Tag: reading

This Chick Read: Beard Science (Winston Brothers #3) by Penny Reid

Why did I wait so long to read this novel??!!  I’ve owned it since December and well, I guess I was worried about Cletus. If you are a fan of these novels, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Cletus makes a great quirky side character, and he was my favorite. How would that quirky weirdness translate into a romance hero? I’ll admit, when the novel first started and he declared that he and a different woman would suit, I had to read the synopsis again.  Wasn’t he supposed to be with Jennifer, the Banana Cake Queen? Yep, that other woman was just a red herring.  When the point of view switched to Jennifer, and I realized her scheme to get Cletus’s help, I knew he had no chance. Jennifer was going to steal his heart.

Cletus was just as quirky as he was in the first two novels, but the insight into his character showed that the quirkiness was actually a shield that he put up to protect himself. Jennifer, a rather odd duck herself, snuck under his defenses and pretty soon he was determined to win her for his own, forgetting Shelly, the woman he’d thought suited him at the beginning of the novel. Good thing, because Shelly is meant for his brother Beau.

Jennifer was a heroine you really wanted to root for. Treated horribly by her family and treated as a joke by the town you couldn’t wait to watch her grow into herself. I loved that she was just as unique and quirky as Cletus. They seem to be a perfect match.

Each time I read a Winston Brothers novel I worry about it not being able to live up to my enjoyment of the novel before, but once again, I didn’t need to worry. Cletus and Jennifer’s story, while different than the first two, was just as great. This family from Tennessee is charming, unusual and all are perfect gentlemen with their ladies. Their courtships are all unique and Penny Reid does a great job of maintaining the originality of the storyline yet catching the correct tone of a Tennessee southern vibe.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❣️

Click link to purchase! Beard Science (Winston Brothers Book 3) (Volume 3)

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: Secrets of the Tulip Sisters by Susan Mallery

Kelly Murphy is being stalked by the boy she had a crush on in high school. Not stalked in a bad way but in a cute guy is very interested in her way. That would’ve been great but her memories of his rejection in high school are tied to her mothers infidelity and eventual abandonment. So, she’s somewhat disturbed that Griffith is showing signs of interest. However, she gets over those feelings pretty quick.

Olivia Murphy has been gone from home for years and decides to vacation back home with her sister and father. After running wild in her teens after her mother abandoned she and her sister with their father, she was sent to boarding school at fifteen and never really came back home. Now, she’s back and wants to fix her relationship with her father and sister.

Jeff Murphy is Kelly and Olivia’s father. He owns the tulip farm that he and Kelly run. When Olivia shows up, he’s overjoyed, but when her crazy mother shows up right after her, he’s a little overwhelmed. He had just started a relationship with Helen, Kelly’s best friend. To say Miriam’s appearance puts a kink in his sex life is putting it mildly.

As with all of Susan Mallery’s books, this was really well written. BUT, this book had so much going on! Kelly and Griffith’s budding relationship, Olivia starting fresh with her family and her multiple love interests, their fathers relationship with Helen, Helen’s insecurity with the ex wife showing up, an auction, a crazy mother, sheesh! I would’ve been happy with just one love story and the sisters renewing their relationship. Was the book good? Well, sure, but just when I started getting into one storyline, the POV shifted and I was reading from another characters POV. I will say that some of the issues in this book dealing with insecurity with sex, weight, self esteem, etc. were very realistic and I enjoyed seeing how these characters overcame these problems, but the amount of problems and who was sleeping with whom was a bit much. Will I keep reading Susan Mallery? Absolutely, so I guess it didn’t disappoint that much. ❤️❤️❤️❣️

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Secrets of the Tulip Sisters: A Novel Click link to purchase!

Copyright 2017 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

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This Chick Read: Betrayals (Cainsville #4) by Kelley Armstrong

When Ricky gets implicated in a crime where someone is killing young women, Olivia starts to investigate. The crimes are tied to she, Gabriel, and Ricky’s relationship to the Cwyn Anwyn and the Fae. Each wanting her paired up with one of the men. During their investigation Olivia uncovers more secrets about her past and becomes more torn between her love for both of them.

I love how her relationships with both Ricky and Gabriel have evolved in this series. Ricky, as her boyfriend has her best interests at heart and seems to act very unselfishly, at times unrealistically. However, my own fascination with Gabriel, and Olivia’s new focus on him as more than a friend, allows me to overlook Ricky’s choices. I like Ricky and if this were a movie I’d be drooling over his good looks, but give me the strong and tortured hero, and I’ll root for him every time. Gabriel, however seems to be his own worst enemy constantly making mistakes and hurting Olivia. Will she keep giving him another chance? If this were real life, maybe not, but I’m happy she does in this series.

The mystery in this story is secondary to the movement of the plot about their love triangle, which is why I’m not focusing on it too much in my review. However, as with any book by Kelley Armstrong, it’s well written and does help move the overall plot forward. Was this my favorite book in the series? No. It’s solidly written, but its sole purpose is to set us up for the big finale, Rituals, out August 15, 2017. I can’t wait to get my hands on it as I’m fully invested in seeing how this all plays out.  ❤️❤️❤️❤️


Click link to purchase! Betrayals: The Cainsville Series

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.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

Wait, What? This Chicks a Unique Blogger?

I have been nominated by Mischenko at ReadRantRockandRoll.com for the Unique Blogger Award.  This is a totally fun post and I hope I can do it justice as Mischenko did on their blog. Check Mischenko’s blog out HERE! Take note of the creative use of video, pictures and graphic art. I’m seriously jealous of Mischenko’s talent! 


The Rules:

1) Share the link of the blogger who has shown love to you by nominating you.

2) Answer the questions.

3) In the spirit of sharing love and solidarity with our blogging family, nominate 8-13 people for the same award.

4) Ask them 3 questions.

OK,  glad we got the rules out of the way, whew! Let’s get to this!

Here are Mischenko’s Questions—-

1) What’s something unique about you?

Well, I don’t know that I’m that unique actually. I have a handsome, loving, supportive husband, as a lot of women do. I have a too adorable Goldendoodle named Nash, who besides my hubby is the love of my life. Isn’t he cute??! 85 lbs of adorable goofiness.

I love to read, but well, that’s not too unique. We’re a bunch of book bloggers, right?Hmmm, I do have a Free Little Library that I stock with books to share with my neighbors? I guess that’s a little unique! I’m going to go with that one! I always need new stock if anyone lives in Nashville and wants to swap some books with me!

2) What’s a favorite book, movie, or song you enjoyed this month?

I have to go with a movie for this one. If you haven’t seen Wonder Woman you need to rush out and see this movie! Especially if you are a woman. It was the best of the Super Hero movies. If only I was as gorgeous as Gal Gadot and could kick butt like Wonder Woman did in this movie. 


3) What’s your favorite thing to do in your free-time and what do you love about it?

I love taking a vacation! Lol. Well, who doesn’t, but truly a vacation combines three of my favorite loves. Exploring new places, eating out -learning new cultures, and reading while traveling! I recently took a vacation to Italy and had a blast! 


The picture above was taken in front of an ancient Roman wall in Verona. Verona was the setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and was a beautiful place!

Thanks Mischenko! It was fun to share a little bit about me. Now it’s my turn to nominate a few fellow bloggers!

Ravenblake99 @ Dreamyaddictions.wordpress.com

@ LiteraryElephant.wordpress.com

Any of the ladies of (or all of them!) @ThriceRead.com

Beth @ Readingeverynight.wordpress.com 

If you don’t feel like it, no worries! If you do, please tag me so I can read your answers to these questions…

1) If you were a Superhero and were going to fight crime against an evil villain from a book, who would that Villain be (include the book please!) and why do you want to fight them? Side question- would you win?

2) What city do you live in, and what is one of your favorite things you like about your hometown? (I like to travel and may visit! Lol)

3)  Think of your favorite character from a book. Now describe them, a quirk you love about them, and why I should like that character as you do.  (I’m always picking a new book to read as is everyone else reading this blog!)

Have fun!

Deb

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This Chick Read: The Woman Who Couldn’t Scream (Virtue Falls #4) by Christina Dodd

Finally, we get Kateri’s story! A constant presence in the other Virtue Falls novels, Kateri, now the Sheriff of Virtue Falls, is chasing after a violent fugitive as well as trying to catch a killer. Virtue Falls may be a charming resort town, but it has a pretty violent past. The Woman Who Couldn’t Scream is the fourth book in the series, each of which are wonderful romantic thrillers, and this one is no different. Kateri’s childhood friend moves back to town under an assumed name, just as the violence hits. Is it a coincidence??

Merida, Kateri’s friend who has moved back, has eagerly left her last ten years behind. She is mute and had been the wife of a domineering elderly man who controlled her every action.  Caught in that unhappy marriage through horrific circumstance, she had bottled up her plans for revenge against the man she thinks put her there. When she comes face to face with him in Virtue Falls amidst what seems to be a serial killer in action, she is forced to face her feelings sooner than she had planned.

This novel had so many twists and turns! Kateri, still dealing with her past injuries from the tsunami that hit in the first book, has finally semi recovered and finds herself back in a leadership role in town. Her search for a killer while dealing with her feelings for two men mess with her head and certainly adds tension to an already tension filled book! I also liked Merida’s character from the start. She is not the victim she appears and actually has a strong core that has gotten her through some really difficult times. Her story is twisted and fascinating and lends an air of dark mystery to an already action packed start to the book.

Virtue Falls is filled with some zany and interesting characters and even though its been awhile since I read one of these novels, it was easy to jump right in and remember why I keep picking up the books in this series. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❣️

I received a copy of this book from the author for my honest review and it was honest.


Click link to purchase! The Woman Who Couldn’t Scream: A Novel (The Virtue Falls Series)

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: A Purely Private Matter (Rosalind Thorne Mysteries #2) by Darcie Wilde

Rosalind Thorne was brought up a young lady comfortable living in the upper eschelon of English Society. However, due to some unfortunate circumstances (her father swindled money and ran away) she is left living on the edge of society, still accepted but only as a companion. She makes her living giving advice and investigating matters for women, using her connections to maneuver through somewhat murky circumstances. In A Purely Private Matter, a friend introduces a woman to her whose husband is suing her for having an affair, one that she says she didn’t have. Rosalind, while investigating her claim finds herself in the center of an unsavory murder mystery and a partner of sorts to  Bow Street runner Adam Harkness.

I am really enjoying this series. It’s a little slower paced than I’m used to, however, the intricacies of society are fascinating. Rosalind, having been brought up comfortably, is adept at using her influence and is skilled at asking questions and putting all of the pieces together. She is paired up again with runner Adam Harkness, and we are given some insight into his hesitations at taking their relationship further because of the differences in their background. Her childhood sweatheart Devon, the Duke of something or other (I can’t remember, sorry!) is also still in the picture and Rosalind is torn between the two men. She is also almost single handedly figuring out the puzzle of who is the murderer. This novel has a slow wit and charm and the characters are unique and interesting. I’m definitely interested in reading the third novel.  ❤️❤️❤️❤️


Click link to purchase! A Purely Private Matter (Rosalind Thorne Mystery, A)

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.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chick Read: In the Eye of the Storm (Storm and Silence #2) by Robert Thier 

In the Eye of the Storm picks up right where Storm and Silence left off. Rikkard and Lilly’s ship goes down and Lilly was rescued. Rikkard disappears at sea and Lilly is desperate to find him. After searching for days and becoming more desperate, word comes from another ship that a man had washed ashore on an island nearby.  Lilly, dressed as a woman for once, runs to his bedside and finds Rikkard in a cold fury because he’s literally held hostage by the ladies of the house. I think one of them had designs on him. I would too, living on a semi inhabited island!  Lilly and Rik have a sweet moment.  A very brief sweet moment because Rikkard see’s an article in a gossip magazine and is reminded of his responsibilities back home. Unfortunately for Lilly he is also reminded that Lilly is Mr. Linton, and his assistant. In a heartbeat his slightly kinder attitude changes back to an autocratic bastard and Lilly’s hopes for a kinder gentler employer are dashed. Really, when he gets like that why does she put up with him!

This was a really fun action adventure romance. However, the characterizations of Lilly and Ambrose wore a little thin. Lilly is a plucky heroine, but at times her pluckiness got a little tiring. Even though she was fighting for women’s rights (this book takes place at the turn of the century during the suffrage movement), I had hoped that she would fight in a less whiny manner. When they set off for Egypt, and Lilly is mascarading as his wife, Rikkard drops the “boss” role and adopts his husbandly duties fairly quick, taking Lilly off guard. Passionate embraces ensue and at one time may have gone farther except for an interruption. Although they never have actual sex, his experience is so much more than hers that his advances came off as slightly creepy. His straight man demeanor comes off as uncaring. Despite my uneasy feeling about their union, whether real or imaginary, their adventure to Egypt and all that ensued was engaging and fun.

This novel ends, not with a cliffhanger, but with a question, so I know we will have more adventures between these two. Do I want to continue my journey?  I think I do!  Although I hope Lilly has wised up to Rik’s games and enacts some of her own mischievousness on him next time. She definitely needs to even the score! ❤️❤️❤️❣️


Click link to purchase! In the Eye of the Storm (Storm and Silence Saga) (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 Chick Read: Lord of Shadows (Dark Artifices #2) by Cassandra Clare

Every time I read a Cassandra Clare novel I get caught up in the family trees of all the characters that pop in and out of the storyline and find myself sidetracked. At the beginning of this novel it was no different however, the story soon became so gripping and the nuances of the relationships between each character so emotional that I didn’t give a hoot who was related to whom and just enjoyed this story in what I believe to be Cassandra Clare’s best novel yet. I’m sure some of you will disagree that Clary and Jace’s storyline in the Mortal Instruments surpasses Emma and Julian’s but I really don’t see how. Lord of Shadows is a deeply moving romance between Emma and Julian, but also between Mark and Kieran, Mark and Christina, Diana and Gwyn, and Kit and Ty. Not to mention the other characters who pop in and out of this novel who add depth to the feelings between the above characters. This was the most adult novel yet, dealing with the themes of love of family and love between friends and lovers.

It’s not unexpected in Ms. Clare’s books to deal with LGBT romances. Magnus and Alec being the most prolificly written, and the two of them become part of the shocking climax in this novel, so their story is not over. These relationship scenes are written with such normalcy and the reader caught up in the romance and emotion being written is completely immersed in the story. Which is how it should be. There was only one moment in this book where I gasped for breathe, taken out of the moment to re-read that unveiling, but that was done on purpose and with finesse. I applauded the skill of the writer and the wonder of the words written. They still resonate, a week later.

Even though Emma and Julian are the main protagonists and the storyline revolves around their illicit love, there were so many other plotlines that fascinated me just as much. One I hope to delve more into is the budding friendship/love that Kit and Ty are exploring. The shocking ending to the book will shake up their storyline and theirs is the relationship I am looking the most forward to reading about in the next book.

There are so many books in this world and I would recommend starting with the Mortal Instruments series, if you haven’t read any of them. You can read The Dark Artifices books on their own, but I think you’ll miss the nuances of some of the language and world building. You can read the Infernal Devices later, it’s a flashback series and while relevant in some scenes you won’t miss as much as you would if you haven’t read the Mortal Instruments. Invest the time, these books are fun, fabulous, and just keep getting better.  ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️


Click link to purchase! Lord of Shadows (The Dark Artifices)

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.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads1 Comment

This Chicks Sunday Commentary: I’m back from Vacation!

What a fabulous vacation!! Of course, after a week back at work it feels like it was weeks and weeks ago. However, I am hoping that by putting this post together and reviewing some of my photo’s I’ll put myself back in that relaxed vacation mode and get the most out of my three day weekend. Happy Labor Day to those of you in the States!

I promised I would share a few pictures of our trip to Venice, Italy. We really lucked out on the weather as a huge storm had gone through the night before we arrived and the weather was pretty mild. Low 80’s with a nice cool breeze. Coming from the humid south, it was a nice change.

First a little window shopping! Venice is known for textiles, Murano glass and masquerades! I threw in the pizza because well, I was hungry. Lol.


Tis next photo is of the Doge’s palace (a Doge is a nominated position, not a king, but certainly enjoyed the fruits of Venice’s battles!). Seriously, these Venetians really wanted to appear wealthy and gilded everything in gold. Very beautiful, but I kept thinking the maids must’ve had trouble dusting all of those extravagant ceilings!


We did see some other areas around Venice. The most colorful was Burano. Famous for their lace making. It was pretty spectacular! We did also do a little wine tasting. A few times, actually. Lol.


And of course, the Venice Canals!



We finally got that Gondola ride the day before we left. It is pricey, but really you only live once, you know? It’s a memory that I enjoyed making and will carry with me forever.

I hope you all enjoyed my Venice vacation photo’s!  Did any of you go anywhere on vacation this summer? I’d love to hear about it!

Until next Sunday,

Deb

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This Chick Read: The Irish Warrior by Kris Kennedy

The Irish Warrior is a historical romance with a smart and sassy heroine named Senna. Senna was a modern woman born in the wrong era.  When her father starts gambling away their money Senna starts a business breeding sheep to create a strain of very durable wool.  She is just able to keep up with the debtors demands with her lucrative business but wants to take it to the next level, which is unusual in a time when women weren’t more than chattel. Senna reaches out to Lord Rardove, in Ireland, seeking a business partner for her sheep venture. When she arrives in Ireland, she finds an evil man who plans to take her hostage and marry her because she is the daughter of the last Wishme dye master. A dye that creates a beautiful blue color, but also when in powder form creates an explosive. He plans to use that explosive to defeat the Irish and gain favor with his king.  Senna is no shy miss and is determined to not fall prey to his plans. She meets eyes across the room with an Irish Rebel captive, Finian o’Melaghlin, chief councilor to the O’Fail king, and determines that she will help him escape if he will help her get back to England. Finian accepts her help, but has a plan of his own.

This book started off quick, the characters easy to define as good or evil, and Senna and Finian had an instant connection and were very easy to like. Senna was a lady, and Finian treated her as one, but also treated her as an equal partner in crime. This was no bodice ripper, but a historical romance with a slow building relationship. Kris Kennedy filled the pages with clever dialogue and two characters who had a rapport that jumped off the pages. This time in history told from an Irish perspective, was particularly fascinating. Whether Senna could or couldn’t make the Wishme dye, the fate of Ireland, and  Senna and Finian’s relationship all contributed to an exciting storyline that I stayed up reading from start to finish.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❣️

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Click link to purchase! The Irish Warrior

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.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads2 Comments