Book Spotlight - Midnight's Budding Morrow by Carolyn Miller + Giveaway

Can real love grow between a wallflower and an unrepentant rogue? Sarah Drayton is eager to spend time with her best friend at her crumbling Northumberland castle estate. Matrimony is the last thing on her mind and the last thing she expects to be faced with on a holiday. Yet she finds herself being inveigled into a marriage of convenience with her friend's rakish brother. When James Langley returns to his family's estate, he can't be bothered to pay attention to his responsibilities as the heir. War is raging and he wants only distraction, not serious tethers. But his roguish ways have backed him into a corner, and he has little choice but to obey his father's stunning decree: marry before returning to war, or else. Suddenly he finds himself wedded to a clever and capable woman he does not love. Sarah craves love and a place to belong, neither of which James offered before returning to the battlefront. Now everyone around her thinks she married above her station, and they have no intention of rewarding her for such impertinence. It isn't until her husband returns from war seemingly changed that she begins to hope they may find real happiness. But can she trust that this rake has truly reformed? When tragedy strikes, this pair must learn to trust God and his plans. Will they be destroyed . . . or will they discover that even in the darkest depths of night, the morning still holds hope? Click here to read an excerpt.

About the Series

While most stories set in Regency England focus on the rich, the young, and the beautiful, award-winning author Carolyn Miller decided she wanted to give readers something different for a change. Her new Regency Wallflowers series follows the commoners, away from the hustle and bustle of 1810s London, out in the Lake District of England. She tells the stories of women who are slightly older and have few prospects for marriage, women who might be considered “wallflowers.” Midnight’s Budding Morrow is the second book in the Regency Wallflowers series. The first book in the series is Dusk’s Darkest Shores.

About the Author

Carolyn Miller is an inspirational romance author who lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children.
 
A longtime lover of romance, especially that of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer’s Regency era, Carolyn holds a BA in English literature and loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives. She enjoys music, films, gardens, art, travel, and food.

Miller’s novels have won a number of RWA and ACFW contests. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Australasian Christian Writers. 
 
Learn more about Carolyn at www.carolynmillerauthor.com, or find her on Facebook (Carolyn Miller Author), Instagram (@CarolynMillerAuthor), and Twitter (@CarolynMAuthor). 

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Book Review - You Will Remember Me by Hannah Mary McKinnon

 

When he wakes up, he is on a deserted beach in Maryland wearing only swim trunks and his head covered in bruises. He can't remember who he is or why he is in Maryland. All of his memories are fuzzy and he has no idea where to go. He has a faint idea that Maine is his hometown and returning might help uncover some more answers. Instead, when he arrives he feels like he has more questions than answers.

Lily Reid thinks she knows her boyfriend, Jack until he goes missing one night. During her frantic search she uncovers secrets that he has been keeping from her. Lily fears that Jack is hiding a dark past and he is purposely keeping her in the dark.

Maya Scott is desperate to find her estrange stepbrother, Asher, since he has disappeared without a trace. She is grateful that he is back even though, he has trouble remembering her.  She is worried that he will remember their mutual history and the secrets that bond them.

The book was a disappointing read. I was able to guess most of the story but, the ending did have a twist. Personally, I don't think it was worth reading to the end because it took forever to get there. I am not sure I would go out of my way to read anything by this author again because this book was a huge disappointment and waste of time.

Book Review - Right After the Weather by Carol Anshaw

 

Cate is a set designer in her early forties. She lives and works in Chicago's theater community. She know she has to grow up and stop taking handouts from her parents. She has a plan in place to fix her financial problems and settle in a serious relationship.

She started a relationship even though she still coming to terms with an old affair that went nowhere. Her ex-husband is currently living with her in her spare bedroom after being kicked out of his house. He spends most of the day searching and reading about online conspiracy theories. Cate sees him spiral out of control but, she is unsure of how to help him. Her best friend, Neale, a yoga instructor who lives nearby with her son. Cate feels that Neale is the ideal model for what being a grownup should look like. 

A few blocks away lives Nathan and Irene who are small time criminals and drug addicts. Their worlds collide when Cate sees them assaulting Neale in her kitchen. Cate has to think fast to take action to save her friend. Cate's world changes overnight when she comes to term with the violence she's capable of.

I originally picked up this book because I thought the cover looked interesting. However, I feel like the book was very boring and just dragged along. I felt like I read more than half of the book and it went nowhere. I didn't like any of the characters and found the main character to be annoying.  I had to recheck the synopsis of the book because the assault doesn't take place until more than halfway of the book.

Book Review - What Lies Between Us by Nayomi Munaweera

 

Ganga is a young girl growing up carefree surrounded by her loving family in Sri Lanka. They live in a big old house that has been in the family for generations. Ganga's life is perfect until something terrible happens. One of her most cherished friendship is revealed to have abusive undertones and the consequences will rip apart the only life she knew. After an traumatizing experience, Ganga and her mother flees to America for safety.

In America, Ganga tries to navigate her new life as an American teenager. She is delighted with the new experiences that are now available to her. She decides to pursue becoming a nurse and graduates from college and moves to San Francisco to work at a nearby hospital. On the surface, Ganga appears to be functioning normally but, the trauma from her past continues to haunt her.

When Ganga crosses path with Daniel, she finds herself entranced by him. She falls deeply in love with him and believes she will finally gets her happy ever after. Instead, the secrets that she kept from him coupled with an accidental pregnancy causes the pair's bond to unravel. Ganga struggles with keeping the darkness from encroaching her life until, she finally can't hold on anymore.

The story starts with a very poignant story that alludes to the dark act that she commits. As we are taken through her life, we start to understand the motivation behind her heinous act. At times, the story does move a bit slowly and the "twists" were fairly easy to guess. The heart-wrenching story stays with you long after you finish the story. As readers, we get a glimpses of the struggles of being an immigrants, womanhood/motherhood, Sri Lankan culture, along with struggling with mental illness and trauma.

Book Review - Hide and Go Beak by Nancy Krulik

 

Chirpy is a young chicken stuck in coop all day. She isn't like other chickens who are content with pecking around the coop. She wants to experience the world especially, when the children mention a special place called school. The children seem excited to go there.

Chirpy decides to flee the coop and sneak onto the bus one morning. She hides in the classroom and there she discovers her true love for math. She decides she can't wait to go home and share what she learned with the other chickens. The other chickens do not share Chirpy's love for math but, when a hungry Fox is on the loose, will Chirpy be able to help?

The book was filled with cute illustrations and fun jokes. It had a very simple story for young readers to read and follow along. I liked that Chirpy was able to learn something and then put it into practice. At the end of the book, they also have an activity for readers to do with their parents. A cute read for any budding scientist or mathematician.

Book Review - Anything But Pink by J.C. Benthin + Giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zinna is tired of being the only pink person in a gold world. She was told that being pink stinks by a bully. She decides to go on a quest to get rid of her pink for good. On her journey, she learns a valuable lesson and meets new friends on the way.

The book was a cute illustrated read to teach children that they are perfect the way they are. It also teaches little ones about self love, acceptance, and being unique.  

*Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

About the Book:

Title: ANYTHING BUT PINK

Author: J C Benthin & Andy Catling (Illustrator)

Pub. Date: May 9, 2022

Publisher: Kaleidoscope Volcano

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 34

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, Bookshop.org

Zinnia is the only pink person in a very gold world. After being told that pink stinks by a golden bully, she goes on a quest to get rid of her pink for good. Along the way, Zinnia learns a valuable lesson. Will she embrace her unique pink, or will she change to be just like everyone else?

 

 

About J.C. Benthin:

J.C. Benthin has been writing since a young age winning a Father's Day essay contest with the Kansas City Star justifying "Why my Dad’s the Best Outdoorsman" which won a John Deere Lawnmower and a Weber Grill. She has written Timmy the Time Machine, Pink Princess and Anything but a Prince for a next generation interactive children’s publisher. She has also written two young adult novels titled Catapult and Slingshot in The Kingston Chronicles Series. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). The author resides in Berkeley, California.

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Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

Giveaway Details:

5 winners will receive a finished copy of ANYTHING BUT PINK, US Only.

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Tour Schedule:

Week One:

6/6/2022	Ya Books Central	Guest Post
6/6/2022	Lady Hawkeye	Guest Post/IG Post
6/7/2022	Jazzy Book Reviews	Review/IG Post
6/7/2022	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Spotlight
6/8/2022	@just_another_mother_with_books	IG Review
6/8/2022	M reads often	Review/IG Post
6/9/2022	Nonbinary Knight Reads	Review/IG Post
6/9/2022	Two Chicks on Books	Guest Post
6/10/2022	Little Red Reads	Review/IG Post
6/10/2022	@jaimerockstarbooktours	IG Post

Week Two:

6/13/2022	The Momma Spot	Review/IG Post
6/13/2022	@coffeesipsandreads	Review/IG Post
6/14/2022	@enjoyingbooksagain	IG Review
6/14/2022	BookHounds YA	Review/IG Post
6/15/2022	@froggyreadteach	IG Review/FB Post
6/15/2022	onemoreexclamation	Review/IG Post
6/16/2022	Emmiepooh2	IG Review
6/16/2022	Jenguerdy	IG Post
6/17/2022	onemused	IG Post
6/17/2022	Two Points of Interest	Review

June 2022 Empties!

 

Wow, I can't believe the year is halfway done! It just feels like it has been flying by. I managed to finish a few things this month but, nothing really noteworthy.

I have used a few of Josie Maran's products and have enjoyed them. I was really excited to try her body butter. It had a sweet citrus scent but, it had a weird rotten scent after awhile. I am not sure if the body butter was reacting to my body chemistry.  I did enjoy using the Kinapure Cocoa Vanilla shea butter. It smelled so amazing and it left my skin buttery soft without being greasy.

I got two new soaps that were pretty awesome. The Kiss My Face and Humble soap, were both stars. They were creamy and provided a generous lather. They also didn't strip my skin and make it feel tight.

I got a new scrub from Kopari which I loved. I usually have mixed feelings about their products but, this scrub left skin feeling soft and smooth. the Mudmasky leave on winter mask is a skin savior for the colder months. It locked in hydration and left skin feeling super soft and smooth. It definitely kept my skin from drying out at night.

Did you finish anything this month that you thought was great?

Book Review - Lovers on All Saints' Day: Stories by Juan Gabriel Vásquez

 

The book is a collection of short stories set in Europe. It shows themes of love and humanity in seven short stories in various relationships and situations.

I usually like reading short stories but, these felt a bit disappointing. I am not sure if it was the translation but, I had a trouble following some of the stories. I felt like that there was some nuances that were lost in translation. Some of the stories did have a bit of staying power when I really thought about it but, others were pretty forgettable.Some of the stories felt like they really didn't deliver because the story wasn't fleshed out properly. A lot of the stories had a darker and bleak than I was expecting.  However, I would be open to reading other works by the author.

Book Review - The Darkest Secret by Alex Marwood

 

Twelve years ago, three-year-old Coco goes missing during her father's fiftieth birthday celebration. She leaves behind her identical twin, Ruby as the only witness. Their father, Sean, is a wealthy and influential real estate developer and his friends gather at his seaside vacation home for a weekend of fun.Coco going missing causes a media frenzy and it changes the lives of everyone at the party forever.

Sean has passed away and everyone who was present during the night of Coco's disappearance, come to pay their respect. One thing becomes clear that the secrets of the past will be revealed as the night progresses.

I thought the book had an interesting premise but, I didn't really care for any of the adult characters. I felt like most of them were terrible people and did whatever they wanted without caring about anyone else. I felt like the book did move slowly and had a lot of unnecessary details but, left some of the more pressing questions unanswered. The author hinted about Sean's and Linda's death but, were they connected? I also didn't care for the ending, I felt like it was rushed and abrupt. I didn't like that there was a lot of references to pop culture or the government that some readers wouldn't understand if they weren't familiar with it.

Book Spotlight - Bewitching a Highlander by Roma Cordon + Giveaway

About the Book:

Title: BEWITCHING A HIGHLANDER (A Scottish Highland Warriors Novel #1)

Author: Roma Cordon

Pub. Date: June 7, 2022

Publisher: CamCat Books

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook

Pages: 368

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.com

Defying all for the love of a bewitching lass.

Breena MacRae, a healer from Skye with a touch of witchery in her blood, embarks on a dangerous search for her missing father. She arrives on the Isle of Coll, seat of the vile Campbells. There, she encounters the debonair future chief to the Dunbar Clan, Egan, who rescues her from a Campbell sentry.

Egan Dunbar is on Coll to keep the peace between the feuding Campbells and Dunbars. But when he catches Breena in a lie, he agrees to help her find her father to pay back an old debt and get to the bottom of the secrets she's hiding.

As their attraction for each ignites like a firestorm, Breena and Egan realize a future together could trigger deadly consequences—a clan war between the Campbells and the Dunbars. Is Egan willing to betray his clan for love, even though he knows Breena is keeping secrets from him? Can Breena trust him with her family secret and put those she loves at risk? 

 

About Roma Cordon:

Roma Cordon was introduced to romance novels in her teenage years and instantly became a voracious reader of the genre. In the 1990s, she came to live in New York where she earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees. After taking a writing course at New York University with Anne Rice, she dived into the world of writing while testing the waters at public speaking at her local Toastmasters club. By day, Roma works in the finance industry; in the evenings and weekends, she is a passionate romance writer. She also writes on her blog romacordon.com.

Inspiration for Roma’s debut novel, Bewitching a Highlander came from trips to Scotland with her husband. Roma is an active member of the RWA-NYC Chapter and lives in New York with her husband where they care for two adorable furry friends adopted from local shelters. 

Sign up for Roma’s mailing list for exclusive news & updates! Scroll down to the bottom of her home page.

 

Website |  Twitter  | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

Giveaway Details:

2 winners will win an ARC of BEWITCHING A HIGHLANDER, US Only.

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Tour Schedule:

Week One:

5/23/2022	Viviana MacKade	Guest Post
5/24/2022	Writer of Wrongs	Guest Post
5/25/2022	BookHounds	Guest Post/IG Post
5/26/2022	Sadie's Spotlight	Excerpt/IG Post
5/27/2022	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Excerpt/IG Post

Week Two:

5/30/2022	Rajiv's Reviews	Review/IG Post
5/31/2022	TakeALookAtMyBookshelf	IG Review
6/1/2022	The Caffeinated Reader	Review/IG Post
6/2/2022	Author Z. Knight	Review/IG Post
6/3/2022	Angel's Guilty Pleasures	Guest Post/IG Post

Week Three:

6/6/2022	Two Chicks on Books	Excerpt
6/7/2022	@jaimerockstarbooktours	IG Post
6/8/2022	See Sadie Read	Review/IG Post
6/9/2022	The Momma Spot	Review/IG Post
6/10/2022	Two Points of Interest	Review

Week Four:

6/13/2022	beersbooksandboos	Review/IG Post
6/14/2022	Fire and Ice	Review
6/15/2022	Lady Hawkeye	Excerpt/IG Post
6/16/2022	More Books Please blog	Review/IG Post
6/17/2022	onemoreexclamation	Review/IG Post
6/18/2022	Books a Plenty Book Reviews	Review

Book Review - The House of Ashes by Stuart Neville

 

Sara Keane and her husband, Damien moved from England to Damien's native Northern Island for a fresh start after Sara suffered from a nervous breakdown. Sara feels isolated in Ireland because she has no job, no friends, and no car. She feels like she is a prisoner in her own home.

One night, a blood-soaked old woman turns up at Sara's door insisting the house is hers. After the incident with the older woman, Sara finds out that the house has a terrible history that her husband was keeping a secret from her. As the two woman bond over their shared traumas, they both will need to find their own voice.

I thought this book would have more twists and thrills than it had. I felt like the story line was very straight forward and predictable albeit depressing. At times, I felt like the story was just muddling along. I can't say that I cared much about Sara's story line and was a bit annoyed that she put other people in danger. I felt that Sara's story wasn't as developed as Mary's and I struggled to understand why she stayed with Damien. I believe Sara hinted that she had an iffy relationship with her mother but, I wish they went into more details.

Book Review - Shadow Sands (Kate Marshall, #2) by Robert Bryndza

 

Criminology professor Kate Marshall is on a scuba dive with her son when they make a shocking discovery. They find a body of a teenage boy in the depths of the Shadow Sands reservoir. The detective chief inspector is quick to rule the case as an accidental drowning. However, Kate believes there is more to the story. As she begins to follow the evidence and clues, she discovers something more sinister.

It turns out the latest victim is one of the many in a series of deaths and disappearances linked to the moorlands. There is an urban legend of a phantom that uses the rolling fog to hunt for its victims. When a researcher studying urban legends disappears without a trace, Kate must act fast if she wants to find her alive.

This novel is the second book in the series but, I felt like it could be read as a standalone. I thought the book was an interesting read and it was nice seeing old characters making a reappearance while getting more history on Tristan. I enjoyed reading this book but, I definitely felt like I enjoyed the first book more. I felt like something was missing that I couldn't quite put my finger on. However, I am excited to read the next book in the series.

Book Review - Jackie's Star by Miss Lori

 

Jackie always wished that she could fly. One night, a star grants Jackie her wish to flying. As Jackie experiences the joy of flying she meets new friends along the way. They teach her that sometimes, you are perfect the way you are. I thought the illustrated book was an okay read but, taught children and important topic. Personally, I felt that the story didn't flow smoothly and I wasn't a fan of the illustration style. However, children who like whimsical designs might enjoy this book more than I did.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**