Book & Author Details: Becoming Brooklyn by Amanda Deich Publication date: January 5th 2021 Genres: Contemporary, Science Fiction, Young Adult
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Synopsis:
Eighteen-year-old Brooklyn never knew her father. Rex Blackburn died in the 9/11 attacks four months before she was born.
And even though she never met him, she always dreamed about what he must have been like before he died. In her mind, he was a hero.
Little did she know.
After an attack at a 9/11 memorial gala, Brooklyn learns her father had been a member of an elite, anti-terrorism, military task force, made up of a very select group of people who had superhuman abilities. On the day the towers fell, he died using his power to save people.
The Army believes she inherited his gift, and Brooklyn is invited to train at West Point in order to hone her skills. Knowing deep down she is different than anyone else her age and wanting to learn more about a father she never knew, she readily agrees to become a cadet at the prestigious military academy.
She and five other 9/11 babies strengthen their superhuman abilities and spend weeks preparing themselves for their future in the army, fighting terrorists at home and abroad. And in the process of training, they identify with their deceased parents in a way they never knew they could.
Brooklyn knows she’ll go to war someday, but when terrorists find out about the group’s gifts, they don’t bother to wait.
Amanda Deich is an author out of Littleton, CO. In her non-writer life, she is a teacher and coach to hundreds of kids, and she is a mama to two. If you meet her, she’ll talk Jesus and identity like no one’s business.
Thank you to Rachel fromRachel’s Random Resources for inviting toparticipate in theblog tour for Daisy’s Dilemma, a new romcom by Debbie Viggiano.
Daisy’s Dilemma
Florist Daisy is loved-up and blossoming. Boyfriend Dominic has proposed marriage! However, Dominic isn’t in any rush to buy a ring, and meeting the parents is looong overdue. What is the problem? After all, Daisy’s mum has already bought her big hat and wants to know the wedding date!
Then careless words plant seeds of doubt and, like weed, Daisy’s concerns begin to multiply. Is Dominic hiding something?
Meanwhile, sexy ex Harry is back on the scene and begging Daisy for a reconciliation. He thought the grass was greener with HER but now says he made a mistake. Is Harry – for once – being genuine, or simply leading Daisy up the garden path?
New neighbour Seth seems like a fun guy, but a single throwaway comment has Daisy mimicking a species of Calla Lily – Red Alert! It’s time to do some digging. But even she never anticipated a mad car chase across London or unearthing a shocking secret that changes everything.
Sparks are set to fly in this gorgeous romantic comedy about love, trust, and new beginnings.
This was my first book by Debbie Viggiano and it definitely won’t be the last – it was light, entertaining and I rooted for Daisy all way through!
Daisy is a thirty five year old florist living in a tiny village of Little Waterlow. Daisy owns her home, has a successful business, and a fiance. Things are looking rosy for Daisy who went through a mother of all heartbreaks when her brand-new husband Harry cheated on her with his best man’s sister. Now Dominic is nothing like that. He is dependable and hard-working, although he seems to be a bit on a reserved side when it comes to Daisy meeting his family and his friends. He also hasn’t got Daisy her ring (oh, but he will sooner or later) and he hasn’t been contributing to the bills or any other living expenses (he is saving money for the wedding). Well, there’s just one more thing: Dominic has to travel a lot for work, including weekends and Christmas (his hotel didn’t have telephonereception-what a disater!). Warning bells are ringing in your head, dear reader? right so…Then two more things happen in Daisy’s life- her ex-husband Harry woud like her to forgive him and take him back, and a gorgeous new neighbour Seth moves into a cottage next door (the chemistry between these two is so strong, you can almost see sparks flying). And we have Daisy’s dilemma complete: who will she choose?
Daisy was such a lovely and sweet character. Life hasn’t exactly treated her well in the romantic department, but her heart is definitely in the right place and she just needs a little nudge to lose those pink glasses and see what is really going on, and who she should or shouldn’t trust. Some of her escapades were hilarious and I just loved her inner monologue. Her bestie Becky was also there to provide necessary support, teasing and banter.
There weren’t any real surprises (well, it was clear from the beginning where things are going), but I didn’t need any to enjoy this fun escape from my daily life. Debbie Viggiano has a great sense of humour and comic timing, and I can see why she is one of the most popular romcom writers.
Lovely, easy summer read with fun characters, recommended to anyone who enjoys a self-discovery story with a bit of romance. Thank you to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources and the author for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
Author Bio:
Prior to turning her attention to writing, Debbie Viggiano was, for more years than she cares to remember, a legal secretary. She lives with her Italian husband, a rescued pooch from Crete, and a very disgruntled cat. Occasionally her adult children return home bringing her much joy… apart from when they want to raid the fridge or eat her secret stash of chocolate. Tweet @DebbieViggiano or follow her on Facebook!
Thank you to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour and present a book spotlight for Body on The Rocks , the beginning of a new series of mysteries by Rachel Green.
Body on the Rocks
Mourning the death of her police inspector husband, Margot Renard moves to a small seaside town in the south of France. But when the body of a small boy washes up on a beach, Margot is drawn into a dangerous world of drug smugglers and people trafficking, and forced to cross paths with two feuding gangsters.
Rachel Green is the pen name of a writer from the UK. Rachel has twice been longlisted for both the Bath Novel Award and the BPA First Novel Award, as well as being on the shortlist for the Capital Crime New Voices Award. Rachel lives in a tiny village in England, but travels frequently to the south of France where the stories from the Madame Renard Investigates series are set.
Book & Author Details: Opposites Attract by Jacqueline Lee Publication date: May 27th 2021 Genres: Adult, Comedy, Romance
Synopsis:
Megan is nerdier than all of the characters on The Big Bang Theory combined. But it’s a fabulous form of revenge that the same traits she was tormented for in high school have helped her land her dream job as a science journalist in New York and her dream apartment with fellow nerd, Josh, who is potentially her dream guy. The only problem is Josh’s brother, Brandon, is constantly around blocking any attempts to create a romantic atmosphere. Megan nurses an oversized grudge against jocks due to a past traumatic experience. The fact that Brandon’s a professional football player whose new favorite sport is mocking her only increases her fantasies of feeding him to a giant carnivorous plant.
Brandon’s life might look perfect, but he’s got a massive hang-up about his intelligence, a hang-up which is aggravated by all the verbal sparring with Josh’s new roommate. Even worse, it appears Science Barbie is falling for his deeply closeted brother. Why does he care so much about preventing the impending disaster? But the more time he spends with Megan, the more he realizes the sparks between them have the potential to ignite into something amazing.
Jacqueline Lee is an award-winning romance author who writes stories with heart and humor. She loves writing characters who have fun with each other while building a deeper connection. Formerly a high school biology teacher, Jackie is living her own version of happily-ever-after with her husband and three children in New Zealand.
It’s Monday! What are you Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn from Book Date, a place to share and discuss what we’ve read in the past week and what we’re in the middle of or are planning to read this week.
What I read / listened to last week
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo… As popular as the new Netflix adaptation is, it wasn’t the reason why I finally picked up this book- it was a recommendation from Yesha @ https://booksteacupreviews.com/ . Please, check out her wonderful 5-star review of the book. I still have mixed feelings about the way this fictional world uses parts of Russian culture to give Ravka it’s unique atmosphere. One thing is sure, it is an addictive read, and I can see now why this trilogy has so many faithful fans.
Your best friend. Your worst nightmare… From the moment they met as children, Sasha knew that beautiful, wealthy, and confident Caitlin would always be her absolute best friend. Sasha would do anything to make Caitlin happy. Even keep her darkest secrets…
The years have passed, but their friendship remains. And when Caitlin announces she’s getting married there is only one choice for the role of bridesmaid. Sasha will make sure Caitlin’s wedding is as beautiful and perfect as she is. Won’t she? But as the big day approaches, cracks begin to appear. Because no matter what Sasha does, she never seems to make Caitlin happy. And the secrets that once bound these two friends, now threaten to rip them apart for good…
Orphan Black meets Margaret Atwood in this twisty supernatural thriller about female power and the bonds of sisterhood
Josephine Morrow is Girl One, the first of nine “Miracle Babies” conceived without male DNA, raised on an experimental commune known as the Homestead. When a suspicious fire destroys the commune and claims the lives of two of the Homesteaders, the remaining Girls and their Mothers scatter across the United States and lose touch.
Years later, Margaret Morrow goes missing, and Josie sets off on a desperate road trip, tracking down her estranged sisters who seem to hold the keys to her mother’s disappearance. Tracing the clues Margaret left behind, Josie joins forces with the other Girls, facing down those who seek to eradicate their very existence while uncovering secrets about their origins and unlocking devastating abilities they never knew they had.
Gossip Girl meets Get Out in Ace of Spades, a YA contemporary thriller by debut author Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé about two students, Devon & Chiamaka, and their struggles against an anonymous bully.
What do you call the difference between what you should feel and what you do feel? Life?
In this honest and gripping young adult novel, Andrew Simonet spins a propulsive tale about what it means to turn on the lights and look at what’s real.
An accomplished photographer and the devoted mom of an adorable little boy, Allie Ross has just moved to an upscale DC suburb, the kind of place where parenting feels like a competitive sport. Allie’s desperate to make a good first impression. Then she’s framed for murder.
It all starts at a neighborhood party when a local dad corners Allie and calls her by an old, forgotten nickname from her dark past. The next day, he is found dead.
Soon, the police are knocking at her door, grilling her about a supposed Tinder relationship with the man, and pulling up texts between them. She learns quickly that she’s been hacked and someone is impersonating her online. Her reputation–socially and professionally–is at stake; even her husband starts to doubt her. As the killer closes in, Allie must reach back into a past she vowed to forget in order to learn the shocking truth of who is destroying her life.
How did your last week go and what are you reading this week?
Book & Author Details: The Day We Die by Autumn Bluestone (Branded, #1) Publication date: August 26th 2021 Genres: Dystopian, Young Adult
Synopsis:
It’s the year 2070, and everything in Tessa’s life has gone wrong. She didn’t expect to be Branded—a process created to preserve her country’s precious resources—with the terrifyingly young age of sixteen, or for tragedy to befall all her childhood friends. She didn’t expect to be left this alone. Four years after everything crumbled apart, Tessa is sixteen, preparing to board the Bus that gathers the expired before mysteriously disposing of them; and searching desperately for anything that could make her life worth living. Then she meets someone she never expected to see, and Tessa knows within seconds that they will forever be linked by their pasts. Struggling to cope with her low brand, survive the endless flow of mental and physical attacks pounding her and the other expirees, and find purpose amid the storm of pain that is her life, Tessa would be falling apart if it weren’t for the boy that just keeps piecing her back together. She’s closer to death than ever before. Will Tessa survive, or will the attacks by the government—and her own mind—ultimately destroy her?
The noises of the crowd and the mayor’s voice fade into the background, and for a moment, the only sound that cuts into my head is the frenzied beating of my own heart. The stage blurs in and out of focus, and my breathing quickens and my heart thunders like a racehorse. I clench my hands into tight fists, trying to quell the tremors racing through them.
This is it. In a few minutes, I will be Branded. An adult—though not in age. I’ll know my fate, my future; everything that means anything.
I inhale. Exhale. The air squeezes out of me in one quick rush, and for a split second, I can’t breathe. Fear wraps its unforgiving fingers around my heart, chilling it to the core.
Then, a hand on my arm. A whisper of a voice in my ear.
“It’ll be okay. Here.” It’s the boy beside me.
I shake my head vigorously, and the thundering applause rushes back to my ears. It’s loud. Very loud. I blindly accept whatever the boy is offering me, and a round tablet drops into my palm.
He gently holds on to my hand behind his back, smiling and waving fearlessly at the crowd. His expression is brave and bright, his unfamiliar fingers warm around mine. I squeeze them until I’m sure I’ve cut off his circulation, but he doesn’t let go—just gives me a gentle squeeze in return.
I look wordlessly at him, my dry tongue unable to make a sound. He’s taller than me, wearing a black tux. Blond, tousled hair frames a good-looking face—sharp jawline, arched brows, a charming twinkle in his eye. As he waves, his gaze sweeps to me…and a quiet, grim smile plays at his mouth. His steady eyes sharpen as they meet mine, boring into my soul. Blue eyes. Soft blue.
AUTHOR BIO:
Autumn Bluestone was born in Toronto and raised in the rural community of Erin, Ontario Canada. The daughter of an English teacher, Autumn was an avid reader and lover of stories at a young age. She first took an interest in writing when she was ten years old and has nurtured this passion into her debut novel, The Day We Die. You can find her surrounded by books in her little stone farmhouse, writing with a mug of hot chocolate in hand, or wandering outside with her rambunctious dog and much-loved chickens and ducks.
GIVEAWAY
Blitz-wide giveaway (INT)$30 Amazon gift card + a free ebook of the short story prequel to The Day We Die
Thank you to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for Things Are Looking Up, an uplifting and heartwarming romance by Maxine Morrey.
Things Are Looking Up
What if what you really need is right there in front of you, if you just take a moment to look up?
Milly has been waiting for this moment forever and finally it’s just an hour away – an interview with Vogue magazine and the opportunity to get her Louboutin-clad foot in the door. There’s just one problem – totally engrossed in her mobile phone, Milly doesn’t see the bus that is fast approaching – until it’s too late… When Milly next opens her eyes, the consequences of her accident become clear. Everything she has worked for and dreamed of suddenly feels out of reach. But there is one bright spot on her horizon – the reappearance of her ex Jed, in all of his six-foot-four, broad-shouldered glory, with the most piercing ice blue eyes Milly ever saw. Once used to working in a whirlwind, Milly now has the chance to reconsider how to live. Will she rush back to the treadmill, get her head down and back to business, or is there a whole other life waiting for her, if she’ll just look up to see it?
‘Read yourself happy’ with Maxine Morrey’s latest uplifting, page-turning, heart-warming romance, guaranteed to brighten up your day.
Things are Looking Up is exactly what it promises to be in the blurb – it is an uplifting story of a workaholic girl hit by a bus while on her way to a breakthrough job interview. Milly wakes up in a hospital. She’s just spent a week in coma just because she couldn’t take her eyes off her phone, reading work-related messages. Her family tell her she needs to slow down and reassess her priorities in life and for once, flatless, jobless, and without any prospects to ever make it again in the demanding fashion journalism world, Milly is ready to do just that – look up from her phone and take stock of her life. Enter Jed, a perfect ex-boyfriend (almost an ex-fiance), still hot and handsome, even richer and more successful than he used to be, and to top it all sweet, kind, and understanding.
If you love a good second-chances story, you are going to be delighted with this one. Second chances in life, but also family, friends, and romantic relationships. As Maxine Morrey aptly put it, sometimes you are just not ready for the first chance. I found Milly’s life before the bus accident very relatable. Life of a freelancer is hard, hectic, and full of constant pressure. Milly’s family are worried she is giving all of herself, working for people who take her effort and her sacrifices for granted, while Milly is oblivious to how replaceable she is to them. Until that special moment of realization that put things into perspective. This isn’t an anti-career book – after all, Milly rebuilds her life, she just does it in a way that makes it more balanced and gives her more happiness and personal fulfilment.
Jed did seem a bit too perfect to be true, but, well…a girl can dream. There is also a lot of drama with the new woman in Jed’s life – you didn’t think he would still be completely free and unattached four years after he and Milly broke up? The book is mostly about Milly’s personal growth and life changes, but there is also plenty of intense romantic feelings, misunderstandings that could have been cleared much sooner had the characters talked (and listened!) to each other.
My only niggle is that sometimes things were a bit too spelled-out, but it was still an enjoyable read and I would definitely like to read another book from Maxine Morrey. Hope it comes out soon!
Thank you to Rachel from Rachel’s Random resources, NetGalley and Boldwood Books forthe review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
Author Bio:
Maxine Morrey is a bestselling romantic comedy author with ten books to her name including Winter’s Fairytale and the top ten hit The Christmas Project. Her eleventh book is being released by Boldwood in 2021. She lives in West Sussex. Her first novel for Boldwood, #No Filter, was published in November 2019.
Book & Author Details: Magician Rising by Renée des Lauriers Publication date: May 25th 2021 Genres: New Adult, Urban Fantasy Synopsis:
Dark powers she can’t control. Deadly hunters tracking her down. Can she rip the target off her back before it turns fatal?
Jun Bear has lived with bad luck all her life. And when a professor threatens to give her a failing grade, the college senior sees her hopes for graduating in two months going down another ill-fated drain. But her fortunes plunge further when an unnatural earthquake shakes the campus and unleashes cold-blooded assassins after her head…
Unsure what’s happening, Jun finds herself facing a trained killer intent on exposing the wielder of the dangerous magic. And when she’s provoked into revealing her unexpected new abilities, she’s determined to prove her innocence before she’s permanently eliminated.
Can she win over an ally and survive a bloodthirsty secret society fixated on wiping her out?
Renée was raised by a folk singer and an accountant to be analytically creative. From thirteen, she played guitar and sang on stage at coffee shops. She also oil painted and wrote poetry on odd paper scraps. Besides writing, Renee has worked as an emergency medical technician and a high school English teacher. Now she lives in California with her family.
Book & Author Details: The Hidden Princess by Mira Crest (Princess League, #1) Publication date: April 16th 2020 Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult Synopsis:
Penny is an ugly princess born to a family known for its beautiful offspring. To protect the royal bloodline’s reputation, the king proclaims her dead since birth and locks her away in the castle cellar.
But unbeknown to most, including herself, Penny has a gift: she can see the darkness within one’s mind through touch.
Everett is a dragon prince whose land is plagued by a deadly sickness in the form of black mist, capable of turning any fairy being it touches into stone. He comes to Penny’s kingdom seeking the one princess foretold to end the darkness.
The choice is clear, it’s either Penny’s cynical eldest sister, Tatiana, or her kind elder sister, Sarah, because Penny does not exist, not officially. But a twist of fate and Penny’s gift bring her to Everett’s attention, and she takes on a secret identity to aid him to trace the origin of the black mist.
What follows is a journey into a dark magical world within the minds of the corrupt, ruled by demons that plague on the dark aspects of the human psyche.
With the clock fast ticking, the prince must discover who the chosen one is in order to defeat the black mist before it turns him to stone and spreads to the rest of the world. But there are those who will do anything to keep Penny’s identity hidden.
Since young, Mira loves fantasy romance with strong female protagonists and perilous adventures to magical realms and parallel universes to visit dragons, witches, shifters, and fairy tale creatures, bringing heroes and heroines together and aiding their epic fantasy battles against dark enemies so they can have the happily-ever-afters they deserve. When she grew up, she takes a liking to young adult stories, which explains her passion writing in the young adult fantasy romance genre. Her books are clean romance with character development as the prime focus. Even now, she still journeys to fantasy realms whenever she’s not writing.
Book & Author Details: Alpha by Sybil Bartel (The Alpha Elite #1) Publication date: May 24th 2021 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Suspense Synopsis:
Billionaire.
Mercenary.
Navy SEAL.
The Teams trained me to be a killer. War taught me to be ruthless. Then an ill-fated mission proved I was human. Combat wounded, The Navy cut me loose. I had a choice. Fade into obscurity or use the skills I had.
Alpha Elite Security was born and three years later, my company was the most sought after security contractor in the world. Five global locations, ten company jets, every one of my employees military trained—we were the best of the best. Overseeing operations, I didn’t have time for women, or anything other than growing my company. My success rate unmatched, I’d never lost a client.
Then I got a call, the only call that would get me back in the field. She was missing. The woman I’d left behind seven years ago. Now I had one objective.
Sybil Bartel is a USA Today Bestselling author of unapologetic alpha heroes. Whether you’re reading her deliciously dominant mercenaries, bodyguards or military heroes, all of her heart-stopping, page-turning romantic suspense novels have sexy-as-sin alpha heroes!
Sybil resides in South Florida and she is forever Oliver’s mom.
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