Review Take 2: Plus One is a Lucky Number by Teresa Morgan

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Clio wrote an awesome advance review of this 4 star romance. Now that the book has been released I’m just going to add my two cents. 🙂

British rom-coms are one of my favorite genres. This one made the grade. I chuckled during Sophie and Adam’s wedding weekend, hurt for Sophie when she was getting her feelings trampled all over, and sighed with relief when Sophie and Adam finally started being honest with each other.

Low points included Sophie’s insecurities being too exaggerated, and being reminded repeatedly of Adam’s “player” reputation.

One of my favorite things about this book is how fun the characters were. The guests at the wedding, Adam’s mom, Sophie’s best friend and relatives… they all sounded like people I’d want to meet up with for a drink. Kudos to Teresa Morgan for a cheery cast!

If you like Jill Mansell and romantic comedies, you will enjoy Plus One is a Lucky Number.

–Calliope

Buy It Now Plus One is a Lucky Number: HarperImpulse RomCom

Just released August 29!

Review: Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper

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660976511 year old Melody has Cerebral Palsy and has always been overlooked and under rated – by pretty much everyone except her parents. She has a photographic memory, is incredibly intelligent but she also cannot talk at all. We get to hear Melody’s thoughts on everything from her Doctor telling her mother that she is mentally handicapped and can’t learn anything more to her special education classmates.

Melody is funny and has an incredible outlook on her life.

A person is so much more than the name of a diagnosis on a chart.

From the time I was really little—maybe just a few months old—words were like sweet, liquid gifts, and I drank them like lemonade. I could almost taste them. They made my jumbled thoughts and feelings have substance. My parents have always blanketed me with conversation. They chattered and babbled. They verbalized and vocalized. My father sang to me. My mother whispered her strength into my ear.

Melody gets frustrated with people taking her for granted and no one paying her any attention. But she discovers something that can give her back her power of speech. From there Melody’s life starts to change – both for the bad and the good.

I found this book incredibly touching and unexpectedly funny.  I think that this is a great book for teens and younger to read – it’s entertaining but also teaches a great lesson in how to treat others. But as an adult I also really enjoyed this and would highly recommend to anyone.

4 stars

~Clio

Buy it Now Out of My Mind

Review: An Invitation to Sin by Sarah Morgan

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imageThere’s an instant attraction when Taylor Carmichael and Luca Coretti meet at the wedding of his cousin. They end up kissing when they bump into each other later. Unbeknownst to them, photographs were taken of the embrace and sold to the tabloids.

Taylor is trying to overcome her bad girl past and become a respected actress. She has a forbidden list, which include carbs and men like Luca, that she thinks will help her stay out of trouble. When she is confronted with the photos, she blurts out they are engaged.

Luca is also trying to overcome his playboy reputation. He wants to be on the board of his fashion house while his brother is away. (The brother’s story is told in book 1, but you don’t need to read it to understand what’s happening in this book.) He learns quickly that Taylor claims they are secretly engaged. He tries to tell the board the truth but they think that since Luca is ready for such a commitment as marriage, then he is maturing and ready to be a member of the board. Thus begins this delightful tale of a fake engagement. As they spend time together as couple, they get to know each bother while trying to handle the sizzling chemistry between them. Luca helps Taylor to have fun and eat some carbs. Taylor, well, I think that is the one weakness of this book. I really didn’t see what was about Taylor that made Luca fall in love. Yes, they have amazing chemistry and he becomes very protective of her, but still I wonder a little bit.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this take on a familiar trope. The engaging couple and great dialogue make this book easy to recommend.

ARC provided publisher via NetGalley.

~Thalia

Buy It Now An Invitation to Sin (Harlequin Presents)

Review: The Hero by Robyn Carr

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5 stars!

Oh, Robyn Carr, I do love your talent. Who else can make an ensemble cast and a main character develop simultaneously in the same novel? Romance leads the way while family life and suspense follow closely behind.

I liked the romantic element in The Hero — Devon runs away with her daughter from a drug dealer-run commune — and ends up falling in love with a new guy in a new town (Thunder Point). He’s her hero in a way.

And I liked the family and community themes EVEN MORE. Rawley, the antisocial, grouchy old coot who helps Cooper at the beach restaurant, finally finds a social niche. Rawley found Devon walking along the road, saved her, and gave her a place to stay — a physical home and a home in his grandfatherly heart. Devon and her daughter Mercy are the family Rawley never had. He is Devon’s hero, too.

The women of the town quickly take to Devon, meeting her for coffee and lending an ear. They make her feel part of the town, without requiring that she repay them. The women’s friendships save Devon emotionally. They are her heroes.

By the end, we see the many ways Devon is a hero – to herself, her love interest, her daughter, Rawley, the doctor’s office. And she finally sees it too.

Around Devon’s story, Robyn Carr masterfully weaves in updates on the rest of the characters, whose stories began in Thunder Point books 1 and 2: Eric and Ashley, Cooper and Sarah and Landon (and Eve), Mac and Gina, Spencer and Austin… their relationships continue to grow and develop in wonderful ways. There are new homes, engagement rings, new jobs, a new school year, and even a beach wedding.

The Hero was a combination of the best romantic elements from The Wanderer (book 1) and the well-developed family elements in The Newcomer (book 2).

Thank you for a great escape, Robyn Carr! I lived in Thunder Point for a night and enjoyed every word, every chapter.

–Calliope

Buy It Now The Hero

Review: Headed For Trouble by Suzanne Brockmann

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imageThis a thorough compilation of short stories, interviews of her characters by Brockmann, and a Q&A of the author from her popular Troubleshooters series. The Troubleshooters series involves Navy Seals, FBI and a civilian black ops organization. Included at the beginning is a timeline which lists when the short stories and interviews take place. It also lists hero & heroine of each book, brief storyline, secondary romance and timeframe. At the end is a glossary of terms. Like I said, thorough.

There is one new short story, “A Seal and Three Babies,” which feature Sam & Alyssa, Max& Gina, and Jules & Robin. The short stories mostly feature Sam, Alyssa & Jules. So if you are fan of the series & of these characters, you are in for a treat. My favorite story of the bunch doesn’t actually include any of them.

The story I love best is “When Jenk, Izzy, Gillman and Lopez Met Tony Vlachic.” It’s humorous story that involves great guy talk and a poker game.

I would only recommend this book for fans of the series. I have not read Brockmann in years. While I was reading this book, her engaging voice reminded me why I love the TS series. Chances are, I will read her new book set in the TS world that will be released next year.

This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

~Thalia

Buy It Now Headed for Trouble (Troubleshooters)

Review: This Man Confessed, by Jodi Ellen Malpas

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Where to begin…..

Let me start out by saying that I LOVE 50 Shades. I admit it, OK. I liked the story more than the hot scenes. I have read WAY hotter books. I never understood the hype. But I’m not here to discuss Shades, am I??

Since I liked Shades, I heard this series was similar, so I figured I’d give it a shot. Well….. Let’s just say I was not a fan.

If you want a book with very HOT scenes, then this is right up your alley. If you wanted an emotional roller coaster, this is perfect. If you like all happiness and flowers, then only to ripped apart by something horrible, then you shall be a happy camper. If you like sad back stories that gut you, then you will truly be content.

However, Jesse Ward was border lined stalker and obsessive, to the point I was getting uncomfortable. I was about to put it down, cuz it was close to crossing a line for me. I wanted to smack him and Ava.

The other super duper irritating part was his constant correcting of her swearing, when he swore like a sailor himself. Very annoying. It was a total turn off. Every other page he was yelling “Mouth!” Drove me up the freaking wall!!

Secrets was the theme of these books. I was going crazy. Every time we turn around, Jesse made a new revelation and I was getting upset. If he just spoke up and told Ava everything, right off the bat, none of these crazy things would’ve happened.

I wanted to like these, I really did. I kept hearing about Jesse Ward and how awesome he was, but I’m not a fan. I am so disappointed.

~Melpomene

Buy it now This Man Confessed (This Man Trilogy)

Review: I’ve Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella, Narration by Jayne Entwistle

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12033455I’ve read a few Sophie Kinsella books – The Shopaholic books are extremely cute and really good “chick lit”. I didn’t LOVE them, but liked them a lot. So after reading some reviews of I’ve Got Your Number it seemed this one could be really good, maybe great. It so did not disappoint!! I listened to the audible book and the narration was so good – she didn’t just read the book out loud, she became Poppy Wyatt, the main character. It’s actually been a few months since I listened to this and I still can hear her voice perfectly in my head.

Poppy Wyatt is getting married to her dream guy, Magnus. In the very opening of the book Poppy loses her family heirloom engagement ring at a hotel and immediately after loses her phone in the chaos. When Poppy finds a different phone and grabs it to be able to report the stolen ring and phone things get fun because she picked up the phone of businessman Sam’s assistant.

What follows throughout the book are email exchanges, text messages and voicemails.  Through all of these different formats Poppy gets to know Sam and feels that she has a good sense of him.  I love the use of these formats in books, to me it adds so much more because it shows how the characters communicate with others.

I’ve never shared an in-box with anyone in my life. I didn’t expect it to feel so…intimate. It’s as if we’re suddenly sharing an underwear drawer or something.

Hi-jinks ensue throughout the book while Poppy tries to get her ring back and also hide the fact she lost the ring from her fiancee. Poppy also gets involved with business matters of Sam’s since she has his phone and receives all of his work communication there as well.

I loved this book. It surprised me with the comedy, I was laughing out loud at some of the exchanges between Poppy and Sam. But it also has a touching quality to it as Poppy examines her relationships and rethinks judging people right away. Poppy’s sense of right and wrong is great and the overall sense of humor the book has made me love it.

“I have no idea what to say next. I don’t speak Japanese, I don’t know anything about Japanese business or Japanese culture. Apart from sushi. But I can’t exactly go up to him and say “Sushi!” out of the blue. It would be like going up to a top American businessman and saying “T-bone steak!” 

I highly recommend this book, it’s extremely funny and touching at the same time. All of the characters were very realistic and I felt that I know people exactly like them. This is a stand alone romantic comedy that I don’t think anyone should miss!

5 stars

~ Clio

Buy it Now I’ve Got Your Number: A Novel

Review: Stay With Me by Elyssa Patrick

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Hailey Bloom has been singing and acting since she was a small child. (She was on Broadway by the age of six). She was pushed into the spotlight by her domineering mother. Hailey is giving it all up.

She’s at Green College in Vermont. She’s eager to begin a new, normal life away from Hollywood. More importantly, she wants to discover who she really is and what she wants to do.

Hailey attends her first campus party and is besieged by fans. She goes outside to escape and meets Caleb Fox.
“You know who I am.”
He shakes his head slowly. “I don’t think I do.”
“Huh?”
“I know of you, but I don’t know you.”

The spark is immediate. But Hailey is wary as she’s been used by previous boyfriends whom have dated her to gain attention. Even though it’s cold, she declines his offer to drive her home.

She literally runs into him again the next day as she is shopping at a farmer’s market. They have a “meet cute” which involves spilt tea and blackberries.

I loved seeing courtship of Hailey and Caleb develop. They banter, hang out and go on dates. It was a joy to see that attraction grow to something more.

I also loved meeting Caleb’s sister, Daphne, and his housemates, including Griff, who aspires to be a librarian. A librarian. They make a great support system for Hailey as she struggles through some her classes.

As Hailey contends with freshman year in college, she also has to deal with her mom. This is the one weakness in the book. Hailey’s mom is a one- dimensional character. You only know her through what Hailey says about her. And the mom does sound pretty evil. So when her mom drops a huge bombshell about an incident in Hailey’s past, I wanted to see a confrontation between them so that Hailey can give her the much deserved smackdown.

As for the incident, she is saved from additional embarrassment by her former best friend, Alex Randall. Alex is a bad boy actor waiting to be redeemed. I hope he gets a book.

Caleb proves to be best kind of hero and boyfriend with his response to the secret in Hailey’s past. He’s supportive and empathetic and exactly whom Hailey needs in her life.

I was ecstatic to recieve this book from the author. More so after reading it and getting to meet Hailey and Caleb and the rest of the gang at Green College. There are more books to come, featuring different characters and I can’t wait to read to them all.

Take a chance on this new author. You won’t be disappointed!

~Thalia

Buy It Now Stay With Me

Review: The Recently Deflowered Girl: The Right Thing to Say on Every Dubious Occasion by Hyacinthe Phypps

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imageI am a huge Edward Gorey fan. I ran across this book when I was searching for anything and everything Gorey produced. His charming illustrations compliment the expert advice being given.

This is a twisted book of manners for ladies who have recently lost their virginity. The scenarios in the book help the reader with what best to say after the act has occurred. For instance, if a marimba player was the person responsible for taking her virginity, this might be the conversation and the lady and her musician might have:

“I’m terribly sorry, Harold, but my parents won’t let me marry you.”
He says, “That’s all right, baby. I’ve been happily married for years.”
“How did your wife get her parents’ consent?”

Other deflowering scenarios include losing the virginity by proxy, in the doctor’s office or by the elevator operator. Hyacinthe Phypps (aka author Mel Juffe) give sage advice on how to handle it all in a ladylike manner.

~Thalia

Buy It Now: The Recently Deflowered Girl: The Right Thing to Say on Every Dubious Occasion

Review: Revealing Us, by Lisa Renee Jones

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I must say, I am really enjoying this series. I honestly don’t know if this is the last, or not. It ended, and yet it didn’t. But Chris and Sara’s story ended….sorta. I know it say trilogy, there is no way LRJ can leave us hanging like this!!

OK, after I typed all this out, Ms Jones posted on Facebook this: 4 is the trial and it is in Sara’s POV — you get final answers to Rebecca, Ava, more Rico, and yes ….. and Chris and Sara face this all together. Mark must face the trial and Crystal might show up:)

Book 5
Mark’s POV and you will know by the end of 4 where it’s going

Spinoff Series

Ella! Can’t wait. I’ve had this planned FOREVER– COMPLETE different story line

It takes place the same day as Being Me ended. Chris is leaving for Paris and he gave Sara the option of going with him or not.

She goes.

Chris tells her that only in Paris will she find out all of his secrets. But he warns her that only he will tell her. She should listen to no one else. And believe me, there are plenty of people that are trying to tell her who he really is. She falls into too many traps and believes too many wrong things. But Chris brings her back and show her who he really is.

I kinda had a feeling his past would creep up, and I was right. Sara is confronted with women who helped him when he needed pain and she’s trying to believe that he doesn’t need it anymore. But it’s really hard believing that when it’s in her face since they showed up.

They are also trying to find Ella, which turns out harder than she ever imagined. There is a side of her friend that she never expected.

Ava has turned the tables on Sara and is trying to blame her for Rebecca’s death. Chris, with the help of Mark, are trying to get it all straightened out.

The twists and turns this book had, made me a wreck.

And don’t get me started on the Epilogue….. I screamed. Not my proudest moment. After reading that, I realized there HAS to be another book. There just has too…….

I received this ARC for my honest opinion. And my opinion is that it was awesome! And you must pre order it.

~Melpomene.

Buy it now Revealing Us (Inside Out Trilogy)