Review: Most of All You by Mia Sheridan

MOST OF ALL YOU

by Mia Sheridan
Publication date: October 17, 2017
Format: Paperback/Kindle
Source: Purchased
5 Stars

A broken woman . . .

Crystal learned long ago that love brings only pain. Feeling nothing at all is far better than being hurt again. She guards her wounded heart behind a hard exterior and carries within her a deep mistrust of men, who, in her experience, have only ever used and taken.

A man in need of help . . .

Then Gabriel Dalton walks into her life. Despite the terrible darkness of his past, there's an undeniable goodness in him. And even though she knows the cost, Crystal finds herself drawn to Gabriel. His quiet strength is wearing down her defenses and his gentle patience is causing her to question everything she thought she knew.

Only love can mend a shattered heart . . .

Crystal and Gabriel never imagined that the world, which had stolen everything from them, would bring them a deep love like this. Except fate will only take them so far, and now the choice is theirs: Harden their hearts once again or find the courage to shed their painful pasts.


GOODREADS | AMAZON | AUDIBLE




The more I read from Mia Sheridan the more I am convinced that she is incapable of writing anything that I will not love. Granted, I’ll also be weeping, devastated, and emotionally traumatized… but I’ll still love it. Most of All You was no exception and, as I’m writing this review, it is my first (and only) five star read of the year so far.

There are many reasons why this book impacted me the way it did, and why I immediately gave it five stars when I so rarely do that. But the main reason is this: Gabriel Dalton. Sheridan has a knack at creating soft, sweet heroes and Gabriel was all that and more. He was shy and sweet; kind and generous. He was loving, hopeful, optimistic, endearing, and utterly precious. There was an innocence and purity to Gabriel that was surprising considering what he had been through at such a young age, and it was the fact that he could maintain those qualities and remain so kind and loving that made him so special.


Sometimes we wore such hurtful, limiting labels in this life, whether they’d been assigned by others or by ourselves. I’d felt damaged and ruined once, but I didn’t anymore. I was still a work in progress, but I wasn’t a victim. I was a survivor. – Gabriel


Crystal was a character who had suffered loss at a young age and been dealt some cruel circumstances. Working at a strip club to support herself, she had no faith in men and trusted no one. People, especially men, used you, abused you, or abandoned you. She put on an act to get through the nights, but it wasn’t until Gabriel Dalton walked into her life that she felt truly seen. Despite her attempts to push him away, a twist of fate brought them even closer together.


I’d never dared to dream because in my mind, dreams never came true. It was too painful to dream, to hope for what could never be and for what I didn’t trust myself to obtain. - Crystal


Watching these two damaged souls reach for each other and find comfort and solace and understanding in one another was breathtakingly beautiful. Crystal was outwardly brave and resilient but inwardly she would do anything, even deny herself a chance at happiness, to avoid being hurt yet again. Watching her slowly discover her own worth made me want to cheer for her. Gabriel’s quiet confidence, and his willingness to bare his heart to this young woman who had every reason not to trust, helped to create a beautiful, slow-burning romance that was so tender, yet so powerful.


And you, most of all you. You get my heart. You. And, God, I hope you want it. But if you don't, I still won't regret giving it to you. Even then, I won't regret loving you because it means I win. - Gabriel


It's worth mentioning, that at first the chapter headings didn’t make any sense to me. Interesting quotes from oddly-named characters. By the time I understood the meaning, and the representation, I was a sobbing mess. That was an aspect that was so emotional and will stay with me. (Just thinking about it makes my eyes get teary and my heart go to mush.)


Most of All You was an incredible and moving story of healing, of moving on, and finding peace with your life. Mia Sheridan has a way of making characters feel completely real, as if she’s relating a true story, and it’s impossible not to feel their pain and their struggles. But there’s also a healthy dose of hope, acceptance, and truly swoony romance. Simply put, Most of All You was unforgettable. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐



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Covers link to GoodReads

WWW Wednesday #112 | April 27, 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?

      

The Summer Place - Jennifer Weiner
Kiss and Don't Tell (Vancouver Agitators #1) - Meghan Quinn

Currently reading: While I'm now invested in The Summer Place, it got off to a slow start 
for me. I enjoy the multiple points of view but there was a lot of background for each 
character given early on and I just wanted the story to move forward instead of going 
back. Moving into the second half, it definitely feels like the momentum is picking up. 
Current progress: 49%

Currently listening: Diving into a Meghan Quinn novel is always a good feeling because
I know I'm in for a good time. I only started Kiss and Don't Tell  this morning but I'm 
already loving this group of guys. (This cover is pretty cringey - the garish colors, the pose - 
so I'm glad I'm listening to the audio version and don't have to see it. Ugh.)
Current progress: 4%

WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?

      

Once We Were Starlight - Mia Sheridan ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Crowbones (The Others #8/The World of The Others #3) - Anne Bishop ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recently read: The synopsis of this one grabbed me from the start and I was drawn in
from the very beginning. The story unfolded in ways I didn't expect and was heartbreaking 
and emotional. Loved it.

Recently listened to: Hooray for being back in the world of The Others! It was a long wait 
for Crowbones and I was so ready to immerse myself in life at the Jumble, Lake Silence, 
and the town of Sproing. Cameos from the Lakeside Courtyard was icing on this 
delicious cake.

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'LL READ NEXT?


My Famous Frenemy (The Greene Family #6) - Piper Rayne

With two new books in the Greene Family series on the way, I'm ready
to dive back in and get caught up.


WHAT ARE YOU READING TODAY?

Top Ten Tuesday: Pucker Up, Buttercup | Books with Kissing on the Cover

 

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


This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic: 
Pucker Up, Buttercup!
Books with Kissing on the Cover

It's no secret that I love romance. I read contemporary romance almost exclusively. 
And even when I (very rarely) stray from that genre, there better be a romance element somewhere to keep me invested. :) So when I saw that this week's prompt was Books With _____ on the Cover, it was a no-brainer. Bring on all the kissy covers! 💋


Once We Were Starlight - Mia Sheridan
Still - Kennedy Ryan
True North - Amy Knupp
In the Penalty Box - Lynn Rush & Kelly Anne Blount
Breaking the Rules - Katie McGarry
White Hot Kiss - Jennifer L. Armentrout
Fireworks - Sarina Bowen
Tied - Carian Cole
All Your Perfects - Colleen Hoover

Have you read any of these books?

Review: Crowbones by Anne Bishop

CROWBONES

by Anne Bishop
Publication date: March 8, 2022
Series: The Others #8 | The World of The Others #3
Format: Audio
Source: Audible
4 Stars

In this engrossing and gripping fantasy set in the world of the New York Times bestselling Others series, an inn owner and her friends must find a killer-before it's too late....

Crowbones will gitcha if you don't watch out!

Deep in the territory controlled by the Others-shape-shifters, vampires, and even deadlier paranormal beings-Vicki DeVine has made a new life for herself running The Jumble, a rustic resort. When she decides to host a gathering of friends and guests for Trickster Night, at first everything is going well between the humans and the Others.

But then someone arrives dressed as Crowbones, the Crowgard bogeyman. When the impostor is killed along with a shape-shifting Crow, and the deaths are clearly connected, everyone fears that the real Crowbones may have come to The Jumble-and that could mean serious trouble.

To "encourage" humans to help them find some answers, the Elders and Elementals close all the roads, locking in suspects and victims alike. Now Vicki, human police chief Grimshaw, vampire lawyer Ilya Sanguinati, and the rest of their friends have to figure out who is manipulating events designed to pit humans against Others-and who may have put Vicki DeVine in the crosshairs of a powerful hunter.


GOODREADS | AMAZON | AUDIBLE




It’s too bad Anne Bishop can’t write as fast as I can read, because I would happily keep reading about The Others book after book. It’s been three years since the last book in the series (Wild Country), so I was more than ready to dive back into this world that has so thoroughly captured my imagination.

Don’t matter if you caw,
Don’t matter if you shout.
Crowbones will gitcha
If you don’t watch out!


Vicki DeVine has a full house at her inn on Trickster Night. Amid pizza and handing out treats, no one was prepared for who showed up – a human dressed as Crowbones, the Crowgard’s version of the bogeyman. The crows are terrified, the guests are rattled, and the trickster is found dead. This sets into motion a series of events that draws the attention of the Elders – and a Hunter that has its own brand of justice.

I was sucked right into the happenings at Lake Silence and the nearby town of Sproing. Familiar characters from the previous book set at Lake Silence were there, as well as plenty of new faces. And the small cameos from beloved characters at the Lakeside Courtyard made my heart swell and put a huge smile on my face.

The short chapters switched POV between several main characters and kept the story fresh and interesting as events were seen through different eyes. I continue to be fascinated by the Sanguinati (vampires) and was happy to see their presence increased in this entry. Bishop does a great job at balancing tense scenes with lighter moments and I love the humor that often comes from interactions between Vicki and the terra indigene (The Others). Some of my favorite moments included The Five - Elders who have taken an interest in Vicki and the happenings at her inn.

Alexandra Harris, who has voiced all eight books in the series, returns to narrate Crowbones and I enjoyed her familiar voice(s) just as much as I enjoyed returning to the world of The Others. Every single voice is distinctive, and I always knew which character was speaking.

Crowbones was an exciting, entertaining mystery wrapped in an urban fantasy setting and I enjoyed it from start to finish. Fingers crossed that it won’t be another three years until I can return to the World of The Others.

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Covers link to GoodReads




The Sunday Post #285 | April 17, 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
 
This week didn't feel so busy and overwhelming (work-wise) so that was a relief. The only downside was that there were AC problems in my office. It's was in the 80's every day this week, so not a good time for the AC to go on the fritz. (Not like there's ever a good time.) Anytime I walked out of my office to go to another part of the building it was instant relief. I worked in the office Monday-Wednesday but by Thursday I was done. I left around lunchtime and finished the day working from home. I didn't bother going in on Friday and just worked from home again. Fingers crossed that it will be fixed when I go in tomorrow!

Speaking of work/the office, on Wednesday a longtime co-worker died from Covid. He was only 47 years old and left behind a wife and two young daughters. It was shocking and heartbreaking and such a reminder that Covid is still very much a threat. 

In better news, my sister who has Covid seems to have turned a corner and is showing some improvement. I'm so, so relieved. 

This week's feel-good news: a police department in California is performing random acts of kindness. This month they're hitting up local gas stations and helping drivers offset the high gas prices. Next month they'll be at grocery stores. How great is that? :)

I'm feeling a Prince vibe today so we're going with one of my favorites from The Purple One, Mountains (1986). Enjoy!



O N   T H E   B L O G
 
Tuesday, April 12

Wednesday, April 13

Friday, April 15

W H A T   I   R E A D
 

Challenge by Amy Daws - ⭐⭐⭐⭐


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

Physical book: Once We Were Starlight by Mia Sheridan
Audio book: Crowbones by Anne Bishop

N E W   A D D I T I O N S
 
KINDLE BOOKS


Falling Embers (Tattered & Torn #2) by Catherine Cowles


T O T A L L Y   R A N D O M
 


HOW WAS YOUR WEEK?
I'D LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT IT!

Short Take Reviews: The Best Men | Second Chance Summer | True North

 


by Sarina Bowen & Lauren Blakely
Pub date: January 18, 2022
Format: Audio

Sarina Bowen is a perennial favorite so diving into any Bowen release is a treat. Sexy-nerdy, single father Mark has been tasked with overseeing the details of his younger sister’s destination wedding. No problem, right? Except planning right alongside him is Asher, the groom’s devastatingly hot best friend. Mark took an instant dislike to Asher and was the personification of grumpy and difficult. But his attraction to Asher, the sultry Miami setting, and Asher’s teasing and flirting all combined to change their dynamic in surprising ways.

To put it simply, I loved these guys. Early on there were times that I wanted to tell Mark to get over it and drop his need to clash with Asher. He seemed to hold Asher’s looks and confidence against him as if were a personal affront. LOL When they moved past their initial snarky banter and started to really get to know one another I was all in. The Best Men delivered the full package: passion, humor, and heart. The cherry on top was the narration from my favorite dynamic duo: Teddy Hamilton and Jacob Morgan. *chef’s kiss* 4.25 STARS
by Kait Nolan
Pub date: May 26, 2017
Format: eBook

Surviving a horrific car accident, Audrey was lucky to be alive. Told she would likely never walk again, she endured countless surgeries and physical therapy and proved them wrong. With a second lease on life, she decides to attempt a nostalgic summer camp for adults. Coincidentally, it’s there she meets Hudson, the firefighter who pulled her from the wreckage two years ago. Hudson is dealing with a heavy dose of survivor’s guilt, having lost two members of his team in a structure fire.

This was a sweet story of two people providing unconditional support and acceptance to one another and understanding each other’s trauma in a way that others could not. Audrey’s optimism and joie de vivre was the perfect antidote to Hudson’s grief and guilt. At barely 200 pages there wasn’t a lot of time to develop the relationship, and everything seemed to happen very quickly, but this was still a satisfying tale of healing and leaving the past behind. 3.25 STARS


by Amy Knupp
Pub date: April 29, 2021
Format: Audio

As the owner of a home renovation company, Sierra knows it is difficult enough being a woman in a profession dominated by men, so she’s always careful to maintain a professional distance from her crew. Even so, when she needs a plus-one to a family wedding, her foreman Cole offers to fill that role. When the evening ends with a family crisis, Cole realizes that having Sierra by his side was a step away from the lonely life he’d been living.

I found myself way more interested and invested in Cole’s story than Sierra’s. Sierra’s main issue was exploring a relationship with a trusted employee but beyond that I didn’t feel there was much backstory or character development. Cole, on the other hand, was a complicated character with a lot of baggage. With a sky-high IQ, he still struggled with people and relationships. When he chose to walk away from a college scholarship and follow his own path, he felt the weight of his family’s expectations and he pulled away and became quite the loner. It was his story that kept me interested and, while the romance was enjoyable, it fell a bit short for me. Overall, a worthwhile read. 3.5 STARS


HAVE YOU READ ANY OF THESE BOOKS?

WWW Wednesday #111 | April 13, 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?

Does anyone know what's up with Bloglovin'?
I haven't been able to access my feed for a week now. And because 95% of my blog visiting is done via Bloglovin'... I'm kind of dead in the water when it comes to keeping on top of everyone's posts. I subscribe to maybe 3 or 4 blogs via email but everything else is via Bloglovin'. All I've gotten for the last week is "Sorry this page isn't available." I've tried logging out, tried different browsers, and more. But I get the same thing no matter if I'm on my desktop or a tablet. I put in a ticket, but yeah... not holding out a lot of hope there. 


WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

      

Once We Were Starlight - Mia Sheridan
Crowbones (The Others #8/The World of The Others #3) - Anne Bishop


Currently reading: Mia Sheridan never disappoints so it's no surprise I'm loving this one. 
Current progress: page 110 of 354 (30%)

Currently listening: It's been a looong time between books in this addictive series. I'm barely into this one but I'm excited to be back in this world.
Current progress: 5%

WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?

      

Baden - Sawyer Bennett ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Challenge - Amy Daws ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recently read: Baden was my first by Sawyer Bennett and I really enjoyed it. I had a few quibbles with the male POV feeling too similar to the female POV, but the story itself really grabbed me.

Recently listened to: I listened to Challenge on audio and it was totally the way to go. The duet narration made it that much more enjoyable and immersive, and it was an all-around good time.

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'LL READ NEXT?


The Summer Place - Jennifer Weiner


WHAT ARE YOU READING TODAY?