Friday, July 16, 2021
Friday, February 5, 2021
The Edge of Happiness {a review}
So why am I talking about it again? Well in those posts I just focused on the book description, and telling others to read the book! Here I can at least share a bit more about the book, as well as quotes I loved, while also doing my best to avoid spoiling the book. Plus when you find a book you love, you talk about it. Sometimes ad nauseam. Sorry, not sorry.
Her arms wrap around me and squeeze me in all the right places, a true mother's hug. I feel my muscles relax and my heart fill with warmth.We all need that sort of hug from time to time. A true mom hug just feels different. It's as though you feel the love coming through. It's everything.
More introductions are made, and Cassie now knows her cousins Tyler and Josslyn. I also like how Josslyn and Cassie immediately bonded, and that Josslyn felt that she could be herself around her new cousin. It was an instant connection between the pair, and Cassie's circle started to take shape.
Josslyn convinces Cassie to run to the grocery store with her, and it is there that she meets Ryan (and Mac). There is an immediate attraction for Cassie and Ryan. Probably more so on Ryan's part though. More than that attraction though, there is an immediate connection. It's like two missing pieces finding each other.
This group that Cassie now has, is amazing. They've all connected in a deep way. Even though Cassie hasn't told them her past, they love and accept her for who she is. Cassie in turn repays that to them. Whether it is helping with a wedding, making their favorite foods, being a shoulder to cry on, etc, it's her way of giving of herself.
Another thing that I love his how Cassie wants to learn. She doesn't want anyone to do things for her. She wants to learn how to do it. Whether it is setting up a fishing pole, baiting the hook, working at the farm, working in her Aunt's store, whatever. Teach her, and she's good to go.
After a particularly rough day for Ryan, Cassie plans a surprise for him that she pulls off with the help of their friends. She doesn't want anything from Ryan. And this quote sums it up nicely.
"We all have shitty days. We all get in moods where we don't want to be around people, and just want to be left alone. But we also have those days where sometimes it's nice to know there's ice cream and spaghetti waiting for you. It's nice to know someone sees you struggling, and doesn't try to bombard you with questions."
"I don't want pretty. I want yours."
I know that I'm going to be the one that's going to shatter her soul. It kills me but I have no other choice. She deserves more than the asshole I am.
Then later in chapter 28, he thinks this:
I need her to hate me because I can never hate her. No matter how hard I try. It's hard to hate the sun when it shines so beautifully.
Things happen, and I want to smack Ryan. But I can understand why he did what he did.
The conversation between Jace and Cassie, in chapter 34, wrecked me. We got to hear just a snippet of Jace's story, and I can tell already that once he gets his turn, I will need a box of tissues. I'm positive that a couple tissues won't be enough.
"Everyone's broken, sweetheart. We all have our demons that we battle every day. The key to winning isn't about making them disappear. Winning is about knowing what you were and changing for what you want to be."
"Everyone feels fear when they are faced with what they can't forget. You're always going to feel this. It's never gonna go away. The memory will be with you forever. It doesn't matter how much you grow as a person. Your demons will always be there. Always knockin' on the door, but you have the choice if you open the door or not."
After some conversation, Cora tells Cassie that "even on the darkest days, we always look to the sky, Sunshine." That line triggered a memory for Cassie, and that opened up information that we didn't have prior.
I literally gasped when everything came out. GASPED. (okay and teared up because emotions.)
Oh and after that, Ryan made me want to smack him again for his actions with Kayla. Stupid stupid man.
Prepare yourself friends. Because Cassie wrote Ryan a note, and left him a flash drive with videos to watch. My heart. OH MY HEART. I was prepared, but I wasn't.
I want to talk about what happened in chapter 37, I really do. More so about how sneaky Cora is. Of course I also love that she wasn't the only one in on it. I love this group.
Happy Reading my friends,
Wednesday, February 3, 2021
January Top 5
Hello my fellow book lovers!
Now that January is officially over, I want to take a moment to take a look back and recap my month. I will also be sharing my top 5 reads for the month, and believe me it was very difficult to make that selection.
Let's start with the stats.
In January, I read:
- 19 books, all of which were e-books
- 5,776 pages
- 8 advanced reader copies
- 1 library e-book
- 10 books I own and/or purchased
My average rating was 3.95 out of 5.
Speaking of ratings, my breakdown looks like this:
- 3 books received 5 stars
- 12 books were 4 stars
- 4 books were given 3 stars
The longest book I read was One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London, and it was 424 pages.
The shortest book I read was One Night with the Rebel by Kendall Ryan, and that was 67 pages.
I also read 8 new to me authors! So that's pretty darn amazing.
Monday, February 1, 2021
Weekly Wrap Up
I ended January by reading SIX books. Four were full length, and the other two were novellas. If we break it down further 4 were ARCs, 1 was a new release, and 1 was a library book.
I am obsessed with these books! I wish I could go back and read them again for the first time. Seriously. These books just sucked me in, and I want to live in them. There are two that I wish they become TV shows or made for TV movies, but then I worry about how they would be portrayed. So I'll just let them live on in my mind.
Here is the blurb for the book:
Cassie Davis is the girl you'd look over in a crowd. She isn't the life of the party, she's the DD. The responsible one, the reliable one, the one you can count on. That's who she is.
When her best friend dies a tragic death on her watch, her life starts to fall apart. The guilt and shame take their toll. Therapists aren't helping and her dad's out of options. That's until her estranged Uncle calls out of the blue, giving her dad the idea of sending her to his small NC hometown for the summer.
Her goal is to fix herself, to find her happiness somewhere amidst the chaos. But, she's not ready for the smooth talking, gorgeous guy that gets injected into her life. Staying away from him would be best, but when he speaks to her, she feels her hope inside come alive. When he touches her, her world that's full of chaos and confusion, freezes.
Ryan's someone that's never struggled in the looks department. His wounds are deep and he's not looking for someone to mend them. After his long-time girlfriend cheated on him and ended up pregnant, Ryan doesn't want to get tied down ever again. He wants to live out his life, working on his family's farm, and that's it.
Parties and unattached sex are his new norm, trying to find happiness wherever he can. That's until her eyes make him feel stupid things in his chest. Ryan doesn't want to give himself to anyone again, but when she smiles, his world lights up.
When they're both on the edge of happiness, will they risk it all for each other?
I adored Bea. She is an amazing woman, and deserves this opportunity presented to her. There were times that I was laughing. There were times where I was irritated on Bea's behalf. There were times I wanted to tell Bea to get out of her head and be open to the possibilities. I felt all the feelings at different times. Also, Bea's stepdad was one of my favorite side characters. He seems like a man who would do anything for those he cares about.
I don't think I can fully explain the book without spoilers, so here's the info from Goodreads.
Real love...as seen on TV
Bea Schumacher is a devastatingly stylish plus-size fashion blogger who has amazing friends, a devoted family, legions of Insta followers--and a massively broken heart. Like the rest of America, Bea indulges in her weekly obsession: the hit reality show Main Squeeze. The fantasy dates! The kiss-off rejections! The surprising amount of guys named Chad! But Bea is sick and tired of the lack of body diversity on the show. Since when is being a size zero a prerequisite for getting engaged on television?
Just when Bea has sworn off dating altogether, she gets an intriguing call: Main Squeeze wants her to be its next star, surrounded by men vying for her affections. Bea agrees, on one condition--under no circumstances will she actually fall in love. She's in this to supercharge her career, subvert harmful anti-fat beauty standards, inspire women across America, and get a free hot air balloon ride. That's it.
But when the cameras start rolling, Bea realizes things are more complicated than she anticipated. She's in a whirlwind of sumptuous couture, Internet culture wars, sexy suitors, and an opportunity (or two, or five) to find messy, real-life love in the midst of a made-for-TV fairy tale. In this joyful, razor-sharp debut, Bea has to decide whether it might just be worth trusting these men--and herself--for a chance to live happily ever after.
Sometimes what seems most fragile, can't be broken.I feel like the Folkestone Sins series would make a great TV show, mini-series, or made for tv movie. Although maybe that's just me wanting to see these characters (and the situations they find themselves in) come to life. Also, I really want to know more about the history of Folkestone! I wonder if Samantha Lovelock will ever go back and give us a prequel? Hmmm, wishful (and hopeful) thinking. As for rating, I gave this 4 stars.
Stella
Poe Halliday was an accident. A chance meeting that changed my life forever.
My mother didn't have secrets; her secrets had her. After she disappeared, I had nothing.
Or so I thought.
When the invitation arrived, the opportunity to learn about my mother's past was too great to pass up. I knew I was taking a risk, but I craved answers.
Now the dark history of this town threatens to tear me apart.
It's all about him.
I knew this was a mistake.
Poe
Stella Bradleigh was a distraction. Something to play with when my shadows got too dark.
I spent my entire existence forced to live a life I didn't want. There was only one way out.
Or so I thought.
Meeting the beautiful stranger with the mysterious past, I thought she would be a good time, and then I could just throw her away.
Instead, she consumed me, and now she's made me question everything I know to be real in my life.
It's all about her.
I knew I was a mistake.
You shouldn't be surprised to see that Fractured Things is the next book I read. It just makes sense. After all when my jaw dropped at the end of Fragile Things, I knew I had to dive right in to book 2.
In Fractured Things we picked up right where we left off. And I can tell you nothing because I don't want to spoil anything!
The book blurb might give you a little insight, but it won't be much unless you've read Fragile Things.
Stella
Poe Halliday could have been my everything. The boy who allowed me to dream again.
Over as quickly as it began, one night ended it all with a dark secret spit from cruel and twisted lips.
The secret that stole her from me.
After spending my entire life living with my mother’s demons, I refuse to let them take anything else away from me.
I’m stronger than they think I am, and the only way I can escape this nightmare is to fight.
This time it will be on my terms.
I have to go back.
Poe
Stella Bradleigh shone like the brightest star. Able to keep my shadows at bay with nothing but her smile.
I’ve been unknowingly living under the same roof as the devil incarnate—the architect of a horrific event kept secret for so long.
The secret that stole her from me.
When she left, my world turned cold again.
From the day she arrived, I knew my heart belonged with hers, and even though I tried to push her away, she became a part of me. The shadows in this town are no match for the ones I carry. I’ll stand by her side and fight.
This time it will be on her terms.
She has to come back.
If you are looking for a friends to lovers romance, or the shared bed trope, then please pick up this book!
The best of friends, but nothing more. Until now…
Graphic designer Maddie Lanzi is still figuring out her life. Her freelance business is up and sort of running, but something is missing---her best friend. The only constant in her life since birth. Inseparable. Until a year ago.
Pastry chef Marco Marchetti has spent the last year in Paris honing his skill with all things chocolate. Life is good. The only thing that could make it better is having his best friend Maddie by his side. Now he’s heading stateside to make truffles for her brother’s wedding. He’s excited to see his family, but all he really wants is to hang with Maddie. They're even rooming together, just like when they were kids.
When a hotel mix-up turns two queen beds into one massive king-size, he's seeing his best friend in a whole new light. Will a weekend of passion turn into a lifetime together or will Marco be heading back to Paris alone?
Here's the description, for One Night, if you're curious:
She barged into my life and turned everything upside down.Is it time for The Rebel to be released? Please? I need to know what happens with Eden, Holt, and Braun! Sigh. Now I did only give this book a 3 star rating, as I have mixed feelings on it. Yes, knowing what happened in college is important to the storyline, BUT at the same time, I would have preferred more of the current day storyline. Which I know I'll get that in The Rebel, but it is what it is. I still enjoyed the story.
We spent one scorching-hot night together, and then she disappeared into the sunset with the golden jock everyone adored. Which makes sense, right? A girl as beautiful and brilliant as Eden Wynn doesn’t end up with a rebel like me.
I expected them to live happily ever after, except that's not what happened.
She's back—and tempting me like no one else has. And while I'm certain I'll only tarnish her shine, I want her. Only her.
I'd heard the old notion that one night held the power to change everything. I just never believed it.
Until now.
Those are the six books I read last week. I loved them all, and my series obsession is going to hurt me. The wait times between books is TORTURE. Kidding. Maybe. Although it does give me time to pick up another series, and then be giddy on release day, so there's that.
What did you read last week? Any favorites? Tell me!
Happy Reading,
Thursday, January 28, 2021
February Releases I'm Excited About
Ahh it's almost February! That means it's time to talk about new releases I'm excited about.
There are SO many books that I am looking forward to this month. Today I am going to share the 8 that have my complete attention. Oh and there is one POPULAR book on my list, so chances are you might be looking forward to it also.
I do know there is also a Nora Roberts book releasing, but I haven't looked into it yet. I don't know what it's about, or if it's a series or a standalone. It really shouldn't matter, but yet it does. Especially since I am series obsessed. I think I've only ever read one of her standalones, and if I remember correctly that was Montana Sky. That was also my intro book to Nora's writing. Ahh memories.
What 8 books have grabbed my attention? Keep on reading.