Book Review - All This Time by Mikki Daughtry + Giveaway

 

Kyle and Kimberly were the perfect couple in high school. He is on the football team and she is a cheerleader. However, when Kimberly breaks up with him on the night of their graduation party, Kyle's life changes forever. Their car crashes and Kyle suffers a brain injury. He finds out that Kimberly is dead. He is unable to cope with his grief and hopes to find someone who can understand his pain.

When he meets Marley, he finds someone who understands him. Marley is dealing with her grief from losing her twin sister. She thinks it's her fault that her sister died. When Marley and Kyle hang out, Kyle feels that he found a kindred spirit.

Together they work to heal each other's pain. They realize that they falling in love with each other. However, Kyle can't help feel that he is heading towards another disaster after he finally got his life back together.

I had mixed feelings about this novel. I found it to be an emotional read but, I was conflicted about some parts of the novel. I felt like Kyle left one "bad" relationship and traded it for another. I felt like he did learn and grow himself but, Marley wasn't able to do that herself. I felt like their relationship was co-dependent on each other for their happiness. I can't say I liked Marley and some of Kyle's behavior. I found that parts of the novel were over-the-top and not believable. I am on the fence on reading other books by the author.

**Disclosure - I received a free unedited copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

 

About The Book:

Title: ALL THIS TIME

Authors: Mikki Daughtry & Rachael Lippincott

Pub. Date: September 29, 2020

Publisher: Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 336

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N Exclusive Edition, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

 

From the team behind #1 New York Times bestseller Five Feet Apart comes a gripping new romance that asks: Can you find true love after losing everything?

 

Kyle and Kimberly have been the perfect couple all through high school, but when Kimberly breaks up with him on the night of their graduation party, Kyle’s entire world upends—literally. Their car crashes and when he awakes, he has a brain injury. Kimberly is dead. And no one in his life could possibly understand.

Until Marley. Marley is suffering from her own loss, a loss she thinks was her fault. And when their paths cross, Kyle sees in her all the unspoken things he’s feeling.

As Kyle and Marley work to heal each other’s wounds, their feelings for each other grow stronger. But Kyle can’t shake the sense that he’s headed for another crashing moment that will blow up his life as soon as he’s started to put it back together.

And he’s right.

 

 

About Mikki Daughtry:

 

Mikki Daughtry graduated from Brenau University, where she studied theatre arts. She is a screenwriter and novelist living in Los Angeles and is one of the authors of the New York Times #1 bestseller Five Feet Apart. When she’s not writing, she is watching old black and white movies, listening to Doris Day on repeat, or reading ancient Greek plays. The classics. Always.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

 

 

About Rachael Lippincott:

 

Rachael Lippincott was born in Philadelphia and raised in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. She holds a BA in English writing from the University of Pittsburgh. She currently resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, splitting her time between writing and running a food truck with her partner.

 

Her debut novel, FIVE FEET APART, is a #1 NYT Bestseller.

 

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

 

Giveaway Details:

3 lucky winners will win a finished copy of ALL THIS TIME, US Only.

 

Giveaway Link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e2389ba21145/?

 

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

9/7/2020	Kait Plus Books	Spotlight
9/7/2020	Two Chicks on Books	Spotlight
9/8/2020	Jazzy Book Reviews	Spotlight
9/8/2020	BookHounds Ya	Spotlight
9/9/2020	YA Books Central	Spotlight
9/9/2020	Lifestyle of Me	Review
9/10/2020	Abellafairytale	Review
9/10/2020	Infinite Lives, Infinite Stories	Review
9/11/2020	Do You Dog-ear?	Review
9/11/2020	The Desert Bibliophile	Review

 

Week Two:

9/14/2020	Pages and Pugs	Spotlight
9/14/2020	The Bookwyrm's Den	Review
9/15/2020	notinjersey	Review
9/15/2020	The Pages In-Between	Review
9/16/2020	Book Briefs	Review
9/16/2020	Rajiv's Reviews	Review
9/17/2020	The Book View	Review
9/17/2020	Jotted by Jena	Spotlight
9/18/2020	Fangirl Fury	Review
9/18/2020	What A Nerd Girl Says	Review

 

Week Three:

9/21/2020	Emelie's Books	Review
9/21/2020	dwantstoread	Review
9/22/2020	Popthebutterfly Reads	Review
9/22/2020	The Clever Reader	Review
9/23/2020	Gimme The Scoop Reviews	Review
9/23/2020	Zainey Laney	Spotlight
9/24/2020	BookishConnoisseur	Review
9/24/2020	Reese's Reviews	Review
9/25/2020	Momfluenster	Review
9/25/2020	Jaime's World	Spotlight

 

Week Four:

9/28/2020	Sometimes Leelynn Reads	Review
9/28/2020	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	Review
9/29/2020	stuck.in.the.stacks	Review
9/29/2020	Book-Keeping	Review
9/30/2020	The Mind of a Book Dragon	Review
9/30/2020	A Gingerly Review	Review
10/1/2020	Smada's Book Smack	Review
10/1/2020	Eli to the nth	Review
10/2/2020	Becky on Books	Review
10/2/2020	two points of interest	Review

 

Book Review - A Ranger for the Twins: A Clean Romance by Tanya Agler + Giveaway

Lucie Decker and her family were well known and popular in their town of Hollydale. However, when her husband defrauded the town and its citizens, Lucie is left to deal with the fallout. She divorced her husband when his crimes were revealed. However, people believe she played a role in her helping her husband commit fraud. Lucie has decided to launch a new business to provide her family but, she will need help from an old friend.

Ranger Caleb Spindler is happy to help his friend, Lucie. However, he might have a secret motive behind his need to help Lucie.  While Caleb is trying to figure out the true extent of Lucie's involvement in her husband's crime, will be able to trust her? Lucie has been betrayed before and is hesitant to fall in love again but, will Caleb be the one she can trust her heart to?

The novel is a sweet and clean romance about two people learning to let go of the past and trusting each other. The story was a cozy read about two people falling in love when they been hurt in the past. I found that the novel moved a bit slowly for me and that the pair switches topics back and forth. I feel like this happens when people have known each for a while but, it was confusing to keep track of. I couldn't make a connection to the characters. They felt wooden to me. However, if you are a fan of cozy romance novels then this will be your type of book.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

A Ranger for the Twins

By Tanya Agler

Contemporary Romance

Paperback & ebook, 384 Pages

October 6, 2020 by Harlequin Heartwarming

She fell from grace…

Before falling for him

When her husband defrauded the town of Hollydale, now-divorced mom Lucie Decker went from being the town darling to total pariah. Now she’s launching a new business and needs ranger Caleb Spindler’s help. And her twins adore Caleb. After all, he’s a genuine hero—even if he is hiding a secret. But while Lucie’s heart has forgotten how to trust, it still remembers how to fall in love…

(Affiliate links included.)

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | IndieBound

BAM | Harlequin Print | Walmart | Apple Books | Google Play | Kobo

Other Books in the Series

The Sheriff's Second Chance

By Tanya Agler

Contemporary Romance

Paperback & ebook, 368 Pages

January 1, 2020 by Harlequin Heartwarming

Broken things can’t be fixed…

Or can they?

Officer and single dad Mike Harrison doesn’t believe in second chances. Ever. That is, until he learns that his former best friend—gorgeous green-eyed car mechanic Georgie Bennett—is back in town. Unfortunately, she’s also a suspect in a recent break-in! But it’ll take an old classic car to show Mike and Georgie that almost anything can be restored with a little patience…and a whole lot of love.

(Affiliate links included.)

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BAM | Walmart

Harlequin Print | Apple Books | Google Play | Kobo

About the Author

An award-winning author, Tanya Agler moved often during her childhood and settled in Georgia where she writes sweet contemporary romance novels, which feature small towns, family and pets, and themes of second chances and hope. Her debut, The Sheriff’s Second Chance, is a January of 2020 Harlequin Heartwarming release. The sequel, A Ranger for the Twins, will be released in Oct. 2020. A graduate of the University of Georgia with degrees in journalism and law, she lives with her wonderful husband, their four children, and a lovable Basset, who really rules the roost. Represented by Dawn Dowdle and the Blue Ridge Literary Agency, she’s currently at work on the sequels to her debut. When she’s not writing, Tanya loves classic movies, walking, and a good cup of tea.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway

One winner will receive a tote bag, $10 Amazon gift card, signed print copy of The Sheriff's Second Chance and a pen (US only)
Ends October 7, 2020

ENTER HERE

Book Review - The Haunting of Ashburn House by Darcy Coates

 

 

 In the small town of Ipson, everyone knows about the Ashburn House. There are rumors that the old owner, Edith went mad and that the house is haunted by ghosts. The ghost stories hint at a cruel supernatural being that dwells near the house. When Edith dies, Adrienne inherited the house. She is beyond ecstatic at her good fortune as she is in dire need of a new home. She has no money and has nowhere to go. Adrienne looks at the house as a chance to start over.

Adrienne notices that there are strange messages scratched into the walls. When she leaves a room, the furniture moves around. And when the night falls, something is lurking in the darkness. When exploring the area around the house, Adrienne finds a grave in the forest. The grave has a vague headstone but, it hints at a dark secret. As Adrienne tries to unravel the mystery behind the grave, she discovers that something is hunting her and it won't stop until it gets its prey.

 This was my first novel by the author and now I am hooked! The story was suspenseful and an entertaining read. I did feel that the novel progressed very slowly with many frivolous details. The story had a few predictable elements along with a few twists. I enjoyed reading the parts with her cat, Wolfgang.

**Disclosure -  This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

September 2020 Empties Part 2!

 

 

So, this last set of empties for September is a bit disappointing. I finished maybe a handful of things but, added like hundreds of things to my stockpile that keeps increasing by the day.  I thought with the pandemic I would be using a lot more than I was getting...I guess that's never going to change.

This was my first time using Smith and Cult nail polishes and I love them! They are shiny and take awhile to chip. And the bottle is very generously sized. I have noticed that a lot of nail polish manufacturers though use brushes that don't reach all the way to the bottom. I feel like a lot of product can go to waste like that. I used a new salt scrub that actually creates a foam! The Christophe Robin salt scrub was fun to use but, I had to make sure to stay longer under the water because a few times I have found salt in my roots long after my shower has ended. I am a huge fan of BioBelle's face mask and this one worked so well. I been sleep deprived the last few nights and you couldn't see a trace of that on my face.

I love the Cake Beauty brand but, didn't love their lip balm. It felt greasy and it wasn't very hydrating. Other than the BioBelle (and the Simply When) face masks, the others were meh. They were okay. I don't think I would go out of my way to get them. 

Have you tried any of these products? Let me know your thoughts!

Christophe Robin Cleansing and Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt

Klorane Soothing & Anti-Irritating Shampoo with Peony

Smith and Cult - Bite Your Kiss

Cake Kiss Lip Butter

Dove Sensitive Skin Nourishing Body Wash

Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Organic Lip Balm

Midflower Rosa Damescana Flower Water Brightening Mask

Simply When Snow Song Illuminate

Holika Holika Camomile 2 Step Face Mask

Biobelle #VitaminSea Seaweed and Pearl Extract

Dr Botanicals Pomengranate Superfood Regnerating Sleeping Mask

Book Review - The Cake Therapist by Judith M. Fertig

 

 

Claire O'Neil is a talented pastry chef that has a hidden extraordinary talent. Most talented chefs can taste flavors that most of us miss. However, Claire can "taste" the feelings of other people. She can customize her treats to help someone celebrate love, dealing with loss, and connecting with others.

Claire returns home to Millcreek Valley when her marriage starts to fall apart. She is excited to open her bakery and starting over. As she starts meeting with her clients, she senses some of them are hiding secrets, while others are in pain. However, Claire starts to notice a sour taste that is signaling a story that desperately needs to be told.  Claire is used to helping other people with her ability but, will this story help guide her?

The novel had vivid descriptions of the desserts being made. You can tell the author has a deep appreciation for food. However, while the author went into details about the food, I felt like the story lacked some details. I wish more time was spent on certain parts of the novel. The novel had two "different" storylines that ended up converging at the end. Both storylines had promise but, failed during execution. At times, the story felt convoluted and disjointed. Unfortunately, this book was a miss for me and I am hesitant to read any other books by the author.

**Disclosure -  This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Book Review - They Never Learn by Layne Fargo

 

Scarlett Clark is a well known and respected English professor at Gorman University.  However, Scarlett is even better at getting away with murdering people. Every year, she searches for a man who is morally corrupted and plots a way to end his life. She is meticulous with her planning and has avoided getting caught.  As she begins to prepare for her next victim, the school opens an investigation due to the alarming amount of deaths on the campus.

She is determined to stay one step ahead so, she decides to join the investigation and befriend the woman in charge, Dr. Mina Pierce. Everything is going according to her plan until she loses control over her latest victim and puts her plan in jeopardy. 

Gorman student Carly Schiller is trying to survive being away from her parents and her freshman year. She is glad to be away from her emotionally abusive father. Carly wants to focus on her school and fade into the background. Her new roommate, Allison Hadley is the exact opposite of Carly. Carly wishes that she can be confident and cool like Allison. The duo becomes quick friends and when Allison is sexually assaulted at a party, Carly becomes obsessed. She plans ways for making the attacker pay and hopes to turn her fantasies into reality.

The novel was an interesting and engrossing read. There were a few twists but, most of them were predictable. I feel like lately many of the books I am reading have female friendships with a sexual undercurrent. I understand the need to make books inclusive but, I hate when it's like the main focus of friendships. I liked Scarlett as a character and was rooting for her but, I can't say I was fond of some of the other characters. I didn't like that the novel made it seem that most of the male characters (except the one gay couple) were sexual predators. As a female, I already know from firsthand experiences that not all male friends have your best interest at heart. However, there are plenty of men who are also just interested in friendship and won't attack or pressure people into sexual favors. I did like the book and I am looking forward to reading more books by the author.

 

**Disclosure -  This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.*

September 2020 Haul Part 2!

 

 

 

Ahh, my favorite season is almost here! I love the fall. I can't wait to snuggle under a blanket, drink a nice warm drink with a book. Oh, I am counting down the days. I got quite a few products that were a little pricey but, I thought why not splurge. 

I love BioBelle masks and got a few more different varieties that I didn't try before. I am a big fan of Marc Jacob and have a few of his makeup but, this is my first skincare item from him. I hope it lives up to the hype. I got a few Earth Harbor skincare treatments. To be honest, I liked the simplistic packaging and that was the main reason I bought them. I never heard of the product before buying it.

I also got a few Tarte lip products and Fenty Beauty lip products. I heard some great things about Fenty Beauty products. I am very excited to try them. I have tried some of the L'Occitane products but, this the first time I tried their oil cleanser. I also got a few new moisturizers that I am excited to try and it's the perfect weather for new cream!

 

 

 

Book Reviewv - The Real McCoys: Two's a Crowd by Matthew Swanson

Photo Credit - Amazon

A new mystery is brewing at Tiddlywhump Elementary, and it's up to the McCoy sibling detectives to help. Moxie and Milton are complete opposites of each other but, together they will need to work to solve the mystery.

Emily, Moxie's friend, receives a letter signed with a purple squiggle. Then other kids start receiving more letters along with questions such as, Who sent them? And why?

While the problem-solving duo is on the case if they can only learn to get along better. When their partnership is torn apart, Moxie tries to solve the mystery being the Squiggles first. Will Moxie be able to solve the case without Milton? Or will she realize that two McCoys are better than one?

The book was a fun and cute read. I found Moxie to be a bit much at times but, I am glad that she can grow and realize her mistakes. I liked the drawings and found them to be entertaining. I am not the target audience for this book but, I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

**Disclosure -  This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Book Review - The Patient by Jasper DeWitt

Photo Credit - Amazon

Parker H. is a young psychiatrist who finds a new job at a mental asylum in New England. He decides to undertake the curing of a dangerous patient that everyone else in the asylum avoids. He begins to chronicle his journey through a series of online posts. Parker hopes to communicate with the world on his struggles and efforts on helping the patient.

The patient is a forty-year-old man who was originally admitted to the hospital at the age of six for night terrors. However, the patient currently has no known diagnosis. His symptoms keep evolving and every person who attempted to help treat him ends up driven to madness or suicide.

The hospital directors are desperate but, fear for Parker's safety. They allow him to be confined to the patient's room and have minimal contact with him. They are worried that if they release the patient to the outside world, that there will be terrible consequences. Parker is confident that he will be the person who will help cure the patient. However, it becomes very clear that after his first encounter with the patient, things start spiraling out of control.

The novel was an interesting and engrossing read. I finished the entire book in one sitting and it was just too good to put down. Some of the characters were more well defined than others. For example, Parker's wife, Jocelyn seemed like an afterthought. Parker was considered a genius and brilliant but, I sometimes question some of his behaviors. However, all in all, I still found the novel to be a suspenseful read with a bit of a supernatural twist.

**Disclosure -  This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Book Review - You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

Photo Credit - Amazon

Shay Miller wants to find love but, she finds herself in love with her roommate, Sean. Sean is in love with his girlfriend, Jodie. She works hard at her job but, finds it to be a dead-end and underappreciated.  She wants to have a kinship with others but, find herself lonely and without friends.

Shay's life changes when she meets the Moore sisters. Cassandra and Jane are the definitions of perfection and glamorous. Shay is envious of their lives and wants to be just like them. When they accept Shay as their friend, Shay is willing to do anything for them to be their friend. How far will Shay go to prove her loyalty to them?

I have read the other books by the duo and enjoyed them. This book was also an enjoyable read towards the end. While the twists were surprising, I wasn't exactly blown away. I felt that the novel had too many characters with a different back story. It was hard keeping track of the different people and their history. I wasn't very fond of the main character, Shay because she kept making bad choices that made her look desperate for a friend. I felt like the story was a bit convoluted and long-winded but, I am still excited about their next book.

**Disclosure -  This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.*