Review: A Love by Design by Elizabeth Everett

 

A Love by Design ( The Secret Scientists of London #3) by Elizabeth Everett

Publication Date: January 17th 2023 by Berkley

Pages: 336

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Margaret and George were childhood friends, running wild in the countryside and then fell in love. Margaret thought they had a future together but then George broke her heart. She went on to study engineering, moved to Paris and married while honing her skills.

Now a widow, Margaret’s back in London staying at Athena’s Retreat with the goal of starting her own engineering firm, the first woman owned in England. Her latest project, designing and building an underwater tunnel would go a long way to establishing her career, but when Margaret discovers the main investor is an enemy of Athena’s Retreat, a man set on keeping women down, she knows things will not be smooth sailing. I was on edge over the information coming out and wished she would’ve shared it once she found out.

George, now the Earl of Grantham, knew his decision to break things off with Margaret broke her heart and his, but if he didn’t Margaret wouldn’t have gone on to become the accomplished woman she is now. Now that she’s back in London he hopes to explain his actions and have a chance to win her heart again. He’s also working on making the title he inherited mean something by pushing through reforms that would make education accessible to all children, boys and girls and not just in the upper classes.

A Love by Design was another great installment in the Secret Scientists of London series. I do love a good second chance romance and Margaret and George’s was full of longing and passion. I enjoyed their relationships with all the ladies at the retreat and laughed over the shenanigans George pulled with Arthur, frustrating him with over-the-top gifts to baby Mirren.

4 Stars

Book Description:

You couldn't design a better hero than the very eligible and extremely charming Earl Grantham. Unless, of course, you are Margaret Gault, who wants nothing to do with the man who broke her youthful heart.

Widowed and determined, Margaret Gault has returned to Athena's Retreat and the welcoming arms of her fellow secret scientists with an ambitious plan in mind: to establish England's first woman-owned engineering firm. But from the moment she sets foot in London her plans are threatened by greedy investors and--at literally every turn--the irritatingly attractive Earl Grantham, a man she can never forgive.

George Willis, the Earl Grantham, is thrilled that the woman he has loved since childhood has returned to London. Not as thrilling, however, is her decision to undertake an engineering commission from his political archnemesis. When Margaret's future and Grantham's parliamentary reforms come into conflict, Grantham must use every ounce of charm he possesses--along with his stunning good looks and flawless physique, of course--to win Margaret over to his cause.

Facing obstacles seemingly too large to dismantle, will Grantham and Margaret remain forever disconnected or can they find a way to bridge their differences, rekindle the passion of their youth, and construct a love built to last?

 

My Favorite Non-Review Books: December 2022

 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.

I had four to feature for November, but December I had eight! A great month of audiobooks. 

Here are my favorite non-review books for December 2022 (all were read by audio):

It's no secret I love Ilona Andrews writing. I was rejected for this ARC when I requested it (thanks again, Harper Audio/Avon), but I bought it anyhow. Catalina's story arc is finished and even though I didn't like it as much as Nevada's it still was really good.

Patricia Cornwell did a sort of re-boot of the Kay Scarpetta series last year and I'm enjoying it. This is the second one. Things get wild and out there, but I didn't want to stop listening!

Kate Forster's writing is beautiful, full of emotion and lots of fun! I loved this The Upside Down Christmas just a little more than The Best Worst Christmas, but they were wonderful and part of Audible Plus catalog where you can listen for free if you have an Audible Membership.

Such a great second chance romance! Loved this novella! 

Hidden Pictures won the Goodreads Choice Award for Horror this past year so I was curious and requested the audio at my library. It was really good and had a twist I didn't see coming! My husband and I were riveted and it made a very long drive home enjoyable. Can definitely understand why it won!

This is an earlier St. James. Sad, spooky, compelling mystery. I'm happy St. James, as usual, included a bit of romance.

I don't read much YA anymore but this one captured my attention when a couple of fellow bloggers reviewed it. Atmospheric with a bit of danger and suspense, this was a page-turning *listening* coming of age story. 

Audiobook Review: Sweep of the Heart by Ilona Andrews

 

Sweep of the Heart (Innkeeper Chronicles #5) by Ilona Andrews

Publication Date: January 13th 2023 by NYLA

Pages: 454

Audio Book Length: 16 hrs 25 mins

Narrators: Nora Sofyan

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★★

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

My Thoughts:

Wilmos, Sean’s werewolf friend and advisor is kidnapped and the only way to reach the place he was taken is through a portal controlled by the Dominion. They’ll agree to give access if Dina and Sean host their spousal selection at Gertrude Hunt. This is a huge undertaking with representatives from twelve different alien species. Several very tricky and dangerous. It is a risky event, one refused by the other Inn’s and Dina wouldn’t take it on except for the situation with Wilmos. Sean and Dina definitely have their work cut out for them.

Caldenia is a big part of the story. Officer Marais and even the Costco lady has a role. First Scholar Thek of the koo-ko, aka: space chickens!!! We met them in the novella, Sweep With Me, and First Scholar Thek is with us again sharing his enlightened intellect. So, so funny!

 

I’m always amazed by Ilona Andrews’ writing talent, they’re just so good, and I’m immediately sucked in every time I pick up one of their books. Here I was in wonder over their imagination, creating all the different species and worlds, and the ways Dina accommodated them at the Inn. At every turn there was a problem to overcome, but Dina and Sean tackled them together as a united team. As usual, humor is woven through the story that at times had me laughing at loud.

Sweep of the Heart is part of the Innkeeper series, book five, and these books are best read in order. Such a phenomenal series, so if you haven’t started you are in for a treat and you can binge read!

The audio version was fantastic! Nora Sofyan performed all the voices beautifully. I loved her portrayal of Dina, which for me was the most important as the lead, and she gave each character (there were many) a distinct voice. I listened at my usual 1.5-1.75x normal speed. Definite recommend!

5 Stars

Book Description:

From the New York Times #1 bestselling author, Ilona Andrews, comes a fun and action-packed new adventure in the Innkeeper Chronicles! We invite you to relax, enjoy yourself, and above all, remember the one rule all visitors must obey: the humans must never know.

Life is busier than ever for Innkeeper, Dina DeMille and Sean Evans. But it’s about to get even more chaotic when Sean's werewolf mentor is kidnapped. To find him, they must host an intergalactic spouse-search for one of the most powerful rulers in the Galaxy. Dina is never one to back down from a challenge. That is, if she can manage her temperamental Red Cleaver chef; the consequences of her favorite Galactic ex-tyrant's dark history; the tangled politics of an interstellar nation, and oh, yes, keep the wedding candidates from a dozen alien species from killing each other. Not to mention the Costco lady.

They say love is a battlefield; but Dina and Sean are determined to limit the casualties!

Sunday Post (late edition) #191

 

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 in Austin, Texas visiting my daughter, SIL, and the grandkids. I'll be flying home to Northern California in a couple of hours. We watched our grandson pay in one basketball game and two football games! Card games, going out to eat, and making dinner. We've been pretty busy so I haven't had much time for reading. I'll have some time to read on the four hour flight home. Good times but it'll be nice to get back home. 

It's still raining back there and we had to part in the outer (uncovered) lot at the airport since the garage was full so that'll be fun picking up our car.

Read:

Click on cover for Goodreads link

Loved the audio of Sweep of the Heart! Thought it was a novella for some reason but it was actually full sized 16 hour 25 min book. Loathe to Love You is a collection of three romance novellas. All fun and steamy.

Received/Purchased/Library Lend:

I was so excited to be approved for audio of The Last Orphan because I love the Orphan X series! Also, because I was just rejected for The Girls Who Disappeared by Harper Audio. Harper Collins rarely ever approves anything I request, audio or eARC. I then went to my library and requested the audio and got it the next day. Now I don't have to write a review. Take that Harper! Lol. When in Rome is another library audio I requested after seeing much love from fellow bloggers. Really excited for The True Love Experiment! 

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Audiobook Review: All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham

 

All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham

Publication Date: January 10th 2023 by Macmillan Audio

Pages: 336

Audio Book Length: 10hrs

Narrators: Karissa Vacker

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★½

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

My Thoughts:

Isabelle’s toddler son, Mason, was taken in the middle of the night, one year ago.  Since then, she hasn’t been able to sleep more than a short nap here and there, with her whole focus to find Mason. Her marriage has fallen apart and her husband, Ben, has moved out and “is ready to move on”.

No new leads have surfaced, so in an effort to get more exposure and keep the case alive Isabelle retells her experience in the true crime circuits, much to the dismay of her husband and the detective in charge of Mason’s case. Isabelle opens herself up to speculation, people suspicious of the parents, but she doesn’t care as long as it helps find her son.

Along comes Waylon, a new podcaster offering to feature Mason’s case in a series. As Isabelle is interviewed and recounts Mason’s disappearance, questions surface not only about that awful night but about Isabelle and Ben’s past.

My heart went out to Isabelle. This is a mother’s worst nightmare, and I could easily put myself in her shoes not caring about anything else except finding my child. Ben was something else! The podcast was the perfect vehicle for us as readers (or listeners) to get the history of how Ben and Isabelle met and fell in love, and it’s not all wine and roses. Facts about Isabelle’s childhood come out, also throwing a worrisome dimension to the story.

Oh, this was a twisty mystery! I guessed at some things but was totally shocked by others! Once I got into the story I couldn’t stop listening because I needed to know what happened and how it’d all turn out! So good!

I enjoyed Stacy Willingham’s debut, A Flicker in the Dark, last year and I’m happy to say All the Dangerous Things was even better!  

Karissa Vacker’s performance enhanced an already captivating story. Her voice is rich and smooth and each character was defined and unique. I listened at my usual 1.5x-1.75x the normal speed.

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

One year ago, Isabelle Drake's life changed forever: her toddler son, Mason, was taken out of his crib in the middle of the night while she and her husband were asleep in the next room. With little evidence and few leads for the police to chase, the case quickly went cold. However, Isabelle cannot rest until Mason is returned to her—literally.

Except for the occasional catnap or small blackout where she loses track of time, she hasn’t slept in a year.

Isabelle's entire existence now revolves around finding him, but she knows she can’t go on this way forever. In hopes of jarring loose a new witness or buried clue, she agrees to be interviewed by a true-crime podcaster—but his interest in Isabelle's past makes her nervous. His incessant questioning paired with her severe insomnia has brought up uncomfortable memories from her own childhood, making Isabelle start to doubt her recollection of the night of Mason’s disappearance, as well as second-guess who she can trust... including herself. But she is determined to figure out the truth no matter where it leads.

Review: Loathe to Love You by Ali Hazelwood

 

Loathe to Love You (The STEMinists Novellas #1-3) by Ali Hazelwood

Publication Date: January 3rd 2023 by Berkley

Pages: 371

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Under One Roof: Liam and Mara inherit the same house, and neither is willing to budge on dividing it so they end up living together. Opposites loath each other Liam’s employed by big oil, and Mara’s an environmentalist, but there’s more to that story. Their bickering over little things like who stole the creamer made me laugh. Of course, as they get to know each other they find out their assumptions may not have been correct and there’s more than a spark of attraction. Sexy dreaming, and lots of wanting from afar. This was a slow-burn-to-scorcher kind of romance. 

4 Stars

Stuck with You: Sadie spent a day with Erik, and they had an immediate connection that ended in a steamy, lust filled night that she thought would lead into something profound and lasting. However, the next day Sadie hears things about Erik and her heart crashes. Fast forward three weeks and it’s her worst nightmare: she’s stuck in the elevator with him.

I was a little disappointed with the way Sadie jumped to conclusions after hearing what her boss said and didn’t even check with Erik to get his side of the story.  A lot of heartache could’ve been avoided. I did love their initial meetup and the immediate, intense attraction between them. This is a romance, so I knew they’d eventually get everything sorted. 3.5 Stars

Below Zero: Five years ago, Hannah and Ian had an immediate connection, enamored with each both physically and professionally. They spend an afternoon debugging code, with the attraction between them brewing, which leads to a hot and lusty encounter! Hannah won’t agree to anything but a physical relationship, so they go their separate ways. I had to shake my head at Hannah.

They meet again when Hannah gets her dream job at NASA where Ian works, but it’s not smooth sailing as Hannah thinks that Ian has sabotaged her project.  However, it’s Ian who comes for her when she’s trapped in an icy crevasse, waiting for death.

Loved this steamy second chance romance! Ian had my heart from the beginning and I could understand why Hannah had her walls up. 4 Stars

I enjoyed all three of the STEMinist novellas! I listened to them last year when they were released as audios only but did a re-read when they came out in this new bundled book, Loathe to Love You, and I think I liked them even more the second time around. They had just right amount of spice, very hot stuff, but not too much, and they were a lot of fun!  I thought for the short number of pages the characters were well developed and I was invested in each of their HEAs. There’s even an extra bonus chapter at the end, a nice epilogue for all three couples.

4 Stars

Book Description:

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis comes a collection of steamy, STEMinist novellas featuring a trio of engineers and their loves in loathing—with a special bonus chapter!

Under One Roof
An environmental engineer discovers that scientists should never cohabitate when she finds herself stuck with the roommate from hell—a detestable big-oil lawyer who won't leave the thermostat alone.

Stuck with You
A civil engineer and her nemesis take their rivalry—and love—to the next level when they get stuck in a New York elevator.

Below Zero
A NASA aerospace engineer's frozen heart melts as she lies injured and stranded at a remote Arctic research station and the only person willing to undertake the dangerous rescue mission is her longtime rival.

 

Sunday Post #190

 

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.

After taking almost 9 hours to get home (last Sunday) from down south (it took 6 hours to get there) I was happy to get home! We had so much snow on the recommended route home that we had to turn around and take another way not suggested by Apple Maps. Not sure why maps would suggest such a treacherous route other than it was a lot shorter. Oh well, we eventually got home. 

It's been raining quite a bit. I'm happy we're getting so much rain and snow in the higher elevations because California needs it, but it's been a lot in a short amount of time. We haven't had issues at our house, the creek on the property is a lot lower and so even though it's been raging we're in no danger of flooding. We finally had a break Friday and I took the opportunity to get out for a run. Listening to a good audiobook always makes the time go by quickly and I had two great listens this last week. 

Read:

Click on cover for Goodreads link

I had a solid reading week. One eARC, Sleep No More, and two audios, The Villa and All the Dangerous Things, which was my favorite. 

Received/Purchased/Library Lend:

I was so excited to get an audio ARC of Sweep of the Heart! I've already started listening and it's been cracking me up. Love Allison Brennan's mystery/thriller books so I was happy to get Don't Open the Door. I've enjoyed Veronica Speedwell, but I didn't read through the whole description before downloading the newest, and so I missed that Veronica and Stoker are having relationship issues. Hopefully, it won't be too frustrating.

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