An Irish Summer by Alexandra Paige: Book Review
Living and working in Ireland for the summer is the stuff dreams are made of…just not Chelsea’s. When she unexpectedly loses her job in Boston, her choices are moving back in with Mom and Dad or packing her bags for a summer job at a hostel in Galway, Ireland. Chelsea reluctantly choses Ireland, determined not to fall in love with the country or anyone in it. But that’s before she meets Colin, bartender and tour guide extraordinaire.
This novel was filled with rich descriptions of the Irish countryside served with a side of fairy stories and Irish brogue. I enjoyed seeing Chelsea express her creativity in her new job at the hostel (although some of her ideas seemed more suited to a hotel or resort setting). I was a bit disappointed by the ending, but all in all this was a sweet story.
A fun pick for those who have studied abroad, backpacked through Europe, or ever dreamed of doing so.
I received an advanced copy of this novel from the publisher (Avon and Harper Voyager) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams: Book Review
Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams
Second grade teacher Emily Walker is horrified to learn that her arch nemesis Jack Bennett has broken up with his fiancé and moved back to her hometown of Rome, Kentucky. Not only does Jack return to his teaching position at her elementary school, he also moves into the house next door.
Emily and Jack’s sparring is laugh-out-loud funny and Jack is everything a girl could want in a guy: handsome, charming, and secretly a best-selling author. Emily is beloved by everyone in her hometown, devoted to her siblings, and keenly observant, especially when it relates to uncovering Jack’s secrets.
With the exception of one hard-to-believe scene, this book was a delight. The characters were well-developed and I didn’t want the story to end.
Refreshingly unique and clever, this book belongs on every rom-com lover’s beg, borrow, or steal list.
Now I have to go back and read the other books in the When in Rome series!
I received an advanced copy of this novel from the publisher (Random House Publishing Group: Ballantine/Dell) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Good Boy by Stella Hayward: Book Review
When thirty-year-old Genie’s grandmother tells her she has one wish to use before midnight, she doesn’t take it seriously. But after hugging her golden retriever Rory goodnight and thinking that he’d make a great human, she wakes the next morning to find a naked (and exceptionally good-looking) man in Rory’s dog bed. Fortunately, Genie does not fall in love with Rory (though plenty of other women find him attractive). The human Rory does make an excellent listener and matchmaker, but longs to return to dog form. As the days go by, Rory begins to lose his heightened dog senses and Genie must embrace her family heritage if she’s ever to make things right again. I did find it a bit odd how quickly Genie, her friends, and family accepted that the human Rory really was her dog. This made it easier to focus on the important parts of the story arc, but led the tale (pun-intended) in a bit of a different direction than I was expecting.
A light-hearted romance for dog-loving fans of Netflix’s Hot Frosty.
I received an advanced copy of this novel from the publisher (Avon and Harper Voyager) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review: Two Sides to Every Murder by Danielle Valentine
Thriller readers take note: Danielle Valentine’s TWO SIDES TO EVERY MURDER will be out on June 25, 2024! I read an advance copy of this young adult novel through NetGalley. This fast-paced mystery/thriller features two female protagonists: Olivia, who’s searching for the identity of her biological dad and Reagan, whose mom was the only suspect in three murders that took place years ago at Camp Lost Lake. Now that Camp Lost Lake is reopening, both teens are drawn to the location in hopes of finding answers. Arrows fly and the chase is on as the killer will do anything to keep the truth from coming out. While I had an idea of the killer’s identity as I read, there were many layers to unravel, which kept me hooked. The end includes a double twist (which I didn’t guess at all) and an unusual wrap-up.
Stay Dead: Review of April Henry’s upcoming YA thriller
Milan’s mom is a senator. Her dad was too, before he was killed in a car accident. When Milan gets kicked out of her boarding school, her mom comes to pick her up in the family plane. But on the way home, the plane crashes. Stranded in the snow, Milan must fight to survive while keeping one step ahead of a dangerous killer. This young adult thriller with a touch of romance is a fast-paced gem told from multiple viewpoints (Milan, a hit-woman, and a victim of a man-made environmental disaster). I loved the tie-in to the Wizard of Oz and have to admit that I didn’t guess where the data critical to unraveling this mystery was hiding. The villains in this story are multi-faceted and at times surprising. Be prepared to stay up late reading just one more chapter! Stay Dead releases May 28, 2024. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.
Snowy release alert! Thirty Seconds at a Time
Strap on your virtual skis this October for a wild reading adventure – my YA romantic thriller set at a ski academy in Vermont is set to release on October 8, 2024 with BHC Press!
While it’s not yet up for pre-order, you can add it to Goodreads here.
Bloggers and reviewers can race on over to NetGalley to download an advance copy before March 31 or on Edelweiss starting April 1. After that, there will be giveaways on Library Thing in July and August.
Without further ado, here’s the book description and the awesome cover!
Kate’s dad was a cop. And now he’s dead. Killed in a random shooting in the quiet suburb of Maplewood, where random shootings never happen.
Before he died, he gave Kate a piece of paper and left very explicit instructions: Don’t read it. Don’t show anyone. Burn it.
But when Kate discovers a quarter of a million dollars her dad hid inside her guitar case, she discovers his secret. Her dad wasn’t just a cop. He was also a thief.
The last thing Kate ever promised her dad was that she wouldn’t tell. Not her mom. Not the cops. No one. So when her mom takes a job at a ski academy in Vermont, Kate hides the money and tries to forget.
Kate is more than out of her league at this mecca for competitive skiing—she doesn’t even know how to ski. That is until Ryan, the school’s shining star, takes her onto the ski slopes and skis off with her heart.
Just as things are heating up on the slopes, the past hits Kate like an avalanche. Random accidents are becoming commonplace and the people she cares about are being hurt. When a mysterious package arrives with a reminder to stay quiet, Kate and Ryan are forced to search for answers with the only clue Kate has left: everything she promised her dad she would forget.
BOOK BLITZ SIGN UP!
Only 6 days until the release of WHISPER, my YA romantic thriller! If you’d like to participate in the BOOK BLITZ, please follow the link (it’s super simple to participate – you just post the cover, a description, and excerpts if you want to!) Thanks in advance!!!!
Book trailer for WHISPER!
A new book for a new year! WHISPER now available for pre-order!
I have a new book coming out on May 8, 2021, called WHISPER! It’s available for pre-order now from your favorite retailer!
Stop him.
After her friend Samantha is murdered, seventeen-year-old Olivia is the only one who still hears her voice.
Years ago, Jacob closed his eyes. In a park. Playing hide-and-seek. His little brother is still missing. And Jacob’s mom is the FBI agent who couldn’t find him.
Now Jacob has dreams he can’t explain. And draws faces of those about to die.
In a town terrorized by a serial killer, Jacob meets Olivia. Sparks ignite.
Until the voice in Olivia’s head echoes the warning in Jacob’s dream…
You’re next.
Buy links:
Goodreads giveaway + French stick figure love story
If you haven’t yet read my book, What She Left Behind, or know someone who hasn’t, I’m doing a Goodreads giveway, ending May 19, 2016.
And just because I think it’s cool, here’s a video I found on youtube for anyone who has to learn the French verbs that take être in the passé composé (Dr & Mrs Vandertrampp). And yeah, if that doesn’t make any sense to you, you can skip the video! But have a great week anyway!
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