Teasing on a Wednesday - Five Golden Rings

 

The warm night, the tropical flowers, the surf crashing right below-all conspired to make her throw caution to the Mexican breeze. This would be a hell of a vacation.

(9% in, Five Golden Rings by Jeffe Kennedy)

---------

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, previously hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their  TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Exit Interview - Release Day Book Review

 

Exit Interview an a.k.a. Jayne novel

by Dana Cameron

What is it about:

Reporter Amy Lindstrom has just witnessed the sudden, suspicious death of the powerful arms dealer she's been investigating. Jayne Rogers, the deadly covert operative assigned to work with the arms' dealer, has been accused by her boss of killing him, as well as turning traitor and picking off her former colleagues one by one. The only one who believes Jayne is being framed is Nicole Bradley, whose technical skills are as stealthy and lethal as Jayne's abilities with her fists and weapons. All three must work together to prevent a hidden arms cache from falling into the wrong hands.

What did I think of it:

I love everything Dana Cameron has written and that I have been able to get my trotters on so far, so I was very happy to get an ARC of this release.

And this is yet another amazing read!

The story switches between three women: Jayne - who is accused of going rogue, Amy - who ends up in trouble while investigating a story, and Nicole - a colleague of Jayne and the only one who doubts Jayne's guilt.

I loved all three of them. They're all resourceful, smart, and kick-ass in their own way. I was drawn into the story from the start and eager to find out what was going in and if Amy, Jayne, and Nicole would escape harm, save the day, and get a well deserved happy end.

There's lots going on,and next to tons of cool action, there's intrigue, suspense, and humor as well. I had a great time with this book, and you bet I pre-ordered a copy as soon as possible so it can sit next to my ARC on my Keeper Shelves once it arrives.

Why should you read it:

It's an awesome kick-ass read!

buy from Amazon

Five Golden Rings - Rereleasing Today!

This Totally Yummy Christmas Novella is rereleasing today! Go get it!

Read Voodoo Bride's review 

Five Golden Rings

by Jeffe Kennedy

The Twelve Days of Christmas were never quite this naughty…

All Matilda Campbell wanted was to spend a romantic and relaxing Christmas in the Mexican Caribbean. When her lover dumps her—at the airport, no less—she decides to go solo. But fate and a well-timed margarita intervene, introducing her to the charming and seductive Miguel D’Oro on the plane.

Miguel offers Tilda an outrageous bargain, involving escalating naughty gifts for each of the twelve days of Christmas. The only rule is that she must accept what he gives her and what he tells her to do, or face a sensual punishment. Giving up control is just what Tilda is looking for, so she impulsively agrees.

As Tilda embraces a newfound freedom in abandoning herself to pleasure and Miguel’s demands, she only wonders what will happen when the holiday is over…

buy links

Alliance - A DNF

 

Alliance (Linesman #2)

by S.K. Dunstall

What is it about:

The lines. The soul of every ship. It was once thought there were only ten, but that was before an alien vessel appeared at the edge of space—before Ean Lambert heard more lines singing. Ean’s ways of communicating with lines is strange. But his abilities make him a valuable tool—or weapon—to command.

 

Captain Selma Kari Wang has lost everything—her ship, her crew, her legs. But the New Alliance of Worlds is not done with her yet. After they rebuild her broken body, they send her to captain one of the new alien ships, teaming her up with Ean, the only one who can understand the alien lines.

 

Kari Wang and Ean are poised on the threshold of discoveries that could change the world. But not everyone wants the New Alliance to control the secrets they uncover—and those who oppose won’t hesitate to do whatever it takes to stop them…

Why I did not finish this book:

I picked up this book in the charity book store as it sounded like it could be a cool SF read.

At home I discovered it was the second book in a series, but I've read out of order before, so I decided to dive in anyway.

And I really loved the start: Kari Wang sounded like an awesome heroine, and I was invested in what was happening to her... only for the book to switch to Ean after the first chapter.

I really didn't care for Ean, the politics he's involved in, or the gazillion people around him. Other reviews paint him as 'likable' I mainly found him boring. Finally after a lot of Ean blah over multiple chapters, there was a chapter about Kari Wang... and back to Ean,,, *yawn*

When the chapter after more Ean blah was from the viewpoint of yet another character instead of Kari Wang I tossed the book! 

Maybe if you read the first book you'll like this book, because apparently Ean is so very likeable and the first book is also about him, but he sure wasn't interesting to me.

Why should you read it:

Try starting with book 1

A Good Day for Chardonnay - Book Review

 

A Good Day for Chardonnay (Sunshine Vicram #2)

by Darynda Jones

What is it about:

Running a small-town police force in the mountains of New Mexico should be a smooth, carefree kind of job. Sadly, full-time Sheriff--and even fuller-time coffee guzzler--Sunshine Vicram, didn't get that memo.

All Sunshine really wants is one easy-going day. You know, the kind that starts with coffee and a donut (or three) and ends with take-out pizza and a glass of chardonnay (or seven). Turns out, that's about as easy as switching to decaf. (What kind of people do that? And who hurt them?)

Before she can say iced mocha latte, Sunny's got a bar fight gone bad, a teenage daughter hunting a serial killer and, oh yes, the still unresolved mystery of her own abduction years prior. All evidence points to a local distiller, a dangerous bad boy named Levi Ravinder, but Sun knows he's not the villain of her story. Still, perhaps beneath it all, he possesses the keys to her disappearance. At the very least, beneath it all, he possesses a serious set of abs. She's seen it. Once. Accidentally.

Between policing a town her hunky chief deputy calls four cents short of a nickel, that pesky crush she has on Levi which seems to grow exponentially every day, and an irascible raccoon that just doesn't know when to quit, Sunny's life is about to rocket to a whole new level of crazy.

Yep, definitely a good day for chardonnay.

What did I think of it:

I enjoyed the first book, so immediately ordered the second book after finishing A Bad Day for Sunshine, but it ended up a TBR Orphan if only by a few days before I picked it up.

And this is another very enjoyable read with the same problem as the first book: Levi.

I can't remember reading and finishing a book with a love interest as skeevy and annoying as Pervy Levi. If I didn't enjoy everything else so much I'd have tossed this book. (And don't let me get started on the retconning in this book of an infuriating scene from the first book.)

Levi aside this book was a fun and entertaining read. Even with my misgivings on how all this will turn out where the romance is concerned, I know I'll be getting the next book, because I want more on all the other characters in this series.

Why should you read it:

It's mostly fun and entertaining

Teaser Tuesdays - Salvation Day

 

There was a sharp pop. His head vanished in a pink mist.

(Page 22, Salvation Day by Kali Wallace)

---------

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, previously hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their  TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The Dead Romantics - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

 

The Dead Romantics

by Ashley Poston

What is it about:

Florence Day is a ghost-writer with one big problem. She’s supposed to be penning swoon-worthy novels for a famous romance author but, after a bad break-up, Florence no longer believes in love. And when her strict (but undeniably hot) new editor, Benji Andor, won’t give her an extension on her book deadline, Florence prepares to kiss her career goodbye.

Although when tragedy strikes and Florence has to head home, the last thing she expects to see is a ghost at her front door. Not just any ghost, however, but the stern form of her still very hot – yet now unquestionably dead – new editor.

As sparks start to fly between them, Florence tells herself she can’t be falling for a ghost – even an infuriatingly sexy one. But can Benji help Florence to realise love isn’t dead, after all?

If you fell in love with Beach Read, The Love Hypothesis and The Hating Game, this laugh-out-loud romance packed with sizzling chemistry will give you all the feels!

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:

I will confess I was a bit apprehensive when I picked this book up. I was hoping for a "Just Like Heaven" kind of romance, but knowing how some people play fast and loose with the term romance I was afraid I might get disappointed.

And let me first say: This is not a romance in my opinion!

I'm not saying this means it has a sad ending, but the romance in this book is not the main storyline! This book is more about grief, letting go of the past, accepting who you are, and family than that it is about romance.

I did enjoy the book, but it certainly isn't the light, romantic comedy I was hoping it would be. So if you're looking for a thoughtful, slightly melancholic story, pick this up. If you're looking for a romance: keep looking,

Why should you read it:

It's thoughtful and slightly paranormal Contemporary Fiction  

Busy Playing Games

 

I promise I'll try to get back into the groove soon and actually start reviewing books again.

Teaser Tuesdays - A Good Day For Chardonnay

 

It wasn't that late when Sun and Quincy got back. Part of her felt bad considering her parents had wanted a date night. But another part, a bigger part, didn't feel the least bit concerned. It was their fault she was sheriff.

(Page 126, A Good Day For Chardonnay by Darynda Jones)

---------

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, previously hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their  TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Once Upon Stilettos - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

 

Once Upon Stilettos (Enchanted, Inc. #2)

by Shanna Swendson

What is it about:

Katie Chandler’s life is pure magic–literally. As an executive assistant at Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc., she’s seen more than her share of fantastical occurrences. A mere Manhattan mortal, Katie is no wizard, but she’s a wiz at exposing “hokum” pocus, cloaked lies, and deceptive enchantments. And she’s fallen under the all-too-human spell of attraction to Owen, a hunky wizard and coworker. Owen, however, is preoccupied. Someone has broken into his office and disrupted top-secret files, and it reeks of an inside job. CEO Merlin (yes, the Merlin) taps Katie and her special ability to uncover the magical mole.

Keeping her feelings in check while sleuthing alongside Owen, Katie is shocked to discover that her immunity to magic is waning, putting her in grave danger. Soon she’s surrendering to the charms and enchantments of everyone and everything around her, including a killer pair of red stilettos. Katie must now conjure up her natural instincts to get to the bottom of the break-in, regain her power, and win the wizard of her dreams.

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:

This book was just as much fun as the first was.

Just when Katie thinks she has the hang of her new job she gets more responsibilities thrust upon her. And there's her crush on Owen, while she's trying to date someone else, and then her family shows up!

So lots of things going on and lots of possibilities for things to go wrong. This book was fun and entertaining. Once I got into the world again I wondered why it took me a while to pickup this book, because this series is relaxing and enjoyable.

It looks like the love triangle/square is shrinking, and I like where it seems to be going, but as there's a lot more books in this series, I will stay wary just a bit longer.

All in all I had a good time with this read and I'll be picking up the third book soon.

Why should you read it:

It's a fun and enjoyable read.

Nothing But Blackened Teeth - Book Review

 

Nothing But Blackened Teeth

by Cassandra Khaw

What is it about:

Cassandra Khaw's Nothing But Blackened Teeth is a gorgeously creepy haunted house tale, steeped in Japanese folklore and full of devastating twists.

A Heian-era mansion stands abandoned, its foundations resting on the bones of a bride and its walls packed with the remains of the girls sacrificed to keep her company.

It’s the perfect wedding venue for a group of thrill-seeking friends.

But a night of food, drinks, and games quickly spirals into a nightmare. For lurking in the shadows is the ghost bride with a black smile and a hungry heart.

And she gets lonely down there in the dirt.

What did I think of it:

I very much enjoyed this book, but I didn't find it particularly creepy.

The writing was stunning, the characters interesting, and I liked the mood, but it wasn't the creepy haunted house mood I expected when picking this up.

More than a creepy horror read this is an emotional read in my opinion. It's more about friendship and how it changes through the years, and how each friend in this story handles that differently. The ghostly apparitions are almost a manifestation of the emotions between the five friends.

At a few points in the story I got a bit lost. the characters would do something I couldn't understand why they did it. For example the main character suddenly drank from a fetid pool. Those few things aside I really liked this novella, creepy or not. It will be a keeper.

Why should you read it:

It's an enjoyable atmospheric read.

Teaser Tuesdays - Nine Goblins

 

It was gruel again for breakfast. It had been gruel for dinner the night before, and it would be gruel sandwiches for lunch, a dish only possible with goblin gruel, which was burnt solid and could be trusted not to ooze off the bread.

(start of chapter one, Nine Goblins by T. Kingfisher)

---------

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, previously hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their  TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Back Soon

 

We've been busy playing games again, so new reviews of books will be coming next week.

The Annual Migration of Clouds - Book Review

The Annual Migration of Clouds

by Premee Mohamed

What is it about:

In post-climate disaster Alberta, a woman infected with a mysterious parasite must choose whether to pursue a rare opportunity far from home or stay and help rebuild her community.

The world is nothing like it once was: climate disasters have wracked the continent, causing food shortages, ending industry, and leaving little behind. Then came Cad, mysterious mind-altering fungi that invade the bodies of the now scattered citizenry. Reid, a young woman who carries this parasite, has been given a chance to get away - to move to one of the last remnants of pre-disaster society - but she can't bring herself to abandon her mother and the community that relies on her.

When she's offered a coveted place on a dangerous and profitable mission, she jumps at the opportunity to set her family up for life, but how can Reid ask people to put their trust in her when she can't even trust her own mind?

What did I think of it:

When I was investigating this year's Nebula Award winners I stumbled on this book (which didn't win the Nebula, but Premee Mohamed's And What Can We Offer You Tonight did). I will confess I fell in love with the cover, and when I read what it was about, I had to have it.

And this is such a beautiful read.

Set in a future that seems all too plausible this novella explores what we owe or don't owe to those close to us. Where do we as individuals draw the line? When have we done enough for our parents and are we allowed to live our own lives? What do we owe our (childhood) friends?

I was pulled into the story from the start. The setting, mood, and themes were enough to keep my interest, the parasite inside of Reid was an added bonus. This being a novella it won't surprise you I read it in one sitting.

You bet this will be a keeper, and I'll most definitely will check out other books by Mohamed.

Why should you read it:

It's a beautiful and thought provoking post apocalyptic read.

On McPig's Radar - Exit Interview

 

I had the opportunity to read the ARC of this book and it's totally amazing! So you bet I preordered the book to add to my keeper shelves. And you should totally preorder as well, because you need to read this book!

Exit Interview: an a.k.a. Jayne novel

by Dana Cameron

Reporter Amy Lindstrom has just witnessed the sudden, suspicious death of the powerful arms dealer she's been investigating. Jayne Rogers, the deadly covert operative assigned to work with the arms' dealer, has been accused by her boss of killing him, as well as turning traitor and picking off her former colleagues one by one. The only one who believes Jayne is being framed is Nicole Bradley, whose technical skills are as stealthy and lethal as Jayne's abilities with her fists and weapons. All three must work together to prevent a hidden arms cache from falling into the wrong hands. 

Expected publication: December 6th, 2022

Dead Sexy - Book Review

Dead Sexy (Garnet Lacey #2)

by Tate Hallaway

What is it about:

From the author of Tall, Dark & Dead, the second in the paranormal series featuring a gem of a heroine (Mary Janice Davidson).

Tall, Dark & Dead introduced Garnet Lacey, a bookstore manager/witch who accidentally unleashed the dark goddess Lilith on Vatican assassins. Now she has other things to worry about-like pesky frat boy zombies, a gorgeous FBI agent hot on her trail, love spells gone wrong, and keeping her vampire boyfriend a safe distance from her vampire ex-boyfriend. There's just no rest for this Wiccan...

What did I think of it:

I had a great time with the first book in this series, so when I was in the mood for an enjoyable Paranormal read I picked up book 2.

And this was just as fun.

Garnet does seem to attract problems and men, but were I usually get annoyed by love triangly stuff, here it somehow works. I was invested in Garnet getting herself out of trouble and for her to figure out her feelings.

I really love the sidekicks in this series as well, apart from one of the guys in the love dodecahedron square: Garnet's ex, who is just a bit too sleazy in my opinion. I actually worried a lot over one of the side characters, hoping he would be ok.

All in all another fun read. I'll probably pick up book 3 soon 

Why should you read it:

It's a very enjoyable Paranormal read.

Improbably Yours - Release Day Book Review (repost)

 

Improbably Yours

by Kerry Anne King

What is it about:

An unusual inheritance leads to a life-changing journey in a novel of romance, secrets, and the treasure of found family.

Blythe Harmon is on the fast track to a life she never wanted. On her thirtieth birthday, just as she’s about to lock herself into a high-powered job and accept a marriage proposal to match, an unusual bequest from her beloved late grandmother, Nomi, offers an escape and an invitation to adventure.

Equipped with Nomi’s urn of ashes and a treasure map, Blythe sets off for a small island in the San Juans where she rents the mysterious and unsettling Improbable House. Secret by secret, clue by cryptic clue, she begins to unravel the puzzle her grandmother has left her to piece together. Her quest is complicated, though, by a powerful attraction to an enigmatic islander and empathy for his orphaned niece, both of whom are inexorably tied to the old house.

Just when Blythe thinks she’s on the verge of solving the mystery, her quest takes an unexpected turn and she discovers that the treasure she’s really seeking is something that could never be buried in the ground. On the treasure hunt of a lifetime, the past and the future are coming together in this magical novel by the Amazon Charts bestselling author of Whisper Me This.

What did I think of it:

This is such a beautiful read!

Blythe is a really fun heroine. She starts out as someone who's going along with what her family expects of her, but when she gets a strange bequest on her 30th birthday from her grandmother, who died when when Blythe was a kid, she decides to go against her family's wishes and goes on an adventure to an island.

Blythe immediately has to deal with problems when she arrives on the island though. It seems like her quest is more challenging than it looked at first. And then there's the slightly grumpy Flynn and his niece Savannah who add to the difficulties.

I loved Flynn and especially Savannah. Their story interweaves with Blythe's in a compelling way. As the book progresses you learn more about their past, and about the past of Blythe's grandmother. Some things I could guess long before they're revealed, but I didn't mind that. I was too invested in all three of them overcoming their problems and finding happiness. I loved seeing Blythe move away from the rigid life she put herself in and open up to new possibilities.

I loved the setting as well. The island sounded really cool! I definitely would love to visit an island like that. There's also a touch of the supernatural in this story, just small enough to ignore if you're not into that, but big enough for this piggy to lap it up!

All in all I couldn't put this book down and was both happy with the conclusion and sad that I had to say goodbye to the island and characters. You bet this book goes on my Keeper Shelves and will be reread!

Why should you read it:

It's a wonderful Contemporary Fiction read with just a hint of magic.

DNF - Improper English

It seems the books by Katie MacAlister are either hit or miss for us.

We tried this one, but it was just too silly.

We'll have to pick up one of her Dark Ones books soon as we really like those.

Improper English

by Katie MacAlister

Brandishing a loaf of French bread at a dishy detective wasn't how Alexandra Freemar had envisioned starting her stay in London. But the sassy American wasn't about to put up with any flak from the uptight--albeit gorgeous--Scotland Yard inspector who accused her of breaking and entering. She didn't have time to deal with this suspicious upstairs neighbor. She had two months to write the perfect romance novel--two months to prove that she could succeed as an author.

Luckily, reserved Englishmen were not her cup of tea. Yet, one kiss told her Alexander Black might not be quite as proper as she'd thought. In fact, his lips could be classified as downright wicked, leaving Alix to wonder how far his talents extended. There was only one snag: The serious-minded gentleman wasn't interested in a mere summer fling. And while as a writer Alix knew every imaginable euphemism for the male member, as a woman she soon realized she had a lot to learn about love.

 

Enchanted, Inc. - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

 

Enchanted, Inc. (Enchanted, Inc. #1)

by Shanna Swendson

What is it about:

DON'T MESS WITH HEXES

Katie Chandler had always heard that New York is a weird and wonderful place, but this small-town Texas gal had no idea how weird until she moved there. Everywhere she goes, she sees something worth gawking at and Katie is afraid she's a little too normal to make a splash in the big city. Working for an ogre of a boss doesn't help.

Then, seemingly out of the blue, Katie gets a job offer from Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc., a company that provides tricks of the trade to the magic community. For MSI, Katie's ordinariness is an asset.

Lacking any bit of magic, she can easily spot a fake spell, catch hidden clauses in competitor's contracts, and detect magically disguised intruders. Suddenly, average Katie is very special indeed.

She quickly learns that office politics are even more complicated when your new boss is a real ogre, and you have a crush on the sexy, shy, ultra powerful head of the R&D department, who is so busy fighting an evil competitor threatening to sell black magic on the street that he seems barely to notice Katie. Now it's up to Katie to pull off the impossible: save the world and--hopefully--live happily ever after.

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:

This is a very fun Paranormal read. I'm not sure if I can call it Paranormal Romance as the triangly romance is not the main focus.

Katie is as unmagical as people come so ends up working for a magical company that needs someone like her to see through magic.

I had lots of fun discovering this world and seeing how Katie handles the things she encounters. Her practical way of thinking helps her out with both her job and the trouble that finds her.

There are many cool magical characters as well, and in the triangly/square romance thing that's going on I clearly had my favorite. Next to Katie getting used to her new normal there's a suspenseful storyline going on and I was invested in how that would play out.

All in all I had a good time with this book. I immediately borrowed the rest of the series from the friend who lent me this one.

Why should you read it:

It's a fun and enjoyable Paranormal read.

Teaser Tuesdays - Leech

I shift, suddenly very aware of the little container pressing against me. "It can wait until after supper/"

(page 36, Leech by Hiron Ennes)

---------

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, previously hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their  TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Book Review

 

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy #1)

by Douglas Adams

What is it about:

Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of the The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last fifteen years, has been posing as an out of work actor.

Together this dynamic pair begin their journey through space aided by quotes from The Hitch Hiker's Guide "A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have" and a galaxy-full of fellow travellers: Zaphod Beeblebrox - the two-headed, three-armed ex-hippie and totally out to lunch president of the galaxy; Trillian, Zaphod's girlfriend (formally Tricia McMillan), whom Arthur tried to pick up at a cocktail party once upon a time zone; Marvin, a paranoid, brilliant and chronically depressed robot; Veet Voojagig, a former graduate student who is obsessed with the disappearance of all the ball-point pens he has bought over the years.

What did I think of it:

I read the complete The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series ages ago. I did remember some parts and pieces of the story and as I also remembered I very much enjoyed reading the series I decided to get my trotters on the books and do a reread.

And I had lots of fun with this first book.

I love Adams writing style and humor. He describes things in elaborate and humorous ways that is similar to Terry Pratchett, but with his own special flavor of humor and thinking.

There are several storylines and characters you follow, but eventually these storylines come together. Of the different characters Arthur Dent is probably one of the most relatable characters, as the 'fish out of the water' human who gets taken along on the adventure of a lifetime. Although I must confess I have a very soft spot for Marvin, the depressed robot.

It was strange to discover which parts of the story I remembered and which ones I totally forgot about. Some scenes are of course unforgettable, but I forgot some pretty important plot points, while remembering small stuff as well.

All n all I had a great time rereading/rediscovering this book and I'll be picking up book 2 soon.

Why should you read it:

It's a super fun and cool SF story.

Love on the Brain - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

 

Love on the Brain

by Ali Hazelwood

What is it about:

Bee Königswasser lives by a simple code: What would Marie Curie do? If NASA offered her the lead on a neuroengineering project - a literal dream come true - Marie would accept without hesitation. Duh. But the mother of modern physics never had to co-lead with Levi Ward.

Sure, Levi is attractive in a tall, dark, and piercing-eyes kind of way. But Levi made his feelings toward Bee very clear in grad school - archenemies work best employed in their own galaxies far, far away.

But when her equipment starts to go missing and the staff ignore her, Bee could swear she sees Levi softening into an ally, backing her plays, seconding her ideas... devouring her with those eyes. The possibilities have all her neurons firing.

But when it comes time to actually make a move and put her heart on the line, there's only one question that matters: What will Bee Königswasser do?

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:

I loved The Love Hypothesis, so even though I didn't really get into Hazelwood's first novella, DNFed the second for a petty reason, and didn't feel in the mood for the third, I decided to give Love on the Brain a try.

This turned out to be a predictable, but very enjoyable read.

I liked the set up of the story much more than the set up of the novella, so I was interested in seeing how this romance would unroll from the start. Bee is a bit too much at times, but she never annoyed me to the point where I lost my interest in the story.

The romance is super predictable as I mentioned, but fun enough that I didn't mind. There's also a second storyline woven in to up the stakes, but that one didn't really interest me I'll confess.

There's one very unnecessary negative remark about Flemish Belgium that seriously annoyed me, but other than that I enjoyed this book. I think I'll keep an eye out for Hazelwood's next book, and might even give the DNFed and the third novella a try when I'm in the mood for a nice romance.

Why should you read it:

It's a very enjoyable Contemporary Romance

Teaser Tuesdays - The Annual Migration of Clouds

Henryk feels it too, the rage I mean, the upward pull of it, when you know there's no starting over. When you know that everything we needed to start over was thrown away or burnt up decades before we were born.

(page 62, The Annual Migration of Clouds by Premee Mohamed)

---------

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, previously hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their  TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Release Alert: Shadow Wizard

 

Shadow Wizard: A Dark Fantasy Romance (Renegades of Magic Book 1)

by Jeffe Kennedy 

Spy, manipulator, traitor… He might be her only salvation.

Lady Seliah Phel can’t escape feeling like she’s one of those fairytale princesses awakened from a long slumber—except that her life is no romantic story and there’s no happy ending in sight. Though she has her magic and she’s been rescued from the depths of madness that consumed her since adolescence, Selly finds that the years she lost aren’t so easily recovered. Everyone treats her like the child they remember. To prove something—perhaps only to herself—she’s recklessly volunteered to stave off a host of monsters with only the enigmatically alluring, cuttingly sarcastic, and probably deceitful wizard Jadren El-Adrel for company.

Jadren isn’t the heroic type. In fact, he’s not much of anything. Relentlessly groomed into a shadow of a man by his sadistic mother, he’s the perfect spy and tool, with no real will of his own. When he’s stranded in the wilderness with Seliah Phel, he figures the outcome is immaterial. Live or die, it’s all the same to him. But Seliah is a different story and she isn’t like anyone else. Though he reminds himself she’s basically a child in a woman’s body, he finds it increasingly difficult to resist her artless charms and relentless curiosity.

As their predicament goes from dire to disastrous, Jadren realizes his many failures have jeopardized Selly’s future, perhaps her very life. Far from home and trapped without resources, Selly has only Jadren to rely upon—the one person she can’t possibly trust. There seems no possibility of rescue from their friends and family back home at House Phel, so Jadren and Selly must work together to survive… if they can.

Just Like Home - Book Review

 

Just Like Home

by Sarah Gailey

What is it about:

“Come home.” Vera’s mother called and Vera obeyed. In spite of their long estrangement, in spite of the memories -- she's come back to the home of a serial killer. Back to face the love she had for her father and the bodies he buried there.

Coming home is hard enough for Vera, and to make things worse, she and her mother aren’t alone. A parasitic artist has moved into the guest house out back, and is slowly stripping Vera’s childhood for spare parts. He insists that he isn’t the one leaving notes around the house in her father’s handwriting… but who else could it possibly be?

There are secrets yet undiscovered in the foundations of the notorious Crowder House. Vera must face them, and find out for herself just how deep the rot goes.

What did I think of it:

I'm a huge fan of Sarah Gailey, so you bet I got my trotters on this book asap.

And this is yet another amazing read.

It is soon clear disturbing things happened in Vera's childhood home, and that these things had an effect on the relationship between Vera and her mother. But how much of the dark mood that hangs over the house is caused by their broken relationship and their past and how much of it is something more sinister?

I was invested from the start, trying to figure out what was going on and what happened during Vera's childhood. The story switched back and forth in time, slowly revealing more about the past and about Vera, her father, and her mother.

The mood is deliciously creepy, and fits the story perfectly. Near the end things get more dark and weird, and I loved it! This book is very different from the other novels by Gailey, although at times it does have similar creepy vibes as the comic Eat the Rich.

You bet this is going on my keeper shelves, and that I'll continue to buy Gailey's books.

Why should you read it:

It's creepy and atmospheric