Chelsea Bobulski: A Deal with a Debutante

 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/236304632-a-deal-with-a-debutante

book blurb: 

She’s running from London’s marriage mart. He’s running out of time to save his estate. Neither planned on falling in love—but their hearts have other plans.

American heiress Calliope Hart is thrust into London’s high society against her will, all because her mother is determined to marry her off to an aristocrat. Despite being named “the debutante of the season” back in New York, Calliope wants nothing more than to avoid becoming another pawn in the social game.

Edward Chase, the Earl of Hayward, is on the brink of financial ruin. To save his estate, he must marry, and Calliope Hart is his last hope. When he boldly declares his intentions, she swiftly rejects him, making it clear she has no interest in marrying for convenience. Undeterred, Edward offers a deal: He will escort Calliope to all the best sights of London that she’s been dying to see if she agrees to visit his estate and consider what they could accomplish together.

What begins as a business arrangement soon sparks something much more complicated—an undeniable chemistry neither can ignore. But as their hearts begin to soften, both must confront their fears: Can Calliope trust Edward with her heart, and can Edward truly win her love when she’s convinced he only wants her fortune?

*Netgalley ALC 11/12  *Historical Romance  *Strangers to more  *Enemies (kind of) to more

*American Heiress x Earl down on his luck *Estate in shambles *outspoken FMC  

*he falls first  *no spice romance  *Edwardian *suggested Marriage of convenience *banter

*insta love (story is over a short time) *some no communication at times

Thoughts:

Calliope Hart is an American Heiress who was dragged to England by her mother on the hunt for a titled husband against her wishes she is thrust on society after having lessons in high society etiquette along with some other American Heiress friends.  While Calliope would love nothing more than to return to New York and continue her writing on older buildings and restoration projects her pushy mother continues to bring her to events.

Edward Chase (Earl of Hayward) has a large estate that many depend on but unfortunately for him his father made poor financial decisions and he owes more to creditors on the daily... he and his mother are both aware of the state of their finances and that the only thing at this point that will save them from a financial collapse is marrying a wealthy woman... in comes his latest plan to find the wealthiest heiress at the party his mother has thrown in order for him to find a bride and just ask for a marriage of convenience.

Calliope knows that she is being looked at not for who she is but for the wealth she can provide to these impoverished lords... and yet many are still snubbing her due to being nouveau riche... well she doesn't want to be with them anyways.  Meeting the Earl of Hayward at his ball they get off on the wrong foot when he asks for a marriage of convenience with no possibility of anything more between them... he feels he is just being honest and straight forward with his intentions he needs a big influx of money that their marriage can provide and he can provide her with the title that she is looking for (only he doesn't realize that it's her mother that cares about the title... not her).  

After Edward is swiftly rejected he makes an apology tour returning to London to find Calliope and make up for his poor behavior.  He agrees to play a bit of a tour guide to Calliope and take her to all of the sites she wants to go to in exchange for her to agree to give him a chance at showing her his home and thinking of his marriage proposal before rejecting him out right again.  

This was a cute enemies (kind of) to more story, there is no spice (just some passionate kisses) and some witty banter at times.  It was sweet seeing Edward and Calliope get closer together as the story progresses, I also enjoyed Edward's quirky family and Calliope's outspoken friends.  

I did struggle at times with the internal monologue on both sides about how they were starting to have feelings but know for a fact the other one would never have feelings for them... natually neither one of them are sharing their growing feelings with the other one for a good portion of the story (no communication).  

This was a lower stakes, lower drama story for the most part.  The FMC begins waffling towards the middle of the story when she is back and forth on her decision multiple times... girl make a decision!  

This was a sweet cozy read/listen the narrator did a great job with the accents swapping back and forth between English, American and even some Scottish accents.  If you are looking for a light easy read you might enjoy checking this one out.  I'm hoping this becomes a series would like to see if Calliope's friends get their happy ending.  

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for this ALC!  

Lauren Wilson: Tell Your Friends

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/240019734-tell-your-friends

Book Blurb:

A former child star and an envious fan collide in this cat-and-mouse psychological thriller about obsession, self-invention, and the dark side of internet fame.

University was meant to be Crystal’s way out. Growing up, there was nothing in her life that couldn’t be turned into content for her mother’s popular (and profitable) family vlog channel, At Home with the Shaws—including the tragic death of her older sister when they were kids. When she arrives on campus, her mother demands she keep filming her every experience for her subscribers—but Crystal has just one story in mind, one that will blow them all away.

At Home with the Shaws is Crystal’s prison, but it is Alyssa’s escape. An aspiring journalist from a deeply troubled family, she jumps at the chance to help Crystal with an exciting project. When she realizes her new friend’s goal is to expose her family and put an end to the channel, Alyssa becomes desperate to find a way to stop the Shaws’ carefully curated image from shattering.

As the two girls discover unsettling truths about themselves and each other, and shocking new information about the Shaws comes to light, Crystal realizes what’s really at stake. If she doesn’t figure out whom she can trust, her freedom will cost her much more than just her fame.

*Mystery *Thriller *College *Young adult  *Child influencer *Darker side of social media

*Obsession  *family secrets *death of sibling  *darker elements *Young Naive adult in big city

*Netgalley ALC (new set 3/7)

Thoughts:

Crystal has grown up in the spot light her family has their own "channel" online and many have followed the family for years seeing Crystal grow up... along with the spot light comes the fact that she feels over exposed her overbearing mother is constantly on her to "behave" appropriately to make sure that their channel's viewers get the "right" impression of their family life and even now that she has broken free of her family for a bit and gone away to University in the big city her mother continues to hassle her for "proper content."

Alyssa grew up in a wealthy family she may have had her needs met... but she never had the love she craved or a true family support now in University working towards Journalism she becomes fast friends with Crystal who has grown up with such a loving family... why couldn't her family be more like that?

Crystal and her family have always had a cloud over them in the form of the death of her older sister... even this what should have been a private time to mourn with her family was turned into content for the family channel.  Seeking to break free of this if not for herself for her younger brother and sister Crystal sets out to enlist help to expose the darker side of being an influencer... only a trip home leads Crystal to finding that something much more sinister may be happening within her family and now there is more urgency to get her story out there.

Crystal has enlisted the help of her new friend Alyssa... only she has motivations of her own and they don't necessarily align with Crystal's.  

Can Crystal find out if she can really trust anyone?... If she can't even trust her own family right now who can she trust?  The Dual POV between Crystal and Alyssa kept the story flowing well enough it kind of reminded of  the movie Single White Female.  The lead characters were young and acted like it, to be honest I didn't really feel a strong connection with either of the lead characters for this book.  

This story was just ok for me, nothing really stood out and there wasn't really anything surprising in this as we as the reader could see where it was going early on... but if you are looking for a quick Young Adult Thriller you might enjoy this one.  I think this audio version could have used a second narrator to help with more voices as sometimes it got a bit hard to tell who was who... but the narrator did well over all.  

Myranda Rae: The Plague Kings Bride

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/251199462-the-plague-king-s-bride

Book Blurb:

The world remembers him as death incarnate. A god of rot and ruin. The Plague King.
But once, he was a guardian—a gentle deity who healed the sick and soothed the dying. Until humanity betrayed him, poisoned his temples, and made a mockery of his grace. Now, he walks the land cloaked in silence, and everywhere he goes, the plague follows.
Every year, one city remains untouched. Every year, they hold a grand festival in his name—lavish, reverent, and public. But behind the veil of celebration, their true offering is blood.
Ten girls, hand-picked and secretly trained as assassins. Their seduce the god, kill him, and free the world.
Heidi is one of them. A healer turned weapon. She expects a monster. Instead, she finds a man who speaks softly and moves like sorrow.
He chooses her.
And in the quiet decay of his ruined palace, she begins to see the truth buried beneath centuries of
He is not what they told her.
She is not what she thought.
And love may be the most dangerous plague of all.

*Indie Author  *Morally Gray MMC  *Cinnamon Roll MMC  *Gothic Romantasy 

*One Horse  *Touch her and 💀  *Some spice  *Slow Burn  *Enemies --> more  

*Age Gap 😏 *Healer FMC  *Beauty and the Beast (ish) retelling *Forced Proximity

*Novella *Hades & Persephone retelling 

Thoughts:

I picked this book up as part of my quest to push out of my comfort zone reads and try new things, This isn't something I would usually read but I'm so glad I gave this one a chance I really enjoyed it! 

To start with we have Heidi (FMC) she is sickly but has been training to be a healer, now she is to play a bigger part than she ever expected for her King when she ends up as part of a line up of other girls trained to be assassins... their target is to take out death himself the land is cursed and he is the reason that the lands are desolate and nothing grows... Heidi isn't truly worried that she will be selected she's always been over looked and will be this time as well.

When the Plague King comes to the festival as invited by the king he initially declines the Kings offering but after seeing all the available choices decides that maybe he will choose someone after all... Heidi.

Now Heidi is back at the Plague Kings home which is in ruins... which is fitting it matches the rest of the lands only instead of finding him harsh and unbearable... she begins to see him as who he is kind and gentle, have they been lied to this whole time?  What has been said just doesn't match his actions at all.

Heidi instead of following her initial instructions given follows her heart and intends to find out what really happened in the past that led to the curse over the land... But once the truth comes to light will there be greener pastures?  Or will the world continue to rot? 

This is a Gothic Romance Novella, Heidi is brave and stronger than she ever knew it takes courage to be sent on her impossible mission... but even more courage to search for the truth.  Our MMC is so sweet while he's actual Death he's also capable of love and creating new life... he just needs someone to believe he is worthy again.

The author does a great job really creating a world that feels dark, lonely and desperate making you root for better times right along with our FMC.  But can our MMC ever get over the human betrayal from his past?  

Margot Keene: Tides of the Heart

 Maverick Key Series:  Book 2

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/240927452-tides-of-the-heart

Book Blurb

Some dreams are never forgotten.

Dark secrets swirl beneath the waters of Maverick Key in the second suspenseful romance from Margot Keene.

Ever since her beloved Nathan disappeared and was presumed dead after a catastrophic dive, Crystal has done whatever it takes to heal and care for her young daughter, Natalie. Nathan had always harbored secrets he claimed were meant to protect her, but with his disappearance declared a closed case by local authorities, she may never know the whole truth about his work.

As the island's elite diving team scrambles to address a growing environmental crisis, a newcomer suffering from amnesia arrives in Maverick Key, bringing Crystal face-to-face with what she believed existed only in her dreams.

Author’s Note: A young widowed marine biologist struggles to rebuild her life after escaping an abusive relationship. Blending diving adventure, small-town romance, romantic suspense, and a touch of the speculative, this second book in the Maverick Key series returns readers to its unforgettable setting and into the lives of both new and familiar characters.

*High Gravity ALC  *Mystery *Romantic suspsense *scuba diving 

 *Underwater adventures  *second in series --> need to be read/listened to in order

 *some spice *danger  *Slow burn *small town *Amnesia MMC *State Challenge: Florida

Thoughts: 

After the ending of the first book I was really interested to see how this book would play out to start with we have Elliott a man who has been living life in Miami under a new identity r/t a series of events that are unknown even to him he has amnesia and was given the opportunity to basically start over in this new life... but there have always been questions about who he really is and his past.  After seeing a news story about events taking place in Maverick Key he feels drawn to this area and a close friend encourages him to follow his heart if he feels this might be what helps to unlock his minds secrets he has to try.

Crystal has been through a lot over the last several years she thought she would raise a family with the love of her life Nathan and they would grow old together... but after he disappeared during a dive gone wrong she ended up married to his best friend... who turned out to be hiding many secrets of his own (which led to his demise).  Now by herself once again she's trying to piece her life back together and learn how to raise her daughter as a single mom. 

Elliott's journey upon arriving to Maverick Key turns into a re-discovery of his past self... and even though he can't remember anything solid about his former life... he wants to.  While this part of the story was predictable I still enjoyed him learning to adapt to his old life as his true self even with missing memories he still was dreaming of Crystal and knew she was important to him he just needs to get to know her again.  

This was an emotional journey for both of our lead characters as Crystal helps our MMC try to remember the life they shared together.  The Story continues to weave in mystery elements with strange happenings under the water due to elevated temperatures, feelings of being watched or actually being watched by strange mystery men and while some questions do get answered there are still several left to be revealed... hopefully that will be coming in the next book.  This book had me wanting to know what would happen next. 

I did feel that that our MMC pushed himself back into his family role really quickly especially considering he still had amnesia and all of these people while they knew the old him they were essentially strangers to him... would have been interesting if the story told how his friends from Miami reacted to the news that he found his family.  Over all I really enjoyed this story and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.  

Listening to the Audio version of this book really brought this story to life for me, I loved the Multicast dual narration they did a great job with this and if you enjoy romantic suspense novels add this one to your list!   Thank you to the author and High Gravity productions for this early listen copy.  

Margot Keene: Maverick Key

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/231718154-maverick-key

book blurb:

Falling in love wasn’t on the agenda. Neither was diving into danger.
Maddie Carter moves to Maverick Key to start over and open her own veterinary clinic, hoping a new beginning will help her cope with the loss of her brother, Nathan. Exploring the small seaside town and being near the ocean they both loved makes her feel closer to him, even if it also reminds her of everything she’s lost.

She doesn’t expect to find a circle of unforgettable friends or to be drawn to Scott, the brooding, protective ex-military cave diver who’s exploring the underwater cave system where Nathan lost his life.

Scott doesn’t believe in second chances. He’s seen what happens when people push limits and tempt fate. The dangers of the deep don’t forgive, and he refuses to let Maddie become another victim.

After Maddie uncovers clues suggesting her brother’s death may not have been an accident, her grief turns into determination. She’ll do whatever it takes for answers, even if it means diving into the same deadly secrets that claimed her brother and may cost her the man she’s falling for.

The Maverick Key Series is best enjoyed in order.

*High Gravity ALC  *Mystery *Romantic suspense *Grief *scuba diving  

*Underwater adventures *Widower MMC *first in series --> need to be read/listened to in order

*some spice *danger *third act break up *cliffhanger *secrets  *Slow burn *small town 

*Can't ever love again MMC 

Thoughts:

When I received the 2nd book in this series as an ALC from High Gravity I saw the note that they should be read/listened to in order and requested the first book in this series.  I wasn't entirely sure what to expect but I've been giving a lot of new to me genre's and authors a chance and have found a lot of hidden gems by opening up to new things.  

Maddie after her mother's passing moves to Maverick Key to feel closer to her brother who is presumed to be dead after a underwater cave diving tragedy his body was never found but after so many years it's a very slim chance that he wasn't lost to the ocean he loved so much.

Initially Maddie plans on opening up a vet clinic on the Island as that's what she spent so much time in school for, but staying in her brother Nathan's cabin she finds evidence that there may have been more to his diving accident than the authorities originally believed... why else would he have his notebooks filled with his underwater charts hidden in a secret compartment in his desk... and he wrote her a message in the secret code they used as children... she has to find out what is going on.

Shortly after arriving Maddie meets Scott formerly in the navy he is now working to continue her brother's legacy diving in the cove that her brother found that has unknown hidden treasures but Scott and his team are under pressure to produce something valuable and he has a nagging financial backer… some things can’t be rushed and he is going to make sure everything gets done right.  Scott is a widower and has his heart guarded but he can't help but want to get close to the beautiful Maddie even if it means putting his heart on the line again.

To make things worse for Scott there is another team that comes in with clearance for the area which may ruin everything he and his team has been working on... Wes is a show boating influencer and Scott knows he will draw attention to the area for all the wrong reasons... Just great... Wes has also noticed the beautiful Maddie... drama! 

The closer Maddie gets to figuring out what her brother was searching for the more danger lurks in the shadows... is she actually getting all that close or does the culprit just think she's getting close?  

Very vivid and detailed scenes related to deep water diving and cave diving... these situations made me feel nervous as there was always the element of danger if they got stuck with not enough oxygen or lost their path and things got too murky creating an element of panic for me.

I wasn't entirely sure how much time had passed at any given time throughout the story initially her plan to start a vet clinic is brought up but not sure if she ends up following thru with this longer term?  There are many characters introduced and I'm glad that I listened to this multicast audio as it helped seperate the characters for me.  There was a third act break up that I felt could have been shorter but maybe that's just a me thing.  

Overall I really enjoyed this audio book --> This was a multicast audio production and it really helped bring the story to life, the narrators did a great job!  I am looking forward to diving into the next book in this series!  

Lexi LaFleur Brown: Evening the Score

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/239453919-evening-the-score

Book Blurb:

Don't get mad — get even.

A grudge hates to see Olivia Hinckley coming. Years ago, a dirty hit ended her late father’s NHL career with the Minnesota Freeze. It was never fair that Erik Parker walked away with little more than a penalty, but it’s worse that her father's rival is now up for Hall of Fame induction. On top of that, Erik's son—hockey’s golden boy, Brody—just signed on to play for the Freeze. Determined to dismantle the Parker legacy, Olivia enacts a revenge plot that has her donning the Freeze’s mascot costume to gain intel on the Parkers. And she can’t help but mess with Brody’s gameplay—and his heart for good measure. After all, what’s a little fake dating between enemies?

Brody Parker only ever wanted to play hockey for fun, but the pressure of being part of hockey’s “First Family” has him dodging nepotism allegations along with high sticks. Erik might act like Father of the Year when the cameras are on, but behind closed doors, Brody struggles with his father’s impossible expectations. Preserving Erik’s image is a full-time job, but lucky for Brody, his new connection with Olivia is a welcome (spicy) distraction.

When Brody finally opens up to Olivia, she never expected she’d pity a Parker for anything. Suddenly, she wants to protect her once-enemy. The romantic feelings she faked are now unexpectedly real, but after leading Brody on for so long, can she keep the lies and the truth straight before she accidentally blows up his whole life?

*Netgalley ALC 2/7 (new set) *fake dating  *enemies to more  *long term grief  *loss of parent (in past) *family drama  *sports romance (hockey) *Dual POV  *Spice  *Hockey Star x Mascot *FMC and MMC Hockey players *State Challenge Minnesota (Duplicate) *revenge plan *green flag book boyfriend  *toxic father (MMC)  *Secret identity

Thoughts:

Olivia (FMC) is dealing with long term grief after losing her father he was a former NHL star for the Minnesota Freeze, his career ended early after a dirty hit on ice from rival player Erik Parker while her dad's health continued to decline Erik Parker went on to play for years and worst of all he's set to be inducted into the hall of fame.  Olivia has lost her path in life and now is barely getting by with occasional free lance jobs her mother has sold her child hood home and she now is crashing at her sister's with some less than thrilling room decorations (her sister's girlfriend is a taxidermist).  

Olivia seeing news that Brody Parker (Erik's son) is now to be on her father's old team... not on her watch.  Olivia using a family friend decides to try to sabotage Brody by getting a job with the team... only the job available is the mascot fine she can do that... it will get her close to the players... only she ends up getting way closer to Brody than originally expected when he hits her with his car.

Brody is handsome, charming, a bit cocky and an excellent hockey player if you asked his father he would say that it's because of him that he has everything he has now not because he worked hard and proved himself time and time again on the ice.  Brody's father to the public is a Hockey legend... away from the public he's a true bully nothing Brody does is ever good enough and he's had enough... at least with choosing a team in Minnesota maybe it will be cold enough that his dad won't want to visit... he is used to the Florida sunshine these days.

Olivia at first makes plans to sabotage Brody anyway she can and it worked to her advantage that Brody has asked her out... great now she can get up close and personal.  First chance she gets she talks Brody into cutting off his beautiful flowing hair... only this plan backfires when the public finds him even more handsome and he ends up with a new sponsorship... seriously this guy just can't lose!

Olivia and Brody continue to get closer together throughout the story and what originally starts out as a revenge (ish) plan fizzles out pretty quickly as she begins to notice that Brody isn't anything like his arrogant father he's thoughtful, caring, a good team mate and an even better boyfriend... is he her boyfriend?  

Naturally there is a huge problem hanging over her head and that is that she hasn't been honest with him about her sabotage attempts and there were a few other things she was hiding as well... the longer she keeps this secret the harder it will be to tell him and at this point he has become as vital to her as her heart.  

This was a heart felt funny rom-com that had me laughing out loud at parts, some of this story felt more YA than adult especially with the sabotage efforts which were a funny sequence of events... but felt like a high school prank gone wrong.  Even with that this was a sweet and cozy listen that had me rooting for Brody to find his voice to stick up for himself against his father and for Olivia to finally tell the truth already so they could be together without this big secret.  

I thank the author and Netgalley for this early listen copy I really enjoyed it the narrators did a great job bringing these characters to life! 💓 

Have you read this book?  what did you think?  

Rhiannon Hargadon: Lily & Thorne

 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/230282562-lily-thorne

book blurb:

She hit a fae lord with her car. Then she brought him home.

Lily's life has already fallen apart — divorced, broke, running a bookshop in a town that doesn't read. She isn't looking for magic. But magic finds her on a winter night, and now he's unconscious on her doorstep. She can't bring herself to leave him there.

Thorne is a Lord of the Earth Fae. Ancient. Powerful. He has no reason to stay in this bookshop in Tennessee... yet he can't bring himself to leave. And the one law his kind has never questioned?

He's about to break it.

*Dark Star Romance ALC  *Romantasy *Fae Prince x human FMC  *Fated Mates  *Spice

*State Challenge Tennessee (Repeat)  *Cozy Fantasy  *Bookshop owner  *Small town romance 

*Infertility, loss of child  *Magic  *Loyal MMC  *Fierce MMC  *Broken heart FMC *Divorced FMC 

*Forced proximity *Novella 

Thoughts:

To start with we have Lily who is a down on her luck book shop owner in small town USA (Tennessee), her book shop is floundering due to lack of customers and bills are backing up... to top things off her own family (meddling sister) keeps harrassing her to talk to her ex-husband who has clearly moved on since he is now married to his mistress and they have a baby together. 

Picking up some supplies from the store she ends up running into a man...seriously he is in the road and she hits him with her car worried he might have a concussion she brings him to her bookshop (she lives above the store in an apartment) and with 911 services unable to come out due to the storm she is now stuck with this stranger... lets hope he isn't an escaped convict!

Thorne is a  handsome & charming Fae Prince who has recently been banished from his home world by his mother while he's on earth he has plans to find his brother but instead finds himself getting cozy in Lily's bookshop and doesn't seem to be able to stay away from her... there are rules but some rules are meant to be broken.

Check your trigger warnings as this story weaves in our FMC's experiences with infertility, a cheating husband and loss of a child.  

I loved how attentive and kind Thorne was he was just what Lily needed to help her see that she was beautiful and worthy of love.  I found myself really irritated with Lily's sister and her ex for continuing to just "pop" back into her life randomly... you lost that right when you did Lily dirty get lost! 

I enjoyed this story overall it was a sweet and cozy read but felt I would have loved it more as a longer story giving more time for a natural progression of the story there were parts that felt more rushed and instalove.  

The Narrators did an excellent job bringing these characters to life and I also loved Lily's bestie... everyone needs a friend like her who would go to the unknown with you to get your man back if necessary!  

Thank you to Dark Star Romance and the author for this ALC I truly enjoyed it!  

Have you read this one?  What did you think?  

Sophie Andrews: Going Deep

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/241795226-going-deep

Book Blurb:

As a teacher, I'm burned out and a nanny gig for the summer should be a perfect reset. Too bad my boss would be football's bad boy—and my brother’s best friend.

I'm not a fan of Camden Long. He’s rude, arrogant, and never misses an opportunity to throw a few verbal jabs my way. The tight end is well known for his reckless behavior on and off the field, yet when tragedy strikes and he suddenly finds himself responsible for his teenage sister, his life is thrown into a new level of chaos. That’s when my brother volunteers my help.

I don't want to say yes, but I can't say no, and tell myself it's just for the summer.
Except the more I learn about the man beneath the conceited façade, the less I want to leave Camden or his sister. Especially when he loses all of his cocky attitude and rasps out, “I need you.”

*Netgalley ALC New set 1/7 *Sports Romance (Football) *Brother's best friend  *Team mates sister  *Teacher x football star  *Grief  *ASL representation  *State Challenge Pennsylvania *Spice *Cozy comfort read  *forced proximity  *Nanny (kind of)  *enemies --> more  *some miscommunication *secret relationship *Guardian of a younger sister (MMC) *Tabloid drama  *Drama with the ex *Slow burn 

Thoughts:

Camden Long is an arrogant playboy on and off the field he's known for his wild antics and his current team has tried to curb his off the field activities by having someone look after him... only that guy isn't doing a great job since he keeps getting into trouble he's young, wealthy and handsome he could get pretty much any woman he wanted he loves to live in the fast lane and at this point sees no reason to change anything about the way he's currently living his life... until something unimaginable happens.

Camden's parents passed away in an accident and not only is he now dealing with feelings of grief he knows that the last time he talked with them they were disappointed and now he has to figure out how to care for his teenage sister who is deaf, heartbroken and now torn from the home she grew up in and moved across the country to his sterile unlived in looking penthouse apartment.  How can he take care of his sister... he hasn't been making very good life choices recently.

Nadine (FMC) is a teacher while she loves her job she's tired of a lot of things including the lack of support at the current school she's working at speaking with her brother he talks her into finishing out the school year and staying with him for the summer while she figures out what to do next.  

In comes the proposition... no not that kind.  Camden needs someone to help his sister while he's at work he knows she doesn't need a "nanny" but she does need some help getting settled into her new life with him and Nadine has experience with sign language and working with kids her age.  He will do anything even pay her a huge salary anything to make this transition for his sister easier. 

Camden's girlfriend is not supportive she's obsessed with being in the spot light and they really don't have all that close of a relationship to begin with but after losing his parents it's been pretty clear who is there to support him and she's not even really on the list... Who is there for late night calls and emotional support is the last person he expected to depend on so much his "not nanny" and best friends little sister Nadine.  

Thankfully Camden finally comes to his senses and ends his relationship with his superficial model girlfriend... but she apparently hasn't gotten the memo... insert some additional drama.

Nadine knows that Camden is... or at least was all the things the media said about him but she's now seeing a softer more caring side and maybe they got off on the wrong foot when they first met... suddenly their barbs are turning into comfort and support and is she actually falling for this guy?  But has he really changed?  And what about the vultures (reporters, social media, public in general) can she handle that kind of life?  

The Narrators did a great job, I loved that Camden's sister was so involved in the building blocks of their relationship and Camden and Nadine both showed up for not only for his sister but also eventually for each other.  

This was a really cute book that had me rooting for this couple to finally just get together already! This was a cozy comfort read for me and I plan to read/listen to this again in the future. 

Thank you to netgalley and the author for this ALC!  

Have you read this one?  What did you think?  

Claire Rose: The Cove

 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/240019622-the-cove

Book Blurb:

Seventeen-year-old Lindsay Weinberg has just been kicked out of yet another prep school and exiled to her uncle’s farm in the cold, isolated town of Marbury, Maine. But Uncle Levi is gone, leaving the farmhouse under the strict rule of his new zealously evangelical wife, who runs a reform camp for troubled teens. Up at dawn. Manual labor all day. No phones. No computers. No way out.

When Lindsay meets the twins, Phin and Cass, who live on a nearby island, everything changes. One reckless night, she convinces the others to sneak out for a party. The night is unforgettable—at least, the parts they can remember. The next morning, they wake in their own beds, clutching seashell tokens, hearts pounding, with no memory of how they got home. Except one camper never made it back.

As disappearances mount and dark secrets rise, Lindsay and her friends must unravel the mystery of the island—before The Cove claims them all.

*Netgalley ALC 10/12  *Young Adult *Thriller  *Mystery *Eerie  *Cult *trust no one  

*State Challenge:  Maine  *LGBT  *Light romance vibes *place for wayward teens *Found family

*Teen angst  *gore/violence *religion *family drama  *Secrets  *💀 

*Folk lore/paranormal

Thoughts:

To start with we have Lindsay (FMC) she is a teenager and is sick of her rich parents just dumping her at ritzy boarding school after boarding school not even making sure she moves in ok they have their driver take her there.  She has been kicked out of multiple schools at this point for various degrees of juvenile delinquency and is working towards getting kicked out of this one too... she wants to go home she doesn't make friends easily and is a loner at heart but what she really craves is some attention from either... or both of her parents.

Thanking her lucky stars that she has been called to the headmaster's (mistress?) office she makes herself ready for the usual speech about how she is no longer welcome at the school... only this visit is a mix of that and something else... while she is kicked out for now she is to be given another chance and due to return in the fall semester.  She's told that her parents are actually showing up to pick her up... only when the car comes of course they couldn't make time for her... again in fact it's not even the usual driver but some guy she doesn't know who doesn't take her home but takes her to her long lost uncle's home in the middle of nowhere Maine... What??  she needs out of this now... fine she'll just call an uber they are still in some form of civilization.

Lindsay quickly realizes there are worse places to be than the school she was just at... and it's here in this creepy house with 4 other teens she doesn't know and this woman she's never met but is claiming to be her uncle's wife... where is her uncle anyways?  He's supposedly away for business but shouldn't he have returned by now?  Not like she can call for help the phones don't work, and even if her cell phone hadn't been taken the battery died ages ago and there are surprisingly no outlets... what kind of place is this?  

I was intrigued by the sounds of the plot and requested this ALC from Netgalley, at first I wasn't sure if I would like this because... I'm just going to call it out our girl Lindsay is a straight up brat and I just didn't know how long I could tolerate listening to her constant whining... about everything... I totally get that she felt hurt by her parents neglect and the fact that she was now stuck at this creepy farm house in the middle of nowhere doing manual labor but the other part of me was like... girl you got yourself into this situation you could have still been at the boring but safe boarding school.

Pushing past my initial issues with Lindsay I grew to like her more throughout the book she's got a good sense of humor and once she started actually getting to know the other members of the house she was more tolerable as a main character.  

The pacing is slow at times with nothing really happening other than eerie vibes.  Things start to pick up towards the middle of the book when Lindsay convinces her new friends to sneak out and go to a party on an Island near the farm house... to get to it they have to walk dangerous steps of a cliff to get to the beach then out to the Island which is only walkable at low tide.... after a night of merriment with these Islanders who are most definately in some kind of cult... that ends in no one remembering what happened or how they got back to their own beds the next morning one more thing has happened... one of their friends didn't return home.

The author does well at creating a creepy atmosphere with Lindsay not knowing anyone well enough to fully trust anyone, cut off from civilization with no cell service, internet or land line phone to call anyone for help and even her attempts to get help when in town fail... there are Creepy children of the corn type teenage twins that pop up randomly to do things like Invite her to the Island party... or tell her not to trust anyone in town, there are her own thoughts of she doesn't know if her Aunt is even her Aunt she's never met the woman, then there are strange encounters with the townspeople.

When more of her friends start disappearing she knows she needs to kick up her Nancy Drew senses and get to the bottom of things quickly or she might be the next to go.  There are some small romance type scenes thrown in which really don't add much to the story over all, but I did like the found family vibes.  

Over all it reminded me kind of like the R.L. Stein books I used to read occasionally as a teenager and I got a sense of nostalgia from it.  The Narrator did a great job with bringing all of these creepy characters to life and I think that I enjoyed this way more listening to it, I might have given up on it as a read but ultimately I'm glad that I powered through it while it had a lot of predictable elements there were a few twists.  I wouldn't recommend this one for younger kids/teens it got pretty dark at times.  

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for this early release ALC!

Have you read this one?  What did you think?  

Wendy LaCapra: The Duke's Dearest Dilemma

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/250150959-the-duke-s-dearest-dilemma
 

Willful Wainwrights 

Book Blurb:

A devastated bride. A broken-hearted groom. A marriage of convenience that changes everything.

When the Duke of Harbury swept sweet, mild-mannered Cassandra Wainwright into a scandalous waltz at Almack's, he only wished to mask a much older heartbreak from the ton’s prying eyes. But his rash act didn’t just destroy Cassandra’s future, it threatened the security of her four orphaned sisters. Honor-bound, he accepts her proposed marriage of convenience, while internally vowing to protect his shattered heart.

Marriage’s stark intimacy strips away Cassie's gentle façade, revealing a fiery soul neither she nor Harbury expected. At the same time, his small gestures of consideration and irresistible kisses reveal a devastatingly captivating man beneath his reserved exterior. And so, Cassie finds herself trapped between her newly awakened fury and her deepening desire as estate troubles mount, unearthing secrets that threaten their tentative bond.

Now, to save all they hold dear, Harbury and Cassandra must decide how much of their guarded hearts they are willing to risk.

*Netgalley ARC 2026  *Marriage of Convenience  *Scandal  *Slow burn *Guarded hearts  

*Feisty FMC  *Honor-Bound Duke  *Protective Hero *Growing into love after marriage 

*Broken heart  *Spice  *hidden secrets  *pining (MMC)  *historical romance  *mystery 

Thoughts:

I requested this book from Netgalley after reading the blurb, while it can be read as a stand alone I think I would recommend reading the story about our FMC's sister first as there are references to what happened throughout this book and since I hadn't read it I felt at times I was missing something with this story.  I do plan to read her sister's story it is in the Lyon's Den Series --> Marked as the Lyon's Marchioness.

The Duke of Harbury and Cassie end up in a marriage of convenience after a potentially scandalous situation occurs at a ball they were at together.  Cassie has been in the past very sweet and mild mannered and even though she was the one to suggest this marriage and how it would be in name only to protect her sisters from being targeted and losing their position in society, our heart broken Duke is willing to go along with it he was the root cause of the scandal and he's an honorable man.

The Duke is holding onto a past love he at one point thought he would wed another Lady (who happened to be his sister's governess)... but she has married another man... twice and he still finds himself pining over her... how could he possibly love anyone else when another holds his heart.

Cassie and The Duke (Edward) quickly find themselves being drawn to each other... Cassie feeling that things are one sided goes through various emotions as she navigates this new life as the Duchess with her husband who she already has feelings for but knows he still is in emotional turmoil over his former love.

I really enjoyed seeing Edward figure out that the closer he got to his wife and the more they spent time together even discussing estate matters together that maybe what he felt for the governmess was not love at all... but a mere young mans infatuation.  

There are some shady things going on with the estate manager and his dealings with the tenants, anonymous letters that don't make much sense and hidden rooms with missing items... leading to a bit of a mystery going on.  

When secrets are revealed as they usually are at the worst possible time... will it be too late for Edward to tell Cassie that feelings towards anyone else are in the past because she is his future?  

This was a sweet story of two people maybe a little bit broken from their past coming together and learning how to trust and love again.  

Thank you Netgalley, the author and dragonsblade for this early release copy.  

J.E. Larson: A Trial of Fate

 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/246583486-a-trial-of-fate

Valdor Series:  Book One 

book blurb:

Our world is dying.

Skylar Cathal is a twenty-two-year-old half-human, half-shifter with a curious mind and knack for bending the rules. Gilen Warrick, Skylar's childhood friend and the next Alpha of the Solace pack, wants more than just her friendship—but fate has a will of its own.

When Skylar is marked as the shifter champion, she must overcome her darkest fears to leave her home and those she loves behind. Daxton Aegaeon, High Fae Prince of Silver Meadows, has sworn to protect Skylar as his ward, but only she can protect her heart.

One night can change your life . . . one decision can change everything.

A Trial of Fate is the first book in the Valdor series, an epic romantic fantasy that follows a "spitfire" heroine who defies her darkest fears in order to save those she loves. This book will appeal to fans of character-driven adventurous romantasy tails such as Throne of Glass, From Blood and Ash, and A Ruin of Roses.

Contains mature themes.

*Netgalley ALC 9/12  *Romantasy  *slow burn  *Shifter romance  *Fae  *Magical World *Dying world 

*Chosen one  *Epic Quest  *fated mates  *drama  *violence & 💀  *Trigger warnings  

*Age Gap (😂) *broody MMC  *deadly trials await  *PTSD  *small amount of spice

*Loss of parents (past but mentioned throughout)  *Found family  *Love triangle  *protective MMC 

*Touch her and 💀

Thoughts:

Skylar (FMC) is a strong, fierce warrior she is part shifter part human and her father was the packs leader prior to his death, she was taken in by her Uncle and his wife and they raised her with their daughter.  Throughout the book we know that Skylar has more power than many of the other shifters she has some healing magic along with some other things but we don't fully know what her capabilities are yet.  

Coming up on the ceremony where their clan's younger members might shift for the first time Skylar becomes aware that one of the other pack members Gillan might see her as more than just a friend... she's a romantic at heart and wants a love match... could he be her fated mate?  Once the members of their pack shift for the first time it becomes more apparent if they find their fated mate they will feel it and their animal form will agree... but something happens prior to the ceremony that will change everything for Skylar.

Their world is dying there is a magical curse on the land that has been held back for hundreds of years by the powerful Fae Queen with the help of other high Fae royalty... but it is only a bandaid it is not a true fix and she can't hold back the curse from creeping further into their world forever.  Every 100 years the Fae cross the magical barrier that was built to seperate the Fae, Shifters and humans to keep the peace in search of what they hope will be the last time... They need a shifter (who has not yet shifted) to go through a series of trials in the hopes of breaking the curse and saving their world.

Only problem is it is a mission no one has ever succeeded at before... in fact no one has even gotten through the first trial... but their sacrifice is enough to help the Queen hold the curse back for another 100 years until the next Shifter selection arrives.  

In a moment kind of like The hunger games Skylar's younger cousin (who is more like her sister) is chosen and Skylar comes forward to take her place... from there the story kind of goes down a different road for awhile, There are some repetitive areas like discussing that the shifters often wear loose clothing or walk around naked for easier shifting, and there were some parts of the story that lagged I think some of these sections could have been edited down.  

Daxton (High Fae Prince) is a legendary warrior, over 500 years old and hot as sin... Skylar is immediately drawn to him and this has her questioning if she and Gillan are meant to be... but Skylar shouldn't really be worried about men troubles she needs to figure out how she is going to save the world and Mr. Broody Fae and his younger brother are going to help train her she needs to focus on this at all costs... only Gillan keeps trying to interfere with her plans (and some things happen to delay the trip).

Skylar is very inquisitive almost to the point of being obnoxious... like girl settle down they will tell you what they can tell you when they can.  There is again a lot of hanging out and chatting I would have liked the book to progress further towards the actual trials that she needs to go to but she doesn't even start training until the last few chapters and then they get side tracked again... so I think it's just going to be one of those series that is going to take forever and a day to actually get to the first trial.  

I haven't read the bigger romantasy's so I don't have a lot to compare it to but I enjoyed the book well enough to want to find out what happens next... I just hope that they actually get to a trial in book 2.  

I got this from Netgalley as an ALC and I think the narrator did a great job and definately made the characters come to life.  

Have you read this series?  What did you think?