Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Waiting on Wednesday: Beach Read & Real Men Knit

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52867387-beach-read
Beach Read
by Emily Henry
Goodreads

Publication Date: May 19th 2020
Publisher: Berkley
ISBN: 9781984806734

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Available for Pre-Order:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

A romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever afters.

Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast.

They're polar opposites.

In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they're living in neighboring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writer's block.

Until, one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She'll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he'll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book and no one will fall in love. Really. (Goodreads)

I am excited to read this book for SO many reasons.
Not only does it sound adorable, but it's also a BEACH READ!
I love books that are set during summer or at the beach.
I think this will be the first book to kick off my summer tbr!

(And no, I'm totally not waiting until summer to start this! lol!)



https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51351884-real-men-knit
Real Men Knit
by Kwana Jackson
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: May 19th 2020
Publisher: Berkley
ISBN: 9781984806505

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Available for Pre-Order:
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When their foster-turned-adoptive mother suddenly dies, four brothers struggle to keep open the doors of her beloved Harlem knitting shop, while dealing with life and love in Harlem.

Jesse Strong is known for two things: his devotion to his adoptive mom, Mama Joy, and his reputation for breaking hearts in Harlem. When Mama Joy unexpectedly passes away, he and his brothers have different plans on what to do with Strong Knits, their neighborhood knitting store: Jesse wants to keep the store open; his brothers want to shut it down.

Jesse makes an impassioned plea to Kerry Fuller, his childhood friend who has had a crush on him her entire life, to help him figure out how to run the business. Kerry agrees to help him reinvent the store and show him the knitty-gritty of the business, but the more time they spend together, the more the chemistry builds. Kerry, knowing Jesse’s history, doesn’t believe this relationship will exist longer than one can knit one, purl one. But Jesse is determined to prove to her that he can be the man for her—after all, real men knit. (Goodreads)

Aw! This one sounds super adorable as well!
(Ok, maybe not so much of the foster mom passing away,
but definitely about the brother trying to keep her knitting store open!)
I am super excited to check this one out as well!


Those are my picks this week! What books are you excited for??
**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**


Friday, April 17, 2020

My Thoughts: Well Met by Jen Deluca (Audiobook)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43205122-well-met
Well Met
(Well Met #1)
by Jen Deluca
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: September 3rd 2019
Publisher: Berkley Books
Pages: 319
ISBN: 9781984805386
Genre: Adult Fiction | Romance | Contemporary
Source: Own / Library Audiobook Borrow

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Available for Purchase:
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All's faire in love and war for two sworn enemies who indulge in a harmless flirtation in a laugh-out-loud rom-com from debut author, Jen DeLuca.

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. (Goodreads)


Well Met by Jen Deluca was another book that has been sitting on my TBR for entirely too long, and I was SO excited to finally read the book. It definitely did not disappoint!

You’ve probably noticed that I have a bit of a rom-com theme going on my blog and with my reading lately. That’s because rom-coms are generally happy, and I need all the happy I can get right now. I’m very much enjoying how these books make me smile and give me all the feels. It’s a nice break from the reality in which we are living at the moment.

And Well Met was JUST the book that I needed at the moment. I love pretty much everything about this book. It has a great cast of characters, all of which I enjoyed. The main character, Emily, was awesome, and I loved watching the relationship between her and Simon, the love interest, grow as the story went along. This story also had some great secondary characters as well, including Emily’s sister and niece, and I’m excited to catch up with them all again in the next book, Well Played!

I also have to say that I LOVE the storyline for this book. I have never been to a renaissance fair before, but this book definitely makes me want to go to one. Jen did a great job with the descriptions for the setting, and I could picture the fair perfectly in my mind. And the storyline for the book was pretty adorable as well. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

Overall; If you can’t tell by this review, I really, really enjoyed reading Well Met. It made me smile, and took my mind off reality for a while, which was just what I needed. I absolutely can’t wait to get my hands on the next book, Well Played, which is currently set to release this September. I’m so excited for Stacey’s story!

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Waiting on Wednesday: Aurora Burning & The Betrothed

Aurora Burning
(The Aurora Cycle #2)
by Amie Kaufman
Website | Twitter | Instagram
& Jay Kristoff
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: May 5th 2020
Publisher: Knopf Books For Young Readers
ISBN: 9781524720926

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Our heroes are back… kind of. From the bestselling co-authors of the Illuminae Files comes the second book in the epic series about a squad of misfits, losers, and discipline cases who just might be the galaxy’s best hope for survival.

First, the bad news: an ancient evil—you know, your standard consume-all-life-in-the-galaxy deal—is about to be unleashed. The good news? Squad 312 is standing by to save the day. They’ve just got to take care of a few small distractions first.

Like the clan of gremps who’d like to rearrange their favorite faces.

And the cadre of illegit GIA agents with creepy flowers where their eyes used to be, who’ll stop at nothing to get their hands on Auri.

Then there’s Kal’s long-lost sister, who’s not exactly happy to see her baby brother, and has a Syldrathi army at her back. With half the known galaxy on their tails, Squad 312 has never felt so wanted.

When they learn the Hadfield has been found, it’s time to come out of hiding. Two centuries ago, the colony ship vanished, leaving Auri as its sole survivor. Now, its black box might be what saves them. But time is short, and if Auri can’t learn to master her powers as a Trigger, the squad and all their admirers are going to be deader than the Great Ultrasaur of Abraaxis IV.

Shocking revelations, bank heists, mysterious gifts, inappropriately tight bodysuits, and an epic firefight will determine the fate of the Aurora Legion’s most unforgettable heroes—and maybe the rest of the galaxy as well. (Goodreads)

Is anyone else super curious for this book??
I read Aurora Rising last year, and really enjoyed the book.
I'm super curious to see what's going to happen next in this series.



https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36071008-the-betrothed
The Betrothed
(The Betrothed #1)
by Kiera Cass
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: May 5th 2020
Publisher: Harper Collins Children's Books
ISBN: 9780008158828

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Available for Pre-Order:
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When King Jameson declares his love for Lady Hollis Brite, Hollis is shocked—and thrilled. After all, she’s grown up at Keresken Castle, vying for the king’s attention alongside other daughters of the nobility. Capturing his heart is a dream come true.

But Hollis soon realizes that falling in love with a king and being crowned queen may not be the happily ever after she thought it would be. And when she meets a commoner with the mysterious power to see right into her heart, she finds that the future she really wants is one that she never thought to imagine. (Goodreads)

Sooo, I was a little late to the party when it came to reading The Selection series,
but I finally read ALL of the books last year.
I'm curious to see what kind of world Kiera creates in this new book.

•   •   •

Those are my WOW picks for this week! What are yours??
**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**


Tuesday, April 14, 2020

My Thoughts: Dating You / Hating You by Christina Lauren (Audiobook)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32620304-dating-you-hating-you
Dating You / Hating You
by Christina Lauren
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: June 6th 2017
Publisher: Gallery Books
Pages: 350
ISBN: 9781501165818
Genre: Adult Fiction | Romance | Contemporary
Source: Own \ Library Audiobook Borrow

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Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

All’s fair in love and work. The first standalone romance by New York Times and #1 international bestselling author Christina Lauren (Beautiful Bastard) is a sexy, compulsively readable romantic comedy that dives headlong into the thrill and doubt of modern love.

Despite the odds against them from an embarrassing meet-awkward at a mutual friend’s Halloween party, Carter and Evie immediately hit it off. Even the realization that they’re both high-powered agents at competing firms in Hollywood isn’t enough to squash the fire.

But when their two agencies merge—causing the pair to vie for the same position—all bets are off. What could have been a beautiful, blossoming romance turns into an all-out war of sabotage. Carter and Evie are both thirtysomething professionals—so why can’t they act like it?

Can Carter stop trying to please everyone and see how their mutual boss is really playing the game? Can Evie put aside her competitive nature long enough to figure out what she really wants in life? Can their actor clients just be something close to human? Whether these two Hollywood love/hatebirds get the storybook Hollywood ending or just a dramedy of epic proportions, you will get to enjoy Christina Lauren’s heartfelt, raucous, and hilarious romance style at its finest. (Goodreads)


I am on a huge rom-com kick at the moment, and I have been quickly working my way through ALL of the books by Christina Lauren, (and I’m enjoying every one of them)! My latest read by my favorite duo was Dating You / Hating You, which had been on my TBR for way too long. I am thrilled to have finally read the book!

I want to first get this started by saying that while I enjoyed Dating You / Hating You, it is not my most favorite read by Christina Lauren. (That honor currently goes to Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating!) However, I did very much enjoy the book! I am a HUGE fan of the enemies-to-lovers troupe, and the banter between the two main characters was adorable. The only thing I didn’t like about the story was the character’s boss... What a jerk!

I really, really enjoyed the characters in this book. Evie and Carter were both great in their own right, but put them together and they are just adorable! I enjoyed watching the relationship grown between the two, and the pranks that they pulled on each other were hilarious. I laughed so much! (There were some pretty steamy moments in the story as well.) I also really enjoyed a lot of the secondary characters in this book, and wish some of them would get their own stories!

While I own the print copy of this book, I opted to listen to the audiobook instead, because audiobooks are about the only thing I can focus on lately.  (It’s April 2020, that should explain everything.) I am also currently working my way through the Beautiful Bastard series, (which I am very much enjoying, and is another series that I’ve been marking off my reading list), but when my hold came in at the library for Dating You / Hating You, I decided to give it a listen right away. The narrators for the book, Shayna Thibodeaux and Deacon Lee, did a fantastic job of telling Evie and Carter’s story!

Overall; I am so thrilled to finally mark Dating You \ Hating You off my reading list! While it’s definitely not my favorite read by this duo, I did enjoy the book a lot, and I’m glad I decided to read it already. Next on my list to listen to is The Honey-Don't List, which was just released in March, and then, of course, the rest of the Beautiful Bastard series!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Enjoyed but Rarely Talk About

http://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/top-ten-tuesday/

April 14: Books I Enjoyed but Rarely Talk About

Happy Tuesday, Bookworms!!

Today's Tuesday prompt is all about books we loved but rarely ever talk about...
I'm taking it a step further and making a list of book SERIES that I love,
but rarely ever talk about. (Even though I totally SHOULD!)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17234658-a-thousand-pieces-of-you https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13138635-these-broken-stars

A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray
These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34323570-furyborn https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26156203-the-crown-s-game

Furyborn by Claire Legrand
The Crown's Game by Evelyn Skye

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15803761-the-immortal-rules https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6644117-the-iron-king

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28374007-three-dark-crowns https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16069030-the-winner-s-curse

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake
The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10194514-pushing-the-limits

Rebel of the Sands by Rick Yancey
Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

•     •     •

These book (series) are SO GREAT!
I have no idea why I don't talk about them more often,
but I should totally change that.
I'm excited to get to share them here today!

What books made your list today? Leave a link so I can check them out!

Monday, April 13, 2020

My Thoughts: The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez (Audiobook)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41945163-the-friend-zone
The Friend Zone
by Abby Jimenez
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: June 11th 2019
Publisher: Forever
Pages: 384
ISBN: 9781538715604
Genre: Adult Fiction | Romance | Contemporary
Source: Own

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Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Kristen Petersen doesn't do drama, will fight to the death for her friends, and has no room in her life for guys who just don't get her. She's also keeping a big secret: facing a medically necessary procedure that will make it impossible for her to have children.

Planning her best friend's wedding is bittersweet for Kristen—especially when she meets the best man, Josh Copeland. He's funny, sexy, never offended by her mile-wide streak of sarcasm, and always one chicken enchilada ahead of her hangry. Even her dog, Stuntman Mike, adores him. The only catch: Josh wants a big family someday. Kristen knows he'd be better off with someone else, but as their attraction grows, it's harder and harder to keep him at arm's length.

The Friend Zone will have you laughing one moment and grabbing for tissues the next as it tackles the realities of infertility and loss with wit, heart, and a lot of sass. (Goodreads)


The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez has been on my TBR for a while now, and with The Happy Ever After Playlist coming out this month, I decided to finally push it up on my reading list and read them both together!

If you’ve been following me for a while now, then you know that I’m all about happy books at the moment. I went into The Friend Zone thinking that it was a feel good, fluffy romance, and that's not really what it was at all. It has quite a few serious topics, some I was expecting, and some that completely caught me off guard.

So, one thing I liked most about The Friend Zone was that it has a lot of interesting characters. I found myself relating to Kristen a lot as the story went along, from her snarky attitude to being hangry all the time. Josh was sweet and pretty darn adorable, and I enjoyed the chemistry between the two. I very much enjoyed watching their relationship grow over the course of the book, and the only thing I wish was that Kristen was honest with Josh from the beginning about her condition. (Though, yes, I totally realize that if that had happened, then there wouldn’t be much of a book to read. Lol) But I thought they were pretty great together, which was awesome. Also, there are some interesting secondary characters in the book as well, including Kristen’s best friend, Sloan, who gets her own story in Abby’s next book, The Happy Ever After Playlist!

The book also has a really interesting storyline as well, though, as I mentioned above, it has a bit of serious stuff in it that I really didn’t expect. (I will not spoil it by saying what happens, but it was something pretty massive.) It almost felt a bit like reading two different books in one. The first half of the book starts off cute and sweet, and then you’re thrown a loop in the second half of the book, and it feels like a completely different story. And it’s totally fine for the story to have this, I just didn’t expect it at all, and it brought me down a bit, which was the exact opposite of how I wanted to feel when reading the book. Not that it made me enjoy it any less, it just wasn’t expected. Also, the ending of the book was a bit of a shock as well! I knew a lot of people had mixed thoughts about the ending, and I’m glad I finally got to read it for myself to see what happened.

Also, while I have both the print and ebook version of the book, I decided to listen to the audiobook, because, to be quite honest, it’s about the only type of book I can focus on at the moment. The narrators for the story, Teddy Hamilton and Erin Mallon did an excellent job of telling Kristen and Josh’s story. (Fun fact: Erin will also be narrating Sloan’s story in the audio for The Happy Ever After Playlist, alongside Zachary Webber!)

Overall; While the book was not all that I expected, I very much enjoyed reading The Friend Zone! And now that I have finally read the book, I am very much looking forward to starting The Happy Ever After Playlist next so I can read Sloan’s story, which is out in stores and online as of April 14th!

Saturday, April 11, 2020

My Spring 2020 TBR


Happy Spring, All!

I am a little late getting this post up, especially considering that we are now 3 weeks into spring,
but better late than never, right?!

:)

I feel like it's been a while since I have done a seasonal TBR,
and I've decided to do this one a bit different.
I usually pick books related to the current season, but right now, 
I just want to catch up on all the books I'm behind on,
and save all my seasonal books for summer, since I seem to enjoy those the most.

(And because right now I'm SOOOO behind on all the books.)

Here are a few books, both new and old, that I am hoping to tackle this spring!


The Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu
(I'm super excited to read this new book by Marie!)

Night of the Dragon by Julie Kagawa
(I love this series so much! Can't wait to read this new edition!)

The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller
(Tricia's books are fantastic! How have I not read this one yet??)

The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoski
(It's been too long since I read something by Marie!)

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
(Super curious about this one!)

The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi
(This one has been on my TBR for too long!)

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
(Really hoping to can get in the right mindset to read this one!)

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
(I have put this book off for TOO LONG! I am determined to read it this spring.)

•   •   •

So those are just a few books that I am hoping to read this spring!
I am really hoping to get back into the reading mood soon,
as I am pretty behind on my TBR at the moment....
But, this post is definitely making me want to catch up!

Are there any books that you're hoping to read this spring??

Friday, April 10, 2020

My Thoughts: The End and Other Beginnings by Veronica Roth (Audiobook)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43453699-the-end-and-other-beginnings
The End and Other Beginnings
by Veronica Roth
Website | Instagram

Publication Date: October 1st 2019
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: 272
ISBN: 9780062796523
Genre: YA | Sci-Fi | Short Stories
Source: Edelweiss Review Copy

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Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Bestselling Divergent and Carve the Mark author Veronica Roth delivers a stunning collection of novella-length stories set in the future, illustrated with startling black-and-white artwork.

No world is like the other. Within this masterful collection, each setting is more strange and wonderful than the last, brimming with new technologies and beings. And yet, for all the advances in these futuristic lands, the people still must confront deeply human problems.

In these six stories, Veronica Roth reaches into the unknown and draws forth something startlingly familiar and profoundly beautiful.

With tales of friendship and revenge, plus two new stories from the Carve the Mark universe, this collection has something for new and old fans alike. Each story begins with a hope for a better end, but always end with a better understanding of the beginning.

With beautifully intricate black-and-white interior illustrations and a uniquely designed package, this is the perfect gift for book lovers. (Goodreads)


It’s been too long since I last read a book by Veronica Roth, so when I discovered The End and Other Beginnings, a collection of short, futuristic stories, I knew I would have to check it out.

The End and Other Beginnings has six stories, all with different characters, and interesting futuristic storylines. Two of the stories are set in the Carve the Mark universe, which is a series I have not yet tackled, yet I am now super curious to check out. All of the stories were interesting, and definitely futuristic, which was pretty cool. (I think the first story in the book was definitely my favorite.)

Though I had an e-arc of the book, I decided to listen to the audiobook, which is narrated by Emily Rankin and MacLeod Andrews, who did a fantastic job telling the story. Though I definitely will be going back to check out the book soon, as I hear it has some pretty awesome illustrations as well.

Overall; reading The End and Other Beginnings was a really interesting read, and has definitely made me curious to pick up more by Veronica soon! As I mentioned above I have yet to tackle the Carve the Mark series, so I definitely plan to read that soon. I am also excited to check out her newest book, Chosen Ones, which just recently released, as well!

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Waiting on Wednesday: The Happy Every After Playlist & Not That Kind of Guy

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52539131-the-happy-ever-after-playlist
The Happy Ever After Playlist
by Abby Jimenez
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: April 14th 2020
Publisher: Forever Books
ISBN: 9781538715642

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Available for Pre-Order:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

From the USA Today bestselling author of The Friend Zone comes an adorable and fresh romantic comedy about one trouble-making dog who brings together two perfect strangers.

Two years after losing her fiancé, Sloan Monroe still can't seem to get her life back on track. But one trouble-making pup with a "take me home" look in his eyes is about to change everything. With her new pet by her side, Sloan finally starts to feel more like herself. Then, after weeks of unanswered texts, Tucker's owner reaches out. He's a musician on tour in Australia. And bottom line: He wants Tucker back.

Well, Sloan's not about to give up her dog without a fight. But what if this Jason guy really loves Tucker? As their flirty texts turn into long calls, Sloan can't deny a connection. Jason is hot and nice and funny. There's no telling what could happen when they meet in person. The question is: With his music career on the rise, how long will Jason really stick around? And is it possible for Sloan to survive another heartbreak?  (Goodreads)

Um, does this sound cute, or what??
(And it's NO secret that I am ALL about the happy right now.)
I still need to read The Friend Zone, but I am excited to read both of these books together!




https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49759888-not-that-kind-of-guy
Not That Kind of Guy
by Andie J. Christopher
Website | Twitter | Instagram
Publication Date: April 14th 2020
Publisher: Berkley
ISBN: 9781984802705

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Available for Pre-Order:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

An office attraction becomes something more when they're off the clock in this delightful romantic comedy by the USA Today bestselling author of Not the Girl You Marry.

State attorney Bridget Nolan is successful in all aspects of her life--except romance. After breaking up with her longtime boyfriend, she's been slow to reenter the dating scene. To be honest, she has more important things to do like putting bad guys behind bars. But with her brother's wedding right around the corner, she suddenly needs a date and fast. Lucky for Bridget, the legal intern is almost done with his program.

Matt Kido is dumbstruck by Bridget--total love at first sight--but there's one problem. She's totally off-limits while she's his boss. But the moment he no longer reports to her, Matt asks her on a date. An impulsive decision takes them to Las Vegas where, as the saying goes, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.

Unless you put a ring on it. (Goodreads)

This is another book that I am super excited for!
I read Not The Girl You Marry last year, and thought it was an interesting read.
I'm super curious for Bridget's story!


Those are my picks for this week! They both come out next week, and I'm super excited!!
Now, what books are you waiting on??
**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**


Monday, April 6, 2020

My Thoughts: Tweet Cute by Emma Lord (Audiobook)

Tweet Cute
by Emma Lord
Twitter

Publication Date: January 21st 2020
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Pages: 368
ISBN: 9781250237323
Genre: YA Contemporary
Source: Netgalley Review Copy | Own

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Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

A fresh, irresistible rom-com from debut author Emma Lord about the chances we take, the paths life can lead us on, and how love can be found in the opposite place you expected.

Meet Pepper, swim team captain, chronic overachiever, and all-around perfectionist. Her family may be falling apart, but their massive fast-food chain is booming ― mainly thanks to Pepper, who is barely managing to juggle real life while secretly running Big League Burger’s massive Twitter account.

Enter Jack, class clown and constant thorn in Pepper’s side. When he isn’t trying to duck out of his obscenely popular twin’s shadow, he’s busy working in his family’s deli. His relationship with the business that holds his future might be love/hate, but when Big League Burger steals his grandma’s iconic grilled cheese recipe, he’ll do whatever it takes to take them down, one tweet at a time.

All’s fair in love and cheese ― that is, until Pepper and Jack’s spat turns into a viral Twitter war. Little do they know, while they’re publicly duking it out with snarky memes and retweet battles, they’re also falling for each other in real life ― on an anonymous chat app Jack built.

As their relationship deepens and their online shenanigans escalate ― people on the internet are shipping them?? ― their battle gets more and more personal, until even these two rivals can’t ignore they were destined for the most unexpected, awkward, all-the-feels romance that neither of them expected. (Goodreads)


I picked up Tweet Cute by Emma Lord because it sounded super cute, and I’m ALL about cute reads with happily ever after’s right now. After reading the summary for the book, I knew I need to check it out, and I’m so glad that I did!

There are SO many things that I loved about Tweet Cute, with the main thing being the characters. Pepper and Jack are SO cute, and I very much enjoyed following their story and interactions over the course of the novel. They were so cute, and I love that if you put their names together, it’s PEPPER JACK. How cute is that??

I also really enjoyed the storyline for the book. It very much reminded me of the movie You’ve Got Mail with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, which just happens to be one of my most favorite movies, which I have watched at least 200 times. (Which is probably why the story for Tweet Cute seemed so familiar!) I was completely fascinated by the story, and it didn’t take me long to become absolutely hooked. I loved it!

And while I have the printed version of this book, I opted to listen to the audiobook instead, and I’m so glad that I did! Dan Bittner & Emily Shaffer did such great jobs with the voices for Pepper and Jack, and it took the story to a whole new level for me. It was great! If you have the opportunity to check out the audiobook, I highly recommend it!

Overall; Tweet Cute was absolutely adorable, and was exactly the book I needed to read at the moment. I am definitely fascinated by Emma’s writing, and I can’t wait to read more by her in the future! If you don’t already have this book on your TBR, do add it today!

Friday, April 3, 2020

My Thoughts: The Grace Kelly Dress by Brenda Janowitz (Audiobook)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45288567-the-grace-kelly-dress
The Grace Kelly Dress
by Brenda Janowitz
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Publication Date: March 3rd 2020
Publisher: Graydon House Books
Pages: 336
ISBN: 9781525804595)
Genre: Adult Fiction | Contemporary | Historical
Source: Netgalley Review Copy

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Two years after Grace Kelly’s royal wedding, her iconic dress is still all the rage in Paris—and one replica, and the secrets it carries, will inspire three generations of women to forge their own paths in life and in love in this beguiling new novel from Brenda Janowitz.

“Exactly the type of book I love: charming, smart, and brimming with heart.”—EMILY GIFFIN, #1 New York Times bestselling author of All We Ever Wanted

Paris, 1958: Rose, a seamstress at a fashionable atelier, has been entrusted with sewing a Grace Kelly-lookalike gown for a wealthy bride-to-be. But when, against better judgment, she finds herself falling in love with the bride's handsome brother, Rose must make an impossible choice—one that could put all she's worked for at risk: love, security, and of course, the dress.

Sixty years later, tech CEO Rachel, who goes by the childhood nickname "Rocky," has inherited the dress for her upcoming wedding in New York City. But there's just one problem: Rocky doesn't want to wear it. A family heirloom dating back to the 1950s, the dress just isn't her. Rocky knows this admission will break her mother Joan's heart. But what she doesn't know is why Joan insists on the dress—or the heartbreaking secret that changed her mother's life decades before, as she herself prepared to wear it.

As the lives of these three women come together in surprising ways, the revelation of the dress's history collides with long-buried family heartaches. And in the lead-up to Rocky's wedding, they'll have to confront the past before they can embrace the beautiful possibilities of the future.

“Not everything is right the first time,” her mother said carefully. “Take Grace Kelly’s wedding dress. Do you think that was the first design Helen Rose came up with?” -THE GRACE KELLY DRESS

"A charming, heartfelt novel about three generations of women who are connected by the gorgeous gown that each wears on her wedding day. Fast paced and entertaining from beginning to end." -Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Great Alone

"Brenda Janowitz's gift is understanding and revealing the nuances of complicated families, of love embraced, love lost and love reclaimed. With The Grace Kelly Dress she has stitched together a seamless intergenerational modern-day fairy tale, with a very contemporary twist." -Mary Kay Andrews, New York Times bestselling author of The High Tide Club

"Brenda Janowitz writes with extraordinary humor and heart, her writing growing in beauty and maturity with every book. This is a book that has to be added to your nightstand immediately." -Jane Green, bestselling author of The Friends We Keep (Goodreads)


The Grace Kelly Dress by Brenda Janowitz is only the second book that I have read so far about Grace Kelly, and I am HOOKED! I am so happy to see these books coming out that have Grace in the story, as I find myself want to read more and more. (And soon I plan to watch all of her movies as well!)

But enough about Grace, let’s talk about The Grace Kelly Dress, the book!

The Grace Kelly Dress is the story about a wedding dress, a replica of the one worn by Grace Kelly herself, and the three generations of women that it inspires. First, I have to say that the characters in the book were great. Though they are years apart from each other in age, I managed to relate to them all in some form or another, which was awesome. I very much enjoyed reading each of their stories, and I also enjoyed that each of the chapters were alternately told through each of these ladies.

Second, I absolutely loved the settings for the book as well. While the story doesn’t go too in depth on the settings, I still managed to feel like I was both in Paris and New York with these women. (One day I will actually visit these places, but until then, I am more than happy to visit via the written word.) I also really enjoyed the storyline for this book as well. It was fascinating and engaging, and kept me hooked right up until the end.

I also want to add that while I had a print version on the book, I opted to listen to the audiobook instead, and I’m really glad that I did. Cassandra Campbell did an excellent job of narrating the story, and I enjoyed all of her different voices as well. I definitely plan to listen to more audiobooks that are narrated by her soon!

Overall; In case you can't tell by this quick review, I very much enjoyed The Grace Kelly Dress! The story was absolutely fascinating, and I loved the characters as well. The story definitely made me want to find all the movies that Grace Kelly was in, and I am hoping to watch them as soon as possible. And I will DEFINITELY be checking out more books by Brenda Janowitz soon as well!

Thursday, April 2, 2020

My Thoughts: Blitzed by Alexa Martin

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44512841-blitzed
Blitzed
(Playbook #3)
by Alexa Martin
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Publication Date: December 3rd 2019
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 325
ISBN: 9780451491992
Genre: Adult Fiction | Contemporary
Source: Netgalley Review Copy | Own

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Maxwell has finally met an opponent that he can't best in this new football romance from the author of Fumbled.

According to Brynn Larson, Maxwell Lewis is more trouble than he's worth. She doesn't care if he's a football god with a rock-hard body that brings most women to their knees. After an encounter that ends poorly, she's not interested in giving him a second chance. The last thing Brynn expects is for him to turn up at her bar months later, hat in hand. It doesn't matter if he brings more customers to her business--she's still not going on a date with him.

Maxwell knows he made a mistake. He'd been waiting to make his move on Brynn since the day he laid eyes on her and he was finally ready to go for it until he screwed up. He wishes he could tell her the truth about what happened that night, but he just can't. He can't tell anyone, so he'll make amends and hope she'll forgive him.

Brynn's not like other women, though. Playing for the Mustangs doesn't impress her and gifts make her scoff. Max will have to bring his A game if he hopes to win her over. (Goodreads)


I was super excited to get my hands on Blitzed, the third book in the Playbook series by Alexa Martin! After completely devouring the first two books in the series, Intercepted and Fumbled, I couldn’t wait to see what would be in store with this third book. It definitely did not disappoint!

One of the things that I loved most about this series was the characters. While the storyline revolves around a main theme, (a football team), each story is different, and features a different couple. I have loved all of the characters that we’ve met so far, and have enjoyed each of their stories. (And I hope that the series continues on so that ALL of the characters will eventually get their own stories!)

The couple in Blitzed was Brynn and Maxwell, and I do have to say they are my favorite couple so far. Brynn is an absolutely amazing woman, and Maxwell is an adorable guy. Together, they just work so well, and I absolutely loved their story. (I won’t say too much more, so just read the story to meet them yourself!)

I had assumed that Blitzed was the last book in the Playbook series, but I was SO thrilled to discover that there is going to be another book, Snapped, set to release this fall! I am so excited that there will be another book, and I hope that we get even more than that in the future as well.

Overall; Blitzed was yet another excellent addition to the Playbook series by Alexa Martin, and I’m pretty sure this is my favorite book of the series so far, which is saying a lot because ALL the books in the series are SO GOOD! If you haven’t yet check out the series, and are a fan of romance, then do add these to your TBR! And I will be over here patiently waiting to read Snapped as soon as it’s released in October!