Top Ten Tuesday: Most Anticipated Books | Second Half of 2020

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.
This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic: 
Most Anticipated Releases | Second Half of 2020

Not only am I hopeful that the second half of 2020 is better than the first half (a girl can dream, right?), I'm also looking forward to the rest of 2020 for these awesome new releases. *cue the grabby hands* 


JULY
Heart Bones - Colleen Hoover | July 28
The Mall - Megan McCafferty | July 28

AUGUST
Invisible Girl - Lisa Jewell | August 6
That Swoony Feeling - Meghan Quinn | August 6
The One for Me - Corinne Michaels | August 18

SEPTEMBER
Well Played - Jen DeLuca | Sept 22
Lies & Lullabies - Sarina Bowen | Sept 22

OCTOBER
In a Holidaze - Christina Lauren | Oct 6
The Brightest Night - Jennifer L. Armentrout | Oct 20

DECEMBER
Layla - Colleen Hoover | Dec 8

What upcoming release are you most excited for?


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The Sunday Post #214


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:
Sunday Post Meme

  • Florida is continuing to have record-setting numbers of positive COVID-19 cases. The governor's rush to reopen the state is blowing up in his face.
  • Staring tomorrow my company is shifting to a voluntary WFH operation. I just returned to the office on June 1 and most did not come back until June 15. And now here we are going right back to working from home. It is voluntary but I am sure there will be many that take that option. For those that continue to work in the office there will be plenty of changes: all break rooms are closed, face masks must be worn anytime you step away from your immediate work area, any travel must be reported to your manager in advance and you must self-quarantine after. 
  • The Husband and I received some news this week that was much needed and eased our minds. We popped open some bubbly last night to celebrate. :)
  • This week's 80's music fix is I Knew You Were Waiting For Me (1987) by George Michael and Aretha Franklin. They paired up and made such a great song.
WHAT I COMPLETED IN THE LAST WEEK:
WHAT I'M CURRENTLY READING: 
    
     

Inked - Sarah Darlington
Perfect Love Story - Natasha Madison

eARCS FOR REVIEW:

I think I've requested/read maybe two ARCs this entire year (one by Katie McGarry back in February and one from Sarina Bowen in the spring), and now all of a sudden I find myself with three requests and approvals in the same week. I rarely request ARCs but these three spoke to me and the pub dates are spaced out so I went for it.


In a Holidaze - Christina Lauren
Inked - Sarah Darlington
The Mall - Megan McCafferty






How was your week? Any new books? Any news to share? 
I'd love to hear about it!
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Short Take Reviews: That Second Chance, That Forever Girl, That Secret Crush


I've seen Meghan Quinn's books around for a long time but never felt led to pick them up. Many seemed to fall into the zany/slapstick humor side of romance which just isn't my thing. But when I came across her Getting Lucky series I was immediately interested. They seemed to be more my style - contemporary romance without the heavy rom-com aspect. There's still plenty of humor, but there's also a solid story that's character-focused with a big helping of family in a small town setting. These really hit the spot! So here are my short and sweet thoughts on the first three books in the Getting Lucky series.

    

THAT SECOND CHANCE by Meghan Quinn | 4 STARS
That Second Chance was the perfect mix of funny and heartfelt, sweet and sexy. I was pulled in from the very start because Quinn created two main characters that were so incredibly likable. Ren had come to the small town of Port Snow to start a new life. It started with a bang when she had to be rescued by Griffin on her first day there as she’s driving into town. I loved the way these two danced around each other at first. Ren was clearly interested and tried her best to let that be known. And poor Griffin, though obviously interested himself, had experienced a loss that made him hesitant to move forward. I loved the easy way this story flowed. It was clear these two belonged together and even though there were some hiccups along the way, it was low-angst and drama-free. Griffin was just such a good man – kind, compassionate, generous with his time – and it was refreshing to read about a hero who wasn’t cocky or overly alpha and was just genuinely a good guy. The small town of Port Snow, Maine felt almost like another character in the story and I finished this one already interested in returning for more.

Rogan was something of an enigma in the first book in this series (That Second Chance) so I was excited to get his story. And what a story it was. As his back story unfolded, from both his perspective and Harper’s, over the course of the book, I became heartsick over what had happened to him in the past and they way it altered him and the course of his life. His relationship with Harper, his lifelong friend and high school/college sweetheart, had ended badly and now that she is back in Port Snow he is forced to deal with his past and how it shaped him. I loved that while Harper tried to protect her heart, she never denied that she was still very much in love with Rogan. Harper’s return was the impetus Rogan needed to let go of the anger and the bitterness he harbored. When he decided to pursue Harper and rekindle their romance, he really pulled out all the stops! This guy knew how to make some romantic gestures. This was such a heartfelt second-chance romance with two characters who truly felt like soulmates. I enjoy how involved the whole Knightly clan is in the lives of everyone in the family (they’re total meddlers). Once again, I was totally charmed by Port Snow and all who live there.

While I enjoyed this third entry in the Getting Lucky series, it wasn’t as strong as the previous two books for me and didn’t have the same sexy-sweet emotional pull. Reid had experienced a big career setback a couple years previously and took a serious punch to his self-confidence. While that was understandable, he tended to wallow in his feelings of failure and self-loathing and it got old. On the other hand, Eve was a rock star. She was a woman who knew her own worth and was not willing to settle. She was mature and faced things head on. She was dealt a pretty hard hand in life but, unlike Reid, she rose to the occasion and became stronger for it. The patience she had with Reid was impressive because with the way he ran hot and cold with her I wouldn’t have blamed her for cutting her losses and walking away. Oh, and Eve’s brother and the demands he made were so out of line. I really wanted to give him a swift kick. Thankfully, between Eve’s ability to focus on the positive and work for what she wanted, and the amazing Knightly family, this ended up being an enjoyable story, even when I wasn’t fully on board with Reid. 


Have you read any of these books?


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WWW Wednesday #93 | June 24, 2020


WWW Wednesdays is a meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words.
Just answer three questions and share what you're reading.


I purchased a grill pan on Saturday. A basic Calphalon grill pan from Target. And it made me positively giddy. I used it on Sunday to grill some sourdough bread for the open-faced egg salad sandwiches I was making. And I was joyful. Over a grill pan. Adulting is still a strange thing, friends. :) 


WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

     

Losing the Field (The Field Party #4) - Abbi Glines
Perfect Love Story - Natasha Madison

Currently reading: After finishing The Kingmaker I needed something light and, for lack of a better word, brainless. Something by Abbi Glines fits that bill perfectly. (And I swear I don't mean that in a bad way.) My Overdrive hold notification Losing the Field came through right after I finished The Kingmaker last night so it seemed as if the universe had spoken. 
Current progress: 2%

Currently listening: I've been meaning to try something by Natasha Madison for a long time and yesterday I noticed that Hoopla had several of her books on audio. I started Perfect Love Story last night and I'm already hooked. After the sudden death of her husband, Hailey finds out that he had another wife and family. The more she learns, the worse it seems. This girl desperately needs a fresh start!
Current progress: 14%

WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?
Read: That Secret Crush wasn't my favorite in the Getting Lucky series but it was still great to return to the small town of Port Snow and all the residents there. I just love the Knightly family. And main character Eve was a total boss!

Read/Listened to: I finished The Kingmaker and sat there stunned. I mean, that was the mother of all cliffhangers (quite literally - if you've read it you know what I mean). While not my favorite from Kennedy Ryan, it was still so, so good. That woman knows how to weave a tale that always has me fully invested. I'm having a little "breather book" in between, but my very next read will likely be the second book in this duet.
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'LL READ NEXT?
  
     

My plan is to start The Rebel King next but I'm also expecting an ARC of Inked any day now, so it will almost certainly be one of these.

What are you currently reading?
I wanna know! :)

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Top Ten Tuesday: Series I Want to Catch Up On

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.
This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic: 
Series I Want to Catch Up On

This week's prompt is something of a freebie in celebration of the 10th anniversary of Top Ten Tuesday. I just recently went through GoodReads and made a list (any excuse for a list!) of the series that I want to catch up on/finish. Sounds like perfect timing to use that  as this week's TTT prompt.


The Wicked Trilogy - Jennifer L. Armentrout
Read: Wicked, Torn
Need to Read: Brave, The Prince (novella), The King (novella)

Cake Series - J. Bengtsson
Read: Cake
Need to Read: The Theory of Second Best, Fiercely Emma, The Newlyweds, Rogue Wave

In the Company of Killers Series - J.A. Redmerski
Read: Killing Sarai
Need to Read: Reviving Izabel, The Swan & the Jackal, Seeds of Iniquity, The Black Wolf, Behind the Hands That Kill, Spiders in the Grove

Game On Series - Kristen Callihan
Read: The Hook Up
Need to Read: The Friend Zone, The Game Plan, The Hot Shot

The Ivy Years - Sarina Bowen
Read: The Year We Fell Down
Need to Read: The Year We Hid Away, The Understatement of the Year, The Shameless Hour, The Fifteenth Minute

Jamison Valley Series - Devney Perry
Read: The Coppersmith Farmhouse, The Clover Chapel
Need to Read: The Lucky Heart, The Outpost, The Bitterroot Inn, The Candle Palace

Off-Campus Series - Elle Kennedy
Read: The Deal
Need to Read: The Mistake, The Score, The Goal

The Ribbon Duet - Pepper Winters
Read: The Boy & His Ribbon, The Girl & Her Ren
Need to Read: The Son & His Hope

Getting Lucky Series - Meghan Quinn
Read: That Second Chance, That Forever Girl, That Secret Crush
Need to Read: That Swoony Feeling

Elements Series - Brittainy C. Cherry
Read: The Air He Breathes
Need to Read: The Fire Between High & Lo, The Silent Waters, The Gravity of Us


Have you read any of these series? 


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#CoverReveal : Inked by Sarah Darlington + #Giveaway


I'm so excited to be a part of Sarah Darlington's cover reveal for her upcoming release, Inked! Sarah wrote one of my all-time favorites, Kill Devil Hills. Noah and Georgie's story made such an impact on me and has really stayed with me over the years. Inked is also set in the Kill Devil Hills world but is a standalone novel. 

 You can pre-order your copy for only 99¢... and be sure to enter the giveaway below!

 COVER REVEAL!!!
Title: INKED
Author: Sarah Darlington
It all starts with a one-night stand...

AMANDA

Men like Nick should come with a warning label... don’t touch. He walked into the shop, smelling like heaven, wanting his first tattoo, and I should have refused his business. Because I knew the moment I set eyes on him, I didn’t stand a chance. Still, I fell down the rabbit-hole with him.

Now, he’s gone, moved on, and the result of our one-night stand is left growing inside me. I’ll probably never see this man again.

NICK

It was only supposed to be a little ink. A parting gift to myself from myself. Because when your girlfriend dumps you for a famous rockstar, you leave. You move on. You get the hell out of town and forget all about her. But I never counted on meeting Amanda before I left. Or the night we shared. Or the mark she left when she put her ink on my skin.

I have to go back. For her.

*INKED is a full-length standalone with a HEA.
PREORDER YOUR COPY FOR 99¢ HERE


PREORDER YOUR COPY FOR 99¢ HERE

Sarah Darlington

Sarah Darlington was born in Colorado and grew up all over the United States. These days, she calls Virginia home, where she lives with her husband, two kids, and large dog. The best word to describe Sarah is 'creative.' She's passionate about designing, crafting, and photography. But most of all... she loves creating stories through her writing. Her romance books are sexy and heart-gripping at their core, guaranteed to make you swoon. Any of them can be read as a stand-alone, but all are connected within the same world.
Facebook Group | Instagram | Bookbub | Goodreads
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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The Sunday Post #213


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:
Sunday Post Meme

  • Florida is all over the national news because of the spike in coronavirus infections. Over 3,800 new cases on Friday alone. And we are expected to be the next epicenter of the virus. So Governor DeSantis, how's that reopening plan working for you? *insert eye roll*
  • This was the first week at the office where everyone was supposed to return from working from home. I returned on the 1st and it had been fairly empty for those two weeks. It was strange this past week to actually see people in the hallways. I didn't venture outside of my office much (and I don't need to, really) so not much changed for me even with everyone returning to work. 
  • The Husband and I ventured out yesterday to do a bit of shopping. We went to the Exchange (department store) and Commissary (grocery store) on the Navy base and I'm much more comfortable shopping there since masks are mandatory to go inside any facility on base. And it's enforced. Yay, Navy! :)
  • I did a massive clean-out of my closet yesterday and it was so overdue. I got rid of anything that did not fit (I've been on a weight loss program since last fall) and it felt great to weed out all the items that are now too big (I'll donate them all). And it's fabulous to have a closet that isn't filled with clothes that I haven't touched in years or can no longer wear. 
  • This week's 80's music fix is Election Day (1985) by Arcadia. In the mid-80's, Duran Duran members split off to do side projects. A couple members had a band called The Power Station and the other members formed Arcadia. I always preferred Arcadia to The Power Station (who had a more rock sound). The video makes no sense (like most videos in the 80's) but I hardcore loved this song.
WHAT I COMPLETED IN THE LAST WEEK:
WHAT I'M CURRENTLY READING: 
    

The Kingmaker (All the King's Men Duet #1) - Kennedy Ryan


Not a thing!







How was your week? Any new books? Any news to share? 
I'd love to hear about it!
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Short Take Reviews: The Coppersmith Farmhouse, Cake, Until the End


Three books that run the gamut from good to fantastic. :)

  

THE COPPERSMITH FARMHOUSE by Devney Perry | 4.25 STARS
Devney Perry is one of those author’s I’d been meaning to read for quite a while. And when I finally picked up The Coppersmith Farmhouse, I was so glad I did. I easily fell into the story from the very first page and was charmed by the characters and by the small town setting. Gigi was starting over in a new town after a beautiful, fully restored farmhouse was left to her. While she and Jess, the town’s sheriff, got off to a rocky start it was obvious these two belonged together. Their approach was very different – Jess could be like a bull in a china shop (hello bossy alpha hero) and often spoke and reacted without pausing to think how it might come across – and that led to some arguments and hurt feelings. But there was also great banter and a lot of chemistry and Jess and Gigi were open and honest with each other. In addition to the romance there was also a subplot concerning drug trafficking in the town that added an element of suspense. I’m not usually a fan of kids in my romance books but Gigi’s four-year-old daughter, Rowen, was a doll and the relationship she and Jess formed melted my heart. I loved the push and pull between Gigi and Jess, their sweet but steamy romance, and the secondary characters in the small town. I can’t wait to continue the series and I consider Devney Perry a new favorite!

Where has this book – and this author – been all my life?! I had this one sitting in my Audible library for a solid year before I finally listened to it and now I’m kicking myself. Because I seriously loved it. Casey and Jake met when they were paired together at a wedding and their connection was quick and believable. In Casey, Jake found someone who saw past the rock star label and liked him for himself. And in Jake, Casey felt the freedom to be herself and Jake seemed to “get” her like no one else did. Casey was a down-to-earth girl who found herself falling for a guy who just happened to be a rock star. But Jake wasn’t just a rock star, he was also the guy who was known for being abducted as a kid and living to tell the tale. Except he doesn’t tell the tale – he shuts that part of his life out and refuses to talk about it. However, he carries scars from that experience, both physical and emotional, and they threaten any future he and Casey might have together.

I loved Casey and Jake’s journey and fell for their story hook, line and sinker. Bengtsson took the story deeper and darker than I expected and it made for an emotional reading experience, without ever dipping into melodrama. I shed some tears during this one, but it also provided plenty of humor and heart. The narration by Andi Arndt and Joe Arden was the icing on the cake (yeah, I went there). 

When it comes to my relationship with the Sea Breeze series the status would definitely be: it’s complicated. Because as many times as I rolled my eyes at the cheesy dialogue or railed at the character tropes that were repeated book after book, I was still hooked. These books are like crack and I kept coming back for more. In Until the End, I finally got Rock and Trisha’s story, which bounced between then and now chapters. They were the rock-solid couple all through the earlier books so it was great to get their back story and find out what they went through to finally become the steady married couple that everyone looked to as an example of a healthy, happy relationship. The fun part, though, was the epilogue that included a chapter for each couple in the series. Jax and Sadie were as obnoxious as ever (gag), but the others were entertaining snippets into how far the couples had come over the last few years.


Have you read any of these books?


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