The Sunday Post #323 | January 29, 2023

 

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.

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

How is it practically the end of January already? Is it just me or did the entire month pass in a flash? 

It was a busy week at the office and I decided to work from home on Friday for a change of pace. Great way to end the week. This post-holidays working five days a week thing is for the birds. 😉

Kennedy Fox is one of my favorite writing duos and receiving the news this week that they are parting ways gutted me. I have had so much enjoyment from their books and it's sad to know there won't be more coming. They've canceled their 2023 releases and will move forward with solo projects. At least I'll have those to look forward to. *wipes away tears*

BookBub shared their list of must-read romances releasing in 2023. There are several already on my TBR. How about you - any of those on your radar? Or maybe you've already read some of them?

This week's 80's music fix is Mad About You (1986) by Belinda Carlisle. Enjoy!


ON THE BLOG

Tuesday, January 24

Friday, January 27


WHAT I READ


Kindle: The Choice (Dragon Heart Legacy #3) by Nora Roberts - 4.25★


CURRENTLY READING

     

Physical copy: Give Me Love (Rose Canyon #2) - Corinne Michaels

Audio: Consolation (Consolation Duet #2) - Corinne Michaels


NEW ADDITIONS


Physical copy: Keep This Promise - Corinne Michaels 

My pre-order for this gorgeous special edition arrived this week.
This is the final book in the Rose Canyon series. I'm reading the 
second book now and can't wait to dive into this one.

TOTALLY RANDOM



HOW WAS YOUR WEEK?

Short Take Reviews: Coen and Drake by Sawyer Bennett

 



COEN
Sawyer Bennett
Series: Pittsburgh Titans #4
Format: Kindle
Source: Purchased

When the Pittsburgh Titans plane went down, Coen Highsmith was one of the lucky ones – one of the three hockey players who were not on the plane with their team. Coen was riddled with survivor’s guilt and, instead of dealing with it, took out his anger and frustration on everyone around him: his teammates, his coaches, management, right on up to the team’s owner. Now off for the summer, he has no intention of returning to his team when the new season starts. He is walking away from his hockey career. Staying in a secluded cabin in the woods, he is immediately at odds with his closest neighbor, artist Tillie Marshall. Threatening a lawsuit when she attempted to cut down some trees, Coen continued to butt heads with Tillie even as attraction flared between them. 

While I enjoyed Coen’s story and appreciated his journey from anger and grief to acceptance and healing, I missed some of the trademark elements that I’ve loved in the previous books in the series. There was little time spent with the team and I sorely missed that camaraderie. I also missed the slow evolution of the romantic relationships from the previous books. Coen was a real jerk to Tillie, and he continued to be for longer than I would have liked. They didn’t exactly have a friends with benefits relationship because they weren’t really friends. There was an intense attraction that they agreed to act on. Even though a friendship of sorts did form, I never really felt a true romance develop, and their relationship did not have the emotional depth that I experienced with the other couples. While this wasn’t my favorite in the series, I still enjoyed Coen’s story, and the moments I did get with the team were truly special and heartwarming. 4 stars



DRAKE
Sawyer Bennett
Series: Pittsburgh Titans #5
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased

Drake McGinn felt betrayed and abandoned by the league when his (now ex) wife made false allegations against him – and his team, the media, and the fans chose to believe her. Although proven to be false, the damage was done, and he chose to walk away and leave it behind. His sole focus became being a single father to his three sons. When Brienne Norcross, new owner of the Pittsburgh Titans, showed up at his home and offered him a spot on the rebuilt team, he was still bitter, but accepted. Now he has to find a balance between hockey, his boys, and the intense chemistry between he and Brienne. 

After feeling like the previous book (Coen) was lacking some of the elements I've come to appreciate in this series, I was relieved this latest entry returned to what I’ve loved and come to expect: slowly evolving relationships with deep emotional connections, and a focus on the strong bonds between the teammates. Both Drake and Brielle were insistent that they did not want a relationship, and that made their journey all the more satisfying.  I loved how they truly saw one another and accepted the other for who they were. I was delighted with how their relationship slowly morphed into something more and how tentative they were to explore those possibilities. The female friendships, Drake’s devotion to his boys, Brielle’s kindness and her acceptance of Drake’s priorities, and the way Drake celebrated Brielle’s strength and success while also helping her to find balance in her life… it all combined in such a satisfying way. A bonus was seeing the relationships from previous books continue to flourish, and the surprise wedding proposal (I’m not telling whose!) about made my heart burst. I’ll be so sorry to see this series come to an end. 4.25 stars


Have you read either of these books?

Top Ten Tuesday: Nice To Meet You | New-To-Me Authors in 2022

 

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


This Week's Top Ten Tuesday Topic:
Nice To Meet You | New-To-Me Authors
I Discovered in 2022
 
This week's topic is authors that were new to me in 2022. I read over eighteen new-to-me authors in 2022 and while some of them barely made a blip on the radar, a couple became new favorites. 


In order to come up with ten, I had to include a couple that were... not necessarily favorites. In the spirit of playing nice, I won't say which those are, but I have noted the real stand-outs. 😊


Catherine Cowles (new favorite!)
Mariana Zapata (new favorite!)

Have you read any of these authors?

The Sunday Post #322 | January 22, 2023

 

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.

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

Another four-day work week. I could get used to this. :) I was talking to a co-worker this week and it was funny how many similarities we discovered. We share the same name, just different spellings (I'm Tanya, she's Tonya), we both have a sister named Terri, and on it went. Our paths rarely cross (she's upstairs in Accounting and I'm in the executive suite) but it was fun to chat, and learn we shared so much in common.

I tried a new soup recipe this week and it was delicious. Sausage & Tortellini Soup. It was
perfect for one of our cooler evenings. The recipe gives directions to make it in a slow cooker but I didn't have time for that and just made it on the stovetop. The Husband and I both enjoyed it and it will be a keeper.

For those that use Feedly, do you happen to know what the little green icons after the blog post title mean? They show on some blogs in my feed but not on others. The first icon looks like a pair of feet; the other is IoC (or loC?). I've browsed Feedly for some kind of key to explain the icons but haven't found anything. Any insight?


After the Jaguars amazing win last week (they came back from 27-0 to win the game!), the whole city has been fired up for the next game against the Kansas City Chiefs. All kinds of sponsored events like a send-off party for the team, watch parties all over the place... everyone has Jaguar fever. :) As I write this, the game has not yet happened (it will be on Saturday night), so I'm still hoping they'll pull off another playoff win. 

Update: It was a hard-fought game, but in the end the Jaguars lost to the Chiefs, 27-20. Hard to be too upset, though, because it was an amazing season. The Jags won the AFC South Championship and made it to the Division playoffs. Not bad for a team that was last in the league a year ago! 

This week's 80's music fix is Tainted Love/Where Did I love Go (1981) by Soft Cell. Enjoy!


ON THE BLOG

Tuesday, January 17

Thursday, January 19


WHAT I READ


Audio: Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez - 4★

Kindle: Tempting the Cowboy by Kennedy Fox - 4★

Audio: Drake by Sawyer Bennett - 4★


CURRENTLY READING


Kindle: The Choice by Nora Roberts


NEW ADDITIONS


Kindle: Wake My Heart by Lydia Michaels

Between the synopsis and Jen's review, I was sold on this one. 


TOTALLY RANDOM




HOW WAS YOUR WEEK?

Review: Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez

PART OF YOUR WORLD

by Abby Jimenez
Publication date: 7/5/2022
Format: Audiobook
Source: Overdrive
4 Stars

After a wild bet, gourmet grilled-cheese sandwich, and cuddle with a baby goat, Alexis Montgomery has had her world turned upside down. The cause: Daniel Grant, a ridiculously hot carpenter who’s ten years younger than her and as casual as they come—the complete opposite of sophisticated city-girl Alexis. And yet their chemistry is undeniable.

While her ultra-wealthy parents want her to carry on the family legacy of world-renowned surgeons, Alexis doesn’t need glory or fame. She’s fine with being a “mere” ER doctor. And every minute she spends with Daniel and the tight-knit town where he lives, she’s discovering just what’s really important. Yet letting their relationship become anything more than a short-term fling would mean turning her back on her family and giving up the opportunity to help thousands of people.

Bringing Daniel into her world is impossible, and yet she can’t just give up the joy she’s found with him either. With so many differences between them, how can Alexis possibly choose between her world and his?


GOODREADS | AMAZON | AUDIBLE


WHAT I ENJOYED
 
The dialogue/banter: I’m a sucker for good dialogue. For clever, witty banter. And it has to feel realistic – not stilted, not silly, not unrealistic. I loved the dialogue and banter here. Whether it was snappy and clever, or heartfelt and emotional, Jimenez had me eating it up.
 
Daniel: This guy… this guy! Oh my goodness, what a sweetheart. We’re talking Book Boyfriend Hall of Fame. Sweet, thoughtful, responsible, loyal, romantic – generous with his time and with his heart. Daniel took care of those around him – as the mayor of the small town of Wakan, as a friend, as an innkeeper. And he had a baby goat in pajamas. What more could you want?
 
Alexis: She was intelligent, successful, and – even though she was still dealing with the effects of verbal and mental abuse from more than one person in her life – she was self-aware enough to recognize what it was and seek help. It was easy to cheer her on through every step she took to put an end to those patterns and relationships, and reclaim her life on her own terms.
 
Wakan: This little blink-and-you-miss-it-village truly understood the meaning of community. They looked out for one another, they took care of one another, they pitched in when needed. I loved the residents of Wakan and their sense of family.
 
The perfect mix: Jimenez managed to blend romance and humor and more serious themes (verbal and emotional abuse of the main character, physical abuse of a side character) in such a way that none felt overpowered by the other. The humor and the heavier moments were balanced perfectly and had me completely invested.
 
BUT NOT SO MUCH
 
Alexis: Yes, Alexis is appearing on both lists. Because while I cheered for her at times, I was also disappointed by her at others. Even though Daniel welcomed Alexis into his life with open arms, Alexis kept her life completely separate from her time with Daniel. She did not offer him the same openness and transparency that he gave so willingly. Time and time again she had opportunities to include him or just acknowledge him, but consistently chose to deny him and his importance in her life. The hurt she inflicted in the name of keeping the status quo and placating those around her really tainted how I felt about her. She ultimately redeemed herself, but it was a long time coming.
 
The magical elements: I didn’t vibe with the few instances of fabulism and thought the story would have been just as good/effective without them. I am not a fan of fabulism/magical realism in general, so this is totally a “me thing.”
 
OVERALL

Part of Your World was my first by Abby Jimenez and delivered more than I expected. Sweet and steamy, funny and emotional, lovable characters and an engaging story – it all combined for a wonderful experience. I wouldn’t hesitate to read more from Jimenez. 4 stars


Have you read this book?


Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Single Parent Romance

 

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


This Week's Top Ten Tuesday Topic:
Favorite Single Part Romance
 
This week's topic is actually Bookish Goals, but I don't make bookish goals.
I just read. :) So instead I'm going to share some of my favorite single parent
romances. For someone who doesn't have kids, never wanted kids... I somehow
have a soft spot for single parent romances. I wouldn't necessarily call it a favorite 
trope, but when done well, I really enjoy it. Here are some of my favorites: 




Have you read any of these books?

The Sunday Post #321 | January 15, 2023

 

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.

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

It was my first full week at the office in a while but it's being capped off by a three-day weekend. Nice!

My niece turned 15 this week (how is that even possible?!) and we had a little get together at my house Friday evening. We bought her all new bedding for the bed her parents got her. She has a thing for satin sheets which makes me laugh. If I had asked for satin sheets as a kid my mother would have told me to be happy I had sheets (and if I didn't like what I had I could do without). But I love spoiling her in little ways. She is such a sweet girl.

The Husband and I volunteered with Wreaths Across America Saturday morning to pick up wreaths from the local National Cemetery. They lay out wreaths on each marker in December and while they get plenty of volunteers to put them out, there aren't nearly so many when it's time to pick them up. Even though it ended up being the coldest day we've had in quite a while, we all bundled up and got the job done. There was a small group from my company there and the pic below shows the CEO (my boss) on the left, I'm in the pink hat, and The Husband is just behind me. It was bitterly cold but a rewarding and humbling experience.


My home team, the Jaguars, won the AFC South championship last week (go Jags!) and are now in the playoffs. The game starts in about an hour (it's Saturday evening as I write this) and I'm excited to cheer them on. From the warmth of my own home, that is. Those attending the game downtown are going to freeze! Hopefully we will beat the Chargers tonight!

Update: The Jaguars overcome a 27 point deficit and pulled off one of the biggest comebacks in NFL history! Final score: Chargers: 30 - Jagaurs:31. Go Jags!! 

The death of Lisa Marie Presley this week really struck a nerve. I always found her to be so interesting - and down to earth, despite her famous father.  We were also the same age, born just months apart. Instead of the usual 80's tune, I'm sharing one of Lisa Marie's songs, Lights Out.


ON THE BLOG

Tuesday, January 10

Wednesday, January 11


WHAT I READ

Kindle: Blaze of Memory by Nalini Singh - 4.25★


CURRENTLY READING

   

Kindle: Tempting the Cowboy by Kennedy Fox

Audio: Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez


NEW ADDITIONS


Trade paperback: Tru Blue by Melissa Foster

A couple weeks ago I left a comment on a blogger friend's review of a book by Melissa Foster. I mentioned that I'd yet to read anything by Foster because I found her backlist and all the various series a bit daunting. Last week I received an email from Melissa Foster's publicist. She said that Melissa saw my comment and wanted to send me a copy of Tru Blue (a book that's been on my radar for ages). She went on to give me a breakdown of all Melissa's series and their themes and tropes to help guide me. Color me impressed! The book arrived this week and I'm so excited to read it.


TOTALLY RANDOM



HOW WAS YOUR WEEK?

WWW Wednesday #122 | January 11, 2023

 

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: Blaze of Memory (Psy-Changeling #7) - Nalini Singh
Audio: Part of Your World - Abby Jimenez

Currently reading: I was wary of this one after skimming a few Goodreads reviews 
and seeing that several reviewers didn't care for this entry in the series. Or rather, they 
didn't care for the male lead. I had no need to worry because I am thoroughly enjoying 
Dev and Katya's story. I do miss the DarkRiver pack, though, as they've appeared only 
briefly in this one.
Current progress: 70%

Currently listening: This is one that I had no intention of reading until one particular 
review swayed me. I am enjoying it (Daniel is the sweetest guy ever) but I feel like 
Alexis is going to end up hurting Daniel before it's over and I'll have a hard time forgiving
that. Fingers crossed that I'm wrong.
Current progress: 55%

WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?

    

Kindle: Visions of You (Lost & Found #0.5) by Catherine Cowles - ★★★★
Audio: Wait For It by Mariana Zapata - ★★★★.25

Recently read: This prequel novella has me more than ready for the release of the first 
book at the end of the month.

Recently listened to: Wait For It felt different than others I have read by Zapata 
since there was a lack of any real conflict. As always, the slower pace allowed me 
to feel like I knew these characters inside and out and I loved their journey.


WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'LL READ NEXT?

    

Not totally sure what I'll pick up next, but Give Me Love and Drake are 
strong contenders.


WHAT ARE YOU READING TODAY?