True North Series Book 8: Waylaid by Sarina Bowen

True North Book 8

It’s a tale as old as time: the bad boy meets the good girl. He makes a daring proposition. Then the boy gets a mysterious head injury and loses a year of his life…

The first time I meet Rickie, I don’t know what to make of him. The second time we meet, he doesn’t remember the six hours we spent together. Or standing me up afterward.

I’m not the same, either. I’ve got secrets. I’ve told lies. Bad boys aren’t my type, anyway. Even the ones with troubled gray eyes.

But now we’re roommates. Cue the awkward moments in the hallway when he’s wearing only a towel and a smile. He’s determined to win me over, and his talented hands weaken my resolve.

It’s all fun and games until my past rears its ugly head and his secrets come to light, shaking our fragile connection, maybe even breaking it…

Note: this is Daphne Shipley's story. Contents include Vermonty ice cream flavors, nerdy awkwardness, tattoos, and a playboy grandpa. 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58214962-waylaid

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My Review: 5/5 Stars 

Finally Daphne and Rickie's story and I have to say it was definitely a favorite of mine from the series. This series really does get better and better. This one I have been itching to read since the last book where it was hinted that Daphne and Rickie had a history but we don't get any details. Especially when one says they know the other and the other disagrees. However! At the time it was Daphne saying she didn't know Rickie. Yet, we learn in this book that it is Rickie with the memory problems. From what Daphne remembers, her and Rickie had hit it off and it resulted in plans for a date. A date that Rickie never showed up to. Little did she know that around that time Rickie ended up in an accident where he lost six months of his memory. A memory that included meeting Daphne. Now it's a few years later and they are in one another's orbit again and immediately Rickie feels something for Daphne. He just can't understand why it is so strong. Rickie has struggled to recover from this accident that broke his body physically and mentally. He has dealt with a lot of it but he still struggles to come to terms with it. He wishes he could remember what exactly happened. Especially that there are some things that just don't add up right. Meanwhile, Daphne always studied hard so she can escape Vermont for a bit. But when she puts her trust in the wrong guy and he royally screws her over and scares her to the extreme, she flees back to Vermont to finish up school. She swears to never trust men and just wants to get through school and put this nightmare behind her. While also hoping her psycho of an ex won't ruin her academic life like he threatened to do. Both of Daphne and Rickie's personal stories were so interesting and compelling. I wanted to know what happened to Rickie and I wanted Daphne to find a way to move forward and not let her ex hold her back. Then there was their romance. Rickie and Daphne's chemistry is fantastic. I love both of their characters and together they were absolutely great. I loved reading this story. I couldn't put it down. I read it in a day. I just had to know everything. There is so much I love about this book and series. There were a lot of wonderful surprises in this book about past book couples that I adored. And of course the humor that comes with the Shipley gang (especially Grandpa Shipley!). I love this series and hope there is still more left for this family and extended family! 

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Speakeasy Taproom Books 1 & 2 Out Today!

 

Speakeasy Taproom Book 1

TOUCHSTONE BY KAREN STIVALI

Release Date: June 29, 2021

Amazon: https://geni.us/AmazonTouchstone

Apple: https://geni.us/AppleTouchstone

Kobo: https://geni.us/KoboTouchstone

Nook: https://geni.us/NookTouchstone

Google: https://geni.us/GoogleTouchstone

Audio → https://geni.us/AudibleTouchstone

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/3r8Ipab

Series Page → https://hearteyespress.com/wotn#/speakeasy-taproom/

Cover Design: Elle Maxwell Designs

About the Book:

Sam doesn't think love is in the cards. The cards disagree.

When Phoebe Stevens' life implodes in a spectacularly public fashion, she's desperate to escape Manhattan. So the offer of a job setting up a new Vermont gastropub couldn’t come at a better time. Driving a U-Haul on winding mountain roads is Phoebe's personal version of hell. But when the caretaker of her guesthouse answers the door tousled, shirtless, and baking cinnamon rolls, her first impression of Vermont dramatically improves.

Sam Trembley believes everyone gets one true love, but he’s already blown his chance. He's spent five years avoiding relationships. Now he’s back in Colebury where sunrise tarot draws and moonlit hikes soothe his soul. But why do the tarot cards keep showing him this nonsense about soulmates? Could it have anything to do with the jaded city girl on his doorstep?

Playing tour guide is fun, but taste-testing her culinary creations as she shimmies her luscious hips around his kitchen is downright irresistible. Soon their chemistry burns hotter than the pub's wood-fired oven.

Has fate brought them together for a summer of love...or a lifetime of happiness?

Touchstone contains craving-inducing menu planning, a sassy white witch grandma, seismic sexy times, and tarot cards on a mission to prove soulmates are real.

Check Out My Review Here:

https://myfuture-mybooks-mylife.blogspot.com/2021/06/speakeasy-taproom-book-1-touchtstone-by.html

Speakeasy Taproom Book 2

HEARTWOOD BY J.H.CROIX

Release Date: June 29, 2021

Amazon: https://geni.us/AmazonHeartwood

Apple: https://geni.us/AppleHeartwood

Kobo: https://geni.us/KoboHeartwood

Nook: https://geni.us/NookHeartwood

Google: https://geni.us/GoogleHeartwood

Audio → https://geni.us/AudibleHeartwood

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/36wWkPu

Series Page → https://hearteyespress.com/wotn#/speakeasy-taproom/

Cover Design: Elle Maxwell Designs

About the Book:

She needs a fresh start. He wants a second chance…

My new job as a chef in a small town was supposed to be my ticket to peace and quiet. I didn’t expect to run into the former hockey star who gave me the hottest nights of my life. And, oops, he’s sort-of my new boss. So much for keeping my past where it belongs.

Ty still thinks I’m the fun party girl. He has no idea how much things have changed. One thing that hasn’t changed: the spark between us. It’s hotter than the blowtorch I use on my crème brûlée. 

I’m already keeping secrets, so what’s one more? Our tryst is forbidden, it’s fun, and it gets complicated as fast as you can say “check, please.” I didn’t expect to have a future with Ty. And I definitely didn’t expect to have a baby with him.

Some falls are harder than others. But it depends on who’s there to catch you...

Check Out My Review Here:

https://myfuture-mybooks-mylife.blogspot.com/2021/06/speakeasy-taproom-book-2-heartwood-by.html

Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall

Wanted:

One (fake) boyfriend

Practically perfect in every way

Luc O'Donnell is tangentially--and reluctantly--famous. His rock star parents split when he was young, and the father he's never met spent the next twenty years cruising in and out of rehab. Now that his dad's making a comeback, Luc's back in the public eye, and one compromising photo is enough to ruin everything.

To clean up his image, Luc has to find a nice, normal relationship...and Oliver Blackwood is as nice and normal as they come. He's a barrister, an ethical vegetarian, and he's never inspired a moment of scandal in his life. In other words: perfect boyfriend material. Unfortunately apart from being gay, single, and really, really in need of a date for a big event, Luc and Oliver have nothing in common. So they strike a deal to be publicity-friendly (fake) boyfriends until the dust has settled. Then they can go their separate ways and pretend it never happened.

But the thing about fake-dating is that it can feel a lot like real-dating. And that's when you get used to someone. Start falling for them. Don't ever want to let them go.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50225678-boyfriend-material

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My Review: 4/5 Stars 

When Luc's sort of famous father is making a comeback, Luc finds himself pulled into that little bit of fame. Despite the fact that he never the man who walked out on him and his mom when he was three. Yet. Luc is paying the price for being related. Which means that the press find him just a tad interesting enough to follow once in a while and report on Luc's embarrassing moments. After the last report on a situation that is very out of context, Luc's job threatens to fire him if he doesn't present a normal relationship in time for their big event where Luc needs to convince people to donate to their cause. Insert Oliver. The friend of a friend who has been trying to set the two of them forever yet the few encounters never panned out right. Oliver is the perfect boyfriend Luc needs to show off. And turns out, Oliver could use someone too. They strike a deal. A fake public relationship for both of their events and in the end they'll part ways. Though we all know it's a matter of time before fake becomes real. What I liked about this book is that even though fake dating could be predictable this one was not. It went in so many directions I didn't think of and they had to work hard for their happy ending. Both have their issues and both need to work through them. It was raw and real and Oliver and Luc were just such great characters. They were a mess and awkward and hilarious and just many things I wasn't expecting as I was reading. And I loved those startling laugh surprises. I also like that there are more books coming out about them! So I'm looking forward to reading more of their story.

Dark Olympus Book 1: Neon Gods by Katee Robert

Dark Olympus Book 1

He was supposed to be a myth. But from the moment I crossed the River Styx and fell under his dark spell... he was, quite simply, mine.

Society darling Persephone Dimitriou plans to flee the ultra-modern city of Olympus and start over far from the backstabbing politics of the Thirteen Houses. But all that’s ripped away when her mother ambushes her with an engagement to Zeus, the dangerous power behind their glittering city’s dark facade.

With no options left, Persephone flees to the forbidden undercity and makes a devil’s bargain with a man she once believed a myth... a man who awakens her to a world she never knew existed.

Hades has spent his life in the shadows, and he has no intention of stepping into the light. But when he finds that Persephone can offer a little slice of the revenge he’s spent years craving, it’s all the excuse he needs to help her—for a price. Yet every breathless night spent tangled together has given Hades a taste for Persephone, and he’ll go to war with Olympus itself to keep her close…

A modern retelling of Hades and Persephone that’s as sinful as it is sweet.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54659771-neon-gods

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My Review: 4/5 Stars 

A new twist on the Greek gods, the first book of the Dark Olympus series kicks off with a Persephone and Hades retelling. In this world the "gods" of Olympus are roles of the Thirteen Olympians. Every role has a different way of inheriting it. You can be born to it and it passes down the family. You can earn it. Or marry Zeus to fill the role of Hera. The Thirteen are powerful and rule Olympus. At the moment, the Hera role is unfilled since Zeus's last 3 wives died. And Hades role has been vacant. At least that is what everyone is told. Persephone has her eyes set on a future where she can run far and fast out of Olympus. She just has to wait a few more months to get access to her trust fund. After that, she is free. But everything changes when she is ambushed by her mother, Demeter, and Zeus where they announce her engagement to Zeus. Desperate to breathe and think, she flees the party. However, Zeus's men follow and she finds herself running to the River Styx that will lead her the lower city. Hurt, scared, and cold she crosses the bridge with sheer determination and lands in the arms of Hades, the last person she expects. Hades isn't sure what to make of Persephone, but he quickly realizes who she is and what she has done. His protective nature takes control and he gives Persephone a safe haven. For Zeus and Hades have a treaty. Neither can cross over to one another city, not without declaring war. Hades and Persephone soon come up with a plan. Hades want revenge for what Zeus did to his parents and Persephone wants Zeus to drop his claim to her. They'll have a very public relationship until Persephone has access to her trust to flee for good and hope that Zeus will let her go. But Hades knows it won't be enough, war will come no matter what. But what he doesn't expect is to fall for Persephone and the last thing he wants is to cage her more. It's a super interesting twist on Greek myth. And I love how these characters have a resemblance to the Greek myth they are named after. Also a very hot and heavy romance with lots of twists and turns I didn't expect. It will be interesting to see the upcoming stories in this series. 

The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities: New Stories About Mythic Heroes

Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents ten new stories--including one of his own--about beloved heroes that sprang from the imaginations of some of the best middle grade authors working today.

A cave monster . . . an abandoned demon . . . a ghost who wants to erase history . . . a killer commandant . . . These are just some of the challenges confronting the young heroes in this highly entertaining anthology.

All but one of the heroes previously starred in a popular book from Rick Riordan Presents. You''ll be reunited with Aru Shah, Zane Obispo, Min the fox spirit, Sal and Gabi, Tristan Strong, Nizhoni Begay, Paola Santiago, Sikander Aziz, and Riley Oh. Who is the new hero? Read Rick Riordan''s short story to find out!

Ten bestselling and award-winning middle grade authors contributed to this collection: Roshani Chokshi, J.C. Cervantes, Yoon Ha Lee, Carlos Hernandez, Kwame Mbalia, Rebecca Roanhorse, Tehlor Kay Mejia, Sarwat Chadda, Graci Kim, and Rick Riordan, who also served as the editor.

The cultures represented by these own-voices stories are: Indian, Mesoamerican, Korean, Cuban, Black American, African, Navajo, Mexican, Mesopotamian, and Celtic.

There''s something for everyone in this collection of fast-paced and funny adventure stories that show what it takes to be a hero in any time, setting, and universe.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56623547-the-cursed-carnival-and-other-calamities

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

The Rick Riordan Presents imprint has become a favorite of mine. How can it not? Rick Riordan, one of my all time favorite authors, started it. Bringing together a group of amazing authors, series, and mythologies. For a mythology geek and someone who loves to read fiction, this imprint could not be more perfect for me. Despite the fact that the stories are for a younger audience. But that doesn't mean someone older can't enjoy it. This book puts together a collection of stories from those who have been published in the imprint so far and it was great! For the series that have ended and getting spin offs, you get a look at our heroes in the aftermath before the next adventure begins. For a story that has just started, you get a prequel. Or even a story that is almost near the end, you get a story of an in between moment. All fantastic. Then you have Rick's story who brings a new story touching in Irish mythology. Something he has mentioned wanting to do a future series on. If you have loved all the books in the imprint so far, this is definitely a book to check out! I loved getting more of these characters, especially the ones whose stories may have ended. It's nice to see what kind of trouble they are getting into now. Loved the book! 

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Elder Races Book 9.95: The Adversary by Thea Harrison

Elder Races Book 9.95

From NYT bestselling author Thea Harrison comes the explosive conclusion to The Unseen!

When Dragos and Pia move to the Other land of Rhyacia, they hope starting a new life will bring safety and freedom to their family, especially their young baby, Niall. And at first their new home seems perfect… but looks are deceiving.

Beneath Rhyacia’s idyllic façade an ancient, malevolent force lurks, waiting for the right opportunity to break free of its cage. When that opportunity comes, it strikes with devastating accuracy.

While Dragos has never backed down from a fight, he’s also never encountered an enemy like this one before. How can he fight a foe who doesn’t have a body? A foe who can invade and turn his own mind against him?

How can Dragos protect his family, when at any moment one of them may become the enemy?

As Dragos and Pia race against time to fight this unseen menace, they must also acknowledge a terrifying truth—when anyone can become the enemy, no one can be trusted.

An adversary who can trap the dragon poses a threat to everyone in Rhyacia, and that means no one is safe…

***This book does NOT end on a cliffhanger*** 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56033867-the-adversary

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My Review: 5/5 Stars 

When I reviewed The Unseen, the previous book to this series, I had said it was part 1 of 4. Well that is no longer the case. This is the sequel and conclusion to The Unseen and resolves everything that had happened in the previous book. And for those who remember how that ended, I bet you agree with me that you are glad we get a conclusion and there are no more cliffhangers.

This book picks up exactly where the last one left off. Dragos is possessed and Pia gets a glimpse of Dragos telling her to do whatever it takes to free him before he is brought under again by this adversary. I loved diving back into this world. It has felt like it has been so long since I read anything from this series. And what I loved about The Unseen and now The Adversary, is that we see so many beloved characters from the entire series. It's that ultimate reunion and bringing in people who didn't get to visit last book because it is a serious all hands on deck situation. Because a possessed Dragos is a very dangerous Dragos. The book flips from Pia and Dragos's point of views. Pia is trying to keep it together and figure out who this adversary is while Dragos is fighting the spells that made him fall prey to being possessed in the first place. It's a great novella with the twists and turns, the amazing and hilarious characters, and action and romance that has desperate for more. This storyline I absolutely loved and again it was mostly because we got to see so many people together and an adventure with Pia and Dragos is always a crazy one. If you love the series and these characters, this one does not disappoint. 

And though the storyline is tied up the epilogue left me wanting more from this world. Which is never a surprise. It is such a good one and I feel like there is so much left to explore. I hope it isn't the end of the Elder Races world!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Wolf Born Trilogy Book 2: Blood Secrets by Jen L. Grey

The Wolf Born Trilogy Book 2

The thing about blood… it can’t lie.

For my entire life, I’d been complacent. I allowed others to make decisions for me until I almost lost my fated mate. So I did the only thing I could, I took him and ran.

Secrets surface and hidden truths are discovered… truths that no one dreamed about facing again.

Armed with new knowledge, I must make a choice. Be open to learn about who I really am or continue to stay ignorant. The answer isn’t quite as simple as some would leave you to believe.

With each move I make, I set the course for my future. With everything falling apart around me, I’m not quite sure what I’ll become when all is said and done.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57993504-blood-secrets

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My Review: 4/5 Stars 

Picking up where the previous book left off, Sadie and her friends rush to their vampire friends' nest so that Donovan and Axel can heal and complete the change. Everything is different now. Just when they thought their biggest problem was Sadie's father coming after her, it turns out the Fae are after her too. Enemies are closing in but lucky for Sadie she has some good friends and unexpected allies. Lots of secrets are revealed in this story about Sadie and who she really is. Don't wanna spoil! But lot of information hits this way and that ending, that is one cliffhanger that is going to be super painful to wait a month for. It was that brutal. Definitely the wrong moment to pause!!! Looking forward to seeing how this series wraps up. There is definitely more secrets left to be revealed and I'm curious to see how it all plays out.

Speakeasy Taproom Book 4: Sideways by Lisa Hughey

Speakeasy Taproom Book 4

She’s a political princess and media darling...

There’s no such thing as bad publicity. Yeah, right. Tell that to the PR firm that handles Tracy’s very prominent political family. Pushed by scandal from Boston to the boondocks, now she’s on the other side of the serving tray, dishing up beer and burgers, hoping no one recognizes her. But there’s something very familiar--and maddeningly tempting--about the new caterer at Speakeasy.

He’s a cranky recluse...

Colton was the star of the celebrity chef circuit until he wasn’t anymore. Now he lives in a remote country cabin and spends his time alone, far from the spotlight and liking it that way. Until the gorgeous new waitress at Speakeasy starts poking at his resolve and suddenly all he wants is to see her let down her hair. And spread it all over his pillow. She’s got secrets he knows he won’t like, but he can’t stay away from her.

She lives in the spotlight, and he hates attention. When her public life collides with his private one, can their love write a fairy-tale ending after all? 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56920555-sideways

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

When Tracy's secret business kicks starts a scandal for her family deep in politics, she is pushed out the door to seriously get out of town. So with the help of some friends, she packs a bag, gets a rental car under her friend's name, and hits the road not really sure where to go but somehow ends up in Colebury. Or more specifically Speakeasy. All she knows is that she needs to lie low and figure out how her named got leaked as the creator of this dating app. An app that her brother ended up using and who's fiancé dumped him and threatened to reveal all the family secrets. It doesn't take her long to realize though that her cash is low and that she may be here longer than she expected. So she takes a job she has never had before: a waitress. It's an eye opening experience and one she is terrible at. But! When it comes to marketing, she shines and thinks while she is there she can help Speakeasy. She also doesn't expect to run into Colt. A famous chef who after a public meltdown disappeared. Colt needed a change. His life as a chef took a dangerous and dark turn and in order to avoid going back down that dark path he stopped cooking. Something he loved and was amazing at. But he no longer trusts himself in a kitchen. However, after meeting Tracy, that part of him is slowly waking up. Sure, they didn't hit it off immediately, but after getting to know one another, things changed. With Tracy hiding her identity she is figuring out who she can be out of the public eye and for Colt, he is learning he can enjoy cooking again and avoid the bad habits. But love is never that easy. Not when secrets still lie between one another and media could be on their doorstep as soon as word gets out. I loved Tracy and Colt's story. It had so many twists that made it different and not typical. Colt was this very surly and real character dealing with some heavy stuff and you see him work through it. While Tracy is getting a look at a different sort of life than she grew up with. Such great character developments from both of them. Can't wait for more!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Speakeasy Taproom Book 3: Homecoming by Rebecca Norinne

Speakeasy Taproom Book 3

Who knew falling in love with my fake girlfriend could feel so real?

I don’t have time for distractions, which is a huge problem since my new next door neighbor Rosalie Wentworth is very distracting. She’s kind, beautiful, and makes me laugh like no woman ever has before.

Unfortunately, the two of us add up to one really sad country song—I’m nursing a bruised ego following a broken engagement and she’s suffering through a messy divorce—so I vow to set my attraction aside and focus on being her friend instead.

That’s easier said than done, however, since her mom is convinced Rosalie and I are perfect for each other. When one of her matchmaking schemes goes a step too far, Rosalie and I hatch a plan of our own: pretend to date for a couple of months to get her mom off our backs.

It’s foolproof, really.

Only, what started as a fake relationship is starting to feel very real, and now I don’t know if I can go back to the way things were before. Because it turns out if home is where the heart is, then Rosalie is mine.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56859573-homecoming

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Really can't put this series down. I feel like I zipped through the first three books! Speakeasy book 3 and this story follows Rosalie and Preston. Finally fed up with the emotional abuse and the cheating of her husband, Rosalie leaves California and heads home to Vermont with the hopes that he'll sign the divorce papers and the nightmare will be over. Rosalie has been unhappy for years and having caught her husband cheating and her gallery being burned down, she finally admitted to herself that enough was enough. She heads home to her mother, who is beyond happy to have Rosalie home and away from Brad the terrible ex. And her mother is also secretly yet not so secretly hoping to set Rosalie up with their very attractive neighbor Preston. Preston has been burned in the past. The last relationship he had was with a woman he was going to marry but the relationship came to a crashing end when Preston learned that she was having an affair with his brother and planned to marry him. Preston leaves Boston quickly and hasn't looked back despite the phone calls from his siblings and mother telling him to come home. But how can he go back and face the betrayal and the fact that his parents don't seem to care how hurt he was? He's made a good life for himself in Vermont and he plans to keep it that way. What he doesn't expect is Rosalie. One look at her and he knows he's a goner. She's nothing like he imagined and the friendship they form is one he'll do anything to hold on to. Except when Rosalie's mother keeps shoving them into the love zone they realize they need a plan to get her off their backs for a while. Thus the fake dating plan begins. But they both know that plan won't last long. Not when feelings get involved. But feelings aren't the only complications. Rosalie's soon to be ex is causing problems and with each new threat it is only a matter of time until he causes some even bigger issues between Rosalie and Preston. Loved their story! So fun and hilarious and Rosalie and Preston are such great characters. Loving this series so far! It definitely has me hooked.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Speakeasy Taproom Book 2: Heartwood by J.H. Croix

Speakeasy Taproom Book 2

She needs a fresh start. He wants a second chance…

My new job as a chef in a small town was supposed to be my ticket to peace and quiet. I didn’t expect to run into the former hockey star who gave me the hottest nights of my life. And, oops, he’s sort-of my new boss. So much for keeping my past where it belongs.

Ty still thinks I’m the fun party girl. He has no idea how much things have changed. One thing that hasn’t changed: the spark between us. It’s hotter than the blowtorch I use on my crème brûlée.

I’m already keeping secrets, so what’s one more? Our tryst is forbidden, it’s fun, and it gets complicated as fast as you can say “check, please.” I didn’t expect to have a future with Ty. And I definitely didn’t expect to have a baby with him.

Some falls are harder than others. But it depends on who’s there to catch you... 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58247843-heartwood

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Belle's last year hasn't been easy. After an incident that led to her a night in the hospital she has been doing whatever she can in the last year to get her life together. One bad night resulted in a wake up call that she needed to take care of herself better. Turns out she has a Bipolar disorder and after years of stress and being a people pleaser, she realizes that in order to take care of herself it is time for a change. That change resulted in working as a chef at Speakeasy. She loves to cook and is excited to be a chef there. It's time for a fresh start and to figure out what she wants to do and who she wants to be. What she doesn't expect is to see Ty. Her old college hookup who is managing the bar. The chemistry between them is still super intense and possibly more so after years apart. It isn't long until the two of them give in to their feelings and this time they may want a little more than simple hook ups. But Belle has a lot she is still working through and though she told Ty about what happened to her, she didn't reveal all her secrets. As for Ty, he never expected to see Belle again but is glad she is here. He is enjoying his life at Speakeasy though he could do a little less with his father constantly calling him to tell him how to run his life. Loved Belle and Ty's story! They were such great characters and their story had some pretty great twists and turns. That opening prologue alone had me hooked wanting to find out exactly what happened to Belle. Book two of this series is great and I can't wait for more! 

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Speakeasy Taproom Book 1: Touchtstone by Karen Stivali

Speakeasy Taproom Book 1

Sam doesn't think love is in the cards. The cards disagree.

When Phoebe Stevens' life implodes in a spectacularly public fashion, she's desperate to escape Manhattan. So the offer of a job setting up a new Vermont gastropub couldn’t come at a better time. Driving a U-Haul on winding mountain roads is Phoebe's personal version of hell. But when the caretaker of her guesthouse answers the door tousled, shirtless, and baking cinnamon rolls, her first impression of Vermont dramatically improves.

Sam Trembley believes everyone gets one true love, but he’s already blown his chance. He's spent five years avoiding relationships. Now he’s back in Colebury where sunrise tarot draws and moonlit hikes soothe his soul. But why do the tarot cards keep showing him this nonsense about soulmates? Could it have anything to do with the jaded city girl on his doorstep?

Playing tour guide is fun, but taste-testing her culinary creations as she shimmies her luscious hips around his kitchen is downright irresistible. Soon their chemistry burns hotter than the pub's wood-fired oven.

Has fate brought them together for a summer of love...or a lifetime of happiness?

Touchstone contains craving-inducing menu planning, a sassy white witch grandma, seismic sexy times, and tarot cards on a mission to prove soulmates are real.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57831141-touchstone

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My Review: 5/5 Stars  

First book of the Speakeasy Taproom from the World of True North was great! What a way to kick off the series. How can anyone not like Sam and Phoebe? They were such great and sweet characters. Phoebe finds herself moving to Vermont after a very public break up with her jerk of a boyfriend (now obviously ex) goes viral. Lucky for her, her friend Audrey as a solution. Speakeasy is looking for a chef to create the menu for the bar. Phoebe jumps at the opportunity to escape New York, the internet, and do something she loves. Seeing as her now ex-boyfriend not only dumped her for another woman but took their business with him. And this leads Phoebe to Sam. Sam who is renting out the guest house and who has not too long ago moved back to Colebury to help his grandmother and her sister with their shop. Sam isn't the only one with a messy love life. The woman he thought was his soulmate left him behind 5 years earlier. He hasn't had the heart to try again in love believing she was it. That is, until he meets Phoebe. Even his tarot cards and his grandmother's intuition and "woo woo" as Sam calls it, know that Phoebe and Sam are meant to be. But can the two of them put their past hurts in the past and embrace their future? Their connection is there, but do they have the courage to hold on to it? I really loved this one! It was definitely the perfect one to start the series and introduce us to Speakeasy. You can't help but love Sam and his sweet persona. Phoebe is this awesome chef who may not always have believed in love but you see how being with Sam makes her think differently. Then there is Puck, the best cat ever LOL. I also loved the energy, tarot cards, and crystals beliefs that came with Sam and his family. It was so refreshing and different and I'm super tempted to dig out my own tarot cards to do a reading. I'm looking forward to the rest of this series! I cannot wait! 

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Bloodshed Academy: Year Three by Jean L. Grey

Bloodshed Academy Book 3

A society that you can't escape... or you can die trying

Embracing her wolf, Raven became stronger than she ever imagined, but the next challenges she must face could break her.

The culling was coming. Only the strongest survive, and with it, the potential to change everything and everyone around her.

Now Raven and her friends must make decisions unlike anything they ever could have imagined. Their choices would set the course of a war. Their enemies were many, and even unknown. Once again, Raven was left with no other options. If she doesn't take a stand, she would lose everything she held close.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54189201-bloodshed-academy

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My Review: 3/5 Stars

The final book of the Bloodshed Academy, but is actually not the last. With an ending like that the story wasn't completely resolved. And I looked it up and found out there is a spin-off. So this story follows Raven and the gang as they continue to figure out the Elite's plans and stay alive. The group also become even closer, which was a nice twist to the story. And Raven and Rage set a date for their wedding. Secrets are revealed but there is still a lot of things missing by the end. I was hoping for it to be wrapped up but alas it was not. There was also a lot more action in this one since Raven had to face her culling at the school, which is a series of fights to earn your spot. An interesting series for sure. 

Bloodshed Academy: Year Two by Jen L. Grey

Bloodshed Academy Book 2

Some secrets kill ... others bring a fate worse than death

Barely dealing with her shifter abilities, Raven had to navigate college. Her journey so far has uncovered a world beyond her wildest expectations.

Not only did she constantly have to prove her worth to the students and faculty at Bloodshed, but she also had to balance her love life, a secret society with a hidden agenda, and three of the most elite guys at school.

When all the secrets around her are exposed, and everything Raven's facing comes to a head ... she has to pick what's worth fighting for. Her life and her choices, or her place in the world around her.

Vampire Diaries meets Daughter of the Moon in YEAR TWO, a steamy academy romance story for readers that love snark and strong alphas.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53605193-bloodshed-academy

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My Review: 3/5 Stars

It's year two for Raven at Bloodshed Academy and things have gotten weirder. After a mysterious note left behind by an organization called the Elite, Raven has tried to put it behind her the last several months. She doesn't know who they are, but she wants no part of it. However, after witnessing something that the Elite may know about, she decides she can't keep hiding from them. And she can't be hiding the notes from her mate, Rage. So together, they look into the Elite to see what is going on. Surprising faces come with messages and they believe perhaps they are helping but it isn't long until they realize something is wrong. It will take her newfound family to find out the truth. There is also the secrets her parents are keeping from her. Bloodshed Academy is anything but normal but at least with her friends and mate by her side, Raven believes they can do anything. Definitely interesting this world. This is my third series with Jen L. Grey and though her series tend to have some similarities between them when it comes to shifters and other paranormals, this one I think (so far that I've read) has the most interesting cast of characters and paranormals. One more book to go and I'm looking forward to finding out the answers to all these mysteries and secrets.  

Bloodshed Academy: Year One by Jen L. Grey

Bloodshed Academy Book 1

Only the strongest survive ... most of the time

Raven may be a shifter, but she's always felt separate from her wolf. She never knew it should be different. Then, a stranger showed up in her hometown, turning her world upside down and recruiting her for the elite Bloodshed Academy.

Everything she's ever known gets challenged, and Raven found herself in impossible situations. Making matters worse was the fact that one of the strongest alphas at school caught her eye. And he made her feel things she didn't understand.

The school may only recruit the best of the best, the strongest in their world, but there was something more about Raven. When push comes to shove, she had to decide if she's willing to fight for what she's come to love ... or run from a life she couldn't quite accept.

Vampire Diaries meets Daughter of the Moon in YEAR ONE, a steamy academy romance story for readers that love snark and strong alphas.

Scroll up and one-click to start this academy romance today.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53328701-bloodshed-academy

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My Review: 3/5 Stars 

Raven is a wolf shifter but most days she feels so separate from her wolf. She is constantly fighting to stay in control and thought that was just how it was supposed to be. Her life in her small town and pack is simple: if you are female you can't be an alpha so get used to it. She'll be the perfect girlfriend to the guy who is the alpha heir and maybe down the line she will find a way to be happy. But everything changes when a recruiter from Bloodshed Academy comes. The elite school looks for those of the supernatural worlds who are meant to be strong leaders. And she is blown away when the recruiter isn't there for the next alpha to be, but her. But from the moment she gets there she realizes there is more to being shifter than she could have imagined and she will do what it takes to be in sync with her wolf. This story has some great hilarious characters like Cole and Jess, the vampire and fae Raven befriends. And don't forget Damien, the bear shifter who despite his gruff and loner personality, who is actually becomes a great friend to Raven as well. And then there is Rage, the wolf shifter that Raven is immediately drawn to and isn't quite sure why. She'll make a lot of enemies but she'll gain a lot of friends. And there is something else going on at this school but I guess we'll have to wait and find out what!

Paola Santiago Book 2: Paola Santiago and the Forest of Nightmares by Tehlor Kay Mejia

Paola Santiago Book 2

Six months after Paola Santiago confronted the legendary La Llorona, life is nothing like she'd expected it to be. She is barely speaking to her best friends, Dante and Emma, and what's worse, her mom has a totally annoying boyfriend. Even with her chupacabra puppy, Bruto, around, Pao can't escape the feeling that she's all alone in the world.

Pao has no one to tell that she's having nightmares again, this time set in a terrifying forest. Even more troubling? At their center is her estranged father, an enigma of a man she barely remembers. And when Dante's abuela falls mysteriously ill, it seems that the dad Pao never knew just might be the key to healing the eccentric old woman.

Pao's search for her father will send her far from home, where she will encounter new monsters and ghosts, a devastating betrayal, and finally, the forest of her nightmares. Will the truths her father has been hiding save the people Pao loves, or destroy them?

Once again Tehlor Kay Mejia draws on her Mexican heritage to tell a wild and wondrous story that combines creatures from folklore with modern-day challenges. 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41713214-paola-santiago-and-the-forest-of-nightmares

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My Review: 4.5 Stars

Things have changed since Paola's adventure and battle against La Llorona. She is still trying to understand everything that happened and while she is processing she finds herself set apart from her best friends, Dante and Emma. For Emma, Paola has felt like she was holding her friend back when Emma finds a place she truly belongs. Not wanting to ruin her friend's happiness, she takes a step back. Not realizing that her being away from Emma was hurting Emma just as much. As for Dante, the tension between them is one that she has no idea how to decipher. Yet she learns that Dante is horribly mad at her because the adventure they had has only made things worse on his abuela and he doesn't know where to place his anger except toward his best friend. Then there is the fact that her mom has a boyfriend and Paola's nightmares are back and worse than ever. But everything changes when Dante's abuela falls mysteriously ill and the only way to save her is to face the nightmares and monsters once more. Including finding Paola's father who she hasn't seen since she was very young. Everything is connected. Can Paola find a way to save her friend's abuela and save her relationships with her best friends? This was a nice sequel to the last book! But poor Paola faces so many harsh things. Her heart was constantly breaking between things changing with her mom and with Dante. But the only thing she could do was to keep her chin up and keep fighting. Loved the twists and turns of this story and with an ending like that, it looks like there is definitely another book on the way. Can't wait!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.  

St. Rosetta Academy Book 2: Of Princes and Promises by Sandhya Menon

St. Rosetta Academy Book 2

From the New York Times bestselling author of When Dimple Met Rishi comes the second installment in a brand-new series set an elite boarding school that’s a contemporary spin on fairy tales, this one a delightful, romantic twist on The Frog Prince.

Caterina LaValle is determined to show she’s still the queen of St. Rosetta’s Academy. Sure, her crown may be slightly askew after her ex-boyfriend, Alaric, cheated on her, but she’s a LaValle. She’ll find a way to march right back in there, her hands clutching the strings to the whole puppet show. This time, she’s going to be untouchable.

Rahul Chopra knows that moment he shared with Caterina LaValle at the winter formal meant something. Surely she feels it, too. He’s a little uncertain how someone like him (socially inept to a point way past “adorkable”) could fit into her world, but he’s loved Caterina for years. He knows they’ll find a way.

When Caterina finds out Alaric is taking a supermodel to the upcoming gala, she knows she cannot arrive without the perfect date. But the thought of taking another superficial St. R’s boy exhausts her. The solution? Sweet-but-clueless Rahul Chopra and a mysterious pot of hair gel with the power to alter the wearer into whatever his heart desires.

When Rahul tries it, he transforms instantly into RC—debonair, handsome, and charming. But transformation comes with a price: As Rahul enjoys his new social standing, the line between his two personas begins to blur. Will he give up everything, including Caterina, to remain RC? Or will this unlikely pair find their way back to each other? 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55710737-of-princes-and-promises

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My Review: 5/5 Stars 

Loved diving back into this series! I loved book one and was super excited to read book two. So this story follows Rahul and Caterina. Caterina has built this mask and persona for everyone to see. She was told to never trust anyone and to protect the family name. And when her heart is broken and she is humiliated, she knows she has to pull herself together. Rahul has loved Caterina from a far, but his social anxiety has always held him back. He can't seem to understand people quite right and his brain likes to follow the more logical path. It makes connecting with others challenging, despite having some great friends. But he knows there is something between him and Caterina. At the winter formal he saw past her icy exterior when she let him hold her as they danced. But can he get her to open up to him again? When Caterina needs the perfect date to a gala coming up, she looks to the boy who held her and made her feel safe. But Rahul isn't exactly prepped to attend fancy galas. She asks him if he is willing to help her and he jumps at the chance to spend time with Caterina whatever that entails. Soon Rahul goes under a bit of a magical transformation. He becomes RJ, someone who is confident and cool and can be in Caterina's circle. But the poor Rahul acts as RJ the more he loses himself. And soon Caterina realizes that she isn't falling for RJ, but Rahul. The boy who saw who she really is first. Can she bring him back to her? Or will he lose who he truly is? This book was so fun and I read it in one sitting, I couldn't put it down. I love this group of characters and Rahul and Caterina's story was so great. It had so many twists and turns as well, that I don't want to mention because of spoilers! But there were some pretty neat surprises. Can't wait for book three!

Moo U Hockey Books 8-10 Out Today!

Moo U Hockey Book 8

PLAYMAKER BY SIERRA HILL

Release Date: June 7, 2021

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3iFVKDT

Purchase here: https://geni.us/AmazonPlaymaker

Moo U Hockey: https://hearteyespress.com/wotn#/moo-u-hockey/

Cover Design: Christine Coffey

BLURB:

There’s no faking it in love or hockey...

Transferring to a new school under false pretenses is harder than I expected, especially when my cocky new housemate, Callan Thomas, annoys me at every pass. He’s treated like a god and revered by everyone on campus. Too bad he made me feel like a rejected fool the first night we met.

But that doesn’t stop me from accepting his offer to become his fake girlfriend, because he has skills that I need. Only Callan can help me improve my game and make the USA women’s hockey team.

I try to keep despising him, but he keeps proving my first impression was wrong. And the more time I spend with him, the more complex my feelings become. I need to tell him the truth about who I really am before anyone finds out and things go too far.

Problem is, I think they already have...

Check Out My Review Here:

https://myfuture-mybooks-mylife.blogspot.com/2021/05/moo-u-hockey-book-8-playmaker-by-sierra.html

Moo U Hockey Book 9

SNOWBALLED BY MELANIE TING

Release Date: June 7, 2021

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/366wdyu

Purchase here: https://geni.us/AmazonSnowballed

Moo U Hockey: https://hearteyespress.com/wotn#/moo-u-hockey/

Cover Design: Christine Coffey

BLURB:

She needs Prince Farming . . . but she got me instead.

Sure, life’s been easy for me. Growing up in an oceanside house in SoCal, playing top-level college hockey, driving a luxury car with a generous allowance—sounds like the dream, right? Turns out what I didn’t have was freedom. And when I decided to transfer to Moo U for my last year of hockey, my controlling father cut me off. 

No money, no car, no friends. I’m just another student struggling to make ends meet. The only place I can afford to live is the Meyers’ farm, where I’ll work in exchange for room and board. Farm work is so exhausting that I don’t even have time to wallow in the crappy turn my life has taken. Zoe Meyers is a hot blonde Amazon with all the energy of a chipmunk on crack. And her positivity is making me realize how lucky I really am, even though I’m broke. Too bad she’s not impressed by a guy who can’t figure out which end of a goat to milk.

Because suddenly I want to impress her. I want to do a lot more with her too . . . if I can get her out of the barn and into my arms.

Check Out My Review Here:

https://myfuture-mybooks-mylife.blogspot.com/2021/05/moo-u-hockey-book-9-snowballed-by.html

Moo U Hockey Book 10

GOALKEEPER BY ANDI BURNS

Release Date: June 7, 2021

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/39Xy4H2

Purchase here: https://geni.us/AmazonGoalkeeper

Moo U Hockey: https://hearteyespress.com/wotn#/moo-u-hockey/

Cover Design: Christine Coffey

BLURB:

Winning games has always been his focus, but will winning her heart become the ultimate goal?

Everyone at Moo U knows the party doesn’t start until Paige Underwood arrives. Not only is she beautiful, she’s fun and charming too. Guys want to date her, and girls want to be her best friend. All Paige wants is to have a good time and make videos for her beauty channel--and maybe get that girl down the hall to do her eyeliner correctly. Is that too much to ask? 

According to her parents, yes. They’ve said the party’s over and that it’s time to get focused.

Spencer Briggs knows all about focus. He’s had one goal since he set foot on the ice as a kid: make it to the NHL. After years of hard work and endless practice, he’s the starting goalie for Moo U and mere steps away from his dream. He can’t afford distractions, and isn’t interested in relationships. And he definitely can’t afford to flirt back with the gorgeous girl in his lit class. 

He needs to stay serious. She needs to get serious. But now serious sparks are flying . . .

Check Out My Review Here:

https://myfuture-mybooks-mylife.blogspot.com/2021/05/moo-u-hockey-book-10-goalkeeper-by-andi.html