New Releases

Review: Check Me Out by Becca Wilhite

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When I first saw this cover, I knew I had to read it. Besides it being another book in the Proper Romance series, it’s about a librarian, for crying out loud. Of course I needed it!

Greta has a great life. She has a job she loves and a best friend, Will, whom she adores more than anything. What could be better? Well, meeting a handsome stranger, that’s what. When Will introduces her to Mac, she thinks that he’s the perfect man for her. When her library is threatened with closing, she takes it upon herself to do whatever it takes to keep it open, even if they don’t all work out the way they should.

In the midst of all that, she find herself going to Will before Mac. I mean, he’s her best friend, of course she would go her to her best friend before her boyfriend, right? He really was the best. He said all the right things and was there for her the moment she needed him. There was no secrets from each other, at least on her end. But she soon finds herself wondering if her “perfect” man was right in front of her the whole time.

I loved this super cute, clean romance. It made my heart twisty and swoony and brought a smile to my face. Greta was a great girl. She had a good head on her shoulders. Her life was books and I can appreciate that. But the best part about her is her inner monologues. I was giggling so much listening to her.

It’s possible I stood the blinked for a minute or three. Then I remembered I was a grown-up. With a job.

She reminded me of me, if I’m being honest. A total goofball, but with a kindest heart ever. She may feel awkward on the inside, but she would never show it on the outside and make others feel it.

If you’re looking for a nice sweet romance filled with romantic poetry, and a cute, quirky librarian, then you should pick this up!

~Melpomene

Buy Check Me Out http://amzn.to/2D8cM8K

Review: Shadowsong by S. Jae-Jones

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While I am very happy with the way Shadowsong ended, it took a lot to get there. A lot of stress and heartache, and more pacing. After we were left with our hearts on the floor, by the ending of Wintersong, I needed this book to put me back together. While Wintersong was about love, Shadowsong was about healing. Healing of families. Healing of hearts and healing of minds.

I didn’t know what I was getting myself into, when I first started. But soon I realized that this book was going to be nothing like the first. In fact, when I read the author’s note, I knew this was going to be totally different than the first book.

We rarely saw the Goblin King, but I understand why. It wasn’t really about him. It was about Liesl’s and her brother, Josef’s journey. They both are broken and troubled and trying to discover the pieces they need to put themselves back together. My heart was breaking for both of them. In the first book was find out why Josef is struggling. He is different but he doesn’t know it. Liesl needs to help him, while also helping herself.

This book was harder to read than the first. It was making me manic. The twists and turns of Liesl’s world had me reeling right along with her. My heart was breaking. My soul hurt. The world is falling a part and she’s the only one who can stop, but she doesn’t know that. And when she does, she has to make sacrifices that don’t only affect her, but her loved ones as well.

Again, I am happy with the ending, but I feel there could’ve been just a little bit more. There’s a few open ended stories that need to be written. *hint hint*

~Melpomene

Buy Wintersong~ http://amzn.to/2CPEZEJ
Buy Shadowsong~ http://amzn.to/2F8xIgC

Review: Sisters Like Us by Susan Mallery

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Stacey and Harper are two very different sisters who each struggle to make their way in the world. Harper has a hard time navigating the financial and teen-parenting lands of the newly divorced, while Stacey makes bank but can’t respond to social cues to save her life.

Lucky for them, Susan Mallery has just the challenges they need to figure out that they can shift focus, ask for help, and come out the other side nearly unscathed. Nearly.

Harper’s story was a little better fleshed out than Stacey’s, but I enjoyed them both. Harper’s nutty mom, ex-husband, teenager, clients and new employees were rich fodder for big laughs and tender moments. Stacey’s story was going to break my heart until her husband’s nephew saved the day with his gentleness, gratitude, and earnestness. Just like in real life, sometimes all it takes is that one person to give a couple of meaningful minutes for you to realize you’re not alone, and you can do that thing you thought you couldn’t.

Really heartwarming, Susan Mallery. Those are some pretty awesome sisters, and they’ve got a pretty terrific circle around them.

-calliope

Buy SISTERS LIKE US

Review: The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

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I love Kristin Hannah.  I gotta admit, though, I wasn’t sure about this one going in.  The description made it sound very much like outdoorsy adventuring type stuff.  Still, I jumped right in.  And I’m glad I did.

Leni and her family are at a crossroads.  Her dad, recently back from Vietnam, is suffering from the horrors of his past.  Leni’s mom is helpless to do anything to protect them.  And Leni, well, she loves her dad.  Unconditionally.  She remembers the good times.  So many of them, in fact, that it’s somewhat easier to overlook the bad times.  She and her mom just want to help him forget, to be the person he was before.

It’s no surprise, then, that when her dad comes home one day and says they’re all moving to Alaska that they all willingly go.  A new beginning is just what this young family needs.  A fresh start away from the pressures of society will be the cure to what ails them.  It’s nothing like a cozy family vacation, though.  Alaska is tough.  And her dad’s demons have made the journey with them.  Isolated and alone, who will help Leni and her mother when the darkness in her dad’s mind descends once again?

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this story.  I shouldn’t have been, I know.  Kristin Hannah just has that brilliance that authors of her calibre do.  Grab it, dive right in, and enjoy!

~Thalia

Buy It Now:  The Great Alone

Review: Escape by Jay Crownover

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We’ve been waiting patiently for Lane’s book since we first met him in Retreat. We knew him and Brynn has a history but we never knew how much that history affected their current lives until Lane leaves.

Brynn and Lane belong together but circumstances have prevented them from finally doing just that. But when Lane decides that he can’t take anymore and leaves the ranch, Brynn must pull up her big girl panties and take the step they both need her to take, and go and bring him home to her. But the journey is not without drama. They must figure out how to repair their friendship before they can move forward into something more.

I love them together. I understood why Lane was hurt by her denial, when they were younger. And I understand why she needed to hurt him. But I am glad they’re older and wiser and working together to get rid of all that.

I love seeing all the past characters throughout this story. I am glad to see them all find their happiness. This can be read as a standalone, but why would you wanna do that? You must read the first two books so you can fully experience all the emotions they bring. And I hope Jay keeps going with another book. She can’t leave us like this!!

~Melpomene

Buy The Getaways series
Retreat http://amzn.to/2rrgPL5
Shelter http://amzn.to/2Dj61QL
Escape http://amzn.to/2DvFKlx

Quick Review: Heat by Donna Grant

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Yes!! The pieces are falling into place. Things are going in the direction I want them going into, while my mind is spinning in all directions. All is well in this world. But I sense much heartbreak coming up and that is not well. But it must happen. It’s darkest before the dawn, and all that. I love these Dragon Kings stories. Excitement and romance galore.

So many discoveries. So many answers. BUT there’s still a few questions I have. So I’ll be waiting patiently.

I’m quite excited to see that Esther play a bigger roll than I ever thought she would. It should be interesting how she grows into that roll. I won’t say anything else. SPOILERS. *said in River Song’s voice*

Seeing Ulrick’s pov is rather exciting. There is definitely more to him than he was letting on. I can’t WAIT to read his book.

If you like Dragons and romance, then you should totally dive into this epic world that Donna has created. So many books and series that intertwine, it’s just plain fabulous.

~Melpomene

Grab the recent one, HEAT http://amzn.to/2Fsm5QY
DIve into this series with Darkest Flame, for only $1.99!! http://amzn.to/2GvyK79
In fact, the first three books are $1.99, while books 4&5 are $2.99. Perfect chance to try this series out.

Review: This Is Not a Love Letter by Kim Purcell

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Teenage love is hard, no doubt.  Surely this is the person you’ll be with for the rest of your life, right?  And there’s no possible way you can live without them, is there?

For young Jessie, it all becomes a bit overwhelming.  Sure, she loves Chris with all her heart.  And she can’t imagine her life without him.  But when things start moving a bit too fast, getting a bit too permanent, she decides to slow it down a bit.  Just a break, she tells, him.  Just one week.  A chance to take a step back and breath for a minute.

And then Chris disappears. And she wants him back.  But it’s too late.  She makes all kinds of promises to herself and everyone else.  If only he’ll come home, things will be different.  She didn’t really want a break.  She’s sorry, she misses him, things will be better than ever.  If only it were that simple.

This story is all kinds of things at once.  It’s a love story, sure.  But it’s also a mystery. Exactly what did happen to Chris?  It’s also an excellent take on teenage issues.  A great read!

~Thalia

Buy It Now:  This Is Not a Love Letter

Review: Searching for Billy Shakespeare by Crista McHugh

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What fun! Grad student Kate moves in to a unbeknownst-to-her-til-she-got-there posh apartment with a new, silly, girly-girl roommate, and boom, things start happening in her life.

The phone rings, and a gorgeous voice on the other end starts talking, looking for his sister (the roommate) but spending an awful lot of conversation on Kate. Roommate girl’s blondie friends give Kate a makeover (gasp) and help her find her inner fun self. Between the roommate and Gabe nudging Kate to know more of herself than just the Shakespeare-dissertation-writer, Kate develops newfound passion for her grad work and her social life.

This tale of silliness absolutely brightened my week. I didn’t care that there was actually no good plot reason for the roommate to ask Kate to live there, nor that Kate seemed uncharacteristically good natured about a bunch of strangers taking her out for 12 hours. I didn’t care that a few plot points were underdeveloped, or that the roommate did something a little unexpected and possibly contrived. Know why? Because this book made me smile. It’s a good bit of fun in a roller coaster world, and I’m totally glad I read it.

-calliope

Buy SEARCHING FOR BILLY SHAKESPEARE

Quick Review: Seek by Mia Sheridan

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Holy cannoli!! This book was a wild ride. I’m not even kidding. My stomach was in my toes the entire time. I was downright stressed. The suspense was killing me. The twists and turns had me feeling like I was on a roller coaster. I read non stop for three hours. I couldn’t put this down. From the very first page, I was hooked.

Olivia hired Thomas to take her to Columbia so that she could search for her missing fiancé. The country has suffered from a deadly tsunami and earthquake. So many roads are impassable. Danger is everywhere. But Thomas knows how to get her there and will do anything to do so. But traveling proves more difficult, and deadly, than she ever imagined.

They started out as strangers but stressful situations has a way of pushing people together. Between the life and death situations, something was brewing underneath. But can she trust this stranger? Will she find what she seeks?

She was sunshine. Warm and bright, too sweet for this cruel, dirty world.

Secrets. Lies. Heartache. This book had it all. I won’t say anymore, except that this will get your heart pumping and keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time. THE ENTIRE TIME. Gah! Mia sure changed things up with this book. This isn’t your sweet angsty romance. Not even close. I hope we get more books like this.

~Melpomene

Buy Seek http://amzn.to/2BkmQZM

Review: Keep Her Safe by K.A. Tucker

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Why do suspense books make me insane? I mean truly. I’m a bundle of twisted nerves over here. I honestly had so many theories and was WRONG on each of them.

K.A. Tucker has mastered the art of suspense. Keep Her Safe kept me on my toes and had me constantly guessing. All the while she weaved a nice and sweet romance throughout it. But this was definitely more suspense than romance. So if that’s what you’re looking for, then you’ve come to the right place.

Noah and Grace had this history that spanned years, and yet, their connection was new and fresh. I loved Noah. He wasn’t a macho man but he was a protector. He had a nice balance. Once he found out about Grace he did everything he could to keep her safe. Even at the risk of losing what he hold dear.

Grace is a fighter. She’s keeps going even when life wants to drag her down. When Noah shows up at her door, the past slams it’s way into her and she must find a way that move forward while finding all the answers to her questions.

Y’all, this book will keep you on your toes and have you constantly guessing. And you’ll love every single moment.

~Melpomene

Buy Keep Her Safe http://amzn.to/2AXYI3P