Top Ten Tuesday: My Favorite Books of Summer 2022

 

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

This Week's Top Ten Tuesday Topic:

My Favorite Reads of Summer 2022

 

This week's topic is actually books I read on vacation, but I have no idea which books I read on past vacations and couldn't be bothered to try and figure it out. So I'm going rogue (yes, again) and sharing my favorite reads of this summer. Much easier to figure out since a quick Google search tells me that summer was June 21 thru September 22. Hello, Goodreads? What books did I read between those dates? Easy peasy. A couple of these books I have reviewed but most I have not. My review game has been weak this year. *shrugs* 

Carrie Soto is Back - Taylor Jenkins Reid  5 ★

I've had just two five star reads this year and it was no surprise to me that one of them came courtesy of Taylor Jenkins Reid.

Don't Kiss the Bride - Carian Cole  4.5 ★

This forbidden, age gap romance was right up my alley. Skylar and Jude's journey was an emotional rollercoaster that I loved.

Kulti - Mariana Zapata  4.5 ★

It took me a while to warm to Reiner Kulti, but when I did I was all in. The super slow burn between he and Sal gave me all the feelings.

Love Lessons - Sarina Bowen  4.25 ★

Sarina Bowen never disappoints and returning to her Brooklyn series was like reuniting with old friends. 

Under Locke - Mariana Zapata  4.5 ★

The delicious slow burn, the feelings kept under wraps, the things left unsaid... Zapata is the master of it all and I was there for it.

Gage - Sawyer Bennett  4.25 ★

Bennett's Pittsburgh Titans series took me completely by surprise with its emotional stories. Gage proved to be an unforgettable hero.

Knotted - Pam Godwin  4.5 ★

Knotted surprised me in the best of ways with (questionably) good characters doing some really bad things. It was dark and twisted and I loved it.

Shattered Sea - Catherine Cowles  4.25 ★

Catherine Cowles is a new favorite in 2022 and her Tattered & Torn series hooked me from the start. Shattered Sea delivered the perfect mix of romance and suspense.

Reason to Believe - Rebecca Yarros  4.5 ★

Leave it to Rebecca Yarros to be one of the few authors who can bring me to tears (not choked up, but actual tears). I adored this story and didn't want it to end.

The Family Remains - Lisa Jewell  4.5 ★

I very rarely delve into mystery/suspense/thrillers, but when I do it's usually because Lisa Jewell has a new release. The Family Remains was a stunning, page-turning follow up to The Family Upstairs. 

Have you read any of these books?

The Sunday Post #306 | October 9, 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

Monday started in the Mondayist of ways. The spring on the garage door broke which meant the garage door would not open. And since it's made of steel, it's way too heavy to open manually. I was able to take The Husband's truck to the office (it had already been moved to the driveway) and he waited at home until the repairman arrived. A few hours (and $400) later it was fixed. Sometimes adulting is no fun, amiright? 

Tuesday I worked from home in the morning and was off in the afternoon for an appointment (yearly mammogram). Again... adulting... no fun. 😉

The rest of the week was busy but uneventful. Yesterday's big outing was a trip to Walgreens for our flu vaccines.

I don't usually share animal content because I was born without the gene that makes me ooh and ahh over animals and babies. (If you do have that gene I hope you visit Sam's Sunday Posts because she almost always has a cute animal video to share.) But anyway, this one touched even my cold heart. lol The crying baby sloth was reunited with its mother. They were separated after being evacuated from a wildfire. 😭😭

This week's 80's music fix Life in a Northern Town (1985) from The Dream Academy. Love this one. I always thought it had a kind of Beatles-esque sound. Enjoy!

O N   T H E   B L O G

 

Tuesday, October 4

Review: A Little Too Late by Sarina Bowen

Thursday, October 6

Short Take Reviews: Reason to Believe & Husband Material

W H A T   I   R E A D

 

     

eARC: One Last Gift by Emily Stone - ★★★

Audio: Dirty Secret (Slayers Hockey #1) by Mira Lynn Kelly - ★★★★

I thoroughly enjoyed Stone's Always in December last year and was excited for One Last Gift. Unfortunately, it didn't work for me. The pacing was incredibly slow, too little happened, and when something did finally happen it felt like too little, too late. It took me a week and a half to read this one and I just wanted to finish it and move on. (Kudos to Sam who told me: "You should have just DNF'd it." You're right, you're right... ) Anyway, I probably will not review it. Suffice it to say, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

When looking for something light and easy to listen to, I naturally gravitated to a hockey romance. Dirty Secret was my first by Mira Lyn Kelly and it was an entertaining read. There was one character I truly did not like (the female MC's brother was insufferable) but otherwise it was fun and I'll continue the series here and there.

C U R R E N T L Y   R E A D I N G

 

     

eARC: A Little Too Close - Rebecca Yarros

Audio: When in Rome - Sarah Adams

N E W   A D D I T I O N S

 

PURCHASED

     

Kindle: A Little Too Late - Sarina Bowen

I forgot to cancel my pre-order after I received an arc. No harm done. :)

Kindle: My Brother's Forbidden Friend - Piper Rayne

Another pre-order - and the final book in the series.

FOR REVIEW

      

eARC: A Little Too Close - Rebecca Yarros

ALC: Fractured Sky - Catherine Cowles

WON

I was happy to learn that I won Rachel's (Waves of Fiction) giveaway and she

sent me this copy of Love on the Brain. I'm so excited to read this one.

Thank you again, Rachel! :)

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: Reason to Believe & Husband Material

 

REASON TO BELIEVE

Rebecca Yarros

Legacy #1
Format: Kindle

Preschool teacher Harper didn’t think twice before offering to take in five-year-old Liam and his baby brother until suitable foster care could be arranged. When the foster care options were less than ideal, she and Knox, her brother’s best friend, agreed to fake a relationship to keep the boys from being separated. It was a situation made more awkward because Harper had been in love with Knox since they were kids. Living together and pretending to be a couple in front of others meant lines were blurred and the fake relationship started to feel all too real.

I fell into these characters and their story from the very first chapter. I loved their every interaction and the situation they found themselves in. Harper had been silently in love with Knox for years, all while Knox secretly pined for Harper, the woman who was off-limits as his best friend’s sister. The way they became a team in providing a home and caring for the two boys made my heart melt. When a devastating blow was dealt, Harper and Knox pulled apart from one another in fear and sadness and frustration, and I was crushed. Of course, Yarros made it right in a most satisfying, realistic way. There was unrequited love, brother’s best friend, a forbidden relationship, small town romance, hotshot firefighters, love and redemption… and it all combined for an emotional, unforgettable story. Without a doubt, one of my favorites of the year. 4.5 STARS

Note: I was gifted Reason to Believe by Suzanne @ The Bookish Libra so thank you (again) to Suzanne!

HUSBAND MATERIAL

Alexis Hall

London Calling #2

Format: Audio

Boyfriend Material was one of my favorite books of 2020 so I was thrilled to learn we would be getting more of the hapless Luc O’Donnell. Husband Material picks up almost two years later and Luc is thrown into yet another existential crisis when not only his BFF Bridge was getting married (and yes, he is the maid of honor), but also his horrible ex who invites Luc to his wedding. Luc is plagued by his troubled past with his ex while also deciding how to take the next step in his relationship with Oliver.

Husband Material examined what happens after the “happily ever after” and finds that it’s not always smooth sailing because you find The One. Not to mention that there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to relationships. While Luc has come a long way since his earlier angst, he’s still something of a hot mess and manages to be his own worse enemy. Even so, I was pulling for he and Oliver all the way and appreciated how Hall chose to portray their somewhat rocky journey. The audio version was sheer perfection and Joe Jameson made me feel as though I was having a long conversation with Luc. The humor was spot on – dry and witty and clever - and all the 90’s movie references (Love Actually, Four Weddings and a Funeral, etc.) made me giddy. While Husband Material didn’t quite have the magic and charm of Boyfriend Material, I still enjoyed my time with Oliver and Luc. 4 STARS

HAVE YOU READ THESE BOOKS?

Review: A Little Too Late by Sarina Bowen #NewRelease

How to behave when the guy who broke your heart two thousand miles away turns up in your office:

One: Don’t drop your lucky coffee cup in shock, even though it’s been ten years.

Two: Don’t get defensive when he asks how you ended up working his family’s ski mountain… and why you kept it a secret.

Three: Give him the worst room in the resort. He deserves it for suddenly waltzing back in like he owns the place. (Which he kind of does.)

Four, five, six, seven, eight and nine: Do not kiss him in the hot tub.

Ten: Try to keep your heart intact after you break all of your rules.

Because Reed is leaving again. Hate can't turn back into love. And it’s a little too late…

Find A LITTLE TOO LATE here:

All in one link page: https://shor.by/MadiganMtn

Amazon: https://geni.us/Little2LateAmazon

Apple Books: https://geni.us/Little2LateApple

Nook: https://geni.us/Little2LateNook

Kobo: https://geni.us/Little2LateKobo

Google: https://geni.us/Little2LateGoogle

Audio: https://geni.us/Little2LateAudio

As college sweethearts, Ava and Reed had a promising future and Reed’s decision to end their relationship impacted both their lives. A decade later, Reed returns home to Colorado and comes face to face with Ava. Learning she has been working for his father at the family ski resort for the past ten years is a shock. What isn’t so shocking? Ava’s resentment and anger. Reed anticipated a quick trip, just to ensure his father’s upcoming sale of the resort was in order, before returning to his high-powered career in California. But when the details of the deal seem shady, Reed extends his trip and that means more time with Ava. And every interaction makes him realize all the old feelings are still there.

I love a second chance romance and Sarina Bowen does it so well. Ava was such a likable character, and I appreciated her determination and her focus on her own career. It was satisfying to see Reed’s journey as he came to terms with his past and finally opened up to Ava. Bowen delivered the perfect blend of Ava and Reed working together on the sale of the resort, along with their rekindled romance and the resolution of their past.

The narration was provided by audio superstars Andi Arndt and Sebastian York, which made for a stellar listening experience. A Little Too Late was an excellent start to the latest trilogy/collaboration from Bowen, Rebecca Yarros and Devney Perry. I highly recommend it! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Note: I received an Advance Listening Copy of A Little Too Late. This does not change my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

About Sarina Bowen

Sarina Bowen is a twenty-three time USA bestselling author, and a Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance novels. Formerly a derivatives trader on Wall Street, Sarina holds a BA in economics from Yale University.

A New Englander whose Vermont ancestors cut timber and farmed the north country in the 1760s, Sarina is grateful for the invention of indoor plumbing and wi-fi during the intervening 250 years. She lives with her family on a few wooded acres in New Hampshire.

Sarina's books are published in over a dozen languages with fifteen international publishers.

Goodreads | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

The Sunday Post #305 | October 2, 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 past past has revolved around Hurricane Ian: the preparation before, the during, and the after. We fared well, thankfully. A lot of rain and very strong winds, but no flooding in my area. We lost power briefly but not for long. We were very, very lucky. Of course, the same was not true for southwest Florida. Ian was one of the strongest hurricanes to ever make landfall in the U.S. So many cities in its path were totally devastated and the damage is unfathomable. The loss of lives, the loss of people's homes and their every belonging... it's heartbreaking.

I was home for much of the week as I worked from home on Wednesday (in order to be at home for last minute preparations) and my company was shut down for the storm on Thursday and Friday. It was a bit of a relief to get out of the house on Saturday to run a few errands. The temps have been much cooler and it was actually nice to be outside (something I rarely say). Today will only be 82 degrees (28 C), which is positively fall-like for Florida. 😊

My nephew turned 24 on Friday and it's a little mind-boggling that he is an adult, a college graduate, and working and living on his own. Um, how did that happen? 😲

I'll be getting ready today to return to the office tomorrow (doing laundry, packing up my laptop, etc), but I'll make time this afternoon for the Jacksonville Jaguars game. They were among the worst (if not the worst) team in the league last season and now... it's like a whole new team! The old coach was fired, and what a difference the new coach has made for the team. They're at the top of their division so far so I'll be cheering them on as they play Philadelphia today. Go Jags! :) 

This week's 80's music fix is Burning Flame (1984) by Vitamin Z. It was never much of a hit (it never even made the top 50 in the U.S. charts), but it became an instant favorite of mine. I still have the whole album on my phone and listen to it often.

O N   T H E   B L O G

 

Tuesday, September 27

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Typography on Book Covers

Wednesday, September 28

WWW Wednesday #118

W H A T   I   R E A D

 

Audio: A Little Too Late by Sarina Bowen - ★★★★

Review to come on Tuesday.

C U R R E N T L Y   R E A D I N G

 

Kindle (eARC): One Last Gift by Emily Stone

I'm on the struggle bus with this one. 😣 I loved Stone's Always in December last year, but I am just not connecting with this one. I started it over a week ago and I only just reached the 50% mark. It's slow going, obviously. *sigh*

N E W   A D D I T I O N S

 

PHYSICAL BOOKS

Give Me Love - Corinne Michaels

KINDLE BOOKS

     

Coen - Sawyer Bennett

Reckless Refuge - 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!