Tag: reading

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

I love fall! The weather is wonderful and you just want to be outside. Maybe it will be nice enough to read one of these books on my back patio? You can only hope!

#5 MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK RELEASE

The premise for this series is so great! A group of guys read romance novels to help them figure out their women and improve their love lives. The first one was totally cute, but I’ll admit I was disappointed in the second in the series. Will Crazy Stupid Bromance reel me back in? We’ll see!

Synopsis: A hacktivist and a cat café owner decode the friend zone in this romantic comedy from the author of Undercover Bromance.

Alexis Carlisle and her cat café, ToeBeans, have shot to fame after she came forward as a victim of a celebrity chef’s sexual harassment. When a new customer approaches to confide in her, the last thing Alexis expects is for the woman to claim they’re sisters. Unsure what to do, Alexis turns to the only man she trusts—her best friend, Noah Logan.
 
Computer genius Noah left his rebellious teenage hacker past behind to become a computer security expert. Now he only uses his old skills for the right cause. But Noah’s got a secret: He’s madly in love with Alexis. When she asks for his help, he wonders if the timing will ever be right to confess his crush. 
 
Noah’s pals in The Bromance Book Club are more than willing to share their beloved “manuals” to help him go from bud to boyfriend. But he must decide if telling the truth is worth risking the best friendship he’s ever had.

Click this link to purchase!* Crazy Stupid Bromance (Bromance Book Club)

#4 MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK RELEASE

It’s certainly not the cover that makes me want to read this book. A very disappointing choice by the publisher. This novel as been buzzing for a couple of months and I’ll admit to wanting to know what all the fuss is about!

Synopsis:


A Life No One Will Remember. A Story You Will Never Forget.

France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever—and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets.

Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world.

But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name.

Click this link to purchase!* The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

#3 MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK RELEASE

I loved The Tourist Attraction, the first book in this series. Mistletoe and Mr. Right looks to be just as cute and I can’t wait to get started on this one!

Synopsis:

How the moose (almost) stole Christmas.

Lana Montgomery is everything the quirky small town of Moose Springs, Alaska can’t stand: a rich socialite with dreams of changing things for the better. But Lana’s determined to prove that she belongs…even if it means trading her stilettos for snow boots and tracking one of the town’s hairiest Christmas mysteries: the Santa Moose, an antlered Grinch hell-bent on destroying every bit of holiday cheer (and tinsel) it can sink its teeth into.

And really…how hard could it be?

The last few years have been tough on Rick Harding, and it’s not getting any easier now that his dream girl’s back in town. When Lana accidentally tranquilizes him instead of the Santa Moose, it’s clear she needs help, fast…and this could be his chance to finally catch her eye. It’s an all-out Christmas war, but if they can nab that darn moose before it destroys the town, Rick and Lana might finally find a place where they both belong…together.

Click this link to purchase!* Mistletoe and Mr. Right (Moose Springs, Alaska Book 2)

#2 MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK RELEASE

Love, love, love this series. It’s clever, it’s current, and it’s football season all the time! Alexa Martin strikes the right chord in these funny rom-com’s. I can’t wait to get started!

Synopsis:

With the stakes this high, it’s no longer just a game for the Mustang’s quarterback in this romance by the author of Blitzed.

Elliot Reed is living her best life—or pretending to. She owes it to her dad’s memory to be happy and make the most of her new job as Strategic Communications Manager for the Denver Mustangs. Things are going well until star quarterback Quinton Howard Jr. decides to use the field as his stage and takes a knee during the national anthem.

As the son of a former professional athlete, Quinton knows the good, the bad, and the ugly about football. He’s worked his entire life to gain recognition in the sport, and now that he has it, he’s not about to waste his chance to change the league for better. Not even the brilliant but infuriating Elliot, who the Mustangs assign to manage him, will get Quinton back in line.

A rocky initial meeting leads to more tension between Quinton and Elliot. But as her new job forces them to spend time together, Elliot realizes they may have more in common than she could’ve imagined. With her job and his integrity on the line, this is one coin toss that nobody can win.

Click this link to purchase!* Snapped (Playbook, The)

MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK RELEASE OF OCT’20

This book sounds amazing. Set in a Regency England type world, a young woman has to pick between becoming a Magus and forgoing a chance at love or picking love and having her magic obliterated for the safety of her future children. It seems especially fitting to read this female empowerment novel during a time when the US is undergoing a political fight to replace a strong woman on the Supreme Court. A choice that could take women back in rights by decades. I can’t wait to see how this fictional character finds the right balance of claiming her own power and not giving up on love.

Synopsis:

Beatrice Clayborn is a sorceress who practices magic in secret, terrified of the day she will be locked into a marital collar that will cut off her powers to protect her unborn children. She dreams of becoming a full-fledged Magus and pursuing magic as her calling as men do, but her family has staked everything to equip her for Bargaining Season, when young men and women of means descend upon the city to negotiate the best marriages. The Clayborns are in severe debt, and only she can save them, by securing an advantageous match before their creditors come calling. 

In a stroke of luck, Beatrice finds a grimoire that contains the key to becoming a Magus, but before she can purchase it, a rival sorceress swindles the book right out of her hands. Beatrice summons a spirit to help her get it back, but her new ally exacts a price: Beatrice’s first kiss . . . with her adversary’s brother, the handsome, compassionate, and fabulously wealthy Ianthe Lavan. 

The more Beatrice is entangled with the Lavan siblings, the harder her decision becomes: If she casts the spell to become a Magus, she will devastate her family and lose the only man to ever see her for who she is; but if she marries—even for love—she will sacrifice her magic, her identity, and her dreams. But how can she choose just one, knowing she will forever regret the path not taken?

Click this link to purchase!* The Midnight Bargain

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

These are some fun sounding books, aren’t they? What books or authors are you looking forward to reading next month? There are a lot of great ones!

Happy reading!

Deb

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads5 Comments

This Chick Read: Well Played by Jen DeLuca

Stacey has spent the last two years of the Renaissance Fair playing a buxom barmaid by day and hooking up with hot guy and musician Dex by night. When the month long fair ended her two good friends got engaged and Stacey felt dissatisfied with how she was living her life. So, one night after too many drinks she reaches out to Dex on his fan site and opens up about her feelings. Surprisingly he emails back and they spend the next 10 months becoming best friends and falling in love. There was a lot more to her hot hook-up than she thought! Or was there? She’s been played!

I couldn’t help but compare Well Played to Well Met, the first novel in this series. I may be doing this book a disservice because I LOVED Well Met. The setting surprised me and I loved the banter between Emily and Simon. There was a lot to like about Well Played but it just didn’t live up to my expectations.

Here’s what I liked. Stacey was a plus-sized heroine, which let’s face it, most of us are and so we can easily identify with her body self image insecurities. I loved that we still had that Renaissance Fair setting. I actually do wish that more of it had been set at the fair though. I did also like the friendships in this novel. They were all there for each other and had each others backs. If you have a great pack of friends you can survive most everything!

Here’s what weighed against my rating. (I can’t say dislike!) It took too long to get to our hero and heroine being together. There was a LOT of email exchanges and texts and I just didn’t feel all of the emotions I was supposed to feel. I liked our hero, but I didn’t love him. There was one scene that just really bothered me! I can’t get into who he is or what that scene was, so this is kind of lame to even mention but that scene set him up as being weak. I just couldn’t look at him the same after it. Now that I’m putting it on paper, that was really the main issue for me.

So, I liked Well Played, but I was disappointed at the same time. Maybe this is a case of building the book up too much in my head before actually reading it. I don’t know, but my rating reflects my feelings.

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!* Well Played

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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This Chick Read: On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

Taking place in the same neighborhood as The Hate You Give, wanna be rapper Bri, lives the dream of stardom in the hopes of helping her family’s circumstances. Following in her fathers footsteps in the Garden means walking between two worlds, gang and the Ring. Her father’s life ended early, being shot down by a rival gang but Bri is determined not to live that life despite living her dream of becoming a rapper.

Angie Thomas, through her storytelling again successfully gives the reader a look into two different worlds. Bri, lives in the Garden, her aunt a member of a gang, and her mother a recovering junkie, but the author gives us a contrasting look into what their lives can be. Bri’s brother has a college education and only comes back to live in the Garden to help support his family. Bri, herself, is bussed to a high school in a better area and doesn’t seek a life in the Garden and in fact is working really hard in trying to get her family out of it. The conflict in this novel comes from her being a teenager, and like a lot of teens, she doesn’t make the best choices. Her mouth often gets her into trouble and because of the color of her skin she’s racially profiled and treated pretty harshly by those in power around her.

“No matter where I’m at, keep an eye for police.

If they thinkin’ I’m suspicious, they ain’t trying to listen.

They’ll unload those mags, make me a hashtag.”

The poetry in Bri’s rapping tells a story of what her life is like, what it may look like, and what she hope’s it will look like. The story within this poetry was just as moving and eye opening as the story within the novel.

Bri’s Aunt Pooh, as a member of the GD’s takes on the role of protector and manager to Bri. One a role she’s willing to take on with a gun, the other a role she’s unsure how to maneuver. I thought her story in On The Come Up created the perfect contrast to Bri’s own struggle, as well as being the perfect example of why she wants to get out of that life so desperately.

Once I got into the rhythm of On the Come Up, I really enjoyed this story, and rooted for Bri to find her identity in a way that didn’t alter who she could be and even more importantly would want to be in the future. I loved her choice at the end of this book, it fit her character, and it made me want to read more and see her story continue. That’s the best way to end a book, isn’t it? ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase!* On the Come Up

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.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

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.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

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.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

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.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

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

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads12 Comments