Giveaway: 10 Young Adult Books!

 Another giveaway! This time ten Young Adult Books.

I'm getting ready to move in a couple of months so I'm trying to whittle down my mountain of books so I'll be running several giveaways. Here's the newest:

Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann-Hardcover

Prodigy by Marie Lu-Hardcover signed by author to me

Legend by Marie Lu-Paperback ARC signed by author

Love and Leftovers by Sarah Tregay-Hardcover

Six Impossible Things by Fiona Wood-Paperback

Getting Over Garrett Delany by Abby McDonald-Hardcover signed by author

Deception by C.J. Redwine-Paperback ARC

Exile by Rebecca Lim-Paperback ARC

Mercy by Rebecca Lim-Hardcover

Blood Song by Rhiannon Hart-Paperback

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

Sunday Post #155

 

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 a busy two weeks! I didn't post last as I was in Cabo San Lucas on a last minute trip with my daughter, SIL and the grandkids. I am not a last minute travel person, but my SIL and daughter are and they talked my husband and I into it on Tuesday afternoon through text messages while I was at work. They booked us on a flight for Thursday in the morning and off we went. It turned out to be such a lovely trip! The resort was amazing and the weather very nice. 

Back at home we've been in a flurry of activity trying to ready our house to put on the market early than we planned on. I hope to get it listed by the third weekend of March. We'll see. Lots of work. We've been at this house for twenty-two years, so yeah, lots of stuff. All this in addition to working and PT for my shoulder. I have 5 more visits and then I think I'll finally get an MRI. 

Read:

Click on cover for Goodreads link:

Received/Purchased/Library Lend:

Instagram:

Newest giveaway. See the sidebar at the right for the link or click HERE. 

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How was your week?

Giveaway: 9 Romantic Suspense/Mystery Books!

 

As I've said, I'm getting ready to move in a couple of months so I'm trying to whittle down my mountain of books so I'll be running several giveaways. Here's the newest:

The Last Sister by Kendra Elliot-Hardcover

The Runaway Heiress by Meg Tilly-Paperback

This Poison Will Remain by Fred Vargas-Paperback ARC

Promise Not to Tell by Jayne Ann Krentz-Hardcover

Close Up by Amanda Quick-Paperback ARC

Guild Boss by Jayne Castle-Hardcover

Outsider by Diana Palmer-Hardcover

Persuasion by Iris Johansen-Hardcover

Smoke Screen by Iris Johansen-Hardcover

The giveaway is open to US Residents only. Fill in the rafflecopter for a chance to win. Good luck!

Review: Strength in the Storm by Laurel Blount

 

Strength in the Storm (Johns Mill Amish Romance #2) by Laurel Blount

Publication Date: February 22nd 2022

Pages: 336

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Emma’s family suffered a tragic loss when her parents were gunned down by an “Englischer” (a non-Amish person) obsessed with Emma. The event has left her sister, Miriam, who was present, shaken and with PTSD. Unfortunately, it seems Emma is hindering Miriam’s recovery being a little too helpful. 

When the aunt of Emma’s childhood sweetheart, Sam, needs caring for it seems like the perfect opportunity to get out of the house and give Miriam some space to progress in her healing. Aunt Ruth is not an easy patient and I admired Emma’s patience dealing with her. She was empathetic despite Ruth’s sharp tongue, but not to the point of being a doormat.

 Emma and Sam were once best friends and a little more, or as much as you can be as young teenagers, but Emma broke Sam’s heart. Of course, caring for Aunt Ruth means Emma and Sam spend more time together. Being around Sam brings back some of the old feelings she had for him and now being more mature she’s able to appreciate his good qualities. His good looks certainly don’t hurt either! However, when another tragedy strikes, will the second chance they have at romance evaporate? These two had a bumpy road to cross. Their romance was full of longing and a bit of angst, and I loved every bit of it!

There’s a lot at play here with the “Englischer” who murdered Emma’s parents on the run and still posing a threat and then an accident that put their future together in peril. I loved how determined and steadfast Emma was. She dealt with so much, but she tried to stay positive. Sam went through a lot as well and like any normal person, didn’t deal with it well at times, but that was more because he didn’t want to be a burden.

I haven’t read many Amish romances, but I’ve enjoyed the ones I’ve read so far.  I like the inspirational outlook presented in Strength in the Storm. With so much negativity out there it’s nice to read about characters, like Emma and Sam, who try to look for good wherever they can find it and persevere through adversity. I was rooting for their well deserved HEA. 

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

In this touching Amish romance, a brokenhearted woman and a steadfast man discover that the safest place to weather tragedy is in each other's arms.

After the murder of both her parents, Emma Hochstedler returns to the small community of Johns Mill, hoping to resume her quiet existence. Reclaiming her place proves harder than expected--especially now that a movie is being made about her family's loss. But then, an old friend offers her a lifeline that gives her new purpose.

Amish builder Samuel Christner is the biggest--and the strongest--man in town. In fact, the gentle giant has only one weakness--Emma. Even though she broke his heart, he won't let his childhood sweetheart face her troubles alone. He hires Emma as a nurse for his elderly aunt...and finds himself falling for her all over again.

But while romance blooms, storm clouds gather. And when darkness falls, it will take all Sam's strength--and all their love--to see them through.

About the author:

Award-winning author Laurel Blount writes captivating romances full of grit and grace—with characters who’ll walk right off the page and into your heart. She lives on a farm in Georgia with her husband, their four fabulous kids, and an assortment of ridiculously spoiled animals. Learn more online at laurelblountbooks.com.

Review: The Deepest of Secrets by Kelley Armstrong

 

The Deepest of Secrets (Rockton #7) by Kelley Armstrong

Publication Date: February 15th 2022 by Minotaur Books

Pages: 352

Source: Publisher & Purchased Audiobook

Rating: ★★★★★

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

My Thoughts:

For those new to this series, Rockton is an off the grid refuge town for those trying to escape something in life like a stalker, abusive mate, or punishment from a crime. The residents are supposedly non- violent offenders, however Eric and Casey, Rockton’s Sheriff and Detective, have found out the hard way many of the residents are not as their paperwork has presented them. Over the past installments Casey and Eric have had to defend the town and themselves from some very dangerous people. Both Casey and Eric love their life, limited and imperfect as it is, they’ve found a place to belong, safe and fulfilled with each other. However, things have come to a head with the council that controls the town and change is in the air.

In this newest installment, one of Casey and Eric’s close friends has the reason for his exile exposed to the whole town and there are threats of more being revealed. A few members are stirring up trouble, questioning Casey and Eric’s leadership and authority so there’s a lot of turmoil and distrust swirling about. One of the troublemakers is nearly murdered and another goes missing.  Add to that is the suspicion that the council is planning on shutting Rockton down and there’s a lot going on here in The Deepest of Secrets.

I’ve loved the Rockton/Casey Duncan series from the start and The Deepest of Secrets was another riveting installment, hard to put down! I love how Casey pieces together the clues even without the aid of technology, hunting down leads until she’s left with the truth. Eric and Casey make a wonderful team, both professionally and romantically; their relationship is one of my favorite things about the series.  With how things ended it’s going to be interesting to see how the series continues on and I’m excited by all the changes! What will happen next? It seems like the possibilities are wide open.

If you haven't read the Rockton series, you are missing out! It's one of my favorites! There's a new mystery introduced and wrapped up with each book, but there are relationships and an ongoing background story arc that make it best to start at the beginning.

I alternated between an e-copy and the audio version, which is how I’ve read most of the books in the past. Therese Plummer is one of my all-time favorite narrators, so the audio versions are always an auto-buy.

5 Stars

Book Description:

#1 New York Times bestseller Kelley Armstrong returns to the captivating town of Rockton in The Deepest of Secrets, the next installment in one of the most imaginative crime series on shelves today.

It’s not always easy to live in the hidden town of Rockton, something Detective Casey Duncan knows firsthand. Tucked away in the Yukon wilderness, the community survives—and thrives—because the residents' many secrets stay just that—secret.

But what happens when these secrets start to come out? Overnight, no one is safe. It’s not a question of if your secret will come out—but when.

Casey and her boyfriend, Sheriff Eric Dalton, need to find the culprit while protecting those who have been thrust into the spotlight. For a place built on privacy and new beginnings, Rockton isn’t handling these revelations very well. People are turning on one another, and when one of the loudest complainers turns up barely alive, it's clear that their trickster is actually a murderer.

The threat of exposure is reaching its breaking point, and no one knows what’s going to happen next.

Review: Texas Homecoming by Carolyn Brown

 

Texas Homecoming (The Ryan Family #2) by Carolyn Brown

Publication Date: January 25th 2022 by Forever

Pages: 313

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Stephanie, “Stevie” the local vet, is back in her hometown after her mother fell ill and passed.  She’s not thrilled to discover that her first love Cody Ryan is back in town as well, since he crushed her heart years ago.

Cody Ryan came home after a long stint away, working for Doctors Without Borders. He’s back since his father’s health is in decline wanting to spend all the time he can with him and help around the family ranch.  Stevie’s been prickly every time they run into each other, but they’re going to have to get along when a massive winter storm strands them together in an old barn with only a baby alpaca and kittens to keep them company.

Forced proximity and second chance are such fun romantic tropes! Add in cute animals and Texas Homecoming was an all-around win for me. I love Carolyn Brown’s cowboy romances! Small town charm, quirky characters, and low drama make her stories familiar and welcome.

4 Stars

Book Description:

The bestselling Queen of Cowboy Romance delivers a heartwarming novel where a doctor and veterinarian get a second chance at true love when a storm traps them together.

Cody Ryan had been the smartest kid that ever came out of Honey Grove, Texas, and one of the few who went on to become a doctor. He's so grateful to his fantastic foster parents for giving him so many opportunities, so to help give back he joined Doctors Without Borders. But after 10 years of traveling the world Cody is ready to go back home. Stephanie O'Dell, better known as Dr. Stevie, the local vet, has been treating the cattle on Sunflower Ranch for years. So she's not thrilled when Cody starts offering medical advice the minute she steps on the ranch. But when the two get caught in a storm with a baby alpaca to take care of, the fireplace isn't the only thing throwing sparks. When they finally find their way back home, they've found out that they've fallen in love, but will either of them admit it?

Audio Review: Dark Horse by Gregg Hurwitz

 

Dark Horse (Orphan X #7) by Gregg Hurwitz

Publication Date: February 8th 2022 by Macmillan Audio

Pages: 432

Audio Book Length: 14 hrs 30 min

Narrator: Scott Brick

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★★

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

My Thoughts:

I have been blazing through the Orphan X series loving every minute! Evan Smoak was taken from his foster home and trained as an elite assassin for a covert government operation and then left the program when his conscience demanded it. Now Evan operates as The Nowhere Man helping the helpless when they have nowhere else to turn. In Dark Horse the case is a little different since Aragon Urrea isn’t a completely good man either. However, his eighteen-year-old daughter is kidnapped by a ruthless and violent drug cartel and he’s desperate to get her back.

Dark Horse, like the previous installments was exciting and action-packed! Evan gets himself through seemingly impossible situations, always coming out on top, but I wondered how he’d pull off this mission since the drug cartel was a scary bunch of crazies!

Through all the books we’ve seen Evan help the helpless, champion the underdog, all while he navigates life out of the Orphan program. Despite trying to remain separate he’s established connections and I’ve loved seeing them evolve and grow through the series. Tommy his weapons/gun supplier, Joey the young cast-off from the Orphan program, and of course Mia and Peter from 12B. Evan’s relationship with Mia is at times confusing to Evan, her life is so full and messy with her nine-year-old son, Peter, but Evan can’t help but be drawn in by her. I have to laugh at Evan’s “exchanges” with Vera II and III, his aloe vera plants! Yes, there are bits of dry humor here and there that have me cracking up.

Each of the Orphan books has a mission/problem that solved, but the repercussions of Evan’s decision to leave the Orphan program and his relationships are ongoing and progressive, so I think it’s best to start the series from the beginning.

From the first book I’ve been “reading” by audio. Scott Brick is a fantastic narrator, bringing Evan to life. He IS Evan Smoak to me even now. His female voices and accents are spot on, and his comedic timing is wonderful! I listen at my normal 1.5x-1.75x normal speed.

5 Stars

Book Description:

Gregg Hurwitz's New York Times bestselling series returns when Orphan X faces his most challenging mission ever in Dark Horse.

Evan Smoak is a man with many identities and a challenging past. As Orphan X, he was a government assassin for the off-the-books Orphan Program. After he broke with the Program, he adopted a new name and a new mission—The Nowhere Man, helping the most desperate in their times of trouble. Having just survived an attack on his life and the complete devastation of his base of operations, as well as his complicated (and deepening) relationship with his neighbor Mia Hall, Evan isn't interested in taking on a new mission. But one finds him anyway.

Aragon Urrea is a kingpin of a major drug-dealing operation in South Texas. He's also the patron of the local area—supplying employment in legitimate operations, providing help to the helpless, rough justice to the downtrodden, and a future to a people normally with little hope. He's complicated—a not completely good man, who does bad things for often good reasons. However, for all his money and power, he is helpless when one of the most vicious cartels kidnaps his innocent eighteen year old daughter, spiriting her away into the armored complex that is their headquarters in Mexico. With no other way to rescue his daughter, he turns to The Nowhere Man.

Now not only must Evan figure out how to get into the impregnable fortress of a heavily armed, deeply paranoid cartel leader, but he must decide if he should help a very bad man—no matter how just the cause.

Sunday Post #154

 

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.

We're up in Northern California right now and have spent the last two days driving around looking at houses getting a feel for which neighborhoods we like and gauging the pricing. I liked a few of the houses we looked and we now have an idea of what we want. It's a start. Now to decide when to list our house. Probably not until middle of March or after Easter.

The gardens at Empire State Mine Historic Park in Grass Valley, California, 

close to where we are looking.

Needless to say, I didn't get a bunch of reading done. I'll be finishing the latest Orphan X book tomorrow on our way home.

Read:

Click on cover for Goodreads link:

Received/Purchased/Library Lend:

Lark featured Dead by Dawn and it sounded really good so I downloaded a library audio copy. Will start listening next.

Instagram:

One of the giveaways I'm running. See the right sidebar for more.

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How was your week?

My Favorite Non-Review Books November, December & January!

It's hard to write a review for every book I read so I thought I'd do up a post each month to feature my favorites.  I didn't get a chance to post my favorite non-review books for the last three months (ack!!) so here they are.

November:

Click on cover for Goodreads link

December:

January:

What non-review books did you love recently?

Sunday Post #153

 

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 was a little less busy at work this last week and I welcomed the calm. Nothing exciting at home other than cleaning out and organizing my closet and other areas of the house. As I said last week, we're planning on putting our house up for sale in the next couple of months so I'm trying to prepare for that. I set up three giveaways (on the right sidebar) and I plan on doing a few more in an effort to whittle down my books! Of course, when I stopped at the local thrift store to drop off donations I had to go in and check the books and bought three books, lol! I know! Not helpful, right? I just couldn't resist! 

Had to share a photo of my camellias. I bought the plant a year and a half ago (?) and it's exploding with blooms! I'll have to buy another for the new house.

Debutante Camellia

Read:

Click on cover for Goodreads link

Out of the Dark- 5 Stars

Lightning in a Mirror- 4 Stars

Last Seen Alive- 4 Stars

The Family You Make- 5 Stars

An Operative's Last Stand- 4 Stars

Received/Purchased/Library Lend:

I haven't had the best of luck with requests lately and so I was so excited about Crowbones! I won a signed copy of Uncharted (one of my absolute favs from 2021) off Instagram from Adriana Anders! The book came all the way from France, where she lives! I couldn't resist a hardcover copy of The Man Who Died Twice, since I loved it so much, and the Linda Lael Miller books at the local thrift store. 

Instagram:

One of the giveaways I'm running on the right sidebar. Such a pretty cover, right?

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How was your week?