Sunday Post #18

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'm back up in Northern California, got in after midnight Thursday night after our original 4:20 pm flight was canceled and then moved to 9:50 pm.  The rain made travel a complete nightmare, and I probably would've been up here earlier had we just drove. *sigh* Friday was a great day, though.  It was raining off and on all day, but I had fun going taking my grandson on a bike ride, and I got a run in  between breaks in the rain.  I got caught in a light hailstorm, but nothing too terrible. 

Read:

(Click on cover for Goodreads link:)

Received/Purchased/Library Lend:

(Click on title for Goodreads link:)

I loved the first two books from Jo Goodman's historical western/cowboy romance and so I was thrilled to get a copy of the newest installment, A Touch of Forever, in the mail! Just love the cover.  Darkness Returns is a title that captured my interest even though I've never read Alexandra Ivy before. I see great ratings so I couldn't resist. Bound For Temptation is a new to me author so I guess we'll see. 

Watched:

Fair Game was a interesting movie that brought back a lot of political shenanigans from the past. I forgot a lot of what happened until this movie brought it to the surface again. Survivor wasn't going to win any awards, but still an action packed fun, weekend movie. 

How was your week?

Review & Giveaway: Say You're Sorry by Karen Rose

Say You're Sorry (Sacramento #1) by Karen Rose

Publication Date: February 12th 2019 by Berkley

Pages: 624

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

About the book: 

Introducing the first book in the new pulse-pounding Sacramento series from New York Times bestselling author Karen Rose.

FBI Special Agent Gideon Reynolds did not have a conventional upbringing. Raised in a cult in Northern California, his mother smuggled him out when he was thirteen, and he never saw her again. It is not a bit of history he is keen on sharing, but being guarded has not gotten him any closer to what he really wants: a family.

Daisy Dawson lived a sheltered childhood. Her father, a former military man, believed that the woman he loved and her daughter were being hunted, so he took extreme measures to keep his family safe. But despite his best efforts, Daisy is done being scared. New to Sacramento, she is ready to jump headfirst into life--until she is attacked one night.

Gideon is caught unawares by Daisy, who is unlike any victim he has ever met. But the attacker is far from finished, and tracking him will threaten to pull Gideon back to the world he fought so hard to leave...

My Thoughts:

Daisy Dawson and FBI Agent Gideon Reynolds connect when she’s attacked, and she wrenches off a locket from the man.  Gideon is called in after his friend tells him of the engraving that appears on the locket that connects to Gideon’s horrid past.  Being raised in a cult was a nightmare that he and his younger sister barely escaped, and he’s made it his mission to track down the cult to bring the members to justice and free any other’s like him and his sister that are at the mercy of this awful group.

Daisy’s attacker isn’t done with her because he’s afraid she can identify him, and so even though she managed to get away, she’s not out of the woods.  Thankfully, Daisy is a smart cookie and doesn’t balk at Gideon’s insistence that he stick with her or by the overprotective Sokolov clan, who are like family to her.  No TSTL moments from this lady and I was so glad of it!

Daisy and Gideon have an instant attraction, that develops into a steamy affair. That is when someone’s not actively trying to murder them!

This was a high tension read I was on the edge of my seat every time Daisy or Gideon were in this madman’s crosshairs, or when another poor individual had the unfortunate luck to cross paths with this psycho killer!

This was a long book, 624 pages, and it took me several days to get through it, partly because I just didn’t have a whole lot of time to read. But it was a page turner every time I picked it up, so if I had a nice chunk of time, I could’ve probably breezed through some of it.  I will say that I don’t like having the killer’s POV included in a story.  I don’t like being in their twisted head, and I like more mystery to the killer’s identity, so I skimmed most of his bits. 

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Say You’re Sorry, and I look forward to the coming stories, because I really liked this bunch of characters! The groundwork has been laid for a couple more romances. I’m pretty sure we’ll get one focused on Rafe Sokolov, and the other I think was hinted at, so I’ll have to wait and see.

4 Suns

I'm giving away my ARC copy of Say You're Sorry. The giveaway is open to US Residents only. Fill out the rafflecopter below for a chance to win.  Good luck!

Review: A Merciful Death by Kendra Elliot

A Merciful Death (Mercy Kilpatrick #1) by Kendra Elliot

Publication Date: January 17th 2017 by Montlake Romance
Pages: 352
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

About the book: 

FBI special agent Mercy Kilpatrick has been waiting her whole life for disaster to strike. A prepper since childhood, Mercy grew up living off the land—and off the grid—in rural Eagle’s Nest, Oregon. Until a shocking tragedy tore her family apart and forced her to leave home. Now a predator known as the cave man is targeting the survivalists in her hometown, murdering them in their homes, stealing huge numbers of weapons, and creating federal suspicion of a possible domestic terrorism event. But the crime scene details are eerily familiar to an unsolved mystery from Mercy’s past.

Sent by the FBI to assist local law enforcement, Mercy returns to Eagle’s Nest to face the family who shunned her while maintaining the facade of a law-abiding citizen. There, she meets police chief Truman Daly, whose uncle was the cave man’s latest victim. He sees the survivalist side of her that she desperately tries to hide, but if she lets him get close enough to learn her secret, she might not survive the fallout…

My Thoughts:

Mercy is an FBI agent called back to her hometown to investigate the murders of two preppers. She hasn’t been back home to Eagle’s Nest for fifteen years, hasn’t even had contact with her family since then.  The hurt runs deep and it’s awkward explaining her relationship to Eagle’s Nest to her FBI partner and the new town sheriff. But solving the murders is her main focus.   Mercy’s rattled to find similarities between the current cases and two previous murders from fifteen years back.  Especially, since the attacks years ago are intertwined with a secret she’s kept and worried about all the years since.

While I doubt I’d ever do anything drastic, I found the prepper life fascinating! I’ve always loved the idea of being self-sufficient just in case disaster strikes. You never know when the zombie apocalypse is coming, lol!  The philosophies as presented here almost felt religious.  The people were devoted to their beliefs of being self-sufficient, and the idea that eventually governments and order as we know it will end. With the way things are going sometimes, it’s not such a far-fetched idea.

Mercy’s past is slowly revealed, and you can understand the hurt and resentment she feels.  While she had doubts start to creep about the prepper philosophy while Mercy was a teenager, she probably wouldn’t have left the life had there not been a rift between her and her father. The fact that Mercy’s family backed her father’s decision and shunned her is a pain that cuts deep, but there’s a healing that starts when she faces her brothers and sisters now.  There’s also a budding romance between Mercy and Sheriff Truman that I’m fully on board with! 

A Merciful Death was an exciting read and an excellent start to the series!  A few twisty reveals, danger, and the mysteries of Mercy’s past kept me on the edge of my seat.  I’m wondering about the next chapter of Mercy’s life with how it all turns out.  I’ve already downloaded the audio copies of books two and three, excited to continue Mercy’s story!

Teri Schnaubelt’s performance was pleasant and low key. She did a great job with both male and female characters. I’d gladly listen to any book she narrates.

4 Suns

Sunday Post #17

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'm home in Southern California this weekend, which is nice.  No flight delays to worry about! I've been trying to get in more exercise, strength training and runs. I managed to get out on two runs.  It helps that the days are getting a little longer so I can squeeze in a run after work if I get out quickly.  I'm gearing up to start training again for another half-marathon in May.  Fingers crossed.  
Read:
(Click on cover for Goodreads link)

Continuing the Monkeewrench series with Snow Blind (book 4).  It was so good!  I don't read much BDSM, but I do pick it up on occasion if the story sounds good.  All's Fair in Love and Mastery was kinky and fun, and not overly sexed up.  Never Tell was fantastic! Flora Dane was introduced into the Detective D.D. Warren series two books ago and she continues to be a fascinating character! I love her even more after Never Tell. I know we'll be seeing her more in the future and I can't wait! I'll have my review up the following week. 

Received/Purchased/Library Lend:

(Click on cover for Goodreads link)

Good heavens, that's a lot of books and I didn't share all of them! I guess a went a little crazy with my requests at the library, Edelweiss and Netgalley.  I bought The Score to continue the series, and What the Wind Knows is a First Reads from Amazon.  Isn't that cover beautiful?! Speaking of covers, I think The Unhoneymooners is one of my all-time favorite covers! It's soooo pretty, and it sounds like a lot of fun.  I borrowed Stray Magic after seeing Carole's praise of the second book this last week.  I acquired Charming on KU after seeing a Anna's review. I'm hoping to squeeze it in after the monster book (640 pages!) I'm currently trying to finish. 

Watched:

Binged several episodes of New Amsterdam.  It seems like I shed a few tears by the end of each one.  It's really good!

How was your week?

Friday Giveaway!

I'm always trying to manage my bookshelves because they're seriously crowded.  I go through and look at books I won't read again or won't ever get to and try to pass them on.  I love the covers on all four of these books so it does pain me a little to give them away, lol! 

Always by Sarah Jio-Paperback ARC

The Winters by Lisa Gabriele-Hardcover

Witches of East End by Melissa de la Cruz-Hardcover signed by author to me

Because You're Mine by Colleen Coble-Paperback

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

Review: Watcher in the Woods by Kelley Armstrong

Watcher in the Woods (Rockton #4) by Kelley Armstrong
Publication Date: February 5th 2019 by Minotaur Books
Pages: 368
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks

About the book:

In #1 New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong's latest thriller, the town of Rockton—and her fans—are in for another hair-raising adventure.

The secret town of Rockton has seen some rocky times lately; understandable considering its mix of criminals and victims fleeing society for refuge within its Yukon borders. Casey Duncan, the town's only detective on a police force of three, has already faced murder, arson and falling in love in less than the year that she's lived there. Yet even she didn't think it would be possible for an outsider to find and cause trouble in the town she's come to call home.

When a US Marshal shows up in town demanding the release of one of the residents, Casey and her boyfriend, Sheriff Dalton, are skeptical. And yet only hours later, the marshal is shot dead and the only visible suspects are the townspeople and her estranged sister, in town for just the weekend. It's up to Casey to figure out who murdered the marshal, and why they would kill to keep him quiet.

My Thoughts:

If you haven’t read the previous books being that this is the 4^th installment there are bound to be spoilers here. If you haven’t picked up this series yet, you are definitely missing out! This series is riveting, suspenseful, and full of twists and turns! I always want to set aside a chunk of time so I can read each book straight through!

Watcher in the Woods picks up right after the events of This Fallen Prey.  Eric and Casey are desperately looking for a doctor to come up and treat and assess Kenny, determine if there’s any permanent damage from the shooting.  The counsel, of course is being less than helpful so Eric and Casey decide to take matters into their own hands and enlist Casey’s sister for help, sneaking her in before the counsel knows.  Casey and her sister, April have never been quite in sync growing up and the death of their parents didn’t help, so there’s a tension between them.  Being together in Rockton forces Casey to look at their relationship, slowly realizing things may not have been as they seemed. April is brusque and different.  I’m enjoying her character and eager for future developments.

With all this going a on a man claiming to be a US Marshall shows up to claim one of the Rockton residents.  Casey and Eric wisely question the situation and from there things get dicey!

There are a few characters here that I continually love to hate, like Roy! That guy is a prick at best.  I’m glad Casey basically kicked his ass in the last book. Unfortunately, he is more than a nuisance in this installment.

Jen as usual is annoying, and I’m not sure why Casey puts up with her or keeps her on as part of the militia. She’s more trouble than she’s worth, IMO. Could be a case of keeping the problem child close and occupied to avoid issues?

Interesting developments with Petra. We get answers after that shocking turn of events from the last book. 

Phil doesn’t seem quite as bad as Val, the last representative of the mysterious, far away Rockton counsel. The jury is still out on him, though. I’m still stunned by Val’s actions in the last one!

We meet Sebastian, a new and interesting addition to the mix. I’m looking forward to seeing more of him.

The Rockton series just keeps rocking, (lol!) and I LOVED this installment!  As usual there were lots of twists and turns, and non-stop action.  But the thing I love most about this series is the characters!  Of course, Casey and Eric are my favorite, and I love how they reason out whatever mystery or conflict they face; smartly analyzing the situation and motivations of all involved. And they continue to present a strong, united front.  Their romance continues to shine, and I’m glad none of the drama of this story comes from their relationship.

5 Suns

Sunday Post #16

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'm back in Northern California and it's been pouring rain! I did manage squeeze in a 3 miles run when there when there was a letup. We watched a few movies and I made chicken noodle soup for dinner. Our flight was delayed coming up here on Thursday which is the 5th flight in a row that's been delayed for us. It sucks. I hope they're on time coming home tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon. 

Read:

(Click on cover for Goodreads link)

Dead Run is the third book in the Monkeewrench series and I loved it. It was a lot better than book two, and I just got a copy of the fourth book in the series.  The White Christmas was such a sweet Hallmark movie type of story/romance. I need to look up other books by Colleen Wright.  The Best of Us was yet another wonderful installment in Robyn Carr's Sullivan's Crossing series. I love

Received/Purchased/Library Lend:
(Click on cover for Goodreads link)

Snow Blind is an Audible purchase.  Storm Front and Solace Island are library lends, but I'm waiting for the Audio copy to come through before picking them up. I like to have the option to switch back and forth between audio and e-book.

Watched:

Watched several movies because it was raining so much.  We watched Split which was a bit disturbing, and dark, and then I wanted to go back and watch Unbreakable since the characters will intersect in Glass.  I still like Unbreakable more.  Gone was a nice and suspenseful little movie. 

How was your week?