Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: April 9, 2019

Publisher: HQN

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Blurb:

To celebrate their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, Grace has planned the surprise of a lifetime for her husband—a romantic getaway to Paris. But she never expected he’d have a surprise of his own: he wants a divorce. Reeling from the shock but refusing to be broken, a devastated Grace makes the bold decision to go to Paris alone.

Audrey, a young woman from London, has left behind a heartache of her own when she arrives in Paris. A job in a bookshop is her ticket to freedom, but with no money and no knowledge of the French language, suddenly a summer spent wandering the cobbled streets alone seems much more likely…until she meets Grace, and everything changes.

Grace can’t believe how daring Audrey is. Audrey can’t believe how cautious newly single Grace is. Living in neighboring apartments above the bookshop, this unlikely pair offer each other just what they’ve both been missing. They came to Paris to find themselves, but finding this unbreakable friendship might be the best thing that’s ever happened to them…

Review:

If you’re like me and have always dreamed of spending a summer in Paris but can’t ever quite make it work then this sweet book may be the next best thing! Not only was I totally captivated by both of the main characters and their individual stories, I felt truly swept away to Paris myself.

This is told from both Grace and Audrey’s point of view as they are both at a sort of a crossroads in their lives. Although they are years and miles apart living totally different lives, when they have a chance encounter in Paris they quickly realize they actually have many things in common. I love stories about unlikely friendships and Morgan did a fantastic job at creating two distinctly opposite characters who actually balance each other out perfectly. I think any woman could relate to this one on some level, Grace is experiencing some difficulties in her marriage and the prospect of her only child leaving for college and Audrey is just eighteen and dealing with so much more than any teenager should be, so you see struggles that both young and more mature women may be dealing with. Seeing them both grow and learn from each other over one single summer was really sweet and they both had my full attention, I was wholeheartedly invested in these two.

Morgan is one of my favorite authors, and for good reason, she always creates characters that resonate with me on some level and then she has this great mix of lighthearted fun and thoughtful depth that just pulls me in. Throw in a gorgeous setting and some light romance and I’m truly happy and satisfied. Highly recommended for spring/summer reading!

One Summer in Paris in three words: Heartfelt, Poignant and Captivating

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: May 15, 2019

Publisher: Gallery

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Blurb:

Olive is always unlucky: in her career, in love, in…well, everything. Her identical twin sister Amy, on the other hand, is probably the luckiest person in the world. Her meet-cute with her fiancé is something out of a romantic comedy (gag) and she’s managed to finance her entire wedding by winning a series of Internet contests (double gag). Worst of all, she’s forcing Olive to spend the day with her sworn enemy, Ethan, who just happens to be the best man.

Olive braces herself to get through 24 hours of wedding hell before she can return to her comfortable, unlucky life. But when the entire wedding party gets food poisoning from eating bad shellfish, the only people who aren’t affected are Olive and Ethan. And now there’s an all-expenses-paid honeymoon in Hawaii up for grabs.

Putting their mutual hatred aside for the sake of a free vacation, Olive and Ethan head for paradise, determined to avoid each other at all costs. But when Olive runs into her future boss, the little white lie she tells him is suddenly at risk to become a whole lot bigger. She and Ethan now have to pretend to be loving newlyweds, and her luck seems worse than ever. But the weird thing is that she doesn’t mind playing pretend. In fact, she feels kind of… lucky. 

Review:

When I get my hands on a copy of a new CL book I immediately drop everything else and start it, no matter what! It’s rare for me to do this, so that should tell you something about how much I love their books. I’ve been working my way through their backlist and though I haven’t read them all (yet) I don’t think I’ve ever rated their books lower than a 4 either and this one gets all the love from me, it’s absolute perfection.

The enemies to lovers trope is one of my favorites, there’s something about the angry, angsty chemistry and buildup to the romance that always works well for me and this was a total love/hate tale. Olive was extremely likable right from the beginning and although I wasn’t sure what to make of Ethan initially I quickly found myself a new book boyfriend. He wasn’t quite Josh for me but he was damn close! There was plenty of witty banter between the two and several mishaps that had me cracking up, paradise isn’t perfect for these two but they’ll both be damned if they don’t have the best possible trip, it is free after all!

As you’re planning your summer vacation go ahead and plan on bringing this book along with, it’s an ideal beach read and if you’re not sipping a cocktail poolside while reading it, you’ll be wishing you were!

The Unhoneymooners in three words: Hilarious, Delightful and Saucy

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: April 9, 2019

Publisher: Putnam

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: April 9, 2019

Publisher: Lake Union

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Blurb:

For the last ten years, Agnes Parsons’s biggest challenge has been juggling yoga classes and lunch dates. Her Santa Monica house staff takes care of everything, leaving Agnes to focus on her trophy-wife responsibilities: look perfect, adore her older husband, and wear terribly expensive (if uncomfortable) underwear.

When her husband disappears, leaving Agnes and their infant daughter with no money, no home, and no staff, she is forced to move across the country, where she lands a job teaching at an all-boys boarding school in the Bronx. So long, organic quinoa bowls and sunshine-filled California life. Hello, processed food, pest-infested house, and twelve-year-old-boy humor—all day, every day.

But it’s in this place of second chances (and giant bugs), where Agnes is unexpectedly forced to take care of herself and her daughter, where she finds out the kind of woman she can be. Ultimately, she has to decide if she prefers the woman and mother she has become…or the trophy life she left behind.

Authentic and sharply witty, Trophy Lifeis proof that granny panties and mom coats might not be the answer to everything; they’re simply comfortable (if slightly unattractive) reminders of what happens when one life ends…and real life begins. 

Review:

Don’t let the fun and bright cover fool you, this book had more depth than I anticipated from first glance. Sure, it’s light and has plenty of laugh old loud moments, but it’s also brutally honest and feels refreshingly authentic.

Agnes is living the dream, she has a gorgeous house in Santa Monica, an adoring husband and a sweet baby daughter. Her only “job” is to look good for her husband, their hired help takes care of the rest and when her entire world gets flipped upside down and she is forced to get a real job, teaching unruly middle school boys no less, she gets a rude awakening, and fast. To start with I didn’t think much of Agnes, she seemed vapid and self absorbed but there is much more than meets the eye with this woman. Over the course of the book she undergoes quite the transformation and I was rooting for her hardcore by the end.

This is told over the course of one year as she navigates life as a single mom who’s future is in limbo as she struggles to figure out what her next steps are. While I did like her quite a bit, her boys, (the students she teaches) stole my heart. They’re a group of misfits that have been labeled as troublemakers by the adults in their lives and she seems to be the only person who truly cares about these kids. They were also rotten little stinkers who cause mischief at every opportunity making for some hilarious scenarios.

Recommended when you want a read with that great balance of light hearted fun and subtle depth, especially for anyone that has ever had to start over in their own life!

Trophy Life in three words: Refreshing, Genuine and Funny

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: April 2, 2019

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Genre: YA, Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

Annie Mathers is America’s sweetheart and heir to a country music legacy full of all the things her Gran warned her about. Superstar Clay Coolidge is most definitely going to end up one of those things. 

But unfortunately for Clay, if he can’t convince Annie to join his summer tour, his music label is going to drop him. That’s what happens when your bad boy image turns into bad boy reality. Annie has been avoiding the spotlight after her parents’ tragic death, except on her skyrocketing YouTube channel. Clay’s label wants to land Annie, and Clay has to make it happen. 

Swayed by Clay’s undeniable charm and good looks, Annie and her band agree to join the tour. From the start fans want them to be more than just tour mates, and Annie and Clay can’t help but wonder if the fans are right. But if there’s one part of fame Annie wants nothing to do with, it’s a high-profile relationship. She had a front row seat to her parents’ volatile marriage and isn’t interested in repeating history. If only she could convince her heart that Clay, with his painful past and head over heels inducing tenor, isn’t worth the risk.

Review:

Could this book be any more adorable?! It’s been awhile since I read a YA novel much less a romance one but I’m back on the train because I absolutely loved this one. It was sweet, cute and full of heart. And while I have your attention if you have any recs in this genre please let me know!

If you’re a country music fan you’ll appreciate this one, I am and I loved the insight into the industry through the eyes of an already established star and also an up and coming new artist. Besides the glitzy and not so glitzy side of the entertainment industry being showcased this had all the teen angst and drama and I am here for that! There was a lot of will they or won’t they going on, great chemistry and a whole lot of country charm.

This surprised me with the amount of depth and growth the characters experienced, both Clay and Annie have some pretty dark and heavy issues in their pasts which made it all the more realistic for me. If realistic means two teenagers as country stars, but you get what I mean. Overall a wildly enjoyable read for me and the perfect addition to your spring reading lists!

You’d Be Mine in three words: Adorable, Angsty and Enjoyable

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: April 2, 2019

Publisher: Gallery

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

Lucy Brewer would never have guessed that her best friend, Duffy McCready (of McCready’s Bait Shop & Funeral Home) has been in love with her since they were kids. Fear of rejection and his own romantic complications prevented Duffy from confessing his true feelings in high school, so he stood by and watched her wed Wayne Bowman right after high school. Wayne had always been a cheapskate, so it comes as no surprise when he suffers a fatal accident while fixing his own truck.

Even as her family and friends invade Lucy’s life and insist that the new widow is too fragile to do much beyond weeping, Lucy is ashamed to admit that life without Wayne is easier, less complicated. After all, no one knew what a relentless, soul-grinding trudge marriage to Wayne had been. Only Duffy can tell she’s hiding something.

In need of a fresh start, Lucy asks Duffy to put his cabinet-building skills to use, transforming the town’s meat shop into a bake shop. As the bakery takes shape, Lucy and Duffy discover the spark that pulled them together so many years ago. Could this finally be the second chance he’s always hoped for?

Review:

This is the third book in Harper’s Southern Eclectic series and you could easily read it as a standalone as each book focuses on a new couple living in the kooky town of Lake Sackett, Georgia. I will say that this is one of my favorite series when I need a good laugh, I absolutely adore the authors brand of humor and find myself cackling with laughter several times while I read one of these books, so if you have the time and inclination to start at the first book, I highly recommended them for pure fun and entertainment.

This time the focus is on Duffy and Lucy so you get to revisit the wacky members of the McCready family that I’ve personally grown to love. There’s people are bat shit crazy in the best way possible, I swear some of the stuff they do and say makes me hysterical. As usual, the developing relationship between Lucy and Duffy felt realistic and sweet but also steamy and sexy at times. Lucy also has an adorable son who stole the show, I mean romance, humor AND a cute kid?! I couldn’t possibly ask for more, but there’s also cake because Lucy is opening a bakery 😍 Cake is always an added bonus in my book.

I’ll continue to follow this series as long as Harper keeps on writing it, in fact I love it so much I’m even planning on going back to read the novellas that were released between books and I never ever do that but I just can’t get enough of this southern charm and spunk this series provides!

Gimme Some Sugar in three words: Saucy, Sexy and Spirited.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: April 1, 2019

Publisher: Lake Union

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Blurb:

Honesty is the best policy…except maybe when it comes to marriage in this brilliant novel about the high price of perfection from bestselling author Camille Pagán.

Wife. Mother. Breadwinner. Penelope Ruiz-Kar is doing it all—and barely keeping it together. Meanwhile, her best friend, Jenny Sweet, appears to be sailing through life. As close as the two women are, Jenny’s passionate marriage, pristine house, and ultra-polite child stand in stark contrast to Penelope’s underemployed husband, Sanjay, their unruly brood, and the daily grind she calls a career.

Then a shocking tragedy reveals that Jenny’s life is far from perfect. Reeling, Penelope vows to stop keeping the peace and finally deal with the issues in her relationship. So she and Sanjay agree to a radical proposal: both will write a list of changes they want each other to make—then commit to complete and total honesty.

What seems like a smart idea quickly spirals out of control, revealing new rifts and even deeper secrets. As Penelope stares down the possible implosion of her marriage, she must ask herself: When it comes to love, is honesty really the best policy? 

Review:

I am SO the target audience for this book, I’m just an average mom and wife trying to keep my family running and stay sane while juggling more balls than I should be, and the main character, Penny is doing exactly the same thing, and she’s struggling in a major way. #relatable So if you’re a middle aged wife/mom grab this one because I have a feeling that you’ll see a piece of yourself in Penny as well. And if you’re not, grab it anyway because it was a great read.

Penny and her husband Sanjay decide to try and revitalize their marriage and the first step is total honestly, especially concerning their own personal wants and needs. At first glance this sounds like a solid plan, but is total honesty ever a truly good idea? That’s a hard no from me, I mean I like to think I’m an honest person but do you know how many times a day I bite my tongue in order to avoid sounding like a huge bitch? The answer to that question is a lot of times a day and I most certainly keep quiet when my husband says or does something to annoy me on the regular. All of that to say, the idea of true and sometimes harsh, honestly in a marriage is downright scary. It brought some really interesting questions to light and even made me examine my own life, which is always something I appreciate in a book, especially one that is super fun and light in so many ways. A mix of depth and fun is such a great balance and when it’s done well, it’s a little magical. It was done very well here! This would be a great choice for a book club, plenty of themes to discuss and enough humor and heart to stick with you after you’ve finished.

I’m Fine and Neither Are You in three words: Witty, Heartfelt and Realistic

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: February 19, 2019

Publisher: Thomas and Mercer

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

Kidnapped and raised by serial killers, Charlotte Rowe suffered an ordeal that made her infamous. Everyone in the world knew who she was. But no one in the world has any idea what she’s become…

Charlotte is an experiment. And a weapon. Enabled by a superpower drug, she’s partnered with a shadowy pharmaceutical company to hunt down and eliminate society’s most depraved human predators. But her latest mission goes off the rails in a horrifying way. Unsettled by her own capacity for violence, Charlotte wants some time to retreat so she can work on her new relationship with Luke, a sheriff’s deputy in the isolated Central California town she now calls home.

If only the threats hadn’t followed Charlotte there.

Something sinister is evolving in Altamira, California—a massive network of domestic terrorists with ties to Charlotte’s influential and corrupt employers. As a vast and explosive criminal conspiracy grows, the fate of Charlotte’s hometown hangs in the balance. With everyone she cares about in danger, Charlotte has no choice but to bring her powers home.

Charlotte Rowe has been triggered, and now she’ll have to take matters into her own powerful hands.

Review:

Some of my most trusted bookstagram friends have been raving about Christopher Rice for awhile now so late last year I finally picked up the first book in this series, Bone Music. They all told me that not only is his writing amazing, but that this series in particular had a unique edge, and man were they right! Even though this falls under the general umbrella of a thriller there are some sci fi elements which, surprisingly didn’t bother me at all even though that genre is way out of my comfort zone. Just a heads up!

As I said earlier this is the second book in a series and it is crucial to read both books. I did listen to the first book on audio and then flipped between the two for this one and the narration was great if you want that as an option. Anyway, do not start here and think you can get all caught up easily, there is imperative information in the first installment so do yourself a favor and start there.

I want to circle back to the sci fi angle I mentioned earlier, there is definitely some supernatural activity here but it was handled in the most believable way possible. Weird, I know, but even though things should seem far fetched it just all makes sense here and I didn’t actually feel like I was reading something out there or that I had to suspend disbelief at all. I think part of this is because the characterization is great, especially with Charlotte and while I feel like two books in we’ve taken a deep dive into who she is, I also get the sense that there is so much more to explore with her.

The pacing here is a little odd, it starts out fast and full of intensity and then things slow down a bit and then bam, you’re back to excitement and one hell of an ending. I’m a serious fan of the author now and really can’t wait for the next book, this is just a really cool concept and like nothing that I’ve read before.

Blood Echo in three words: Unusual, Complex and Dark

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.