Showing posts with label arc review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label arc review. Show all posts

Review Tour: The Drummer’s Heart by Penelope Ward



Title: The Drummer's Heart
Author: Penelope Ward
Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance
Tropes: Rockstar Hero/"My Wife"/Small Town
Close Proximity/Slow Burn/One Bed
Release Date: February 23, 2025


BLURB

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward comes a new, STANDALONE novel…

Don’t say her name.
That was the one rule my bandmates followed, because they knew how much it messed me up to think about her, especially on tour.
My ex, Nicole.
The one who got away and the woman who still owned every piece of my heart.
After our divorce, I threw myself into the rock scene, trying to forget my heartbreak.
Three years after we split, a phone call from Nicole changed everything.
She told me her grandmother wasn’t doing well.
Mimi was still family to me, and she apparently had one wish before dying: to spend time with us—Nicole and me.
With Mimi’s caretaker away on vacation, it would be the ideal time for us to move in with her for a couple of weeks.
Of course, I couldn’t refuse.
But there was a catch.
Nicole apparently never told her that we’d gotten a divorce.
She hadn’t believed Mimi could handle it, because her grandmother loved me so much.
So, not only would I have to see Nicole again, but I’d be pretending to still be her husband.
Two weeks in a tiny house in a small town with the woman who broke my heart. Or was it me who broke hers?
It was complicated.
And it was about to be a heck of a lot more complicated sharing one bed in the guest room with a woman who wasn’t mine anymore.



BOOKBUB





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AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Model Paperback and Hardcovers also available!

Read the first standalone in this series, The Rocker’s Muse FREE in KU and binge this complete duology!






WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

ROCKSTAR HERO
"MY WIFE"
SMALL TOWN
CLOSE PROXIMITY
SLOW BURN
ONE BED




⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Penelope Ward!!  What a beautifully written story!  I feel like a broken record when I say I seriously love every single thing she writes. 


I knew going in that this book was going to need to come along with a box of tissues when I found out the book was about Atticus. Atticus is a drummer for the band Delirious Jones. This is a second chance romance with his ex-wife, Nicole. They both made mistakes and caused conflicts in their marriage. 


I was truly invested in this story and this relationship from start to finish. I listened to the audio version and finished it all non-stop in one day. Sebastian York is one of my favorite male narrators. He brings so much life and energy to every character he reads for. This was my first time listening to Angelina Rocca, and I thought she did an amazing job as well. I recommend this book and all Penelope Ward books!


AUTHOR BIO


Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.

With millions of books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over forty books. Her novels have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.


AUTHOR LINKS



OTHER BOOKS BY PENELOPE WARD

NOW ALL AVAILABLE TO READ IN KINDLE UNLIMITED


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Posted by Once upon a twilight at 12:00 PM 0 comments
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Book Review: The Rebound by Catherine Walsh

The Rebound

Author: Catherine Walsh
Reading Level: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance  
Released: February 14th 2022
Review Source: Netgalley | Bookouture  

A newly single girl. A tall dark handsome stranger. What could go wrong?

It’s 7 a.m. on a Monday morning and Abby Reynolds isn’t where she wants to be. She wants to be in her beautiful loft apartment in Manhattan, drinking a coffee with her fiancé.

Instead, she’s heading back to the childhood home in rural Ireland she swore she’d never return to, with some big old secrets. Namely that she’s suddenly found herself unemployed, homeless, and absolutely 100% single.

She’s feeling all out of luck. Until the first person she meets after she touches down is an absurdly hot guy called Luke, who offers her a lift home. Gazing deep into his sparkling emerald-green eyes, Abby knows instantly that he’s exactly what she needs to take her mind off everything. The perfect rebound.

It’s a flawless plan. Until the next day, when Abby realizes who he actually is. Not just a stranger. He is, in fact, Luke Bailey, aka the boy next door. Luke Bailey who—so help her God—she’s pretty sure she once shared baths with, back when they were kids. Not that she can allow herself to imagine him in a bath now, not without blushing from head to foot.

And judging by the smirk on his face, the same Luke Bailey who’s known exactly who she was the whole time… And who, like everyone in the village, still thinks she’s a high-flying New Yorker… who’s getting married next year.

Abby is certain getting under Luke will help her get over her ex. But the truth is stopping her. Can she admit to everyone back home that she’s single and has lost everything? Because, if she wants the boy next door, she may just have to…


I don’t know why it has taken me this long to discover the romantic comedy genre but I am here for all the rom-com books. The Rebound takes a woman in a really crappy situation and tells her story of picking herself up, reconnecting with her old life and finding love.

Abby was living the dream in New York with a great job and her fiance. Until she wasn’t. Her employment falls through, she loses her apartment and her fiance breaks off their engagement. Without many options, Abby reluctantly moves in with her sister while she figures out her next steps. Abby isn’t a fan of her hometown and doesn’t have the best relationship with her sister but they make things work, especially when there’s Luke.

I love Abby. Her humour, aspirations and how hard she crushes on Luke - I loved it all. She’s a stellar character who kept me entertained. Her character flaws made her relatable - coming from a small town myself, I understand her need for something more than her small town can provide. Topped with building back her life and getting a job and trying to decipher her feelings for Luke, Abby is going through a lot but handles it with grace (and a lot of witty humour).

The evolution of Luke and Abby’s relationship was not a straight road - it was up and down, heading in the right diffraction before a misunderstanding became a road block. Luke was so lovable, as was Beth. I’d love to read more of Beth and I hope that The Rebound isn’t the end of her character.

Overall, this is my first Catherine Walsh book but it won’t be the last. This feel-good novel was a brilliant read and Abby’s journey of self-discovery was just as thrilling to read as her blooming relationship. The Rebound isn’t a book to be missed, and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I have.

Posted by Shannon at 11:00 PM 0 comments
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Book Review: My Favorite Souvenir by Penelope Ward | Vi Keeland

MY FAVOURITE SOUVENIR IS LIVE!
A Contemporary Romance Novel
New York Times Bestselling Authors Penelope Ward & Vi Keeland

 BLURB
My planned trip for two unexpectedly turned into a trip for one. Rather than let
my breakup get me down, I packed my bags and decided a week at a luxury
resort was just what I needed.
But one calamity after the next, and suddenly I was stuck without a hotel room,
along with a few hundred other people.
It looked like my fancy vacation was about to turn into me sleeping on the hotel
lobby flo or.
Until I overheard a gorgeous man pretending to be someone he wasn’t in order
to steal a reservation from a guest who hadn’t shown up yet.
When I realized there were two rooms, instead of calling him out, I pretended to
be his sister. That’s how the story of “Milo and Maddie Hooker” began.
We were the Hookers.
My depressing trip quickly made a U - turn into an adventure.
My fake brother spent the next few days showing me around his hometown.
When it was time to leave, neither of us really wanted to go yet.
So, instead of flying back to our respective h omes, we ventured on a road trip.
At every stop, we’d pick up souvenirs.
But as hot as our chemistry was, we never crossed the line.
Milo knew I’d just come out of a tough relationship and didn’t want to mess with
a vulnerable woman.
So instead, at the end of our trip, we made a pact to meet again in three
months.
It was always my intention to meet him.
But when I got back home, reality hit in a big way.
And I worried I may have lost my handsome stranger forever.
Was there a place for him in my future?
Or had the memory of him just become my favorite souvenir?

the day he came back
  PURCHASE LINKS:</ p>
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One of my favorite duos has done it again!  I sound like a broken record when it comes to Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland but I just love them so much.  They always manage to surprise me with a new interesting plot, always unexpected.

Per usual for me, I go into my books completely blind.  I was so not expecting this plot.  We meet our heroine, Hazel who’s life just got “straight flipped upside-down”.  Things just go from bad to worse.  I related to her on a spiritual level.  Down this crazy spiral, she is led on a road trip with our handsome stranger, Matteo.

I love every, single character created by Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland and these two main characters are so great.  Matteo is sexy and such a charmer.  Hazel is complex, at times frustrating, and smart.  The two together have amazing chemistry.  Chemistry I have grown accustomed to feeling with this writing duo.  I loved them together, their interactions and dialogue completed absorbed me.

I am rating this book 4.5 stars because it was such a crazy, soul searching, ride that I didn’t want to leave. I was able to finish it in 1 day.  I recommend this book and every book of theirs. 

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

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Review Tour: Inappropriate by Vi Keeland


INAPPROPRIATE
Author:Vi Keeland
Reading Level: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary romance
Released: January 20, 2020
Review Source: C. Scott Publishing Corp

A new, sexy standalone novel from #1 New York Times Bestseller, Vi Keeland. Terminated for inappropriate behavior.

I couldn’t believe the letter in my hands.

Nine years. Nine damn years I’d worked my butt off for one of the largest companies in America, and I was fired with a form letter when I returned home from a week in Aruba.

All because of a video taken when I was on vacation with my friends—a private video made on my private time. Or so I thought…

Pissed off, I cracked open a bottle of wine and wrote my own letter to the gazillionaire CEO telling him what I thought of his company and its practices.

I didn’t think he’d actually respond.

I certainly never thought I’d suddenly become pen pals with the rich jerk.

Eventually, he realized I’d been wronged and made sure I got my job back.

Only…it wasn’t the only thing Grant Lexington wanted to do for me.

But there was no way I was getting involved with my boss’s boss’s boss. Even if he was ridiculously gorgeous, confident, and charming.

It would be completely wrong, inappropriate even.

Sort of like the video that got me into trouble to begin with.

Two wrongs don’t make a right.

But sometimes it’s twice as fun.



Guys, it’s a Vi Keeland book, so right out of the gate I know it’s going to be good. I’m never disappointed in her writing. This book hit me in a lot of places. Some pretty heavy topics were discussed but as always Vi Keeland kept my attention the whole time.

Let’s start with Ireland. First of all, I love her name. It’s probably one of my favorite female names. Second of all, she is full of fire and I love her for it. She doesn’t take shit from anyone but she still comes across empathetic, loving, and kind. I really love her. She seems like she would make a great sister or best friend.

I also fell for Grant immediately. He has had to deal with a lot in his life. From a drug abusing mother to being in foster care and more. However, that’s all I’ll say to prevent spoilers. Through all of these things he’s still such a great man. His relationship with pops and his gram is so freaking adorable. I love their dynamic. I also loved his relationship with his little, Leo. I would have liked to see more interactions with them because Leo really knew how to keep Grant on his toes.

Ireland and Grant together were so freaking great. Sometimes they would be so sweet but then other times the pages would melt off from Grant’s dirty Effin mouth. Holy hell. I can’t forget to mention their hilarious banter. I seriously LOLed a few times because of Ireland’s burns.

I was able to read this book in one day. It was really good and it dealt with a lot of topics. Some heavy, some beautiful, some HOT AF. All in all, another great story from Vi Keeland. I’m rating it 4.5 stars. Definitely grab this one!



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Vi Keeland is a #1 New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author. With million s of books sold, her titles have appeared in over a hundred Bestseller lists and are currently translated in twenty - five languages. She resides in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with th e boy she met at age six.

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Other Recent Books from Vi

All Grown Up
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We Shouldn’t
Amazon ebook ➜ htt ps://amzn.to/2RUCszM
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Sex, Not Love
Egomaniac
Bossman
Dirty Letters
Park Avenue Player
Posted by Once upon a twilight at 7:00 AM 0 comments
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Book Review: The Reckless Oath We Made by Bryn Greenwood



THE RECKLESS OATH WE MADE
Author: Bryn Greenwood
Reading Level: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Released: August 20, 2019


Zee is nobody's fairy tale princess. Almost six-foot, with a redhead's temper and a shattered hip, she has a long list of worries: never-ending bills, her beautiful, gullible sister, her five-year-old nephew, her housebound mother, and her drug-dealing boss.

Zee may not be a princess, but Gentry is an actual knight, complete with sword, armor, and a code of honor. Two years ago the voices he hears called him to be Zee's champion. Both shy and autistic, he's barely spoken to her since, but he has kept watch, ready to come to her aid.

When an abduction tears Zee's family apart, she turns to the last person she ever imagined--Gentry--and sets in motion a chain of events that will not only change both of their lives, but bind them to one another forever.

A provocative love story between a tough Kansas woman on a crooked path to redemption and the unlikeliest of champions, from the New York Times bestselling author of All the Ugly and Wonderful Things.


The Reckless Oath WE Made is another book that I had to take several days before I could write a review.  I am completely in love with the way Bryn Greenwood tells a story.  So freaking raw and cut open completely that you feel like you are not just a reader but a fly on the wall watching everything unfold.

The characters of this book were so well written.  So many situations were brought up: Hoarding, which, I think this may be the first time I have read a book that included this topic; Autism; prison; and drugs, just to name a few.

I really loved this book so much.  Bryn Greenwood constantly pushes boundaries and gets me out of my reading comfort zone.  I could  not put it down and I was enthralled every single second.  I'm rating this book 4.5 trees and would definitely recommend it!

Posted by Once upon a twilight at 7:00 AM 0 comments
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Book Review: The Wives by Tarryn Fisher



THE WIVES
Author: Tarryn Fisher
Reading Level: New Adult
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Released: December 30, 2019
Review Source: Netgalley

New York Times bestselling author Tarryn Fisher delivers a pulse-pounding, fast-paced suspense novel that will leave you breathless. A thriller you won’t be able to put down!

Thursday’s husband, Seth, has two other wives. She’s never met them, and she doesn’t know anything about them. She agreed to this unusual arrangement because she’s so crazy about him.

But one day, she finds something. Something that tells a very different—and horrifying—story about the man she married.

What follows is one of the most twisted, shocking thrillers you’ll ever read.

You’ll have to grab a copy to find out why.


The Wives, where do I even begin with this one?  Soooo, I finished reading this book a week ago and I haven't stopped saying "WTF" since.  Leave it to Tarryn Fisher to have my mind all kinds of messed up, in the best way possible.

I have to be vague here but at first I didn't like Thursday.  She was annoying to me and I just wanted to SCREAM at her to wake UP!!  I saw a past version of myself a little bit in Thursday and it definitely stirred several different emotions.  As time went on, my appreciation for Thursday grew.  Her persistence in getting to the bottom of things made me happy.  I was rooting for her.  Then, Tarryn Fisher pulled the rug from under my feet.

I loved this book, I loved every freaking second of it.  I loved the thrill, the annoyance, the DISCOMFORT because let me tell you there was some hella discomfort, and I loved the ending.  W T F.

I am rating this book 5 stars because it is so freaking good.  I finished it in 3 days because I had to take a couple of breaks from the overwhelming need to smack some of the characters.  This book was a crazy, effed up, amazing story written by one of my favorites so I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU GO GET THIS IT.
Posted by Once upon a twilight at 7:00 AM 0 comments
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Book Review: What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon


WHAT THE WIND KNOWS
Author: Amy Harmon
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Historical Romance
Released: March 1, 2019


In an unforgettable love story, a woman’s impossible journey through the ages could change everything…

Anne Gallagher grew up enchanted by her grandfather’s stories of Ireland. Heartbroken at his death, she travels to his childhood home to spread his ashes. There, overcome with memories of the man she adored and consumed by a history she never knew, she is pulled into another time.

The Ireland of 1921, teetering on the edge of war, is a dangerous place in which to awaken. But there Anne finds herself, hurt, disoriented, and under the care of Dr. Thomas Smith, guardian to a young boy who is oddly familiar. Mistaken for the boy’s long-missing mother, Anne adopts her identity, convinced the woman’s disappearance is connected to her own.

As tensions rise, Thomas joins the struggle for Ireland’s independence and Anne is drawn into the conflict beside him. Caught between history and her heart, she must decide whether she’s willing to let go of the life she knew for a love she never thought she’d find. But in the end, is the choice actually hers to make?

Amy Harmon is one of my favorite authors so when I saw she had a new book coming out, I was so excited.  I will read anything she ever writes.  What the Wind Knows is a historical romance, and while I don't necessarily love historical romances, I LOVE THIS BOOK.  This is the second historical romance I have devoured from Amy Harmon.

I am completely blown away.  It is a struggle to write this review because I am at a loss for words.  The story begins with Anne Gallagher dealing with the devastating loss of her grandfather.  He is such an important person in her life that this loss leaves her completely heart broken.  Her grandfather, Eoin wants her to travel to his hometown of Ireland to spread his ashes.  So that's exactly what she does, but it is not quite the trip she had expected.

This book was such an amazing, heart wrenching book that it has absolutely left a mark on my heart, forever.  This story has made it to my list of all time favorites.  I am giving this book five stars! I AM SHOUTING FROM THE ROOFTOPS to go get this book, you will NOT be disappointed.



Purchase links:
About the author:
Amy Harmon is a Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and New York Times Bestselling author. Amy knew at an early age that writing was something she wanted to do, and she divided her time between writing songs and stories as she grew. Having grown up in the middle of wheat fields without a television, with only her books and her siblings to entertain her, she developed a strong sense of what made a good story. Her books are now being published in eighteen different languages, truly a dream come true for a little country girl from Levan, Utah.
Amy Harmon has written thirteen novels - the USA Today Bestsellers The Smallest Part, The Bird and The Sword, Making Faces and Running Barefoot, as well as the #1 Amazon bestselling historical From Sand and Ash, The Queen and The Cure, The Law of Moses, The Song of David, Infinity + One, Slow Dance in Purgatory, Prom Night in Purgatory, and the New York Times Bestseller, A Different Blue. Her novels The Bird and the Sword and From Sand and Ash were Goodreads Best Books of 2016 and 2017 finalists.
Find Amy online:


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Book Review: When August Ends by Penelope Ward



WHEN AUGUST ENDS
Author: Penelope Ward
Reading Level: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance


From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward, comes a new standalone novel.

What do you do when a sexy, older man moves into your family’s summer rental?

Well, apparently, you make a fool of yourself—over and over. Things didn’t exactly get off on the right foot with Noah Cavallari. Our first encounter was embarrassing, to say the least.

But despite that, I found myself waking up every day with a newfound energy. Nothing exciting ever happened on the lake—not until Noah moved into the small boathouse on our property. He’d booked it for the entire summer…and I was still trying to figure out why.

When my mother became ill, I inherited the responsibility of making sure our guests were well taken care of. I should have been finishing up college. Instead, I was living my best life…as a maid.

Dark, handsome, and mysterious, everything about Noah screamed forbidden.

I knew he was just passing through town for the summer.

I knew he was probably a little old for me.

Yet, I was drawn to him.

Not to mention, he tried to save my life when he mistakenly thought I was drowning.

I wanted him and made no secret of it.

His own attempts to warn me away soon gave way to late-night moonlight chats by the lake. We were slowly easing into a friendship that was gearing up to explode into something I might not recover from.

Because he’s leaving at the end of the summer.

And I have no idea what I’ll do when August ends.


Penelope Ward has created another amazing story!  When August Ends is unlike anything she's written before.  I was pleasantly surprised at the change up.  I don't normally go for the older man much younger woman plot but I'm glad I read this book.  It's Penelope freaking Ward for goodness sake, of course I'm going to read it.

The story line starts with our heroine, Heather, dealing with a lot of pressure and seemingly, the weight of the world on her shoulders.  She has been the caregiver for her mother for so long that she has had to put her own life and dreams on hold.  I really felt a connection with Heather.  She is young and SO INCREDIBLY AWKWARD, yet lovable and endearing at the same time.  Our hero, Noah, rented out her family's boathouse for the entire summer.  He is the absolute sexy, handsome perfection that I expect from a Penelope Ward book.  I was iffy about his personality in the beginning because of how closed off his character seemed but he quickly grew on me.

I am giving this book 4 stars because it was such a good book.  There were so many unexpected twists and turns that made me feel allllllllllllll the feels.  It was a quick read and I was able to finish this book in one day.  I recommend this book and every Penelope Ward book because her books never fail to suck you in from the very beginning and not let up until the final page!


When August Ends by Penelope Ward is NOW LIVE! 

Amazon Print ➜ https://amzn.to/2SY4Zoj
Apple Books ➜ https://apple.co/2Tj776z
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