Review: The Lake Season by Hannah McKinnon

Posted June 3, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: The Lake Season
Series:
Author: Hannah McKinnon
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Women’s Fiction
Published: June 2, 2015
Publisher: Atria Books
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Blurb:

Set in the weeks leading up to an idyllic New England wedding, this “enticing and refreshing” (Nancy Thayer, New York Times bestselling author) novel sparkles with wry wit, sweet romance, and long-kept family secrets.

Iris Standish has always been the responsible sister: the one who studied hard, settled down, and always made the right choices—even when they came at the expense of her passions. Meanwhile, her sister Leah dropped out of college to “find herself” by hiking through Yellowstone and switches jobs nearly as often as she switches lovers, leaving Iris to pick up the pieces in her wake.

But now Iris’s life is coming apart at the seams, and when Leah calls her back to their childhood home with a desperate cry for help, she is thrust headfirst into preparations for her sister’s wedding to a man their New Hampshire clan has never met…with her own marriage and family on the brink.

Still, despite the rush of dress fittings, floral arrangements, and rehearsal dinners, Iris is learning to put herself first. And amid a backdrop of late-night swims and a soul-restoring barn renovation comes Cooper Woods, a high school crush who beckons with the promise of a new start.

While Leah faces a past that has finally caught up to her, Iris prepares to say goodbye to a future that is suddenly far from certain. As Hampstead Lake shimmers in the background, Iris must decide when to wade in cautiously and when to dive—and, ultimately, how to ferry herself to safe harbors in this novel of second chances and the ties that bind.

Read on for my thoughts on The Lake Season. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Don’t Turn Around by Caroline Mitchell

Posted June 2, 2015 by Marsha in Mystery / 2 Comments

Title: Don’t Turn Around
Series: DC Jennifer Knight series #1
Author: Caroline Mitchell
Genre: Supernatural Crime Thriller, Mystery, Paranormal
Published: April 24, 2015
Publisher: Bookouture
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: Author, Personal Collection
Cover Blurb:

You don’t know him. But he knows you.

Soon he would be able to touch her, to feel the warmth of her blood. And when the time came, nothing would stop him.

As D.C. Jennifer Knight investigates a routine stabbing in the quiet town of Haven, she is shocked at what seems like a personal message from beyond the grave.

When more bodies are found, Jennifer is convinced the killings are somehow linked. What she discovers is more chilling than she could possibly imagine. The murders mirror those of the notorious Grim Reaper – from over twenty years ago. A killer her mother helped convict.

Jennifer can no longer ignore the personal connection. Is there a copycat killer at work? Was the wrong man convicted? Or is there something more sinister at play …

With her mother’s terrifying legacy spiralling out of control, Jennifer must look into her own dark past in a fight not only to stop a killer – but to save herself and those she loves.

Read on for my thoughts on Don’t Turn Around. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Spore by Tamara Jones

Posted June 2, 2015 by Marsha in Mystery / 0 Comments

Title: Spore
Series:
Author: Tamara Jones
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller, Paranormal
Published: June 2, 2015
Publisher: Samhain
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

The dead are coming back.

Ten naked people walk from a cemetery into artist Sean Casey’s backyard: ten Spore People who used to be dead. One, Mindy, stays with Sean while trying to reclaim her life, but her ex would rather she return to her grave. Sean struggles to protect Mindy and other Spores while battling his recurring—and worsening—nightmares. Meanwhile, the media feeds a panicked frenzy that leads both the hopeful and hateful to Sean’s front door.

As the Spore fungus spreads, so does the fear. When mutilated children match Sean’s nightmares, he realizes his own worst terror may be closer than he thinks.

Read on for my thoughts on Spore. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Kiss the Bride by Rachael Johns

Posted June 1, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 2 Comments

Title: Kiss the Bride
Series: Montana Born Brides #5
Author: Rachael Johns
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: June 1, 2015
Publisher: Tule Publishing
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

Wedding fever has hit the little town of Marietta…

And that suits single mom, Magdalena Davis, just fine. It means the local gossips will stop hounding her about returning to town and the secret she’s kept for fifteen years. Home to make peace with her sick mother, the last thing Mags wants is to get involved in Marietta’s big celebrity wedding. But when her teenage daughter cajoles her into auditioning to sing with a local heartthrob, all her plans for flying under the radar zoom out of the window.

Country music singer, Jake Kohl, has lost his muse. He’s jaded from years of life in the fast lane and wants to settle in Marietta and lead a normal life. He reluctantly agrees to sing at the celebrity wedding, but what he doesn’t expect is his duet partner to reignite his passion. But it’s not just the music she awakens. For the first time in a long time, Jake feels alive again and wants more out of life, starting with her. But there’s more to Magdalena than meets the eye.

Read on for my thoughts on Kiss the Bride. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: The Major’s Faux Fiancee by Erica Ridley

Posted June 1, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: The Major’s Faux Fiancee
Series: The Dukes of War #4
Author: Erica Ridley
Genre: Historical Romance
Published: June 1, 2015
Publisher: Intrepid Reads
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

When Major Bartholomew Blackpool learns the girl-next-door from his childhood will be forced into an unwanted marriage, he returns home to play her pretend beau. He figures now that he’s missing a leg, a faux fiancée is the best an ex-soldier can get. He admires her pluck, but the lady deserves a whole man—and he’ll ensure she gets one.

Miss Daphne Vaughan hates that crying off will destroy Major Blackpool’s chances of finding a real bride. She plots to make him jilt her first. Who cares if it ruins her? She never wanted a husband anyway. But the major is equally determined that she break the engagement. With both of them on their worst behavior, neither expects their fake betrothal to lead to love.

Read on for my thoughts on The Major’s Faux Fiancee. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: The Beautiful One by Emily Greenwood

Posted June 1, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: The Beautiful One
Series: The Scandalous Sisters #1
Author: Emily Greenwood
Genre: Historical Romance
Published: June 2, 2015
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

Tomboy Anna Black has no idea how a book containing nude drawings of her is traveling around town. Everyone’s calling the woman in the drawings the “Beautiful One,” but Anna knows that if her true identity is revealed, she’ll be ruined. To escape scandal, she becomes a temporary companion to the outrageous teenage ward of Will Halifax, Viscount Grandville.

Will wants nothing but to be left alone. When cheeky Anna unexpectedly arrives with his scandalous ward, suddenly he has two intolerable women filling up his once-quiet manor. But as Anna’s charms begin to soften Will’s hard exterior and uncover his shrouded heart, she hopes that love can fully blossom before her scandal erupts.

Read on for my thoughts on The Beautiful One. No true spoilers, promise.

Hello June ~ Welcome Back Around

Posted June 1, 2015 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 0 Comments

Hello-June The wee hours of June 1, 2015. The year is half over, or half is yet to come – depends on how you look at things, isn’t it?

I have a lot to accomplish this month. And I’m certain that more will be added to that pile as the days move on.

Looking at my shelf over at NetGalley shows me I’ve some reading and reviewing to get done, but not overwhelming – at this point, anyway. And thinking of the physical novels I bought yesterday plus the ones I downloaded from Amazon — *rolls eyes* What was I thinking! But, it’s okay, it will all get done, eventually.

The May ARC Sweep is ended, and I got a lot cleared out, reviewed and up-to-date, until June. I’ll take that accomplishment and run with it. Thanks to the Blog Ahead event, I’m doing well on scheduled posts ready to drop. So for the two specific challenges for May – it went well and I’m satisfied with my personal results.

Speaking of Challenges – I really need to update the ones I joined back in January. I know I’ve read the books *hangs head* – I also know I’ve been horrid about going and listing them either on the Challenge hosts blogs or on my own pages. Something else to add to the June to-do-list.

I have definitely upped my time on Twitter this month – but still more needs to be done. Not truly comfortable there yet, but that will come. On my list for this month is working on Pinterest – gosh, I’ve been so bad about that. Actually, as a shy person who usually isn’t very talkative – I haven’t done badly this past month – so I should cut myself some slack. *grin*

I really, really need to spend more time on the genre specific blogs, and silly me, I added another one a couple days ago. Logic says I “should” keep it all here at Keeper Bookshelf – but, I dunno. It’s a brand that I’m working and I really should not water it down too much. Yet I enjoy the idea of the diversity of the genre specific blogs… once I get a better handle on scheduled posts, I should not have to worry about them too much. Time, there rarely seems to be enough time. Aw well, again, it will get done eventually.

Anyway, enough of my mind wandering out loud here. *sheepish grin* Summer is upon us and I’m looking forward to complaining about humidity and high temps, you too? Lots of novel releases to look forward to, new friends to make and brand new worlds to explore. I’m looking forward to the chaos – I think. *wink*

Happy June to you all – and I hope all you wish for this month comes true.

Marsha

Review: The Light by Kate Thomas

Posted May 31, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: The Light
Series: Equilibrium #2
Author: Kate Thomas
Genre: Paranormal
Published: May 20, 2015
Publisher: Patchwork Press
My Rating: 5 star
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

With the truth of Ellie’s place among the Balance Keepers finally coming to light, training now begins. She must learn to harness the powers that are growing within her, some spiraling out of control. Confusion and frustration become her constant companions, as her search for answers does nothing but push her further from the man she’s come to love.

David is The Light, the speaker of truth, the whisperer of good in the world. His desire for more than he can have with his new apprentice tears at the fabric of his own stability, bit by bit. He knows what the future holds — and just how damning it will be for Ellie if she’s not prepared to handle it — but he’s forbidden to help.

As tragedy becomes reality, will she reach for The Light, or run into the soothing arms of The Darkness?

Read on for my thoughts on The Light. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: The Core by Kate Thomas

Posted May 31, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: The Core
Series: Equilibrium #1
Author: Kate Thomas
Genre: Paranormal
Published: February 12, 2015
Publisher:
My Rating: 5 star
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

There’s something strange about David, something that goes beyond the way he makes Ellie feel. He’s wealthy, poised, and a complete enigma. With nothing to lose but her heart, Ellie goes in search of the truth—a search that leads her down an eye-opening path that reveals secrets about the world she thought she knew.

The world’s order is held in careful balance, the essence of good and evil tilting the scale. When the fabric of reality is stripped away, Ellie is forced to make a decision to follow the path David’s constructed before her or simply walk away. The Core is missing and someone must step up and stand between the light and darkness, holding each back and maintaining equilibrium.

Read on for my thoughts on The Core. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Beautiful Surrender by Priscilla West

Posted May 30, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 2 Comments

Title: Beautiful Surrender
Series: Forever #3, Surrender series #3
Author: Priscilla West
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: November 4, 2013
Publisher:
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

No one is who they seem to be.

Kristen let Vincent into her heart because he seemed so different from everyone in her conservative world of wealth management. She thought they shared something special, but when she realizes that Vincent has been playing her the entire time, her heart is crushed.

As Kristen’s relationship with Vincent reaches a crisis point, a man from Kristen’s past returns looking for a second chance. Is her ex-boyfriend really looking for redemption or is his goal something more sinister?

Kristen struggles to hold herself together, until she discovers a revelation that will change everything.

Read on for my thoughts on Beautiful Surrender. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Secret Surrender by Priscilla West

Posted May 30, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Secret Surrender
Series: Forever #2, Surrender series #2
Author: Priscilla West
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: September 24, 2013
Publisher: Blackbird Publishing
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

I knew that giving in to Vincent Sorenson was a risk, but it was one I was willing to take. I had hidden my heart for so long and for the first time in a long time, Vincent was close to breaking down the walls.

When a trip to Vincent’s exclusive private island reveals the real Vincent underneath the layers of suave nonchalance, I thought we were close to the start of something special.

Just when things were looking up for us, I would discover the one secret that Vincent never intended for me to find.

Read on for my thoughts on Secret Surrender. No true spoilers, promise.

Trailer: Give Up The Ghost

Posted May 30, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

I recently reviewed Give Up The Ghost by Kelly Moran (that’s the link to my review here on Keeper Bookshelf.)

Now it’s time to get visual with this trailer for Give Up The Ghost.

Review: Forbidden Surrender by Priscilla West

Posted May 29, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Forbidden Surrender
Series: Forever #1 Surrender series #1
Author: Priscilla West
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: August 7, 2013
Publisher:
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

“What gives you a thrill Kristen?”

The minute I saw Vincent Sorenson, I knew he was trouble. Billionaire. Bad boy. And dangerously sexy. He was everything I craved, and nothing I needed.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t just avoid him. The higher ups at my company decided they needed his business, and I was on the team to bring him in. Vincent Sorenson didn’t seem as interested in business as he was in me, but I knew that was a door better left unopened. If I got involved with him, it would only unearth the pain I spent years trying to bury.

I thought I had it under control, but I seriously underestimated Vincent’s seductive charm and silver-tongue. I would soon find out how delicious it would feel to let myself fall into this forbidden surrender.

Read on for my thoughts on Forbidden Surrender. No true spoilers, promise.

For All The Cat Lovers Out There

Posted May 29, 2015 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 2 Comments

I couldn’t resist. And note to Anna of Herding Cats & Burning Soup?…. there are herding cats in this. *wink* Have Fun – Just Enjoy

Top Cat Commercials – you know you wanna take a moment and just laugh. 😉

Review: A Deal with the Devil by Louisa George

Posted May 29, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: A Deal with the Devil
Series: International Bad Boys #6
Author: Louisa George
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: May 29, 2015
Publisher: Tule Publishing, Holiday Books
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

When the only thing worth fighting for is love …

There are two things ex-boxer and casino tycoon Rey Doyle is an expert in: fighting and gambling. He trusts no-one, but he needs a fiancé to help seal a business deal and part-time casino waitress Kate Wilkinson agrees to the pretense.

Kate is on a mission to expose Rey Doyle for the pitiless criminal he is, but the more she learns about Rey and his past, the more she begins to admire the man. When the chance to bring him down arrives will she take it? Or will this bad boy claim her heart instead?

Read on for my thoughts on A Deal with the Devil. No true spoilers, promise.