Thursday, May 27, 2021

May Wrap-Up ~ Mini Reviews

Release date: March 11th 2021
Purchase: Amazon
Add on Goodreads
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐


Blurb:

This wasn't what "keep your friends close" was supposed to mean. But now that the line has been crossed, can they ever make their way back to the twenty-year friendship they've been building?

Or, better question - Is that what either of them really wants?



~MINI REVIEW~

Another entertaining short story from Ms. Jones.
While there were times I forgot who was who in regards to the side characters, it didn't affect my interest in the story.
I liked the main characters and the fact that they had years of friendship prior. It's understandable why Des would be nervous and them moving forward as more than friends, but I liked that she gave it a chance and allowed herself the romance.

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Release date:
 March 18th 2021
Publisher: Romig Works
Purchase: Amazon
Add on Goodreads
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
⭐⭐


Blurb:

Stepping into the city limits, the vibes of New Orleans infiltrate the thoughts and feelings of each unsuspecting individual.
Twinkling lights.
Copious amounts of alcohol.
And
Ghost stories of lore.
As Emma waits for a business meeting, those ingredients are there, in the heavy air and circulating through her bloodstream. Until everything changes.

Everett Ramses is tall, dark, and mysterious.
He’s more than that.
According to him...he is Emma’s fate.

And he has a demand.

Will she run, or will she find out what fate’s demand has in store?

“FATE’S DEMAND” is an intriguing meeting to whet readers’ appetite for more of an all-new dark-romance world, Devil’s Deal, by New York Times bestselling author Aleatha Romig. Get ready to love and hate, to swoon and swear...Rett Ramses will bring out all the emotions.


~MINI REVIEW~

Impeccable!
Great writing and absolutely intriguing.
This short is a fantastic setup for the duet, and I cannot wait to read those books. I'm already invested in Rett and Emma.

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Release date:
 March 22nd 2021
Purchase: Amazon
Add on Goodreads
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
⭐⭐


Blurb:

We’re from different sides of the tracks, but Allie James has always owned me. Heart and soul. After years of pining for her in the halls of our high school, I finally touch her one night in an open field beneath a storm, receiving a miracle I never expected—she needs me in return. Or so I think. As soon as she finds out I’m a handyman, she cuts me off. But I’m not letting the richest girl in school break my heart without consequences. She will pay…

But I’ll pay a far worse price when I find out why she really left me hanging without a word. And after unfairly bullying my sweet girl, I’ll sell my soul to win her back.



~MINI REVIEW~

So raw, emotional, and gritty!
I truly liked this short story. Every moment struck me and stayed.
Both characters endured a lot, and I was happy that they had something deep and passionate between them.
Wonderful story, Jessa!


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Release date:
 July 11th 2019
Purchase: Amazon
Add on Goodreads
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
⭐⭐


Blurb:

Someone has been terrorizing my small town—a huge, horrifying beast, to be exact. He won’t stop rampaging until the villagers sacrifice an innocent. Lucky me! I’m the chosen one. I’ve been tied to a tree in a wedding dress and left as an offering to the cruel ruler of the hills. But once the beast approaches, I glimpse the lonely human beneath the wild hair and mountainous body. Yes, he’s very much a man…a man who will stop at nothing to claim me as his mate.



~MINI REVIEW~

Jessa Kane knows how to write an entertaining short story. This held my attention from beginning to end, and I enjoyed it. It's funny, wild, and steamy, and I highly recommend this if you're in a slump and in need of something quick and hot.


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Tuesday, March 9, 2021

New Release~Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert

Release date:
March 9th 2021
Series: The Brown Sisters #3
Publisher: Avon
Purchase: Amazon | B&N
Add on Goodreads

Blurb:

In Act Your Age, Eve Brown the flightiest Brown sister crashes into the life of an uptight B&B owner and has him falling hard—literally.

Eve Brown is a certified hot mess. No matter how hard she strives to do right, her life always goes horribly wrong—so she’s given up trying. But when her personal brand of chaos ruins an expensive wedding (someone had to liberate those poor doves), her parents draw the line. It's time for Eve to grow up and prove herself—even though she's not entirely sure how…

Jacob Wayne is in control. Always. The bed and breakfast owner’s on a mission to dominate the hospitality industry—and he expects nothing less than perfection. So when a purple-haired tornado of a woman turns up out of the blue to interview for his open chef position, he tells her the brutal truth: not a chance in hell. Then she hits him with her car—supposedly by accident. Yeah, right.

Now his arm is broken, his B&B is understaffed, and the dangerously unpredictable Eve is fluttering around, trying to help. Before long, she’s infiltrated his work, his kitchen—and his spare bedroom. Jacob hates everything about it. Or rather, he should. Sunny, chaotic Eve is his natural-born nemesis, but the longer these two enemies spend in close quarters, the more their animosity turns into something else. Like Eve, the heat between them is impossible to ignore—and it’s melting Jacob’s frosty exterior.




About the Author

Talia Hibbert is a USA Today bestselling author who lives in a bedroom full of books. Supposedly, there is a world beyond that room, but she has yet to drum up enough interest to investigate.
She writes sexy, diverse romance because she believes that people of marginalised identities need honest and positive representation. Her interests include beauty, junk food, and unnecessary sarcasm. She also rambles intermittently about the romance genre online.
Talia self-publishes via Nixon House and is represented by Courtney Miller-Callihan at Handspun Literary.






Wednesday, March 3, 2021

Book Spotlight~Risky Encounters by Shane Morgan (me)

Hey there! Just doing a spotlight on my most recent release!


Release date:
February 9th 2021
Series: Risks & Betrayals Duet #1
Purchase: Amazon
Add on Goodreads


Blurb:

One unforgettable night forges a connection steeped in passion and danger.

It started as a dare that led to a steamy kiss.
Trisha Hartman never expected to end her birthday night-out throwing herself in the path of a bullet to save a man she doesn’t even know.

Alexander Westerfield is blown away by a fiery moment with a beautiful stranger. Considering she hurried off right after, he convinced himself the woman had no further interest. Then she does something quite heroic that causes him to desire her more.

The chance of a romance proves to be difficult when threats arise at every turn, and exposing the culprit behind the plot seems impossible. But after several attempts on Xander’s life, doubts start to set in, and he wonders if he may have placed his trust in the wrong person.

*Note: This is not a standalone. This book is part of a duet and it ends on a cliffhanger. So keep that in mind if you dislike those but still want to read the book.


~Teaser~

My feet carry me forward.
Neither of the men notices my approach.
I'm about to interrupt their conversation, but the incoming SUV catches my attention as a gloved hand reaches out the back window.
I instantly spot the dark object.
A gun.
It's aiming at blue-gray eyes.
"Get down!" I scream, hurrying to him.
I grab his jacket.
A loud pop rings in the air as we tumble together.
Frantic cries bellow around us.
Tires screech as the vehicle speeds off.
My breathing is erratic while lying on top of the man I don't know, yet I just risked my life to save his, possibly because of an epic kiss.
A kiss that clearly robbed me of my damn senses.




About Shane Morgan (me lol)

In case you didn't know, I'm also a self-published author of YA/Adult Contemporary Romance, Fantasy, and Suspense. I currently live in Rhode Island with my husband, and I spend my days blogging, writing, reading, listening to music, and watching movies.

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Tuesday, March 2, 2021

February Wrap-Up~Mini Reviews

These are all the books I read in February!


Release date: November 3rd 2020
Publisher: Warm Hues Creative
Purchase: Amazon
Add on Goodreads
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Blurb:

In my defense, I wasn't the one who messed up.
And if that hadn't happened, I wouldn't have run into him the first time, in the first place.
But then there was the second time, in the second place.
And then the third time, in the third place.
Then the fourth... you get it, right?
I really wasn't trying to get involved with him like that, but the happenings kept happening, and well... what had happened was...


~MINI REVIEW~

It's The Chase For Me: A Heights Story was quite enjoyable. January frustrated me at times, but overall, it's an entertaining short story. I'm loving these books by Ms. Jones!


FOLLOW THE AUTHOR




Release date:
 February 14th 2021
Purchase: Amazon
Add on Goodreads
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Blurb:

Boring. Invisible. Pretty for a plus size girl. Those were all the things I felt about myself, thanks to my chosen career as an accountant and society’s depiction of the perfect female. For once, I wanted to be something, no someone, different. So, I booked a trip to Vegas for my birthday. Then, walks in Soul Matthias, treating me and my body as anything but ordinary. He lit a fire inside of me. However, it wasn’t real.

Player. Bad boy. High risk. That’s what the blogs depicted me as. That’s what baseball owners banked on to lowball my contract extension. I didn’t care about social media, but I definitely cared about my money. I had to get my act together. Then, struts in Alexa Livingston. A breath of fresh air, someone completely different than what I had ever been used to. But what we had wasn’t real. It was just a marriage contract. Or was it?


~MINI REVIEW~

Short and fun read!
I liked both main characters, and the plot was intriguing. It's a great short story if you're in a funk and looking for a romance that's unconventional and quick.

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Release date:
 December 21st 2020
Purchase: Amazon
Add on Goodreads
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Blurb:

My picker is off. I always fall for the bad boys, the players, the men with "red flag" written all over their gorgeous faces. I should've learned my lesson after having my heart eviscerated into tiny, unrecognizable pieces. But no, not me. That would be way too simple, and my life is nothing but.

Luca Fiore is Manhattan's Prince. He's sex in a suit personified, and he's also my stepbrother. I've moved back to New York, and he's offered me a place to crash until I find a place of my own. What could possibly go wrong?

My subconscious screams, "EVERYTHING!"

With his piercing gray eyes, sharp jaw, and dark hair, Luca makes me weak in the knees. And I would gladly get on my knees for him.

Five years ago, I left home with a broken heart and a lifetime worth of sins. Now, I'm back with a naïve hope that I can make things right. How I expect to do that when I have no intention of confessing my sins remains to be seen. One thing is for sure. I have to stay away from the one person who was why I left home in the first place — the man who once called me his Achilles. His flower. His secret. His stepdaughter.

I'm not the good girl in a love story. I don't deserve a happily ever after. I have secrets on top of secrets on top of secrets. I've sowed, and I've reaped, and something tells me karma isn't done with me yet.


~MINI REVIEW~

What an emotional rollercoaster!
These characters are flawed with a capital F, and I liked that. This story is well-written, intriguing, and full of crazy moments. This is my first experience with Tia's work and it certainly won't be the last.

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Release date:
 August 14th 2020
Series: Rose & Thorns #2
Publisher: Warm Hues Creative
Purchase: Amazon
Add on Goodreads
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Blurb:

As a rose abandoned in the desert, she's made a vow - she'll never go back to the way things were... a promise that was easier to keep before a thorn showed up. (This is not a book centered around a love story.)


~MINI REVIEW~

Christina C. Jones has easily become a favorite author!
I really liked the first book and so I wanted to continue the series. Once again, very interesting. I'm so curious about the Garden though. Would love a book about that point in time and what went down with all the roses and the thorns.


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Release date:
 January 2nd 2021
Publisher: Foster & Black
Purchase: Amazon
Add on Goodreads
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Blurb:

I was barefoot, sobbing, running for my life. But the men hunting me made one mistake: they chased me into *his* woods.

Cal Whittaker. Big, gruff and gorgeous, he’s made his home in the heart of the forest and has barely spoken to another person in six years. He deals with the men chasing me with a brutal efficiency that hints at a dark past. I should be scared...but when I look into his eyes, I feel a soul-deep longing I can’t explain. And the way he looks at me, like he just wants to push me up against a tree and tear my clothes off...

He offers me shelter on his smallholding. I’m used to the big city but I’ll have to learn a whole new way of life: a cow for milk, a wood stove for warmth and no one but the two of us for miles in any direction. I learn that Cal’s carrying a guilt that won’t let him get close to anyone...but neither of us can fight the attraction and in his tiny cabin, it’s impossible to keep our distance.

Even in the forest, though, we may not be safe. My escape has threatened a conspiracy so vast, so evil, that the men behind it won’t stop until they’ve silenced us. They know where we are. And they’re coming.


~MINI REVIEW~

Thrilling!
I thoroughly enjoyed this woodsy and adventurous romance. Add the intensity of suspense and it makes the story even more exciting. I'm definitely reading the books that follow this one because I want more of Cal and the other men.

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Tuesday, September 8, 2020

Paperback Release: Dawson's Fall by Roxana Robinson

Original release date: May 14th 2019
Publisher: Sarah Crichton Books
Purchase: Amazon | B&N
Add on Goodreads



Blurb:

A continuing investigation of the moral consequences of our country.

Roxana Robinson’s sixth novel, Dawson’s Fall, continues her interrogation of American morality. With each novel, Robinson has addressed the ethical complexities of contemporary life: in This is My Daughter, she explored the moral consequences of divorce; in Sweetwater, the moral consequences of stewardship of the planet; in Cost, the obligations of the family, and in Sparta the moral consequences of war. In Dawson’s Fall, Robinson investigates the moral consequences of slavery, and charts the path of its fell legacies, racism and violence. 

The great-great-great niece of Harriet Beecher Stowe, Robinson has spoken out on public issues: the environment, the rights of authors (as the President of the Authors Guild, from 2014–2017), and on war, pacifism and violence. With this book she continues to explore a central American question: the importance of ethical principles. 

In this provocative and moving novel, we see America at its most fragile, fraught, and malleable. Set in 1889, in Charleston, South Carolina, Robinson’s tale weaves her family’s journal entries and letters with a novelist’s narrative grace, and spans the life of her tragic hero, Frank Dawson, as he attempts to navigate the country’s new political, social, and moral landscape. 

Dawson, a man of fierce opinions, came to this country as a young Englishman to fight for the Confederacy in a war he understood as a conflict over states’ rights. He later became the editor of the Charleston News and Courier, forging a platform of influence in the editorial column and emerging as a voice of the New South. With his wife and two children, he tried to lead a life that adhered to his principles: non-violence, equal rights, and the rule of law. But he couldn’t control the political currents among his community. After two decades of wrestling with questions of equality, justice, and civil rights, his newspaper began to lose readership, and he was plagued by financial worries. Nor could Dawson control the personal currents among the community, or a threatening neighbor who embroiled his family in a dangerous contretemps. In the end, Dawson―who stood for his country in many ways―was felled by the violence he so vehemently opposed.



About the Author
Roxana Robinson is the author of ten books: six novels, three story collections, and the biography of Georgia O'Keeffe. Four of these were New York Times Notable Books.

Robinson was born in Kentucky, but grew up in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. She attended Bennington College and graduated from the University of Michigan. She worked in the art world, specializing in the field of American painting, before she began writing full-time. Her most recent novel, Sparta, won the James Webb Award for Distinguished Fiction from the USMC Heritage Foundation and was short-listed for the Dublin Impac Award. Her previous novel, Cost, was named one of the five best novels of the year by the Washington Post, and received the Fiction Award from the Maine Publishers and Writers Association. Her work has appeared in The Atlantic, The New Yorker, Harper's, Tin House, Best American Short Stories, and elsewhere. She was twice a finalist for the NBCC Balakian Award for Criticism and has received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Guggenheim Foundation. She teaches at Hunter College, is a former member of the board of PEN, and was the President of the Authors Guild from 2014-2017.

Connect with Roxana Robinson
Facebook: @roxana.robinson

~Praise for Dawson's Fall~

“Acclaimed writer Roxana Robinson delves into her own family history as she sets her sights on the Civil War at its very heart, South Carolina, with spectacular results. Like Charles Frazier’s Cold Mountain, her own Dawson’s Fall will be a revelation to many readers in its profound and nuanced depiction of Southerners’ widely varied feelings about the Civil War and its aftermath. The past springs brilliantly to life in this tragic and compelling story, as accurate and fully realized a depiction of daily life and the extraordinary events of this time as has ever been written.”
Lee Smith, author of Dimestore: A Writer’s Life

Dawson’s Fall is a riveting historical account of one man’s struggle against a wave of violence and injustice during Reconstruction. The research that Roxana Robinson has done to deliver this story is nothing short of masterful and revisiting this terrifying and ugly chapter in the history of the South could not be more timely. Robinson's complex characters, her knowledge and loyalty to truth, and her rich depiction of time and place preserve not only her family story but that of American society and all that threatens humanity.”
 —Jill McCorkle, author of Life After Life

“Roxana Robinson tells the moving story of her great grand-parents, who lived in Charleston after the Civil War, her great-grandfather an Englishman and editor of the city paper. She draws on letters, journals and newspaper articles about them and adds her own novelistic grace to make them come to life. With a fine eye for detail, she describes the horrors of the post-war period of racism and violence they could not escape.”
Frances FitzGerald, author of The Evangelicals

“In Dawson’s Fall, acclaimed author Roxana Robinson has turned her own family history into a propulsive novel. She unspools the story of Frank Dawson, a Confederate veteran struggling to redefine the South, an Englishman in a land thick with suspicion of outsiders. With complicated characters and a rich sense of time and place, this is an immersive tale about the meaning of America.”
T. J. Stiles, author of Custer’s Trials: A Life on the Frontier of a New America

A Letter to Readers from Roxana Robinson


Dear Reader, 

I never thought I would write about slavery: I’m from New England, and Harriet Beecher Stowe is my great-great-great aunt. The abolitionist minister Henry Ward Beecher is my great-great-grandfather. We were all abolitionists; I thought that anything I had to say about the subject would be superfluous. 

But about ten years ago I started thinking about another branch of my family. On my father’s side, my great-grandparents, Frank and Sarah Dawson, were southern. Frank was an Englishman who fought for the Confederacy; Sarah was from Louisiana. After the War, they both lived in Charleston, South Carolina, where Frank helped found the News and Courier. 

Despite his support for the Confederacy, Dawson differed from his brothers-in-arms in some fundamental respects: he believed in the rule of the law, he opposed violence and he often supported the rights of black freedmen. 

I became curious about Dawson, who seemed to embody such opposing ideals—how could you support the Confederacy and oppose violence? As to slavery, England had banned it thirty years earlier. 

Because Dawson and his wife were both prolific writers, and because the newspaper was such a rich resource, I came to learn about the place and time—Charleston during Redemption, the bloody period that followed Reconstruction. I learned that the post-War South was seething with resentment and rage. I saw that Frank Dawson, who refused to carry a gun, published report after report of shocking acts of brutality and murder, and I began to understand the way violence had become a part of the culture of the slave-owning South. I began to understand the depth and complexity of Southern resistance to the treaty at Appomattox. I also came to understand what it had been like for my southern family to suffer through a land war, which none of my northern family have ever endured. 

Writing a novel means entering into the lives of your characters. My characters, as it happened, were my ancestors, and the period in which they lived was a crucial one in our history. 

I had thought I was writing about my family; I came to understand that I was writing about my country. As I did the research for it, I came to understand how the baneful legacies of slavery, violence and racism are still flourishing in our culture today. The writing of Dawson’s Fall was my education in this dark part of our American story. 

Roxana Robinson




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