General Update & Giveaway

Hello readers! I guess we've been a little slow here on the blog, but we have some great things coming up this summer. We have several giveaways, and we'll tell you about them and share some of our Summer reading and vacation plans. Arlene and I would love to hear about your reading and fun plans for the Summer, too, so tell us in the comments below. If you have a photo posted on Facebook/Twitter/Blog link us up, and I'll come by check it out!  

As a bonus, we have a giveaway of M. Leighton's Until I Break down below. This book had a little bit of scandal surrounding it and so the author pulled it from Amazon, and I can't find it anywhere else. I read it back in 2013 (my review) and loved it. It was a little edgy, but not sure what all the fuss about. Apparently it pushed someone's buttons, though.

First off, coming up on the blog:

 Reading, Reviews, & Giveaways

Coming this Thursday:

Posting on Friday:

Reading, Reviewing:

(click on cover for Goodreads link)

   

   

(Addicted, Shadow Rider, Falling in Deeper, Reaper's Fire, and Just What I Needed will be book giveaways & reviews.)

Both Arlene and I are reading The Angel's Share, book 2 in J.R. Ward's The Bourbon Kings series and I'm sooo excited for it! Kind of soap-opera-y, scandalous and oh-so-hot! I read a teaser for Reaper's Fire a while back and it was good! Can't wait for Tinker and Gage's story! Roni Loren is the queen of melt-your-panties-smoking-hot romances/erotica! I'm not sure if Wanderlust will be more mellow but I don't care, her writing is amazing!

What we've been listening to. Not necessarily going to review, but worth mentioning.

Rachel:

  

I can't get enough of the Virgin River series by Robyn Carr! I'm currently on book 8.  Therese Plummer is the narrator for the series, and she is amazing! Both male and female voices are wonderful. Allison Brennan's Max Revere series is about an investigative reporter who is smart, confident, and a little bitchy sometimes, but she completely grew on me with her uncompromising search for the truth and justice! The second book had me on the edge of my seat with tension! Narration is totally recommended! You just can't go wrong with Ilona Andrews and since I'm all caught up with Kate Daniels I'm searching for anything else by them and came up with The Innkeeper Chronicles. Renee Raudman narrates all of their books and I love her! Her male voices in the very first Kate Daniels needed some work, but she nailed it after that.

Arlene:

 

I'm exited to finished up these audio books. It's been a while since I've had a chance to listen to one from beginning to end, but now that school is out and work projects are slowing down, I know I'll have a lot more time on my hands to enjoy The Year We Turned Forty by Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke, as well as, Listen to Me by Kristen Proby.

Back in May, I also had a chance to revive my book club with my close friends, and we've been having a great time getting together and talking about books. Our June read was After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid, which I read a couple of years ago and really enjoyed diving into again. For July, we decided to tackle a foodie fiction book and bring a treat to the meeting to share among friends. So, for next month, we'll be reading and discussing Little Beach Street by Jenny Colgan.

Summer fun and vacation plans:

Rachel:

Vancouver & Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

I visited several years ago (ten?) in the Fall, and loved it. I'm going again next month. 

Laguna Beach, California:

This is only a couple of hours from my house, but a nice getaway. I plan on reading and relaxing by the pool. Heaven!

Arlene:

Lake Tahoe, CA

We'll actually be driving to this resort, which will be an eight hour road trip. We plan to make the most of it by stopping a local diners and attractions. However, when we get to Lake Tahoe, I plan to relax and dive into the books I've purchased especially for this trip. The picture below shows you a day and evening view of the resort.  What you can't see is the the Cable Car Ice Cream Shop across the street. Having stayed here a few years ago, I know I'm in for a week long treat!

San Francisco, CA

We will also be taking a trip to San Francisco this Summer, and I already have my top five excursions for the visit. We plan to drive across The Golden Gate Bridge, either walk or drive down the curvy road of Lombard Street, visit the Victorian houses throughout the city, enjoy a chocolate dessert at Ghirardelli Square and spend some time on Fisherman's Wharf.  Having been here quite a few times, I know to bring a sweater for the trip. Yes, even in the Summer it can be quite chilly!

A Paperback Copy of Until I Break by M. Leighton:

 The giveaway is open to US & CA residents only.

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