The Sunday Post #182


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 things we have received, and share news about what is
coming up on your blog in the week ahead. You can find the info here:
Sunday Post Meme

  • Fall made another appearance this week and it was downright chilly (by Florida standards) for a few days. Yesterday the temp hovered around 50 degrees all day and it was overcast and misty/rainy... perfection! Honestly, that is my favorite kind of day. It makes me deliriously happy. And yet I live in the Sunshine State... LOL
  • The Husband got his car back on Tuesday. Yay! The graphics on the driver's side still have to be redone, but the new paint has to cure for 30 days before that happens. But at least he's back in his own car instead of the rental. 
  • I was out and about most of the day yesterday - just because I loved being out in the weather. :) (Yes, really.) We were on the hunt for cushions for the wicker sofa on the back patio and guess what... those are tough to find in November! LOL We did find some at the At Home store but nothing in the right size. We finally just bought something to make due since I wanted to have something before everyone arrives on Thanksgiving. 
  • And now for this week's 80's music fix: My memories of this song is that it came out when I was in 9th grade and I was certain there could never be a better song. This was it... pinnacle reached. LOL While I did eventually get over that notion, it's still a pretty great song and video. :)





WHAT I COMPLETED IN THE LAST WEEK:

     
Repeat - Kylie Scott
Flow (Grip #0.5) - Kennedy Ryan

I finished both Repeat and Flow earlier today. I really enjoyed Repeat since Clem and Ed were so likable. It was easy to be sympathetic toward Clem and her situation while also understanding Ed's hesitation. I guessed who the baddie was but that didn't detract from my enjoyment at all. Flow was the prequel to the Grip duology and while it was short (just under 4.5 hours) it packed a punch. No surprise since it's Kennedy Ryan. And what an ending! I'm excited to start the first in the duology, Grip, tonight or tomorrow.


WHAT I'M CURRENTLY READING: 
    
     
Blizted (Playbook #3) - Alexa Martin
Grip (Grip #1) - Kennedy Ryan

Well, technically I'm not reading anything right now. I finished both my physical book (Repeat) and my audio book (Flow) this morning and I haven't started my next reads yet. But I plan to start Blitzed tonight (woo hoo!) and I'll begin Grip either tonight or tomorrow morning.


KINDLE BOOKS:
 
Lead Me Home - A.L. Jackson


Yes. Every Time.





How was your week? Any new books? Any news to share? 
I'd love to hear about it!
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Short Take Reviews: Well Met & The Bromance Book Club

WELL MET
Jen DeLuca
Publication date: September 3, 2019
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Format: Audiobook, 9 hrs 46 min
Source: Overdrive
4.5 STARS
GOODREADS 

Emily knew there would be strings attached when she relocated to the small town of Willow Creek, Maryland, for the summer to help her sister recover from an accident, but who could anticipate getting roped into volunteering for the local Renaissance Faire alongside her teenaged niece? Or that the irritating and inscrutable schoolteacher in charge of the volunteers would be so annoying that she finds it impossible to stop thinking about him?

The faire is Simon's family legacy and from the start he makes clear he doesn't have time for Emily's lighthearted approach to life, her oddball Shakespeare conspiracy theories, or her endless suggestions for new acts to shake things up. Yet on the faire grounds he becomes a different person, flirting freely with Emily when she's in her revealing wench's costume. But is this attraction real, or just part of the characters they're portraying?

This summer was only ever supposed to be a pit stop on the way to somewhere else for Emily, but soon she can't seem to shake the fantasy of establishing something more with Simon, or a permanent home of her own in Willow Creek.
M Y   T H O U G H T S

I can't remember the last time I smiled so much while listening to a book. Well Met was sweet and adorable and funny and romantic and delivered so much more than I expected.

Emily has come to the small town of Willow Creek to help her sister and while there gets roped into participating in the annual Renaissance Faire. In between chauffeuring her sister, caring for her niece and perfecting her role as a tavern wench, Emily finds herself making new friends. She also clashes - constantly - with Simon, the grumpy, persnickety Faire organizer. But Simon seems to be a completely different person when in character at the Faire. His dashing pirate wildly flirting with her tavern wench persona makes for some swoony, yet confusing, interactions. Does Simon has feelings for her - or is all just an act?

I loved my time in Willow Creek with these characters. Emily was so thoroughly likable and so was Simon, especially once his background was revealed. The cast of secondary characters were every bit as genuine and likable and I found myself wishing I could be part of this friend group. As much as I loved the sweetness and humor, I was surprised by the emotional aspect and actually found myself getting choked up a few times. The cherry on top was that the narration was absolute perfection and made the story come to life for me and I could practically see every scene play out before my eyes.

Well Met was utterly charming and I can't wait for more in this series!
THE BROMANCE BOOK CLUB
Lyssa Kay Adams
Publication date: November 5, 2019
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Format: eARC
Source: Edelweiss
3.5 STARS
The first rule of this book club:
You don't talk about book club.

Nashville Legends second baseman Gavin Scott's marriage is in major league trouble. He’s recently discovered a humiliating secret: his wife Thea has always faked the Big O. When he loses his cool at the revelation, it’s the final straw on their already strained relationship. Thea asks for a divorce, and Gavin realizes he’s let his pride and fear get the better of him.

Welcome to the Bromance Book Club.

Distraught and desperate, Gavin finds help from an unlikely source: a secret romance book club made up of Nashville's top alpha men. With the help of their current read, a steamy Regency titled Courting the Countess, the guys coach Gavin on saving his marriage. But it'll take a lot more than flowery words and grand gestures for this hapless Romeo to find his inner hero and win back the trust of his wife. 


M Y   T H O U G H T S
The Bromance Book Club was on my TBR for months before its release. I mean, who can resist a synopsis like that? My high hopes only skyrocketed when I started seeing rave reviews from the book community. Unfortunately, Bromance was a bit of a mixed bag for me. There were some real highs and a couple of real lows. 

 What I Liked: 
I fell for Gavin from the start. It was obvious this was a man who loved his wife, loved his children, and desperately wanted to keep his family together. Yes, his pride had taken a hit and he'd allowed that to color his decision-making, but I admired his whatever-it-takes attitude as well as his realization that he couldn't be the only one doing the work. In addition to Gavin, his group of teammates/friends were a total riot. They were totally earnest in their endeavors but also loved to dish out some tough love and smack talk when needed. The banter between Gavin and Mack never failed to make me laugh.

 What Didn't Work For Me: 
In a word... Thea. I tried hard to be sympathetic to Thea (and at times I was) but for the most part her lack of communication with Gavin was incredibly frustrating. She kept silent about her issues for three years and yet was resentful that he wasn't aware of them. Say what? It took far too long for her to admit to any complicity in their marriage issues. By the time more of her background was revealed, and reasoning for her trust issues, it was too late for me. I had already spent most of the book feeling no connection with her and finding myself fully sympathetic with Gavin. I basically pulled for the relationship to work because it was what Gavin wanted.

 Despite my issues with one of the main characters, The Bromance Book Club was still a fun read and I would recommend it to readers who love a second-chance romance.


HAVE YOU READ EITHER OF THESE BOOKS?

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WWW Wednesday #68 | November 13, 2019


WWW Wednesdays is a meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words.
Just answer three questions and share what you're reading.


It's fall, y'all! 😍
It finally decided to make an appearance here in Florida. 
It was almost 80 degrees here yesterday and then overnight the the temps plummeted by about 40 degrees. I was joyously breaking out the fall/winter wardrobe this morning. :)


WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?
I put this on hold at the library months ago and promptly forgot about it. So I was a little surpirsed when I got the email that it was ready for pick-up. :) I wasn't even sure I was still interested but decided to give it a go. I'm only 40-ish pages in and enjoyng it so far.

WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?
I flew through Lora Richardson's new release and loved every minue of it. Reverie was such a tough cookie on the outside but so skittish from a childhood that had way too much instability. My heart hurt for this girl who was determined to keep everyone at arms length. Eddie was an absolute sweetheart and I loved his determination. This guy just wasn't going to give up on Reverie.♥ Another winner from Richardson!

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'LL READ NEXT?
   

Not positive but I think I'm going to pick up Blitzed next. It'll be fun to dive back into the Playbook world. Fingers crossed that my favorite characters from the previous two books make an appearance!

What are you currently reading?
I wanna know! :)

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Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Want to Re-Read

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.
This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic: 
Books I Want to Re-Read

This week's theme of favorite bookmarks didn't thrill me since a) half the books I read are on my Kindle so no bookmark needed and b) even when I do read physical books it's not like I have a favorite bookmark. So I'm doing my own thing... again.

I do not often re-read. There are so many books that I am excited to read (for the first time) that I don't often feel led to spend time reading something I've already read. But there are always exceptions. There are some books that made such an impact on me that I want to experience it again. There are stories that gave me all feels and I want more. Or characters that I want to revisit. So here are the books that I most want to re-read.



Colleen Hoover

Why I want to re-read: Maybe Someday was the first Colleen Hoover book I read. And I was hooked. I fell in love with those characters and was completed sucked in to their story. That was in 2014 and the book still has a special place in my heart. I'd love to revisit and experience it all again. 



Jane Green

Why I want to re-read: At the time I read Jemima J (2001) it had a big impact on me. It may have been classified as "chick lit" but I connected with Jemima on a deep level and understood her so well. I'm interested in re-reading and seeing if I still feel the same.




Ruth M. Arthur

Why I want to re-read: A Candle in Her Room was my favorite book as a child. I checked it out of the library over and over again. Many years ago I managed to track down a copy in a used bookstore and seeing it on my shelf always gives me a feeling on nostalgia. I'd like to re-read it and see how I view it as an adult.

Bertrice Small

Why I want to re-read: Ten or twelve years ago I went through a brief phase of reading historical romances. Or, more accurately, reading several historical romances from Bertrice Small. I was absolutely captivated by the world-building in her novels and the attention to detail. Taking place in the 15th century and spanning the globe from Renaissance Europe to the Ottoman Empire, The Kadin was fascinating. I'd love to experience the journey again.

Tracey Garvis Graves

Why I want to re-read: When I read On the Island in 2012 I was completely taken with Anna and T.J.'s story. I continued to think about them weeks and even months after finishing the book, something I don't often do. I really want to relive their story all over again.



Jolene Perry

Why I want to re-read: I picked up The Summer I Found You on a whim when I was browsing in the library. I expected a sweet YA contemporary. What I got was a story that dealt with real issues in a emotional and realistic way and two main characters that I pulled for so hard. Aidan's story, in particular, touched my heart and I would like to share in their story again.

Beth Flynn

Why I want to re-read: It wasn't until quite a while after I read Nine Minutes that I learned that the story continued. There are two more books that I'd love to read but I've forgotten so many details from Nine Minutes that I want to re-read it before moving on.



Paullina Simons

Why I want to re-read: Reading The Bronze Horseman was one of the most emotionally draining reading experiences I've ever had. Like nothing else I'd read. And though I'd never been able to say I had one favorite book, after I read The Bronze Horseman it became just that. And yet... I've never continued on with the trilogy. Maybe because I fear they can't possibly live up to TBH? Maybe because I enjoy the anticipation? Either way, I do want to read the whole series and since it's been 5 years I want to re-read The Bronze Horseman before moving on.

Krista & Becca Ritchie

Why I want to re-read: Krista and Becca Ritchie's Addicted series is my all-time favorite contemporary series. Over the span of 10 books those characters began to feel like living, breathing people and I was completely invested in their lives. I am beyond ready to continue on with the spin-off series but before I do I want to re-read the final Addicted book, Some Kind of Perfect. Ideally I would re-read the entire series, but that is an insane time commitment.

Christina Lauren

Why I want to re-read: Autoboyography is the first book I read from Christina Lauren and it was love at first sight. (I mean, just look at that cover.) It was also love at first page. I adored Tanner and Sebastian and fell head over heels in love with their story. I would love to relive it all over again.


Do you re-read books?
Do you have a favorite that you go back to again and again?

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The Sunday Post #181


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 things we have received, and share news about what is
coming up on your blog in the week ahead. You can find the info here:
Sunday Post Meme

  • Fall finally decided to make a brief appearance! *does happy dance and throws confetti* Friday, Saturday and today had temps in the 60's and as I write this (very early Sunday morning) it's in the 40's. I. Am. Loving. It! Never mind that it's jumping right back up to 80 tomorrow... because for now it feels absolutely delicious outside. 
  • The Husband and I ran a few errands yesterday but it was much more casual than last weekend. Even got (most of) the grocery shopping done so that's one less thing to do today. *does another happy dance*
  • It was a busy week at the office, but not a bad one. One boss has been working an abbreviated schedule since he's still recovering from knee replacement surgery and another boss is headed to Las Vegas this week for a conference (what a rough job, right?). 
  • Today is my nephew's birthday... happy 24th to Shane! 


Tomorrow (in the U.S.) is Veterans Day. A federal holiday to honor all who have served the country, in war or peace, dead or alive, although it's largely intended to thank living veterans for their sacrifices.
 
Today I honor my husband, Robert, who served this country for 21 years. As a Chief Hospital Corpsman he was often stationed with the Marines, who usually referred to him as "Doc." In times of crisis, when others took cover, it was Robert who ran toward danger and to the injured. During Operation Desert Storm it was Robert who helped mobilize the Navy's medical personnel and ensure they were at the ready and in place when needed. He served his time both on U.S. soil - in North Carolina, in Georgia, in Illinois, and in Florida at the Navy's Experimental Diving Unit - and on missions that took him to Columbia, Croatia, Beirut, Mogadishu and more. 

Robert is a patriot to his core. He was called to serve - and would do it all again. I am in awe of his honor and integrity and sacrifice. It is humbling. And not just today, but especially today, I thank him and so many others who have placed service above self.



Tuesday, November 5
Top Ten Tuesday: Autumn Edition

Friday, November 8
Monthly Wrap-Up | October 2019



WHAT I COMPLETED IN THE LAST WEEK:

      
The Bromance Book Club - Lyssa Kay Adams
Etched in Bone - Anne Bishop

It took 12 days, but I finally finished The Bromance Book Club. I think it was 50% that I was kinda/sorta in a reading slump and 50% that I had such issues with one of the main characters and that equated to a less than stellar reading experience. But there was still plenty that I enjoyed. Etched in Bone was the final book in The Others series that took place at the Lakeside Courtyard and no matter how many times I listen to the series, it's always bittersweet to say goodbye to those characters.


WHAT I'M CURRENTLY READING: 
    
Trusting Winter - Lora Richardson

After being semi-slumpish for the last month or so, this latest release from Lora Richardson is exactly what I needed. I sing Lora's praises every chance I get and if you enjoy YA contemporary and haven't read anything from Lora yet, you are so missing out. I just started this one on Friday and I'm already at the 80% mark (that's fast for me!). I am loving every minute of Trusting Winter - and the cover is making me all kinds of happy.

By the way, Trusting Winter is only $0.99 on Amazon right now... and free if you have Kindle Unlimited! 



Nothing this week.






How was your week? Any new books? Any news to share? 
I'd love to hear about it!
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