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Review: Beauty and the Greek Billionaire

10/29/2018

Beauty and the Greek Billionaire
by Stefanie London

Synopsis

Marianna Halsey has the most boring life in the world. With seven overprotective older brothers, she’s even ended up a virgin at twenty-four. But when a dark and sexy male prevents her from getting her wallet stolen on a Greek vacation, she decides it’s time for some adventure. She’s read a gazillion romance novels. How hard can it be to score a hook-up?

Greek billionaire and stock market whiz, Nico Galinas has built an empire from nothing. Literally. Orphaned as a baby, Nico trusts no one. Especially not the quirky, attractive woman using the worst pick up tricks in history. She wants something, and Nico decides to play along, even when she invites herself back to his place.

But what happens when the beast accidentally knocks up the beauty?

Review

You know, if you're a frequent reader of my reviews, especially my romance read reviews, you know that there are some things I don't like in my romance books. I don't like women who let themselves be pushed around. I like alphas, but i don't like bullies. I don't like when books end in marriages and babies.

So, let's say I was pleasantly surprised that I even WANTED to read this book because the synopsis itself tells you that there's going to be a baby in this equation. There were two things that made me want to read it though. One, there appeared to be a type of re-telling in the mix of one of my favorite tales, Beauty and the Beast, and two, this book was written by Stefanie London. I LOVE Stefanie London's books. I couldn't really pass up the opportunity to read one. Even if there would be a baby.

I was not disappointed. Beauty and the Greek Billionaire introduced me to Marianna, an Australian woman with a knack for languages and *trope alert* a virgin. Usually the whole virgin trope annoys me, but I could buy into the fact that Marianna lost her parents a long time ago, leaving her older brothers to take care of her. Brothers that do not let her out of her sight.

We also meet Nico, the billionaire who had his heart broken a long time ago. These two find in each other what they've been missing, heat and tenderness, curiosity and excitement. But of course, it wouldn't be a love story without some bumps in the road. And with a baby involved? You better believe these are some huge bumps in the road. But it worked. There was pain and miscommunication. It was messy, like real life.

Now, I'm not saying any of us will be meeting and having the baby of a Greek billionaire, but London got the messiness of life and love and heartbreak correct. The only difference is, with romance novels, we are almost always guaranteed a HEA (happily ever after) - and I surely can't complain about that.

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Review: The Vampire Knitting Club

10/18/2018

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The Vampire Knitting Club
by Nancy Warren

Synopsis

Vampires who knit
A troublemaking witch
Who killed Granny — and is she really dead?

At a crossroads between a cringe-worthy past (Todd the Toad) and an uncertain future (she's not exactly homeless, but it's close), Lucy Swift travels to Oxford to visit her grandmother. With Gran's undying love to count on and Cardinal Woolsey's, Gran's knitting shop, to keep her busy, Lucy can catch her breath and figure out what she's going to do.

Except it turns out that Gran is the undying. Or at least, the undead. But there's a death certificate. And a will, leaving the knitting shop to Lucy. And a lot of people going in and out who never use the door—including Gran, who is just as loving as ever, and prone to knitting sweaters at warp speed, late at night. What exactly is going on?

When Lucy discovers that Gran did not die peacefully in her sleep, but was murdered, she has to bring the killer to justice without tipping off the law that there's no body in the grave. Between a hot 600-year-old vampire and a dishy detective inspector, both of whom always seem to be there for her, Lucy finds her life getting more complicated than a triple cable cardigan.
The only one who seems to know what's going on is her cat ... or is it ... her familiar?

First in a new series of paranormal cozy mysteries with bite!

Review

It has been awhile since I've sat down with a cozy, so I could not help myself from the opportunity to review this paranormal cozy, The Vampire Knitting Club. I mean, with a title like that, I could I resist?

Sometimes, cozies are difficult for me to get into because they tend to sound the same as the last cozy I read, The Vampire Knitting Club, however, was truly extremely easy to fall into. Everything from the setting (not in the U.S.! Yay! Sorry, but a change of scenery, even in books, is wonderful), to the main character, to the people around her - everything was so intriguing and kept my attention. Lucy is a great character, a good dose of curiosity and determination. I love it.

I'm looking forward to reading more of Warren's cozy mystery series - and if that isn't an endorsement from me, I don't know what is.

**Take a look at an excerpt of the book below the About the Author section!**

About the Author

Nancy Warren is the USA Today bestselling author of more than 60 novels including the Toni Diamond cozy mystery series.

She shares her time between Victoria, British Columbia, and Bath in the UK.

** Catch Up With Nancy Warren On: Website (http://bit.ly/2Meobvu) , Goodreads (http://bit.ly/2vL6jye) , Twitter (http://bit.ly/2vJf8sr) , & Facebook (http://bit.ly/2McYn33) !

Excerpt

CHAPTER ONE

Cardinal Woolsey’s knitting shop has appeared on postcards celebrating the quaint views of Oxford, of which there are many. But when a visitor has tired of writing ‘wish you were here’ on the back of pictures of the various colleges, the dreaming spires, and the dome of the Radcliffe Camera, a cozy little shop painted blue, brimming with baskets of wool and hand-knit goods, can be so much more inviting.

My grandmother Agnes Bartlett owned the knitting shop and I was on my way to visit after spending a very hot month at a dig site in Egypt visiting my archaeologist parents.

Gran was always ready to wrap her warm arms around me and tell me everything was going to be all right. I needed comforting after discovering my boyfriend of two years Todd had stuck his salami in someone else’s sandwich. I referred to him now as my ex-boyfriend The Toad. I was thinking about Gran’s wisdom, her hugs and her home made gingersnaps, when I started to feel as though cold, wet fingers were walking down the back of my neck.

My wheeled suitcase clanked and rattled behind me along the cobblestones of Harrington Street as I looked around, wondering what had caused the heebie-jeebies.

The October day was chilly and crisp and, in the mid-afternoon, the street was busy with shoppers, tourists and students. Church bells chimed three o’clock. When I glanced ahead, I saw my beloved Gran. She wore a black skirt, sensible shoes and one of her hand-knit cardigans, this one in orange and blue. She was walking with a glamorous woman in her sixties whom I didn’t recognize. I thought Gran looked confused and my hackles immediately rose. The glamor puss was holding an umbrella over Gran’s head, even though the day was dry and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.

I waved and called, “Gran!” moving faster so my suitcase began to bounce.
I was sure they saw me, but as I sped toward them, they veered down a side street. What on earth? I lifted my case and began to run; though my case was so heavy it was more of a grunting stagger.

“Gran!” I yelled again. I stopped at the bottom of the road where I’d last seen them. There was no one there. A dry, shriveled leaf tumbled toward me and from a window ledge a small, black cat regarded me with what looked like pity. Otherwise, the street was empty.

“Agnes Bartlett!” I yelled at the top of my lungs.

I stood, panting. The side street was lined with a mixture of half-timbered cottages and Victorian row houses, all clearly residential. Gran hadn’t popped into a shop and would soon emerge. She was visiting in one of those homes, presumably. I wondered if it belonged to her friend.

Well, there was no point standing there. I’d go to Cardinal Woolsey’s and wait for Gran there. Her assistant, Rosemary, would be running the shop and I could let myself into the upstairs flat and unpack while I waited for my grandmother to return.

I retraced my steps, but when I reached the entrance to the quaint shop and tried the door, it didn’t open. I tried again, pushing harder, before my other senses kicked in and I realized that no lights were on inside.

A printed sign hung on the windowed front door. It said, “Cardinal Woolsey’s is closed until further notice.” At the bottom was a phone number.

Closed until further notice?

Gran never closed the shop outside her regular closing days. And if she had, where was her assistant?

I stood on the sidewalk that feeling came again, like cold fingers on the nape of my neck.

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Playlist: Crown of Thunder

10/17/2018

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Make sure to scroll to the end
to read Tochi Onyebuchi's playlist!

Crown of Thunder
by Tochi Onyebuchi

Synopsis

In the sequel to the acclaimed Beasts Made of Night, Taj has escaped Kos, but Queen Karima will go to any means necessary--including using the most deadly magic--to track him down.

Taj is headed west, but the consequences of leaving Kos behind confront him at every turn. Innocent civilians flee to refugee camps as Karima's dark magic continues to descend on the city. Taj must return, but first he needs a plan.

With Arzu's help, Taj and Aliya make it to the village of her ancestors, home of the tastahlik--sin-eaters with Taj's same ability to both battle and call forth sins. As Taj comes to terms with his new magic, he realizes there are two very different groups of tastahlik--one using their powers for good, the other for more selfish ends.

Aliya is struggling with her own unique capabilities. She's immersed in her work to uncover the secret to Karima's magic, but her health begins to mysteriously deteriorate. With the help of a local western mage, Aliya uncovers her true destiny--a future she's not sure she wants.

As Taj and Aliya explore their feelings for each other and Arzu connects with her homeland, the local westerners begin to question Taj's true identity. Karima is on his heels, sending dark warnings to the little village where he's hiding. Taj will have to go back and face her before she sends her most deadly weapon--Taj's former best friend, Bo.

Directly from Tochi Onyebuchi:

I wanted to capture the playfulness of some of the aki as well as the ease of their physical movements and one place to find that in ample supply is in dance crazes out of Africa and the diaspora. Some of the songs that plunged me deep into the heart of those crazes were

Mr. Real - Legbegbe
Olamide - Science Student
A Star - Kupe

But then I also wanted to capture the thrill of battles, those scenes when Taj and the aki found themselves face to face with horde after horde of inisisa. Lacuna Coil is one of my favorite bands, and I had these songs on repeat throughout:

Lacuna Coil - Trip the Darkness
Lacuna Coil - Ultima Ratio
Lacuna Coil - The House of Shame

And finally, a song I find myself returning to no matter what project I’m working on:

M.I.A. - Bad Girls

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Author Interview: Sparkle of Silver

10/16/2018

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Genre: Contemporary / Romance
Publisher: Revell
Date of Publication: October 16, 2018
Number of Pages: 368

Scroll down for the giveaway!

CLICK TO PURCHASE
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**GRAND PRIZE: Print Copy of A Sparkle of Silver, a Tin of Georgia Peach Cookies, a Handmade Wooden Treasure Box; SECOND PRIZE: Print Copy + $25 B&N Gift Card;
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OCTOBER 10-19, 2018**
(U.S. Only)

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VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:

10/16/18
Author Interview
Book Fidelity
10/16/18
Bonus Notable Quotable
Hall Ways Blog
10/17/18
Excerpt
Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
10/18/18
Review
That's What She's Reading
10/19/18
Character Interview
Chapter Break Book Blog
10/20/18
Review
StoreyBook Reviews
10/21/18
Playlist
All the Ups and Downs
10/22/18
Review
Reading by Moonlight
10/23/18
Excerpt
Books and Broomsticks
10/24/18
Review
Missus Gonzo
10/25/18
Review
Carpe Diem Chronicles

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Review: Good Girl's Bad Lessons

10/15/2018

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Good Girl's Bad Lessons
by Carmen Falcone

Synopsis

Translator Emma Cavanaugh will do anything to win her ex-boyfriend back—including summoning her brother's best friend, Italian billionaire and playboy Nico Giordano, to give her much-needed lessons in the art of seducing and pleasing a man. Sex was never her thing, so if anyone is going to know how to teach her how to be bad it'll be Mr. Sex-on-A-Stick himself.

Nico doesn't want any part of the crazy plan to teach Emma to be the mayor of pleasureville because not only will her brother kill him, but little does she know he wants nothing more than to taste her, touch her, and hear her moan his name. So that's a hard no...until she begs him to show her, to let her be his student for a month of blistering hot instruction that will make not only Emma's ex panting for more, but Nico as well as it turns out.

Review

I know it's October, and it's time for horror and mysteries (but honestly, when isn't it?), but I can't fully let go of my romance! Good Girl's Bad Lessons was a fun and quick read. There were definitely some aspects about it that I did not enjoy (hence, my 3 star rating on Goodreads - not bad, but not great).

The story is about Emma being dumped by her fiancé for lack of "sexual compatibility" is really the best way to describe it. Feeling low, but determined to win back her fiancé, Emma begins a sexual relationship with her brother's best friend, Nico. Nico finds Emma hard to resist as he is quite attracted to her, of course.

Emma is a sweet and caring character and Nico is a bad boy who takes what he wants. They are perfect opposites attract pairing. The details that bothered me about the story have more to do with the pace of the story - things move along SUPER quick, and I felt a bit of whiplash as to how everything started. I guess the best way to describe it would be that I wasn't given enough time or information to care about Emma and Nico as individuals before I was thrown into this set up they have.

Another thing that bothered me was the use of certain dialogue.

*WARNING: I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT THE SEX*

I was super irritated to hear Emma's vagina/pussy/etc. referred to as her "kitty". I'm sorry - no. lol

Nico loves dirty talk, and some of it was pretty good...some of it really wasn't. To each their own!

*COME BACK TO ME PEOPLE WHO SKIPPED THE SEXY PARTS*

This book has a fantastic rating on Goodreads, so feel free to ignore me. The story had a lot of things I love: opposites attract trope, fake relationship trope, and the reformed "bad boy" trope. The execution, for me, left a lot to be desired.

I recommend the book to all romance readers, especially those that enjoy the steamy scenes the best lol

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