Tag: romance

This Chicks Audio Review: Play (Stage Dive #2) by Kylie Scott

Alright folks, it’s been awhile since I’ve read a rock star romance and I had this audiobook in my files. I remembered I really enjoyed the first novel also narrated by Andi Arndt and wanted to give this second one a try. Play is the story of drummer Mal Ericson who meets Anne Rollins at a party and decides to convince her to become his pretend girlfriend. In actuality it doesn’t take much convincing since Anne has had a longtime crush on Mal and pretty much finds him irresistible. Is there a reason for his wanting to convince everyone that he’s happy? Of course.

I really enjoyed this novel and thought Andi Arndt did a great job narrating all of the characters. Mal was kind of a crazy character and Anne gave him a kind of calm he needed to survive what was going on in his life. I felt like the balance of those two characters also gave the narration a kind of sanity. It could have easily gone down the crazy guy road and Andi Arndt made them real instead of caricatures.

Ok, who doesn’t love the fantasy of having a rock star fall in love with an average woman? That’s why we read these right? Mal, to me, was easy to like but hard to love. He was just so over the top! He felt kind of like he was manic depression and honestly, I thought that’s where this novel was heading. No spoilers here, but that wasn’t it at all. Thankfully the conflict had heart and emotion, something I really needed from Mal in order to round his character and make him feel more attainable.

Anne was totally the girl next door. She could be you, me or the girl who bags my groceries. She was calm and hid her inner feelings really well. Of course the narration was from her point of view so we heard those inner feelings and knew she was screaming like a girl who just saw her every dream realized. I liked Anne and was able to root for her right from the get go.

All in all, this was a fun novel with a couple of hidden surprises that helped me enjoy it even more. If you’re looking for your next rock star, you may want to start with the first novel, Play, but I think this whole band is going to rock your world. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Opinions from around the Blogosphere

“I do recommend this book to lovers of the genre of contemporary romance, though I am going to try and hold myself back a bit before going on to #4, I will definitely be going there sooner rather than later.” Omnivorous Reader Book Review

Click this link to purchase!* Play (A Stage Dive Novel)

Copyright 2020 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

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

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads8 Comments

This Chick Read: The Tourist Attraction (Moose Springs Alaska, Pt. 1) by Sarah Morgenthaler

Zoey Caldwell has been saving her money for-e-ver to take a bucket list trip to Alaska. A friend of hers is letting her tag along to sleep on the couch in a ritzy resort room, and Zoey is dying to do all things Alaska. On her first night there they head to a local dive restaurant called the Tourist Trap, owned by the grumpy but extremely good looking Graham Barnett. Graham is against all tourists in his neck of the woods, but for some reason he’s drawn to Zoey and her quirky personality.

The Tourist Attraction was my favorite kind of rom-com. Great setting, quirky characters, and charming main characters. From the first page, I literally couldn’t stop thinking about when I could find another 15 minutes to read another chapter. Zoey, one of my favorite rom-com heroine names, was cute and innocently odd. She was so excited to be in Alaska that she wanted to do all of the usual tourist trips; a whale-sighting trip, spotting a moose, and hiking on a glacier. Stuff a local would never deign to do. Despite his unwillingness, Graham seeks her out and finds himself by her side.

There were plenty of great side characters in The Tourist Attraction and we got to know a few pretty well. I can’t wait to see who gets the next hook-up. Will it be the super tall and bearded Easton? His pink-haired twin sister Ash? Or Zoey’s sultry well to do friend Lana? I really don’t have a preference, they were all really interesting and had some great storylines that I look forward to any one of them!

If you are still quarantining at home, this is the perfect book to help you pass the time. It’s fun, has a little action, and kooky characters that will charm the antlers off a reindeer dog!

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!* The Tourist Attraction (Moose Springs, Alaska)

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? (5/4/2020)

I had just finished a book when a big storm came through knocking out our power. Needless to say, that cut down on my reading as it was just getting dark. We had enough juice in a laptop to get on Netflix and start streaming The Crown. Very Good! It was kind of a nice way to end the weekend, truthfully. We put the devices down and just enjoyed each others company. Despite that, I did read a wonderful book this weekend and have plans to start a next novel.

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

This book took me totally by surprise! The set up was totally unique, the characters completely charming, and the emotions? Yeah, they were all there. Loved it.

JUST STARTED

I haven’t started it yet, and may change my mind, but My library loan is just about to run out. It’s going to come down to whether I think I can finish it in time!

Now you know what I may be reading. What’s first on your TBR?

Deb

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads1 Comment

It’s Monday, what are you reading? (4/27/2020)

I didn’t do a ton of reading this weekend because I was on my computer attending the virtual Yallwest. Listening to authors talk about topics, books, and their lives during the pandemic. I was only reading late at night right before I’d fall asleep and lately I’m getting tired really quickly!

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

The 9th book in the series, I’m totally invested in Sebastian, his life, his wife Hero, and the. mysteries. This was probably my favorite so far because he finally told his wife he loved her and it was such a sweet moment! Yeah, I’m a big sucker for the ‘I love you’. This is an older title (2014) and I’m slowing getting through the audiobooks in this series and loving them. It helps that Davina Porter is such a terrific narrator.

Click this link to purchase this book. Why Kings Confess (Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery Book 9)

JUST STARTED

This one came out in 2003 and came back onto my radar last year after my sister and I took a trip to stay at Nora Roberts Inn Boonsboro and toured the Antietam battlefields. I know I must’ve read it, but it was so long ago that I don’t remember it at all. I totally forgot I’d borrowed it until I was dusting today, put the rag down to read the inside cover and sat down and started reading. It’s just what I’m in the mood for!

Click this link to purchase! Birthright

I’m catching up on some of my TBR reading and loving the fact that they both haven’t been talked about in years. Isn’t it nice to read a book just for the pleasure of it and not because everyone is talking about it?

Speaking of which, did any of you attend the virtual Yallwest? What did you think?

Take care and stay safe!

Deb

I’m an Amazon associate and if you click on one of the above links and purchase the book, I’ll receive a small stipend.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chick Read: Jagged (Colorado Mountain Series #5) by Kristen Ashley

The Colorado Mountain series is probably my third or fourth favorite KA series, with the Rock Chick and Burg series leading the pack. Jagged was released in 2013 and falls into what I call the pre erotica period of Kristen Ashley books. Her style is always very sexy, but her more recent books are more sex than plot and Jagged, thank goodness has a bit of both.

Our hero and heroine Zara and Ham have a bit of history. Ham, as a traveling bartender, had previous lived and worked in town with Zara and they had struck up a pretty casual relationship. At least on his side. Not wanting to be tied down to either one town or one woman Ham has always kept things light. Zara was a woman that remained under his skin. After surviving a serial killer (previous novels plot), Ham decides that life is short and after Zara reaches out to make sure he’s ok he shows up on her doorstep and decides now is the right time. Except it isn’t that time for Zara. Until he digs in and proves to Zara that this time he will stick around.

I liked Zara a lot. She is one of the more real heroines Kristen Ashley has written. She is a real woman with real problems and manages life in a way that her readers can identify with, there are ups and downs. Ham I had a harder time with. First, there was the name Ham. Yes, I know, it was a nickname and Zara was the only one that called him that, but to me it didn’t read cute. It read weird. He was definitely Alpha, like KA’s normal hero’s, and I do really like that aspect of her novels but something felt a little off in their love story. It may have been because he’s had a relationship with February Owens the heroine from the first novel in the Burg series who I absolutely loved. There was always a little bit of a comparison in my mind and although I liked Zara, I think that comparison was a little unfair. Feb had the whole serial killer stalker thing going on and Zara? She was a normal woman. I liked her, but there wasn’t a need for Ham to be a savior. Ms. Ashley does excel at those action plots and Jagged seemed a little tame.

I’m not saying I didn’t like this novel because I did! The sex hadn’t yet gotten over the top as the later KA novels have, and their relationship was nice. I guess that was it. They were nice but it just lacked that little bit of excitement.

If you like KA novels this is a solid effort and worth your 6-7 hours of reading time if for no other reason than to remind her readers how much they liked the Burg series. Hmm, maybe I will re-visit ‘For You’ and read Feb and Colton’s story again.

❤️❤️❤️❣️

Click this link to purchase!* Jagged (Colorado Mountain (5))

Copyright 2020 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

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

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It’s Monday, what are you reading?

It’s Monday! Or should ai say it’s Anyday because when working from home they do all kind of blend in together. The weekend flew by too fast, but I enjoyed spending time outside in the beautiful weather, but also inside reading and streaming some new shows. Really, the important thing is that I felt like reading for the first time. I finished a book that was for pleasure only. Yay! Let me tell you about what’s shuffled on and off my nightstand.

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

You either love or hate shifter romance novels. I’m pretty ‘meh’ about them except for when it’s Shelly Laurenston. She writes with such a sense of humor that you know she doesn’t take herself seriously. This was a fun book but I am ready to move on from this badger series. Yeah, that sounded weird to me too!

JUST STARTED

I am switching genre‘s from romantic fantasy to science fiction. This is the second book in the Nightchaser series. I was a little disappointed in Nightchaser so I hope this book gets off to a fast start!

Ok, now it’s your turn to share what books you are reading this week!

Stay safe and healthy!

Deb

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads1 Comment

It’s Monday, what are you reading? (4/13/2020)

Ahh Monday, another week where I’m working from home. Does anyone else actually miss going to work like I do? Anyway, it was a nice weekend celebrating Easter with the family, all while staying six feet apart. The new normal. I was able to escape into my apartment to escape from reality by reading another romance novel. It’s funny, but romances seem to be one of the things helping me get through this social distancing. There’s something about knowing there’s an HEA at the end of the story that makes life a little brighter. Let me tell you a little bit about 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’ve had The Proposal on my shelf for awhile but still hadn’t gotten around to reading it. It’s a lighthearted rom-com and fit my mood to a T. Review to come!

Synopsis:

When someone asks you to spend your life with him, it shouldn’t come as a surprise—or happen in front of 45,000 people.

When freelance writer Nikole Paterson goes to a Dodgers game with her actor boyfriend, his man bun, and his bros, the last thing she expects is a scoreboard proposal. Saying no isn’t the hard part—they’ve only been dating for five months, and he can’t even spell her name correctly. The hard part is having to face a stadium full of disappointed fans…

At the game with his sister, Carlos Ibarra comes to Nik’s rescue and rushes her away from a camera crew. He’s even there for her when the video goes viral and Nik’s social media blows up—in a bad way. Nik knows that in the wilds of LA, a handsome doctor like Carlos can’t be looking for anything serious, so she embarks on an epic rebound with him, filled with food, fun, and fantastic sex. But when their glorified hookups start breaking the rules, one of them has to be smart enough to put on the brakes…

Click this link to purchase! The Proposal

JUST STARTED

Don’t tell anyone but I haven’t actually started this one yet. However, I have the ARC and the book comes out on Tuesday. It does look really cute and I’m hoping it hits the right note for me!

Synopsis:

ogether, they’re going to learn it’s never too late—or too early—to change your ways.

For Duffy Sinclair, life boils down to one simple thing: maintaining his residence at the idyllic Centennial Assisted Living. Without it, he’s destined for the roach-infested nursing home down the road—and after wasting the first eighty-eight years of his life, he refuses to waste away for the rest. So, he keeps his shenanigans to the bare minimum with the help of his straight-laced best friend and roommate, Carl Upton.

But when Carl’s granddaughter Josie climbs through their bedroom window with booze on her breath and a black eye, Duffy’s faced with trouble that’s sticking around and hard to hide—from Centennial’s management and Josie’s toxic boyfriend. Before he knows it, he’s running a covert operation that includes hitchhiking and barhopping.

He might as well write himself a one-way ticket to the nursing home…or the morgue. Yet Duffy’s all in. Because thanks to an unlikely friendship that becomes fast family—his life doesn’t boil down the same anymore. Not when he finally has a chance to leave a legacy.

In a funny, insightful, and life-affirming debut, Brooke Fossey delivers an unflinching look at growing old, living large, and loving big, as told by a wise-cracking man who didn’t see any of it coming.

Click this link to purchase!* The Big Finish

I hope you all had a great weekend and have read a ton of great books. Fill me in if you have!

Deb

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This Chick Read: You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Ogle

Naomi Westfield meets and falls in love with her now fiancé Nicholas Rose pretty quickly. They’re so in love, never fighting and agreeing on everything. When they move in together Naomi feels as if something has shifted. They never do anything together anymore and barely speak when they’re home together. They’re getting married in three months and her future MIL has planned and paid for everything and it’s no longer the wedding that Naomi wanted. Actually, she kind of doesn’t want to get married anymore and sets out to make her fiancé call the wedding off. After all, if he cancels it, he’ll have to pay for all of those bills. However, she quickly realizes that he’s not that happy either, and soon they are one upping each other in trying to get the other to leave. A weird thing happens, they start to have fun.

You Deserve Each Other is being compared to the much admired, and one of my favorite enemies to lovers stories, The Hating Game. Did I think it deserved that comparison? Kind of? There were definitely similar elements. Naomi and Nicholas did seem to hate each other, once the gloves came off their snark was spectacular, and when they took off the blinders their love for each other was glorious. For me there was just a small difference; Lucy and Joshua’s attraction for each other gave their bickering an underlying heat that was fun and made you eager to turn every page. Naomi and Nicholas strived for that same heat, but during their hate period it was more War of the Roses than The Hating Game. I just didn’t feel that connected. At least until closer to the end.

Naomi and Nicholas made such an unlikely pair. He was a successful dentist, handsome, and smart. She was pretty but wasn’t book smart and only held small time jobs. There was an unbalance that was really hard for me to get past. It made their snark a little uncomfortable. How do you laugh at someone who doesn’t have a college education and is a little sad in life? Nicholas was obviously not a bad guy, so how do you buy Naomi’s hatred? It wasn’t until Naomi finally opened her eyes and allowed herself to open up to hurt that this book really took a turn for the better. That moment gave these characters heart and allowed the reader to see what motivated them to act the way they were acting towards each other. It allowed us to move on, and again, fall in love with them.

If you are looking for the next The Hating Game, I don’t think you’ll find it in You Deserve Each Other. I also think you shouldn’t be comparing one book to another because it doesn’t give You Deserve Each Other a chance. This was a very good book that could stand on it’s own. Naomi and Nicholas were NOT Lucy and Joshua, they were their own brand of insecurities and snarkiness. In the end I liked them for their own story and invested myself in their HEA. What more can you ask for?

❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this ARC through NetGalley for my honest review and it is honest!

Click this link to purchase!* You Deserve Each Other

Copyright 2020 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

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

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This Chick Read: Kind of Famous (Flirting with Fame #3) by Mary Ann Marlowe

Layla Beckett has a big secret. One that might conflict with her new job running the social media for The Rock Paper, a music magazine. On her first day she meets Jo, the wife of an on the rise rock star, and through her she meets Jo’s friends, including drummer Shane Morgan. As she and Shane get closer, it quickly becomes apparent that her secret of running the top fan sight in the country may stand between their happiness.

I’ve read both of the other novels in this series and was really looking forward to this new installment. This is a rock star series, and yes, there’s plenty of eye candy and sizzling action between our heroes and heroines, but what I like the most is that each story has an underlining plot that brings a more serious tone to what would normally be a light hearted subject. In Kind of Famous, Layla’s secret is part of the main story and it definitely added a huge conflict, even if most of it was inner conflict for the majority of the book. As the book developed I realized there was an additional conflict in their relationship and that was Shane’s insecurity. How can a hot drummer in a rock band be insecure? Good question, and Kind of Famous does a great job of delivering the answer.

When Layla and Shane meet there’s this instant connection and energy. He’s surrounded by these god-like characters in his band but he stand out because of his adorkableness (yes, this is now a word!). He’s cute, has a rockin’ bod, but he’s totally shy. Layla, too, is kind of awkward. She has this online life that allows her to be bold, but in person she’s quiet and let’s face it, pretty stunned to be standing in the same space as people she’s idolized. Her awestruck scenes were totally believable and also added some conflict to she and Shane’s developing romance. I really liked them together and loved the obstacles I could clearly see ahead of them.

When you read a series it’s always great fun to see where the characters in previous books lives are now. Eden, Adam,Micah, and Jo are all integral characters in Layla and Shane’s story and I like how they were true to my memories of them and liked even more that I was given a glimpse into their futures. Next up in this series has to be Noah as he was given a rather sinister light and there is definitely more to his story than we’ve been told so far. Kind of Famous did a good job of moving all of their characters forward in my mind, as well as letting me fall in love with Layla and Shane all on their own. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❣️

I wish this author wrote a little faster and hopefully (?) we may have another Flirting with Fame story by the end of the year. From these words to Mary Ann Marlowe’s ears… keep those fingers typing!

I received an ARC of this book from the author for my honest review and it was honest!

Opinions from around the Blogosphere

“Deeper than it seems on the surface, Kind of Famous explores the treacherous natures of fandom, friendship, and love–and the explosions that can result when those three things collide. Author Mary Ann Marlowe‘s book is a sweet coda of a love song to the rocker universe she created in Some Kind of Magic and developed further in A Crazy Kind of Love. If you loved those books, you’ll cherish this one as well.” Dreaming in Character

Click this link to purchase!* Kind of Famous (Flirting with Fame)

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? (4/6/2020)

As we are all hunkered down practicing our social distancing, please take note of the things that are bringing you enjoyment today. Streaming video, broadcast television, playing games with your family, taking long walks with your dog, listening to music, and reading your favorite books. Most of these things with the exception of walking your dog and maybe some games you are playing with your family are provided by people who are out of work, or whose livelihoods are threatened by COVID-19. Not all actors, musicians, lighting techs, makeup artists, ballerina, admin assistants, hair dressers, authors, etc. make millions of dollars. Some make a good living, but just like you are now worried about making their rent. If you have the funds you should think of donating to the arts. Without these folks our entertainment would be sock puppets on the wall.

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

This is the third installment in the series and maybe the last book. I hope not, because I love these characters! This was a series that started out great and just kept getting better. I highly recommend it!

JUST STARTED

An enemies to lovers trope is my favorite and Sarah Hogle has a really easy style of writing. I easily fell into the story and saw the humor right away. This is a fun one!

This is such a strange time, but remember we are all in this together and we will come out stronger on the other side. I hope everyone is isolating at home, practicing safe social distancing in public, and enjoying the time you are spending with your families.

Stay healthy!

Deb

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads3 Comments