WWW Wednesday #119 | October 19, 2022

 


WWW Wednesdays is hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words.
Just share your answers to three questions:
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you'll read next?


WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

        

 Kindle (eARC): Before I Let Go - Kennedy Ryan
Audio: A Little Too Wild - Devney Perry

Currently reading: Kennedy Ryan just hits on another level so it's no surprise that I am 
fully invested in Before I Let Go. Her writing, the way she can craft a sentence... 
sometimes it's like a gut punch and I have to stop and read a line several times just to 
take it all in. The grief and the hurt Yasmen and Josiah are feeling is almost palpable. 
I can't wait to see where this story goes.
Current progress: 45%

Currently listening: I thoroughly enjoyed the previous two books in the companion 
trilogy and was so ready for Crew's story in A Little Too Wild. It's still early on (I'm in 
the first third of the book), but I'm already pulling for Crew to make amends with his 
family and envision a life beyond his professional snowboarding career. It doesn't hurt 
that the chemistry between he and Raven is off the charts. :)
Current progress: 30%

WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?


Kindle (eARC): Fractured Sky by Catherine Cowles - ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

Recently read: I'd been waiting on Shiloh's story since the first book in the series and
Cowles did not disappoint. In fact, she saved the best for last. My review won't post until
the 27th, but suffice it to say that I seriously loved this one.

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'LL 
READ NEXT?


I arrived home yesterday to find that Amazon had delivered my pre-order of It Starts 
With Us. No big deal, only my most highly anticipated book of the year. :) I might have
hugged it. This will very likely be my next read... unless I do what I usually do and 
prolong the anticipation by refusing to read it for weeks (or months).


WHAT ARE YOU READING TODAY?
LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS!

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The Sunday Post #307 | October 16, 2022

 


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 share what's coming up on your blog in the week ahead.


T H E   W E E K   I N   R E V I E W
 
It's kind of blowing my mind that it's already mid-October. How did we get here?

I woke up Wednesday with upper back pain and that pretty much ruled the rest of my week. Nothing like back pain to remind you that your back muscles are responsible for virtually every move you make. Motrin, Icy Hot patches, and heating pads were my BFF's for several days.

For you seasonal readers, BookBub shared this list of books about witches. And for the romance readers (raises hand), here are their picks for the best romance releases this fall. My current read is on the list (Before I Let Go).

This week's 80's music fix is... not actually from the 80's. But I love me some Earth, Wind & Fire and September (from 1978) is a song that never fails to put me in a good mood. I saw Earth, Wind & Fire in concert several years ago and they still put on an amazing show. Enjoy!



O N   T H E   B L O G
 
Tuesday, October 11

Thursday, October 13
Review: A Little Too Close by Rebecca Yarros


W H A T   I   R E A D
 
     
     

Kindle (eARC): A Little Too Close by Rebecca Yarros  - ★★★★.25
Audio: When in Rome by Sarah Adams - ★★★★
Kindle (eARC): Fractured Sky by Catherine Cowles - ★★★★.5
Kindle: Rough & Tumble by Frankie Love - ★★.5


C U R R E N T L Y   R E A D I N G
 

Kindle (eARC): Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan


N E W   A D D I T I O N S
 

Kindle: Crash Into You by J.H. Croix


T O T A L L Y   R A N D O M



HOW WAS YOUR WEEK?
I'D LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT IT!
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Review: A Little Too Close by Rebecca Yarros #BlogTour #NewRelease

   

   
I was thrilled when I learned that Rebecca Yarros was once again teaming with Sarina Bowen and Devney Perry to collaborate on a companion trilogy. A Little Too Close is out now and is full of small town, single parent, grumpy-sunshine goodness. ♥♥♥


From USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Yarros comes a small town, single parent romance.

Nine years ago, Weston Madigan saved me. I came to Colorado penniless, heartbroken, and pregnant, searching for a fresh start. Weston gave me a job at his family’s resort, then left the next day and never returned, not even to visit.

Then I stumble in on Weston cooking breakfast shirtless—gloriously, inappropriately shirtless—in the shared kitchen of my duplex in employee housing. Given the shock on both our faces, he wasn’t expecting a roommate either, let alone two.

The growly pilot is only home to start his family’s new heli-skiing operation. I can handle being his temporary roommate, right? Chemistry and attraction aren’t impossible to ignore when you agree on ground rules. Besides, even with those gorgeous, brooding brown eyes, the guy is a walking thundercloud…until my daughter, Sutton, makes him laugh and he smiles at me. Then everything changes. Cue inconvenient heart flip.

This is only temporary.
I can’t fall for Weston.
I. Will. Not. Fall. For. Weston.
But rules go out the window when you’re a little too close. 

NOW AVAILABLE! 

Find all of the Madigan Brothers books Here: https://amzn.to/3BYCQ6f          


Callie has worked at Madigan Mountain ski resort as the staff photographer for a decade, ever since Weston Madigan took a chance and hired her as a desperate and pregnant eighteen-year-old. The next day he was gone – and never returned. That is until Callie walks into her duplex in the employee housing section of the family-owned resort and found Weston standing in her kitchen. A mix-up leads to them becoming roommates, along with Callie’s ten-year-old daughter, Sutton. A list of house rules is sure to keep things simple and they are both determined to keep their distance. But the chemistry and attraction between Callie and Weston means those rules go right out the window.

Callie was a single mom who was determined to give Sutton both stability and adventure, and ensure that Sutton never felt she had held Callie back. Weston’s memories of Madigan Mountain were tainted by his mother’s illness and the aftermath of her death. Feeling abandoned by both his father and older brother, Weston was the one left to look after his younger brother, until he finally left himself. Callie and Weston together were a perfect grumpy-sunshine pairing and I loved how they balanced one another. Neither was looking for a relationship, but there was no denying the initial attraction and the slow build of a friendship and then relationship.

One of my favorite aspects was Weston’s relationship with Sutton and the bond they formed. He championed Sutton and her dreams without ever overstepping boundaries or usurping Callie’s role as the parent.

Weston was protective by nature and did not hesitate to sacrifice for those in his life, and that came to include Callie. He was so intent on seeing her fulfill her own dreams, even at the expense of her own happiness. It was hard not to appreciate Weston, because even if he didn’t always get it right, his heart was in the right place.

A Little Too Close is the second book in the Madigan Mountain companion series and while it can be read as a stand-alone, I recommend also reading A Little Too Late. (Why would you not?) Yarros delivered characters that I loved and who were easy to connect with and pull for their happily ever after. I’m anxious to return to Madigan Mountain yet again with the final book in this engaging series. ★★★★

Note: I was provided an advance reader copy by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not impact my opinion of the book or the content of this review.



                

  
About the Author: 

Rebecca Yarros is the USA Today bestselling author of over fifteen novels, including The Things We Leave Unfinished and The Last Letter. “A gifted storyteller” (Kirkus), she is also the recipient of the Colorado Romance Writer’s Award of Excellence for Eyes Turned Skyward from her Flight and Glory series. Rebecca loves military heroes and has been blissfully married to hers for over twenty years. She’s the mother of six children, and is currently surviving the teenage years with three of her four hockey-playing sons. When she’s not writing, you can find her at the hockey rink or sneaking in some guitar time while guzzling coffee. She and her family live in Colorado with their stubborn English bulldogs, two feisty chinchillas, and a Maine Coon kitten named Artemis, who rules them all. Having fostered then adopted their youngest daughter who is nonverbal and on the autism spectrum, Rebecca is passionate about helping children in the foster system through her nonprofit, One October, which she co-founded with her husband in 2019. To learn more about their mission to better the lives of kids in foster care, visit www.oneoctober.org.   To catch up on Rebecca’s latest releases and upcoming novels visit www.RebeccaYarros.com.     

Connect w/Rebecca: 



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Top Ten Tuesday: My Favorite Books of Summer 2022

 

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

This Week's Top Ten Tuesday Topic:
My Favorite Reads of Summer 2022
 
This week's topic is actually books I read on vacation, but I have no idea which books I read on past vacations and couldn't be bothered to try and figure it out. So I'm going rogue (yes, again) and sharing my favorite reads of this summer. Much easier to figure out since a quick Google search tells me that summer was June 21 thru September 22. Hello, Goodreads? What books did I read between those dates? Easy peasy. A couple of these books I have reviewed but most I have not. My review game has been weak this year. *shrugs* 


Carrie Soto is Back - Taylor Jenkins Reid  5 ★
I've had just two five star reads this year and it was no surprise to me that one of them came courtesy of Taylor Jenkins Reid.

Don't Kiss the Bride - Carian Cole  4.5 ★
This forbidden, age gap romance was right up my alley. Skylar and Jude's journey was an emotional rollercoaster that I loved.

Kulti - Mariana Zapata  4.5 ★
It took me a while to warm to Reiner Kulti, but when I did I was all in. The super slow burn between he and Sal gave me all the feelings.

Love Lessons - Sarina Bowen  4.25 ★
Sarina Bowen never disappoints and returning to her Brooklyn series was like reuniting with old friends. 

Under Locke - Mariana Zapata  4.5 ★
The delicious slow burn, the feelings kept under wraps, the things left unsaid... Zapata is the master of it all and I was there for it.

Gage - Sawyer Bennett  4.25 ★
Bennett's Pittsburgh Titans series took me completely by surprise with its emotional stories. Gage proved to be an unforgettable hero.

Knotted - Pam Godwin  4.5 ★
Knotted surprised me in the best of ways with (questionably) good characters doing some really bad things. It was dark and twisted and I loved it.

Shattered Sea - Catherine Cowles  4.25 ★
Catherine Cowles is a new favorite in 2022 and her Tattered & Torn series hooked me from the start. Shattered Sea delivered the perfect mix of romance and suspense.

Reason to Believe - Rebecca Yarros  4.5 ★
Leave it to Rebecca Yarros to be one of the few authors who can bring me to tears (not choked up, but actual tears). I adored this story and didn't want it to end.

The Family Remains - Lisa Jewell  4.5 ★
I very rarely delve into mystery/suspense/thrillers, but when I do it's usually because Lisa Jewell has a new release. The Family Remains was a stunning, page-turning follow up to The Family Upstairs. 


Have you read any of these books?

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The Sunday Post #306 | October 9, 2022

 

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 share what's coming up on your blog in the week ahead.


T H E   W E E K   I N   R E V I E W

Monday started in the Mondayist of ways. The spring on the garage door broke which meant the garage door would not open. And since it's made of steel, it's way too heavy to open manually. I was able to take The Husband's truck to the office (it had already been moved to the driveway) and he waited at home until the repairman arrived. A few hours (and $400) later it was fixed. Sometimes adulting is no fun, amiright? 

Tuesday I worked from home in the morning and was off in the afternoon for an appointment (yearly mammogram). Again... adulting... no fun. 😉

The rest of the week was busy but uneventful. Yesterday's big outing was a trip to Walgreens for our flu vaccines.

I don't usually share animal content because I was born without the gene that makes me ooh and ahh over animals and babies. (If you do have that gene I hope you visit Sam's Sunday Posts because she almost always has a cute animal video to share.) But anyway, this one touched even my cold heart. lol The crying baby sloth was reunited with its mother. They were separated after being evacuated from a wildfire. 😭😭


This week's 80's music fix Life in a Northern Town (1985) from The Dream Academy. Love this one. I always thought it had a kind of Beatles-esque sound. Enjoy!



O N   T H E   B L O G
 
Tuesday, October 4

Thursday, October 6
Short Take Reviews: Reason to Believe & Husband Material


W H A T   I   R E A D
 
     

eARC: One Last Gift by Emily Stone - ★★★
Audio: Dirty Secret (Slayers Hockey #1) by Mira Lynn Kelly - ★★★★

I thoroughly enjoyed Stone's Always in December last year and was excited for One Last Gift. Unfortunately, it didn't work for me. The pacing was incredibly slow, too little happened, and when something did finally happen it felt like too little, too late. It took me a week and a half to read this one and I just wanted to finish it and move on. (Kudos to Sam who told me: "You should have just DNF'd it." You're right, you're right... ) Anyway, I probably will not review it. Suffice it to say, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

When looking for something light and easy to listen to, I naturally gravitated to a hockey romance. Dirty Secret was my first by Mira Lyn Kelly and it was an entertaining read. There was one character I truly did not like (the female MC's brother was insufferable) but otherwise it was fun and I'll continue the series here and there.


C U R R E N T L Y   R E A D I N G
 
     

eARC: A Little Too Close - Rebecca Yarros
Audio: When in Rome - Sarah Adams


N E W   A D D I T I O N S
 
PURCHASED

     

Kindle: A Little Too Late - Sarina Bowen
I forgot to cancel my pre-order after I received an arc. No harm done. :)

Kindle: My Brother's Forbidden Friend - Piper Rayne
Another pre-order - and the final book in the series.

FOR REVIEW

      

eARC: A Little Too Close - Rebecca Yarros
ALC: Fractured Sky - Catherine Cowles

WON


I was happy to learn that I won Rachel's (Waves of Fiction) giveaway and she
sent me this copy of Love on the Brain. I'm so excited to read this one.
Thank you again, Rachel! :)


T O T A L L Y   R A N D O M
HOW WAS YOUR WEEK?
I'D LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT IT

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