Book Review: The Dirty Ones

I'll be honest and tell you I only bought this book for the cover and the description. I had finished reading another book by this author called 18 (truly, you have to read the review) because I said in there that I wanted anything and everything this author has written. It felt like fate that not long after I started seeing teasers for this book and I ended up buying it a year or so later because I'm poor. But then it sat here on my shelf because I have this weird problem of really wanting a book and then not reading it because I don't want it to be over.

Rational?

Probably not, but here we are. So I finally got into it and um.... it wasn't all that.

The Dirty Ones - JA Huss

They said write what you know so that's what I did. I wrote dirty, I wrote erotic, I wrote the truth.

And then they called me a liar. But it's not me who's lying, it's them.

Our story isn't for everyone. It's not even for us.

So if you're looking for the fairy tale and the stupid prince on his dumb white horse, move along. You've got a hold of the wrong book. This is not your story, this is not your life, and this is not your opportunity to dip your frightened little toe into the dark pool of water and "try new things" and then pull it out and decide... #NotForMe.

When you go in with us you go all in. So make a decision before you turn this page.

Because I'm making one promise with this book.

Just one.

We are The Dirty Ones and this is our truth.

I am not going to sit here and tell you this book is terrible because it wasn't terrible, it just isn't want 18 was for me and it wasn't at all what I expected. Honestly, from the description I was expecting orgies and basically a novel of porn and this was far off the mark. The book does give you a couple of alright sex scenes, a couple of really weird orgies but it was also mostly a bizarre mystery?

Each of "The Dirty Ones" had an eventful senior year in college and they all remember their time in the tower a little differently so one of them, Hayes, decides to bring them together after a book called The Dirty Ones finds itself on the New York Times Bestseller List, and that's no good because this could be bad for all of them potentially. The way they talk about their memories immediately reminded me of the book Vox by Nicholson Baker that I read way back when I was far too young to be reading dirty books, but it's like memories morphed into fantasies. Kind of? It's hard to really explain it. Anyways. So it becomes clear that something is amiss so they are trying to figure out who all of the weird sexual acts were really about, who programmed them, and why.

This book was really lacking in a few areas for me:

1. It doesn't really go into detail what the hell happened in the tower. We all kind of know how they got there, we heard about notes, but I really wanted more detail of what they did and with who. Don't tease me saying they were "dirty" and then give me literally no information on what made them dirty. 
2. The love triangle between Connor-Sofia-Kiera is so weird to me. How can you be jealous and then not care at the same time? That's stupid. Then we throw in Hayes and we have a weird love square and we make it more weird with an orgy?
3. Bennett and Camille.. the way their story line works out is odd and it feels like the author had no idea what to do so she takes the easy way out and never explains why. 
4. The mystery and how it's figured out? COME ON. First off the ending is ridiculous and completely over the top implausible that I couldn't even deal. It wasn't even worthy of an eye roll. 

I have a lot more thoughts but I can't go into it without spoiling it. I really want one of you to read this and tell me if I'm wrong. I was kind of in a crabby funk when I read this so maybe I was more critical but I just couldn't get behind this one. The couple of hotter scenes couldn't save this one for me. Two stars.

   

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Book Review: The Last Lie

This is it, you guys!!! This is book 110 of the 2018 Goodreads Book Challenge! My goal this year was 105 and I decided to be an over achiever. My goal for 2019 is going to be 110 books so here's hoping I can actually do that. No pressure. HA!

The Last Lie - Alex Lake

For Claire Daniels, life is good. She has everything she’s ever wanted – a career she loves, friends she can rely on and a husband who dotes on her. All she needs is to start a family of her own and things will be even better than good.

They’ll be perfect.

For Alfie, it couldn’t be more different. His life with Claire is built on a lie. A lot of lies. And she can never find out.

Because Alfie has plans for her. Plans which must never come to light. But lies have a way of taking on a life of their own, and when his do, the consequences threaten to destroy everything.

For him and Claire. 

Alright... where do I start? Well I'll start by telling you I'm giving this one a solid 4 stars. I really liked how incredibly messed up Alfie is and how he becomes more and more deranged as the book goes on. I am incredulous how naive and stupid Claire actually is but I guess when you've got Alfie spitting a good game, perhaps you'd do all the same things. I also liked how fast paced this book was. I've seen people complain that it was the opposite, but I disagree. I had a hard time putting this down because I never felt like I was at a good break point, where I could take a breather. I flew through this book in two days, which was great because I have been in a bit of a reading slump.

But do you know what this book reminded me of? That husband in Colorado who killed his wife and two girls. It was like he had this totally different persona aside from the doting husband and father, he had this personality who liked rough sex and treating women like dirt. That's Alfie.

Just as you get going into this book and you're thinking Alfie is the ultimate dirtbag, PLOT TWIST. Suddenly nothing is as it seems and you're questioning everything you've read so far. I can't really give you more but that twist is everything, and that ending? Is. SO. Damn. Good.

I've never read anything else by Alex Lake but I'm interested now just on the craftsmanship of this story. I'm not a huge fan of psychological thrillers, I think I've watched way too many crime documentaries because I have impossibly high standards, but this one got me. I was pretty blown away, and the second half of the book felt like going down a really fast slide. It makes you think you can't really ever know anyone. Not ever. 

   

Book Review: I'll Be Your Blue Sky

I haven't been giving you a lot of reviews lately and that's because I'm just not reading as much. I'm hoping to get one, maybe two more in for this calendar year and then I'll pick it up again in January. I can't stay away long, that's for sure.

I'll Be Your Blue Sky - Marisa De Los Santos

On the weekend of her wedding, Clare Hobbes meets an elderly woman named Edith Herron. During the course of a single conversation, Edith gives Clare the courage to do what she should have done months earlier: break off her engagement to her charming, yet overly possessive, fiancé.

Three weeks later, Clare learns that Edith has died—and has given her another gift. Nestled in crepe myrtle and hydrangea and perched at the marshy edge of a bay in a small seaside town in Delaware, Blue Sky House now belongs to Clare. Though the former guest house has been empty for years, Clare feels a deep connection to Edith inside its walls, which are decorated with old photographs taken by Edith and her beloved husband, Joseph.

Exploring the house, Clare finds two mysterious ledgers hidden beneath the kitchen sink. Edith, it seems, was no ordinary woman—and Blue Sky House no ordinary place. With the help of her mother, Viviana, her surrogate mother, Cornelia Brown, and her former boyfriend and best friend, Dev Tremain, Clare begins to piece together the story of Blue Sky House—a decades-old mystery more complex and tangled than she could have imagined. As she peels back the layers of Edith’s life, Clare discovers a story of dark secrets, passionate love, heartbreaking sacrifice, and incredible courage. She also makes startling discoveries about herself: where she’s come from, where she’s going, and what—and who—she loves.

Shifting between the 1950s and the present and told in the alternating voices of Edith and Clare, I’ll Be Your Blue Sky is vintage Marisa de los Santos—an emotionally evocative novel that probes the deepest recesses of the human heart and illuminates the tender connections that bind our lives.

This is an author I so badly want to love because the covers of her books always drag me in. Every single one. Then I start reading the book and it's always something, just a little something I can't name, that just doesn't grab me. Something just isn't enough to hook me on. This time I really think it was the flip flopping between generations, and I really think if the book had been just about Edith or just about Clare, it would have been fine. But trying to combine the two stories and somehow making it one didn't quite jive for me. The other thing that I noticed was a lot of the dialogue and conversational areas in the book read oddly to me. Nobody in real life would have a conversation like this and it made it really hard to read but also to visualize these scenes as you read them. 

I will say, the greater part of the story is living a life with a possessive partner (perhaps in their own way, not outwardly obviously so) was really great. I really liked how the author brought this on subtly, so subtly that you wouldn't pick it up immediately. Clare begins the book trying to list all of the great qualities of the man she's set to marry and she really gets stuck on nine. Then as she thinks more about it, there are little things that he does that are just peculiar enough to seem strange, but not enough where you'd assume anything bad about him. My favorite line in the whole book is so quick but I really thought about it long after: "No one should live with someone who scares her." It just reminded me of the countless books I've read taking place in the 1940-1950 era that featured a woman who was in a terrible relationship but just couldn't get out because that was the time, you just didn't do it. There was another line, "The ones who look like home are home. That's where you go." and that reminds me so much of my husband. If you had told me I'd feel like this ten years ago I would have thought you were nuts, but it makes so much sense now, the older I get.

This is a romance, kind of, but there is a much larger story around that so don't go into this thinking this is a Hallmark movie romance playing out. It's not really that at all, but there are a lot of things that pop up seemingly connecting Edith and Clare together and some of those are a bit much, but it's interesting enough to keep you reading to see how this all ends.

Overall I'd give this one 3 stars. It's a really slow start, it's an interesting story, and this would make a really interesting book club read.

   

Book Review: Wrangler's Rescue

It's been so long since I've given you a book review for grown ups, but here we are!

Wrangler's Rescue - B.J. Daniels

She’ll risk everything to bring her cowboy back home…

One week ago, Cyrus Cahill told Ashley Jo “AJ” Somerfield that he’d be back in her arms by the weekend. He just needed to buy a bull for his ranch, and then they’d pick up where they left off after that romantic ride through the foothills. But now he’s gone missing and everyone—even the sheriff—believes he’s dead. 

Everyone…but AJ. She suspects foul play and she won’t rest until Cyrus is back home in Gilt Edge, right where he belongs. Because Cyrus isn’t the kind of cowboy who breaks a promise. And since she’s not the kind of woman who gives up on her man, AJ will risk anything to help bring him home…even her own life. 

Some housekeeping: though this is book 7 in the Montana Cahills series, it is a stand alone. Some of the previous characters/couples make appearances in this book but that isn't going to take away from those stories if you go on to read them. It also doesn't make an impact in reading this book. I highly suggest you read the rest of this series because I've actually really enjoyed it and I look forward to each new book in it. B.J. Daniels gives you some angst and suspense, she gives you some romance but it's not blatantly sexual. It's subtle and I think that's a good market to be in because not everyone is looking for a 50 Shades of Grey romance. So for all of that alone, I suggest this one. 

In this book we focus on Cyrus and AJ. Cyrus, right on the cusp of making a move on AJ, goes out of town for a cattle sale and leaves AJ back in Gilt Edge waiting for his promised return. That goes awry when the folks in Gilt Edge are informed that Cyrus has fallen off the side of a cruise ship in the Caribbean and his wife is distraught. Obviously they think this is a scam, but it turns out Cyrus was swept off his feet with this woman, went on an impulse cruise and got married aboard the ship, only to mysteriously fall over the side in the night with nobody around to see it. The whole family is upset but AJ doesn't believe Cyrus is dead. Though the search has been called off and the wife has arrived in Gilt Edge to meet everyone, AJ thinks everything about this feels off so she is determined to figure out what really happened and hopefully, bring Cyrus back home where he belongs.

I have to be honest with you, I wasn't a fan of AJ in the other books, she just seemed kind of... whiny? She just kind got on my nerves and I wasn't looking forward to her being featured heavily in a book, but here we are. And I was pleasantly surprised. She wasn't as awful as I thought she would be and she turned out to be quite a spitfire and a heavily intelligent one to boot. The way this story plays out is GREAT and rolls out like a Hallmark movie. I'm not going to tell you what happens but just know that things really start rolling once AJ gets to Dominica. It feels like there are two different stories going on here, AJ and Cyrus, but also the wife and her own plot and somehow they merge together really well.

I'm becoming a solid fan of B.J. Daniels and I really enjoyed this book. This kept me on the edge of my driver's seat as I waited for my daughter to finish dance!

   

a Rafflecopter giveaway http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/82ae250c88/?

Book Review: Meet the Bobs and Tweets

I know I have a lot of readers who have kids and I know some of us struggle with finding books our elementary age kids are interested in reading. I want to introduce you to this series, which I think strong readers in second and third grade will love, but even readers in fourth and fifth grade will appreciate the humor in a different way.

If your kids are fans of Captain Underpants or even The Diary of a Wimpy Kid they are going to really like these books- they are funny and the illustrations really reminded me of the ones you would find in the Dr. Seuss classics, but maybe a more modern update to them. The other similarity to beloved Dr. Seuss is the writing. Each chapter reads just like Dr. Seuss, fully of witty rhymes The Bob family are a bunch of slobs and the Tweet family are very neat and orderly, so you can imagine how these are going to be a fun read, but maybe challenging for a child to read in a rhyming cadence.

Each story is funny and I had my ten year old read the books aloud to me and two of his sisters and we all had a good time laughing throughout all of them. The younger girls (3 and 2) even had a good time reading these with us because of the way it's written but combined with the cool pictures and the humor. The other perk to these is it shows you how completely different people, with nothing in common, can come together and work to a common goal when they need to.

If you're looking for a book gift (as you should because books are GREAT GIFTS), these would be a really fun set to add to your list!

      

Book Review: The Language of Spells

I know it's the weekend but I am trying to get out as many book reviews as I can so I can clear off my book shelf but also give you more options for gift giving this season!

The Language of Spells - Garret Weyr

Grisha is a dragon in a world that's forgotten how to see him. Maggie is a unusual child who thinks she's perfectly ordinary. They're an unlikely duo—but magic, like friendship, is funny. Sometimes it chooses those who might not look so likely. And magic has chosen Grisha and Maggie to solve the darkest mystery in Vienna. Decades ago, when World War II broke out, someone decided that there were too many dragons for all of them to be free. As they investigate, Grisha and Maggie ask the question everyone's forgotten: Where have the missing dragons gone? And is there a way to save them? At once richly magical and tragically historical, The Language of Spells is a novel full of adventure about remembering old stories, forging new ones, and the transformative power of friendship.

I'll be honest and tell you I wasn't totally sold on this and it almost had a Fantastic Beasts wannabe feel to it so maybe that's why I wasn't grabbed. BUT!! My ten year old son actually really loved this book and he finished it over the weekend, so what do I know? 

I think maybe my biggest issue with this book is really how slow it is. I think as an adult I'm used to faster paced books and I want a plot to really start moving by page 50 and that's not the case with this one. The entire book is Grisha (a dragon) wanting to "investigate a human" so he goes into town and he comes across Maggie, who is kind of a strange kid who can see dragons, which is unusual. Dragons aren't really around anymore because of a spell and this is about Grisha and Maggie saving the dragons from this spell. The entire book is kind of strange because it feels like a chess game- they make a move, stop and think about it, make another move, etc. My son said he really liked it and didn't understand why I thought that was slow and at times, boring. So again, maybe I'm just a dud who doesn't know what's cool anymore.

I really thought this was going to be the start of a cool series, but it's really not and there is a fairly precise ending. Jackson DID agree with me that the ending wasn't really what we thought it was going to be so I guess some points could be given that it wasn't really a predictable ending, though it wasn't entirely exciting. My only other complaint is this taking place after World War II and is a historical fiction, but there is literally no mention of the Holocaust. Do I think kids reading this book is going to pick up on that and be bothered? No. Will adults notice? I think so. Does it matter to the greater story? I'm not sure.. but I'm not sure how I feel about something that large in history not being mentioned. But again, my son didn't even think twice about it so maybe that was omitted on the premise that it wasn't important to the story. I'm not sure.

Overall I would give the book 2 stars but Jackson said he would give it 4 stars, so we're going to compromise at 3 stars. He thinks we should give our copy to the school library because other kids will like it, so that's what we'll do.

   

Book Review: The Planner Book

I know many of us have already started our holiday shopping, so this week I'm going to share with you some books that will be good for the reader in your life. Keep checking back because I'll share with you the things I'm getting for people in my life to maybe help you make some decisions. Today we're talking about a book that will be good for a crafter or maybe someone who needs a little help keeping track of their busy lives.

The Planner Book - Jean Sagendorph and Dawn De Vries Sokol

Creatively organize your life!

The Planner Book! will help you design, create, an embellish the perfect planner.

Forget about boring calendars and ancient date books. Nowadays planners are gorgeous, colorful works of art--one part organization, one part art journal, and two parts keepsake. Loaded with projects, how-tos, tips, and tricks The Planner Book! has all the information you need to tap into your creativity, take control of your to-do list, and craft a custom planner.

Featuring color photos and interviews from more than 20 creators, the book is full of ideas to spark your creativity and keep you organized. With 24 projects, from simple tricks like making your own washi tape to more ambitious projects like crafting a leather planner, you'll soon have the best looking to-do list around. Whether you're juggling a hectic work schedule, keeping track of a busy family, or trying to balance your class schedule, getting organized has never been this fun or this cute!

Ideally, this book is going to be for an absolute beginner, not someone who is an established planner. If you're looking to get started in using a planner or you just want to see what the hype is about, this will be a good resource to you.

The book is divided into three main sections: Planner Basics, DIY Elements, Make Your Own Planner. I really liked the Planner Basics section because it really highlights Bullet Journaling, and that's something I haven't really incorporated into my planner but now I see why this might be a really helpful thing to do. I might start doing this in my planner... though some people have another planner dedicated to bullet journaling only, I don't think I'll get that intense with it.

What's really cool about this book is that this really encourages you to decorate your planner but not fall into the trap of stickers and purchased elements. It has several chapters on how to make your own washi tape, make your own page dividers (I loved these!), bookmarks, and more. I really loved the no hassel tassel and I really have to find my jar of random ribbon because I could definitely make some tassels with that. If you're feeling especially ambitious this book has an entire section on how to make your own planner or notebook using things you likely have just around the house.

If you're really struggling with a gift idea, this book is a pretty great resource perfect for any beginner!

If you get the book you can pair it with some supplies to make a cool gift basket, too!

      

Book Review: What If It's Us

I just need it on the official record that this? This is book 105 for the year. I have OFFICIALLY finished my Goodreads challenge for the year.

Don't be afraid to bring me cake or a gift. I'll accept either. Or both. Surprise me.

What If It's Us - Becky Albertalli

Arthur is only in New York for the summer, but if Broadway has taught him anything, it’s that the universe can deliver a showstopping romance when you least expect it.

Ben thinks the universe needs to mind its business. If the universe had his back, he wouldn’t be on his way to the post office carrying a box of his ex-boyfriend’s things.

But when Arthur and Ben meet-cute at the post office, what exactly does the universe have in store for them?

Maybe nothing. After all, they get separated.

Maybe everything. After all, they get reunited.

But what if they can’t quite nail a first date . . . or a second first date . . . or a third?

What if Arthur tries too hard to make it work . . . and Ben doesn’t try hard enough?

What if life really isn’t like a Broadway play?

But what if it is?

I am almost afraid to admit the next couple of things: I don't like Broadway plays (or any theater really) and I'm usually not a fan of LGBTQ books. 

Please don't hate me. 

I have to be clear it's not that I don't support the LGBTQ community, I absolutely do and I will fight for equal rights until my last day. It's just that in a book... it's not my thing. Just like historical anything puts me to sleep, and Jodi Picoult makes me want to throw a book into the dump personally (and Nicholas Sparks- fight me), and some paranormal stuff is just TOO weird, it's not my thing. 

BUT.

I actually kind of really liked this book. I really connected with Arthur right away because he's just so awkward and weird, he's literally everything that comes to mind when you think of an obviously gay young man. He's only in the city for the summer and he's not taking to it like he thought he would and he's losing touch with his friends back home. One accepts him for all that he is and the other (a guy) doesn't really and Arthur struggles a little bit with that and doesn't think his preference on who he is attracted to should come in the way of a long established friendship. He's just completely dorky and I liked him.

Ben is exactly the kind of kid I would expect to have lived in the city for awhile. He's a little bit jaded, has a little bit of a chip on his shoulder, and he definitely doesn't believe the universe is out to help him. He's fresh out of a relationship that he thought was rock solid but definitely wasn't and so he's trying to figure out what's next. He's also realizing that once his best friend (who is totally OK with him being gay) gets into a relationship, that means he's kind of on his own for awhile... but he doesn't really know how to be alone, alone.

I feel like the first couple of chapters set the book up for a really great story... but fell just a bit short. While the romance itself was kind of cute and it felt like you were with Arthur through the book (it felt more like I was with Arthur than Ben, even though Ben has his own POV chapters... it just never felt like you were connected with Ben) and you just want things to work out. You feel dedicated to finding "box boy" with him and wanting the universe to work for them. I will say... Arthur has some stalker-like tendencies, which is creepy. I don't care who you are, some of his tactics to finding "box boy" are kind of weird. But this book is full of drama coming from parents, friends, miscommunication, the universe, cultural and religious differences, and it's weaved together like a good YA book should be.

Overall, I really liked it. Having never read anything else by Becky Albertalli or Adam Silvera (I know, guys- I know I'm behind in the times. Don't throw things at me.), I wasn't really sure what to expect of this. I know some people say there are mentions of their other books and of course I missed all of those because I was clueless, but if you are a fan of theirs, you have that to enjoy in this book as well. I'm going to give this one a solid 4 starts because I did find myself laughing throughout and for every one thing I didn't like, there were two things I did like to make up for it... which gives the book a good, angsty feel to it.

   

Book Review: The Doctor, the Chef, or the Fireman

A few months ago I read another book by Debbie Lum and I really kind of loved it, called I Can Handle Him. She reached out and asked if I wanted to read and review another of hers and I said sure. I am so glad I did because this was a great little read to fly through while I work my way out of my reading slump.

The Doctor, the Chef, or the Fireman - Debbie K. Lum

Kendra King ran away from her boyfriend so fast, she almost left her favorite Louis purse behind. Newly-minted doctor Christopher Randall had been the man of her dreams, until she uncovered his dangerous secret. 

Moving from Richmond, Virginia to nearby Cory City was easier for the 26-year-old than confronting her ex, and she busied herself with her new career. Soon, handsome fireman Matt Livingston softens her broken heart and life in Cory City looks as rosy as the flowers Matt sends her every week. Even daily breakfast at the local diner seems magical, and she quickly bonds with a misfit group of regulars including young chef Nolan Ford, who warms her soul with his blueberry pancakes and adorable southern smile. 

But when one of her new friends becomes suspiciously ill and scandal engulfs the fire department, Kendra sets out with Matt to prove his boss is crooked. She learns nothing in Cory City is as it seems and when her ex arrives in town, Kendra’s not sure who to trust. She begins to uncover the good, the bad and the ugly among the three men closest to her: the doctor, the chef and the fireman. And if she’s not careful, she might unleash the evil in one. 

I'll start by saying I'm giving this one 4.5 stars. I'm only knocking it down a bit because I wish we got a little more follow up with some of the characters at the end. I can't tell you who because it ruins it a bit. 

In this story we have Kendra who is fresh off a not so great relationship with the doctor. She's left him, moved into a new place and is starting over in a new town with a new job and soon, a new boyfriend. Immediately upon moving in she meets Matt, the firefighter. Attraction flies both ways and soon she finds herself in a fast paced romance with him. She discovers the local watering hole, Silver Spoons diner and see the chef's hot buns. Literally. Nolan is swoon worthy and can work a frying pan like nobody's business. BUT, she's with Matt right now so she's in a complicated space.

Soon things start unraveling. Her ex comes to town, her current boyfriend is trying to uncover possibly corrupt city leaders, and the chef is getting a little flirty with her. People in town are mysteriously getting sick and more and more evidence starts to pile up to prove Matt's theory right. But who is really behind all of this? Is the ex really the dirt bag she thought he was? Is Matt really the genuine guy she thinks he is? Is Nolan more than she thinks? You don't know and you're left guessing right to the end.

For being only 174 pages we get a lot of story, a lot of characters, and a sweet romance. If you are in the market for a romance without all of the sex (but implied sex) this is going to be your read. Perfect to throw into your purse and read between hauling kids to different activities, this book kept me glued to it and I flew through this in a day. No joke. I'm a fast reader anyways, but I wanted to know who the heck she picks!! Don't you dare cheat and skip to the end either, the unraveling of it all is the gem of this.

   

Book Review: A Tall, Dark Cowboy Christmas

I know I haven't talked about how my 5K went, but you can see by this post I'm still alive! This week has been especially stressful so just bear with me as I get through it. So today I'm giving you a book review for a holiday book but it's so great you'll want to start it early.

A Tall, Dark Cowboy Christmas - Maisey Yates

Grant Dodge didn’t expect to find a woman sleeping in an abandoned cabin on his family ranch. Or to find her so intriguing. Unlike every other woman in town, McKenna Tate doesn’t know Grant’s a widower. There’s no pity in the looks she gives him. McKenna wants him, and Grant has forgotten what it’s like to feel like a man. A no-strings fling for Christmas might be the kind of holiday cheer Grant needs…

With only a suitcase to her name, McKenna came to Gold Valley to confront her birth father. She didn’t plan to work at the Dodge ranch or fall for the gorgeous cowboy who keeps his heart roped off. But there’s no denying the way their broken pieces fit together. Hope brought her to Gold Valley—but will it be the gift that could finally heal Grant, and McKenna’s own wounded heart?

I am such a Maisey Yates fan so you know when I saw this come up for review I was all over it! I've read others in her Gold Valley series and I really have enjoyed them so I love that she made this holiday book a part of that series. You don't need to read the rest of the books to enjoy this, it's fully a stand alone. If you're fans of the rest of the series you see cameos of previous characters so that's kind of nice.

In this book we have Grant, who is basically a functioning alcoholic since the death of his wife/high school sweetheart. He gets the pity of people around town and that drives him crazy so he hasn't pursued relationships ever since. Enter McKenna, a woman with no ties to anything and only the contents of her backpack to her name, but she's in Gold Valley to hopefully find her birth father. She takes refuge in an abandoned cabin and Grant finds her. Instead of treating her like an unwanted criminal, the Dodge family take her in. She starts work on the ranch and they give her use of one of the cabins which is the nicest place she's stayed in for as long as she can remember.

The best part of this is that you know these two are going to end up together and they both need each other. They are both a little bitchy, for lack of a better word, and they get on each other's nerves, constantly snipping back and forth. They both need love and to be cared for in different ways and they can give that to each other... if only they can stop barking long enough to see it.

Overall? I'm giving this one 5 stars. Honestly. I really love Maisey Yates because she gives you a story that grabs at your heart strings, throws in some fun romance, and brings it all together for a great ending. This book all comes around Christmas so it adds another layer of Hallmark movie goodness that makes me love it even more. I really liked both characters because independently they have pretty tragic back stories, but together they make a pretty great couple and you can see it early on. This might be the holiday book I recommend the most, you guys. Get it now while it's still in stock!

   

Book Review: Lone Star Christmas

You guys.... I am SO COLD. It's only early October and already I feel like I'm going to freeze to death. That's probably not a good sign for this winter, is it? Yikes. But if I'm going to be cold, I may as well into the Christmas spirit, right?

Lone Star Christmas - Delores Fossen

A family crisis brings him home...Just in time for Christmas Cattleman Callen Laramie has no intention of returning to his hometown of Coldwater, Texas, until a Christmas wedding and a family secret convince him he has no choice. And when he's reunited with his childhood crush, the girl who'd always been off-limits, Callen knows leaving might not be so easy this time. Shelby McCall is as pretty as a Christmas snowfall, and Callen wants to kiss her under the mistletoe...and the Christmas tree...and the stars. But once Shelby knows the whole truth behind this homecoming, will their holiday fling come to an abrupt end? Or will she accept the gift of his heart? 

I know I've reviewed other books by Delores Fossen on the blog before and I've really enjoyed them so it won't come as a surprise that I'm giving this on a solid 4.5 stars. I'm only knocking it that little bit because Callen kind of comes off as a callous asshole in the beginning and I really hate that romance stereotype in almost every romance. The guy starts as a jerk and gets less jerkish throughout the book. What I really loved? Shelby. Shelby is a take no nonsense kind of gal and when Callen decides he won't go to the wedding of his foster father even though he gets a personal message saying he needed to talk to him, Shelby decides to drag him back. She goes to Dallas with the sole intention of getting him to this wedding.

Shelby isn't just anyone though, she's Callen's childhood crush who was deemed off limits. Shelby harbors a little something for Callen too so the expected sexual tension keeps this book floating. The development of their relationship is really good and it reminds me why I love Delores Fossen's books. Unexpected perk of this book? It's FUNNY. I suspected when the book starts off with a stuffed armadillo wearing a veil on a wedding invitation, but there are many laugh out loud parts in this book that breaks up some of the parts that could really drag this down. Completely fit for a Hallmark movie, this book is a sweet romance between two fun characters, but the book is so enjoyable you'll be disappointed when it's over.

   

Book Review: The Secrets We Carried

I am so, so glad this came up in my pile because I was starting to feel I hadn't really read any fall books and this one hit that mark. It felt fallish for me and I really enjoyed getting cozy under a blanket with this one!

The Secrets We Carried - Mary McNear

Sometimes life changes in an instant.  

Quinn LaPointe grew up on beautiful Butternut Lake, safe, secure, sure of her future. But after a high school tragedy, she left for college and never looked back. Becoming a successful writer in Chicago, she worked to keep out the dark memories of an accident that upended her life. But now, after ten years, she’s finally returned home. 

Butternut is the same, and yet everything is changed. Gabriel Shipp, once her very best friend, doesn’t want anything to do with her. The charming guy she remembers is now brooding and withdrawn. Tanner Lightman, the seductive brother of her late boyfriend, wants her to stick around. Annika Bergstrom, an old classmate who once hated Quinn, is now friendly. Everyone, it seems, has a secret.

Determined to come to terms with the tragedy and rebuild old relationships, Quinn settles into Loon Bay Cabins, a rustic but cozy lakeside resort, where she begins writing down her memories of the year before the accident. Her journey though the past leads her to some surprising discoveries about the present. As secrets are revealed and a new love emerges, Quinn finds that understanding the past is the key to the future. 

This book is being marketed towards people who like Susan Wiggs and Susan Mallery and I have to agree, if you are a fan of either of those authors you will like this book. It's the same writing style and it gives you the same feel as you read it. It also should be noted that this book is sixth in the Butternut Lake series but it is a stand alone book. I haven't read the others in the series but I didn't feel like I was missing anything by not reading them, but now I'm interested in picking the others up because I really liked this book.

The book follows Quinn and her recovery/grief/reckoning of the deaths of her boyfriend Jake and his friends Griffin and Dom. After the accident and graduation she left town and vowed to not come back. She gets an announcement in the mail of a memorial going up in their honor by someone anonymously so she decides that she needs to put the past behind her. She finds that people that she thought were friends aren't so much anymore and people who should be angry with her aren't and she's surprised at every turn. The entire book is Quinn navigating awkward encounters, stilted conversations avoiding obvious topics, and her trying to work through her guilt of that night because she believes she had a key part in their deaths. She soon discovers that others feel that same guilt and they have all been kind of stuck in that moment.

Overall? I really liked this book. I'm actually giving it 5 stars because I couldn't put it down, and it felt like the right book to read right now. I'll admit that Quinn is almost a little annoying and it feels like she takes on too much responsibility that I don't think a reasonable person would. It's hard to remember that the accident happened when they were still kids so I guess maybe that guilt would be expected. The best part of this book is that everyone is kind of webbed together and the ending is fantastic. I finished the book with an audible "wow" and immediately texted my friend that they had to read this book. Sometimes books with so many characters and different pieces gets tedious to keep together but the author really did a great job bringing it together to give us a great ending with no loose ends. Absolutely fantastic. You can pick up The Secrets We Carried on the HarperCollins website!

   

Book Review: Mistletoe Miracles

I know, we aren't even at Halloween yet and already I'm coming at you with a Christmas read! But honestly, you have to order your books now so you can read them all December long. Get on the Christmas train, you guys!

Mistletoe Miracles - Jodi Thomas

A small-town Texas Christmas story, where hearts are lost, love is found, and family always brings you back home.

Griffin Holloway is desperate: the Maverick Ranch has been in his family for generations, but lately, it’s a money pit. He’d sooner marry one of his horses than sell the ranch. Marriage, though, could be a solution. If he can woo a wealthy bride, he might save the ranch—just in time for Christmas.

Jaxon O’Grady likes his solitude just fine, thank you very much. But when a car accident brings the unexpected to his door, he realizes just how much one person can need another.

Crossroads is the perfect place for Jamie Johnson: avoiding nosy questions about why she’s single, she’s happy to keep to her lakeside home. So she’s baffled when she gets the strangest Christmas present of all, in the form of a Mr. Johnson, asleep on her sofa. Who is he, and why does everyone think he’s her husband?

In this uplifting novel, three unlikely couples discover just what Crossroads, Texas, can offer: romance, belonging, and plenty of Christmas spirit.

I am really glad that this was the first holiday read for this season because this was an excellent one to start with. I enjoyed the entire book, all three couples, and I'll start by telling you that I'm giving this one a 4.5 stars. The only thing that brings it down just a smidge is it got a little slow in the middle for me but not nearly enough to consider stopping. You end up invested in all three couples, which are all connected, and it's so good it makes you wish this would end up in one of those Hallmark Channel holiday movies. No joke. I've read a couple other books by Jodi Thomas and she's a pretty solid writer and gives you a feel good romance, a little ranching thrown in, and leaves you wanting another book by her.

So we have Mallory, who is trying to start over from her abusive ex but before that can start she's in a car accident. She finds her dog, and a second chance at love, in Jax. (This was my favorite couple because that story line always gets me!) My second favorite story line is Jamie and Wyatt. Jamie has been telling people she's married (she's not) so enter Wyatt. He's a soldier who is looking to slow down and see where life takes him but everyone assumes that he is Jamie's husband who has come back. He ends up at Jamie's house (when she's not there) so when she comes back, obviously she's shocked. Except it works out for both of them so they go along with the charade to keep up appearances except (no shocker) they start to fall for each other. This story line was so out there that I couldn't help but like it because it would make for kind of a great romcom movie, wouldn't it?? I didn't love the Griffin and Sunlan relationship only because Sunlan kind of comes off as a wuss. Her father is a grade A jerk and she's trying to find a way to get out from under this thumb. Griffin is in bad financial shape and his ranch is going to go under unless (logically) he marries rich. (Massive eyeroll here) So Griffin sees Sunlan as his cash cow and Sunlan sees Griffin as the guy to save her from her father so she's going from a bad situation to a questionable one. (Because what gal doesn't want to marry a man to pay his bills?) I didn't love this story line and I kind of skimmed over their story because the premise annoys me.

Overall? I really liked this book. I like the holiday tie in, I liked how every couple had their own ups and downs and felt cohesive with the book. Normally I don't like multiple story lines in a book but the author did a good job bringing them all together.

   

Book Review: The Heart of War

I am SO close to finishing my Goodreads challenge early. Like super early. I have to have a marathon reading session to get there!

The Heart of War - Kathleen J. McInnis

Dr. Heather Reilly has been an anti-war activist since her brother died fighting the Taliban. But her crushing student loans drive her to take a job working on a peace plan for Afghanistan, in the last place on Earth she ever thought she'd be employed: the Pentagon. On her first day, however, her position is eliminated and she’s shuffled to a war-fighting office focused on combating Russian aggression. Unfortunately, she knows little about Russia and has deep moral reservations about war. Making matters worse, she’s also working for Ariane Fletcher—a woman so terrifying, she eats generals for breakfast. As Heather learns to navigate the Pentagon’s insane bureaucracy and petty power struggles, she finds that her successes come at the expense of her personal life... and that small mistakes can have major consequences in the Department of Defense.

From Washington D.C.'s corridors of power to the dusty streets of Kabul, Kathleen McInnis spins a smart, hilarious, and heartwarming tale that shines a light on the often frustrating but sometimes rewarding experience of a career in the Pentagon.  Packed with insider knowledge about one of the least-known—yet most-powerful—organizations in U.S. national security, McInnis' debut novel establishes her as a major new literary voice with a point of view we've never seen before.

I have to just confess right now that originally I thought this was a memoir. I had it in my head that this was a memoir about her time working inside of the Pentago. So I was (and here's the embarrassing part) maybe half way through the book when it dawned on me that something wasn't quite right. The names of well known officials were not the same as I remembered them being and I (hanging my head in shame) actually Googled it because I was kind of annoyed someone would get key names wrong in a MEMOIR. Turns out, it is not a memoir. The first clue should have been the authors name is NOT the same as the main character.

You guys, I am going to blame the combination of not a lot of sleep lately, and my brain injury, and yeah. This is not a memoir. It is fiction and so if you're coming here from Instagram and you saw me reference this as a memoir, it turns out I'm an idiot and it's OK. It's fiction. It's really good but it is fiction.

Phew. So now that we have that cleared up, this book is kind of great. I was reading this at a time when my Grandpa was passing away and he's a decorated Vietnam veteran so I was interested just because I really don't know a lot about the Pentagon. I know basically what they do but how that sector of government works day to day so I thought this would be interesting for that alone. And it was. I once had a job that rivaled The Devil Wears Prada so I hold a special place in my heart for people in that crap situation, and Dr. Heather Reilly is one of those people. She's taken a job within the Pentagon basically to make ends meet. Her fiance is across the country, their financial situation is pretty bleak, and this job would help shore up some things for them but also give her some experience in the field and that would benefit her in her job as a college professor. So she takes it. But day one she finds out her job has changed and she wouldn't be doing anything that she thought she would be doing, then she meets her boss from hell and it is shenanigans from there.

Overall, I thought the book was really good. I'm giving it a solid 4 stars and the only negative about the book is that it's kind of slow to get going and it felt overly chatty. If that makes sense. Normally I like books with a lot of dialogue but this one had a lot and it almost took away from the story. Things I liked about the story are obviously Heather and her personality. I mean, she has a lot of embarrassing things that happen to her so you can't help but laugh with her because any one of us would die right there. The book is pretty humorous, not an easy fete when you're writing a book about war torn countries and the potential of sending US troops into danger. Somehow the authors makes a serious situation funny and I really appreciated that because without that this book could have been a complete downer. Interestingly, there is a romance thread in the book and I didn't really expect that from this one and while it felt a little unrealistic, it oddly fits. It feels like a movie arc, where the girl has the crap job but somehow makes it all work and falls in love along the way and the hero is there to catch her as she emerges from the job triumphant.

If you like a good romcom this is going to be your jam!

   

Book Review: Yeled Tov

So hear me out: I know this book doesn't grab you. I know you have no idea what this title means. I know together you're not sure what the heck is going on, but let me tell you this was a pretty interesting read especially if you are someone who works with the LGBTQ community and maybe don't know how a religious dynamic plays into that.

Yeled Tov - Daniel M. Jaffe

1974 and Jake Stein wants to be a good Jewish boy, but he finds himself struggling to reconcile his traditional beliefs and his strong faith in God with his growing attraction to other boys. He lands a part in the school play, The Diary of Anne Frank, and while he should be imagining the suffering of the Holocaust, he feels real tsuris over falling for the kid who's playing Peter van Daan. Even college is no escape, as his freshman roommate happens to be gorgeous and rarely dressed. Author Daniel M. Jaffe's newest novel offers readers a compelling young hero trying to find a path between desire and devotion, often with advice from the voice of God, or at least how Jake imagines the Almighty ​would instruct a young man to do the right thing.
Ok so let's be honest, this book isn't going to be for everyone. I almost gave up on it around the half way mark because it is SO SLOW. I consider myself a pretty fast reader but I was really struggling to get through it. Thankfully the back half of the book does pick up a little more and it felt like we were riding downhill on a bike so that was good. Everything about the set up of this book, we have a coming of age boy living in a semi-Orthodox Jewish family who is homosexual but trying to deny/hide it. It's the 70's and when I think of the 70's I think of discos, Studio 54, sexual experimentation, drugs, questionable music, and even worse fashion. But for Jake Stein this isn't the reality he's living. He's learned at home and through religion that homosexuality is wrong on all fronts, that it's deviant behavior, and that it cannot be tolerated. He's growing up confused and it's hard to not be sympathetic to that. It's not surprising that this is semi-autobiographical because even in current day there are countless youth experiencing this fine line and walking it confused and scared.

Even if you can't identify with the seriousness of the subject matter you can absolutely appreciate what it's like to feel like you're living two different lives. You go to school, to work, out in the world with a smile and a "everything about my life is great!" facade, but then you come home and cry because you're alone and you're not OK. Jake is doing this except he can't just be himself at home either so he never really relaxes. He goes through great lengths to hide his homosexuality and sometimes it's pretty funny so it lightens the seriousness of the book and that's really nice.

I wish there were more funny passages, which sounds terrible to say because I understand the intent of the book, but I think more people would be inclined to pick it up if they knew it would be funny. I do think this is a really great read for a young man who is maybe in this same boat and really struggling. It's kind of nice to know someone has gone through this too and that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Overall I'm giving this one 3.5 stars. The slowness of the first half of the book is what takes it down for me and though it does pick up, I don't know if everyone would hang in there in the hopes it does get going. But if they do, it's a great story. I really liked Jake Stein and I liked the people around them, as flawed as they are. The only other thing you should know is that there are a few fairly explicit sex scenes in this. This maybe isn't something I'd give a teenager to read just because of that and you know if I'm telling you about this... there is a reason. ;)