Excerpt Reveal: Twist (Dive Bar #2) by Kylie Scott

twistbanner


Available April 11, 2017

From New York Times bestselling author Kylie Scott comes the second sizzling stand-alone novel in the Dive Bar series!

When his younger brother loses interest in online dating, hot bearded bartender Joe Collins only intends to log into his account and shut it down. Until he reads about her.

Alex Parks is funny, fascinating, and pretty much everything he's been looking for in a woman—except that she lives across the country. Soon they're emailing up a storm and telling each other their deepest, darkest secrets...except the one that really matters.

When Alex pays Joe a surprise visit, however, they both discover that when it comes to love, it's always better with a twist.


Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AUS | Amazon CA | iBooks | B&N | Kobo | Google Play

exclusive without tape

I watched the streetlights cast shadows on the angle of his cheekbone, the furrow of his brow. Strange how his manly beauty had grown on me, redefining or rather stretching my usual boundaries. Perhaps some people’s allure came from the inside out. A good thing. Their ways and their words did the wooing instead of their physical appeal. Not to diss Joe’s impressive physique. As nice as a pretty face was, though, the personality, the person beneath the skin, should matter more. Anything else was pretty shallow and unlikely to last. Guess that was the difference between my scratching an itch with a stranger and the way this man had me tied up in knots. And not even neat, sea-worthy knots. I’m talking, haven’t washed or brushed your hair in forever and there’s a big old mess back there.

Shit.

At the bar, he’d flirted with me. Full-on flirted with me, his supposed platonic friend who was not his type. No way did I know what to do. Normally Valerie would be first on my hit list of people to call. But she’d just tell me to jump him, regardless of what else was going on, or any possible consequences. Plus, with him beside me it would be kind of uncool. But a couple of whisky sours or no, I was pretty certain I hadn’t imagined his interest. As Mom had always said, however, best to be sure.

“What are the renovating plans for tomorrow?” I asked.

“Rip out the old fittings and prepare the space for new.”

I nodded. “So we’ll be doing some pounding and screwing?”

“Ah, yeah.” The man cast me a look out of the corner of his eye. “Sound okay?”

“Absolutely. Can’t wait to get my hands back on that big hard hammer.”

“Great,” he said, throwing me another questioning look.

I gave a nice bland smile. Yeah, pal. Two could play at the what-the-fuck-is-going-on flirting game. I turned in my seat, all the better to face him.

“Did you want to bang, Joe?”

“What did you say?” Wide eyes flashed my way.

“Like I did on that wall today. That was fun,” I said with all due sincerity. “Will we be doing more of that?”

A pause. “Sure.”

“Awesome.”

Another quizzical look.

“Something wrong?” I inquired politely.

“No.” His Adam’s apple dipped as he swallowed hard, shifting in his seat, gaze decidedly unsure. The poor fool couldn’t begin to understand the crazy he’d unleashed with his little taunt. Get rough with the man? My starved libido was well beyond the rough-and-tumble stage. No more hiding or denying, sticking
to the sidelines of life. It was my time to step forward and be brave. When it came to Joe Collins, I was more than ready to say yes.

“I just . . .” he started. “Never mind.”

Neither of us spoke as he pulled into a parking space a short walk down from the hotel. I leaned over, placing my hand on hisdenim-covered thigh. The muscle tensed beneath my fingers. Shame on me for straying a little close to his loins.

“Thanks so much for tonight, Joe. I’m so glad we decided to be friends. Because you, sir, make a great friend.”

“Right. Good.” A frown. “How much did you have to drink again?”

“Not nearly enough. Quick, let’s get to my hotel room so I can have more!” I threw open my door.

“Okay.”

Hands stuffed in his pockets, he followed me inside, lingering a step or two behind. Guess he didn’t like it when people’s moods got all mixed up and mercurial either. Funny, that. I nodded to the dude at the front desk and pressed the button on the elevator. It opened immediately. Mirrors and old-timeylooking wooden framing decorated the small space. We both leaned against the back wall as it slowly ascended.

“Yeah, sure can’t wait to do some banging, and pounding, and screwing around with you, Joe.” I smiled. “Sound good?”

He just gave me a dry look from his superior height. All confusion gone from his handsome face. Confined spaces only made him seem bigger, even more imposing than usual. No way, no day, however, was I crawling back into my shell or turning into a shadow. We’d agreed to work on our issues, so fine, I was putting
it out there. Still, my bravado was fading, I could barely meet his eyes. The man affected me in all the ways.

“It’s hard, no pun intended this time, because sometimes it feels like you want to be just friends,” I said. “But then other times you flirt with me and I honestly don’t know what’s going on. No huge surprise there, I know. Social awkwardness is my jam. But I thought I mostly understood where you were coming from.”

A ding from the elevator and the doors opened at our stop. I walked out, his bearded hotness following slowly behind, stalking me almost. For certain his usual cool, easy-going-guy persona was missing in action. The man radiated tension, intensity, even. And if he didn’t, I definitely did.

Inside the hotel room I went for mood lighting, only turning on the table and bedside lamps. I rubbed sweaty hands against the sides of my pants. “What you said back at the bar about me getting rough with you, however. Now, that almost sounded like a dare.”

“Did it?”

“It did.”

Arms hanging loose at his sides, he just watched me, saying nothing. Jerk.

“So tell me.” I stood at the foot of the bed, facing him. Every part of me was wired, wide awake. “What’s going on, Joe?”

His shoulders rose and fell on a deep breath. “I realized something tonight.”

“What?”

“That I was falling into old habits. Doing what was easy instead of doing what I wanted.”

“Huh?”

“It was just before you spilled ice on that guy’s pants.”

“Sure. I can see how you’d be seduced by my smooth moves,” I said, voice filled with much doubt. My insides were ready to spontaneously combust. I swear I could feel sweat breaking out all over me, the man was just that hot. Also, my nerves were on high alert.

One corner of his lips tipped up. “You know how you said you weren’t jealous?”

“Yes?”

“Well, I was.”

Wow. I had nothing.

“This is the part where you’re supposed to admit you were jealous too,” he supplied.

“I didn’t think it needed to be said. I’m not that good a liar.”

“True,” he said. “Anyway, I made the pass at you and then I was leaving it up to you to figure out what you want. To be brave and make the next move.”

Softly, I laughed and shook my head. Men were such idiots.

“Make the first move? This isn’t a game. As I said last time the subject of sex came up, previous hurt feelings, etc. It’s going to get complicated.”

“Yeah, probably,” he said, voice deeper than I’d ever heard it.

twist2

kyliescottimageKylie is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author. She was voted Australian Romance Writer of the year, 2013 & 2014, by the Australian Romance Writer’s Association and her books have been translated into eleven different languages. She is a long time fan of romance, rock music, and B-grade horror films. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet. You can learn more about Kylie from http://www.kylie-scott.com/

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | FACEBOOK FAN GROUP | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS

Read More »

Waiting On Wednesday (280) Duels and Deception by Cindy Anstey

 photo WoW_zpsefugwmrq.png


Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

I've been participating in Waiting on Wednesday for over 5 years because Wednesday is my favorite day of the week! I love sharing and discovering new books.

 photo DualsAndDeception_zpsix3zbrr8.jpg

Expected publication: April 11th 2017 by Swoon Reads

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Miss Lydia Whitfield, heiress to the family fortune, has her future entirely planned out. She will run the family estate until she marries the man of her late father's choosing, and then she will spend the rest of her days as a devoted wife. Confident in those arrangements, Lydia has tasked her young law clerk, Mr. Robert Newton, to begin drawing up the marriage contracts. Everything is going according to plan.

Until Lydia—and Robert along with her—is kidnapped. Someone is after her fortune and won't hesitate to destroy her reputation to get it. With Robert's help, Lydia strives to keep her family's good name intact and expose whoever is behind the devious plot. But as their investigation delves deeper and their affections for each other grow, Lydia starts to wonder whether her carefully planned future is in fact what she truly wants…

I don't really read historical fiction, much less young adult historical fiction, but this sounds cute, so...... I have it on my tbr. Plus, I never did get around to reading Love, Lies and Spies from this author, so it's still on my tbr, also.

What are you waiting on this week?

Read More »

Release Day: Lei'd with Cupcakes (Cupcakes #3) by Bethany Lopez

Leid_live

Celebrate the release day of LEI'D WITH CUPCAKES by Bethany Lopez. This is a romantic comedy/suspense title that is part of the Cupcakes series. Check out the buy links below for all of the books in this series.


leiebook

Lei’d with Cupcakes by Bethany Lopez
(The Cupcakes Series, book 3)

Genre: Romantic Comedy/Suspense
NOW LIVE!

Special Release Week Price is $2.99

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | Smashwords

Synopsis:

Everybody dreams of a Hawaiian Vacation…

They sell you on the drinks with little umbrella’s, dolphin watching, and long walks on the beach. Which probably happens, if you’re that lucky schmuck living out your dream with your destination wedding, but if you’re a fish out of water PI like me, there’s no time for relaxing because trouble is never far behind.

Instead of cocktails, I ended up dealing with the seedy underbelly of The Big Island.
And, I didn’t see one damn dolphin while undercover on a boat which was spilling over with drug dealers, Kingpins, and Pedophiles.

Elin and Elena think Cade's family are the coolest people outside of Snapchat, but it’s hard to meet the parents when your boyfriend is in his late thirties and has never had a serious relationship.

I’d never missed my girls so much in my life, but Amy May, Bea, and Carmen are all dealing with issues of their own, and can’t come to my rescue.

The only thing that may help me with this “vacation” is if I could get Lei’d with Cupcakes.

WARNING: THIS BOOK CONTAINS FOUL LANGUAGE, SEX, SOME VIOLENCE, AND SHENANIGANS. IF NONE OF THAT BOTHERS YOU, GRAB A CUPCAKE AND READ ON!

lei

Lei'd teaser

Special Release Week Price is $2.99

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | Smashwords



Lei'd Teaser 1





Cupcake Series Banner (1)



cupcake (4)

Purchase Always Room for Cupcakes:

Amazon | iBooks | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | Kobo



cupcakeoverload

Purchase Cupcake Overload:

Amazon | iBooks | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | Kobo




------------------------------------

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

A1nt0F1SfnL._UX250_
Sign up for my Newsletter for more information about my writing: http://eepurl.com/Rcmrn

Award-Winning Author Bethany Lopez began self-publishing in June 2011. She's a lover of all things romance: books, movies, music, and life, and she incorporates that into the books she writes. When she isn't reading or writing, she loves spending time with her husband and children, traveling whenever possible. Some of her favorite things are: Kristen Ashley Books, coffee in the morning, and In N Out burgers.
AUTHOR LINKS:
InkSlinger-Blogger banner-New
Read More »

Review: By Your Side by Kasie West

By Your SideBy Your Side by Kasie West

Publication Date: January 31, 2017
Page Count: 346
Published by: Harper Teen
Source: eArc from Publisher for review
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance

Synopsis from Goodreads:

In this irresistible story, Kasie West explores the timeless question of what to do when you fall for the person you least expect. Witty and romantic, this paperback original from a fan favorite is perfect for fans of Stephanie Perkins and Morgan Matson.

When Autumn Collins finds herself accidentally locked in the library for an entire weekend, she doesn’t think things could get any worse. But that’s before she realizes that Dax Miller is locked in with her. Autumn doesn’t know much about Dax except that he’s trouble. Between the rumors about the fight he was in (and that brief stint in juvie that followed it) and his reputation as a loner, he’s not exactly the ideal person to be stuck with. Still, she just keeps reminding herself that it is only a matter of time before Jeff, her almost-boyfriend, realizes he left her in the library and comes to rescue her.

Only he doesn’t come. No one does.

Instead it becomes clear that Autumn is going to have to spend the next couple of days living off vending-machine food and making conversation with a boy who clearly wants nothing to do with her. Except there is more to Dax than meets the eye. As he and Autumn first grudgingly, and then not so grudgingly, open up to each other, Autumn is struck by their surprising connection. But can their feelings for each other survive once the weekend is over and Autumn’s old life, and old love interest, threaten to pull her from Dax’s side?

 photo MyThoughtsBanner2_zps1bk1ovpj.png

I've loved reading Kasie West's previous books, so of course I couldn't pass up the chance to read By Your Side.

I loved poor, misunderstood Dax. He had such a crappy home life, and his back story really tugged at my emotional side. It's hard to not fall for a guy who so obviously needs love. I liked how supportive he was of Autumn, and how much he tried to help her. He wasn't quite as swoony as I had hoped (I know, I'm too old for him) but he was definitely a likable young man.

I did have a bit of bother with Autumn. I just couldn't connect with her. That doesn't mean that I didn't like her, I just found it difficult to summon feelings for her. I liked that she took the time to get to know Dax. And then later, she cared enough to check up on him and see how he was doing. This is when I liked her the best - when she was thinking of Dax and doing nice things for him because she knew he needed it.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. The story was full of real life problems, but it still had cute and fun moments. I liked the sweet romance, but didn't enjoy the not-quite love triangle. The characters were likable, especially Autumn's family. If you've read Kasie West's contemporary books before, I'm sure you won't be disappointed reading By Your Side.

***As always when reading YA, I try NOT to think like a parent. I'm telling you, it's hard to do! Two things bothered me about this story. First, getting locked in a library for an entire weekend? Not plausible, but it was an essential part of the plot. Second, Autumn's anxiety seemed off to me. My daughter has terrible anxiety, so I've lived it firsthand. I could only partially relate to Autumn's anxiety, and I don't like that it made me feel unsympathetic towards her.

 photo 4 star WfW_zpsohgdf5sv.png
4 Stars
Read More »

Waiting On Wednesday (279) Pretty Fierce by Kieran Scott

 photo WoW_zpsefugwmrq.png


Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

I've been participating in Waiting on Wednesday for over 5 years because Wednesday is my favorite day of the week! I love sharing and discovering new books.

 photo PrettyFierce_zpsakldwjkk.jpg

Expected publication: April 4th 2017 by Sourcebooks Fire

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Kaia has been on the run her whole life. The daughter of professional assassins, she knows true danger—and she’ll do anything to survive. After her parents vanished during a job gone bad, Kaia’s spent the last year in hiding, trying to blend in as an ordinary teenager, and there’s no one who makes her feel more normal or more special than her boyfriend, Oliver.

But when she’s jumped by a hit man, and Oliver catches her fighting back, Kaia’s secret is exposed. In a split-second decision, she flees the small town, taking Oliver with her. With professional killers stalking their every move, can Oliver and Kaia protect each other long enough to uncover the mysteries of her past?

This could end up being a hit or miss with me, but the synopsis sounds really good.

Some of you may be familiar with this author's True Love series, or her Shadowlands trilogy written as Kate Brian.

What are you waiting on this week?
Read More »

Teaser Reveal - Lei'd with Cupcakes (Cupcakes #3) by Bethany Lopez

Leid_teaserreveal

Today I would like to share a few teasers for LEI'D WITH CUPCAKES by Bethany Lopez. This book is a romantic comedy/suspense title that will be released March 27th. This book is currently up for pre-order now so go grab your copy! Enter below for a chance to win a paperback bundle of Always Room for Cupcakes and Cupcake Overload!

leiebook

Lei’d with Cupcakes by Bethany Lopez
(The Cupcakes Series, book 3)

Genre: Romantic Comedy/Suspense
Releasing: Mar 27, 2017

Add the book on Goodreads


Synopsis:

Everybody dreams of a Hawaiian Vacation…

They sell you on the drinks with little umbrella’s, dolphin watching, and long walks on the beach. Which probably happens, if you’re that lucky schmuck living out your dream with your destination wedding, but if you’re a fish out of water PI like me, there’s no time for relaxing because trouble is never far behind.

Instead of cocktails, I ended up dealing with the seedy underbelly of The Big Island.
And, I didn’t see one damn dolphin while undercover on a boat which was spilling over with drug dealers, Kingpins, and Pedophiles.

Elin and Elena think Cade's family are the coolest people outside of Snapchat, but it’s hard to meet the parents when your boyfriend is in his late thirties and has never had a serious relationship.

I’d never missed my girls so much in my life, but Amy May, Bea, and Carmen are all dealing with issues of their own, and can’t come to my rescue.

The only thing that may help me with this “vacation” is if I could get Lei’d with Cupcakes.

WARNING:
THIS BOOK CONTAINS FOUL LANGUAGE, SEX, SOME VIOLENCE, AND SHENANIGANS. IF NONE OF THAT BOTHERS YOU, GRAB A CUPCAKE AND READ ON!

lei

Lei'd teaser

Special Pre-order/Release Week Price is $2.99

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | Smashwords



Lei'd Teaser 1

Lei'd Teaser 2

Cupcakes_giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Cupcake Series Banner (1)

cupcake (4)

Purchase Always Room for Cupcakes:

Amazon | iBooks | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | Kobo



cupcakeoverload

Purchase Cupcake Overload:

Amazon | iBooks | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | Kobo



------------------------------------

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

A1nt0F1SfnL._UX250_
Sign up for my Newsletter for more information about my writing: http://eepurl.com/Rcmrn

Award-Winning Author Bethany Lopez began self-publishing in June 2011. She's a lover of all things romance: books, movies, music, and life, and she incorporates that into the books she writes. When she isn't reading or writing, she loves spending time with her husband and children, traveling whenever possible. Some of her favorite things are: Kristen Ashley Books, coffee in the morning, and In N Out burgers.
AUTHOR LINKS:
InkSlinger-Blogger banner-New
Read More »

Waiting On Wednesday (278) Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett

 photo WoW_zpsefugwmrq.png


Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

I've been participating in Waiting on Wednesday for over 5 years because Wednesday is my favorite day of the week! I love sharing and discovering new books.

 photo Alex Approximately_zpsee3jfviu.jpg

Expected publication: April 4th 2017 by Simon Pulse

Synopsis from Goodreads:

In this delightfully charming teen spin on You’ve Got Mail, the one guy Bailey Rydell can’t stand is actually the boy of her dreams—she just doesn’t know it yet.

Classic movie buff Bailey “Mink” Rydell has spent months crushing on a witty film geek she only knows online by “Alex.” Two coasts separate the teens until Bailey moves in with her dad, who lives in the same California surfing town as her online crush.

Faced with doubts (what if he’s a creep in real life—or worse?), Bailey doesn’t tell Alex she’s moved to his hometown. Or that she’s landed a job at the local tourist-trap museum. Or that she’s being heckled daily by the irritatingly hot museum security guard, Porter Roth—a.k.a. her new arch-nemesis. But life is whole lot messier than the movies, especially when Bailey discovers that tricky fine line between hate, love, and whatever-it-is she’s starting to feel for Porter.

And as the summer months go by, Bailey must choose whether to cling to a dreamy online fantasy in Alex or take a risk on an imperfect reality with Porter. The choice is both simpler and more complicated than she realizes, because Porter Roth is hiding a secret of his own: Porter is Alex…Approximately.

What? Another contemporary YA for me to read? Yeppers. And this sounds really cute, too.

What are you waiting on this week?
Read More »

Review: Riveted (Saints of Denver #3) by Jay Crownover

Riveted (Saints of Denver, #3)Riveted (Saints of Denver #3) by Jay Crownover

Publication Date:  February 14, 2017
Page Count: 368
Published by: William Morrow
Source: eArc from Publisher for review
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Synopsis from Goodreads:

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Marked Men books comes the next installment in the Saints of Denver series.

Everyone else in Dixie Carmichael's life has made falling in love look easy, and now she is ready for her own chance at some of that happily ever after. Which means she’s done pining for the moody, silent former soldier who works with her at the bar that's become her home away from home. Nope. No more chasing the hot as heck thundercloud of a man and no more waiting for Mr. Right to find her; she's going hunting for him...even if she knows her heart is stuck on its stupid infatuation with Dash Churchill.

Denver has always been just a pit stop for Church on his way back to rural Mississippi. It was supposed to be simple, uneventful, but nothing could have prepared him for the bubbly, bouncy redhead with doe eyes and endless curves. Now he knows it's time to get out of Denver, fast. For a man used to living in the shadows, the idea of spending his days in the sun is nothing short of terrifying.

When Dixie and Church find themselves caught up in a homecoming overshadowed with lies and danger, Dixie realizes that while falling in love is easy, loving takes a whole lot more work…especially when Mr. Right thinks he's all wrong for you.

 photo MyThoughtsBanner2_zps1bk1ovpj.png

I was late joining the Marked Men party - I binge read the entire series after the last book was released. But I have been lucky enough to read every book in the Saints of Denver series when they were released. I have to say that Riveted was a great addition to the series, and I really enjoyed reading it.

I wasn't sure I liked Church after meeting him in the previous books. But after reading Riveted I can say I can understand him better, and I like him more than I did. Dixie was a positive little thing, not letting anyone or anything bring her down. I liked how she dealt with things, including Church. I loved seeing Dixie and Church being able to finally open up to each other and show their vulnerabilities. It was interesting watching them grow closer throughout the story.

I was grateful for the Mississippi setting - it was a nice change getting out of Denver for this story. (So, Ms. Crownover, please don't apologize for it!)

Church's family was totally awesome. They seemed really down to earth, and I loved how patient, yet determined, they were to bring Church home where he belonged.

I can't wait to read the next book in this series, Salvaged. I've been interested in Wheeler since he was introduced. And Poppy needs some serious TLC, so I hope Wheeler can deliver!

 photo 4 star WfW_zpsohgdf5sv.png
4 Stars
Read More »

Review: Just Drive (Anchor Point #1) by L.A. Witt

Just Drive (Anchor Point #1)Just Drive (Anchor Point #1) by L.A. Witt

Publication Date: November 19, 2016
Page Count: 300
Published by: Riptide Publishing
Source: ebook borrowed from library
Genre: M/M military romance

Synopsis from Goodreads:

For Sean Wright, driving a cab in the tiny Navy town of Anchor Point isn’t an exciting job . . . until he picks up just-dumped Paul Richards. A drive turns into a walk on the pier, which turns into the hottest hookup Sean’s had in ages.

After a long overdue breakup, Paul can’t believe his luck. Of all the drivers, he’s picked up by the gorgeous, gay, and very willing Sean. Younger guys aren’t usually his thing, but Paul can’t resist.

One taste and neither man can get enough . . . right up until they realize that Paul is Sean’s father’s commanding officer and the last man Sean should be involved with.

With two careers on the line, their only option is to back off. It’s not easy, though; the sex and the emotional connection are exactly what both men have been craving for a long time. But Paul has devoted twenty-four years to his career and his dream of making admiral. If he’s caught with Sean, that’s all over. He has to choose—stay the course, or trade it all for the man who drove off with his heart.

 photo MyThoughtsBanner2_zps1bk1ovpj.png

This is a new to me author. I was browsing though Hoopla via the library, looking for something different. I came across this series and thought I'd give the first book a try.

What did I think? There was sex. Lots and lots of sex. Nothing graphic though, and honestly, the sex scenes were mediocre at best. That's the writing though, and not my take on the characters sex lives. This had a very basic plot. Just 2 guys having sex, all hyped up by being forbidden from being together. Nothing really happened. Not even dialogue. (Except in their heads, because internal monologues are so much more intriguing than an actual conversations.) I needed meaningful conversations and getting to know you scenes - not just for the characters, but for ME. Paul and Sean were likable, but I knew next to nothing about them, so I didn't know what they saw in each other. Having said all of that, this book wasn't completely terrible - especially if you're not looking for anything deep and meaningful. Overall, I would say this was just an okay read for me.

 photo 3 star WfW_zpsgrskuj2d.png
My rating: 3 stars


Read More »

Review: Northanger Abbey (Jane Austen: Marvel Adaptations) Graphic Novel

Northanger AbbeyNorthanger Abbey (Jane Austen: Marvel Adaptations) by Nancy Butler, Janet Lee (Illustrator), Jane Austen (Original novel)

Publication Date: September 19, 2012
Page Count: 112
Published by: Marvel
Source: borrowed from library

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Lovingly adapted from Jane Austen's most humorous work, Marvel Comics is proud to present literature lover Catherine Morland's quest to be the leading lady of her own great romance. Can real life prove the equal of the Gothic novels she finds so enchanting? Can Catherine find true love amid the fictions of others and her own wild imagination? And what dread secrets lie in wait in Northanger Abbey itself? Award-winning author Nancy Butler continues her quest to reinvent Jane Austen's Regency world in the Mighty Marvel Manner. With exquisite illustrations from Janet Lee, 19th-century England comes alive like never before. Discover - along with Catherine Moreland - that while truth may not be stranger than fiction, it can be no less surprising!

 photo MyThoughtsBanner2_zps1bk1ovpj.png

I've never especially enjoyed Northanger Abbey. I tried reading it once, but I didn't get very far. I've seen the movie (maybe more than one movie?) but it's never inspired me to want to read the entire book. I thought I would try this graphic novel to see if I could get into the story and like it better than the movie. My experiment failed.

I can appreciate the artistry that went into creating this graphic novel, but the style was just too dark and gloomy for my taste. I also had a bit of a hard time following along, even though it was adapted directly from the original story. I didn't like that the writing was SO small I had strain my eyes to read it.

So I can safely say that I won't be picking up Northanger Abbey to read any time soon since the graphic novel was so uninspiring.

 photo 3 star WfW_zpsgrskuj2d.png
My rating: 2.5 stars


Read More »

Waiting On Wednesday (277) Twist (Dive Bar #2) by Kylie Scott

 photo WoW_zpsefugwmrq.png


Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

I've been participating in Waiting on Wednesday for over 5 years because Wednesday is my favorite day of the week! I love sharing and discovering new books.

 photo Twist_zpshuhxk8ip.jpg
Expected publication: April 11th 2017 by St. Martin's Griffin

Synopsis from Goodreads:

When his younger brother loses interest in online dating, hot, bearded, bartender extraordinaire, Joe Collins, only intends to log into his account and shut it down. Until he reads about her.

Alex Parks is funny, friendly, and pretty much everything he's been looking for in a woman. And in no time at all they're emailing up a storm, telling each other their deepest darkest secrets... apart from the one that really matters.

And when it comes to love, serving it straight up works better than with a twist.

This is a spin off series from the Stage Dive series, which I mostly enjoyed reading. The eArc for this just came out, so I'm really looking forward to reading it. And it's a win for me because I am actually up to date on this series. Shocking, I know.

What are you waiting on this week.
Read More »

Review: Wait for Me Wait for Me by Caroline Leech

Wait for MeWait for Me by Caroline Leech

Publication Date: January 31, 2017
Page Count: 384
Publishedby: HarperTeen
Source: eArc provided by publisher for review

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The perfect blend of sweet romance and historical flavor, Wait for Me, from debut author Caroline Leech, brings a fresh new voice to a much-loved genre.

It’s 1945, and Lorna Anderson’s life on her father’s farm in Scotland consists of endless chores and rationing, knitting Red Cross scarves, and praying for an Allied victory. So when Paul Vogel, a German prisoner of war, is assigned as the new farmhand, Lorna is appalled. How can she possibly work alongside the enemy when her own brothers are risking their lives for their country?

But as Lorna reluctantly spends time with Paul, she feels herself changing. The more she learns about him—from his time in the war to his life back home in Germany—the more she sees the boy behind the soldier. Soon Lorna is battling her own warring heart. Loving Paul could mean losing her family and the life she’s always known. With tensions rising all around them, Lorna must decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice before the end of the war determines their fate.

 photo MyThoughtsBanner2_zps1bk1ovpj.png

I don't often read historical fiction, but I saw the cover and read the description and I knew I wanted to read Wait For Me. I'm glad I had the chance to read this because I was not disappointed.

Wait For Me is mostly a romance between Lorna and Paul, a German POW who is sent to help out on her family's farm in Scotland towards the end of WWII. I loved Lorna and Paul right away. I felt they were realistic characters, both very different, but interesting to read about. I found myself rooting for them while they each dealt with their own set of hardships and their feelings for each other.

Even though I can admit this book wasn't perfect, it was still quite an enjoyable read for me. My only gripe is that it was a bit white washed, I guess to appeal to the YA audience. I would have preferred more historical accuracy in terms of the realities of war. I'll leave it at that.

This is not a Nazi romance. The author took great care to tell that Paul was forced away from his mother and sister and into service for his country. He was sent to the beaches of Normandy to fight, which is where he was injured and taken as a POW.

"I am German, yes, but I am not a Nazi. There is a difference, and one day I hope you understand that."

 photo 4 star WfW_zpsohgdf5sv.png
4 Stars

I was 11 when Summer of My German Soldier first came on TV. I was about the same age as the protagonist, so I couldn't help but romanticize the story (being young I was not able to realize the historical aspect.) I didn't read the book until years later, and I was better equipped to deal with the reality. I have fond memories of Summer of My German Soldier, and Wait For Me brought back some of those same feelings.
Read More »