WWW Wednesday #117 | August 31, 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?

      

Shattered Sea (Tattered & Torn #4) - Catherine Cowles

Don't Kiss the Bride - Carian Cole

Currently reading: The prologue of Shattered Sea had me crying. Less than 20 pages into

the book, and I was shedding actual tears. My goodness, how does Catherine Cowles do 

that?! How can she manage to break my heart in a few pages? 

Current progress: 54%

Currently listening: I'm still enjoying Don't Kiss the Bride. Oh boy, these chemistry and 

the attraction between Jude and Skylar practically sizzles. But I also love their friendship 

and their inside jokes and their little routines. Also, Aiden Snow's (aka Joe Arden) narration

of Jude is so, so good.

Current progress: 58%

WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?

My Fake Fiancé (Greene Family #8) by Piper Rayne - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recently read: I loved getting Mandi's story. And hooray for a plus-size character who appreciates her curvy figure and isn't trying to change it! I was worried about she and 

Noah because I didn't see how their lifestyles would mesh, but Piper Rayne made it 

happen, of course. The epilogue (and then the bonus content) provided an exciting 

set-up for the final book in the series!

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'LL READ NEXT?

      

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Help Me Remember by Corinne Michaels

I'm never sure what's up next, but both Carrie Soto is Back and Help Me Remember

are possibilities.

WHAT ARE YOU READING TODAY?

LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS! :)

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Romances With a College Setting

 

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

This Week's Top Ten Tuesday Topic:

Favorite Romances with a College Setting

This week's prompt is a school-related freebie. This would be perfect (and easy)

if I read YA (young adult), but I don't. It's also been a long while since I read 

any NA (new adult) but I'm still going with it. New adult was huge 8-10 years

ago and romances with a college setting seemed to be everywhere. (And maybe 

they still are and I just don't pay attention.) Here are some of my favorites.

Side note: Apparently couples almost kissing was the cover of choice 

a decade ago. 😘

FAVORITE ROMANCES

WITH A COLLEGE SETTING

Wait For You* - Jennifer L. Armentrout

I Want It That Way - Ann Aguirre

All Lined Up - Cora Carmack

The Year We Fell Down - Sarina Bowen

The Deal - Elle Kennedy

The Hook Up - Kristen Callihan

Losing It - Cora Carmack

Easy* - Tammara Webber

Undecided - Julianna Keyes

One Tiny Lie - K.A. Tucker

*Still an all-time favorite❤

Have you read any of these books?

The Sunday Post #300 | August 28, 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

Nothing exciting this week. An average week at the office and at home. I worked from home on Wednesday, just to break up the week. We had a repairman come to replace some fan in the refrigerator that was making noise so it's now quiet again. The Husband was out of town on Thursday for a shooting competition and came in 4th place. And that was about it.

This week's feel-good news: Tennis great Roger Federer made a promise to a little boy back in 2017 and, five years later, kept his promise. My heart was bursting with happiness for Zizou while watching this! 😊

So, this week's 80's music fix is a little different. Those of a certain age (you know who you are LOL) will remember Rick Astley's big hit Never Gonna Give You Up from 1987. Well, he recreated the iconic video in a commercial for a California insurance company. It's priceless! 😄

O N  T H E  B L O G

Tuesday, August 23

Top Ten Tuesday:

Completed Series I Wish Had More Books

Wednesday, August 24

WWW Wednesday #116

Thursday, August 25

Review: Stone by Sawyer Bennett

W H A T  I  R E A D

      

The Family Remains (The Family Upstairs #2) by Lisa Jewell - ★★★★.5

Hostage to Pleasure (Psy-Changeling #5) by Nalini Singh - ★★★★

C U R R E N T L Y   R E A D I N G

      

Audio: Don't Kiss the Bride - Carian Cole

Kindle: My Fake Fiancé (The Greene Family #8) - Piper Rayne

N E W  A D D I T I O N S

      

Kindle: My Fake Fiancé (The Greene Family #8) by Piper Rayne

For review: Shattered Sea (Tattered & Torn #4) by Catherine Cowles

I pre-ordered My Fake Fiancé and was excited when it popped up on my Kindle Tuesday morning. I've been so ready for Mandi's story. I started Thursday and am loving it.

I was thrilled to receive an ARC of Shattered Sea. I am loving this series so hard. It has just the right mix of small town romance and suspense. Cowles has quickly become a new favorite.

T O T A L L Y  R A N D O M

HOW WAS YOUR WEEK?

I'D LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT IT!

Review: Stone by Sawyer Bennett

STONE

by Sawyer Bennett

Series: Pittsburgh Titans #2

Publication date: 3/1/2022

Format: Kindle

Source: Overdrive

4.5 Stars

Minor league player Stone Dumelin lost his younger brother when the Titans’ team plane went down. He never expected the phone call that followed.

After a shoulder injury put my NHL career on ice, I resigned myself to the fact I’d never see my way out of the minor league again. As my career faded, my estranged brother’s star shot into orbit as the first line left winger for the Pittsburgh Titans. But when the team’s plane crashed returning home one night, his light was snuffed out, and I was given the opportunity of a lifetime.

Now I’m in Pittsburgh, playing for the Titans, and face-to-face with my dead brother’s ghost at every turn. His locker, his legacy, his persistent and annoyingly gorgeous attorney who won’t stop contacting me about his estate, even though I’ve demanded she leave me alone.

Harlow Alston would be extremely appealing if she wasn’t so aggravating. Only…that’s a complete lie. She pushes all the right buttons for me, and as much as I want her to quit pestering me about Brooks’s estate, I find myself intrigued by the fiery redhead who can’t take no for an answer. And the more I learn about Harlow, the more I find she might be the key to understanding who Brooks really was, and who I want to be.

I’ve got a second shot at a career I thought I’d lost and the opportunity to build something real with Harlow, but can I find strength to move forward or will my past dictate my future?

GOODREADS | AMAZON | AUDIBLE

Stone Dumelin’s career has floundered. An injury sent him from the NHL to the minor league just as his brother’s star was rising as a member of the Pittsburgh Titans. Then tragedy struck when the team plane crashed, killing all on board, including his brother, Brooks. When Stone is called up to join the fledgling rebuilt team, it’s with mixed emotions. He’s being given the opportunity of a lifetime, but at the cost of his brother’s life. Adding to his distress are the repeated calls and emails from the attorney handling his brother’s estate, even though he wants no part of it. When he finally caves and shows up at her office… things don’t go well. He’s angry, he breaks an antique chair, and her dog almost eats him. But when he learns that Harlow seemed to know his brother better than he ever did, he’s willing to listen and learn. And as much as he’s learning about his brother, he’s also discovering that Harlow could be the one thing in his life that he needs more than hockey.

Oh boy, Stone was a hot mess at first. His grief often manifested as anger but when he lashed out at Harlow she wasn’t having it. The more I learned about Stone’s family, the dynamics between the father and sons— it explained a lot, and it hurt my heart. The lack of unconditional love and true support in Stone’s life was crushing.

Harlow was Brooks’ best friend and they kept each other’s secrets. When he appointed her the trustee of his estate, she had an uphill battle to get Stone to hear out his brother’s wishes. I loved her support of Stone and her determination to do right by both brothers. The relationship between Harlow and Stone developed so naturally. Stone’s issues (abandonment issues, imposter syndrome) meant there were some bumps along the way, but Harlow’s patience and acceptance, and Stone’s newfound acceptance of the past and understanding of his own worth, were worth everything.

I loved the development of Stone’s character, and the continued development of the team dynamics. I am so hooked on this world that Sawyer Bennett has created. Watching these characters grow and heal and find love gave me all the feels, and after just two books I don’t want the series to end. ★★★★.5

Have you read this book?

WWW Wednesday #116 | August 24, 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 Family Remains (The Family Upstairs #2) - Lisa Jewell

Hostage to Pleasure (Psy-Changeling #5) - Nalini Singh

Currently listening: The Family Remains is so, so good! I am absolutely captivated and 

have to force myself to stop listening. I'm scribbling notes like crazy, coming up with

theories, asking questions... there are sooo many threads that are coming together. The 

cast of narrators are making the experience so immersive and I'm loving it!

Current progress: 75%

Currently reading: It's always fun to return to the Psy-Changeling world and I'm happy

to get Dorian's story. It feels like it's taken a long time for Dorian and Ashaya to come 

together, and even at this point (65%) I wouldn't say they're officially together. Ashaya

had a lot of secrets and it took forever for them to finally come out. Even so, I'm very

much enjoying it.

Current progress: 65%

WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?

Wrangling the Cowboy (Circle B Ranch #3) by Kennedy Fox - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recently read: My love for Kennedy Fox continues and I'm making my way through 

the Circle B Ranch series. Gavin was a wonderful hero and I loved that he gave 

Maize a taste of her own medicine.

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'LL READ NEXT?

My Fake Fiancé (The Greene Family #8) by Piper Rayne

The latest entry in the Greene Family series just released yesterday and since I pre-ordered 

it's already popped up on my Kindle. I'll be diving into it just as soon as I finish Hostage to Pleasure.

WHAT ARE YOU READING TODAY?

LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS! :)

Top Ten Tuesday: Please Sir, I Want Some More | Completed Series I Wish Had More Books

 

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

This Week's Top Ten Tuesday Topic:

Completed Book Series That I Wish Had More Books

When I latch on to a series I love, I'm all in. When the first book grabs me, I'm 

off and running and I become completely immersed - in the characters, in the 

setting, in the story. And when it ends... well, I take it hard. And I always want 

more. So here are ten series that (sadly) are complete, but still have me 

wanting more.

Please Sir I Want Some More GIFfrom Please Sir GIFs

COMPLETED BOOKS SERIES 

THAT I WISH HAD MORE BOOKS

TIN GYPSY/CLIFTON FORGE SERIES

    All of the main characters got their own book, but that doesn't stop me 

from wanting more.

HOOPS SERIES

All three books were excellent and Long Shot remains an all-time favorite.

I could handle more in this series.

THE HARBINGER SERIES

Whether it's the original series, The Dark Elements, or this series, I love the world

that JLA created. And some of the characters have stayed with me for years.

RUSK UNIVERSITY SERIES

It seems this series got shelved when Carmack started experiencing health issues 

several years ago, but I'd love to see this series continue.

LUX SERIES

Yes, the series has been complete for eight years now. And yes there is a spin-off 

series. But I will forever want more of Daemon and Katy.

KING SERIES

The King series included some of the most messed up, wrong-side-of-the-law

characters I've ever encountered. And I still want more.

ADDICTED/CALLOWAY SISTERS SERIES

Possibly my favorite contemporary series ever. Yes, there is a second-generation

spin-off series, but the original 10 books that comprise the Addicted/Calloway

Sister series contain the characters that will always have my heart.

WAGS SERIES

I still bemoan the fact that we only got two books in this series from Sarina Bowen

and Elle Kennedy. 

THUNDER ROAD SERIES

I no longer read YA, but I would make an exception if Katie McGarry returned to

the Thunder Road series. Three books was not enough.

THE OTHERS SERIES

I love everything about The Others series. The unique world, the overarching

storyline, the memorable characters. Bishop did expand the world in subsequent 

books (The World of The Others series), but I long for a return 

to the original cast of characters.

Have you read any of these books?