Reading

  • Review: Immortal Reign (Falling Kingdoms #6) by Morgan Rhodes

    The first book in this series kind of left me underwhelmed but I was willing to give the second book a chance. Before I knew it, I was on the fifth book eagerly awaiting the sixth to be released! For some reason, I thought there were seven book in the series, but it became apparent fairly early on, that this was the last book in the series. Personally I felt like there should have been seven books instead of the six. As two lethal elemental gods set out to destroy Mytica, sworn enemies must become allies in the final fight to save the kingdoms. Jonas continues to willfully defy his…

  • Review: Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding (Her Royal Spyness #12) by Rhys Bowen

    The Royal Spyness mystery series is one that has been gifted and recommended to me more times than I can count. I literally have three copies of the first book from my mom because she keeps forgetting that she already recommended it to me. So clearly it’s a book that people want me to read. I just haven’t thought about it when I am looking for something to read. I am no stranger to Rhys Bowen’s books though. She writes beautifully and I love reading her stand alone books! Finally, after all this time, I picked up a Royal Spyness mystery…..about twelve books too late! 

  • Review: The House at Saltwater Point (Lavender Tides #2) by Colleen Coble

    I like books with interesting mysterious titles. This book, in combination with the cover, said mystery to me. I love the dark, brooding colors and scenery on the cover of this book and in many ways, it reminded me of a more modern Mary Stewart novel, so I was eager to read it. Ellie Blackmore is making a name for herself as a house flipper. But when her sister Mackenzie disappears, Ellie can’t focus on anything but uncovering what happened. Her only clue is the bloodstain on the deck of Mackenzie’s boat. Ellie knows her sister isn’t on the best of terms with her ex-husband, Jason, but he wouldn’t kill…

  • Review: Beautiful Exiles by Meg Waite Clayton

    I watched this absolutely wonderful HBO miniseries called Hemingway and Gellhorn in 2012. I had major movie hangover after watching it. IMBD users didn’t seem to like it as much as I did, but for whatever reason this movie just resonated with me and I was fascinated by this couple I knew nothing about. I knew that Hemingway was moody and an all around asshole but that he wrote beautifully. Full disclosure, I haven’t read a single Hemingway book—-but I’ve read enough Hemingway quotes to discern that he’s a brilliant writer. The person I didn’t really know much about though was Martha Gellhorn. In the film she seemed like a…

  • Review: A Class Apart (A Matter of Class #1) by Susie Murphy

    When I first started book blogging (almost 10 years ago!), I used to read a ton of indie and self published books but now that I have been blogging for so long, I tend to read a lot more books from publishing groups or established authors. One of the things that I liked most about reading these self published or indie books was so that I could give constructive criticism. I hate when I read a book review and it just says something like ‘your book sucks’. Why not offer some suggestions to help guide them or praise where praise is due? Most of the self published or indie books…

  • Special Feature: AN UNWANTED GUEST by Shari Lapena

    If there is one thing I have learned in all my years of book blogging….it’s women can write fantastic and chilling thrillers! I will be reviewing this one later in the summer but I wanted to make sure it was on your radar! This one sounds so chilling and intriguing! We can’t choose the strangers we meet. As the guests arrive at beautiful, remote Mitchell’s Inn, they’re all looking forward to a relaxing weekend deep in the forest, miles from anywhere. They watch their fellow guests with interest, from a polite distance. Usually we can avoid the people who make us nervous, make us afraid. With a violent storm raging,…

  • Review: Competence: Custard Protocol (The Custard Protocol #3) by Gail Carriger

    I came upon Gail Carriger in 2011 when I had entered a Steampunk reading challenge. She was an author I would never have picked up on my own but as soon as I read the first book, I was completely hooked and so thankful that I had stumbled upon both the reading challenge and her books! Since then I have read just about everything she has put out, with the exception of The Custard Protocol series. When this book came up for review, I was a little worried because it’s the third in the series…..a series which I haven’t even read though the world sounded the same and Carriger’s writing…

  • Special Feature: BELIEVE ME by J.P. Delaney

    I am so excited to be reviewing this book later this fall as part of my thriller and mystery reads throughout September and October! Bu I couldn’t wait to share this one with all of my readers so I am doing a special feature now! It sounds so fantastic and creepy. In this twisty psychological thriller from the New York Timesbestselling author of The Girl Before, an actress plays both sides of a murder investigation. A struggling actor, a Brit in America without a green card, Claire needs work and money to survive. Then she gets both. But nothing like she expected. Claire agrees to become a decoy for a…

  • Review: The Prisoner in the Castle (Maggie Hope Mystery #8) by Susan Elia MacNeal

    I first discovered Maggie Hope back in 2012 when the first book came across my desk for review. The cover was initially what drew me in and I was never once sorry for judging a book by its cover! Over the years, Maggie’s character has gone in a number of different directions and none of them were directions that I saw coming. For me, that’s one of the things that keeps this series exciting. You have this American typist how somehow ends up becoming a super high-level spy…..I love it! Thought the series she has tracked down murders, saved the queen, broke codes, parachuted into France, and had her heart…

  • Announcement: WINNER The Late Bloomers’ Club by Louise Miller

    And the winner of THE LATE BLOOMERS’ CLUB by Louise Miller is….. Rhonda (follows on Instagram, @rhondareads) The winner will be notified via email. Thank you to everyone who entered and a huge thank you to the publisher for making this giveaway possible!