Format: eARC

The Wednesday Post (10)

Posted April 10, 2019 by Rowena in Features | 2 Comments

Can’t Wait Wednesday is hosted by Tessa over at Wishful Endings and it was based on Waiting on Wednesday that was hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme that is hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words.

I decided that I’m going to do a mashup of the Can’t Wait Wednesday and WWW Wednesday posts here on my blog. I’m bringing them together and calling it The Wednesday Post. Here’s what I’m up to this week.

WWW Wednesday

What did you recently finish reading?

Fumbled by Alexa Martin | The Shameless Hour by Sarina Bowen

I finished Fumbled last night and The Shameless Hour the night before last night. Both books were great reads and I’m super glad that I requested Fumbled for review. Poppy could have been me. She even talks like me and I really enjoyed seeing her with Ace and Big Ace. The romance was fantastic, the dialogue was real and I really need to go back and read Intercepted. Alexa Martin has made herself nice and comfy on my auto-buy list with just this one book. Total score for me.

Ever since Sarina Bowen put her Ivy Years series on Kindle Unlimited, I’ve been binge reading these books during the day at work. I love this series and it continues to be a favorite of mine. I liked Bella’s story a lot more with this reading than I did the first time and I can’t wait to jump into my work re-read of DJ and Lianne.

What are you currently reading?

Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews | Hook Shot by Kennedy Ryan

What do you think you’ll read next?

Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs | The Bride Test by Helen Hoang

Can’t Wait Wednesday

I will always look forward to new releases by Sarah Dessen. She writes the kind of stories that I absolutely love and always want to read. This upcoming release sounds like a great addition to her back list and I can’t wait to dig into my review copy of it. Woot!

The Wednesday Post (10)The Rest of the Story
by Sarah Dessen
Published by Harper Collins on June 4, 2019
Genres: Young Adult
Point of View:First Person
Pages: 400
Format: eARC
Source: Edelweiss
Buy It: Amazon|Barnes & Noble
Add It: Goodreads

Emma Saylor doesn’t remember a lot about her mother, who died when she was ten. But she does remember the stories her mom told her about the big lake that went on forever, with cold, clear water and mossy trees at the edges.

Now it’s just Emma and her dad, and life is good, if a little predictable…until Emma is unexpectedly sent to spend the summer with her mother’s family—her grandmother and cousins she hasn’t seen since she was a little girl.

When Emma arrives at North Lake, she realizes there are actually two very different communities there. Her mother grew up in working class North Lake, while her dad spent summers in the wealthier Lake North resort. The more time Emma spends there, the more it starts to feel like she is divided into two people as well. To her father, she is Emma. But to her new family, she is Saylor, the name her mother always called her.

Then there’s Roo, the boy who was her very best friend when she was little. Roo holds the key to her family’s history, and slowly, he helps her put the pieces together about her past. It’s hard not to get caught up in the magic of North Lake—and Saylor finds herself falling under Roo’s spell as well.

For Saylor, it’s like a whole new world is opening up to her. But when it’s time to go back home, which side of her will win out?

So, what are you reading this week? Anything good? Anything that you want to rant about?
Are you looking forward to The Rest of the Story? What other books are you looking forward to releasing this year?

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The Weekly Recap (126)

Posted April 8, 2019 by Rowena in Features | 4 Comments

Happy Monday, everybody!

I know that I haven’t been around for a while and I could say that I’ve been super busy with a bunch of work stuff and family stuff because things have been pretty crazy on both fronts but really, I’ve just been in a funk. I haven’t been in the mood to write up posts, I’m reading but my heart’s not in it and I think a lot of it has to do with the way that my friend was let go at work. The whole thing just kicked me in the gut and I haven’t (along with all of my other coworkers) gotten over it. We’re having a farewell dinner for our friend and I feel a little bad about not inviting my boss but well, thems the breaks. Nobody wants to spend any personal time with upper management right now.

I’ve also been pretty busy getting ready for my trip back to Utah for Chance’s graduation and Caiden’s birthday party. I’ve been helping Chloe (Caiden’s Mom) plan things out, ordering things that I want to include for the party like an Incredibles Sign that is all about Caiden, his birthday invitations, stuff like that and I’m having a lot of fun with that.

I’m hoping that this post will kick off my coming back from my blogging slump but…we’ll see. Also, before I jump into my week in books portion of this post…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY OLDEST AND BESTEST FRIEND, THERESA!

I can’t wait to celebrate with you and the rest of our squad on Thursday. I hope you have the best day today, Therese!

Now, onto the books…

What I’m Currently Reading
The Weekly Recap (126)Fumbled
by Alexa Martin
Series: The Playbook #2
Published by Penguin, Berkley on April 23, 2019
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Point of View:First Person
Pages: 336
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
Add It: Goodreads
Reading Challenges:2019 GoodReads Challenge, 2019 New to Me Challenge

A second chance doesn't guarantee a touchdown in this new contemporary romance from the author of Intercepted.

Single-mother Poppy Patterson moved across the country when she was sixteen and pregnant to find a new normal. After years of hard work, she's built a life she loves. It may include a job at a nightclub, weekend soccer games, and more stretch marks than she anticipated, but it's all hers, and nobody can take that away. Well, except for one person.

TK Moore, the starting wide receiver for the Denver Mustangs, dreamt his entire life about being in the NFL. His world is football, parties, and women. Maybe at one point he thought his future would play out with his high school sweetheart by his side, but Poppy is long gone and he's moved on.

When Poppy and TK cross paths in the most unlikely of places, emotions they've suppressed for years come rushing back. But with all the secrets they never told each other lying between them, they'll need more than a dating playbook to help them navigate their relationship.

I’m making slow but sure progress on my review pile for April and I’m hoping to really catch up this week so that I can start on my buddy reads. Wish me luck. So far, this book has been great. Alexa Martin is a new to me author and I’m really enjoying her writing style and this book. Poppy is a fantastic mother and reminds me of myself with Brenna so I’m a happy camper with this one. I’m almost done too.

What I Read

The Right Swipe (Modern Dating #1) by Alisha Rai (eARC) | 3.5 out of 5
You’d be Mine by Erin Hahn (eARC) | 4 out of 5
When We Left Cuba by Chanel Cleeton (eARC) | 4.25 out of 5
Extra Credit (Ivy Years) by Sarina Bowen (Kindle Unlimited) | 4.25 out of 5
The Year We Hid Away (Ivy Years #3) by Sarina Bowen (Kindle Unlimited) | 4.5 out of 5
The Key to Happily Ever After by Tif Marcelo (eARC) | 4 out of 5

What I Reviewed

Getting Lucky Number Seven (Taking Shots #1) by Cindi Madsen | 4 out of 5
Magic Bites (Kate Daniels #1) by Ilona Andrews | 3 out of 5
The Dating Game by Kiley Roache | 3 out of 5
Eye on Me by Rachel Harris | 4 out of 5
Team Player by Julianna Keyes | 4 out of 5

What I Posted

The Weekly Recap (125)

What I Got

Thirsty (Eastside Brewery #1) by Mia Hopkins (eBook)
Rafe (Loose Ends #1) by Rebekah Weatherspoon (eBook)
Hook Shot (Hoops #3) by Kennedy Ryan (Kindle Unlimited)
Extra Credit (Ivy Years) by Sarina Bowen (Kindle Unlimited)
The Year We Hid Away (Ivy Years #2) by Sarina Bowen (Kindle Unlimited)
The Understatement of the Year (Ivy Years #3) by Sarina Bowen (Kindle Unlimited)
The Shameless Hour (Ivy Years #4) by Sarina Bowen (Kindle Unlimited)
The Fifteenth Hour (Ivy Years #5) by Sarina Bowen (Kindle Unlimited)

What I Got for Review

The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen
One Fine Duke (School for Dukes #3) by Lenora Bell
Storm Cursed (Mercy Thompson #11) by Patricia Briggs
The Duchess in His Bed (Sins for All Seasons #4) by Lorraine Heath

What Made Me Laugh

All the damn time.

There you have it, my week in review. How was your week?

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The Weekly Recap (125)

Posted March 18, 2019 by Rowena in Features | 10 Comments

I’m in Utah, y’all!!

I’m spending this week taking care of this little one so that his parents can work and still be with him on his birthday this coming Thursday. Can you believe little Caiden will be turning 2 this week? I can’t. I remember when he was born and then when he was a baby. Compared to how skinny he is now, he was such a chunky baby. Still super adorable but chunky too.

It’s been a pretty eventful week for me at work. I’ve spent a lot of time trying to wrap weekly stuff up so that my backup and boss don’t have to deal with any of that stuff this week while I’m out.

Meghan is completely done with basketball now. Meghan lost her game at Nationals last week so they were knocked out and in her conference, only one team remains this week. Good luck to Masters University!

Bren and Ken had their Sophomore Showcase this past Friday that Delene drove them to and they said they had fun, and the rest is up to the coaches that were there to see them. I wonder why the showcase was so early since a bunch of NAIA teams were at Nationals and didn’t have anyone out at the showcase to see these girls. That was kind of dumb but whatever. Bren and Ken are the most excited about getting their nails done finally. They haven’t been able to get their nails done since they kept breaking during basketball but nothing is holding them back now. Haha.

Now, onto the books…

What I’m Currently Reading
The Weekly Recap (125)When We Left Cuba
by Chanel Cleeton
Published by Penguin, Berkley on April 9, 2019
Genres: Historical, Romance
Point of View:Alternating Third Person
Pages: 368
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
Add It: Goodreads
Reading Challenges:2019 GoodReads Challenge

In 1960s Florida, a young Cuban exile will risk her life--and heart--to take back her country in this exhilarating historical novel from the author of Next Year in Havana, a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick.

Beautiful. Daring. Deadly.

The Cuban Revolution took everything from sugar heiress Beatriz Perez--her family, her people, her country. Recruited by the CIA to infiltrate Fidel Castro's inner circle and pulled into the dangerous world of espionage, Beatriz is consumed by her quest for revenge and her desire to reclaim the life she lost.

As the Cold War swells like a hurricane over the shores of the Florida Strait, Beatriz is caught between the clash of Cuban American politics and the perils of a forbidden affair with a powerful man driven by ambitions of his own. When the ever-changing tides of history threaten everything she has fought for, she must make a choice between her past and future--but the wrong move could cost Beatriz everything--not just the island she loves, but also the man who has stolen her heart...

I finished Next Year in Havanah by Chanel Cleeton last night so I’m going to start this book today. I’ve got a lot on my plate today so I’m hoping to start this one tonight when I’m off babysitting duty and have some time to myself. Wish me luck since I can’t wait to start Beatriz’s book!

What I Read

Magic Bites (Kate Daniels #1) by Ilona Andrews | 3 out of 5
Getting Lucky Number Seven (Taking Shots #1) by Cindi Madsen | 4 out of 5
Anatomy of a Player (Taking Shots #2) by Cindi Madsen | 3 out of 5
Next Year in Havanah by Chanel Cleeton | 4.25 out of 5

My favorite read of the week goes to Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton. That ended up being a super good story and I enjoyed pretty much all parts of it. I’ll be buddy reviewing it with Ames so stay tuned for that.

Magic Bites and Anatomy of a Player were both slow starts and I did like them, I just liked them least of the books read. I am looking forward to reading the next books in both series so that’s something.

What I Reviewed

Bad Reputation (Bad Bachelors #1) by Stefanie London | 1 out of 5
Overnight Sensation (Brooklyn Bruisers #5) by Sarina Bowen | 4.5 out of 5

What I Posted

The Weekly Recap (124)
The Wednesday Post (9)

What I Got

Nothing this week. Lots of other stuff going on. Maybe this week…

What I Got for Review

Nothing this week.

What Made Me Laugh

There you have it, my week in review. How was your week?

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The Wednesday Post (9)

Posted March 13, 2019 by Rowena in Features | 4 Comments

Can’t Wait Wednesday is hosted by Tessa over at Wishful Endings and it was based on Waiting on Wednesday that was hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme that is hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words.

I decided that I’m going to do a mashup of the Can’t Wait Wednesday and WWW Wednesday posts here on my blog. I’m bringing them together and calling it The Wednesday Post. Here’s what I’m up to this week.

WWW Wednesday

What did you recently finish reading?

Repeat by Kylie Scott

My friend Holly really enjoyed listening to this book and recommended it to me so I finally listened to it and while I liked it, I didn’t love it as much as Holly did. I did really enjoy Clem’s journey to finding out who she used to be and who she wanted to be now. They were two totally different people and I liked who Clem was now. The romance between her and Ed was cute but not the highlight of the story for me.

What are you currently reading?

Magic Bites (Kate Daniels #1) by Ilona Andrews

I’m on Day 5 of reading this book and I’m barely halfway through. I’ve been hearing such great things about this series but holy shit is this book slow af. I’ve got my fingers crossed that something finally happens because I need to finish this damn book already.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton

I’m going to jump into this book because I’m reading it with Ames and it’ll be our next buddy review. I’m pretty anxious to read it since it’s been getting rave reviews everywhere. Woot!

Can’t Wait Wednesday
The Wednesday Post (9)Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune
by Roselle Lim
Published by Penguin, Berkley on June 11, 2019
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 320
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
Add It: Goodreads

Lush and visual, chock-full of delicious recipes, Roselle Lim's magical debut novel is about food, heritage, and finding family in the most unexpected places.

At the news of her mother's death, Natalie Tan returns home. The two women hadn't spoken since Natalie left in anger seven years ago, when her mother refused to support her chosen career as a chef. Natalie is shocked to discover the vibrant neighborhood of San Francisco's Chinatown that she remembers from her childhood is fading, with businesses failing and families moving out. She's even more surprised to learn she has inherited her grandmother's restaurant.

The neighborhood seer reads the restaurant's fortune in the leaves: Natalie must cook three recipes from her grandmother's cookbook to aid her struggling neighbors before the restaurant will succeed. Unfortunately, Natalie has no desire to help them try to turn things around--she resents the local shopkeepers for leaving her alone to take care of her agoraphobic mother when she was growing up. But with the support of a surprising new friend and a budding romance, Natalie starts to realize that maybe her neighbors really have been there for her all along.

"Vivid and lyrical with a touch of magic."--Helen Hoang, author of The Kiss Quotient

This week, I’m looking forward to this book. I’m really digging the Asian romances right now because my Polynesian ass relates to a lot of the cultural stuff that’s in them and I’m just over here, hoping and praying that one of my favorite authors writes a romance for a Samoan character…

So, what are you reading this week? Anything good? Anything that you want to rant about?
Are you looking forward to Natalie Tan’s Book of Fortune and Luck? What other books are you looking forward to releasing this year?

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The Wednesday Post (6)

Posted February 6, 2019 by Rowena in Features | 10 Comments

So I’ve been playing around with things that I want to do on this blog and I’ve been wanting to do a mid-week check in so that I can chat about the books that I’m reading that week. What’s working for me and what’s not but I also want to keep a running list of books that I cannot wait to get my greedy little hands on. I decided that I’m going to do a mashup of the Can’t Wait Wednesday and WWW Wednesday posts here on my blog.

Can’t Wait Wednesday is hosted by Tessa over at Wishful Endings and it was based on Waiting on Wednesday that was hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme that is hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words.

WWW Wednesday

What did you recently finish reading?

Devil’s Daughter (The Ravenels #5) by Lisa Kleypas

I zipped right through this book. It was just as good as I hoped it would be and West? West was freaking everything. The ending felt a bit rushed but I enjoyed the rest of the book so much that I didn’t even care. Oh goodness, this book was sooo good.

What are you currently reading?

The Risk (Briar U #2) by Elle Kennedy

This book showed up on my kindle last night as I was finishing up Devil’s Daughter so of course I immediately started reading it once I was done. It’s Jake and Brenna!!

What do you think you’ll read next?

The Assist (Smart Jocks #1) by Rebecca Jenshak

I need to get this one read pronto so that I can work on my buddy review for this one with Ames. I’m a sucker for a sports romance and a basketball romance? Yes, please!

Can’t Wait Wednesday
The Wednesday Post (6)One Fine Duke
by Lenora Bell
Series: School for Dukes #3
Published by Harper Collins, Avon on July 23, 2019
Genres: Historical, Romance
Point of View:Alternating Third Person
Pages: 384
Format: eARC
Source: Edelweiss
Add It: Goodreads

The third book in USA Today bestselling author Lenora Bell's sexy School for Dukes series is a Dracula-Northanger Abbey mash-up, with a dash of James Bond's Miss Moneypenny.

Ready.

Raised in the countryside by her overprotective uncle, Miss Mina Penny's dream of a triumphant London season is finally here. She determined her perfect match long ago: Rafe Bentley, the wickedest rake of them all. There's only one very large, very unyielding obstacle: Rafe's brother Andrew, the reclusive Duke of Thorndale.

Aim.

This was supposed to be simple. Duke goes to London. Duke selects suitable bride. Love match? Not a chance. But when Andrew meets Mina, she complicates everything. How can a lady armed with such beauty and brains fall for his irresponsible degenerate of a brother? Andrew vows to save her from heartbreak and ruin, no matter the cost.

Desire!

But Mina is no damsel in distress. She's daring, intuitive, passionate...and halfway to melting Andrew's cold heart. And although Mina thought she knew exactly what she wanted, one breathtakingly seductive kiss from Andrew changes everything. Now Mina must decide between long-held dreams and dangerous new desires. Could her true destiny lie in the arms of a duke?

I just read two fantastic historicals in the last week so I’ve got historicals on my mind. This one sounds like a good one and I’m really enjoying this series so I’m very much looking forward to Mina’s story.

So, what are you reading this week? Anything good? Anything that you want to rant about?
Are you looking forward to One Fine Duke? What other books are you looking forward to releasing this year?

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