This Week's New Releases

This week there is a nice variety of new releases. Contemporaries, of course, but also a World War 1 set fantasy, a futuristic young adult, and a romantic suspense.

What new releases are you looking forward to this week?

I love the sound of this! Digital stunt girls? Yeah, this is new. Can't wait to read this one.

Vicarious
Paula Stokes
Futuristic/Young Adult

Winter Kim and her sister, Rose, have always been inseparable. Together, the two of them survived growing up in a Korean orphanage and being trafficked into the United States.

Now they work as digital stunt girls for Rose’s ex-boyfriend, Gideon, engaging in dangerous and enticing activities while recording their neural impulses for his Vicarious Sensory Experiences, or ViSEs. Whether it’s bungee jumping, shark diving, or grinding up against celebrities at the city’s hottest dance clubs, Gideon can make it happen for you, for a price.

When Rose disappears and a ViSE recording of her murder is delivered to Gideon, Winter won’t rest until she finds her sister’s killer. But when the clues she uncovers conflict with the neural recordings her sister made, Winter isn’t sure what to believe. To find out what happened to Rose, she’ll have to untangle what’s real from what only seems real, risking her life in the process.

I'm fascinated with the Arctic Circle because it is so different from what I'm used to. I hope to someday see the Northern Lights in person. Until then, I'll look at pictures, watch videos and read books about it.

In the Barren Ground
Loreth Anne White
Suspense/Romance

In the Barrens, a vast wilderness in northern Canada bordering the Arctic Circle, night consumes every hour of the winter. Humans are scarce; ferocious predators roam freely. Locals say spirits do, too. Rookie cop Tana Larsson doesn’t mind the dark and quiet. Five months pregnant and hoping to escape the mistakes of her past, she takes a post in Twin Rivers, population 320. Maybe here she can find peace and community for her child.

But with her superior out of commission, Tana becomes the sole police officer in 17,500 square miles. One bitter night, she gets a call about the fatal wolf mauling of two students, and the only way to reach the remote scene is to enlist the help of the arrogant, irritatingly handsome Cameron “Crash” O’Halloran, a local bush pilot with a shady reputation for smuggling and a past cloaked in shadow.

When the macabre scene they uncover suggests violence much more sinister than animal, Tana must trust Crash if she wants to protect the town—and herself—from the evil that lurks in the frozen dark.

This next one is unique. It is rare to see a fantasy set in World War 1. Side Note: This author also wrote a short story - Evil Robot Monkey. This title makes me laugh and also piqued my curiosity.

Ghost Talkers
Mary Robinette Kowal
Historical/Fantasy

Ginger Stuyvesant, an American heiress living in London during World War I, is engaged to Captain Benjamin Harford, an intelligence officer. Ginger is a medium for the Spirit Corps, a special Spiritualist force.

Each soldier heading for the front is conditioned to report to the mediums of the Spirit Corps when they die so the Corps can pass instant information about troop movements to military intelligence.

Ginger and her fellow mediums contribute a great deal to the war efforts, so long as they pass the information through appropriate channels. While Ben is away at the front, Ginger discovers the presence of a traitor. Without the presence of her fiance to validate her findings, the top brass thinks she's just imagining things. Even worse, it is clear that the Spirit Corps is now being directly targeted by the German war effort. Left to her own devices, Ginger has to find out how the Germans are targeting the Spirit Corps and stop them. This is a difficult and dangerous task for a woman of that era, but this time both the spirit and the flesh are willing…

Yes, this is the third book in the series but... I have books 1 & 2. I have not read them yet but I have them! I'll get to them but until I do, I'll also have this one waiting on my Kindle for me. I like the premise, which is unusual for me because I've never been into mafia romances.

Ravage
Tillie Cole
Contemporary Romance
Scarred Souls/Book 3

Taken by the Jakhua Clan as a teen, 194 was stripped of his name, his identity, and his freewill, meticulously honed to be a ruthless, soulless killing machine, trained solely to spill blood and stop hearts. This is a role he resents with every fiber of his being, but one he embraces to gain back the precious leverage the Georgians wield as their weapon of control: his younger sister, 152.

Mzia Kostava is in shock. After fleeing her mafia family's massacre in Georgia as a child, Mzia lives in secret, hiding from her enemies in the dark shadows of Manhattan. At age twenty-five, believing all her family is dead, word reaches Mzia that her brother Zaal is very much alive... and living with their family's greatest enemy: the Volkov Bratva in Brooklyn.

Yearning to be reunited with her beloved Zaal, Mzia risks her safety and anonymity for the brother she had mourned since childhood. But just as she reaches Zaal's apartment, Mzia is seized and taken captive by a strange man, who is strong, dark, and brutal... Unyielding, he demands her utter obedience as he locks her away in darkness. He is highly skilled in torture and inflicting pain, and demands to know everything about her brother Zaal and everything about her. He is a man that'll do anything to get what he wants.

Sometimes love requires the sacrifice and betrayal of those held most dear. But is finding one's true love worth committing the greatest sacrifice of all?

This is the second book in the series, continuing the story that ended in a cliffhanger in the first book. I've got the first book but have yet to read it. Anyone read Sugar Daddy yet? I'm waiting until the third and final installment is released in October before starting this series since this one ends on a cliffhanger too.

Sugar Rush
Sawyer Bennett
Contemporary Romance
Sugar Bowl/Book 2

After posing as an escort for the Sugar Bowl online dating service, Sela Halstead is looking for one thing: payback. She's closing in on the site's heartless founder, Jonathon Townsend, and she needs Beckett North, Townsend's business partner and her lover, by her side. She'd thought that their intimate nights together had forged an unbreakable bond, but after a shocking betrayal, Sela begins to doubt the brilliant bad boy. When push comes to shove, can she trust Beck to do the right thing?

Now that he understands the truth, Beck will stop at nothing to secure the reckoning Sela deserves. But between his desire for her and his disgust for JT, Beck doesn't exactly have a lot of control over his emotional state. Left with no other choice, he must summon all his discipline to maintain JT's trust and pretend that they're still friends. But how far will Beck go to prove his loyalty to Sela? He nearly lost her once. To keep her, Beck might have to kill for her.

Kindle in Motion

Has anyone seen this? Or maybe I should say experienced this? I had no idea about it until I looked up a Kindle book and got a big shock. This guy was looking at me! I'm probably late to the party but now I know to be on the lookout. And really, it felt a little creepy.

Here's Amazon's description ~


This book can be read on any device, including Kindle E-readers. Kindle in Motion books include art, animation, or video features that can be viewed on certain Fire tablets and the free Kindle app for iOS and Android. You can switch features on or off at any time.

Click here for the link if the video doesn't work.

The Girl With All The Gifts

I read the book, now I want to see the movie. Here's the trailer.

The book is one that sticks with you long after you've finished. It is fantastically creepy and still has this wonderful story inside the creepiness. It's the story of the relationship between Melanie, the little girl and her teacher, Ms. Justineau. There were plenty of scenes that had my heart racing! I only wish I had reviewed it. I believe it's classified as horror, which I usually don't read but it came recommended so I decided to try it. So glad I did! It is tough reading at times as you might expect if you watched the trailer. Kids feature prominently in the plot and they are not always treated well.

Here's a brilliant review Hils wrote. It makes me want to re-read The Girl With All the Gifts. Even if you don't like horror, think of this as an often terrifying survivalist story and give it a try.

Scheduled release - September 23, 2016.

This Weeks New Releases

Running a little late this week. No clue how it got to be Wednesday already. I think I might have slept through a couple of days. Sorry about that. I'm sure you've all been waiting for this post before buying any books this week.  :)  We have some good looking releases - and not all are contemporary romances! As always, if you have any recs, please leave a comment.

A new series! It's cause for celebration since I seem to keep finding series that have already started. I like the siblings seeking vengeance theme. This sounds like a good start to romantic suspense series.

Ruthless
Lexi Blake
Contemporary Romance/Suspense

The Lawless siblings are bound by vengeance. Riley, Drew, Brandon, and Mia believe the CEO of StratCast orchestrated their parents’ murder twenty years ago to steal their father’s software program. And there’s only one way Riley can find some solid evidence...

Heir to the StratCast legacy, Ellie Stratton hires a new attorney to handle a delicate business matter—and she’s shocked by her attraction to him. Over the course of a few weeks, Riley becomes her lover, her friend, her everything. But when her life is threatened, Ellie discovers that Riley is more obsessed with settling an old score than in the love she thought they were building. And Riley must choose between a revenge he’s prepared for all his life and the woman he’s sure he can’t live without...

Susan Wiggs is an old favorite of mine. I've enjoyed some of her historical romance as well as her contemporary romances. This sounds like a heartbreaker with a happy ending. I hope!

Family Tree
Susan Wiggs
Contemporary Romance
or Women's Fiction

Sometimes the greatest dream starts with the smallest element. A single cell, joining with another. And then dividing. And just like that, the world changes.

Annie Harlow knows how lucky she is. The producer of a popular television cooking show, she loves her handsome husband and the beautiful Manhattan home they share. And now, she’s pregnant with their first child.

But in an instant, her life is shattered. And when Annie awakes from a year-long coma, she discovers that time isn’t the only thing she's lost.

Grieving and wounded, Annie retreats to her old family home in Switchback, Vermont, a maple farm generations old. There, surrounded by her free-spirited brother, their divorced mother, and four young nieces and nephews, Annie slowly emerges into a world she left behind years ago: the town where she grew up, the people she knew before, the high-school boyfriend turned ex-cop. And with the discovery if a cookbook her grandmother wrote int he distant past, Annie unearths an age-old mystery that might prove the salvation of the family farm.

Family Tree is the story of one woman's triumph over betrayal, and how she eventually comes to terms with the her past. It is the story of joys unrealized and opportunities regained. Complex, clear-eyed and big-hearted, funny, sad, and wise, it is a novel to cherish and to remember.

I've listened to the first book in this series. It's different from the usual romance. I still have the next book and will get this one too!

Burn Down the Night
M. O'Keefe aka Molly O'Keefe
Contemporary Romance
Everything I Left Unsaid/Book 3

The only thing that matters to me is rescuing my sister from the drug-cooking cult that once enslaved us both. I’ve run cons my whole life, and I’ll use my body to get whatever I need. Max Daniels is the last connection I have to that world, the one person reckless enough to get involved. Besides, now that his brothers have turned on him, he needs me too.

The deal was supposed to be simple: a place to hide in exchange for rescuing my sister. Now he’s my prisoner. Totally at my mercy. But I’m the one captivated. Enthralled. Doing everything he asks of me until I’m not sure who’s in control.

We both crave the heat. The more it hurts, the better. But what if Max wants a different life now, to leave the game . . . to love me? I thought I knew better than to get burned. Now I’m in too deep to pull away. And the crazy thing is . . . I don’t want to.

This debut from author Sally Thorne caught my attention with this humorous blurb. It's an office romance and who doesn't like those?

The Hating Game
Sally Thorne (link to Ms. Thorne's Facebook, could not find her website.)
Contemporary Romance

Nemesis (n.) 1) An opponent or rival whom a person cannot best or overcome.
2) A person’s undoing
3) Joshua Templeman

Lucy Hutton has always been certain that the nice girl can get the corner office. She’s charming and accommodating and prides herself on being loved by everyone at Bexley & Gamin. Everyone except for coldly efficient, impeccably attired, physically intimidating Joshua Templeman. And the feeling is mutual.

Trapped in a shared office together 40 (OK, 50 or 60) hours a week, they’ve become entrenched in an addictive, ridiculous never-ending game of one-upmanship. There’s the Staring Game. The Mirror Game. The HR Game. Lucy can’t let Joshua beat her at anything—especially when a huge new promotion goes up for the taking.

If Lucy wins this game, she’ll be Joshua’s boss. If she loses, she’ll resign. So why is she suddenly having steamy dreams about Joshua, and dressing for work like she’s got a hot date? After a perfectly innocent elevator ride ends with an earth shattering kiss, Lucy starts to wonder whether she’s got Joshua Templeman all wrong.

Maybe Lucy Hutton doesn’t hate Joshua Templeman. And maybe, he doesn’t hate her either. Or maybe this is just another game.

This looks like a good murder mystery! Never read this author but want to give this one a try.

The Widower's Wife
Cate Holahan
Mystery

Ana Bacon, a young housewife, tumbles off a cruise ship into the dark and deadly waters, but did she take her secrets with her? Investigator Ryan Monahan is a numbers man. So when his company sends him the Bacon case, which could net a ten million dollar payout, Monahan doubts that her death is just a tragic accident. But the husband has a substantial alibi and a number of witnesses claim to have seen Ana fall. So the official ruling seems to be substantiated.

Still, the more Monahan uncovers about Ana’s life, the more he realizes how many people would kill to keep her secrets hidden. And the closer he gets to the truth, the greater the odds grow that he, too, will take a fatal fall. 

Cate Holahan looks at the dark underbelly of a marriage from the perspectives of the detective and the victim in her tense and enthralling page-turner, The Widower's Wife.

China Miéville - Yes Please! It sounds kind of crazy but who doesn't like to go crazy sometimes?

China Miéville
The Last Days of New Paris
Historical Fantasy

THE LAST DAYS OF NEW PARIS is an intense and gripping tale set in an alternative universe: June 1940 following Paris’ fall to the Germans, the villa of Air-Bel in Marsailles, is filled with Trotskyists, anti-fascists, exiled artists, and surrealists.

One Air-Bel dissident decides the best way to fight the Nazis is to construct a surrealist bomb. When the bomb is accidentally detonated, surrealist Cataclysm sweeps Paris and transforms it according to a violent, weaponized dream logic.

Review: Don't Tempt Me ~ Lori Foster

Don't Tempt Me
Lori Foster
Contemporary Romance
Guthrie Brothers/Book 1
Harlequin/July 26, 2016

Love comes along when it's least wanted.

Jason Guthrie has no time for entanglements—between helping out his widowed brother and teenage nephew and getting his hometown back on its feet, his days are spoken for. But his nights are another story… And when his lovely new neighbor, Honor Brown, reluctantly accepts his help in remodeling her house, Jason finds himself wishing his handyman skills could knock down the defenses she keeps building around herself.

Martial arts teacher Sullivan Dean knows real danger when he sees it—even when it takes the form of the gorgeous blonde helping her friend move in across the street. After putting his wayward past behind him to focus on teaching control to troubled kids, Sullivan has learned to avoid party girls like Lexie Perkins. But Sullivan can't seem to keep his hands off the real woman behind that flirty charm—or keep his heart from landing at her feet…

Honor Brown takes particular pleasure in making her new home all her own. She doesn't shy away from the hard work and what she doesn't know, she tries to learn. Honor is a likable heroine, if a bit closed off. She only has one close friend so when she moves into her new house, she is a little shy around her new neighbors. It seems as though Honor is the lone female on the street of ruggedly handsome bachelors. But it's Jason Guthrie who catches Honor's attention.

Jason lives next to Honor and is quick to offer to help her move in. Along with Jason is his brother Hogan and Hogan's son Colt. The three of them swiftly welcome Honor to the neighborhood. All three Guthrie males are not only easy on the eyes but genuine nice guys. I liked how Jason was protective of Honor but understands her need to improve her house by herself. Jason is a custom builder and can fix just about anything so he proves to be the perfect teacher for Honor.

There is a secondary romance of Honor's best friends Lexie and Sullivan Dean, one of those handsome bachelors. Lexie is a whirlwind who speaks her mind without apologizing. She is Honor's opposite but they are as close as sister. It turns out there is more to Lexie than meets the eye. Seeing Sullivan find out that she's more than just a party girl was a pleasure to watch. I liked how their romance unfolded and hope we see them again in the next book.

Honor and Jason try to spend time together but Honor has secrets and she's not ready to share. When Honor's secrets are revealed they bring her and Jason closer and his protectiveness is in full force. If I had any problems with the story it was the slow pacing of Honor and Jason's romance. There were points when it felt like the plot was lagging.

The sense of not only family but community is strong throughout the story. Between Honor's love for her grandfather and Lexie and Jason's support of his brother and nephew, family is shown to be the strength that gets us through the rough patches.

Don't Tempt Me is a tender romance with some lighter moments as well as a couple of somber ones. I look forward to reading Hogan's story and see how he and his son find their own happiness.

Rating: B

Review: The Wall of Winnipeg and Me ~ Mariana Zapata

The Wall of Winnipeg and Me
Mariana Zapata
Contemporary Romance
February 29, 2016

Vanessa Mazur knows she's doing the right thing. She shouldn't feel bad for quitting. Being an assistant/housekeeper/fairy godmother to the top defensive end in the National Football Organization was always supposed to be temporary. She has plans and none of them include washing extra-large underwear longer than necessary.

But when Aiden Graves shows up at her door wanting her to come back, she's beyond shocked.

For two years, the man known as The Wall of Winnipeg couldn't find it in him to tell her good morning or congratulate her on her birthday. Now? He's asking for the unthinkable.

What do you say to the man who is used to getting everything he wants?

I just finished listening to the audio book, narrated by the talented Callie Dalton. I'm in shock at how much I loved this romance! It's a long book; 16 hours in audio format, 673 per Amazon listing. But it was so good I didn't want it to end! But it did end and left me utterly happy, complete with a smile on my face. : )

Vanessa has a dream that she is determined to follow. That dream does not include working as an all-around assistant for the demanding Aiden Graves. So when she leaves to follow that dream, Aiden has his own plans. As much as Vanessa wants to say no to Aiden, he makes a compelling argument and convinces her to say yes to his plans. The story is told from Vanessa's POV and her internal dialogue is both honest and amusing. She is a smart and witty heroine and I found her thoroughly enjoyable.

This is not a typical romance. The romance is subtle. It has a slow build-up with Vanessa and Aiden's relationship moving from boss/employee to friends to lovers. You see what both Vanessa and Aiden do for each other rather than saying words filled with hearts and flowers. They take their time about admitting their feelings first to themselves, then to each other and neither seem to be in a hurry to take that final step. There is also some miscommunication on both Vanessa and Aiden parts. Vanessa admits to herself her feelings for Aiden, unfortunately we don't get Aiden's POV so his feels are not as well know until he admits them out loud. Although Aiden is so closed-mouth that he knew how he felt about Vanessa long before he told her. Vanessa, while physically attracted to Aiden, because she has a pulse, talks herself out of thinking there could be anything more because he just annoys the heck out of her!

This is a funny, sweet romance even though Aiden does not seem overly romantic. When he does something that seems out of character to Vanessa, you can see it's really his way of showing her how much he cares for her. Vanessa too notices but thinks it's rather odd behavior since it conflicts with her previous experiences with him. Aiden is extremely driven when it comes to his career. He is so incredibly focused on being the best football player that he can come off as self-centered and egotistical. When in fact he is being honest but sometimes to the point of coming off rude at times. Aiden has no use for wasting time being tactful. He simply says what he thinks needs to be said. He also expects this from others which I liked. If he were a real person and asked if he thought he was a hero, I think he'd say no. And most likely think it a ridiculous question. And yes, he would tell you so!

The interactions between Vanessa and Aiden continued to take me by surprise. Just when I thought Aiden would start wooing Vanessa in a more traditional way... he didn't. But that would have been out of character and he didn't need to change because he was perfect for her just the way he was. I also liked that Vanessa didn't change who she was. Her actions towards Aiden changed as she began to have more romantic feels about him but her core values didn't change. And she didn't need to either. They completed each other.

Rating: A-

This Week's New Releases

What the heck! How did it become August??? It's still incredibly hot here but my kids go back to school on Wednesday. Yes, this Wednesday, August 3rd. Crazy right?

Do you make to-do lists? I making book lists. Books to buy. Books to read. Books to review. Books I'm wishing for. I make other to-do lists too but those are work not fun.

Here are some books to add to your list!

Julie Cross made me a fan with her novel Letters to Nowhere. I have yet to read anything by Mark Perini so this should be interesting to see how they collaborate.

You Before Anyone Else
Julie Cross/Mark Perini
Young Adult/Contemporary

Model Finley needs someone to help her shed her "good girl" persona, so she'll try Eddie on for size.

New York City model Finley is fed up with hearing the same feedback at castings: she needs to take some serious action to wipe the "good girl" stamp from her resume if she wants to launch to stardom.

Enter Eddie Wells. He's shallow, predictable…and just as lost as Finley feels. Deep down, Finley is drawn to Eddie's bravado, his intensity. Except Eddie is hiding something. A big something. And when it surfaces, both loving and leaving Finley will become so much harder.

Lorelei James has written some sexy cowboy romances. She switches to a more urban setting with this series about the Lund siblings.

Just What I Needed
Lorelei James
Need You Series/Book 2
Contemporary Romance

Trinity Carlson might be having the worst day ever. And that was before she started drinking in a dive bar, right across from her ex and his new girlfriend. So when she finally decides enough is enough, she grabs hold of a hot, blond stranger and gives him the kiss of his life.

Walker Lund never expected that a chance at love would hit him right on the mouth. Since the moment his brother decided to settle down, Walker has been dodging his family’s hopes that he’ll do the same.  He’s never been interested in following in anyone’s footsteps. 

But when he discovers his sexy assailant has given him a fake name and number he suddenly finds himself in the mood for a little hot pursuit...

Colleen Hoover. Have I read anything by her I didn't like? Don't think so. :)

It Ends With Us
Colleen Hoover
Contemporary Romance

Sometimes it is the one who loves you who hurts you the most.

Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up—she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life suddenly seems almost too good to be true.

Ryle is assertive, stubborn, maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily. And the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head. But Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his “no dating” rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place.

As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan—her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened.

With this bold and deeply personal novel, Colleen Hoover delivers a heart-wrenching story that breaks exciting new ground for her as a writer. Combining a captivating romance with a cast of all-too-human characters, It Ends With Us is an unforgettable tale of love that comes at the ultimate price.

Book #26 in the series and I'm still enjoying it. There are similarity with the heroes and the snarky banter is always present but the series is still entertaining and the extensive character descriptions on Kenyon's website help immensely!

Dragonmark
Sherrilyn Kenyon
Dark-Hunter Series/Book 26
Paranormal Romance

Centuries ago, Illarion was betrayed– a dragon made human against his will, then forced to serve humanity as a dragonmount in their army, and to fight for them in barbaric wars, even while he hated everything about them. Enslaved and separated from everyone he knew and from his own dragon brothers, he was forced into exile in a fey realm where he lost the only thing he ever really loved.

Now he has a chance to regain what’s been lost— to have the one thing he covets most. But only if he gives up his brothers and forsakes the oaths he holds most dear. Yet what terrifies him most isn’t the cost his happiness might incur, it’s the fact that there is just enough human in his dragon’s heart that he might actually be willing to pay it and betray everything and everyone– to see the entire world burn...

I'm reading this right now and have been caught up in the story from the beginning. Watch for the review shortly.

A Promise of Fire
Amanda Bouchet
The Kingmaker Chronicles/Book 1
Fantasy

Catalia "Cat" Fisa is a powerful clairvoyant known as the Kingmaker. This smart-mouthed soothsayer has no interest in her powers and would much rather fly under the radar, far from the clutches of her homicidal mother. But when an ambitious warlord captures her, she may not have a choice…

Griffin is intent on bringing peace to his newly conquered realm in the magic-deprived south. When he discovers Cat is the Kingmaker, he abducts her. But Cat will do everything in her power to avoid her dangerous destiny and battle her captor at every turn. Although up for the battle, Griffin would prefer for Cat to help his people willingly, and he's ready to do whatever it takes to coax her... even if that means falling in love with her. 

This Week's New Releases

So many good contemporaries coming out this week! Since I started this weekly feature I have added a bunch to my TBR pile. As usual, plenty of contemporary romances. I have no problem finding these because it's what I read the most of. I would love to see more historical releases so if anyone knows of any, please let us know in the comments.

I have read one Lauren Layne book so far (Blurred Lines) and enjoyed the heck out of it. While To Have and To Hold is the first book in a new series, there is a prequel of sorts, the novella, From This Day Forward. I have yet to read it but like the blurb as well as the blurb for this one. And for some reason the term "fancy-pants" has always cracked me up!

To Have and To Hold
Lauren Layne
Contemporary Romance
The Wedding Belles/Book 1

USA TODAY bestselling author Lauren Layne is the “queen of witty dialogue and sexy scenes” (Rachel Van Dyken)! Now, Sex and the City meets The Wedding Planner in The Wedding Belles, her sizzling brand new contemporary romance series about three ambitious wedding planners who can make any bride’s dream come true... but their own.

Discovering her fiance is an international con man just moments before they exchange vows devastates celebrity wedding planner Brooke Baldwin's business—and breaks her heart. Now a pariah in Los Angeles, she seeks a fresh start in New York City and thinks she’s found it with her first bridal client, a sweet—if slightly spoiled—hotel heiress. Then she meets the uptight businessman who’s holding the purse strings.

Seth Tyler wishes he could write a blank check and be done with his sister Maya's fancy-pants wedding. Unfortunately, micromanaging the event is his only chance at proving Maya’s fiance is a liar. Standing directly in his way is the stunning blonde wedding planner whose practiced smiles and sassy comebacks both irritate and arouse him. He needs Brooke’s help. But can he persuade a wedding planner on a comeback mission to unplan a wedding? And more importantly, how will he convince her that the wedding she should be planning... is theirs?

A heroine named Vivian Leigh? I can't resist! And the hero has a heart attack? I'm curious as to how old he is. And I like what I've previously read from Ms. Gibson. All reasons to add to the list!

Just Kiss Me
Rachel Gibson
Contemporary Romance

"Hello, Ms. Vivian . . . it's been a long time.

And with those words, Vivian Leigh Rochet nearly melted. It's been years since she last saw Harrison Whitley-Shuler. She was a teenager scrubbing houses for a living. He was the gorgeous son of rich parents, not fit for the likes of her.

Vivian had vowed to get out of Charleston, become a big Hollywood star, and stick it to the snooty girls who made her cry.

She got what she wanted—and more—but why does her glamorous life seem so trivial?

Harrison got out too . . . making it all the way to Wall Street, until a heart attack forced him to trade in his cufflinks for a good set of hand tools.

Making furniture soothes his soul, but escaping the Whitley-Shuler heritage is nearly impossible. And now he's come face-to-face with the one who got away. He's not looking for love. He's not even looking for sex . . . so why is resisting her the hardest thing he's ever done?

I decided to get this next release from Netgalley so I have a little head start on reading it. So far, the heroine's experiences with her neighbors are much better than mine have ever been!

Don't Tempt Me
Lori Foster
Contemporary Romance
The Guthrie Brothers/Book 1

Love comes along when it's least wanted.

Jason Guthrie has no time for entanglements—between helping out his widowed brother and teenage nephew and getting his hometown back on its feet, his days are spoken for. But his nights are another story… And when his lovely new neighbor, Honor Brown, reluctantly accepts his help in remodeling her house, Jason finds himself wishing his handyman skills could knock down the defenses she keeps building around herself.

Martial arts teacher Sullivan Dean knows real danger when he sees it—even when it takes the form of the gorgeous blonde helping her friend move in across the street. After putting his wayward past behind him to focus on teaching control to troubled kids, Sullivan has learned to avoid party girls like Lexie Perkins. But Sullivan can't seem to keep his hands off the real woman behind that flirty charm—or keep his heart from landing at her feet…

Kasie West is a favorite Young Adult author of mine. She writes characters who are genuine in their feelings and situations. Love the premise of this one. Can't wait to dive in!

P.S. I Like You
Kasie West 
Young Adult/Contemporary

What if the person you were falling for was a total mystery?

While Lily is spacing out in Chemistry one day, she picks up her pencil and scribbles a line from one of her favorite songs on the desk. The next day, someone else has written back to her on the desk! Soon enough Lily and the mystery student are exchanging notes, and lyrics, and even sharing secrets. When Lily finds out that her anonymous pen pal is a guy, she's flustered -- and kind of feels like she's falling for him. She and her best friend set out to unravel the identity of the letter writer -- but when the truth is revealed, the guy is the LAST person Lily could have ever imagined it to be. Now that Lily knows the truth, can she untangle her feelings and gather the courage to listen to her heart? 

 From beloved author Kasie West (The Distance Between Us) comes an utterly charming story about mixed messages, missed connections, and the magic of good old-fashioned secret admirer notes. 

I've been waiting for this book ever since reading the first book in the series, All Hell Breaks Loose. There was enough of a teaser for the second book to make me want it right now.

Hell Breaks Loose
Sophie Jordan
Contemporary Romance
Devil's Rock Series/Book 2

Hell hath no hunger like a man let out of a cage . . .

Shy and awkward, First Daughter Grace Reeves has always done what she’s told. Tired of taking orders, she escapes her security detail for a rare moment of peace. Except her worst nightmare comes to life when a ruthless gang of criminals abducts her. Her only choice is to place her trust in Reid Allister, an escaped convict whose piercing gaze awakens something deep inside her. Reid is nothing like her other captors.

He’s tougher, smarter…and one blistering look from him makes her hotter than any man ever has.

Reid spent years plotting escape and revenge . . .years without a woman in his bed. For this hardened felon, Grace Reeves isn’t just out of his league—she’s from another planet, but that doesn’t stop him from wanting her. Escaping Devil’s Rock was tough, but resisting this woman could be the end of him. For a man with nothing to lose, protecting her . . . claiming her as his own, becomes more necessary than his next breath.

When I was a little kid, I would fall asleep with my mom while we listened to a radio mystery show. I don't remember any of the stories but I've always loved a good mystery. Maybe that's where I first got my love of mysteries.

The Unseen World
Liz Moore
Mystery/Contemporary

The moving story of a daughter’s quest to discover the truth about her beloved father’s hidden past. 

Ada Sibelius is raised by David, her brilliant, eccentric, socially inept single father, who directs a computer science lab in 1980s-era Boston. Home-schooled, Ada accompanies David to work every day; by twelve, she is a painfully shy prodigy. The lab begins to gain acclaim at the same time that David's mysterious history comes into question. When his mind begins to falter, leaving Ada virtually an orphan, she is taken in by one of David's colleagues. Soon after she embarks on a mission to uncover her father’s secrets: a process that carries her from childhood to adulthood. What Ada discovers on her journey into a virtual universe will keep the reader riveted until The Unseen World's heart-stopping, fascinating conclusion.

Look! It's an urban fantasy!

Thunder Road
Sierra Dean
Urban Fantasy

Being Chosen was supposed to be a gift. 

That’s what Tallulah Corentine’s parents told her when they handed her over to the Rain Chasers on her seventh birthday. It was an honor to be born with a destiny, to be hand selected by the gods before taking her first breath. She should be overjoyed.

Twenty years later, Tallulah is still waiting for the gift. She might have the power of the storm at her fingertips, but she’s spent her whole adult life living under a cloud. 

 A cross-country trip to find the wayward son of Seth, god of the storm, turns into a fight for her life when she dupes Death out of a valuable treasure. With only a wily con man, a dangerously handsome bad-luck priest, and a lot of lightning to help her, can she deliver the package and keep herself out of an early grave?

Or will Seth be looking for a new Rain Chaser before it’s all over?

TBR Challenge: Catch of the Day ~ Kristan Higgins

This month's suggested theme is appropriately about the RITA Awards. Last Saturday this year's awards were presented but the TBR Challenge has to do with past winners and nominees. Wendy was kind enough to post links to past RITA winners because, while I might be particular as to how my books are shelved, I don't have a clue which ones were RITA winners.

When I spotted the Kristan Higgins win in 2008, I knew I had Kristan Higgins books on the TBR pile and luckily found my winner for this month's challenge.

Catch of the Day
Kristan Higgins
Contemporary Romance
Gideon's Cover Series/Book 1
Harlequin/October 1, 2007

First date à la Maggie: Take one lovelorn diner owner (me), a generous helping of nosy local gossips, a dollop of envy at married sister's perfect life, a splash of divine intervention (my matchmaking priest). Combine ingredients with one adorable puppy, add a strong but silent lobsterman with a hidden heart of gold and watch the sparks fly.

This is a cute romance set in a small Maine town where everyone not only knows everyone, but they know everyone's business. No need for Facebook in Gideon's Cove!

Maggie doesn't exactly help things when it comes to the gossip. She is a talker. There are times when she doesn't seem to have control over her mouth. She is funny, with her babbling as well as her internal dialogue showing her insecurities as well as her love for her family, friends and the town itself. Maggie made the mistake of having an insta-crush on the new priest. I do have to give her some slack since she didn't know he was the new priest and he is young, handsome and Irish with a beautiful Irish brogue. The problem is Maggie continues her crush, not too obvious but still... it's a small town and everyone knows. Maggie's dating woes continue with her family and Father Tim (her insta-crush) setting her up on blind dates. It's funny and sad at the same time. I couldn't help but laugh at Maggie's dating experiences and didn't blame her for feeling she had the worst luck in blind dates because she really did!

Then Malone comes along and he is such an anti-hero it's almost adorable. He is a mono-syllabic, grumpy loner who doesn't let anyone one in. He frustrates and infuriates the hell out of Maggie but she doesn't seem to be able to give up on him. The reality is that he is a true friend and can keep a secret probably better than Father Tim. (Malone's mono-syllabic nature helps!) Malone doesn't come anywhere near looking like a GQ model. He's a lobsterman who works hard and it shows in his choice of practical clothing and general scruffiness. He's also stingy with his smiles, but when he does bestow one on Maggie, she feels like she's been given a gift because it's genuine. I loved Malone!

The town is small, Maggie tends to walk or ride her bike everywhere. I'd love to live somewhere like that except for the big drawback - the gossip. Maggie is the owner of the local diner plus she grew up in Gideon's Cove so she knows everyone. And they know her and her history with men. I felt sorry for her because she is a good person, always willing to help anyone in need. Thankfully, Malone was in need. But Maggie also needed someone too and while I can't say Malone exactly went after Maggie, he doesn't completely give up on her either. Instead he gives her space and time to figure things out. Some readers might have preferred Malone go after Maggie but I liked his style of leaving Maggie alone for a while and letting her make the decisions she needed to make before they could be a couple.

Kristan Higgins lets readers use their imagination when it comes to the bedroom scenes. There is plenty of sexual tension and implications making it clear what happens with Maggie and Malone behind closed doors but no detailed description of body parts, etc. I was actually fine with that and focused on the emotional part of the story rather than the more physical.

The story is fairly predictable but cute and sweet. Catch of the Day turned out to be a quick, enjoyable read and I look forward to returning to Gideon's Cove.

Rating: B+

Gideon's Cover Series ~

Catch of the Day
The Next Best Thing
Somebody to Love