Waiting For Wentworth: 02/01/2018

Waiting On Wednesday (328) Ever After by Riley Hart and Christina Lee

Ever After by Riley Hart and Christina Lee

Expected publication: February 28th 2018

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

This my favorite day of the week because I love sharing and discovering new books.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

As next in line for the Evergreen crown, Prince Merrick Davendall’s future involves ruling, marriage, and producing an heir of his own. But he’s long been tormented by desires that are far from princely. Especially when the beautiful Cassius is promoted to be his new valet, and Merrick is struck by a longing like never before—a longing to know him far beyond royal and servant.

After his father’s passing, Cassius Havendale’s sole duty is to provide for his family. A promotion to serve a pampered prince is something he endures only for their sake. Surely Prince Merrick has no understanding of true suffering of the common people, nor could he possibly understand what it’s like to desperately desire something he cannot have.

Except the prince is not at all what Cassius imagined. Kind, humorous, and caring to those in need, he also shares Cassius’ affinity for the arts. In fact, Merrick understands his deepest vulnerabilities in a most remarkable way.

As their affection deepens, the underlying tension between them becomes unbearable and they’re unable to ignore it any longer. But when the queen prepares a lavish ball with all the eligible ladies in the land in attendance, Merrick must fulfill his obligations to his country, and Cassius has the needs of his family to consider. They’ve long known their stolen moments would have to come to an end, but are they ready to give up one another and the idea of a happily-ever-after?

***PLEASE NOTE: EVER AFTER is a romantic fairy tale—minus the magic—that features one compassionate prince, one brooding valet, and plenty of angsty forbidden love. It's loosely based on a certain treasured fairy tale in a wintery make-believe setting that wouldn’t be considered contemporary but also isn’t based on any specific time period and doesn't play by any traditional rules.

I hope this is as cute as it sounds.

What are you waiting on this week?

The Veranda (Lavender Shores #3) by Rosalind Abel
Kindle Edition, 260 pages
Published August 25th 2017
Genre: M/M, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Donovan Carlisle helps countless people in Lavender Shores with his skills as a therapist. It seems, however, that his ability to enable others to live their happiest life only works outside of himself. Donovan truly loves his life, but isn’t able to find a relationship that satisfies his heart’s craving. Maybe the problem is that the only man he wants is off-limits.
Spencer Epstein came to Lavender Shores to find himself. Instead, he married one of the local town beauties. He’d thought his prayers had finally been answered. Then, he met his pregnant fiancée’s brother. It turned out those answered prayers were just cruel twists of fate.
A decade later, after a divorce and the crumbling of all Spencer thought was set in stone, he sees his brother-in-law at a masquerade sex party. He takes full advantage of the anonymity and acts on the desires he’s held at bay all those years. The problem is, those silent and frenzied moments didn’t satiate anything. The fire and heat between the two men only grows as secrets are uncovered and they must determine if the cost of their passion is too high...

I am really enjoying this series! I was seriously looking forward to reading Donovan's story after I liked him SO much in The Garden. I ended up completely loving this book, although I did have reservations after reading the blurb.

Donovan and Spencer had a complex and controversial relationship, but they were so strong together that I couldn't help but want them to get their HEA (despite my feelings regarding the 'ick' factor.)

I truly felt that both men deserved love, and I was pleased that once they put voice to what they wanted, they both went after it without looking back. They were determined to be together and be happy, and I absolutely loved that neither one wavered on that decision!

I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this series.

My Rating: 4 Stars

Hero at the Fall (Rebel of the Sands #3) by Alwyn Hamilton

Expected publication: March 6th 2018 by Viking Books for Young Readers

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

This my favorite day of the week because I love sharing and discovering new books.

Synopsis From Goodreads:

When gunslinging Amani Al'Hiza escaped her dead-end town, she never imagined she'd join a revolution, let alone lead one. But after the bloodthirsty Sultan of Miraji imprisoned the Rebel Prince Ahmed in the mythical city of Eremot, she doesn't have a choice. Armed with only her revolver, her wits, and her untameable Demdji powers, Amani must rally her skeleton crew of rebels for a rescue mission through the unforgiving desert to a place that, according to maps, doesn't exist. As she watches those she loves most lay their lives on the line against ghouls and enemy soldiers, Amani questions whether she can be the leader they need or if she is leading them all to their deaths.

I loved the first book in this series, but for some reason I haven't read the second book yet.

What are you waiting on this week?

The Garden (Lavender Shores #2) by Rosalind Abel
Kindle Edition, 264 pages
Published July 25th 2017 by Wings of Ink Publications, LLC
Genre: M/M, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Beautiful Gilbert Bryant designs jewelry for the rich and famous, and he made his escape from his gossipy little hometown of Lavender Shores. However, with so many friends and family, he keeps getting pulled back. When he attends his best friend’s engagement party, Gilbert can’t help but sample one of the new men in town. It’s just some innocent—or not so innocent—fun. Nothing that will even cross his mind once he gets back to his everyday life.

Walden Thompson dreamed about living in Lavender Shores since he visited as a child. He finally gets his chance, and he embraces the opportunity to start over, to become someone new. He leaves both hurts and dangerous habits in the past, where they belong. When Gilbert crosses his path, Walden gives in to his baser instincts. He can indulge in the carnal pleasures this once and still be okay.

Their few hours together haunt Gilbert, the two-hundred-mile buffer from home no longer shutting out the past or the sexy man he left behind. Walden is just beginning to recover from the smoldering encounter with Gilbert when they are thrust together once more. This time, neither of them can walk away, no matter how hard they try. But when their pasts crash into each other as surely as the magnetism that pulls them together, walking away may be the only option.

I enjoyed The Garden SO much more than I did the first book in this series, The Palisade. I wasn't sure I was going to like Gilbert - first impressions are everything - but I liked him more and more as the story progressed. And now I can firmly say that he completely won me over! And Walden? Simply too adorable for words! I loved them both so much, and they were just too cute together.

Gilbert and Walden were both such beautiful characters, but they were damaged and carrying a bit of baggage. The story wasn't too weighed down by their issues, and I loved that both characters realized not only were they deserving of love, they were capable of loving each other. I felt they couldn't be more perfect for each other!

My Rating: 4 Stars

Twisted and Tied (Marshals #4) by Mary Calmes
Expected publication: March 13th 2018 by Dreamspinner Press

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

This my favorite day of the week because I love sharing and discovering new books.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Deputy US Marshal Miro Jones finally has everything he ever wanted. He’s head-over-heels in love and married to the man of his dreams, his partner Ian Doyle, he’s doing well at work, and all his friends are in good places as well. Things are all tied up nicely… until they’re not.

Change has never been easy for Miro, and when situations at work force the team he’s come to depend on to break apart, and worst of all, his and Ian’s individual strengths put them on two separate paths, he’s pretty certain everything just went up in smoke. But before he can even worry about the future, his past comes for a visit, shaking his world up even more. It’s hard to tell what road he should truly be on, but as he learns some paths are forged and others are discovered, it might be that where he's going is the right course after all. If he can navigate all the twists and turns, he and Ian might just get their happily ever after.

The final book in this series! I can't freaking wait! I love these guys. AND the author has a free novella coming out today that I assume is the wedding.... since they weren't married in book 3, but they are in book 4. I hope it's the wedding. It better be the wedding. Please be the wedding.
***ETA: It appears NOT to be the wedding, which makes me sad.***

What are you waiting on this week?

Daughter of the Siren Queen (Daughter of the Pirate King #2)
by Tricia Levenseller

Expected publication: February 27th 2018 by Feiwel and Friends

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

This my favorite day of the week because I love sharing and discovering new books.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Alosa's mission is finally complete. Not only has she recovered all three pieces of the map to a legendary hidden treasure, but the pirates who originally took her captive are now prisoners on her ship. Still unfairly attractive and unexpectedly loyal, first mate Riden is a constant distraction, but now he's under her orders. And she takes great comfort in knowing that the villainous Vordan will soon be facing her father's justice.

When Vordan exposes a secret her father has kept for years, Alosa and her crew find themselves in a deadly race with the feared Pirate King. Despite the danger, Alosa knows they will recover the treasure first . . . after all, she is the daughter of the Siren Queen.

I feel like a dork because I still haven't read the first book in this series! Has anyone read the first book, and can you try talking me into reading it asap? Thank you.

What are you waiting on this week?

I read a total of 25 books and novellas in January. I have so many books on my tbr that I don't know how I'll ever get to them all!

Read in January 2018

Counting on You (Counting #3) by Kelly Jensen
Body Art by Jordan Castillo Price
Risky Behavior (Bad Behavior #1) by L.A. Witt and Cari Z.

Suspicious Behavior (Bad Behavior #2) by L.A. Witt and Cari Z.
Reckless Behavior (Bad Behavior #3) by L.A. Witt and Cari Z.

I went back and reread the Bad Behavior series in anticipation of the final book in the series, a novella which turned out to be so darned cute! It was definitely worth getting past all the bad stuff that happened along the way to their happily ever after.

Model Exposure (Haven Investigations #4) by Lissa Kasey
Daylight Again (Hell or High Water #3) by S.E. Jakes
Not Fade Away (Hell or High Water #3.5) by S.E. Jakes

I finally finished the Haven Investigations series. I like all of the books well enough over all, but they sure are over the top!
I read the Hell or High Water series for the third time. I don't know why I keep torturing myself knowing that the end of the series may never be written.

Deal Maker (Deal Maker #1) by Lily Morton
Trick Roller (Seven of Spades #2) by Cordelia Kingsbridge
Winter (The Haunted Heart #1) by Josh Lanyon

Trick Roller was spectacular! I'm loving this series so far. (However, the cover and synopsis for the 4th book was recently revealed and it contains spoilers for book 3, which hasn't been released yet!!!)
I read Josh Lanyon's Winter in anticipation of book 2 being released later this year. I didn't know it would make me so sad! Something is revealed about the MC that broke my heart. But if I think about it logically, this is supposed to be a 4 part series, so things should be looking up for him.

The Boy Next Door by Josh Lanyon
In a Dark Wood (In A Dark Wood #1) by Josh Lanyon
The Parting Glass (In A Dark Wood #2) by Josh Lanyon

All 3 of these books were 2nd chance romances. The Boy Next Door was really cute and sweet, but too short!
In A Dark Wood is a 2 part series. The first book was a mystery that had an ambiguous ending. But in The Parting Glass the 2 MCs are trying to find their way back to each other, and it made me so sad at times.

Cut & Run (Cut & Run #1) by Abigail Roux and Madeleine Urban
Sticks & Stones (Cut & Run #2) by Abigail Roux and Madeleine Urban
Fish & Chips (Cut & Run #3) by Abigail Roux and Madeleine Urban

I've been seeing the Cut & Run series around for years, so I thought I'd give it a go. While I can understand the appeal of the 2 male leads, the writing isn't that great, and they aren't very good FBI agents!

The French Have a Word for It by Josh Lanyon
A Limited Engagement by Josh Lanyon
In Sunshine or in Shadow by Josh Lanyon

Some more Josh Lanyon novellas. These are really good, but way too short!

Perfect Day (Wyatt & Graham #1) by Josh Lanyon
Until We Meet Once More by Josh Lanyon
Heart Trouble by Josh Lanyon

Ditto what I said above - really, really cute, but way too short.

Just Desserts (Tales of the Curious Cookbook) by Mary Calmes
In Plain Sight by Josh Lanyon

A little something different from Mary Calmes. I enjoyed the first half of this book, but in the second half *things* happened too fast and were settled without any sort of conflict. So it was pretty anti-climactic.

Another second chance romance from Josh Lanyon that I wish was longer!

February 2018 TBR

Where Death Meets the Devil by L.J. Hayward
The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang
Divide & Conquer (Cut & Run #4) by Abigail Roux and Madeleine Urban

I plan on eventually reading all 9 books (and the novellas) in the Cut & Run Series.

I'm also looking forward to reading Together Tied, the Marshals novella on Instafreebie on the 15th of February. (The final book in the Marshals series comes out it March, so I can't wait for that!)