Giveaway! 10 Books-Cowboy & Small Town Romance Edition

 Another giveaway! 10 Paperback Books.

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

Last Dance with a Cowboy By Sara Richardson 

with Bonus Novella Sunrise Ranch by Carolyn Brown 

This Cowboy of Mine by R.C. Ryan 

with Bonus Novella Wildflower Ranch by Carolyn Brown

Make Mine a Cowboy by A.J. Pine

with Bonus Book Hometown Cowboy by Sara Richardson

Hot Cowboy Nights by Carolyn Brown-ARC

Texas Homecoming by Carolyn Brown

Stars in Your Eyes by Lynn Kurland

Starting Over at Blueberry Creek by Annie Rains

with Bonus Book Sealed With a Kiss by Melinda Curtis

One Snowy Night by Patience Griffin

Once Upon a Cabin by Patience Griffin

Finding Paradise by Barbara Dunlop

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

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Review: A Perfect Equation by Elizabeth Everett

 

A Perfect Equation (The Secret Scientists of  London #2) by Elizabeth Everett

Publication Date: February 15th 2022 by Berkley & Penguin Audio

Pages: 336

Source: Publisher & Purchased Audiobook

Rating: ★★★★½

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

My Thoughts:

Six years ago, the Viscount of Greycliff, Grey, gave Leticia Fenley a judgmental set-down when she was at her lowest and the words sting still. Now they must work together to oversee Athena’s Retreat since Violet and Arthur are leaving the city.

Outwardly, Athena’s Retreat is a social club for ladies to gather and discuss lectures on science, but secretly the women conduct experiments and study science, something highly frowned on at the time. It wasn’t easy for woman to be a scientist in the 19^th century when women had few rights. Grey and Letty must put aside their differences to keep the club safe since they’re being targeted by the radical Guardians of Domesticity, who’d like to keep women in their so-called place.

Letty was such a fun character with a fearless drive to stand up for women, especially the women of her club. She was more insecure when it came to standing up for herself, but Grey gave her the courage to hold her head high and shine. Grey had his own insecurities to battle with and I appreciated that neither dismissed the concerns of the other, but rather supported each other to face the issues.

A Perfect Equation was a delightful enemies-to-lovers romance, with clever banter and emotional depth. A cast of quirky and fun secondary characters made many hilarious scenes that had me laughing out loud. Add in an adorable hedgehog and this story was a complete win! I’m eagerly awaiting Grantham and Margaret’s story next!

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

How do you solve the Perfect Equation? Add one sharp-tongued mathematician to an aloof, handsome nobleman. Divide by conflicting loyalties and multiply by a daring group of women hell-bent on conducting their scientific experiments. The solution is a romance that will break every rule.

Six years ago, Miss Letitia Fenley made a mistake, and she’s lived with the consequences ever since. Readying herself to compete for the prestigious Rosewood Prize for Mathematics, she is suddenly asked to take on another responsibility—managing Athena’s Retreat, a secret haven for England’s women scientists. Having spent the last six years on her own, Letty doesn’t want the offers of friendship from other club members and certainly doesn’t need any help from the insufferably attractive Lord Greycliff.

Lord William Hughes, the Viscount Greycliff cannot afford to make any mistakes. His lifelong dream of becoming the director of a powerful clandestine agency is within his grasp. Tasked with helping Letty safeguard Athena’s Retreat, Grey is positive that he can control the antics of the various scientists as well as manage the tiny mathematician—despite their historic animosity and simmering tension.

As Grey and Letty are forced to work together, their mutual dislike turns to admiration and eventually to something... magnetic. When faced with the possibility that Athena’s Retreat will close forever, they must make a choice. Will Grey turn down a chance to change history, or can Letty get to the root of the problem and prove that love is the ultimate answer?

About the author:

Elizabeth Everett lives in upstate New York with her family. She likes going for long walks or (very) short runs to nearby sites that figure prominently in the history of civil rights and women's suffrage. Her series is inspired by her admiration for rule breakers and belief in the power of love to change the world.

Connect with Elizabeth Everett:

Website | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads

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!

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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!

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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.