Review & Giveaway: Only For You by Barb Curtis

 

Only For You (Sapphire Springs #2) by Barb Curtis

Publication Date: July 27th 2021 by Forever

Pages: 319

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Emily Holland has been in love with Tim Fraser since high school, but he never got the hint. It seems she’ll never move out of the friend zone with him. Emily’s unrequited yearning breaks her heart and makes it impossible to move on keeping things status quo.  Emily’s made it her New Year’s resolution to limit ties with Tim so she can finally move forward and find love.  However, Tim’s messy, very public breakup has him proposing a crazy idea.

Tim isn’t one for a HEA after seeing how his parent’s relationship play out. He took a chance with Melissa, but that ended in disaster when she decided to go on a reality TV show and then break it off with him on camera to pursue a relationship with another guy. What a creep, right?! Well, the publicity created hype and shenanigans for Tim, and he’s hit with an onslaught of media and crazy women who 

want to step in and “cure” his heartache. He wants the whole thing to go away and decides that a fake relationship would help keep the propositions at bay, and his bestie Emily seems perfect for the role.

Unrequited love is a special kind of heartache! I’ve felt it personally so when I read about it, I want the characters to wake up, realize what they’ve been missing and grab on! Emily initially refuses the ruse, as she doesn’t want to risk her heart anymore, but a situation makes her reconsider. Plus, as her friend points out maybe Tim will finally wake up and see how perfect they’d be together.

My heart ached for Emily, and I was so happy when Tim finally started t see her as a desirable woman! The shake up couldn’t have happened at a better time when both Emily and Tim, as Sapphire Springs council members, are thrown into festival planning for the town’s maple syrup harvest. It’s summer and hot where I live, but all the activities made me wish I was in blustery small town enjoying the wintery festivities!

Tim and Emily spent time planning for the festival, magical dates that had them falling harder with every moment spent together! They were perfect for each other, but Tim needed to get out his own way before they could find their HEA. There was a time or two I wanted to shake Tim! Thankfully, he wasn’t stupid for too long!

Only For You was a lovely romance featuring unrequited love in a way I could easily relate to, bringing back all those feelings of longing in the past. Of course, Tim and Emily found their way to each other, this is a romance after all, and I was thrilled to take the journey with them!

4 Stars

Book Description:

Barb Curtis returns to Sapphire Springs with this heartwarming romance where a small-town bakery owner finds herself in a fake relationship with the man she's always pined after.

Will a fake relationship between two friends lead to true love?

After having his heart broken on national television, Tim Fraser knows only one way to stop the gossip about his love life-a new girlfriend. The problem is, he's done with romance forever. A fake relationship with his friend and Sapphire Spring's sweetest baker, Emily Holland, seems the perfect solution to getting rid of his newfound fame, but their fleeting fauxmance is stirring up the kinds of feelings Tim has sworn off for good.

Emily has secretly lusted after Tim for years, but pretending her feelings are all for show never factored into her fantasy. Still, her decades-long crush makes it impossible to say no to Tim's proposal. But with each date, the lines between pretend and reality blur, giving Tim and Emily a tantalizing taste of life outside the friend zone . . . if they can find the courage to give real love a chance.

The lovely people of Forever have provided a copy of Only for You to one lucky reader.  The giveaway is open to US residents only. Good luck!

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Audio Review: What If You & Me by Roni Loren

 

What If You & Me (Say Everything #2) by Roni Loren

Publication Date: July 13th 2021 by Dreamscape Media

Pages: 320

Audio Book Length: 9 hrs 17 min

Narrator: Desireé Ketchum

Source: Libro.fm

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Audible | Goodreads | Libro.fm 

My Thoughts:

Andi Lockley has channeled her traumatic past into something useful with her true crime podcast when she’s not writing horror stories. She’s not looking for romance, but her gorgeous and grumpy neighbor presents an interesting opportunity.

Hill, a now retired fire fighter, is plagued by PTSD and depression after losing part of his leg on the job. He’s not sure what his next move is professionally, but he certainly had no plans for a romance since his fiancée dumped him after the accident. That is until a certain spunky redhead moved next door.

Hill is dealing with negative self-esteem after his injury and can’t imagine what a woman would see in him, but all Andi sees is gorgeous, brave man. She knows what it’s like to have fear hold you back so they agree to help each other out by spending time together as friends. Andi will guide him through the best movie genre (according to Andi): horror, and Hill will teach her how to cook some basics without burning the house down.  Of course, spending time together only magnifies their mutual attraction and I was all in!

I just loved how Andi used her past trauma for good by detailing true crime and talking about what women could learn and tips on how to defend yourself. Andi’s positivity and zest for life rubbed off on Hill helping out from the dark cloud he was under. Hill was a sweetheart, too, one-hundred percent supportive of Andi, and who doesn’t love a man who can cook? He was definitely a keeper even if he didn’t feel worthy at times.  These two had wicked chemistry, so very hot when they finally gave in to their desires!

I hope this isn’t the end to the series as I’d love a romance between Eliza and Ramsey!

I listened to the audio version, and Desireé Ketchum helped bring the characters to life!  She did a wonderful job with both the male and female parts, enhancing an already excellent story! I listened at my normal 1.5x.

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

The world can be a scary place. At least, that's what Andi Lockley's anxiety wants her to believe. It doesn't help that she narrowly escaped a dangerous man years ago, or that every relationship since has been colored with that lingering fear. But things are better now―she's channeling everything into her career as a horror novelist and true crime podcaster, and her next book may be the breakthrough she needs.

If only her grumpy new neighbor would stop stomping around at all hours of the night.

Former firefighter Hill Dawson can't sleep. After losing part of his leg in a rescue gone wrong, he's now stuck in limbo. He needs to figure out what he's supposed to do with his life, and he can't let himself get distracted by the pretty redhead next door. But when someone breaks into Andi's place, Hill can't stop himself from rushing in to play the hero. Soon, a tentative bond forms between the unlikely pair. But what starts out as a neighborly exchange quickly turns into the chance for so much more...if Andi can learn to put aside her fear and trust in herself―and love―again.

Review: Isn't It Bromantic? by Lyssa Kay Adams

 

Isn't It Bromantic? (Bromance Book Club #4) by Lyssa Kay Adams

Publication Date: July 20th 2021 by Berkley Books

Pages: 352

Source: Publisher & Audio Purchase

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads | Audible

My Thoughts:

To be honest, when I picked up the first book in this series I wouldn’t have considered Ivan (aka “The Russian”) to be a love interest as he was more the butt of bathroom jokes due to his intestinal issues. It was funny, but as Ivan said, it’s not funny when the joke is about you. Poor guy! I was happy Ivan went to the doctor, discovered he had a gluten allergy and got a diet tailored to help.

In the last book I saw a different side to Ivan, his emotional pain seeing his estranged wife and I knew Ms. Adams would have a story and I was all in!

Ivan’s been married for six years to the only woman he’s ever loved, but he assumes Elena only married him so she could escape Russia and move on from the grief of losing her father. He hopes for more, but on coming to America, Elena immediately decides to attend collage in Chicago and moves away. He’s crushed, but Ivan’s not about to force her to stay in Nashville with him. Seeing all his Bromance Book Club besties find happiness and fall in love inspires him to reach out to Elena telling her he’d like to try a real marriage now that she’s done with school. Unfortunately, Elena informs him that she’s going to move back to Russia and wants a divorce. Ouch!

My heart went out to Ivan. He was such a kind, emotional soul and being a professional hockey player hottie, he had his pick of women but he always held out hope that something would work out with Elena. When she announces she’s going back to Russia it crushes him. However, when Ivan gets injured and needs care, Elena puts her plans on hold and moves back to help him heal.

This is one of those romances where a simple conversation to clear up miscommunications, misconceptions would’ve saved both Ivan and Elena a lot of heartache. This is even joked about when the Bromance Bros, connoisseurs of the romance genre, meet up to discuss romantic strategy. It was a little frustrating to be honest, and I think Elena annoyed me more here than Ivan, but when things came out, I could see her point of view.

With that said, I still had a lot of fun with the story. The Bromance guys were hilarious, and I was charmed by “The Loners”, a group of women either widowed or on their own for other reasons that made themselves Ivan’s girl posse. I really appreciated that both the Bromance guys and The Loners decided to try and be supportive, and welcomed Elena in (all except Claude, at first) when they could’ve been mean and defensive over Ivan.

These stories wouldn’t be complete without a cute animal or two, and I was delighted to “see” Hazel, a sweet chicken who made friends with Ivan in Undercover Bromance, again! Neighbor Cat and Neighbor Dog were cute additions, too, flocking to Ivan the softie. 

4 Stars

Book Description:

With his passion for romance novels, it was only a matter of time before Vlad wrote one.

Elena Konnikova has lived her entire adult life in the shadows. As the daughter of a Russian journalist who mysteriously disappeared, she escaped danger the only way she knew how: She married her childhood friend, Vladimir, and moved to the United States, where he is a professional hockey player in Nashville.

Vlad, aka the Russian, thought he could be content with his marriage of convenience. But it’s become too difficult to continue in a one-sided relationship. He joined the Bromance Book Club to learn how to make his wife love him, but all he’s learned is that he deserves more. He’s ready to create his own sweeping romance—both on and off the page.

The bros are unwilling to let Vlad forgo true love—and this time they’re not operating solo. They join forces with Vlad’s neighbors, a group of meddling widows who call themselves the Loners. But just when things finally look promising, Elena’s past life intrudes and their happily ever after is cast into doubt.

Sunday Post #129

 

The Sunday Post is hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated reviewer book blog, and is a post to recap my bookish and non-bookish things from the last week.

It's been another week of 100 degree temperatures and I'm so done with Summer. Thankfully, we'll drop into the 90s this next week. Still, I guess this might be the new normal thanks to climate change, which is disturbing. 

This weekend I've been cleaning out our kitchen cabinets since they got coated with layers of sanding dust from painting the shell last weekend. I'm weeding out things we don't use that often and ordered new shelf paper, too. Anyone else hate doing shelf paper as much as I do? We got all the new appliances in as well. The last things to do are the backsplash tile and the ceiling lights. It's all coming together! Maybe in a month I'll have our before and after photos to share. 

Read:

Click on cover for Goodreads link

All three books were a win, but False Witness and Last Guard were standouts for me! 

Received/Purchased/Library Lend:

Click on cover for Goodreads link

Didn't know there was a new J.R. Ward series, but it sounds really good! 

Instagram:

Four of the eleven books I'm giving away HERE.

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Watched:

Really liked this one! More than I thought I would. 

How was your week?

Giveaway of 11 Romance Books!

 Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend so far! Just wanted to post a giveaway I meant to do last weekend, but time got away from me! 

Much Ado About You by Samantha Young-Paperback

The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton-Paperback

A Mother's Goodbye by Kate Hewitt-Paperback

Love Scenes by Bridget Morrisey-Paperback

Reaper's Fire by Joanna Wylde-Paperback ARC Copy

Bound for Glory by Tess Lesue-Paperback

Bound for Temptation by Tess Lesue-Paperback

Wallbanger by Alice Clayton-Paperback (signed by author)

Dirty Letters by Vi Keeland andd Penelope Ward-Paperback

Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson-Paperback ARC Copy

The Sweet Spot by Stephanie Evanovich-Paperback ARC Copy

The giveaway is open to US Residents only. Fill out the rafflecopter for a chance to win:

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My Favorite Non-Review Books for June 2021

 I'm back with My Favorite Non-Review Books!

I'm late posting my June favorites since July is almost gone. Can you believe it?   

 

As a blogger sometimes writing reviews can feel like a chore so it seems I rarely write reviews for non-review books anymore. I feel bad about that, because it's not that I didn't enjoy them less than the books I review here, just that I don't have the time or energy to write a review for each and every book I read. I thought it would be nice to list my favorite non-review books each month to bring more attention to them.

 June 2021 Favorites:

I think I got this as a Kindle freebie and then borrowed the audio from the library. Kaine is a grump because he's hurting and Piper is a sweetie. Their no-strings arrangement turns into way more, and I loved it! I bought Riven Night in the Tin Gypsy series after reading because it features Kaine's brother and I want his story after reading this one!

Forever had a Zoom/Facebook virtual conversation about to talk about great Summer reads, and they recommended this one. Love romances where single parents fall in love! The kids, Jenna's 8 year old twins and Nate's 2 year old daughter were so cute.

I read this ten years ago and it's one of my all-time favorite novellas. Seeing the ten year anniversary come up for it made me wonder if I'd still like it as much as I did the first time, and I did! Forced proximity (Cadan and Makenna get stuck in an elevator together) and instant attraction make for a sizzling romance! 

Anna is overcome with grief after losing her fiancé so she decides to take the trip they meant to alone. Sailing by yourself is not for the faint of heart, and she ends up needing help and hires Keane, a professional sailor, and sexy Irishman!  He has his own baggage to deal with. Another forced proximity sort of romance, but with beautiful stops along the way. I loved this slow burn romance!

I've loved every one of Claudia Connor's Walker/McKinney romances! This is a big family marked by tragedy, each finding their own HEA. This time it's Luke Walker. He's a bit adrift after exiting the Army and is biding is time working at his sister's Equestrian Therapy Ranch. He meets Ana at his brother's wedding, immediately intrigued by her, and not realizing she's blind. The way he handles it after was so lovely.  It was a meet cute and they spent a magical night getting to know each other. Loved this romance so much! 

Quirky and fun! I laughed so many times while listening! Another Grump meets Sunshine romance, which is like catnip for me!

Well, this was my June list. How about you? Did you have any memorable non-review books in June?

Audio Review: False Witness by Karin Slaughter

 

False Witness by Karin Slaughter

Publication Date: July 20th 2021 by Blackstone Publishing

Pages: 448

Audio Book Length: 18 hrs 39 min

Narrator: Kathleen Early

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Audible | Goodreads | Libro.fm 

My Thoughts:

Leigh and her sister Callie seem like a lesson in opposites, Leigh is a successful defense attorney with a beautiful daughter and a sort of ex-husband, Walter, she still gets along with (I was rooting for them!). Callie is a junkie, and has been for years, doing anything to chase that next high, but they’ve been forever bonded by more than just blood.  While Leigh seems to have it all together, and Callie’s life has leveled out a bit, all could unravel when Leigh’s is forced into defending Andrew Tenant, the accused, in a brutal rape case. These sisters, while estranged would do anything for each other, but that’s put to the test when Leigh discovers just who Andrew is and what he knows about their past.  

I love Karin Slaughter’s stories; I’m enthralled and in awe of her talent every time I pick up one of her stories! False Witness was a pulse-pounding, suspenseful plot, and I didn’t want to stop listening! Even when I’d have to (since I need sleep to work!) I spent a good amount of time lying awake and thinking about Leigh, and Callie and how it would all turn out! Their story broke my heart in parts, but even with the intensity and grittiness of the story the love between these sisters and their people (Walter, Maddy, and Dr. Jerry) warmed my heart. There was even a bit of humor to offset some of the tension.  I wanted these two to kick some ass and conquer!  

Kathleen Early’s performance was fantastic! She narrates Karin Slaughter’s Will Trent series, and several of her standalone novels so I’m familiar and a big fan. Will Trent is one of my all-time favorite mystery/thriller series’ and it wouldn’t be the same without her narration!

5 Stars

Book Description:

AN ORDINARY LIFE

Leigh Coulton has worked hard to build what looks like a normal life. She has a good job as a defence attorney, a daughter doing well in school, and even her divorce is relatively civilised - her life is just as unremarkable as she'd always hoped it would be.

HIDES A DEVASTATING PAST

But Leigh's ordinary life masks a childhood which was far from average... a childhood tarnished by secrets, broken by betrayal, and finally torn apart by a devastating act of violence.

BUT NOW THE PAST IS CATCHING UP

Then a case lands on her desk - defending a wealthy man accused of rape. It's the highest profile case she's ever been given - a case which could transform her career, if she wins. But when she meets the accused, she realises that it's no coincidence that he's chosen her as his attorney. She knows him. And he knows her. More to the point, he knows what happened twenty years ago, and why Leigh has spent two decades running.

AND TIME IS RUNNING OUT

If she can't get him acquitted, she'll lose much more than the case. The only person who can help her is her younger, estranged sister Calli, the last person Leigh would ever want to ask for help. But suddenly she has no choice...

Review: The Heartbreaker of Echo Pass by Maisey Yates

 

The Heartbreaker of Echo Pass (Gold Valley #12) by Maisey Yates

Publication Date: June 29th 2021 by HQN

Pages: 384

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Iris Daniels has long felt like she was second best. Not as vibrant as her sisters and mostly valued because of her usefulness to the family. Iris was the oldest sister when they lost their parents, and at fourteen she stepped in as sort of the mother while her older brother, Ryder assumed the role of guardian at the young age of eighteen. But who was there to comfort and mother Iris? Seeing all her siblings find love and happiness Iris is determined to take her life out of pause and do something just for herself. She knows she’s good at cooking and baking and has the perfect place in town to set up shop. Trouble is the rent the new owner is charging is prohibitive.

Iris finds out that the new owner is a hermit living up at a remote mountain cabin and decides to strike up a deal with him. She figures this guy is an old curmudgeon, but is shocked to find a much younger, grumpy man. His big, burly, bearded, but underneath that gruff appearance he’s the most handsome man she’s laid eyes on, and she wants!

Griffin bought his mountain property to get away from all the prying and pity and to wallow in his grief. Iris throws a wrench in works when she shows up with her cookies and determination. Theirs was a passionate romance, electricity sparking between them from that very first meeting!

I’ve long been a fan of Maisey Yates’ romances. The Heartbreaker of Echo Pass was heartfelt and emotional. Iris understands grief and so recognizes it clearly in Griffin, and my heart broke for everything they had endured.  They shared a bond and struck up a friendship even though he’s pretty grumpy at first. Hard not soften up when being plied with delicious food and treats!  I was hungry just reading!

I fell hard for Griffin, because once Iris showed up it was like he woke up from the five years he’d just been existing, and he was all in.  I could tell Iris was going to give some trouble, but luckily, she had a lot of good advice from her close-knit, loving family.

The Heartbreaker of Echo Pass is the twelfth book in the series, but it can be read as a standalone in a pinch. However, you’ll miss some of Iris’ history and the sibling’s romances.

4 Stars

Book Description:

Can Gold Valley’s wallflower heal a damaged cowboy’s broken heart? Find out in this enthralling romance by New York Times bestselling author Maisey Yates.

Shy Iris Daniels is on a mission to shake up her life. She’s sick of being underestimated, and she’s got a new business plan to prove it. The one thing she didn’t factor in is her new landlord, Griffin Chance. The gruff mountain man isn’t what she expected, but Iris recognizes the pain in his eyes. Yet the attraction he ignites is much more unfamiliar…and might be the perfect chance for Iris to embrace the adventure she yearns for.

Griffin Chance knows firsthand how senseless the cards dealt in life can be. He wouldn’t have isolated himself on a remote mountain ridge if he didn’t. Innocent Iris craves excitement, and he’s a man who thought he’d forgotten how to feel. But when their connection grows deeper than either of them anticipated, Griffin has to decide if he can put down the pain of his past and step into a love he never believed possible.

Review: Last Guard by Nalini Singh

 

Last Guard (Psy-Changeling Trinity #5) by Nalini Singh

Publication Date: July 20th 2021 by Berkley Books

Pages: 384

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

The PsyNet is sick, and the Ruling Coalition are aware, but they’ve never really considered a crucial part of its foundation: The Anchors. These Anchors are a big part of what’s been keeping it stable, but they’re all stretched to capacity. Canto Mercant, an Anchor, realizes their error and seeks out another powerful Anchor, Payal Rao, to form a coalition with other Anchors to find a solution. Canto doesn’t realize Payal is the girl from his broken past. A girl he’s spent years searching for. They cared for each other in a dire situation, and the bond created from the experience is deep. Now meeting again as adults there is an undeniable magnetic pull between them, an instant attraction.

Loved all the bits with the bears! Canto was basically claimed as a member of those misbehaving, lovable bears. And the Mercants, so fiercely loyal!  Ena Mercant, the powerful matriarch, supposedly Silent, had a big savage heart ready to fight tooth and nail for anyone in their circle!

Last Guard grabbed and held my attention from the first page! I enjoyed the romance between Canto and Payal, but all the side conflicts: the Anchor issues with the PsyNet, the struggle to keep it from collapsing and Payal’s ruthless family and her constant need to be on guard kept me on the edge of my seat! I had to read on to see what would happen! Absolutely loved this installment, and while Canto and Payal’s story came to a satisfying conclusion, the survival of the PsyNet still remains in question, so I can’t wait for the next story!

5 Stars

Book Description:

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh returns to a world devastated by change in her award-winning Psy-Changeling Trinity series, where two people defined by their aloneness hold the fate of the Psy in their hands…

Termed merciless by some, and a robotic sociopath by others, Payal Rao is the perfect Psy: cardinal telekinetic, CEO of a major conglomerate, beautiful—and emotionless.

For Canto Mercant, family and loyalty are everything. A cardinal telepath deemed "imperfect" by his race due to a spinal injury, Canto cares for the opinions of very few—and ruthlessly protects those he claims as his own. Head of intel of the influential Mercant family, he prefers to remain a shadow in the Net, unknown and unseen. But Canto is also an Anchor, part of a secretive designation whose task it is to stabilize the PsyNet. Now that critical psychic network is dying, threatening to collapse and kill the entire Psy race with it.

To save those he loves, Canto needs the help of a woman bound to him by a dark past neither has been able to forget. A woman who is the most powerful Anchor of them all: Payal Rao. Neither is ready for the violent inferno about to ignite in the PsyNet…or the passionate madness that threatens to destroy them both.

Sunday Post #128

 

The Sunday Post is hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated reviewer book blog, and is a post to recap my bookish and non-bookish things from the last week.

I flew up to my daughter's in Northern California on Thursday. My husband stayed home to work on our kitchen. It's a big mess, but I'm looking forward to the final result.  We've been having fun with the kids, going to a couple of parks and watching movies. I'll be flying home tomorrow. 

Read:

Click on cover for Goodreads link

Received/Purchased/Library Lend:

Instagram:

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Watched:

Both really good end-of-the-world scenarios. I guess they're coming out with a third Quiet Place and I can't wait!

How was your week?

Review: The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix

 

The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix

Publication Date: July 13th 2021 by Berkley Books

Pages: 352

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Are you a fan of those ‘80s horror/slasher films? I was a big fan even though they’d give me nightmares and make me put off going to bed! Michael Myers, Freddy, Chainsaw Massacre, Scream, I know, Scream is not the 80s, but you get the idea. Final Girl Support Group is about that one girl who, against all the odds, bloody and traumatized, survives and I was all in!

Lynnette survived a massacre twenty-two years ago, but not without scars, both emotional and physical. She lives a paranoid life and doesn’t really connect with others except for her weekly gathering of Final Girls. They meet, snipe, gripe and got downright nasty at times, but as they are connected like no other women can be, they’ve formed a bond. But that bond is about to be tested when one of them goes missing and it becomes evident, to Lynnette at least, that they’re all being hunted.

The Final Girl Support Group was kind of a batshit crazy mash-up of 80’s slasher/horror movies. It was campy and crazy! For Lynnette it's a race to find out who was behind all the new attacks!

Most real-life people don’t have super slick plans if someone came after them, I’d just be trying to survive if it were me. Lynnette does have plans, but real-life mostly doesn’t follow the rules and so she’s sort of flying by the seat of her pants. She did have some great plans, so I was a little disappointed on how some of it played out when push came to shove. Also, I felt the story lagged a bit in spots, went off the rails, but overall, I had fun with this campy horror story! I was in a bit of a book slump when I decided to throw out my reading schedule and pick up TFGSG and the change definitely perked my reading mood up!

3.5 Stars

Book Description:

A fast-paced, thrilling horror novel that follows a group of heroines to die for, from the brilliant New York Times bestselling author of The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires.

In horror movies, the final girl is the one who's left standing when the credits roll. The one who fought back, defeated the killer, and avenged her friends. The one who emerges bloodied but victorious. But after the sirens fade and the audience moves on, what happens to her?

Lynnette Tarkington is a real-life final girl who survived a massacre twenty-two years ago, and it has defined every day of her life since. And she's not alone. For more than a decade she's been meeting with five other actual final girls and their therapist in a support group for those who survived the unthinkable, putting their lives back together, piece by piece. That is until one of the women misses a meeting and Lynnette's worst fears are realized--someone knows about the group and is determined to take their lives apart again, piece by piece.

But the thing about these final girls is that they have each other now, and no matter how bad the odds, how dark the night, how sharp the knife, they will never, ever give up.

Review: A Brambleberry Summer by RaeAnne Thayne

 

A Brambleberry Summer (The Women of Brambleberry House #5) by RaeAnne Thayne

Publication Date: June 29th 2021 by Harlequin Special Edition

Pages: 228

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Rosa Galvez is attracted to Wyatt Townsend, but with him being a police officer she feels her past will make it hard for things to work out. However, when Wyatt and his young son need an apartment while their fire damaged house is being repaired Rosa knows it will be next to impossible for Wyatt to get a place. Cannon Beach is in the middle of their busy tourist season, and Rosa feels she obligated to offer up one of the empty apartments she manages at Brambleberry House.

When Rosa’s past was revealed, I wasn’t sure why she thought it’d be a problem between her and Wyatt, as her actions were completely understandable. It wasn’t like she was a lawbreaker or anything either. It didn’t end up being a huge obstacle in the story. I appreciated the romance was low angst. Wyatt and Rosa were around each other a lot because of the forced proximity and ended up spending more time together making it hard to ignore the attraction they felt from the start. I enjoyed Rosa’s relationship with Logan, Wyatt’s cute seven-year-old son, as well.

Cannon Beach is one of my favorite places to visit in Oregon, with its gorgeous Pacific Coast beaches and forests that spill out onto the sand. The small town is cute with picturesque shops and restaurants, surrounded by greenery and planter boxes filled with flowers, and the author described it beautifully making it feel like another visit!

A Brambleberry Summer was a feel-good, easy going romance with a beautiful setting brought to life so vividly I could almost feel the ocean breeze!

4 Stars

Book Description:

A new season leads to a new beginning in New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne's latest heartwarming romance!

Will the secrets of her past…

Prevent her from having the future she’s always wanted?

Rosa Galvez’s attraction to Officer Wyatt Townsend is as powerful as the moon’s pull on the tides. But with her past, Rosa knows better than to act on her feelings. When Wyatt and his adorable son become Brambleberry House’s newest tenants, Rosa finds her resolve slipping. Her solo life slowly becomes a sun-filled family adventure—until dark secrets threaten to break like a summer storm.