted to tell you that your blog is absolutely amazing, full of excellent reviews and suggestions and I thank you greatly for all of this work that you’re doing for your readers.

So I’ve been looking for a book I read maybe 1 year ago. I have a lot of details but after many hours spent doing research, I give up and I am now seeking your help.

This book has a beautiful cover of an upside down bridge at night.
The story is about a pop star that can’t live with the fame anymore and decides to go to the San Francisco Bridge with a bad idea in her head.

There, she meets a man who has full sleeves of tattoo and who I think is a woodworker. This character’s brother (or sister) killed himself/herself on top of this bridge and now he comes around to make sure nobody does the same.

The pop star visits a lot of sick kids in the hospital because her sister died of sickness a couple of years ago. I think her male best friend is gay and is the main character in the second book of this series. At the end of the book they helped, thanks to donations, putting nets around the bridge.
I hope someone will recognize this book and thanks again for your help.

PS: I’m a foreigner and this is why they may be a lot of typos. Sorry!

Louise I am SO thrilled that you contacted me (and email is absolutely perfect!!). P.S. This book sounds amazing (and seems like it has an incredible message), so I hope we find it!

Anyone know which one she’s looking for?

Stacie: The Fall Up by Ally Martinez?

Sarah: Sounds like Aly Martinez’s The Fall Up.

Carol: The Fall Up…aly martinez

Leslie M: Carol is right, it’s The Fall Up. :)

Heidi: The Fall Up by Ali Martinez. Not sure if the spelling on the author’s first name is correct. Awesome book.

Simran: Yeah…it’s The Fall Up by Ali Martinez…a good read
Aly Martinez: Yes!! This is absolutely The Fall Up!

Maryse: YAY!!! Confirmation from the author herself. BTW she’s one of my FAVORITE authors, so I have no doubt this book is awesome! YAY ME!!

Sadia Ash – Smoke Series Reading Order

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<— THIS ONE IS GOING TO BE A MAJOR HOLLYWOOD MOVIE and book #3 just went live!!! SOOOO much love for this series!

Jan: Juniper Smoke is a really different and original romance – although it wasn’t a perfect book I still recommend it cos it’s got such a different ‘flavour’. A ‘fresh’ feeling.

Tessa: …Juniper Smoke was awesome, except the last two chapters. Those chapters made no sense outside needing a CH. But, 49 out of 51 chapters were perfect.

Robyn: I’m so excited that book 3 in the Juniper Smoke series dropped today. It’s called Finding Juniper by Sadia Ash. If you haven’t read this series it it so good and the first 2 books are sold together …. If you need more convincing take a look at the cover of Finding Juniper, Kyle the H, is swoon worthy!

Jan: Thanks Robyn. I didn’t know Finding Juniper was out. Jupiter Smoke was a fresh and different CR, and I’m keen to read the next one. And it’s bargain priced on amazon Australia at the moment too. :D

About book #1:

Juniper and Kyle meet when she is dangling forty feet from a museum scaffolding, hanging on for dear life. Juniper is a sassy, nerdy curator at the History Museum of Ann Arbor. Her life has been one big sacrifice for others. Work. Home. Repeat. Raised by her mother to hate men, she worries she’ll die a frigid scholar in a musty house with an army of cats and a lake of books.

Kyle Paxton is a handsome, intense and intimidating inventor of micro-cameras from San Francisco. To curb the dark memories of his ex-girlfriend (who still haunts him), he schedules dating and work with robotic precision. Not looking for love, he only hooks up with Amazonian models.

When he joins the museum board, Juniper falls for him. She wants him, but knows it’s going to be as hard as catching the ocean in a teacup. Juniper becomes Kyle’s obsession, but the tragic secrets of his past cloud his feelings. Juniper soon knocks Kyle’s world off its axis and their galaxies collide in this very unfairy tale. But can they overcome their differences and stop a hateful and vindictive person from tearing them apart?

READING ORDER:

 

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