Title: Mistletoe and Mr. Right
Author: Lyla Payne
Date Published: November 20, 2014
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring…but lust refused to settle in for a long winter's nap. She might be all nestled, snug in her bed, by why, oh why, do visions of the wrong guy dance in her head?
Jessica, (not Jessie), figures that nothing could be better than a trip to the Emerald Isle for Christmas break. So she takes a flying leap and follows her boyfriend home for the holidays, not only sure that he will finally agree they're destined for each other, but also that Ireland will provide the perfect backdrop to the beginning of their happily-ever-after.
But it turns out his family--and his gorgeous ex-girlfriend--don't feel the same way, and even the family goat seems to be conspiring against her well-laid plans. The only person making the trip worthwhile is the very last one she should be thinking about, but Grady, the local farmhand, has a way of showing up when Jessica needs him most...and least.
USA Today bestselling author Lyla Payne wraps up the perfect holiday novella, ties it with a ribbon of romance, and tops it with a light dusting of snow. Perfect to curl up with under the tree. Just add hot cocoa!
This is the first book that I've read by Lyla Payne, and I am now looking forward to reading more books written by her. Mistletoe and Mr. Right was a fun, quick read. I thought it was really interesting that this story took place in Ireland, as we got to experience an Irish Christmas, and I enjoyed learning about some of the customs.
To be honest, I could not relate to Jessie at first. She flew all the way to England to share Christmas with a guy who she had barely started dating. I thought that she was crazy at first! I was also baffled that, with the limited time she had, she barely seemed to spend any time with Brennan.
My favorite parts of the story was Jessie's banter with Grady. I really liked him, and appreciated that he didn't put up with much crap! It was super refreshing. I have to say, I wanted more at the end of this story. I would have liked to see how things played out in the future, as opposed to where it left off.
All in all, I definitely recommend Mistletoe and Mr. Right to anyone looking for a clean New Adult, Christmas story, filled with both humor and serious content. Rating: 4 Stars
Title: The Shape of My Heart
Series: 2B Trilogy, #3
Author Ann Aguirre
Date Published: December 1, 2014
Publisher: Harlequin
Some people wait decades to meet their soul mate. Courtney Kaufman suspects she met hers in high school only to lose him at seventeen. Since then, Courtney's social life has been a series of meaningless encounters, though she's made a few close friends along the way. Especially her roommate, Max Cooper, who oozes damaged bad-boy vibes from every pore.
Max knows about feeling lost he's been on his own since he was sixteen. Now it's time to find out if he can ever go home again, and Courtney's the only one he trusts to go with him. But the trip to Providence could change everything….
It started out so simple. One misfit helping another. Now Max will do anything to show Courtney that for every heart that's ever been broken, there's another that can make it complete.
Quick Thoughts:
Unfortunately, I could not really get into The Shape of My Heart. I really enjoyed the first two books in this series, and was really looking forward to reading this. I loved Max and really wanted to know more about him. The pacing of this story seemed very slow, and I found myself losing interest in the plot. I really did not care for the main character, Courtney, and she really frustrated me more often than not. This was really sad because I adored Max in The Shape of My Heart, and really respected his character.
Hollie + Layne =One trip. One week. One chance meeting that they'll never forget. Two hearts. Two different places. And One event that could change it all.
This Christmas, take a stroll down Holly Lane where you'll find Hollie Reed's story of memories, friendships, a town full of holiday joy and the power of love.
J.B. Morgan resides in Oregon where she's a wife and a stay-at-home-mother of two. When she's not writing she can be found carting her kids everywhere, volunteering at their school, busy with her church calling, or reading. She loves the NY Yankees, traveling, her family and chocolate.
Two reasons that helped inspire J.B. Morgan to try her hand at writing:
1. When she was younger, she would make up hero-rescuing stories in her head, revolving around boys she had crushes on at school.
2. She missed reading about nice, normal, good men and books with a story line.
J.B. likes to write clean New Adult & Contemporary Romance stories. Her up-coming books are mostly suitable for older teen- YA readers as well as those in the New Adult/Contempt genre. She definitely knows how to write a swoon worthy leading male.
Dalton Black, a Canis lupis full of guilt and anger, never expected to find his true mate. Perhaps
already slipping into madness, he had resigned himself to the fact that he would walk the earth without
the other half of his soul. He was convinced that his sins were enough to keep the Great Luna from
giving him such a blessing. He knew it was probably better that way. His past was as dark as his name
and after three centuries of running from it, the memories were finally catching up to him. But all of
those resignations evaporated when he saw her broken and bloodied body lying on that alter. Though
the man didn’t recognize her, the wolf did. Through battle and bloodshed he was able to save
her from the evil that held her captive, but now he would need her to save him from himself. Jewel Stone was wholly unaware of the ancient bloodlines of Gypsy Healers, mates to Canis
lupis and protectors of the packs – much less that she carried that blood herself. But when a
beautiful but deadly woman showed up in her home and ripped her from her realm, she knew her life
would never be the same. Her mother, Gem, a fortune teller, had warned her that something was
coming, that her life was about to change dramatically, but like everyone else, Jewel had dismissed her
as a crazy person. Jewel was the laughing stock of her school simply because Gem was her mother. And up until
now, her life was one big disappointment after another. Instead of heeding her mother’s
warning, she hid in her books, burying herself behind knowledge, both fact and fiction. She escaped into
worlds created by others and filled her mind with facts of every kind in an effort to push away the
hurtful words that others bombarded her with. Despite all of her knowledge and all of her fantastical
stories, she never dreamed her own future would be full of adventure, danger, passion, and the
possibility of unconditional love. As she lay unconscious after her first bloody encounter in the fae
realm, her only chance of survival lay in the hands of a man scarred by his past, disfigured both
emotionally and physically, and beyond the reach of any who had tried to help him. Can two broken people, who carry the other half of each other’s souls, span the chasm
between them and restore the innocence ripped from both their lives? Will they let the promise of
healing love overcome the difference in age and experience, and the separation of species and realms?
Or will they give in to the fear and doubt that would keep them from one another for eternity?
Jewel could feel him. She didn’t know how she knew it was him, other than the warmth and
wholeness that flooded her from his nearness.
“It seems like forever since I last saw you,” Dalton’s voice penetrated the deep slumber she had fallen into.
“It can’t have been that long,” she told him and was shocked to see that in her mind’s eye he was
there standing before her. “Is this a dream?”
He chuckled and the sound sent ripples of pleasure down every nerve ending in her body. "That
was a new feeling," she thought. It was something she had read about in her many romance novels,
but not anything she had experienced firsthand―until now.
“You know it is not. We are talking through our bond.”
“But how can I see you. It’s as if you are really here before me, like I could just reach out and touch you.”
“Why don’t you?” His sultry voice dropped an octave and Jewel was pretty sure she had just
swooned for the first time.
“How?”
“Our mental bond can be used for much more than just words,” he told her.
Jewel was pretty sure that if she could blush while in a coma, then she had done just that. The
implication of his words was loud and clear.
He took a step closer to her and another until he was standing less than three feet away. He was
huge, at least a foot taller than her five-foot-four inches. She had to tilt her head back to look up at
his ruggedly handsome face. It was the first time she was seeing him, and she couldn’t understand
how one such as him could have picked her. He had dark brown hair that was messy in all the right
ways. His cool, pale blue eyes seemed to see straight into her soul, and she felt more vulnerable than
if she were naked before him. His strong jaw and high cheekbones were too hard to be considered
beautiful; he was masculine in every sense of the word. He seemed so capable as he stood there
with his shoulders back, his muscles bulging in his dark shirt and jeans. He was everything she never
thought she could have, not her, with the strawberry locks that she kept short, just below her ears
framing her face.
She was just plain Jewel, nothing nearly as glamorous as her name, and yet the male before
her claimed to be hers. She was pretty sure that it must all be something she had concocted in her
comatose state. Her reality would never be one so full of excitement and well, truth be told, utter
sexiness.
“You find me to be sexy?” he asked her as his head tilted ever so slightly to the side. His lips
quirked up in a crooked smile, and she was pretty sure that if she never tasted those lips she would
die of disappointment.
“Interesting,” he murmured.
“I thought you were going to try and give me some privacy,” she scolded.
“Yes, well that was before I realized how fascinating your thoughts would be.”
“Are you shameless?”
He laughed. “When it comes to you, apparently yes I am.”
Well, she thought, what was she supposed to say to that?
“I want to touch you,” he told her and again she was taken aback by his forwardness. The need in
his eyes was completely unmasked, and she wondered at his ability to be so open with her. Wasn’t
he afraid of rejection?
“You need me just as much as I need you; why should I be worried you will reject me?” He held his hand out to her and it took all of her limited self-control not to throw herself in his huge arms.
About Quinn Loftis
Quinn lives in beautiful NW Arkansas with her husband, 2 sons, Doberman and cat (who thinks
she is a ninja in disguise). She is beyond thankful that she has been blessed to be able to write full time
and hopes the readers know how much all of their support means to her. Some of her hobbies include
reading, exercising, crochet, and spending time with family and friends. She gives all credit of her
success to God because he gave her the creative spirit and vivid imagination it takes to write.
*please note that if you have not read the prior books in the Grey Wolves series, there might be some spoilers up ahead. The first book, Prince of Wolves, is currently free at most eBook retailers.
I am a big fan of Quinn Loftis' Grey Wolves series. Whenever one of her new books come out, I tend to drop whatever it is that I am currently reading at the moment, and start on her book right away. I have become deeply invested in the world that she's created and her characters have become like a second family to me.
In case you don't know, The Healers series is a spin-off to the Grey Wolves series. It takes place in the same world, however, we get to meet some new faces. We also get more time with Costin and Sally, who are my favorite characters in either series! By the way, I'm claiming Costin as my book boyfriend, just so you all know ;)
When we last left Peri and the gang, one of our new gypsies, Jewel, was not doing so well. Dalton was in a sense of denial and had been dealing with some deep issues. Wolf of Stone takes place soon after, Into the Fae, left off, and it had somewhat of a different vibe than Quinn's other books. Both of the main characters have some difficult issues that they are struggling with, and have experienced so much pain in their lives. Even though this book is not told in first person point of view, I really felt what Dalton was thinking and what he went through. My heart really went out to him because I felt his struggle.
As I mentioned, we get to meet some new characters in Wolf of Stone. I'm looking forward to getting to know them a little more! I love that each of Quinn's characters are so different, and often provide comic relief.
I was kind of bummed when it was over because 1) I was super invested in the story, and 2) there were three things I was dying to know. I have faith that Ms. Loftis will address these in her next Gypsy Healers book. I know I cannot wait to read it!
Title: Simply Irresistible
Series: Lucky Harbor, #1
Author: Jill Shalvis
Date Published: October 1, 2010
Publisher: Forever
Maddie Moore's whole life needs a makeover. In one fell swoop, Maddie loses her boyfriend (her decision) and her job (so not her decision). But rather than drowning her sorrows in bags of potato chips, Maddie leaves L.A. to claim the inheritance left by her free-spirited mother-a ramshackle inn nestled in the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington.
Starting over won't be easy. Yet Maddie sees the potential for a new home and a new career-if only she can convince her two half-sisters to join her in the adventure. But convincing Tara and Chloe will be difficult because the inn needs a big makeover too.
The contractor Maddie hires is a tall, dark-haired hottie whose eyes-and mouth-are making it hard for her to remember that she's sworn off men. Even harder will be Maddie's struggles to overcome the past, though she's about to discover that there's no better place to call home than Lucky Harbor.
I haven't read many Adult Contemporaries these days, but I couldn't help but notice that several of the people that I follow on Twitter or Goodreads have or are reading a book by Jill Shalvis. My curiosity got the best of me, so I picked up Simply Irresistible when I was at the library the other day. I have to say, I really enjoyed it!
This was definitely a quick, fun read. Recently, I went back to school (online), and it has been taking most of my time. However, during my evenings, I have been reading Simply Irresistible, and it has really helped me to unwind from taxing days, and put me back in my happy place. I really liked the characters- Maddie, Jax, Chloe, and even Tara! They really had me chuckling and shaking my head at times. Sometimes I got a little frustrated with Maddie, but I really think she redeemed herself in the end. Jax was wonderful, and too good to be true at times. He was just what Maddie needed though!
I am really looking forward to the next book in the Lucky Harbor series, The Sweetest Thing. I've already put a hold on it at the library!
Today, I'm excited to share a new Christmas novella written by upcoming author, J.B. Morgan. I love Christmas stories, and cannot wait to read this one!
Excerpt
About the Author:
J.B. Morgan resides in Oregon where she's a wife and a stay-at-home-mother of two. When she's not writing she can be found carting her kids everywhere, volunteering at their school, busy with her church calling, or reading. She loves the NY Yankees, traveling, her family and chocolate.
Eighteen-year-old Cora Jemison knows what it’s like to date a soul reaper. There are no Friday night movies, no school dances, and no stolen kisses between classes. It totally sucks! What makes it even worse, souls pop up when she least expects it. The last one is not her fault, but it all adds up to zero quality time with her super hot, scythe-carrying boyfriend, Echo.
Since Cora was etched with special runes by an evil Immortal, she understands why souls are drawn to her. She makes the best of it by helping souls find closure while Echo escorts them to the realm of the dead. Perfect partners, until a dark soul visits Cora in the dead of the night and Echo decides her soul-helping days are over.
Cora can either listen to Echo or follow her instincts. To make matters worse, other reapers start stalking her, demanding she hand over the soul. Even her Valkyrie friends think she’s gone too far. But something sinister is coming their way, and the soul is the key to saving her town, her friends, and her relationship with Echo. Can she convince Echo to see things her way before it’s too late?
WARNING: This is CORA'S story: This book may be considered NA (new adult) because it contains some swearing, violence and sex scenes: Suitable for ages 17 and up. A Clean Version will also be available on Amazon.
I was so excited when I found out I was to to be a part of the Souls blog tour! I'm a big fan of Ednah Walters' Runes and Grimnirs series, and I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen to my beloved characters next!
Ok, so first off- if you haven't read any of the other books in this series, I encourage you start with Runes. You'll get a lot of the background info, and be introduced to most of the characters. With that said, I really enjoyed Souls! I think it just might be my favorite book in either series.
I'll be honest when we were first introduced to Cora back in Runes, I didn't really like her that much. I didn't feel like I could relate to her. But then I read Grimnirs, which is told from Cora's point of view, and I quickly grew to adore that girl! I finally understood her, and figured out why things she said and did just did'nt click with me before. I have to say, I now prefer the stories told from Cora's point of view as opposed to Raine's! (But only by a narrow margin).
I just love the way that Cora connects and interacts with those around her. She's quirky, fun, doesn't take crap from anyone, yet she's kind and compassionate! We got to see more of her character grow and blossom in Souls. She's not one of those characters who is perfect though- she does make mistakes, but she learns from them. The girl really does have a good head on her shoulders!
Now. Let me just talk about Echo for a moment (who is also my new book boyfriend...shh). Where do I even start? *sigh* He's gorgeous with his dark hair and green-gold eyes. He's also fierce, loyal, loving, and mysterious. Echo doesn't see those things within himself though. He has carried around a lot of guilt, burdens, and sadness for a long time. Some of the things he said broke my heart. He has faults, yes, but he knows that, and is trying to be a better person.
I loved that we got to hear more of Echo's story in Souls, as well as meet a few new characters! I hope we see more of them in the future books. Dev cracked me up and brought so much to this story. I was never bored while reading, and I was eager to turn the page to see what would happen next. There were times when I laughed, but there were times when I had a few tears in my eyes.
My only complaint was that I wish that Souls was just a little bit longer. I would've liked more resolution at the end, and I really wanted to know more about what happened that night. ;)
I am definitely looking forward to the next book Witches! As much as I love Cora's point of view, I need to know how Raine is dealing with everything. I can't wait!
Rating: 4.5 Stars
AUTHOR BIO
EDNAH WALTERS grew up reading Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys
and dreaming of one day writing her own stories. She is a stay-at-home mother
of five humans and two American short-hair cats (one of which has ADHD) and a
husband. When she is not writing, she’s at the gym doing Zumba or doing things
with her family, reading, traveling or online chatting with fans.
Ednah is the author of The Guardian Legacy series, a YA fantasy series about
children of the fallen angels, who fight demons and protect mankind. AWAKENED,
the prequel was released by Pill Hill Press in September 2010 with rave
reviews. BETRAYED, book one in the series was released by her new publisher
Spencer Hill Press in June 2012 and HUNTED, the third installment, was released
March 2013. She’s working on the next book in the series, FORGOTTEN. Visit her
at www.ednahwalters.com.
Ednah also writes YA paranormal romance. RUNES is the first book in her new
series and there are currently three other books published in this series.
SOULS (Grimnir book 2 a side story to the RUNES series) and WITCHES book 4 will
release 2014. Read more about this
series and the world she's created here www.runestheseries.com.
Under the pseudonym E. B. Walters, Ednah writes contemporary romance. SLOW
BURN, the first contemporary romance with suspense, was released in April 2011.
It is the first book in the Fitzgerald family series. Since then she has
published five more books in this series. She's presently working on book seven. You can visit her online
at or www.ebwalters.com.
Today were are talking about the ten places books have made us want to visit! I love this topic, as I would love to do some more traveling someday- especially internationally. I can't wait to check out all of the other TTT lists!
1. SCOTLAND
2. ITALY
3. PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
4. IRELAND
5. ROMANIA
6. ISRAEL
7. RUSSIA
8. AUSTRALIA
9. FRANCE
10. CANADA
I really hope to read a lot more books that take place in other countries, especially on the other continents. If you all have any book suggestions (especially YA), please let me know! I'd love to look into them.
Hi! My name is Anna. I was born and raised in California, but moved to the Southwest in June of 2013. I have a wonderful husband and three fun, adventurous kids. I almost always have a book or an e-reader in my hands, and I am constantly adding to my to-read list. I enjoy all kinds of genres, such as young adult, paranormal romance, fantasy, historical fiction/romance, and chick lit.
