The Sunday Post #309 | October 30, 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

Last Sunday took a turn when my younger sister had to be hospitalized for pneumonia. She was able to go home on Tuesday but it was pretty scary as she was having trouble breathing. :(  She's doing better now but still taking it easy and recuperating.

The weather has been all over the place here. Mid-week it was back up to 85 degrees (ugh) but yesterday it hovered just below 70 all day. Today? Back up to 80. Crazy.

Yesterday ended up being filled with errands. I had to actually go into a library branch to renew my library card. Not sure why that couldn't be done online since nothing had changed but whatever. It worked out well since The Husband was able to take advantage of early voting as the library is a voting site. (I've already voted by mail.) Then to Costco for gas, to the grocery store for a few items... and on it went. I'd love to get all these done during the week so I could relax on the weekend, but that pesky job gets in the way.

This week's 80's music fix is Wild Wild West (1988) from Escape Club. Fun fact: my younger sister met the band at the mall when they were in town for a show (in 1988). Her brush with fame. LOL



O N   T H E   B L O G
 
Wednesday, October 26

Thursday, October 27


W H A T   I   R E A D
 
      

Kindle: Kissing the Cowboy by Kennedy Fox - ★★★★
Audio: Faking It With #41 by Piper Rayne - ★★★★


C U R R E N T L Y   R E A D I N G


Kindle: My Brother's Forbidden Friend - Piper Rayne


N E W   A D D I T I O N S
 
Not a thing.


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: Fractured Sky by Catherine Cowles


A swoony, suspenseful small-town romance from USA Today bestselling author Catherine Cowles...

Fractured Sky, a moving and passionate, small-town contemporary romance from USA Today bestselling author Catherine Cowles, is out now!


Damaged. Broken. Destroyed. I’ve heard it all. A single moment of trusting the wrong person
 shattered my life into pieces, and my family has never looked at me the same. It’s impossible
 to convince them that I’m anything more than the broken girl they rescued all those years ago.

Until I meet him.

Ramsey’s surly demeanor and menacing scowl scare most of the world away. But not me. 
Not when I’ve seen his gentle hands soothe an abused colt or comfort a terrified mare.

And when I finally get up the courage to strike out on my own, Ramsey’s there. Roommates 
felt like such a safe proposition until Ramsey’s lingering touches and wicked smile light a 
fire in me I don’t think will ever be extinguished. And he feels it, too…

But just as my new life begins to take root, an evil from my past emerges from the shadows, 
casting a darkness on my newfound freedom. And this time, they won’t settle for pieces of me.
 They want everything…

Fall in love today!

Add Fractured Sky to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3OVEdqN


It’s been seventeen years since Shiloh Easton was kidnapped by an unhinged and dangerous 
man. Seventeen years - and she is still treated with kid gloves, over-protected, and 
considered fragile. Broken. Even odd. She finds peace around animals, and sanctuary at 
the nearby ranch where Ramsey Bishop rehabilitates abused and neglected horses. 
Desperate for a chance to assert some independence, Shiloh accepts Ramsey’s offer to 
move into the guest cabin on his property.

Wrongly accused of a crime and mistreated by those in authority, Ramsey was sent to prison 
when he was still a teenager. Even when exonerated, people still looked upon him with 
suspicion. Mistrusting of people ever since, Ramsey chooses to distance himself and spends 
his time nurturing horses who are just as untrusting as he is. He surprises himself when he 
makes an exception and invites Shiloh to stay on his ranch. Like calls to like, and these two
 damaged people seem to understand one another in ways that others cannot. As their 
tentative friendship starts to shift into something more, a danger from Shiloh’s past is back
 to threaten her future.

It was so fulfilling to watch Shiloh spread her wings and start to find her voice. She harbored
 so much fear and guilt over the years and she defaulted to keeping the peace with her family,
 not making waves, since she felt as though they has already gone through so much because
 of her kidnapping. But she did so at her own detriment. Her family loved her, but they
 suffocated her. It felt as though her trauma did not end when she was rescued at the age of
 ten. Her parents and her siblings unintentionally continued it with their constant worry and
 hovering and over-protectiveness. With Ramsey, she didn’t have to “act okay.” With him, 
she could be herself – speaking if she felt like it, staying silent otherwise – and there was
 total acceptance. He gave her the freedom to push her limits while still feeling safe.

Ramsey, despite his gruff and surly demeanor, was incredibly patient and kind. His willingness
 to just let Shiloh be warmed my heart. His backstory was heartbreaking and went a long way
 in explaining his loner tendencies. The way Ramsey and Shiloh connected – both through 
their traumatic pasts and through their gentle understanding of the horses they worked with – was
 developed slowly and naturally. I loved that Shiloh had the bravery and confidence to forge 
this new relationship, despite the (sometimes vocal) misgivings from most of her family. 
(Speaking of family, kudos to Hadley for being Shiloh’s constant cheerleader throughout this
 story!) The healing that took place – mostly between Shiloh and her mother, but also for the
 entire family – was handled beautifully and had me feeling so optimistic for them all. There 
were moments that had me shedding tears as Shiloh and Ramsey fought outside forces in order
 to keep their peace, and the ending brought even more tears because I was so happy they had
 come through the other side, both in such better places than where they started.

I switched between the ebook and the audio version while reading and both provided a
completely immersive experience. Joe Arden and Erin Mallon were the perfect match for
Ramsey and Shiloh. Their narration took the story to the next level and I could hear and feel
every emotion in their nuanced performances.

I’ve been anxiously awaiting Shiloh’s story from the very first book. After meeting Ramsey in
 Shattered Sea (the fourth book in the Tattered & Torn series) and learning that Fractured Sky
 would be his and Shiloh’s story, I was ecstatic. I’m going to say it now: Catherine Cowles 
saved the best for last. I adored these characters and their journey to finding peace and 
acceptance. I’m sad to see the series end because, over the span of five books, I fell in love 
with the Easton family and those in their circle. Cowles creates characters that feel like living,
 breathing people – flaws and all – and it makes their stories all the more engrossing and 
emotional. Despite being not-quite-ready to say goodbye, Fractured Sky was a stellar end 
to the series. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5


About Catherine Cowles

Writer of words. Drinker of Diet Cokes. Lover of all things cute and 
furry, especially her dog. Catherine has had her nose in a book since 
the time she could read and finally decided to write down some of 
her own stories. When she's not writing she can be found exploring 
her home state of Oregon, listening to true crime podcasts, or 
searching for her next book boyfriend.

Connect with Catherine

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2IEQXSw

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2Lc4mU0

Twitter: https://twitter.com/catherinecowles

Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2RFY7Jv

Instagram: http://bit.ly/31TE3rJ

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2xdUZLn

BookBub: http://bit.ly/2J3dWWF

Website: https://www.catherinecowles.com/

Stay up to date with Catherine by joining her mail list:

http://bit.ly/2JZE0DH




WWW Wednesday #120 | October 26, 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: Kissing the Cowboy - Kennedy Fox
Audio: Faking It With #41 - Piper Rayne

Currently reading: I felt like diving back into something familiar this week, so I'm
continuing with two series that I have in progress. I always enjoy returning to the ever-
growing family at the Circle B Ranch. Kissing the Cowboy employs one of my favorite 
tropes: best friends to more. Ethan and Harper have been best friends since they were
children and now that he's posing as her fake fiancé, I know that sparks are going to fly. 
Current progress: 50%

Currently listening: The week wouldn't be complete without some hockey romance so 
I'm listening to the third book in Piper Rayne's Hockey Hotties series. Ford is now a 
single father to his four month old daughter Annabelle and I'm excited to see how a
relationship with his family's PR rep is going to play out.
Current progress: 22%

WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?

     

Kindle (eARC): Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan - ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Audio: A Little Too Wild by Devney Perry - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recently read: Kennedy Ryan never disappoints and she delivered All The Emotions 
in Before I Let Go. Yasmen and Josiah were couple goals - until life dealt some 
harsh blows and it all crumbled down around them. With themes of loss, grief, and 
healing - with a heavy emphasis on therapy - this one was an absolute winner.

Recently listened to: A Little Too Close was the final book in the Madigan Mountain 
trilogy and I was excited to finally get Crew's story. He was the last to return home and 
struggled the most with past events. This was a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy and 
the epilogue left me with a big smile on my face.


WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'LL READ NEXT?

      

I'm still enjoying the anticipation of reading It Starts With Us, so maybe I'll read it 
next - or maybe I'll prolong the excitement. 😉 Corinne Michaels' Give Me Love is
another possibility.


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

The Sunday Post #308 | October 23, 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

Six months ago (or more) we bough a new light fixture for the hall/foyer. And the box has been sitting in the garage ever since. The ceiling in the hall is so high that I didn't want The Husband on a ladder that high. We finally hired the same contractor that has done several other jobs for us and he installed it on Tuesday. It looks great - and, no, I have no idea why it took us half a year to take care of it. 😐


It (briefly) turned cooler here! Wednesday it stayed in the 60's all day and it dropped into the 40's (barely) a few nights in a row. It was short-lived - it's back to almost 80 today - but I enjoyed it while it lasted. 

How about a feel-good story? The video is sweet but it's worth reading the full story. It shares such a powerful message.

@isaiahgarza I took a 100 year old veteran to Disneyland & we became best friends ❤️ #disneyland #kindness #friends #veteran #bestfriends ♬ Steal My Sunshine (Single Version) - Len

This week's 80's music fix is from a man with a voice like velvet. Smokey Robinson's heyday may have been back in the 60's, but he was still getting it done in the 80's. Here's One Heartbeat (1987).



O N   T H E   B L O G
 
Wednesday, October 19

Thursday, October 20


W H A T   I   R E A D
 
       

Kindle (eARC): Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan - ★★★★.5
Audio: A Little Too Wild by Devney Perry - ★★★★


C U R R E N T L Y   R E A D I N G

Nothing at the moment. I *just* finished both Before I Let Go 
and A Little Too Wild and haven't picked my next read yet.


N E W   A D D I T I O N S
 

Physical copy: It Starts With Us - Colleen Hoover


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: Hockey Romance Edition

 

I love a good sports romance and hockey is my favorite. Thankfully, there is no short supply of hockey romances to enjoy. Here are my quick thoughts on the last few that I've read.


MY LUCKY #13
Piper Rayne
Format: Audio
Trope(s): Slow burn, friends to lovers

When it comes to his hockey career, Aiden has always been lucky. Until suddenly he's not. When a beautiful woman throws a drink in his face at a party, and his game improves, he's convinced she's his good luck charm. Now he needs Saige to give a repeat performance before every game so he can keep scoring goals. The more time they spend together, the more it's obvious that there's something real there. But Saige has been burned before and has sworn off professional athletes. Silly premise? Maybe, but hockey players are notorious for their game day rituals and superstitions. And it made for some truly fun circumstances as Saige showed up in whatever city Aiden was in to perform their drink-in-the-face ritual. Aiden was such a good guy - a real sweetheart - and when he realized his relationship with Saige was the real deal he was willing to do whatever it took to win her over. This one gave me all the good feels and I loved getting to know the other players on the team.               4.25 STARS


THE TROUBLE WITH #9
Piper Rayne
Format: Audio
Trope(s): Forbidden/workplace romance

Maksim has no desire to open up about his past and bare his soul to anyone, so when the team owner requires all players to meet with a therapist he plans to feed her some fake stories and move on. But the therapist is the same woman he kissed on New Years Eve and he hasn't stopped thinking about her. Dating a patient goes against Paisley's moral and professional code but she can't resist Maksim's relentless pursuit. I loved Maksim and his fierce protectiveness of his teammates, even though it came from a place of pain and guilt. Things came to a head when Maksim's family arrived from Russia and he was forced to deal with his past. The camaraderie among the players was a real highlight and Maksim's unique dates with Paisley put a smile on my face. Speaking of Paisley, I appreciated how she pushed Maksim to talk to another therapist, knowing that he needed to sort out his issues. She called him out when needed and was no pushover. I'm excited for more of this series. 4 STARS


DIRTY SECRET
Mira Lyn Kelly
Format: Audio
Trope(s): Forbidden/secret romance

Allie had always lived in the shadow of her superstar brother Greg, a professional hockey player. Too many friends and boyfriends had used her just to get close to her brother. So when she had a one night fling with hockey player Vaughn, she kept her identity secret. A year later, when Vaughn is traded to Greg's team, he sees Allie and the sparks are still there. Since Vaughn and Greg despise one another, they agree to keep their relationship secret. It was obvious from early on that these two were developing feelings for one another but it was fun to watch them fight it every step of the way. Vaughn, in particular, had never had a relationship and struggled with his feelings for Allie and what it meant for his career and his future. The downside for me was Allie's brother Greg, who took the protective older brother role to an extreme. He consistently interfered in her private life (setting her up on dates without her knowledge, lying to Vaughn about her dating someone else) and felt completely justified in doing so. I disliked him so much and unfortunately he played a pretty big role. I would have felt better had he shown any remorse but even by the end he still seemed overbearing and smug. His involvement was way too heavy-handed for my liking, but beyond that this one was a good time. 3.5 STARS



HAVE YOU READ ANY OF THESE BOOKS?