Tag: contemporary romance

The Chick Read (audio review): Cake-The Newlyweds (Cake #4) by J. Bengtsson

Narrated by Andi Arndt and Joe Arden, Cake: The Newlyweds continues Jake and Casey’s love story from marriage to newlyweds. As one of the biggest rock stars in the world it would seem that they’d have wedded bliss but their otherwise smooth road had quite a few potholes to fill before they truly found happiness.

Each novel in the Cake series has revolved around the horrific incident in Jake’s past when he was kidnapped and had to murder his kidnapper to escape after one month of captivity. In Cake, the first novel where Jake and Casey meet and fall in love, Jake’s mental challenges are revealed but he seems to want to battle those challenges for Casey’s love. In Newlyweds, Jake is still fighting those battles and it’s much harder than he thought it would be, because the world doesn’t revolve around only him and Casey soon has her own battles to fight when she loses someone very close to her. I really liked the realistic way that J. Bengtsson dealt with both of these subjects combining humor with humanity.

For those of us who love continuation stories, following Jake and Casey’s story through their nuptials is a dream come true. However, I read a couple of these novels out of order and I think this may have been the one novel that was affected by my having insight into later plot reveals in the McKallister family. This spoiled the rising tension a little for me, a I knew from the next novel (which I’d already read) the happy outcome. Although, truthfully, it’s a romance so there was always going to be a happy ending, right? However, I really came to love the other McKallister’s and was ready to move on from Jake and Casey sooner that I would’ve thought.

I listened to this novel, narrated from a dual perspective by Andi Arndt and Joe Arden, both of whom did a wonderful job. They acted out their parts rather than read them, which makes a huge difference in my enjoyment. In fact, I’ve gone on to search for these narrator’s because i liked their portrayal so much. Kudos!

Cake: The Newlyweds was a solid second act. I’m glad to have witnessed Jake’s resolution to his kidnapping because having that hanging out there would have been a black spot on this great series. I liked also how Casey was given her own blackness to overcome. It gave her character more depth than the happy cheerleader she’d been up to this point. I’ve already read Rogue Wave which spoiled a few things for me in this novel, so don’t read that one before this book, but it was also fab. I’m ready for the next novel, will it be Grace or Quinn? I almost feel like if it’s Quinn it might undercut Grace’s story? If you’ve read these novels, let me know what you think! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase!* Cake: The Newlyweds (Cake Series) (Volume 4)

Copyright 2019 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? (8/5/19)

Happy Monday everyone! I ran across this post on Book Date and liked the idea of sharing what I’m currently reading, so here goes!

JUST FINISHED

American Magic by Zach Fehst

First Sentence: “The evening’s two Thai coffees, thick with condensed milk and vaporous with rum, swirled around in the soon-to-be-traitor’s stomach.”

American Magic: A Thriller

JUST STARTED

Sidelined by Suzanne Baltsar

First Sentence: “The sharp smell of bitter coffee permeated the air as the whir of beans in a grinder grated on my nerves.”

Sidelined

Once again I am switching gears from an action thriller to a contemporary romance. I rarely read the same genre back to back.

Now that you have had a peek into my kindle, what book are you reading on this fine Monday?

Deb

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads2 Comments

This Chicks Sunday Commentary: July’19 Wrap Up!

Ahh summer! Long days full of sunshine, vacations to exotic locales, and hopefully plenty of time spent reading a much anticipated book or two. Two out of three ain’t bad! I don’t have a vacation scheduled until the end of the month but I have spent some of these long days full of sunshine reading. Let’s take a look at the month of July to look back on some of my favorite books read, and catch up on what happened on The Reading Chick.

JULY’S BEST READS

How to Marry a Werewolf (A Claw and Courtship Novella) by Gail Carriger

“Even though How to Marry a Werewolf is a novella, Carriger is able to build a back story for Faith that gives her character depth making her three dimensional. If you’ve read past novels (and you should before reading this novella!) Channing is a familiar face. Always growly and at times rather inhumanly wolfy, it’s surprising to see him as a romantic lead. However, somehow it works!” How to Marry a Werewolf: A Claw & Courtship Novella

The Smallest Part by Amy Harmon

“Mercedes was a hard worker, loyal friend, and was the backbone of their friendship. She would never betray a friend which is why she stepped aside when Cora declared her feelings for Noah. This book starts with Cora’s death and through flashbacks we see how their feelings were intertwined. How Mercedes and Noah always had just a little more feelings for each other and how that one moment deflected Noah towards Cora instead of Mercedes. It kind of killed me emotionally, but this was a really good book!” The Smallest Part

Dating-ish (Knitting in the City Series #6) by Penny Reid

“I am in love with the Knitting in the City series! Each time I read a book, I think ‘this is my favorite’! Until I read the next book in the series, which quickly surpasses the previous and becomes my favorite book in the series. This time, instead of reading, I decided to try out my new Romance Audible package on Amazon and listen to Dating-ish, narrated by Joy Nash. Boy was that a delight!” Dating-ish: A Humanoid Romance (Knitting in the City)

THIS CHICKS SUNDAY COMMENTARY

I finally got around to taking part in the Mid Year Book Freak Out Tag. It is a fun tag because I get to look back at all of the books I’ve read in the first half of the year and talk about a few of my favorites. If you missed my post, please check it out!

The Mid Year Book Freak Out Tag

I also took a look back at June and looked forward into August for my most Anticipated releases. Missed them? Here you go!

June Wrap Up!

My Most Anticipated August Releases

WHAT’S ON TAP FOR AUGUST!

August is the start of birthday season in my house. My husband’s birthday is the 17th and mine is the 28th. In honor of our birthday’s, I’m going to do a few small giveaways. I’ve got quite a few books and bookish items that I’ve been meaning to give away that I collected at the Booklover’s Convention I went to in May. I also have a TON of reading to do! 7 ARC’s I need to read and review before their release dates. Whew! I kind of got carried away.

There are quite a few books I’m excited to read this month but I think the one I’m most curious about is…

She is known for her paranormal and fantasy romances so this thriller is quite a surprise! Here’s the synopsis:

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh welcomes you to a remote town on the edge of the world where even the blinding brightness of the sun can’t mask the darkness that lies deep within a killer.…

On the rugged West Coast of New Zealand, Golden Cove is more than just a town where people live. The adults are more than neighbors; the children, more than schoolmates. 

That is until one fateful summer—and several vanished bodies—shatters the trust holding Golden Cove together. All that’s left are whispers behind closed doors, broken friendships, and a silent agreement to not look back. But they can’t run from the past forever. 

Eight years later, a beautiful young woman disappears without a trace, and the residents of Golden Cove wonder if their home shelters something far more dangerous than an unforgiving landscape.  

It’s not long before the dark past collides with the haunting present and deadly secrets come to light.

Release Date: December 03, 2019.

Purchase link: A Madness of Sunshine

What is the book you are most looking forward to reading this month?

Deb

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads2 Comments

This Chick Read: Say You Still Love Me by K.A. Tucker

Piper Calloway works as her father’s right hand as an executive in his real estate development firm. Born with a silver spoon in her mouth, she has fought for the approval of her father and the other executives in a mostly male world. When she see’s her girlhood crush, Kyle, working at the front desk of her building as a security guard all of her life’s ambitions get pushed aside and memories of her first love takes over. Will this be her second chance at love?

I have enjoyed K.A. Tucker’s books in the past and while Say You Still Love Me isn’t my favorite of hers it’s still an interesting and kind of different style of romance. Piper and Kyle’s story was told through a series of flashbacks to when they fell in love while camp counselor’s over a summer when they were teenagers. The innocence and fun of that story contrasted well with the more adult version of their re-connection. The minor problem for me was that I was much more interested in them when they were teenage camp counselors than I was with them as adults.

Piper’s mom wanted her to have the experience she did as a “normal” girl at camp. Normal meaning middle class I guess. Rather than being a fish out of water because of her moneyed background, Piper actually fit right in, made friends and caught the eye of the rather rebellious and tattooed teenage Kyle. While her personality was pretty consistent from teen Piper to adult Piper, Kyle did a 180º. He was flirtatious, fun and kind of a mystery as a teenager, but adult security guard Kyle? Not as much fun….

I did enjoy the emotional punch of their re-connection but didn’t buy into a fantasy romance with a high powered executive woman and a building security guard. Well, at least a security guard that wasn’t part of an ex elite military squad who would swoop in and rescue his damsel in distress. This just wasn’t that type of romance. So, it became a little vanilla for me. Huh. I’m a little surprised, but I have to go with that statement.

Since this was both a YA Contemporary and an adult Contemporary Romance built into one book, I’m going to give it two scores. The YA Contemporary novel gets a 4.5 and the Contemporary romance a 3.5, which rounds this one out to a four. A good solid book, but didn’t hit it out of the park for me.

I received a free copy of this ARC through NetGalley for my honest review and it was honest! ❤️❤️❤️❣️

Opinions from around the Blogosphere

“This has been quite a negative review, but I obviously liked the book if I gave it 4 stars. I fell in love with teenage Piper and Kyle. I loved their innocence and sweetness, I just wasn’t a fan of their adult selves. It’s as simple as that.” Sapphic Library

“Overall, I just couldn’t suspend my disbelief for this book. I know romances are sometimes over the top, but I prefer ones that are more grounded in reality. I didn’t think this book had a whole lot going for it outside the romance and since that didn’t cut it for me, it didn’t have a lot to offer.” The Paperback Princess

Click this link to purchase!* Say You Still Love Me: A Novel

Copyright 2019 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chick Read: Dating-ish (Knitting in the City #6) by Penny Reid- Audio Review

I am in love with the Knitting in the City series! Each time I read a book, I think ‘this is my favorite’! Until I read the next book in the series, which quickly surpasses the previous and becomes my favorite book in the series. This time, instead of reading, I decided to try out my new Romance Audible package on Amazon and listen to Dating-ish, narrated by Joy Nash. Boy was that a delight!

Marie, our heroine, is just about to cancel her subscription to an online dating service when she gets a notification that she has a PERFECT match! Excited at the prospect of meeting her perfect match, Marie eagerly meets this date at a local coffee house and proceeds to have the most confusing and weird first date she’s ever had before in her life! This strange man is her perfect match? After doing a dump and run, Marie runs into him again when her knitting group next meets. It’s a surprise to find that he’s the next door neighbor and childhood friend of her knitting buddy Fiona, but even more surprising is the fact that their date was part of a research project on what women want in a man. As it turns out, Matt is a scientist and is working on a project to create an compassionate AI (artificial intelligence) that will provide a person with all of the emotions they need from a mate. Marie is upset, horrified and angered that her perfect match was a fake! To get even, she blackmails Matt into letting her read his research for an article she’s going to write about how there are services available to facilitate emotional fulfillment. Think professional cuddlers, not hookers!

As Marie and Matt hang around each other, an undeniable chemistry is sparked, but as this is a slow burn novel, the two of them have plenty of hilarious emotional hijinks before their feelings become their reality. In typical Penny Reid fashion, these two odd ducks have found their perfect match, but they really have to work at the happy in their ending.

Part of the reason I love this series is because these characters are not new to us when we start the novel. Marie, as part of the knitting group is known as the level headed, organized friend. In fact, as a professional journalist, she can compartmentalize with the best of them, and we’ve seen her do this in the past. Matt, as Fiona’s neighbor, is also a familiar character. Although I didn’t quite realize how much of an emotional oddball he really was from our previous interactions. Joy Nash reads his character so well! Kind of aloof and very sciency in a nerd-voice. You’d have to listen to it to figure out what i’m talking about, but she does a great job! Marie’s narration is also spot on, and Joy Nash acts out the narration so that I feel as if I’m listening to a movie rather than someone reading from a book. She is seriously good!

Each book in the Knitting in the City series can be read as a stand alone. Be warned though, previous characters sometimes have big parts in our main characters romance, so it may be better to start at the beginning so that you don’t miss out on any subtle character arc’s. Although Marie and Matt’s romance is brilliant enough on its own merit. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Opinions from around the Blogosphere

“I would have never thought a book about robots would be sexy but Penny Reid makes being smart sexy! Matt and Marie have an amazing love story. It is defiantly a slow burn kind of love story and it is so much fun to read. ” Cup of Tea Book Blog

“The book is full of computer and AI jokes and banter that should make you laugh. Marie and Matt are both complex characters with their own issues to deal with. And the cast of secondary characters, which has grown as the series has progressed, is charming as usual. ” Kat Vinson

Click this link to purchase!* Dating-ish (Knitting in the City) (Volume 6)

Copyright 2019 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads2 Comments

Blog Tour- Cover Reveal! The Kissing Game by Marie Harte

Today we are sharing the cover for an upcoming standalone title from Marie Harte. THE KISSING GAME is a fun, contemporary romance title you won’t want to miss! Be sure to follow Marie for exclusive updates about the book and preorder your copy now. The Kissing Game releases February 4, 2020.

Join Marie’s Reader Group for Exclusive News!

The Kissing Game by Marie Harte 

PREORDER NOW   |   RELEASING 2.4.2020

Amazon  |  B&N  |  Google  |  BAM

Add THE KISSING GAME to Goodreads

PREORDER NOW

Amazon  |  B&N  |  Google  |  BAM

————————-

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Caffeine addict, boy referee, and romance aficionado, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Marie Harte has over 100 books published with more constantly on the way. She’s a confessed bibliophile and devotee of action movies. Whether hiking in Central Oregon, biking around town, or hanging at the local tea shop, she’s constantly plotting to give everyone a happily ever after. Visit http://marieharte.com and fall in love.

FIND MARIE:

Join Marie’s Reader Group

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | Instagram | Bookbub  |  Goodreads

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

It’s Monday! What are you reading? (7/22/19)

Happy Monday everyone! I ran across this post on Book Date and liked the idea of sharing what I’m currently reading, so here goes!

JUST FINISHED

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman

First Sentence: “Imagine you’re a bird.”

JUST STARTED

Butterface by Avery Flynn

First Sentence: ” Gina Luca knew one thing down to the very marrow of her wedding -planner bones: brides were the devil.”

Abbi Waxman strikes again! A poignantly sweet and funny novel that I totally enjoyed misting up over. Switching directions to try a new to me author I started Butterface, an adjective I absolutely can’t stand but with a heroine I think I’m going to like a lot. A great first line too, right?

You know how I’m starting my week, so now I must know… What are you reading?

Happy Monday!

Deb

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads3 Comments

This Chick Read: Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey

Working as a clown at children’s parties brings her a joy she doesn’t find elsewhere, but Georgie is often overlooked by the adults and is still sitting at the kids table. When her older brother’s best friend Travis Ford retires early from the pro’s due to an injury and comes back home, Georgie knows two things. One, she’s not going to allow her childhood crush to sit and stew about his failures, and two she’s going to start being viewed as an adult and follow her life’s passions. One of which is Travis Ford.

Georgie is a really fun heroine. She’s witty, fun, and serious about being taken seriously. When she throws and old carton of ice cream on Travis’s MLB worthy behind I knew I was going to like this girl! She is the only person in town who isn’t afraid of telling it like it is and Travis needs that slap upside the head to get out of bed and start finding a new focus in his life. Pretty quickly, Georgie becomes that focus.

The brothers best friend trope is always tension filled. That hint of forbidden fruit in finding your best friends little sister sexy adds a dangerous element to their romance that is super fun to read. Stephen, Georgie’s older brother, is surprisingly stoic about the whole thing, especially since his buddy Travis is known for being a man-whore. His nickname is two bats for Pete’s sake! However, Travis has hints of vulnerability that help us connect with him beyond his hot exterior.

I love the current trend in cartoonish romance novel covers but I think they may misrepresent the adult nature of some more ‘romantic’ novels. Georgie and Travis’s sexy fun times are very adult and at times kind of naughty. Be warned I’d rate this heat index 10+! Sometimes a super sexy scene might annoy me by distracting from the story, but these scenes actually added to the growth of the characters (no pun intended!) and moved the story forward. Georgie was finding her independence and self confidence and Travis was showing a vulnerability (even while being kind of domineering).

If you hadn’t guessed, I really enjoyed Fix Her Up. I’m a sucker for women finding their inner power and Georgie was right in my wheelhouse. Her growing relationship with Travis was hot, but I also really liked how sweet he was with her and how he learned that needing people, and Georgie particularly, wasn’t a weakness it was a strength. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase!* Fix Her Up: A Novel

Copyright 2019 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads2 Comments

This Chick Read: The Smallest Part by Amy Harmon

Mercedes, Cora, and Noah were best friends since they were kids, but before Nora came there were just Mercedes and Noah. They had a special bond, but when they got older and Cora asked Mercedes if she were in love with Noah, Mercedes lied. She only lied because it was Cora that asked the question and because of that lie Mercedes had to step aside until the day it was up to her to pick up all the pieces.

If you are a fan of slow burn romance novels then you must read The Smallest Part. I read another blogger’s review and decided I’d give it a chance. I’d never read an Amy Harmon novel and I wasn’t sure if this synopsis appealed to me but I am so glad I picked up this book. It wasn’t at all what I expected and I really enjoyed how the story unfolded.

Cora was always troubled. She had a father who came home wounded from the war and committed suicide. Cora found the body and it left a lasting impression on her young mind. She always felt like she wasn’t enough and had very low self esteem. Even though she had two great best friends in Noah and Mercedes.

Noah was that male best friend that you always knew you loved. He was sweet, gentle and just an all around nice guy. He truly cared for both Cora and Mercedes and it wasn’t until he was older that his innocent feelings changed to something much more.

Mercedes was a hard worker, loyal friend, and was the backbone of their friendship. She would never betray a friend which is why she stepped aside when Cora declared her feelings for Noah. This book starts with Cora’s death and through flashbacks we see how their feelings were intertwined. How Mercedes and Noah always had just a little more feelings for each other and how that one moment deflected Noah towards Cora instead of Mercedes. It kind of killed me emotionally, but this was a really good book! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❣️

Click this link to purchase!* The Smallest Part

Copyright 2019 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? (7/8/19)

Happy Monday everyone! I ran across this post on Book Date and liked the idea of sharing what I’m currently reading, so here goes!

JUST FINISHED

Heartache and Hope (Heartache Duet #1) by Jay McLean

First Sentence Read: “One minute you’re sipping on your first beer at your first bonfire party, wearing a hoody provided by a boy you’ve been crushing on for months.”

JUST STARTED

The Lemon Sisters by Jill Shalvis

First Sentence Read: Without warning, the helicopter dipped sharply, and Brooke Lemon’s stomach went along with it.”

Both of those first sentences were pretty thrilling, right? Now that you know what books I’ve been reading, share…

It’s Monday, what are you reading?

Thanks!

Deb

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads