Just a Book Lovin' Mama Who Loves to Read and Review Books
Just a Book Lovin' Mama Who Loves to Read and Review Books
Books rated four stars.
I can’t believe it took me this long to pick up the first book in Paige Tyler’s X-Ops series, Her Perfect Mate. After I finished reading it, I definitely need to read the rest of the books in this series, especially if each book is just as action-packed, full of mystery and drama, and includes kickbutt characters, such as the ones in this book. I should have known this book would be, though, since I’ve read other books from Paige Tyler.
If you enjoy Small Town Romance with tense moments, mystery, suspense, and characters that are hard not to love, then check out the McBride Brother Lumberjacks Trilogy now.
Soulgazer is the first book in Maggie Rapier’s The Magpie and the Wolf’s Duology and her debut novel. I’ve had this book on my shelf since its release, and I finally made time to read it. The second I started it, I knew it would consume me until I finished it, especially since it has Celtic-inspired mythology and pirates, both of which I always enjoy reading about.
The Singles Table is the final installment in Sara Desai’s Marriage Game Series, and I really enjoyed it. It was delightful, light-hearted, and funny, and I loved both characters. Zara and Jay are complete opposites, and that is clear from their first meeting while paintballing. Zara has a fun, quirky personality and works at a law firm that fits her perfectly, while Jay is grumpy, reserved, and a workaholic at his security company, which he’s trying to grow internationally. They keep ending up near each other at their friends’ weddings, and Zara makes it a point to matchmake Jay so she can prove she can do it better than the Aunties. However, both characters eventually fall for one another, though it takes one of them a while to realize the other is attracted to them. I rooted for them the whole time because they were an adorable couple, even if they initially didn’t like one another.
The Ember and The Emerald is the second installment in Gena Showalter’s No Monsters Like Hers Trilogy. If you haven’t read the first book, The Great And Terrible, you’ll need to before reading this one, since the second book picks up where the first left off. The second I knew Gena Showalter was writing a Wizard of Oz retelling, I knew I had to pick up the first book, and then I couldn’t wait to read this one. She’s one of my auto-buy authors, and I’ll read whatever she writes, so I’m glad she decided to venture into the Wizard of Oz. It was one of the movies I used to watch over and over again and drive my parents crazy. =)
Thanks to authors like Jeaniene Frost, my love for vampires endures because of books like this one. I was always the kid who wanted to be a vampire, not a princess, which my parents always found weird. They still find me weird, and so does my husband. =)
If you haven’t read Jeaniene Frost’s books and enjoyed shows like Buffy, Angel, or The Vampire Diaries, you’re missing out on fantastic stories with some memorable characters in the Night Huntress series and its spin-offs.
The Games Gods Play is the first installment in Abigail Owen’s The Crucible Trilogy. I should have picked this book up sooner, especially since it features Greek Mythology in a fantasy world with a romantic subplot. Something I always enjoy reading because I love it when authors put their spin on Greek Mythology, and Abigail Owen has the Greek Gods choosing mortals to compete in deadly trials to determine which will be the next ruler of Olympus. If you are like me, you’ll despise the Gods for making mortals do the deadly trials for them.
Made to Order by Gwyn McNamee is a short story that definitely hooked me from the start and took less than an hour to read. It’s steamy and features two characters who are hard not to love.
I was in the mood for a Baseball Romance as it’s baseball season, so I picked up Double Play, the first book in Jill Shalvis’s Pacific Heat series. Already familiar with Jill Shalvis’s writing, I knew I was going to enjoy this book because her stories are always heart-warming. Double Play immediately captured the spirit of baseball romance, putting me in the mood to attend a game this summer because it’s been a long time since I attended a baseball game. Who knows, maybe one of the baseball players will fall for a reporter, as Pace Martin did for Holly Hutchins in Double Play. =) You never know.
Rise of a Queen concludes Jonathan and Aurora’s story, picking up where Reign of a King left off. Since starting Rina Kent’s books, I’ve noticed her skill in writing antiheroes, the MMCs you hate to love because they’re walking red flags. (Let me first say, in real life, I wouldn’t tolerate men with red flags. I only tolerate them in fictional books.) Once you learn their backgrounds and see how protective they are, you can’t help but fall for them. This is Jonathan’s case. I understood him much better in Kingdom Duet, even though I didn’t like him at first in Royal Elite.
Missing in Death is another novella in J.D. Robb’s In Death series, and it’s a quick read that packs just as much excitement as the full-length books. Even though it’s shorter, the story kept me interested from start to finish.
Nalini Singh has become one of my favorite authors after starting the Guild Hunter series. I love PNR books that have angels/archangels in the stories, and Nalini’s Guild Hunter series has become a favorite. I’m hoping to catch up on the series before she releases her next book later on. The fifth book in the series may only get four stars from me, but it had me in shock after finding out who was behind the murder of Neha’s consort. I also enjoyed the other mysteries that were uncovered in the book, too, with Jason and Mahiya. Nalini is an author who is a master of writing addicting PNR stories.
If you enjoy Fantasy Romance with a human-turned-Fae navigating magic and politics, check out this trilogy. Fans of slow-burn romance with a morally grey MMC will also enjoy it.
Our Italian Summer is the first book in Jennifer Probst’s Meet Me in Italy series. I wanted something different to read and knew this Women’s Fiction novel would be enjoyable. I enjoy Romance, but lately I wanted a change. This book has romantic subplots, but they are not the main focus. I wanted something that would evoke many emotions and relate to me. This book truly hit me in the feels, especially as a mother of two daughters, one adult and one teenager, who’s been keeping me on my toes. I related to these characters and understood their frustrations and happy moments through their POVs.
