It’s Monday, what are you reading? (9/14/2020)

Another weekend that went by way too quickly! I had a chance to read an Arc and also listen to a book, but would’ve liked to lay on the couch and have a good read. Here’s a quick glance at what I’m reading.

This post originated over on Book Date, so thanks for the idea and letting me continue on the discussion about what books I am reading.

JUST FINISHED

I loved the first in this series and couldn’t wait to get started on Well Played. Another romance in a Renaissance Faire setting. Too cute!

JUST STARTED

I love this rock star romance series by Mary Ann Marlowe! I’m late getting to this one as the book came out last week, but am eagerly anticipating a fun story with characters that will surprise me!

It’s Monday! What book are you starting your week reading?

Have a great week!

Deb

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This Chicks Sunday Commentary: Finding the Rainbow

Six months in and I find that I have little patience for things that don’t bring me pleasure, uplift my mood, or god, just entertain. When I’m reading a book if it doesn’t immediately grab me, I put it down. If a show on TV isn’t interesting I turn the channel. If food doesn’t taste good I stop eating it. Well, that last one certainly hasn’t been the case! I’ve put on 12 lbs despite my daily exercise. Is anyone else having a tough time just being happy?

When I say happy I don’t mean joyful, exuberant, or laugh out loud. I don’t really know what I mean, but life just still feels so unsettled. Here are the few minor things that have brought me even a modicum of happiness.

My dog- Nash. He’s also the reason I’m exercising every day. 🙂

My sister’s great cooking! Also the reason why I’ve gained weight. This was my bday spread below, it’s not always so fancy.

Audiobooks! For some reason I’m enjoying listening more than reading. My reading has slowed down a LOT.

Today’s audiobook is:

I might as well put Ilona Andrews on the happy list too. I wish I could clone them so they’d put out a book a month!

Growing vegetables this summer! Our biggest harvest came from our tomatoes and cucumbers. We have had so many caprese salad’s it’s not even funny.

Birdhouses, Birds, and Hummingbirds! Who knew I’d become a birdwatcher! We also bought a couple of hummingbird feeders and I’m enjoying watching them fight over their territory. I don’t have a picture of this one, sorry!

Anyway, you can see it’s the very small things that are bringing me pleasure. I can’t wait for our lives to return to normal and for my brain to let me relax but in the meantime, I’ll go enjoy another caprese salad on the back porch while I listen to an audiobook and watch the birdfeeders. 🙂

What’s keeping you sane?

Take Care,

Deb

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This Chick Re-Read: Oracle’s Moon (Elder Races #4) by Thea Harrison

When I was choosing my next book I found myself hovering of Oracle’s Moon, a book I’d read back in 2014. I didn’t remember the plot but I did remember that I really enjoyed the story and tried to talk my sister into reading it even though she hadn’t read any others in the series. Thinking about that and wondering if I’d think it was as good as the first time I’d read it I downloaded the book and settled in to read.

With the exception of the first book in the series, Dragon Bound, Oracle’s Moon is my favorite of the Elder Races novels. Grace Andreas finds herself as not only the Oracle of Louisville but new parent to her niece and nephew after the sudden death of her sister and her husband. In her family the Oracle line is passed down from daughter to daughter and her sister’s daughter was too young to inherit the gift so it passed to Grace. What a way to find out your sister is dead! Overwhelmed by the demands of raising the children as well as becoming the Oracle she is struggling to make ends meet. When Drago, the leader of the Elder Races lands on her land (he’s a dragon) to have a “discussion” she comes to the attention of a Djinn, Khalil, who becomes fascinated with the children. He starts popping in for after hours discussions with the kids and Grace has to put her foot down. His fascination quickly changes over to her and he becomes enamored.

The plot doesn’t sound too different from other paranormal romance novels does it? Yet there’s a helplessness to Grace when she finds herself a new parent as well as the Oracle which contrasts with her steely determination to not let this djinn mess with her kids. I became fascinated myself! Combined with the humor from his obtuseness in dealing with her and the human-like need he has to be around them because they remind him of his own child? It’s hard to put across on paper but all of that makes for a wonder novel about magic, humanity, and love. I can’t say it was the right book at the right time because this is my second time reading it and I enjoyed it just as much as I did in 2014! It’s just a good book.

So, if you like paranormal romances this series is a fun read for the first I don’t know maybe 6 books or so? After awhile the newness of this world wears off a bit but Dragon Bound and Oracle’s Moon are definitely worth a read. Give them a shot and then let me know if I steered you wrong! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase!* Oracle’s Moon (Elder Races Book 4)

Copyright 2020 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

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

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It’s Monday, what are you reading? (9/7/2020)

Here in the US, today we celebrate Labor Day. A national holiday where we celebrate the contributions and achievements of all American workers. If you live in the US, enjoy your day off, spend it with family, and if you have a spare moment, enjoy that book you’re reading!

This post originated over on Book Date, so thanks for the idea and letting me continue on the discussion about what books I am reading.

JUST FINISHED

When I’m feeling stressed and just want to relax with a good book I seem to be turning to historical romances as my way to escape. Daring and the Duke, the third novel in the Bareknuckle Bastards series was entertaining and more importantly because of my busy schedule, didn’t take a lot of time to read. 🙂

JUST STARTEDO

I actually haven’t even started this one yet, but I’m so excited to read it! I loved the first novel, Well Met, and have been eagerly anticipating this release. What’s not to like about a romance set during a Renaissance fair?

I will definitely be diving into the above book because I have LOTS of free time today! yay! What will you be reading today?

Have a great week and happy reading!

Deb

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

A Rogue of One’s Own (A League of Extraordinary Women #2) by Evie Dunmore

Lady Lucy, a young woman with a high social background, has been living on her own since her father kicked her out of the house when she was 17. Thankfully one of her aunt’s left her some money which allows her to live comfortably, if not frugally. Lucy uses her independence to continue to fight for women’s rights. When her consortium finally gathers enough money to purchase a publishing house that prints a set of women’s periodicals their plans to use them for the Suffrage movement are foiled when the other half is sold to her nemesis, Tristan, Lord Ballantine. He has always gotten under Lucy’s skin, and now he is in her way! Their sizzling chemistry distracts her from her purpose, but as she gets to know him she is surprised at his hidden depths.

I didn’t think it was possible to like a book better than the first. I loved Bringing Down the Duke, but A Rogue of One’s Own? Even better! This series is set during the Women’s Suffrage Movement in England at the turn of the 19th century. Men held all of the rights over woman, considering them purchased when married. Lucy is determined to never get married but she needs society and their wealth and privilege to continue her fight. She has always considered Tristan to be a rake, believing all of the stories about his conquests. He certainly plays the part but as he discovers more about her world and how women are not ok with their treatment he is enraged on their behalf. This paragraph below, I hope doesn’t give anything away but explains why I liked this story so much.

“Until now, she had not been sure how her lover would respond to realities most people refused to see. Until now, she had not been entirely certain whether he would fall victim to the peculiar, selective blindness which afflicted so many otherwise perfectly sensible people when confronted with something ugly; whether he would claw for explanations, no matter how ludicrous, or would try to belittle away what unnerved him rather than face inconvenient truths.”

A Rogue of one’s own by Evie Dunmore

Maybe it’s the time I’m living in right now, with what is going on in the US, but this quote struck me to the heart. Lucy fell in love because Tristan opened his eyes and could see her struggle and he was not going to stand by without supporting her. Oh, this was a powerful moment in the book for me, as it was probably meant to be.

I’m a particular fan of historical fiction and I’ll admit, I love a good romance. What makes this series different is the place in time, the depth the author goes to make the reader feel like this world is real, and some of the accurate historical notes she adds to the tale. A League of Extraordinary Women is in a league of its own; entertaining, educational, heartbreaking, and sizzling with heat. I recommend this series, and this novel whole-heartedly. It’s on my best list for the year so far. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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

Click this link to purchase!* A Rogue of One’s Own (A League of Extraordinary Women)

Copyright 2020 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

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

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This Chick Read: Dark Heir (Jane Yellowrock #9) by Faith Hunter

Dark Heir opens with Jane still trying to tighten up Leo Pelissier’s defenses in advance of the European Vampires visits. As Master Vampire of New Orleans and that region, Leo is one of the most powerful vampires in the western world. When Jane gets a call that Leo’s lair has been attacked she discovers that he’s been keeping a “monster” in the basement, and that monster has now been released upon the citizens of New Orleans. It’s Jane’s job to bring him in… dead or alive.

Dark Heir features the most powerful and dangerous thing Jane has come up against so far. As Jane investigates we see a physical evolution from monster to vampire that somewhat parallels Jane’s relationship to her own beast. A relationship that she needs to embrace if she is going to have any chance to save humanity… or at least the New Orleans general public.

The thing I loved the most about Dark Heir is that despite Jane’s own evolution into some sort of human-beast, her “family” stays loyal. I loved Alex and Eli Younger in the previous novels and when they stick by her in Dark Heir they now have my loyalty as well. The other piece to Jane’s new family is her boyfriend George, aka “Bruiser”. He is now free to pursue Jane, and I think she’s finally ready to be caught. Dark Heir was my favorite novel in the Jane Yellowrock series to date because Jane got what she always wanted. The creation of a family.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase!* Dark Heir (Jane Yellowrock Book 9)

Copyright 2020 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

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

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It’s Monday, what are you reading? (8/31/2020)

I took a long weekend and spent a little time reading, a little time writing, a little time with family, and somehow it flew by! I did have time to catch up on my ARC reading, which you’ll see two of below.

This post originated over on Book Date, so thanks for the idea and letting me continue on the discussion about what books I am reading.

JUST FINISHED

I was really surprised by this novel! It was magical, mysterious, moody, and romantic. Yeah, I couldn’t find another ‘m’ word. LOL. Seriously though, this was a good fantasy novel. In the same vein of Caraval, but for me, read a little bit easier.

JUST STARTED

I literally just picked this one up so I can’t really speak to my feelings yet. However, I loved the first in the series and do like how it’s set during the women’s right to vote movement in England. Since we’re having our own 100th Anniversary of the Women’s Right to Vote here in the US, this book was very apropos!

Now that you know what book I’m reading, fill me in on what book you’re starting off your week diving into!

Deb

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This Chick Read: Where Dreams Descend (Kingdom of Cards #1) by Janella Angeles

Kallia, a showgirl in a mysterious nightclub, escapes to the city beyond the woods, where a magical contest will take place to find the headliner for the Circus of the Conquerors. Her ex boss Jack haunts her as she finds her place and becomes friends with the enigmatic Magician Daron Demarco. This is a debut novel that delivers fantasy in a haunting new world full of magic, mystery, and romance.

This was such an interesting novel! Set in a world full of magicians. Some of whom work in service using their powers to build, lift, and sew. Basic skills that become a little easier, or more special through the use of magic, yet that skill keeps them on their own social level. Everyone in this world strives to be the most magical, and the elite are performers who draw the spotlight away from the depths of despair the other members of society are doomed to live.

Kallia’s previous life at her nightclub in the woods was a place filled with grandeur, yet she felt imprisoned by the Master. She escapes that place but not him and their relationship changes from friend, to lover, to enemy, to hero (?). She was obviously confused about how she felt about Jack but mine were much simpler. I was fascinated by him. A magician who could plant memories in people? That could be used for good or evil and it seemed Jack rode a fine line. Kallia herself was a mixture of snark, shine, and insecurity. Character traits I’m not usually drawn to but she was actually a really interesting character and I grew to like her. Not to sound like a broken record but Demarco was also a bit…mysterious. His place on the judges panel and his reasons for being on it remained unclear for but his growing involvement with Kallia and his conflicted feelings about her made you want to see the story through to the end.

When Dreams Descend was dark but it was also pretty special. I thought the scenes where the magicians performed were well done and their magic was easy to follow. The author wrote them almost like a fight scene and my imagination didn’t have any trouble following her direction. The story also held my interest and I didn’t have any trouble immersing myself in this fantasy world. A solid book one for this debut author! I can’t wait to read the sequel when it comes out.

❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this ARC from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review and it was honest.

Click this link to purchase!* Where Dreams Descend: A Novel (Kingdom of Cards (1))

Copyright 2020 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

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

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This Chick Read: Shelter in Place by Nora Roberts

Nora Roberts novel Shelter in Place deals with a subject that’s uncomfortable to read about, which is probably why I hadn’t picked it up since it’s release in 2018.

It was a normal evening in Portland, Maine. People shopping, eating, and catching a movie at their local mall when a few gunmen entered and created carnage like this town had never seen and the people who survived would never be the same. This story centers around Simone Knox and Reed Quartermaine two people who hadn’t known each other before this horrific event. Reed became a cop and quickly rose through the ranks to investigator when a Sheriff’s position became available on an island off the coast of Maine. An island where Simone Knox was living and creating her art. When a killer sets their sights on the survivors of the shooting Reed is ready to protect his island and the woman he’s grown to love.

In my opinion, Nora Roberts handled the tough subject of a mass shooting very well. The tense situation of the event itself was amped up not through gory details but through the emotions of the people whose eyes the reader was seeing through. A situation that we all hope to never be in and believe me, I read those scenes quickly because the thought of that was just too real. When the story advances into current time our main characters are adults, living their lives but not without problems from their past. Reed can’t let the past drop, and Simone is not able to forget all of the people who died. This is where the story really picks up. Really!

As with most Nora Roberts romantic suspense novels the relationship takes center stage and is heightened by the mystery. In Shelter in Place I almost feel the reverse. The mystery takes center stage and Simone and Reed’s relationship is secondary. Normally this would bother me, but this tale was pretty riveting from page 1 and the subject matter really emotional, I didn’t even notice. However, I did like our two main characters and unsurprisingly rooted for them to survive until the end.

If you are looking for a good romantic suspense novel and the subject matter of a mass shooting is not a deterrent, I’d pick up Shelter in Place. I read it while on vacation and found it to be the perfect mix of mystery and romance and a really wild emotional ride. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase!* Shelter in Place

Copyright 2020 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: Emerald Blaze (Hidden Legacy #5) by Ilona Andrews

Six months have gone by since Alessandro left her and Catalina’s broken heart has mended (so she says). As a Prime and head of her family Catalina tries to cope and finally resolves to lose herself in her family’s investigative firm’s caseload. While rescuing an emotional-support pet monkey she and her team are attacked by some amphibious beasts who seem to be controlled by a plant/mechanical device. When she gets called to duty as the deputy to the Warden of Texas, Catalina dives into that investigation finding that the two are connected. When called in for a client meeting she comes face to face with, you guessed it, Alessandro Sagredo, their representative. Unsurprisingly he muscles in on her investigation and they are forced to work side by side. Catalina’s plan? To be professional and distant, but unfortunately she’s facing a new Alessandro. One who is determined to protect her and to win her heart.

Oh goodness, I love this series so much! Emerald Blaze does for Catalina what the three earlier books in the series did for her older sister Nevada. It makes you look past the superficial to see an honorable, tough young woman who’s easy to adore, in part because she doesn’t cave in to everyone’s demands. Finding her own path through grit and determination. The Hidden Legacy series, set in a Houston where magic is power shows how this smaller house (Baylor), and Catalina as its Prime, navigate the house politics while staying independent and increasing their own worth. That’s all fascinating to read, but then when you throw in a hero who is a dichotomy to his outward screen idol facade, and who is determined to protect that heroine? You are guaranteed fiery dialog and sizzling chemistry, and a fun plot that makes those pages flip by too quickly.

Ok, ok, what can I say about this plot. Well, this plot is too intricate to attempt to describe so I’ll just say that as their investigation moves forward the romance takes a back burner and the mystery becomes what I’m truly interested in seeing. Yes, their chemistry is great, but it’s this magical world that Ilona Andrews has created that holds my attention. It’s the supporting characters that give our main characters depth and emotion. Emerald Blaze is not a surface piece of fluff, despite what the cover looks like, there’s actually a lot of meat in the story, and the plot definitely holds my attention.

If you are a fan of this series and are wondering if Nevada and Conner have any part in this novel, the answer is yes. Nevada is actually around for a good portion and as with any favorite characters, it was so good to see her, but Catalina and Alessandro were the stars in Emerald Blaze and really I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Looking towards the future a third book is on the horizon. An underlying story arc was not completed in this book and I’m eager to see how they finish it out! Let’s hope they write quickly! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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

Click this link to purchase!* Emerald Blaze: A Hidden Legacy Novel

Copyright 2020 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

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

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