Top Ten Tuesday: Most Anticipated Releases (July-Dec 2017)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme 


I had to push it to even come up with nine picks this week. Outside of my handful of favorite authors, I rarely keep track of upcoming releases. I learn about them when they're released or when I start hearing buzz about them. Here are the ones I'm most looking forward to...


Wish You Were Here - Renee Carlino | What to Say Next - Julie Buxbaum 
If There's No Tomorrow - Jennifer L. Armentrout | All Closed Off - Cora Carmack
Who's That Girl - Blair Thornburgh | After the Game - Abbi Glines
Kiss Me in New York - Catherine Rider | Without Merit - Colleen Hoover
Brave - Tammara Webber


What upcoming release are you most excited about?  

The Sunday Post #57 (on a Monday)


The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
It's a chance to share news - a post to recap the past week on your blog, 
showcase books and things we have received, and share news about what is
coming up on your blog in the week ahead. You can find the info here:

Yes, I'm a day late with The Sunday Post but Girl Plus Books went through quite the overhaul over the weekend. I'd had the same look for almost two years and I was ready for something new. I wanted something cleaner, more streamlined, and I couldn't be happier with the final product. I still have some tweaking to do here and there but I'm really pleased with the new look. Hopefully you are, too! :)

The heat is here in full force now: 98 degrees today. My plan for the day: stay inside. I don't tolerate the heat well (ironic coming from a native Floridian, I know) so when the temps hit 90+ I'm better off indoors. 

Lastly, for my American friends, however you are spending the day - at work, at home, at the beach - I hope you will spare a moment to remember the true meaning of Memorial Day. A day meant to remember and honor those who gave their lives in the service and protection of America's freedom. 

 
Tuesday, May 23
Top Ten Tuesday: Summer TBR

Wednesday, May 24
New Release Review + Giveaway
Chance at Redemption by Samatha Harris


FINISHED:
Torn (Wicked Saga #2) - Jennifer L. Armentrout
Vision in Silver (AUDIO) - Anne Bishop
A Court of Mist and Fury (AUDIO) - Sarah J. Maas

CURRENT
The One (The Selection #3) - Kiera Cass
Marked in Flesh (AUDIO) - Anne Bishop
The Crown's Game (AUDIO) - Evelyn Skye
(A little refresher before I start The Crown's Fate)

PHYSICAL BOOKS:
  

From the May Bookworm Box
180 Seconds - Jessica Park
Exposure - Tracy Ewens
Previous library reads but purchased my own copies
Letters to the Lost - Brigid Kemmerer
Tell Me Three Things - Julie Buxbaum

KINDLE BOOKS:

Last To Know - Micalea Smeltzer
Off Base - Annabeth Albert

eARC's for REVIEW:

Trust - Kylie Scott
Until It Fades - K.A. Tucker
Kiss Me in New York - Catherine Rider



How was your week? Any new books? Any news to share? 
You know I want to hear about it! :)

New Release + Giveaway! Chance at Redemption by Samatha Harris



I am so excited to share Chance at Redemption - and the giveaway where you can win the entire series! I actually discovered this series through a giveaway when I won a copy of the first book. And I loved it! When it was time for the second book to release I jumped at the chance to take part in the blog tour. And now I'm so happy to be sharing the third and final book in the Madison Square series. While the books can easily be read as stand alone novels, I would urge you to read all three books so you don't miss any of the fun! 

Chance at Redemption
Samatha Harris
(Madison Square #3)
Published by: Limitless Publishing
Publication date: May 23rd 2017
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
Gwen Stevens had a privileged life until her father spoke three little words that turned her world upside down. “You’re cut off.” 
Broke and desperate, Gwen is forced to accept a waitressing job, but this glimmer of hope has a price. As if being a cocktail waitress isn’t bad enough, she has to do it in a dive bar called The Den, and her bad luck doesn’t stop there. She also needs to deal with the new owner, a blue-eyed, self-righteous ass determined to make her life miserable. 
Liam Sinclair walked away from the entitlement and obligation his family planned for him, vowing to make his own way in the world… 
Adjusting to life as a new business owner, Liam has experienced more than his fair share of setbacks. When his only waitress breaks her leg, his sister takes it upon herself to hire a replacement—a spoiled, self-indulgent hothead with too much makeup and more than enough attitude. Gwen represents the world he’s trying to escape, a world of excess and greed that he was never cut out for. 
Appearances can be deceiving, and first impressions aren’t always right… 
Despite their apparent differences, the tension between them turns to a fiery passion that neither of them can resist. Together they find balance and learn to appreciate the simpler things in life. But Gwen soon discovers that old habits die hard, and one mistake is all it takes to ruin everything. 
Forgiveness must be earned, but even a villain deserves a chance at redemption…
When Gwen finds herself cut off from her oh-so-privileged lifestyle she is furious. How dare her father do this to her?! Needing to pay her bills until she can cajole herself back into her father's good graces, Grace accepts a job offer from a stranger. A waitressing job. At a dive bar. So beneath her.

Liam is the new owner of The Den and when Gwen walks in to his bar he knows she's nothing but trouble. Unfortunately, his sister offered Gwen a job without his knowledge and he's in desperate need of a waitress. So he agrees to a trial run. Heaven help him.

Let me just lay this out there: Gwen isn't likable - at first. Nor is she meant to be. She is spoiled, snobbish, and expectant - with a bad attitude to match. And watching as Liam put the poor little rich girl in her place, time and time again, was priceless. Liam also grew up surrounded by wealth and privilege but wanted no part of the expectations that came with it. So he had Gwen pegged from the start and constantly called her on her diva tendencies. It provided so much humor and I loved the snarky banter between them. 

The evolution of the relationship between Liam and Gwen was an absolute joy. Their dynamic was explosive and just jumped off the page. I have to admit I was nervous to read about Gwen as a main character because I remember her well from the first book in the series. No way was I going to be able to pull for Gwen! Shame on me for doubting Samatha Harris because at her skillful hand Gwen experienced the kind of character growth that had my heart aching for her while cheering for her happy ending. 

In addition to Liam and Gwen, there is a excellent cast of secondary characters that are richly drawn and add much to the story. Liam's friends, the other bar employee's, Gwen's family... they all combine seamlessly to make a complete story that had me hooked. Those that have read the previous books will be thrilled with the inclusion of characters they already know and love.

Chance at Redemption is told in dual first-person points of view and I loved getting the his-and-her perspectives. Both voices were unique and completely believable. So often in dual POV I find myself with a strong preference for one voice over another. Not so here. I was completely invested in both characters and appreciated each perspective. 

Fans of contemporary romance will love this story of forgiveness, second chances and starting over. Samatha Harris has created a cast of characters that are so genuine and so relatable that you'll want to inhale all three books - and then ask for more. 


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Samatha “Sam” Harris lives near Baltimore, Maryland with her husband David and daughter Ava. Born in Florida, she migrated north which most people agree was a little backwards. She has been an artist all of her life, a Tattoo Artist for more than ten years, and a storyteller since she was a kid. 
Sam has a slightly unhealthy love for Frank Sinatra, classic movies, and Jazz and Blues music, but her first love will always be reading. From Romance, to Thrillers, to Historical Fiction and everything in between, she loves to become a part of the story. As a writer she tells the stories that she would want to read.



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Top Ten Tuesday: Summer TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme 


There are so many books I hope to get to this summer. 
Some new releases, some older... but I'm excited for them all!

Until It Fades - K.A. Tucker | Good Boy - Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy | Alex, Approximately - Jenn Bennett
Wish You Were Here - Renee Carlino | Anna and the French Kiss - Stephanie Perkins
All Closed Off - Cora Carmack | Who Do You Love - Jennifer Weiner | The Edge of Never - J.A. Redmerski
Under the Lights - Abbi Glines | Amour Amour - Krista & Becca Ritchie


What's at the top of your Summer TBR?  

The Sunday Post #56


The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
It's a chance to share news - a post to recap the past week on your blog, 
showcase books and things we have received, and share news about what is
coming up on your blog in the week ahead. You can find the info here:

We got some much-needed rain today and more is on the way. Wildfires in the surrounding areas have been impacting our air quality for weeks (smoke and ash in the air) so hopefully the rain will go a long way in helping the firefighters.

The Husband and I went to see Everything Everything today. It fell into the good-not-great category for me. I felt like it was missing the charm of the book but that was to no fault of the actors (Amandla Stenberg and Nick Robinson were wonderful). I just wasn't a fan of some of the earlier scenes and wished Maddy and Olly's text conversations had been presented differently.But it was still a pretty solid adaptation. Did anyone else go see it this weekend?

 
Tuesday, May 16
Best in Books | April 2017

Wednesday, May 17
Top 5 Wednesday:
Books with a Summer Vibe

Friday, May 19
Review:
Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones


FINISHED:
Making Faces - Amy Harmon

CURRENT
Torn (Wicked Saga #2) - Jennifer L. Armentrout
Vision in Silver (AUDIO) - Anne Bishop
A Court of Mist and Fury (AUDIO) - Sarah J. Maas
(A little refresher before I dive into ACOWAR)

PHYSICAL BOOKS:
The Crown's Fate - Evelyn Skye
(Because I've been waiting for almost a year)
The Upside of Unrequited - Becky Albertalli
(Because I just had to have a physical copy - in addition to the e-arc)

KINDLE BOOKS:
 
How to Save a Life - Emma Scott
(Because it sounds so intriguing)
Like a Memory - Abbi Glines
(Because it's Abbi Glines)



How was your week? Any new books? Any news to share? 
You know I want to hear about it! :)