#Kensington publishing - Zebra

[cathygeha]

REVIEW

The Wild Lavender Bookshop by Jodi Thomas

Someday Valley #2

Witty, wild, and wonderful ~ This is a story that captured my attention on page one and held it till the very last page!

What I liked:

* Andi Delane: independent, intelligent, capable, feisty, loner, ex-military, undercover detective, in the crosshairs, grows a lot in this story

* Danny Davis: deputy, football player who could have gone pro, ex-firefighter, good with tech, has a “secret” job only hinted at, from a big family, building his someday dreamhouse that will fit his big dreams and his big body, more than he appears and in more than one way

* Noah O’Brien: bookstore owner, well educated, respected, left lucrative city job to find something he knew was missing and finds it before the end of the book

* Cora Lee Buchannan: first grade teacher, Bear’s youngest daughter, quiet, listens more than she speaks, knows what she wants

* Bear and Eliza’s story that warmed my heart and the surprise gift Andi finds to give to Eliza

* Catching up with characters from previous books and wondering who and what will feature in the next book of the series

* The smalltown community that seems to be the perfect place to live

* Too many things to itemize – loved it all except…

What I didn’t like:

* Who and what I was meant not to like

* Having to wait for the next book in the series

Did I like this book? Definitely

Would I read more in this series? Without a doubt!

T

hank you to NetGalley and Kensington Zebra for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

BLURB

From beloved New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas, a slow burn romance that’s the epitome of comfort reading. Perfect for fans of Robyn Carr and Susan Mallery! Return to the unforgettable world of Someday Valley, Texas, in this tender, uplifting novel of hearts in search of second chances. The trees that circle Someday Valley’s downtown of Honey Creek are dressed in their fall finest, providing a pretty backdrop for the local businesses—including the little bookshop loved by schoolteacher Cora Lee Buchanan. There in the cafe, under the watchful eye of owner Noah O’Brien, Cora Lee and her sister, Katherine, meet each Wednesday. Their talk mostly revolves around one their father, known to everyone in town as Bear. Both Cora Lee and Katherine believe it’s time Bear found love again, and they’re compiling a list of prospects in a secret notebook. They’ve no idea Bear is aware of their plan—or that he has a secret of his own. As for the sisters, Katherine, beautiful and self-absorbed, is in search of her third husband, while Cora Lee is in love for the first time. On warm nights, she climbs up to her building’s roof to chat with Noah and listen to the melody of the water below. Yet there is more intrigue afoot in Honey Creek . . . Andi Delane has arrived in town to hear the last wishes of the father she never met. She was shocked to get a letter from lawyer Jackson Landry, and has few expectations—of this mysterious will, or of Landry’s skill . . . But fall always brings changes, and this year there will be enough to alter not just the lives of those who call Honey Creek home, but the future of Someday Valley itself . . .

[darlenefblog]

The Duke's Christmas Bride (Drop Dead Dukes #3) by Anna Bradley

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Zebra Books (September 24, 2024)

Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 24, 2024

Print length ‏ : ‎ 346 pages

4 stars out of 5

Thank you to NetGalley, Zebra Books, Kensington Books, and Anna Bradley for providing this advance reader copy of the book. I'm providing my honest review.

What a romantic tale. I was enchanted by the sleigh ride across the sparkling fresh snow. It's sigh worthy. The run-down manor house limping along due to the love and care of a plucky young lady is classic. Mean wealthy man trying to kick her out of said house had me invested in the outcome. I know romance books must have a happy ending, but the journey should make you wonder if it will happen at all. Max, nicknamed The Duke of Ice, is an anti-hero who 's heart is black and way too small. Luckly, he meets the one woman who can thaw him out. Rose is the kind of person who's a smiling, singing, happy to greet the day kind of person I couldn't live with. I'm grumpy without coffee and she's a hot chocolate girl. At first Max is irritated by everything she does but bit by bit she gets under his skin and changes his perspective on life and his history. Max is wealthy and unhappy while Rose is happy and broke. He confused by her outlook and stubborn manner. At first Rose sees Max as something to be fixed and saved not realizing that he'll save her too. Max goes to great and romantic lengths to win the heart of his Rose, it's sweet.

An enjoyable read from page one to the epilogue. This is the end of the three Dukes in the Drop Dead Dukes series. I liked them all.

[celticbarb]

#BOOKREVIEW #BookBirthday #BookRelease #KensintonPublishing #ScottishHistorical

Book: The Highlander’s Kilted Bride

Author: Vanesssa Kelly

Series: Clan Kendrick , Book #6

Publisher: Zebra Books, Kensington Publishing

Book Length: 352 Pages

Book Rating: 5/5 Stars

Blog Rating: 5/5 Saltire Flag

Glencoe, Scotland 1828

Charlotte Charlie Stewart who is known as ‘Charlie” is a tomboy who would rather throw away her dresses, hair ribbons and all other feminine hair accessories, and wear a glorious great kilt! She also rides a horse like lad, no side saddle for this spitfire who has a rebellious nature to be sure. She is so furious since her little sister is about to join marital bliss, something Charlie wants nothing to do with! However now the pressure is on her, a man has been picked to be her future husband! A man that is very boring, wears outrageous garments that are absolutely hideous and even curls his straight hair! On top of that it is not a love match like her sister Melissa. This man is only interested in her big fat dowry!

Charlie needs to release some steam, being so furious she goes on a run with a horse. That is until she nearly collides into her dear childhood friend Kade Kendrick and a few of his family members, including everyone’s favorite match-making grandfather, Angus MacDonald. This is where Kade Kendrick bumps into his childhood friend who was like one of the lads, but this woman he barely recognized since she was such a tomboy when she was a child. Now Charlie Stewart has turned into a stunning beauty with spirit and class. Of course she had only been eleven and he was thirteen and it is fourteen years later. What he does not know is his sister in law Ainsley is there to give her some tutoring in becoming a lady.

Of course in their childhood Kade was weak and sickly barely surviving and she was one of the lads. Now he is an accomplished musician and composer which helped him hide his previous identity as a spy. He is now at this wedding as he is the entertainment being a musical prodigy and soon Charlie becomes his muse as she has musical talent too. Kade also has changed very much physically too with a muscular braw body, the face of an angel that would make any lass swoon. The attraction between Kade and Charlie happens very quickly. Although Charlie has loved Kade since she was a girl. Kade has never felt this way before about any woman in his life.

The problem is Charlie's family only sees her as an embarrassment and an oddity. The only person that seems to understand her is Kade; he sees her as the talented, intelligent, beauty she is as their love only seems to grow. Now there's a missing heirloom her family has decided that the first person to find it may have Charlie’s hand in marriage! This is absolutely humiliating for Charlie and she is beyond hurt. On top of that her brother Johnny is with the wrong type of people, who are taking advantage of him and might even put the lad in danger. Charlie wants to protect him from ruin. Plus Angus and Charlie’s father still feud over the Battle of Glencoe like it just happened yesterday! So again these two families are beyond silliness but now there is a villain in their mist! Do Charlie and Kade have a chance at love or will she be forced to marry a man who is only interested in dowry?

If you want to start with the first book which is Nicholas Kendrick, Earl of Arnprior in The Highlanders Princess Bride in The Improper Princesses series in book #3. Of course the other 6 brothers are in this Clan Kendrick series which are Royal, Logan, Graeme, Grant, Braeden and Kade. Read as stand alone or in series order. I highly recommend reading the entire series, as I think readers will have a better understanding of the Kendrick brothers and the women who capture their hearts.

This is the sixth and series finale of the Kendrick family sadly. Have the Kleenex ready as I am very sad to see the series end which I have loved so much. Be prepared to laugh and cry as it is an extraordinary finish to a fabulous series that is absolutely unforgettable. Again another book I highly recommend!

Disclaimer: I received this advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Buy Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Highlanders-Kilted-Bride-Clan-Kendrick-ebook/dp/B0BNCKHJG8/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3K3CLAPQ8HHS&keywords=the+highlander%E2%80%99s+kilted+bride&qid=1692026526&sprefix=%2Caps%2C87&sr=8-1#detailBullets_feature_div

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-highlanders-kilted-bride-vanessa-kelly/1142736601?ean=9781420154566&st=AFF&SID=Barnes+%26+Noble&2sid=Pubmark+Inc._5620418_NA&sourceId=AFFPubmark+Inc.&cjevent=e33f79cb3ab611ee824e05740a82b82c&dpid=tekz25v83&cjdata=MXxOfDB8WXww

https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-highlanders-kilted-bride/id6444728470

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Vanessa_Kelly_The_Highlander_s_Kilted_Bride?PAffiliateID=1l3vnbh&PCamRefID=bookbubblogd&_bbid=151955173&_bbreg=us&_bbtype=blog&id=UQCeEAAAQBAJ

[storyxonline]

Bold Montana Bride by Karen A. Bale

Bold Montana Bride, a 1991 Zebra Lovegram by Karen A. Bale, takes a downturn in quality from the author’s previously reliable romances. Bold Montana Bride by Karen A. Bale Rating: Published: 1991 Illustrator: TBD Imprint or Line: Zebra Lovegram Published by: Kensington Genres: Historical Romance, Western Romance Pages: 448 Format: Paperback Buy on: Amazon, AbeBooks Reviewed by: Blue…

[trashpoppaea]

I have some doozies for you!

So Speaks The Heart by Joyce Carlow is a bananapants melodrama published in 1997 about a psychic's romance with a charioteer, who are both repectively besties with a young Theodora and Justinian. (The psychic has a horse named Pegasus, btw.) Then they die halfway through the book and are reincarnated into early 16th century France to hang out with Catherine de Medici and Nostradamus. Like you do. You can read it on archive.org.

Then we have Pagan Desires by Veronica Ashley, also published in 1997! Sadly it only seems to be available from used bookstores at this point. Here's the blurb from goodreads:

The daughter of a famous seer and a Byzantine military commander, Phaedra has made the swan her emblem as she creates potions rumored to drive men mad with desire. All the city knows of her elixirs, but few know her secret: she possesses the gift of prophecy. And she has just had a vision that leaves her trembling--a vision of a dragon who will pierce her heart, not with his sword, but with his love... Called the Dragon, he is Brannoc, a Norman warrior who is bodyguard to the barbarian chief responsible for the murder of Phaedra's father. Now, as battle trumpets sound, Phaedra will be swept into a war within herself. She has vowed to avenge her father, yet no force on earth can stop her from loving Brannoc--a man she must gentle and tame, and then, as ancient hatreds explode, either cherish...or betray.

For some reason 1997 was THE year to publish books about psychic Byzantine heroines. What makes this even more interesting is that both of these books came out from Zebra Books, Kensington's romance imprint.

So there you go. I double dog dare you to read both of these books! I didn't exactly read So Speaks the Heart-- I skimmed it. It looked migraine inducing, and I was annoyed that the Dome of the Rock was depicted during Justinian's reign, as well as Versailles existing a hundred years before it was built. These are pretty easy things to fact check, and it didn't bode well for the book itself.

I found a few Byzantine historical romances from the 1990s. I was able to read one of them on archive.org-- and it was completely ridiculous. Would you like to hear more?

I absolutely would!!! Ridiculous Byzantine historical romances are my jam

[trashmenace]

Are you willing to let go of the copy of the Virginia Ratt by Ratton Hall? Can you give me a little bit more info on the book? Also, I’m wondering if you know who the publisher behind Zebra Scorpio books actually was?

I don't have a copy myself, and don't know anything more about it than what's online. Zebra was an imprint of Kensington Publishing

[sweetsavageflame]

Covers of the Week #24

Covers of the Week #24

Artist Ken Otsuka Some romance cover artists work for only a brief time period in the field yet leave a lasting impact. Japanese-born-American artist Ken Otsuka painted sweet book covers in the 1990s for publishing houses such as Kensington’s Zebra and Bantam’s Fanfare lines. For over 40 years Otsuka has worked in commercial and then fine arts. His seascapes are so realistic, you can swear you…

[tometender]

The Intended Victim

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

Written by: Alexandra Ivy

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages

Publisher: Zebra (December 31, 2019)

ISBN-10: 1420143832

ISBN-13: 978-1420143836

Genre: Romantic Thriller

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Intended-Victi...

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-...

Itunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-i...

ONCE, SHE GOT AWAY The body lying on a cold steel slab bears all the hallmarks of the Chicago Butcher. There’s a cruel slash across her throat, deep enough to sever the carotid artery, and a small crescent carved into her right breast. Her delicate features are painfully familiar to Ash Marcel, once a rising star in the Chicago PD. But though the victim resembles his former fiancée, Remi Walsh, he knows it’s not her. BUT THIS TIME Though Remi escaped a serial killer five years ago, her father died trying to save her. Grief and guilt caused her to pull away from the man she loved. Now Ash is back in her life, insisting that Remi is still in danger. IT’S A DEAD END . . . Someone is targeting women who look just like Remi. With or without a badge, Ash intends to unmask the Butcher. But the killer isn’t playing games any longer. He’s moving in, ready to finish what he started, and prove there’s nothing more terrifying than a killer’s obsession . . .

The Intended Victim by Alexandra Ivy I have to say up front, I’m a huge fan of Alexandra Ivy’s paranormal series, so when I saw she was branching out into the mystery/thriller genre, I jumped on the chance to read them. This story follows Remi, who survived an attack by a serial killer five years earlier. Her father did not survive the encounter, but Remi is blank on what happened, her memory is gone. The aftermath of her inability to recall what happened and the stress of it all drove her and Ash apart. Now we are five years later and bodies that have been murdered and surgically enhanced to look like Remi start showing up. Ash’s brother is on the case and lets Ash know what’s going on. Ash won’t Remi face this new threat alone and returns to Chicago. The Chicago Ash left, with the woman he loved, his detective career and home behind. The story was enjoyable, with twists and turns that took a pretty shocking outcome. The Intended Victim has a pretty good suspense-filled plot. The romance was a stretch for me, since the tension was minimal with Ash’s return but overall a good read. 3.5 stars I received this copy of The Intended Victim from Kensington Books - Zebra. This is my honest and voluntary rewiew.

[cathygeha]

REVIEW

The Lady Plays with Fire by Susanna Craig

Goode’s Guide to Misconduct #2

Words can be mightier than the sword ~ a playwright and a reviewer of plays using false names use words at first in anger then almost as foreplay as this historical romance sees an earl and a clergyman’s daughter fine their happily ever after.

What I liked: * Julia Addison: lady’s companion, reviewer for Mrs. Goode’s Magazine, dreamed of being on stage as a child, wrote a review that incensed Ransom Blackadder-playwright

* Graham McKay: Earl of Dunstan, aka Blackadder, used his writing skills to return his earldom to prosperity, witty, difficult backstory, intrigued by Julia

* Mrs. Mildred Hayes: Julia’s employer, bright and caring, enjoyed her part in the story

* The attraction between Julia and Graham and how their relationship came about

* The parallels between the play in the story and the lives of the main characters

* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing

* That there was no big “break-up” as many romances use

* The communication between Julia and Graham

* Julia’s brother – good older brother that cared for his sister – also that I could see him and Graham becoming like brothers in the future

* All of it really except…

What I didn’t like: * Who and what I was meant not to like

Did I enjoy this book? Yes

Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington-Zebra for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

BLURB

In this Bridgerton era You’ve Got Mail, the clever, popular, and deliciously shocking ladies’ periodical Mrs. Goode’s Magazine for Misses only employs women who are equal to the challenge��and for one biting theatre critic, that challenge happens to include romance.  A fast-paced, innovative, sexy historical romance with a modern twist that readers of Sabrina Jeffries, Sarah MacLean, and Julia Quinn will adore. As the daughter of a clergyman, Julia Addison knows she’ll never be able to fulfill her lifelong dream of acting on the stage. But writing forthright reviews of the Season’s most popular plays for Mrs. Goode’s Magazine for Misses, popularly known as Goode’s Guide to Misconduct is surely the next best thing. Even better, she’s got a ticket to Ransom Blackadder’s latest irritating satire about English society. Best of all, she’s sharing a theater box with the gruff but handsome Lord Dunstane, which is enough to make Julia call for an encore . . .   Graham McKay, the Earl of Dunstane, rarely leaves his home in the Scottish Highlands. Why would he? Nothing about London has ever held his interest—until he meets Julia. But when Graham realizes she is the critic who panned his last play—and she discovers he is in fact the man behind Blackadder’s wicked pen—will it bring down the curtain on their romance—not to mention the magazine that published the humiliating review? Or can an unexpected collaboration set the stage for a scandalous love affair?

[parker-ax]

Ok, o ano começou tem mais de 1 mês e com ele o #BookChallenge !!! Vamos postar as dicas de leitura, conforme eu for lendo (ou relendo 😂)... Essa é a parte 1 referente as leituras de Janeiro: 💖O Príncipe Serpente - Trilogia dos Príncipes Livro 3 Elizabeth Hoyt Editora Record 362 páginas 💖A Suspeita Nora Roberts Editora Harper Collins 222 páginas 💖Tentação ao Pôr do Sol - Os Hathaways 3 Lisa Kleypas Editora Arqueiro 265 páginas 💖Nature of the Beast - Coletânea *Dark Hero - Hannah Howell *Bride of the Beast - Adrienne Basso *Kiss of the Vampire - Eve Silver Kensington Publishing Corp 💖Darkness Everlasting Alexandra Ivy Zebra Books 395 páginas #bookchallenge2019 #loveboobs #readislife #noraroberts #lisakleypas #elizabethhoyt #alexandraivy #evesilver #guardiansofeternity #galerarecord #editoraarqueiro #harpercollinsbrasil #hathaways https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt829DmAx1b/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1i6e9qm3gjzib

[celticbarb]

Book: The Highlander’s Holiday Wife

By Vanesssa Kelly

Series: Clan Kendrick , Book #5

Publisher: Zebra Books, Kensington Publishing

Book Rating: 5/5 stars

Blog Rating: 5/5 Saltire Star

Edinburgh, Scotland 1826

Widow, Lady Samantha Penwith is searching for her husband’s murderer and the missing children from the charitable orphanage for boys he was the founder of. She traveled the dangerous stews in Old Town. It was dangerous but she always brings Donny with her, he is a lifetime employee that has worked for her family since she was a little girl. Never did she expect to rescue Dr, Kendrick’s life in this bad part of town. Now beside trying to find her husband’s killer, which caused another tragedy for Samantha that nearly killed her from the shock of losing her husband Roger. On top of that she cares for her deceased husband’s young deaf sister Felicity.

The problem is her grandfather-in law is a nasty old goat and has legal custody of Felicity. Now Felicity hates her grandfather for good reason, a girl he is definitely ashamed and embarrassed of who he ignores and shows no affection. He would just hide her away in his estate with no life at all, but threatens to take her away from Samantha if she brings scandal or things he considers not of a pious, conservative, life. Nothing Samantha can do will ever be good enough for him, he is only impressed by titles and old money and can’t even smile at his own granddaughter and only feels shame. The one thing he truly hates is highlanders especially those rambunctious scandalous MacKendricks!

Now Braden Kendrick who was first introduced as a child in The Highlander Who Protected me, Royal’s book as even then he dreamed of becoming a physician. Well Braden who is the calmest Kendrick besides his younger brother the musical prodigy Kade who had been deathly sick as a child .

Her latest rescue is Dr. Braden Kendrick being cornered a wife beater who wants to kill him for advising the ruffian’s wife to divorce her husband. So she quickly threatens the ruffians with a couple shots, of course the cowards took off. Now Braeden is dying to know who his female rescuer is and soon realizes after se..meeting Samantha’s sister in law Felicity. As Samantha is good friends with Braden good friend and fellow Doctor John Bathmord and his wife Bathsheba and now realizes he knows sign language and could understand he and Donny’s speech on the night she saved him. Now her fellow friend and Dr John Blackmore and His wife Bathsheba which didn’t take long for Braden to realize her deceased husband needed financial help and meeting Felicity he realizes she it was Samantha and Donny who saved his life, Noe Samantha’s husband has been gone for neatly tow years but can’t move on with her life until she finds her husbands killers and now these missing orphans. Samantha agrees to meet with Braden and they are both instantly attracted to each other. Yet Braden also suffered a big loss in his past too, so he has not been involved with ever since. Now when she does accepts Braden’s help when Donny I hurt and can’t travel the dangerous streets . Except het grandfather in law thinks she is having an affair with one of those awaful Kendrick highlanders. A clan he detests and thretens to take Felicity away and as her legal guardian there is nothing she can do, yet Braden thinks of one option but will Samantha accept. Read and find out in another fabulous Kendrick story.

Again Vanessa Kelly pen another phenomenal tale that has a mystery,suspense as the holidays approach plus a historical love adventure too. This is a sweet clean historical romance too which I really loved too. The plotting of this book was absolutely extraordinarily and definitely swept this reader away. I am really looking forward to Cade’s book as I love that he has groupies already. Of course Angus the Kendrick grandfather is always hilarious like a big teddy bear in his unorganized faded kilt who loves babies and young children. A book I highly recommend.

Clan Kendrick by Vanessa Kelly

Book One:The Highlander Who Protected Me

Book Two:The Highlander’s Christmas Bride

Book Three: The Highlander’s English Bride

Book Four:The Highlander’s Irish Bride

Book Five: The Highlander’s Holiday Wife

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC copy from Zebra Books, Kensington Publishing through netgalley. I voluntarily agreed to read, review and blog an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts, ideas and opinions are my own.

Buy Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Vanessa-Kelly/e/B002BOFLJI?ref=dbs_m_mng_wit_byln

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/mobile/w/the-highlanders-holiday-wife-vanessa-kelly/1140825144

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-highlander-s-holiday-wife?utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=BookBub&utm_term=bookbubblogd&ranMID=37217&ranEAID=tWxX%2FRg9ax8&ranSiteID=tWxX_Rg9ax8-veGwACC8BRPi2LTBSEbtMQ&siteID=tWxX_Rg9ax8-veGwACC8BRPi2LTBSEbtMQ

https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-highlanders-holiday-wife/id1602867061

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Vanessa_Kelly_The_Highlander_s_Holiday_Wife?PAffiliateID=1l3vnbh&PCamRefID=bookbubblogd&_bbid=86640560&_bbreg=us&_bbtype=blog&id=bllXEAAAQBAJ

[jenniferfaye34]

#Giveaway + Excerpt ~ Morning Star by Charlotte Hubbard... #books #readers #Amish #booklovers

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Charlotte Hubbard will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

When four maidels join forces to turn an abandoned barn into an Amish marketplace, the unmarried women have community in mind. But their fledgling enterprise promises to reap surprising rewards for each in turn, including the gift of unexpected love . . . For Regina Miller, the new Morning Star Marketplace is a chance to share her secret work with the world—without revealing herself. Old Order Amish forbid the creation of art without purpose, but without a husband, Regina has been free to explore the joy of painting in her attic. Yet when Gabe Flaud’s curiosity leads him to speculate that Regina herself is the painter, the full weight of their community’s judgement falls on her shoulders. When Gabe stands up to defend Regina, questioning the Order’s restrictions, he reveals his own guilty secret and is shunned along with her. Forced to turn to each other for companionship, the young couple must learn to balance their own needs with their deep faith … and a love that will show them all things are possible.

Read an Excerpt Regina entered her bedroom, stepped onto her large wooden trunk, and then opened the short, narrow door in the wall so she could climb the wooden stairs to the attic. What if nobody wants my paintings, or worse yet, ridicules them? And what if folks figure out that I’m the artist—and that I’ve been living a lie for years? Best to nip this in the bud before I have to tell any more whoppers and get caught in them. And yet, as Regina stood in the center of her secret studio, something deep inside her longed to display the work that so satisfied her soul. Nearly every evening, after a day of staining furniture, she spent a few hours in her hideaway, painting nature scenes. Regina needed to paint the way most folks needed to eat and breathe. Her schoolteacher had complimented her artwork when she’d been young—and her parents had allowed her to take a short watercolor class at Koenig’s Krafts when she’d entered rumspringa. Dat’s brother Clarence was a preacher, however, so he’d been adamant about Regina joining the church at an early age. She’d secured her salvation at seventeen by being baptized, but she’d forfeited her innermost soul: in the Morning Star district, members were forbidden to create art for art’s sake because it was considered worldly and it called attention to the artist. Regina had obediently tucked her paints and brushes into her wooden trunk, but she’d felt the loss of her art acutely. After her parents had died when a train collided with the bus they were all riding home from a wedding, Regina had kept herself sane by taking up her paints again, setting up her easel in the attic—out of sight when anyone came to visit. At twenty-two, she’d been rather young to live alone on her family’s small acreage but moving in with Uncle Clarence, Aunt Clara, and their young daughters would’ve killed her spirit forever. Bishop Jeremiah had taken her side and had dropped in on her often until she’d gotten a little older. Martin Flaud had hired her because her father had been one of his finest craftsmen—and because Regina had proven herself to be more meticulous at staining and finishing than any of his male employees. She’d survived the rough, lonely times by working hard at the factory, and by surrounding herself with the quilts and curtains Mamm had made and the furniture Dat had built for their cozy home. And so the last ten years had passed . . . Regina had willingly given up any chance for marriage—because she couldn’t reveal her sinful pastime to a husband. Gazing at the nature paintings that surrounded her on that Sunday afternoon, Regina felt torn. Why had God given her a keen eye and the talent to render woodland scenes, flowers, and wild creatures on paper if He wouldn’t allow her to paint pictures of His creation openly and without guilt? About the Author:

In 1983, Charlotte Hubbard sold her first story to True Story. She wrote around 70 of those confession stories, and she’s sold more than 50 books to traditional or online publishers. A longtime resident of Missouri, she’s currently writing Amish romances set in imaginary Missouri towns for Kensington. She now lives in Omaha, NE with her husband of 40+ years and their Border collie, Vera. Website http://www.charlottehubbard.com Facebook http://www.Facebook.com/Charlotte.Hubbard1 Order Ebook Kindle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZPKX5SQ Kindle UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07ZPKX5SQ/ Kindle Canada http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07ZPKX5SQ/ Kindle Australia http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07ZPKX5SQ/ Apple Books https://books.apple.com/us/book/morning-star/id1507818638 Apple Books UK https://books.apple.com/gb/book/morning-star/id1507818638 Apple Books Canada https://books.apple.com/ca/book/morning-star/id1507818638 Apple Books Australia https://books.apple.com/au/book/morning-star/id1507818638 Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/morning-star-charlotte-hubbard/1134434813?ean=9781420145151oks New Zealand Apple: https://books.apple.com/nz/book/morning-star/id1507818638 Nook https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/morning-star-charlotte-hubbard/1134434813 Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/morning-star-60 Google Play https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Charlotte_Hubbard_Morning_Star?id=goq5DwAAQBAJ Order Print Zebra Books July 28, 2020 ISBN-13: 9781420145120 ISBN-10: 1420145126 Amazon http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=1420145126/ Amazon UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ISBN=1420145126 Amazon Canada http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ISBN=1420145126 Barnes & Noble http://barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ean=9781420145120 Books-A-Million http://www.booksamillion.com/product/9781420145120 Chapters Indigo http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/a/9781420145120-item.html IndieBound http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781420145120 The Book Depository http://www.bookdepository.com/book/9781420145120 a Rafflecopter giveaway

[lainahastoomuchsparetime]

If you’re new around here, Things I’ve Read Recently is a series of posts I do that are basically mini-reviews of books that I either forgot to review, didn’t have enough to say for a full review, or just didn’t want to do a full post about for whatever reason.

I worked in a thrift store all summer and I had like a half hour lunch break. And doing nothing but eating alone is boring, so I read a bunch of magazines and then started bringing a book.

Now, I didn’t feel like taking notes while I ate, so I didn’t bring any review books. And I didn’t really feel like reading anything… you know, good. So I looked at my physical to-read stack and my book shelves and mostly found whatever looked trashiest. Never underestimate the power of good trash. Sometimes you need to read something that doesn’t make you think. At all.

So let’s talk about what I read this summer!

(Note: As I said, I didn’t take notes on any of these, so I don’t have notes to do content warnings. There’s like murder in most of them, and fatmisia and racism stuff. It’s trash, don’t be surprised by dumpster fires. Assume there’s no diversity in most of these.)

Killing Britney by Sean Olin

Published: July 1st, 2005 by Simon Pulse Genre: YA Thriller Binding: Paperback Page Count: 234 with no extras at all, actually Part of a series? Nope Got via: I wanna say thrift sale or yard sale. I own it and I don’t think I bought it online or anything.

Summary (from goodreads): Britney is the girl everyone loves to hate.

Ever since Britney transformed herself from freak-and-geek to the most popular girl at school, her life has been touched by tragedy. First it was her mom, who drowned on a family rafting trip. Then her hockey-star boyfriend, Ricky, was killed in a hit-and-run.

When the deaths continue to pile up, everyone fears for Britney. Sure she’s popular, blond, and fabulous.

But is that enough reason for someone to want to… kill her?

Thoughts: This was trash. It’s very clearly written by a man who had possibly never spoken to a teenage girl when he wrote this. Maybe because of the time period it was written plus that it’s written in third person, but it does have a kind of removed feeling. Which works for the “twist” ending (it’s a really predictable twist), but normally isn’t my favourite.

At the same time though it kind of worked for how my mindset was when I read it? I didn’t really want to connect to the characters. I just wanted to be entertained for a short period of time while I ate.

Also apparently this won an award for being appealing to reluctant readers, and I can totally see that. This was actually recommended to me by a friend like fifteen years ago. (I can remember that, but I can’t remember where I put my tweezers. Why is my brain like this?) That friend wasn’t a huge reader, but apparently liked this and thought I would.

Well, friend, fifteen years later, you weren’t wrong! Five dumpsters out of five.

(No, I’m kidding, I’m not rating these.)

The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove by Lauren Kate

Published: November 12th, 2009 by Razorbill Genre: YA Thriller Binding: Paperback Page Count: 235 plus an excerpt for a book by a different author and an add for the Kissing List. Part of a series? Nope. Got via: I think I actually bought it from amazon.

Summary (from goodreads): All it takes is one fatal mistake…

High-school beauty Natalie Hargrove has spent years plotting to become prom queen. She’s got just what it takes: popularity, glamour and ruthless ambition.

When someone threatens to overturn her perfect plan, Natalie needs to take control. So she convinces her boyfriend Mike to help play a prank on her nemesis, Justin… one that goes terribly wrong, and Justin ends up dead.

Natalie is plunged into a sea of secrets, shame and scandal.

Because it turns out there’s one thing even Natalie Hargrove can’t command – and that’s fate…

Thoughts: This was also trash! Not my favourite trash of the bunch here, but it was good enough for what it was. I actually thought the setting of this was really interesting. It’s set in… Charleston. I don’t know where that is. One second.

So it’s set in South Carolina! And takes place around Mardi Gras and has a whole bunch of southern high school traditions that I wasn’t really aware of. Do you remember that book I read last year, Ruined? It kind of reminded me of that, but, like, trashy CW teen show content instead of a ghost story.

Seriously with how popular Fallen was I’m surprised this was never made into a terrible movie. It’d be kind of fun to watch, honestly. Lots of teen drinking and sex, some murder, lots of drama, all that jazz. Not my favourite, but it worked for when I was reading it.

Traveling On into the Light: and Other Stories by Martha Brooks

Published: September 1st, 1994 by Groundwood Books Genre: Contemporary YA Short Story Anthology Binding: Hardcover Page Count: 146 plus an about the author Part of a series? No, but one of the stories was expanded into a book called Being With Henry Got via: I have no idea. I’ve had it forever, and there are not library marks or anything.

Summary (from goodreads): The miracle of unexpected connections and small victories that enlarge and transform shines forth in this haunting collection.

Here are teenagers on the brink of discovery: Jamie, who comes to understand that the lost can be found in unexpected ways when he goes looking for his dead father and finds a living memory instead; Laker, a runaway able to face his mother’s rejection because of the kindness of a total stranger; and Sidonie, who, threatened with the loss of the love that made her feel safe, discovers she can survive and face the unknown.

Out of alienation, isolation, and loss coms hope for the future in the support of friends, family, or lovers, the healing power of memory, or the sanctity of a safe place from which personal dragons can finally be faced.

Thoughts: This actually wasn’t trash. I grabbed it because it was in the box in my closet, and short stories seemed easy to read in small bursts. It’s actually pretty good. It’s older, so some of the stories obviously haven’t aged the best, but looking at it in the context of it being twenty-five years old (and most of the stories older), it’s not a big deal.

Also, like, props for this actually having queer characters? One of the characters in one of the stories has a father who has somewhat recently come out as gay and begun a new relationship. While normally that’s a plot I find a bit tiresome, for the early 90s, it’s handled pretty well.

I’m probably not going to keep this as I don’t feel any urgent need to reread it, but it was good enough.

Speaking of the 90s…

Obsessed by Jo Gibson

Published: This bind-up was released May 27th, 2014 by K-Teen Books which is a division of Kensington. We’ll talk about the original pub dates in the review. Genre: YA Thriller Binding: Paperback Page Count: 356 plus an excerpt from the next book, which we’ll talk about. Part of a series? This contains the books The Crush and the Crush II. Got via: Yard sale!

Summary (from goodreads): From master of suspense Jo Gibson comes two heart-stopping novels of romantic obsession–where the love never dies. It kills. . .

The Crush

Michael Barton is smart, sweet, gorgeous–the total package. Which is why some of the girls have decided to have a little contest. Whoever hooks up with Michael first will be the winner. There’s just one problem. One of the girls has been harboring a secret crush on Michael for years. She’ll do anything to be his girlfriend. She’ll play the game. She’ll win his heart. She’ll beat the competition. . .to death.

The Crush II

Michael Barton has experienced the dark side of love. He has survived the advances of a psychotic stalker. He has endured her deadly game of obsession. And now he is free from her web of lust and lies. But Michael has a surprise waiting for him. His secret admirer is still out there. Watching. Waiting. Plotting her next move. And if Michael thinks he can escape her this time, he’s wrong. . .dead wrong.

Thoughts: Originally the two books that make up this bind-up were published in 1994 by Zebra, specifically from their Scream Line. You may or may not know this, so let’s talk a bit about Zebra, because this is very interesting. Zebra, which is also a division of Kensington, mostly started as a romance publisher. In the 80s and 90s, however, they were quite successful publishing westerns and horror novels. They apparently (I can’t find too much information on it) had a line called “Scream”, which seems to have been somewhat similar to Point Horror line, but clearly not as popular.

The other interesting fact about this book? Jo Gibson is also known as Joanne Fluke, who writes the Hannah Swensen series. I find that so interesting. There’s also an excerpt for her… I think only non-cozy adult book, The Other Child, at the back of this book. Which is just such random advertising!

This is kind of trash, but it’s trash in a very specific way. Honestly, I did not realize that was such an old book when I started reading it, since I literally grabbed it because of the cover. It wasn’t until I got to a part about how cellphones were so expensive and unusual that I was like “what the hey?” and actually checked the publication date.

This is 90s teen pulp horror. You don’t go into this expecting a good book. The characters are barely characters, there’s a ton of 90s isms, the plot is ridiculously predictable, and it’s not remotely scary as an adult. You gotta think about being twelve and reading this with barbecue chips on a Friday night when you’re still young enough that staying up late on a Friday is a treat.

I also wanna just talk about these covers.

  Why are her fingernails so long?? That’s not a thing in the book at all. There’s absoluely no sense to it. I love it.

This was great! I’m actually gonna keep this and I would love to get my hands on the other bind-ups of her books. I’m super charmed by this.

Well, that was fun! What did y’all think of this round-up?

Peace and cookies, Laina

Things I’ve Read Recently (89): Stuff I read at lunch at my summer job that was mostly kind of trashy If you're new around here, Things I've Read Recently is a series of posts I do that are basically mini-reviews of books that I either forgot to review, didn't have enough to say for a full review, or just didn't want to do a full post about for whatever reason.

[sweetsavageflame]

Historical Romance Review: Dakota Flame by Sonya T. Pelton

Dakota Flame, Sonya T. Pelton, Zebra, 1989, Pino cover art SPOILER ALERT  3 Stars Rating: 2.5 out of 5. Reviewed by Blue Falcon The Plot This review is of “Dakota Flame” , a standalone novel from July 1989 by Sonya T. Pelton. (Published by Zebra/Kensington). Part 1: Savage Journey. The book begins in Mankato, Minnesota, December 1862. Thirty-eight Lakota braves are executed for their…

[infactforgetthepark]

[Free eBook] Swords Against Darkness [Sword & Sorcery Fantasy Anthology]

Swords Against Darkness credited to the late Robert E. Howard and edited by the late Andrew J. Offutt is the 1st volume in the Swords Against Darkness vintage anthology series of sword and sorcery fantasy, free for a limited time courtesy of publisher Endeavour Press' Venture imprint.

This was originally published in 1977 by Kensington's Zebra imprint, credited to editor Andrew J. Offutt only (the publication frontmatter for this volume appears to be slightly inaccurate, claiming a print date of 1974 from British publisher Robert Hale).

This anthology contains original sword & sorcery stories written in the vein of Robert E. Howard's classic pulp fantasies, including a tale by Howard himself. Each story is prefaced by a special introduction, and contributors include notable authors such as SFWA Grand Master Poul Anderson, frequent British Fantasy Award horror awardee Ramsey Campbell, popular MilSF author David Drake, and more.

Offered worldwide, available at Amazon.

Free for a limited time, available worldwide @ Amazon

Description Swords Against Darkness is a collection of short stories in the tradition of Robert E. Howard...

Robert E. Howard provides weird surprises in a tale of a Spanish opportunist, a “lost” Aztec city, and a centuries-old mage — in what may be the last story REH ever wrote...

The goddess of Chance gambles with a barbarian swordsman — for his life...

The Empire of Rome is threatened with disaster by a barbaric sorcerer who raises mindless killers for the earth itself...

The last survivor of Atlantis is called upon to do battle against a human-eating creature only he can brave — to save a race of giants...

Alongside other all-new tales of menace, high adventure and derring-do, written especially for this volume!

This excellent showcase for heroic fantasy fiction is certainly a must read for any fan of sword and sorcery.

[books-n-wine]

~**~ ARC Review: Falling Hard (Nugget #9 ) by Stacy Finz ~**~

***4 “Small Town” Stars***

I have to start out with a confession: My main reason for reading this series is largely due to the unique cast of characters that populate the town of Nugget, California. I love how they epitomize small town living by always being in everyone’s business and giving advice whenever they feel the need to without batting an eye, but this isn’t to say that it totally overshadows the romance between the main couple, it simply helps it along as it does in this book. And the romance was a  sweet and smexy, slow building one that had me dopey smiling even while wanting to Gibbs smack both Annie and Logan, but in the end left me will all the feels.

Logan’s world was already influx when he said good-bye to the Navy, but now it’s gone sideways as he finally finds out the identity of the man who gave him half of his DNA.  Logan is one of those guys that is just a good guy. He’s polite, considerate, and even if he’s not totally all in on a situation he will go along with it because he doesn’t want to be rude. But he also has that protective smexy alpha male thing going on that could look like he has a hero complex, but it’s not a conscious I want attention thing, it’s just how he’s wired. He take on small town life wasn’t always glowing, but I loved how he grew to see it’s appeal and find comfort in it.

Annie loves working the land. She’s grown up farming the land with her parents and has always held an affinity with nature and helping things grow from it and can’t see doing anything else with her life. Overall I loved Annie. I loved her drive and love of the land. I loved how she stood up for herself and her family, even when they didn’t want her to. But there were certain beliefs she held on to so strongly that had me wanting to shake her. I couldn’t fault her, but when refusing to even try at a compromise jeopardized her happiness I started to growl.

Logan and Annie’s road was definitely a slow building one with quite a few bumps along the way, some from outside sources, but most from within. Both are so set in how they see their future that it was frustrating, even as it made sense. Thankfully they do bend a bit and find that despite their almost polar opposite views on some major issues, they are quite compatible and it was sweet to watch as they got to know each other. The last few chapters had me at the edge of my seat in both a good and a bad way, but I loved how everything worked out and was quite satisfied with where they were in the end.

The writing is engaging, though I did find the pacing a little slow in some spots, but I think that has more to do with me than anything else. There are quite a few things going on throughout the story and I thought they were all done well and I liked how all the various issues were resolved. As I said at the start, my love of this series really does have to do with the inhabitants of Nugget and I get a kick out of each of them and what they bring to story. It’s because of them that the small town feel is so strong and has me wanting to get my hands on the next book.

~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley ~

This is the summer of Annie Sparks—at least according to her. No more supporting lazy jerks or coddling irresponsible family or taking care of anyone who doesn’t deserve her help. Instead she’s headed to an estate in a remote mountain town, to spend her summer with her boots covered in mud and her hands working the earth. Love is the last thing on her mind.

Nugget is a long way from Logan Jenkins’ old life as a Navy SEAL. But before he starts fresh in the private sector, he receives a bequest from a man he never knew: his biological father. To learn more about his background, Logan makes his way to his late father’s estate, where he is immediately knocked on his heels by an incredible woman with a heart of gold.

Annie’s not looking for a fling, and Logan knows Nugget can’t be forever, so falling in love should be impossible. But when they’re together, time stops, and suddenly the impossible seems like the only thinkable option . . .

Book Summary

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published By: Kensington/Lyrical Press

Release Date: April 11th, 2017

Pages: 262

Series: Nugget #9

ASIN: B01ILZHQFM

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Stacy Finz is an award-winning former newspaper reporter. After more than twenty years covering notorious serial killers, naked-tractor-driving farmers, fanatical foodies, aging rock stars and weird Western towns, she figured she finally had enough material to launch a career writing fiction. She is the author of the Nugget Romance series (Kensington/Lyrical Press) about a small mountain town that has a strange way of giving people unexpected reasons to start over--and find the most irresistible chances to fall in love. Look for her Garner Brothers series (Zebra) in 2017.

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