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Showing posts with label #romancereading. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #romancereading. Show all posts

Saturday, February 20, 2021

One Month from Now = Spring! #TheSundayPost


The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.  See rules here: Sunday Post Meme

Upcoming this week on the blog:
I'll be reviewing:
I am also listening to 

If I finish this one I'll review it too! 

Quick reminder tomorrow is release day for A Pocket In Time! You can read my review here



Happy Sunday!  One more week left in February and then March will be here, and you know what March means?  Yep, Springtime!!! The time of year for renewing and refreshing.  Speaking refreshing, how do you like my updated blog design?   I love my new header!  Thank you Michelle of Limabean Designs! Michelle does great work and you can click here to visit her website for info on her services! 

What's going on in your neck of the woods this week?  Any fun plans? 

Thursday, February 11, 2021

An Actually Easy Bread Recipe! And #APocketInTime #NetGalley Review!

 We were out of potatoes and I didn't feel like making brown rice again, and I thought it was a good day to try and make fresh bread. I did a search for easy bread recipes and I found one to try that lives up to the description of the World's Easiest Homemade Bread.  This is a real five-star recipe and I am here to recommend it to you.  You don't even knead this dough! 



I recommend eating the bread slathered with butter. Life is short! 



And speaking of recommendations, let me share a review for a new time-traveling romance by Lexi Post.  I received a copy of this book from Net Galley, as always the opinions are mine.  Do you like Bridgerton or Outlander?  If so, give this book a read, A Pocket in Time is the second book in the Time Weavers, Inc. series.  So you can read the first book and then this one or just read the second one, whatever works for you. 

In the Author's Note, Lexi Post writes "A Pocket in Time was inspired by Charles Dickens' novel Oliver Twist."  I thought that was a unique place to start this book and as a fan of time-travel and romance, I knew this was a book I would have real fun reading.  Katz Almira is the heroine of this story, she is going back to Regency England to steal something that can change the course of history. Among her skill set is pickpocketing so she is perfect for this assignment.  She only has two weeks to complete this task or it will be too late to fix the timeline in the present day.  

The construct of Katz Almira being in a time and place she doesn't belong in and can't stay in without putting the entire world in peril really raises the stakes on the HEA. How are Jack and Katz going to overcome the literal obstacle of time and space?  That is the central mystery of this book and I applaud Lexi Post for making it so hard for these two to get together.  

If you like me enjoy characters with hard cynical outsides and gooey marshmallow insides, you'll love Katz and Jack.  It's nice to read a story where the male lead is more willing to dive off the deep end and profess his love without the certainty that the female protagonist will return his affections. 

4.5 stars to this book.  Really great read! 

#APocketInTime #NetGalley 


Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Breakfast For Dinner Vegetarian Edition and A #Romance Review

 


This is a meal I came up with because I wanted to hold off grocery shopping for one more day.  Slim pickings welcomed me when I opened the refrigerator.  Here is what I came up with- I sliced four potatoes into circles, seasoned them, and threw them in the oven to bake.  Then in a medium-sized iron skillet, I sauteed sliced red bell pepper, a shallot, and the last of a package of mushrooms.   
While that was cooking I minced four cloves of garlic in a large iron skillet with a tbsp of oil.  Then I added a jar of salsa and once that was simmering I cracked six eggs on top of the salsa and then I covered the eggs to cook. When they were poached I turned off the eggs. Then I mixed the potatoes with the vegetables, scooped out eggs and salsa, and topped everything with green onions. It was delicious; a nice meal you could have any time of day.  
After finishing his plate the Hubs said, "That was good, now what's for dinner?" 
I said, "That was dinner."
 He said, "I don't eat eggs for dinner."  
So I said: "You do now."

And now on to a Romance Review!


I got an ARC (Advanced Reading Copy) of this book from Netgalley and as always the opinions are all mine.  This was my first time reading Amalie Howard and it won't be my last!  In fact, I just found out this is actually the second book in a series.  This does make sense as when you read this book Isobel has a sister named Astrid who is deliriously happy with her beloved husband. The series is called Everleigh Sisters and I am not sure who might be written about in book three but it's a must-read series for me! 

Now on to "The Rakehell of Roth," the book is named in reference to Winter Vance, Marquess of Roth and this is a dual POV book so we do spend plenty of time in his head, but make no mistake this book is Isobel's story. 

I completely enjoyed this book, Isobel is a strong character who doesn't give up even though her Husband has built up some very high walls around his emotions and is really good at self-sabotage.  Even though this is the Regency Period this book is filled with consent and the women are not ashamed about the pleasure sex gives. 

Each chapter of the book begins with a quote from Lady Darcy which is an advice column written for women and read throughout London during the book.  To give you a taste of what those columns are like here is a quote: "Sometimes, Dearest Friend, white knights are overrated. Be the storm in the night and stage your own rescue." *   Wow right?  That's what this book delivers- empowerment and great sex!  

This book is a very satisfying read.  If you like romance, but don't read much Historical Romance, I say give this one a go, I think you'll really enjoy it. 

* The quote I used was from the Advanced Reader Copy so the text might change again before the final publication- but I wanted to share an example of Lady Darcy's advice because it was so delightful. 

#TheRakehellofRoth #NetGalley

Monday, December 28, 2020

When are the 12 days of Christmas? And #Romance #bookreview

 During my Holiday shopping adventures from time to time, I ordered a little something for myself.  I mean, the deals! One of the items I bought was a 12 days of Christmas Godiva Chocolate box.  

The hubs and the kids tried to say I needed to save it (haha) until next Advent.  "Ho, ho, no no family," I said, "The 12 days of Christmas isn't December 1st to December 12th, it's the time between Christmas and Epiphany."

Unsurprisingly, they didn't believe me and so instead of trusting my wisdom, they turned to Google. A-Ha! Vindication!


If you have some downtime from work and you are looking for something to read I have begun reading an author who is new to me. Here is a review of one of their books. 


Slave to Sensation (Psy-Changeling #1)Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Someone on Twitter recommended this author as a writer who writes paranormal romance books that have satisfying conclusions and I'm glad I saw their tweet.

I was able to borrow this book electronically from my library. This book has many of the tropes that I like in paranormal romance- like strong female characters and men who are smart enough to fall for them. I enjoy how the Psy are like the vampires of this world and Nalini Singh's creation of the Psy-Net is fun to read.

There are lots of little details in this book that add to the reading experience like Tammy's kids and the boots, so cute. Even though I had every reason to hope that Sascha would survive and find her HEA, Nalina Singh kept the tension going throughout the book as we worry about Sascha and a potential war between the Changelings and the Psy.

As I read, I wondered which of the side characters might get their own book, this is one of the reasons I enjoy romance series, when you meet side characters and fall in love with them, chances are you'll get to see them star in their own book.

If you like Ilona Andrews, you will enjoy these books!

View all my reviews

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Want to Get Away? Escape This Christmas

 Is it just me or is this month going rather quickly?  We are almost down to single digits on the advent calendar and there are only 16 days left of the year. 

I don't know about you, but I hope next year brings back the ability to safely be around other people. I miss live music, and free library programs, and sitting with friends at a restaurant. 

Thankfully we have our escapes, for me, that is reading and running and to a much lesser extent-- writing.  What I am working on right now is ramping up to the New Year by starting the day with an hour of writing Monday through Friday. I am hoping this low bar of writing will allow me to start the day off on a good foot and make progress in my stories.  This should also help me to blog consistently as well by using morning time to work on blog posts.  

If you are bummed because you won't be traveling this Christmas, do yourself a favor and pick up this book. You'll feel like you got to go to a cozy cabin in Park City, UT with a family as entertaining as The Griswolds. 


In a HolidazeIn a Holidaze by Christina Lauren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A perfect holiday romance. This book has the right amount of snow and shenanigans. Chestnuts roasting by the fireplace and tension building under the Christmas tree. I was so happy that for a change the parents of the main characters were not only alive but also in good health. Not only that, but the characters have conversations and explain things.

Also even though the romance takes place over a short period of time, the characters involved have known each other for years so it is not far-fetched.

I can't think of anything I didn't like about this book.

Maelyn finds what she is looking for and it's so much more than a holiday romance.

If you are looking for a Christmas getaway, read this book!! 

View all my reviews