Month: July 2017

This Chick Read: Wicked Bite (Realm Enforcers) by Rebecca Zanetti

Finally we get to see Bear the Alpha of the Grizzly nation and head of the Grizzly MC Club get his own heroine and chance at everlasting love! Wicked Bite continues the storyline of finding and eliminating the Apollo drug that is being used to kill off the Witch nation. Nessa Lansa goes undercover by approaching Bear as a possible mate. She is a witch who can’t draw upon fire and he is a bear shifter who is also half dragon. In a previous novel, Bear went against nature to shift into a dragon to save his sister Simone, irreparably harming his soul. Nessa’s story is that if they mate, her healing skills will work better at healing Bear, where she may gain his dragon fire. Of course, there’s this thing called physical attraction that comes into play and Bear starts taking this Mate thing very seriously!

I’ve heard this is the last novel in the Realm Enforcers series. Oh no!  As an offshoot of the Dark Protectors series I really enjoyed catching up with all of our past characters. I hope I’m wrong because I can see a couple more heroes in this last novel that should get their own story. Can we get another spinoff? We can only hope!

Bear had been a favorite character and I was happy to see his HEA. His easygoing bear nature fooled everyone including Nessa, who learned that there was a reason he was Alpha, and in this novel that Alpha warrior got to come out and play. Nessa was also no push over. Her Alpha Princess came out packing this novel full of action, and not just of the bedroom variety! If this series does end here, I think it’s a great ending, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed that there’s more of this world in our future.  ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley for an honest review, and my review was honest.


Click link to purchase! Wicked Bite (Realm Enforcers Book 5)

Copyright 2017 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

 

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This Chicks Sunday Commentary: Favorite Fictional Couples 

I have never been the type of person who gets crushes on famous actors, has a book boyfriend, favorite band or heck, even a favorite food.  Sure I have likes and dislikes; I like Chris Hemsworth more than Liam Hemsworth and Mexican Food more than Chinese, but never have had an outright favorite.

I do however have favorite fiction couples. Is it the thought that there is one person out there for everyone? Sure. But it’s more of how those two people fit together and that chemistry thats so fascinating. Let’s analyze a few of my favorites.

The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon – Jamie and Claire

I read these books when they first came out in the ’90’s. Yes, some of you weren’t even born yet! ALL the women in my family passed these books around to each other and swooned over Jamie and Claire. One of my Uncles even named his daughter Claire ( yes, the men in my family have read Outlander, even my own husband!). Why do these two connect so well with us? Claire is a modern woman, well modern for historical highland Scotland anyway. She’s smart, stands up for herself, and even though torn between two men finds enough love within herself for both. Jamie is the love of her life or lifetimes, as the case may be. Jamie, a young handsome highlander likes her smarts, sass, and experience. Most importantly, he allows her to to be Claire. In doing so, he captures her heart even when they live centuries apart. That separation and the fact that Claire travels through time to be with her true love only makes us love it and them more.

Click this link to purchase! Outlander

In Death series by J. D. Robb – Eve and Rourke

She’s a cop, and he’s a gazillionaire ex-thief and the setting is futuristic New York. Despite their surface differences they have commonalities in their depths. Eve was abused and raped by her own father and she killed him when she was a child in self defense. Roarke was a street punk who survived by those artful dodger skills. Both lacked love as children but somehow overcame that to have thriving careers and ultimately finding that love they needed from each other. He is whimsical and uber brilliant, and she is steely and analytical and because of those traits they are the yin to each others yang. It’s great fun to see Eve discover her own hidden depths and Roarke to love in overwhelming waves and to see each other grow as a couple because of their trust for each other.  His gazillionaire status doesn’t play into it at all though all his gadgets, gizmos and exotic locations do make for a fun read

Click the link to purchase! Naked in Death (In Death, Book 1)
The Hidden Legacy series by Ilona Andrews – Nevada Baylor and Connor Rogan

An Urban Fantasy series, the third,Wildfire, came out this week and I am reading right now. (I MUST get back to it!) Connor Mad Rogan, is a Prime. A mage with an extraordinary skillset that has been used in battle and earned him a certain reputation. He and Nevada cross paths when they are both investigating the same crime. He is instantly intrigued by her and although she can’t ignore how attractive he is, his reputation is pretty scary (hence the nickname “Mad”) and she isn’t interested. However, forced to work together she is drawn to his strength and honor, and see’s that young boy inside of him that suffered from a lack of love. Those things whittle away at her walls until she lets him in, and at that moment, he has her trust, heart, and hope. Connor, with all of that power never used it to win her over. I think it was the fact that he let her grow without trying to influence her, fought by her side, protected her family and ultimately that strength of passion that won her over. Oh, don’t forget their incredible chemistry. Wowza!

Click the link to purchase! Burn for Me (Hidden Legacy)
A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J Maas – Feyre and Rhysand

This YA fantasy series used misdirection and an evil enemy to move our two heroes Feyre and Rhysand together both in the fight against evil but also in a bonding love that would seem to be everlasting. Feyre, human turned Fae, is certainly put through the wringer in these books. Fighting for herself and her family, the whole time. Rhysand, introduced to the reader as the King of darkness, had a lot to overcome, both with Feyre and the reader because Ms. Maas manipulated our minds into believing he was the bad guy. As the story unfolds and we see the true nature of Rhysand and Tamlin (the red herring) our own hearts unfold, right along with Feyre’s and we bleed our love for Rhysand. Or at least that is what it felt like to me. Theirs was a union that had to overcome death, deception and war. In comparison their happy moments felt like golden moments of stolen time, sure to be taken away. Feyre, although not my favorite female character of all time, was held up as part of one of my favorite couples because of Rhysand’s grit and fortitude, and yes love and passion. He was desperately fighting for their love, we just didn’t realize it until later, and when we did, we bought it and him, hook, line and sinker.

Click the link to purchase! A Court of Thorns and Roses

The more I think on this topic the more I could go on and on and on. I left out the obvious classics like Romeo and Juliet (although they both die so really does that count?), Ron and Hermione for the Harry Potter fans, and even Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. These four are a few of my favorites and I know my choices lean towards fantasy which may not appeal to everyone.

I would love to hear who is your own favorite fictional couple. Do they come from the classics? Contemporary romance? Or are they from fantasy novels like mine? Please comment below and lets talk.

Until next Sunday!

Deb

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This Chick Read: Star Cruise: Outbreak – The Sectors SF Romance series by Veronica Scott

I enjoyed the first book in this series, The Wreck of the Nebula Dream. The author, Veronica Scott, did a great job mixing action, adventure, science fiction and romance and I wanted to see if she was able to replicate that magical formula. Star Cruise was slightly different than the first novel, dealing with real life subjects like PTSD and alcoholism, but still had that great mix of genres I mentioned above. The cruise ship is crewed by a group of ex military vets. Continue reading “This Chick Read: Star Cruise: Outbreak – The Sectors SF Romance series by Veronica Scott” →

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This Chick Read: Flame in the Mist (Flame in the Mist #1) by Renee Ahdieh 

Mirako is on her journey to become the bride in an arranged marriage to the younger son of her emperor when she and her company is attacked with everyone dying but her. On her own in the forest Mirako decides to investigate who had killed her retinue and ends up infiltrating their group. Of course, she can’t do this as a girl so she decides to disguise herself as a young boy and discovers the freedom a change in sex brings.

Renee Ahdieh writes in a lyrical style that was totally appropriate to the time and story she was telling and rivaled the beauty of the covert art on her book. Her descriptions really gave the setting an otherworldly feel that matched an era that was royally majestic and colorful, which hid the squalor of its poor. Mirako as a girl was seen as strange and odd. While not unattractive, she was a girl who asked questions and showed intelligence in a time where girls were to be seen and not heard and femininity was prized above all else. Mirako as a boy was allowed to use her brain and in fact her intellect was rewarded. It’s no wonder that when she infiltrated the Black Clan the lines between right and wrong were blurred. She makes friends and yes, she finds love, but her duty to her family keeps clouding thoughts of what would bring her happiness. Would leaving honor and duty behind bring her joy? Those are the decisions she finds herself making in this book.

This was a beautiful book to read and very easy to go all in emotionally. Who doesn’t want to root for a girl to be honored for her intellect, find true love and fight the bad guys? Right on!

❤️❤️❤️❤️❣️


Click the link to purchase! Flame in the Mist

Copyright 2017 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

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This Chick Read: Come Sundown by Nora Roberts

Get out your tissues because Nora Roberts newest romantic suspense novel is a three hanky event. A novel about family lost and family found, love, and survival.

There are two storylines in Come Sundown. The first, takes place in current time at the Bodine resort and ranch. Bodine Longbow lives on the ranch with her brothers and parents while running the resort side of their business while her father and brothers run the ranch side. We learn that Bodine, named after her mother’s side of the family who owns the land their property is on, is super organized and the lady in charge, but isn’t the most emotional woman in the world. Not that’s she’s unfeeling but she’s all business. She has to be to keep their little empire afloat. Her love interest, Cal Skinner, is back after leaving at eighteen to make it on his own. He had worked as a horse wrangler in the movies and was ready to settle back down close to his family. He finds a job working for Bodine and the sparks start quietly zapping as the intensity between them builds.

The second plot line is set 26 years ago when Alice Bodine is hitch hiking back to her parents ranch after disappearing on the day of her sister’s wedding. She is kidnapped off the side of the road and held against her will until 26 years later when she escapes. This plot line was very well done, but the subject matter was not for the faint of heart. Alice was beaten, raped, and indoctrinated into this new life in ways that were heartbreaking to read about. When she finally has her reunion with her family, her journey back to normalcy was very emotional and well written.

Bodine and Alice’s storyline ran parallel to each other, but their journey was not similar at all. The disparity between the two stories gave the story impact and delivered a solid punch. This was a tough one to read but also a really heartwarming story about family ties. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click the link to purchase! Come Sundown

Copyright 2017 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

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This Chicks Sunday Commentary: Marketing Your Blog

When I first started my blog my goal was simple. I’d read a book for pleasure and then write what I thought about the book. I didn’t know much about this book blogging world and really have learned by trial and error. I had few rules, but over time my goals have changed. As I’ve interacted with my fellow bloggers, publishers and PR machines, I’ve discovered that I actually love the relationships I’ve built and blogging has really added something to my life that I didn’t know was missing. An outlet for my creativity, certainly, that is still my main purpose. Reading books I love and talking about them. However, I’ve also discovered that I enjoy helping get the word out into my universe (which is admittedly not huge), but in my own way, promote reading and help some authors I enjoy attain success and hopefully make their living writing. This year, my goals changed slightly. I decided to apply myself more using my skills from my day job. So I am going to out myself on my blog today in the hopes that some of these tips may help some of you too! 

I am an Advertising Sales Executive! Ok, it’s not like I’m a superhero or anything, sorry! However, being in the advertising business, my job is to help small or large businesses deliver a message to their customers, bring people through their doors, and to buy whatever it is they are selling.  Thats remarkably similar to what we book bloggers are trying to do for our favorite authors, right? I decided to apply those marketing skills to my own blog, grow my followers, while at the same time, getting the word out and help authors sell some books! These five things helped me jump start my own blog and I wanted to share them with you all.

  Clean Look– This one seems like it should be so easy! Nobody likes to view a cluttered blog. Keep the colors simple and please make sure we can read your blog against whatever background color you pick. No white on light pink backgrounds please!  If I go to a website and can’t read the posts I hit unfollow. Put a menu at the top and make sure your followers can easily find reviews, Tags, etc. If they can’t find things easily your readers either won’t click follow, which is what your goal is, right? Or worse, they will hit unfollow! 

  Consistency– every blogger has their own goal for their blog. The key is to pick your subject and be consistent with your message. You are a book blogger and if you’re trying to market yourself as a reviewer then make sure you post reviews. If you start talking about gardening, cooking, or makeup you will lose followers. Be consistent in your message! You don’t have to stick to reviews, Book Tags, Stacking Your Shelves, TBT are all ok because you are sticking with your book theme. Stick with that theme to deliver a consistent message and gain followers. 

   Social Media– This has been a HUGE part of my own blog gaining traction. I will not lie, it takes work! WordPress will automatically send your posts to Facebook, Twitter, and a few more. Take advantage of that! Create a Facebook Page for your blog. Tweet out your posts, use Pinterest, Instagram, Google+. They all help deliver eyeballs to your posts. I love looking at the referrals section of my blog to see what post gains traction on what site. Of course, this is what I do for a living and seeing what works interests me. Recently I have noticed that Google+ has become particularly active with my Sunday Commentaries! Find where your traffic is coming from and cater to them. I wrote a review for the author Meghan March and when I posted it on Instagram I wrote one sentence about bringing a gun on your vacation, it was a romantic suspense novel and I hadn’t any idea that Google would rate that post high because of the word gun. I noticed a TON of views from Google. Ok, maybe not the best example because I’m sure some people didn’t know they were clicking on a book review, but the point is to be clever!  It works!

   Branding yourself– Remember while doing both of the above keep your message and the look of your blog consistent from Social site to Social site. You want your followers to recognize your blog name and the look of your blog. When a reader see’s the name The Reading Chick they know what they will get. Reviews, Tags and Comentaries! All delivered with my charm and personality, of course! Lol. When they see The Reading Chick from site to site and the message and look are consistent, it becomes branding. Everyone knows who McDonalds is, right? Golden Arches, red and yellow colors, Ronald McDonald, and burgers and fries. They are the master at consistency and  their dominance shows that consistency works regardless if your burgers are sub par.

   Organized topics/regularly scheduled– This year I introduced my Sunday Commentary, which I use to sound off, but to also post some fun tags. However, my blog is about book reviews, so I make sure I deliver on that promise and I post three reviews a week. This still gives me a few days to do other fun book related posts if the mood hits. Some bloggers post weekly Waiting on Wednesday or Throw back Thursday blog posts. These are great examples of regularly scheduled posts. We know what they are, they happen the same day every week and we come to expect them. In fact, I look for some of them! Branding, consistency and regularly scheduled all at work!

All of you know that reaching out to your fellow bloggers on WordPress, commenting, liking and developing relationships also helps you gain followers so don’t stop! It takes some time, but if you put in the effort you will see the results- and make some great friends while your at it!

I hope you all found this post interesting and helpful! I’d love to hear how you think you’ve gained the most followers. Please give your tips in the comments below!

Until next Sunday!

Deb

   

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This Chick Read: Deceptions (Cainsville #3) by Kelley Armstrong

Life for Olivia Taylor Jones has been spinning uncontrollably ever since she discovered she was adopted and her real parents were famous serial killers. Now working for friend and lawyer, Gabriel, Olivia continues to explore the reasons for her real parents killing spree. She can no longer write off the visions she has been having, as now, they overtake her everyday life, leaving her incapacitated and feverish. These visions are trying to tell her something about herself, Ricky and Gabriel, and the people of Cainsville. These visions have her asking questions that ultimately answer the mystery of why her parents would kill three couples in cold blood.

Her relationship to Ricky has become even more heated. However, her relationship with Gabriel, although different than with Ricky is just as emotional. As her visions get more specific, she realizes that the three of them are players in a game between two factions of fae. A game none of them are playing willingly yet they keep getting sucked in deeper.

I am thoroughly enjoying how Olivia’s feelings are being yanked back and forth between Ricky and Gabriel. Ricky, heir to an MC gang, should be the bad boy in this threesome but he is actually the reasonable, stable choice. Gabriel is the bad boy, the emotionally damaged choice. Olivia can’t let him go and I’ll admit there is something about him that makes me root for her final choice to be Gabriel. However, this is only book three and there are two more books full of paranormal happenings, romantic entanglements and strategy between fae to take place. I am going to sit back in my armchair and enjoy the ride. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❣️

Click the link to purchase! Deceptions: A Cainsville Novel

Copyright 2017 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

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I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

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This Chick Read: Red Queen (Red Queen #1) by Victoria Aveyard

The premise of a class structure that was separated, not by the color of your skin, but by the color of your blood was interesting. Those with silver blood, surprisingly called Silvers,  had special power talents, like telekinesis, mind reading, controlling fire, water, etc. Those citizens with red blood (Reds) were normal, and the peasants and worker bees in this fantasy world. When Mare Barrow, a Red, receives placement as a servant in the ruling family’s castle, she finds out that her blood, although red, is different. She, too, has a power! She manifests that power for the first time in a room full of Silvers, and because she can’t be explained, the monarchy decides to create a new identity for her, placing her as a princess of a lost Silver family. However, Mare knows she is not Silver, and in fact, still bleeds red in not only color, but also in idealisms.

Red Queen had the normal YA trope of young idealistic girl feeling her power/strength for the first time. It also used the threesome trope. Young girl torn between two brothers, the future king, who is a gentle warrior, and the younger brother, her betrothed, who is quiet and shares her idealisms. Maybe that was why I was ambivalent? I think if I had read this book when it came out, the use of those tropes wouldn’t have been as stale. It wasn’t until the book turned political that I got truly interested. When Mare started fighting back was when my interest was earned. Finally, I thought! A fight against prejudice, no matter what kind, I will relish. Knowing this is a trilogy, I am hoping the second and third book start quickly and the story doesn’t get bogged down by other over used tropes.

I did enjoy this fantasy world that Victoria Aveyard built. It was really well thought out, and kind of Machiavellian, which was fun to read about. Even though this book took a little time to get into, the positives more than made up for the negatives. I will totally pick up the next novel in the series and see how Mare’s rebellion continues. This book ends right when things were starting to get interesting! ❤️❤️❤️❤️


Click the link to purchase! Red Queen

Copyright 2017 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

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This Chick Read: Spellbinder (Moonshadow #2) by Thea Harrison

Thea Harrison has created a world that I’ve grown to love in her Elder Races novels. The Moonshadow series is a spin off from the Elder Races, so the world and mythology are the same and if you are a fan of those novels as I am it’s easy to jump right in and feel at home. Spellbinder is the story of a famous violinist, Sidoni Martel, who is kidnapped after a concert and left with the light court as tribute to their Queen. This was done to punish Morgan Le Fae, the Queen’s sorceror and huge fan of Sidonie’s. As a human Sidonie is at the whim of this evil queen who punishes her with torture and time in the dungeon. This is where Morgan finds, heals and falls in love with Sidonie. This is also where the story gets interesting. There is more to Morgan’s story than we’ve been led to believe and in order for these two to be together they have a huge hurtle to overcome.

This story was not unique, it played on the legend of King Arthur and even the Devil and Daniel Webster, however it was imbued with such passion between Morgan and Sidonie that I threw away those moments of similarity and rooted for them as a couple. In Moonshadow, the first book in this series, we see a little of Morgan, and he is a bad guy in that novel, as well as in some of the Elder Races books. I had a moment or two of doubt that the author could turn my feelings around, but he was paired with Sidonie who I loved from the first note she played and she easily swayed me to their side.

The reason I read romance novels is for that fantasy element of true love and grand passion. If I can’t believe in the couple the story falls flat. The relationship in this story had heart and Sidonie and Morgan fought ferociously to be together. I love that in a romance!

❤️❤️❤️❤️


Click the link to purchase! Spellbinder (Moonshadow) (Volume 2)

Copyright 2017 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

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This Chicks Sunday Commentary: Share Your Shelves – The Alphabet Book Tag (A-M)

I just finished a novel and was trying to decide which book I’d read next. As usual I’m looking through NetGalley, my Kindle, YA book subscriptions and bookshelves. Man, I have a lot of books to read and it’s a little overwhelming!  Hmm, is there another way to pick my next book? Why not select a few alphabetically? At least I’d see some not so very obvious and maybe well hidden unread novels that I already own in a new light. On the chance that you also own books on this list maybe it will remind you that these books still need to be read. 

If you’ve read some of these books, chime in! Did you like one? What was your favorite? What would you recommend? 

I’m going to tag a few bloggers that I know have bookshelves that are overflowing to do their own Alphabet Book Tag. Share your shelves! It may help you pick out your next book, or prompt one of your readers to pick up that same book that they already own. These are all fabulous reviewers so check out their websites for interesting ideas.

Tag You’re It! A-M only!  Don’t worry if you don’t have time, but if you do, even if it’s only ABC, pls link me so I can read your tag, Thanks!

Donna@hereonthereeverywhere.us

Corina and Tijuana @booktwinsreviews.com

Lynne@fictionophile.wordpress.com

Raven@Dreamyaddictions.wordpress.com

Marie@Drizzleandhurricanebooks.com

THE ALPHABET BOOKTAG

A Sky Full of Stars by Samantha Chase 

Book five in the series but it looks like a fun enemies to lovers book. I do like Samantha Chase!

Brilliant astrophysicist Dr. Owen Shaughnessy feels more connected to the cosmos than to people. He’s great with calculations, but when he leads a team of scientists to study a famous meteor shower, he doesn’t factor in his free-spirited artist assistant Brooke Matthews.

Polar opposites in personality, the friction between Owen and Brooke threatens to derail the project. But the beauty and mystery of the night sky draw them together—and she’s going to surprise him in ways the stars never could.

Blood Bound by Sharon Stevenson 

I got this one for free by subscribing to the authors newsletter. A paranormal ya? Sold!

19-year-old twin demon trackers Shaun and Sarah Gallows are used to running into trouble—mostly the kind with fangs—but while Sarah embraces her powers to their fullest extent, trusting her instincts implicitly, Shaun distances himself from his abilities and can do little more than despair at his sister’s reckless nature and idly back her up.
When they come across 17-year-old Melissa Carling, a demon tracker who’s been torturing innocent super-naturals, they know they have to stop her. Sarah is desperate to punish Melissa for what she’s been doing but Shaun’s instant attraction to the girl points to a soul-mate bond stronger than anything he’s ever had to fight before…

Caraval by Stephanie Garber 

Ok, I know I’m late to the party. Hey, I own the book, I just need to read what all the fuss is about!

Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the far-away, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over.

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But she nevertheless becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever.


Dear Aaron by Mariana Zapata 

This was a surprise release in June. It’s on Kindle Unlimited, which I subscribe to and I Love Mariana Zapata, so it will be read soon. Probably on my vacation next month.

Ruby Santos knew exactly what she was getting herself into when she signed up to write a soldier overseas.

The guidelines were simple: one letter or email a week for the length of his or her deployment. Care packages were optional.
Been there, done that. She thought she knew what to expect.
What she didn’t count on was falling in love with the guy.



Ever the Hunted by Erin 


A totally gorgeous cover, right? This was in my YA subscription, Uppercase box, and I just haven’t gotten to it yet, but I will!

Seventeen year-old Britta Flannery is at ease only in the woods with her dagger and bow. She spends her days tracking criminals alongside her father, a legendary bounty hunter—that is, until her father is murdered. The alleged killer is none other than Cohen Mackay, her father’s former apprentice. The only friend she’s ever known. The boy she once loved who broke her heart.  

     She must go on a dangerous quest in a world of warring kingdoms, mad kings, and dark magic to find the real killer. But Britta wields more power than she knows. And soon she will learn what has always made her different will make her a force to be reckoned with.  

Falling by Simona Ahrnstedt 

I received this novel at the RT Convention in May, just as I received the first in the series, All In, last year at RT. All In was so good! This comes out in a week or so and I got an early copy. I need to read and review, Lol.

Alexander de la Grip is known in the tabloids and gossip blogs as a rich, decadent, jet-setting playboy who spends most of his days recovering from the night before. With a string of beautiful conquests, he seems to care about nothing and no one.Isobel Sørensen has treated patients in refugee camps and war zones, and is about to depart Sweden for a pediatric hospital in Chad. Devoted to her humanitarian work, she cares almost too deeply. Especially when she learns that Alexander is withholding desperately needed funds from her aid foundation.

Is it because she’s the only woman who ever told him to go to hell?

As the two push each other’s boundaries to the breaking point, the truth turns out to be much more complicated.Pain, love, trust, betrayal. Which will triumph when safety is nothing but an empty word?

Gilded Cage by Vic James 

Another RT Convention YA fantasy novel, but there are never too many. Has anyone read a book by Vic James? 

In a darkly fantastical debut set in modern-day Britain, magic users control everything: wealth, politics, power—and you. If you’re not one of the ultimate one-percenters—the magical elite—you owe them ten years of service. Do those years when you’re old, and you’ll never get through them. Do them young, and you’ll never get over them.

This is the darkly decadent world of Gilded Cage. In its glittering milieu move the all-powerful Jardines and the everyday Hadleys. The families have only one thing in common: Each has three children. But their destinies entwine when one family enters the service of the other. They will all discover whether any magic is more powerful than the human spirit.

Hold ‘Em by Katie Porter 

Ok, I have had this book for YEARS! I’ve read the first two in the series and they were very good. Very sexy! The copy I have has a different cover, but I know some of you ladies like those chest book covers so I chose to put this one up. It sounds like it may be a little Dom/Sub romance?  I might be a little afraid.  Lol.

Daughter of a world-famous motocross champion, and head-on competitor with three brothers, Captain Leah “Princess” Girardi was born with a need for speed. No one tells her what to do, especially not men with chauvinistic “girls can’t be fighter pilots” attitudes.

That’s what ended her brief relationship with Captain Mike “Strap Happy” Templeton. Now, six years later, he’s been assigned to her squadron, and whoa damn, he’s filled out nicely. Plus he’s cultivated a Zen-like chill factor that pulls at her hormones.

Even after four tours, Mike’s the new kid in the 64th Aggressor Squadron. That’s not the only thing new. Since he last saw Leah, he’s learned a few things about himself. A female who outranks him still makes his teeth grind, but in the bedroom he craves the rush of pain inflicted by an adoring, powerful woman.

Their reunion is an explosive revelation. Leah is the beautiful mistress he’s been searching for, and she takes to her new role like a natural. But Leah’s aware one thing hasn’t changed. Loving him is still an all-or-nothing proposition. She’s not sure her reckless streak is wide enough to risk her career—and her heart.

In the Heir by Ruth Cardello 

I met this author at RT. She was sweet and signed a book for me to give away on my blog. Which I will still do! I think this is a Billionaire romance? Millionaire? Hell, couple hundred-aire would be good for some of us, right?

Brett Westerly is his father’s golden child, but it’s come at a cost. As head of the family corporation, he throws himself into his work—hiding in his office is easier than confronting the reality of his broken family.

After a bitter divorce that split the family and divided loyalties, the wealthy Westerly matriarch offers an early inheritance to any grandchild who marries and invites the entire family to the wedding. Brett’s brother Spencer rashly gets engaged, and Brett knows it’s his duty to intervene. But he never imagined the unwelcome desire Spencer’s fiery fiancée would spark in him. Now the man who’s used to getting everything he could want has met the one woman he can’t have.

Ever since she was a girl, Alisha Coventry considered Spencer and his sister Rachelle the family she didn’t have. When Spencer asks for her help, Alisha has no problem becoming his fake fiancée—until she meets Spencer’s sexy older brother Brett. The chemistry between them is undeniable—forbidden—but as their relationship deepens, Brett is determined to have her.



Justice Delayed by Patricia Bradley 

Another book from RT! This author was so nice. It’s an inspirational romantic suspense, and sounds kind of dark.  I’m definitely more curious about it now….

It’s been eighteen years since TV crime reporter Andi Hollister’s sister was murdered. The confessed killer is behind bars, and the execution date is looming. But when a letter surfaces stating that the condemned killer didn’t actually do it, Detective Will Kincaide of the Memphis Cold Case Unit will stop at nothing to help Andi get to the bottom of it. After all, this case is personal: the person who confessed to the crime is Will’s cousin. They have less than a week to find the real killer before the wrong person is executed. But much can be accomplished in that week–including uncovering police corruption, running for your life, and falling in love.


Keepers by Meg Collett 

I won this series from a blogger and I still haven’t read them but the plot and characters sound unique. Cute covers too!

Stevie Reynolds was a buzz-worthy reality star before moving to Canaan Island to escape Los Angeles and her fame-hungry parents. But not all her demons, like her penchant for wine and bad decisions, are escapable.

Completely broke and fresh out of rehab after her DUI, Stevie gets an offer from her hotshot LA ex to star in his home renovation show with Canaan’s favorite son, Cade Cooper. Stevie returns to the reality business for Cade, who’s relying on the show to help pay for his mother’s cancer treatments.


Stevie refuses to break Cade’s sensitive heart, but she can’t keep herself from falling for his kind smile and easy laugh. When the producers push her to risk her shaky sobriety and Cade’s credibility for the sake of ratings, Stevie is ready to quit—until her ex threatens to reveal an intimate secret from her past.

If her secret is leaked, Stevie will lose everything she loves on Canaan Island, including Cade.

Love’s Rescue by Christine Johnson

An Inspirational Historical romance. This looks like a great story, and wait, is her love interest a pirate? This looks good, I forgot I had it. See, this tag is working for me!

When her mother dies, Elizabeth Benjamin heads home to Key West, determined to transform herself into the perfect Southern belle her parents always wished her to be. But nothing goes according to plan. Her crippled brother resents her, the servants do not obey her, and Rourke O’Malley, the dashing man she vowed to forget, refuses to relinquish his hold on her heart. Worst of all, it becomes painfully obvious that her father is not the upright man he appears to be.

As family secrets come to light, Elizabeth is faced with a difficult choice: to do her duty and abandon her dreams, or to leave her life of privilege behind to chase the man her father sees as little better than a pirate.
From the first emotional page, author Christine Johnson throws readers into a world of impossible choices, hidden desires, and heart-melting romance in the steamy south. Readers will cheer for Elizabeth and Rourke as they battle the odds and the elements to secure their future.


Mogul by Joanna Shupe 

This is the newest from Joanna Shupe. I love that this series is set in the Industrial era, which isn’t a time period I read too often. Baron was fabulous so I know I will love this book!

The privileged members of the Knickerbocker Club can never climb too high up the social ladder. But for one charming New York bachelor, does the ascent take precedence over love in the Gilded Age?

As owner of a well-respected national newspaper, Calvin Cabot has the means to indulge his capricious taste for excess–and the power to bring the upper crust of society to its knees. So when a desperate heiress from his past begs for his help, Calvin agrees . . . as long as she promises to stay out of his way. Except, like the newsman, this willful beauty always gets what she wants . . .

Lillian Davies lives a life brimming with boundless parties, impressive yachts, and exotic getaways. But when her brother disappears, Lily knows that blood runs thicker than champagne and she’ll spare nothing to bring him back alive. Unfortunately, the only man who can help her is the one she never wanted to see again. Can Lily keep Calvin at arm’s length long enough to save her brother and protect her name . . . even when the tenacious powerbroker turns out to be absolutely irresistible?




Wow, finding titles beginning with a certain letter was a lot more difficult than I thought. Especially since I didn’t allow myself to throw out the “The” in a title. My taste seems to be pretty eclectic doesn’t it? There are some great books on this list, at least I think there are. If you’ve read any of these please let me know what you thought! Which one would you read first?

Until next Sunday,

Deb

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads10 Comments