Monday 23 March 2015

(ARC) Book Review (455): A Ghostly Grave (Ghostly Southern Mysteries #2) - Tonya Kappes


A Ghostly Grave: A Ghostly Southern Mystery(Ghostly Southern Mysteries #2)

A Ghostly Grave is the second book in the Ghostly Southern Mysteries series, fun, action-packed mysteries that are sure to keep you guessing as we follow along with Emma Lee who's family owns the towns local funeral parlour, she sees the spirits of people who have been murdered, and they have come to her to help them find their killers before they are able to move on into the afterlife.

Focusing on one spirit per book, this time around we have Chicken Teater who died four years ago who's body is exhumed following information Chicken gives Emma Lee in regards to his death, the love of his life was his show winning hen Lady Cluckington, his wife Marla Marie who always played second fiddle to the hen is the main suspect after details come to light of a half a million dollar block of land is discovered belonging to Chicken that Marla Marie wants to get her hands on.

With Emma Lee's boyfriend Sherriff Jack Henry on the case, can they solve the murder before another victim is found dead?

A wonderful series who's books are so engrossing that you'll find yourself reading them in just one sitting.

I look forward to seeing what's next for Emma Lee, Jack Henry and the town of Sleepy Hollow, Kentucky.

I give this 4/5 stars.


Here is my author page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authortonyak...

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Tonya has written over 15 novels and 4 novellas, all of which have graced numerous bestseller lists including USA Today. Best known for stories charged with emotion and humor, and filled with flawed characters, her novels have garnered reader praise and glowing critical reviews. She lives with her husband, three teenage boys, two very spoiled schnauzers and one ex-stray cats in northern Kentucky and grew up in Nicholasville. Now that her boys are teenagers, Tonya writes full time but can be found at all of her guys high school games with a pencil and paper in hand.
Become a member of Tonya's STREET TEAM! It's a gathering place of readers who love Tonya Kappes novels and Tonya gives away prizes! To sign up for Tonya's STREET TEAM, newsletter, view book trailer, and upcoming news, check out Tonya's website, Tonyakappes.com. 

Website – http://www.tonyakappes.com/



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Sunday 22 March 2015

Book Review (454): Return To Me (Covington Cove #1) - Kelly Moran


Return to Me (Covington Cove #1)

Publication: 3rd March 2015
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 304
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Appropriate: Adult
Buy It: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository / BAM
With every beat of the heart comes a memory of what could have been…

Ten years ago, Cole Covington was just another rich kid who got everything he wanted—including young and trusting Mia Galdon. Then one night everything changed, and two hearts were shattered. Cole buried his guilt in the military, where love was just part of the past. Now Cole has come back home, emotionally damaged, guarded, and unprepared for what’s waiting for him…

At the urging of Cole’s sister, Mia has returned to the Covington family’s coastal home in Wilmington as a private nurse to help Cole recover. With her uncertain personal life at a crossroad, Mia doesn’t have the luxury of saying no to the job. And she soon finds out that the attraction is still alive. So are memories of betrayal. But Mia will discover more than the power of resilience. She’ll discover a secret Cole has held for years, one that will force them to confront the past and give new meaning to letting go, forgiveness, and a future worth fighting for.
My Thoughts.
I absolutely adored this book, it had so many elements that I love in a story that there was no question in my mind that I wasn't going to fall in love with it and it's characters, a wonderfully written romance, with a heartbreaking storyline that will leave even the cold-hearted trying their best to not end up emotionally involved as we traverse through the past and present of Cole and Mia.

I love a book where for some reason or other our couple have broken up under tragic circumstances when they were younger and then find themselves years later reunited, the fact that Cole was injured while serving his country makes for an even more interesting plot, when his sister Lacey hires Mia who became a nurse to look after him at home that's when the memories both painful and sweet are dredged up and living in such close quarters together they have no choice but to finally deal with their past and what really happened all those years ago.

I'm not going to go into too much detail about the book, I want everyone to experience the storyline themselves, but let me just say that it involves a very wealthy family the Covington's, the father is running for Senator and their son Cole has fallen for one of the maid's daughters Mia, needless to say Cole's mother is not too pleased at the fact that he's spending time with a trailer trash harlot in Mia (her words), add in the fact that Mia's mom is an alcoholic and she's left looking after her younger sister Ginny who has down syndrome and the odds are against her ever impressing Cole's mother, and let's leave it at that!

I shed quite a few tears whilst reading Return To Me, it's about second chances, first love and overcoming the physical and psychological effects of being a soldier at war, the guilt, the grief and the believe that you will overcome your injuries if you just believe in yourself.

I cannot wait for the second book in this series, Kelly has got me so anxious to continue on with this story, I loved it, loved it, loved it.

I can't recommend this highly enough.

I give this 5/5 stars.

About Kelly Moran

Kelly Moran
Kelly Moran is a romance author of enchanting ever-afters. She is the winner of the 2013 Catherine Award, a RT Magazine Readers Choice Finalist, and a 2014 Award of Excellence Finalist through RWA, plus she earned one of the 10 Best Reads of 2013 by USA TODAY’s HEA.
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(ARC) Book Review (453): Shadow Scale (Seraphina #2) - Rachel Hartman


Shadow Scale (Seraphina #2)

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Shadow Scale is the last book in the Seraphina duology, a monster of a book at six hundred pages, it's here in the length of the book that I had problems, for the amount of pages that there is there was not a whole lot of story and not a lot happened until towards the end, I struggled getting through this book, normally I can finish a book this size in about two days, but Shadow Scale took me over a week, I just wasn't in a rush to pick it up once I'd put it down.

The other problem I had was with the way the book and the series ended, the whole romance situation that was hinted and teased about was a major disappointment, I was invested in the relationship between Seraphina and Kiggs and I don't understand why the author decided to do what she did, the absence of Orma throughout most of the book was greatly missed, I liked the idea of this series but sadly it didn't blow my mind, I wonder if maybe my expectations were perhaps a bit too high.

I really wanted to love this series more than I actually did, I do recommend this series to all fans of the fantasy genre.

I give this 3/5 stars.

About the Author:
As a child, RACHEL HARTMAN played cello, lip-synched Mozart operas with her sisters, and fostered the deep love of music that inspired much of her award-winning debut novel, SERAPHINA. Born in Kentucky, Rachel has lived in Philadelphia, Chicago, St. Louis, England, and Japan. She now lives with her family in Vancouver, Canada. A New York Times bestseller, Seraphina won the William C. Morris Award, received eight starred reviews, and was named to multiple “best of” lists. To learn more, please visit SeraphinaBooks.com or RachelHartmanBooks.com.

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Tuesday 10 March 2015

(ARC) Book Review (452): The Start Of Me And You - Emery Lord


The Start of Me and You

by 
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The Start Of Me And You was one of my most anticipated books of 2015, the synopsis sounded right up my alley, something that I would love, and I'm happy to say that this book lived up to my expectations.

Paige is known as the girl who's boyfriend died, it's been a year or so since Aaron died and Paige is still dealing with her grief, but she has a plan, five things she wants to accomplish, to help her move on, one thing being to date her suddenly single long-time crush Ryan, when she makes the acquaintance of nerdy Max, Ryan's cousin, it will take a while for Paige to realise that what she thinks she wants and what she actually wants are two entirely different things, and that Max may just be the one she wants after all.

I have to say how much I loved Max's character, I really enjoy it when we have a geeky, nerdy guy as the male lead, which we don't get enough of in YA contemporaries in my opinion.

The fact that there was no insta-love made this so pleasurable to read, with some great supporting characters that only add to the awesomeness.

This was my first book of Emery's and it sure won't be the last.

Very enjoyable, a quick read that was hard to put down.

I give this 4/5 stars.

About the author:

Emery Lord is a 20-something Midwestern girl who writes stories about high school and best friends and weird families and the crushes that make you feel combustibly alive and also more awkward than you thought was possible. If you're not sure how to pronounce Emery, try slurring the name "Emily," and that will get you really close.

She lives in Cincinnati in a 100 year-old pink row house with her BFF/husband, a closet full of dresses, and lots of books. If karaoke-ing in grocery store aisles or guzzling coffee while impulse shopping were illegal, Emery would be writing her overemotional YA books from jail. Also, she makes up words sometimes. Like combustibly.

OPEN ROAD SUMMER, her first YA novel, is out now with Bloomsbury. Her second, The Start of Me & You, will be released March 31, 2015.
Website | Twitter

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Sunday 8 March 2015

(ARC) Book Review (451): Kiss Me Hello (Sweetest Kisses #3) - Grace Burrowes


Kiss Me Hello (Sweetest Kisses #3)

Publication: 3rd March 2015
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Pages: 384
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Appropriate: Adult
Buy It:  Amazon ♦ AllRomance♦ Barnes&Noble♦ iTunes♦ Kobo
Sidonie Lindstrom's hands and heart are full—she's been uprooted from the urban life she loves, she's grieving for her brother while raising her foster son Luis, and she's trying to find a job with meaning. But her burdens feel lighter when she meets rural lawyer Mackenzie Knightley. Their attraction is powerful and unexpected. Life is perfect… until Sid learns that Mack hasn't been completely honest about his job. 

When problems arise with Luis' foster care situation, she must decide: can she trust Mack again, when she has so much more to lose?
My Thoughts.
Sometimes there will come along a series that you absolutely fall in love with, eventually that series that you adore is going to come to an end, unfortunately Kiss Me Hello is the last book in this trilogy and I am devastated, from the very first book I've been enraptured by the three Knightley brothers and their pursuit of a happily ever after.

There is only one complaint I have about this series, and that is a lack of an epilogue, I want to know what's happening two-three years later, pregnancies, marriages, adoptions and the law firm, I just feel like a lot of people who have read these books would want to know, not just me, but that's a tiny detail that I can overlook as much as it kills me because these books are awesome!

Throughout the first two books the eldest Knightley brother Mackenzie 'Mac' has been an enigma, you don't really find out that much about his character at all, that's why I was so excited to read this book and finally discover who this man is and why he's been celibate for the last ten years, never showing any interest in women in that whole time, that is until he meets Sidonie 'Sid' and her foster son Luis who recently moved into his childhood home, through the appearance of two work horses Daisy and Buttercup that used to belong to the Knightley family, he gets to know Sid and Luis, and helps her fight to keep Luis with the threat of him being moved elsewhere after DSS fails to do their job properly.

With both Mac and Sid having secrets that have affected both their lives up to now, can they both accept each other's problems and live happily ever after, because you just don't know when a miracle can happen, and make everyone's dreams come true.

I cannot praise this series enough or Grace's fantastic writing which have made these books as great as they are, I just really, really, really don't want this series to be over, I've enjoyed each and every word, sentence, paragraph, page and chapter in my journey through the Knightley brothers stories, I wish it would have never ended.

An astounding series filled with amazing characters that Grace has crafted to perfection.

I give this 5/5 stars.

***About Grace Burrowes***

Author Grace BurrowesNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Grace Burrowes’ bestsellers include The Heir, The Soldier, Lady Maggie’s Secret Scandal, Lady Sophie’s Christmas Wish, and Lady Eve’s Indiscretion. The Heirwas a Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2010, The Soldierwas a PW Best Spring Romance of 2011, Lady Sophie’s Christmas Wish won Best Historical Romance of the Year in 2011 from RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards, Lady Louisa’s Christmas Knight was a Library Journal Best Book of 2012, and The Bridegroom Wore Plaid was aPW Best Book of 2012. Her Regency romances have received extensive praise, including starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist. Grace is branching out into short stories and Scotland-set Victorian romance with Sourcebooks. She is a practicing family law attorney and lives in rural Maryland.
Find Grace Here: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
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Saturday 7 March 2015

(ARC) Book Review (450): And I Love Her (Green Mountain #4) - Marie Force


And I Love Her (Green Mountain #4)

Publication: 3rd March 2015
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 336
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Appropriate: Adult

As the oldest of the ten Abbott siblings, Hunter prides himself on his ability to solve other people’s problems, but now he has a problem of his own—how to convince the woman of his dreams that his love is for keeps.

As the chief financial officer, Hunter Abbott manages the family’s various business interests while “fixing” things for the people he loves. But the one thing he can’t fix is his undeniable attraction to Megan Kane. Instead, Hunter is prepared to do whatever it takes to show Megan that he’s the man for her.

Megan’s sister rocks her with the news that she and her husband are moving overseas, leaving Megan truly alone. With her sister—and her job at the diner—going away, Megan finds herself leaning on the sexy, button-down accountant who isn’t afraid to lay it all on the line for her. But Megan has watched too many people she loves leave her. Can she risk her heart on Hunter?
My Thoughts.
The Green Mountain series is fast becoming one of my all time favorites, thanks to the great writing, humor and loveable characters that make up the Abbott family, there's so much to love with each and every book released in the series.

The camaraderie between the ten siblings are one of the things I enjoy most, that and the sweet, charming and cute romances which are the feature of every book, with some steamy and sizzling love scenes to boot there's something here for everyone, you'll find nothing to fault in Marie's writing.

Hunter is the eldest Abbott sibling, everything in his life is structured, planned and ordered, never deviating from his routine, he has also has had a crush for the longest time on his local diner's waitress Megan who has had a crush for quite a while until recently on Hunter's brother Will, when Megan's sister who owns the diner announces that she and her husband Brett are selling the diner and moving to France, Megan is understandably upset having been raised by her sister after their parents died when she was in high school, with her only family moving to another country and no job she is distraught, and that's how Hunter finds her, and it's here where their relationship begins.

I loved how Megan was able to take Hunter away from his rigid schedule and responsibilities to have fun and enjoy himself without worrying about anything 24/7, also the appearances of all of the other Abbott's always puts a smile on my face, especially the twins Lucas and Landon who's books I can't wait for.

Guaranteed to have you laughing and just generally having a good time while making your way through this series, I highly recommend that anyone who loves small town contemporary romances pick these books up.

I give this 5/5 stars.

Meet the Author:
MariePhotoNew200x300Marie Force is the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling, award-winning author of more than thirty contemporary romances, including the Green Mountain series, the McCarthys of Gansett Island series, the Fatal series, the Treading Water series and numerous stand-alone books.

Website **Twitter ** Facebook ** Author Goodreads** Newsletter **Pinterest


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Thursday 5 March 2015

Book Review (449): Last Breath (Hitman #2) - Jessica Clare & Jen Frederick


Last Breath (Hitman #2)






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I've been anxiously awaiting this book ever since I finished reading the first book Last Hit and fell in love with the story and the world it was set in, with the fate of Regan in question in the previous book I was desperate to get my hands on a copy of Last Breath and it definitely lived up to my expectations.

Regan has been sold to a brothel after being in the wrong place at the wrong time, after two months she's given up hope of ever being rescued, Daniel is hunting for his sister Naomi who went missing while on holidays and who was rumoured to have suffered the same fate as Regan, on his hunt he rescues Regan from the hellhole she's in, as they try to find their way out of Rio whilst searching for Naomi she will have to trust Daniel enough to keep her safe and maybe find a way to overcome the horrific abuse she has suffered and move on with her life possibly with Daniel.

I'm really enjoying this series, the books get better with each new release and I can't get enough!

Steamy, hot and sizzling, action packed with a storyline sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.

A fantastic story.

I give this 5/5 stars.

About The Authors:

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Jessica Clare has been an incurable romantic since childhood. She reads all the 'naughty parts' of books first, looks for a dirty joke in just about everything, and thinks to this day that the Little House on the Prairie books should have been steamier.

After devouring hundreds of paperback romances, mythology books, and archaeological tomes, she decided to write a few books of her own - stories with a wild adventure, sharp banter, and lots of super-sexy situations. She prefers her heroes alpha and half-dressed, her heroines witty, and she loves nothing more than watching them overcome adversity to fall into bed together.
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Jen Frederick lives with her husband, child, and one rambunctious dog. She's been reading stories all her life but never imagined writing one of her own. Jen loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at jensfrederick@gmail.com.

Jen is currently working on a contemporary romance duology to be published in summer 2014 with the next Hitman book in the fall and the fourth Woodlands novel in late fall.

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