This Chick Read: Risk It All (Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters #2) by Katie Ruggle

Cara Pax is normally a behind the scenes supporter of her family’s Bounty Hunting business doing research as she finishes getting her degree to be a kindergarten teacher. When her mom takes off which their house as collateral on her bounty, the sisters are forced to up their game taking on more dangerous jobs. Cara decides to go off on her own and try to bring in a possible murderer, Henry Kavinski. When she actually comes face to face with him and he doesn’t kill her? She decides he’s innocent and Henry will do everything he can to keep her safe.

This Bounty Hunters series is off to a great start! While Cara is more like a librarian than a bounty hunter she’s been trained in hand to hand combat and has plenty of backbone despite her quiet demeanor. When her kidnapping forces she and Henry together they don’t fight their attraction very long. Despite a predictable ending I did enjoy the sweetness of their love story.

The only thing that bothered me even a little bit was that I couldn’t get a very good picture of Henry in my mind other than that he was a big kind of quiet guy. Cara was vivid and bright, he just kind of paled in comparison. Despite that small thing, I still really liked this couple and this story. If you are in the mood for a quick paced romantic suspense novel pick this one up! Even though there’s an underlying series story I do think this novel could stand on it’s own. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase!* Risk It All (Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters)

Copyright 2019 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

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

TBR Thursday 12/19/19

TBR Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly Faye Reads, where you post a title from your shelf or e-reader and find out what others think about it.

Synopsis:

Emilie des Marais is more at home holding scalpels than embroidery needles and is desperate to escape her noble roots to serve her country as a physician. But society dictates a noble lady cannot perform such gruesome work.

Annette Boucher, overlooked and overworked by her family, wants more from life than her humble beginnings and is desperate to be trained in magic. So when a strange noble girl offers Annette the chance of a lifetime, she accepts.

Emilie and Annette swap lives―Annette attends finishing school as a noble lady to be trained in the ways of divination, while Emilie enrolls to be a physician’s assistant, using her natural magical talent to save lives.

But when their nation instigates a terrible war, Emilie and Annette come together to help the rebellion unearth the truth before it’s too late.

Click this link to purchase! Belle Revolte

This Chick Read: The Best Thing by Mariana Zapata

Some things are easily forgiven. Other things… not so much.

Lenny DeMaio made herself a promise: she was done.

Done thinking about him.

Done worrying about him.

Done reaching out to a man who clearly didn’t want to be found. 

Too bad no one gave Jonah Collins the memo.

There is nothing better than a surprise release by Mariana Zapata. It’s like Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s Day, and your Birthday all wrapped up in tissue paper. When The Best Thing released, I got a call from my usually taciturn sister. “It’s out! Mariana’s new book has been released!” My sister is not much for fangirling, but Ms. Zapata’s books are worth a little squeal or two. I, even though at work, went to my favorite bookseller site and downloaded that puppy. I was mad I had just started a new novel. I hated stopping in the middle of a book!

We met Lenny DeMaio in Zapata’s previous novel Luna and the Lie. Now, I won’t lie, as much as I love Mariana Zapata, Luna was different than her normal romance novel. It was a little darker and although I loved it, I was hoping that The Best Thing would be a little lighter and our heroine more self assured. Lenny was Luna’s best friend and very self assured, with a nice side of sass. I knew I was going to love her story. A few years had gone by in storyville and Lenny was now running the Maio House, the MMA gym her grandfather started. The reader is immediately thrown into the story. Lenny’s pissed about someone named Jonah Hema Collins so we assume he is our hero. The big surprise is that he’s a rugby player! A new sport for a Zapata novel and one I know nothing about… well, except the word scrum. I know what that is! LOL.

When Jonah is finally introduced to the story in person, I immediately notice something different. He’s so polite and nice! I can’t figure out why Lenny isn’t giving him a chance and even though we are given hints (don’t worry, I won’t give anything away!) I want it explained! Even after the explanation and our journey of watching the relationship develop between Lenny and Jonah commences, my feelings for Jonah don’t change, they just get stronger. He is so freaking nice! Really! He’s quiet, kind of shy, but super nice and unlike tons of previous Zapata heroes, completely likable from the first moment. I like it!

There are so many things to love about this novel. Jonah is wonderful, Lenny has sass and strength, but the best theme revolves around family. Lenny’s grandfather raised her and their relationship is so special. You get a hint of it in Luna, but Grandpa Gus is awesome! He’s cranky, also sassy, and he loves Lenny as much as can be humanly possible. The two of them are everything to each other. So family is a HUGE part of this novel, and their story will wring a tear or ten out of you, promise.

If you’re in the mood for a wonderful story about family, finding love, and friendship then you need to purchase The Best Thing. It’s on Kindle Unlimited if you have that plan, but really it’s worth the few dollars spent on purchasing it. I am an avid re-reader of her novels, so it’s already sitting on my virtual shelf, I’m waiting for the paperback in the mail, and I’m eagerly anticipating the audiobook release in a couple of months. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase!* The Best Thing

Copyright 2019 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? (12/16/19)

Happy Monday everyone! I ran across this post on Book Date and liked the idea of sharing what I’m currently reading, and hopefully hearing about what you’ve picked up off your shelf. So here goes!

JUST FINISHED

When your favorite writing duo posts a note about a wonderful historical romance, when they write romantic fantasy, you just have to give it a try!

FIRST SENTENCE READ: “The trouble began with brandy.”

Click this link to purchase!* A Wicked Kind of Husband

JUST STARTED

FIRST SENTENCE READ: “Cara tried to act casual as she walked along the motel’s cracked, weedy sidewalk, but she knew she looked like what she was: a kindergarten teacher–well, almost–who was scared out of her mind.”

Click this link to purchase!* Risk It All (Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters)

Now that you know what books I’ve got on my shelf, what are you reading this fine Monday?

Deb

*Amazon associate- I’ll get a small stipend if you should purchase the book through the above links.

This Chicks Sunday Commentary: My 5 Most Anticipated Book Releases- Jan’20

Every month I take a look at the Goodreads most anticipated book list and compile my own. Next month is the first month where I feel like my taste in books must be completely different than the average reader because the first book I picked on their list lands at #16 and that isn’t even my most anticipated book release. Mine is their #111! Well, here’s to bringing more attention to the less anticipated books! Cheers!

MY #5 MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK

A cute sounding rom-com by an author who I’ve recently re-discovered and come to love. Can’t wait to read Love Her or Lose Her.

Synopsis:

Rosie and Dominic Vega are the perfect couple: high school sweethearts, best friends, madly in love. Well, they used to be anyway. Now Rosie’s lucky to get a caveman grunt from the ex-soldier every time she walks in the door. Dom is faithful and a great provider, but the man she fell in love with ten years ago is nowhere to be found. When her girlfriends encourage Rosie to demand more out of life and pursue her dream of opening a restaurant, she decides to demand more out of love, too. Three words: marriage boot camp. 

Never in a million years did Rosie believe her stoic, too-manly-to-emote husband would actually agree to relationship rehab with a weed-smoking hippie. Dom talking about feelings? Sitting on pillows? Communing with nature? Learning love languages? Nope. But to her surprise, he’s all in, and it forces her to admit her own role in their cracked foundation. As they complete one ridiculous—yet surprisingly helpful—assignment after another, their remodeled relationship gets stronger than ever. Except just as they’re getting back on track, Rosie discovers Dom has a secret… and it could demolish everything.

Click this link to purchase!* Love Her or Lose Her: A Novel

#4 MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK RELEASE

Emma Mills writes quirky YA novels that manage to reach my inner teen every time I read one of her novels. Her books always fall high on my TBR!

Synopsis:

When Nina decides to take a radio broadcasting class her senior year, she expects it to be a walk in the park. Instead, it’s a complete disaster.

The members of Nina’s haphazardly formed radio team have approximately nothing in common. And to maximize the awkwardness her group includes Jamie, a childhood friend she’d hoped to basically avoid for the rest of her life.

The show is a mess, internet rumors threaten to bring the wrath of two fandoms down on their heads, and to top it all off Nina’s family is on the brink of some major upheaval.

Everything feels like it’s spiraling out of control―but maybe control is overrated?

Click this link to purchase!* Lucky Caller

MY #3 MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK RELEASE

This sounds like a current version of You’ve Got Mail, but in reverse! I can’t wait to read how our protagonists fall in love in real life while battling it out anonymously in the twitterverse.

Synopsis:

Meet Pepper, swim team captain, chronic overachiever, and all-around perfectionist. Her family may be falling apart, but their massive fast-food chain is booming — mainly thanks to Pepper, who is barely managing to juggle real life while secretly running Big League Burger’s massive Twitter account.

Enter Jack, class clown and constant thorn in Pepper’s side. When he isn’t trying to duck out of his obscenely popular twin’s shadow, he’s busy working in his family’s deli. His relationship with the business that holds his future might be love/hate, but when Big League Burger steals his grandma’s iconic grilled cheese recipe, he’ll do whatever it takes to take them down, one tweet at a time.

All’s fair in love and cheese — that is, until Pepper and Jack’s spat turns into a viral Twitter war. Little do they know, while they’re publicly duking it out with snarky memes and retweet battles, they’re also falling for each other in real life — on an anonymous chat app Jack built.

As their relationship deepens and their online shenanigans escalate — people on the internet are shipping them?? — their battle gets more and more personal, until even these two rivals can’t ignore they were destined for the most unexpected, awkward, all-the-feels romance that neither of them

Click this link to purchase!* Tweet Cute

MY #2 MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK RELEASE

Sounding surprising supernatural and spooky, yet also fielding a bit of a romance? Sold! (I love alliteration :))

Synopsis:

Echoes Between Us is bestselling author Katie McGarry’s breakout teen contemporary novel about a girl with everything to lose and the boy who will do anything to save her.

Veronica sees ghosts―more specifically, her mother’s ghost, thanks to the blinding migraines that consume her whole life and keep Veronica on the fringes. But the haunting afterimages make her wonder if there is something more going on….

Golden boy Sawyer is handsome and popular, a state champion swimmer, but this All-American is hiding an adrenaline addiction that could kill him. Drawn to each other after a chance meeting, can they help each other battle the demons that haunt their every step or will they push their luck too far and risk losing it
all…including their lives?

Click this link to purchase!* Echoes Between Us

MY #1 MOST ANTICIPATED JAN’20 BOOK RELEASE!

My favorite Librarian-spy duo are back! If you haven’t read the Invisible Library series you are missing out! Don’t start with this novel, I think it’s #4 and there’s an underlying plot that you don’t want to spoil between Irene and Kai. I love this series.

Synopsis:

In the latest novel in Genevieve Cogman’s historical fantasy Invisible Library series, Irene and Kai have to team up with an unlikely band of misfits to pull off an amazing art heist, or risk the wrath of a dangerous villain in his secret island lair.

A Librarian spy’s work is never done, and after their latest adventure, Irene is summoned back to the Library. The world where she grew up is in danger of veering into chaos – so she needs to obtain a particular book to stop this happening. And the only copy of the edition they need is in the hands of a notorious Fae broker and trader in rare objects: Mr Nemo.

Irene and Kai make their way to Mr Nemo’s remote Caribbean island, and are invited to dinner – which includes unlikely company. And Mr Nemo has an offer for everyone there. He wants them to form a team to steal a specific painting from a specific world. And he swears that that he will give Irene the book she seeks, if she joins them – but only if he has the painting within the week.

No one can resist the deal he offers. But to get their rewards, they’ll have to work together. And is this really possible when the team includes a dragon techie plus assorted fae – filling the roles of gambler, driver and ‘the muscle’? Their goal? A specific Museum in Vienna, in an early twenty-first-century world. Here, their toughest challenge might be each other.

Click this link to purchase!* The Secret Chapter (The Invisible Library series)

Do your own most anticipated books match up with the Goodreads list? Check it out in the link below!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/popular_by_date/2020/January

Deb

This Chick Read: The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams

When Gavin Scott’s marriage is on the rocks he turns to fellow Nashville Legends ballplayers for help. He’s embarrassed that it’s a problem in the bedroom that has let down his marriage but learns that may not actually be the real issue when their ‘Bromance Book Club’ prescribes a historical romance called Courting the Countess to help him with his knowledge of how to re-build his relationship with his wife. He realizes that sometimes the problem on the surface is not the real problem at all and he works really hard to open up and communicate with Thea, but is it too late?

A novel where men get together and read romances in order to help them figure out the inner workings of the female mind? I’m in! The premise of the Bromance Book Club was kind of silly and charming but I was surprised to learn that this story also had a lot of depth. Gavin needs to learn why he and his wife started to change and in the midst of figuring out how to bring the heat back, their characters also came to the realization that their experiences with life in the past may have made an impact on how they are acting towards each other now. I liked the balance of serious and silly and looked forward to reading every page to see how our couple figured things out.

Thea’s past with an absentee father and problematic mother caused all sorts of problems in her marriage that I think readers could identify with and how she slowly accepted Gavin back into her heart was at a pace that helped the situation feel believable and allowed me to buy into their story. The thing that was hard to swallow was how at first she had already written Gavin off and just wanted it to be all over already. She spent a good portion of this book pissed off and when that anger wasn’t directed at Gavin I enjoyed it. I had a little harder time with the balance of anger and forgiveness. I loved Gavin right from the start, but didn’t love her for him. In the end I was glad he got his gal, but I wished she had been a little more likable.

I also wish a little more time was spent with the Bromance Book Club. These guys were pretty funny and I think there almost needed to be a little more humor to balance the serious love story. The next novel revolves around Thea’s sister Liv and Gavin’s teammate and adversary Braden Mack. I think that relationship may provide a little more humor even though Liv may be working through some of the same issues as her sister. She was not a favorite of mine in this book, but I loved Braden Mack. Hopefully there’s a better balance and she let’s the anger go a little sooner than her sister.

This book has been on my radar for quite a few months. While it didn’t knock it out of the park for me it was a solid 4.0 rating and a novel I enjoyed in a series that I can’t help but feel may get better as it goes along.. at least that’s my hope! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Opinions from around the Blogosphere

“The Bromance, like I mentioned before were a hoot, and there were parts of this story that were entertaining. I loved the scene where Thea finally stands up to the queen bee WAG, and her and Gavin’s daughters were absolutely adorable. While The Bromance Book Club wasn’t a solid winner for me, I am interested in reading the next book in this series. Even if I do loathe myself a bit for it.” Books and Beauty Are My Bag

“The Bromance Book club may be a sweet and entertaining rom-com, but there is certain depth to it, as it is also a very relatable tale of second chances and family dynamics. ” Readingtonic

Click this link to purchase!* The Bromance Book Club

Copyright 2020 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

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

This Chick Read: Protect the Prince (Crown of Shards #2) by Jennifer Estep

As the new queen of Bellona, Everleigh Blair wants to bring peace to her country despite the grumblings of her own noble families. When an assassin tries to kill her in her own throne room, Everleigh plans a trip to the neighboring country of Andvari to sign a treaty and stand up against the dark forces who would try to overthrow their kingdoms. With the help of her gladiator friends she faces the family of her love, bastard prince Lucas Sullivan. In Andvari she learns what it means to be a Winter Queen, in an emotional journey. What will she do? Choose what’s right for her country or the man she is coming to love.

Protect the Prince brought all of the action that I loved in Kill the Queen but added an emotional depth to our main character, Everleigh. She and Lucas have a connection that shouldn’t be acted upon as she is now queen and Lucas is the bastard son of the Andvari king. Knowing their love is futile, frustratingly, they spend a good majority of this novel apart. I hated that! I love a little romance in my action fantasy novels. However, when Everleigh finds a plot to bring down the Andvari house and goes undercover (so to speak) the plot thickens and became interesting enough for me to overlook the fact they were not together…yet.

I loved both Everleigh and Lucas’s strength of character in Kill the Queen, but felt like Lucas could’ve fought a little bit more for what he wanted, and Everleigh could’ve let him in on a few of her secret plots so he didn’t spend a good portion of the novel hurting. I hated the lack of communication! I know, it’s just a book, but I like it when my characters are on the same page. Aargh! LOL. Both Everleigh and Lucas’s characters get a little more back story which explains some of their character traits. Through flashbacks we learn about the death of Everleigh’s parents and the part the Bastard Brigade played. This explains Everleigh’s determination to bring an end to that group. We also learn about a past love of Lucas’s that ended poorly and explains why he continues to do what is right instead of what he wants. Both of these things slow the novels down only slightly but help me care more for their characters and the outcome of their relationship.

As with the first novel there was some great politically charged action scenes with our bad guys somehow always staying one step ahead of our heroes. The conclusion to those political machinations had a couple of surprise twists that left me feeling like I MUST read the next novel! I just wish it were coming out a little sooner than next year!

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Opinions from around the Blogosphere

“In addition to political shenanigans, there is plenty of action in Protect the Prince as well as subterfuge, betrayal, and some rather swoony moments. I loved reading this story and I am completely looking forward to what is next in this series!!” The Genre Minx Book Reviews

“The series so far is still littered with all kinds of fantasy tropes, but surprisingly, I don’t have a problem with it. The truth is, it gives these books a certain kind of charm, and I love being able to kick back with something light and fun. I also have a feeling Estep is working on the bigger picture, building towards something even better. I look forward to reading the next book.” The Bibliosanctum

Click this link to purchase!* Protect the Prince (A Crown of Shards Novel)

Copyright 2019 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate

This Chick Read: Blindsighted (Grant County Thriller #1) by Karin Slaughter

A couple years ago I was at a book convention awards show and Karin Slaughter was the keynote speaker. She was this small, blonde, pretty woman with a terrific wit and had me rolling in my chair. I had heard of her but had never read one of her novels. We were given a copy of Blindsighted in our bag of goodies and I’ve been meaning to read it ever since. Would her novel hold the same charm for me as did the author? Yes, but in a darker, more gruesome manner.

Blindsighted was published in 2001. I know, right? That was such a long time ago, however there was only one line in the novel that had me checking the publication date. “Lena took the cassette tape out of it’s case.” Other than that exception there was a timelessness to this novel. These atrocities are still on the news today, happening anywhere and everywhere.

Sara Linton is both a pediatrician and coroner. When she meets her sister for lunch in their small town diner, she gets up to use the restroom and finds a young woman brutally raped and murdered on the toilet. A woman she knows. The brutality of the murder suggests a serial murderer and Sara calls in the local sheriff, her ex-husband Jeffrey Tolliver. Together they investigate the murder(s) giving the reader insights into their history together, feelings for each other, and secrets are revealed. I found this novel riveting and read it’s 448 pages in one day. Totally unputdownable.

I will admit that even though her last name is Slaughter, I didn’t admit that same funny, bright, lovely woman had this kind of grit and darkness in her soul. I do know she’s got many novels under her belt, a few more even in this series, and despite the gruesomeness I think I need to see where Sara Linton’s path lies and which direction she’ll take. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❣️

Opinions from around the Blogosphere

“The story takes you through major twists and turns, thrills and spills. It grabs you by the hand and doesn’t let up until the final word. In other words, my kind of story. I can’t honestly say there is a single book I’ve read by Karin Slaughter that I thought was mediocre, let alone awful.” Michael D. Turashoff

Click this link to purchase!* Blindsighted: The First Grant County Thriller (Grant County Thrillers)

Copyright 2019 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate

This Chick Read: The Dating Charade by Melissa Ferguson

Cassie Everson just wants to find the right guy and settle down but all she seems to find is Mr. Wrong. After trying out a dating app she’s given up on her dream. Her best friend doesn’t give up on that dream and responds to an email on the aforementioned app on Cassie’s behalf and puts her face to face with a guy she went to high school with… a guy she doesn’t remember at all but wants to get to know better. Then life and responsibilities start knocking on her door. Will Cassie make the time for love?

Unlike some other reviewers I had zero expectations for this novel and was really happy with how much I liked it. Yes, the synopsis gives the reader the feeling this might be a lighthearted rom-com, and The Dating Charade really was not that book. However, it really delivered on a solid plot, great characters, and a ton of heart. Cassie and Jett were both such nice people that you couldn’t help but root for them to overcome all obstacles to make their dreams come true. Those obstacles may have been a little deeper than some other readers liked, but this novel packed a lot of emotion into it’s 336 pages! I read it straight through from start to finish.

Cassie works in an after school facility that helps keep teens off the streets and provides a safe environment for them to hang out in. When Star doesn’t show up one day and Cassie goes looking for her she finds Star and her sisters on the border of being thrown into foster care. Cassie dives into the deep end and offers them her home and becomes even more attached to these three girls. I thought this plot was so well written! Cassie is kind of a bleeding heart but Star and her sister’s add something to Cassie’s life that was missing and I thought this really helped bring something extra to Cassie character. Melissa Ferguson could’ve gone down the road so many other authors have tried but she chose to write something with meaning and I support that decision whole heartedly!

This novel was about love, but it wasn’t just about love between two people it was about how love creates a family, not blood. The message was beautiful. The Dating Charade may have been mis-cast by it’s publishers but don’t punish this author by not reading it because of a few mediocre reviews. I always say that you have to be in the right frame of mind to read any book and The Dating Charade was the book I needed to read at the time I read it. I hope you will give it a chance to be that book for you too. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❣️

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

Click this link to purchase!* The Dating Charade

Copyright 2019 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

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

This Chick Read: Reputation by Sara Shepard

Reputation relays the consequences of a communities secrets being revealed when their server is hacked. Told from multiple point of views but centered around one marriage’s downfall we discover that many things are hidden beneath a facade of happiness and the results of their secrets being revealed can lead to murder.

I don’t typically read novels that revolve around gossip and scandal but there was something about the synopsis of Reputation that drew me in. As I started reading it my reservations quickly faded and I got caught up in the lives of these characters and how they were all so danged unhappy. Just as we see only the good on our friends social media feeds, the characters in Reputation outwardly showed bliss, but as their secrets became cannon fodder for gossip their masks were ripped off. When they all became suspects in a murder they each showed culpability and I was kept in ignorance until the end.

The hardest part about reading this novel was that the characters were all unlikable. I felt sorry for many of them but really couldn’t find any sympathy for the predicaments they found themselves in. Even Willa, the main characters sister who was introduced later in the book and became the catalyst in investigating the murder was a tentative character built on uncertainty and fear. Her background was the most interesting to be revealed but even though she had the gumption to investigate to prove her sisters innocence, I still felt ambivalent. I really wanted to root for someone to either be innocent or guilty but I had trouble getting beyond that feeling of wanting the story to end. With that being said, I did have enough interest that I read it all the way through, but I’ll admit to skimming a few chapters to get to the conclusion a little quicker.

I’ve never read a book that Sara Shepard has written but have heard good things about her style of writing. Like I said above, there were twists and turns, suprises and reveals that kept me reading and I truly didn’t guess the whodunnit before the final couple of chapters. I can say honestly that she’s got skills, I just wish I had liked these characters a little bit more. ❤️❤️❤️❣️

I received a copy of this novel through NetGalley and it’s publisher for my honest review and it was honest!

Click this link to purchase!* Reputation: A Novel

Copyright 2019 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase through the above link I receive a tiny stipend.