Waiting For Wentworth: 11/01/2015

Waiting On Wednesday (210) A Study in Charlotte (A Study in Charlotte #1) by Brittany Cavallaro

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

Wednesday has become my favorite day of the week because I get to share the books that I am super excited about and can't wait to read.

A Study in Charlotte (A Study in Charlotte #1)
by Brittany Cavallaro

Expected publication: March 1st 2016 by Katherine Tegen Books

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The last thing sixteen-year-old Jamie Watson–writer and great-great-grandson of the John Watson–wants is a rugby scholarship to Sherringford, a Connecticut prep school just an hour away from his estranged father. But that’s not the only complication: Sherringford is also home to Charlotte Holmes, the famous detective’s enigmatic, fiercely independent great-great-granddaughter, who’s inherited not just his genius but also his vices, volatile temperament, and expertly hidden vulnerability. Charlotte has been the object of his fascination for as long as he can remember–but from the moment they meet, there’s a tense energy between them, and they seem more destined to be rivals than anything else.

Then a Sherringford student dies under suspicious circumstances ripped straight from the most terrifying of the Holmes stories, and Jamie and Charlotte become the prime suspects. Convinced they’re being framed, they must race against the police to conduct their own investigation. As danger mounts, it becomes clear that nowhere is safe and the only people they can trust are each other.

Equal parts tender, thrilling, and hilarious, A Study in Charlotte is the first in a trilogy brimming with wit and edge-of-the-seat suspense.

Doesn't this sound really good?

What are you waiting on this week?

Title: North & South

MPAA Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 3 hr 55 min (235 min) (4 parts)

Starring: Daniela Denby-Ashe, Richard Armitage

Release Date: July 2, 2005 (DVD)
Genre: TV Mini-Series, Drama, Romance

Storyline:

North and South is a four part adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell's love story of Margaret Hale, a middle class southerner who is forced to move to the northern town of Milton.

The Good:

Richard Armitage. The entire cast is really good, but it's worth watching just to see him. Perfection! This is a great production, and the cinematography is absolutely wonderful.

The Bad:

Have I mentioned yet that this movie is dark? And depressing? Because it is. But it's SO addicting, and I couldn't stop hoping for things to get better. They just have to get better, right?

Favorite Quotes:

"One minute we talk of the color of fruit, the next of love. How does that happen?" This entire scene was done with heartbreaking perfection!

"Look back. Look back at me." as I shed tears in quiet agony. Oh, the heartbreak while I'm thinking "Look back at him you b!tch! Look back...." *sob*

"I daren't believe such a woman could care for me."

"I knew I was not good enough for her. Yet I think I love her more than ever."

If this were a book:

It IS a book! And a classic at that. You can download the Kindle version for free on Amazon.

Final Thoughts:

I love this mini-series and I've watched it several times. It's quite dark and depressing at times, okay, it's mostly dark and depressing. But then we get these small moments between John and Margaret that make it all worthwhile. Highly recommended!

*Movie Reviews inspired by Chick Lit Fridays at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.*

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

Wednesday has become my favorite day of the week because I get to share the books that I am super excited about and can't wait to read.

photo TheLoveThatSplitTheWorld_zpswawj6lem.jpg

The Love That Split the World by Emily Henry

Expected publication: January 26th 2016 by Razorbill

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Natalie Cleary must risk her future and leap blindly into a vast unknown for the chance to build a new world with the boy she loves.

Natalie’s last summer in her small Kentucky hometown is off to a magical start…until she starts seeing the “wrong things.” They’re just momentary glimpses at first—her front door is red instead of its usual green, there’s a pre-school where the garden store should be. But then her whole town disappears for hours, fading away into rolling hills and grazing buffalo, and Nat knows something isn’t right.

That’s when she gets a visit from the kind but mysterious apparition she calls “Grandmother,” who tells her: “You have three months to save him.” The next night, under the stadium lights of the high school football field, she meets a beautiful boy named Beau, and it’s as if time just stops and nothing exists. Nothing, except Natalie and Beau.

Emily Henry’s stunning debut novel is Friday Night Lights meets The Time Traveler’s Wife, and perfectly captures those bittersweet months after high school, when we dream not only of the future, but of all the roads and paths we’ve left untaken.

I have to admit that I am a bit suspicious of all those 'Amazing' 5 star ratings on Goodreads. BUT, I put this on my tbr because the synopsis sounds really good, so I'm willing to give it a chance.

What are you waiting on this week?

Leveled (Saints of Denver #0.5) by Jay Crownover

Publication Date: November 2, 2015
Page Count:224
Published by: William Morrow
Source: Kindle Purchase

Synopsis from Goodreads:

We all need a hero...let the Saints of Denver begin

Orlando Frederick knows what it is to be leveled by pain. Instead of focusing on his own, he’s made it his mission to help others: sports stars, wounded war vets, survivors of all kinds. But when Dom, a rugged, damaged, sinfully attractive cop, makes his way into Lando’s physical therapy practice, he might be the biggest challenge yet. Lando loved one stubborn man before and barely survived the fallout. He’s not sure he can do it again.

Dominic Voss is a protector. The police badge he wears is not only his job, it’s his identity, so when he’s sidelined because of an injury, the only thing he cares about is getting back on the force. He expects Lando to mend his body, he just doesn’t realize the trainer will also have him working toward a hell of a lot more. As attraction simmers and flares, Dom sees that Lando needs repair of his own...if only the man will let him close enough to mend what's broken.

Leveled is the first book in the new Saints of Denver series, and many of the characters from the Marked Men series make an appearance here. I didn't enjoy reading Leveled as much as I hoped I would. I've only read one of the books in the original series, and I'm interested in starting the Saints of Denver series when it comes out. So I thought I would give this a chance because it's a transition from one series to the next. And that's pretty much all it is. A lot of backstory and updates on the characters, and those same characters in new scenes with Dom and Lando. This was long for a novella, but I still needed more of Dom and Lando's story. I kept waiting for that hard, emotional impact that would make me really fall for the characters, but it never came.

Although I usually love books told in dual POV, I don't think it worked this time because the voices weren't distinguishable enough. I had to look at the top of each chapter to see who's POV it was. I even got confused a few times while reading and had to go back to find out who's chapter it was. Oops.

I'm not an expert at M/M romance (although I've read plenty) but I thought the scenes were awkward and weird. I don't think the author was comfortable with that aspect of the story. That makes me sad because the characters didn't have any spark or sizzle, and I wasn't feeling any chemistry between them. They were just 2 really nice guys trying to sort their crap out and be happy together.

Overall, I thought Leveled was just alright, but not too memorable. I liked Dom and Lando well enough, but I didn't love them.

My rating: 3 stars

On tour with Prism Book Tours.

We'll be highlighting 13 FREE short stories by beloved Harlequin Heartwarming authors that will be available from Harlequin during November. All Heartwarming titles are 30% OFF during November from Harlequin as well! Use code HEART1115.

TODAY'S FREE SHORT STORY:

Heart of a Hero by Pamela Tracy

Now that Nathan Williamson knows that he wasn't born to the family that raised him, he needs to know more about them. Namely, did they arrange for him to be stolen from her birth family just days after birth? Soon, Nathan's uncovering secrets and falling in love with a woman with secrets of her own.

Read it HERE!

     Once upon a time there was a girl named Pamela Tracy (ME!) and when she grew up she wanted to be a writer. It was an interesting choice as she knew no writers. What she did know, however, was books.
     They took over my bedroom. Nancy Drew made me think about how to solve problems; Anne of Green Gables made me want to visit distant; Laura Ingalls made me want to have a sourdough starter and make homemade bread. The older I got, the more books made me want… Stephen King made me weary of rabid dogs; Douglas Adams made me look to the skies; Sue Grafton made me believe I could be tough.
     Then, I found romance. I wish I remember the first ones that marched into my bedroom and started knocking the other books off my shelves. I know that Dorothy Daniels was there alongside Patricia Mathews. I know that Danielle Steele took her turn, and that eventually Nora Roberts demanded the whole top shelf. My first love at Harlequin were the SuperRomances and Intimate Moments. But, Love Inspired tumbled in my cart, and I expanded. Now my shelves were all over the house not just in the bedroom.
     With all the above turmoil, books vying for shelve space, mysteries giving way to romance, and my fingers itching to “write a book, too,” how amazing that Harlequin Heartwarming came along at just the right time.
     See, I had a story about a leopard. I met him when I was a kindergarten teacher and I took my class to the Wildlife Zoo. He was peering down at me from an elevated perch. BAM. A story idea took hold.
     A Heartwarming idea.
     Katie’s Rescue is the first in a five book series all taking place in the fictional town of Scorpion Ridge, Arizona. There’s a wildlife habitat and enough quirky characters to keep the small town from ever rolling its streets up at night. While Katie is a contemporary story, Janie – second in the series – is not. She’s full of suspense. What Janie Saw is about chance happenings and how a moment in time can change everything. I guess that’s true of my next three Heartwarmings: Holiday Homecoming, Small-town Secrets, and The Missing Twin (available January 2015)
     I love Harlequin Heartwarming. Within the pages of the books, I can go places I’ve never been, meet heroes and heroes having adventures, and always walk away knowing that Happily Ever After is the perfect ending.

Pamela Tracy is a USA Today award-winning author who has written contemporary, historical and suspenseful - all in the romance genre. Her 2007 suspense Pursuit of Justice was a Rita finalist. Her 2009 suspense Broken Lullaby won the American Christian Fiction Writers' Book of the year award.

Website - Goodreads - Facebook - Twitter

Other Heartwarming Titles by this Author

Katie's Rescue (Mills & Boon Heartwarming)

Small-Town Secrets (Mills & Boon Heartwarming) (Scorpion Ridge, Arizona - Book 4)

TOUR SCHEDULE

Don't miss any of these FREE novellas or the extra tour content! Stop by each of the tour stops each day:

11/2: Snow Day Baby by Amy Vastine
Singing Librarian Books, The Power of Words, & Katie's Clean Book Collection

11/4: Wedding at Turkey Run by Liz Flaherty

My Love for Reading Keeps Growing, Babs Book Bistro, & Heidi Reads...

11/6: Her Thanksgiving Soldier by Leigh Riker

Letters from Annie (Douglass) Lima, Mel's Shelves, & Brooke Blogs

11/9: Mr. Right All Along by Jen Snow

Katie's Clean Book Collection, Min Reads and Reviews, & Love thy Shelf

11/11: Falling for the Cowboy by Sophia Sasson

Kindle and Me, The Power of Words, & Colorimetry

11/13: The Marriage Gift by Tara Taylor Quinn

deal sharing aunt, Babs Book Bistro, & Brooke Blogs

11/16: Heart of a Hero by Pamela Tracy

Writing Pearls, Wishful Endings, & Waiting For Wentworth

11/18: Thankful for You by Karen Rock

Christian Chick's Thoughts, Getting Your Read On, & Love, Laughter, Friendship

11/20: Autumn at Jasper Lake by Carol Ross

Reading Is My SuperPower, I Am A Reader, & Colorimetry

11/23: The Firefighter’s Promise by Kate James

Canadian Book Addict, Mel's Shelves, & Beck Valley Books

11/24: Wedding of His Dreams by Cari Lynn Webb

Bookworm Lisa, Kindle and Me, & Zerina Blossom's Books

11/25: The Sweetheart Tree by Rula Sinara

The Written Adventure, Reading Is My SuperPower, & Writing Pearl

11/26: Married by Thanksgiving by Melinda Curtis

Heidi Reads..., Love, Laughter, Friendship, & Singing Librarian Books

11/29: Grand Finale

11/30: Facebook Party

GIVEAWAYS

Goodreads Giveaway

13 Harlequin Heartwarming Books

Enter on Goodreads HERE.

Pinterest Giveaway

Pin one or both of these images to spread the word and enter to win this adorably festive Thanksgiving Table Set:

Pinterest Prize includes: four reversible, quilted placemats, four matching napkins, hand-painted matching napkin rings, matching table runner, matching quilted hot pad/trivet, floral centerpiece in pot, and hand-crafted pilgrim pair.

- Enter via the Rafflecopter below

- Open to US/CAN only

- Ends December 4th

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Tour Giveaway

Grand Prize: Harlequin Heartwarming Year Subscription (Provided by Harlequin and to US/CAN only)

$40 VISA card (US only)

13-Book Heartwarming Prize Pack: The Best Laid Plans, Back to McGuffy's, If I Loved You, Love, Lies & Mistletoe, First Comes Marriage, Once Upon A Marriage, Small Town Secrets, Winter Wedding Bells, If Not For A Bee, When The Right One Comes Along, Wedding of His Dreams, After The Silence, and A Memory Away (print copies if US, ebooks if international)

9-Book Prize Pack: The Best Laid Plans, If I Loved You, Love, Lies & Mistletoe, First Comes Marriage, Once Upon A Marriage, When The Right One Comes Along, Winter Wedding Bells, If Not For A Bee, and After The Silence (print copies if US, ebooks if international)

Ends December 4th

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Harlequin's 10 Years of Digital Publishing SALE

This week only! November 10th – 17th - 11 Harlequin Heartwarming Thanksgiving authors are included in Harlequin’s celebration of 10 years of digital publishing! Get these books during the next seven days for only $1.99 at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Nook, Google and Kobo (US only).

Amy Vastine: THE WEATHER GIRL, THE BEST LAID PLANS, THE BETTER MAN, THE HARDEST FIGHT

Liz Flaherty: BACK TO MCGUFFEY'S

Leigh Riker: IF I LOVED YOU

Jennifer Snow: THE TROUBLE WITH MISTLETOE, WHAT A GIRL WANTS, FALLING FOR LEIGH, THE MISTLETOE MELODY, FIGHTING FOR KEEPS

Tara Taylor Quinn: ONCE UPON A FRIENDSHIP

Pamela Tracy: KATIE'S RESCUE, WHAT JANIE SAW, HOLIDAY HOMECOMING, SMALL-TOWN SECRETS

Karen Rock: WISH ME TOMORROW, HIS HOMETOWN GIRL, SOMEONE LIKE YOU, A LEAGUE OF HER OWN

Carol Ross: MOUNTAINS APART, A CASE FOR FORGIVENESS

Kate James: A CHILD'S CHRISTMAS

Rula Sinara: THE PROMISE OF RAIN, AFTER THE SILENCE

Melinda Curtis: DANDELION WISHES, SUMMER KISSES, SEASON OF CHANGE, ONE PERFECT YEAR, TIME FOR LOVE

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

Wednesday has become my favorite day of the week because I get to share the books that I am super excited about and can't wait to read.

Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman

Expected publication: February 9th 2016 by Simon Pulse

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Blackbeard the pirate was known for striking fear in the hearts of the bravest of sailors. But once he was just a young man who dreamed of leaving his rigid life behind to chase adventure in faraway lands. Nothing could stop him—until he met the one girl who would change everything. This is their story.

Edward "Teach" Drummond, son of one of Bristol's richest merchants, has just returned from a year-long journey on the high seas to find his life in shambles. Betrothed to a girl he doesn’t love and sick of the high society he was born into, Teach dreams only of returning to the vast ocean he’d begun to call home. There's just one problem: convincing his father to let him leave and never come back.

Following her parents' deaths, Anne Barrett is left penniless and soon to be homeless. Though she’s barely worked a day in her life, Anne is forced to take a job as a maid in the home of Master Drummond. Lonely days stretch into weeks, and Anne longs for escape. How will she ever realize her dream of sailing to Curaçao—where her mother was born—when she's stuck in England?

From the moment Teach and Anne meet, they set the world ablaze. Drawn to each other, they’re trapped by society and their own circumstances. Faced with an impossible choice, they must decide to chase their dreams and go, or follow their hearts and stay.

Does anyone else think this sounds awesome??????? I want to read it now!!

What are you waiting on this week?

Made of Stars by Kelley York

Publication Date: October 1, 2013
Page Count: 320
Published by: Entangled: Teen

Synopsis from Goodreads:

When eighteen-year-old Hunter Jackson and his half sister, Ashlin, return to their dad’s for the first winter in years, they expect everything to be just like the warmer months they’d spent there as kids. And it is—at first. But Chance, the charismatic and adventurous boy who made their summers epic, is harboring deep secrets. Secrets that are quickly spiraling into something else entirely.

The reason they’ve never met Chance’s parents or seen his home is becoming clearer. And what the siblings used to think of as Chance's quirks—the outrageous stories, his clinginess, his dangerous impulsiveness—are now warning signs that something is seriously off.

Then Chance's mom turns up with a bullet to the head, and all eyes shift to Chance and his dad. Hunter and Ashlin know Chance is innocent...they just have to prove it. But how can they protect the boy they both love when they can’t trust a word Chance says?

I really loved this book. So much that after I finished reading I couldn't get my thoughts together enough to write a proper review. As I'm writing this now, I remember having all sorts of feelings going on while reading. The writing was beautiful. The characters were memorable. The story was tragic and sad and unexpectedly moving, with an ending that broke my heart and made me cry.

Made Of Stars was told in alternating POVs from half siblings Hunter and Ashlin. The siblings spend summers with their father, which is where they first encounter Chance. The 3 friends reconnect every summer, but this year it's different. Things have changed - Hunter and Ashlin are older and more mature and are now willing to act on their feelings. Chance is different this time too, and Hunter and Ashlin soon come to realize they never really knew Chance at all.

Hunter and Ashlin had complicated feelings for their friend, Chance. They both knew the other loved him, but there was never really any sort of rivalry for his affections - it was almost as if they were willing to share him so they could continue being around him. That may sound odd, but love doesn't always make sense.

As much as I loved the story, I didn't exactly like the twisty, sad, and abrupt ending. I was left hanging with my feelings and wanting more resolution. All this time later, and I'm still wondering what happened to these characters that I had come to love.

Despite the ending, Made Of Stars was still a really great book that I highly recommend. Especially if you are looking for an LGBT that's a little bit different.

My rating: 4 stars

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

Wednesday has become my favorite day of the week because I get to share the books that I am super excited about and can't wait to read.

Revenge and the Wild by Michelle Modesto

Expected publication: February 2nd 2016 by Balzer + Bray

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The two-bit town of Rogue City is a lawless place, full of dark magic and saloon brawls, monsters and six-shooters. But it’s perfect for seventeen-year-old Westie, the notorious adopted daughter of local inventor Nigel Butler.

Westie was only a child when she lost her arm and her family to cannibals on the wagon trail. Nine years later, Westie may seem fearsome with her foul-mouthed tough exterior and the powerful mechanical arm built for her by Nigel, but the memory of her past still haunts her. She’s determined to make the killers pay for their crimes—and there’s nothing to stop her except her own reckless ways.

But Westie’s search ceases when a wealthy family comes to town looking to invest in Nigel’s latest invention, a machine that can harvest magic from gold—which Rogue City desperately needs as the magic wards that surround the city start to fail. There’s only one problem: the investors look exactly like the family who murdered Westie’s kin. With the help of Nigel’s handsome but scarred young assistant, Alistair, Westie sets out to prove their guilt. But if she’s not careful, her desire for revenge could cost her the family she has now.

This thrilling novel is a remarkable tale of danger and discovery, from debut author Michelle Modesto.

I found this book when I went looking for something similar to Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman. It doesn't sound like anything I normally read, but it DOES sound really interesting, so I'm going to give it a chance.

What are you waiting on this week?

Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman

Publication Date: September 1, 2015
Page Count: 336
Published by: HMH Books for Young Readers
Source: eArc received from publisher in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Revenge is worth its weight in gold.

When her father is murdered for a journal revealing the location of a hidden gold mine, eighteen-year-old Kate Thompson disguises herself as a boy and takes to the gritty plains looking for answers—and justice. What she finds are untrustworthy strangers, endless dust and heat, and a surprising band of allies, among them a young Apache girl and a pair of stubborn brothers who refuse to quit riding in her shadow. But as Kate gets closer to the secrets about her family, a startling truth becomes clear: some men will stop at nothing to get their hands on gold, and Kate’s quest for revenge may prove fatal.

I really, really loved this book. It was action packed and so fun to read. There were so many wonderful moments and intriguing characters that kept the story interesting throughout. It was quite enjoyable!

Kate was fierce and full of sass. She had a single minded determination to avenge her father's death, and that is what propelled the entire story. I liked Kate. She was tough and tomboyish and wasn't afraid to stand up to some pretty rough characters. I don't think I have what it takes to survive the way that Kate did, so I can appreciate the effort it took for her to make this journey.

Romance was never part of Kate's plan, so Jesse was a pleasant surprise, especially for me. I liked him. There, I said it. I'm glad he was in the story because he made it more interesting for me. I was worried about how much influence Jesse would have over Kate. But Kate wasn't as impressed with Jesse as I was, and I liked that her plan and actions weren't swayed one bit by him. She made her own decisions and took responsibility when things went bad. I liked that I was able to see a softer side to Kate when she was with Jesse, but being around him didn't make her weak.

This was such a fabulous adventure story. I really wanted to like this book, and I was pleasantly surprised because I liked it SO much more than I thought I would. The story was done so well. There was an awesome protagonist out for revenge, shootouts galore, dead people piling up in Kate's wake, and a small touch of romance. Combine all that with a rugged and harsh landscape in an old time setting, and it makes Vengeance Road a wild ride that is definitely worth reading.

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I've never done a review with GIFs before, but I felt compelled to add this as a post script today.

There was a tv show called The Young Riders that aired from 1989-1992 that I loved. Does anyone remember this series, or am I just old?

I saw Jesse as a cross between a young Clint Eastwood and Kid from The Young Riders. Seriously swoony, if a bit rough around the edges. Kate described Jesse as always squinting, so I have a fondness for squinty eyes now. I thought Jesse was pretty awesome, and I liked that he wasn't perfect.

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Kate reminded me of Louise (Lou) from The Young Riders, who posed as a girl and became a rider on the Pony Express. Lou was shot, and Kid was the only one there to help her. He was quite surprised when he 'discovered' Lou was a girl!