Month: November 2022

This Chick Read: Raven Unveiled (The Fallen Empire #3) by Grace Draven

Siora is on the run from Gharek, an assassin who has sworn an oath of revenge against her because she betrayed he and his disabled daughter. Overcome by his anger, Gharek can’t see beyond the outcome of his chase, grabbing her just as they are both discovered by the enemy and held captive. Siora uses her abilities to speak with the dead and Gharek his knowledge of the castle to become valuable to this new threat who wants to conquer the throne. Together Siora and Gharek must find the tool to a magical power.

I’ll admit, it had been a little while since I had read Dragon Unleashed, but as I read this book it all came back to me pretty quickly. that’s when I became fascinated with how the author was portraying Gharek, who was the bad guy in the previous novel, turning him into someone we could admire. I thought she did a great job of portraying him as a dedicated father, laying all of his past evils into the column of having done them to protect his disabled daughter. Life isn’t quite so black and white as that, but I did find his reasons believable, as well as his regret at the things he had done. I also could be lieve that Siora could overlook his hunting of her as his love for his daughter and her betrayal making him unhinged. Well, it is a fantasy novel after all, so I chose to believe in the reasons and moved on from that slight hiccup in the plot.

Siora was a really interesting character. She saw ghosts and could communicate with them. Her skills actually evolved throughout this novel, not in a sudden “magical” way but through the need to survive and protect. Her love for her father, one of the ghosts, and for Estred, Gharek’s daughter gave her character impetus to look beyond her own needs. She was a little self-sacrificing, true, but it was a non-romantic love that drove her actions. I kind of liked that! Of course, a romantic love between she and Gharek grew as well but that love didn’t really drive her actions.

Sometimes fantasy novels get bogged down by an epic journey, detailed landscapes, and traveling companions, but this one was light on all three of those plot points. The world had already been established so the reader was just dropped right in, the journey was shortened by alternate universe-type paths, and Gharek was the only new traveling companion that we had to learn and learn to like. Grace Draven made it pretty easy for this reader to slide right in and enjoy the story and I certainly didn’t have any trouble doing that. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher for my honest review and it was honest!

Click this link to purchase!* Raven Unveiled

Copyright 2022 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chick Read: Better Than Fiction by Alexa Martin

After her much beloved grandmother dies and leaves her the family books store, the Book Nook, Drew Young wants to honor her memory by running it as she knows her grandmother would like. Putting her life on hold, Drew, a self-proclaimed hater of reading somehow manages to keep the store afloat with the help of a group of elderly ladies who pitch in and give a hand. This same group of ladies set up an author signing with famous romance novelist Jasper Williams. When he shows up his good looks and charm sock Drew in the solar plexus. When he learns of her lack of affinity for books he makes a deal with her. Show him around Denver and he’ll build her a memory for every book she reads on a list he gives her. Jasper woo’s Drew with romance, a shoulder to cry on, and his honest charm making her start to believe that her life might be Better Than Fiction.

There are so many things I liked about this novel. Jasper was #1 on the list because of all the romance and fun, but I also really liked all of the Dirty Birds the old lady group who had Drew’s back, and her best friend Elsie and her sister Daisy. She totally had a great group of people backing her in life and love. There were some challenges she had to face in this book too, so it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, but every good novel needs some conflict to overcome.

I love how this author has grown from her earlier novels. Don’t get me wrong, those novels were my introduction to Alexa Martin and are a big reason why she is a must-buy for me. Those were also the first novels this author had written and it isn’t weird to me that she is trying new things and working to find her voice. Better Than Fiction has some of the same qualities I loved in the Playbook series. Great friends who will see you through good times and bad, but also solid character development and heros who weren’t perfect but whom you could fall in love with despite their imperfections. I think Better Than Fiction is the best novel Alexa Martin has written to date and I hope she has many more stories inside her soul that need to be released to the world.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest.

Click this link to purchase this book!* Better Than Fiction

Copyright 2022 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chick Read: The Next Best Day by Sharon Sala

Katie thought her life couldn’t get much worse after getting jilted at the altar. Having to face her friends and fellow co-workers and put on a good face is about all she can manage. She loves being a first grade teacher and the kids she has in her class give her joy, pulling her through this tough time. When an active shooter enters the building she hustles her class to safety and goes back for two little boys left behind in the hall, saving their lives and getting her shot. She survives the school shooting but has PTSD and can’t face teaching in that school again. Wanting a clean start she applies to a small school in Tennessee and is excited to get the job. She finds a cute cottage to live in and is pleased that it’s across the street from the local Sheriff and his two small daughters. The Next Best Day is aptly titled as Katie is given that chance for a restart to her life.

It has been a good long while since I’ve read a Sharon Sala novel. I loved her in my 20’s and this synopsis struck a chord. I’ll admit that I got a little bit more than I bargained for as school shootings aren’t my favorite topic but the author gave enough details and insights into Katie’s thoughts without delivering too much blood and gore. I became invested in Katie and wanted to see her succeed and thrive after all of her life’s struggles. What took a little bit of getting used to and I’ll admit, I didn’t love, was the perspective changes. I didn’t care for her ex-fiance’s story line. He was a schmuck and I didn’t need to see where his life’s choices led him. I can’t remember if this is a constant trait of Sharon Sala’s but be warned. If you’re like me and want one perspective, you’ll be reading through the eyes of a few characters in this novel. I didn’t mind so much when it was only Katie and Sam as they are the two main characters.

Despite that change in perspectives, I enjoyed this novel. I found it to be easy to read and as I said above I was invested in Katie finding her happiness. The language was a little old-fashioned and the pacing methodical but once I got used to those quirks I found it charming. Sam’s two six year old girls Evie and Beth were the highlights for me in this book. They were just adorable and their quirky way of speaking added to their uniqueness as twins. If you love small town romances you may want to pick up The Next Best Day. Redemption and happiness are sweet when the road leading to them is so rocky. Katie’s journey was hard but in the end she found her happily-ever-after! ❤️❤️❤️❣️

Triggers: PTSD, school shooting, murder, incest, physical and emotional violence.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest!

Click this link to purchase this book!* The Next Best Day

Copyright 2022 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

It’s Monday, what are you reading? (11/7/22)

So many great books are coming out this month! I have a lot on my TBR and am excited to dig in as some books are being released. BUT, I’m also reading a new to me author and have been going through her back list Kindle Unlimited. I’m excited to be approaching the holidays because I’ll have a little time off to hopefully read to my heart’s content. Here’s what’s on my nightstand!

JUST FINISHED

I received an advanced reader copy and was excited that I loved it so much. This author is exploring her muse and I love the direction she’s taken recently. Better Than Fiction is her best book yet- in my opinion.

JUST STARTED

This is the only series left from Vanessa Nelson that I haven’t read. All of her books are on Kindle Unlimited so if you’re a member, check her out. Her heroines are action-star worthy and humble. I’m really enjoying reading her back list.

What books are on your next to read?

Happy Monday and happy reading!

Deb

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads2 Comments

This Chick Read: The Rewind by Allison Winn Scotch

Frankie and Ezra were college sweethearts who had a fireball of a break up, on graduation day, and never spoke to each other again. Ten years later they are brought back together by two friends from college who are getting married. Despite not wanting to run into Ezra, Frankie says yes to becoming a bridesmaid in their wedding, taking a break from her high profile job as an agent to some rock and pop stars. Ezra, too, has plans to be at the wedding. He wants to be there to support his friends but doesn’t want to see Frankie, and in fact hopes to propose to his girlfriend on New Years Eve. Of course, fate has a way of working against your best wishes and pairs them up for a scavenger hunt that the bride and groom has put together. When they wake up in bed together the next day wearing wedding rings and no memory of what happened, they need to work together to figure out what happened.

This story starts with Frankie and Ezra waking up together with no memory of what happened the night before. The reader is along for the ride as they rediscover all of the things they hated and loved about each other. Truthfully, there were more things that they loved about each other but the fallout from their breakup was so great that they spent a long time griping about having to spend time with each other that it took me a long time to figure out why they had even been in love previously. They were both pretty awful and unlikable. But, as the story went on we learned the back stories of both characters, as well as their love story and understood them a bit better. The way the novel was written, the reader is left unsure if these two characters would end the weekend as friends, their language was that tempestuous. Despite that uncertainty I still enjoyed the story and wanted to see where it led me.

The second chance trope has never been one of my favorites, but the author really let us get to know our two main characters and understand why what happened in their past affected their lives so much. They were two people who truly understood each other in their young adulthood and have kind of lost their way. Even though they aren’t happy to see each other, their understanding of each other came through and the reader wanted them to get past the angst and pain and give each other a chance again. Of course, there was a lot standing in their way and that journey towards understanding their future didn’t come without pain. This was a really well told story that I would’ve liked a little bit more if there wasn’t so much snark, but I loved the ending. That ending made it all worth it. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review and it was honest!

Click this link to purchase this book!* The Rewind

Copyright 2022 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chick Read: A Very Merry Bromance (Bromance Book Club #5) by Lyssa Kay Adams

Colton Wheeler, a country music superstar, isn’t used to women saying no and when Gretchen Winthrop won’t return his calls he’s not sure how to proceed. When she finally reaches out a year after their one night stand to make a proposal it isn’t the kind of proposition that he was prepared to receive. Be the face of her family’s world-class bourbon. Colton figures this is his best chance to spend time with Gretchen and agrees to hear her proposal, but only if she goes on a few dates with him. As he spends more time with her he realizes he’s in over his head and against his better judgement has his friends in the Bromance Book Club give him advice. Usually Colton isn’t on the receiving end, but the more time he spends with Gretchen the more she comes to mean to him and he’ll take any help he can get to keep her.

I’ve enjoyed this series, but the last couple of books have been good but not great. A Very Merry Bromance has exceeded my expectations and is very close to being my favorite to date. It’s all due to the depth of the main characters. On the outside Colton seems like an aw shucks country charmer, but his family means everything to him and the reason he’s successful is because he wants to be the support they need to live full lives. What a great guy! Gretchen too has reasons for being a distrustful grump. She comes from one of the wealthiest families in Tennessee but her parents ignored her when she was younger and her brothers are selfish bullies. She has rejected everything that they stand for and serves a mission to help immigrants stay with their families, fighting deportation. Yep, there’s a lot more to these two than is noted on the cover of this book!

I will admit that one of my favorite romance tropes is a woman in jeopardy, when it’s done well, anyway. Gretchen isn’t really in jeopardy, but she definitely needs saving. This is a woman who has never had someone fight for her and love her despite her differences. Colton is that man who will fight on behalf of her and by her side. Once the plot got moving these two gave me all the emotions and I was rooting for that happy ending I knew was coming. I must give a shoutout to Gretchen’s Uncle Jack. He was the only redeeming sole in her family and despite not having the power to save her, did love her with all of his heart and you could feel that love leap off the pages. He was a sweetie!

Like I said above, this book has jumped to my #1 spot in this series, which kind of surprised me, truthfully! I think it was the dichotomy of Colton always being so suave and giving all the romantic advise to the other bro’s in the book club. The fact that he floundered and his chosen one was a troubled woman just hit my heart and made me melt. This book was the perfect Christmas feel good story, with a little family drama to rev up the tension. It’s a quick read, so if you have a weekend and would like an good solid story and a sweet romance, this is the one! Cheesy title and all. I loved it. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review and it was honest.

Copyright 2022 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads